THURSDAY 2ND JUNE 2022

FG: Disagreements Among Concessioners Delaying Take-off of $3.1bn e-Customs Project Okays $968,818 for emergency restoration of Lagos power line Moves to address rising food prices Deji Elumoye in Abuja The federal government has

explained why the $3.1 billion contract for complete automation of the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS)

approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in 2020 was reversed.

It said disagreement among

partners that formed consortium for the project delayed its take off despite efforts by the government

through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to mediate.

The Minister of Finance, Budget Continued on page 41

Buhari, Spanish King, Canvass Global Cooperation to Avert Looming Food Crisis... Page 41 Thursday 2 June, 2022 Vol 27. No 9914. Price: N250

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Lawan to Delegates: Choose a Leader with Absolutely No Baggage... Page 43

Atiku Receives Certificate of Return, Says There is Much to Be Done Ayu: The convention was family affair, declares ‘no victor no vanquished’ Wike visits former vice president at his Asokoro residence Chuks Okocha in Abuja Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar yesterday received his certificate of return as the presidential

candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, urging the party to bear in mind that there was much work to be done before victory.

He spoke as the National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu called for a united party, describing the outcome of the special national presidential convention as a family

affair where there was no victor and no vanquished.

According to Atiku who spoke on his victory at the convention, "we should not take that or their defeat

for granted. We must unite and work extremely hard for every single vote in this country. There is so much to do. And there is very little time to waste. So let's get to work."

Atiku who called for unity in the PDP further said, "Let us all remember that what just happened Continued on page 41

Presidency: APC Still Divided on Zoning, Mulls Options to Face Atiku Some govs want to go south; Adamu, others prefer north Party may reopen sale of forms to broaden choices for candidates Moves to encourage El-Rufai, Zulum to join race Olawale Olaleye Four days to the rescheduled presidential primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), billed to hold Monday, June 6, in Abuja, the leadership of the party, has remained divided on the zoning of its ticket, even as it continues to ponder the options opened to it to match the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

The current state of play in the APC, has been further compounded by the differing positions of its stakeholders on the zoning palaver, a development, which has seen some governors insisting on going south for balancing, while the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdulahi Adamu, in cahoots with a few others, would rather go north, for political expediency.

Continued on page 41

BUHARI IN SPAIN...

L-R: Ambassador of Nigeria to Spain Amb. Demola Seriki; Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama; President Muhammadu Buhari; King of Spain, His Majesty King Filipe VI; Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. José Manuel Albares, and Spain's Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Juan Sell, at the Zarzuela Palace, Madrid.... yesterday

Army Denies Involvement of Soldiers in Kidnap of Methodist Church Prelate... Page 10

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Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0809 7777 322, 0807 401 0580

NEWS

SIGNED, SEALED AND...

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu handing over certificate of return to the newly Elected PDP Presidential Flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar in Abuja ...yesterday

Stakeholders Deplore Nigeria’s Inability to Benefit from High Oil Prices Rep queries billions of dollars unaccounted for by NNPC FRC says it caused payment of N1.7trn into Consolidated Revenue Fund Calls for speedy amendment of Fiscal Responsibility Act Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Stakeholders in the public finance accountability space in Nigeria yesterday bemoaned the inability of the country to benefit from the exploitation of its natural resources, especially with skyrocketing oil and gas prices.

Speaking at a forum held under the auspices of the Growth Initiatives for Fiscal Transparency (GIFT) implemented by OrderPaper Advocacy Initiative, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, Wole Oke, stated that despite several audit queries, billions of dollars remain unremitted to the consolidated account.

Other cluster partners for the programme include: The Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA),

HipCity Innovation Centre, CLICE Foundation and Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Tagged “Revenue, Remittance and Resource Beneficiation”, Oke noted that while many countries with oil endowments have been able to utilise the resources for the benefit of their citizens, Nigeria has not been able to do so.

Today, he said that Saudi-Aramco has emerged the largest company on the planet in terms of revenue with about $2.332 trillion, ahead of Apple, Tesla, Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon.

He lamented that although Nigeria has similar potential as Saudi Arabia however, as at 2022,

its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita is 5,000 USD, while that of Saudi Arabia is $24, 224.

Oke said that while other nations were making progress, since the first quarter of 2022, NNPC has failed to make remittance to the Federation Account despite the current rise in price of crude oil, describing it as depressing.

Between 2014 and 2019, he stated that the audit queries raised by the Auditor General of the Federation on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) included delayed payments by customers without evidence of any surcharge for the delays, amounting to $510,020,921.79.

The chair of the public accounts committee listed incomplete payments by customers as amounting to $ 6,203,863.68; outstanding payments

Buhari: Nigeria Ready to Host World Tourism Confab By Nov Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed the readiness of Nigeria to host the first-ever Global Conference on Tourism, Culture and the Creative Industry in November this year.

Speaking yesterday, during a visit to the headquarters of the United Nations World Trade Organisation (UNWTO) in Madrid, the Spanish capital at the beginning of his State visit to the country, President Buhari, according to a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, described the granting of the hosting rights as a “further proof of Nigeria’s support for the vision of the organisation and also an affirmation of the confidence reposed in our country by your organisation.”

He noted that the event would provide yet another opportunity for the country to showcase its tourism and creative industry to the whole world.

“It will also serve as an opportunity to extend our warm hospitality to the world and introduce the country’s leisure and business sectors to potential investors. We have not-so-well-known wonders to reveal!”

Buhari assured participants from across the world of, “a safe and secure environment as well as excellent facilities,” adding, "we look forward to welcoming all participants.”

The president affirmed that the country had been consistent in supporting the organisation since joining in 1975, noting that Nigeria had also been elected Chairman of the Commission for Africa between 2005 and 2007.

Buhari also thanked the Secretary General for granting 100 UNWTO Online Academy Scholarships on the ‘Introduction to Tourism-Industry Management’ stressing that this would further boost youth empowerment and education as well as address the manpower shortage in the tourism sector.

Earlier in his speech, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, whose Ministry facilitated the conference, said Nigeria was given the hosting rights at the 64th meeting of the UNWTO in Cape Verde in 2021.

He explained that, “our plan is to host the event in the iconic National Theatre in Lagos which is currently being massively refurbished for the first time since its commissioning some 46 years ago.”

He added that since the announcement of the rights, preparations had started in earnest in conjunction with the UNWTO to ensure that Nigeria hosts a world-class event to justify the confidence reposed in the country by the organisation.

The minister emphasised that Nigeria intended to, “leverage on the conference to showcase what makes Nigeria tick in culture, tourism, music, film, gastronomy, fashion, photography and why Nigeria has become a global leader in music and film, especially.”

Also speaking, Secretary General of UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili, said the visit of the president was a direct confirmation of how important tourism is to Nigeria, describing Nigeria as, “a big country with huge resources in culture, nature and diversity."

"We have a long term commitment with Nigeria to develop tourism and attract more and more tourists to Nigeria. The numbers are very small at the moment and I think it’s a shame. Nigeria has to receive much more tourists to see the beauty and meet the people.”

He assured the president of his support in promoting the diverse culture of Nigerians and Africans to the world.

by customers $80,452,746.83 while transfer to undisclosed escrow account was $235,685,861.31.

In addition he stated that other funds which were unaccounted for were the unexplained shortfall on NLNG balances which he put at $18,389,334.23 and payment for gas exports through NGL Funding Account instead of the Federation Account amounting to $ 346,211,227.59.

He listed others as “Unexplained and unsubstantiated foreign exchange losses on sums paid into the Federation Account - $ 2,664,047.64; Gas sales without payment status, payment details or payment confirmation – $ 9,389,105.80 and disparities in billing price per unit used in billing and amount stated in sales invoice $11,973,828.48.

Furthermore, he mentioned that discrepancies in the amount transferred to the Federation Account was N663,896,567,227.58 while pumped products from refineries without evidence of receipts at depot was N7,056,137,180.00. “ To compound these problems, most of these government entities

and corporations are not even ready to subject themselves to scrutiny by the relevant public sector accounting authorities,” he stated.

In his comments, the Executive Chairman, Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), Victor Muruako, said the Act has helped to reduce financial indiscipline and has led to a remarkable improvement in the area of fiscal management, especially as regards public expenditure, revenue collection, savings and transparency in fiscal activities.

“Payment of operating surplus is one aspect of the mandates of the Commission that has added great value to governance through generation of independent revenue to government. Notably, the commission has caused over N1.7 trillion to be remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) even with all the lapses in the Act. “Therefore, being a key agency of the Federal Government emplaced with salient responsibilities in the management of the country’s fiscal health and wellbeing, the commission is naturally at the forefront of efforts to reverse the tide of the revenue crisis,” he stated.

He noted that it was the reason within its available means and despite statutory limitations, the FRC had bent over and stretched its resources to support all efforts to flag and prevent fiscal rascality, promote fiscal responsibility and block leakages.

Executive Director, OrderPaper, Oke Epia, in his remarks, noted that the alert by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that Nigeria may be spending 100 per cent of her revenues on debt servicing soon was concerning.

He called for the amendment of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (2007) as a major item, stressing that there were certain loopholes which have been exploited for over a decade by agents of state to undermine the noble intentions of the law.

“These loopholes include lack of sanctions and inadequate funding which have presented clear barriers to the implementation of the operating surplus measure designed by the current FRC,” he said.

“It is not hard to imagine how much more the government could have benefitted from an independent and empowered FRC,” he argued.

Falana Requests Timeline for Exchange Rate Unification James Emejo in Abuja Human Rights Activist, Mr. Femi Falana, has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to provide Nigerians with information on when it plans to end the multiple exchange regime and unify forex rates in the country.

Falana, in a letter to the apex bank, titled, "Request for Information on Abolition of Multiple Exchange Rates in Nigeria," said he was making the request under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

The law requires the central bank to provide a response with the requested information not later than seven days upon the receipt of the letter.

The correspondence was written on May 24, 2022 and received at

the CBN on May 31.

Falana recalled that while speaking at a virtual investors’ conference with the federal government organised by CitiBank on June 23, 2020, the Governor of the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele had disclosed that the various exchange rates would be unified around the I & E Window (NAFEX) exchange rate.

He said: "Furthermore, Mr. Emefiele dismissed activities in the parallel market as illegal business, adding that people patronizing the market are doing dealings that are not recognised by authorities.

"The CBN has always maintained that the black market is not a good determinant of the value of the naira. You’ll find that people who are in a hurry and do not want to

procure the kind of documentation required, will sometimes rush to those markets. But we have used the period of this pandemic to prove that anybody dealing in that market is dealing in an illegal business."

Falana also stated that the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, at the interactive session on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Finance in Abuja on August 17, 2021, had also confirmed the plan of the central bank to unify the exchange rates in the country.

According to him, the minister had indicated that the policy would end the multiple exchange rates that had bedevilled the country.

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WIKE PAYS RETURN VISIT TO ATIKU...

L-R: Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike , Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar; National Chairman of the PDP (South South), Dan Orbih and former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, during Wike’s visit to the PDP presidential candidate in his residence in Abuja…yesterday

Several Passengers Abducted in Kaduna as Terrorists Attack Motorists Travellers, residents advised to shun Birnin Gwari road Lawmaker urges Buhari, Osinbajo to secure release of abducted train victims John Shiklam in Kaduna and Udora Orizu in Abuja An unspecified number of persons have been reportedly abducted along the dreaded Birnin GwariKaduna highway in Kaduna state by terrorists.

The development came exactly 65 days after passengers in the AbujaKaduna train were kidnapped.

In a statement in Kaduna, the Chairman of the Birnin Gwari Vanguard for Security and Good Governance, Ibrahim Nagwari, said eight vehicles were set ablaze by the terrorists during the attack.

Nagwari said the motorists were driving along the highway in a convoy with security escort when they were ambushed between Kuriga and Manini communities

along the road.

The statement said in the last four days, terrorists had laid siege on motorists on the highway, abducting and killing people while others were wounded.

Nagwari lamented that it was unfortunate that the authorities were silent about the high rate of criminality along the highway, accusing the government of not showing concern about the deteriorating security on the road.

The statement said the security situation along the highway, “have reach a point of no return” and advised residents of residents of Birnin Gwari and other communities to stop traveling on the highway with immediate effect, till the security situation improves.

The statement said, “In the sad

event today, eight vehicles were set ablaze by the terrorists, while unaccounted number of innocent motorists mostly women and children were taken to the bush by the terrorists for ransom.

“It is evidently, clear, that, unholy marriage of bandits and Ansaru (Boko Haram) has declared a total war on our people, yet the political will by the authorities to honour their oaths of office to protect lives and property of our citizens remains a mirage.

“While politicians are engaged on their mission to clinch power come 2023, none of the gladiators seeking for elections has any agenda of emancipating our people from the bondage of terrorists and miscreants.

“More so, none of these politicians deem it fit to visit Birnin-Gwari

to either see delegates, but rather called delegates to Kaduna for consultations.

“We had always appreciate efforts of security personnel in their passion to curtailed the precarious insecurity bedeviling Birnin-Gwari general area.”

He added: “But our people have reach a point of no return, hence the need for the people of Birnin-Gwari and communities along the Kaduna-Birnin-Gwari highway to halt with immediate effect traveling on this notorious highway from tomorrow till security situation improves.

“This organisation hereby advise all our citizens to exercise maximum restraint and obey all rules of the land and seclude themselves in prayers for Allah intervention to deal with

Labour Party Crisis Worsens as Court Okays Factional Leader's Fresh Suit Judge orders substituted service Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that the Labour Party and some of its officials be served with a fresh suit pertaining to its leadership crisis through a substituted means.

THISDAY gathered yesterday that the judge, Inyang Ekwo, made the order on Monday, after hearing an ex parte application filed by a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Calistus Okafor.

In the court order seen by THISDAY, the judge ordered that the defendants be served through the pasting of the court documents filed by the plaintiff at the Labour Party's secretariat in Abuja within seven days.

Okafor, a factional leader of the party, is challenging the legality of the leadership of Akingbade Oyelakin, whom he alleged, "represents persons wrongfully and unlawfully parading themselves as members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of Labour Party."

He also joined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a co-defendant.

Others sued by Okafor included Julius Abure and Umar Farouq, who emerged as the national chairman and the secretary of the

party, respectively, at a national executive committee meeting of the party held in Benin, Edo State, in March 2021.

The rest of the defendants sued by the defendants were members of the committee set up by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to take over the affairs of the party.

The committee members are Salisu Mohammed, Lawson Osagie, Isa Aremu, Baba Aye, Ikpe Ektokudo, Sylvester Ejiofor, and Lucy Offiong. Sued along with them was one Salamatu Aliyu and the NLC. The court in its order issued on Monday, had ordered a, "substituted service of the originating summons, interlocutory injunction, and all other processes in this suit on the 1st to 3rd, 6th to 12th and 14th defendants by pasting the said processes at their political party's office, which is the 5th defendant's office, located at No 2, Oke Agbe Street, Off Ladoke Akintoal Boulevard, Garki 11, Abuja."

The 1st to 3rd defendants are Abure, Farouq and Oyelakin. The 6th to the 12th defendants are the members of the NLC committee and the 14th defendant is Aliyu.

The court ordered that the service must be effected "within seven days of this order."

The judge then adjourned the case until June 30, 2022, "for further mention."

THISDAY had reported how Okafor threatened to file the suit and how the legal action might threaten the presidential ambition of a former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

last week and joined the Labour Party to pursue his presidential aspiration in the faction led by Abure.

Okafor had also told THISDAY that Obi decided to defect to LP without proper information on the fact that the party’s leadership had been a subject of litigation since 2018.

the terrorists and their collaborators within our communities.”

The statement prayed for the safe return of those mostly abducted.

Mohammed Jalige, spokesman of the Kaduna state police command did not respond to telephone calls when contacted.

Meanwhile, a Member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to as a matter of urgency do all within their powers to ensure that those kidnapped two months ago in the Abuja-Kaduna train by terrorists were freed, as well as many others languishing in captivity.

Salam who represents Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/ Ejigbo constituency, while briefing journalists yesterday, lamented that the nation was becoming a jungle of sorts where criminals carve out turfs and operate freely without let or hindrance.

According to him, one of the key dimensions of the criminality was the unholy practice of kidnapping for ransom, which according reports had spawned a billion naira industry in the last seven years or more.

The lawmaker while describing kidnapping as a clear and present danger to the nation, said it was an embarrassment that wives, mothers, fathers, husbands get routinely kidnapped at will by bandits with many of them losing their lives even after the payment of ransom by their families or communities.

He appealed to his colleagues in the National Assembly and Nigerians

at large to join him in urging Buhari to do the needful, adding that the government cannot continue along this route, as the kidnappings and deaths resulting therefrom are a stain on the national conscience.

Salam said, "The Kaduna train kidnap incident itself is a blight, not only the efficiency of our security system but a slap on the face of government whose responsibility it is to secure life and property.

“That such an attack could happen in broad daylight without our security operatives being capable of fending off the bandits, speaks to a defect in our security system.

This defect reflects badly on government. No government can aspire to legitimacy and relevance if it fails the basic test of ensuring the safety and well-being of the people who elected it into office.

“We are at that point today when the Federal under the leader of President Muhammadu Buhari must rise to it full height and exercise leadership. It is trite to remark that the unfettered activities of bandits, terrorists and other criminals has created the impression in the minds of many Nigerians and even foreigners that the Nigerian state is tottering on the brink of collapse.

"President Buhari must rekindle that confidence and a good place to start would be to work assiduously to secure the release of the kidnapped Kaduna train victims.

Reports and video footages emanating from their abductors are not encouraging.

Continued online

Presidential Primary: APC Constitutes 18 Sub-committees for Convention Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) has set up 18 sub-committees ahead of the party's special convention/ presidential primary scheduled to hold between June 6th and 8th.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Felix Morka disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday.

He said the Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, would Chair the budget committee, while the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed would be the co-chair.

Morka added that Finance and Logistics committee would be chaired by Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while Accreditation and Decoration committee would be chaired by Dapo

Abiodun, Governor of Ogun State He noted that the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, Security and Compliance, while the former Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) would be a Co-Chair: 5. Election Planning – H.E. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Governor of Kebbi State Co-Chair: H.E. Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo State 6. Transportation – H.E. (Dr.) Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Governor of Kano State Deputy: Dr. Ramatu Tijani Aliyu, Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory 7. Accommodation – H.E. Babagana Umara Zulum, Governor of Borno State Co-Chair: H.E. Gboyega Oyetola, Governor of Osun State 8. Media and Publicity- H.E.

Abdullahi Sule, Governor of Nasarawa State 9. Medicals – Dr. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment Co-Chair: Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole, former Minister of Health 10. Legal: Abubakar Malami SAN, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice 11. Venue and Site Servicing: H.E. Bello Muhammad Matawalle, Governor of Zamfara State Co-Chair: Mohammed Musa Bello, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory 12. Election Appeal – H.E. Mai Mala Buni, Governor of Yobe State 13. Hospitality and Welfare – H.E. Simon Lalong, Governor of Plateau State Co-Chair: Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and

Social Development 14. Protocols - H.E. Aminu Bello Masari, Governor of Katsina State 15. Digital Communications – H.E. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Governor of Kwara State 16. Pre-Convention/Management/ Rapporteur – H.E. Mallam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State Deputy: Dame Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs 17. Presidential Screening Appeal – H.E. Abubakar Sani Bello, Governor of Niger State Co-Chair: Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives 18. Accreditation of Diplomats – H.E. Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy President of the Senate Co-Chair: Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister for Foreign Affairs

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NEWS

HEALTH WATCH FOR QUALITY MATERNAL CARE...

L-R; Customer Success Lead, Nivi, Mr. Daniel Momoh; Associate Manager (Women’s Wellness), mDoc, Pharm Chigozie Abiakam,; Managing Director, Nigeria Health Watch, Mrs Vivianne Ihekweazu; Deputy Country Director, Jhpiego, Dr Chibugo Okoli, and Director of Policy and Advocacy, Nigeria Health Watch, Mrs. Ify Babtunde-Yusuf, during the Nigeria Health Watch Evidence for Change Learnings and Recommendations for Quality Maternal Care (MSD for Mothers Partners) event in Abuja..yesterday

Army Denies Involvement of Soldiers in Kidnap of Methodist Church Prelate Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Nigerian Army yesterday denied that soldiers were complicit in the kidnap of the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Samuel Kanu-Uche.

The head of the Methodist Church in Nigeria, had among other claims, stated that security agencies especially soldiers, who were situated at Lokpa Junction along Umuneochi and Isikwuato Local Government Councils of Abia State were indifferent to the kidnap incident.

Members of the church had contributed N100 million for payment of the ransom demanded by the kidnappers.

He identified the kidnappers as Fulani herdsmen, whom he described as the culprits behind the business of kidnapping in Abia State.

He had also alleged that the kidnappers were going behind soldiers at the checkpoint, who were also of Fulani extraction without any action taken by the army personnel even when they made the ransom payment.

But the Nigerian Army Headquarters, in a statement, denied the allegations.

It said allegations by the prelate were not founded on any investigation.

"The Nigerian Army has been notified of the insinuation making the rounds on social media, alleging complicity of troops of the Nigerian Army in the kidnap incident of the Methodist Prelate in Abia State recently.

"While the Nigerian Army expresses concern and sympathy for the victim of this heinous

crime and shares in his pains, the insinuation that troops are complicit in the kidnap incident is not entirely premised on any findings of investigations and therefore cannot be swallowed hook line and sinker," it said.

"This allegation therefore raises some pertinent questions which are still unanswered. Given the spate of insecurity in the region, the question would be, was the issue reported to the unit covering the area? Did the Methodist Church take the Nigerian Army into confidence while negotiating the ransom with

FAAN Explains Why Many Airports in Nigeria Cannot Operate 24 Hours Chinedu Eze The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt. Rabiu Musa Yadudu said it would be costly for the agency to maintain 24 hours operations at all the airports in Nigeria. He disclosed that only few airports are self-sustaining, saying for them to operate for that period it would require huge funding, which the authority cannot afford.

Yadudu who spoke to the media in Lagos, yesterday, said nobody or airport authority would keep an aerodrome functional when there is no commensurate profit to be made from the venture, noting that in many of the airports flights only operate few times a week.

Yadudu cited an instance where an airline wrote to the authority to operate 24 hours to Yola, stressing that after getting the letter, the authority wrote back to the carrier to give an assurance that it would mobilise equipment, personnel and resources to the facility to aid seamless operations for the airline only for the carrier not to pursue the interest any longer.

“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria wants all airports to operate 24-hours. We are service providers and we would like to make money like every service providers do.

“Someone has to pay for the 24-hour service. Nobody keeps airport open 24 hours for an airport that is not busy and has

just one, two or three airlines going to the place.”

He noted that even in Europe and other developed places, so many airports still operate sunrise to set airport service.

“An airline once wrote to FAAN that it wanted to operate to Yola airport. We looked at it and said we were not going to deny them the service. Having to run a 24-hour operation is good but it takes a lot of effort and it costs so much.

“We asked the airline for the feasibility study of running the service for at least six months. We do not want a situation where we start and less than two weeks you stop. We waited for the airline and we never saw the airline again.

A lot goes into it like fuellers. We

don’t open airports for 24 hours anyhow”, he added.

He also said most airline owners were operating their aircraft at half their capacities because of the absence of the requisite Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) at most of the nation’s airports to guide pilots’ land and take off at night and during adverse weather conditions as is the trend all over the world.

“At present, apart from the Lagos and Abuja airports, which operate late night flights up to 11.30pm –12 mid night because of scheduled international flights, the other airports cannot function beyond 6.30pm as they are shut down due to the absence of ILS facilities,” he said.

UBEC Spends N21.6bn on Smart Schools in Six Geo-political Zones Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has disclosed that the sum of N21.6 billion was spent on the construction of six smart schools in the six geopolitical zones of the country.

Also, the Commission has revealed plan to build one of such schools in the 36 states of federation with each estimated to cost about N350 million.

The Commissions spokesperson, Mr. David Apeh who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, said the schools would have the capacity to accommodate a large number of students and ICT infrastructure.

"The Commission is building six Smart Schools (Six Information, Communication and Telecom-

munications schools) in the six geo-political zones at a cost of about N3.6 billion as part of initiative to encourage e-learning in the country.

"UBEC will also build one of such schools in the 36 states of the federation with each estimated to cost about N350 million.

"The schools which will have the capacity to accommodate a large number of students and ICT infrastructure."

Similarly, the Commission said it has commenced efforts to ensure full implementation of e-Learning programmes in basic education across the country following the challenges occasioned in the subsector by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and closure of schools.

To this end, the Commission

assembled a team of experts in Kano for a 5-day workshop for the development of Course Outline and Course Contents for the training of education managers, teachers, technical support personnel and other stakeholders for the Smart Schools and E-Learning programmes in basic education in Nigeria.

Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi in his speech delivered at the workshop said: "The recent challenges in the basic education sub-sector occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for new learning and teaching models that offer learners and teachers flexible learning opportunities that seek to ensure unfettered access to quality education.”

Bobboyi further explained that the capacity building for the different categories of stakeholders would include general training on ICT tools and facilities.

He added that the training would cover all issues pertaining to effective use of various ICT tools and facilities to enable the teachers efficiently use them, saying this would also cover areas that have to do with various software packages and their use as it pertains to e-learning delivery.

On digital pedagogical training, the UBEC boss said this would focus on developing teachers’ skills on e-learning lesson delivery, explaining that the pedagogical skills required for e-learning delivery is far different from the face-face pedagogical skills.

the kidnappers? it queried.

It said no formal complaint was received by the army unit in the area.

"More worrisome is the fact that it was alleged that the ransom was paid in less than 24 hours. Was the ransom paid to troops? These are questions that beg for answers.

"More so, the NA unit has not received any debrief from the Prelate or the Methodist Church.

It is therefore, important to state that troops are deployed at Forward Operating Base(FOB) Okigwe and in front of the Abia State University Uturu and no information was made available to them or to 14 Brigade or any other formation, except the information making the rounds in the social media", it said.

The statement signed by the Spokesman of of the Nigerian Army,

Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu added, "troops' deployment in the Nigerian Army is not done with considerations for ethnic affiliation, hence a deployment of troops of Fulani ethnic extraction, who as alleged by the prelate carried out the dastardly act is not our practice or modus operandi in the Nigerian Army."

Nwachukwu said he was taking the allegation seriously and would meet with the prelate to ascertain the basis of the allegation.

"Given our professional disposition and zero tolerance for any misconduct in the Nigerian Army , we will take this weighty allegation seriously and approach the prelate and the methodist church to unravel the basis for the allegation," he said.

Lagos Steps Up Action on Alternatives as Commercial Motorcycles’ Ban Commence The Lagos State Government yesterday assured residents of the state that it would continue to work towards the achievement of an efficient intermodal transportation system (water, rail and road).

A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos State, Gbenga Omotoso, yesterday, noted the, “remarkable cooperation of Lagosians on the commercial motorcycles ban, which took effect today in six local governments.”

“The compliance was significant in Surulere, Apapa, Eti-Osa, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland and Ikeja. It is the first phase of the ban, which was announced on May 18 by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, following security and safety concerns.”

It quoted Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to have assured Lagos residents and visitors that his administration would not leave them to their own devices, saying it would continue to work towards the achievement of an efficient intermodal transportation system.

“Lagos residents stayed off the motorcycles, also known as “Okada”, as the government rolled out alternatives to cushion likely effects of the ban in many areas.

“Many small buses, under the First Mile and Last Mile Scheme, were rolled out extensively in Surulere, Gbagada, Lekki, Lagos Island and other parts of Lagos.

A number of taxi cabs under the LAGRIDE scheme were deployed in Lagos Island, Ikeja, Surulere, Lekki

and other places. The waterways were also busy as Lagos Ferry Services (LAGFERRY) put more ferries on their routes.

“Law enforcement agencies seized many motorcycles today.

They will all be crushed on Friday in the presence of the media.”

Omotoso while commenting further on the reasons for the ban said: "During the first quarter of this year, the record shows that over 1,712 accidents were recorded, with okada constituting 767 or 45 percent of them. Of all the victims, 54 percent are between 30 and 39 years old; our young people."

He reiterated that during the meeting with DPOs, Area Commanders and the Commissioner of Police, Sanwo-Olu handed down the explicit instruction of ensuring effective enforcement of the ban.

Giving details about plans for an effective clampdown on okada, the Commissioner said: "I want to assure Lagosians that the security agents will do the right thing when enforcing the ban and carry out the exercise in a professional manner because the ban is people-driven. “The local governments are involved; community development associations are involved; everyone is involved in taking back our State from the tyranny of okada."

On alternatives to okada, the Commissioner said the State Government launched over 500 First and Last Mile buses. He said 200 have been rolled out in the last week to serve as an alternative to okada.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JUNE 2, 2022

POLITICS

Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG Email nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com (08114495324 SMS ONLY)

Radda: APC Will Present a Presidential Candidate that Will Match Abubakar The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Katsina State and the Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), Dr. Dikko Radda highlights how he intends to turn the state around. Excerpts by Adedayo Akinwale

H

ow do you feel about picking the ticket for the governorship seat in Katsina State?

Have you reached out to your opponents?

Nine of us contested for the ticket. It was keenly contested and one of the most transparent elections that have ever been conducted in the state. Even at that point, it was ongoing, you can hardly say who was going to win the election. All the opponents have played a key role and they have shown their strength and capacity. I am very glad to say I became victorious. This doesn’t mean I will fold my arms and start feeling superior to others. I have started reaching out to them. Almost all of us come from the same political family.

We have been in politics together for over 20 years. We are friends. Some of us even have personal relationships, and family. All the aspirants have declared their support for and they will work for the party and the state.

Radda

Political stakeholders in Katsina State believe that before you can contest you must have the support of Alhaji Dahiru Mangal. Do you have his support?

I won’t say that I do not have his support.

Because even after the primary, I have reached out to him. We have been together for so many years right from Yar’Adua’s time. I see him as a father and as a senior brother.

All of us playing politics in Katsina see him as a commander who commands the war for the party. We still give him that respect.

We still accord him that respect. We have reached out to him. And he has promised

to work for the party.

What are those things you want to embark on as governor if given the opportunity?

I have started building areas of focus because I have been a player in Katsina and I know what is going on. I was Chief of Staff to the governor and I know how the state is being run. I believe the major stake the state has right now is the

issue of insecurity. I will put more emphasis on security. I will spend a lot of resources to make sure people are secured. It is only when you have security in the state that your children can go to school, that your people can go to the hospital and people can travel.

I think the major area I will want to focus on at the moment is security. What I intend to do is to involve the use of the locals to gather intelligence in the communities. The locals will now work with the conventional security; police, the army as well as other security apparatus. We will try to give them all the necessary support in terms of equipment, vehicles, and moral support. And what kind of moral support can I give? It is for me to lead the war to the war front and confront the bandits together with the military, police, and the locals. And, again for you to succeed or any government, you will need a public service reform. You will need to reform the machinery of government that you are going to use for the reforms because once you don’t have the machinery, once there is no bridge for you to cross, you cannot achieve anything. You will want to encourage public service reform by giving them the necessary training. Placing civil servants where they need to be placed without favoritism.

Whoever deserves to get whatever, he or she needs to get it. We will try to digitalize the system. We will try to have biometric capture of all the staff and all the structure so that you can send instructions through email to your staff and then get the things working for the state. We have to be IT conscious in running the state.

Many Nigerians believe the emergence of Atiku Abubakar is a threat to the APC. What do you think the ruling party should do to defeat the PDP? I don’t think it is a major threat because Abubakar has been running. He has run elections for many years. And I think this is the 6th time most especially for the presidency.

I think attention has always been there. APC is in government now. And we have 22 states or more that are in the control of the APC. And, I want you to wait till next week for the person that will emerge as the presidential candidate of the party. I believe the party will bring somebody who will match Abubakar from the beginning to the end. And then you will understand you can’t play politics of regionalism, ethnicity, and religion under whatever guise anymore. Nigerians are becoming wiser now. What they are looking for is competence. People who can deliver; who can give Nigerians the kind of leadership they need. I don’t need a Hausa man to be president. What I need in the North is to have the security of life and property. If it is an Igbo man or Yoruba that will bring peace and security to my people, why not him? Why must it be a Hausa man? Or a Muslim? Why must he be a Christian? We must go above board in Nigeria and try to think rationally and be able to bring leaders who have the capacity to transform the Nigerian society.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

Abdullahi: Kwarans Voted Out a Government They Didn’t Want for a Government They Don’t Need Former Minister of Youths and Sports and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for Kwara Central Senatorial District, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi spoke with Hammed Shittu in Ilorin shortly after he won the party’s ticket for the Red Chamber of the National Assembly. Excerpts:

Y

ou just emerged through consensus, but to some politicians this is undemocratic, your reaction to that?

It is democratic because the idea of democracy is about people having a say and agreeing on representation, that is the idea of democracy, when you say you give people a voice to decide, to choose, that is democracy so when those people come together to decide that this is the person that we want and we are putting forward, so what can be more democratic than that? The question was put openly: Do you all accept Bolaji Abdullahi as your candidates for the next election? Everybody gave a roaring, yes! There was not a single voice of dissent. If there was a single voice of dissent, you would have been obliged to do an election, but everyone, not an exception there was no second nomination, unanimously said that I would be their candidate. I think that is democratic enough and it is an accepted form of selection of candidates by all regulation of election.

With this submission, why is this method causing a rift at the national level, among the two leading political parties?

I cannot say I understand the full extent of the rift you’re talking about in the two parties.

What I know is that the definition of consensus, is that there is a unanimous position on an issue. Wherever there are voices of dissent no matter how minor those voices could be, they must be given the opportunity to have

Abdullahi

their say, in accordance with the regulation of the election. When there are no voices of dissent, when no one is saying, ‘No, I’m not part of that,’ then you should not expect to have any rift as you call it, but the situation I think you are describing is when everyone is not on the same page in the mode of selection, so when everyone is not on the same page it is difficult

to talk about consensus, and there is alternative to consensus. It is competitive primaries. We have seen it in our party in this state. Some aspirants said, ‘No, we are not going to step down for one another.’ The party said go ahead and contest in the primaries, you could see what happened, competitive primaries was conducted in two house of representatives constituencies, and winners emerged. It is not as if we shut down the space for competitive selection process. I think the situation you described happens when everyone is pulling in the same direction, and I also think in corollary to that, what we would all object to is imposition, where candidates are imposed on the party or the constituencies and the majority of the people don’t want this person, by whatever reason. If the leadership of the party now imposes a candidate against the will of the people then that is undemocratic, and those are the kind of situation that can cause rift as you call it. But, we didn’t have that kind of situation in regards to my election. The party believes that where consensus is not possible then competitive primaries should be allowed as we demonstrated recently.

What are your plans for youths and women if elected as a senator ?

I want to believe that every politician has a reason for playing politics it is not the most enjoyable occupation given my experience. I have my own reason, and it is the same reason in 2019 when I attempted to contest for the

governorship, I announced clearly what my reasons were at that time I wanted to promote youth development, that is why I said my first priority is youth development, second priority, youth development, third priority, youth development and that has not changed, I mean when you have 60% of your population as youths, between the age of 18 and 25 ,you can’t do anything else that makes sense beyond youth development , how do you give skills and opportunities to young people? How do you help young people in their career? How do you give young people the right kind of values that can make them patriotic citizens? These are the reasons I am a politician, and when I get elected into the National Assembly, that will be the main purpose of my representation. It is about how to help young people- education, skills development, those will be my priority and I believe that I will be a voice for my constituency, Asa, Ilorin West, Ilorin East, Ilorin South in the National Assembly because the situation we are going to face in 2023, I want to think that it is remarkably different from where we are coming from. It is going to be turning point for Nigeria. What every constituency will get will depend on the quality of the voice that is representing that constituency in the National Assembly, and I believe I can give that quality voice.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

REPO

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Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

J U N E

S & P INDEX

1 , 2 0 2 2

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OPR

11.25%

CALL

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INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

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N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

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Regulator, Stakeholders Optimistic of 5G Rollout in August, Insist on Removal of Likely Bottlenecks

Emma Okonji Stakeholders and the industry regulator have expressed their readiness for 5G network rollout in August this year, but insisted that the identified challenges, which may likely impede the rollout and sustainability plan must be addressed urgently.

They spoke at the Telecom Infrastructure Forum on 5G Regime, organised by IQ Infrastructure Magazine in Lagos with the theme: “Nigeria’s Telecom Infrastructure in the 5G Regime-Drawing Full Benefits Without Tears.”

Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Ubale Maska, who spoke at the forum as telecom regulator, said: “NCC as a regulator is ready and has auctioned the 5G licence to two telecom operators, MTN Nigeria Limited and Mafab Communications Limited. NCC has equally supervised the trial test of 5G rollout with some operators in some cities and the operators are ready to rollout 5G in August this year, as stipulated in the Information Memorandum (IM).

Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of

Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, who spoke as an operator, said the industry and the operators were ready for 5G rollout.

According to him, “The industry is ready for 5G rollout in terms of infrastructure readiness, having put certain parameters in place such as the establishment of government policy on 5G rollout, licensing of operators for 5G rollout, successful trial test of 5G services by different telecom operators, among other measures. The next step now is for the 5G licensed operators to commence rollout and the target date for the 5G rollout is August

24, 2022.”

Adebayo however identified some challenges, which he said must be addressed in order to achieve hitch-free 5G rollout.

“The first challenge that I see, is the state of protecting existing telecom infrastructure. The second challenge is about the current permitting and approval regime, where approval is not given for the rollout of telecom infrastructure in some quarters, which I see as counter-productive to infrastructure rollout that will likely impede 5G network rollout.

I say this because with 5G rollout, we need more base-stations, steady

electricity supply. A lot of state and local government authorities now see telecom as a means to raise their Internal Generated Revenue (IGR),” Adebayo said.

He insisted that government must ensure that the approval process for telecom infrastructure rollout remained seamless, if government wants to truly rollout 5G without hitches.

“Telecom operators need a onestop-shop for obtaining permit and making payments in such a way that all the requirements to obtain a permit should be available in one office that is accessible by telecom

operators. The issue of security of telecom infrastructure must be addressed by government in order to achieve 5G rollout. Government should fix significant penalty charge for telecom infrastructure vandals,” Adebayo further said.

Head, New Technology Assessment Unit at NCC, Dr. Chidi Diugwu, who spoke on The Essentials of 5G Network, highlighted four key areas to include: Digital Infrastructure, Digital Platforms, Demand for New Skills and Digital Entrepreneurship. According to Continued on page 29

IFPRI: Climate Change Threatening World Food System, 3bn People Cant Afford Healthy Diet Oluchi Chibuzor The International Food Policy and Research Institute (IFPRI) Global Food Policy Report 2022, has warned that climate change is a growing threat to the world’s food systems, with grim implications for food and nutrition security, livelihoods, and overall well-being, especially for poor

and vulnerable people around the world.

IFPRI stressed the need for urgent action on climate change both to achieve the major emissions reductions needed to limit global warming and to increase adaptive capacity and resilience of food systems is drawing global attention.

It advocated that for food systems

policies that create better market incentives, strengthen regulation and institutions, and fund Research and Development (R&D) for climateresilient technologies and practices are needed to catalyze and accelerate climate action.

The report is a peer review publication with the theme, “Climate Change and Food Systems,”

The Director General, IFPRI Global Director, Systems Transformation, Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR), Johan Swinnen, said that this year’s Global Food Policy Report on food systems transformation and climate change echoes the somber warning issued by recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate

Change (IPCC) reports.

He noted that as the world continues to degrade the environment and, “push beyond our planetary boundaries, we are entering a Code Red for Humanity. Food systems are inseparably linked to this unprecedented crisis, which threatens the food security, nutrition, and health of billions of people.”

“Our food systems are not only severely impacted by climate change, requiring an urgent focus on adaption, but also play a role in causing about one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, with two-thirds of that resulting from agriculture, forestry, and other land Continued on page 29

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT W E D N E S D AY, J U N E 1 , 2 0 2 2 BILLS

BONDS DESCRIPTION

Price

Yield

14.20 14-MAR2024 13.53 23-MAR2025 12.50 22-JAN2026 16.2884 17MAR-2027 13.98 23-FEB2028

110.82

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CPS

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NTB 9-Jun22 NTB 14-Jul22 NTB 11Aug-22 NTB 8-Sep22

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NTB 13-Oct22

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0.00 May 24, 2022

MATURITY DANC CP II 25-MAY-22 TRBH CP V 26-JUL-22 FSDH CP VI 1-AUG-22 NENL CP I 24-OCT-22 FSDH CP VII 27-OCT-22

Discount Yield

Change Updated Time (%)

8.85

0.10 May 24, 2022

11.27 11.50

-0.07 May 24, 2022

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7.78

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CONTRACT Current TENOR Contract Rate ($/₦) (MONTH) NGUS JUN 29 1 427.24 2022 NGUS JUL 27 428.93 2 2022 NGUS AUG 31 3 430.63 2022 NGUS SEP 28 4 432.32 2022 NGUS OCT 26 5 434.02 2022

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY JUNEJune 2, 2022 Thursday 2, 2022 Vol 27. No 9916 TR

See page 23 WILL BUHARI PICK ANOTHER BUHARI AS SUCCESSOR? Besides infrastructure, there is little to crow about in the Buhari administration, contends FREDRICK NWABUFO See page 23 RE: PDP’S GREAT BETRAYAL AND THE CHOICE BEFORE THE APC BABAJIDE BALOGUN argues that the PDP is positioned to rescue Nigeria and re-unite her diverse peoples See page 26 INUWA YAHAYA: THREE YEARS IN THE SADDLE The Gombe State governor is keeping the promise, writes ISMAILA UBA MISILLI See page 26 EDITORIAL THE STOWAWAY SECURITY BREACHES

See page 27

& RE A S O

N

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

THE PRESIDENT FLIES A DANGEROUS KITE KEHINDE BAMIGBETAN argues that President Buhari should allow his party members make their choice at the presidential primaries

UT H

Nigeria’s tertiary institutions’ student body does not only lack focus, it is compromised, argues MONDAY PHILIPS EKPE

THE MISUSE AND LATENCY OF STUDENT POWER Dateline: April 17, 1978. The National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS), former umbrella organisation of students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, declared boycott of lectures to mount pressure on the military administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo to reverse its decision to increase school fees. Interestingly, beyond the immediate responsibility of protecting the rights and welfare of its members, NUNS was also interested in furthering the cause of bettering the lives of average citizens. All over WKH FRXQWU\ WKH ÀUVW GD\ ZHQW E\ ZLWKRXW any ugly incident. Compliance was total. No ethnic, religious or regional sentiments stood in the way. The government and people took notice. The famous “Ali must go” protest was underway.

On the second day, however, the atmosphere at the University of Lagos (Unilag) was fouled. Its main gate was barricaded by the police to stop the peaceful march the students had planned to Dodan Barracks, the then seat of the federal government. The confrontation that followed between the unarmed students and their heavily armed aggressors produced DQ XQVSHFLÀHG QXPEHU RI FDVXDOWLHV DQG injuries. Newspaper reports the next day on that tragic encounter ensured that tempers rose sharply across the nation among students and the populace. What had started as a nonviolent registering of grievances was quickly snowballing into an uncontrollable situation. It soon became clear that more disaster was inevitable.

The next theatre of tears and blood was Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Unlike at Unilag where the cops blocked the major entrance into the ivory tower, the case of ABU was more awkward and provocative.

This time, gun-brandishing soldiers forced their way into the campus to quell a riot that existed only in their minds. By the time WKH GXVW VHWWOHG EHWZHHQ ÀYH DQG HLJKW students laid dead. That second round of killings triggered unarmed revolt nationwide, particularly on campuses and university cities and towns. The uprising was bound to gather and maintain momentum as the radical student movement, leading lights of the Nigerian left and labour community worked in concert to pull the government of the day to the path of sensitivity, fairness and justice. After about one week, all institutions of higher learning in Nigeria were shut down.

Although the concerns of the students were not immediately addressed and NUNS was proscribed by the overbearing junta, the capacity of students to mobilise themselves to achieve common goals was no longer in doubt. The potency of the combined energy of the country’s student population had, yet again, moved onto the centre-stage.

Watchers of Nigeria’s social engineering would have no problems identifying the current attempts at student unionism as weak, detached from a spirited and evidently more

glorious past. In 1925, West African Students Union (WASU) was established by African, mainly Nigerian, students in London to join forces with the anti-colonialism elements back home. That step galvanised public debates and orchestrated resistance that eventually brought white rule to its knees.

When the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) later took over from NUNS, its objectives were very clear: SXUVXLW RI DͿRUGDEOH TXDOLWDWLYH WHUWLDU\ education, high standard of living for the people and access to internationally recognised human rights. The May 1986 “Ango must go” agitation that rocked ABU and which soon engulfed virtually every campus in the country tested its character.

After the police fatally shot a female student and some others there, students everywhere URVH LQ XQLVRQ DQG LQ GHÀDQFH RI QDNHG VWDWH brutality and the prospect of a certain death.

7KH ÀUVW XQLYHUVLW\ WKDW UHDFWHG ZDV WKH then University of Ife (Obafemi Awolowo University). That underscored the unity and solidarity that existed within the ranks of the students who demonstrated at every turn the possibility of mass mobilisation devoid of the primordial sentiments that threaten our national cohesion today.

Nostalgia is an intriguing phenomenon.

The past creeps into your consciousness and you relive it in your mind. If the present is not palatable or favourable, the mere remembrance of how things used to be can indeed provide some ready, welcome substitution. It is important, though, for one not to become too engrossed in the events or experiences gone by as that can lead to undesirable consequences, especially psychologically. In Nigeria where a sizable part of the population can recall how wonderful some aspects of national life were in comparison to the dwindling fortunes being recorded in many areas today, reminiscing can actually provide the badly needed relief.

It can also signal the hope that re-enactments and even better versions of yore are not out of reach after all.

Something happened two weeks ago that illustrates the present pitiable state of student unionism in Nigeria. Some South West leaders of NANS reportedly threatened that students of tertiary institutions would shut

So much was accomplished by their forebears without the benefit of the enhanced media of mass communication available to this generation

major airports across the nation in reaction WR WKH RQ JRLQJ VWULNH E\ WKH $FDGHPLF 6WDͿ Union of Universities (ASUU). And what was the occasion? The students had gone to the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja to support the second term bid of the Governor of Ogun State, Mr Dapo Abiodun. That duplicitous move would have been sacrilegious some years ago. Students and their leaders openly and collectively identifying with a politician’s personal aspirations? Whatever the message RQ WKDW GD\ ZDV KDG EHHQ VX΀FLHQWO\ compromised by that partisan setting.

The South East leadership of the student body had equally issued an ultimatum for the re-opening of public universities, reminding everyone about the dire outcomes of any default. “It is our hope”, it warned, “it does not get to this point, but when we are pushed to the wall, we are ready to hold the bull by the horn. Emphatically, we re-emphasise once again that government should show a commitment to the oath of protecting the interest and welfare of Nigerians and Nigerian students which they swore to.” Gradually, decisive and result-oriented actions are being replaced with verbosity, hollow, silly rituals and grandstanding. The other day, I read with shock that a section of NANS “ordered” lecturers to return to classes.

It is truly sad that at a time of great national need that requires harnessing all relevant variables to fortify the future, our students lack corporate direction and resolve. The protests they have so far staged in various parts of the country to draw attention to their continued stay at home have failed to achieve meaningful results largely because they lack strategy, consistency and vigour.

This ought to bother them and the rest of the citizenry. So much was accomplished by their IRUHEHDUV ZLWKRXW WKH EHQHÀW RI WKH HQKDQFHG media of mass communication available to this generation. Is it that societal values have changed drastically and irreversibly?

Students should resist the easy option of blaming their present plight and hazy future on the rampaging, unaccountable old order.

They can tap inspiration from the heroes past DQG RWKHU ODQGV ZKHUH WKHLU EUDYH DQG VHOÁHVV counterparts have stood up to be counted among architects of national landmarks and development. Where to start from in the current circumstances is to sanitise their growing image of being rentable for all sorts of purposes and by men and women of questionable motives. Nigerian students must not lose sight of the fact that even in the face of the de-marketing of the education sector, they are parts of a privileged intellectual elite imbued with productive and transformative powers.

Dr Ekpe is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

2 23

T H I S D AY

KEHINDE BAMIGBETAN argues that President Buhari should allow his party members make their choice at the presidential primaries

THE PRESIDENT FLIES A DANGEROUS KITE The commencement of the screening of the presidential aspirants on Monday was received with relief by many doubting Thomases who had sworn that an aspirant ZRXOG EH LPSRVHG DV ÁDJEHDUHU E\ SUHVLGHQWLDO ÀDW The screening calmed such frayed nerves DQG UHEXLOW FRQÀGHQFH E\ VKRZLQJ WKDW WKH journey to free and fair primaries where all WKH DVSLUDQWV ZRXOG FRPSHWH KDV ÀQDOO\ begun.

The screening came with its expected controversy over how an aspirant was feebly or strongly screened or why the panel, led by a seasoned bureaucrat, excellent governor and experienced party apparatchik Chief John Odigie-Oyegun looked in awe as Asiwaju Bola Tinubu shared his vision of a better and brighter Nigeria based on the gubernatorial mission he discharged creditably in Lagos State. :LWK WKH XQR΀FLDO UHFRUGLQJ DQG release of the screening, excitement took over the airwaves, social media and beer parlours where gossip and imaginative embellishments of the wonderful performance of the Asiwaju were consumed with beer, spirits and isi ewu.

What nobody bargained for was the

The President must not be made to admit to being an accessory to the offence of second term governors throwing their weight over the democratic process, sabotaging the sovereignty of the people and subverting the democratic process dampening incursion of the Commanderin-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari who returned to Nigeria after a few quick WULSV DEURDG LQWR WKH VHDPOHVV ÁRZ RI WKH screening glee.

The incursion turned out to be an urgent intervention into what seemed to be perceived as an aberration, that the process RI GHWHUPLQLQJ WKH ÁDJEHDUHU KDV EHHQ JRLQJ on without the critical input of Mr President in his capacity as the leader of the party. +LV ZRUGV ´$V , EHJLQ WKH ÀQDO \HDU RI my second term as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and leader of the Party, I recognize the compelling need for me to provide stronger leadership to the Party under this transition process and to ensure that it happens in an orderly manner.”

The concept of the President as the Leader of the party is one of the erroneous legacies of the Olusegun Obasanjo presidency, an egregious misapplication of the military command mentality to party politics that buried the conventional principle that the party, not the presidency, is supreme.

I recall a session with the late Second Republic Senate Leader, Dr Olusola Saraki during one of his engagements with political editors in his home in Ilorin. “Oloye” as

he was popularly hailed by his teeming supporters, told us how President Shehu Shagari sat in meetings of the National Party of Nigeria’s caucus which Chief Meredith Adisa Akinloye, also of blessed memory, chaired. Resolutions were taken and the president was obliged to execute them.

It is necessary to emphasise this tenuous basis of Mr President’s tenacious intention WR UDLVH D UHG ÁDJ DQG FDXVH D UHWKLQN RI KLV disposition to the party as an institution for subjugation.

Equally dangerous is the tendency to elevate the misnomers and abnormalities of our current civil dispensation, whose proclivities to derail and abort the democratic tenets, values and ideologies it is meant to nurture and consolidate, to standard practice.

According to Mr President: “Similarly, second term Governors have been accorded the privilege of promoting successors that are capable of driving their visions as well as the ideals of the party.”

Whoever wrote this for Mr President has done the handsome old soldier a lot of injustice! The President must not be made to admit to being an accessory to the RͿHQFH RI VHFRQG WHUP JRYHUQRUV WKURZLQJ their weight over the democratic process, sabotaging the sovereignty of the people and subverting the democratic process. The President is expected to take the famous position of “hear no evil and see no evil’ as regards these unfortunate distortions of our nascent republican democracy. To publicly endorse them is unpresidential; to turn them into a rampart for committing a similar anomaly is incredible.

The Nigerian Constitution came about because we loathed monarchies whose control of the executive, legislative and judicial powers oppressed us and trampled on our rights. We inserted a section on fundamental human rights in the Constitution because we seek to belong to the Free World that the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights birthed. The future of our ongoing transition from. civil rule to democracy cannot be determined by a practice in which second term. governors are given the licence to subvert the role of the party and the citizens on the pretext that they have a vision that must be forced on the people.

But it soon becomes clear why the president has chosen this route. Read the revelation: ‘In keeping with the established internal policies of the Party and as we approach the Convention in a few days, therefore, I wish to solicit the reciprocity and support of the Governors and other stakeholders in picking my successor, who ZRXOG Á\ WKH ÁDJ RI RXU SDUW\ IRU HOHFWLRQ LQWR WKH R΀FH RI WKH 3UHVLGHQW RI WKH )HGHUDO Republic of Nigeria in 2023’ In short, Mr President, in seeking “ reciprocity”, seeks to alienate the fundamental rights of members of the All Progressives Congress, already delegated at proper congresses nationwide, and arrogate these rights to himself, under a nebulous concept of Leader of the Party, to choose his successor on their behalf.

Bamigbetan was a Commissioner for Information in Lagos State

THURSDAY JUNE 2, 2022

Besides infrastructure, there is little to crow about in the Buhari administration, contends FREDRICK NWABUFO

WILL BUHARI PICK ANOTHER BUHARI AS SUCCESSOR? Foxy old Buhari. Artful. Deliberate.

Unassuming but redoubtable. Principled EXW XQDͿHFWHG +H JXDUGV KLV P\VWHU\ He hardly betrays emotion. He keeps his real intentions secreted in layers and layers of very few inscrutable words – and most times in obfuscating silence. Take his “obliviousness’’ for a lack of presence of mind at your own devastating befuddlement.

Buhari knows what he is doing. His seeming VWDQGR΀VKQHVV LV DOO SDUW RI WKH SORW +H knows.

In an interview on Channels Television

in January 2022, the president said he does not care about who succeeds him. Buhari in his own words: “2023 is not my problem, I don’t care who succeeds me; let the person come, whoever the person is. The important thing is, I make sure I put them on record.

Nobody should ask me to come and give any evidence in court, otherwise, whoever it is will be in trouble.’’

But it appears Buhari is making a voltface on his much-vaunted declaration of remaining a spectator in the presidential heat. At a meeting on Tuesday, the

The government failed in addressing insecurity despite many pledges to do so. Citizens live under the cumulus of fear as gunmen and kidnappers roam the land unchallenged. Everyone had hoped for an end to this nightmare, but it has persisted president asked APC governors to observe the ‘changing dynamics’ in picking a presidential candidate and to reciprocate the privileges they enjoy in choosing successors.

In the president’s words: “…I wish to solicit the reciprocity and support of the Governors and other stakeholders in picking my successor… Similarly, second term Governors have been accorded the privilege of promoting successors that are capable of driving their visions as well as the ideals of the party.’’

It is now clear that Buhari cares or has always cared about who succeeds him.

But what are Buhari’s criteria for picking

a successor? Is it personal loyalty?

Integrity? Competence? Knowledge of the economy and security? Proven administrative excellence? Detribalised?

Expansiveness? Well, I think you cannot manifest what you are not; you can only reproduce yourself.

I believe Buhari will pick a successor, based on personal loyalty, who will continue in his footsteps, carrying on the work of his administration and FRQFHDOLQJ ZKDWHYHU ÁDZ WKHUH LV LQ WKH establishment. In April, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo declared his presidential bid. In his speech, he said he would continue the ‘’good works’’ of the Buhari administration.

The vice-president in his own words: ‘’…In the past seven years, I have served as Vice President under a true Nigerian patriot, a servant of the nation in war and peace, and a man of integrity, President Muhammadu Buhari… If by the grace of God and the will of the people, I am given the opportunity, then I believe that ÀUVW ZH PXVW FRPSOHWH ZKDW ZH KDYH started.’’

Osinbajo’s campaign messaging has been on ‘’continuity’’. This evidently strokes Buhari’s ego and that of the ‘’cabal’’ who had a frosty relationship with the vice-president in the past. Well, Osinbajo’s ‘’campaign of continuity’’ could be what Buhari wants. A reprise of the same. A plus ca change. In Osinbajo is Buhari, perhaps, reproduced. Buhari wants “continuity’’.

Like Osinbajo, Ahmad Lawan’s campaign messaging pivots on continuing on the path of Buhari. Lawan DSSRLQWHG KLPVHOI %XKDUL·V ÁXQNH\ DQG has been dutiful in tending the table of the president. The Senate under him is the boys’ quarters of the executive. He makes a spectacle of his ‘’loyalty’’ and confesses publicly his subservience to Buhari. On the grounds of loyalty, which LV REYLRXVO\ DͿHFWHG /DZDQ FRXOG EH D primary choice of Buhari and the muchtalked about cabal.

He was drafted into the presidential race as a counterweight to the outcome of the PDP presidential primary election which former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar won. It had been long projected that Atiku would win the PDP primaries, so Lawan, a very pliant factotum of Buhari, was brought into the presidential contest.

Other presidential hopefuls like Bola Tinubu, Rotimi Amaechi, and Kayode Fayemi are independent-minded and will want to chart their own course instead of remaining tied to the apron strings of anyone.

Is it a bad idea for Buhari to seek to reproduce himself? Yes and no. Nigeria deserves a break, and not a protraction of killings, freewheeling debts, prostrate economy, and blanket apprehension. The Buhari administration has done well in providing infrastructure – in fact, more than any other government before it since 1999. Buhari’s legacy is infrastructure.

Nwabufo is a writer and journalist

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BABAJIDE BALOGUN argues that the PDP is positioned to rescue Nigeria and re-unite her diverse peoples

RE: PDP’S GREAT BETRAYAL AND THE CHOICE BEFORE THE APC Femi Fani Kayode’s recent article “PDP’S GREAT BETRAYAL AND THE CHOICE BEFORE THE APC” is a classic example of hate speech. I’ve read the article an umpteenth time. And each time I read, I ask myself: “How does FFK sleep at night?”

In his ill-advised publication, Fani Kayode GHVFULEHG SROLWLFV DV ´GL΀FXOW JDPH ÀOOHG with intrigue, betrayal and treachery. It is murky, it is foggy, it is dark, it is treacherous, it is full of intrigue and mystery and nothing is as it seems or appears.” True as this may look, considering the peculiar politics of

Nigeria, Fani Kayode was actually describing himself! FFK is full of intrigue. FFK is a man with the unenviable penchant to bite the hands that feed him.

It is on record that the PDP as a party has hitherto favoured the supposed “South” of the country in the choice of its presidential ÁDJEHDUHU 7KLV LV DQ LQFRQWURYHUWLEOH IDFW In the 16 years of the PDP in power at the federal Level, two zones from the South held sway for 13 years and three months. This was via Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (eight years) DQG 'U *RRGOXFN -RQDWKDQ ÀYH \HDUV DQG three months). Under the PDP, the North held presidential power for less than two years and nine months (via the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua).

Since the 2003 presidential elections, Femi Fani Kayode’s newfound friends have QRW RQO\ ÀHOGHG 1RUWKHUQ FDQGLGDWHV EXW WKH\ KDYH SHUVLVWHQWO\ ÀHOGHG 2QH VLQJOH candidate, Muhammadu Buhari. They did VR LQ ÀYH FRQVHFXWLYH HOHFWLRQV 2011, 2015 and 2019. Thus, Mr. Fani-Kayode should have directed his vituperations to his new found friends in the APC. Instead, KH YLOLÀHV WKH 3'3 D SDUW\ WKDW KDV WKXV IDU ÀHOGHG FDQGLGDWHV IURP WKH 6RXWK )RXU WLPHV in the six rounds of Presidential Elections since 1999. 2023 will be the seventh round of Presidential Elections. By next year, therefore, 3'3 ZRXOG KDYH ÀHOGHG 6RXWKHUQ FDQGLGDWHV on four occasions, as against three times for 1RUWK ,I WKLV GRHV QRW UHÁHFW HTXLW\ IDLUQHVV and fair-play, I wonder what does!

Fani Kayode mentioned Ohanaeze Ndigbo in his diatribe. It was uplifting to read a rejoinder refute a similar write-up contained in another rogue publication. In its repudiation, the revered umbrella body of Ndigbo worldwide described them as “mischief-makers, impostors, charlatans and unscrupulous social climbers….”

In his myopic assessment of the PDP Presidential Primaries (an event monitored by both local and foreign media, and beamed via live telecast to a global audience), he failed to mention the underhand, last minute extension of the deadline of the Presidential Primaries! A development that was obviously

designed to favour the ruling APC who still appear rudderless and clueless as to how to simply “organize” a credible convention. As noted by ace-writer, scholar and journalist, Dr. Reuben Abati, “The extension was announced on the eve of the PDP Presidential Convention after the party was no longer in a position to shift its own programme”.

Dr. Abati continued thus: “This was at a point when the main opposition party FRXOG QR ORQJHU EHQHÀW IURP WKH H[WHQVLRQ and its rival, the ruling APC would have the opportunity of spying on the outcome of the neighbour’s primary. To the extent that INEC is expected to be completely neutral and independent, its decision to shift the goal-post in the middle of the game was illadvised.”

In his piece, Fani Kayode described his own people of the South West as “hewers of wood and drawers of water”. He accused the PDP of giving its ticket to “a man who is the best of friends with Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, the defender-in-chief of the terrorists of the north-west”. I began to wonder if he was referring to President Buhari.

Ahmad Gumi is an avowed loyalist of Mr. President. He’s been tagged a celebrity go-between for the APC-led federal government. Just 18 months ago, Fani Kayode described Gumi, the APC and the Buhari-led government as being tied together with an umbilical cord. But I guess the APC sees through his thinly veiled hypocrisy.

In the same article, and in what I believe was an unintended intellectual somersault, Fani Kayode revealed the dictatorial undersides of Buhari and the APC! He insists that in choosing its Presidential candidate, Buhari holds the “Yam and the Knife” that he could do that with “Just one phone call”.

In his exact words, Fani Kayode tells us to “make no mistake about it, this decision is Buhari’s and his alone. He alone will most OLNHO\ GHWHUPLQH ZKR $3& ZLOO ÀHOG DQG where that person comes from. If he chooses to stop any presidential aspirant from emerging even at this late stage he can do so, no matter how popular, rich and powerful that aspirant may be.”

It is laughable to read Femi Fani Kayode denouncing the PDP for holding a convention and Presidential primaries in the full glare of the world, while descending to hail the APC for planning a voodoo-convention that will be determined by just One Man! FaniKayode’s duplicity cannot be more glaring. ,Q KLV ÀQDO VXEPLVVLRQ )DQL .D\RGH prescribed where Nigeria’s political parties should pick their presidential candidates from. In his words: “I am on record as saying that the three zones that ought to be considered for the nomination before others are the SOUTH-EAST, NORTH-CENTRAL and NORTH-EAST and I stand by that.”

Well, Atiku is North-East!

Furthermore, he asserted that “Compared to the south-west, north-west and southsouth, none of them has had a fair crack of the whip when it comes to democraticallyelected presidents and they all deserve to have their chance.”

Well, PDP via Atiku just gave the NorthEast a chance!

Balogun, D SXEOLF DͿDLUV DQDO\VW ZULWHV IURP ,EDGDQ

The Gombe State governor is keeping the promise, writes ISMAILA UBA MISILLI

INUWA YAHAYA: THREE YEARS IN THE SADDLE From education where the declaration of state of emergency has led to a revolution considering the scope and impact to health with similar performance to strategic infrastructure that has opened up Gombe State with several modern roads and the key issue of water provision through the Gombe Regional Water supply scheme, the people are feeling a new sense of reality.

With over 200 capital projects executed in education, over 230 in the health sector and over 400 kilometres of roads under the Network 11-100 which targets the construction of at least 100 kilometres of roads in each of the 11 local government areas of the state, the Jewel in the Savannah has changed tremendously in the critical development index compared to the inherited situation in 2019.

I think the revolution in education should be properly put into context here being a major interest of Governor Inuwa ZKR RQ DVVXPSWLRQ RI R΀FH KDG SURPLVHG to break from the past by revamping the LPSRUWDQW VHFWRU 7KH ÀUVW PDMRU VWHS WDNHQ by the administration was to increase the budgetary allocation by over 60 per FHQW D GHYHORSPHQW WKDW KDV VLJQLÀFDQWO\ facilitated the construction, renovation aims to protect the best interest of the people and equipping of over 1000 classrooms in not only through popular participation but 156 schools, over 30,000 units of classroom also the inherent safety valves of its process furniture, sporting facilities, water, that guarantee overall happiness of the sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, people by serving the greatest interest of the laboratory equipment and other teaching materials. Of note here is the mopping up highest number.

The foregoing are issues of public interest of over 350,000 out-of-school children from as Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu the streets and the establishment of over 700 ,QXZD <DKD\D PDUNV KLV WKLUG \HDU LQ R΀FH non-formal girl-child and Almajiri learning Unlike in the recent past, there is a centres carried out by the innovative Better consensus of opinion among the citizenry Education and Service Delivery for All and outsiders alike that the Inuwa Yahaya-led SURMHFW %(6'$ 7KH LGHD WR GHVLJQDWH ÀYH JRYHUQPHQW KDV H[KLELWHG VR PXFK ÀGHOLW\ WR legacy secondary schools, namely, GGSSS his campaign promises and making a huge Doma, GSSS Gombe, GSSS Kaltungo, GSS Dukku and GCSS Dadin Kowa as special GLͿHUHQFH LQ WKH OLYHV RI WKH SHRSOH Therefore, it strikes a common purpose of schools to ensure qualitative education is public good by interrogating the stewardship forward looking just as the establishment of of Governor Inuwa Yahaya (Dan Majen the Teacher Resource Centre in Kwami can Gombe) at this juncture and especially in only improve professional development the context of his second term bid having of our teachers since they are critical to the successfully secured the ticket of his party, government’s vision of qualitative learning.

Similarly, the one primary health centre the All Progressives Congress (APC). It is one crucial election he is poised to win insha in each of the 114 wards in the state is Allah as a reward for his achievements in his essential to healthy living and indeed basic to the Sustainable Development Goals ÀUVW WHUP What is so far seen in Gombe is the fact (SDGs) where health is a major factor.

WKDW *RYHUQRU ,QXZD <DKD\D FDPH LQWR R΀FH Yes, the upgrading of the State Specialist well prepared with a broad vision and focus Hospital to a standard tertiary hospital on the essence of his leadership and a good which has also facilitated the internship understanding of the development issues in training of graduate doctors is now improving the number of doctors in the the state.

We also take cognizance of his ideas-laden state. The government embarked on the leadership and methodology, a clear process upgrading of the state specialist hospital that speaks to his varied experiences both in including the installation of relevant the public and private sectors as a man with equipment that were hitherto lacking a Midas touch. The government’s distinctive such as X-rays and Ultrasound machines, success in the last three years, therefore, is ECG, Echo, Endoscopy and equipping a feature of consummate leadership that is of the dialysis centre constructed by the so purposeful and determined to serve the past administration but left unequipped. people with commitment and serious about In addition to that, one general hospital in each of the three senatorial zones is leaving a lasting legacy.

So when he said at inauguration in 2019 upgraded so as to make available to the WKDW KH ZLOO IXOÀO DOO WKH FDPSDLJQ SURPLVHV people specialized services and reduce the he made to all the 114 electoral wards and burden on the state specialist hospital. over 400 communities he visited to canvass Misilli for votes and as contained in his manifesto, he LV 'LUHFWRU *HQHUDO 3UHVV $ͿDLUV really meant it. He has now been vindicated Government House, Gombe as a promise keeper.

Given the character of politics and governance in our clime, there is the tendency by the people to be cynical about pronouncements or promises made by political leaders especially during elections.

Of course, there is a legitimate concern perhaps as a result of experience by the populace over inability of governments to deliver on their manifestoes. Pointedly, this is a major issue in democracy.

It is noteworthy here that democracy itself

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EDITORIAL

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

THE STOWAWAY SECURITY BREACHES Security agencies could do more to secure the airports

T

addressed. he Murtala Muhammed International There are several security personnel (from the Airport, Lagos, recently witnessed Airforce, Police, DSS, etc.) working at the airports, another horror show. On Runway 18R, most often at cross purposes. We recommend that the mangled body of a young man who these security agencies be collapsed into one with a probably dropped from the undercarriage singular mandate of protecting the airports under the compartment of an aircraft was found.

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Their Security operatives who removed the body for further personnel should report to the airport Chief Security investigation were of the conviction that it could only 2΀FHU UDWKHU WKH FRPPDQGV IURP ZKHUH WKH\ DUH be another failed stowaway attempt. As the busiest posted from.

There is also the need for the security gateway in Nigeria, the Lagos airport has unbeaten RSHUDWLYHV WR EH SURÀOHG DW UHJXODU LQWHUYDOV WR HQVXUH record of having the highest number of stowaways. that they are still worthy Yet, all these ‘escape’ to work at the airport. attempts on international Besides, there should be destinations, except one, There are several security personnel working at the airports, comprehensive coverage have failed. The only of the airport territory survivor to date is a young most often at cross purposes. We recommend that these security with CCTV, which must man who hid himself in be manned 24 hours with agencies be collapsed into one with a singular mandate of protecting the spares compartment every part, including of Boeing B747 operated the airports under the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria the runway areas, well by a Nigerian carrier, illuminated.

Medview Airlines in For years, there has been 2017. Others that hid in intense concern about the porous nature of security the wheel-well of aircraft were either crushed or killed at many of our airports.

In July 2019, a man, later by frozen cold.

T H I S D AY LGHQWLÀHG DV D 1LJHULHQ MXPSHG LQWR WKH HQJLQH RI EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU What is obvious in all the incidents is that those who DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA Azman aircraft, which was at the holding point of attempted to stowaway had easy access to the airport, MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO the runway of the Murtala Muhammed International which indicates serious frequent security breaches. It DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU Airport, Lagos. In the aircraft were passengers who also has been established that those ill-fated Nigerians CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI had already settled for the Lagos to Port Harcourt EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN could not have had access to the restricted airside of MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI ÁLJKW )URP WKH YLGHR FOLS WKDW ZDV WDNHQ E\ D the airport without insider support which made it THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE SDVVHQJHU RQ WKH ÁLJKW DQG PDGH SXEOLF WKH LQWUXGHU SRVVLEOH IRU WKHP WR VQHDN LQWR WKH DLUFUDIW WR Á\ RXW was clutching a bag. What could have happened if of the country. that bag contained incendiary device and the aim was The Lagos airports, like many others in Nigeria, T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D to bomb the aircraft? do not have comprehensive security and perimeter EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA 2Q WKH VSHFLÀF FDVH RI WKH PDQJOHG FRUSVH RQ /DJRV fencing that could prevent intruders from accessing GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, airport runway we are aware that some of the existing ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI the sterile area. But with every airworthy aircraft DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, security fences are dilapidated, enabling people to SDUNHG DW WKH DLUSRUW JXDUGHG E\ VHFXULW\ R΀FLDOV ANTHONY OGEDENGBE illegally stroll in. The federal government should accessing them could only be possible with insider DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI expedite action on the construction of perimeter and collaboration. Yet, in aviation security, insider threat is SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH security fences.

FAAN and the aviation handling ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI considered the most dangerous since it could enable CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI FRPSDQLHV PXVW DOVR PRQLWRU WKH DFWLYLWLHV RI R΀FLDOV terrorists and other criminals gain access to the airport DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO to know those that might be working with outsiders to and endanger human lives and property. That is what TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com breach security at the airports. makes this development very serious and should be

Letters to the Editor Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LETTERS FOR ATIKU, IT’S NOW, OR NEVER! Continued from backpage All these, according to Atiku, “brought with it enormous social consequences such as wealth without labour, briefcase contractors and generations of youth accustomed to aspiring to be employed by others rather than WKLQNLQJ RI FUHDWLQJ MREV IRU WKHPVHOYHV DQG RWKHUV µ Since the call for restructuring is even more relevant today given the existential challenges confronting us, it will be interesting to see how Atiku handles this issue without resorting to gimmickry. In one of his disquiVLWLRQV RQ WKH ÁDZV LQ RXU IHGHUDWLRQ $WLNX DOVR VDLG VRPHWKLQJ WKDW PD\ SURYLGH DPPXQLWLRQ IRU ÀHUFH critics in the weeks and months ahead: “As we became more dependent on oil revenues, we became lazier, more complacent, and our leaders became ever more unaccountable. Among the most destructive impacts of our dependence on oil is, perhaps, the corruption that it has IRVWHUHG LQ WKH RLO LQGXVWU\ DQG VRFLHW\ DW ODUJH µ I have stated earlier that there will be time to put Atiku on the scale. But I congratulate him on his emergence as the PDP presidential candidate. For now, all eyes are on

the ruling party that on Monday and Tuesday turned its screening exercise into a social media circus. One contender even arrived the venue from Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detention!

So, while we currently have only Atiku to contend with as we wait for the APC to conclude on their magic, our assessment will remain tentative guesses. But an abiding asset of his long hug with power at the apex is that Atiku comes across as a pan Nigerian politician who is cosmopolitan, business friendly and urbane. These qualities place him on a comfortable pedestal against any opponent imposed by the incumbent or one who VHHNV WR Á\ WKH ÁDJ RI UHJLRQ IDLWK RU DQ\ RI WKH GLYLsive tendencies currently threatening the survival of our country.

7KH IRUHJRLQJ PDSV WKH WUDMHFWRU\ RI LVVXHV DQG TXHVWLRQV WKDW ZLOO GHÀQH WKH SUHVLGHQWLDO HOHFWLRQ LQ 1Lgeria. The days, weeks and months ahead are therefore bound to be very interesting. And I will be watching!

Olusegun Adeniyi, Abuja

THE WRONG ANSWER The tragedy at Robb Elementary School, Texas last week has raised a number of questions, how can these shootings be prevented, how to identify seriously disturbed individuals and how to manage gun ownership. There are a number of suggestions ranging from tighter gun control to arming teachers but there is little agreement on what to actually do and while the N.R.A. is still powerful it is unlikely that schools will be safe from the disturbed person who can buy assault weapons. A google search reveals that there is a great amount of discussion in the news sections but more disturbing are some of the solutions available in the ‘shopping’ section. There are the more conventional suggestions of bulletproof doors and windows but now bulletproof desks and bulletproof backpacks.

Surely when a student has to have a bulletproof desk to feel secure then the world has gone wrong, and a much better solution has to be found. A bulletproof backpack tells a student that they are possibly going to be shot at and that is not something a child especially a primary school child should have to face.

The solution is not to increase the number and power of guns, shame on you N.R.A., but to restrict their use to people that have a proper reason for their use, military, police, farmers and even recreational users but no home should have a collection of assault weapons.

It’s time for kids to smile not cower in fear.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS L-R: National Commissioner and CEO of Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB), Dr. Vincent Olatunji; CTO, inq. Digital, Tolu Ajayi; Head Customer success & Experience, inq. Digital, Adedayo Fadeyomi; Senior Manager, Business Development, inq. Digital, Akinbiyi Akinribido, and publisher of Nigeria Communications Week, Ken Nwogbo, at the 2022 Edition of the BOICT Awards held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos… recently

Telcos Call for Regulatory Intervention to Protect Small Operators’ Business Interest Emma Okonji Telecom operators (Telcos) have called on industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to be more proactive in protecting the business interest of small operators, in order to keep them afloat.

The Telcos who made the call in Lagos through the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON),

Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, said the need to protect small operators became necessary, following the recent Internet Service Provider (ISP) licence issued to Starlink by the NCC, to operate in Nigeria.

Worried that Starlink is owned by the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, telecom operators are of the view that Starlink may likely introduce stiff competition that could send smaller ISPs packing, if Starlink is

not controlled by existing industry regulation.

Adebayo said the telecom industry has moved with technology trends, since inception, and that the successes recorded in the industry, was as a result of the combined efforts of both the big and small players that have continued to respond to technological innovations. He said both the small and big operators had never played the catch-up game, because as new

technologies evolve, operators adopt and invest in the technologies as they trend, adding that the smaller operators deserve to be protected in order to remain relevant in business.

According to Adebayo, “The regulator should seek to protect the smaller players in the industry, because their service offerings are as important as the service offerings of the bigger operators. We have different tiers of players in the

industry, ranging from tier 1 to tier 2, tier 3, tier 4 and even tier 5, and they are all important in the growth of the entire ecosystem.

Regulation must be mindful of the behaviour of the big players that could impact negatively on the small players. Today, many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have gone under because of unfavourable competition against them from the big players. In the early days,

we had the core ISP operators and telecom operators, but as technology evolves, convergence became inevitable and the telecom operators started offering internet services, which was hitherto the core business of ISPs. With the new development, some of the ISPs could not compete favourably with the big telecom operators, which eventually forced them into extinction.”

Ad Practitioners Worry over Destruction of Outdoor Platforms Raheem Akingbolu The Heads of Advertising Sectoral Group (HASG), a sectoral body made up of integrated marketing communications professionals and advertisers, have called on the government of Lagos State and Kaduna State respectively, to stop wanton destruction of Out-of-Home Advertising platforms in the two states.

In a joint press briefing in Lagos, the group which comprises Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), OAAN, Advertisers’ Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), Experiential Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (EXMAN) and Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) called in response to the recent plan by the Lagos government to concession seven major roads in the state and the demolition of billboards in

Kaduna State through its agency, Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUDA).

The group said the crises are capable of crippling the Outdoor advertising industry, which will result in increased unemployment and consequently lead to a decline in government revenue generation through taxes if the issues are not addressed on time.

OAAN President, Emmanuel Ajufo, said his association received seven days notice and when conversations were still ongoing, the agency started demolishing

Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

the owners from recovering them, and sold them off to those who trade in scraps.

“We have since found out that the whole essence is to allow some favoured business owners, close to the corridors of power in Kaduna State to install their LED platforms in those areas, and have the monopoly of practicing there. This is another form of franchising, and HASG frowns at it,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said the planned concessions of some major roads in Lagos to bidders would bring about monopoly and increase

in the cost of engaging Outof-Home media platforms by advertisers and therefore should be reconsidered.

In response to this, ADVAN President, Osamede Uwubanmwen, said if the cost of placing adverts on some of these billboards became so high, its members would move their advertising budgets to other media platforms to reach their target audience and it might further affect the OOH industry.

AAAN President, Steve Babaeko, said Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) contribute to

economic growth, urging Lagos and Kaduna governments to suspend the move, stating that billions of Naira must have been lost by OOH practitioners in Kaduna even as OAAN President said the value of what has been lost will soon be reported.

MIPAN President, Tunji Adeyinka, on his part said OOH employs a lot of people and the concession would further increase the unemployment rate while Eki Adzufeh, Executive Secretary, MIPAN said the government needs to revisit the decision and engage industry stakeholders.

ZirooPay to Tap into Africa’s $500bn Retail Market with Mobile POS Technology Emma Okonji

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Deputy Business Editor Chinedu Eze Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) KayodeTokede(CapitalMarkets) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance)

their billboards. The decision according to the state is due to its urban renewal policy to replace all existing static billboards in the state metropolis with LightEmitting Diode (LED) platforms.

He said that some of his members operating in the state are now battling debt and healthrelated issues emanating from the threats and losses.

“But, while discussions were still ongoing between OAAN and KASUPDA, the state rolled out the bulldozers and other instruments of destruction and pulled down billboards’ structures, prevented

As part of its long term strategic growth plan, Nigeria’s retail Point-ofSale solution provider, ZirooPay, is set to leverage its recent funding round to tap into the growing opportunities in Africa’s retail sector.

Armed with a unique technology that enables small businesses to process card payments in real-time, even when there is no internet/ data connection, ZirooPay said it would be strategically positioned

to explore the continent’s growing retail opportunities, especially as the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTA), with a combined market of 1.2 billion people and a GDP of $2.5 trillion, takes off.

The Chief Executive Officer of ZirooPay, Omoniyi Olawale, said innovation payment solutions such as ZirooPay would be an imperative, as wholesale and retail sectors continue to dominate Africa’s contribution to its GDP,

even as population growth and rapid urbanisation continue to drive consumption across the continent.

“ZirooPay has set out to build an operating system for retail in Africa by providing solutions that not only drive financial inclusion but also support the payment infrastructure needed for retail to thrive on the continent. Lack of reliable payment technology for the continent remains one of the major challenges that has hindered trade tremendously and ZirooPay

Mobile POS solution will address this challenge,” Olawale said.

According to him, ZirooPay’s payments solution is fast, simple and reliable, delivering a 95 per cent transaction success rate for POS transactions compared to the industry’s average of 25 - 50 per cent. The solution leverages its unique and patented internet-free technology, to enable Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across the retail, agency banking, hospitality and services sectors,

to process in-person payments, track their sales, and manage their businesses from their mobile devices.

Beyond payments, ZirooPay also provides merchants with automated sales history, sales analytics, and inventory tracking to help them monitor and manage their businesses more efficiently.

ZirooPay’s superior transaction success rate and the integrated nature of its service stand it out from the competition.

Callphone Gets CBN PSS Licence Emma Okonji Callphone Limited, a premier financial technology brand in Nigeria, has been granted the final approval licence to operate under the Payment Solution Service (PSS) licence category as a PSSP/ PTSP/Super Agent in Nigeria. This final licence approval, dated 25th of April, 2022 came approximately five months after the company was given Approval-in-Principle (AiP)

back in November, 2021.

Callphone Limited now becomes the first Fintech company to be granted the CBN’s PSS licence to operate as a PSSP, PTSP, and Super-Agent in Nigeria.

Over the years, Callphone Limited has launched several customer-centric products actualizing CBN’s financial inclusion goal in line with the National Financial Inclusion Strategy.

Announcing the development, the company’s Ag.MD/CEO,

Precious Chidozie Ekezie, expressed his excitement saying; “I am delighted to announce our acquisition of the final PSS license.

With this, we become the pioneer of this licence categorisation that has escrowing the minimum capital requirement - N250 million - to CBN as one of the licensing prerequisites. We were able to achieve this through the continuous support of the company board, dedicated

management team, and wonderful staff who align with our mission and vision.’

Ekezie highlighted the importance of the license and restated the company’s commitment to driving the financial inclusion initiative to every corner of the continent.

The PSS license takes Callphone a step further towards achieving its goal in building a reliable and reputable financial service

company. The company’s mission of providing seamless financial transactions to customers and partners is in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s financial inclusion policy and this license provides a quantum leap to the growth of the company as it works towards contributing its quota to strengthen and intensify the Fintech reach and creating new possibilities in the financial technology sector in Africa, Ekezie said.

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Uaboi: Contactless Payment Will Increase Transactions, Reduce Fraud Country Manager, Visa Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Uaboi, speaks on new initiatives to address fraud in financial transactions, and how contactless payment will further increase speed of payment transactions and reduce fraud, when approved by the Nigerian regulatory authority. Emma Okonji presents the excerpts: The effect of COVID-19 has forced many businesses and organisations to go online, thereby increasing online transactions. How are financial institutions coping with the new shift to online transaction and what impact is it creating on businesses? ith COVID-19, we saw a lot of shifts to digital forms of payment, which accelerated the digital payment in Nigeria and globally. We have seen significant number of businesses coming online as a result of the effect of COVID, which was because people’s movement was restricted and businesses have to take advantage of the situation to take their business online where they could meet willing buyers who were restricted from physical movement because of the wide spread of COVID at that time. What that did for businesses was to compel small businesses going online as well as consumers going online also. In the global economy and in Nigeria, the shift to online transactions created new jobs by opening up a new ecosystem where people from different parts of the country, meet online to transact one form of business or the other.

From Sokoto in the northern part of Nigeria to Umuahia in the eastern part of Nigeria, including those from the six geopolitical parts of Nigeria, people converge online to communicate and trade. So it opened up new channels of businesses where people have to think about logistics, which is a new form of business. With the logistics business, we saw the springing up of dispatch riders who do logistics business by delivering goods that were bought online, directly to the doorsteps of consumers.

Beyond the logistics business, we also saw the growth of packaging business. So online payment has expanded opportunities for Nigeria and other countries to bring more people into the payment ecosystem. So payment remains a strong focus for Visa, and it is the reason we are looking into the future to see how we can continue to evolve it and bring more people into the financial ecosystem.

enhancing security in the payment ecosystem?

We see emerging technologies largely driven by contactless payments, which are frictionless payments carried out by tapping the card on a Point of Sales (PoS) device or any other electronic device. It is a technology that is fast driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. We saw about 40 per cent growth in contactless payments globally, within one year after the spread of COVID-19. We have also seen that in the United Stares, one in six people testified that they did their first contactless payment transaction during the period of COVID-19. Contactless payment provides a more hygienic and secured way of payment and it is the most convenient way of payment. We are working with our partners to ensure that the ecosystem is ripe and ready for launch. We believe that Nigeria will soon launch its contactless payment system. With contactless payments, there will be new used cases that will evolve, which probably have not even been thought about.

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Hacking of data and individual bank accounts are on the rise. What are the measures put in place by Visa to protect the accounts of individuals and organisations?

From inception, security has been a major focus of the Visa business, because we believe that without security, there will be no trust and without trust, people will not be confident to patronise certain goods and services. Visa takes deliberate and conscious effort to ensure that the payment infrastructure is secured and that we have products and solutions that guarantee the right security.

For instance, Visa has a solution called the EMV 3-D Secure, which is a solution for next generation authentication, and it is a two-factor authentication that has now been made mandatory for use of payment by the Nigerian payment authority. It helps to authenticate transaction before a particular transaction is completed.

EMV 3-D Secure is a world-class authentication solution with rich data at its core. The industry-wide messaging standard allows merchants and issuing banks to verify consumer identity before a transaction is sent for authorisation, helping them to detect and prevent fraud while benefitting consumers with a smooth, consistent user experience across multiple payment channels, including mobile web, in-app and digital wallet payments. It can also eliminate the need for consumers to type in passwords to complete their online purchases, meaning fewer steps and fewer false declines at online checkout. Additionally, EMV 3-D Secure allows issuers to leverage advanced data models and intelligent rules to make data-driven

How do you see Nigeria adopting contactless payment solution and what impact will it create on individuals and organisations?

Currently the Nigerian payment market is waiting for regulatory approval for the use of contactless payment. At the stage we are in, we are not seeing a lot of contactless transactions taking place in the country.

However, banks have issued cards to customers and the cards can perform contactless transactions. For many of the Visa card holders, when they travel abroad, they are able to use their Visa cards to tap on devices at train stations, bus stations and malls. At the stage that we are in now in Nigeria, we are just waiting for the framework to be finalised to begin the process in Nigeria and open up the ecosystem. From a technology standpoint, the Nigerian market is willing and ready for contactless payment.

Uaboi authentication decisions and reduce friction at checkout. These are some of the initiatives we have put in place to safeguard consumers from becoming victims of fraudsters. There is however, a lot of work to do by working with our partners to educate and help the average consumers recognise the vulnerability that they may be exposed to and the benefits of the security solutions that Visa has introduced.

So how far is Visa getting along with consumers in its enlightenment programme that is designed to educate the consumers?

The enlightenment programme is ongoing and it is something we constantly do with our partners to educate consumers, through our various platforms and channels. We have been on it for several years and we will continue to carry out the sensitisation and enlightenment programme as long as technology continues to evolve.

How will you react to situations where financial institutions under-report hacking of their network infrastructure, and what could be the implication on financial institutions and the Nigerian economy?

From our perspective, financial institutions and other organisations should be courageous enough to always report attacks on their systems and networks by hackers. It is only by reporting that the proper modus operandi can be identified to trace those that are involved in any attack and to also come up with the best safeguards to prevent future occurrence that may follow that same pattern of attack. So we typically will encourage our partners to always report

attacks, because through reporting, lessons can be learnt in order to prevent future occurrence.

How will you describe the strength and resilience of the network architecture of financial institutions in Nigeria and what is the plan of Visa to protect the financial ecosystem in Nigeria and Africa?

Nigeria has one of the best evolving financial ecosystems in the world and Visa has a very proactive and engaging regulator. Before EMV 3-DS was deployed world-wide, we already had our regulators thinking about how to strengthen networks and protect consumers online. Our regulator had always mandated institutions to have strong solutions in place that will protect not only the consumers, but also the banks as well.

So I will say Nigeria has advanced architecture, which can be improved upon and Nigeria has a regulator that is vast and in-tune with the evolution in the financial payment ecosystem.

From the Visa standpoint, we will continue to invest in new solutions and technologies that will further create that sense of safety and comfort for both consumers and merchants. Visa is a global player that operates in multiple markets within Africa, and we are able to bring expertise, insight and knowledge to bear, not only to our partners within those countries, but also to our partners from a regulator’s standpoint in those markets. We bring them up to speed on what they can do and should be doing to manage fraud and grow the enabling environment for the payment ecosystem in their countries.

Could you highlight Visa’s investments in emerging technologies that are tilted towards

How convenient and secured is contactless transaction in safeguarding the future of money Contactless transactions are as safe as a regular card transaction, because the cards come with embedded security to ensure that transactions are secured at any given time. When the time comes for contactless transactions to get approval in Nigeria, we will see further growth in the payment ecosystem because it will help to facilitate faster payment, reduce queues and onboard more consumers.

In markets where contactless payment has been approved, payment transactions have significantly increased, and fraud drastically reduced.

Nigeria is at the forefront in driving financial inclusion to reduce physical cash handling. To what extent has it been achieved and what is the role of Visa in enhancing financial inclusion in Nigeria?

Financial inclusion is one area that Visa plays strong.

In Nigeria, Visa is providing the right infrastructure for financial inclusion to thrive in the country. Today there is proliferation of PoS devices in the market, being used by supper agents to drive financial inclusion in Nigeria. In the past people used to travel to the bank and even queue in banking halls just to withdraw or transfer money, but that is fast changing with the presence of supper agents almost on every street, using PoS to carry out payment transactions, and many bank customers make use of them, rather than going to the bank to get cash. PoS devices are getting into remote areas to serve the needs of the people. The PoS is one of the channels through which Visa is helping to drive financial inclusion in Nigeria.

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IFPRI: CLIMATE CHANGE THREATENING WORLD FOOD SYSTEM, 3BN PEOPLE CANT AFFORD HEALTHY DIET use. Investing in food systems transformation is a key piece of the climate change puzzle, yet it is vastly underfunded, with only a small part of climate finance directed toward this goal.

“The 2022 Global Food Policy Report highlights a range of evidence-based policies and innovations that should be prioritized and implemented now to tackle

adaptation and mitigation in our food systems. Drawing on research from IFPRI and other CGIAR centers, it offers lessons that can help us better achieve food security, nutrition, and sustainability through climatepositive financing, innovation, and governance,” he stated.

According to the report, food systems contribute substantially to greenhouse gas emissions and must

play a role in mitigation through changes in agricultural practices and land use, more efficient value chains, and reduced food loss and waste.

“Many promising innovations and policy approaches show potential to address climate change in food systems while also increasing productivity, improving diets, and advancing inclusion of vulnerable groups. These range from new crop

varieties, clean energy sources, and digital technologies to trade reforms, landscape governance, and social protection programs. All of these will require substantial increases in funding for R&D and other investments in sustainable food systems transformation.

“Thus, beyond its direct impacts on production, climate change will create cascading effects on

livelihoods and sustainability through interconnections among economic, environmental, social, and political spheres. Even in the absence of climate change, food systems face enormous challenges and demands.

Hunger and malnutrition are rising, and over three billion people currently cannot afford a healthy diet.

“Food systems are the world’s largest employer but for many,

particularly women, youth, and other vulnerable groups, agriculturebased livelihoods are precarious. In addition, food systems are major contributors to environmental degradation beyond GHG emissions, including deterioration of water resources and loss of habitat and biodiversity, which compromise environmental services that support food production,” the report noted.

REGULATOR, STAKEHOLDERS OPTIMISTIC OF 5G ROLLOUT IN AUGUST, INSIST ON REMOVAL OF LIKELY BOTTLENECKS him, 5G rollout would create additional infrastructure, increase digital platforms around social media, increase the demand

for digital skills like data analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and enhance digital entrepreneurship that will further

drive the use of bid data.

Executive Director, Coleman Wires and Cables, Mr. Michael Onafowokan,

who spoke about local content and collaboration, said 5G rollout would further deepen local content development

and stimulate collaboration, which he said, would drive 5G deployment much faster than imagined.

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Raising the Bar for Nigeria’s Advertising Industry The Advertising industry has recorded another feat in the global space as Nigeria’s foremost pan-African creative powerhouse, X3M Ideas clinches a total of 16 awards in the just concluded Pitchers Creativity award. Raheem Akingbolu writes

L

ooking back into the last five years and the activities in the marketing communications industry, it’s easy to conclude that history is being re-written for the better. At least, in the years under review, no less than four Nigerian agencies, including DDB, X3M Ideas and Noah’s Ark, have competed on the global scene and won laurels.

Beyond bringing Nigeria into global reckoning, the current crop of leading agencies are also fast giving foreign creative firms a run for their money.

PROJECTING AFRICA

PITCHERS AWARD 2022

At the just concluded Pitchers Creativity award, X3M Ideas affirmed that Nigerian agencies are not pushovers as it beat many contenders to win the highly coveted Grandprix in craft for the Television commercial titled “One language” conceptualised for its client –Globacom. In what looked like the ice on the cake, Nigeria’s foremost pan-African creative powerhouse, in total, swept 16 awards, making X3M Ideas one of the most awarded agencies on the continent at the 2022 edition of the Pitchers.

Since it was established a decade ago, X3M Ideas has remained a leading creative powerhouse with a lot to show for it. Last year, 2021, was, in particular, a good year for the agency in terms of business growth and awards. The year was considered a defining year for few businesses that survived the heat of the coronavirus and the lockdown.

In 2021, X3M Ideas didn’t only grow stronger but won new clients as well as ticking all the right boxes. The agency also consolidated its reputation as the emerging creative powerhouse on the African continent with the quality of pan-African campaigns it executed in partnership with DStv and the MultiChoice Africa Group, becoming the first agency outside South Africa to pull-off such a feat. Also in 2021, X3M Ideas became the agency that put Nigeria on the global map by winning several international awards, notable among was the Gold it won at the Luum awards in Geneva Switzerland for work done for Mentally Aware Nigeria.

Luum Awards is a global festival dedicated to creativity, exclusively rewarding messages that seek to awaken a social, civic or environmental consciousness to make

Babaeko the world a better place.

X3M Ideas won the award for its work on the Suicide Notes, a campaign created to help people dealing with mental health issues. The campaign was executed for the Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI), a youth-focused mental health organization that is championing the fight against mental health-related stigma and creating an environment that makes it possible for people to seek care for their mental health without fear of discrimination.

Beyond awards and extension beyond Nigeria, the agency, in 2021 won more accounts and consolidated its businesses in telco, financial and entertainment sectors.

Until the last few years, the narrative was about how Nigerian agencies could compete and win global laurels. Today, the story is changing to what the laurels are doing to the country and the continent, in terms of positioning and marketing. As one of Nigeria’s sectors that have been performing well in global competitions, the creative advertising industry has become a platform for connecting with Nigerians and Africa. For agencies like X3M Ideas and others that are doing well on the international scene, the performances have become morale booster.

No wonder, most multinationals now patronize the local agencies more for their understanding of both local and global trends while deciding where to push their businesses. It would be recalled that X3M ideas also emerged ‘Agency of The Year’ at the last Lagos Advertising & Ideas Festival (LAIF). The competition, which is a local replica of Cannes Advertising Festival, is the brainchild of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) Reacting to the recent feat recorded at Pitchers 2022, the Chief Executive Officer at X3M Ideas, Steve Babaeko commended his team for always putting up a very strong showing at national, continental and global awards. “We have done this consistently for the past 10 years and we do not intend to rest on our laurels. I also thank our clients for always supporting and challenging us to do our best work” he said.

HOW IT STARTED

The story began to change about 10 years ago, when creative works from Nigerian agencies started getting mentions in international advertising review journals. For instance, in 2012, one of the creative works from DDB Lagos won ‘Luerzer’s Archive Print Ad of the Week.

Shortly after, two Nigerian agencies; Noah’s Ark and X3M Ideas, rose like a phoenix from the ashes to change the status quo. They started

re-writing the nation’s advertising story with their works and the accomplishments of their founders.

For instance, two years ago, X3M Ideas brought a spur to campaigns and marketing communications in Globacom as it won three awards at the African Cristal Advertising Festival, held in Marrakech, Morocco. The three awards coming courtesy of X3M TV’s commercial, tagged ‘Unmatched’ won in the categories of Media, Telecoms and Brand Entertainment, for content in TV/ cinema and coasted home with a bronze for each category.

The agency’s Chief Executive Officer, Steve Babaeko was also on a panel at the Cannes Lion International Festival, held two months before the Morocco event.

He was also on the jury of the New York Advertising Festival in 2016, 2017 and 2018, as well as a judge at The Loerie Awards in 2017.

2019 ADWEEK CREATIVE 100

The dream and projection of many experts that Nigerian advertising practitioners would one day rule the creative world got a boost in 2019 when Babaeko was announced as one of the year’s top 100 Creative 100. The selection was made by Adweek, a frontline American media conglomerate and the gatekeeper of the global marketing practice.

The annual honorary list was created by Adweek to celebrate trendsetters and innovators in creative industries across the globe whose ideas are advancing advertising worldwide.

On an annual basis, highly respected Adweek lists deserving practitioner for its Creative 100 who the publication terms as “Most Fascinating People in Marketing, Media and Culture for the year” Making the announcement in its New York office for the 2019 edition, the organisers reasoned, “Defining creativity can be, at once, both obvious and impossibly nuanced. As the lines between marketers and makers continue to blur, creative talents are crossing over into culture in more ways than ever before”.

Adweek further stated, “Each year, Adweek celebrates the Creative 100, a roster of gifted professionals who inspire current and future generations not only with their work but also their passion for creativity across advertising, media, art, literature, animation and more”.

Stakeholders Chart New Roadmap to Address IT Skills Gap in Africa Emma Okonji Industry stakeholders have stressed the need for more impactful initiatives that would close the existing gaps in Information Technology (IT) skills in Nigeria and the rest of Africa.

The stakeholders who spoke at a recent breakfast forum organised

by Digital Jewels, also discussed the need for industry collaboration to identify the skills required to develop

the teeming youth population in Nigeria and the African continent, with a clearly mapped out plan for deploying them.

The breakfast forum, with the theme: The IT Skills Quagmire-A Resolution Roadmap, was designated for C-level stakeholders who understand the negative impact of IT skills gap on the productivity of the enterprises they lead.

Attendees were drawn from various sectors including Financial/

Fintech services, Telecommunications, Oil and Gas, Regulatory, Nonprofit, Technology solutions, and Manufacturing, which they believed, have large consumers of IT skills.

In her presentation, titled- A Situational Analysis and the Solution, the Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Digital Jewels, Mrs. Adedoyin Odunfa, decried the IT skills gap in the educational system, which she said has led to the under-development of the much

needed technical and soft skills that job seekers require.

She said the COVID-19 pandemic became an eye-opener for every stakeholder to further understand what it means to be employable, having exposed the digital talent gap in Nigeria and Africa.

“The pandemic increased the demand for skills in data analysis, digital strategy, cybersecurity, CRM digital marketing, product management, and full-stack

engineering, a situation that impacted on our socio-economic well-being as a nation,” Odunfa said.

She therefore proffered three key solutions that would help to close the existing IT skills gap in Nigeria and Africa to include: Intentional development of digital skills at all levels; Collaboration with the diaspora on IT skills development; and Strategic development of local talent.

While facilitating the dialog

session, the Managing Director, HC Bonum and a non-Executive Director of Digital Jewels, Lanre Onasanya, further emphasised the need to turn the challenges posed

by COVID-19, into solutions that would become blessing to Nigeria and other African countries. “The brain drain we experience harshly today should actually be seen as an opportunity in disguise for the export of competent human capital,” Onasanya said.

First Katalyst Rolls Out Anniversary CSR Initiative To celebrate its tenth year as an impactful contributor to Nigeria’s marketing ecosystem, First Katalyst Marketing, a leading Below-the-line agency, is set to mark the milestone with a thought leadership session tagged “The Marketing Conclave”.

As part of the celebration, which would commence this week, the organisation is also embarking on a charity project in its decision to give back to the society. It has also secured the permission of the relevant authorities to renovate the

sickbay of the Adeniyi Jones Pry School at Akora, Lagos as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The Managing Director of the agency, Soji Odedina, disclosed these to journalists at a press briefing held Tuesday, May 24 at its Lagos office.

He said the initiatives are aimed at giving back to society and the marketing landscape. He added that it will honour its staff at its award and party slated to hold

June 3.

Odedina explained that the 2022 Marketing Conclave has “Marketing into the Future” as its theme, and Professor Chris Ogbechie, Dean of Lagos Business School is billed as the speaker to deliver the keynote address. Top executives from both client and agency sides in the integrated marketing communications industry will also speak at the event on two different subthemes; “Advertising

Regulations in The Age Of New Media”, and “Below The Line, Above The Line, Where Is The Line?”

He emphasized that The Marketing Conclave is part of his agency’s contributions to the growth of the marketing industry and plans are in the pipeline to make the event an annual memorable event.

Odedina explained further: “The Marketing Conclave is our 10th-anniversary gift to the

marketing community in Africa.

As a platform, it is designed to bring practitioners together to discuss matters arising with respect to theory and practice.

“Professor Chris Ogbechie, Dean Lagos Business School will deliver the 2022 keynote address and be inducted into Nigeria’s Marketing Hall of Fame as the man who pioneered BTL/ Experiential Marketing practice in West Africa with his Contact Marketing Services Ltd set up in

1991.,” he said.

He added, “The event will kick off with an exciting exhibition of our Clients’ Brands before we kick off with The Conclave.

A long list of distinguished panelists has been assembled to include Tunji Olugbodi, Steve Babaeko, Emmanuel Agu, Kenny Salami, Tunji Adeyinka, and a host of others. Of course, Brand Communicator is our media partner. We promise an unforgettable experience.”

Nigerian Kids Lead in Global Gaming Challenge Winners have emerged in the second edition of Mobo Game Jam - a global game-making competition organised by Kucheza Gaming in partnership with edu360, Union Bank’s education platform.

The competition which encourages young innovators (heroes) between the ages of 8-18, brought together participants from Nigeria and the UK to compete and develop video games or game prototypes that

combine creativity, compassion, and computational thinking to defeat a villain causing a global problem, and by so doing raise awareness and provide possible solutions for that problem.

In response to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13 on climate action, this year’s theme was clean air.

The heroes grouped into two categories; the U13 category (for kids aged 8-13) and the 13+ category (for kids aged 13

– 18), were tasked with creating a game to defeat the villain of air pollution. The competition which ran for three months received over 500 registrations, with 10 games shortlisted as selected by a panel of esteemed industry judges. The final live showcase was held in March and global winners were selected from each category after a competitive voting process with over 2,300 votes.

For the U13 Category, Mustafa’s game – ‘The Air’ came first and

The A3 Production team from Warri’s ‘Air Max’ took the lead in the 13+ category, with other winners emerging as second and first runner ups. Winners were presented with cash prizes and a range of dedicated game laptops.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ngozi Akinyele Head, Strategic Brand Management Union Bank shared the reason behind edu360’s decision to partner with Kucheza Gaming for the second edition of Mobo Game Jam. She said: “At edu360 our goal

is to prepare our future leaders for the realities of an increasingly digitized world. We believe education should be a holistic 360 learning experience that extends well beyond the walls of a classroom and this partnership helps amplify our goal. Through the Game Jam, we are creating awareness about social issues and working with young people to proffer solutions. edu360 remains focused on fostering collaborations and partnerships like this that

boost the development of the Nigerian education sector and provide access to quality learning outcomes for Nigerian children and youth.”

Also speaking at the event, the founder of Kucheza Gaming, Bukola Akingbade, noted that games have the power to inspire change. According to her, there is a huge opportunity available at the intersection of video games and education that can build a sustainable future for children.

THURSDAY JUNE 2, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

ÜÙßÚ ÏËÞßÜÏÝ ÎÓÞÙÜ˝ Chiemelie Ezeobi ×ËÓÖ chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

‘Making Cancer Treatment a Fearless Journey’ Marcelle Ruth Friends, a cancer patient support group, spearheaded by patients at the Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre and Specialist Hospital, Lagos, is committed to raising awareness for cancer, encouraging early detection to save lives, and also removing the stigma associated with cancer. During the recent launch of the support group, they pledged to make cancer treatment a fearless journey, MARY NNAH reports

Stakeholders at the event

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arcelle Ruth Friends, a Cancer patient support group, in line with the World Cancer Day themes for 2022- 24 which is to #closethecaregap, is set out to spread two important messages: Early detection saves lives; so that everyone should ensure that they have annual wellness checks or report to a doctor once they notice problems that persist and may be related to cancer; secondly, to remove the stigma associated with cancer, as it is has been proven over time that many patients survive this journey and go on to live excellent lives.

A Consultant Haemato-Oncologist, Dr. Modupe Elebute-Odunsi, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and co-founder of Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre and Specialist Hospital, Lagos, during the inauguration of the support group, averred that coming together as a group that understands what individuals have been through in the journey, can help to improve the journey for patients.

Beyond that, she explained that Marcelle Ruth Friends will support in terms of advocacy, increasing awareness, helping to drive policy, and helping the government understand what is happening in terms of cancer care - the difficulties in accessing care and the issues about how expensive it takes when the majority of the care that is delivered is in the private sector, but this, Elebute-Odunsi further established, comes with a price.

She insisted that helping the government understand that the quicker patients can access care, the more they can continue with their care journey so that they don’t have to fall out because they run out of money, more patients can survive.

Expressing excitement over the newly established group and gratitude to the patients who came together to form the group, Dr. Elebute-Odunsi, admitted that it has always been her utmost desire to create a support group for the cancer patients at the Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre.

“We have been operational for about 18 months and it has always been part of our vision to form a support group for our cancer patients because one of the reasons we came to set up in Lagos is to stop the medical tourism where people have to travel out of the country to go and get treatments at international standards. So, we managed to achieve that, and today, we are now seeing the fruits of our labours where the patients themselves have put together this cancer support group that they have happily named, “Marcelle Ruth Friends”, she said.

“Although it has been at the back of my mind to set up a cancer support group, the patients overtook me and started this group and the fact that we can treat them with all the modalities of treatment here at Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre, is where we are delivering special care.”

The group, consisting of patients undergoing treatments; some of whom have already finished treatments and are now cancer survivors, together with their family and friends who support them through their journeys, aims to help others understand that cancer treatment is a journey.

The group also intends to pass the message that cancer is not fatal for everybody and so it is not the end of life. It is also to portray that there is hope in terms of getting treatments and for patients that will be part of the support group to

Chief Executive Officer of Marcelle Ruth Chairman, Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre Chief Executive Officer of Marcelle Ruth and Specialist Hospital, Mr. Bolaji Odunsi explaining a point during the launch Cancer Centre and Specialist Hospital see that other patients are doing well and in particular, that earlier detection saves a life.

The group is already hoping to change the narratives that cancer is a death sentence.

She expressed confidence that the Cancer support group will grow to involve all patients including those who come from different parts of the country, hoping that when they go back will also impact other relatives and friends in their various domains.

“One of the things we have seen here is that a lot of our patients come from all over the country. We stand in the gap for people being able to access treatments here in Lagos if they live in Lagos and all over the country and for patients who would normally go abroad and now remain in the country.

“We have also seen patients who have also come back and were already having their treatment abroad but when it gets very

expensive or they are running out of options or they are missing their families or for any other reasons, they come in back here.”

“The main role of the group is to support one another to bring positivity and remove sigma. Part of the World Cancer Day theme and agenda, not just for this year but for the next three years, is to close the cancer care gaps, which means increasing access to treatments, and the other one, means removing the sigma which is very important to what is happening today”, she added.

Dwelling on stigmatisation, another deterring factor to cancer treatment, Dr. Elebute-Odunsi said stigma is another huge obstacle to early detection and treatment of cancer as a lot of people shy away from making known their health statuses.

The Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre CEO insisted that stigma in terms of health care

“Marcelle Ruth Friends will support in terms of advocacy, increasing awareness, helping to drive policy, and helping the government understand what is happening in terms of cancer care - the difficulties in accessing care and the issues about how expensive it takes when the majority of the care that is delivered is in the private sector”

is a big issue in Nigeria, adding, “The issue we have with stigma is that when patients are diagnosed with cancer, they don’t want anybody else to know and this impact on their care. So, seeing this group being formed by the patients themselves, for the patients is gratifying for us.”

“What we have discovered since we started working in Nigeria is that there is hardly been any positive feedback or stories about cancer care so people feel that once they are diagnosed with cancer, they are going to die –that’s the message that they seem to get, even from the healthcare that they access, there is this background message that it is a fatal issue and it is not going to end well. So most, times you don’t want to tell people you are suffering from a terminal disease.”

The group, she stressed further, will also create awareness about screening, adding, “there is absolutely no doubt that early detection does save lives; not just that but early access to treatment and continuing on the treatment journey. This is a way that members of this group can help in the future to ensure that they impact not just themselves and new patients coming in but patients across the country and to drive policy. I think for me, it will be incredible to see that happening over the years to “.

Speaking further, she recalled. “We had a walk in March for Cancer Awareness to commemorate the World Cancer Day and that already helped to raise awareness about coming for screening after that walk we saw quite a several people coming to be screamed, so this support group has different other platforms that they work on.

“Apart from the fact that Marcelle Ruth delivers on international standards, within its Victoria Island premises, it is also a one-stop-shop for cancer treatment. One can be diagnosed as it has all the labs and imaging modalities to make the diagnosis and once the diagnosis is made, you can have chemotherapy, surgery, and all other treatments that you require to survive so that you don’t need to start going from one point to another to complete your treatment. So, the outcome and survival will be better because you would access treatment quicker and continue your journey.

“From the look of things, therefore, we would have many more survivals as time goes on and that is part of the message and hopefully, we would also help to remove this stigma once people continue to do well”, she added.

Chairman of Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre and Specialist Hospital, Mr. Bolaji Odunsi, said that apart from treating Cancer, the hospital also does other things, including the general practice, and bringing in other specialists as well.

In terms of development, he said the hospital has been extremely rapid in the last 18 months, adding, “It is by the grace of God, on the one hand, it’s good news for us while on the one hand, shows the lack of basic health care in Nigeria.”

He revealed however that the hospital hopes to expand soon into a plot of land close to its present site. Speaking on the motivation for starting the group, Chairman, Marcelle Ruth Friends, Godwin Ibe, said, “It is something that came up incidentally.

As a group of friends, we never planned to meet just because we came for medication, but met and got talking, and by the time we knew it, a group was already formed.”

T H I S D AY ˾ ,JUNE 2, 2022

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NEWS

FERTILITY

With Dr. Kemi AILOJE drkemi@lifelinkfertility.com www.lifelinkfertility.com +2348033083580

Landmark Donates Food Items, Stationery, Others to Orphanage Sexual Dysfunction In Male (Part 1) Rebecca Ejifoma In the spirit of this year’s Children’s Day, a real estate development company, Landmark Corporate Realty Ltd, treated children at the Sought After Children Orphanage in Ajah to an unforgettable time with gift items to seal the day.

Among the items received are school bags, a bag of beans, two gallons of 25 litres of vegetable oil, insecticide treated nets, packs of liquid and powdered milk, six standing fans, two solar panels, three cans of custard, a carton of ribena, packs of sugar, and a pack of spaghetti.

Others are eight cartons of noodles, a carton of bread, three packs of building blocks, one pack of tissue rolls, toys, scrabble, story books, puzzle games, brain chess, writing materials, a pack of insecticide spray and packs of biscuits.

The Managing Director of Landmark Corporate Realty, Dr. Harrison Agboifoh (FCA), described Children’s Day as very significant in the life of a child as well as their parents.

“The day reminds us about

our childhood and also about our duties towards you all,” he told the children. “You are like tender buds, who in whichever way can be molded.

“This implies that you children are so innocent that any wrong kind of schooling can adversely affect your personality later in life,” he expressed.

Agboifoh, represented by the Human Resources Manager of Landmark, Stella Ademola-Ojo, said this is the right age when every child needs appropriate education.

He emphasised the need for children to be taught good things in life while also encouraging them to learn from their mistakes.

“Your mistakes are also your best teachers in life. Mistakes teach you to identify your weaknesses and overcome them. Children are important all over the world.”

The MD further admonished the about 30 children present to remember that childhood is the best phase of life. “After a certain point in time, when you all grow up, you would have to take care of everybody which will make you responsible.

“This phase also prepares you

to be motivated and develop your ambitions which in turn would help you attain a successful career in life.”

While inspiring the children further to be their best, Agboifoh listed people who were raised in similar circumstances. He highlighted Jamie Foxx (successful actor), Steve Jobs (founder of Apple), and Eleanor Roosevelt (former American first lady) among others.

“Be rest assured God is with you on this journey. He will be with you till you transition into responsible adults. Go ahead and succeed. The sky is your starting point,” he blessed them.

In her reaction, the President and Founder of Sought After Children Orphanage, Mrs. Carol Oyaide, said Children’s Day all over the world is a time to show love to the children. While commending the firm for the donations, she enthused that this is a time to make children know that they belong and are important in the society.

“They are special, relevant and unique to the society. Children are the future of tomorrow. Without them we don’t have a future,” Oyaide said excitedly.

Donated items from Landmark Corporate Realty Ltd on Children’s Day May 27

YEDI Encourages Nigerians on Mosquitotreated Net, Clean Environment against Malaria Esther Akinsola Still in line with curbing the spread of malaria, stakeholders at the Youth Development and Empowerment Initiative (YEDI) sports programme have implored Nigerians to always use mosquito-treated nets and maintain a clean environment.

This was at the Football Tournament and Medical Outreach tagged, “Kick against Malaria”.

It was powered by YEDI in partnership with ExxonMobil, Grassroot Soccer, ACT Foundation and Common Goal in Ijegun, Lagos State.

Some of the basic preventive measures, according to research, include applying mosquito repellent with DEET (diethyltoluamide) to exposed skin, putting screens on windows and doors, draping mosquito netting over beds, treating clothing, and wearing long pants and long sleeves to cover your skin.

The Executive Director, YEDI, Mrs. Oluwatomisin Adeoye, hinted on the organisation’s choice to use football for social development as another creative way of mobilising people as well as passing across information about preventing and treating

malaria to both the young and old.

She cited: “Statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that the incidence of malaria is gradually reducing but nevertheless in Nigeria, apart from HIV, malaria seems to be a public health disease.”

However, the YEDI boss noted that the incidences are reducing and people are becoming more aware.

Speaking also, the Partnership Programme Manager, Grassroot Soccer, Dr Babatunde Odusolu urged the government at all levels to create an environment for the availability of malaria testing through the provision of test kits and access to adequate medication and treatment.

While enjoining Nigerians to shun self-diagnosis, use of concoctions, he suggested the creation of an environment where people can readily pick up insecticide-treated nets. He said this would help to keep malaria away.

Odusolu listed some simple measures to prevent malaria spread. “Malaria is preventable,” he insisted. “Keep your environment clean, ensure you dislodge drainages and remove stagnant

water as these are breeding sites for mosquitoes.”

Other Nigerians, he suggested, should ensure that overgrown bushes in their environment are trimmed. “Take balanced diets, and ensure you go for proper testing whenever they have any related symptoms.

“Pregnant women, except contraindicated, are to be on malaria prevention drugs because under-five children and pregnant women are most vulnerable. Hence, the use of insecticide-treated nets are highly recommended. If we do that, we will reduce the burden,” he stated.

On the choice of football to observe the World Malaria Day, Odusolu explained that the football tournament was another way ExxonMobil utilised to attend to issues around malaria.

The manager added: “It was strictly to create awareness geared towards reduction of the disease burden of malaria in Nigeria and other countries.”

He admitted that football has a global acceptance. Recognising the positive energy the football match generated, Odusolu said football is an entry point for mobilising participants in community awareness programmes.

S

exual dysfunctionrefers to a persistent difficulty with sexual desire/ response, arousal, or orgasm or pain. It affects approximately 30% of men and 40% of women and can affect any age although is more common in those with increasing age as it is related to a decline in health associated with aging. It is even more common in couples dealing with infertility.

Sexual issues that interfere with intercourse and prevent conception can have serious consequences for couples. Infertility can be caused by issues with any phase of the sexual response, such as desire, arousal, orgasm, and pain disorders. This can manifest as a lack of desire to engage in sex (diminished libido), inability to have or maintain an erection (erectile dysfunction), difficulties releasing sperm (premature and retarded ejaculation), and vaginal muscle tightness that prevents intercourse (vaginismus), all preventing a person from experiencing satisfaction from sexual activity.

This week our focus will be on sexual dysfunction in male which is known as Erectile Dysfunction.

WHAT IS ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION (ED)?

Erectile dysfunction (impotence) is the inability to obtain and maintain a firm enough erection for sexual intercourse. Having occasional erection problems is not necessarily a cause for concern. But having erectile dysfunction on a regular basis can cause stress, affect self-confidence, and contribute to friction in a relationship. ED can also be an indication of an underlying health condition that requires treatment, as well as a risk factor for heart disease.

ED can certainly contribute to male infertility because it interferes with ejaculation, which is required for the sperm to enter the vaginal canal and seek out the woman’s egg. Infertility, on the other hand, can cause anxiety and even depression, both of which contribute to ED. Furthermore, conceiving pressures can cause performance anxiety, which can prevent a man from having an erection. As you can see, erectile dysfunction and infertility are strongly intertwined, as one can lead to the other.

CAUSES OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION The following are some of the outlined causes of erectile dysfunction: 1. AGE: Erectile dysfunction like many other health issues becomes more common as you get older. According to research approximately 2% to 12% of men in their forties have some form of ED, this percentage rises with each decade of life. In fact, more than half of men over the age of 70 have some form of ED. 2.

DIABETES: Erectile dysfunction is one of the medical issues that many diabetic men must deal with. The longer you have diabetes (type 1 or type 2), the more likely it is that you will develop ED. However, how well you control your blood sugar levels has a real impact on your risk of ED. Diabetes-related erectile dysfunction is not always completely reversible, but you can definitely make it a lot better or less likely to happen by following the doctor’s advice to control your diabetes.

3. HEART DISEASE, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND HIGH CHOLESTEROL:Erectile dysfunction has an interesting relationship with a man’s cardiovascular health. High blood pressure and high cholesterol have long been known to contribute to ED. Recent research, has found that when healthy men develop erectile dysfunction, many of them are diagnosed with heart disease less than 5 years later. So, if you have ED and

no other health problems, you should ask your doctor to examine your heart. By recognizing the warning signs early, you may be able to prevent the development of heart disease.

4. SMOKING:Smoking and other tobacco use, is linked to a variety of health problems, including erectile dysfunction. Tobacco consumption reduces blood flow throughout your entire body. This includes the blood vessels in a man’s penis. If the blood supply is reduced there, achieving and maintaining an erection becomes much more difficult. Fortunately, this is reversible. When you stop smoking, your erectile ability will improve.

5. SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (STIs): Sexually transmitted infections can lead to erectile dysfunction. Certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, untreated HIV, and viral hepatitis can sometimes cause infections in the prostate gland. If this occurs, it is possible that you will experience ED symptoms. Most of the time, treating both the prostate infection and taking steps to manage STIs will resolve any ED issues. A prostate infection, on the other hand, can cause permanent damage if left untreated.

6.PROSTATE CANCER AND INFLAMMATION:It should come as no surprise that a diseased prostate can cause erectile dysfunction. One of the components of sperm is produced by the prostate. While benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is not the cause of ED, the medications used to treat it can.

Chronic prostate inflammation or prostate cancer, on the other hand, can cause painful ejaculation and difficulty achieving an erection. If you have known prostate issues and are experiencing ED, consult your urologist.

7. LOW TESTOSTERONE: Low testosterone level in men causes low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, hair loss and insomnia. The lower your testosterone level, the more symptoms you may experience. When testosterone levels return to normal, most men will notice that their ED symptoms improve or disappear entirely.

8. CERTAIN PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS: A variety of medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, can contribute to or cause erectile dysfunction. Some of these include antidepressants, blood pressure medications, antihistamines, acid reflux medications, and opioid pain relievers.

This is not an exhaustive list, so it is possible to have an erectile problem having recently started a new medication. Keep in mind that excessive alcohol consumption and the overuse of recreational drugs (including marijuana) can both cause erectile dysfunction.

9. MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND PERFORMANCE ANXIETY: In the case of erectile dysfunction, the brain plays a significant role in the ability to achieve and maintain an erection. When you are stressed or struggling with mental health, the brain may have difficulty creating nerve connections and releasing the hormones that cause an erection. Depression, anxiety, relationship problems, grief, watching too much pornography, and even performance anxiety in the bedroom are examples of stressors.

With the right support or treatment, these are manageable and potentially reversible TO BE CONTINUED

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T H I S D AY ˾ , JUNE 2, 2022

NEWS

FG Ratifies Sector Ministers Jakarta Meeting on Sanitation, Hygiene ˾ ÝÏÏÕÝ ØËÞÓÙØËÖ ÝßÚÚÙÜÞ ÐÙÜ ËÑÏØÎË Olawale Ajimotokan ÓØ ÌßÔË The federal government has ratified actions and efforts by the Sector Ministers Meeting (SMM) in Jakarta, Indonesia on May 18-19 on the attainment of water, sanitation and hygiene and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The country was represented at the multi-sector meeting by the Minister of Health, Dr Ehanire Osagie and his counterparts from Ministry of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu and Ministry of Environment, Mohammed Abdulahi.

The National Coordinator of Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), Attah Benson provided updates to reporters on the outcome of the stakeholders meeting at a parley in Abuja.

He said the SMM meeting agreed on the need for urgent action to ensure political leadership across different branches of government to prioritize water, sanitation, and hygiene within national, regional and global agendas, as part of achieving overall social and economic development. The meeting also proposed reforms to support a stronger enabling environment which contribute to recovery as well as expanded and improved access to water and sanitation and foster long term resilience as well as financial attractiveness and efficiency.

It called for innovative ways of simultaneously supporting increased investments in water and sanitation to mitigate the impacts of climate change and make accountability a central tenet for accelerating sustained progress,

strengthening collaboration through sharing information and ensuring transparency to meet commitments and obligations.

To achieve this, the meeting pledged to support and commit to taking forward the discussions in a multi-stakeholder and intersectoral way with a view towards more integrated policies, strategies and plans at country level.

It is also seeking to establish new partnerships with actors and institutions whose mandates impact or are impacted by water, sanitation, and hygiene.

It also pledged to identify and prioritize the most vulnerable and marginalized groups and undertake necessary reforms to redress inequalities.

The ministers urged all nations to increase prioritisation of climate-resilient water and sanitation in national budgets,

develop financing strategies and investment targets which support sustainable, safely managed and resilient access to water and sanitation.

The meeting also served as an important milestone in the preparatory process for the United Nations 2023 Water Conference to be convened in New York from March 22 to 24, 2023.

In his remarks, Benson called on all stakeholders particularly at the national and sub-national levels to support the WASH sector agenda by SMM. He also urged the media to join NEWSAN in following up and monitoring the various stakeholders in the WASH sector including those in the health, finance/economic recovery and climate change in order to ascertain the extent to which WASH is being prioritised in their implementation.

RCCG King’s Court Champions Inclusion, Modernises Edifice for Persons with Disability

Kwara Govt, Biomedicals Flag off Deworming of 17,000 Public School Pupils The Kwara State government in its strive to improve the health of its citizens has flagged off a mass deworming of school children across all public owned primary schools in the state on Wednesday.

The initiative was done in collaboration with Nigeria’s pioneer manufacturers of intravenous fluids in Nigeria, Biomedical Limited in the presence of students from several primary schools and the press.

Representing the state government, the Deputy Governor, Mr. Kayode Alabi noted that Kwara State government is committed to the well-being of its people, especially the school children.

He also commended the Biomedical pharmaceutical company for contributing their quota to the well-being of the state, saying that, “ this is a commendable effort by Biomedical limited, I salute them for this, this will also help to augment the state government’s effort towards improvement of the people especially the school children.”

The Marketing Manager of Biomedical limited, Pharm.Watson Olojo extolled the state government for its job in improving the health sector, adding that his company’s gesture is their corporate social responsibility and a way of contributing their quota to the state.

“We’re committed to the well-being of the children especially tackling the problems of malnutrition which is often caused by worms, as a matter of fact, this is our own corporate social responsibility and contributing out quota to the state.” the pharmacist said.

Dr.Nusirat Elelu, the Executive Secretary of Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, while speaking at the flag off ,revealed that the deworming was targeted at tackling malnutrition which is often caused by excess worm, urging that children should be dewormed every six months.

“You’re all aware of the school feeding programme where our children have access to nutritious component because worms also lead to malnutrition in children and for Kwara State we also have a programme geared towards providing nutrition programme to support children that are under five years of age.

“It is very important that deworming happens every six months, we have an ongoing nutrition programme for deworming in our primary healthcare system, last year alone 22,500 children were targeted and the target was met and surpassed and for this year alone we’re going to see how we’re going to surpass the target.

“This is a school based event, as you can see, SUBEB is here so ,they’re partnering with us and we are utilizing senatorial District based distribution, Kwara South, Kwara Central and Kwara North as well and it will be equitable distribution, based on pupils enrolled in our SUBEB schools within the state, that will form the distribution plan for the 17,000 pupils. “ Elelu said.

Speaking on behalf of Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, Mrs. Amudat Oluwakemi Alibaba thanked the kwara State government and the partners for their kind gesture and for considering the well-being of the children a priority.

Biomedical Limited, based in Kwara state, is a foremost pharmaceutical company not only in Nigeria as it is among the first indigenous company to produce intravenous medicine in west coast of Africa.

Neonatal Mortality: Health Experts Call for National Respiratory Support Plan Esther Akinsola

Diversity Sunday at RCCG King’s Court Rebecca Ejifoma Taking a bold step among churches in the country, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) King’s Court has given its edifice a facelight with several commendable amendments to encourage inclusion of persons with disabilities.

The King’s Court (TKC) also appointed a sign language interpreter, acquired Braille books for the visually impaired, and set up entry and exit ramps among others.

The church made this known at its Diversity Inclusion Sunday on May 21 this year. The day was specially observed to create awareness, propel empathy, and make persons with disabilities feel undeniably welcomed.

The Convener of the programme and Disability Rights Advocate, Ms. Adeola Obagun commended King’s Court for putting all the necessary facilities in place.

“We have tried to put quite a few things in place including the menu in TKC cafeteria. One of our other goals is putting necessary amendments in place,” she

expressed.

According to Obagun, the next goal of the church is to considerably boost inclusion, show undiluted love, and ensure persons with disabilities are included in all its activities as much as possible.

While she conceded that the church consulted widely with different persons with disabilities, Obagun, who anchored the session, said it was to make sure that none is left out.

The advocate emphasised: “While we want to make them feel welcome, we have also provided some relief for them. We are building capacities to encourage those who have disabilities.”

Surprisingly, 12 students from Bethesda School for the Blind enthusiastically led the congregation in a 10-minute electrifying praise and worship rendition that got everyone on his feet. They didn’t only sing in melodious tunes, some played the guitar, the piano and the drum with great show of effective ability.

Five others exhibited their dance skills.

In his reaction, the General

Manager, Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, Dare Dairo, gave thumbs up to their performance. “I’m happy that The King’s Court is taking that bold initiative to remind us of the humanity and inclusiveness in the message of Christ.”

For Dare, this step alone helps to prepare the minds and opens the spirit of everyone. “This puts us in a disposition to be more open and acceptive of people with disability.

“We’ve seen a lot of abilities of persons with disabilities all around us here. Coming from a house of God, I hope that as we experience this inclusion in the message and life of Christ will remain with us.”

He further encouraged everyone to go into the society and become partners with the Lagos State Government, especially, as “We strive to remove the barriers of social inclusion of persons with disabilities”.

Lauding the church’s preparedness, he highlighted that indeed the entire structure has been built to be inclusive of people with disabilities.

He, therefore, implored other

churches to emulate The King’s Court. “I hope a lot of churches would borrow a leaf out of King’s Court book and make their environment accessible.

“And even if they do, open up the people of God as recommended in the book of Luke that we should always make the banquet, the king’s court, inclusive and welcoming to people with disabilities.”

Sitting in front of his array of products at the church reception, an alumnus of the Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind, Smith Oluwfemi, shared his business plans and family life.

“My wife and I are blind. We have two children aged eight and three years old. They aren’t blind.

“I make adire, perfume, bar soap, liquid soap. I’m moving about to sell them. I don’t have a shop for now. But by the grace of God, I’ll get it.”

Meanwhile, other people with disabilities present at the Diversity Inclusion Sunday were from the Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind, Bethesda School for the Blind, and Module Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home School.

Nigeria has one of the highest infant and neonatal death rates in the world, several research has shown.

Therefore, in a strong push to effect needed change, participants at the maiden Obijackson Women and Children Hospital (OWCH) funded Newborn Respiratory Support Workshop called for immediate adoption of a national neonatal respiratory support policy and plan in Nigeria.

The new-born healthcare practitioners in attendance included doctors and nurses from the South-east and South-south regions of the country.

According to the policy adoption they are strongly advocating for, it would drastically reduce neonatal mortality and morbidity responsible for 59.1 deaths per 1, 000 live births in infants before the age of one and over 35 per 1,000 live births for new-born deaths in the country. The OWCH Head of Hospital Services, Dr. Ikechukwu Okonkwo, bemoaned that most of the neonatal deaths are from preventable causes.

“Improving respiratory support for our most vulnerable population will significantly impact the three leading causes of neonatal and infant deaths; preterm birth, intra partum related events, and infections.”

Okonkwo also acknowledged that new-born respiratory support workshop was done in collaboration with its national and international partners to train medical practitioners on how to save the lives of babies.

As the lead knowledge expert at the workshop, he provided evidence-based, state of the art hands-on training and practical knowledge to participants in various aspects of new-born and infant care including specialised transport of the critically ill baby.

Unfortunately, he noted, only one out of every three babies are currently delivered in a healthcare facility, greatly decreasing the survival chances of the mother and new-born.

He, however, revealed that available data and models show that for any country to have less than 35 deaths per 1,000 births, a national policy on new-born respiratory support is key.

35

T H I S D AY ˾ , JUNE 2, 2022

HEALTH

MTN Foundation’s Collaborative Fight against Substance Abuse Whilecallingforcollaborativefightagainstsubstanceabuse,MTNFoundationrecentlyunveileditsAntiSubstanceAbuseProgramme 2022 activities, Chiamaka Ozulumba reports

Championing the fight against drug abuse

I

t’s no news that substance abuse is a major public health, social and individual problem and is seen as an aggravating factor for economic crises. A 2019 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shows that 35 million people suffer from drug disorders globally and opioids such as codeine, morphine and many others are responsible for the death of two-thirds of the 585,000 people who died from substance abuse.

In Nigeria today, drug abuse has become a worrisome trend amongst the Nigerian youth. According to Atinuke Aduloju, Chief Superintendent of narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), she stated that over 40% of Nigerian youth within ages, 18-35 abuse drugs. This is not just a threat to public health in Nigeria but to the future of young Nigerians, as there is still a rapid increase in the number of youths addicted to drugs.

The effects of substance abuse are limitless and can affect the quality of life of those who fall victim. The youth constitute a large percentage of the labour market in Nigeria, and addiction to drugs affects workplace productivity, which is detrimental to the nation’s economy. Students involved in substance abuse are not left out as academic performance, relationships with fellow students and the society at large are negatively affected.

In 2018, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) released a documentary on substance abuse in Nigeria and the development of addiction. In response, the Nigerian government

“The Anti Substance Abuse Programme campaign is a strategic endeavour by the MTN Foundation to impact and make a significant change in the lives of many young Nigerians” prohibited the importation and production of codeine-containing cough syrup to reduce the availability of codeine, especially from pharmacies. Policies and taxes such as the sin tax have been developed to increase the cost of tobacco and alcohol to reduce purchase and consumption.

To curb this menace among youths in the society, different programmes, campaigns and initiatives have been established to raise awareness against substance abuse amongst the Nigerian youths. One of such initiatives is the Anti Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) by the MTN Foundation.

MTN Foundation launched the ASAP initiative in 2019 as a multi-sectoral platform to increase awareness of the negative impact of substance abuse and addiction amongst young Nigerians. The goal of this scheme is to discourage first-time and causal use of addictive drugs amongst the youth. Since its inception, influential Nigerians such as singer, Joseph Akinfenwa popularly known as Joeboy, Neuro-psychiatrist and mental health

advocate, Maymunah Kadiri and the Lagos State Commissioner, Ministry of Health Dr Jide Idris have lent their voice and shown commitment to working with stakeholders to drive this good cause.

This year, in partnership with the UNODC, the Ministry of Education and the NDLEA, the MTN Foundation is commencing another campaign to drive this purposeful cause. The campaign will include a variety of activities including the Unplugged =Training, Volunteer Training, Quiz Competition, an Advocacy Walk and a National Conference The Unplugged Training is an evidencebased program in partnership with UNODC and the Ministry of Education to educate and enlighten secondary school teachers in 30 Nigerian schools about substance abuse and the application of knowledge gained to positively impact the students.

The volunteer training on the other hand is aimed at educating select individuals on how to counsel victims of substance abuse and help them overcome addiction. As much

as the ASAP initiative is to discourage first-time drug abuse, there is also an urgent need to help those already dealing with substance abuse.

The advocacy walk is designed to raise awareness of the dangers of substance abuse on young Nigerians and its effects on society. The advocacy walk would also be an opportunity to inform the general public of the national conference and other activities taking place as a result of the ASAP initiative.

To enlighten young Nigerians about substance abuse and its consequence, the MTN Foundation in coalition with NDLEA is organizing a quiz competition on substance abuse for youth in secondary schools. The winners of the quiz competition will be announced on the 26th of June 2022 during the national conference.

The national conference which will hold on 26 June 2022 is to officially commemorate World Drug Day and have important conversations about the role and responsibilities of people and organizations in the fight against substance abuse.

The ASAP campaign is a strategic endeavour by the MTN Foundation to impact and make a significant change in the lives of many young Nigerians. In partnership with public and private organisations, all the activities lined up for the 2022 ASAP campaign will enlighten more people and help every Nigerian understand they have a part to play in the fight against substance abuse and addiction.

Stakeholders Encourage Workplace Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities across Nigeria ˾ ØÖã ͑˛͔ ÚÏÜ ÍÏØÞ ÚÏÜÝÙØÝ ÖÓàÓØÑ áÓÞÒ ÎÓÝËÌÓÖÓÞÓÏÝ ËÜÏ ÑËÓØÐßÖÖã Ï×ÚÖÙãÏÎ ÓØ ÓÑÏÜÓË Rebecca Ejifoma Nigerian Business Disability Network (NBDN), an employerled platform fostering disability inclusion practices and policies, has intensified calls for the need to position a workplace-friendly environment for people living with disabilities across the country.

This, according to the organisation, will encourage dignity, respect, generosity and empathy.

This was the thrust of the day at the Nigeria Diversity and Inclusion conference, tagged, “Eliminating Barriers against Inclusive Workplaces in the Private Sector”, and powered by the NBDN to mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day in Lagos State.

Speaking, one of the panel-

ists and Chairperson, NBDN, Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan frowned that Nigeria was still at the infant stage of promoting a comprehensive and coordinated manner towards disability inclusion, whether with human rights or sustainable development.

“The 2018 legislative action has triggered a response across the country, one of which is this network,” she conceded, while highlighting its commitment to raise awareness and be the voice of the private sector for disability inclusion in Nigeria.

“Although most of our members are still on the journey to bridge the gaps regarding disability inclusion in our workplaces, we are glad to see some progress,” she chipped in.

Victor-Laniyan, who is also the Head of Sustainability at

Access Bank, admitted that NBDN carried out a voluntary disability-ready assessment with the aid of Sightsavers Nigeria, a member of the network.

The assessment, she emphasised, projected a clear picture of where they are. Adding to it, the chairperson said, “It shows where we need to improve in line with global best practices and local regulations”.

Echoing her views, the Disability Inclusion Consultant, World Bank Group, Nigeria, Dr. Adebukola Adebayo, considerably harped on the significance of creating opportunities for everyone without bias.

When companies employ people with disabilities, Adebayo hinted, they are more secure and responsible.

Although he noted that of its over 200 million estimated

population only 0.3 per cent of persons with disabilities are gainfully employed in the country, the consultant bemoaned that a number of them experience various forms of barriers.

Hence, he acknowledged that people with disabilities will profit more in a virtual environment with the use of assistive technology as well as provision of workplace therapists. According to research, assistive technology is a term for assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and the elderly.

He listed some undeniable benefits in employing people with disabilities including “They are focused and resilient on the job, thereby making the company improve on

productivity and investment”.

Adebayo, therefore, implored the government at all levels to do more around media disabilities awareness campaigns to propel more inclusion of people with disabilities at the workplace. Another panelist and Executive Secretary, National Disability Commission for Persons with Disabilities, James Lalu, gave thumbs up to various private sectors who synergise in the diversity inclusion programmes.

For Lalu, discussing the issues around disabilities while also contributing to their welfare would guarantee their protection and promotion.

With this, he announced that the commission would partner NBDN to see to the fact that the idea is passed across the federation.

He added: “We are expected to launch the presidential special intervention programme for persons with disability which would bring about a skill acquisition programme.”

Accordingly, the executive secretary outlined that they have submitted the list of persons with disabilities to the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bank of Industry.

Continuing, he assured participants including people with disabilities at the conference that, “We are also coming up with a beautiful initiative to strengthen industrialisation for persons with disabilities with assistive devices among others.

“We will have a massive empowerment programme for persons with disabilities, especially the people on the street.”

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ JUNE 2, 2022

36

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

KaltaniTasks FG on Infrastructure Devt, Reaffirms Commitment to Reducing Waste Gilbert Ekugbe Africa’s leading clean-tech plastic waste recycling company positioned to solve the growing plastic waste and unemployment crisis on the continent, Kaltani has called on the federal government to as a matter of urgency fix critical infrastructure for investments to thrive in the country.

According to the founder and Chief Executive Officer, Kaltani, Mr. Obi Charles Nnanna, most businesses in the country still have to self generate power supply, build access road networks to their factories, noting that these challenges are hindering both local and foreign investments in Nigeria. Nnanna stated this on the sidelines of the company’s ceremony to celebrate its first year of operations to promote sustainability and a circular

economy.

“Our challenges I would say is infrastructure, the road network to our factory is really not the greatest and as an entrepreneur, we have to find ways to find solutions to mitigate those challenges, but we have been growing. At Kaltani, we do not look at challenges, but solutions and how we solve problems. Our goal is simple, to reduce plastic waste, reduce unemployment. If the problem is significant, the solution must be aggressive, robust and scalable.”

He noted that plastic pollution problem in the country and key African countries is significant, adding that his company is poised to reducing waste, creating employment and reducing carbon emissions to the barest minimum.

“We have positively affected the lives of hundreds of Nigerians by

creating jobs. We have reduced thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions, thousands of tonnes of plastic waste. We have also helped thousands of Nigerians earn a revenue from their own plastic waste,” he added.

The Kaltani boss also stated that plans are ongoing to expand its operations across the globe, maintaining that it had also secured a seed fund of $4 million to boost its operations.

“In the next five years, we hope to be one of the highest employers of labour. We are passionate about reducing waste.

We are passionate about creating wealth. Look out for us because great things are coming ahead,” he assured.

He added: “This is our one year of operations and also to celebrate our small and significant wins.

L-R: General Manager, Aviation Security, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Dr. Anna Egbadon; Managing Director, FAAN, Captain Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu; Chairman, League of Airport and Aviation Correspondent, Mr. Olusegun Koiki; and Acting. General Manager Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mrs. Faithful A.Hope- Ivbaze, during the Courtesy Visit by Managing Director, FAAN to League of Airport and Aviation Correspondent Secretariat at MMIA Ikeja Lagos. ..recently.

KOLAWOLE ALLI

Yiaga Advocates Effective Leadership Recruitment Process in Nigeria Yiaga Africa has stated that for Nigeria to achieve rapid economic growth and development, it must prioritise attention to effective leadership recruitment processes.

The Director of Programmes, Yiaga Africa, Mrs. Cynthia Mbamalu, stated that the only way to achieve effective leadership in the country begins with the leadership recruitment process, saying that Nigeria must get the right people with the right capacity in the 2023 elections to solve Nigeria’s economic challenges.

Mbamalu stated this on the sidelines of its Community Organising Training (COT) in Lagos.

“This is why we have raised a lot of issues with the primaries, the way it is conducted the way

the role money has been playing in the elections, because the cost keeps away capable hands because only those who have the money can compete. So for us one way to, to start addressing the problems in Nigeria, is this elections and getting in the right people with the right capacity to solve the problem, because until we have the right leaders with the right mindset in office and improve the quality of leadership, we cannot address our challenges,” she said.

She however stated that the COT is one of several ways it aims to build young civic artisan political leaders, especially in the pre elections phase.

“We believe that if we invest in youth leadership, if we invest

in youth leadership intentionally, then we can start building that consciousness amongst young people to mobilise their peers to participate in the elections and that is because young people play a vital role in our political space,” she stated. Also speaking, the Programmes Manager for the Governance and Development Programme, Yiaga Africa, Mr. Ibrahim Faruk, said the training expected to last for four days is a training supported by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) called turn up democracy, is aimed at increasing citizen’s participation in democratic processes.

“We have brought together 40 young people from across various local government in Lagos.

U.S. Grants Adeosun’s Dash Me Foundation Non-profit,Tax-exempt Status Dash Me Foundation United States has announced it has officially received a non-profit with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Code.

The Founder of Dash Me Foundation, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who expressed delight at the development, said contributions from both corporations and individuals, donated to New York based Dash Me Foundation (US) are now fully tax-deductible.

The former Minister of Finance added that the Dash Me Foundation (US) was now eligible to apply for government and foundation grants, which

will further broaden access to resources and strengthen its ability to raise funds for orphans and vulnerable children, victims of domestic violence and disadvantaged youth.

Adeosun said, “The Dash Me Foundation US is proud to announce that it is officially a non-profit with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.

“The granting of a non-profit status to Dash Me Foundation in the United States is a major milestone for our growing organization, and we are excited about the prospects it

creates. Attaining recognition of our Charitable Status by the American Internal Revenue Service was a rigorous process and we are proud to have met all the requirements.”

She stated that the US team could now actively mobilise donations and support from its extensive US based diaspora as well as corporations and foundations, interested in supporting indigenous charitable work in Nigeria and beyond.

“Our Donors can now change lives in Nigeria whilst obtaining a full tax deduction in America,” said Mrs. Adeosun in a statement she issued on Tuesday.

Business Expert,Adediran Joins Prestigious Forbes Business Council Sunday Okobi Founder and Managing Consultant Midridge International, Abiola Adediran, has been accepted into the Forbes Business Council, the foremost growth and networking organisation for successful business owners and leaders worldwide.

Forbes Business Council is an invitation-only community for successful business owners and leaders.

Adediran was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of her experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics and personal

and professional achievements and honours.

In a statement, the Founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes the Forbes Business Council, Scott Gerber, said: “We are honoured to welcome Abiola Adediran into the community. Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member to grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world.

As an accepted member of the council, Adediran has access to various exclusive opportunities designed to help her reach peak professional influence. She will

connect and collaborate with other respected global leaders in a private forum and at members-only events.

“Abiola will also be invited to work with a professional editorial team to share her expert insights in original business articles on Forbes. com, and contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts.

“Finally, she will benefit from exclusive access to vetted business service partners, membershipbranded marketing collateral, and the high-touch support of the Forbes Councils’ member concierge team,” the council stated.

Adediran is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, a Certified Management Consultant, and a PRINCE2-certified

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $118.84 a barrel on Friday, compared with $116.50 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

37

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

VFD Shareholders Approve N10.79 Dividend, One for Two Bonus Kayode Tokede The shareholders’ of VFD Group Plc have approved N10.79 per share dividend and get a one for two bonus as proposed by its Board of Directors for the financial year ended December 31, 2021.

This is N2.3 per share higher than the dividend paid last year, thereby reaffirming the commitment made by management of

VFD Group to its shareholders to continuously grow wealth.

The shareholders at the 6th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held Tuesday in Lagos also approved all the resolutions put before them at the meeting.

Speaking at the AGM, the Chairman of VFD Group, Olatunde Basari (SAN) commended the shareholders and business partners for their support in growing the business in 2021

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

financial yera.

According to him, “While we remain optimistic with our outlook, we would position ourselves to take advantage of opportunities that present themselves during the year.”

On 2022 focus, he explained that, “The world has come to terms with the coronavirus and has begin to live with it. We expect macroeconomic indices to remain positive this

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

year, with further optimization of the redundances caused by COVID-19. “While we remain optimistic with our outlook, we would position ourselves to take advantage of opportunities that present themselves during the year.

“We would also focus on consolidating our existing business interests and drive our vision of becoming a commercially viable proprietary investment

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

company with global influence.

“We will continue to seek cross border opportunities that enable us to access new markets to help us aggregate the service offerings of our existing portfolio companies and collaborations outside our ecosystem to build a platform that allows us ringfence stakeholder value chain.”

Responding to shareholders, the GMD/CEO, VFD Group, Nonso Okpala, expressed

O F

that, “The contribution of our shareholders show that the company is getting matured when viewed from the previous AGMs.” He added that, “2021 was a difficult year for the Group because we were forced to navigate the most difficult health and economic times in recent history. Regardless, VFD Group was able to weather the storm and deliver an impressive financial performance.

0 1 / 0 6 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

38

THURSDAY, ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

Thursday, June 2, 2022

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THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

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Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

Current Price

Ticker

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THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

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-0.27%

ROE

ROA

P/E

35.1% 150.5%

5.2x

Dividend Earnings Yield Yield

P/BV

0.8x

6.2%

17.6%

1,767.00

0.0%

45.4%

85.0%

85.0%

18.2%

6.2%

230.00

0.0%

7.6%

16.8%

16.8%

105.6%

13.9%

14.5x

17.9x

5.7%

74.25

0.0%

6.0%

10.7%

10.7%

19.1%

11.2%

35.7x

6.7x

3.8%

2.8%

22.60

0.2%

4.5%

-13.1%

-13.1%

19.8%

3.2%

3.7x

0.7x

13.3%

26.9% 33.9%

3 BUA Cement Plc 4 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC 5 Zenith Bank PLC 6 Dangote Cement PLC 7 Nestle Nigeria PLC

Price Previous Price Current Change Price Change Weighting Index to Change YTD Date

1.2% 6.9%

23.45

0.0%

4.4%

-6.8%

-6.8%

20.6%

2.6%

3.0x

0.6x

13.2%

277.00

0.0%

3.8%

7.8%

7.8%

37.7%

16.4%

12.5x

4.6x

7.7%

8.0%

1,400.00

0.0%

2.5%

-10.1%

-10.1%

112.8%

16.1%

24.3x

28.3x

3.6%

4.1% 40.8%

8 FBN Holdings Plc 9 Lafarge Africa PLC 10 Access Holdings PLC

11.35

-4.6%

2.7%

-0.4%

-0.4%

20.1%

1.9%

2.5x

0.5x

3.0%

27.05

0.0%

3.0%

12.9%

12.9%

15.5%

11.1%

7.3x

1.1x

7.4%

13.6%

9.90

-1.0%

2.3%

6.5%

6.5%

17.9%

1.6%

2.2x

0.3x

7.0%

46.2%

11 United Bank for Africa PLC 12 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 13 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

7.90

1.9%

1.7%

-1.9%

-1.9%

15.6%

1.4%

2.3x

0.3x

12.7%

44.1%

33.50

0.0%

1.2%

-6.9%

-6.9%

15.6%

2.1%

7.1x

1.1x

9.0%

14.1%

62.40

0.0%

1.6%

24.8%

24.8%

10.5%

3.9%

26.9x

2.7x

2.7%

3.7%

1,289.50

0.0%

2.5%

98.4%

98.4%

7.5%

3.6%

13.3x

1.0x

3.2%

7.5%

12.50

0.0%

1.6%

43.7%

43.7%

18.4%

1.0%

2.7x

0.5x

5.3%

37.3%

14 SEPLAT Energy PLC 15 Ecobank Transnational Inc 16 International Brew eries PLC 17 Okomu Oil Palm PLC 18 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

7.95

0.6%

1.4%

60.6%

60.6%

-9.9%

-3.4%

193.50

-10.0%

1.2%

36.3%

36.3%

43.6%

25.5%

10.1x

4.2x

4.1%

9.9%

35.15

-0.6%

1.0%

24.0%

24.0%

15.9%

4.5%

5.4x

0.8x

6.1%

18.6% 40.6%

1.5x

-6.7%

3.24

-4.7%

0.6%

27.1%

27.1%

13.3%

1.2%

2.5x

0.3x

10.8%

2.14

0.0%

0.4%

-7.8%

-7.8%

2.9%

0.9%

20.4x

0.6x

11.7%

4.9%

17.50

2.9%

0.4%

0.6%

0.6%

16.7%

6.6%

9.4x

1.5x

5.7%

10.6%

10.7%

1.1%

DŝdžĞĚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

22 FCMB Group Plc 23 United Capital PLC 24 Guinness Nigeria PLC

ĐƌŽƐƐ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ

25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria 26 Presco PLC

162.00

0.0%

0.4%

84.5%

84.5%

7.6x

3.8x

4.3%

13.2%

ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ϯ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ͕ ϭ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ

27 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 28 AIICO Insurance PLC

12.85

0.0%

0.2%

-2.7%

-2.7%

18.5%

5.7%

12.9x

2.3x

3.1%

7.7%

0.68

-1.4%

0.2%

-2.9%

-2.9%

21.1%

3.6%

27.6x

0.6x

2.9%

3.6%

/ d ĂŶĚ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ

29 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri 30 Custodian and Allied Insurance

234.50

0.0%

0.2%

5.7%

5.7%

1.7x

7.9%

7.00

0.0%

0.2%

-11.4%

-11.4%

19.5%

5.5%

4.1x

0.8x

6.8%

24.3%

Ğƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϰ͘ϲй /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ůĞĚ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ Ϭ͘ϱй ŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĐͲ

31 Vitafoam Nigeria PLC 32 Unilever Nigeria PLC

22.55

0.0%

0.2%

0.2%

0.2%

50.3%

19.0%

4.2x

2.1x

6.7%

23.9%

14.55

-4.6%

0.1%

0.3%

0.3%

8.8%

5.4%

28.5x

1.2x

3.4%

3.5%

ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> ;Ͳ ĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ // K ;Ͳϭ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ D EͲ

33 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 34 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

26.25

0.0%

0.2%

17.4%

17.4%

18.1%

2.3%

5.8x

0.8x

9.5%

17.2%

ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ

ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ͕ ϭ ŝŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ/ d

ϵ͘ϭйͿ͕

hE/> s Z

;Ͳϯ͘ϱйͿ͕

>/E< ^^hZ

;Ͳϲ͘ϰйͿ͕

&/d ;Ͳϰ͘ϬйͿ͘ dƌĂŝůŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ

35 Oando PLC 36 Wema Bank PLC

ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϯй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ

37 NEM Insurance PLC 38 Sterling Bank PLC

ƚŽ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ t D E< ;Ͳϰ͘ϭйͿ͕ &/ >/dz ;Ͳϰ͘ϳйͿ͕ ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K ;ͲϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͘

39 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

ĂŶĚ D E^ Z ;ͲϮ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ

ŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ďLJ Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲ

ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ KEK/> ;Ͳϴ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͘ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ Ğƌ͕ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ ƵƉ ϭ͘ϴй 'ŽŽĚƐ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂͲ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ďLJ ƌŽƐĞ ƉƌŝĐĞ Ϭ͘ϭй ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƟŽŶ ŝŶ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͘

ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ŝŶ h &KK ^ ;нϯ͘ϭйͿ ĂŶĚ

E'^h' Z ;нϮ͘ϵйͿ͘ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ KƵƚůŽŽŬ

;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϲdž

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ͕ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ ͲϬ͘Ϭϴdž ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘Ϭϰdž ĂƐ ϭϰ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϭϱ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ DZ^ ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ D zͲ

^dK < ;Ͳϰ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂLJ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ƚŽ ďĞ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ĞdžƚĞŶĚͲ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŵŝdžĞĚ͕ ĂƐ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ƐĞĂƐŽŶ

ĞĚ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ͘ ŐƌĂĚƵĂůůLJ ǁŝŶĚƐ ƵƉ͘

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

0.0%

0.4%

17.1%

17.1%

0.0%

0.4%

31.3%

31.3%

90.50

0.0%

0.7%

132.1%

132.1%

1.30

4.0%

0.4%

35.4%

35.4%

17.8%

8.1%

13.5x

0.3x

5.7%

3.3x

11.4%

2.2x

0.5%

0.5x

1.6%

7.4%

6.25

0.0%

0.1%

5.9%

5.9%

6.1%

0.7%

9.8x

0.7x

10.2%

5.70

-0.2%

0.1%

29.0%

29.0%

14.5%

2.6%

2.5x

0.3x

40.7%

3.25

-4.1%

0.0%

351.4%

351.4%

15.6%

0.9%

12.0x

1.7x

7.4%

8.3%

3.82

0.0%

0.1%

-15.1%

-15.1%

22.3%

12.9%

3.9x

0.8x

5.8%

25.3%

1.9x

0.3x

6.8%

53.7%

1.50

0.0%

0.1%

-0.7%

-0.7%

9.9%

0.9%

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-17.7%

-4.1%

6.25

0.0%

0.0%

16.2%

16.2%

1.8x

-9.5%

1.0x

1.1%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

T o p 10 G a in e r s P ric e

P ric e C hg %

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

ET ER N A

7.44

9.9%

T R A N SC OR P

121.8

4.0%

F T N C OC OA

0.35

9.4%

GT C O

20.1

0.2%

NA HCO

7.22

8.6%

C ON OIL

17.0

-8.3%

T ic k er

T ic k er

IKEJ A H OT EL

1.24

7.8%

ST ER LN B A N K

16.1

0.0%

T R A N SC OR P

1.30

4.0%

R OYA LEX

11.8

-2.0%

A F R IP R UD

6.00

3.4%

A IIC O

11.5

-1.4%

J A P A ULGOLD

0.31

3.3%

NA HCO

7.5

8.6% -4.6%

B UA F OOD S

59.70

3.1%

FB NH

6.7

D A N GSUGA R

17.50

2.9%

Z EN IT H B A N K

5.6

0.0%

1.9%

F LOUR M ILL

5.3

-0.6%

UB A

ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ͕ ϮϬ ůŽƐƚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϳϳ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ < Z ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ,KEz&>KhZ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ ŶĞdžƚ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ͕ ǁĞ > ^ K ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ;Ͳϲ͘ϳйͿ͕ ƚŚĞ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ƉĞƌͲ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ dZ E^ ;Ͳϴ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ >/s Ͳ

3.50 13.00

7.90

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s T ic k er OKOM UOIL

P ric e 193.50

P ric e C hg % -10.0%

T ic k er

Value

A IR T ELA F R I

573.2

P ric e C hg % 0.0%

C ON OIL

493.4

-8.3%

NCR

3.60

-9.8%

C ON OIL

29.10

-8.3%

GT C O

454.7

0.2%

1.55

-7.2%

M TNN

448.9

0.0%

N EIM ET H F ID ELIT YB K

3.24

-4.7%

NB

189.6

0.0%

FB NH

11.35

-4.6%

F LOUR M ILL

185.9

-0.6%

UN ILEVER

14.55

-4.6%

T R A N SC OR P

156.1

4.0%

WEM A B A N K

3.25

-4.1%

Z EN IT H B A N K

132.6

0.0%

M B EN EF IT

0.24

-4.0%

N EST LE

101.0

0.0%

R EGA LIN S

0.28

-3.4%

OKOM UOIL

88.5

-10.0%

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Damilare Asimiyu | dasimiyu@afrinvest.com

39

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2022 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 31May-2022, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 200.70 201.85 20.21% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 6.22% Nigeria International Debt Fund 317.96 317.96 3.90% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 105.59 106.74 7.02% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.26% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.75 3.81 5.75% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 4.72% Anchoria Equity Fund 149.56 151.26 7.40% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.19 1.19 4.46% info@anchoriaam.com ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 22.30 22.97 9.93% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 518.11 533.73 14.84% ARM Ethical Fund 43.68 44.99 12.11% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.06 1.06 -1.89% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.04 1.04 2.58% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.18% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 105.5 105.5 8.37% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,110.57 1,110.57 11.06% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.12 2.12 7.74% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.41 2.47 23.39% CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,009.72 1,009.72 3.87% CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.04 1.04 3.37% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.01% Paramount Equity Fund 20.44 20.8 17.16% Women's Investment Fund 153.41 155.25 8.01% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.69% Cordros Milestone Fund 136.79 137.63 9.63% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 109.64 109.64 5.19% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 4.08% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 5.28% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,156.68 1,168.71 -0.72% EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.85% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.04 1.04 7.92% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.08 1.08 18.39% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 102.45 102.45 4.39% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1457.03 1457.03 10.42% FBN Balanced Fund 194.94 196.34 11.23% FBN Halal Fund 119.99 119.99 9.21% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.21% FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) 123.94 123.94 5.41% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 167.81 170.00 10.32% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.77% Legacy Debt Fund 3.97 3.97 -0.94% Legacy Equity Fund 1.99 2.03 14.30% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.23 1.23 1.62% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

4,196.58 3,558.10 100.00

4,258.55 3,558.10 100.00

18.93% 6.25% 6.08%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.10 1.10 3.76% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.55 1.57 9.05% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,161.36 1,161.36 3.63% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 12.73 12.78 16.24% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 8.00% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 101.93 101.93 7.46% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 7.41% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM EuroBond Fund N/A N/A N/A SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 132.72 136.06 10.55% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.04 1.04 8.55% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,717.45 3,760.11 8.00% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 238.89 238.89 1.34% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.48 1.50 14.62% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 320.34 320.35 2.24% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 273.02 276.78 12.71% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.67% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 12,536.63 12,710.72 12.84% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.32 1.32 1.98% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.49 118.49 1.30% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 109.49 109.49 2.83% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 1.08 1.11 16.27% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.52 1.54 11.33% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.23 1.24 12.57% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.11 1.11 3.04% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 2.01 2.01 2.73% United Capital Eurobond Fund 125.09 125.09 2.25% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.20% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 14.09 14.23 6.84% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 16.26 16.44 11.30% Zenith Income Fund 22.64 22.64 3.14% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.72% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund 4.21 4.31 4.84% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 6.47 6.57 10.60% Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund 19.82 20.02 12.02% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.10% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 22.62 22.82 13.15% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 151.88 153.88 -3.71%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

116.40 51.67

2.86% 1.61%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

15.53 147.30 115.56 17.20 16.50

15.63 150.89 118.07 17.20 16.50

10.98% 11.88% 11.51% 25.52% 12.65%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.55

12.10%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

40

THURSDAY JUNE 2, 2022 • T H I S D AY

41

THURSDAY, ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

FORTY-ONE

Buhari, Spanish King, Canvass Global Cooperation to Avert Looming Food Crisis Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari and King Felipe VI of Spain have canvassed the need for world leaders to come together and strategise on ways to avert the looming food crisis globally.

The duo made the call yesterday, in Madrid, the Spainush capital at, at the Royal Palace of his Royal Majesty, King Felipe VI, as part of the State Visit of President Buhari

to the country.

The two leaders called for a global action to stem the food problem especially in wheat production occasioned by the ongoing war in Ukraine, urging world leaders to take concrete actions to avert the crisis.

The King said Nigeria was an important country and looked forward to an opportunity to visit the country especially against the background of stronger cooperation

being forged by the two countries.

President Buhari thanked the Spanish Monarch for the invitation and hospitality extended to him since his arrival and updated him on happenings in Nigeria especially as the country gears up for general elections.

In another meeting with President Pedro Sanchez, Buhari said his country looked forward to increasing bilateral relations between both nations.

The Nigerian leader commended his Spanish counterpart for his leadership qualities and contributions in the war against terror in Sub-Saharan Africa especially in Mali, looking forward to cooperation in the area.

The two leaders discussed areas of cooperation on which Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed.

On his part, President Sanchez

emphasized that, as a major partner of Spain in Africa, Nigeria was a country that his people really wanted to have a stronger partnership with going forward.

He commended President Buhari for his leadership roles in Africa especially in the area of strengthening of democratic ideals.

"Currently, Spain is the largest importer of Nigerian gas and the third largest importer of Nigerian crude, and with the visit, the two

leaders hoped for bigger trade relations."

At the end of the visit, nine Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding were signed, namely: Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in criminal Matters; Transfer of Sentenced Persons; Extradition; Economic and Commercial Cooperation; Tourism.

Others were on Sports; Health; the Fight Against COVID-19; and Science and Innovation.

without equivocation that, there would be no election.

In their consideration as they came up with this idea, THISDAY gathered, were El-Rufai and Zulum, a move believed would help them push some of their best from the north into the race and put the party on a sure-footing ahead of the elections.

It is not certain yet if El-Rufai would buy into the idea, having said time and time again that, he was not interested in the presidency and that he believed in the need for power to shift to the south after Buhari’s eight years, because it was the right thing to do.

Zulum, on his part, had been touted earlier as a possible option for running mate to whoever emerged the candidate of the party, but had openly come out to turn down the idea, saying also that, while it was a good thing to consider him for the office, especially, given the privileges attached to it, he preferred to return to Borno to consolidate the work he had started.

This, nonetheless, the governors had maintained the position, that despite Buhari’s appeal for reciprocity

in the choice of his successor, they too had a responsibility as stakeholders to advise and guide him on the suitability of his choice candidate for the party.

Indeed, many of the governors, who were insistent on going south, held the view that there was no need to panic over the emergence of Atiku in the PDP, because with a strong southern candidate, which they claimed to have in good numbers, the party would still comfortably defeat Atiku in 2023.

Aside not seeing anything wrong in pandering to Buhari’s request for reciprocity, many of the governors still believed that an acceptable choice of successor was key, not just to their victory at the general election, but to help prevail on other contenders, who would be persuaded to stand down for the sake of the president.

Against this background, while waiting for Buhari to return from his trip to Madrid, Spain, and present his candidate to the party ahead of the convention, a majority of the governors still stood strong against going north, notwithstanding the fears of other stakeholders, including Adamu.

PRESIDENCY: APC STILL DIVIDED ON ZONING, MULLS OPTIONS TO MATCH ATIKU Interestingly, the development, has pushed the party leadership to consider the reopening of sales of Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to more members by way of broadening its choices for a suitable presidential candidate, that would secure the confidence of the people and lead the party to victory.

Already, two persons being targeted to encourage to join the race, are the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and his Borno State counterpart, Professor Babagana Zulum, even though the later had since dismissed the idea

of looking at other possibilities in 2023, except returning to Borno to finish off what he had started.

The APC was first thrown into confusion, when Atiku emerged candidate of the PDP at a keenly contested presidential primaries in Abuja, a situation, which completely unsettled the thinking and extrapolations in the ruling party.

Unfortunately, the confusion was further accentuated on Monday, when President Muhammadu Buhari, at a meeting with the 22 governors of the party and Adamu, pleaded with the stakeholders to let him choose

his successor as a sign of reciprocity.

Buhari, in a two-page speech, reminded the governors that, while those governors, who just served their first terms, had a field day securing their tickets to return to office, the outgoing ones, after serving out their constitutional two terms of eight years, also had the privileges to choose their successors.

He, therefore, enjoined them all to let him too enjoy same privileges through “reciprocity” of similar action, to choose his successor at the proposed June 6 presidential primaries.

FG: DISAGREEMENTS AMONG CONCESSIONERS DELAYING TAKE-OFF OF $3.1 BILLION E-CUSTOMS PROJECT and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, who spoke to newsmen yesterday, after the weekly virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at the State House, Abuja, explained the rationale behind a new e-Customs concession agreement between the NCS, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and China’s Huawei Technologies Limited.

According to the minister: “The e-Customs project was approved

by Council. And there were some challenges that had to do with disagreements among the concession partners.

“Remember that government was not a partner of the concession, it was a group of different investing parties that came together and formed the consortium.

“The Attorney General and Minister of Justice has intervened. There were several number of meetings to try to iron out the difference.

So it has to do with shareholders, who has what responsibility. And at the end of the day, I think one of the partners in the concession did not agree with the arrangements.”

Speaking further, he said: “So the partner that signed was already in the initial concession. So that one party did not agree with the terms that are signed. And there is a new agreement that had been signed and that partner was reported to have opted out of the concession.

“I haven't seen the report yet but it was reported to have opted out of being in the concession. So there is a new concession agreement that has been committed. And on the part of the ministry and I know Custom, what it means is that the implementation of e-Customs project can now start with this resolution.”

The NCS Comptroller-General, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) who signed the new contract in Abuja, Monday, had explained that the NCS would generate a whopping revenue of $176 billion over the next 20 years through the implementation of e-customs project.

Ali reportedly said the e-Customs concession project would ease the cost of doing business, boost revenue, enhance productivity and stop every arbitrariness in the service.

He said: “The $3.2 billion eCustoms project to be financed by the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and managed by Huawei Technologies Limited under a 20year concession window, when fully implemented, would quadruple Customs’ current N210 billion monthly revenue collection.”

The project which was approved

by FEC on September 2, 2020, and awarded to Messrs E. Customs HC Project Limited, was expected to last for 36 months, to enhance the agency’s mode of operation using the application of information and technology in all aspects of its administration.

“The main objective of this project is to completely automate every aspect of the customs business and to institutionalise the use of smart and emerging technologies that will enhanced the statutory function of the Nigerian Customs Service in the areas of revenue generation as well as trade facilitation and enhancement of security,” the Minister of Finance and Budget Planning, Zainab Ahmed, had told State House Correspondents shortly after the meeting in 2020.

Also, Ahmed disclosed plan by the federal government to address rising cost food prices across the country as it plans to convene a meeting of the National Food Security Council shortly.

She also disclosed that that FEC gave approval for the National Food Security Council to meet, "very quickly to address the issue of food inflation, and also provide a plan and some methods in which we can reduce the cost of food to support improved food prices for the citizenry."

She further said the Council was briefed about the rising inflation rate and the need to manage the cost of inflation in the country.

Ahmed added that FEC considered a report from the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning for the first quarter of 2022 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report which showed that the Nigerian economy grew by 3.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2022, as against a growth of 0.5 per cent in the first quarter of last year.

Her words: "This growth shows a gradual economic stability from the recession that we witnessed in 2020. And also it shows the six quarter of positive growth that the Nigerian economy has presented.

"So of the 46 economic activities, the bulk sector performance show that services sector grew strongly by 4.7 per cent, agriculture also grew by 3.61 per cent, Industry on the other hand contracted by minus 6.81 per cent and there was also a significant contraction in the crude oil, petroleum and natural gas sector of 26.04 per cent.

"Coal mining sector also declined, oil refinery the biggest contraction of 44.26 per cent, electricity sector, textile outcome. Therefore, even

though there has been growth in some sectors, there are significant contraction than others but the net effect is positive growth.

"We're very mindful of the fact that unless we have most of the sectors growing especially the growth in the jobs impacted sectors, that this growth that is positive will not be directly felt by the people."

According to her, "We also reported to Council that inflation has started going upward to the extent that the monetary authorities of the Central Bank of Nigeria have had to adjust the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 13 per cent at the last Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting and that's an attempt to manage the cost of inflation.

"So, Council has decided to set up a special effort to look at the sectors that are not growing and also to look at how we can grow the other sectors better."

Also briefing newsmen after the FEC meeting, Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, said the Council approved the contract, "to supply and install emergency restoration system or 330 kV and 132KV transmission line for ongoing rehabilitation works in Lagos at the sum of $968,818 as the offshore component, the onshore component is N7,393 million and the contractor is Rab Power Industries Limited."

Commenting on the update on the federal government electricity deal with Siemen of Germany, he explained that he recently toured their facilities in Germany to ascertain the level of work in the production of the equipment and was satisfied with the spate of work so far.

According to him, despite the impact of the ongoing Russia/ Ukraine war which slowed down the process of their production, he had been able to get Siemen committed to supply 10 mobile transformers to be installed in the country by September this year.

He disclosed that works are ongoing in the country as contractors are already working on the sites to prepare grounds for the installation of the equipment immediately they arrive in the country.

On his part, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, disclosed that the Council approved the memo for the NNPC Limited to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with ECOWAS for the construction of the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline to take gas to 15 West African countries and through Morocco Continued on page 44

By implications, the president had ruled out the possibility of an elective convention but a consensus option that would allow him choose his proffered candidate, who would be affirmed on Monday, at the Eagle Square, in Abuja.

But since this new thinking was thrown into the mix by the president, the leadership of the party, including the governors, as major stakeholders, had started pondering the options opened to them and particularly, lead them to victory.

Thus, while some of the governors insisted that it would remain indefensible to go north, since Buhari, a northerner, would be serving out eight years in 2023, others, including the national chairman of the party, believed going north was the surest path to victory, if they must match Atiku in all the boxes critical to their victory in next year’s elections.

To this end, the party leadership, has resolved to consider reopening the sales of forms to some members of the party by way of broadening the options and further opening up the turf to more candidates for a competitive approach to the ticket, even when the president had said

ATIKU RECEIVES CERTIFICATE OF RETURN, SAYS THERE IS MUCH TO BE DONE is a contest within a family to decide how to put our best foot forward.

The main contest is the one to win the presidency of our country for our party.

"It will require the entire PDP family and other supporters and sympathisers. We must pull everyone together. Nobody should be excluded; I beg of you".

The former vice president said he had already visited some of those who contested against him, "as a way to lead in that effort to unify the party so that we can face our real opponents, defeat them in the elections and begin the process of rescuing and rebuilding this country from the calours and dangerous All Progressives Congress (APC) misrule over the past seven years which is there for everyone to see."

He further said, "I am honored and humbled to receive this Certificate of Return having emerged as our party's candidate in our just concluded special convention. This victory is a victory for all of us, for our party, and for the vast majority of Nigerians suffering under the misrule of the APC. It was a collective effort, and I'm very grateful for everybody's contributions."

Expressing his gratitude, Atiku said, "I am particularly grateful that you kept your word and gave us contestants fair treatment, despite what might have been a difficult situation.

"Your integrity and even handedness must be commended. I commend our party's National Executive Committee for putting our party and our country first in its deliberations and decision-making process.

"I thank all those who assisted my campaign in a variety of ways to enable me to crisscross this vast country and make my case for our delegates and other party elders and members.

“To all those who volunteer their time to help with organising the convention, as well as the security personnel and agencies who ensured that the event was successful, I say thank you very much indeed.

"I also thank my family, for putting up with my demands and

the disruption this quest to serve obviously brought about.”

He also commended the NWC for transforming the party secretariat.

"So let me commend the National Working Committee for transforming this place into a decent and beautiful place. This is a clear evidence that, if we have a new PDP government, we will transform this country," he added.

In his speech, the PDP chairman said that the event was not a celebration of victory.

“Rather within the PDP family, we had a minor contest, a small contest within the family. There were no victors, there were no vanquishes, the party won. It is the party that won. Atiku Abubakar is not yet victorious. He has only been produced as our candidate, the candidate of the whole party.

"As we marched forward, we need all of you because each one of you had a supporter and all of you plus all your supporters, we want you all to fuse together into one happy political family. It is this family that will face the battle ahead.

“We have only started a journey.

We shall end this journey sometime next year. By the first of June next year, we should take over power from colourless and clueless government that has totally destroyed this country.

"All of you are aware of what has happened to our country in the last seven years. I don't need to repeat issues of insecurity, total destruction of the economy, total disunity of the country. We have never been as divided as we are today as a country. Families are divided, communities are divided against each other.

“There is no trust among ourselves.

The president that is coming in is tested and trusted. He will lead us to reunite the country. He will lead us to rebuild the economy. He will lead us to get rid of bandits and terrorists. He will re-enforce the armed forces.

“He will give us respect in the international community. Today we are a pariah state but in the next 12 months, the whole world will begin to respect Nigeria all over again.

"I urge all of you to come together.

It doesn't matter which candidate you supported, come together and support the party, support our efforts, support our candidates, the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and I want to assure you that we in the National Working Committee will continue to work tirelessly because you didn't elect to us to organise a successful convention, you elected us to win the presidency for you.”

Speaking further, he said: "You elected us to give you more governors, you elected us to take control of the two houses of the National Assembly. You elected us to win all the Houses of Assembly across the states and we will continue to do just that by working with you, by calling on many of you to come and help us execute these objectives because we can't do it alone. " He said that the occasion is to appreciate members of the party for a job well done Present at the occasion were Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State; Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State; former Delta State Governor, James Ibori; Darius Ishaku of Taraba State and some of the presidential aspirants , including, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, Bukola Saraki, Sam Ohuabunwa and the only female presidential aspirant, Olivia Terila Diana among others Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike yesterday visited the PDP presidential candidate at his Asokoro residence. The visit was barely 24 hours that Atiku visited Wike in company of some PDP officials.

Atiku who confirmed Wike’s visit in his verified tweeter handle wrote: "It was a pleasure to receive His Excellency Nyesom Wike in the company of notable leaders and officials of our great party, the PDP at my residence today.

"I am proud of the promises that this spirit of camaraderie holds for our party as a united front that guarantees victory in the next election to rescue the country."

Wike was absent at the PDP secretariat when the Certificate of return was handed over to Atiku by the Ayu-led NWC.

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THURSDAY, ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

INVESTITURE OF THE 58TH ICAN PRESIDENT...

L-R; Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos; representing the Minister of Education, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe; Jigawa State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Namadi; the 58th new ICAN President, Malam PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN Tijani Musa Isa; and Lagos State Commissioner of Finance, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, at the Investiture of the 58th ICAN President held in Lagos… yesterday

2023: INEC Trains Political Parties’ Officials on Redesigned Candidates’ Nomination Portals 296,965 PVCs uncollected in Ondo, says REC Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Fidelis David in Akure The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced training of political party officials on the use of its the redesigned INEC’s Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP) in preparation for the 2023 general elections.

The candidate nomination portal is one of the technological innovations introduced by the Commission in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic to reduce physical interactions and automate its processes.

Declaring open the 4-day workshop for officials of political parties on the use of the ICNP organised with support from the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) holding in Abuja from yesterday, the Chairperson of the Legal Services, Clearance and Complaints Committee (LSC&CC), Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, noted that, “the ICNP has been in use since the 2020 Edo and Ondo State Governorship elections.”

She explained that the Electoral Act (2022) which made provision for several technological innovations additionally gave the Commission a general discretion to apply technology as it deems fit.

Hence, the National Commissioner disclosed that the portal was recently redesigned to accommodate the greater demands of a wider, general election nomination process.

According to the Chairperson LSC & CC, “this training is of utmost importance to political parties as it will enlighten them on the guidelines for nomination of candidates and the new procedure of the ICNP bearing in mind that political parties will be

submitting forms on the portal in respect of candidates they intend to sponsor for the various offices in 1, 499 constituencies in Nigeria.”

On the expected outcome of the training, Agbamuche-Mbu said, “It is expected that at the conclusion of this training, political parties would have gained extensive knowledge on the new nomination process for the 2023 General Election, demonstrate practical knowledge on how to make submissions on the portal and be equipped with the approved guidelines for nomination of candidates for elections.”

In his welcome address, the Director, ICT, Chidi Nwafor, recognised the important role of the participants, whom he said, were responsible for uploading the nominations of candidates in the off season elections since the introduction of the portal in 2020.

The ICT Director further explained that the ICNP to be used for the 2023 general election would be 90 per cent automated, a movement from the semi-automated process previously used.

Nwafor added that the Commission in its determination to continue to improve the use of technology in the management of elections, has decided to use indigenous content and capacity sourced within Nigeria.

In a goodwill message, the Country Director, IFES, Seray Jah, represented by the Deputy Country Director, Obaje Ukeh, commended INEC for putting together the training with IFES’s support, stating that “we believe will better equip the political parties representatives with the knowledge and skills to effectively and efficiently utilise the candidate nomination portal.”

296, 965 PVCs Still Uncollected

in Ondo, Says REC Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ondo State yesterday said 296, 965 Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) printed were still yet to be collected in the state.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr. Rufus Akeju, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Akure.

He said: "The CVR exercise is now in its fourth phase which commenced on the 11th of April and will end on the 30th of June, 2022. As at May, 30th 2022, the registration figure stands at 123,981.

"A total of 21,749 PVCs were received by the state for the 1st and 2nd phases of the CVR exercise and are currently being distributed at our various local government area offices. Those who registered during these phases are to avail themselves of this opportunity to collect their PVCs.

"However, 296,965 previously printed PVCs uncollected are still available for collection by the rightful owners at the various local government INEC offices," he stressed.

Akeju, who explained that the online pre-registration exercise ended on May 30, 2022, and that the registration exercise at INEC offices would come to an end on June 30, 2022, called on eligible Nigerians who are 18 years and above and have not registered before to come out en mass and register since there would be no shift in the closing date.

According to him, the CVR exercise also provides opportunities for transfer of voter’s card, replacement of loss and defaced permanent voters card and update of voters details.

While encouraging registrants to come for the exercise, he said, "we want to sound a note of warning that registering more than once is

a criminal offence under the law punishable by prison term of not more than 12 months or a fine of N500,000 or both.

“Section 12 subsections 2 and 3 of the Electoral act. At the end of the CVR exercise a nation-wide Automatic Biometric Identification System (ABIS) will be ran on all registrations and those who register more than once will be fished out, their names expunged from the voter’s register and be prosecuted."

On gender quality and the electoral process, the INEC REC said, "our staff have been going on several workshops, and seminars on this issue. These workshops/ training and capacity building workshops is being organised by the Commission in collaboration with our development partners such as IFES, UNDP, IRI and some Gender/PWDs based civil society organisations.

"An implementation planning

Ahead of Guber Election, Group Alleges Arms' Build-up in Ekiti Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti A group known as the Ekiti Patriotic Front (EPF) has raised the alarm over persistent attacks on supporters of former Governor Segun Oni and the Social Democratic Party's (SDP) candidate for the June 18 governorship poll.

The development, according to them, could derail the country’s democracy.

EPF alerted the international community, the National Security Adviser(NSA), Major Gen Babangana Monguno and the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji

Alkali Baba, urging them to beam their searchlights on Ekiti to curtail the dangerous trend of light arms' buildup ahead of the election.

Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, the EPF Chairman, Tope Idowu, stated that it was disheartening that over 180 members of the SDP had allegedly been threatened, assaulted and had their property damaged by political thugs without arrest.

Idowu expressed dismay at the level of political desperation on the part of a political party and how some perceived political thugs had been brandishing guns and

dangerous weapons overtly, which he said could affect the credibility of election.

He said: "The family members, friends and associates of SDP's candidate, Engr. Segun Oni and his Deputy, Oladipupo Owolabi have become endangered species owing to incessant attacks directed at them by sponsored thugs.

"As at today, more than 30 houses and property belonging to prominent members of SDP have been vandalised in several towns namely: Ayetoro, Efon Alaaye and Ikole Ekiti to mention but a few.

"In the same vein, about 150

Child Molestation: FG Asks Defaulting Northern States to Domesticate Act Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The federal government yesterday appealed to states yet to domesticate or start the implementation of the Child Rights Act, enacted since 2003, to do so immediately in the interest of the innocent Nigerian children.

The Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Segun Runsewe, made the appeal in Abuja, at the Second Abuja Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Curbing Sexual Violence Against Children, organised by the HOSEC Foundation.

Runsewe, who was the chairman of the occasion, explained that the domestication of the law would

increase child protection and reduce the chances of child abuse in the country.

The President of the Pediatrician Association of Nigeria (PAN), Dr. Edward Alikor, had in January this year, said Kebbi, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa, Zamfara, Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe, Borno and Adamawa states had yet to domesticate the law.

Alikor had disclosed this in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, while addressing journalists on the 52nd/53rd Annual General Meeting/ Scientific Conference tagged, PANCONF UYO 2022.

He had said, "the inability of the 11 states in the northern path of the country, to domesticate the Child

workshop/data disaggregation training for gender desk officers was organised in May, 24th -26th 2022 at Ikeja Lagos to review the last INEC Gender Policy (IGP) in view of adopting a more robust IGP. This is to give women more participation in the 2023 general elections."

Also, as part of efforts to engage the youth to take active interest in political process, he noted that the commission in collaboration with Yiaga Africa, organised a 2-day training in the state on 27th and 28th May, 2022.

He explained that the training was organised to sensitise the youths in the state to take active participation in the electoral process especially the 2023 general elections, stressing that the commission has also embarked on series of steps to include more of people with disabilities (PWD) in the electoral process.

Rights Act was a serious issue to the pediatrician association."

However, Runsewe said 31 states had so far signed the law and appealed to the remaining five to do so without further delay.

He added: "A lot of our people have lost their cultural values and today, our youths in Nigeria have embraced the strange culture of other people across the globe and this is not in our interest.

"Only 31 states have signed the Child Rights Act. We are appealing to the remaining five states to domestic it and that is why those who engage in child abuse believe nothing will happen.

"I want to appeal to states that

had yet to do the needful to do so now in the interest of the country.

"This is because constant child abuse could lead to criminality and other vices including terrorism and banditry. We are appealing to parents and teachers to give proper guidance to the youths."

He also appealed to Nigerian artistes, music video producers and the regulatory agencies to properly scrutinise them before they are released for public consumption.

Runsewe said, "The music is a form of influencing the opinion of the children. The easiest way to send a message is to go with music.

"The video music producers and artistes should be careful

with what they are sending out.

They often use half naked girls to promote their music. The message they are sending out is promoting immortality."

The Chief Executive Officer of HOSEC Foundation, Ibukunoluwa Otesile, a counseling psychologist, said her organisation's latest report on the impact of music videos on phonographic exposure and sexual abuse among adolescents in Nigeria, would help policy makers to curb the scourge.

She said, "We did a research into the impact that pornography has in shaping the lives and behaviours of the adolescents considering the impact of musical videos.

SDP members in several other communities, including women and their children can no longer sleep peacefully in their homes for fear of attack.

"We make haste to say that the ongoing proliferation of arms and unprovoked attacks if left unchecked are capable of escalating to the level of not only affecting the June 18 election, but also the 2023 general elections."

The group appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Alkali Baba, to order the state Command to arrest those parading themselves as thugs and flaunting dangerous weapons to intimidate perceived opponents.

"How could thugs accost the convoy of SDP Deputy Governorship candidate and seized his vehicles all in the name of politics? Most disappointing was the fact that nobody had been arrested. Police must rise and save the situation.

The 2022 election is a litmus test to what will happen in 2023 larger picture."

He called on international community as partners in the electoral development of the country to take interest in how elections are conducted in the country.

"Cases of electoral violence, votebuying and ruling political class influencing elections are very high in African continent, particularly in Nigeria, and we must take concerted efforts to address these challenges", the EPF leader said.

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NIGERIA PROJECT DEVELOPMENT DIALOGUE SERIES...

L R: Chairman, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Barr. Victor Muruako; Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Public Account, Hon. Wole Oke; Executive Director, Orderpaper Advocacy Initiative, Oke Epia; International development PHOTO: KINGSLEY ADEBOYE consultant, Prof. Ken Ife and the Executive secretary, NEITI, Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji; at the Growth Initiatives for Fiscal Transparency(GIFT), Nigeria Project development Dialogue Series in Abuja, ..yesterday.

Lawan to Delegates: Choose a Leader with Absolutely No Baggage South-east leaders endorse senate president Deji Elumoye and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, yesterday, wrote to delegates of the party to canvass for votes at the presidential primary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) scheduled for next week in Abuja, and urged them to choose a leader with “absolutely no baggage”.

This is as leaders of the APC from the South-east, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari and other party leaders to endorse the Senate President as the presidential standard bearer of the party.

In a letter personally signed by him, Lawan, with humility, asked for the delegates' votes so

that he could emerge the APC Presidential standard bearer for the 2023 presidential election.

The letter read: "My Dear APC Party Delegates, Compliments of the season. Permit me to write to you through this medium. As we converge at this great time, in this great party to begin the journey of determining the future of this great nation, we must be cognizant of the fact that the fate of Nigeria fluctuates.

“While democracy asserts that the Nigerian voting public determines the person to emerge as president, however, in advance of that, the party delegates are saddled with the task of nominating the flag bearers. This communication is an appeal to all APC delegates as the

party prepares for its presidential primaries.

"I am reaching out to every single one of you APC delegates to plead with you to put ‘Nigeria First’ and give thought to the future of 215,763,437 (million) Nigerians, a lot of whom will appreciate the sagacious determination you will make during this process. I am reaching out to you, with humility, to ask for your votes so that I can emerge as the APC Presidential flag bearer for the 2023 Nigerian Presidential election.

"At this point, it is not lost on me that we must come together as one party and as one nation, for we have a great deal to mend, to rehabilitate, to reinstall and so much more to achieve. We have

a unique chance to measure up to every expectation and show Nigeria and the world that democracy triumphs. And that journey shall start during the APC Presidential Primary Election process.

"To all delegates across Nigeria, I beseech you to put pecuniary and monetary incentives aside and seriously consider what is ‘in the greater good.’ As you make your decision in picking the flag bearer of our party, I urge you to seek for a leader and not a politician. I ask you to choose a person that will lead and not rule Nigerians; one that will be understanding, tolerant, fair, honest, and progressive. A leader that comes with absolutely ‘No-Baggage’.

“A vital component of any

Etiebet: APC May Not Have Presidential Candidate over Invalid Delegates Lists Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja A former Minister of Petroleum and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC),Chief Don Etiebet, has warned that the party might end up not having a presidential candidate in the 2023 elections if it allowed unqualified delegates to vote at the party's primary.

Etiebet, who was flanked by the immediate past National Caretaker secretary of the party, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, and former House of Representatives member, Hon. Iquo Inyang, while addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, said there was need for

the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party led by Senator Abdulahi Adamu, to address the issue of valid delegates list from Akwa Ibom.

He described the recently conducted governorship primaries in Akwa Ibom as inconsistent with the provision of Section 84 (1) of the Electoral Act and therefore called on the leadership of the party to intervene and have the situation redressed by directing the conduct of proper governorship primaries in line with same section of the Electoral Act. His words: "We hasten to warn, that the Akwa Ibom State challenge

Northern Group Asks Buhari to Endorse Osinbajo As Successor John Shiklam in Kaduna The Coalition of Arewa Youth and Women has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to endorse Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as his successor in 2023.

The vice president is among the 23 presidential aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Buhari, had at a recent meeting with the APC governors, solicited for their support in picking his successor.

The northern group, in a state-

ment in Kaduna, yesterday, described Osinbajo as a detribalised leader and a bridge builder with immense wealth of experience.

The statement signed by Mohammed Lawal, spokesman of the group, said Osinbajo has the capacity and the most competent and trusted among the aspirants.

“Although there are so many presidential aspirants, but only one of them is standing taller, higher, more competent, tested and trusted”, the group said.

of using delegates that were not voted for, in line with the extant Electoral Laws if not addressed, the same delegates may be used for the presidential primaries.

"Surely if that happens then the Presidential primaries run a risk of not producing a validly nominated candidate in line with the Electoral Laws. This should not happen. We fail to see what anyone stands to gain should this fate befall our great party in Akwa Ibom State."

Etiebet pointed out that the

party in the state might not be in the position to present any validly nominated candidate in Akwa Ibom State except the issues were addressed immediately.

“To clear the coast for our party to decide its fate properly, we decided not to dwell anymore on the issues in the court room of the Court of Appeal and have now decided to withdraw forthwith from participating in further proceedings at the Court of Appeal in respect of Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe’s Appeal.

logical, efficient and authentic evaluation of a person involves assessing past behaviour. The key here is that one’s best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour.

If one has always done something a certain way, they are likely to do that same thing in the same manner in the future.

“The same goes for how one navigates or pillages in leadership.

Thus, as you, the delegates, are determining the APC party presidential flag bearer, it is important to look at past behaviour to elicit what behaviours, avarice and rapacity candidates have exhibited in the past. It is important for you to assess all candidates along this parameter.

"Dear delegates, look for a leader that will not buy your votes but one that is prepared to sell and deliver your dreams. I promise you that I will be that leader. I am prepared to offer you myself and my heart, my integrity, my dedication and my might.

“I want to offer you a dream of justice for all, a dream of uniting to fight the foes we face, a dream of unity under one single ideal, common purpose, common endeavor and resolve; a dream to right the wrongs of our past, a dream of work, employment, functioning safe schools, security, electricity, infrastructure, stable economy, compassion for citizenry, technology, opportunity and so much more that Nigerians desire.

"I will give you my all, thinking not of power, but of possibility and the public good. I want you to take my hand so that together,

we can show the Nigerian story of hope, unity, tolerance, healing, principle, greatness and goodness.

I want you to take my hand so that together we can learn from history, embrace faith and find a way to unify Nigeria and take her into the future. We are at an extraordinary historic moment both in APC and in Nigeria and our unity is the path forward.”

However, the leaders under the auspices of South-east Front, spoke about their endorsement after an emergency meeting held in Abuja, where they said APC was left with no option but to take a cue from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which picked its candidate, Atiku Abubakar from the North-east.

In a communique signed by Chief Sam Nkire and 24 other APC chieftains, they noted that it would be fair and just for the APC to settle for Lawan as its standard bearer since he also hails from the same geopolitical zone of the country as Atiku.

"After an extensive analysis of the political developments in Nigeria today with a view to the outcome of the PDP Primary election a few days ago, the mood of the nation and of course the expectation of our people that power would shift to the Southern part of Nigeria in 2023,where even our Southwest and South-south brothers would have had the conscience to cede the contest of the Nigeria's President to the South East considering the enormous sacrifices the South East had made in support of both zones, who took a shot at the presidency at different times since 1999.

2023: Magnus Abe Urges Rivers People to Vote for Credible Candidate Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Former representative of Rivers South-east Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe has urged the people of Rivers State to vote in a credible candidate who would judiciously govern the state considering the interest of the people.

He said the people would determine who would govern the state in 2023, adding that Rivers people have the power to decide their future.

Abe spoke while addressing members of the Progressive Lecturers Network in Port Harcourt.

He stated that Nigerian voters have come of age to realise that they are the ones who could install the government and so could demand what they expect from the government they installed.

Abe said: “Today, the Progressive Lecturers Network of Rivers State, have gathered and they didn’t ask me what party I belong. Rather, they are gathered to say, we want to work with you to chart a new future for the state.

"This is because they know that it is not the party that makes leadership but the people and that’s the point I have always made.

“Everybody knows that what

you need is the people. Our electoral laws have made it possible for people to be able to determine the direction in which they want to go.

"Here in Rivers State, we are going to show Nigerians that Rivers people can choose their own direction and I am promising that what we are offering is partnership based on reality.

“We cannot continue to sell our votes, we cannot continue to vote on sentiments, and we cannot continue to vote on ridiculous premises without asking where our own future is with that vote. We must vote with ourselves and our children in mind, that is how we are going

to do something different and see something different.

“If in running the party they don't obey the constitution and rules of their own party, why should a voter continue to be loyal to organisations that are not loyal to you?”

He added: “It is time for us as Nigerians, as voters, as stakeholders to be bold enough and courageous to chart our own course. I am a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but I want to say categorically to the Rivers electorate that I, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe with your support, will be on the ballot in March, 2023.”

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READINESS ASSESSMENT TOUR OF INEC OFFICES...

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu (3rd right), Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ekiti State, Dr Tella Rahmon (4th right), National Commissioner, Festus Okoye (right), with three registered voters who collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) at the Emure Local Government Office of the Commission yesterday. Prof. Yakubu was on a Readiness Assessment tour of INEC offices as part of preparations for the Ekiti State Governorship Election, scheduled for 18th June 2022.

Lukman: Buhari's Decision to Choose Successor Inimical to APC’s Electoral Fortune It’s a democratic option, says Bulkachuwa Emma Okonji, Nosa Alekhuogie in Lagos and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja National Vice Chairman, North West, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Salihu Lukman, yesterday, warned that the decision

by President Muhammadu Buhari to choose his successor would be inimical to the electoral fortune of the party.

He said anything short of giving all the presidential aspirants a level playing field at the June 6 convention holding in Abuja might spell doom for the party in the 2023 elections.

But another chieftain of the party and senator representing Bauchi North Senatorial District, Adamu Bulkachuwa, has said the president’s choice of a consensus candidate was democratic, and would further unite all party members.

Lukman, in a statement titled: "Succession and 2023 APC Presidential Candidate: Open Letter to President Muhammadu Buhari" added further that the decision by the president could damage his reputation.

"Ordinarily, this should not be a problem. Both party members and leaders will always trust Your Excellency’s judgement. However, the big worry is whether loyal party leaders and members should just reduce themselves to being ordinary observers, when very sensitive issues with very high potential to diminish and damage Your Excellency’s revered status in the country is being considered.

"Noting that the current phenomena of poor relations between predecessors and successor governors are largely a product of poorly instituted political succession arrangement in the country, which

is impulsive and imposing, it will be highly risky to adopt the same succession framework as it can erode all your lifelong achievements as someone, who contribute a lot to strengthen Nigerian democracy.

"Like in the case of December 10, 2014 APC National Convention, everything will be done at the June 6, 2022 APC National Convention to guarantee a level playing field for all aspiring presidential candidates of our party. Any recommendation to the contrary will be inimical and injurious to the electoral fortunes of our great party, APC," he said.

The National Working Committee (NWC) member stated categorically that Buhari's contribution towards strengthening Nigeria’s democracy should not be reduced to his emergence as the elected President in 2015, but that his contribution has to do with the leadership role he played in facilitating the merger

negotiations of opposition parties, which produced the APC in 2013.

More than anytime, Lukman said at this point, when Buhari would not be on the ballot in 2023, his measured leadership would be much more required to guarantee the ruling party sustained electoral victory.

He recalled that the unfortunate third term agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo eroded all his achievements as a leader, adding that it was necessary to caution against any transition initiative that risked being unpopular.

According to him, "Any initiative that potentially took away the rights of party members to elect candidates would potentially mobilise Nigerians against the party and rubbish Mr. President.

"This was the case in 2007, which eventually pushed the PDP into wholescale rigging mode such that

Native Doctor Who Participated in Killing of Anambra Lawmaker Arrested ’Kidnappers took N20m ransom, yet killed Okoye’ David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka A native doctor, Chief Chukwujekwu Onuorah a.k.a Egbe-Ejiejeogu, who participated in the killing and beheading of Anambra lawmaker, Hon Okechukwu Okoye, and his aide, Cyril Chiegboka, has been arrested.

A human rights group, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), which revealed this yesterday said the native doctor was arrested in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

Intersociety, in a press statement in Awka, said the native doctor was a younger brother to a famous cultural dancer and founder of Egedege cultural group, Queen Theresa Onuorah.

The statement, which was signed by the group's BoT Chairman, Mr Emeka Umeagbalasi, said the native doctor had earlier escaped with bullet wounds, when security agent raided his home in Unubi, Nnewi South Local Government Area, but was tracked down to Awka, where he was being treated in a private clinic.

"The arrested kingpin is the blood brother of revered Queen and Founder of the Famous Egedege Cultural Dance, the 80 years old Queen Theresa Onuorah of Unubi in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

"Chukwujekwu Onuorah is believed to be in his 70s. His arrest was in connection with the abduction, disappearance, beheading and decapitation of Hon Okechukwu Okoye, an Isuofia Aguata born Anambra State Assembly lawmaker, who was abducted on 15th May 2022," the statement stated.

Giving account of how he was arrested, Intersociety said, "He was technologically trailed after he was found to have used the beheaded lawmaker’s sim-card to make criminal calls. Even after exhausting the sim-card ‘credit’; he completed the calls with his own cell phone.

"The slayers of the kidnapped/ beheaded lawmaker were earlier traced to Unubi, where ransom running into millions of naira (some say, N20m) was physically delivered.

The slayers collected the ransom and still went ahead to slay and decapitate the lawmaker.

"The cell phone of the slain lawmaker was put in monitoring devices during which it was found to have been used by Egbe-ejiejeogu to make several criminal calls days after he was beheaded.

"Between early hours of 28th (last Friday) and 29th (last Saturday) May 2022, the house of the arrested kingpin was raided after he was

tracked to be at home. He made a magical escape after several gunshots were fired at him and he escaped by jumping into a ditch. After recovering several incriminating items including guns and bullets and his portrait, the operatives trapped him by leaving behind one of his cell phones.

"Between late night of 30th May and early hours of 31st May 2022, the cell phone was tracked to a private hospital in Awka forcing the operatives of the DSS to storm the clinic where he was arrested alive

in bandage while trying to board a tricycle (KEKE)," the group said.

When THISDAY contacted the Anambra State Police command, the spokesperson, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, said he could not confirm the arrest immediately as he had not been briefed, but said the state police command was carrying out several operations simultaneously in the state.

"I have not been briefed but I know there is an operation going on now. I will get back to you with full details as soon as I can," Ikenga said.

election results were announced even before counting processes were concluded. It was so bad that even the late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, who was the main beneficiary had to acknowledge that it was a bad case."

The party chieftain said APC must be able to demonstrate much more sensitivity to the challenges of national unity by ensuring that the eventual standard bearer of the party for the 2023 presidential election embodies commitment to equity and justice as the underlying principles sustaining the corporate existence of Nigeria as a united country.

He emphasised that the temptation for leaders to choose their successors was democratically risky and very costly, adding that, if in 2013/2014, Buhari submitted himself to internal democratic process, it was important that his successor also follows the same process.

Lukman, therefore, urged Buhari to resist the temptation, even as he lamented that with a few days to the party's convention, vested interests of some party leaders, processes of internal debates around the matter were being impeded, while meetings of NWC were not exploring the issues.

But Bulkachuwa, on his part, insisted that the position of Buhari over consensus candidate was only fair as he gave the governors a free hand to choose their successors in their respective states, insisting also that the governors should not interfere with the choice of Buhari's successor.

Speaking on the Morning Show of ARISE NEWS Channels, Bulkachuwa maintained that Buhari had pending programmes, which he started in 2015 and would last till after his administration.

“It is only sensible that Mr. President be allowed to choose somebody

he believes would continue with what he has started already. It is also too early to ask who he has in mind, as in a few days, we’ll all know who the person will be.

“I believe he is right in asking governors of the party to allow him to choose his successor, which means that he wants to have a consensus candidate. We have seen what happened with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and now they are busy trying to mend fences between the aspirants and we should avoid such mistakes in the APC,” he said.

Speaking, also, the Director General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, said the President’s move wasn’t dictatorial as insinuated by some section of the public.

Okechukwu, who was also a guest on the Morning Show on ARISE NEWS Channels, further explained the process could be likened to a democratic consultation as Buhari has been consulting with different stakeholders.

He said the president’s choice was also targeted at saving the naira, because if there was dollar rain, where there were about 731 delegates, what would happen where there were 2, 322 delegates, could only be imagined as the naira would be completely battered.

He, however, promised to talk to the president to bring onboard somebody, who has electoral value and possibly recognizes the rotation convention.

“Mr. President is simply taking the interest of the country and the APC at heart. We cannot put aside the agitation coming from the southern part of the country, who are insisting it is their turn to produce the next president for equity, harmony and good conscience, which is the corporate interest of Nigeria,” he said.

FG: DISAGREEMENTS AMONG CONCESSIONERS DELAYING TAKE-OFF OF $3.1 BILLION E-CUSTOMS PROJECT to Spain and Europe.

Giving a breakdown of contracts approved for his ministry, he said N3.8 billion was approved for the construction of a switchgear room, an installation of power distribution cables and equipment for the Nigeria Oil and Gas Park in Ogbehia, Bayelsa state.

This, he said, was to support local manufacturing of components for the oil and gas industry.

Sylva added that, "Council also approved various contracts for the construction of an access road with bridges to the brass petroleum product depot in Nibomoyekiri in brass local government in the

sum of N11 billion plus 7.5 per cent VAT." The Council also okayed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the purchase of 82 Toyota brand of vehicles, branded raincoats and sundry other accoutrements for the use of the Nigerian Police at the total cost of N8,315,209,825.

This came following approval for the Nigerian Police Trust Fund to award contracts for the supply of sundry accoutrements for the efficient operation of the Police.

Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, who disclosed this while also briefing newsmen after the FEC meeting, said the approval

included the supply of customised raincoat for distribution to police formations across the country at the cost of N1.9 billion.

Dingyadi who said the memo which received the nod of the cabinet, included customised Police boots at the cost of N576 million.

According to him: "We also got approval for the supply of micro first aid kits for the police at the cost of N1 billion as well as customised instructional materials for the police colleges and schools at the cost of N664 million.

“There is also the supply of drugs and medical equipment for police hospitals across the country at the

cost of N2 billion. When you add all these projects, they will come up to 8,315,209,825 billion.”

The Minister said the NPTL was set up as a special intervention fund to facilitate the improvement of the operations of Nigerian police force in the areas of equipment, training and welfare, adding, "what we're having now have been assembled from the output of the end user, that is the Nigerian police force.”

He noted that, "by the time these items are on ground, they will go a long way in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of Nigerian police in the maintenance of peace and security in the country."

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Peter Obi: APC, PDP Have Nothing to Offer Nigerians James Sowole in Abeokuta The Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, yesterday declared the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as expired political organisations that have lost their political relevance and have nothing to offer Nigerians again.

Obi stated this through the Director General of his Camapign Organisation, Dr. Doyin Okupe, who spoke with journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Okupe, was in Abeokuta for a meeting with leaders and members of the Labour Party in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

Obi, who recently resigned his membership of the PDP, said that the PDP has stepped out of fortune and victory following its refusal to zone the Presidential ticket to the south.

He berated the PDP for being “unrighteous and unjust” for jettisoning the zoning arrangement of the party.

According to him, those who opposed zoning in the

PDP undermined the existence of the PDP and violated the gentleman agreement of the founding fathers of the party.

Obi revealed that he is banking on Nigerian workforce, youths, market men and women to beat both the APC

and the PDP at the 2023 general elections.

He said, “The PDP was a veritable party that was put together by our elders and leaders. Those who came yesterday and said rotation does not matter undermine the

very essence of the existence of the PDP. The moment they took that step, the PDP stepped out of line of fortune, of future, and of victory because it has become suddenly unrighteous and unjust.

“There is no unrighteous and

unjust pillar that will stand.

The PDP was a good platform, but it has expired. The APC was never a good platform, it is of no consequence. The two parties are out, these two parties have expired, they have no relevance to the new things

that Nigerians and the youths are looking for.

“Labour Party in the scheme of things is still a very small party, but we are not unaware of that before we moved here.

But the Labour Party is a sleeping giant.

FUNDING EDUCATION OF YOUTHS…

L-R: Chief Relationship Manager, PressPayNg, Mr. Gamaliel Tanimomo; Managing Director, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mrs. Yemisi Edun; Chief Executive Officer, PressPayNg, Mr. Abiola Metilelu, and Divisional Head, Personal Banking, FCMB, Mr. Shamsideen Fashola, during the launch of a digital platform developed by FCMB and PressPayNg to fund tertiary education of young Nigerians in Lagos…yesterday

One Million Children to Get Free 2023: Peter Umeadi Emerges APGA Presidential Candidate standard-bearer of the APGA in frivolities or political successfully won the tickets Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Malaria Treatment in Adamawa in the 2023 election through grandstanding. From reports of APGA to contest election (WHO) intervention programme Daji Sani in Yola One million children from age three to 59 months old are billed to get free malaria treatment in Adamawa State in 2022.

The Adamawa State Malaria Program Manager, Mr. Benjamin Nashion, disclosed this in a oneday sensitisation media workshop that was held yesterday at Homtel Hotel, Yola.

Nashion said that the feat would be implemented through a World Health Organisation

called “Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention” (SMC).

He noted that the exercise for 2022 would start on Thursday, June 2, 2022, and end in October this year, adding that the programme was deliberately scheduled to hold during the rainy season when malaria was prevalent.

Nashion urged the media practitioners to help to sensitise the general public about the program for optimal result.

Hijab: Kwara Reopens Oyun Baptist High School Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Kwara State Government has ordered the reopening of Oyun Baptist High School Ijagbo in Oyun Local Government Area of the state on June 3, 2022.

Consequently, the state government also said that any Muslim schoolgirl who desires to wear the hijab is

allowed to do so in all public schools, including in Oyun Baptist High School in Ijagbo, which is owned by the state government and run with public resources. The school was closed down almost three months ago following the crisis that ensued in the school over the putting on of hijab in the school.

Firm Unveils Digital Platform for Vehicle Repairs MechoAutotech, a high-tech automobile company, has announced the launch of the “Mecho Retail App,” a digital platform that seeks to revolutionise the process of vehicle maintenance and repairs nationwide. This is in a bid to provide Nigerians, including businesses, with access to affordable high-quality automobile services to improve economic productivity.

According to the company, the strategic launch of the digital platform aims to leverage the usage of

technological automation to offer both individuals and businesses seamless vehicular maintenance and repair solutions.

“This is in a bid to champion the formalisation of the highly-fragmented Nigerian vehicle maintenance ecosystem through connecting businesses to qualified in-house and third-party mechanics while also contributing to the socio-economic development of the Nigerian economy,” it said.

Former Chief Justice of Anambra state and legal luminary, Prof.

Peter Umeadi has been elected as the Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

Umeadi emerged unopposed and confirmed as the presidential

affirmation by national delegates of the party.

While declaring the Umeadi winner, the National Chairman of the party, Victor Ike Oye said APGA was poised to win laurels in next year’s general election.

“Our party does not engage

of our primaries all over the country, the exercise was well conducted and peaceful. There were no ugly incident and no deaths,” he said.

Oye said from the results of the party’s primaries showed that more than 50 women

into various elective positions.

“APGA can produce the president of Nigeria. We have produced governors, senators and by 2023 I can assure you that we are going to produce more than 20 senators across the country,” he said.

CBN Moves to Support Livestock Farmers in Kano Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday pledged to extend a window of intervention to dairy and livestock manufacturers as part of federal government policy of diversifying the nation’s economy.

The Controller of CBN Kano

branch, Babangida Jino, gave the commitment at the 2022 World Milk Day celebration at Imawa village in Kura Local Government Area of Kano State.

He was represented by Manager, Development Finance Department, Aminu Garba Idris, who reminded that CBN is widening the opportunity to several sectors to drive economic

viability of the country.

Jino reminded the CBN’s multi-billion financial facility including Anchor Borrower programme tasked the dairy and livestock union to avail themselves with various facilities at CBN to boost dairy production in Kano.

Also speaking on the occasion, Kano State Chairman of Dairy

Union, Usman Aminu Usman, who worried that over 55 percent of daily production end up useless by fermentation, appealed for government’s intervention.

Usman noted that 12,400 members spread across 74 registered pastoral clusters communities in the state, struggling to survive with five dairy collection centres.

Groups Makes Case for OkowaHowever, as Atiku’s Running Mate The Niger Delta Rights Assembly mate is yet to be resolved and the NDRA, which most qualified for the position of (NDRA) has made a strong case for Delta Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to be nominated as running mate to the Presidential standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku was elected the PDP Presidential candidate at the recently-concluded PDP primary.

But the issue of his running

Okowa has been fingered as one of candidates being considered for the position.

Other politicians being considered are former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; Rivers State governor and first runner-up to Atiku, Nyesom Wike; and Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Udom Emmanuel.

comprises mainly youths drawn from across the Niger Delta states in a statement signed by its President, Chief Israel Bokromo, advised Atiku to pick Okowa, describing him as the best suited for the job among the lot.

The group said: “Among those being considered for the position of running mate to Atiku, we consider Governor Okowa as the

running mate and ultimately the vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We are pushing for Okowa not just because of his loyalty and commitment to the PDP but because among all those being considered, he has the best comportment, temperament and electoral value to swing votes in favour of the PDP.

Enugu 2023: Nsukka Youths Drum Support for Ugwuanyi Youths of Enugu North Senatorial District under the auspices of ‘Nsukka Youths for Gburugburu’ have commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his commitment to the wellbeing and development of young people in the district in particular and the state in general.

The youth also applauded Ugwuanyi for the manner he has been carrying them along

in his government.

Speaking when a delegation of youth leaders from the six local government areas of Enugu North Senatorial District paid a solidarity visit to Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday, the leader of the delegation, Roy Ifeanyi Ekwueme, was quoted in a statement to have told the governor that the visit was also to appreciate him for

the peaceful conduct of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary elections in the state.

They expressed confidence in the governor’s wisdom and leadership approach in respect of his political decisions saying: “That is why we organised ourselves to say for everything you have done for us, we are going to come to show you solidarity and support.”

According to him “We also

thank you for the opportunity you (Ugwuanyi) gave to the youth that ordinarily wouldn’t have dreamt of being councilors, council chairmen, party candidates, even community leaders.”

“Some of them are here with us. You carried them along and gave them a platform. These are people you raised in Enugu State who never had a father that spoke for them.”

Wale Igbintade

The real estate firm, through its counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, is challenging the competence of the suit on the ground that Ocean City Lagos Limited was not served with the Originating Process as required by the Rules of Court.

However, the matter, which was scheduled for hearing on Monday could not be

heard as the presiding judge, Justice Kayode Ogunjobi was indisposed.

The claimants (Lagos State, and South Energyx Nigeria Ltd) are in a suit marked LD/11207LMW/2021, claiming ownership of all the parcels of land in dispute and urged the court to declare the allocation and vesting of rights which Ocean City Lagos Ltd

possessed a nullity.

Besides, the claimants are seeking a declaration that by virtue of the provisions of the Land Use Act 1978 Cap. L5 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, the 1st Claimant (Governor of Lagos State) is the appropriate authority to grant Statutory Right of Occupancy over state lands situated in Lagos State.

Ebonyi Guber Aspirant Offers Solution to End ASUU Strike Eko Atlantic City: Court Asked to Strike Out Sanwo-Olu’s Suit

Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki

A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State, Senator Julius Ucha has called on all political parties that fielded candidates for the 2023 general election to release 50 percent of the monies realised from aspirants to the federal government to use to cushion the effects of the

industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Ucha, who made the call in Abakaliki, the state capital, said political parties have collected so much money from the society.

He noted that it was unfortunate that ASUU has been on strike at a time that insecurity has worsened in the country.

A real estate firm, Ocean City Lagos Limited, has challenged the jurisdiction of a Lagos High Court to entertain a suit filed against it, by the Governor of Lagos State, and South Energyx Nigeria Ltd over ownership of a large parcel of land measuring 1,037.763 hectares, known as Eko Atlantic City.

46

THURSDAY, ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Eagles Seek Motivating Win against Ecuador in New Jersey

Olawale Ajimotokan The Super Eagles will this night conclude their tour of the United States of America with a match against Ecuador at the 25,000-capacity Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.

In what was coach José Santos Peseiro’s first outing with the squad, an under-strength Nigeria put up a gallant fight but were unlucky to lose 1-2 to Mexico in a game of two halves in Dallas on Saturday.

England-based forward Emmanuel Dennis has joned the team and defender Olaoluwa Aina has shaken off a knock to train with the squad on Tuesday.

The match against the Ecuadorians comes exactly a week before the Super Eagles tackle the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja in their opener to 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.

A total of 20 players are now available to Peseiro and the rest of the coaching crew to pick from against the feisty South Americans, known for their pace, poise and power.

Midfielder Innocent Bonke is unlikely to play any part in Thursday’s session, but home

–based professional Chiamaka Madu, who saw action in the second period against the El Tri, has been working assiduously hard to step up to the plate in the former’s absence.

Goalkeepers Francis Uzoho,

Olorunleke Ojo and Adewale Adeyinka are all fit and in form, with Captain William TroostEkong, Aina, Chidozie Awaziem, Sani Faisal, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Calvin Bassey and Ibrahim Buhari all ready to be involved.

Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, Alex Iwobi, Madu, Terem Moffi and Babatunde Bello are up for it in midfield while Dennis, Cyriel Dessers, Moses Simon, Victor Mbaoma and Ishaq Rafiu are rearing to go in the attack.

NPFL Matchday 31 (RESULTS)

Enyimba 2-0 Sunshine Katsina 2-0 Tornadoes Lobi 3-1 Kwara Utd Akwa Utd 0-0 MFM Gombe 3-2 Heartland 3SC 1-1 Remo Stars Rivers Utd 2-0 Plateau Rangers 2-1 Wikki Nasarawa 2-1 Abia War’

9thJuneand 13th Junerespectively.

The match kicks off at 8pm ET(1amNigeria time on Friday) at the venue that is the home of New York Red Bulls in the Major League Soccer, and which was opened in March 2010.

Super Eagles line for Ecuador today in New Jersey, USA will be similar to the squad that played Mexico at the weekend

...CAF Restores São Tomé, Knocks off Mauritius Sao Tome and Principe has been restored into Group A of the qualifying series for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals after the CAF Appeals Board threw out Mauritius from the pool following the successful appeal of the former.

The case has done a yo-yo with São Tomé and Príncipe winning on the field of play, Mauritius winning their case at the Disciplinary Board against the former for fielding a player who tested positive for Covid-19, and the Appeals Board now restoring São Tomé and Príncipe to the race and ejecting Mauritius.

Mauritius had protested to CAF that São Tomé and Príncipe player, Luis Leal Dos Anjos did not undergo the obligatory PCR test during their match on 24th March, 2022 in the frame of the AFCON 2023 qualifiers, but the Appeal Board ruled that “given that neither the CAF Disciplinary Code nor CAF’s Covid-19 protocols provide any sanctions for missing an obligatory PCR test, it is legally baseless to consider the player in question to be ineligible.”

Head Coach of Nigeria, Jose Santos Peseiro woke up to the news in New Jersey, where the Eagles play Ecuador in a friendly match on Thursday, and simply said: “We are focused on the friendly game with Ecuador. It is neither here nor there. We play whoever is in front of us.”

The latest decision means the NFF’s plans for the away match on

Victory in Thursday’s game will go a long way to pumping up the spirit of the Super Eagles ahead of the two Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Sierra Leone and São Tomé and Príncipe on

13th June, after the game against Sierra Leone in Abuja on 9th June, have now been diverted from east

(Mauritius) to west (Marrakech), as São Tomé and Príncipe do not have an approved playing

ground in their country and play their home matches in the dainty Moroccan city.

SPAIN, NIGERIA SIGN MOU ON SPORTS...

Nigeria and the Kingdom of Spain signed and exchanged Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) on Sports in Madrid on Tuesday. Nigeria’s Minister of Sport, Sunday Dare (left) and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, José Manuel Albares, here exchanging the documents after the signing ceremonies. Watching with keen interest behind is President Muhammadu Buhari and the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez

Mikel Announces First Back2BaseTalent Hunt Programme Femi Solaja Chelsea legend and former Super Eagles Captain, John Mikel Obi, is set to create an opportunity to stardom for young and talented Nigerian athletes.

Mikel who started out as an academy player in Jos, Plateau State and rose to the highest level; leading the Nigeria football team to both the World Cup and Olympic Games said he is keen to create a pathway for others to succeed through sports the same way he did.

The 35-year old who is one of the only three Nigerians to have lifted the prestigious UEFA Champions League trophy is ready to use his new Back2Baseprogramme to uplift hundreds of other young talented Nigerians The former midfielder fondly referred to as ‘The Catalyst’ is also willing to put to use his global connections to help the talented young Nigerians not just in football but also in basketball and tennis.

The maiden edition of the Back2Baseprogramme will be

taking place from the 9th - to the 11th of June, 2022 at the University of Lagos, Sports Centre, Akoka.

“Opportunities don't happen, you create them. Someone created an opportunity for me and It’s been a dream of mine to do the same for young, talented Nigerian athletes.” Mikel who in 2021 was appointed by the Federal Government of Nigeria as one of its Youth Ambassadors declared “I would like to announce the first edition of my Back2Base programme which will give aspiring professional athletes the opportunity to showcase their talents in sports like Football, Basketball and Tennis.”

Aside from providing a platform for the youngsters to showcase their talents, Mikel who is well-known for his philanthropic gestures also promises to reward the outstanding youngsters with cash gifts.

He said: “A monetary price will be awarded to the most promising athletes across the three sports.

They will also be hosted to an exclusive dinner with me where a mentorship session will be held.

Amstel Malta Ultra Nwoko Plans to Revolutionise Sports with Sports University Refreshes Participants at With the approval given to the Chancellor, Prince Nwoko’s mission sporting facilities, including but not first private professionalised sports statement, which among others limited to a three-floor academic 8th Okpekpe Road Race university, the proprietor of Sports anchors on “providing education University of Nigeria, Honourable Ned Nwoko, has exuded implicit aplomb, that the fruition of the project will provide a watershed in the sporting fortunes of some developing countries in order to beget competitive parity in global sports.

He particularly identified Nigeria as an epicenter for deploying the institution’s innovative approaches; embedded in the modus-operandi of the trail-blazing Sports University, as against the hitherto unproductive methods, from which Nigeria could boast only three good medals, from more than a dozen Olympics appearances.

This remarkable educational institution's uniqueness, revolves around the Proprietor and

in sports services: science; medicine; management; engineering; physical education; humanities and social science, as well as to develop top-level athletes through high performance training.”

Also, it will be collaborating with relevant authorities globally for exchange programmes to produce Olympic gold medalists, at international sports championships and world record breakers in many areas of sports”.

Besides churning out quality athletes, astute sports managers and administrators, the Nigerian, African and global sports fellowship stands to harvest plethora benefits.

According to Prince Nwoko, the Sports University boasts a preponderance of standard global

building, top-scale art library, medical centres, Olympic-size swimming pool, and standard pitches for football, hockey and baseball.

Also, the varsity showcases a five-star hotel, administrative blocks, lecture halls, canteen, and junior staff quarters among numerous state of the art facilities.

And establishing an Olympic Training Centre at the facility will indubitably enhance the standard of competitiveness in the comity of the global sporting fraternity.

Additionally, athletes who are alumni, will no longer wallow in abject poverty, as skills acquired there from, will place them in good stead in their post-competition era, as against the prevailing status of retired athletes' complaints of neglect from their hitherto benefactors.

Following its sponsorship of Team Nigeria at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, leading malt drink, Amstel Malta Ultra, has further strengthened its position as a firm supporter of sports in the country with its sponsorship of the 8th Okpekpe 10km International Road Race which took place in Okpekpe in Edo State on May 28.

The premium beverage brand's sponsorship of the thrilling road race is part of its commitment to initiating quality interactions and inspiring healthier communities through sporting activities in Nigeria.

During the event, Amstel Malta Ultra, presented as the Official Malt Drink of the Race, provided muchneeded vitality and motivation for scores of athletes from across the continent who competed to earn

a share in the N60 million cash reward for top performers.

Amstel Malta Ultra Brand Manager, Tobiloba Obawede, said, “It is an honour to once again serve as the official beverage for this auspicious event, and it is our joy to see people in the host communities come out in numbers to show that they care about their fitness and general wellbeing by participating in the race. “We have been intentional in championing healthy living among the people and we are encouraged by participants' trust in the message we propagate. Amstel Malta Ultra is committed to sponsoring even more local and international sporting competitions whilst providing the required vitality to build healthier communities.”

THURSDAY JUNE 2, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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Thursday, June 2, 2022

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Lukman/Kekemeke to Adamu

“The national chairman takes decisions unilaterally. When it suits him, he invokes the name of our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, to blackmail NWC members into accepting his decisions”—Two APC National Working Committee members, Salihu Lukman (national vice-chairman, Northwest) and Isaacs Kekemeke national vice-chairman, Southwest), accusing national chairman Abdullahi Adamu of rendering the administrative organ of the ruling party redundant

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

For Atiku, it’s Now, or Never!

I

cannot remember how many times former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has contested to be president of Nigeria.

Or the number of party platforms he has crisscrossed over a period of three decades in pursuit of his ambition. But I do remember his first attempt in 1993 when I witnessed the high drama in Jos as a young reporter covering the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) national convention for the African Concord. Now 75, Atiku must be aware that should he lose the 2023 general election, his name is not likely to be on the ballot again in Nigeria.

But with his hard-won victory at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention last Saturday in Abuja, Atiku’s staying power may finally be paying off. The elements seem to be aligning in his favour this time, given the not-so-subtle hint by President Muhammadu Buhari to the APC governors on Tuesday that the ruling party may deploy the late General Sani Abacha’s rulebook for the “adoption” of its presidential candidate. “If he who holds power can determine what those following are going to want, the situation is of the coercive type,” according to the respected 20th century Harvard Professor, Carl Joachim Friedrich in his popular book, ‘Man and His Government; an Empirical Theory of Politics’. “If the followers determine it for themselves and join the leader in the pursuit of their independently chosen objective, we may speak of a consensual situation.”

While the real meaning and essence of ‘consensus’ may be lost on the APC and their power mongers who have taken our country “from top to bottom” as promised, they will not have the last say on who takes over from Buhari next year.

I concede the fact that every power holder is likely to be interested in his or her successor.

But the brazen and cynical way Buhari and his handlers are going about this business of nominating the APC presidential candidate validates the proposition that they are deploying the same tardiness and arrogance of power with which they run the country. Besides, the same president who on 22 April warned APC leaders against imposition of candidates, asking them “to recognise the place of due process in all our tasks as managers of the party” in his speech at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, now wants to impose his preference on the party.

I am, however, not surprised about what is going on in the APC because I saw it coming.

Less than a month ago, precisely on 12th May, I wrote on this page: “With Abdullahi Adamu, a former Abacha Minister as APC National Chairman, nothing should be taken at face value, especially with each of the party’s aspirants asked to sign an anticipatory but ‘voluntary letter of withdrawal’ under oath. Once smart gods decide on the ‘consensus candidate’, that piece of paper becomes legal tender.” And in January this year, Buhari indicated that he has someone in mind. Responding to a question on his likely successor, the president said: “No, I will not tell you, because he may be eliminated if I mention his name.”

Since the presidency of Nigeria has been reduced to political BetNaija, it came as no surprise that many in the APC have had to gamble away hundreds of millions of Naira, ostensibly waiting for one man to ‘anoint’ them as successor. At the end, Buhari will only endorse one person and

Atiku dash the hope of several others. Meanwhile, I do not envy whoever emerges as our president next year. The reality of our pathetic situation was made clear in Monday’s disclosure by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that our total expenditure on fuel subsidy (a single consumption item that is hardly ever available to end users) could hit a record N6 trillion by year-end.

According to the IMF Resident Representative for Nigeria, Ari Aisen, a macro-fiscal stress test on our country has also revealed that interest payments could amount to Nigeria using 100 per cent of its revenue to service debts (which by the way continue growing) within the next four years. The headline of a recent article in BusinessDay sums up the situation: “Nigeria, the world’s most inefficient spender, now lives to pay creditors.”

When you add that scary economic projection to the security challenge, the collapse of social sectors including education and health, the growing army of jobless young people etc., you

get the picture of a nation in crisis. Sadly, the only preoccupation of our leaders (in the executive, legislature, and judiciary) is how to bequeath to their family (children, spouses, concubines etc.) public offices as future investment. Some send their wives to contest for senate in their states of origin, others divide their sons to pick the tickets of both APC and PDP. But they delude themselves to imagine there will always be a free flow of money in government to share.

Whichever way we look at it, the 2023 general election will be defining for Nigeria because it will determine our future, one way or another.

In the coming weeks, before we arrive at the season when office seekers begin to seek validation from religious clerics, renowned marabouts, and all manner of fortune-tellers and touts, I intend to examine them critically.

For obvious reasons, Atiku and whoever the APC eventually nominates, will be scrutinized on their temperament, character and what they intend to do should they get elected as president.

I will x-ray contenders like Mr Peter Obi, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Dr Kingsley Moghalu, Mr Omoyele Sowore, Prof Peter Umeadi and others as well. My objective is to explore the possibility of the emergence of a third force that could counter the dominance of the APC and PDP in the months ahead. I will also be looking at critical issues in the polity, particularly regarding zoning and the place of Ndigbo vis-à-vis the tripodal arrangement that has served our country since independence but appears to have been jettisoned on the altar of expediency. I may also look at the gubernatorial contests in a few states as well as what the identified contenders offer their people.

Overall, whoever President Buhari ultimately anoints for APC members to affirm at their hollow rituals of national convention slated for Monday, there is no doubt that Atiku will be a formidable opponent in the general election next year. The many contradictions in the APC can only be to his advantage. That is not to say that Atiku does not come with his own baggage, even if we discountenance the heavily monetized primaries that gave him the PDP presidential ticket.

Since 1999, I have had the privilege of numerous interactions with the former vice president. And I have written dozens of columns about him, some quite critical. He is perhaps one of the few among the contenders for whom there are available materials with which to examine suitability, including his stewardship as vice president as well as what he has said in the past about specific national and international issues. And these are not things he can dismiss as “unauthorized posts” from a verified personal

“...there is no doubt that Atiku will be a formidable contender in the general election next year. The many contradictions in the APC can only be to his advantage. That is not to say that Atiku does not come with his own baggage, even if we discountenance the heavily monetized primaries that gave him the PDP presidential ticket”

Twitter handle!

Interestingly, Atiku may have inadvertently set the agenda for the conversation we are likely to have around this election. One, when he ran for the PDP presidential ticket against then incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, Atiku pledged that if elected, his medium-term (a four-year period) strategy would be to finance recurrent expenditure with non-oil revenue while every kobo earned from oil would be devoted to investment in infrastructure, security, education, and health. “We would also encourage all state governments to set an agenda and timeline within which they would no longer depend on oil revenue for recurrent expenditure” Atiku said in a statement that elicited two columns from me (The Atiku Abubakar Formula -1 and The Atiku Abubakar Formula - 2.) when I returned to the country after the 2011 general election.

Two, like most of us, Atiku has been an advocate for restructuring the country to make it work for the people. He has elaborated on this thesis at different times with a clarity of thought that is uncommon among his colleagues. Now is the time to see whether he can walk his talk.

In 2016, for instance, Atiku said that “Nigeria is not working as well as it should and part of the reason is the way we have structured our country and governance, especially since the late 1960s. The federal government is too big, and too powerful relative to the federating states. That situation needs to change and calling for that change is patriotic.” Apparently for the benefit of those who arrogate to themselves the monopoly of patriotism and would question anything that suggests tinkering with the subsisting arrangement, Atiku added, “We must refrain from the habit of assuming that anyone calling for the restructuring of our federation is working for the breakup of the country. An excessively powerful centre does not equate with national unity. If anything, it has made our unity more fragile, our government more unstable and our country more unsafe.”

In expanding on the idea, Atiku called for a renegotiation of our union to make Nigeria stronger. “Greater autonomy, power and resources for states and local authorities will give the federating units greater freedom and flexibility to address local issues, priorities and peculiarities,” said Atiku who argued that the current structure and the practices it has encouraged have been a major impediment to the economic and political development of Nigeria. “It (restructuring) will help to unleash our people’s creative energies and spur more development. It will reduce the premium placed on capturing power at the centre. It will help with improving security. It will promote healthy rivalries among the federating units and local authorities. It will help make us richer and stronger as a nation.”

Drawing from his experience in government to make a point, Atiku said as chairman of the National Council on Privatization from 1999 to 2007, he “saw firsthand the manner of businesses our federal government was involved in. These included not just such capital-intensive industries as steel and petrochemicals but brick-making factories and bakeries as well. These enterprises hardly made any profit. Rather they were being subsidized by the budget.” With the expansion of public sector, the private sector was crowded out and private initiative, innovation and creativity suffered.

Continued on page 27

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