THURSDAY 9TH JUNE 2022

As Nigeria Grapples with Blackouts, W'Bank Says $100bn Needed to Solve Erratic Power Supply NERC, Discos, Gencos, TCN seal deal on compulsory supply of 5000mw of power from July 1 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos As Nigerians continue to contend

with erratic power supply, the World Bank has said the country would need about $100 billion in the next 10 years to tackle the challenge

which has defied all efforts by administrations since 1999.

However, as part of efforts to address the challenge in the power

sector, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday said effective from July 1, 2022, there would be remarkable

improvement in the nation's power sector as market participants have committed in contracts to ensure the generation, transmission and

distribution of 5000 megawatts (mw) of electricity in the country.

Continued on page 40

With $64bn Total Assets, NNPC Targets 2026 to Achieve Nigeria's Energy Sufficiency... Page 6 Thursday 16 June, 2022 Vol 27. No 9928. Price: N250

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FG: We Are Studying Malabu Oil Deal Court Judgement Adoke: court verdict vindicates me yet again

Deji Elumoye and Alex Enumah in Abuja The federal government yesterday reacted to the United Kingdom

Commercial Court judgement that ruled that there was no evidence of fraud in the OPL 245 transaction between Nigeria and JP Morgan Chase Bank, saying it was studying

the judgement.

However, former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke said the judgment once again

vindicated him of any wrong doing in the Operating Oil License 245 otherwise known as Malabu Oil. The Commercial Court of England and Wales had on Tuesday June

14, 2022, ruled on the matter in Case No CL-2017-000730 as contained in its 137-paged judgement.

An Italian court in 2021 also dismissed all corruption charges

in the OPL 245 deal, discharging and acquitting all the defendants.

The Nigerian government in the Continued on page 40

To Beat INEC’s Deadline, Tinubu Quietly Submits Forms, Includes ‘Place Holder’ as Running Mate PDP screens vice-presidential nominees today Party’s NWC meets over c’ttee’s recommendations on running mate Atiku speaks on how to free up funds for social investments Iyobosa Uwugiaren and Chuks Okocha in Abuja Desperate to beat deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has quietly submitted his forms, with the inclusion of a ‘place holder’ as running mate.

At the same time, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has constituted a 12-man committee-led by Chief Tom Ikimi, to screen the presidential nominees of the party.

Also, following the meetings of the various elders and consultative committees of the party, on the choice of a vice presidential candidate, the National Working Committee (NWC), of the PDP, met to decide on the recommendations made by the various committees.

This is as the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Continued on page 35

CAMARADERIE AT FEC...

L–R: National Security Adviser to the President, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd.); Minister of Works and Housing, Babajide Fashola; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Chief of Staff to the President, Professor IIbrahim Gambari and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held at the PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja…yesterday

PDP Storms Ekiti Today for Campaign as INEC Lectures Voters on Imperative of Peace ... Page 43

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

NEWS

DEUTSCHE BANK EXECUTIVES VISIT ACCESS BANK...

L-R; Group Head, Corporate Operations, Access Bank Plc, Tosin Olatunji; Relationship Manager, Deutsche Bank Representative Office (Nigeria) Limited, Mayowa Egunjobi; Group Head, Treasury, Access Bank, Sunmbo Olatunji; MD/CEO, Access Bank, Roosevelt Ogbonna; Chief Country Representative Nigeria, Deutsche Bank, Andreas Voss; Group Head, Projects and Structured Finance, Access Bank, Seun Olufeko; and Co-CEO, Middle East and Africa, Deutsche Bank, Kees Hoving, during the visit of the Deutsche Bank executives to Access Bank Head Office in Lagos…yesterday

African Youths Are Catalytic Force to Propel AfCFTA, Says Afreximbank Boss Hails Dangote, Elumelu Dike Onwuamaeze The President of the African Export and Import Bank (Afreximbank), Prof. Okey Oramah has identified African youths as the catalytic force that would propel the realisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative.

Oramah said this yesterday in his opening address to the Afreximbank 2022 Annual Meetings in Cairo, Egypt, where he declared that Afreximbank Central Bank Deposit Programme (ACBDP) had mobilised $35 billion and attracted 50 participants since its inception in 2019.

The theme of the annual meetings is “Realising the AfCFTA Potential in the Post COVID-19 Era: Leveraging the Power of the Youths.”

He also used the address to

counter the conclusions of The Economist Magazine in an article titled “Africa’s Ambitious Trade Plan: Need to Speed Up,” which stated that continued political wrangling among Africa’s leaders might squander the promise of freer trade.

Oramah said: “A youth powered AfCFTA will trigger a continental economic expansion; and whether the next decade will become lost decade for Africa will depend on how we creatively deploy the energies and tenacity of our youth to implement the AfCFTA agreement.

“We are happy that the protocol on the youth will be negotiated under the AfCFTA. That will provide a great opportunity to formalise the integration of the youth into the continent wide agenda.

“As the youths are technologi-

cally savvy, and we believe that it is technology that will bring down the borders, Afreximbank and the AfCFTA secretariat have started to implement a digital AfCFTA called the Africa Trrade Gateway. This will offer the opportunity for the youths to access African market, access payment services and access credit.

“It is our view that the youths will be catalytic force to the realisation of the AfCFTA agenda.”

He singled out the President of the Dangote Group, Mr. Aliko Dangote, and the Founder of Africanpreneur, Mr. Tony Elumelu, among Africans that pioneered businesses of global consequences in their youthful days.

He said: “The African youths are beginning to make significant contributions to economic transformation

across the continent. For example, Mr. Aliko Dangote, as a young man in his early twenties began to build what today has become a global multibillion dollar conglomerate that has pivoted him to be the wealthiest person in Africa today.

“It was a young Tony Elumelu who transformed an ailing commercial bank into an African multinational financial institution.

“Many African youths who are talented are making the waves around the world. The African youths are poised to make a giant leap in a single continental market and could seamlessly become the drivers of African integration and intra-African trade.”

Oramah pointed out that, “policies that give them intellectual property protection, ease cost of doing business, as well as improved

Worsening Insecurity in Nigeria Worries IMF Obinna Chima The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed concern over the deteriorating level of security conditions in Nigeria, stressing that it was contributing to the subdued Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures in the country.

It also listed other downside risks in the near-term to include the elections, low vaccination against Covid-19 and higher global interest rates.

The Washington-based institution made these known in an end-ofmission statement yesterday, at the end of its staff visit with Nigeria. It revealed that an IMF team led by the Country Director, Ms. Jesmin Rahman, held meetings with Nigerian authorities from June 6th to 10th, 2022, to discuss recent economic and financial developments, and the economic outlook for the country.

The fund in the statement noted that Nigeria’s economic recovery continued to gain strength on the back of services and agriculture with GDP growth reaching 3.6 percent (y/y) in first quarter 2022.

It stated that inflation reached 17.7 percent (y/y) in May led by a renewed surge in food prices, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, and raising food security concerns

as over 40 per cent of the population live below the poverty line.

“To contain inflationary pressures, the Central Bank of Nigeria has recently hiked its monetary policy rate by 150 basis points to 13 per cent.

“Regarding the external sector, the current account deficit narrowed significantly in 2021 helped by import compression and higher net oil balance. However, the improving trade balance, which has continued so far in 2022, is having a limited impact on forex strains with the exchange rate premiums in the parallel market staying in the 35-40 percent range since October 2021,” it added.

According to the IMF, despite supportive oil prices, the country’s gross FX reserves fell to $38.6 billion at end-May 2022, having reached $41.5 billion in September 2021 boosted by SDR allocation and Eurobond issuance.

“Regarding the economic outlook, GDP growth is projected at 3.4 percent (y/y) in 2022 while inflation is expected to remain elevated . The fiscal deficit of the Consolidated Government is expected to remain high at 6.1 percent of GDP due in great measure to costly petrol subsidies and limited tax revenue collections.

“Downside risks to the near-term arise from further deterioration of security conditions, elections, low vaccination against Covid-19 and higher global interest rates. On the upside, steady private sector recovery and further broadening of growth, the start of operations at the Dangote refinery and decisive

steps to mobilize revenues, in line with the Strategic Revenue Growth Initiative (SRGI) could spur inclusive growth and development.

“The IMF mission would like to thank the authorities and other counterparts for the open and thoughtful discussions and excellent cooperation,” it added.

access to market will unleash the power of the youth on the continent.

“That is why Afreximbank is today intervening with instruments that are geared toward supporting the growth of small businesses and promoting their integration into national, regional and continental value chain.

“Afreximbank has therefore launched the ‘How-to-Export within the AfCFTA.’ Through this initiative, Afreximbank is partnering with the International Trade Centre to train small businesses and young entrepreneurs in Africa to participate in the AfCFTA. Moreover, the president of Afreximbank added that the bank was also prioritising the continent’s “culture and creative industries as they hold a potent force to accelerate integration under pre dominantly youth based.”

“At Afreximbank, we are promoting industry through dedicated $500 million funding that is currently being implemented.

“As we deliberate on these topical issues during the next three days, we are going to produce policy recommendations that will help us step up the implementation of the trade agreement,” he added.

Commenting on the ACBDP, Oramah said the Central Bank of Egypt and the Central Bank of Nigeria were the, “initial depositors

under the scheme with billions of dallar. The effect is that the scheme that started tentatively now has 50 participants and through it we have been able to mobilise $35 billion.”

The Economist of London had in March published an article titled “Africa’s Ambitious Trade Plan: Need to Speed Up,” that stated that, “sadly there has been all too little progress since,”1963, when Africa, politicians called for a common continental market.

The report had added, “although the AfCFTA has in theory been operational since the beginning of this year, in practice no trade has happened under its terms because of continued political wrangling; Africa’s leaders risk squandering the promise of freer trade.”

But Oramah argued that while the magazine was right in the facts set out in their article, its conclusions were wrong, adding that the facts were symptoms of problems the article did not explore.

He said: “But while the problems were identified decades ago, it is only now that Africa can boost of possessing a combination of factors that can resolve it. These include a visionary leadership, the youth and digital technology.

“Our leadership has done the courageous work of giving us the AfCFTA. A lot now hinges on our youths.”

ECOWAS: We are Winning War on Maritime Insecurity Michael Olugbode in Abuja The President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Jean-Claude Brou has said the war against maritime insecurity was being won in the West African sub-region.

Brou who said the attestation to this was the removal of Nigeria from the piracy list hotspot, noted that strategies were in place to equally win the war on terrorism Brou said this while delivering reports of the ECOWAS Commission before the ECOWAS Parliament during the ongoing 2022 First Ordinary Session of the Parliament in Abuja.

He also argued that the victory against maritime insecurity could also be seen with the decreasing

rate of attack in the Gulf of Guinea following actions by member countries.

He said: “A year ago, I told you that the maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea was extremely disturbing and globally we were the zone having the largest number of maritime piracy attacks.

“Actions have been carried by the countries individually but also at the level of regional coordination.”

He noted that the situation had reduced slightly to the point that Nigeria has come out of the list of countries having a high level of maritime piracy, adding that: “We will continue to work at regional level with the inauguration of our Regional Coordination Centres for Maritime Security that has been set up in the various zones.”

He said all together they were working actively particularly in zone F in Cape Verde.

Brou insisted that implementation of a Regional Action Plan remained high level priority and resource mobilisation remained key.

He, however, expressed concerns over the spate of terrorism in some countries which has led to humanitarian crises in the affected countries.

The ECOWAS Commission’s President said just like how maritime insecurity was addressed, early warning mechanisms among other initiatives would be emplaced to tackle the menace of terrorism.

He said: “Obviously, the fight against terrorism is a priority and it is being implemented.

“It comes to strengthen the various actions carried out in

the various countries above all it comes to fight insecurity.

“We have the Accra initiative, the G5 initiative, the Sahel initiative. The security situation as well as the food production crises create an unprecedent humanitarian rises in the region.

“In 2021, the number of Internally Displaced Persons in the region went from 4.4 million to 5.5 million, so there is a large increase in the numbers of IDPs. “So this shows the extent of the crises facing our region because of the double burden of security and food production.

“We continue to deploy our early warnings centers. Eight have been installed out of 15 and we hope to set up the remaining seven at the end of this year,” Brou said.

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FIRST LAGOS CLIMATE CHANGE BUSINESS MEETING...

L-R: Executive Secretary, Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA), Arese Onaghise; General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe; IHS Nigeria Director, Sustainable & Corporation Communications, Cima Sholotan; Head/GM Sustainability, Dangote Cement, Igazeuma Okoroba; Representative of the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources and Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Service, Omobolaji Gaji; General Manager, Lagos State Parks and Gerdens Agency, Mrs. Adetoun Popoola and Managing Director, Lagos Waste Management Authority, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, during the first Lagos Climate Change Business Meeting, held at the Ebony Life Place, Victoria Island, Lagos...yesterday

With $64bn Total Assets, NNPC Targets 2026 to Achieve Nigeria's Energy Sufficiency Country’s energy resources can power New York for 120 years, says Kyari Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja With assets in excess of $64 billion, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited said yesterday that it's focusing on 2026 to achieve energy sufficiency for the country.

Group Managing Director, NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, made the disclosure when he delivered a keynote address at the Global Energy Summit themed: “Setting the global transition agenda,” organised

by Reuters in New York, United States.

Represented at the event by the Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Mr Bala Wunti, Kyari stated that Nigeria was ready to rally investors for the development of the nation's gas sector.

Stressing that with 230QBTU of 2P gas resources, the country would deploy gas as energy transition bridge, the NNPC GMD noted that Nigeria has never been more ready to attract investment in the sector, especially in a bid to help achieve its net-zero objectives.

Although the country currently imports almost 100 per cent of its fuels, the NNPC stated that its priority is to be zero-dependent on imported energy , both primary and secondary and come out as

a net exporter of the products in the next four years.

On energy poverty in Nigeria, Kyari noted that with the current 8.4mmbtu per capita energy consumption, almost 100 million Nigerians or 45 per cent of the entire population is currently without access to electricity, making Nigeria 164th in the world.

In addition, while the country emits 123mton of annual CO2, Kyari reiterated that the country has already set and is working towards 2060 to achieve net-zero emissions target.

The NNPC boss pointed out that the company also has the ambition to see 100 per cent of the population with access to electricity as well as a target of over 70mmbtu per capita consumption by 2035.

He listed the building blocks for NAPIMS as reduction of emissions, leveraging on innovation and technology, replacing high carbon fuel systems with low carbon alternatives as well as renewal of the atmosphere by removal of carbon emission using carbon capture technologies.

Furthermore, he explained that the company intends to invest in restoring and replanting its tropical forests to offset atmospheric carbons as well as rebranding the organisation to emphasise focus on environmental sustainability.

Former AGF, Bayo Ojo, Unveils Nigeria's First Book on Construction Law

Alex Enumah in Abuja

A former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo would today unveil Nigeria's first book on Construction Law. The book authored by Mrs. Ewuwuni Onnoghen-Theophilus, a Nigerian lawyer and daughter of the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Onnoghen would be presented to the Nigerian public in Abuja.

A retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Mrs. Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili has been scheduled to co-present the historical law book.

A program of event sighted by THISDAY yesterday, showed that eminent legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief James Onoja, is coordinating the book

presentation.

Among the legal giants billed to witness the book presentation are Chairman, Body of Benchers, Chief Wole Olanipekun, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Malam Ahmed Raji, Mahmoud Magaji and Damian Dodo.

Others are former governor of Cross River State, Chief Liyel Imoke, former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, General Overseer, Mountains of Fire and Miracles, Dr D.K Olukoya and Africa's richest woman, Mrs Modupe Alakija.

The document also indicated that several Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal as well as Heads of courts and Judges are to witness the unveiling of the law book.

He stressed that natural gas will be the backbone of the NNPC’s play in the hydrogen economy, noting that on the supply side, it will be involved in supplying clean hydrogen as a major alternative energy resource to hydrocarbons.

However, on the demand side, Kyari declared that the NNPC will be investing in the transportation sector by facilitating the fuel cell vehicle demand and supply chain as an alternative to conventional electric vehicles.

According to Kyari, there remains a strong correlation between the market and investment climate in the upstream oil and gas sector

whereby the former drives the latter and in turn is driven by finance.

As the global energy mix shifts to lower carbon fuels, Kyari stated that growth driven by less carbon intensive energy sources is expected to grow at the average of about 0.8 per cent, faster than oil which will grow at 0.5 per cent.

Added to that, he posited that coal will lose market share from 26 per cent in 2020 to 16 per cent by 2050 to renewables.

But oil and natural gas, he said, will continue to hold over 50 per cent of market share of total energy supply.

Drawing a nexus between

markets, investment and finance, he noted that economic development will require massive energy supply while markets provide commercial platforms for energy to be traded, insisting that energy sources need to be unlocked and delivered efficiently.

“Unlocking energy requires development and delivery infrastructure. These require investment.

Investments need financing and supporting rules and regulations.

“Without finance, investment plans will remain as aspirations. The finance of today has a preference for investment that will unlock cleaner and more sustainable

energy resources such as natural gas and hydrogen which Nigeria has adopted , not just as a transition fuel but also a destination energy resource,” he stated.

He explained that the NNPC has the special geographic advantage of operating from a position of easy access to the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, giving it unhindered access to the most critical trade routes and markets.

“With 6 QBTU of energy production, annually, we rank 18th in the world and 2nd in Africa. Our energy resources can power the city of New York for the next 120 years,” he told investors.

Running Mate: Disregard Misrepresenting Report on Wike, PDP Tells Nigerians I will never leave my political party, Rivers governor maintains Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said its attention had been drawn to misrepresenting reports in some section of the media purporting that it had dismissed the reported emergence of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike as its Vice-Presidential (VP) candidate for the 2023 general elections.

The party in a statement disclosed that the misleading reports quoted its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba to have said such while addressing some journalists in Abuja yesterday.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the

National Publicity Secretary did not at any time address journalists on the said subject matter as quoted in the misinforming reports. “To set the records straight, the National Publicity Secretary was a guest on Arise TV Morning Show on Wednesday morning where he answered questions on PDP’s preparedness for the 2023 general elections as well as June 18, 2022 Ekiti State Governorship election “In the course of the interview, the presenters requested some clarifications on reports in the media that the PDP had concluded its processes on its vice-presidential candidate.

“In response the National Publicity Secretary stated that the PDP is a party of process and that consultations and discussions were still ongoing in the selection process.

“It is therefore mischievous to claim that the PDP National Publicity Secretary made any reference to Governor Wike.

Clearly, such distorting claim in a section of the media is the design of mischief makers who are bent on destabilising our Party ahead of the 2023 general elections.”

The PDP reiterated its confidence in Wikes’s ability and commitment to the ideals and

Adamu: With over 43m Members, APC Won't Lose 2023 Polls

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has boasted that the ruling party would not lose the 2023 elections with over 43 million membership strength.

The chairman stated this yesterday in Abuja, when he received the Ambassador of Poland to Nigeria, Joanna Tarnawska, in his office.

Adamu, in a statement by his Media Aide, Muhammed Lawal, said the party would conduct itself

at the next elections according to international best practices.

"With the massive support the party enjoys from over 43 million Nigerians, there is no way the party will lose the 2023 elections," Adamu said.

He told the Ambassador that, because of the opportunities created by the APC, a woman emerged a gubernatorial candidate in conservative northern Nigeria, and therefore, called on Poland and the international community to show more understanding about

Nigeria’s challenges and electoral history.

Earlier, the Polish Ambassador said her country was interested in political developments within Nigeria and would like to see a peaceful transition to another president after the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari ends next year.

Tarnawska said Poland looked forward to improved bilateral diplomatic relations between both countries, especially, improved economic relations.

values of the PDP. It noted that the governor’s records of achievement as a Local Government Chairman, Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, Minister of State for Education, currently Governor of Rivers State and the runner-up in the PDP presidential primary make him stand out as possessing requisite qualities, qualifications, capacity and wide acceptability for the position of the vice-presidential candidate.

“In fact, Governor Wike’s energy, brilliance, commitment and passion were acknowledged by the National Working Committee (NWC) of our party and he is adjudged as the foremost candidate in consideration for the position of the vice-presidential candidate of the PDP. “While the PDP notes the interest of the media and the public in our party’s choice of vice-presidential candidate it is imperative to state that as an organic party, all our processes will be followed through in strict adherence to our procedures before any official announcements.

“The PDP urges Nigerians to disregard the mischievous reports aimed at undermining our Party’s unity at this critical time,” it added.

Continued online

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LABOUR MATTERS ON THEIR MINDS...

R-L: Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba; Liz Shuler, the first woman to be elected president of American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organization (AFL-CIO), and Sharan Burrow, the General secretary International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), during an international labour conference in Philadelphia, United States of America.

Inflation Rises to 17.71% in May, Highest in Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Rivers James Emejo in Abuja The Consumer Price Index (CPI) which measures inflation increased to 17.71 per cent in May 2022, compared with the 16.82 per cent it was as of April 2022.

However, the 17.71 per cent recorded in May 2022, represented a 0.22 percentage points decline compared to the 17.93 per cent recorded in May 2021, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) disclosed yesterday.

"This means that the headline inflation rate slowed down in the month of May when compared to the same month in the previous

year," the statistical agency explained.

Month-on-month, however, the headline index increased to 1.78 per cent in May, representing 0.02 per cent increase from the 1.76 per cent recorded in April.

The percentage change in the average composite CPI for the 12-month period ended May 2022, over the average of the CPI for the previous 12- month period was 16.45 per cent, showed a 0.95 per cent increase compare to the 15.50 percent recorded in May 2021.

According to the CPI Report for May 2022, obtained from the NBS website, the composite food index rose to 19.50 per cent in May 2022

on a year-on-year basis, declining by 2.78 per cent compared to 22.28 per cent in May 2021.

It explained that the rise in the food in¬dex was caused by increases in prices of bread and cereals, food products n.e.c, potatoes, yam, and other tubers, wine, fish, meat and oil.

On a month-on-month basis, the food sub-index increased to 2.01 per cent in May, up by 0.01 percentage points from 2.00 per cent recorded in April.

The average annual rate of change of the food sub-index for the 12-month period ended May 2022, over the previous 12-month average was 18.68 per cent or 0.05

percentage points decline from the average annual rate of 19.18 per cent change recorded in May 2021.

On the other hand, the, “All Items Less Farm Produce” or Core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile ag¬ricultural produce rose to 14.90 per cent in May 2022, on a year-on-year basis, up by 1.75 per cent when compared to 13.15 per cent recorded in May 2021.

Month-on-month, the core subindex increased to 1.87 per cent in May 2022, up by 0.65 per cent when compared to 1.22 per cent recorded in April.

According to the statistical agency, the highest increases were record¬ed

Edo Eyes N2bn Investment in Tourism, Others Explains how state emerged best in W’Bank rating The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, is scheduled to receive a delegation of the trade mission from the Miami- Dade County, Florida, United States of America, who are expected to explore opportunities for investment in the state’s tourism, maritime and aviation sectors, among others.

The Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Co-operatives, Afie Braimoh, was quoted in a statement to have said this in Benin City. He said the trade mission delegation were expected to be in Benin City, the Edo State capital, between June 18 and 19, 2022.

She said the 40-man delegation would include four Miami Commissioners, among other top US-based investors, who would explore various opportunities for partnership and investment in the state, leveraging the reforms and business-friendly environment as well as incentives provided by the Obaseki-led administration to support business growth and sustainability.

The commissioner said the government was pursuing programmes and reforms aimed at engendering sustainable growth and development and ensuring economic prosperity for Edo people, reassuring that the investors will leverage the opportunity of the visit to invest in new frontiers.

Braimoh disclosed that she struck the deal for the investment meet during her last visit to America where she met with the County’s Director of Protocol and International Affairs for Miami International Airport, Mr. Desmond Alufohai, who hails from Sabo-Ora, Owan West Local Government Area of the state.

She noted that the County Director has facilitated several annual trade missions across Africa and other continents for years.

Braimoh said the team has a special interest in investment in Africa’s tourism, maritime, and aviation sectors.

Meanwhile, the Project Coordinator of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) in Edo State, Dr. Tom Obaseki, has said the several people-centric infrastructural projects constructed across the state

by NEWMAP, in line with the government’s vision of ensuring environmental sustainability and improving the living standards of the people, earned the state the recognition as the best-performing state by World Bank.

The World Bank recently named Edo State as the best-performing state since the inception of the project in 2012. The state was said to have defeated 22 other beneficiary states to clinch the

national award.

The Edo NEWMAP Project Coordinator, in a statement in Lagos, said the honour was on the back of the support of Obaseki.

He said, “The efforts and commitment of the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki at implementing infrastructural renewal and sustainable development initiatives in Edo earned NEWMAP in the state the rain of awards at the just-concluded

closing/valedictory session for the NEWMAP project in Abuja.

“Edo State came out tops in three categories, which is the highest winning by any state out of the 23 NEWMAP participating states. The categories are best overall performing state; best in Disbursement/Engineering/Civil Works/Bio-Engineering, and best in Counterpart Funding. These are in addition to coming as runner up in several other categories.”

in prices of gas, liquid fuel, garment, fuel, cleaning, repair and hire of clothing and passenger transport by road.

The average 12-month annual rate of change of the index was 13.83 per cent for the 12-month period ending May 2022. This was 2.33 per cent points higher than the 11.50 per cent recorded in May 2021.

However, the all-items inflation on a year-on-year basis was highest in Bauchi (20.62 per cent), Akwa Ibom (20.34 per cent), and Rivers (19.95 per cent), while Kwara (15.45 per cent), Kaduna (15.69 per cent) and Jigaawa (16.15 per cent) recorded the slowest rise in headline year on year.

Month-on-month, however, the month of May recorded the highest increases in Bauchi 3.17 per cent), Bayelsa (2.73 per cent), and Kogi (2.71 per cent), while Yobe (0.22 per cent), Jigawa (0.95 per cent) and Benue (1.07 per cent) recorded the slowest rise on month-on-month inflation.

Food inflation year-on-year in May 2022, was highest in Kogi (22.79 per cent), Akwa Ibom (22.47 per cent) and Kwara (22.21 per cent), while Kaduna (16.46 per cent), Anambra (16.54 per cent) and Jigawa (16.91 per cent) recorded the slowest rise in year-on-year food inflation.

On a month-on-month basis,

however, food inflation was highest in Rivers (3.65 per cent), Abia (3.31 per cent), and Ogun (3.23 per cent), while Yobe (0.01 per cent), Osun (0.76 per cent), and Jigawa (0.81 per cent) record¬ed the slowest rise in the period under review.

The urban inflation rate increased to 18.24 per cent (year-on-year), representing 0.27 per cent decline compared to 18.51 percent recorded in May 2021.

On a month-on-month basis, the urban inflation rate rose to 1.81 per cent in May, or 0.03 per cent increase compared to 1.78 per cent in April.

According to the NBS, the corresponding 12--month average percentage change for the urban index was 17 per cent in May 2022. This was 0.91 percent higher compared to 16.09 per cent reported in May 2021.

Similarly, rural inflation rate increased to 17.21 per cent in May 2022 (year-on-year) which was a 0.15 per cent decline compared to 17.36 per cent recorded in May 2021.

On a month-on-month basis, the rural index rose to 1.76 per cent in May 2022, up by 0.02 per cent from the 1.74 per cent recorded in April while the corresponding 12-month average percentage change for the rural inflation rate in May 2022 was 15.91 per cent. This was 0.97 per cent higher compared to 14.94 percent recorded in May 2021.

House Urges INEC to Extend Voters' Registration Deadline by 60 Days Juliet Akoje in Abuja The House of Representatives has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the voter’s registration deadline by 60 days, from June 30, 2022, to enable eligible Nigerians register.

The House also mandated its Committee on Electoral Matters to engage INEC to examine and proffer solutions to the shortage of registration machines and manpower as well as to deploy an additional 30 voter registration machines in each local government area, train and deploy ad-hoc staff to improve the shortage of manpower at registration centres,

provide security for the Ad-hoc staff and report back within two weeks.

These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion on the need for ‘INEC to Extend the Deadline of Continuous Voters Registration, Deploy additional Staff and Voters Registration Machines Across the Country,’ moved by Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu at plenary presided by the speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila yesterday.

Kalu noted that the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) by INEC was scheduled to end on June 30, 2022, ahead of the 2023 general elections.

He added that the decision to

suspend the voter’s registration was in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 which requires INEC to suspend voters’ registration at least 60 days before an election.

He recalled that in April 2022, INEC declared that about 42 per cent of the voter registrations recorded since the commencement of Continuous Voters Registration on 28 June, 2021 were invalid with about 20 million unclaimed PVCs. Kalu stated that reports of shortages of voter registration machines, inadequate manpower and personnel at registration centres may lead to frustrations among prospective registrants and in some cases, unrest at some

registration centres.

He expressed concerns over calls from concerned citizens and civil societies, urging INEC to extend the voters’ registration deadline to accommodate eligible voters desiring to register for their PVC. "The right to vote is critically important to the health and legitimacy of our democracy, as well as electoral integrity.

"If nothing is done to improve the shortage of voter registration equipment and extend the deadline for voter’s registration, millions of Nigerians will be disenfranchised thus jeopardising the integrity of the 2023 general elections," he added.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JUNE 16, 2022

POLITICS

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

Oni: Any Governor Who Can’t Think in Figures Can’t Grapple with Modern Issues of Development Segun Oni, Governor of Ekiti State between May 29, 2007 and October 15, 2010 has been unrelenting in his bid to reclaim the office. He is back on the ballot for the state’s governorship election on Saturday, June 18, 2022 this time flying the gubernatorial flag of the Social Democratic Party. Victor Ogunje interrogated his enduring attempt to return to Ekiti Government House

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hy the choice of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to prosecute this particular governorship campaign of yours?

I have been through a lot. Fortunately, I have been at the top echelon of the two major political parties and I have seen that the problem of the two parties are similar. First; is the lack of internal democracy. Everybody wants to point at the speck in the other man’s eye, leaving the log in their own eyes. They all want to criticize the system for lack of proper democracy, but in our own parties, nobody is willing or majority of the people are not willing to put real democracy to work.

We have seen also that internal disciplinary processes are not always rigidly adhered to.

They are most of the time trampled upon if it doesn’t affect very powerful people. Most of these parties don’t have their own revenue generating mechanisms, apart from the sale of forms, and that is every four years-the parties have very little or no form of other revenue.

On paper and in their constitution they are supposed to have monthly dues by members.

I am not sure that is happening. That puts the parties at the heck and call; at the mercy of the financiers, especially the governors.

Looking at all these, I have been in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).The party is in a sorry state now. These are some of the things that led it there. I have been in the All Progressives Congress (APC), it is even in a worse state now.

These are some of the things that led it there. I am looking at a political party that has a brighter chance that we can put out as the ideal that other people will now be able to swear by. I believe that I can make stout contributions to ensure that the party is one with processes that will make internal democracy and democracy at large more pleasant to accomplish.

When you talk about internal discipline and processes, you may be accused of being guilty when you took Governor Kayode Fayemi all the way to the Supreme Court in trying to establish that he did not resign his appointment as a Minister before contesting for governor. You refused all processes within the party to resolve the issue?

Did he resign? That is my question. If people are not willing to stick by the truth, it will not help internal democracy. My attitude to that is, ‘did I lie? I didn’t! He did not resign. He also did not say he resigned. Even the Supreme Court that gave him the judgement finally did not say he resigned. The Supreme Court said we filed out of time. It is there. One can deduct it, even logically that if we had filed out of time, it would not have waited till it got to the Supreme Court before we were told we filed out of time. It is easy to look at. The first court would have said it. The first level of appeal would have said it. That was the verdict of the Supreme Court, but we are not in a position to fault the judges’ authority to make proclamations. We also should be defenders of truth where it affects us. Some people even said we should protest to the same Supreme Court, I said we should be patient, as far as I know, it ends at the Supreme Court, which had made its proclamation. It was best to allow it to rest. Till tomorrow, nobody is talking about it, but it doesn’t mean that we had a sense of fair treatment.

If somebody says he is right with what they did, let them come up with that, but we believe that we are right to challenge what is not right.

At the time, you were at the top hierarchy of that party. Fayemi was not a candidate, we are talking about the governor. He had won the election. What point were

all the other sides put together..

What are some of the urgent items on your agenda, if you become governor?

The reason why people are backing me massively is not because of my manifesto. It is because of the experience they had dealing with me as governor. Two things are most important in choosing a chief executive at this level: Integrity; this means character. The second is capacity for productivity. If he has character, but he is not productive, it is not good. If he is productive, but there is no character, it is not good either. They have seen that I demonstrated very clearly that I am comfortable with both.

People who are backing me know what they are doing and I just pray all the time that my rating will never come down. I must say that I am overwhelmed by the love of the people. I have never seen this much. I have been around for a while. I am 67 years; so I have seen elections; from the First Republic.

Most of time Ekiti people will not tell you that they are not going to vote for you. They will just be watching you. Now our people have found their voice; for the first time and they are speaking very clearly. They are the ones who coined, Ekiti ko’ya (Ekiti rejects suffering).

Some of these wizardry you are seeing is coming from the excitement and intellect of the people.

Ekiti people have rejected suffering. Enough is enough! What can convey the message better?

Oni

you trying to prove?

The point I was trying to prove was that what is not good is not good. If somebody admits to an error, it is different from somebody not admitting to an error and you blaming somebody for insisting that an error was committed. If somebody had admitted to that error at party level, it could have been a different thing. The person who committed an error did not admit it.

Would you have overlooked it, if he admitted to committing an error, because it looks like you were very bitter?

I would have talked to my people.

I have never been a desperate person. My people insisted that they were going to court. I knew it was going to be in my name. So be it. That is why you find that I am still in good reckoning among my people in Ekiti. This was not my personal decision. Nobody came to talk to us about what was going on.

They expected that my people will be cowed. It is not easy that way.

They did not make entreaties. If it

is our party, then we should be talking and meeting. We worked for the party. My people worked for the party to win.

This is a stand-alone election for you, as there would not be the benefit of candidates who are contesting to become state and federal legislators also galvanizing support for you, won’t that be a big hindrance?

If you feel the pulse of the people you will know who is likely to win this election. The people are talking loud. That is why I am the one under attack. You think they attack a lame duck?. They attack those who have a bright chance of winning. They know who is likely to win. They are not saying he will win when the legislators arrive or other conditions are present. This condition as it is now, they know who is likely to win.

You don’t appear to have the support of the Ekiti elites...

I don’t know who is called the elites. I know Ekiti people. If I don’t have the support of Ekiti people, you would not be here. When they sort out the votes, they won’t say, “these are golden votes because they were cast by elites. These other votes count less because they were cast by the ordinary people. We are talking about election. From what we know, more elites are likely to be on my side than

Did he resign? That is my question. If people are not willing to stick by the truth, it will not help internal democracy. My attitude to that is, ‘did I lie? I didn’t! He did not resign. He also did not say he resigned. Even the Supreme Court that gave him the judgement finally did not say he resigned.

The Supreme Court said we filed out of time. It is there.

One can deduct it, even logically that if we had filed out of time, it would not have waited till it got to the Supreme Court before we were told we filed out of time

This is a different era from when you were governor. We didn’t have insecurity in the manner that we have it today. Nigeria, even Ekiti is not the same as your first time; what will you do differently?

I hope to react to situations as they come.

If the situation is different some of my reactions will be different. Some of the so-called different situations we foresaw them ling ago.

When I put up a panic alert system which is still there at the police headquarters, we were not anywhere near this level of insecurity. Once you subscribe and you are under siege, you call a particular line. You don’t have to say anything. Once it is picked up at the control centre at the police headquarters, it will link up to the nearest police patrol van. We started with 50 patrol vehicles dedicated to that; 25 of the patrol vehicles were refurbished, 25 were brand new. We believe if we had continued to use technology as an enabler to fight crime, it would have been a first of its kind in this terrain and it would have reduced the capacity to carry out criminal action and escape. It is still there. Ask the government why they did not use it. It is not as if it was embargoed by the contractor. It was fully paid. It was supposed to be bringing revenue because the subscribers would have been paying. I expect that it would run at a profit so that the excess of revenue will cover the cost. Banks would have subscribed. They were supposed to be the highest users. Even if there is an embargo on the reporting of kidnapping in Ekiti, kidnapping is still going on. By now, they probably would have developed the panic button that can be mobile. The engineer that designed it is local. We would have partnered with Google. It would have been Ekiti’s contribution to using technology to fight crime. We did it because we were looking ahead. The situation you are talking about now, we had envisaged it nearly 12 years ago. We had the capacity to look beyond the immediate. If you look at what we built, they are still relevant. The capacity to think is not denominated in years. It is about circumstances-what you think about and how you place your thoughts.

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

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POLITICS

Duru: There is No Crack in APC National Working Committee The Deputy National Organising Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Nze Duru, in this interview with Adedayo Akinwale says there is no crack in the party’s National Working Committee (NWC). Excerpts:

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hat led to the division among members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party over the choice of Ahmed Lawan as the preferred candidate of the party?

I don’t want to look at it from the point of view of a crack or division within the NWC. I would rather see it as the position of the NWC to the extent that there was no discussion on the consensus candidate. Some of us within the rank and file of the NWC felt we should address the press and to let the country know that the NWC had not taken some decisions. It was a critical turning point in the journey leading to the convention. It created a sense of confidence and a level playing field for the 23 candidates. The NWC needed to midwife a free, fair , transparent primary. The decision that we took was not a stand alone decision. It was in keeping with the decision of the Northern Governors Forum on the issue of zoning. We were bent on ensuring that against all expectations that the presidency of Nigeria be zoned to the South and not North. It was a patriotic decision and then of course that became the decision of the southern governors forum, same with their colleagues from the north and ultimately the position of the Progressive Governors’ Forum.

Duru

The NWC members that addressed the press took note of that and adopted the position.

So I am not looking at it from the point of view of a crack in the NWC. Was it proper for the National Chairman to have a preferred candidate?

I would restrict myself

again to just make the point that more than any other person, he had the moral responsibility to create an enabling environment and which was created at the national convention of the party.

At the end of it, the party remained the same after we organised a free, fair and transparent primaries and in such a way that any of the aspirants that emerged as our standard bearer would have the confidence of his co- aspirant to be able to galvanise them as we’re beginning to see that our candidate His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu had begun to reach out to his other co-contestants. The other contestants have also pledged their loyalty, support, and offered their resources to campaign for him, to work with him and to deliver the party in next year ’s election and that is what a transparent process can only guarantee. Should we have done otherwise, should the candidate have been foisted on the party, It would have created an atmosphere that would not have allowed for a mutual understanding.

How is the party going to navigate through the issue of selecting running mate for the presidential candidate?

Well, we’re working around the clock.

We are looking at not just the issue of the running mate to the presidential candidate but we’re looking at the issues around the candidates that have

emerged across Nigeria - from states Assemblies to the Senate, gubernatorial and presidential primaries to ensure that our party meet the basic requirements as stated by the INEC guidelines. Of course, we have to go back to the issue of the Vice Presidential candidate. Yes, we have between now and Friday to complete the entire process. But it’s important to also make the point that having emerged as the presidential candidate by the way, it is his sole responsibility to nominate his deputy or his vice after having consultation with the various layers of the party and stakeholders.

I believe that that process is ongoing.

Various consultations are going on as most of them are in the public space.

Tinubu has met with Mr. President, met with the Vice President, also met with co- contestants, which I think the process will be completed between now and tomorrow. He has also met with the NWC of the party. And then of course, he will continue to meet with critical stakeholders. And I’m sure that in the final analysis, he will be in a position to nominate that candidate that will complement his strengths and also give a face of the kind of government Nigerians should expect come May, 2023.

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

Ize-Iyamu: With Right Policies and Sincerity of Leadership, Things Will Be Better Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu was the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2020 governorship election in Edo State. He spoke to newsmen recently about his career as a lawyer as well as his political journey so far in the state. Segun James brings excerpts:

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ould you say you regret your chosen career? First of all, you are a lawyer and later, a politician. Are there regrets along these lines of careers?

Of course there are regrets. Sometimes, I regret I didn’t spend too much time in my legal practice. I entered politics very early in life and somehow, I just got to the thick of it.

There was no room for anything else. Even to do business became very difficult.

Most of the time from one political meeting to the other.

Then, my involvement in politics, it’s because I am so concerned about the environment I live in and I have always told people that you cannot be rich when all around you is poverty.

So your wealth is defined by the environment you live in. When I see poverty in my place, I am challenged. I just believe that with the right leadership, right policies and sincerity in governance, things could be a lot better.

It’s been a long journey that one would think that by now we have the Nigeria of our dreams but unfortunately, it is still a work in progress.

Sometimes, I feel I should have spent more time in the legal profession. It’s actually a profession I have a lot of respect for; recently when I have to go to court for some cases and I see my colleagues, how well they have gotten at the bar and their submission in court, there is a little bit of envy that I should have spent some time. But quite honestly, I am very fulfilled. I have a wonderful family, my wife is everything to me, my children are very supportive, my siblings are wonderful and I have had some very good friends, even though I had a fair share of backstabbing and betrayals. Of course, the body of Christ has also been one of the very strong pillars in my life. So the regrets are minimal, more of gratitude and thanks to God. Would you say you have been able to touch lives with your involvement in politics?

Definitely! I am happy that I have helped a lot of people achieve their dreams. I have helped people to become governors, National Assembly Members, House of Assembly members and so many positions. It’s fulfilling when you help somebody to achieve his dreams. Some are very grateful and they announce it everywhere but some other ones, when you help them, they take a walk. But it doesn’t really matter. What

Ize-Iyamu

is important is that you needed to help and you gave that help.

We have also tried to use influence in government to attract assistance and amenities to a lot of places. When I was in government, for example, we were able to push for employment in the civil service and today, most of the top people in the Edo state civil service are people we employed in our time; various professionals; whether as doctors, lawyers, engineers, they were people that were employed as young graduates and today, they are directors and permanent secretaries.

So, it’s also very satisfying when you see the young people you help then, now they are solid and also fulfilled in their various endeavors. It’s quite good. We try to do the best we can and I thank God for the opportunity.

When you were in Lucky Igbinedion’s government,

did you give some advice to help the government focus? Will you say there are recommendations you made to the government that was not taken? What exactly will you say were the impacts you made while in government?

Well that government was a very challenging one. That is the government that came in in 1999 after eight years of military rule. The last civilian governor was Chief John Oyegun who left in 1992. Then they came in and by the time that government came in, the civil service was in bad shape, the only university, Ambrose Alli University was nothing to write home about.

Basically, most of the military Administrators were not from here and they were coming from places even worse than Edo state. For them, there was no need to do anything fantastic here. They felt that Edo was better than where they came from. So, they did very minimally.

When the government came in, there were lots of challenges. We had people protesting over their salaries and pensions close to 28months, 29months, 30months, people have been unpaid.

So there were a lot of agitations. It took a lot of time to balance it.

Then the IGR was very poor. It will surprise you to know that then the IGR for a month was N30million. But today, to the glory of God, I think it’s over N2 billion. So you can see the difference. Things were a bit tight but no matter how tight, you don’t enter government to lament; you go there to make improvements and we tried to do that. My first function for four years as Chief of Staff, was basically trying to help the governor to stabilize. A lot of time then, I had to interface with the legislative and executive arms to ensure they have harmony and worked together; which they did. There wasn’t any rancor during that period because I had a very good working relationship with the House of Assembly by ensuring whatever the governor was doing, they were fully abreast of it. There was mutual respect on both sides.

Budgets were passed on time because legislators had input from various constituencies. So it was a win-win situation.

We also tried to interface with the unions.

Regularly, I was liaising with the NLC. Of course with also the Head of Service, we all worked together to ensure we minimized labour agitations. Then of course, the political class, we had to talk with them because if the governor had to be dealing with them every day, he would not

have been able to govern. So the issues of who gets appointments and who gets this, I have to look at it and brief the governor, work out something and all that. But in the second term, I became Secretary to the Government. This time, I became more involved in the governance of the state. Looking at how resources are to be spent, looking at what various ministries are doing, we tried to do so much. But I think one of the actions that brought a lot of sadness then was the retrenchment that was done. It was done out of desperation. The governor felt he wasn’t able to perform because most of the monies that were coming in were being used to service the civil service who were less than 1% of the total population. But in taking them off, we were creating more problems because they were breadwinners and they were a critical minority. So when you remove such people, you can imagine the backlash in terms of criticism and the rest of them. But it took a while before we could make people understand that it was not done in bad faith but just because we wanted to have a manageable workforce while we improve the revenue.

Government is quite challenging. It’s not easy. I have come to realize that when you are an appointee there is a limit to what you can do. No matter what people perceived, you are not the governor. People will say, Pastor was very powerful as chief of staff. Again, you ask yourself Chief of staff, what role, what did he do. I never approved a contract, I never gave out a contract even as SSG, there was nothing like that.

So the power you are talking about may be in terms of visibility but when you are talking about power being able to award contracts, being able to do this and that, no. When you recommend appointments, it’s also at the discretion of the governor. The bulk of this job is at the governor’s table. That is why I left office, I just said that based on the experience I have had let me try to become chief executive, so that I can deploy that knowledge and experience to make things work better but that is something I have not been able to achieve.

I just pray that whoever is the governor has the requisite knowledge and experience to be able to do the right things at the right time.

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

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FEATURES NSCDC's Renewed Vigour in Combatting Pipeline Vandalism

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant General's Special Intelligence Squad, its renewed vigour to combat and stamp out pipeline vandalism is paying off given the successes recorded in mopping up the perpetrators

NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi

Some of the recovered stolen products

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he Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) is a paramilitary institution in Nigeria that was established in May 1967 with the act of the National Assembly.

Amended in 2007 to enhance the statutory duties of the corp, it was commissioned to provide measures against threat and any form of attack or disaster against the nation and its citizenry.

The Corps is empowered to institute legal proceedings by or in then and of the Attorney General of the Federation in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against any person or persons suspected to have committed an offence, maintain an armed squad in order to bear fire arms among others to strengthen the corps in the discharge of its statutory duties The NSCDC was first introduced in May 1967 during the Nigerian Civil War within the then Federal Capital Territory of Lagos for the purpose of sensitisation and protection of the civil populace. It was then known as Lagos Civil Defence Committee but later metamorphosed into the present day NSCDC in 1970.

In 1984, the Corps was transformed into a National security outfit and in 1988, there was a major re-structuring of the Corps that led to the establishment of Commands throughout the Federation, including Abuja, and the addition of special functions by the federal government.

On 28 June 2003, an Act to give statutory backing to the NSCDC passed by the National Assembly was signed into law by the President Olusegun Obasanjo.

FORMATION OF SPECIAL SQUAD Given the scope of its responsibilities, the Corps has been championing the fight against illegalities, including pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft.

To this end, NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, in his renewed vigour to combat the uprising menace of illegal dealings in petroleum products, set up the Commandant General's Special Intelligence Squad led by ACC Dandaura Samu Appollos and his second in command, Luka Bagalmat.

The unit in recent time has succeeded in clamping down on illegal oil dump sites, the destruction of artisanal refineries, while several trucks conveying the products have been impounded. Also some suspects have been arrested and are undergoing prosecution.

According to the NSCDC boss, "Owing to the critical nature of these assets and infrastructure to national security and socio-economic development, adequate security is now being emplaced to safeguard the country’s Critical National Assets and Infrastructure by this Corps.

"In this connection, the newly established Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad has been taking proactive and pragmatic steps through discrete investigation and intelligence gathering to track down these criminal elements to avert and

Drums of stolen crude recovered by the squad checkmate their criminal intentions.

"This squad also provides back-up to the states’ Special Forces and Anti-Vandal Squad in curtailing crime and criminality."

Essentially, the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad, which is deployed nationwide, carries out microscopic investigation and monitoring of oil pipelines in the state in a bid to curtail vandals involved in nefarious activities of oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and other related matters.

And because oil theft must be checked, the Corp is all out for a strategic fight by intensifying the war against illegal oil bunkering and also illegal activities by vandals and other miscreants in the state. To do this, they have been vigorously carrying out series of marine operations and land operations nationwide to ensure effective service delivery.

SUCCESSES RECORDED This year, the squad has recorded so many successes. On January 22, 2022, two suspected oil thieves were arrested at an illegal bunkering site in Emohua LGA of the state. On January 28, 2022 at Rumuekpe in Emohua LGA, nine suspected oil thieves were arrested with illegally refined AGO and DPK stacked in three different SUB Toyota cars.

“On January 31, 2022, along Abonnema Wharf Road, the Command recovered a Black Volkswagen Golfcar with Reg. No. Lagos TE769XAA loaded with unspecified quantity of suspected illegally refined AGo. Also within the same area, and time, a green Honda Accord car with registration number Lagos, KRD116EH loaded with

Owing to the critical nature of these assets and infrastructure to national security and socioeconomic development, adequate security is now being emplaced to safeguard the country’s Critical National Assets and Infrastructure by this Commandant General's Special Intelligence Squad

unspecified quantity of suspected illegally refined AGO concealed in sacks was recovered from the suspect named Jack Ofonye.

On February 1, 2022, in a renewed effort to end oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and illegal oil refining activities in Rivers State, the Rivers Command also impounded three vehicles laden with unspecified quantity of suspected illegally refined AGO concealed in sack bags.

Vehicles recovered were as follow, a black Sequoia Jeep with registration number Abuja GWA422JF; Chevrolet white bus with registration number Rivers AFM222XA and a white Chevrolet express bus with registration number Abuja GWA967YR. In Rivers Command, about 20 suspected oil thieves were arrested. Parading the suspects, alongside 11 trucks, 10 salon cars and buses laden with suspected illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil, NSCDC Commandant in Rivers State, Abdu Tambuwal, said there is no hiding place for criminals in the state.

In Ondo State, on April 21, 2022, the Special Intelligence Squad burst an illegal bunkering syndicate. The syndicate specialises in vandalising petroleum pipelines, illegal bunkering activities, dealings in illegal adulterated petroleum products and operating illegal dump/storage facilities at Olowo Community, Odigbo Local Government Area, Ondo state.

Eight suspects were arrested at the scene who were loading the suspected adulterated products into the storage. Also s black Toyota Sequoia with registration number Lagos APP 134 DX loaded with 70 kegs of 25 litres of adulterated AGO and 28 kegs of 25litres each of suspected adulterated AGO were moved from the crime scene, as well we six pumping machines and one counting machine.

Also at the dump site which has been sealed and secured, the following exhibits were also recovered: 19kegs of 25litres of adulterated AGO, five drums of 200 litres of suspected AGO, two drums of 200 litres capacity that is half filled and two drums of 200litres capacity that is about quarter filled.

Others are two storage tanks with 3500 litres of adulterated AGO each. An underground storage tanks with four compartments were also discovered at the crime scene. The first compartment was empty, the second compartment had 2,800 litres , the third compartment contained 1,500 litres while the fourth compartment had 16,500 litres of adulterated AGO. On June 13, 2022, with intelligence from the squad, the Commandant General's Special Anti-Vandal Monitoring Unit (SAVMU) dislodged five illegal refineries in Delta South Local Government Area of Delta State, where adulterated petroleum products were produced and distributed to unsuspecting users across the country.

Two suspects were nabbed during the operation while other collaborators remained at large. The intelligence report however, revealed that the site belongs to three individuals which consist of one woman and two other men currently in NSCDC custody and are volunteering information to assist in carrying out further investigation.

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Let the Children Come, Don't Stop Them!

Okey Ifionu "This Charge therefore seeks to call all Anglicans to an understanding of our theological and liturgical heritage and affirm that what we hold as our understanding of the sacrament is both biblically sound and theologically edifying..."

--- *Bishop Akinpelu Johnson*

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ith the foregoing episcopal declaration, the Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos Mainland, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Rt. Rev. Akinpelu Johnson, drew the curtain on his long and erudite presidential charge to the 2022 synod of the Diocese.

This year's synod was rather peculiar in that it had scores of children in attendance apparently because its theme was: "Let the children come to Me: A focus on Baptism and Sunday School."

Children are, no doubt, a treasure and a great asset to the church. But there has scarcely been any unanimity in the body of Christ as to when and how they should be baptised.

As a theology student many years ago I put one of my teachers on the spot when I raised the subject of why an issue as fundamental as *baptism* appears to be quite controversial, if not divisive, among Christians. I was particularly interested in the heavy weather that infant baptism generates among Christians of varied background. Why, in other words, is there no concurrence on who should be baptised and how?

Responding to my question, my lecturer talked about the pluralist nature of opinions on baptismal rites, depending on the Christian denomination. Affirming what many of his students already knew, the lecturer said, "there is a wide spectrum of baptismal practices in the Christendom." While some denominations accept and practice infant baptism as a complete means of grace for salvation, others reject it as non-biblical and therefore unacceptable.

As the Anabaptists, for example, who rose up in the 16th century, argued "one must know and confess that he is a sinner before he can be saved." They cite several Bible verses, some of them uttered by Jesus Christ Himself to justify their position. Notable among them are Luke 13:3 ("I tell you... unless you repent you will all likewise perish.") and Romans 10: 9--10 ("...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confessionn is made unto salvation.")

To those opposed to infant baptism children are incapable of sin-consciousness, let alone confessing such inherent sin since "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) To then baptise them will not lead them to salvation, they argue.

But as in most theological questions, that is only one side of the coin. The other side is that as an initiation rite in the church, baptism is desirable at a tender age.

Because of the widespread lack of understanding of the basis for infant baptism, church leaders in the mainstream churches constantly feel obligated to explain to their parishioners this pivotal aspect of their faith life.

Not many do this as ably as Bishop Johnson.

His presidential address at this year's synod of his diocese was a captivating treatise on this important subject. Exploring the various theological and liturgical traditions on the issue of child baptism, he concluded that infant baptism is both theologically and liturgically defensible.

Well, like God Himself, theology which is the "study of God and of His relation to the world, and faith practices generally" is sometimes unfathomable.

Whichever view of baptism one holds, one undeniable fact is that Jesus Christ, the true owner of the Church, invariably welcomed and had special affection for children during His earthly ministry. He chided His disciples for trying to prevent children from coming to Him. And so in many mainstream Christian churches, infant baptism is a sacramental service.

Whatever influenced his choice of theme for his Diocese's synod this year, Bishop Johnson left no one in doubt in his episcopal charge, that his passion for children and desire to cut through the mystique around infant baptism, were clearly part of the mix.

As an important rite of initiation, baptism had been held as a cornerstone of church admission formalities. Yet it is no less controversial today as it was centuries ago. Many who oppose it do so ostensibly because they do not think that a child is in a position or has

Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos Mainland, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Rt. Rev. Akinpelu Johnson the discretion to "confess with his mouth" nor "believe in his heart" the lordship of Jesus Christ.

On the other hand proponents of infant baptism rebut this view by insisting that baptism being an admission rite should not be denied children especially when we look at its analogue, the circumcision of male children of God's covenant people of Israel on the eighth day. The children being baptised stand on the faith of their Christian parents and sponsors. The earlier therefore a child is initiated into the church of Christ the better for him or her.

The Sunday School was designed to groom and nurture them into full-fledged, confessing Christians who are then presented for confirmation and full membership of the church. And so while for some Christians infant baptism is an anathema, for others the chorus is "long live infant baptism."

In looking at the subject, Bishop Johnson was able to shed some light on the various schools and concluded by affirming the orthodoxy and biblicality of infant baptism.

The crux of the matter is that Jesus loves children, and during His Galilean ministry encouraged them to come to Him. Whatever the church can do to keep children coming to Jesus Christ must be

pursued intentionally by all Christians, regardless of their denomination.

Indeed Bishop Johnson put his money where his mouth is at the synod. More than a hundred children including a children-choir attended the opening and closing services, and part of the plenary sessions.

How does it feel to have the voices of scores of children singing with their angelic voices in a synod church service?

Only the one who witnessed it can describe this awesome experience.

Children in their guilelessness and innocency singing to the praise and glory of God were quite a sight to behold. They approximate the purity of Christ Jesus, their heavenly Father who remonstrated with His disciples for trying to stop children from coming to Him. In that revealing encounter with children recorded in the Gospel according to St. Matthew (chapter 19 :13--15), Jesus demonstrated His love and preference for children: "Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.

But Jesus said, 'Let the little children

He advocates total quality approach in the way the church and family handle children especially from cradle to pre-teenage. Whatever doctrines they are taught at that stage often stays with them. Baptism at infancy, he argues, is right and proper; it is a form of child circumcision which was a requirement for inclusion in the commonwealth of Israel

come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.' And He laid His hands on them and departed from there." (NKJV) Clearly Jesus thinks highly of children. And so should the church, says Bishop Johnson.

Those who seek to enter the kingdom of heaven, Jesus said , are to have the heart of children.

For Bishop Johnson whose 117-page address to Synod delegates dwelt mainly on the significance of baptism and the Sunday school, children are a priceless treasure that must be properly guided in the ways of the Lord. They are like a blank sheet. Whatever is written in their hearts by both their parents and their Sunday School teachers often sticks.

He advocates total quality approach in the way the church and family handle children especially from cradle to pre-teenage. Whatever doctrines they are taught at that stage often stays with them. Baptism at infancy, he argues, is right and proper; it is a form of child circumcision which was a requirement for inclusion in the commonwealth of Israel.

While the Jews were required to circumcise their children on the eight day, children of Christian parents should be baptised and christened at infancy and then be catechised and presented for confirmation as soon as they attain the age of discretion which in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) is 12 years.

In all, this year's synod of the Diocese of Lagos Mainland was remarkable in that it opened its doors to more children than had ever been the case in the history of the diocese.

You could almost touch the children's joy and sense of fulfillment for the privilege of participating in the Diocesan synod. They looked radiant as they sang, played different musical instruments and worshipped God. A synod doesn't get better. t7FO *mPOV JT B QSJFTU JO UIF "OHMJDBO Diocese of Lagos Mainland

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THURSDAY JUNE 16, 2022 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022

21

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 5 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

10.25%

INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

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9.56%

1-DAY

0.16%

YEAR TO DATE

7.64%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10.52%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.44%

NIN Enrolments Reached 82.74m in May, Lagos State Tops List with 9.48m

Emma Okonji The cumulative enrolment figures for the National Identification Number (NIN), recorded by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) as at May 2022, reached a high peak of 82,738,152, up from 78 million recorded in March 2022.

Out of the current figure of 82.74 million, Lagos State tops the list of the 36 states with 9.48 million enrolments, followed

by Kano State with 6.93 million enrolments and Kaduna with

4.85 million enrolments. Ogun State, which is fourth on the list, has 3.45 million enrolment figure, while Oyo State, which is fifth on the list, has 3.39 million enrolment figure. Bayelsa State recorded the least enrolment figure of 541,516, among the states, while the cumulative enrolment from Nigerians in diaspora was 176,895.

Analysis of numbers obtained from the official website of NIMC showed a close gender distribution of enrolment, with males recording 46.56 million enrolments, and

females recording 36.17 million enrolments nationwide.

The statistics further showed that North-west recorded 25.68 per cent in the enrolment figure, North-east recorded 12.31 per cent, while North-central recorded 16.76 per cent. Southwest recorded 24.99 per cent, South-south recorded 11.56 per cent, while South-east recorded 8.48 per cent. Those in diaspora recorded 0.21 per cent.

According to the statistics, the top ten states for NIN enrolment as at May 26, 2022, include: Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Ogun,

Oyo, Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Katsina, Rivers, Delta and Niger states.

The breakdown shows that Lagos State has 9,487,186 enrolments, with 4,293,989 females and 5,193197 males.

Kano State has 6,929,287 enrolments, with 2,918,373 females and 4,010,914 males.

Kaduna State has 4,851,793 enrolments, with 2,143,684 females and 2,708,109 males.

Ogun State has 3,448,222 enrolments, with 1,648,688 females and 1,799,534 males.

Oyo State has 3,388,963

enrolments, with 1,619,521 females and 1,769,442 males.

Federal Capital Abuja has 3,022,809 enrolments, with 1,271,505 females and 1,751,304 males. Katsina State has 2,653,563 enrolments, with 1,061,479 females and 1,592,084 males. Rivers State has 2,523,712 enrolments, with 1,114,924 females and 1,408,788 males. Delta State has 2,250,218 enrolments, with 1,054,451 females and 1,195,767 males. Niger State has 2,147,100 enrolments, with 820,286 females and 1,326,814

males.

The statistics also showed the bottom 10 states for NIN enrolment as at May 26, 2022, to include: Akwa-Ibom, Imo, Enugu, Zamfara, Yobe, Taraba, Cross River, Ekiti, Ebonyi and Bayelsa states.

The breakdown shows that Akwa-Ibom State has 1,462,559 enrolments, with 686,473 females and 776,086 males. Imo State has 1,408,571 enrolments, with 690,859 females and 717,712 males. Enugu State has 1,369,433 Continued on page 22

Report: Digital Wealth Managers Threaten Traditional Players’ Dominance Emma Okonji Online platforms offering wealth management services and delivering faster customer growth, cheaper cost structures, and superior innovation, command a significant market premium, threatening the market dominance of traditional players, a report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has revealed.

The 22nd edition of the annual report on the global wealth management industry titled, “Global Wealth 2022: Standing

Still Is Not an Option,” stated that Digital Wealth Managers attracted $14.5 billion in funding in 2021, representing 11 per cent of total global investments.

These digital wealth managers have an edge over traditional ones as they are democratising investment opportunities for a large group of investors, automating operations, providing customizable discretionary mandates at scale, using hybrid models for investment advisory and creating teams that use data for client acquisition and offering

exposure to cryptocurrencies.

The report stated that the Middle East and Africa (ME&A) could see the biggest leap in wealth growth. Buoyed by the region’s massive energy holdings, wealth is on track to rise by a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.4 per cent over the next five years.

The report predicts that wealth assets will continue to rise in value in all regions. But Asia-Pacific will maintain the fastest rates of wealth growth, with asset values poised to

increase by CAGR of 8.4 per cent through 2026. If that rate holds, the region could be home to nearly one-quarter of the world’s wealth by 2026.

In North America, wealth growth will be slower than in years past, with an estimated CAGR of 4.7 per cent through 2026, down from a prior fiveyear average of 9.1 per cent.

Likewise, in Western Europe, wealth growth is likely to slow from roughly 4.5 per cent over the past five years to less than 4 per cent annually until 2026,

the report said.

The report further explained that global financial wealth reached a record high of $530 trillion in 2021, fuelled by strong equity markets, healthy corporate profits and a surge in demand for real assets.

It said findings showed that despite geopolitical and economic destabilisers such as inflation and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, approximately $80 trillion in new wealth is likely to be created over the next five years.

In a notable industry shift,

Hong Kong will probably overtake Switzerland in 2023 as the domicile managing the largest amount of private crossborder wealth, ending a run of more than 200 years of Swiss dominance, the report added.

Analysing the report, the Principal, BCG Lagos, Phillipa Osakwe-Okoye, said: “As a new crop of technology-driven investment firms offering dollardenominated investments to a wider investor group emerge Continued on page 22

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT W E D N E S D AY, J U N E 1 5 , 2 0 2 2 BILLS

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Price

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

110.10

7.93

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106.48

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10.74

113.18

10.81

Change Updated Time (%) 9, -0.01 June 2022 9, 0.04 June 2022 9, 0.00 June 2022 9, 0.07 June 2022 9, 0.00 June 2022

MATURITY

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OTC F X F U T U R E S

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NTB 14-Jul22 NTB 11Aug-22 NTB 8-Sep22 NTB 13-Oct22

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3.35

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NTB 10Nov-22

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MATURITY TRBH CP V 26-JUL-22 FSDH CP VI 1-AUG-22 NENL CP I 24-OCT-22 FSDH CP VII 27-OCT-22 SIBP CP III 27-OCT-22

Discount Yield 11.19 11.35 7.76

Change Updated Time (%) 0.00 June 9, 2022

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14.49 15.33

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8.77

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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

Updated Time

June 9, 2022 June 9, 2022 June 9, 2022 June 9, 2022 June 9, 2022

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THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Visa: SMEs Need Unique Product to Create 90% of Digital Jobs by 2030 Emma Okonji Following global projections that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will account for 40 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in emerging markets, and are expected to create at least 90 per cent of new jobs by 2030, the Country Manager, Visa Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Uaboi, has said SMEs will need unique product and solutions to achieve

such projections.

According to global predictions, SMEs make up 90 per cent of businesses and account for more than 50 per cent of employment. In emerging economies, they account for 40 per cent of GDP and are expected to create at least 90 per cent of new jobs by 2030, but Uaboi however said COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the rise of SMEs and drove the growth of

entrepreneurship in the already expanding gig economy as people searched for new ways to make money due to changes in personal circumstances such as job losses and salary reductions.

According to him, “As the rise of SMEs and the gig economy continues, they offer a large customer base opportunity for both issuers and acquirers to tap into. However, SME needs can’t be met using a traditional

Customer Value Proposition (CVP). They have a number of unique characteristics and need a product which sees them as not only a consumer, but also as merchant, small business and invoice payer. This means that if traditional banks want to tap into the SME market, they need to learn lessons from neo bank and Fintech entrants, who have created tailored CVPs.” Giving instances how banks can

create a CVP that can attract SMEs, Uaboi cited the recent opinion paper titled: ‘The Rise of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)’, where the Visa Consulting and Analytics team explored six keys to unlocking the SME opportunity, adding that Visa’s suite of capabilities, powered by insights from VisaNet data, can be leveraged with Visa’s network of partners to help unlock SME potential by designing a CVP that is not only tailored to SME needs but also provides a best-in-class experience.

Uaboi said SMEs would be looking for a product that adds value and makes their lives easier, which means offering quick underwriting and approval, a streamlined user experience and a focus on positive results.

“Using Visa’s credit scoring solutions, go-to market and payment strategy knowledge and customer experience and lifecycle management plans can support banks with offering a product that runs smoothly and benefits SMEs,” Uaboi said.

T40 Raises Pre-seed Funding f o r A f r i c a ’s I n t e r- c i t y Transportation, Logistics Emma Okonji

L-R: The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello Koko (left) presenting the authority’s plaque to the Director, Executive Education, Lagos Business School (LBS). Victor Banjo during a working visit to the Management of NPA at the Corporate Headquarters, Lagos.

Experts Advocate Collaboration among Tech Companies to Strengthen Businesses Raheem Akingbolu Experts in the tech space have advised innovators and tech companies in the country to collaborate in order to create a better tomorrow.

This advice was given in Lagos recently, at the COCREATE event, Nigeria’s first exhibition for innovators in

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

the tech industry to showcase innovative businesses and individuals with interesting solutions that make life simple and better.

Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) Kashifu Inuwa Abdullah who was one of the experts at the event theme: Collaborative innovation for a better tomorrow said, innovators have to look beyond today by coming together and finding solutions to societal problems. Kashifu said, “this event is key to the success of all of us because technology happens in clusters.”

However, he said, there must be clarity of the government’s programmes to the innovators and what the tech hubs are all about.

Also speaking, Personal Adviser to Lagos State Government on Science and Technology, Olatunbosun Alake said, because government recognises the efficacy of science and technology in the society, the state government has funded about 60 tech hubs and some of the startups have been able to get bigger funding to grow their businesses. Olatunbosun added that the state government is also funding research in University of Lagos, Lagos State University, Yaba Tech in order to grow technology in the state.

“The Science Research and Innovation Council has been doing a lot over the past two years. Some of the things we do is ecosystem matching

to reduce the bureaucratic process of getting government contracts. We match them with the right agencies to use their products or enable their services to reach new audiences that are relevant to the world,” he said.

While addressing participants earlier, Johnson Anorh, convener of Gage Awards said, “the essence of setting up Gage Award and Cocreate as the learning aspect of it is because we saw a space in tech where brands are not being celebrated.

Nigeria is becoming a hub in Africa, because it’s one of the biggest centers in Africa and when we checked we found out that investments are not running into the tech industry.”

T40 Technologies, a tech startup that is transforming Nigeria’s intercity transport and logistics industry, has secured a preseed funding round that will be used to re-invent Africa’s inter-city transportation and logistics business.

Led by its CEO, Folarin Olulana, the company has built a cloud-based transport and logistics operating system built for intercity service providers.

Launched in 2020, T40 creates value in the intercity transport and logistics industry in Nigeria and across Africa by digitally enabling transport companies to sell tickets, manage inventory, and generate additional revenue.

According to Folarin, “We quickly understood the challenges for service providers, which brought us full circle in understanding the problems of this industry. Our approach takes all stakeholders into account so that we can align

the interests of all players in this industry and deliver value to everyone.”

Fixing Africa’s outdated intercity transportation business model will help these businesses grow while providing great customer service. Transport companies struggle with high costs and lack of alternative revenue streams, which puts a massive strain on profitability, Folarin said.

“Our solution to this problem is threefold. First, we have developed a new business model that aligns the interests of all participating stakeholders.

Next, we provide a product (platform infrastructure) that can be configured to the unique needs of the business, and finally, we help companies create new products to drive revenue growth,” explains Folarin.

Transportation companies in Africa are adopting T40’s system quickly, with 750 routes already added to its network.

Brand Protection Firm Set to Protect Local, Multinational Companies Raheem Akingbolu Brand protection, and anticounterfeiting company, Marq Sikyor Africa, has expressed its readiness to help protect the brands of institutions, local and international companies.

The firm, during a meeting with some select journalists in Lagos, said it was willing to protect brands from counterfeiting and other forms of infringement in Africa.

The event attracted the presence of dignitaries including business owners, marketing directors, brand custodians, regulatory agencies, security operatives, among others.

Speaking, the Founder and Group Evangelist of the company, Mr. Joko Okupe, said: “The repertoire of expertise and experience available to Marq Sikyor Africa, its in-depth understanding of the market terrains, and a good grasp of the workings of law enforcement and regulatory agencies, make us surefooted to deliver results in infringement investigations and enforcement matters.”

According to Okupe, the firm’s brand protection investigations cover anti-Counterfeiting, antipiracy, parallel imports, product diversion, trademark infringement, and product tampering/ adulteration among others.

REPORT: DIGITAL WEALTH MANAGERS THREATEN TRADITIONAL PLAYERS’ DOMINANCE in Nigeria, traditional wealth managers can better leverage evolving trends in private equity, digital wealth and crypto to embrace a digital service model and compete more effectively.

“Sustainable wealth creation is possible and an attractive proposition as shown by the growing number of Fintech firms in Nigeria and the increase

scale of investments they attract and manage. Nigerian Fintech firms raised $800 million in 2021, boosting the valuation of some of these fast-growing start-ups and turning them into unicorns amid local and global economic headwinds.”

Global Leader, BCG’s Wealth Management Segment and a co-Author of the report, Anna

Zakrzewski, said: “Wealth development is resoundingly resilient, and even against the backdrop of geopolitical turmoil the growth rate will remain positive.

“Although this stability provides tremendous opportunity for wealth managers, they must make strategic choices to remain competitive. Wealth clients are

looking for next-generation offers and next-level service—including net zero, crypto, personalization, and digitization.”

Citing net zero as an immediate imperative, the report explains that sustainable investing—of which net zero is a key component—is growing three to five times as fast as traditional investments, and

by 2026 this asset class could account for 8 per cent to 17 per cent of privately invested wealth, up from 4 per cent to 11 per cent today.

Although people tend to think of net zero as a 2050 goal, the report notes that wealth managers must act immediately to embed sustainable investing across the entire client life cycle.

NIN ENROLMENTS REACHED 82.74M IN MAY, LAGOS STATE TOPS LIST WITH 9.48M enrolments, with 678,356 females and 691,077 males. Zamfara State has 1,349,946 enrolments, with 525,028 females and 824,918

males. Yobe State has 1,216,125 enrolments, with 429,998 females and 786,127 males. Taraba State has 1,207,416 enrolments, with

471,196 females and 736,220 males. Cross River has 935,544 enrolments, with 416,317 females and 519,227 males. Ekiti

State has 915,982 enrolments, with 468,164 females and 447,818 males. Ebony State has 670,403 enrolments, with

299,112 females and 371,291 males. Bayelsa State has 541,516 enrolments, with 248,081 females and 293,435 males.

123

T H I S D AY THURSDAY JUNE 16, 2022 Wednesday June 15, 2022 Vol 27. No 9930 TR

See page 24 MATTERS ARISING AS EKITI GOES TO POLL The Ekiti State election will serve as another litmus test for the 2023 general election, contends ANTHONIA ONDA

See page 24 TIME TO HEAL: THE ASIWAJU’S APPROACH Bola Tinubu is uniting the party behind him for the major task ahead, writes JOHN MAYAKI See page 25 OF INFLUENCE, INFLUENCERS AND POLITICS OLUSEGUN ADENIYI argues that influencing others is a function of trust, integrity and competence See page 25 EDITORIAL INEFFICIENCY AT THE PORTS…1

See page 26

& RE A S O

N

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

THE CHRONIC ‘OBI-SESSION’ IN NIGERIA UZOR MAXIM UZOATU writes that the country is obsessed about a man who is reluctant to buy popularity with hard cash

UT H

June 12 deserves the status of a national monument, argues MONDAY PHILIPS EKPE

THE JUNE 12 UNRESOLVED LESSONS A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, revealed on national television some years ago how he encouraged the late Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, to venture fully into politics at the federal level and not restrict himself to his region. According to the Ex-governor of the old Gongola State (now split into Adamawa and Taraba States), Ige was too endowed to be limited to a section of the federation. “Why swim in a stream when you have access to an ocean?” he asked his Oyo State Second Republic counterpart. “No matter how good you are, you must learn to reach out to people from other parts of the country in order to actualise higher dreams,” he counselled. To buttress his conversation with Ige, Tukur went on to narrate a moving story that many persons who knew Chief Moshood Abiola, winner of the 1993 presidential election, could identify with.

Sometime before the truncated June 12, 1993 polls, Tukur was conferred with a traditional title in his home state. As soon as Abiola, who was then abroad, received the LQYLWDWLRQ KH PDGH IUDQWLF HͿRUWV WR UHWXUQ to Nigeria to attend the event. Because of the short notice, he could not even secure a ÁLJKW VHDW LQ WKH EXVLQHVV RU ÀUVW FODVV DQG so settled for economy. After landing at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport LQ /DJRV KH ÁHZ VWUDLJKW WR <ROD IURP where he rode a long distance on a rough road to the town where the ceremony took place. According to Tukur, he did not even have to campaign for Abiola. His people who had witnessed the humility, humanity, friendship and loyalty that the candidate of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) demonstrated earlier simply paid him in kind. They voted for him massively.

That presidential election, approximately three decades ago, has since gone down as the country’s fairest and most credible in its history. It is too late in the day to turn this fact on its head. Books, journals, articles and other textual forms have proceeded from it. Numerous audio and visual recordings have also been inspired by that aspect of the nation’s chequered past. And many more will be added to the collections in the years to come. I am worried, however, that the phenomenon of June 12, in the midst of the frenzy that has always surrounded it, has also assumed the image of an omnibus, accommodating, as it were, myths, facts, ÀFWLRQ DQG RXWULJKW IDOVHKRRG 3HUKDSV moments of this magnitude are historically condemned to these kinds of treatment. The reasons are not far-fetched. It is practically impossible for human beings to toe the same lines of interpretation of the same HYHQW 7KH IDFWRUV WKDW DͿHFW DQDO\VHV XQGHU GLͿHUHQW FLUFXPVWDQFHV DUH WRR PDQ\ WR EH

presented here, my apologies.

The June 12 ballot, even after its annulment, had the potential to institutionalise democracy, engender unity and show the way forward for Nigeria. Unfortunately, the opportunity was bungled. The primordial sentiments that had existed under previous dispensations but which had somehow managed to stay under some control boiled over spontaneously. Reason was relegated while wild emotions took the front seat. The DͿDLU ZDV ¶HWKQLFLVHG· DQG UHJLRQDOLVHG WRR soon. Of course, how could one manage the mob reaction created by the irrational, unexpected pronouncement of the then Military President Ibrahim Babangida?

Overnight, the visions of the country’s founding fathers and the causes for which PHQ DQG ZRPHQ VDFULÀFHG WKHLU OLYHV during the Civil War were placed in the balance.

One critical truth that appeared to perish immediately was that the entire nation was more or less unanimous in its endorsement of Chief Abiola. Understanding the personality of the late businessman and politician, therefore, presented itself as a PDMRU NH\ WR GHÀQLQJ WKH LGHDO 1LJHULDQ leader. What gave him that near-total national acceptance? How was Abiola able to successfully preside over the dynamic machine called “Hope 93” in the face of daunting operational hurdles? Why did he succeed where the revered and highly rated late Premier of the old Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, failed? His fortunate choice of a Muslim running mate was a product of not only the relatively more tolerant atmosphere of that period but also his personal magnetism. Clearly, MKO did not win that election just because KH ZDV D <RUXED PDQ $FKLHYLQJ WKH IHDW LQ my view, was attributable to his being a true Nigerian at heart, someone on a well-laid mission to provide a strong leadership for his fellow citizens, and his ability to connect with the populace.

My fear is that there is a generation of

The primordial sentiments that had existed under previous dispensations but which had somehow managed to stay under some control boiled over spontaneously…. The affair was ‘ethnicised’ and regionalised too soon

Nigerians that seems to think that the June 12 debacle is about a wrong done to the west. How could such a national hero be reduced to a sectional champion? This sad seed was sown at the very beginning of the crisis when the agitation for rotational presidency started in full force. I have since concluded, against the grains of more popular opinions, that what happened was the outsmarting of one friend (Abiola) by another (Babangida). The latter never really planned to leave power anyway. If ever there was a conspiracy at that time by the north to deny the south presidential ascendancy, as consistently argued by some analysts, the ex-head of state would not KDYH QXOOLÀHG WKH HDUOLHU SULPDULHV WKDW SURGXFHG $OKDML 6KHKX 0XVD <DU·$GXD IRU the SDP and Alhaji Adamu Ciroma for the National Republican Convention (NRC), both northerners.

Could the man with the mandate have responded better to the cancellation of his YLFWRU\" $JDLQ WKHUH DUH GLͿHUHQW VLGHV WR that argument - a subject for another day.

6X΀FH LW WR VD\ KRZHYHU WKDW LI $ELROD·V personal and social dispositions prepared him for winning, his pedigree as an establishment man undermined his capacity to withstand the pressure that followed the quashing of his coveted prize. He was GHÀQLWHO\ QRW ZLUHG IRU DFWLYLVP ,W VHHPV to me that some of those who fought for the cause especially in the media had their own private motives. “Stay in custody and actualise your mandate,” “On June 12 we stand” were loud refrains in those days. The FKRULVWHUV DUH QRZ WRGD\·V EHQHÀFLDULHV RI the struggle. That should not be a problem, ordinarily, but their failure to truly preserve his legacies exposes their inherent hypocrisy.

At least, one or two state governments alone FRXOG KDYH MXVWLÀDEO\ KHOSHG DV D PDWWHU RI policy, in sustaining the legend’s vast family and business empires.

2΀FLDOO\ SURQRXQFLQJ $ELROD DV WKH winner of the 1993 presidential poll and bestowing some honours on him by the present administration are, without GRXEW ZHOO GHVHUYHG <LHOGLQJ WR YRLFHV mainly from the west to declare June 12 Democracy Day, instead of May 29, surely produced electoral dividends for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 but unless majority of Nigerians get to the point of owning its actual symbolism, some sort of re-enactment of the overwhelming voting pattern on that fateful day, the celebrations will become more hollow, impersonal and distant in the future. June 12 should assume the status of a true national monument.

Dr Ekpe is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

2 24

T H I S D AY

The Ekiti State election will serve as another litmus test for the 2023 general election, contends ANTHONIA ONDA

UZOR MAXIM UZOATU writes that the country is obsessed about a man who is reluctant to buy popularity with hard cash

THE CHRONIC ‘OBI-SESSION’ IN NIGERIA The 2078-page Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language bought for me by the legendary South African poet, Dennis Brutus, in the University of Pittsburgh, USA, back in GHÀQHV ´2EVHVVLRQµ WKXVO\ ´WKH domination of one’s thoughts or feelings by D SHUVLVWHQW LGHD LPDJH GHVLUH HWF µ ´2EL VHVVLRQµ RQ WKH RWKHU KDQG FDQ EH GHÀQHG DV WKH GRPLQDWLRQ RI WKH WKRXJKWV and feelings of an entire country by one man named Peter Gregory Obi. Peter Obi is the obsession of new day Nigerians, and this reality gave birth to the ZRUG ´2EL VHVVLRQµ ZKLFK KDV VLQFH EHHQ

added into the lexicon.

Nobody is neutral in the Obi-session matter – there are those who are for, and there are others who are against, and neither side can be shouted down.

It is akin to madness that is either acute or chronic, depending on the neurosis or psychosis of the patient in full stride.

The matter started innocuously enough when one universally celebrated stingy man named Peter Obi raised some dust that he was poised to aspire to be president of Nigeria via the vehicle of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that had put its party ticket at a forbidding N40 million per contender.

The noise was loud all over the land that the miserly Peter faced national disgrace at the party primary because he would be WRR WLJKW ÀVWHG WR EULEH WKH GHOHJDWHV ZLWK dollars like the other aspirants.

One loudmouth aspirant from out of the Rivers of down south even made the preprimary boast that he had bought over the entire delegates from poor Peter’s state!

The sting in our story is that while Peter is still standing the boastful loudmouth out of the Rivers has been beaten into a drunken stupor such that he has completely lost his voice. A tear for the boastful tout!

The dogged Peter chose to ease himself away from the dollar bazaar of the once selfadvertised biggest political party in Africa, 3'3 RQO\ WR ÀQG FRPIRUW LQ WKH SDUW\ of labourers, carrying along his abiding SKLORVRSK\ ´:H QR GH\ JLYH 6KLVKL µ Nigeria’s irrepressible man of ideas, Prof Pat Utomi, stepped down for Peter to assume the presidential mandate of the poor man’s party.

The fear then shot up all over the land that it was impossible for a poor bloke with only a bicycle getting into a presidential contest with the juggernauts of bullion van democracy.

THURSDAY JUNE 16, 2022

Peter boldly declared that he is not interested in gathering mountains of dollars and pounds sterling but is only interested in investing in the youths of Nigeria.

Before our very eyes, we saw the daring youths of the land rising in support of Peter DQG GHFODULQJ WKDW WKH\ KDYH HQRXJK VWXͿ LQ them to raise enough quid for him to defeat all-comers in any contest.

Like play, like play, as they say, a revolution is born.

The country has since been galvanised into frenetic action of unprecedented permanent voters’ card (PVC) registration and general political participation.

7KHUH LV QR JUHDWHU FXOW ÀJXUH LQ WKH country today, it’s frightening.

The naysayers to the Peter phenomenon stress that the man’s voters only exist in the social media, and that elections are not won on social media.

The supporters who always maintain WKDW WKH\ DUH ´2%,GLHQWµ VWUHVV WKDW RQFH WKH Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) whose voters’ registration platforms have been overwhelmed organises a free, fair and transparent election, their adored one will emerge as the sure winner in the DYRZHG GULYH WR ´7DNH %DFN 1DLMD µ The antagonists of the plan maintain that Peter and his poor party cannot boast of any structure whatsoever but the protagonists insist that there can be no better structure than the millions of unemployed and under-employed Nigerians rooting for the redoubtable game-changer.

No side is ready to yield ground, and thus the entire country is enmeshed in the QHZ D΁LFWLRQ QDPHG 2EL VHVVLRQ It truly astounds that an entire country is obsessing about a man who is reluctant to buy popularity with hard cash. ,W WDNHV D GLͿHUHQW PDNH RI SROLWLFLDQ to have high octane concerts staged in his name without him putting down any Shishi.

The supporters are raising all the needed money all by themselves and have backed Peter all the way in his campaign of replacing consumption with production in Nigeria.

The daredevil youths have put out multiform images such as the almost blasphemous one in which Peter is being FUXFLÀHG EHWZHHQ WZR WKLHYHV ² LQ WKH manner of Jesus the Christ!

7KH FODVVLF :HVWHUQ ÀOP ´7KH *RRG WKH %DG WKH 8JO\µ KDV HTXDOO\ JLYHQ WKH \RXWKV a leitmotif in which Peter is depicted as ´7KH *RRGµ DQG WKH GXR RI WRS FRQWHQGHUV DV ´7KH %DGµ DQG ´7KH 8JO\µ The incumbent man in power is seen as ´)U\LQJ SDQµ ZKLOH KLV SDUW\·V FDQGLGDWH KDV EHHQ JLYHQ WKH WRJD RI ´)LUHµ ZKLFK simply means that the country cannot DͿRUG WKH FDODPLW\ RI ´IDOOLQJ IURP IU\LQJ SDQ LQWR ÀUH µ Obi-session makes Nigeria throb with the madness of total obsession.

1RZ WKDW , KDYH ÀQLVKHG WKLV DUWLFOH , DP calling on my young son Chimel to buy me the data with which to send the piece out for publishing only for the jocular lad to reply PH WKXVO\ ´'DG ZH QR GH\ JLYH 6KLVKL µ Why am I so blest in this season of Obisession?

Uzoatu LV D -RXUQDOLVW DQG 3RHW

MATTERS ARISING AS EKITI GOES TO POLL In a couple of days, the residents of Ekiti State will be electing another Governor to pilot WKH DͿDLUV RI WKH VWDWH LQ ZKDW KDV SURPLVHG as a tense encounter. Yet again, all eyes will be on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a credible election. Indeed a credible election must UHÁHFW GHPRFUDWLF SULQFLSOHV RI XQLYHUVDO YRWLQJ ULJKWV DQG SROLWLFDO HTXDOLW\ DV UHÁHFWHG in the free expression of the will of the people as well as professional, impartial, and transparent preparation and administration of the election throughout the electoral cycle,

which includes pre-election, election day administration, and post-election. While the responsibility of conducting elections may lie on the election management body, critical stakeholders like security agencies and political parties must play their roles to ensure the process is transparent and credible.

The election is also an opportunity to review how the INEC, security agencies, political parties, and other essential stakeholders in the electoral process are implementing the provisions of the new Electoral Act. However, in the last couple of days, election observer groups like Yiaga Africa have raised emerging concerns that could impede the conduct of the Ekiti Governorship elections. Also, feedback from community outreaches has revealed that the people of Ekiti State are ready to vote, but security WKUHDWV KDYH LQFUHDVHG LQ WKH ÀQDO GD\V leading to the governorship election in the state. The environment seems to be getting tense with pockets of clashes leading to the breakdown of law and order witnessed and reported in some LGAs in the state. Another major contributing factor to the insecurity in WKH VWDWH DQG ZLOO LQÁXHQFH WKH SDUWLFLSDWLRQ of citizens in the upcoming election is the high unemployment rate coupled with the ASUU nationwide strike. This is because individuals have devised and taken up other means of livelihood which oftentimes involve illegitimate ventures for the sole purpose of survival. This has instilled fear in the hearts of individuals, which may deter them from exercising their franchise on Saturday, June 18, 2022. The safety of the electorate is critical to the achievement of a free, fair, and credible election.

While security concerns have remained a feature in Nigeria’s election, deployment of election technology is also becoming a regular characteristic in the process. It is interesting to note that these two may have some level of connection, especially on election day if the commission experiences challenges in managing technologies as seen during the Federal Capital Territory

Area Council election in February. With the tense nature of the atmosphere, prospective voters and especially party agents can easily get agitated especially if the technological devices malfunction in their strongholds. The Ekiti State election will serve as another major litmus test for the general elections in Nigeria in 2023 with the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the passage of the new Electoral Act. This will also provide an opportunity to assess the Bimodal Voter Accreditation 6\VWHP %9$6 H΀FLHQF\ DV ZHOO DV WKH commission’s overall readiness to ensure smooth, free, and fair elections in 2023.

Thus the commission has a very slim room for excuses come Saturday, June 18th.

Observation leading to the election has revealed a persistent and rising spate of voter inducement in the state popularly known as dibo ko sebe (vote and cook soup). This trend of vote trading has continued to devalue citizenship across the state as citizens believe that is the only dividend of democracy they may be entitled to. Politicians seem to have mastered this tactic to the extent of conducting door to door campaigns to clandestinely implement their voter inducement strategy. This has triggered election observer groups like Yiaga Africa to predict that the June 18 poll may be decided by the highest bidder.

As June 18th approaches, poor participation due to poor publicity of the mock accreditation exercise conducted by INEC, imbalance allocation of voters to new polling units and possible logistics FKDOOHQJHV WKH HͿHFWLYH GHSOR\PHQW of the BVAS, and permanent voters card collection rate remain some of the emerging concerns arising during the SUH HOHFWLRQ SKDVH WKDW FDQ LQÁXHQFH WKH participation of the Ekiti people.

In this vein, the election management body should make proper arrangements and ensure that personnel deployed to administer election on election day are well trained, ensure early deployment of election materials on election day to the polling units to ensure early commencement of the polls as well DV WR HQVXUH WKH SROO R΀FHUV FRQGXFW themselves in a non-partisan and professional manner throughout the process of the election.

Also, to ensure that citizens of Ekiti State participate in the election, security authorities should take steps in the management of election security to ensure that voters, candidates, poll workers, observers, and other actors involved in the election move around freely in the exercise of their rights, ensure they are not harmed during the process, as well as sensitive election materials are kept secure. The security agencies should ensure that the personnel deployed are well-taken care of in terms of their welfare and payment of entitlements.

Onda LV D 6HQLRU 3URJUDP 2΀FHU DW <LDJD $IULFD FXUUHQWO\ LQ (NLWL WR REVHUYH WKH *RYHUQRUVKLS HOHFWLRQ

325

T H I S D AY THURSDAY JUNE 16, 2022

Bola Tinubu is uniting the party behind him for the major task ahead, writes JOHN MAYAKI

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With the deftness and maturity of a veteran, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has begun the work of healing the divides and uniting the party behind the agenda that matters the most — bringing the APC over the finish line and preventing a reversal set to occur RI KLV PDLQ FKDOOHQJHUV IRU WKH WLFNHW ZKRVH DPELWLRQ FDXVHG WKH ULSSOHV DQG JHQHUDWHG KHDWHG GHEDWH JLYHQ WKH FLUFXPVWDQFHV RI KLV ULVH DQG WKH UROH RI 7LQXEX LQ LW 0DQ\ KDG H[SHFWHG 7LQXEX KDYLQJ SUHYDLOHG WR H[WUDFW D SRXQG RI ÁHVK DQG FRQFOXVLYHO\ SXW ´WKH GLVFLSOH ZKR WULHG WR RXWVKLQH KLV PDVWHUµ LQ KLV SODFH IRU JRRG %XW KH WRRN WKH KLJK URDG H[WHQGLQJ D KDQGVKDNH RI SHDFH DQG FROODERUDWLRQ WR WKH YLFH SUHVLGHQW SHUVRQDOO\ LQYLWLQJ

Mayaki is a Journalist, historian, diplomat, archivist, documentalist, communication, culture and media expert. He is a consultant on communication, management and strategy

OLUSEGUN ADENIYI argues that influencing others is a function of trust, integrity and competence

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Adeniyi is Chairman, THISDAY Editorial Board

4 26

T H I S D AY

THURSDAY JUNE 16, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

INEFFICIENCY AT THE PORTS…1 It’s time to develop other ports in the country

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or a country that is heavily importGHSHQGHQW KDYLQJ DQG PDLQWDLQLQJ H΀FLHQW and competitive seaports should be a given-a necessity that demands prioritisation in policy formulation and implementation.

This is particularly imperative in view of the growing diversion of ships and cargoes to neighbouring countries, notably Cotonou port in Benin Republic. Sadly, LQH΀FLHQW SRUWV FRQWLQXH WR EH D EDQH IRU WKH FRXQWU\·V declining trade and the authorities have refused to address this vexatious challenge.

It therefore came as no surprise that in its Container Port Performance Index 2021, the World Bank Group has ranked the Lagos port (Apapa) 358th among the 370 ports assessed globally.

This is a poor standing for the foremost seaport handling the bulk of PDULWLPH WUDGH IRU $IULFD·V biggest economy. That the two top-ranked container ports are in the Middle East, namely the King Abdullah Port in Saudi Arabia and the Port of Salalah in Oman, is a shame to our country.

The poor rating of the foremost port in Nigeria comes against the backdrop of troubling reports of inadequate access, the fallout of abysmal management and corruption, and the consequence being the diversion of vessels to other ports. Undoubtedly, Apapa and Tin Can Island ports have for sometimes become a nightmare for end users. Major huddles for importers and exporters LQFOXGH WUD΀F JULGORFN SRUW FRQJHVWLRQ H[RUELWDQW FKDUJHV DQG FRVW RI WKH ÁHHW E\ VKLSSLQJ DJHQFLHV corruption, and inadequate manpower.

The World Bank report made a global assessment of ports with a minimum of 20 valid port calls within the 12-month period of the study. Maritime transport, according to the report, “carries over 80 per cent of global merchandise trade by volume, and any impediment or friction at the port will have tangible repercussions for their respective hinterlands and populations.” In the short term, the report concludes: “This is likely to take the form of shortages of essential goods and higher

prices, as we saw early in the pandemic. But over the PHGLXP WR ORQJHU WHUP DQ LQH΀FLHQW SRUW ZLOO UHVXOW LQ slower economic growth, less employment, and higher costs for importers and exporters.”

The challenges at Nigerian ports are enormous. Port users have expressed concern about the possible collapse of both Tin Can and Apapa quay aprons due to inadequate maintenance. The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other regulators in the maritime space have a duty to live up to the expectations of their mandates. In doing this, they have engaged other stakeholders to ensure development of workable templates to develop the sector. The NPA Managing Director, Mohammed BelloKoko has, for instance, made public his vision for the industry, which is anchored RQ VWDͿ ZHOIDUH DXWRPDWLRQ and dedication.

Rehabilitation of the Lagos ports will be a welcome development. Nonetheless, an often-understated factor for their less-than-satisfactory performance is the failure to develop other ports across the country. Virtually all shipping activities are concentrated at the Lagos ports due to the policy shortsightedness which ignored other ports in the country. Time has come for their development backed by appropriate regulation that would encourage their patronage.

The projected completion of the Lekki port next year will undoubtedly condense the load and pressure on the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports; but without putting in place the appropriate measures and processes based on lessons learned from the existing ports, it may as well remain business as usual. Without proper planning, Ikoyi, Victoria Island and the Lekki axis could simply become congested by trucks and other vehicles seeking entry into the port. While that must never be allowed to happen, the enduring solution is to develop other ports in the country, starting with the Calabar Port, which has proximity to the 16 northern states and the Southeast markets.

Virtually all shipping activities are concentrated at the Lagos ports due to policy shortsightedness which ignored other ports in the country

T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

NOTE: To be concluded tomorrow

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 ASUU STRIKE AND STUDENTS’ DILEMMA “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership,” said Chinua AcheEH ,W·V H[DFWO\ IRXU PRQWKV VLQFH XQLYHUVLWLHV were shut down due to the lingering ASUU 6WULNH LW·V GLVKHDUWHQLQJ IRU PLOOLRQV RI XQLYHUsity students like me in this country who are at home, idling as their fundamental rights to education is being thwarted.

The government and politicians are busy ZLWK WKHLU SROLWLFDO SULPDULHV DQG HOHFWLRQV· shenanigans and they do not bother to look into the menace of these excessive strikes.

None of the aspirants vying for the presidential throne is saying anything about curtailing the ASUU Strikes. This is utterly devastating. I always think about who to vote when it comes

to issue of education in Nigeria. To be candid, , GRQ·W NQRZ KRZ ZLOO WKLV FRXQWU\ FRQWLQXH WR survive when the education sector is crippled.

When the aviation sector wanted to embark on strike, a day to the strike the issue was resolved EHFDXVH ELJ DQG LQÁXHQWLDO PHQ DQG ZRPHQ ZRXOG EH DͿHFWHG LQFOXGLQJ SROLWLFLDQV WKDW Á\ 7KHUHDIWHU WKH\ DUH UHWXUQHG WR SROLWLFV The election is their major concern now, they invest heavily in politics, billions of naira and dollars, but not education, and other relevant sectors that will foster development.

The strike may be over soon, or next year after the elections. /HW·V WXUQ WR WKH /RUG $OODK LQ SUD\HUV WR give us good leaders who have the country at KHDUW DQG WR IXOÀOO RXU YLVLRQ DQG PLVVLRQ DQG make our country great.

Aliyu Idris, Bayero University Kano

WORLD SHATTERING NEWS? It appears that Kim Kardashian may have GDPDJHG 0DULO\Q 0RQURH·V GUHVV EXW QR one seems too certain of the damage done.

The dress is almost 80 years old so some wear and tear could be expected although LW VHHPV WKDW LW KDVQ·W EHHQ ZRUQ WKDW RIWHQ The real issue is who cares and why is this such a big story? There is still a pandemic happening, a war in the Ukraine is killing thousands, the climate change is causing so much destruction, and a fallen president, actually dropped rather than fallen, is still front-page news. What is really important DQG ZKDW VKRXOG WKH ZRUOG·V PHGLD SULRULties be?

The obsession with social media, actually often unsocial in reality, has changed how people see the world. The US declaration of Independence states the obvious, although needing a gender update, fact “that all men

are created equal” and they should be treatHG VR :K\ DUH WKHUH LQÁXHQFHV SURYLQJ many people ill-informed advice on many WRSLFV" 7KLV FRXOG EH ÀQDQFLDO DGYLFH WR EX\ %LWFRLQ GRQ·W RU WR WU\ DOWHUQDWLYH WUHDWPHQWV IRU FRYLG GRQ·W RU DGYLFH RQ ZKR WR YRWH IRU GRQ·W IROORZ WKHLU DGYLFH EXW EHcome informed and then vote.

The only important item from the dress story is that Kim lost 16lbs (7kgs) in three ZHHNV WR ÀW LQWR LW DQG D QXPEHU RI PHGLFDO authorities have commented that this approach is unhealthy. ,W·V WLPH IRU WKH PHGLD WR UHWXUQ WR PHDQingful and accurate reporting, at least the newspapers since it appears that social media platforms have already lost the plot.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022

27

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Awasthi: Ubiquitous Fixed Broadband Key to Internet Connectivity Spectranet CEO, Mr. Ajay Awasthi, speaks about the abysmal low penetration of Nigeria’s fixed broadband, and how it can gain traction to boost robust internet connectivity. Emma Okonji presents the excerpts: As a major player in Nigeria’s fixed broadband segment, how will you describe the pace of Nigeria’s broadband penetration and its impact on digital infrastructure? ixed Broadband penetration in Nigeria is at abysmally low levels currently at about 0.1 per cent. This pales in comparison to overall broadband (including mobile broadband) penetration which, according to the latest figures from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is at 42.27 per cent.

Just to put these figures in the right perspective, the worldwide fixed broadband penetration in 2021 (as per Statista) is 16.7 per cent with Europe leading the table with 34.7 per cent penetration.

Fixed Broadband services have the capability to deliver extremely cost effective, high quality and high-speed access to internet. It can play a significant role in overall development of world class digital infrastructure in the country.

It’s quite clear that there is a lot of ground to be covered to increase fixed broadband penetration to even half of the worldwide penetration level. Being the foremost Internet Service Provider (ISP) in Nigeria, Spectranet is keen to lead the efforts to increase the fixed broadband (FBB) penetration to the next levels within the next 2-3 years.

customer service. What is your approach to customer service?

At Spectranet, we deeply acknowledge the fact that customer service is not just limited to putting up a call centre but goes much beyond and that customer service can be apowerful source of differentiation in the market place. Customer service to us is not a reactive action but an organization wide mindset, which gets embedded into all aspects of the business.

Secondly, we constantly remind ourselves that Customer Churn is just one bad experience away. We call such bad experiences “customer pain points” and assiduously work on getting down to the causative factors and addressing these.

Proactive customer service (anticipating customers’ needs and pain points) is like a religion at Spectranet. The focus always is on eliminating these pain points or bad experiences by staying ahead of the causative factors.

Another critical factor is the design of Customer Service Delivery (CSD) organization and the hierarchical distance from the front-end Customer Service Executive (CSE) to the CEO. At Spectranet we have managed to keep just two layers between CSE and CEO and that helps significantly in staying tuned to customers’ requirements in a proactive manner.

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Spectranet, as a pioneer in the launch of 4G LTE services in Nigeria, is popular for providing 4G LTE-based internet services. What was the trigger for launching fiber-based fixed broadband services?

Culturally, we are an extremely data analytics and insight driven company with a deep sense of commitment towards proactively serving the needs of customers.

Being the first to recognise the changing trends in data consumption, we offered relevant products and eliminated the causes of their pain points.

Post COVID, we have been keenly observing the key shifts in the usage behaviour of our customers. A post COVID data user wants high speed internet access with low latency, high level of consistency with 99.99 per cent up time. All this at extremely affordable prices to watch movies on Over The Top (OTT) platforms, play games or use video conferencing.

We understood that these fast- evolving trends can be effectively addressed with a superior price-value proposition, through fixed broadband technologies. This is what triggered our entry into fixed broadband and we are extremely pleased with the response we have been getting in the market, in the cities of Lagos and Abuja. We will soon be entering into other markets too.

How is Spectranet going to differentiate its fixed broadband services once the 5 G services are launched in Nigeria very soon?

The telecom industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has done a commendable job by auctioning 5G spectrum way ahead of many other countries. As per report, the 5G services should get launched in the next 2-3 months time, though in a limited manner. For a comprehensive 5 G launch, in order to realise the full benefits like high speed data, low latency, Internet of Things (IOT), it’s critical to have an omnipresent network interconnected through a robust optic fiber network, connecting various towers and then for backhauling of the data to the network core and further. All this infrastructure is at a miniscule level at this point of time and would certainly take a couple of years to be fully on-ground.

Having said that, fixed broadband and 5G technologies by no means are competing technologies. These will actually complement each other. Advanced technologies in fixed broadband like XGS-PON are capable of delivering upstream and downstream speeds

Awasthi of10Gbps,way above 5 G speeds and at low latency levels. Both the technologies will co-exist, serving different needs of the customers while on the move or working inside an office/home.

Fixed broadband rollout is generally known to be slow paced due to associated challenges on account of securing right-of-way, trenching work and laying of cables. How is Spectranet managing its service rollout?

At Spectranet, we fully well understand the on-ground challenges and have been addressing these by deploying multiple technologies – HomeFibre ( FTTx) and FibreOnAir ( WTTx). The latter is used in dense areas and helps in expediting roll outs of fixed broadband (FBB). By this dual technology approach, we are able to deliver high quality internet services at a rapid pace.

What are your greatest challenges in offering FTTx services and how best could the challenges be addressed?

Nigeria has made rapid strides in mobile broadband penetration, with the regulator, NCC playing a key role in proactively driving this through relevant policy interventions. However, the story is completely different in fixed broadband space. This industry is completely bogged down by the lack of unified and robust policy framework for granting right-of-way (ROW) and charges the operator needs to pay for laying optic fiber cables. Different states have different approaches to these which effectively thwart quicker rollouts.

Further non-availability of affordable/ reliable metro and national optic fiber networks also poses a key constraint on offering high quality fixed broadband services.

Given the criticality of FBB in delivering high quality and affordable services to the homes, SMEs/MSMEs, a unified , nationwide policy can help unleash the potential of this sector.

Over the last 3-4 years after MNOs launched their 4G services, we have witnessed intense data price wars and a significant reduction in data prices. How is

Spectranet defending itself?

This will need a bit of explaining to set the context right. In Nigeria, the regulator has fixed a floor price for voice calls and the operators cannot charge less than the floor price. This wise move by the regulator has ensured that no operator indulges in predatory pricing hurting the profitability of the industry, which is so critical to the creation of a digital economy.

Strikingly, there is no floor price yet fixed for data prices and that is leading to an imbalance in the industry, which favours the bigger players. While the MNOs are using their floor price protected voice revenues to cross subsidize and slash data prices, ISPs like us are forced to drop prices to unsustainable levels in order to defend themselves. Let’s be clear that ISPs are defending the indefensible if the regulator doesn’t intervene immediately and set a floor price for data to curb predatory pricing.

Isn’t a price war good from the customers’ view point?

I have said this earlier also and my views remain consistent.

War of any kind is destructive by nature. A price war is no exception. It is a short- sighted ploy to gain market share. In the near term, it may be touted as a “customer friendly “move but over a period of time a price war results in significant destruction of value for the industry, forcing the players to degrade quality of services. A price war is not sustainable in the longer term and a lose-lose proposition for both the operators and the customers.

The hapless customers finally end up at the receiving end and are made to suffer through poor quality.

At Spectranet, we stay committed to provide high-quality, high-speed broadband to our customers. We believe in delivering a superior customer experience through better understanding of their needs and through differentiated tariff plans backed by excellent customer service.

Spectranet is known for its superior

Telecom operators are itching to increase the cost of voice call, SMS and data services by 40 per cent. Are Internet Service Providers (ISPs) like Spectranet also thinking of a price hike in the cost of internet services?

Across all the industries, the cost of doing business has seen a significant increase over the past few quarters. The cost of running the towers being a significant cost, the recent hike in the price of diesel has further exerted pressure on the bottom line.

As an industry, telecom has held the prices virtually constant over the last few years.

In order to continue providing high quality services to our customers and continue to create direct and indirect employment to thousand of people, it’s imperative that survival of the industry is ensured through a price hike mitigating the impact of ballooning costs.

Nigeria has witnessed the landing of several submarine broadband cables in Lagos, with more still coming. How will these broadband cable landings help Spectranet to offer better internet services to its customers?

It’s an extremely happy development, to say the least. Some of these companies are not only coming with landing station for their under-sea cables but also data centres. Combination of these will help reduce costs of transiting traffic to the rest of the world but also bring in qualitative improvement by reducing latency. We are hoping that more such players will also enter to provide intra-national lease line connectivity which still a major point of concern in terms of reliability and high costs.

Just to substantiate, the cost of carrying data traffic from Abuja to Lagos is more than three times the cost of carrying it from Lagos to USA. As an internet service provider in Nigeria, what safety measures have Spectranet put in place to ensure security from cyberattacks?

With more and more digitalization happening, the vulnerability to cyberattacks has increased for sure. Cyber security threats caused by Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), Malware, Emotet etc, are quite common these days. As an operator, we take cyber security very seriously and have deployed sophisticated equipment to thwart and neutralise the threats. There are multiple layers of cyber security comprising latest generation of Firewalls and Intrusion Prevention systems, which effectively neutralise such threats.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Odumboni: Govt Must Stop Cart Pushing to Avert Security Risks Managing Director, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Ibrahim Odumboni, spoke to Ugo Aliogo about the agency’s plans to promote environmental sustainability, drive the state government recycling campaign in order to achieve a cleaner Lagos. Excerpts: What is the goal behind waste sorting and recycling campaign? he key reasons why we are focusing on sorting of waste from source and recycling is mainly around achieving 100 percent resource recovery.

Then also when it comes to recycling, there is what they call full grade plastic and plastic that is already being contaminated.

So, if you want to continue to have bottle to bottle, where all our bottles are manufactured in Nigeria to create job and business opportunities, we need to ensure that we sort from source. So, that those good grade ones can go back to the Manufacturers to do whatever they want to do with them rather than taking them to the dumpsite. Also, we don’t want every household to get into the habit of co-mingling.

Recycling and separation in years to come, will create sustainability and opportunities. So let’s start from now. We want to encourage a two bin system in every household where your recyclables are going into one and all your organic waste are going into one. And then, that time will come whereby 100 per cent of our waste can be used. If everybody separates and we have dry waste containerized, then we don’t need to go to dumpsite because the organic waste can go into fertilizer plant to produce fertilisers to make whatever we want to make.

Then the other one which is recycling, all recyclables can be used completely. So that is what we want to achieve and we will continue with the campaign. We have taken it to residential neighbourhoods, private estates and businesses from April 1, to encourage people to separate their waste from source, so we can get as much resources as possible. For example, do you know that the value of 1kg of plastic is now between N125 and N150 whereas in September 2019, it was N25.

We have been able to change and influence the value, because people are beginning to see more potential opportunities to coming from there.

Also, we have about 6,000 people working in the recycling space now, in September 2019, we only had three registered recyclers and now we have about 114

T

Odumboni registered recyclers. There is massive potential in the recycling space.

Is there a commitment from Lagos State Government in sorting and recycling campaign?

There is a big commitment. Two weeks ago, we got an approval from the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to establish the first bio-degradable plant in Lagos with strong commitment from the proponent that if they

want to come and do sustainable business in Lagos, the state government will give them land.

Moreover, the state government will also give them the necessary support. So for them, they will come and build a company, that will make plastic bottles, takeaway bottles that will degrade within two months.

So even if it is put anywhere, it will decay and become nothing. This is what is in vogue in other developed countries. Nobody is using plastics that take a long time to decay anymore. That is what is common in Western countries, everyone is using bio-degradable products.

We have tested it because they gave us samples of the plastics and bags, we stocked them, and left them at the dumpsite then watched them and within three weeks, they started the decomposition process.

By the end of the six week, the nylons and everything were gone. Those are the kind of things we want. Any packaging that has will be given approval to operate in the state. The company will do settle down, knowing full well that we are in the rainy season. They are also doing their technical works and other necessary things that they need to do, since the state government has given the needed commitment and hopefully before the end of the year, they will do the ground breaking and everything can start. This is telling you that this administration means business and that is the only way we can stop all what is going on. There are over five million bags that are used daily by the malls in Lagos, if it’s that alone that we stop, our business will start moving well.

Let’s look at second quarter of 2022. Where is LAWMA in the issue of environmental sustainability?

In 2022, one of the achievers and the performers in Lagos State is LAWMA because on a daily basis, we get rid of waste generated. There is everyday interface with LAWMA. We have 1200 compactors and 17,000 sweepers. All in all, in the waste management sector, we have 40,000 of us doing business in the state.

There is no day, even if you are bed bound, you must have interactions with us and that interaction is what is making you healthier, If we don’t take away dirt, there

is no way you will be healthier. So, you can see that disease outbreaks have reduced in Lagos; COVID-19 was well managed and on the issue of cleanliness, we are trying in that area. Now if it rains within a couple of minutes the water drains away because we have cleared the drains through the support of Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.

We are sustaining it and we are stopping people from dumping wastes into the canals and drainage channels. Our Marine Unit are also on top of their job, clearing canals and drainage channels on a daily basis. If you look at places where you have demolition and properties, and houses coming down, and rescue mission is completed, the next contact is LAWMA. We are the ones that clean up the place, clear all the rubbles and make sure that all the hazards and exposure there are gone. We make sure that all the dirts are gone and the place is safe for human interaction. We keep the market place clean.

What could be responsible for LAWMA’s improved turnaround time?

On my part as the Managing Director, I have been to NASFAT Ikeja to talk to the people about waste management. My senior management have been to churches to address people about waste management.

We have also gone to all the LCDAs. So up till now, we have been to 21 LCDAs out of 57 LCDAs, to talk to landlords’ associations, LCDAs, CDCs, Chairmen of Local governments, market Women, traders, and artisans, to say this is what is peculiar to your area. When we go there, we don’t talk about general, instead we talk about what is peculiar and particular about your area We have area managers overseeing all the activities in all the various LCDAs. We divided LAWMA into five operational districts and under the five districts we still have someone in charge of the LCDA and so that person knows exactly what the challenges and opportunities area in a particular area.

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

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022

29

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Ademola: Branch Nigeria Passionately Serving Customers Dayo Ademola is the Managing Director, Branch Nigeria. In this interview, she speaks on the firm’s core values, principles and passion to serve customers while also highlighting the challenges, plans ahead and its milestones present me with problems, I should also be presented with solutions, which they also expect from me. It is not a case of when you see a problem, that’s for somebody to handle. We all have a collective responsibility of making the company function and grow.

These are the kind of things that we test when interviewing people and they are also the kind of values that will rein-enforc within the organization. We have a channel on Slack that is called the “KUDO’s” channel.

It is where people go to give kudos to members of the team that have exhibited these core values on things that they were working on. This is to encourage people to do the best they possibly can in the face of whatever barrier might come their way.

Tell us about yourself and your role at Branch? or professional background, I have been at Branch since 2021 but prior to that I led a FinTech investment firm for a not for profit that was investing in FinTechs to increase financial inclusion in Nigeria, the company was called EFInA (Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access) and I was with them for years. Prior to that I worked in Union Bank of Nigeria where I led the strategy team, I also worked for five years in retail. My experience prior to that is largely in technology and financial services where I worked in the US and here in Nigeria with a couple of other companies. Specifically, to my role as the Nigeria MD of Branch International, I lead country operations and that means everything that has to do with Branch’s operation in Nigeria. Also, managing our portfolio if we need to raise finances, growth, and overall business development. The other part of my role is I also lead Branch’s expansion efforts into other West-African countries given that our vision is to offer best in class financial services wherever people are on the continent.

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Branch has been in Nigeria for over five years, could you tell us how you’ve been able to build your team locally?

We’ve been in Nigeria for over five years now, since 2017. So, we have the same principles of hiring wherever it is that we are, whether it is in Nigeria, Kenya, India or the US. We have three core values that drive our operations - we are fearless in the face of barriers, driven by data and we have a strong passion for our customers. These are the values that drive what we do at Branch. So, the first thing we do if you go through our interview process, is to seek individuals who are able, willing, and comfortable upholding those values.

These are the things we look out for when we are hiring.

We also look for individuals who are very passionate about what they are doing, who will easily key into Branch’s mission to provide tier 1 banking services to the mobile generation, to put financial services into the hands of people who have been traditionally excluded from certain aspects of financial services whether it is lending or investing or anything else for that matter.

So, we spend a lot of time testing and interviewing people to make sure that they will fit with those core values. One thing that has worked great for us is depending on employees’ referrals, like attracts like.

If you have a group of people that you’ve tested and worked with for a set time and you know for a fact that they are very much part of the core values of an organization, then they will also be able to refer others to come into the organization. From the time in my career, particularly in Nigeria, typically in most organizations, the HMO that health insurance at an organization gives you as a right depends on how senior you are within the organization.

So, senior managers will have access to higher health packages unlike the entry level position, that is a lot more limited. For Branch, it is different. The health insurance package that I have is the same with the most junior entry level person in the organization from the first day they resume work. There is no lag time saying they must have been with us for a certain period of time before you have access to certain health insurance packages. It is valid from the first day they start work at Branch.

When we went into the lockdown in 2020, after a few months, we realized that people were having a lot of burnout because when you are working from home every day, the start and end time of your workday becomes very blurred, and you end up working many more hours than you normally would. One of the things we put in place is“Dolphin Day”, where at least one day per quarter, usually a Friday, the entire company has that day off so people can rest and recuperate. It doesn’t have to be a national holiday, that way if you have children at home and they are going to school, they will still go to school while you have the day off to rest. There are a lot of things that we do. We put a lot of work into bringing in the right kind of people and we also put in a lot of work into treating them well and treating them right, so we can get the best out of them.

Ademola Can you talk more about what powering inclusivity means for Branch and your own purpose as the Managing Director?

One of the things that we really try to adhere to is no bias in hiring particularly with most roles even with my role, we have to test your competency. It is not based on the certificate that you have that we would say we believe that you can do this.

You have to do an entire project and present to people who are functionally knowledgeable about the work that you are being asked to do. What that tends to mean is that competence will trump certificates. So, if you are able to do the job and we can test that you can, we are more concerned about that than whatever certificate you present and say you have. The other thing is that our people operations and HR team is very self-aware and constantly tracking our diversity metrics. We have built dashboards to make sure we are balanced in terms of gender, depending on the country, we are balanced in terms of race, we are balanced in terms of generation. We have a team with a lot of young people, but we also have a team of people who have a lot of experience as well. So, we tend to make sure that we are always checking and making sure that we are balanced. We also have a dedicated ERG i.e. an Employee Resource Group on equity and inclusion in Branch. I am a member of the team where we are constantly having conversations on whether we are fostering an equitable environment and checking to ensure that we are as diverse as possible.

In Nigeria, we have a large software engineering team, where we have about 13 to 14 people on the team. Typically, most people would presume that a software engineering team will be made up of men, however, at Branch we have a woman leading the team here in Nigeria. Things like customer service and customer success, you tend to find that those teams lean more towards female hires than male hires. We are also conscious about making sure that we are hiring as many men and women as we possibly can into that team.

Considering that team serves as an entry level feeder into other teams in Branch. There are people who come through the customer success team, they learn, they train and have access to a budget to improve themselves and improve their knowledge and they are able to move into other teams within Branch. We make available learning and development stipends to everybody on the team. Again, the same stipends I am entitled to in learning and

development, the most junior person in the team is entitled to the same amount for their learning and development as well. Things like child bonding leave and maternity leave. For a birthing mother, you are entitled to 6months maternity leave, and we also give 3months parental leave to fathers, adoptive parents, caretakers, whatever the case may be even fathers who are kids in branch are entitled to child bonding leave. These are some of the things we do to keep things equitable and balanced within the team.

Also at Branch, during our interviews, there is human interference to judge the competence of the candidate but there is no interference to influence who is hired. There is a panel of people who come together to make decisions on who should be hired. The panel in itself is diverse which makes it transparent.

What are the major guiding principles that drive the culture at Branch?

I made mention of our three core values: fearless in the face of barriers, driven by data and passionate about our customers. When we say being passionate about our customers, which means that we are passionate about both our internal and external customers. For example, the HR team’s customers are largely inside the company, so that same level of passion that you have for the people you are working with, interacting with, and serving, be they internal or external are core to how we treat ourselves. So, if you are passionate about your customers, which also includes your co-workers then all the benefits that you give are the kind of benefits that you would want for yourself. Also, driven by data, if you are looking at judging over-performance or under-performance, one person’s opinion about an individual does not determine how the individual will be treated within the organization. We are driven by data both internally and externally and so if we are talking about culture, if a member of my team is under performing, the way in which the person is under performing is documented and clear for everyone to see such that it is not just a case of personality clashes.

We are 100% about the work and we also make an effort to like each other when we spend time together in social settings just to build relationships.

Fearless in the face of barriers, basically means that we are able to develop solutions at any point needed.

For example, I don’t expect my team to always

How are you able to achieve effective communication with employees?

Covid-19 forced us into an experiment that has proven to be very successful. Prior to 2020, we like every other organization resumed and closed from an office and it was like in every other market that we operated in. We are currently operational in four markets and with our headquarters in San Francisco. In COVID, to rein-enforce the high values in our employees, we moved to a 100% remote working several weeks before the world went into lockdown.

We’ve been working remotely since the last week in February 2020 before the global lockdown started towards the end of March. From this, we built certain communication norms that even at this point when the world is no longer on lockdown, it is still very functional. We can work from an office if we wanted to, but we have still chosen to remain a remote first organization. We have open communication lines between all members of the team whether here in Nigeria or globally. Everybody can speak to anyone in the team at the same time. We have a communication tool called Slack and in the company Slack, everybody is accessible to anyone at the same time. We also have communication norms where we rein-enforce the need for everyone to always assume the best intention to whoever they are speaking to. Further rein-enforcing these things from the top of the organization on down, if a customer relationship person needed to speak with myself or Matt Flannery who is the global CEO, it is just one communication line away in slack. So, rein-enforcing that is how we operate in the world today.

There are several reports and stories constantly being told about employee injustice. How is Branch able to curb systemic inequalities in the workplace in order to lead change in the industry at large?

This is one of the things I have been working on and I have been intentional about it, before it became a global hot topic. The organization as a whole from its founding principles over the years has worked really hard to build a company and culture that the employees can be proud of. We run an anonymous ENPS (Employees Net Promoter Score) annually. It is completely anonymous, so you are able to give an honest opinion on how things are going. We also do additional pulse checks at different times during the year. One of the things I am proud of, which is one of the reasons why I chose to join the company, is that those scores are very high. Whether it is from current Branch employees or ex Branch employees, the one thing they will all agree with is the employee culture is good. With an ENPS serving, any score that is higher than zero is considered to be a good score, anything above 30 is considered to be a fantastic score but with our ENPS over the last 4 to 5 years it has ranged from about 40 to an 80 to show you how high employees regard the culture at Branch.

Personally, and when you look back at the past few years, what company achievements do you believe Branch “People” are mostly proud of?

For the last 9years, whether consciously or unconsciously, I have been working towards increasing access to financial services for Nigerians. Just the fact that depending on your income level, all the benefits of the financial services systems are not available to everyone. One of the things I am most proud of at Branch is lowering that barrier for entry for people who previously did not have access to these benefits.

IXPN Engages Member Organisations on Border Gateway Protocol Emma Okonji Attendees at the recent capacity building programme on Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), organised by the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) for its member organisations, have described it as a step in the right direction that will enhance data traffic localisation and growth of the internet ecosystem in

Nigeria.

They noted that the training afforded them the opportunity to have knowledge of new global trends, and best practices in the interconnectivity of networks, particularly when it comes to peering with an Internet eXchange Point (IXP).

“The Border Gateway Protocol training with IXPN was informative and I learned some new things when it comes to peering with an

internet exchange point,” said one of the participants, Philip Omugbe, IP Engineer at Hoop Telecoms Limited.

According to them, the training would bridge the knowledge gap that exists within the internet ecosystem, as they can now gain proper understanding of how the Border Gateway Protocol works and how they can fully utilise their connectivity to the exchange point for maximum impact.

General Manager, Technical Operations, Syscodes Communications Ltd, Bunmi Adeleye, said the training was ideal for network operators and engineers that were unfamiliar with the workings of the Internet Exchange Point.

“The training was quite hands-on, interactive, and expository as there were practical live LAB sessions.

Many thanks to the IXPN

team, and I hope they sustain the momentum,” Adeleye, said.

Chief Executive Officer of IXPN, Mr. Muhammed Rudman, in his opening remarks, described Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) as a gateway protocol that allows the internet to exchange routing information between autonomous systems (AS).

He went on to say that the BGP training remained a value-added service

provided by IXPN to its member organisations and other stakeholders.

He stated that the training was necessary because the dynamics of the internet ecosystem have changed.

As a result, it is only natural to educate member organisations and other sector stakeholders on current technology trends and best practices, particularly as they relate to connectivity to the eXchange Point.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

BRANDS

Global Best Practice as Positioning Tool Raheem Akingbolu reviews the Dangote brand and links its back to back clinching of the Africa’s Most Admired Brand award to the global best practice approach of the brand’s promoters.

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n positioning and management, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), has always made a brand statement that espouses its essence. Being a proactive brand with rich heritage, Dangote and its promoters have continued to ride on innovation and global best practice, to give patrons unique customer experience. This has, in return, reflected on its market acceptability and penetration.

Like every good brand that understands the core message of positioning, Dangote truly understands the market and works daily on its competitive advantage.

All these were confirmed recently when the leading African brand was again recognised as the most Admired Brand in Africa for the year 2022. With it, the Dangote brand thus hit another milestone, by dint of hard work and an enviable, unceasing quest for excellence across its operations. This latest, historic triumph showcases what the brand is, what it’s all about, and underlines an unerring focus of a primus inter pares (first among equals) in business in Africa.

Basking in the admiration of many well-wishers, the Pan-African conglomerate has again emerged as the most Admired Brand in Africa for the year 2022, for its leadership position in driving quality brands across the continent.

In an unprecedented move, Dangote won awards in 8 different categories at the recent award presentation organised by Brand Africa, a renowned organisation, in Lagos. The other awards include: Most Admired Nigerian Brand, West Africa’s Most Admired Brand that symbolises African Pride; West Africa’s Most Admired African Brand, and Most Admired Nigerian Brand in Africa, among others.

To win a single award signifies quality of production; but to sweep eight awards at a go portrays a winning mentality of the organisation’s workforce and an enduring acceptance of its products and services by consumers, customers and even peers, to the chagrin of known and imagined rivals. All thanks to its top-notch personnel, who have scaled challenges and rode headwinds to make this success a reality.

CONTINENTAL STATUS

In a recent issue of the Brand Africa 100: Africa’s

Best Brands rankings, Dangote retained its status as the most admired African brand recalled spontaneously.

Group Chief Commercial Officer, Dangote Industries Limited, Rabiu Umar, who received the awards, commended Brand Africa for the initiative of building and promoting African brands. He expressed appreciation to the organisers and urged them not to relent in their efforts to see that brands from Africa compete favorably with foreign ones.

Umar said that Dangote has risen a notch higher as a global brand with the export of Dangote Fertiliser to many countries of the world.

“People now identify with the brand and in all the countries where we operate, Dangote Cement has become a reference point,” he added.

Umar said, “To the management of DIL, the ranking was not unexpected, because the company has a long-standing reputation for quality, relevance, compliance and social stewardship. Our mission and vision engage and inspire us; and by extension connects us to both our internal and external stakeholders.

“We fervently believe that only Africans can develop Africa, and this gives us a stronger sense of relevance in all the countries where we have our operations. We are touching lives by providing their basic needs and empowering Africans more than ever before, creating jobs, reducing capital flight, and helping the government to conserve foreign exchange drain by supporting different industrial and infrastructural projects of African governments.”

EXTERNAL ACCOLADES

Founder and Chairman of Brand Africa, Thebe Ikalafeng, stated that Dangote has remained a stalwart global African brand and symbolises African pride. He added that Dangote has also moved up a rank in the Top 100 most admired brands and retains its #1 Made-in-Nigeria brand rank.

Ikalafeng, giving an insight into the process of selecting the winners, said the rankings are

based on a pan-African survey covering over 25 countries, which collectively account for an estimated over 85% of Africa’s population and 85 per cent of the continent’s GDP. According to him, “the research is conducted

by GeoPoll, the world’s leading mobile surveying platform, with strategic analyses, insights and ranking conducted by Kantar, the world’s leading data, insights and consulting company and Brand Leadership Group, Africa’s foremost branding, strategic communications and intellectual property advisory firm.”

ENDURING RANKING

Established in 2011, the Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands rankings are the most authoritative survey and analysis on brands and underlying businesses in Africa, based on a study by Geopoll across 29 countries spanning all the five economic regions. An analysis of the data over the past 10 years, has established that on average, slightly over 20% of the brands admired by Africans are made in Africa.

Brand Africa is an inter-generational movement to inspire a brand-led African renaissance to drive Africa’s competitiveness, connect Africa and create a positive image of the continent.

Recognising that while the rebound in African brands is notable, the results will not be sustainable without committed and inspirational leadership. In 2022, Brand Africa recognised those leaders who are the catalyst for growth for Made in Africa brands both in corporate and in those who have championed and supported the development of great local brands in supporting industries.

“As we emerge out of the pandemic and Africa seeks to assert itself, the results are very inspiring and bode well of an African renaissance led by competitive world class African brands,” says Thebe Ikalafeng, Founder and Chairman of Brand Africa and Brand Leadership.

“With increased number of countries and greater sample size this year, more than ever, and especially so during the pandemic, mobile

proved to be the effective tool for us to reach and access respondents across the continent,” said Bernard Okasi, Director of Research, GeoPoll, which has been the lead data collection partner since 2015.

Karin Du Chenne, Chief Growth Officer Africa Middle East for Kantar, which has been the insight lead for Brand Africa since inception in 2010 says, “Despite volumes of brands analysed as a results of increased sample size in terms of respondents and countries, the survey continues to yield a very consistent picture of brands and trends that are transforming the continent.”

Now in its 12th year, every year on or around Africa Day, 25 May, Brand Africa releases the results of the survey on the most admired brands in Africa based on a survey across 29 countries that represent as much as 85% of the continent’s GDP and population.

The 2022 survey was conducted between March and April 2022 and yielded over 80,000 brand mentions and over 3,500 unique brands.

The Brand Africa 100 results will be published in the June issue African Business magazine which is on sale globally in June 2022 and will be available online to subscribers.

The 2022 Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands were organised by Brand Africa partners in Nigeria, AT3 Resources and Open Squares Africa, and supported by the Central Bank of Nigeria, South African Tourism and NQR, Africa Media Agency and BCW Africa.

SUSTAINABLE TREND

The historic haul of the eight Brand Africa awards is worth celebrating in every sense of the word, and every staff of the Dangote Group should have a feeling of pride and a proper sense of belonging regarding this historic achievement.

These awards were won through the collective efforts of the Dangote staff across all levels, and they have set the tone for a sustainable tenure at the top in all the sectors where we play. With the renowned winning mentality of the President/CE and the can-do attitude of every internal stakeholder, this is surely not the last award for this Group. As this particular accolade recedes, other landmarks loom on the horizon. The record is not over yet.

NITDA Issues Draft Code of Practice for F i t c h A f f i r m s Interactive Computer Service Operations UBA’s Rating at

Emma Okonji

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in line with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to develop a Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/ Internet Intermediaries (Online Platforms), in collaboration with relevant regulatory agencies and stakeholders, is set to make public presentation of the draft Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/ Internet Intermediaries for further review and input.

The Code of Practice is aimed at protecting fundamental

human rights of Nigerians and non-Nigerians living in the country as well as define guidelines for interacting on the digital ecosystem. This is in line with international best practices as obtainable in democratic nations such as the United State of America, United Kingdom, European Union, and United Nations.

The Code of Practice was developed in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), as well as input from Interactive Computer Service Platforms such as Twitter, Facebook,

WhatsApp, Instagram, Google, and Tik Tok amongst others.

Other relevant stakeholders with peculiar knowledge were consulted such as Civil Society Organizations and expert groups.

Giving details of the draft Code of Practice, the Director-General of NITDA, Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi, said: “The new global reality is that the activities conducted on these Online Platforms wield enormous influence over our society, social interaction, and economic choices. Hence, the Code of Practice is an intervention to recalibrate the relationship of Online Platforms

with Nigerians in order to maximise mutual benefits for our nation, while promoting a sustainable digital economy.

“Additionally, the Code of Practice sets out procedures to safeguard the security and welfare of Nigerians while interacting on these Platforms. It aims to demand accountability from Online Platforms regarding unlawful and harmful contents on their Platforms. Furthermore, it establishes a robust framework for collaborative efforts to protect Nigerians against online harms, such as hate speech, cyber-bullying, as well as disinformation and/or misinformation.”

Finchglow Travels Celebrates 16th Year Anniversary Finchglow Travels, one of the leading travel management companies in Nigeria and a subsidiary of Finchglow Holdings has hit another milestone of 16 years in operations.

Commenting on this feat, the Group Managing Director, Mr Bankole Bernard said: “Sixteen years ago, we started out as a

small travel agency in a plaza at Falomo, our vision has remained the same which is to provide excellent travel services and experiences for our clients.

Today, we have expanded from that small office at Falomo to a brand with offices across Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and now Kano! We owe this success to our

staff and management as well as the processes we have put in place to make Finchglow Travels a leading travel management company in Nigeria.”

“I would also use this medium to call on players and aspiring players in the industry to pay more attention to professional development as it remains a

major key for growth in the downstream sector of the aviation industry. There is a need to bridge a knowledge gap between the older players and the new entrants and that is one of the reasons we have invested in the Finchglow Travels Mentorship Program,” Mr Bernard added.

Microsoft, Flapmax Empowers 12 Startups with Accelerator Program Oluchi Chibuzor Flapmax and Microsoft have empowered about 12 Startups in its FAST Acceleration Program, which they said is aimed at boosting their sustainability and also creating an avenue

for the SMEs to be introduced to plethora of opportunities for business growth and market visibility.

Flapmax is part of Microsoft strategic partners across Africa and beyond to support the enablement of over 10,000 Small

and Medium Scale Enterprises and Startups to grow and develop their businesses for economic growth and creation of opportunities for young people.

Speaking at the event, the CEO of Flapmax, Dave Ojika, assured the Startups that Flapmax

in partnership with Microsoft would continue to provide them needed support for growth.

He maintained that engagement plans with the Startups through the transition event will kickstart in a couple of weeks.

‘B’, Outlook Stable Nume Ekeghe International rating agency, Fitch Ratings has affirmed United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc’s Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘B’ with a Stable Outlook, just as it also affirmed its Viability Rating (VR) at ‘b’ and National Long-Term Rating at ‘A+(nga)’.

Fitch in its rating note said it has withdrawn UBA’s Support Rating and Support Rating Floor as they are no longer relevant to the agency’s coverage following the publication of its updated Bank Rating Criteria on 12 November 2021. “In line with the updated criteria, we have assigned UBA a Government Support Rating (GSR) of ‘no support’ (ns).

“UBA’s IDRs are driven by its standalone creditworthiness, as reflected in its ‘b’ VR. The VR considers UBA’s exposure to the Nigerian volatile operating environment, but also the bank’s healthy profitability and adequate capitalisation,

which provide reasonable capacity to absorb losses from an economic downturn.”

It noted that UBA’s National Ratings are driven by the bank’s standalone strength. “They are lower than the highest rated Nigerian banks’ due to UBA’s relatively softer through-the-cycle financial metrics.”

The rating whilst believing that UBA’s ability to capitalise on business and trade flows and attract deposits across the continent is a competitive advantage relative to peers’, Fitch said rising global risks will weaken domestic operating conditions.

“Inflation is expected to remain stubbornly high, posing downside risks to our real GDP growth forecasts of 3.1 and 3.3 per cents in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

However, downside risks are mitigated by strong oil prices that should also underpin growth in non-oil sectors and banks’ asset quality.”

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD

31

NEWS

DISCUSSING BROADBAND PENETRATION…

L-R: CEO, Medallion Communications and President, Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Ikechukwu Nnamani; GMD/CEO, VDT Communications, Biodun Omoniyi; CEO Backbone Connectivity Networks, Ibrahim Dikko and CEO, Huawei Technologies, Gavin Gengxiaoyan, during ATCON’s event on Achieving 70% Broadband Penetration by 2025, which held in Abuja... recently

Wakanow Collaborates with Dana Air as Strategic Distribution Partner Chinedu Eze Wakanow, Africa’s leading travel tech company, has collaborated with Dana Air, as strategic distribution partner to provide real time access to flight bookings.

Statement from the travel company stated that as a fully private sector ownd career in Nigeria, it is expected that it would deliver real-time inventory and continuous flight schedules 24/7.

CEO of Wakanow, Mr. Adebayo Adedeji said, “Wakanow is expected to bring in another differentiator

to the Nigerian travel industry as we begin this collaboration with Dana Airlines. With this partnership, we are poised to change the face of domestic travel for Nigerian travellers and other tourists from across the world. We would bring our topnotch expertise to bear so that this collaboration will be a case study across the aviation industry.”

In her words, the Chief Commercial Officer of Wakanow, Mrs. Adenike Macaulay said, “This integration with Dana Air will unlock an expanded domestic inventory selection for our customers

making Wakanow the one stop shop for domestic travel bookings in Nigeria. Our expertise in the travel industry will be brought to the fore in exceeding customers’ experience with Dana Airlines bookings. She noted, “Our workforce is ready to support Dana Airlines in surpassing customers’ expectations.”

According to the DCEO of Dana Air, Sukhjinder Mann, Dana Air is a leading brand in the aviation industry and we are committed to partnerships that would be beneficial not just to the industry but to our teeming guests.

Inq. Digital ClinchesThree BOICT Awards Nosa Alekhuogie Inq. digital, a leading-edge solution provider, has again been voted winner in three different categories in the recently concluded 13th edition of the BEACON of ICT Awards held at the Eko hotel.

Inq. Digital won Enterprise Solutions Provider, Emerging Technology Provider, and Enterprise Broadband Service provider of the year.

National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, who represented the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, at the award event, presented the three awards to inq.

Digital.

Olatunji said the three categories of award won by inq. Digital, were

acknowledgement of the quality of innovative business-relevant services like Intelligent Connectivity, Edge AI, IoT, SDN/NFV for Edge and Cloud Secure Access Services that inq Digital is providing.

Olatunji stated that the theme of the event, the impact of blockchain technology in a Digitalized Nigeria, remained relevant and close to the heart of the government while addressing the audience as the representative of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy. According to him, “the theme is very relevant and has resulted in the formulation of policies and frameworks that will enable a better industry.”

Managing Director of inq. Digital Nigeria, Valentine Chime commented that inq. Digital would continue to provide simpler, seamless, solutions

to its clients which would aid them to re-imagine a better future. “We are in a state of evolution for market satisfaction, and we are flexible in structure and nature in line with global best practices,” Chime said.

He commended the organisers, members of the industry, and stakeholders for recognising inq.

Digital in the industry, and dedicated the awards to the stakeholders, partners, and associates of inq.

Digital Nigeria.

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Nigeria Communications Week and convener of the Beacon of ICT award, Mr. Ken Nwogbo said the BoICT lecture was designed to explore efforts to put Nigeria on the global information and communications technologies. The award recognizes organizations’ and individuals’ contributions to ICT advancement.

C S E A N t o A d d r e s s Potential Risks of Rising Cyberattacks in Nigeria Emma Okonji Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN) will be addressing the potential risks of increased cyberattacks in Nigeria, including insider threats that caused several bank customers to lose valuable data and money.

The experts will be addressing the potential risks at this year’s cyber security conference, scheduled to take place in Abuja, June 21-22, 2022, at the CBN International Training Institute, Maitama Abuja.

Speaking at a recent webinar to announce the conference, the Chairperson, Conference Committee, Elizabeth Kolade, described the conference as a hybrid cyber security conference

that would attract local and international speakers who are experts in cyber security matters.

Fielding questions about how the conference would address the potential risks of the increasing rate of cyberattacks in Nigeria as well as insider threats, which have become rampant among bank staff, Kolade said the conference has assembled cyber security experts that have in-depth knowledge of the trends and attack format deployed by hackers, to discuss and proffer solutions that would help mitigate the potential risks of such attacks when they occur or even before they occur.

President of CSEAN, Mr. Remi Afon said this year’s conference with the theme:

‘Cybersecurity: An Imperative in Tackling Insecurity in Nigeria’, will address myriad of risk factors associated with cyberattacks, with a view to addressing them.

“The security threat landscape in Nigeria has evolved rapidly, ranging from terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, to unknown gunmen attacks, and they are increasing in number and sophistication. The March 28 Abuja-Kaduna train attack and kidnap have shown that criminals are now targeting critical national infrastructure in the process of killing innocent people. Just about a week ago, suspected terrorists attacked a church in Owo, Ondo State where more than 40 people were believed to have been killed.

T H I S D AY ˾ ,JUNE 16, 2022

32

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Need for Multi-faceted Approach in Achieving Zero Maternal Mortality At the recently held Nigeria Heath Watch’s conference in Abuja themed ‘Evidence for Change – Learnings and Recommendations for Quality Maternal Care’, stakeholders harped on the need for a multifaceted approach toward achieving a world of zero maternal mortality. Sunday Ehigiator reports

L-R: Director of Policy & Advocacy, Nigeria Health Watch, Ifeyinwa Yusuf; Innovation Manager, PharmAccess, Dr Ademola Serrano; Managing Director, Nigeria Health Watch, Mrs Vivianne Ihekweazu; Director of Partnerships, Lifebank, Dr. Bolanle Fajemorokun; and Principal, Solina Group, Dr Uchemma Igbokwe, during the Nigeria Health Watch Evidence for Change Learnings and Recommendation for Quality Maternal Care (MSD for Mothers Partners) event recently held in Abuja

E

nding preventable maternal mortality (EPMM) remains an unfinished agenda and one of the world’s most critical challenges. Maternal health, well-being and survival remain central goal and investment priority in the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), EPMM targets and strategies are grounded in a human rights approach to maternal and newborn health and focus on eliminating significant inequities that lead to disparities in access, quality as well as outcomes of care within and between countries.

The SDGs build on the gains of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with a target for the reduction of maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births and the reduction of newborn mortality to less than 12 per 1,000 live births by 2030.

The Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality (EPMM) programme’s target of a reduction of the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) by all countries to at least two-thirds of their 2010 baseline levels is reliant upon the provision of available, accessible, acceptable, quality service in an enabling environment that respects human rights principles.

Similarly, the WHO posited that attention to maternal mortality must be accompanied by improvements along the continuum of care, including commitments to sexual and reproductive health, family planning, and newborn and child survival.

With the high burden of maternal and perinatal mortality (including in health facilities) at 576 per 100 000 live births and 77 per 1 000 live births in 2013, and women experiencing life-threatening complications with short-term or long-term impacts on quality of life, according to the National Demographics and Health Survey (NDHS), it becomes extremely important that more effective approach is explored towards reducing the scourge.

Against this backdrop, stakeholders at the conference recommended multiple approaches, including, digital technology, building the capacity of health facilities through the Maternal and Perinatal Database for Quality, Equity and Dignity (MPD-4-QED) programme, and empowering and equipping health providers to deliver better quality maternal care.

Other recommendations include expansion of access to better quality maternal care, supporting women’s pregnancy journey

through better quality of care, proper funding of primary healthcare centres across the country, and effective policies around maternal medicines in Nigeria.

Earlier while delivering her welcome address, the Managing Director, Nigeria Health Watch, Vivianne Ihekweazu said it was possible to achieve a world where no woman dies while giving birth.

According to her, for the past 18 months, Nigeria Health Watch has been working on a maternal health advocacy and communications programme to spotlight the importance of quality of care in maternal health in Nigeria through MSD for Mothers funded projects.

“So over the period, we have interacted with all of you to spotlight insights and evidence from MSD for Mothers collaborators programmes, all to spotlight interventions that will enable Nigeria to achieve the SDG target of a global Maternal Maternal Ratio of fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.”

On the approach to spotlighting quality of care for women’s maternal health, Ihekweazu said the focus was on six thematic areas which include, understanding quality of care gaps, quality assurance, private sector capacity, affordability, digital support/technology, and evidence for change.

She said the objective of this Evidence for Change is to “amplify MSD for Mothers-supported collaborators, as evidenced through the outcomes and impact of the initiatives and innovations in improving maternal health outcomes in Nigeria; and highlight the importance of adopting a quality-of-care approach to delivering maternal health care in Nigeria through the strategic approaches of MSD for Mothers-supported projects in Nigeria.”

Also speaking, a representative of WHO, Dr Bosede Ezekwe, in a paper titled, ‘How the World Health Organisation is improving the capacities of health facilities through the MPD-4-QED Programme’ said the Nigerian Maternal and Perinatal Database for Quality, Equity and Dignity (MPD4QED) seeks to address the high burden of maternal and perinatal mortality (including in health facilities) at 576 per 100 000 live births and 77 per 1 000 live births in 2013, according to the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS).

Ezekwe, whose paper was presented by the Director of Policy & Advocacy, Nigeria Health Watch, Ify BabatundeYusuf, said in addition, many women experience life-threatening complications with short-term or long-term impacts on quality of life.

She said among the quality standards expected to be available in every health facility, is that every mother and newborn has a complete, accurate, and standardised medical record during labour, childbirth and the early postnatal period.

Ezekwe said it is also expected that every health facility has a mechanism for data collection, analysis and feedback as part of its activities for monitoring and improving performance around the time of childbirth.

On human resource challenge, Ezekwe said “the motivation for data collections requires new strategies and innovations, as stipends will no longer be provided under FMoH. “There has been waning motivation for data collection following stoppage of stipends as well as attrition (reposting/ relocation of trained data collectors and hospital coordinators). Training required for new staff coming on board,” she said.

Associate Manager, Women’s Wellness,

The SDGs build on the gains of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with a target for the reduction of maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births and the reduction of newborn mortality to less than 12 per 1,000 live births by 2030

moc Healthcare, Chiagoziem Abiakam, in a paper titled, ‘Empowering Women Through Digital Technology: Providing holistic support through virtual coaching and digital nudges’ harped on ways in which the organisation is solving maternal mortality with the digitalized process.

She said mDoc optimises the end-to-end self-care experience for people with regular and chronic health needs by harnessing quality improvement methodologies, behavioural science, data and technology. “mDoc is a digital health company, which leverages a high-tech high-touch approach to optimize the end-to-end care for people living with chronic conditions in Nigeria.

They harness behavioural science, quality improvement methodologies, data and technology to provide an integrated care solution for people with chronic and regular health needs.

“We oer a four-pillar, high tech, high touch approach to integrated self-care- Virtual coaches and digital nudges through CompleteHealthTM; In-person community-based NudgeHubsTM and community ambassadors; Tele-education of providers and patients MQNTM “We help you find quality healthcare services you need on NaviHealth.ai, our geo-coded directory. Patient review can be a powerful tool. They increase visibility and confidence in existing and potential individuals to utilise the facility.

“The NaviHealth.ai patient feedback system is based on the dimensions of quality (safety, timeliness, e ectiveness, equity, e ciency, and patient-centred care) as established by the National Academy of Medicine.”

She said they are using a women-centred QoC model to reduce the risk of indirect MMM linked to PE/E. On capacity building (clinical/Quality Improvement, QI, Abraham said the project is conducting onsite skills-based training; tele-ECHO virtual sessions to re-enforce provider learning/knowledge; supportive supervision and mentoring; and access to job aids and guidelines.

To ensure QI, she said the firm identifies quality gaps, sets improvement aims, develops QoC measures; establishes and supports QI teams to test changes (PDSA) and monitors trends in measures to track progress toward aims. Strengthen the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Health Management Information System (HMIS) and use it for decision-making.

T H I S D AY ˾ ,JUNE 16, 2022

33

NEWS

Concierge Medicine, Alternative Experience to Health Care Management, Says Expert

FERTILITY

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

Female Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (Part 1)

Mary Nnah $IJFG &YFDVUJWF 0GàDFS PG Santis by Paelon, Dr. Patrick $IVLXVNBI IBT TBJE $PODJFSHF Healthcare is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to traditional healthcare among both patients and their physicians.

Santis by Paelon is a luxury membership-based medical concierge service that seamlessly prioritises the health needs of clients, to ensure their quick, comfortable, and discreet attendance inside and indeed PVUTJEF /JHFSJB Speaking recently with 5)*4%": JUT $&0 FYQSFTTFE that medical services are rapidly evolving both locally and internationally especially XJUI $PWJE SFMBUFE EFNBOET PO the medical community while new models on how to properly deliver 21st-century medicine to patients who seek treatment outside of their hometowns or home countries are extensively Dr. Chukwumah being explored. $IVLXVNBI XIP DMBJNFE that the emergence of concierge boss said that since most chronic medicine is no surprise, added, diseases are curable if caught early “many people feel alienated by or in some cases preventable the current system, bouncing altogether, preventative measures between doctors and struggling can save the patient not just to make appointments. money, but the heartache of “ Even once they make it to chronic disease, adding, “even if the clinic; they feel overlooked a patient doesn’t have any major in favour of ushering in the next health concerns, research shows QBUJFOU PO UIF MJTU /PX SFDFOU that those who stay abreast of events have further increased the their health live longer”. demand for at-home services”.

Typically, concierge medicine He revealed therefore that provides a level of access to a patients and providers were physician that is unachievable increasingly turning to concierge in a traditional doctor-patient medicine - a direct relationship arrangement. It allows your between a patient and a provider- QIZTJDJBO UP TJHOJàDBOUMZ MJNJU as an alternative care delivery the number of patients they accept model. into their practice, to those with Describing this recent de- relevant diseases in line with their velopment as a game-changer specialisation. for patients and providers, the 5IF $PODJFSHF NFEJDJOF medical practitioner held that the QSPHSBNNF àMUFST QBUJFOUT concept seems simple, adding, complaints and refers them that patients spend more time appropriately to the relevant with their physician in exchange specialist physician. for an annual fee or retainer.

"DDPSEJOH UP $IVLXVNBI UIF “According to recent studies, goal of the concierge physician personalised care and close is to develop a relationship with relationships with physicians the patient so that they can offer are what patients are looking for. a level of service that is missing “Those in favour of a concierge in the traditional model.

NPEFM TBJE UIF QPUFOUJBM CFOFàUT These physicians are often for both patients and physicians focused on solving the patient’s are many, which can range problem by determining the root GSPN CFOFàUT TVDI BT cause. At its core, the concierge patient care, convenient contact model is designed to help people through telemedicine, access to live longer and healthier lives. physicians by phone or email, 'PS $IVLXVNBI $PODJFSHF preventative care and wellness .FEJDJOF JT OP EPVCU TPMWJOH B plans, same-day or next-day CJH QSPCMFN JO UIF NFEJDBM àFME appointments to physicians and today in the sense that access referred specialists.” to quality health care has been $IVLXVNBI SFWFBMFE GVSUIFS JODSFBTJOHMZ IBSE UP àOE 5IF that the trend is already on the QBOEFNJD IBT POMZ BNQMJàFE rise in Africa, with the emergence UIJT EFàDJU PG DPNQBOJFT MJLF 4BOUJT .FEJDBM Since the availability of a $PODJFSHF XIJDI CPBTUT PG B primary care physician has a high-level structure and network, direct correlation to the overall offering patients “personalised lifespan of a patient, this is a medicine, patient-centered problem that must be addressed. medicine, and preventive care.”

He believes that the system, Some medical schools and which for far too long has hospital networks are also IJOEFSFE UIF QBUJFOU EPDUPS currently embracing concierge relationship, is not going to be medicine for their patients. àYFE BOZ UJNF TPPO JG BU BMM 4BOUJT .FEJDBM $PODJFSHF adding that concierge medicine offers a range of services that offers patients a workaround to focuses on preventative care the system and puts them back while also addressing episodic in the driver’s seat. care and disease management.

“Patients in a concierge practice Being proactive can potentially appreciate the immediate access save the patient future health to their physician by cell phone, care costs. e-mail, and same-day appoint5IF 4BOUJT .FEJDBM $PODJFSHF ments, and minimal waiting

L time in private, pleasant waiting rooms. Visits are 30 minutes or longer and allow patients to present all their concerns. The physician coordinates care with other providers, with follow-up calls after specialist visits or IPTQJUBMJTBUJPOTu $IVLXVNBI pointed out.

Speaking further, he said that the concierge medicine model is more about the patient experience and thus companies like Santis have curated a range of service offers to best suit the different needs of their patients. With offerings such as the Everest packages which provide patients with access to preventive care procedures for $BSEJBD )FBMUI 1BODSFBT )FBMUI Liver Health, Gastro-Intestinal )FBMUI 3FTQJSBUPSZ )FBMUI 3FOBM )FBMUI 1SPTUBUF )FBMUI and much more.

The package also offers travel .FEJDJOF DPOTVMU *OUFSOBUJPOBM Travel), Home Visit (Primary )FBMUI $BSF -PDBM FWBDVBUJPO XJUIJO -BHPT $PSQPSBUF Health Talks (Where necessary), Physiotherapy sessions, and also some lifestyle services, such as BDDFTT UP EJTDPVOUFE %JFUJDJBO /VUSJUJPOJTU $POTVMU "DDFTT UP EJTDPVOUFE (:. NFNCFSTIJQ "DDFTT UP EJTDPVOUFE 536 $IFDL $BODFS 4DSFFOJOH 5IFTF PGGFSJOHT are scaled in the Everest plus package to include access to Solice Health- a bespoke medical DPODJFSHF JO UIF 6, 64" BOE Europe. $IVLXVNBI FYQSFTTFE UIBU generally; concierge provides access and personalisation that restores the bond necessary for an individual, proactive approach, adding “Given the obvious advantages of concierge medicine to physicians and their patients, concierge medicine will continue to grow. If you haven’t yet explored the concierge model of medicine, now is a good time to do so as establishments such as Santis By Paelon present an array of concierge care options.” i$PODJFSHF NFEJDJOF JT UIF solution for a growing number of specialist physicians to be able to practice the highest quality medical care. This trend is only likely to intensify going forwards”, he noted further.

ast week, we started a topic on sexual dysfunction in male.

We discussed o Women sexual desires naturally change over time. Highs and lows of a woman sexual desires are frequently associated with the start or end of a relationship, as well as major life changes such as pregnancy, menopause, or illness. Everyone has times when they want to have sex and times when they would rather not. However, if you have a consistent loss of interestor no interest in sexual activities, you may have a desire disorder. It is unusual to want to have sex all the time, also what is going on in your life at any given time can certainly influence your libido and sexual desires. Being actively bothered by your sexual absence, on the other hand, could be a symptom of Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is a type of sexual dysfunction that prevents people from having sexual pleasure. In the case of HSDD, it causes a lack of sexual desire or the absence of sexual desire. Some people have HSDD for the rest of their lives, while others develop it later in life, even if they previously had a healthy and joyful sex life. People with HSDD have few or no sexual ideas or fantasies, do not respond to their partner ’s sexual cues or suggestions, lose desire for sex while having it, or avoid it entirely.

SYMPTOMS OF HSDD Although HSDD is a very common condition, it is rarely identified. The following are some of the signs and symptoms of HSDD: r 3FEVDFE PS DPNQMFUF JOBCJMJUZ UP maintain interest or desire in sexual activity for at least 6 months r 8BOUJOH UP IBWF TFY NVDI MFTT UIBO your partner does to a point it causes distress in the relationship r )BWJOH OP JOUFSFTU JO BOZ UZQF PG sexual activity with your partner r /FWFS PS SBSFMZ IBWJOH TFYVBM thoughts or fantasies r #FJOH DPODFSOFE BCPVU ZPVS MBDL of sex drive or sexual thoughts and fantasies CAUSES OF HSDD Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder may be caused by: "OYJFUZ PS EFQSFTTJPO 1FPQMF r withanxiety disorders are more likely to experience sexual dysfunction, such as HSDD.Anxiety can prevent women from getting lubricated enough to have sex, and it can take away the physical desire to make love. r 3FMBUJPOTIJQ JTTVFT 8IFO B SFMBUJPOship suffers, so does sex drive. Sexual intimacy requires closeness in the relationship for many people, particularly women. If your relationship is having problems, you may notice a decrease in sex drive. If there are any unresolved conflicts, lack of communication, regular arguing, adultery, loss of trust, or miscommunication between couples, one of the partners may develop a low sex drive.

r -JGFTUZMF IBCJUT 8IJMF B HMBTT of wine may make you feel better, too much alcohol can impair your sexual urge. The same can be said about illegal drugs. Furthermore, smoking reduces blood flow, which might reduce arousal. r "HF "T B XPNBO BQQSPBDIFT menopause, her estrogen levels begin to fall.Low estrogen (female hormone) levels in women may cause reduced libido, which is a typical phenomenon as women age. r -PX TFMG FTUFFN -PX TFMG FTUFFN and feelings of hopelessness may also contribute to sexual dysfunction.Low sexual self-esteem can be caused byvariety of circumstances, including a history of emotional, physical, sexual abuseor sexual humiliation, or being called sexually derogatory terms. If you believe you are unattractive because of your weight, age, skin color, or other characteristics, you may have low sexual self-esteem. Even those who adhere to society’s definition of “beautiful” may struggle with sexual self-esteem issues because of internal or external pressures. r 4USFTT 4USFTT IBT B CBE JNQBDU PO every aspect of our life, including your sexual drive. Stress has been shown in several studies to raise cortisol levels.

Sex drive may be reduced because of this increase. r 5JSFEOFTT -PX TFY ESJWF NJHIU be caused by exhaustion from caring for small children or aged parents. Low sex drive may also be caused by fatigue from illness or surgery. r 4FYVBM BCVTF PS USBVNB GSPN the past:People who have been raped or sexually assaulted may have a difficult time being sexually active, and some may also develop sexual disorders. r )PSNPOBM JNCBMBODF :PV NJHIU experience low sexual drive when your hormones are imbalanced. r .FEJDBM QSPCMFNT TVDI BT$BODFS %JBCFUFT )FBSU EJTFBTF .VMUJQMF TDMFSPTJT and Bladder issues can all reduce one’s sexual desire and may result in sexual desire disorder. r $ F S U B J O medications:Antidepressants, antipsychotics, blood pressure medications, chemotherapy, feminizing hormone therapy, and various oral contraceptives have all been linked to the development of HSDD. r .FOPQBVTF %VSJOH B XPNBO T transitioninto menopause, estrogen levels tend to diminish. This might result in vaginal dryness and a loss of sexual interest. Painful intercourse is also a result of vaginal dryness. r 3FDFOU QSFHOBODZ EFMJWFSZ BOE breastfeeding: Hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy and the postpartum period may sometimes diminish a woman’s sex drive. Sexual desire is also lowered as a result of fatigue and body image concerns. This may also operate in the reverse direction if the male partner is experiencing sexual aversion because of their spouse’s pregnancy and lactation (breast feeding)…………………..

rTo be Continued

34

T H I S D AY ˾ ,JUNE 16, 2022

NEWS

Albinism Day: Affected Persons Demand for Special Medical Centres Igbawase Ukumba ÓØ ËʨË

Bornu State Govt Praises RCCG As His Love Foundation Commissions Another Dialysis Center

Bornu State Govt Praises RCCG as His Love Foundation Commissions Another Dialysis Centre Mary Nnah His Love Foundation has boosted healthcare in Bornu State with the official handover of Enoch and Folu Adeboye Dialysis Centre at Umaru Shehu Ultra-Modern Hospital, Maiduguri as part of its medical intervention programme, bringing the number of Dialysis machines commissioned across Nigeria to 48.

The centre at Umaru Shehu Ultra-Modern Hospital, Maiduguri has three Dialysis Machines, one Medical Water Reverse Osmosis Purification System, and one dedicated 30KVA generator to complement the Bornu State government’s efforts in the critical health management system.

The event was graced by Bishop Mohammed Naga, Chairman CAN; VP Christian Health Fellowship, Dr. Joseph Innocent Nakat; representative of the Governor, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Mohammed Aminu Ghuluze; Chief Medical Director Hospital Management Board, Prof Mohammed Arab; Medical Director

Umaru Shehu Hospital Dr. Idris Ali Usman; PFN Chairman, Rev(Dr) Freeson; Regional Pastor RCCG Region 16, Pastor Sesan Akinnawo, and other dignitaries.

“I would like to sincerely thank His Love Foundation for the donation of these Dialysis centre and equipment as it will go a long way in addressing the health challenges, especially now that Dialysis units are around us”, the representative of the Bornu State government, Dr. Mohammed Aminu Ghuluze stated.

“The government is willing and the government is embracing the opportunity to work with the church to implement social-intervention programmes that would be beneficial to all residents of the state.”

He urged other religious bodies to take a cue from RCCG’s intervention, stressing that government would make greater impacts with collaborations.

The Assistant Continental Overseer and The Intercontinental Overseer CSR, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, who was ably represented by Pastor Detola

Akinremi said, “the church is committed to impacting lives in all ramifications as the case burden for kidney disease management is quite heavy, but with the special grace of God, the Christian Social Responsibility arm of the Redeemed Christian Church Of God will continue to uphold the divine mandate of our Lord and Saviour that...

I was sick and you visited me. ( Matthew 25: 36).

“CSR investments stem from their continued resolve to be of service to humanity in general, and their host community in particular.

“It is also driven by the mantra at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) to touch people’s lives, with emphasis on improving standards of living by providing good education and health through infrastructural development”, Pastor Akinremi concluded.

It was gathered at the event that this will be the 25th strategic healthcare intervention project that the foundation has donated 48 Dialysis machines in Nigeria and has so far conducted over 30,000 subsidized/free dialysis

sessions to date and partnered to carry out six kidney transplants for free, has conducted cancer screening for over 101,995 women.

In the last four years, the Redeemed Christian church of God in Nigeria has spent on various CSR activities over N25,041,818,101 and have impacted over 130,753,857 in their 44,000 operating centres spread over the 36 states of the federation in their desire to meet the critical needs of the people.

Aside from health intervention, the foundation has also been impacting the society in other areas – Feeding, Prison, Orphanages, Social Enterprise, Empowerment programmes, Vocational training, Skills acquisition, Charity Shops, Rehabilitation, Environmental Architecture, Disaster Relief, & Security, Sports, Other Areas include Education – Free Schools, Primary School; Libraries, Professorial Chair in Mathematics, Mathematics Competition, Back to School programmes, Schools rehabilitation, Scholarships & educational Grants.

Bridge Clinic Commemorates 3,000 Live Births in 20 Years ˾ ÜÑÏÝ ÐË×ÓÖÓÏÝ ÞÙ ÙàÏÜÍÙ×Ï ÝÞÓÑ×ËÞÓÝËÞÓÙØ ÙÐ ÐÏÜÞÓÖÓÞã ÍÒËÖÖÏØÑÏÝ Kingsley Aliamaka In commemoration of this year’s World Fertility Day, Bridge Clinic has celebrated its 3,000 live births across all their clinics located in Ikeja and Victoria Island of Lagos State; in Port Harcourt and in Abuja.

The management of the health facility said the 3,000th birth is a testament to the over 20 years of hard work, ethical practice and diligent delivery of their services.

At its recently held celebration of the lives of children all over the world following the universal Children’s Day on May 27, Bridge Clinic, the Nigeria’s foremost fertility-focused centre, said since it was founded in 1999, it has been helping to complete the families of couples who struggle to conceive naturally.

According to the Commercial Lead of the clinic, Chinelo DikeOkonkwo, in a statement, the Fertility Day Children’s party celebration with the theme: ‘The Incredibles’, was done to bring to

light “the incredible privilege of being able to assist the conception process through Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and to record thousands of live births from the same process.

“Every live birth is extremely important to us, as it’s always worth celebrating, and we are elated to celebrate approximately 3,000 babies. “We want to keep it top-of-the-mind that fertility treatment is incredible, not taking the place of God as some may presume, but simply adding a little science for those who need that extra jumpstart. We believe that is truly incredible.”

Also in his remarks, the Medical Director of Bridge Clinic, Dr. Toyin Ajayi, added: “Events like these reinforce the fact that everyone deserves to have a family of their own, and everyone currently dealing with fertility challenges should not be stigmatised, but should be given the best possible chance at conception.

“Infertility is a disease according to the WHO, but thanks to the breakthrough interventions of assisted reproductive technology, this disease can be tackled head-on.”

The event also featured former clients of Bridge Clinic who form a team of peer-to-peer supporters called ASPIRE (Association for the Prevention of Infertility and Promotion of Reproductive Health and Rights), a patient advocacy group created to tackle the silence and social stigma associated with infertility.

They shared how their fertility struggles led them to seek fertility care and how Bridge Clinic helped them achieve conception.

Also coinciding with the event within the month of June is the Nigeria Healthcare Excellence Awards (NHEAwards ).

Dike-Okonkwo said: “This prestigious ceremony features a broad spectrum of participants within the healthcare ecosystem.

Bridge Clinic has bagged the

award for ‘IVF Service Provider of the year’ five times and is confident of a sixth win.

“What we do is comparable to international standards, and thanks to our solid quality management system and annual system as well as process audit handled by external auditors, our clients trust us; they keep coming back to us; they keep referring patients to us, and they keep voting for us at the NHEAs.” She said Bridge Clinic continued to extend its invitation to couples who are trying to conceive and who desire to be given the best chance of conception.

“One of such platforms that support couples is the bimonthly Welcome Forum, where couples can speak with a specialist at no charge, and can receive the needed support and counsel from expert fertility specialists to begin treatment. The next Welcome Forum event is slated to hold on June 25 across all their locations,” Dike-Okonkwo added.

Persons with Albinism in Nasarawa State have demanded for the establishment of Special Medical Centres in each state of the federation to provide care and free treatment for people affected by the condition. A visit by THISDAY to some of the Albinos in their various residents in Akwanga and Lafia Local Government Areas of the state last week, gathered that non availability of treatment centres in the state had exposed them to skin cancer infections and other challenges.

In an interview, Nasarawa State chairman of the Association of Persons with Albinism, Mr John Maigwa, said they had been neglected to their fate for a long time as according to him, “most of them could not afford to purchase chemicals, soaps and other facilities that would protect their skins which had led to their death due to cancer”.

He, however, appealed to the Nasarawa State government to come to their aid by initiating a special scheme aimed at providing care for persons with Albinism, especially the less privileged.

According Maigwa, “We faced two major challenges; the society around us finds it difficult to associate with us, people see us as ghosts while others say we are punishment from God. We have never received any assistance from organisations or government.

“Four of my members are down with skin cancer for three years now, with three in critical condition. Just like others who have died due to lack of means to access treatment, these ones may eventually die, unless some urgent steps are done to save their lives. They are from poor families, they hardly get three square meals in a day.”

A person with Albinism, Mr Adeh John, who said he is a car painter, called for more awareness against stigmatisation of persons with Albinism to enable most of them come out of life of social exclusion. He said: “We suffer rejection at motor parks, places of worship and other public gatherings just because of our physical appearance.”

A parent and mother of six, Mrs Aisha Ibrahim, said it took her courage and acceptance to overcome stigma and she had since decided to commit herself to building confidence and self esteem in her four kids who were born with Albinism to enable them to discover their dreams.

Another person with Albinism, Mrs. Nanret Akoji, who is down with skin cancer involving her right eyebrow, said she travels to Abuja every month to access treatment due to non availability of chemotherapeutic drugs and other facilities in the state.

She expressed fear that the rising costs of treatment and other facilities to take care of her skin were becoming unbearable for her to afford. A medical expert and director of public Health, Nasarawa State Ministry of health in the state, Dr. Ibrahim Alhassan Adamu, explained that contrary to superstitious beliefs and myths about persons with Albinism,the condition is not contagious.

He, however, explained that Albinism is a hereditary condition which occurs due to lack of melanin in the body, a substance that is responsible for skin colour. As a result, people who are born with this condition have white skin, eye pupils , hair, and are prone to cancer infections if adequate care of their skin is not done.

With Essay Competition, Heirs Life Commits to Dev’t of the Nigerian Child Vanessa Obioha Heirs Life Assurance (HLA), the leading digital life insurance company in Nigeria, recently announced its inaugural national essay competition for primary and junior secondary school students across Nigeria.

Tagged “‘Heirs Life Essay Championship’, the nationwide competition targets students between the ages of eight and 13.

The championship is aimed at helping students develop effective writing skills and fostering a communal bond across educational institutions in the country.

Announcing the competition in Lagos, Chief Marketing Officer at Heirs Life, Ifesinachi Okpagu stated that the competition was designed to fulfil the company’s commitment to improving lives, especially the development of the Nigerian child.

“The Heirs Life Essay Championship provides a platform for students to express themselves in the most creative way possible.

There is no doubt that this approach will empower the younger generation to dream and pursue their ambition without restriction.

At Heirs Life, we celebrate our future leaders and the exceptional talent displayed by our children.”

Entries for the essay championship opened on Friday, May 27 and will close on Friday, June 17. Participating students are required to submit a 500-word essay on the topic, “If I were the President of Nigeria”. Students are expected to notify their schools of their participation.

Prizes to be won include a brand-new laptop for the winning student, N500,000 worth of books and educational materials donated to the winning school, and several other prizes. The winning school will receive the Championship Cup. Parents, guardians, and school administrators are advised to encourage their children, pupils, students, and wards to participate in the essay championship to push the boundary of creativity among the future leaders. The essays will be graded by a team of professionals in the education field.

35

THURSDAY, ͹;˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

PERSPECTIVE

Leveraging Non-oil Exports for Nigeria’s Export Diversification Agenda Ebenezer Onyeagwu One of the biggest challenges facing policymakers across the globe is how to reinvigorate their economies following the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted global supply chains and decimated demand leading to losses across various economic sectors. Consequently, policymakers have had to leverage fiscal and monetary tools to stimulate growth. The programmes and initiatives deployed in each economy depend on the needs, challenges, and dynamics at play.

For Nigeria, expanding non-oil export has remained a matter of strategic economic importance requiring continual intervention.

The impact of the pandemic on oil demand and, by extension, the price of crude oil in the international commodities market further exposed Nigeria’s over-dependency on crude oil earnings and its susceptibility to oil-related vagaries. The events that characterised the pandemic also highlighted the limited range of the country’s exports to foreign markets.

While non-oil export is increasingly becoming a major source of foreign exchange earnings for Nigeria, accounting for 11.32 per cent of total exports in 2021, oil still contributes about 76 per cent of the country’s total exports, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The expectation is that export diversification programmes and initiatives will intensify as Nigeria continues to re-orient its export profile

Ebenezer Onyeagwu and boost foreign currency earnings. In 2020, the Federal Government rolled out an NGN50 billion Export Expansion Facility Programme (EEFP) under

the NGN2.3 trillion National Economic Sustainability Plan. The programme is designed to increase Nigeria’s export capacity in the near term and export volumes in the medium term by supporting exporters, especially micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs). The EEFP targets sixteen programmes in five areas, including capacity building, financing, market development, infrastructure, and institutional strengthening, and will be implemented by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has played a significant role in boosting financing options for non-oil export value chains through several ongoing initiatives. Its NGN500 billion Non-oil Export Stimulation Facility is designed to enhance access of exporters to concessionary finance and attract new investments in value-added non-oil exports production, while the NGN300 billion Real Sector Support Facility (Differentiated Cash Reserve Requirement Facility) seeks to increase the flow of credit to the real sector of the economy. The apex bank’s sector- and segment-specific programmes include Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS), Creative Industry Financing Initiative (CIFI), CBN/BoI SME/Manufacturing Intervention Fund, and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF).

This year, the CBN launched the race to $200 billion in foreign exchange repatriation (RT200 FX) initiative to raise $200 billion in foreign exchange earnings from non-oil export over the next three to five years. The programme arises from the need to diversify Nigeria’s export earnings from oil while addressing declining foreign exchange earnings. The initiative is anchored on five pillars, including a value-adding exports facility, a non-oil commodities expansion facility, a non-oil FX rebate scheme, a dedicated non-oil export terminal and a biannual non-oil export summit.

This implies that the CBN will incentivise the private sector in the non-oil value chains using a range of tools available under the five pillars.

Reinvigorating the Nigerian economy calls for measures to reduce the country’s dependence on oil exports. It requires expanding the array of the country’s value-added products that are exported to foreign markets. When combined with the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), more non-oil exports translate into enterprise and industry level competitiveness with positive implications for job creation and technological development while enabling the country to earn and save much-needed foreign currency.

Ebenezer Onyeagwu is the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc. This opinion was first published in the Zenith Economic Quarterly Vol. 18 No. 2 April 2022, in his column “CEO Insight”.

NEWS TO BEAT INEC’S DEADLINE, TINUBU QUIETLY SUBMITS FORMS, INCLUDES ‘PLACE HOLDER’ AS RUNNING MATE Atiku Abubakar, has said his main objective was to have Nigerians, who would be the beneficiaries of his policy framework to interrogate the policies on how to reduce infrastructure deficit and free up funds for social investments in the country.

An insider in the ruling APC told THISDAY last night in Abuja that the action by Tinubu and the APC was aimed at meeting the statutory requirement and beat the Friday, June 17, 2022 deadline by INEC for presidential candidates to submit names of their deputies to the commission.

But the choice of running mate is yet to be resolved hence the decision to include a "place holder" instead as vice-presidential candidate, while Tinubu and the APC were still making consultations for a suitable deputy that would enhance the party’s victory in 2023.

The controversy over the suitability of the APC running with a Muslim-Muslim ticket or otherwise, has been very intense in the last few days.

“The name of the running mate submitted would be changed for another northern politician in the next few weeks. The one submitted is just holding the ticket in trust for another candidate to be picked by Tinubu and the party in the next few weeks.

“The candidate is still widely consulting, because the issues around the choice of running mate are many and he is yet to address them all. So, he is still asking for more time to look into it all – whether he is running a Muslim-Muslim or a Muslim-Christian ticket.

“He personally thinks there’s a need for more consultation and that’s what he is doing.

The debate on the choice of deputy has assumed a level that is currently greater than the party and the candidate, hence the need for comprehensive consultation, which is what he is doing,” a reliable party source hinted last night.

Though some names had been

mentioned as possible runningmate to the former Lagos state, it was gathered that no compromise have been reached yet.

A source in the Tinubu's camp told THISDAY that all the northern governors want the position.

The source added that if Tinubu had his way, he would have loved to pick the former Governor of Borno state, Kashim Shettima as his running-mate, but he wanted the president and the governors to pick.

The source said: "All northern governors want it. If Tinubu has his way, it will be Senator Kashim. But he wants the president and governors to pick for him."

Asked why Tinubu does not want to pick his running mate himself, the source stressed he didn't want to be a winner takes it all.

"He does not want to be the winner takes it all. You need to respect the president. Buhari did not choose VP for himself in 2015."

From the PDP camp, a credible party source, had disclosed that after an extensive deliberation, where Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and sacked former Imo State governor, Emeka Ihedioha, were considered, the vice-presidential nomination committee, settled for one of the governors.

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, however, named Dr. Akilu Indabawa, as the Committee Secretary while Mr. Sunday Omobo, was nominated as Administrative Secretary.

“Pursuant to Part VI, Paragraph 14 of the the Electoral Guidelines of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Working Committee (NWC), has approved the nomination of the following party members to serve on the Vice Presidential Candidate Screening Committee for the screening/ verifying of the nominated

Vice Presidential Candidate of our Party for the 2023 general election,” the statement stated.

Other members of the committee, the statement listed, were Chief Osita Chidoka, Member; Rt. Hon. Binta Bello, Member; Chief Mrs. Alh. Mutiat Adedoja, Member; Rt. Hon. Austin Opara, Member; Prof. Aisha Madawaki, Member; Mrs. Ayotunde GeorgeOlogun, Member; Chief Mrs. Chidiebelu Mofus, Member; and H.E. Fidelis Tapgun, Member.

The party said the screening exercise would hold at the National Working Committee (NWC) Hall, PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, today, June 16, 2022. at 10am.

Deadline for the submission of presidential candidates and the vice-presidential candidates ends tomorrow, June 17, as the INEC website shuts down automatically by 6pm.

Also, deadline for the submission of governorship and state assembly candidates ended yesterday, Wednesday, June 15, while the submission for National Assembly candidates ends tomorrow, Friday June 17.

Sources close to the party informed THISDAY that the NWC will submit the names of three vice presidential nominees to Atiku for his consideration.

The three nominees were of South South and South East zones.

However, based on the timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP is expected to submit the names of its presidential candidate and running mate today or before 6pm tomorrow, Friday, June 17, 2022.

Meanwhile, Atiku, while reacting to the observations by the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), said it was important to emphasise that actively promoting private sector participation in infrastructure development would be beneficial to the economy.

He also said it was inevitable that Nigerians incentivise the private sector to take risk and invest in the economy for obvious

reasons.

According to a statement by his media office, Atiku said, "There is no telling that Nigeria’s huge infrastructure deficit is making businesses uncompetitive and stunting economic growth. The supply of efficient infrastructure, including roads and rail transportation, communication, adequate power etcetera is extremely important for the economy to grow and create much-needed jobs.

"Therefore, to build the economy of our dreams, we must increase the stock and improve the quality of our infrastructure.

Inadequate infrastructure has been identified as the most problematic factor for doing business in Nigeria."

The PDP presidential candidate further said, “In terms of actual spending, Nigeria currently spends less than 1% of its annual GDP on infrastructure as against the required levels of between 3%5% of annual GDP. This shortfall has created a deficit, estimated at USD 3 Trillion over the next 30 years. Our overwhelmed public sector does not have the resources or expertise to deliver.

"While our financing requirement is approximately 100 billion USD per annum, Nigeria’s entire budget is only USD 30 billion.

The National Development Plan envisages that 80% of all investments will come from the private sector.

"Regrettably, Nigeria’s core infrastructure sectors are not operating efficiently. Almost all the infrastructure sectors from roads, railways, housing, power, and energy are operating below potential. Over the years, we have observed how these enterprises consume huge public resources, while offering poor quality services.

"Many of these state-owned Enterprises have become a source for political patronage, corruption, and rent-seeking to the detriment of Nigeria’s long-term economic growth "For example, Nigeria’s refining infrastructure remains poor

despite the perennial injection of unending public resources for turnaround maintenance.

The country’s refining capacity per capita is 0.002 bpd/capita compared to Libya’s 0.06 bpd/ capita and South Africa’s 0.01 bpd/capita.

"As of today, Nigeria imports over 80% of its refined products to meet its current needs and is said to be the largest importer of PMS in the world, with significant balance of trade implications," Atiku explained.

Sadly, he contended that, "The fiscal cost of maintaining these state-owned Enterprises is enormous, and it comes with even greater opportunity costs. By holding unto these underperforming enterprises, Nigeria is sacrificing investments in critical areas, including education, health, water, sanitation, and rural infrastructure.

“For example, the first phase in the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s refineries is expected to gulp US$1.55 billion! With its current precarious fiscal position and daunting development challenges, Nigeria cannot afford to forego productivity enhancing investments in human capital development and channel scarce resources to moribund enterprises."

Specifically on his policy document tagged: “My Covenant With Nigeria”, Atiku said, his objective was to drive private investment to shift Nigeria from being a “net importer” to a “net exporter” of petroleum products and become the refining hub of the entire West Africa region."

According to the former vice president, “We cannot hope to achieve this without extensive reforms to restore investor confidence, which is currently at its lowest ebb. The active participation of the private sector in the downstream sector will help drive efficiency and healthy competition in the oil and gas sector."

The Bureau of Public Enterprises, had stated that 67% of the 142 privatised firms were

performing, explaining that it must be noted that several firms, not just liberalised enterprises, were facing business environment challenges in Nigeria.

Many have closed and or being forced to relocate to neighbouring countries, because of the poor business environment.

To this end, Atiku said, "There is no denying the fact that Nigeria has derived enormous benefits from the creation of a liberal environment to facilitate private sector participation in key sectors of the economy. Today, the IT sector is undeniably the fastest growing services sector in the Nigerian economy. We need to replicate these efforts by extending the reform initiatives to other sectors.

“Of course, different countries have implemented liberalisation programmes with varied outcomes and over time and space just as other policies. But it is easier to point to success stories around the world: from Vietnam to Mexico; from Indonesia to South Africa and Egypt etcetera than outright failures.

“For the avoidance of doubt, liberalisation and deregulation programmes, have supported the private sector to unleash its growth potentials and enabled these governments focus on investing in education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, water and sanitation with such proceeds.

"Every reform measure has the potential to create difficulties especially, in the short-term, but with a positive impact on incomes, employment, and poverty, over the medium and long-term.

Liberalised firms may face difficulties as they transit from the old culture of rent-seeking and dependence on government for survival, to a new business culture that is driven by efficiency and competition.

"But Atiku Abubakar will ensure that his economic reform measures are accompanied by a series of mutually supportive activities aimed at easing these difficulties and making the reform measures impactful."

36

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ JUNE 16, 2022

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

WOFA to Raise $10bn to Bridge Infrastructure Deficit Ferdinand Ekechukwu A newly established think-tank, The World Forum for Africa (WOFA), is set to galvanise stakeholders around the world to bridge the infrastructure gaps in Africa by raising $10b in the first tranche through its innovative annual private sector led global summit coupled with a transnational initiative: Infrastructure As An Asset (IAAA) proprietary program. The IAAA will be used to conceptualize and implement transformational infrastructural projects, which are economically viable, fiscally and commercially sustainable.

Speaking about the think-tank, the co-convener, Abi Ahmed Haruna, noted that WOFA is single-mindedly committed to infrastructure development in Africa. Quoting relevant statistics to buttress the urgent call for creative financing to

close the infrastructure deficit in the continent, Haruna stated that “Notwithstanding some outstanding initiatives, in 2016 the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development estimated that between $1.6 trillion and $2.5 trillion is required annually for the period 2015–2030 to bridge the infrastructure-financing gap in developing countries.”

He continued: “The African Development Bank estimates that Africa needs $170 billion a year by 2025, with an estimated gap of around $100 billion to plug the gaping infrastructure deficit across all major sectors in the continent and to meet the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This tenuous position of Africa is further heightened by the unprecedented double impact of the COVID 19 pandemic in the last two years and current conflict in Ukraine.”

According to him, “WOFA

is focused on inspiring the build-out of transformational infrastructure projects across Africa thus spurring what is perhaps the largest economic transformation in human history.”

“WOFA is essentially about helping to bridge the infrastructural gap across this great continent. It is determined to lead the continent’s infrastructure revolution through a Made in Africa initiative,” he said.

Abi, who is an Attorney and an Africa’s digital infrastructure transformation enthusiast, further submitted that, “WOFA’s objective is to make a difference by achieving creative, innovative and sustainable financing solutions for Africa’s infrastructure transformation through collaboration with international development partners and major stakeholders in Africa infrastructure value chain delivery, including private and public sectors.”

L-R: Assistant Controller, Nigeria Custom Service (NCS), Ewurum Roseline; Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf; Managing Director, LOTUS Bank Limited, Kafilat Araoye and the Director, Trade and Exchange Department Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Ozoemena Nnaji during the 2022 Lotus Bank Exporter’s Forum in Lagos... recently.

FCMB Provides 300,000 Underbanked Nigerians with Microloans worth N40bn First City Monument Bank (FCMB), through EasyAgents, its agency banking network and other channels, has successfully onboarded and empowered one million financially excluded Nigerians, ensuring they have a better and more sustainable future through access to financial services.

As part of its financial inclusion programme, the Bank has provided microloans valued at N40 billion to over 300,000 beneficiaries comprising 200,000 women traders across the country who have accessed over $51.28 million (N28.7 billion) of the total loan sum.

Committing to affordable and sustainable financial services for

unbanked and underbanked Nigerians, the Managing Director of FCMB, Mrs Yemisi Edun, said: “We are proud of our significant role in integrating Nigeria’s huge informal economy driven by small-scale farmers, traders, artisans, and other small and medium-sized businesses into the formal economy through affordable and sustainable access to financial services. Access to financial services enables prosperity and allows disadvantaged and vulnerable people to improve their lives, create wealth and reduce poverty. So, we will continue championing and executing initiatives that deepen access to affordable and sustainable financial services in our

local communities to empower individuals and businesses.”

In driving financial inclusion, First City Monument Bank embraced partnerships as critical success criteria. Last year, the Bank partnered with the World Savings Banks Institute (WSBI) to deepen agency banking and financial inclusion by rolling out an integrated savings account – ‘Easy Account’- to empower two million farmers by 2023. Under the first phase of the partnership, covering over 150,000 unbanked and under-banked farmers across five states, beneficiaries are provided funds and training support through agricultural agents operating under FCMB’s agency banking proposition.

FIRS, KWIRS Patrner on Revenue Generation Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has reiterated its commitment to partner with the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS) in the bid to boost and improve revenue generation in the state.

The Tax Controller of FIRS, Mr. Adama Isa made the remark in Ilorin over the weekend when he led the seven-man team to the KWIRS Corporate Office, Ilorin, the state capital.

The seven-man Committee was received by the executive chairman of KWIRS, Mrs. Shade Omoniyi.

Isa said that continual collaboration between the two agencies would ensure eligible taxpayers in the state are adequately and appropriately captured into the tax net. The FIRS official also said that the courtesy visit was aimed at strengthening the long-standing institutional relationship between FIRS and KW-IRS. Isa, who applauded the data-sharing liaison between both revenue agencies, pledged continual collaboration in ensuring eligible taxpayers in the State are adequately and appropriately captured into the tax net.

The team also discussed several areas of interest and concerns as

it relate to revenue enhancement for Kwara State.

Responding, the Executive Chairman, KW-IRS, Mrs. Omoniyi, commended FIRS for the support towards achieving seamless tax administration.

She stated that, among the ongoing reforms of the Service is the ability of taxpayers to apply for Tax Clearance Certificate online through KW-IRS Self-Service Portal.

The KW-IRS boss assured continuous excellent service delivery, integrity and efficiency in tax administration of the state, adding that KW-IRS will not relent in improving on its processes in a bid to grow IGR of the state.

TAJBank Signs MoU with ICD to Attract Capital Projects’ Financing in Nigeria Kayode Tokede TAJBank Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, aimed at attracting funding for major infrastructure projects in Nigeria.

The MOU signing between TAJBank and the ICD is to express a convergence of will between both entities and

build a relationship between the Nigerian lender and the international organization to explore avenues of financing key capital projects in the Country.

According to the bank’s board, the Sukuk will be offered in tranches of N10 billion each as soon as regulatory approvals are secured.

Speaking on the MOU after the signing, TAJBank’s Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Hamid Joda, enthused:

“We are deeply delighted to have crossed another milestone with the signing of this MOU and especially with the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), it only further buttresses our intention of stimulating investments in critical sectors of the economy leading to national development. As we all know, Nigeria has a huge infrastructure gap that requires funding through long-term funds like that of the ICD.”

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 ˾ ˜ ͯʹ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

Dangote Sugar Refinery Rewards Shareholders N12.15bn Dividend, Restates Commitment to Backward Integration Kayode Tokede Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc has rewarded shareholders of the company a dividend payout of N12.15billion for the financial year ended December 31, 2021, reiterating the management commitment to the achievement of Sugar Backward integration projects of the federal government.

The dividend pay-out of

N12.147 billion for the year was unanimously approved by the shareholders. The dividend represents N1.00 per share.

Speaking to shareholders at the 16th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Dangote Sugar Plc, in Lagos the Chairman of the Company, Aliko Dangote, said that despite the harsh operating environment, the board and

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

management were not deterred in the pursuit of sustainable growth for the company and demonstrated resilience by continued implementation of its strategic objectives during the year, 2021.

According to Dangote, the Company’s performance during the year under review is commendable amidst the challenges and the negative impact of COVID-19

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

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

pandemic on economic activities. “We furthered the implementation of process optimisation, cost savings, and product promotion strategies with the launch of our new brand identity and the pursuit of the Dangote Sugar Backward integration master plan” He further stated that the Board and Management will continue to implement

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

strategic actions to sustain and surpass this performance while engaging with all stakeholders in the sector and its communities to ensure the realisation of the objectives of the Company.

On the company’s backward integration project, Dangote chairman emphasised that the goal of Dangote Sugar Backward Integration Projects Master plan

O F

remains the achievement of 1.5 million MT annually from locally grown sugar cane in support of the quest for sugar sufficiency in the country by the federal government.

He added that this will be achieved in addition to the extended value chain benefits that will be derived from the projects including thousands of jobs that will be generated in the sector from these projects.

1 5 / 0 6 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

38

THURSDAY, ͹;˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

Thursday, June 16, 2022

dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƐ ϱϮďƉƐ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ŝŶĚĞdž ĚŝƉƉĞĚ ϱϮďƉƐ ƚŽ Ϯ͕ϰϳϴ͘ϯϮ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

ŝŶĚĞdž ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƐĞůůŽī ŝŶ DdEE ;ͲϮ͘ϰйͿ͕ EͲ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϲϳϰ͘ϴϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϲйͿ͕ /d, ;ͲϮ͘ϬйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E, ;Ͳϱ͘ϳйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞƐĞ t W K ;Ͳϭ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ h ;ͲϬ͘ϳйͿ͘ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂͲ

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϰ͘ϰй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘ ƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘Ϯй͘

Current Price

Ticker

ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ WĞƌƐŝƐƚƐ͘​͘​͘ ^/ ĚŽǁŶ Ϭ͘ϲй ^/ ƵƉ ϭϭďƉƐ ĂƐ E' D 'ĂŝŶƐ ϯ͘ϯй

zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ďŽƵƌƐĞ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ŝƚƐ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂLJ͕ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ŝŶĚĞdž ŝŶ ĨĞůů ,KEz&>KhZ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ Ϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E, ;нϬ͘ϳйͿ ďŽůͲ

ϱϮ͕ϳϳϱ͘ϰϬ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲŽī ŝŶ DdEE ;ͲϮ͘ϰйͿ͕ & E, ƐƚĞƌĞĚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůůͲ

;Ͳϱ͘ϳйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ h E ;Ͳϳ͘ϳйͿ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ^ŚĂƌĞ

ŝŶĚĞdž

ƌŽƐĞ

ďLJ

ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ Ϯϯ͘ϱй ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƐŚĞĚ ϭϭďƉƐ ƚŽ ϯϵ͕ϱϱϬ͘ϯϲ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ zd ůŽƐƐ ŝŵͲ

േϭϴϮ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϴ͘ϱƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂŶĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ Ͳϭ͘ϴй ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

5 Zenith Bank PLC 6 Dangote Cement PLC 7 Nestle Nigeria PLC

ϭϴϴ͘ϭŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ േϮ͘ϰďŶ͘

േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ

13 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 14 SEPLAT Energy PLC

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ϴϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

15 Ecobank Transnational Inc 16 International Brew eries PLC

ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ

17 Okomu Oil Palm PLC 18 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ E ^d> ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕

ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ ǁŚŝůĞ Ϯ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

&ZͲ/ d ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ Ϯ͘Ϭй ĂŶĚ ϭ͘Ϭй

ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƐĞůůŽīƐ ŝŶ h E ;Ͳϳ͘ϳйͿ͕ EͲ ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ /d, ;ͲϮ͘ϬйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ DdEE ;ͲϮ͘ϰйͿ͘ dƌĂŝůŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĚŝƉƉĞĚ Ϭ͘ϵй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϱй ƐĞͲ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ĂŶĚ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ͕ ϭ ŝŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ/ d ƋƵĞŶƟĂůůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ >/E< ^^hZ ;Ͳ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ ϴ͘ϵйͿ͕ WZ ^d/' ;Ͳϱ͘ϬйͿ͕ /Ed Z t ;Ͳϲ͘ϭйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ , DW/Ͳ

ROA

P/E

33.6% 147.8%

5.1x

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

P/BV

0.8x

6.3%

18.0%

0.0%

45.8%

84.9%

84.9%

18.2%

6.2%

234.20

-2.4%

7.9%

18.9%

18.9%

105.6%

13.9%

14.8x

18.3x

5.6%

74.25

0.0%

6.1%

10.7%

10.7%

23.3%

12.1%

27.9x

6.3x

3.9%

3.6%

21.65

0.7%

4.4%

-16.7%

-16.7%

19.8%

3.2%

3.6x

0.7x

13.7%

28.1% 35.7%

1.2% 6.8%

22.25

-2.0%

4.3%

-11.5%

-11.5%

20.6%

2.6%

2.8x

0.5x

13.9%

277.00

0.0%

3.8%

7.8%

7.8%

37.7%

16.4%

12.5x

4.6x

7.8%

8.0%

1,400.00

0.0%

2.6%

-10.1%

-10.1%

112.8%

16.1%

24.3x

28.3x

3.6%

4.1%

8 FBN Holdings Plc 9 Lafarge Africa PLC 10 Access Holdings PLC 11 United Bank for Africa PLC 12 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

-0.52%

ROE

1,766.00

3 BUA Cement Plc 4 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC

ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĨĞůů ϯϳ͘ϯй ĂŶĚ Ϯϯ͘ϴй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ƚŽ

ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ dZ E^ KZW ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ & E, ;ϭϭ͘ϭŵ

2478.32

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

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

9.90

-5.7%

2.4%

-13.2%

-13.2%

20.1%

1.9%

2.1x

0.4x

3.5%

46.8%

27.90

0.7%

3.1%

16.5%

16.5%

15.5%

11.1%

7.6x

1.1x

7.3%

13.2%

9.55

-2.6%

2.2%

2.7%

2.7%

17.9%

1.6%

2.1x

0.3x

7.2%

47.9%

7.60

-0.7%

1.7%

-5.6%

-5.6%

15.6%

1.4%

2.2x

0.3x

13.2%

45.9%

33.55

1.1%

1.2%

-6.8%

-6.8%

15.6%

2.1%

7.1x

1.1x

8.9%

14.1%

63.50

0.0%

1.6%

27.0%

27.0%

10.5%

3.9%

27.3x

2.7x

2.6%

3.7%

1,289.50

0.0%

2.5%

98.4%

98.4%

7.5%

3.6%

13.2x

1.0x

3.2%

7.6%

11.05

0.0%

1.4%

27.0%

27.0%

18.4%

1.0%

2.4x

0.4x

6.2%

42.5%

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc 23 United Capital PLC 24 Guinness Nigeria PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria 26 Presco PLC

6.90

-6.1%

1.3%

39.4%

39.4%

-9.9%

-3.4%

193.50

0.0%

1.2%

36.3%

36.3%

43.6%

25.5%

10.1x

4.2x

4.1%

9.9%

35.00

0.0%

1.0%

23.5%

23.5%

15.9%

4.5%

5.4x

0.8x

6.3%

18.7% 40.1%

1.3x

-7.7%

3.28

0.3%

0.6%

28.6%

28.6%

13.3%

1.2%

2.5x

0.3x

10.7%

2.13

0.0%

0.4%

-8.2%

-8.2%

2.9%

0.9%

20.3x

0.6x

11.8%

4.9%

16.00

-0.3%

0.4%

-8.0%

-8.0%

16.7%

6.6%

8.6x

1.4x

6.3%

11.6%

10.7%

1.1%

3.50

0.0%

0.4%

17.1%

17.1%

12.90

-0.8%

0.4%

30.3%

30.3%

90.50

0.0%

0.7%

132.1%

132.1%

1.27

-3.1%

0.3%

32.3%

32.3%

17.8%

8.1%

13.5x

0.3x

5.7%

3.2x

11.6%

2.2x

0.5%

0.5x

1.6%

7.4%

166.80

0.0%

0.5%

90.0%

90.0%

7.8x

4.7x

4.0%

12.8%

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

3.2%

7.7%

0.65

1.6%

0.2%

-7.1%

-7.1%

21.1%

3.6%

26.4x

0.6x

3.1%

3.8%

29 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri 30 Custodian and Allied Insurance

234.50

0.0%

0.2%

5.7%

5.7%

1.7x

8.1%

7.00

0.0%

0.2%

-11.4%

-11.4%

19.5%

5.5%

4.1x

0.8x

7.1%

24.3%

Ğƌ ;ͲϮ͘ϵйͿ͘ 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ĚŽǁŶ ϰ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ KE KŶ ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉ ƐŝĚĞ͕ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ͕ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ K E K

31 Vitafoam Nigeria PLC 32 Unilever Nigeria PLC

22.50

0.0%

0.2%

0.0%

0.0%

50.3%

19.0%

4.2x

2.1x

6.7%

23.9%

14.90

0.0%

0.1%

2.8%

2.8%

8.8%

5.4%

29.1x

1.3x

3.3%

3.4%

ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> ;Ͳ ;нϬ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ t W K ;нϬ͘ϳйͿ ĚƌŽǀĞ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ

33 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 34 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

26.90

0.0%

0.2%

20.4%

20.4%

18.1%

2.3%

6.0x

0.8x

9.3%

16.7%

6.00

-7.7%

0.1%

1.7%

1.7%

6.1%

0.7%

9.5x

0.7x

10.6%

5.83

0.5%

0.1%

31.9%

31.9%

14.5%

2.6%

2.5x

0.3x

39.8%

3.20

0.0%

0.0%

344.4%

344.4%

15.6%

0.9%

11.8x

1.7x

7.5%

8.4%

3.85

0.0%

0.1%

-14.4%

-14.4%

22.3%

12.9%

4.0x

0.8x

5.7%

25.1%

1.9x

0.3x

6.5%

52.0%

ϵ͘ϭйͿ͕

hE/> s Z

;Ͳϯ͘ϱйͿ͕

>/E< ^^hZ

;Ͳϲ͘ϰйͿ͕

35 Oando PLC 36 Wema Bank PLC

/ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ďLJ Ϭ͘ϭй ĂŶĚ ϱďƉƐ͕ ƌĞͲ ĂŶĚ D E^ Z ;ͲϮ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ

37 NEM Insurance PLC 38 Sterling Bank PLC

ƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘

ŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ďLJ Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲ

39 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K ;ͲϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͘ KƵƚůŽŽŬ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ͕ Ğƌ͕

ƵƉ

ϭ͘ϴй

ĚƌŝǀĞŶ

ďLJ

ƉƌŝĐĞ

ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂͲ

ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ŵĂƌŐŝŶĂůůLJ ƚŽ ͲϬ͘Ϯϭdž ĨƌŽŵ ͲϬ͘ϮϮdž ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŽƌ ƟŽŶ ŝŶ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͘

ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ ϭϭ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ͕ Ϯϲ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϳϬ

ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽĚĂLJ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ ƚŽ ůŝŶŐĞƌ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂďƐĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ĐĂƚĂůLJƐƚƐ͘ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ

DĞĂŶǁŚŝůĞ͕ ƚŚĞ EĂƟŽŶĂů ƵƌĞĂƵ ŽĨ ^ƚĂƟƐƟĐƐ ƉƵďůŝƐŚĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ƚŚĞ ŝŶŇĂƟŽŶ ƌĞƉŽƌƚ ĨŽƌ DĂLJ ϮϬϮϮ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϭϱ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ DZ^ ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ D zͲ

T ic k er

^dK < ;Ͳϰ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ƚŽ ĚĂLJ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ƐŝŶĐĞ :ƵŶĞ ϮϬϮϭ͘ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ĂƩƌŝďƵƚĞĚ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞƐ ŝŶ ďŽƚŚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŵŝdžĞĚ͕ ĂƐ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ƐĞĂƐŽŶ ĐŽƌĞ ĂŶĚ ĨŽŽĚ ŝŶŇĂƟŽŶ ƐƵďĐŽŵƉŽŶĞŶƚƐ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ƌŽƐĞ ϳϮďƉƐ ŐƌĂĚƵĂůůLJ ǁŝŶĚƐ ƵƉ͘ ĂŶĚ ϭϭϯ ďƉƐ LJͬLJ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ƚŽ ϭϰ͘ϵй ĂŶĚ ϭϵ͘ϱй͘

2.6%

2.6%

9.9%

0.9%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-17.7%

-4.1%

6.25

0.0%

0.0%

16.2%

16.2%

P ric e

1.8x 1.0x

-9.5% 1.1%

gha na 2 0 2 9

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

2.37

9.7%

FCM B

52.1

0.0%

SUN UA SSUR

0.35

9.4%

UB A

47.7

-0.6%

WA P IC

0.42

5.0%

T R A N SC OR P

39.3

-5.1%

ST ER LN B A N K

1.55

2.0%

A C C ESSC OR P

30.1

0.0%

C OR N ER ST

0.62

1.6%

GT C O

20.4

-2.3% -0.5%

0.68

1.5%

FB NH

13.1

NB

63.50

0.8%

WA P C O

10.5

-1.1%

N GXGR OUP

24.95

0.2%

Z EN IT H B A N K

8.2

-0.7%

ET ER N A

8.00

0.0%

N GXGR OUP

7.8

0.2%

UP D C R EIT

3.40

0.0%

A IIC O

6.6

-3.0%

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 CA P

P ric e 18.15

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

-9.9%

GT C O

446.1

P ric e C hg % -2.3%

UB A

365.3

-0.6% 0.0%

C A VER T ON

1.06

-7.8%

LIVEST OC K

1.50

-6.2%

A C C ESSC OR P

294.0

-5.1%

WA P C O

290.4

-1.1%

194.1

0.2%

T R A N SC OR P

1.31

C H A M P ION

3.50

-4.6%

N GXGR OUP

R OYA LEX

0.90

-4.3%

Z EN IT H B A N K

186.8

-0.7%

-4.0%

FCM B

182.3

0.0%

-3.3%

A IR T ELA F R I

160.6

0.0%

135.0

0.0%

132.1

-0.5%

CHA M S OA N D O

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

0.1%

LEA R N A F R C A

< Z ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͛Ɛ ĂŶĚ ,KEz&>KhZ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ ƌĂƚĞ ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƉŽƌƚ͕ ŚĞĂĚůŝŶĞ ŝŶŇĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ƚŽ ǁŚŝůĞ dZ E^ ;Ͳϴ͘ϯйͿ͕ > ^ K ĂŶĚ >/s Ͳ ϭϳ͘ϳй LJͬLJ ;ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůLJ ϭϲ͘ϴй LJͬLJͿ ʹ ;Ͳϲ͘ϳйͿ͕ ƚŚĞ ŚŝŐŚĞƐƚ ůĞǀĞů

0.0% 0.0%

T o p 10 G a in e r s

C H IP LC

ĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ hƉĚĂƚĞ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϲdž

1.55 62.50

0.24 5.80

J A P A ULGOLD

0.30

-3.2%

F LOUR M ILL

A IIC O

0.64

-3.0%

FB NH

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 16, 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 09June-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 198.51 199.66 18.91% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 6.19% Nigeria International Debt Fund 319.13 319.13 4.53% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 105.81 106.96 7.24% 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 8.18% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.74 3.81 5.67% 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 4.08% Anchoria Equity Fund 148.62 150.30 6.73% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.20 1.20 4.83% 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 22.29 22.97 9.90% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 517.18 532.77 14.63% ARM Ethical Fund 43.50 44.81 11.67% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.06 1.07 -1.71% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.04 1.05 2.80% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.35% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 105.73 105.73 8.59% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,115.20 1,115.20 11.52% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.12 2.12 7.53% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.37 2.42 19.41% CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,013.56 1,013.56 4.22% CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.05 1.05 3.91% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.02% Paramount Equity Fund 20.4 20.76 16.93% Women's Investment Fund 153.03 154.97 7.78% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.17% Cordros Milestone Fund 135.36 136.22 8.56% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 101.81 101.81 5.09% 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 4.45% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 5.72% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,160.40 1,173.51 -0.36% 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 7.67% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.05 1.05 8.32% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.07 1.07 17.14% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 102.65 102.65 4.58% 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 1462.28 1462.28 10.49% FBN Balanced Fund 194.96 196.36 11.24% FBN Halal Fund 120.39 120.39 10.11% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.17% FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) 124.14 124.14 5.59% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 167.18 169.37 9.95% 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 4.74% Legacy Debt Fund 3.97 3.97 -0.86% Legacy Equity Fund 1.98 2.02 14.10% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.23 1.23 1.72% 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

4,225.36 3,566.64 100.00

4,287.52 3,566.64 100.00

18.94% 6.27% 5.93%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.10 1.10 3.86% 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 100.00 100.00 4.47% Vantage Balanced Fund 3.05 3.09 13.16% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 140.79 140.79 2.74% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.33 1.36 11.34% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.09 1.09 4.02% 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 1.59 1.61 11.80% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,171.02 1,171.02 4.45% 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 12.66 12.72 15.68% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 8.13% 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) 102.25 102.25 7.67% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 8.04% 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 131.51 134.78 8.13% 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 3,724.65 3,767.12 -1.28% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 239.20 239.20 0.14% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.49 1.51 -0.66% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 321.04 321.05 0.23% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 275.73 279.50 -0.30% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.67% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 12,494.80 12,667.01 -1.25% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.32 1.32 0.21% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.62 118.62 0.12% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 109.78 109.78 0.29% 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 1.03 1.05 15.33% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.45 1.48 10.85% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.16 1.18 12.33% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.06 1.06 3.31% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.89 1.89 2.98% United Capital Eurobond Fund 121.40 121.40 2.50% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.63% 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 14.07 14.20 6.66% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 16.30 16.48 11.56% Zenith Income Fund 22.69 22.69 3.35% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.68% 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 4.09 4.19 1.92% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 6.42 6.52 9.78% Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund 19.56 19.76 10.54% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.26% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 21.87 22.07 9.38% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 153.05 155.05 -2.97%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

116.90 51.69

3.19% 1.76%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

15.43 147.47 117.13 17.10 16.40

15.53 151.04 119.64 17.20 16.50

10.29% -2.37% -1.48% 19.98% 7.25%

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, ͹;˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

FORTY

Relatives of Abducted Kaduna-bound Train Passengers Urge FG to Intensify Efforts for Release of Remaining 50 John Shiklam in Kaduna The families and relations of passengers kidnapped in the March 28, Abuja-Kaduna train attack have appealed to the federal government to intensify efforts to secure the release of the remaining 50 victims being held captive by the terrorists.

Addressing journalists in Kaduna yesterday, the Chair-

man of the victims’ families, Dr. Abdulfatah Jimoh, expressed concern over the health condition of those still in captivity. remaining victims.

Jimoh said the 11 that were released on Saturday were still in the hospital as they are sick, traumatised and mentally unstable.

Jimoh whose wife is among those still in captivity, com-

mended the government for the release of the 11 and appealed that urgent steps should be taken to ensure freedom for the remaining 50 victims.

He said, “Today being the 77th day after the abduction of our loved ones in the AK-9 Abuja-Kaduna Train, we are here to express our appreciation to God Almighty and thank Mr. President, the Service Chiefs,

and other Nigerians for the efforts at ensuring the release of 11 of our loved ones.

“We are also saying that, we still have 50 of our loved ones in captivity and we are praying that very soon, they will also be released and reunited with us.

“Those that were released are still receiving treatment in the hospital, they had gone through a lot of trauma for 77 days,

mental trauma, psychological trauma and mental torture.

“They are mentally unstable.

So, they are still recuperating.

We hope very soon; they will come back to their normal selves.

“Some of those still in captivity are sick according to information available to us. So, we are appealing to the federal government to

ensure they are rescued as soon as possible.

“Even those that are not physically sick are not in good mental status, so everyone in there needs to come out as soon as possible, every one more day they spend there is a day of trauma. We are hoping, praying and appealing that all of them are rescued in the shortest possible time.”

AS NIGERIA GRAPPLES WITH BLACKOUTS, W'BANK SAYS $100BN NEEDED TO SOLVE ERRATIC POWER SUPPLY Commenting on the $100 billion needed by the country over the next 10 years, World Bank’s Regional Director for Infrastructure, Africa West and East of the global bank, Ashish Khanna, who spoke at a programme organised by The Electricity Hub, an organisation which provides insights on the sector, stated that a large chunk of the investment was expected to come from the private sector.

He added that Nigeria has the highest number of people without electricity worldwide, which has led to about four per cent loss of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Khanna said the issues of subsidy, gas-to-power as well as energy access would have to be sorted out before a headway can be achieved in the sector.

On a comparative basis, he noted that Ghana already has 85 per cent electricity access while Senegal was on its way to achieving 100 per cent access by 2025, stressing that Nigeria has all it takes to move from less than 50 per cent access to universal energy provision.

“Our estimation is that Nigeria will need at least $100 billion in the next 10 years, and it will be very difficult for government or the world Bank to plug that hole.

“And the private sector will do a lot of funding and will look out for whether the sector is financially viable. But they will ask ‘if I set up a plant, will they pay for it'? Is the policy and regulatory environment for the sector certain?” he said.

According to him, if the government gets the distribution side of the industry right, the private sector would be willing to come in.

However, he added that Nigerians must begin to see improvement in supply, which is important for their buy-in.

He further revealed that the World Bank’s engagement in Nigeria is still largest by the organisation anywhere in the world, adding that the country remains an important development partner.

In his comments, the Minister of Power, Mr. Abubakar Aliyu, argued that the sector was now receiving more attention especially on infrastructure from generation, to transmission and distribution as well as the interfaces with gas producers.

He admitted that the sector hadn’t had enough focus in the past leading to decay, but said President Muhammadu Buhari was determined to upgrade the infrastructure because the country

cannot move forward without it.

Aliyu said the Siemens project was on course, stressing that it is meant to take generation to 25,000 megawatts by 2025. He assured that between September to December, a number of infrastructure will be arriving from abroad.

He disclosed that the national grid remains unstable and wouldn’t take the other sources of planned energy, saying that therefore off-grid electricity was being planned in silos.

The minister further stated that the federal government was planning 14 projects which will give the country 1,000 megawatts with 10 state governors already collaborating for an additional 100 mw each to hit 2,000mw off-grid.

Declaring that Nigeria was also looking at newer sources of power like hydrogen, Aliyu explained that the current focus on solar is in line with the 30:30:30 vision to ensure that by year 3030, 30 per cent of Nigeria’s total power generation will be based on renewable sources.

He said the industry was undergoing reform, which he said will take time to manifest, insisting that comparing Nigeria with other countries like Senegal was fundamentally flawed because

of size and other differences.

According to him, the Right of Way (RoW) issue had been a big challenge, taking years to resolve and halting some projects , which eventually will undergo variation because of delays.

“We want to raise our baseload to a level where we can later integrate these other energy sources,” he said, adding that the federal government was discussing with 14 solar developers to execute projects off-grid.

According to him, Nigeria’s biggest hydropower plants, Kainji and Jebba, could barely produce 130MW of power, despite having a combined installed capacity of around 1,300MW. Also speaking, Country Director, World Bank, Shubham Chauduri, explained that as a development agency, the World Bank was committed to helping the government lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.

“So in the last two years, between 2020 and 2022, our board has approved $8.5 billion financing for Nigeria,” he said.

Beyond financing, he noted that officials of the bank also exchange ideas on how to get these things done, adding that the areas of

FG: WE ARE STUDYING MALABU OIL DEAL COURT JUDGEMENT judgement lost $1.7 billion claims against JP Morgan Chase Bank over the transfer of proceeds from the sale of OPL 245 in 2011.

Reacting to the judgement on behalf of the Federal Government, Minister of information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who spoke with newsmen at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, said the government’s lawyers would study the ruling and decide whether to appeal or not.

Commenting on the Court judgement, Mohammed said: “I also read the judgement. Malabu oil and I think strangely enough, the judge said we were not able to establish that we lost $1.7 billion.

"But I also read further that the lawyer said that they are studying the judgement and they will take the appropriate step on whether to appeal or not."

Adoke said the judgement has once again vindicated him of any wrong doing in the Operating Oil License 245 otherwise known as Malabu Oil. Reacting to the judgment, Adoke said, "it is very gratifying that foreign courts have declared over and over again that there were no fraudulent or corrupt practices involved in the OPL 245 Settlement Resolution."

Although, he had maintained that he was not expecting a contrary judgment knowing well that he did no wrong and had served Nigeria with all honesty and every sense of duty and patriotism.

He observed that although he was not a party in the suit, the federal government through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, had, "caused all manner of false depositions to be made against me to paint the transaction with the tar of corruption to justify the spurious criminal proceedings instituted against me in Nigeria."

In a statement dated June 14, the former AGF said he was particularly pleased with the outcome of the suit

because if it were to be Nigerian courts, he would have been accused of buying justice by those who he claimed are hell-bent on tarnishing his name and destroying him for political reasons.

According to him all he did was to advise former President Goodluck Jonathan on the outcome of a consent judgment of a Federal High Court, Abuja, which was implemented.

"President Jonathan asked me, as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, to give him legal advice on the validity and enforceability of the Out-of-Court Settlement entered by the Obasanjo Administration.

After reviewing all the documents related to the oil block, I advised him that the Settlement Agreement dated 30th November 2006 had already been reduced into a subsisting Consent Judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

"My involvement in the entire OPL 245 saga was carrying out the lawful directives/approvals of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, to the effect that the Settlement Agreement was implemented.

"However, when President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in 2015, some influential figures in his government deceived him into believing that Nigeria could get back the $1.1 billion that Shell/ ENI paid to Malabu for OPL 245.

They thought that by impugning the transaction and painting me with the tar of corruption, they would have a great chance in court," he said.

Adoke claimed that part of the scheme, involved eliciting some activists and anti-corruption crusaders at home and abroad to scandalise his name by forging all kinds of documents to be used against him in local and foreign jurisdictions where the OPL 245 transaction was undergoing judicial scrutiny.

He expressed joy that in all the cases where he was a party and others where his name was severally mentioned had been dismissed by the respective courts.

"God is so good that in March 2021, an Italian court dismissed all corruption charges in the OPL 245 deal, discharging and acquitting all the defendants. Although I was not on trial, my name was frequently mentioned, but I came out unscathed. The court findings exonerated me of any blame or corrupt act.

"Not satisfied, the current Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami, engaged lawyers to make all kinds of mindless and libellous allegations against me in Commercial Court in the UK in an attempt to make JP Morgan refund the $1.1bn paid to Malabu, along with supposed interests totaling $1.7 billion.

"The UK court has now dismissed the allegations of fraud. My name is cleared yet again. It is also worthy of note that the US Department of Justice (DoJ) investigated the OPL 245 deal and brought it to a close in October 2019 without any charges.

"Also, in April 2020, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said it could not prove any allegations of fraud or corruption and decided to close the investigation into the transaction.

"It is gratifying that those respected authorities in the US, the UK and Italy have all scrutinised the OPL 245 deal extensively and exhaustively without a single conviction whatsoever.

"I have been unjustly defamed locally and internationally, and my livelihood has been taken from me; however, I am grateful to friends, colleagues and well-wishers who have stood by me throughout this challenging and depressing period.

"Now that it is clear to all discerning minds that no fraud was perpetrated in the OPL 245 Resolution Agreement, the Attorney General of the Federation should be advised to refrain from wasting Nigeria’s hard-earned foreign exchange by way of legal fees on local and foreign counsel in a bid

to prove the existence of a fraud that never was", he added.

Meanwhile, at FEC yesterday, the federal government further approved the enactment of the Federal Fire and Rescue Service Establishment Act 2022.

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, told newsmen that the proposed law was meant to replace the old law establishing the Fire Service, which has been in existence for 60 years.

According to him, the Council directed the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, to fine tune the bill for onward transmission to the National Assembly for passage.

Also briefing, Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Raji Fashola, said FEC also approved N66.9 billion for the rehabilitation of Kashimbila-Takum-Chahchangi road in Taraba State, North-East Nigeria.

Fashola said the project would help boost the transportation network in Taraba State and the entire north-east.

The Council also approved N23.9 billion for the procurement of equipment for airports across the country.

Briefing on behalf of the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the equipment to be procured include radio communication system for some control towers and instrument landing systems for some airports.

Mohammed said the communication tower had to be upgraded because the ones currently in use have aged and also to enhance better performance in the 12 airports in line with technological advancements and aviation industry’s best practices.

He added that N14 billion for the procurement of instrument landing systems for Lagos Abuja, Katsina and Portharcourt airports.

He also said the move was necessitated by the recent increase in the fleet of passengers across the four airports.

power, human capital, domestic revenue mobilisation, among others remain very critical.

He noted that Nigeria needed to bring the missing pieces in the industry together, including the technical side, accountability , financing and regulatory clarity.

On top of the existing support , he stated that there’s another $1.5 billion for which approval has been given , plus the energy transition plan which could take another $2.5 billion,.

NERC, Discos, Gencos, TCN Seal Deal on Compulsory Supply 5000mw of Power from July 1

Meanwhile, NERC has said from July 1, 2022, there would be remarkable improvement in the nation's power sector as market participants have committed in contracts to ensure the generation, transmission and distribution of 5000 megawatts (mw) of electricity in the country.

The commission also disclosed that the phase 1 of the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) where four million locally manufactured meters would be rolled out for customers would begin by the end of August this year.

The Chairman of NERC, Mr. Sanusi Garba, disclosed this yesterday during a media briefing in Lagos, saying the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), generation companies (Gencos) and distribution companies (Discos) have committed to sign contracts which mandates them to ensure that 5000wm generated was bought and paid for, and the gas for generation of that capacity is also paid for as and when due.

He said the contracts were part of the result of the ongoing reforms in the power sector which are being initiated and supported by the government, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other stakeholders pushing for improvement in the nation's electricity industry.

Garba said this was the first time market participants were coming together to commit to pay for energy produced by entering a contract to ensure payment or consequences for default.

Nigeria's power sector has been enmeshed in multiplicity of challenges even after the privatisation of the distribution and generation aspcts of the sector in 2013, resulting in poor supply to Nigerians.

Grid collapse has become a regular occurrence in the sector with the power grid recording its latest collapse just a few days ago, throwing Nigerians in darkness, despite trillions of naira pumped into it by the government to improve its performance.

The country now barely delivers 2000mw power supply to its citizens, with the situation worsening the condition of living of Nigerians and jerking up cost of production.

Garba said this new development would lead to improved service delivery to consumers who require improvement in supply.

He said any of the parties in the deal that fails to play its part according to the terms of the contracts will receive the consequence, stressing that the targeted 5000mw will only be achieved when all parties comply.

He said, "So, what we are trying to do is, consumers require the service, the Discos should commit to buying this electricity from those who are generating it. Gencos that are generating the power must commit to buy the fuel to generate that electricity, and the only way it can be done and in a sustainable manner is if it is underpinned by contracts.

"And if any of the market participants defaults, then obviously, there will be consequences for not providing what you said you will do.

"That is the basic explanation of what we are doing which will take effect from first of July. So, we are going to start with 5000mw.

Discos will commit to buy and Gencos will commit to generate and ensure that gas is there to provide this power by paying for gas. So, there will be no stories of I don't have gas to produce."

Garba also informed that apart from committing to deliver 5000mw on July 1, they would also see an opportunity to increase that contracted volumes from 5000 to 5,500 up to 7000mw.

This, he said, would make Nigerians to be able to see a trajectory of improvement in not just maintaining the targeted volume of power but to also ensure stability of supply and then assess if there is enough infrastructure to ramp up to 7000mw.

He assured categorically that power consumers woulf begin to see improvement in supply by "first of July".

He said TCN has confirmed that it could deliver 5000mw and that even the Discos had successfully distributed 5000mw before but that they couldn't continue delivering that 5000mw because of commercial reasons.

The NERC chair added, "So, the commission decided that this commercial issues militating against low distribution must be sorted out.

For Nigerians to have 5000mw, there must be a commitment to buy 5000mw. That hasn't happened before. This is the first time you have Discos committing to this.

"And the TCN will be committed to deliver that 5000mw. And we have identified power plants that will come and contract for the gas to deliver 5000mw. It hasn't happened before.

"Now, the second leg is, will there be payments because a contract without payment doesn't work? So, we have sat down working with the Discos, with everybody to ensure that there will be sufficient cash flow to undertake the contracts, because if I sign a contract to deliver gas to you and you default to pay for it, tomorrow, I will shut the power out.

“So what we are saying is, this is something that has been done to just steer back the market to a way it was designed to work in the first place."

Also, the commission disclosed that the phase 1 of the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) where four million locally manufactured meters will be rolled out for customers will begin by the end of August this year.

It said about 45 local prepaid electricity meter manufacturers have submitted their bids and that the programme was still on the procurement stage.

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EQUIPPING 65,000 YOUNG PEOPLE WITH SKILLS...

L-R: Programme Lead, MSME Finance, Mastercard Foundation, Chioma Nwagboso; Country Head - Nigeria, Mastercard Foundation, Chidinma Lawanson; Founder, Terra Kulture and BAP Productions, Bolanle Austen-Peters and Program Lead, Agriculture, Mastercard Foundation; Lois Sankey, during the signing of a 5-year training partnership program agreement between Terra Kulture and the Mastercard Foundation to equip 65,000 young people with relevant skills across key sub-sectors in theatre and business.

Strike: ASUU Issue More Complicated Than Nigerians Think, Says FG Industrial action killing country’s future, group tells govt Warns of more guns with youths than books Proscription of unions: Lecturers drag Obaseki to court Deji Elumoye, Alex Enumah in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City There is more to the four-month old industrial action embarked upon by public universities' lecturers and supporting staff, the federal government has said.

According to the government, the issue concerning the ongoing strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other three university- based unions was not as simple as people

think.

This is just as government has approved the establishment of e-learning centers for primary schools across the 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this yesterday, during an interview with journalists at the end of the virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the State House, Abuja.

ASUU had embarked on strike on February 14, over unresolved issues with the federal government and since then, all the public universities have been shut down.

Besides, other university-based unions, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Union of Universities and Associated Institutions (NASU) as well as the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) also withdrew their services over the alleged government insensitivity to their demands.

Rector Decries Recruitment of Unqualified Staff into Daura Polytechnic Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Daura, Katsina State, Prof.

Aliyu Mamman has decried the recruitment of unqualified staff into the newly established institution by those he described as powerful forces.

Speaking at the 45th quarterly meeting of the Bursars’ Association of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology (BURSCON) held in Daura, yesterday, Mamman alleged that unqualified persons had been recruited into the institution.

He said: "As a new institution,

we need quality manpower and honestly it is our area of major concern. When we commenced the process of employment in 2020 and 2021, we wanted to recruit the kind of people that we want based on qualification.

"But when we went to the field, the kind of people that were imposed or given to us, most of them fall short of the kind of experience that we want but have to accept so that other things will move smoothly."

He, however, enumerated other challenges confronting the federal polytechnic to include inadequate

infrastructure, low internally generated revenue and lack of funding for skill acquisition programmes.

Earlier, the North-west Zonal Director of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Garba Muhammed Nalado, said Nigerian polytechnics were poorly funded by both the federal and state governments.

He admonished the government to prioritise the funding of polytechnics and colleges of education to enhance skill acquisition and vocational education in order to tackle unemployment in the country.

On why government approved the establishment of e-learning centers but was unable to resolve problems with unions in the public universities for the students to go back to school, the Minister said the issue with the unions was not as simple as the public think.

According to him, government was worried over the long closure of the public universities and was making frantic efforts to ensure that all the contentious issues are resolved.

Mohammed, who briefed on behalf of the Minister of Education said: "I wish that the ASUU issue is as simple as many of us think it is. I don't think it's that simple. But I want to assure you that a lot is going on behind the scenes.

"And I think probably the Minister of Education will be better positioned to give the details. But like any government, if we're not concerned, we would not set up all the committees which have been working on. If we are not concerned we will not be looking for means to even assuage the feelings of the Union.

"We're worried we're concerned, and we'll continue to work towards finding an early resolution of the problem."

"And then the other question has to do with the with ASUU strike. I think if I remember this e-learning, I think has to do more with primary schools and not universities.

"And I don't think because we're

House of Assembly Begins Move to Impeach Oyo Deputy Governor Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Oyo State House of Assembly yesterday commenced moves to impeach the state Deputy Governor, Mr. Rauf Olaniyan, who recently decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

At the plenary of the House yesterday, five allegations against the deputy governor that was signed by 24 lawmakers were read by the Clerk of the House, Mrs. Yetunde Awe. According to the petition, the lawmakers accused the deputy governor of gross misconduct, abuse of office, financial recklessness, abandonment of office and official duty and insubordination and other offences.

Only lawmakers, journalists and house officials were allowed into the hallowed Chamber to witness the plenary.

The Speaker of the House, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, in his reaction, said the petition met the two-third requirements to initiate the process.

According to him, the House would give the deputy governor a seven-day grace period to respond to the allegations, adding that failure to do so could lead to the commencement of impeachment process.

The seven-day window of response takes immediate effect and would lapse on Wednesday, June 22, he added.

The petition signed by the PDP lawmakers and entitled: “Petition And Notice of Allegations of the

Deputy Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency Engineer Rauf Olaniyan,” read in part: Consequent upon listed below, we the under listed elected Honourable members of the 9th Assembly hereby allege the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency Eng. Rauf Olaniyan, with the following allegations: “Gross misconduct; abuse of office; financial recklessness; abandonment of office and official duty; insubordination and other offences.

“This is in accordance to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended in 2011.

Section 188.”

The lawmakers and constituencies that signed the petition were Fadeyi Muhammed (Ona Ara), Onaolapo Sanjo (Ogbomosho South), Babalola Olasunkanmi (Egbeda),

Adebisi Yussuf (Ibadan Southwest 1), Okedoyin Julius (Saki West) and Adebayo Babajide (Ibadan North 2).

Others were Kehinde Olatunde (Akinyele 2), Olajide Akintunde (Lagelu), Mustapha Akeem (Kajola), Popoola Ademola (Ibadan South East 2), Owolabi Olusola (Ibadan North East 2), Olagoke Olamide (Ibadan North East 1), Olayanji Kazeem (Irepo/Olorunsogo), Ojedokun Peter (Ibarapa North/Centre).

It also included Gbadamosi Saminu (Saki East/Atisbo), Mabaje Adekunle (Iddo), Oluwafowokanmi Oluwafemi (Ibadan Southwest 2), Akeem Adedibu (Iwajowa), Fatokun Ayo (Akinyele 1), Rasak Ademola (Ibadan South East 1), Obadara Akeem (Ibadan North West), Oyekunle Fola (Ibadan North 1), Adetunji Francis (Oluyole).

having challenges with the university lectures, we should stop primary school students in continuing with their education".

On the approval by FEC, Information Minister said, "The Minister of Education has sought approval from Council for the award of contracts for the provision of a satellite- based education system for 109 e-learning centers across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

"The contract was for the sum of N964 million and is in favour of Messrs Nas Navigation. The purpose of the memo is to provide each senatorial district in the country with e-learning provision, each states has three senatorial districts and the FCT has one senatorial district "The scope of the project is the provision of satellite based education system for about 4,360 users in the 109 senatorial districts and it was through the installation of 109 receiver satellite unit model antenna in three schools in each state.

"Installation and provision of 109 vast mile server in three schools in each state connecting up to 100 device installation of 109 server units for receiver terminals and deployment of 4,360 Android tablets."

Meanwhile, a non-governmental organisation, the Victims of Persecution, has written the federal government, accusing it of mortgaging the future of Nigerian youths by not doing enough to find lasting solution to the perennial ASUU strike.

The group in its letter written to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) also indicted nine other institutions and persons responsible for education in the country.

This is just as it sounded the warning that, "soon there could be more guns than books and more kidnapping bushes than libraries.”

Victims of Persecution in the letter titled, "ASUU Strikes: Our Responsibility to Our Youths And The Nigerian Destiny", lamented that the industrial action which began in February has kept university students at home for four months running without any meaningful resolution in sight.

Those fingered in the dilemma of Nigerian youths it listed included the Minister of education, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Executive Secretary National University Commission, Chairman Senate Committee

on Education (tertiary institutions), Chairman House Committee on Education (tertiary institutions) ,National President Academic Staff Union of Nigeria Universities.

Others were the National President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Chairman, Association of Vice Chancellors of States owned Universities and the President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). The letter signed by the rapporteur of Victims of Persecution and former Attorney-General for Justice, Imo State , Chukwuma- Machukwu Ume, regretted that while the future of the youth was being mortgaged, the government and all those concerned were looking undisturbed.

"The governments are unconcerned about the current state of the youth education and related motley affairs in the country", it stated.

While the group acknowledged what it described as myriads of problems bedeviling the country, it stressed that "this lingering perennial ASUU strike is killing the future of our country".

The group reminded the SGF that he is one of the few persons that providence has positioned to contribute to the destiny of Nigeria and that of the youth, adding that, "this can only be achieved through conscious departure from our culture of lip service to functional education in our tertiary education."

It regretted, that despite the clear provisions of Article 11(3) of African Charter on the Right and Welfare of the Child, that the country ascribed to, no effective step seem to have been taken to address the perennial ASUU strikes since 1988 .

The Victims of Persecution observed that even the nation's annual education budget has continue to drop over the years without any sign of improvement.

Proscription of Unions: Lecturers Drag Obaseki to Court

In a related development, ASUU, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma chapter, Edo State has dragged the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the Attorney General of the State (AGS) to court over last week’s ban on all unions activities in all the state owned tertiary institutions.

Continued online

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IN SEARCH OF RUNNING MATE...

President Muhammadu Buhari (L) with Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, shortly after Mr. President's meeting with APC governors to consider a running mate for the Party's presidential candidate for the 2023 general election at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock...yesterday.

Akpabio' s Claims of Being APC Senatorial Candidate a Nollywood Script, Dream, Says A'Ibom REC Explains why new law can't allow former governor substitute Ekpoudom Okon Bassey in Uyo The Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Mike Igini has described the rumoured emergence of former Minister, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio as the All Progressive Congress (APC) Senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North West (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District as noting but a Nollywood fantasy.

Igini explained that the APC senatorial primary held in two senatorial districts, Akwa Ibom North West and Akwa Ibom North East, while nobody showed up at the venue for the Akwa Ibom South

senatorial primary.

He advised politicians desirous of contesting the 2023 general elections to meticulously study the new provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act as Amended so as not to continue with the hope that things were still the way they used to be with the repealed 2010 and 2012 Electoral Act. The REC spoke on a radio interview monitored in Uyo, arguing that by virtue of the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act, substitution of candidates by political parties was no longer permitted under the Electoral Act. "By virtue of Section 31 of the 2022 Electoral Act, the only way somebody can be replaced in any form is that we no longer have

substitution by political party. What you have now is withdrawal by individual or nominee and or death.

"The law is not saying you should go and kill people so that you can have yourself on the ballot. No. The law is saying that those who have emerged at all levels up to the presidential level, you can decide that you are no longer interested.

"You can write an application signed by yourself, delivered to your party who will now deliver to INEC but nobody can shave the political head of another person in his or her absence.

"The report of the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District APC primary as submitted to INEC headquarters in Abuja is final. It is concluded.”

Speaking further, he said: “The train has left the station. The timeline is clear. All those who are in politics should go and study the 2022 Electoral Act very well.

"I hear people talking about substitution. If you look Section 31 and Section 34 of the Electoral Act, those of you who are still carrying the old idea of the 2010, 2012 Electoral Act in your head, thinking you can substitute willfully, it is no longer so."

"Then number two is only in the case of death. Even at that, there will now be a fresh primary. This is the new law.

"So what we are seeing going on is clearly a misnomer. The rerun can only be conducted between and among those who participated in

Senate Approves Bill to Establish Financial Aid Scheme for Students Sunday Aborisade in Abuja A bill seeking to provide for the establishment of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme scaled second reading in the Senate yesterday.

The bill sponsored by Senator Umar Sulieman (APC, Kwara North), seeks to provide a realistic framework for the success of education financing.

Suleiman, in his lead debate on the principles of the bill, said same provides for the management, governance and administration of the scheme.

According to him, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, upon its establishment, would grant interest free loans and bursaries to eligible students at higher Institutions.

He added that it would also ensure the well-structured administration of such loans and bursaries and their recovery.

He recalled that the Nigeria Students Loan Board which was established in 1982, to help students finance undergraduate and graduate studies within and outside Nigeria, provided loans between 1972 and 1991 totaling N46 million to help students finance their education.

He disclosed that out of the sum, the Board faced the challenge of recovering outstanding loans of over N40 million, which led to the suspension of the scheme in 1992.

He stated that the Students Loans Boards was replaced in 1993 by the Nigerian Education Bank.

He explained that the Education Bank serves as a major intermediary in education credit market financing,

and designed to harness private sector resources for funding education.

The lawmaker, noted that the bill to establish the National Students Financial Aid Scheme, also seeks to repeal the existing Nigerian Education Bank.

The bill after consideration was referred by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further inputs.

Meanwhile, the Senate has directed the Federal Ministry of Justice to ensure the prosecution of any official of the Correctional Service found complicit in the unjustified incarceration of minors.

It also directed its Committees on

Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters; and Interior to investigate the circumstances surrounding the admission of each inmate of the Borstal facilities and come up with appropriate recommendations to the Senate.

The chamber, directed the relevant authorities to ensure the implementation of the Child Rights Act 2003; while urging State Assemblies across the country on its domestication.

These were resolutions reached by the Senate on Wednesday, after it considered a motion on, “The need to investigate admission of inmates and operations of Borstal facilities across Nigeria.”

The motion was sponsored by

Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central).

The lawmaker, noted the Borstal Institutions’ attempt to keep delinquents out of prison and away from adult offenders, to avoid molestation and negative influence that could make them become repeat offenders.

According to her, there are only three borstal facilities in Nigeria, situated in Kaduna, Abeokuta and Ilorin.

Tinubu observed that these Borstal facilities were established to admit only male juvenile delinquents between ages sixteen and twenty-one as at the day of conviction.

Continued online

the first senatorial election of May 27, 2022.

"And the Senatorial primary for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District was not canceled, was not nullified, was not inconclusive. It was conclusive, it was concluded and the report was written and it is final because you cannot reopen that anymore," he insisted.

The Akwa Ibom REC said the rumour of a rerun Senatorial primary for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District was strange and unknown to law, saying it was never monitored by INEC. He explained that after the primary, the commission wrote its report to Abuja as was requested where it stated clearly that the APC in the state did not hold her Gubernatorial primary.

He explained that on May 27, 2022, the APC Senatorial primary held in only two out of the three Senatorial districts of the state Akwa Ibom North West and Akwa Ibom North East – maintaining that nobody showed up at the venue for the Akwa Ibom South Senatorial primary.

"Out of the three Senatorial districts, we had election conducted in two, the North West and North East Senatorial districts where DIG Udom Ekpoudom emerged as the winner of the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District which we wrote our report.

“Interestingly, the Head of INEC's Legal Team in Akwa Ibom State was the one who led the team for that of Akwa Ibom North West and they wrote the report and the report had been concluded on the 27th

of May, 2022".

Igini said the clarification became necessary in view of mischief makers trying to bring INEC's name to controversy and calling him names so as to demonise him for doing his job in line with the rule of law.

He stated that INEC does not conduct party primary, be it presidential, gubernatorial, Senatorial, House of Representatives etc.

"All we do is just one per cent.

That one per cent can be decisive in the sense that we cannot see something to be white in the morning and then in the afternoon it is black. Such a day will never happen in our lifetime in the service of our country.

“The Senatorial election primary was concluded on the 27th of May and the report had been kept there (Abuja) since. On Thursday, June 9, 2022, we were in Abuja holding a meeting at INEC headquarters on how to deal with the current situation about voter registration and the good news is that I have brought more machines to Akwa Ibom.

"By 7pm, I got information that the APC will send a letter that they want to do a rerun Senatorial election and that was shocking to the Commission. Abuja was surprised, we were surprised. A rerun election?

"First and foremost, a rerun has a technical meaning in election management. A rerun means that election was either cancelled, was inconclusive and you have to do a rerun. And in any rerun, it must be between those who were part of the first election.”

Terra Kulture, Mastercard Foundation Partner to Empower 65,000Young Nigerians Terra Kulture, one of the leading educational and recreational organisations has gone into partnership with Mastercard Foundation to train up to 65,000 creatives across Nigeria.

A statement explained that the five-year training partnership program aims to equip young Nigerians with relevant skills across key sub-sectors in theatre and business.

The initiative would form a significant part of the Terra Academy for The Arts (TAFTA) program.

The partnership would create an e-learning platform that would provide free education and access to employment opportunities to

the most vulnerable youth, with a major focus on women between 16-35 years in Lagos, Ogun, and Kano States.

It noted that the partnership would also provide participants with foundational training, support, internships, and employment and financial services linkages.

Speaking on the partnership, the Chief Executive Officer of Terra Kulture, Bolanle Austen-Peters, stated that the intervention would positively impact Nigerian youth and culture, both now and in the nearest future.

She said, "Driving impact and creating massive visibility for the Nigerian culture and youth has

always been at the core of our existence. We have leveraged our thorough understanding of arts, culture, and languages over the years to impact the next generation in the best way possible.

“We are extremely excited to partner with the Mastercard Foundation to further empower up to 65,000 Nigerian youth spread across the country.

"The Academy will provide training on key technical production skills for theatre and the Creative industry. Each course will include an entrepreneurial module for students to learn about the industry's business side. Some of the courses offered

include Animation, Scriptwriting, Lighting Management, and Sound Management.

“We believe this will create employment opportunities for young creatives and make them self-reliant while facilitating national integration among students."

The entry requirement for all students is a minimum of senior secondary school qualifications.

All courses would include an introductory section, and as such, students do not need any prior knowledge to either register for the course or comprehend the course material.

On her part, Mastercard Foundation's Country Head for Nigeria,

Chidinma Lawanson said: "This partnership will enable us to reach more young people, especially young women in the Creative sector. Together with our partner, we will provide access to training, skills, and mentorship platforms which will further create access to entrepreneurial and employment opportunities for young creatives in Nigeria."

The partnership is aligned with the Mastercard Foundation's Young Africa Works strategy in Nigeria, which seeks to enable 10 million young Nigerian women and men, to access dignified work and the right skills to contribute to Africa's global competitiveness.

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TRADE MINISTER AT FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC...

L-R: Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Dr Dayo Oladebeye; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo, and Chairman, Governing Council of the Polytechnic, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, during the visit of the Minister to the institution ...yesterday

PDP Storms Ekiti Today for Campaign as INEC Lectures Voters on Imperative of Peace Atiku, Makinde, Tambuwal, Emmanuel lead 80-man campaign Electoral body assures all votes will count Abdulsalami to Electorate: Vote and stay alive IG reads riot act to police officers attached to VIPS

Chuks Okocha in Ado Ekiti and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

About 48 hours to the end of gubernatorial campaigns in Ekiti State, the PDP will today, in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, lead an 80-man campaign team for its governorship candidate, Olabisi Kolawole.

Relatedly, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday told the electorate in Ekiti State that there would be no credible election, where there was violence.

At the same time, a former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, urged the electorate in Ekiti to vote and stay alive.

The ruling APC had Tuesday, led by its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, campaigned for the party's governorship candidate, Biodun Oyebanji, ahead of the election.

A statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagbo, stated that the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, was expected at the governorship campaign.

All campaigns are expected to end by tomorrow, Friday, 24 hours to the election.

National Working Committee (NWC), of the party, had constituted the National Campaign Council for the June 18, governorship election in the state.

The campaign team is headed by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who was named chairman of the 80-member committee.

Other members are Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, Deputy Chairman, while Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State and Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja were members.

Also on the committee were Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu, Arch. Setonji Kosheodo, Olasoji Adagunodo, Chief Ali Obasi Odefa, Chief Dan Osi Orbih, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, Prof. Stella Effa-Attoe, Ayo Fayose, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and Eyitayo Jegede, SAN. Others were Chief Olabode George, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, Senator Biodun Olujimi, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, Hon. Adekoya Adesegun, AbdulMajeed, Chief Jimi Agbaje, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, Senator Adenigba Fadahunsi and Mazi Samuel Ifeanyi Ohuabunwa. among others, while Hon. Adedamola Adegbite, was named Administrative Secretary

However, speaking in Ekiti at the signing of the peace accord that took place at an event centre, Ado Ekiti, the INEC chairman said, "I urge parties and candidates in Ekiti State to realise that without peace, our deployment plans; new innovations in voter accreditation and result management; the safety of voters, election duty staff, observers and the journalists; security of materials; and, ultimately, the credibility of elections will be undermined.

“No credible election can be achieved in an atmosphere of disruption, violence and disorder.

It is, therefore, important for

everyone to maintain the peace," he said, adding that the success of the Peace Accord rested on three pedestals: the political actors, INEC and security agencies, even as he assured the people that the Peace Committee of INEC was committed to transparent and credible elections.

He explained further that, "Working for the last 12 months since June 2021, when we released the Timetable for the Ekiti State Governorship election, it is inconceivable that INEC will undermine itself, especially, on Election Day and beyond. I want to assure you all that the votes of the Ekiti people

The Senate, yesterday, urged security agencies in the country to be discreet in collaborating on intelligence gathering and sharing to prevent future attacks by bandits and insurgents.

It, therefore, condemned the recent attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, and mourned the killing of worshippers.

This is as women groups under the aegis of Womanifesto, yesterday, protested against the June 5 terrorists attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo. Considering a motion on the “Owo killings” sponsored by Senator Ajayi Boroffice (Ondo North), these formed part of the resolutions of the red chamber.

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Oyo senator writes senate, dumps PDP for ruling party Francis Sardauna in Katsina and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The 2015 and 2019 governorship candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in Katsina State, Abdulmunini Shehu Sani, has described the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration of Governor Aminu Bello Masari of the state, as a total failure.

This is as the senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Kola Balogun, has written the Senate about his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling APC. Sani, however, said Masari, APC and all those working with him had plunged the state and its citizens into poverty, economic hardship, insecurity and depression,

Women groups protest Ondo killings Boroffice, in his presentation, noted with deep concern the attack on worshippers on Sunday, 5th June, 2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.

According to him, the attack led to the killing of 40 worshipers, with about 80 others suffering varied degrees of fatal injuries, stating that, “the attackers deployed dynamite and heinously massacres aged persons, women and children.”

The lawmaker, while noting the killings of Nigerians across different parts of the country, warned that such massacre could be a trigger to inter-religious conflicts and ethnic war in Nigeria.

Senator Nicholas Tofowomo (PDP, Ondo South), while contributing, said, “our internal security is still very defective. We need to

Ondo State governorship election in October 2020 and the Anambra State governorship election in November 2021, political parties and candidates had signed the Peace Accord under the auspices of the National Peace Committee.

"The intervention of the Peace Committee, no doubt, contributed in no small way to the peaceful conduct of previous governorship elections. We are confident that the Ekiti State governorship election holding this Saturday will not be different.

Masari, APC Have Failed in Katsina, Says Sani

Senate Tasks Security Agencies on Intelligence Sharing, Mourns OwoVictims Fidelis David in Akure

will count.

"The truth is that the Peace Accord is not an automated, self-actualising process. Let me, therefore, call on all political parties and candidates to abide by the letter and spirit of the Accord by appealing to your supporters to maintain the peace before, during and after the elections. This will be your own way of showing commitment to the Peace Accord and appreciation for the work of the Peace Committee."

He recalled that since the Edo State governorship election held in September 2020, followed by the

put our resources together and improve the Nigeria Police, so that what happened in Owo, should not happen in other places.”

On his part, Senator Istifanus Gyang (PDP, Plateau North), blamed the attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, on religious extremism and urged religious leaders in the country to desist from inciting their followers through religious messages preached in places of worship, saying, doing otherwise posed great security threat to the country.

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, in his remarks, said, “This is one sad event that took place, and we are all united in grief. One thing that is so imperative is for security agencies to continue to protect our citizens, and where we encounter

breeches, the perpetrators must be fished out and then the law takes its full course.”

The Senate, in its resolutions, accordingly, urged Security Agencies to intensify efforts to investigate the matter with the aim of bringing perpetrators to book and as well deploy drones and helicopters to monitor forests and ungoverned areas in Nigeria, to identify illegal camps of Armed Bandits throughout the country.

The chamber urged for collaboration amongst her various security agencies on intelligence gathering and sharing in very discreet and organised form, at local government and state levels, and nationwide.

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while the ruling class spent public money meant for the development of the state lavishly.

Addressing journalists in Katsina, yesterday, he also accused the governor and the APC administration of borrowing billions of naira without executing any meaningful project that would alleviate the sufferings of the masses.

His words: "The APC administration in Katsina State, has failed.

It is the most secretive government in the history of the state, because there is absolutely no accountability in running its affairs.

"Before the Aminu Bello Masari administration came on board, Katsina State, had never taken any loan. But now, we owe billions of naira in loans. Katsina State indigenes should demand to know the amount of debt/loans that has accrued to the state in the last seven years."

He, therefore, called on citizens of the state to vote out the APC administration in the forthcoming general election, saying the administration had destroyed everything it found in place and left citizens in abject poverty.

The NCP chieftain further alleged that the APC administration rigged the April 11 local government elections in the state, "But with the electronic transmission of results in the 2023 general election, APC will not win a single

polling unit in the state," adding: "No citizen in his right senses will vote for a government that has introduced poverty, disease, hunger, death, cheating and betrayal of trust."

Meanwhile, Balogun’s notice of defection was contained in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and read at plenary yesterday.

His defection brings the number of APC Senators in the upper chamber to 70.

According to him, his decision to defect from the PDP was due to the lack of internal democracy in the APC at the state level for the emergence of leaders and representatives, adding that the development has further led to the existence of several factions and aggrieved groups within the party.

He, however, attributed his action to the alleged impunity of the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

"The decision to resign was informed by the Oyo State Governor’s reign of impunity that, had led him into supplanting the constitutional assigned roles of party bureaucrats and party stakeholders and replacing them with unilaterally declared decisions on who and who should emerge as the legitimate representatives of the people.

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THURSDAY JUNE 16, 2022˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Armed Men Kidnap Abia Journalist, Demand N10m Ransom

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

An Abia journalist, Mr. Chuks Onuoha, has been kidnapped by armed men who gained entry into his home at Umungasi Ohuhu in Umuahia North local government and took him away in his jeep.

Mr. Onuoha, who is the Editor-In-Chief of All Facts Newspaper, an Umuahia-based publication, was until last year, the state correspondent of the Sun Newspapers.

Wife of the kidnapped journalist, Mrs. Udodirim Onuoha said that her husband was whisked away by three armed men who entered their house at about 10.45pm on Tuesday while he was resting after returning from work.

She told a delegation of journalists led by the chairman of Abia State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), Comrade Victor Ndukwe, that she was also in the sitting room with her husband when the hoodlums slipped in through the back door.

According to her, the first

gun man that entered the house immediately pointed a gun at her husband and demanded his phones and ATM card while the other gunmen emerged from different directions.

“One of them said to me, ‘madam don’t panic’,” she said, adding that they took her husband away in his jeep along with his two mobile handsets and ATM card.

Mrs. Onuoha, who was visibly distraught, said that before the kidnappers left, they sternly warned the family against contacting the police if they want the journalist to remain alive.

She stated that the evil men later made contact on phone and demanded N10 million ransom before they would release their victim, adding that they later lowered their ransom demand to N2 million.

Chairman of Abia NUJ, Comrade Ndukwe while comforting Mrs. Onuoha and members of her family, regretted that hoodlums have now chosen to direct their nefarious activities at journalists.

He urged Onuoha’s wife to remain strong and not succumb

to despair as everything possible would be done to secure the release of the journalist, adding that with divine intervention he would return home unhurt.

Abia has in recent time started experiencing increasing incidents of abductions. The Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Samuel Kanu-Uche was

abducted with two other priests on May 29, 2022 and N100 million was paid to free them On June 5, 2022, a medical doctor, Prof Uwadinachi Iweha

was kidnapped and still remains in the hands of his abductors even after a ransom running into millions of Naira was said to have been paid.

INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING BOOSTED…

The General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, Mr. Ayman Sejiny(left), and the Managing Director/ CEO of TAJBank Limited, Mr. Hamid Joda, shortly after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on infrastructure project financing in Nigeria during the IsDB’s private sector forum in El Sheikh, Egypt….recently

Fashola Urges Nigerians Osun 2022: Aregbesola’s Loyalist Quits APC, Joins PDP to Key into National Housing Programme Amby Uneze in Owerri The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola yesterday urged Nigerians to secure affordable housing through the National Housing programme.

He made the call while performing the formal handover ceremony of keys to the beneficiaries of the first phase of the National Housing programme in Imo State.

The minister, who was represented by the Federal Controller of Works and Housing, Mr. Daniel Dania, said the programme has entered the completion phase, adding that the housing units have been

offered to the general public in a non-discriminatory manner and will be allocated on a basis of who applies first.

He urged interested persons to go through the official portal to ensure their applications are not inhibited by any artificial obstacles.

He further noted that while outright payments are encouraged, it is not a condition of eligibility as there are flexible payment plans which include mortgages and rent to own options.

Fashola disclosed that since the launch of the portal in November 12, 2021, over 12,387 applications have been received out of which 694 has been approved.

Army Rescues One Missing Chibok Girl, Child Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Nigerian Army said yesterday it found one Mary Ngoshe, who is believed to be one of the girls kidnapped from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in 2014.

The Army made the disclosure in tweet posted on its verified Twitter page, @ HQNigerianArmy.

“Troops of 26 Task Force Brigade on patrol around Ngoshe in Borno State on 14 June 2022 intercepted one Ms Mary Ngoshe and her son.

“She is believed to be one of the abducted girls from

GGSS Chibok in 2014. Further exploitation ongoing”, it said.

About 286 school girls were abducted on April 14, 2014, by terror group, Boko Haram, from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State.

Some of the girls managed to escape, while others were released following government negotiations.

But despite efforts to free all the pupils, over 100 of the girls remain in captivity.

The abduction drew global outrage and triggered a hashtag #Bringbackourgirls.

Amnesty International said at least 16 of the girls were killed.

A former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Osun, Mr Kolapo Alimi, yesterday defected to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Alimi, one of staunch the supporters of the Minister of Interior and former governor of the state, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, announced his defection at the PDP secretariat in Osogbo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Alimi, a lawyer, served as a two-term commissioner during Aregbesola’s administration as governor of the state.

He was also a staunch member of The Osun Progressives (TOP), a caucus within the chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), backed by Aregbesola.

Alimi, who was received by the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, Caretaker Chairman of the party, Dr Akintunde Akindele and other PDP members, said that he left APC because of what he called ‘marginalisation.’

Although he said that Aregbesola could not leave APC because of his stake in

it, the former commissioner, however, stated that he decided to dump the party because he could no longer withstand the maltreatment allegedly being meted out to him and others.

“We cried out to so many times without any solution.

“You know Aregbesola himself is a bigwig in APC. He cannot leave the party, but to some of us who can no longer withstand the heat that the state government is turning on us, we have to move out,” he said.

Alimi, however, appealed

to the people of the state to come out en masse to vote for Adeleke in the July 16 governorship election.

In his remarks, Adeleke said Alimi’s defection to PDP would boost the chances of the party in the election.

The governorship candidate expressed confidence that he would win the election under a free and fair atmosphere.

“I want to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the electoral bill into law,” he said, stressing that this would prevent rigging during elections.

Suspension Order: Court Clears Abia APC Guber Candidate, Emenike

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogoin Umuahia

An Abia State High Court sitting in Umuahia yesterday cleared the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Ikechi Emenike, of any encumbrance to contest the 2023 poll following the lifting of the order which upheld his purported suspension from his party.

The court presided over by Justice O.A Chijioke granted Emenike a stay of execution of the restraining order earlier

imposed by the same court after his emergence as the APC standard bearer at the primary conducted on May 26, 2022.

The restraining order, which was made in suit No HU/6/2022 filed by two aggrieved Abia APC members, Chinedum Nnoke and two others against Chief Emenike and two others, seeking to disqualify them from holding any elective office.

Emenike was apparently taken aback by the restraining order by the Umuahia High Court since a court of competent and concurrent

jurisdiction had already delivered judgment on the same matter on November 4, 2021.

The impending legal battle at the Court of Appeal Owerri Division would still go ahead for determine if the restraining judgment will stand or be quashed.

Emenike, Ejike Olekanma and Ikenna Emmanuel Anyalewechi had gone to court asking for the nullification of the purported “suspension” announced at a “kangaroo meeting of the aggrieved” held at Ikwuano in August last year.

Joined as defendants in the suit were APC, then Catetaker Chairman, Mai Mala Buni (for himself and member of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee), and Wilson Chimelulam Utaegbulam.

In its judgment delivered on November 4, 2021 in the Suit No: HUM/41/2021, the Court presided over by Justice Benson Anya held that Emenike, who then was the Secretary of APC Contact and Strategy Committee, “is an authentic and bona-fide member of APC”.

Group Calls for Adoption of Niger Gov as Tinubu’s Running Mate Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Following the controversy that continues to rage over the purported Muslim-Muslim ticket being mulled by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a group, APC Patriots (APC-P) has called on the presidential candidate of the party, Senator Bola Tinubu to consider and adopt the Niger state governor, Abubakar Bello as his running mate.

THISDAY checks revealed that since the emergence of Tinubu as the candidate of the party, speculations are rife that the former governor of Lagos state would pick a Muslim as his running mate.

Recently, APC stakeholders kicked against the move saying the party should narrow its search for the vice presidential candidate of the party to a northern Christian to ensure national inclusion, and help

manage the country’s differences and promote national unity.

But in a statement issued yesterday by the National Coordinator and the Secretary of APC Patriots, Prince Zadok Bukar and Chief Omini Ofem respectively, called on the party to adopt Bello.

It said: “The call to adopt governor Sani-Bello as Tinubu’s vice is based on his performance as governor, acceptability among his colleagues and Nigerians, his

sense of justice and equity and his contributions to the development of APC as a ruling party.”

The group noted that with the party having less than two days to make a decision on the issue of running mate, Bello fits the bill especially considering how he rescued APC when it was going adrift before the emergence of Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee (NWC), among other meaningful contributions.

on all Nigerians to support the Presidential Flag Bearer of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, and vote him as the next president of Nigeria, through whom he said, the new Nigeria would emerge.

He said yesterday on ARISE News Channels, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers that “the APC and PDP have reached their peak, where the highest bidders now control the party’s structure. Both the

APC and the PDP rejected Igbo presidency in their party structures and the Igbos are not unlucky with their decision, because LP has accepted Igbo presidency and I see it as an act of God, designed for greatness.

Now it is over for APC and PDP because a new Nigeria is about to emerge through the LP. “I congratulate Nigeria, because something is about to end and a new beginning is

coming to bring the expected change that will usher in a new Nigeria. Nigeria has been playing politics without conscience, without principle and without consistency, but things are about to change, with the emergence of Peter Obi as the presidential flag bearer for the LP. When there is no conscience in politics, there will be no principle and when there is no principle, there will be no consistency.”

2023: Women Tasked on Active Participation in Election Ezeife: A New Nigeria ‘ll Emerge in 2023 with her and other well-meaning David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka The President-General of Enugwu-Ukwu Community Development Union, (ECDU), Women Wing, Lagos Branch, Dr. Oby Okonkwo, has called on women to take ownership of their affairs through active political participation.

Okonkwo made the call in an interview with journalists on Wednesday in Awka, where he urged all women to join hands

Nigerians to sensitise the public on the importance.

She said that the era of women being at the backyard of political decision-making in the matters that concern their lives has gone.

She said: “It is only with the PVCs that electorate can use to change the ugly political narrative of the country. There is no magic, you have to come out in hundred to vote the right candidate, and your vote will count.

Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie

A former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has ruled out the possibilities of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), from winning the 2023 general election.

Ezeife said that a new Nigeria would emerge from the Labour Party (LP), and called

THURSDAY JUNE 16, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWSXTRA

Party Primaries: Lawmakers Set to Veto Buhari on Statutory Delegates’ Clause Deputy minority leader alleges Electoral Act has been weaponised

Udora Orizu inAbuja Members of the House of Representatives have resolved to file a motion for overriding President Muhammadu Buhari for failing to assent to the Clause 58(8) of the Electoral Act (Amendment) bill, 2022, which provides for Statutory Delegates.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila had at the resumption of plenary on Tuesday, attributed the failure of many lawmakers in the 9th National Assembly to secure return ticket ahead of 2023 general elections on the delegate system of candidates’ selection at the just concluded party primaries.

At the plenary yesterday, Hon. Ben Igbakpa representing Ethiope federal constituency of Delta State raised a constitutional point of order, citing section 58 (8) of the 1999 constitution which empowered the National assembly to enact laws and also override the President with two third majority of the

members’ vote.

Igbakpa who was among the lawmakers that lost out in the just concluded primaries noted that

there was no need for the House to fear anyone.

He, therefore, urged his colleagues to rise up, take the pen,

collect signatures and override Mr. President and give Nigerians the enabling electoral law.

He said: “You have shown

leadership and capacity and patriotism. On the 11th of May with your colleagues you brought all of back from our various constituency

so that we can work on the electoral act as amended, graciously that was done on the 11th of May it was done.

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY…

L-R: Representative of the Minister and Director, Environmental Assessment, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr. Abbas Sulaiman; Chairman, Caretaker Committee/Interim President, Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), Mr. Victor Imevbore; Vice-Chancellor, Igbinedion University, Okada, Prof. Lawrence Ikechukwu Ezemonye; member NES Board of Trustees, Ms. Anne Ene-Ita; representative of the Director-General, Nigerian Conservative Foundation, Mallam Boyi and Executive General Manager, Health Safety and Environment, Total Energies, Mr. Eragbae Aikhoje, during the World Environment Day Symposium by NES in Abuja…yesterday

Aggrieved Lagos Politicians Police Arrest 154 Suspects for Various Crimes in Borno Ask Court to Disqualify Senator Adeola from Senatorial Race

Wale Igbintade

A Federal High Court, in Lagos has given Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola till Tuesday, June 21, 2022 to show cause, why he should not be restrained from contesting in the 2023 general election.

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa summoned the senator while granting a motion exparte filed by some aggrieved registered voters and members of the Lagos West Senatorial District, in suit numbered FHC/L/CS/822/2022.

The plaintiffs are: Barrister Sanni Said; Engineer Giwa Tijani Sheu;

Chief Adesoji Adepoju Martin’s; Mike Okefuna; Olatunbosun Komolafe; Mrs. Sanni Oluwatoyin; Ibrahim Fatai; Bolaji Durojaiye and AbdulKareem Idowu While other defendants alongside Senator Adeola are, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); All Progressive Congress (APC) and the National Assembly.

The plaintiffs had approached the court for the Exparte Order, pursuant to order 38 Rule 2 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.

Journalists Mourn Raheemat Omoro Momodu Journalists across the country have been mourning veteran journalist, civil society activist, former leader of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Hajia Raheemat Omoro Momodu, who died on Tuesday, June 14, 2022.

Until her death, Momodu, who hailed from Edo State, was the Principal Programme Officer, Human Security and Civil Society Organizations in the Department of Gender and Social Affairs at the ECOWAS Commission.

According to her former colleagues, she was a passionate believer in the Nigeria Project,

with a deep commitment to issues of women and children.

This passion and commitment drove her activities throughout her life and were exemplified in the roles she played and the responsibilities that she took on.

They said: “We will hold on to the memory of Raheemat Omoro Momodu in death as we valued her in life. Among the fond memories was her dynamic leadership of the Lagos State Chapter of the NAWOJ the 1990s as the chairperson during which she became a vital ally in the establishment of the New Trend Movement in the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).”

Abaribe Resigns as Minority Leader Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South Senatorial District has formally resigned his position as Minority Leader of the Senate.

His resignation was conveyed in a letter dated May 26th, 2022.

The letter was read by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, at the start of plenary yesterday.

Abaribe’s resignation as Minority Leader of the Senate, followed his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The letter titled: “Notification of Resignation From Membership Of The Peoples Democratic Party in the Senate,” read: “This is to notify you and my dear colleagues in the Senate that I have formally resigned my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party through my ward.

“This also means my resignation as Minority Leader of the Senate.

“I wish to thank you and my dear colleagues in the Leadership of the Senate for warm camaraderie we enjoyed while I was Minority Leader.”

The Police have arrested no fewer than 154 suspects various crimes in Borno State. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Abdul Umar, confirmed this while briefing newsmen at the command headquarters in Maiduguri.

Umar said that out of the 154 suspects, 67 of them were charged to court and remanded in prison custody for being in possession of

dangerous arms and disturbance of public peace in Maiduguri metropolis and its environs.

He explained that during the period under review, there were a total of 45 cases reported at the command, 87 suspects arrested, 10 cases charged to court and 35 cases were still under investigation.

He listed the cases to include four cases of rape; eight cases of culpable

homicide with nine suspects arrested and being investigated; four cases of kidnapping with nine suspects arrested and being investigated.

Others were 11 cases of criminal conspiracy, disturbance of public peace, assault and possession of dangerous weapons with 19 suspects arrested, seven charged to court and four being investigated.

“There was also a case of criminal conspiracy and theft of armoured cables with five suspects arrested and one being investigated; three being in possession of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp with eight suspects wanted and three being investigated; 12 cases of theft with 18 suspects arrested, three charged to court and nine being investigated,” he said.

FG Must Protect Lives of Military, Civilians from Attacks, Says NHRC Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has said the federal government was duty bound to protect the lives of both the military personnel and other citizens under its jurisdiction from attacks by armed groups.

The Chairperson Governing Council of the Commission, Dr.

Salamatu Suleiman said this in Abuja, yesterday.

She said the protection of lives of military personnel and other citizens was imperative given the increased insurgency and counter-insurgency operations in some parts of the country.

Speaking during her opening statement at the colloquium organised by the NHRC in partnership with Center for

Democracy and Development (CDD), with the support of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), the Chairperson regretted that both the military and other citizens had been known to suffer constant human rights violations in some part of the country.

She noted that the violations included the right to life, the right to freedom of movement,

torture, extra judicial executions, inhuman and degrading treatments, and others.

She, however, said despite the all these challenges all hope was not lost given the commitment of the leadership of the Commission to partner with relevant bodies to deliver on its statutory mandate of promoting and protecting, and enforcing human rights in Nigeria.

SON Cautions Nigerians against Patronising Substandard Products Blessing Ibunge in PortHarcourt

The Director General of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr. Farouk Salim has urged Nigerians to kick against importers with substandard products in the country.

Salim gave the advice during a one-day sensitisation

programme in Port Harcourt, organised by SON, to mark its 50 years celebration.

The DG said the sensitisation programme which harps on, “Son Activities and Mandate,” was to ensure that the public stop patronising both manufacturers and importers of substandard products to save lives in the country.

Salim said one of the challenges facing the country was the issue of importing and producing fake and substandard products.

According to him some of the products are cheap and fake, hence individuals and stakeholders must collaborate with SON and give information to the public.

“One of the biggest challenges is that both the highly educated and non-educated are also patronising these fake products for their desired interest.

“Such individuals or importers bringing in substandard products are criminal minded without considering the damage been done to our country.

Police Burst Baby Factory, Rescue 35 Girls in Anambra Police operatives in Anambra have rescued 35 girls from a baby factory in the Nkpor area of the South-east state.

A statement by the spokesman of the Anambra Police Command Ikenga Tochukwu said the girls were rescued during a raid in a hotel.

According to the statement, “Following a rigorous analysis

of crime trends and pattern, the Command operatives on 13th June 2022, working on information burst a hotel named Gally Gally in Nkpor where they use children between the ages of 14 years and 17 years for sex slaves, prostitution and baby factory.”

“The operatives rescued, 35 girls and four of them

are pregnant. The police also arrested three persons namely: Mrs. Ifeoma Uzo age ‘F’ 35yrs, Chidiebere Alaka ‘M’ 28years, and Nweke Chidiebere. We recovered three pump action guns, seven cartridges, and a cash sum of Eight hundred and seventy-seven thousand, five hundred naira (#877,500).

The suspects arrested are being

interrogated with a view to eliciting information on their involvement and unmasking other gang members,” he added.

He said the victims have been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for the “welfare and rehabilitation of the children.

All Levels of Healthcare Services Have Been Touched in Enugu, Says Commissioner The Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Emmanuel Ikechukwu Obi, yesterday, said Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration’s commitment to providing medical facilities across all level of healthcare services in the state has yielded the desired positive results.

Dr. Obi added that the preference of Gov. Ugwuanyi’s

administration to provide quality, accessible and affordable healthcare services to the people of the state including those in the rural areas remains sacrosanct.

According to the commissioner, it was in view of the determination that Gov. Ugwuanyi initiated, constructed and equipped Type-3 Healthcare

Centres in various local government areas of the state to provide quality, accessible and affordable primary healthcare services to the rural dwellers, in line with his administration’s rural development policy.

Speaking when an indigene of the state and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dumaco Best Properties Limited, Sir Dave

Ugwu, donated medical equipment to the Type-3 Healthcare Centre in Orba, Udenu LGA, to complement what the state government has provided in the health facility, Obi pointed out that state government has equally made positive impacts in upgrading and equipping the secondary healthcare facilities in the state.

46

THURSDAY, ͹;˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Osimhen Keeps Arsenal, Others Waiting Till After Summer Vacation Femi F emiSolajawithagencyreport Solaja with agency report Potential suitors of Super Eagles’ forward, Victor Osimhen, 23, may have to wait a little longer for the Napoli FC goal poacher to make up his mind. This, it was learnt, may not happen now until the tail end of this summer transfer window.

The Super Eagles forward has been the toast of many top clubs in Europe including Manchester United, Real Madrid, Newcastle United and Arsenal with the London side looking more aggressive to sign the player this summer.

According to Evening

London, Osimhen Standard of London is not in a hurry to decide where next to pitch his tent after dumping Lille of From for Napoli in a princely sum of €72million two seasons ago.

Now, after the grueling Italian Serie A season plus actions in the Europa League with the Naples based club, Osimhen, sources revealed plans to go on with his summer vacation before he can choose between stay-back in Napoli or move into another league, preferable the English Premier League.

Italian news sources have claimed that London Gunners have made an initial £51million

star, offer for the Nigeria star although Napoli is asking for £85million.

Osimhen struck four goals last Monday in Morocco when Nigeria crushed minnows Sao Tome & Principe 10-0 in a Match-day 2 fixture of the AFCON 2023 qualifier.

The Napoli star is aiming for his first appearance in the continental football showpiece after missing the last AFCON 2021 edition in Cameroon. He will not be in action with Super Eagles at the World Cup in Qatar because Nigeria failed to qualify.

Osimhen was quoted by CalcioMercato as saying: “I

know there are many people that would like me in Spain or England, but I don't think it's the right time to talk about it now that I'm with the national team.

“I always go out on the pitch to do my best both with the national team and with my club.

“I don't know my future, I know anything can happen, but now I just want to go on holiday with my family, clear my head and recharge my batteries.

“Then we'll take care of everything else,” Osimhen told reporters in Morocco shortly after he assisted Nigeria to climb to the top of Group A of the AFCON 2023 qualifiers.

Six Reigning African Champions to Storm Benin for C'wealth Games, World Championship Tickets As many as six African Games and African Athletics Championship champions are among the athletes expected in Benin next week to battle for tickets to next month's World Athletics Championship in Oregon, USA and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Athletics Federation of Nigeria Head of Media, Oludare Esan, revealed that the reigning African champions will be led

by Chukwuebuka Enekwechi,

the African Games and African Championship gold medalist and competitions record holder.

“Raymond Ekevwo who won the 100m gold at the African Games in 2019 in Rabat is also confirmed and will be battling not just for the ticket but also his first national title in the blue ribband event,” said Esan.

Continuing, Esan says Olympics, World and Commonwealth Games medallist and reigning African Games long jump queen, Ese

Brume, will also be in Benin as she bids for her fifth national title in the event and secure the ticket to Oregon where she will be hoping to become the first Nigerian woman to win two World Championship individual medals in two editions.

“Tobi Amusan who won the 100m hurdles title last week in Mauritius will also be around to defend the sprint hurdles title she won at the Yaba College of Technology, Yaba last year.

Amusan is also the reigning African Games champion and record holder.

Others are Oyesade Olatoye, the African Games shot put champion who won a historic hammer gold for Nigeria at the 22nd African Championships last week in Mauritius.”

The AFN media chief says the Commonwealth Games and World

Championships trials in Benin will also have in attendance Chioma Onyekwere, the reigning African Games and African championship discuss throw champion. Onyekwere set a new 59.91m Games record to win the African Games gold in 2019.

Two other African Games champions yet to be confirmed for the Benin championship are triple jumper Grace Anigbata and Javelin thrower Kelechi Nwanaga.

“Both have met the qualification standard for the Commonwealth Games and World Championships trials and we will know before the end of the week if they will be flying in from the USA for the championship,” said Esan .

The Nigeria championships which will serve as the Commonwealth Games and World Championship trials will hold from June 21 to June 23 in Benin City, Edo State.

Victor Osimhen... undecided about where to play next season

FIFA Set to Name Host Cities for 2026 World Cup Today The countdown to World Cup 2026 kicks off in earnest today, as football fans across Canada, Mexico and the United States will learn whether their cities made the coveted cut to host the 48-team tournament.

Four years after FIFA selected the tri-country North American

PSG Sack Pochettino Ese Brume...leading a star cast to the Commonwealth Games and World Athletics Championships Trials in Benin City next week

Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly been sacked as manager of Paris Saint-Germain after the Argentine and the club reached an agreement on his exit.

Pochettino has been in charge for 18 months and led the club to the Ligue 1 title in his first full season, finishing 15 points clear of second placed Marseille - the biggest margin of victory in any

of Europe's big five divisions.

But the club's Champions League exit to Real Madrid at the last-16 was a factor in the mutual decision for Pochettino to leave Paris.

Nice Head Coach, Christophe Galtier, is thought to be the frontrunner to replace Pochettino after Luis Campos replaced Leonardo

as sporting director.

According to ESPN, talks with Galtier have progressed well and he is keen to take up the daunting role at the French champions.

Former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane had been believed to be the preferred choice of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar who owns PSG.

Team Ikorodu Wins 2022 Checkers Cup Ikorodu Checkers on Saturday at the Eagle Club, Surulere, defeated Mushin Checkers 4-2 to win the 2022 Checkers Cup after winning the maiden edition last year.

In a highly entertaining encounter, it was the Team Mushin that drew the first blood but the boys from Ikorodu had other ideas as hat-trick hero, Joel Yakub ensured the trophy returned to Ikorodu.

To add spice to the thrilling encounter, during half time, the executives of Checkers Africa Limited took to the field for

a sprint race after which the female workers took their turn and the winner went home with fifty thousand Naira cash prize.

To ensure everybody had fun, the management also organized dancing competitions for both male and female staff of the company after the match and it turned out to be a thrilling time.

In his welcome speech, the CEO, Mr. Karan Checker said: "Checkers Africa Limited wishes to encourage the game of football and is also ready to sponsor any resoundingly talented player to

the very highest level."

He also hinted that the maiden edition tourney in 2021 laid the groundwork for this additional activity for employee bonding and encouraging health fostering activities and relationships among workers to ensure a quality work environment. Checkers Africa Limited positions itself as a socially responsible company.

Checkers Africa Limited are makers of Checkers Custard Vanilla, Banana, Milk 3-in-1 and the latest addition, Chocolate 4-in-1.

Mauricio Pochettino...he’s believed to have been relieved of his PSG post

bid, world football’s governing body will announce the host cities after a lengthy process shrouded in mystery.

With 22 host cities still in the running this week, according to FIFA, many expect the United States to see 10 of its candidates chosen with Vancouver, Edmonton and Toronto in contention to the north.

In Mexico, where football is less a sport than a religion, three candidate cities – Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey – are all but assured the gig.

Of course, anything can happen ahead of Thursday’s media spectacle in New York City.

“Some of the cities understood probably from the beginning they were a longer shot than others… Five or six cities, almost anybody in the world would say, ‘Well, clearly they’re part of the package’,” former US Soccer President Alan Rothenberg, now chairman of Playfly Premier Partnerships, told Reuters.

“So the scramble in many ways is for the other slots.”

Los Angeles, with its glitzy new US$5.5 billion (S$7.66 billion) SoFi Stadium, is widely considered an obvious candidate, as is global hub New York, whose joint bid with New Jersey is anchored on the 82,500-capacity MetLife Stadium.

Other contenders include former 1994 World Cup host cities Boston, Dallas, San Francisco, Orlando and Washington DC, which combined its bid with Baltimore this year.

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THURSDAY, ͹;˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

SPORTS

Ime Udoka: Close to Delivering History with Boston Celtics In his first season as a head coach in the NBA, Ime Udoka is tantalisingly close to delivering a piece of history.

The 44-year-old NigerianAmerican is looking to lead the Boston Celtics to their 18th championship and edge back ahead of the LA Lakers in the all-time list of winners.

But the Celtics are in mustwin territory, as they trail Golden State Warriors 3-2in the best-of-seven NBA Finals - with the sixth game this evening in Boston (01:00 GMT on Friday).

NBA FINALS Udoka turned out for the Lakers and San Antonio Spurs, among others, during his seven years playing in the NBA. One former Nigeria team-mate insists he is surprised at Udoka's new career despite the latter's knowledge of the game.

"It never crossed my mind that someday he would venture into coaching," Abdulrahman Mohammed told BBC Sport Africa.

"But he was such a great player that when he chose to do anything that has to do with basketball, he always excelled in it. That is how good and great a player he was,” he recalled.

Udoka represented Nigeria in international competition throughout his playing career, earning bronze medals at the African Championships in 2005 and 2011.

Mohammed says Udoka, born to a Nigerian father and an American mother, was an "outstanding" player for the

West Africans, and compared his role with D'Tigers to one NBA superstar.

"I learnt a great deal from him during the time we played together," the former shooting guard added.

"Everyone in the team had so much respect for him. He was just the main player at that time, like the LeBron James of the national team.

"Most of our offensive play went through him and he lived up to expectation of carrying the team on his shoulders.

"He led us to qualify for the World Championships, he was such an outstanding player. He was such a great guy, he made a lot of sacrifice for Nigeria.

"I am glad that I got a chance to play with him and I am proud of what he is doing in the NBA now."

Influential on the court for Nigeria, Udoka has certainly proved his worth since turning to coaching.

He was hired by the Celtics last Junefollowing stints as an assistant at the San Antonio

Ime Udoka (seated) plotting a game plan surrounded by Boston Celtic players

PHOTO: Reuters

Spurs, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets.

He helped all those sides reach the NBA play-offs - with the Spurs going on to lift the title in 2014 - and repeated the feat with the Celtics by finishing second in the Eastern Conference with a 51-31 record.

Udoka led his side to series victories over the Nets(4-0), Milwaukee Bucks(4-3) and Miami Heat (4-3) to reach the Finals for the first time since 2010and set up a showdown with the Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors are taking part in their sixth NBA Finals in eight years under Steve Kerr and are hunting a fourth title in that timeframe.

Udoka will have to go the distance to win the championship by taking victory in game six to set up a decider in San Francisco on Sunday.

"For us, it's really about consistency," Udoka said after their 104-94 defeat in San Francisco on Tuesday.

"That's the thing we're not having throughout a full game - consistent efforts, sustained effort, more so offensively than anything.

"That's the part where we got to have carry over, not only game to game but quarter to quarter. Our message is to take it one at a time. We've been here before (and) did it against Milwaukee."

Mohammed - himself a Warriors supporter - hopes Udoka can deliver a first crown for the Celtics since 2008.

"I think they are really good, they have such a solid team," Mohammed said.

"They have such a great defensive team. They are rated the number one team this year in the NBA. "Even though I am a Golden State Warriors fan, because of Ime I would not mind if Celtics win the title."

-Culled from BBC Sports Africa

UEFA Plots Money-spinning Mini Champions League in USA UEFA is planning a brand new money-spinning mini tournament featuring the winner of the Champions League.

As it stands, European football's governing body have nothing set in stone but are plotting to hold the competition in the United States.

According to L'Equipe, UEFA wants to have the tournament shortly before the Champions League begins and it would feature the previous winner along with three other leading clubs.

The French publication also claims that the idea was floated to broadcasters bidding on the right to televise the Champions League from 2024-27.

The mini tournament would have two semi-finals and a final and proposals suggest it would take place in August.

The UNFP, the Union of Professional Footballers in France, has already criticised UEFA’s proposal.

There are major fears about adding to fixture congestion and the club and international calendar is already at breaking point.

“The European body only wants to line its pockets with no regard for the health of the

players, and with no regard for the spectacle of footbal,” UNFP said in a statement.

UEFA President, Alexander Ceferin, previously admitted one option would be to adapt the current Super Cup game between the Champions League and Europa League winners, making it a four-team competition.

He said: “That is a possibility, for sure. Now, who will play exactly we cannot tell for sure yet.

“This is one of the ideas that we will do something more with that at the beginning of the season, or before the start of the season.”

Major changes are already coming to the Champions League, with the leading club competition in football expanding to 36 clus from 32 from the 2024/25 season.

They will all be together in one pool with each team playing eight matches, all against different opponents, compared to eight groups of four teams playing six matches each at present.

Real Madrid will play Eintracht Frankfurt in this year's Super Cup in Helsinki on August 10.

Real Madrid defeated Liverpool to lift the 2021/22 Champions League

Thursday, June 16, 2022

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Zainab Ahmed to Nigerians “This PMS subsidy is costing us an additional N4 trillion than was originally planned. So, this is an unplanned deficit. We also asked that we needed to borrow more which is very serious. We are in some kind of crossroads”—Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed on the burden of fuel subsidy payments to the national economy

OLUSEGUNADENIYI Mr President, Please Honour Him THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

S

tories abound regarding individuals who have put their lives on the line to save others. These are mostly ordinary people whose extraordinary exploits offer us glimpses of hope, fill us with admiration, and boost our faith in humanity. Such people, imbued with the virtues of bravery and selflessness, are sometimes conferred national honour in many countries to encourage others to do more. They also serve as important role models who the younger ones can strive to emulate. While every nation has a system of recognising, rewarding, and encouraging such citizens, in Nigeria, we have turned the exercise of national honour to no better than the award of chieftaincy titles to often unworthy people.

The idea of national honour was created to celebrate excellence, but we now use such occasions in Nigeria to celebrate under-achievement, mediocrity, and even moral bankruptcy. Indeed, the award of national honour has over the years become yet another platform for bestowing patronage on cronies and pimps. It is perhaps because of such banality that President Muhammadu Buhari has rarely conferred national honour and for me, that is commendable. In the few instances that Buhari has done so, it is difficult to question his judgement on the choice of awardees. And it is in that spirit

Otarigbo that I want to recommend to the president someone who I believe deserves a national honour.

Last Saturday, a truck laden with petroleum product burst into flames at Agbarho, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

While people ran for their lives, including

the conductor who bailed out, Ejiro Otarigbo drove the burning vehicle away from the densely populated area until he reached a place he considered safe. Were it not for his quick thinking acknowledged by many people, including Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the explosion that followed would have consumed houses and lives in the community.

In taking the action he did, Otarigbo knew he could die in the process. He simply felt a sense of duty that the consequences of the vehicle exploding where the flames started would be catastrophic.

True heroism, according to the late African American tennis superstar, Arthur Ashe, “is remarkably sober, very undramatic.

It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” That was what Otarigbo demonstrated by literally driving inside fire.

His action was all the more commendable against the background that he was just recently married.

Courage in the face of danger is a public service and a virtue we need. Especially in our armed forces if we are to defeat the forces of evil arrayed against our country. In July 2014, the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Minimah revealed that a number of army personnel were abandoning the force due to fear. “Sometimes, journalists ask me questions, saying soldiers are deserting

Of Influence, Influencers and Politics (On Monday in Lagos, I spoke to young adults at the 8th RECALP Conference of the RCCG, Province 19. Below is an abridged version of my presentation)

L

et me begin by sharing a story which some of us may have heard but nonetheless remains relevant. A prominent politician was visiting a primary school when the teacher asked whether he would care to lead a discussion on the word ‘Tragedy’ with the pupils. Without hesitation, the politician agreed and asked if there was anyone in the class who could give him an example of a situation that would be considered a tragedy. A little boy stood up, and said, “If my best friend was walking to school, and one of those crazy convoys of politicians hit and killed him, that would be a tragedy”.

“No,” said the politician. “That would not be a tragedy. That would just be an accident”.

A little girl raised her hand: “If some bandits were to invade this school and kill one of our teachers. That would be a tragedy”.

“I’m afraid, that would still not be a tragedy,” said the politician. “That is what we would call a great loss.”

For a long while, the class went silent. No child volunteered. Cool with himself, the politician’s eyes searched the room. “Does it mean there is nobody in this class who can give me an example of a tragedy?” he asked.

At the back of the room, a little hand went up, and a quiet voice said. “If the private jet that brought you from Abuja was hit by a bomb, killing you instantly, that would be a tragedy”.

“God forbid!” exclaimed the politician. But after a while, he added, “You know what, you

are actually correct. Now, can you tell me how you come to know that would be a tragedy?”

“Well,” said the quiet voice rather innocently, “It has to be a tragedy because, given the circumstance, it wouldn’t be an accident.”

The politician nodded his head, before the girl concluded: “And your death certainly would not be a great loss to anybody.”

I am delighted to be here this morning to share my thoughts and engage young Nigerians at this important session put together by RECALP. I understand this is the 8th edition so I must first commend Pastor Femi Aminu and the entire Pastorate for creating a platform where young people can interact with and learn from one another as well as from people who have also experienced what they are going through.

Let me also commend Pastors Bisi Olowoyo and Charles Kpandel for their leadership and for being here this morning to give us their fatherly support.

Meanwhile, I don’t know why I am asked to speak about politics. I am not a politician. I have never been one. I am a journalist. I hope Pastor Femi did not invite me because I reside in Abuja where party delegates gather to decide our future after collecting dollars. If that is the reason, I am sorry, I am going to disappoint this audience today because I am not going to speak about APC, PDP, Labour Party or any of the numerous political parties competing for votes in the 2023 general election.

However, before I go to the substance of my intervention, let me say briefly that it is important that young people be interested in political participation. And by that I don’t mean just getting PVC and voting. You must be interested in how the candidates of the political

parties emerge because if at election time you are presented with a list from which you cannot make a rational choice, then your PVC will be of no use. Besides, there is nothing preventing the young people that I see in this room from joining political parties and seeking offices or promoting good candidates. But I am delighted by the enthusiasm being shown in political participation and the campaign to get Nigerians to register to vote.

The 2023 general election is very crucial because Nigeria is going through a period in which we must ask questions of those who seek our votes.

We cannot continue to elect those we expect to lead us into peace and prosperity based on ethnic or religious sentiment. We must know how they intend to revive the economy, reposition critical social sectors like education and health while the character of such people is also important.

And the person we send to the state house of assembly or to the government house in our state is as important to our collective welfare as the man we send to Aso Rock.

I have said that I am not here to discuss politics.

But to the extent that politics is essentially about human interactions and seeking some sort of power to achieve set goals, it is not something we can avoid. It is within that context that I want to look at politics this afternoon. I am talking about those who peddle influence and are called Influencers. I am sure we have many in this room today. People who are regarded as influencer on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook etc. because they can nudge their followers in certain direction. Whether they know it or not, they trade in power and that is politics.

NOTE: Piece concluded on page 25

their jobs because they don’t want to be killed in the Northeast. I tell them ‘yes, it is true’. Desertion is part of war. A real soldier is known when he is put in the warfront,” Minimah said during a working tour to Lagos. “The one who is not a soldier would run away and abandon his job. Our soldiers are recruited from the Nigerian society and, today, most people are not called to be soldiers, they joined because they are desperately in need of jobs.”

The absence of courage by those whose duty it is to protect us can be glimpsed from the manner sundry cartels of criminals are overrunning the country. But that is an issue for another day. I am delighted that Governor Okowa recognized Otarigbo’s heroism. To develop our society, we must begin to honour those whose acts of courage promote the public good, even if they never occupied an official position. It is when we begin to institute such a merit-based reward system that we will also begin to build a new nation where every citizen will be proud to make their own contribution and if necessary, the ultimate sacrifice.

I understand the season we are in so there will be those who would be disappointed that I have not written on politics today, especially now that some wives are threatening that their husbands would not access ‘The Other Room’ without PVC (Reuben Abati is my source). But on a serious note, whether we realize it or not, the choices we make in our little corners are as important as those made in Aso Rock. We may see Otarigbo as just a driver. But he took personal responsibility at a most critical period even at the risk of his life. The virtue he displayed is that of leadership anchored on sacrifice, the kind we hardly see displayed in Nigeria. Especially by people in positions of public trust.

As we therefore seek to reposition our country for peace and prosperity, we need such commitment to duty, patriotism and responsible citizenship at all levels of our society. I hope President Buhari will grant my humble request and confer on Ejiro Otarigbo a national honour.

Adieu Raheemat Momodu

I

woke up on Tuesday to a Thumbs-up message from Hajia Raheemat Momodu under my last week’s column she had apparently just read. She sent it at 0.49am.

So, one could imagine my shock when a message went out in the afternoon of same day that she was dead. I have known Raheemat since 1992 when we both worked for African Concord magazine. We have been friends ever since. Warm, jovial, dependable and a genuine leader, Raheemat will surely be missed by all who were fortunate to have encountered her. That much was evident yesterday afternoon given the mammoth crowd of eminent personalities (from the media, civil society and diplomatic community) that attended both the funeral prayers at the national mosque and her internment at Gwarimpa cemetery. May God comfort the family she left behind.

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