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Zenith Bank Gets Recognition for Best Corporate Governance Nume Ekeghe Zenith Bank Plc's strong business ethos, ethical values, and impeccable corporate governance have been rewarded with 'Best Corporate Governance’ Financial Services’ Africa 2021 award by the

Ethical Boardroom.

The bank, in a statement yesterday, said the award, published in the June 2021 edition of The Ethical Boardroom magazine, recognised the bank’s adherence to global best practices and

institutionalisation of corporate governance as well as setting an industry-wide example of best practices in that field.

Commenting on the award, Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, said: “This recognition is a

testament to our commitment to quality, accountability, fairness and transparency in our engagement with all stakeholders.

"It is also an affirmation of the bank’s professionalism, ethical conduct and sustenance of global best practices and

standards which is attributable to the joint collaboration of the management and staff."

The award comes on the heels of others and recognitions that the bank has garnered in recent times for its track record of excellent performance and commitment to global best

practices.

For instance, Zenith Bank was voted as Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards 2020; Best Bank in Nigeria in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Continued on page 10

Oil Price Upswing Continues, Inches Closer to $75pb... Page 8 Thursday 17 June, 2021 Vol 26. No 9565. Price: N250

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NPAN Rejects Media Exclusion from Press Bill’s Public Hearing...Page 42

Lagos, Kano Get Lion’s Share of INEC’s New Polling Units Commission creates 56,872 centres Fixes dates for Ekiti, Osun governorship elections Chuks Okocha in Abuja After 25 years and ahead of preparations for the 2023 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday announced the creation of additional 56,873 polling units, with Lagos and Kano States topping the distribution list with 4,861 and 3,148 centres respectively.

With the creation of the

polling units, Nigeria now has 176,846 polling units.

The new polling units were created after over 25 years of the creation of the old polling units of 119,973.

INEC also removed 749 polling units from inappropriate facilities, nine of them from shrines, while others were from religious houses and palaces.

Continued on page 10

No National Law on Grazing Routes, Falana, Basiru Tell Buhari

Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, and the Senate spokesman, Senator Ajibola Basiru, have opposed President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), to reclaim land for open grazing, saying there

is no national law on open grazing.

Fielding questions on The Morning Show, a programme on ARISE NEWS Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, the silk said contrary to the impression the president has created, Nigeria has no national law on cattle grazing routes.

He spoke against the backdrop of Buhari’s response Continued on page 10

DISCUSSING MATTER OF STATE...

L–R: National Security Adviser to the President, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd); Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami; and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Mohammed Bello, during the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja…yesterday godwin omoigui

FEC Approves Resumption of N1tn FCT Land Swap Scheme...Page 5

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Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

FEC Approves Resumption of N1tn FCT Land Swap Scheme

Deji Elumoye in Abuja The federal government is to resume the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) land swap initiative, started by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC), rising from a meeting in Abuja yesterday, approved the resuscitation of the land swap programme aimed at ensuring massive infrastructural development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

FCT Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Bello, told reporters after the meeting that the land initiative, worth about N1trillion under the previous dispensation, was designed to remedy the infrastructure deficit in the federal capital by swapping land with private investors who would in turn provide development.

The minister stated that FEC approved the resumption following a memo he presented to the council, adding that some amendments were made to the original initiative by establishing a legal framework to protect all parties.

He said: “Today, at the Federal Executive Council meeting, I presented a memo and an update on the FCT Land Infrastructure Swap Initiative at the council.

And after a lot of deliberations, the Federal Executive Council approved the FCT Land Infrastructure Swap Initiative, which is popularly known as land swap, which was started some time ago by the previous FCT administration.

“After a review of what has transpired over the years, and changes made, the Federal Executive Council approved that we now continue with the land swap initiative on the basis of amendments to the procedures as well as new safeguards introduced so that investors, the FCT, that is the government, as well as off-takers will be protected. So, this is what we discussed today.”

On the key provisions of the initiative, the minister described the deal as an initiative between

the FCT administration and the private sector that would ensure provision of infrastructure to develop the districts in the territory.

According to him, the private investors will provide the entire infrastructure within a particular district and then they will be compensated with land.

He said: “They will take a certain percentage of the land developable within that district, while the FCT administration will take a certain per cent.

“The whole essence is to encourage the development of the city according to the master plan in designated districts and then, of course, to also to resolve the issue of compensation and payments and relocation of people as the city grows, and then, of course, to reduce the overall housing deficit within the FCT. So, basically, this is the background.

“And what we have approved today is to establish a very solid legal system, whereby all the parties in this transaction are protected. And who are the parties, the first party is the investor, the second party is the FCT administration, while the third parties are the off-takers.

And in so doing, investors will create a special purpose vehicle, whereby the investors will come in and then the quantum of the investment will be determined on the basis of which the financial institutions will provide financial guarantees to the administration through performance bonds.

“And this performance bond will cover the totality of the project and will be reduced as the project is being delivered.

And then the land that is going to be used as swapping for the investment that is going to be held in custody by designated financial institution, which will serve as the custodian. Of course, as milestones are being achieved, land will be released to the investors which, obviously, they will sell and use to pay for their investment. So, this is the whole concept.”

He added that the idea of reviewing the agreement was

to bring in “conditionalities that protect everybody and all these are done based on the experience of the administration over the last few years regarding previous investments done particularly using the mass housing model, which is really in terms of size is just a fraction of what we are talking about.

“So, this is the whole essence, this is what we intend to start rolling out now based on the conditions approved to the effect.”

Also briefing newsmen, Works and Housing Minister, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said he presented a note to the council on the need to be conscious of the increased number of road traffic crashes on federal highways, saying that the majority of accidents are not caused by bad roads.

He stated that three major

federal highways, namely Lagos-Ibadan highway, the Abuja-Kano highway, and Abuja-Keffi-Lafia highway, have the highest cumulative number of road accidents.

According to him, in January 2021, more people died of car accidents than COVID-19 and malaria combined.

He said: “So, we saw that this was something that needed to be focused on. We saw that for the month of January, the number of people who died from road crashes exceeded the combined numbers of people who died from malaria and COVID together for the same month.

“While COVID and malaria were receiving national concerted attention, perhaps it was necessary to bring this to the attention of the government as part of our strategy for protecting life and property.

"So, we identified the need for various actions to be taken from municipal, local government level to state and national level.”

According to Fashola, the process is on to reduce road accidents on federal highways.

He added: “We are looking at also putting speed metres on the highway. There is a combination of factors and we are also trying to educate drivers. We saw that the biggest factor for these accidents from over-speeding, loss of control, wrongful overtaking, brake failure, tyre blowing out points to the role of the driver.

“Consistently over the years and this data is available. The impact of bad roads and accidents was less than 2%. As big as that may be, it is less than 2%. These factors I have mentioned; overspeeding, loss of control, wrongful overtaking

cumulate to over 70%. If we reduce this, we bring the numbers down.

"So, I think our focus as a government is that we've agreed that the driver has a role to play, starting from education and certification for more level. So, this is going to be a multidisciplinary activity from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of lnformation, FRSC, state and local governments in terms of how they test and certify drivers.

“We are hopeful that FRSC will start something like a random check on the highway for people to produce the driver's licence. And that awareness, hopefully, will reduce the number of uncertified drivers on the road - because they are also a very big source of the problem. So, these essentially are the highlights."

NEW ADDITION...

L-R: Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo; Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Governor Dapo Abiodun; former governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba; and wife of the first deputy governor, Mrs. Esther Soluade, during the inauguration of the Lantoro-Elite-Idi Aba Road in Abeokuta…yesterday

PDP Accuses Buhari of Increasing Poverty Restates call on Senate to reject Onochie’s nomination for INEC job Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised President Muhammadu Buhari for the increasing rate of poverty in the country, following a report by the World Bank.

The party has also threatened to file a lawsuit against the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, if the Senate fails to reject the nomination of presidential aide, Ms. Lauretta Onochie, as a national commissioner in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The World Bank, in a report released on Tuesday, had stated that inflation pushed about seven million Nigerians below the poverty line in 2020.

Its position contradicted that of Buhari, who in a broadcast on Saturday to mark

Democracy Day had said that his administration had lifted 10.5 million people out of poverty in two years.

But the PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, blamed the All Progressives Congress-led administration for the inflation.

It called on the president to work on the economy “before every Nigerian is turned into a street beggar.”

The party added: “It indeed appears that Mr. President enjoys living in denial while watching millions of Nigerians go down in abject poverty, excruciating hunger and starvation as our country now ranks 98th out of 107 in Global Hunger Index under his watch.

“Under President Buhari, Nigerians are now subjected

to the worst form of poverty and hardship, with collapsed purchasing power, occasioned by a voodoo economy management that has wrecked our productive sectors and pummeled our naira from the about N167 to a US dollar in 2015 to the current over N500 per dollar “It is unfortunate that Mr. President will choose to always bandy fictitious figures and false performance claims, when he has, in a space of six years, destroyed our national productivity and reduced our country to a beggarly nation, a laughing stock and object of pity among the comity of nations.”

The PDP also threatened to sue Lawan, if he fails to return the nomination of Onochie as a national commissioner in INEC to the president.

The party said: “Lawan will have nobody but himself to blame for the ridiculing of his tenure in office if he failed to return the nomination as demanded by Nigerians.”

The PDP also tasked the Chairman, Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Kabiru Gaya, not to partake in the plot to confirm Onochie despite the outcry against her nomination.

The party, in another statement by Ologbondiyan, charged Gaya to stand down deliberations concerning Onochie before his committee.

“Senator Lawan must know that Nigerians are now holding him directly answerable for gross misconduct and impeachable act of perfidy for sending Onochie’s already rejected nomination to the Gaya’s committee, in utter

violation of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and total derision for the sensibility of Nigerians.

“Our party reminds Senator Lawan that the reasons that forced his hands to stand down Onochie’s faulted nomination eight months ago have neither changed nor abated. The reasons are still sticking and they are not far-fetched “In case Lawan needs to be reminded, paragraph 14 of the 3rd schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) forbids a person involved in partisan politics to hold office as a member of INEC. “Relying on the above in demanding for a litmus of respect for the supremacy of 1999 Constitution, the PDP holds that Onochie, as a card-carrying member of the All Progressives

Congress (APC) from Ward 5 Onicha Olona, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, and who is also a public campaigner for the APC and President Buhari, cannot, by any stroke of imagination, be appointed as an INEC official at any level and under any guise whatsoever.

“If anything, our party assures Senator Lawan that his desperation to appoint Onochie into INEC through the backdoor is an act of rebelliousness to 1999 Constitution as well as impudence to the sensibilities of Nigerians, which must never be allowed to stand,” it added.

PDP directed its members and other democraticallyminded members of the National Assembly, across party lines, to reject Onochie’s confirmation.

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Oil Price Upswing Continues, Inches Closer to $75pb Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The price of crude oil crept higher yesterday, almost hitting the $75 per barrel mark as industry data pointed to a substantial decline in United States crude stockpiles coupled with rising fuel sales in India as the country continued to show signs of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the rising crude price has sent Nigeria’s bill for fuel subsidies rocketing, threatening to exacerbate the nation’s fragile economy.

Although Nigeria currently produces about 1.5 million barrels of crude per day, it has an almost zero refining capacity and imports roughly 100 per cent of its fuel for local consumption, negating much of the benefits oil-producing nations across the world get from high crude prices.

A plunge in the price of the commodity last year sent the country's oil-dependent economy reeling into a recession from which it recently barely exited, while a rally has since pushed the oil price past the $70 mark.

But instead of reaping the benefits, Nigeria’s subsidy bill, borne by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has surged beyond N100 billion, with the national oil company being unable to remit monies to the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) for two consecutive months.

The country now sits on a double-edged sword as “under-recovery” cost, the difference between what the government pays to import fuel and how much it sells the fuel for continues to wipe out the gains of the resurgence in the international price of the commodity.

On the one hand, Nigeria is earning the much-needed foreign exchange, but is also bearing increased importation cost for petroleum products and by extension the landing cost.

In March, NNPC stated that it was paying about N120 billion in petroleum subsidies monthly, even at a time crude oil price was lower.

Wednesday’s rise in crude price came as Indian petrol and diesel sales rebounded in the first half of June as the number of new COVID-19 cases in the country slowly started to ease and as China also processed a record volume of crude oil last month on a barrels-a-day basis.

Global oil benchmark Brent, which Nigeria uses, rose 0.6 per cent, after earlier approaching $75 a barrel at $74.42 and West Texas Intermediate increased 0.4 per cent at $72.44 per barrel.

Oil’s rally has been reinvigorated this month as leading economies continue to reopen, aided by widespread vaccine programmes.

The development is boosting worldwide

energy demand just as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies maintain a cautious approach to boosting supply.

Although still largely fragile, the new market demand outlook suggests oil could roar back in the second half of this year, despite earlier predictions

that demand could take years to recover to prepandemic levels.

In May, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva, moved to douse the usual end of the month tension occasioned by rumours of petrol price increase, assuring Nigerians that the price would be stable in June.

He stated that the pre-emptive information was necessary to prevent nationwide chaos over a recent communiqué released by the governors that they had agreed on an N385 minimum pump price.

The governors’ report revealed that Nigeria spends between N70 billion and N210 billion monthly to

subsidise the petrol price at N162 per litre and identified Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Rivers and Abuja as the top consumers of petrol in the country.

But the minister had stated that the current price of petrol would be retained in June until the conclusion of the ongoing engagement with the organised labour.

LAND FOR DAIRY...

L-R: Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe; Governor Nasir el- Rufai; and Managing Director, Arla Foods Nigeria, Mr. Peder Pedersen, during the signing of the lease agreement between Kaduna State and Arla Foods on the development of a dairy farm in the state...yesterday

Army Seeks Stakeholders’ Support to End Security Challenges Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Nigerian Army said yesterday that the security challenges confronting the nation required a multistakeholder approach.

It said the deployment of arms and ammunition alone would not contain insecurity.

The new Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Brig.Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said at a ceremony in Abuja to mark his assumption of duty, that the sword and gun alone could not deny terrorists, insurgents and bandits and other criminals freedom of

action in Nigeria.

Nwachukwu, who took over from Brig. Gen. Mohammed Yerima, said: "Permit me to note here that it is an indisputable and very well established fact that the sword or gun cannot alone, provide a panacea to the complex and multifaceted security challenges that characterise today’s world.

"I must therefore, make haste to say that the complex nature of these security challenges require a multidisciplinary approach and a conglomerate of stakeholders of which the media is a very vital one.

"In decisively overcoming

these challenges, the Nigerian Army and the media must be partners in progress to surmount these security threats in order to berth the peace and tranquillity we all earnestly desire as a people and nation.”

He said he was not oblivious of the responsibility of his office, which is to project the activities of the army with the objective of galvanising public goodwill and support for as its strives to surmount contemporary security challenges bedevilling the nation.

He thanked the Chief of

Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Farouk Yahaya, for finding him worthy of the appointment.

Nwachukwu pledged to promote the core values of the Nigerian Army among officers and soldiers of the Directorate of Army Public Relations.

He said: "I wish to most respectfully thank the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor, for his immense support and encouragement during my tour of duty as the immediate past Acting Director Defence Information of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

"Let me use this medium to once again, express my

sincere gratitude to the chief of army staff for my appointment while assuring him of my unalloyed commitment to his vision for “a professional Nigerian Army, ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in defence of Nigeria.”

He appreciated his predecessor for the laudable feats he recorded during his tenure and also assured him of his commitment to consolidate on his successes.

He lauded journalists for their individual support and cooperation during his tenure as the Acting DDI and implored them

to remain steadfast as they carry out their essential role of educating and informing the public.

"I urge you to use your reportage and medium to positively shape public perception and opinion towards endearing national defence and security institutions to the public.

"This, I believe, will enable the harnessing of requisite elements of national power to confront our common adversaries," he said.

Earlier, Yerima had tasked officers and soldiers of the directorate to extend the support they gave him to his successor.

NCAA Warns Pilots over Hazardous Weather Chinedu Eze

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned pilots over severe thunderstorms and other hazardous weather, which hamper flight operations as the rainy season sets in.

NCAA said the warning was a follow-up to the Advisory Circular (AC) with reference no AC: NCAA-AEROMET – 31

addressed to all pilots and airline operators and signed by its Director-General, Capt.

Musa Nuhu.

“This is coming on the advent of the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) for the year 2021,” NCAA added.

NIMET has predicted March as the commencement of the rainy season in the

Southern states while April/June 2021 is the commencement of the rainy season in central and Northern states.

“Consequently, this weather advisory circular is necessary to bring forth the evolving weather information associated with the commencement of rainy season and the effects on safety and efficiency of flight operations; and to elicit the

cooperation of the following stakeholders to ensure safety air transport at all times,” NCAA said.

It called on pilots, operators and air traffic controllers to observe series of responsibilities.

According to the agency, air traffic controllers may temporarily close the airspace when any of the severe conditions are observed or forecast by NIMET.

It also directed flight crews/operators and air traffic controllers to ensure adherence to published aerodrome weather minima, while pilots must exercise maximum restraint whenever adverse weather is observed or forecast by NIMET. NCAA also directed that pilots/flight crew members must obtain adequate departure, en-route and destination weather

information and briefing from NIMET Aerodrome Meteorological Offices prior to flight operations.

“While the authority enjoins all passengers to exercise patience and understanding during this period of heavy downpour, strict compliance to this warning is expected from all stakeholders as maximum sanction shall be imposed for non-compliance,” NCAA stated.

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Agbakoba Asks N’Assembly to Consider Regional Autonomy in Constitution Review Alex Enumah in Abuja A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has asked the National Assembly to consider regional autonomy in the review of the 1999 Constitution.

Following calls for restructuring, among other issues, the National Assembly had recently held public hearings across the country on the proposed review of the 1999 Constitution.

Speaking on the review process in a statement yesterday, Agbakoba said regional autonomy is the best solution to some of the challenges facing the country.

“Calls for restructuring have, in my personal view, become a catch-all phrase that has introduced more confusion than solution. I believe the simple way to go is by regional autonomy,” he said.

“Regional autonomy refers to the governance and administration of a federating

unit in the interest of the local people, according to their aspirations. Nigeria is made up of multi-ethnic nations managed by a central authority. This model has proved unsuccessful.

“Europe understood that diversity is best managed by regional autonomy. Switzerland has four ethnic groups. Each of them shares the presidency through four cantons that make up their federating units.

“According to Prof. George Obiozor, even though Quebec is

the only fully French-speaking province, yet Canada is bilingual for the sake of Quebec.

On the other hand, Yugoslavia mismanaged its diversity and the result was the emergence of six distinct countries. The same fate befell Czechoslovakia, now the nations of Czechs and Slovaks.”

He said devolution of powers is a related concept to regional autonomy, as this means the transfer of powers from one level of government to another and vice versa.

The senior lawyer also suggested that legitimacy can be conferred on the constitutional review process by full involvement and incorporation of the leaders of traditional and ethnic nationalities.

“Prof. Ben Nwabueze has indicated that ethnic nationalities are the true representatives of Nigeria.

To quote him, ‘Nigeria has no territory other than the traditional territories inhabited by its constituent nationalities from time

immemorial – Yorubaland, Igboland, Hausaland, Tivland, Kanuri, Ijaw, etc. It is the ethnic nationalities that ceded or granted sovereign powers of government over their territories to Britain which makes them (i.e. the ethnic nationalities) the original and primary stakeholders in the Nigerian state,’” Agbakoba said.

He also expressed optimism that more would be achieved by giving prominent seats to the leaders of traditional and ethnic nationalities.

and voting points.

"Two of these elections in Sabon Gari State Constituency in Kaduna State and Gwaram Federal Constituency in Jigawa State are holding this weekend while the commission awaits the formal declaration of vacancies by the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives in respect of Lere Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, and Jos North/ Bassa Federal Constituency of Plateau State.

"For subsequent elections, beginning from the Anambra State governorship election holding on 6th November 2021, there will be no voting points anymore in Nigeria," he explained.

The INEC chairman said the new approved polling units for each state of the federation and FCT would be presented to the public in 37 volumes at this meeting.

He said: "On behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission, I would like to express our profound appreciation to the leadership of political parties, civil society organisations, the media, security agencies, religious leaders, socio-cultural associations, the labour unions, professional bodies, persons

with disabilities, women and youth groups, students’ unions, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the state governors under the auspices of the National Economic Council (NEC) and the National Assembly.

"We also acknowledge the invaluable support of the development partners for facilitating some of the stakeholder engagements and the publication of advocacy documents."

Yakubu said that the commission was preparing to conduct the remaining off-season end of tenure elections ahead of the 2023 general election.

He said activities listed in the timetable for the Anambra State governorship election were being implemented, along with the those of the FCT Area Council election holding on 12th February 2022.

He stated that the Ekiti and Osun State governorship elections would hold next year.

In keeping with its policy of announcing the dates of elections in advance to enable early and effective preparations by all concerned, Yakubu said the commission had approved that the Ekiti State governorship election

would hold on Saturday, June 18, 2022, while the Osun State governorship election would hold on July 16, 2022.

land outside of the Federal Capital Territory, according to the Land Use Act of Nigeria. So the federal government cannot acquire land from any state under the Land Use Act. So with the Land Use Act, the law on open grazing is no longer applicable.”

He urged Buhari to withdraw his position on open grazing and align with the current Land Use Act. Reacting to Malami’s comment condemning the ban on open grazing by the 17 Southern governors, and for defending the rights of cows to move around in any part of the country, Falana quoted Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution, as saying that the freedom of movement can only be applicable to human beings and not cattle or any kind of animals.

“The law is very clear that humans have freedom of movement and not animals,” he stated.

On security in states, Falana said Buhari erred for saying that governors have control over security in their states, since the constitution vested power in the president to declare a state of emergency, without vesting such power in governors.

On the federal government's position that Twitter and its Founder, Mr. Jack Dorsey, are vicariously liable for losses incurred during the #EndSARS protest in Nigeria, the learned silk said: “I heard the statement and I must confess that I was taken aback because the Honorable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, is a senior lawyer; so, I expect that he knows the implication of his statement. Again, this is why the government must ensure that it is consistent in its policies, otherwise, this country becomes a laughing stock in the comity of nations.”

LAGOS, KANO GET LION’S SHARE OF INEC’S NEW POLLING UNITS INEC Chairman, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, who gave the figures at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja, said the history of creating and expanding polling units in Nigeria had been long and complex.

He said the adequacy and accessibility in terms of number and location across the country were some of the challenges that had to be addressed in the interest of credible elections.

Yakubu said: "Before 2010, the commission operated on a round figure of approximately 120,000 polling units. However, a census undertaken by the commission before the 2011 general election arrived at the precise figure of 119,973 polling units. The commission also made efforts to relocate many polling units from inappropriate places such as private residences and properties, palaces of traditional rulers and places of worship to public buildings accessible to voters, polling agents, observers and the media during elections."

He stated that following unsuccessful attempts to create additional polling units despite pressure from increased number of registered voters,

the commission established voting points and voting point settlements nationwide as a pragmatic response to necessity.

He said: "The voting points were tied to the existing polling units and voting point settlements. The number of registered voters in a polling unit and the voting point settlements in the FCT was used to determine their voting points, based on the upper and lower thresholds of 500 and 750 voters respectively.

"These were also, the limits used for the 2019 general election. The number of new polling units in a state is the number of voting points aggregated from those polling units having voting points.

"Furthermore, it was discovered that one polling unit in Lagos State had been wrongly categorised as a voting point and the error was corrected. With this adjustment, the actual number of approved polling units came to 119,974.

"As a result, the commission arrived at the exact figure of 56,563 voting points in addition to 309 voting point settlements in the FCT, making a total of 56,872 voting points."

According to him, after wide-ranging consultations with stakeholders and voting

point settlements by officials, the 56,872 voting points and voting point settlements were converted and added to the existing 119,974 polling units.

"The commission is glad to report that 25 years since the current polling units were created in 1996, the hard nut is finally and successfully cracked after several unsuccessful attempts. Nigeria now has 176,846 full-fledged polling units," Yakubu stated.

According to him after consultation with stakeholders, the commission has successfully removed 749 polling units from inappropriate locations to appropriate public facilities or open spaces in line with INEC policy to guarantee unencumbered access to polling units for all voters.

Of this figure, 232 removed from private units were relocated for various reasons which include distance, difficult terrain, congestion, communal conflict, new settlements and general insecurity."

However, Yakubu said that in view of the advanced preparations already made by the commission, four pending bye-elections in Kaduna, Jigawa and Plateau States would be the last to be conducted using a combination of polling units

NO NATIONAL LAW ON GRAZING ROUTES, FALANA, BASIRU TELL BUHARI to a question in an exclusive

interview with ARISE NEWS Channel last Thursday that he had directed Malami to get an old gazette on grazing routes and reclaim the land for open grazing by herdsmen.

He stated that the president may have been misinformed by those who told him that Nigeria had a gazetted law on cattle routes and called for sanction against those who had misinformed the president.

He said: “Before 1964, Nigeria had an indigenous political class that was ruling the affairs of the regions during the colonial master’s reign in Nigeria.

“That was when the grazing reserve law was enacted by the political class that was in charge of the northern region and the law was enacted for only the northern region, which was not applicable to all other regions of the country. The law was not enacted in the Western region, Mid-western region and the Eastern region.

"At that time, regions like the Western region had ranches in Epe in the current Lagos State, Akunu in the current Ondo State, and Oke-Aku in the current Ekiti State. These ranches were established in 1956, under Obafemi Awolowo’s regime. We also had ranches

in the Eastern region at that time. We had Obudu Ranch in the Eastern region that was established in 1951.

“So Nigeria does not have a uniform policy in animal husbandry and open grazing.

So, the call by President Muhammadu Buhari, telling Malami to make available the country’s national gazette on cattle routes for open grazing is misinformation on the part of those who informed the president that Nigeria had a gazette on cattle routes for open grazing because Nigeria had none, except for the northern region that was not applicable to all other regions of the country that were autonomous at that time.”

Falana, however, said the grazing reserves of the First Republic had been seized by Ashanti farmers, adding that it would take a serious legal battle that would last for years, to reclaim them.

He said the Northern Governors’ Forum had earlier spoken against open grazing and had also announced that they had adopted the agriculture transformation plan of the federal government.

According to him, the federal government must be consistent with its policies, especially as

it concerns open grazing since governance is a continuous process.

Giving reasons why Nigeria needs policy consistency, Falana said the government seemed not to be consistent with its policies, adding that inconsistency will lead to people’s mistrust.

He said in 2016, the then Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe, had announced that the federal government had acquired 55,000 acres of land in 11 states for cattle rearing.

He said the same government later came up with the idea of a cattle colony also called Ruga.

He stated that Ruga was opposed by most state governors who felt it was a means through which the federal government will acquire their land.

Falana added that in 2018, the federal government and states came up with the National Livestock Transformation Plan that will cost N100 billion and the states will provide N20 billion while the federal government will provide N80 billion.

He stated that in 2019, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, had announced plans for Nigeria to ban the importation

of milk because the country was spending between $1.2 billion and $1.5 billion yearly on milk importation.

Emefiele had added that the federal government would make loans available for cattle ranching.

“In February this year, the entire 36 states governors had at a meeting agreed to discontinue open grazing and embrace ranching in line with the federal government's policy. Later this year, the 17 South-south governors banned open grazing in Southern parts of the country. Most Northern governors have begun ranching in their various states and Kano State has invited all those cattle rearers who were displaced to come to Kano for ranching of their cattle and this is where we are today,” he added.

Falana called on Malami to brief Buhari on the level of development with regards to cattle ranching in Nigeria.

He said: “The president may mean well for the country but without cognisance of the level we are with cattle ranching and the Land Use Act that empowers every state governor the right to control land in their states.

"The president of Nigeria does not have control over

ZENITH BANK GETS RECOGNITION FOR BEST CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Awards 2020 and 2021, and Best Corporate Governance’ Financial Services’ Africa 2020 by the Ethical Boardroom.

Also, the bank emerged as the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in the Banker Magazine Top 500 Banking Brands 2020 and 2021, and Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital in the “2020 Top 1000

World Banks” Ranking by The Banker Magazine.

Similarly, the bank was recognised as Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) at the THISDAY Awards 2020, Retail Bank of the year at the 2020 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BOFI) Awards, and Best Company in Promotion of

Good Health and Well-Being as well as Best Company in Promotion of Gender Equality and Women Empowerment at the Sustainability, Enterprise and Responsibility (SERAS) Awards 2020.

Zenith Bank has been generally adjudged a corporate governance compliant bank by the Nigerian Exchange Limited

(NGX) hence its listing on the Premium Board of the Exchange.

The bank continues to sustain this reputation and reappraise its processes to ensure that its business conforms to the highest global standards at all times.

The bank places a premium on its core business strategy anchored on people, technology

and service, to create value for its numerous clientele.

"With a team of dedicated professionals, the bank leverages its robust Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure to provide cutting-edge solutions and products through its network of branches and electronic/digital channels," the statement added.

State by State Distribution of New Polling Units Meanwhile, Lagos State and Kano State got the highest allocation from the 56, 872 new polling units, with 4,861, and 3,148 units, respectively.

According to the breakdown obtained by THISDAY, the 19 northern and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have a total of 31,196 polling units while the 17 Southern states have 25,676 polling units.

Abia State got 1,387 polling units; Adamawa 1,495; Akwa Ibom, 1,374; Anambra 1,112; Bauchi, 1,349; Bayelsa, 440; Benue, 1,414; Borno, 1,138; Cross River, 998; Delta, 2,239; Ebonyi, 1,161; Edo, 1,892; Ekiti, 250; Enugu, 1,187; FCT 2,260; Gombe, 770; and Imo 1,235.

Others are Jigawa, 995; Kaduna, 2,910; Kano, 3,148; Katsina, 1,750; Kebbi, 1,345; Kogi, 960; Kwara, 1,015; Lagos, 4,861; Nasarawa,1,761; Niger, 1,765; Ogun, 1,832; Ondo, 924; Osun, 753; Oyo,1,607; Plateau, 2,358; Rivers, 2,424; Sokoto, 956; Taraba, 1,685; Yobe,1,109; and Zamfara,1,013 units.

Continued on page 42

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN CORNERSTONE 0.05 0.55 MORISON 0.12 1.36 LEARNAFRICA 0.06 0.98 AFRIPRUD 0.35 6.40 COURTVILLE 0.01 0.21 TOP LOSERS NGN ABBEYMORTGAGE 0.10 0.95 CHI PLC 0.07 0.67 CWG 0.09 1.15 CORONATION 0.04 0.53 REGENCY 0.03 0.45 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦1,420.00 Volume: 302.723 million shares Value: N2.809 billion Deals: 4,387 As at yesterday 16/6/2021 See details on Page 39

% 10 9.6 6.5 5.7 5.0 % 9.5 9.4 7.2 7.0 6.2

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COMMENT

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

WHAT THE G7 LEADERS’SUMMIT MEANS FOR NIGERIA Nigeria will benefit from the leaders’ commitment to fight climate change, and more, writes Catriona Laing

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he G7 has long been a forum for decisive international action on the greatest challenges of our time. Last weekend, leaders from G7 Members countries, were joined by South Africa, Australia, India and the Republic of Korea at a summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, in the south west of Britain. Outcomes from the summit on global health, COVID-19, climate change and biodiversity, and global trade will be of direct benefit to the people of Nigeria.

The Carbis Bay Declaration on health showed G7 countries’ determination to ensure the global devastation caused by coronavirus is never repeated. G7 leaders reaffirmed their support to end the pandemic in 2022 and agreed to send one billion more COVID-19 vaccine doses to developing countries. The UK will contribute 100 million of these, including five million in the coming weeks.

This contribution is an extension of the UKs longstanding commitment to get as many safe vaccines to as many people as possible as fast as possible. It adds to the £548 million support the UK has given to COVAX and to the UK’s funding of the research that developed the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine. This vaccine is now responsible for 66 million of the 67 million COVAX vaccines provided to developing countries and makes up one in three of globally administered vaccines so far. Nigeria has received 3.94 million of these and I was pleased to hear from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency on Tuesday that Nigeria will get a further 3.92m doses of the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine before mid-August.

The summit was an important milestone in protecting our planet for future generations. Ahead of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November (COP26), G7 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to fight climate change, halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, and tackle deforestation, marine litter and the illegal wildlife trade. As one of the world’s most climate

AT THE HEART OF LAST WEEKEND’S G7 OUTCOMES LIES A COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHEN VALUES OF COOPERATION, OPENNESS AND EQUALITY BETWEEN NATIONS TO HELP SOLVE OUR SHARED GLOBAL CHALLENGES

vulnerable countries, Nigeria will directly benefit from these developments. It will also benefit from the £500m global Blue Planet Fund launched by the UK during the summit which will help protect marine biodiversity around Nigeria’s coastal regions.

Nigeria will also benefit from the agreement by G7 leaders to increase international climate finance with a new partnership on infrastructure investment that will help propel global green economic growth. The UK joined the US and Germany with a £120 million donation to scale-up protection for the world’s most vulnerable communities against the impacts of climate change.

G7 leaders also committed to reinvigorate the global economy and champion freer, fairer trade within a reformed trading system, a more resilient global economy, and a fairer global tax system. And for the first time ever the G7 Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and multilateral partners came together to commit to invest over $80 billion in the private sector in Africa over the next five years.

Investing in girls’ education is one of the smartest investments we can make to accelerate growth in Nigeria’s economy and workforce. Ahead of the Global Education Summit that the UK is co-hosting with Kenya in London on 28 and 29 July 2021, G7 leaders increased support to get the world’s most vulnerable children, particularly girls, into school and agreed to give at least $2¾ billion to the Global Partnership for Education. This will include a £430m contribution from the UK. At the heart of last weekend’s G7 outcomes lies a commitment to strengthen values of cooperation, openness and equality between nations to help solve our shared global challenges. As we look forward to partnering with Nigeria to build back better from the pandemic, I’d like to encourage everyone from Nigeria to continue to uphold these values, which are encapsulated in the spirit of last weekend’s Democracy Day. Laing is British High Commissioner to Nigeria

BOGORO: PILLAR OF THE PEOPLE Elemdi Akowe pays tribute to Suleiman Bogoro, executive secretary of TETFund

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henever the life and times of the people of Bogoro comes up for historical review, there is every indication that Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro will stand out. The latest such indication comes from the people themselves as they rose in unison to honour their illustrious son with a significant traditional title, Jenndem Za’ar, that translates to Pillar of the Sayawa (Za’ar) people of Bauchi State. Apart from the self-explanatory meaning of the title, the emergence of a thoroughbred academician and professor, typically relishing blissful scholarly isolation from the mundane world in lofty towers of ivory, as the hero of the multitude of common folk way down below in his hometown, is a welcome departure from the norm.

The humble but high-achieving professor has thus demonstrated a remarkable ability to make a mark in the competitive circle of cogitative captains of academia while entrenching his feet firmly on the no less contentious ground of grassroots greatness! It’s not a case of self-glorification that has overtaken many academics and public officers’ endeavours such that acquisition of titles, both academic and traditional, has become a rat-race. Professor Bogoro is no ordinary academician. He has attained international stature by dint of studious quest for excellence in his field of interest. From a Bachelor degree in Agriculture in 1981 to a Master degree in Animal Science from ABU, Zaria in 1988, he earned a PhD in Animal Science in 1997, with research and bench-work shared between ATBU, The Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, Scotland and The Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, UK. He was elevated to the rank of professor of Animal Science (specializing in Biochemistry and Ruminant Nutrition) in 2003.

Notwithstanding these impressive academic accomplishments, Professor Bogoro’s enviable international professional acclaim took root and blossomed in his exceptional exertions in impactful research work devoted to adding

value and overcoming development challenges in various fields. This is best captured in his deserving inclusion among accomplished members of the Council for UNIBADAN’s pioneer National Think Tank for Translating Research to Innovations, Strategies and Evidence for Policies in Nigeria, comprising leading academics and national professional officers in technical, business and administrative sectors selected from universities, research institutions, national agencies and the media.

Professor Bogoro is an outstanding researcher who has produced several publications, earning him recognition and consultancy on and management of international, national and regional projects supported by the World Bank, UNDP, USAID, DFID among several other world class agencies. Prof. Bogoro has taught, supervised and mentored several postgraduate students at M.Sc. and PhD levels and 14 of them are now professors.

This distinctive track record powered Professor Bogoro’s epoch-making appointment as Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) where he again set a marvelous precedence as a principled administrator whose sterling legacy alone fought uncompromisingly against entrenched excesses during his first tenure from April 2014 to February 2016 when the system couldn’t cope with his scrupulous stance. He got a rare, if not unmatched, vindication three years later by a newsbreaking re-appointment in January 2019 that was greeted with tumultuous applause and a hero’s welcome by TETFUND staff!

It was an overwhelming event that not even the stoic professor could withstand, as he addressed excited staff saying: “I struggled with tears on Monday when I resumed and I am so proud of you all and may God bless you. I will never forget your style of welcoming me because it has vindicated me.

I give God the glory for my unprecedented re-instatement in a way that never happened before. I do not know how to thank the president for giving me a medal that no Nigerian has attained before and I pledge to do everything to manage the Fund’s affairs

very well. Other organizations will learn how to run and manage human beings with respect.”

Then he reverted to his unfinished mission of making TETFUND a dynamic facilitator of the imperative for translating research to innovations, strategies and evidence for policy and national development which he activated by the establishment of a pioneer Department of Research and Development (R and D). Since then it has been giant strides in giving research priority hinged on Professor Bogoro’s frank observation that “the reason why research has not taken its rightful place and is not contributing to the economy is because there is inadequate commitment of funds. That is why at TETFUND, we decided that one of the main recommendations is the emergence of a National Research and Development Foundation for Nigeria.”

TETFUND has been steadily increasing its funding volume for research from N3b to N7.5b and hopefully, to N8.5b, which is the largest research grant in Nigeria. Bogoro observed that most of the challenges confronting the nation today were due to the inability to inject science and technology for value addition, and remarked that Nigerian tertiary institutions only conduct research for awarding degrees, adding, “if outcome of those researches are not problem-solving, we have failed our generation.” Qualified institutions would draw a maximum of N50 million grant from the N7.5 billion National Research Fund (NRF) while it plans to fund establishment of more molecular laboratories and research on gene sequencing and phytogenic medicine in addition to vaccine research and production.

The professor’s exemplary attachment to his roots has also been evident all his life as he deployed his personal qualities of humility and broadminded embrace of people from all walks of life to earn respect, recognition and admiration in Bogoro. As far back as 2016 when he was bereaved with the demise of his younger brother, Engineer Yusuf Bogoro, the people of Bogoro, irrespective of age, tribe or faith, demonstrated uncommon solidarity and

rapport with the professor whom they regard as a son, a father and a worthy ambassador.

The solemn funeral witnessed a memorable convergence of Muslims, Christians and diverse ethnic groups genuinely empathizing with the illustrious family of Baba Elisha Bogoro and Mama Salamatu at a time Professor Bogoro was no longer Executive Secretary of TETFUND. He used the occasion to urge religious and community leaders in the country to continue to foster unity, peace and mutual co-existence among the compatriots through preaching and enlightenment.

Earlier this year, the Sayawa Muslim Community in Bauchi State hailed Professor Suleiman Bogoro for donating foodstuffs to them for the Ramadan fast. Leader of the Sayawa Muslims under the aegis of ‘Zaar Muslims Community’, Danjuma Sheikh Bala Bar noted that Bogoro has been making such donations to the community in Bogoro local government yearly, adding that the gesture has brought succour to the less privileged people. “We are very proud of the TETFund Executive Secretary, for not only making the state proud through his significant projects but for his unbiased relationship with Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic and religious inclinations. We urge other politicians and public officers to emulate him”, he said.

This narrative provides a factual panoramic testimony to Professor Bogoro’s unique attainment of outstanding international academic, professional and administrative stature combined with sustenance of down-to-earth humane respect, recognition and admiration among his people. The people of Sayawa (Za’ar) have remarkably reciprocated with the traditional equivalent of professorship by conferring him with Jenndem Za’ar, Pillar of the People. Together they give modern meaning and relevance to their ancient motto of Sohrgha Nanbong Yi Tuhd Lihbah? (Can a stick of broom sweep a place?) in the symbolic unity of the diverse people of Bogoro and its bright prospects for peace, progress and prosperity, a welcome gesture in these troubling times.

Akowe wrote from Ilorin

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EDITORIAL TOBACCO AND THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY All the stakeholders must do more to tackle the menace of smoking

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he recent call by the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) for an end to using smoking scenes in movies, music video and other aspects of the entertainment industry, is one we wholeheartedly endorse. According to CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, the entertainment materials are veritable tools for the transfer of ideas and promotion of alternative lifestyles. “Youths are initiated into using tobacco products through advertising and subliminal promotion of smoking scenes in movies, music videos and product placements”, said Oluwafemi. “The tobacco industry has exploited the entertainment sector (films and music videos) to entice and conscript young people into smoking.”

In her message on this year’s World No Tobacco Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, MatUNTIL WE CAN CURTAIL shidiso Moeti said THE USE OF TOBACCO, tobacco kills half OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WILL of its users every CONTINUE TO GET SICK, year and about 1.2 EFFICIENCY WILL CONTINUE million non-smokers TO DECLINE, AND OUR die from exposure NATION WILL CONTINUE to it. The WHO TO LOSE MANY OF ITS director reports that OTHERWISE PRODUCTIVE currently more than CITIZENS 75 million people on the continent use some form of tobacco, adding that this burden is likely to increase as consumer purchasing power improves coupled with intensive efforts by the tobacco industry to expand the African market.

Most worrisome, according to available studies, is that about 5.6 per cent Nigerians from age 15 years and above use tobacco products.

That smoking is still a major public health issue in Nigeria was confirmed last week with a recent

Letters to the Editor

declaration by the Federal Ministry of Health that about five million Nigerians consume, on an annual basis, more than 20 billion sticks of cigarettes. Nigeria should be worried about such dismal statistics.

Given the demography in which young people constitute about 70 per cent of the population, there are obvious dangers of smoking to the health of the country. For instance, it has been established that for every tobacco-related death, two new young people under the age of 26 become regular smokers.

The relationship between active smoking, reduced lung function and impaired lung growth is linked to a strong tobacco habit. Therefore, Nigeria needs to focus on protecting young people from starting to smoke. An increase in expenditure on sustained and comprehensive tobacco control programmes has proved effective in the reduction of youth and adult smoking rates in many countries. Our governments, at all levels, need to lend its financial support to these initiatives.

T H I S DAY EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI AJAYI, DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN, MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

T H I S DAY 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 BOLAJI ADEBIYI, 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 HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT PATRICIA UBAKA-ADEKOYA TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

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he tobacco industry invests heavily in research on how best to capture the imagination of youth; assured in the knowledge that nicotine (a heavily addictive drug found in cigarettes) would continue to ensure that the target group would persist in smoking into adulthood. Studies have also confirmed that the younger the age, the heavier the addiction and thus the harder it is to drop the habit. The calculation, which has proved true, is that most of these young people never consider the long-term risks.

Until we can curtail the use of tobacco, our young people will continue to get sick, efficiency will continue to decline, and our nation will continue to lose many of its otherwise productive citizens. We must avail our young people the true perspective on smoking; we must aim at creating the environment that makes it difficult for smoking to thrive. We urgently need to prevent the needless suffering of premature disease caused by tobacco, the huge expenditure on health, while committing to save millions of lives.

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-200 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 (9501000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer.

NIGERIA’S RISING UNEMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY

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nemployment and poverty are two of the major issues currently affecting Nigeria’s economy and its society. According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the population of the unemployed in Nigeria during the last quarter of 2020 stood at 33.3 percent - an increase of 6.2 percent points compared with the 27.1 percent of quarter two 2020 (Q2 2020). This places Nigeria in the number three position among countries with the highest number of unemployed people in the world! Also, according to data from the World Poverty Clock (a Web tool produced by World Data Lab), the number of people living in extreme poverty in Nigeria rose from 86.9 million in 2018, to 93.7 million in 2019, thus Nigeria stands as the nation with the highest number of people living in extreme poverty across the world!

This trend of unemployment and poverty is projected to worsen, as the World Data Lab noted that the outlook for poverty alleviation in Nigeria is weak, and that an estimated 120 million Nigerians are expected to slip into extreme poverty by 2030.

What could help to improve this situation of rising unemployment and poverty in Nigeria? A revival of the agricultural sector in Nigeria is one suggestion that has been put forth. Another dominant thought amongst local economists is that if the country’s manufacturing sector is properly developed it can absorb a large number of the labour force, thereby reducing the high population of the unemployed.

Other palliative measures have also been recommended to

reduce the suffering of the poor. For example, in an interesting three-part ‘Viewpoint’ column published in the Vanguard newspapers some years ago, a prominent Nigerian, Aare Afe Babalola highlighted the importance of giving/generosity/philanthropy in alleviating the suffering of the poor in Nigeria.

Among other things, he stated in his writings that, “although many factors can and have been adduced as partly responsible for the state of poverty in Nigeria, what makes poverty so endemic in Nigeria is partly the poor disposition of Nigerians to giving.” He said “government alone cannot reasonably be expected, particularly in the light of the world’s current economic realities, to improve the quality of life of everyone to the level which most people expect. Wealthy individuals can aid government in the provision of amenities of life to the less privileged. The rich in our society should imbibe the culture of giving. Philanthropy is rooted in love and compassion; it is of immense benefit not only to the person who practices it but also to the beneficiary and the society at large.”

Sometime ago, a group of activists sought the institution of a ‘Universal Basic Income’ (UBI) and polled over 200,000 signatures to drive home their demand. The movement renewed the call for the establishment of basic income guarantee as an essential part of modern economies.

UBI, as an economic philosophy, dates back to hundreds of years ago and was central to the concept of utopian society. In recent years, some European governments had to test its popularity through referendums. But it has never been given more attention as a tool for building inclusive economic growth than it is now.

In the recent United States election, Andrew Yang, a Democratic Party presidential aspirant, shot to the international podium for his sermon on UBI and how he planned to pay the poor a monthly stipend of $1000 each, if he emerged the U.S president. But Yang is not the only advocate of UBI. Elon Musk of Tesla, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Pope Francis, Jeff Bezos (the founder of Amazon), Bill Gates and Jeremy Corbyn (the former Labour Party leader) are among millions of global leaders who are currently calling for the adoption of UBI. Nigeria’s closest semblance of UBI is the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) launched in 2016. But contrary to the pass mark the government has given to the programme, a professor of economics at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sheriffdeen Tella, said that the government’s self-assessment was far from the truth.

He said only a thorough impact assessment could show whether the programmes have achieved their desired results.

Also, Professor Akpan Ekpo, a former Director-General of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), said UBI was not out of the question. However, he said that unavailability of data was an albatross of an efficiently administered UBI. Ekpo, who expressed concern about Nigeria’s rising misery index, noted that even a large number of those with jobs are barely surviving. This, he said, justified UBI, rather than the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT). He, however, said that the first port of call is to develop full-proof data on employed and unemployed Nigerians, their income levels and dependency ratio.

Daniel Ighakpe, FESTAC Town, Lagos

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POLITICS

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

APGA Has Failed, Anambra Needs APC to Move to the Centre A frontline aspirant in the November 6, 2021 Anambra State governorship election and leading Industrialist, Dr. Chidozie Nwankwo, speaks to Nseobong Okon-Ekong on the leadership question in Anambra and the chances of his party, the All Progressives Congress among other issues

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s the primary election inches closer, what chances do you have over other aspirants to emerge as your party’s flag bearer?

My reputation in Anambra State speaks for me. My connection with the people of Anambra at different levels gives me a veritable edge over my brothers who are contesting for the same party ticket and I know that they also appreciate that fact.

Having been the head of the biggest markets in Onitsha - because Onitsha controls all the elites that are the decision-makers in all the 177 communities in our dear state, Anambra - it would be a familiar turf running Anambra. I have been a leader in Onitsha Main Market for 10 years. Within the 10 years of my reign, I brought about changes that cannot be erased in 100 years going forward. I have been in the market and our popularity is indescribable. The legacy I left when I was the leader of the main market supersede any influence the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) or any other aspirant have in the state. It may interest you to know that I run a company that employs 4,000 people today in Nigeria.

So, yes, some of them must have had their own attainment, but an average Igbo person believes in practical entrepreneurship, not theory. It is about what can be proven without reasonable doubt; that one can manage resources; that one can actually set out from a humble beginning and be able to build a company. Mind you, I started the business with N10,000 and was able to grow it to be able to employ 4,000 people today. What does that tell you? A visible capacity to create and manage wealth. I will bring my wealth of experience to bear in industrialising the state. I will make Anambra the industrial hub of the country and Nigeria can copy the template. I have been a catalyst throughout my life. I have always brought change to whatever I do. My records show that in every field of human endeavour I have engaged myself, I have always brought changes, not only in Nigeria but across the world.

Anambra state deserves a leadership that can create wealth and ensure a meaningful development that other states would envy.

APGA appears to be a household name in the state. Don’t you think it would be a big challenge to defeat the party?

The Anambra electorate are wiser and better informed now more than ever before. Every reasonable person knows that APGA has lost steam under the current leadership. The party has failed woefully over time. The party hasn’t been able to meet the wishes and aspirations of the people who gave them the mandate to lead. People are disillusioned and hungry for a fresh initiative that promises to work for the overall good of Anambra people. We have made that mistake of party sentiment in the past and I don’t think we are going to make it again. We cannot also chose people to lead us because they are eloquent and can win debates. What Anambra needs at the moment is result oriented leadership, not showmanship. Now, the coming election is going to be about practical competency and not about party logo. APGA will not hoodwink the people any longer with party sentiments. It is when you have used your own initiative to create something; you have to show what you have been able to do by your own initiative, that’s what is going to tell us what you can do. As executive governor of Anambra State, you are supposed to move the state to a whole new level. You are going to basically create and run an economy, and that’s what I’m going to do. I am going to create an economy that will sustain Anambra without the Federal Government allocations.

Nwankwo There is this adage that a tree can never make a forest. APGA has remained a single tree that has increasingly become unhelpful to the people. Anambra, for instance, has 11 oil blocs with gas reserves. Yet, today, we are not able to put the state on the list of oil producing states. When we belong to the centre, it is then that Anambra will be able to sort out this issue and even our erosion problems. We are going to generate funds from the right corners in order to improve the state. There is no one tree that can make a forest. We have to be part of the centre. So, that’s where party comes in to bridge the gap. So, we should wise up. They have sold

a lot of lies to us and we have ignorantly believed them. It is what has brought us to the ditch we are in today. We need to wise up. What I’m trying to say is that for us to be where we are supposed to be, we should have a good leader; a leader who has what it takes to lead Anambra to prosperity. Then, we also need the right party that will give us the right access to power and resources. That party is APC. Beyond belonging to the right party, it is important to have the right leader who has the prudence required to manage the resources. That is very important. And by the grace of God, I will be that leader!

I am going to create an economy that will sustain Anambra without the Federal Government allocations.

There is this adage that a tree can never make a forest.

APGA has remained a single tree that has increasingly become unhelpful to the people. Anambra, for instance, has 11 oil blocs with gas reserves. Yet, today, we are not able to put the state on the list of oil producing states. When we belong to the centre, it is then that Anambra will be able to sort out this issue and even our erosion problems. We are going to generate funds from the right corners in order to improve the state.

There is no one tree that can make a forest. We have to be part of the centre. So, that’s where party comes in to bridge the gap. So, we should wise up. They have sold a lot of lies to us and we have ignorantly believed them. It is what has brought us to the ditch we are in today. We need to wise up. What I’m trying to say is that for us to be where we are supposed to be, we should have a good leader; a leader who has what it takes to lead Anambra to prosperity

Are you saying that Anambra state government has failed in providing that kind of responsible leadership?

Absolutely! While I wouldn’t want to dwell on their failures, I believe we need a better government, and I’m sure it’s going to happen. If you go to Anambra, there are complaints everywhere. I’m not going to lay emphasis on that, but the electorate will decide, by their votes, whether they are satisfied with the administration or not. But I can tell you for free that the people are not happy because the government in Anambra State has not been able to create industries that can employ the teeming youths. The thousands of young people coming out from universities every year are not able to find jobs. Our system is not actually what it should be. So, people are agitating because they are asking for better life, they are asking for jobs. We have to ensure that as people are coming out from school, they are empowered. As a business owner, I’m going to approach governance differently.

Believe me; we are going to set up industrial parks all over Anambra. We are going to bring in the biggest industrial managers in the world. I am assuring you that in the first four years of our administration, we will be bringing over 500 companies from Europe and Asia. When that is done, we would have reduced unemployment drastically.

We are also going to develop infrastructure, provide power source for our industries and provide conducive environment that would encourage our people to come home and invest, as well as attract foreign investment.

This is what I have been doing in the private sector; I own one of the biggest industrial parks in Ogun State today. A lot of foreign companies are there working. There is a gas turbine there, supplying power to companies that are manufacturing there. It’s the same thing that I would replicate in Anambra.

By God’s grace, you will see a total change in governance in the state. The truth is that you can only give what you have.

You always speak passionately about your business, can you tell us a bit more about that?

I started my business in 1986 with only N10,000, distributing glass sheets to Oluwa Glass in Ondo State. The business grew and we began importation of the raw materials used in making the glass sheets and some other building products. I identified an opportunity in textile business, so we started importing textile from Asia, and created our own “blue ocean” to facilitate importation for other importers. This gave birth to a shipping outlet called Global Express Shipping Services. It was this shipping business that brought the fortune. We first started in Indonesia, expanded to Hong Kong, had three offices in China, and offices all over Asian capitals. I had a partner who owned 40% of the Shipping business. Together, we partnered with Maersk Line, and became the biggest customer in Nigeria for about 10 years. The business was very successful, until 2005.

What will happen to your businesses now that you have your eyes on the governorship seat?

It is simple. We have in place a good corporate governance structure at Wichtech.

As I step aside as the CEO, we have other directors. The board is going to appoint a new Managing Director who will still carry on with the activities of the company. The truth is that no-one owns a company alone. Ours is a family business, I have other directors, so the business is continuing across Nigeria, with over 200 offices. One person’s absence will never stop the business.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JUNE 17, 2021

POLITICS

‘This Country will be Salvaged by its Exceptional People’

Mr. Charles Oputa, better known as, Charly Boy has earned his badge of honour as an advocate of good causes. Nseobong Okon-Ekong finds out why he has spent the better part of his 70 years on earth, which he lives on his own terms, promoting activities that are not managed for profit, particularly shaping the perspective of Nigerian youths

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o you have any group or movement by description with which you galvanize your followers or society towards a better environment?

Yes and no. No, because there is no known group like that. The closest I have come to that is Our Mumu Don Do, which was more or less a campaign about our docility and our shameful ignorance when it comes to our environment and government, but I am proud of the brand called Charly Boy that for the past four decades it has inspired millions of youths to be their authentic self, regardless of what anybody says, even their parents or what the environment is pushing out or their rubbish and stupid leadership, that they should never ever give up on their self; that everything comes through hard work, being focused, being consistent, being tenacious and a then a little touch of sagacity and audacity can help you get their faster. These are the values that I promote. I remember at one point at the beginning of my career, I was the underdog. My parents never believed in me. Most Nigerians never believed either. These shows you what consistency can achieve, which is what I will say I have in common with the late Fela Kuti-consistency and doggedness and following whatever your mind tells you; whatever you believe. I don’t have to have a movement. I believe that my life has influenced millions of people. I don’t have any desire to enter into active politics, I don’t need a movement. Thank God for social media. Thank God that we keep sending our messages to inspire and encourage young people to be their authentic self Yours is not about political sloganeering or trying to compartmentalize yourself into a democrat, republican, liberal, nationalist, federalist or progressive Charly Boy means different things to different people. Charly Boy is everything like a packet of potato chips. Like I keep saying, Charly Boy no fit finish and e no dey finish because till tomorrow, I am still studying the soul and the life of the brand. You can’t put Charly Boy where you find the trend or a particular way that people are doing things, you can’t see Charly Boy there. That is why some times, I say that it is unfortunate. Tha is the bane of pioneers-people who start something; they start-they are not the ones who are recognized.

You know in the music industry how it used to be not too long ago, may be 25 years ago. It has changed dramatically and some people fought for that change. You don’t get that far by following trends. One should be able to be a trailblazer. I consider the Charly Boy brand as one of the biggest things I have done in my life.

I consider the brand a classic, a special edition; you can’t put the brand and any other brand in the same category, I don’t think it is fair.

Will it be fair to say the Charly Boy, where politics is concerned, is a liberal?

Why would you associate the brand with politics, even though life is politics? When you use that word politics, you should be really careful because the kind of things that are done under that term is not politics for the people. It is politics of oppression. I am not comfortable when that word is thrown my brand because the word politics is different from what the Area Fada as an influencer does, which is to show young people that they should demand a better life. That is the focus of the brand, the youths; no more no less

You are never shy or afraid to dabble into the politics of the day-you are always commenting and you take sides, as things happen Unfortunately, people like me suffer from diarrhea of the mouth. We suffer from our nakedness, in terms of telling it like it is. You can’t see something and not pass a comment.

You can’t see something that you love or something that really causes a revolt in you as a person; something you can’t stand. I cannot be frustrated and never talk about it and keep it to myself. Ordinarily, you should have people

Oputa who are sincere. We should not have the kind of environment that we have today, which is not good for young people. That is where my anger stems from. How can you bring up young people in this kind of toxic environment, where dreams die? Is it any wonder when people leave the shores of Nigeria, they start to excel. I believe in the Nigerian youths and I believe that this country will be salvaged by its exceptional people. I have been privileged to meet one or two outstanding Nigerians. I know it is possible and we are not all demons.

We are not all that bad. Because we have a shameful government the world starts to see us as the worst of the worst, but there are good Nigerians. My only concern is that most of the good people are in hiding and that is why you have demons parading the space.

Why do you still believe that you can be an authentic voice for people 50 years younger than you? Is there no disconnect?

Do you still see things the way they see it? How is that possible?

That is why somebody may be counting my physical age that is increasing but not my mental state of mind and not my spirituality. I am talking to my No. 1 group-young people. I believe I can never go wrong and I can never run out of ideas. How do you talk to a group of people if you are not into their psyche already, if you don’t understand their nuances, if you don’t understand their lingo? I am not called Area Fada for nothing. These are the people that I learn from, in terms of their lingo, what is frustrating them. You may see a disconnect because of their age disparity, but I don’t see that kind of disconnect. The problem young

The All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party are all the same thing-na the same papa, the same mama. There is not difference and they can never get anything reasonable from any of those parties. It is not possible. I believe that though, right now I can see a change, because we are going back to the root of the problem. And what is that problem? The foundation of this contraption called Nigeria is faulty, right from the time the British hand it over to us. It has always been faulty. You can’t continue to put floors upon floors on a building with a faulty foundation. That building will collapse one day. That is what we are about to witness.

We can’t have a constitution that favours one part of the country over the other. That is a scam. How do we make progress, if we can’t at least come to the table to resolve some of the issues? Is that not why the Middlebelt is shouting, Oduduwa is shouting, Biafran people are shouting. All these emanate from the injustices that parades the whole country

people have when they come into this space is that they forget that I am not their mate. I don’t carry myself about as an ancestor. I don’t carry myself as somebody’s father or brother.

I carry myself as their buddy. This is the same principle I apply to my biological children.

Sometimes you can’t even differentiate who the father is and the son or the daughter is because I decided from the word go that I will raise my children totally different. I remember when I was younger my father will tell me stories of how he walked four miles to go to school. One day, I asked my father why he wanted me to always hear these stories. There are God-knows-how-many-cars in the garage.

Are you telling me this story so that I can be walking to school? I was not born in your era.

I do not even know what these stories are supposed to do for us. You don’t expect me to be walking to school when there are cars in the garage. My father was a big disciplinarian. He ran our home like a military barracks-time for this; time to come to the table to eat, time to pray, time to be with the family together and everybody is talking to everybody about how their day went. I was raised in a family filled with love. As a young person I didn’t lack anything. My father was very strict. My father whipped my ass. At one point I didn’t like my father. I hated my father. I thought he was overbearing cantankerous, too old fashioned, too stuck in his old ways. We used to argue because my father brought me up to question certain things. I wasn’t going to accept just anything from them. As a little boy we were encouraged to be among elders. We were not asked to go to our rooms because there was an elder in the room. We were encouraged to stay and ask questions even though we did not know what they were discussing at the time. My disposition to life is coming from this pedigree. Growing up in the city of Port Harcourt in the early 50s, when my father was attorney to some of the oil companies, we were used to seeing white people in the house. A white person did not make any difference.

I did not even think about it until I went to America. My stay in America was cut short because as a Black person I was being asked the stupidest question. I confronted racism head on. They almost killed me. After that incident all my racism came out. I had to go for counselling to reset my head. I decided ‘okay I have my papers but I do not need to stay in America.’ I stayed in America for about six years and that was it. The rest of my life I have lived in Nigeria and nobody is driving me away from this country, not even Buhari.

Are you saying that you are not grateful for the manner that your father tried to raise you?

Far from it. As a young person, sometimes you don’t understand what is happening? I used to be asked when I came to adulthood about my hero. It wasn’t up until like 30 years ago that I started to really look at my father as my hero. Even though he did a number on me when I was young, but he prepared me, not for the Nigeria of today, he prepared me to be a good father, a good husband and a good citizen. And that is a lot. All the things that I rebelled against when I was young are all the things that I have run back to in my adult years-that, integrity is worth emulating.

Truthfulness is good. There should be reward for goodness. When we were born in the early 50s. If you are caught in the neighbourhood doing something naughty, it was not just your parents that had a responsibility to discipline you, the community too. The government had indirectly had some hand in it, but now you see how the whole equation has changed against young people. Is it the elders that they can look up to? It is the leadership they can look up to? The community has failed. Everything has failed them, but like we always say when the manage to leave the shores of this country, Nigerians are excelling in a lot of areas.

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

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FEATURES

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

Stemming Perennial Water Scarcity in Katsina Francis Sardauna chronicles the efforts of Governor Aminu Bello Masari in revitalising the hitherto abandoned 47-year-old Ajiwa water works in order to curb perennial water scarcity in Katsina State

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or all the rural and urban tranformation projects ongoing in Katsina State which can visibly acknowledged and verified by both staunch members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, nitpickers and rumour peddlers, the holistic modernisation and reconstruction of water supply system in the state evidently occupies a prime place in the restoration agenda of Governor Aminu Bello Masari-led administration.

The placement of water supply as the basic necessity of life and most secured channel of ensuring healthy living amongst urban and rural dwellers as well as basis for a sound economic and social development of any city, community or rural settlement is incontrovertible.

For this reason and perhaps more, Masari had become a discerning reference for where a workable, sustainable and pragmatic approach is being made to tackle perennial water scarcity and water-borne diseases from a realistic and multidemensional point of view as against what was obtainable in the past.

Masari, on assumption of office in 2015, inaugurated a restoration agenda committee on the water sector and considered it as a basic resource to both human, domestic and industrial activities despite its negligence by successful regimes and administrations in the state.

Beside, the capacity of water pumping machines designed in the early 80s and installed by the previous regimes and administrations to supply water to residents of the state were grossly inadequate and below the water supply needs of the growing population of over 8.7 million people in the state. The outdated and poorly managed machines could no longer be maintained and their servicing cost lines became unsustainable.

Sadly, numerous components of integral water supply system, vital and strategic facilities at different booster stations in the state were bedevilled with absolute dysfunction due to 47 years of neglect and lack of government resuscitation plans or initiatives. Even the pipelines, concrete reservoirs and steel that were sited at various locations within Katsina, the state capital, became rusted and clogged with huge heaps of refuse by residents.

Similarly, the Kofar Kaura booster station's facilities were also left in bad condition by the previous administration. The booster station was seen by many as a thick hideouts bushes, "squalid cesspool of contamination", rather than a compliment to water supply, safety and sanitation while pumping machines and the generator powering the booster station have all been completely broken and left at the mercy of God. The level of dilapidation which pervaded the whole water supply system in the state that led to acute shortage of the precious susbtance across the nooks and crannies of the state before the coming of Masari, whom many described as the earthly messiah, was extensive that only a complete and radical overhaul of the system could restore capacities for adequate sustainable water supply for the citizenry.

Infact, the inability of the past governments to provide safe, adequate and regular water for diversified domestic and industrial use for the first-ever rising population of the state apparently led to the outbreak of water-borne diseases in some communities and villages, hike in cost of commercial water by vendors even in Katsina, the state capital.

Thus, in his elementary drive to boost water supply across the 34 local government areas and 361 political wards in the state, the "people's governor", in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), has constructed over 5,000 hand-pumping boreholes, 1,000 solar motorised and over 500 latrines in communities, primary schools, healthcare facilities and market places across cities and rural areas of the state.

The administration also purchased and installed three brand new KSB (Germany)

One of the generators installed at Ajiwa water works to supply power to the pumping machines

Axially-Split High Lift Pump, nine Butterfly Valves and other accessories to replace the extent broken-down obsolete machines with current technology options, which has improved and adequate pumping capacity.

These machines are equally capable and have the durability of supplying the required and substantial quantity of water on regular and stable basis in the state.

Additionally, three Modern ABB Soft Starter Control Panels and Local Control were successfully replaced at the Ajiwa Water Works Pumping Station. Also, a dual Turbo Turbines diesel powered generators with a combined power supply of 4.2mw that were purchased by the state government from Messrs Rolls-Royce Power of Germany have been powered, tested and integrated into the main control panel to boost water supply and avert its scarcity.

These brand new and highly-powered generators are meant to power the three Highlift Vertical Pumps at the pump house, dosing and auxiliary pumps, electrify the entire office complex, and staff housing estate with a view to curbing the decade lingering power shortages hidering stable water supply in the state.

The administration also procured and installed electro-mechanical equipment for the new pump house at the Ajiwa Water Works, which includes three High Lift Horizontal KSB pumps configured along with three 500Kw ABB, five Soft Starter Panels, three ABB 1000kva Transformers, Overheads and five Tonnes Crane with various sizes of Non-return and Butterfly Valves.

In a bid to enhance stable water supply in the state and inflow of the commodity from Zobe Dam, the Masari-led government also bought one 800KVA brand new basic Perkins Electric Generating, installed and commissioned at the Kofar Kaura Booster Station within

Katsina metropolis. Six horizontal Highlift Pumps with various technical specifications have been manufactured, shipped, supplied and are now available for installation. While six control panels and valves of different sizes are currently being shipped and would be due "for installation and commissioning

by August, 2021".

Interestingly, this Ajiwa water treatment plant, after the ongoing revitalisation and installation of equipment, will supply atleast 50 million litres of potable water daily to residents in the state as part of efforts to end perennial water scarcity facing most communities in the state, including Katsina, the state capital. Masari has also assured that his administration would not relent until the water shortage afflicting the state is stemmed.

Meanwhile, Governor Masari while inspecting the onging rehabilitation and expansion of Ajiwa water works and other notable water projects awarded by his administration, directed that after the complete replacement of the pumps at the Ajiwa water works, all the scribe materials should be sold off in order to generate more revenue to the state government.

He added that the rehabilitation of Ajiwa water treatment plant and the construction of distribution networks for Zobe Dam will supply no fewer than 100 million litres of water to the state capital and its environs daily. He noted that ongoing rehabilitation at Ajiwa Water Works is a holistic one that includes expansion of the trenches of the dam and comprehensive works on the water treatment plant and the power supply system of the facility.

According to him, an additional 20 million gallons or 450 million liters of water, is expected to be pumped from Ajiwa and Zobe dams for public consumption. He added that residents would heave a sigh of relief, as potable water would become constantly

available.

He said: “First of all we started with the dam, we have completely rehabilitated it while all the pumps at the chemicals room have been changed, the filter media has been changed and what is now left is works on the pump house which we have done 90 per cent.

“International trade and travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic have stalled the project for the past couple of months but the project is still on course. By the time all the pumps are installed and all the civil, mechanical and electrical aspects of the project are completed, the Ajiwa water works will be able to produce its initial design capacity of 50 million litres of water per day which will be taken to Katsina for distribution".

The contractor handling the project, Alhaji Salisu Mamman while briefing the governor at the premises of the facility explained that the dilapidation and disuse which pervaded the whole water supply system over the pre-Masari government was so thorough and extensive that only a complete and radical overhaul of the system could restore capacities for any appreciable and adequate water provision for the citizens of the state.

He said the technology and capacities of the old system designed for the early 70s and 80s were grossly inadequate and below the water supply needs of the rapidly growing population of the state, hence the ongoing rehabilitation and expansion of the Ajiwa water works, assuring that the project would be completed before the end of this year.

Therefore, the unflinching efforts of the present administration in the water sector has drastically alleviated the spate of water-borne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, dysentry, typhoid and polio which have hitherto bedeviled citizens due to negligence by successful administrations in the state.

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#THISISNIGERIA - Ike Chioke

Southeast Nigeria: When Silence is no Longer Golden

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igeria and Nigeria’s friends must speak out on the heightened spate of insecurity in the Southeast now before it is too late.

What started as flickering candlelight is quickly snowballing into a huge forest fire. And if we do not act quickly, history will not be kind to all of us who knew the awesome power of speech but chose silence.

The situation in the Southeast is worrisome; not just because of our bitter history but because no great society ever stumbles twice over the same stone in their collective march to progress. While Nigeria has weathered the storm in the Northeast for years, the threat in the Southeast is grounded in a long history of injustice.

That is the difference. And we must not gloss over this fact if we want a good understanding of the current problem.

Happily, the reality of modern development is that in many interconnected societies, no sub-group ever suffers adversity alone. Misery often seeks new neighborhoods to occupy. That is why no part of Nigeria can be said to have been completely insulated from the effects of the sustained insurgency and brazen acts of terror in the Northeast in the past decade. Aside from the untold hardships caused by

the destruction of lives, livelihoods, and physical infrastructure, the very negative sentiments of insurgency have also cost Nigeria and the region even greater losses in local and foreign investment. And no matter how indifferent some Nigerians might feel, we have all been touched in varying degrees by that situation. But a prolonged conflict in the Southeast will cost Nigeria much more. There is no doubt about that.

And that is why silence is dangerous now. Indeed, we are in a rare moment in time when only sincere, in-depth, and far-ranging conversations can save the impending storm. This is the time to start the conversations. Our leaders in all spheres of life must begin to talk to one another in a language that will heal the land. Our elected leaders must engage at all levels. The governors from the various regions must wake up to their responsibilities and create robust spaces for meaningful dialogue among themselves.

The South must meet the North in a dialogue of logic and reason. The time to show all the wisdom, level-headedness, and charisma of statesmen has come. Our governors must rise above pride, prejudice, and personal motivations to meet at the table of unity and peace. They must agree that if Nigeria is to work, every part of

the federating unit must be treated with as much weight as the other.

The legislators from different regions must commence their own rounds of conversations among themselves. Our political leaders must recognize that as the greatest beneficiaries of present-day Nigeria, they need Nigeria much more than the average Nigerian. All channels of communications between the custodians of traditional institutions across the regions must be opened and sustained. The Emirs must talk to the Igwes, and the Obas and our religious leaders must seek intelligent pathways to roundtable discussions across different zones. Those of us who are in business must also create spaces for dialogue across all spheres. If we do not talk to one another, soon enough, we shall be the ones encouraging those who feel cheated

by Nigeria to put a gun to her head.

I am of the candid view however that the Southeast governors have more work to do in the emerging scenario. Since truth is a critical element in the pursuit of peace and justice, I think that the Southeast governors should withdraw into the Ime Obi with our aggrieved youths for a family meeting.

I have followed developments since the current recrudescence of self-determination, and I have not come across any report of a meeting between our governors and the

leaders of the various separatist groups in the region. It is almost safe to assume that there has not been a serious attempt to sit down with them at a roundtable. Democracy thrives on dialogue. Our elected leaders must find a way to engage with different interest groups who have a viewpoint that might affect the wellbeing of society no matter how reactionary they seem. We lay avoidable landmines when we ignore the threat such people represent and allow their grievances to fester into open sores.

It is morning yet on creation day though.

We can still engage these people to save the day and give our elders a chance for a peaceful retirement and our young ones a chance to chase their dreams.

Fellow Nigerians, we all have a responsibility to work towards averting the threatening storm. War does not always end in victory and defeat. It ends with fractured lives and broken dreams. It ends with disruptions and dislocations. Nobody wins in the end. We will lose families, we will lose friends, we will lose businesses, and the survivors will lose peace of mind.

We all end up as losers! t*LF $IJPLF JT BO JOWFTUNFOU CBOLFS BOE $&0 PG "GSJOWFTU 8FTU "GSJDB -JNJUFE *OTUBHSBN !JLF@DIJPLF ] -JOLFEJO *LF $IJPLF

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THURSDAY JUNE 17, 2021 •T H I S D AY

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BUSINESSWORLD

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

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Quick Takes Freelance Talent Marketplace Debuts

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

L-R: Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva; Managing Director/Chief Executive Global Process and Pipeline Services Limited (GPPSL), Obi Uzo; Representative of Ghana’s Minister for Energy, Benjamin Kwame Asante; and Executive Director, Engineering & Business Development, GPPSL, Chris Onyemaizu, during the award of Oilfield Services Company of the Year 2020 to GPPSL at the 4th Edition of the Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS), in Abuja... recently

Report: Finance Apps’ Deployment Rises by 160% in Nigeria Stories by Emma Okonji AppsFlyer, a global marketing measurement firm has released the 2021 edition of its ‘State of Finance App Marketing,’ report, carried out across Nigeria and other selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

The report however showed that COVID-19 pandemic directly impacted how consumers interact with financial institutions and how the institutions themselves operate.

According to the report, Financial Technology (FinTech) apps were in high demand, experiencing a 132 per cent leap globally in downloads in the last two years, while sub-Saharan Africa saw impressive growth, with installs in Nigeria climbing

ICT 160 per cent, up 100 per cent in Kenya and rising by 52 per cent in South Africa.

Commenting on the growth of finance apps across Africa, the Regional Vice President for EMEA, in charge of Strategic Projects for AppsFlyer, Daniel Junowicz, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly accelerated the adoption of financial technology globally and in emerging markets especially, finance apps helped millions of consumers and businesses remain connected. This trend is likely to continue and understanding how to best market their apps will be key to African businesses standing out from

the crowd and growing their customer base.”

Junowicz added, “With this year heading for a record with total spend globally, reaching no less than $1.2 billion in Q1 alone, we believe that combining different types of marketing activities in addition to improving the registration funnel by optimizing and shortening the time from install to registration will give marketers the edge to utilize their 2021 budget to the fullest.”

Giving details of the deployment of finance apps in Africa, Junowicz said demand for finance apps became all-time high, where downloads of finance apps shot up over the last year. With 56 per cent of the unbanked population in Nigeria

many are turning to apps to access key financial solutions including, loans 43.3 per cent, financial services at 35.6 per cent, and investments at 20.3 per cent.

“Nigeria’s Cost Per Install is up 70 per cent since Q2, leading to a spike in spend, especially in Q1 2021 when budgets almost tripled. While each of the three key regions have experienced growth in marketing activity in the last year, Kenya’s overall growth in the last two years has fallen,” the report said.

Giving key global insights about the use of finance app, the report stated that digital banking installs up 45 per cent, while traditional banks gain 22 Continued on page 26

‘How Telcos Battled to Achieve Seamless Interconnectivity at Inception’ Ahead of the 20 years celebration of telecoms operations in Nigeria, the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), has said the early telecoms operators (Telcos) fought several battles to achieve the present seamless interconnectivity among operators.

Chairman of ALTON, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, disclosed this while narrating the many challenges faced by telecoms operators in the last 20 years of operations, since the launch of Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) in 2001.

According to him, “The early Telcos faced several challenges but we were able to weather the storm and came out strong in all of those battles.

First we had the battle of

TELCOMS network connectivity, when the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) was the sole regulator, operator and transmission company. So it became difficult for the early telecoms operators to connect with NITEL, even when they had to pay heavily for it.”

He explained that when NITEL was the only access point, connecting other operators, through the E1 links, the early operators could not connect with themselves, without passing through NITEL, a situation, he said, compelled the early telecoms operators to build a Private Telecoms Operators (PTOs) room at NITEL exchange for the purpose of seamless

interconnectivity.

“We paid for building the PTOs room, we bought the PTOs equipment ourselves and we were equally paying to NITEL for access the PTOs exchange, before the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), introduced a new signaling point called SS7, which again compelled telcos at that time, to invest in a signal converter that converts signals from NITEL’s old transmission link called MFCR2 and to the new SS7 signal link introduced

by ITU, in order to achieve compatibility and seamless interconnectivity,” Adebayo said.

He further said ALTON had to fight to ensure that the barriers to interconnectivity introduced by NITEL were

removed in order to allow for seamless interconnectivity among telecoms operators. The fight, he added, led to the licensing of Interconnect Clearing House (ICH), to manage the issues of interconnectivity among telecoms operators.

According to Adebayo, before the rollout of GSM services in 2001, telecoms services were the exclusive reserve of only the affluent in the society and Nigeria had less than 400,000 lines from 1960 to 2000, but as at March this year, telecoms subscriptions reached over 192 million with a tele-density of 100.80 per cent.

He, however said the success story was not without risks as the early operators took Continued on page 26

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Airtel’s Broadband Coverage Ranked Best

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“The partnership between Galaxy Backbone and DataSixth Consulting will strengthen the national cyber posture, increase cybersecurity resilience, efficiency and quality of public administration service in Nigeria” Managing Director/CEO, Galaxy Backbone,

Prof. Muhammad Bello Abubakar

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THURSDAY JUNE 17, 2021 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY JUNE 17, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ JUNE 17, 2021

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BUSINESSWORLD REPORT: FINANCE APPS’ DEPLOYMENT RISES BY 160% IN NIGERIA per cent in 2021. Finance app installs increased 20 per cent overall, but financial services and traditional banking app installs saw only a 15 per cent increase between Q1 2020 and Q1 2021. However, only in the first quarter of 2021, traditional banks picked up speed with a 22 per cent rise in installs.

It said there was 3.3 times growth in the number of re-marketing conversions between Q1 2020 and Q1 2021, adding that following a 32 per cent drop in spend in Q2 of 2020 in global market, efforts rebounded in Q3 and with rising user acquisition costs, marketers increased activity in remarketing, which soared 3 times by Q1 2021. Overall, the growth path of non-organic installs continued upward, hitting 172 per cent growth between 2019 and now.

‘HOW TELCOS BATTLED TO ACHIEVE SEAMLESS INTERCONNECTIVITY AT INCEPTION’ several risks to operate in a market that other operators refused to operate in, because of the perceived risk factor report, which they got from their initial market survey.

“The telecoms industry has done very well in the last 20 years, despite the challenges and risks. Nigeria has done extremely well, not in just the way we accepted the use of GSM, but by the way that Nigerians have taken joint ownership of mobile services, which have become the common wealth for all Nigerians,” Adebayo said.

Narrating the risks in the last 20 years, Adebayo said the risk factors were not with emerging technologies, because Nigerians have adapted to changes in technology very rapidly. He however said the risk factors were variables beyond the control of the telecoms operators like the harsh operating environment that led to the collapse of most telecoms operators. He said the early telecoms operators like Multi-Links, Intercellular, Starcomms, VGC Communications and Visafone, that have gone into oblivion, suffered challenges of lack of funding among other variables.

NEWS

FG Urged to Lift Twitter’s Suspension to Restore Investors’ Confidence Stories by Emma Okonji Weighing the economic implications of the suspension of Twitter’s operations in Nigeria by the federal government, the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), has called on government to rescind its decision over the suspension in order to restore investors’ confidence and guarantee economic stability.

NCS gave the advice in a communique it released recently after a meeting in Lagos.

The federal government had penultimate week, suspended the operations of Twitter in Nigeria for deleting the tweet of President Muhammadu Buhari, which he sent to address the agitators of South-east extraction.

But the NCS in a communique stated: “We appeal to the federal government to lift the suspension forthwith.

This will restore investors’ confidence and business growth and guarantee economic stability. The 70 per cent youth population of this country will once again have confidence in the digital economic policy being canvassed by the present administration.

“This will also guarantee their freedom of expressions as contained in the constitution. After all, 2016 United Nations resolution affirms that

the rights that citizens have offline must apply online.

Coincidentally, this resolution was co-sponsored by Nigeria with others. Nigeria Computer Society is ever ready to ensure the coordination of a level playing ground of giant tech for the good welfare and wellbeing of Nigeria People.”

President of NCS, Prof.

Adesina Sodiya, said Nigerian government might have taken the extreme decision based

on cursory analysis of the implications. He, however, said the NCS was convinced very strongly that the negative effect of Twitter’s suspension outweighed the gains in Nigeria. He described the negative effects as indeed alarming and huge, and listed them to include: Job losses, unemployment, economics woes and recession, youth restlessness and banditry, insecurity and terrorism,

brain drain, loss of ideas and creativity.

He, however, said Twitter should realise that having a dominant share of 200 million people from Nigeria, comes with a lot of caution and decorum.

Sodiya said government should also have a legal framework to register and regulate tech giants and institute a deterrent punitive measures like fines and the

likes instead of suspension or outright ban. He promised that NCS would continue to work with government in promoting ethical and professional use of information technology in Nigeria.

NCS, in its communique, observed that Twitter had become the platform for young people and indeed all Nigerians to exercise their fundamental right to express and publish opinions.

FACILITY TOUR

L-R: Executive Director, Sahara Group, Wale Ajibade; Manager, WAGL Energy Limited, Ijeoma Isichei; Chairman, Egbin Power Plc, Temitope Shonubi; Company Secretary, Ejiro Gray; Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power, NNPC, Yusuf Usman; and Managing Director, WAGL Energy Limited, Emmanuel Ubani, during the courtesy visit of the NNPC COO to Egbin Power Plc in Lagos... recently Photo: Egbin Power Plc

NCC Moves to Review Telecoms License Structure The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has initiated the process for the review of existing licensing structure in the Nigerian telecommunications industry.

The move was a demonstration of NCC’s responsiveness to global trends and the dynamics in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) ecosystem.

The Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, in a statement, said the initiative was taken by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, when he inaugurated an inhouse standing committee to

carry out the task.

Danbatta, while inaugurating the Committee, said the need for the review of the existing license structure was informed by the wide range of technological advances, convergence of technologies and services which have characterised the global telecoms space over the years, and which impact is increasingly being experienced in Nigeria.

According to him, “the current license structure is almost 20 years old, hence the need for an urgent review of the existing license pattern to reflect new licencing trends in line with international standards while providing opportunities

for improved revenue for government.”

“Therefore, it is evidently clear that this standing committee, drawn up from competent hands in various departments of the Commission, is perfectly suited and capable of addressing the enormous task of reviewing the existing license structure of telecom licensees in Nigeria,” Danbatta had said.

While noting that the work of the standing committee would be carried out in phases, Danbatta said effective delivery of the committee’s task would help the Commission to institute a process, which would culminate in the review

of the terms and conditions of the various license categories.

These, he said, would include licensing fee, as well as identification of the limitations of the various license categories, with a view to clearly determining licenses that should be phased out or amended.

Danbatta outlined the Commission’s seven-point deliverables from the committee to include a comprehensive review and report on existing licenses; report and recommendations on consultative fora; and report on recommended new license undertakings.

Others include a report on recommended amendment to license fees and durations; a

report on benchmarking of license with similar jurisdictions, a report on the impact of certain licenses on other license holders. The committee is also expected to recommend solutions as well as develop updated regulatory framework for new and amended licenses as the case may be; and a final report on the project with all recommendations.

Also speaking during the inauguration of the committee, the Director, Licensing and Authorisation at NCC and Chairman of the committee, Mohammad Babajika, assured NCC of the committee’s resolve to deliver on the terms of their assignment.

‘Internet Connectivity Will Enable Digital Transformation, Education’ Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Asst. Editor, Money Market

Nume Ekeghe

Senior Correspondent

ËÒÏÏ× ÕÓØÑÌÙÖß (Advertising) Correspondents

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) ÜÙ×ÙÝÏÖÏ ÌÓÙÎßØ (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) ××ËØßÏÖ ÎÎÏÒ (Energy) Reporters

ÙÝË ÖÏÕÒßÙÑÓÏ (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy)

President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Mr. Chinenye MbaUzoukwu, has said ubiquitous internet connectivity will enhance digital transformation and enable digital education, adding that software Nigeria, in line with internet connectivity, has the capacity to contribute to national development.

Mba-Uzoukwu, disclosed this during his keynote address at the Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) forum, organised recently in Lagos by DigitalSENSE. The forum, which was chaired by the President of Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof.

Adesina Sodiya, with the theme:

Digital Cooperation: Enhancing Multi-stakeholder Governance for Digital Economy, discussed how government could tap into emerging technologies to leapfrog Nigeria in attaining digital transformation.

Mba-Uzoukwu, who presented the keynote on ‘The Role of Nigerian Software in Enhancing Governance in Digital Economy,’ noted that there was nothing in human history as transformative as the internet, because it has largely changed virtually everything. He outlined some of the changes to include the potential to address education, healthcare, prosperity, lifestyle and well-being.

He stressed the need for government to recognise an ‘ecosystem’ in the technology space that is systemic in outlook. adding that in technology, the most intriguing ecosystem is the innovation ecosystem, which he described as a “human network that generates extraordinary creativity and output on a sustainable basis.”

According to Mba-Uzoukwu, “Existence of telecommunication infrastructure, the first precondition to overcome the digital divide; Current economic models for Internet access, place a disproportionate burden on developing countries.”

Speaking about the challenges of the ecosystem, and how to

build an ecosystem that could change the narrative, ISPON president said the Institute planned to sensitize the community about the local software industry; provide fora to share software development initiatives; aggressively support the expansion of Nigeria’s human capital, foster co-operation with Nigeria IT in diaspora; and cooperate with other countries to boost global exposure and competitiveness.

He advised the government, industry players and academia, to continue to promote workable policies across multiple dimensions including national security, intellectual property and privacy rights, education, information

access and data sovereignty.

Education, for instance, he said, must be harnessed with the national aspirations to the potential of technology for powering the pragmatic development of world-class, innovation cum oriented and entrepreneurial workforce. He emphasized that employment and entrepreneurship must deploy technology in support of the genuine aspirations of Nigerian youth.

“Beginning with the National Association of Computer Science Students (NACOSS), we will create and expose opportunities for jobs and wealth creation through personal enterprise,” he declared.

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Nigerian Students Shine Danbatta Seeks Stakeholders’ Support at Robotics Challenge for ICT Adoption Nosa Alekhuogie About 1,320 students from the 132 teams including student from all 104 Unity School in Nigeria, were among the over 500,000 children around the world who participated in the 2020/2021 LEGO League Challenge.

The missions reflected potential thought-starters for their self-directed innovation project, where students will identify a problem related to people not being active enough, research the problem and design a new piece of technology or improve an existing one to help them solve that problem.

The aim of the program was to help students develop innovation, critical thinking and lifelong skills and these are the skills that would prepare them for the future of work and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4iR).

The program was organised

by Coderina Education and Technology Foundation (Coderina) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education with support from SAP, DOW, Ford, NITDA, the LEGO Foundation and FIRST. Students from schools in the northern and southern regions of Nigeria, competed in Kano and Lagos respectively in a head-to-head, putting more than 12 weeks of research, design, and programming to the test in the first-ever regional championships to win honors and recognition.

For the National Championship, the regional qualifiers/ winners, alongside other private schools and neighbourhood teams converged online

in a 3-day virtual competition.

At the end of the National Championship, Queen College Lagos; a new entrant to the program and all-girls school, emerged as the overall winner of the championship.

Federal Science and Technology College, Orozo, came second, while Team AIROL, an all-girls team from University of Lagos AI Lab, came third.

The three teams will represent Nigeria at the International Open Championship in Greece.

The National Champions from Queens College created an amazing App called Access- The app that gets people active by connecting people interested in the same sports.

Many other teams like FGGC Ikot Obio, Vivian Fowler Memorial College, FGC Robochi, FSTC Usi-Ekiti, FSTC Tungbo, FGC Daura, FGGC Ezzamgbo, Hillside School Abuja and others, won accolades in different categories.

The Director, Technology and Science Education, Federal Ministry of Education in Nigeria, Mrs. Elizabeth Adedigba, said the objective was to expose the children to 21st Century technology and skills.

“The Ministry is aware of the fact that the world does not wait for anybody and artificial intelligence is gaining ground across sectors.

The Federal Unity Colleges; being model schools, we have to start with the children to acquire the skills and boost their creative insights, innovation and team work progression such they can built it in them right from this stage,” Adedigba said.

Smile Introduces Revamped eSIM Offer Nosa Alekhuogie Smile Communications has revamped its eSIM offer that was designed to further delight its customers.

The company disclosed the launch of the eSIM offer in a statement, which underscored that the offer is a means for Voice and SMS communication through the SmileVoice app.

The revamped eSIM offer, which comes at a price of N500 and available at all Smile touch points, is loaded with free unlimited on-net calls and SMS. It also embodies 50 minutes of free local calls to any network on activation.

According to the Chief Marketing Officer of Smile Communications, Abdul Hafeez, the re-launch would aim to empower Smile’s existing and prospective customers with a product extension derived from an existing product with many goodies and freebies.

Hafeez noted that, unlike the regular SIM card that needs to be inserted in the smartphone and only functions wherever the mobile network is available, eSIM could be used anywhere in the world.

The only requirement is for existing Smile customers to activate the free SmileVoice App on their smartphone,

connected through Wi-Fi or mobile data.

“To maximise the new eSIM service, once a customer joined Smile, is activate the eSIM service. Just download the free SmileVoice app on a compatible smartphone, running an Android or iOS system, through the respective App stores.

“Once the download is successful, a customer will be required to activate the service on their device. Once activated, the device needs to be connected to wireless or mobile internet for the customer to launch the dialler on the app and initiate a call like a regular call to use the service,” Hafeez said.

A University lecturer and user of the earlier eSIM variant, Dr. Iniobong Emem, confirmed that he cherished the eSIM product offering that was multifaceted and cost-effective.

His genuine expectation about the re-introduction of the Smile eSIM will be that it offers more advantages.

Smile Nigeria has remained consistent in its deployment of superior technology to avail consumers with cutting-edge services that pivot around product offerings that are essentially peerless in the market.

Emma Okonji The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, has urged stakeholders in Nigeria to support the Commission in its quest to ensure ubiquitous adoption and use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), with a view to transforming the nation’s economy.

Danbatta also pledged the commitment of the NCC to continue with the implementation of federal government’s policies aimed at digitalising the nation’s economy.

Danbatta made the call recently, while commissioning,

“Prof Umar Garba Danbatta Computer Laboratory” donated

by Huawei Technologies to Government Senior Secondary School (GSS), in Danbatta, Kano State.

The historic school is the alma mater of Danbatta.

He expressed gratitude to the company for choosing his alma mater for the important ICT project, noting that the facility will not only bring invaluable benefits to the students and teachers of the GSS, but would also impact other neighbouring schools, which can utilise the tech facility for preparing their pupils for the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and other educational purposes.

He charged the students to avail themselves of the ample opportunity provided by the new facility within their own domain.

Restating the NCC’s commitment toward digitalisation of Nigeria’s economy, Danbatta, said the Commission would continue to be in the forefront in the implementation of the federal government’s policies aimed at achieving the goal.

Speaking at the event, the Director Public Relation of Huawei Nigeria, Mrs. Lola Fafore, observed that the fully-fledged computer laboratory donated to the school is equipped with free 4G internet service for 90 days as well as computer-based testing (CBT) training applica-

tions for JAMB installed in the computers for the benefit of the students.

“As a company, Huawei looks forward to making more contributions to Nigeria by supporting the NCC in bridging the digital connectivity divide, training talents, building capacity, knowledge transfer and supporting the process of achieving a fully-digital economy,” she said.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of Danbatta Charity Foundation (DCF), Alhaji Nasiru Danguda, commended the NCC for attracting major development projects to the community, thereby opening unprecedented windows of opportunity for the people.

ICT centre

Galaxy Backbone, DataSixth Partner to Deliver Cybersecurity Service Nosa Alekhuogie Galaxy Backbone, the government agency responsible for delivering connectivity services to public and private organisations, has partnered DataSixth Consulting to offer cybersecurity as a service.

The partnership was expected to cover service offerings ranging from Security Operations Centre as a Service (SOCaaS), State of art SIEM (managed and leveraged), Ransomware mitigation and security automation, Threat intelligence and Darkweb monitoring, as well as Security assessment, VAPT and forensic Other service offerings include: Endpoint detection and response (EDR),Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR), and White label services.

Announcing the partnership and the its benefits to customers, the Founder, DataSixth Consulting, Mr. Michael Anyanwu said: “We are excited about the prospect of joining in partnership with Galaxy Backbone at this critical stage of our growth journey. “In our opinion, Galaxy Backbone has an enormous potential to set new standards in cybersecurity including providing managed

detection and response services, security analytics and data protection across the country and Africa at large.”

DataSixth SOCaaS tracks, identifies and responds to cyber events in real-time and is supported by security analysts who perform threat detection, analysis and remediation.

It also offers cyber threat intelligence and forensic capabilities and uses a timely alerting process to reduce false-positive alerts.

The Managing Director/ CEO of Galaxy Backbone, Prof.

Muhammad Bello Abubakar, said the partnership would strengthen the national cyber posture, increase cybersecurity resilience, the efficiency and quality of public administration service in Nigeria.

According to him, “The requirement for enabling cybersecurity services in today’s ever-changing threat landscape is becoming an increasing national level priority. Galaxy Backbone’s relentless focus on delivering expert solutions as a government trusted advisor to its clients, means that the business is ideally placed to deliver cyber resilience and threat reduction.”

Galaxy Backbone believes the expanded services in

cybersecurity ensures that customers are provided best in class cybersecurity services and to be the clear choice for cybersecurity, tied to its multilayered cloud solution that safeguards organisations against

malware, Abubakar said.

Anyanwu said with the company’s unique capabilities, it would leverage on the partnership to deliver value, and actionable security intelligence to customers.

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Assessing Telcos’ Contribution to GDP Emma Okonji reviews the performance of the telecom sector in the first quarter Gross Domestic Product figures released recently by the National Bureau of Statistics

Pantami

F

ew weeks ago, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), released its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) statistics for quarter one (Q1) 2021, which showed a sharp decline in the contribution by the telecoms and Information services sector.

The development which was worrisome to telecoms industry players has been attributed to several dwindling which includes harsh policy formulation as well as implementation of certain regulations.

Specifically, telecoms industry players attributed the development to the implementation on SIM registration, SIM-NIN synchronisation, initial suspension on the sales of SIM cards that led to loss of over 15 million subscribers within a space of five months, the directives on IMEI mobile phone number, and the effect of COVID-19, among others.

Since the inception of Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication in Nigeria in 2001, the sector’s contribution to GDP has been on a steady rise and it reached its peak in 2015, when the investment in the Nigerian telecoms sector, reached $70 billion, and had since surpassed that figure.

According to statistics obtained from the website of the telecoms industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in 2015, telecoms contribution to GDP was 8.50 per cent, in 2016, it rose to 9.13 per cent.

In 2017, it reached 9.16 per cent, and in Q1 of 2018, it rose to 9.19 per cent and in Q2 of 2018, it rose again to 10.43 per cent. In 2019, it was 11.39 per cent, and in 2020 it further rose all high to 14.30 per cent before sliding to 11.66 per cent and later to 7 per cent in Q1 2021.

The statistics showed that decline in GDP contribution set in from 2021, shortly after the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, ordered the suspension of Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) registration last December.

Suspension of SIM card registration On December 9, 2020, the Nigerian Communications Commission had suspended further sales and activation of new SIM cards.

It had stated that the suspension would last till the completion of the audit of the Subscriber Registration Database, which sought to achieve global standards and quality in the issuance of SIM cards.

The Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, who announced the suspension in a statement issued by the Commission, had said the action became necessary in line with the federal government desire to consolidate the achievement of the SIM card registration exercise of September 2019.

The objective of the audit exercise was to verify and ensure compliance

by Mobile Network Operators with the

Danbatta

set quality standards and requirements of SIM Card Registration as issued by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the Commission.

NCC had further warned MNOs that non-compliance with the directive would be met with strict sanctions, including the possibility of withdrawal of operating license.

Although the suspension was later lifted by the federal government in April 2021, but within the five months suspension, the telecoms sector had lost over 15 million subscribers across networks, the number in the porting of subscribers from one network to another also dropped and revenue generation for telecoms operators was adversely affected because new SIMs were not sold.

This affected revenue and some subscribers lost their SIM cards to banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery and could not SIM replacement because of the suspension order, which also slowed down revenue drive for telecoms operators because majority of the subscribers were disenfranchised and could not buy airtime for data and voice calls, a situation that impacted negatively on GDP contribution.

Pantami thereafter lifted the ban in April.

He had said the implementation of the policy and issuance of new SIMs and other suspended activities would resume on the same date, provided that verification had been completed and the guidelines fully adhered to.

But before the lifting of the ban, so much damage had been meted in telecoms operations, which adversely affected revenue generation and contribution to GDP. USSD Imbroglio Another indices that affected telecoms contribution to GDP between 2020 and 2021, was the tussle between telecoms operators (telcos) and the banks over Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD).

Both the telcos and and banks were at loggerheads over non-remittances of money charged for USSD service by banks, which the telcos said accumulated since 2019 to N50 billion as at June. This, they stated had further stated affected revenue generation and contribution to GDP in the Telecoms operators said the accumulated money charged by banks for USSD, which the banks failed to remit to telecoms operators since 2019, rose from N42 billion in March this year, to N50 billion as at June 1, 2021.

Although the banks denied accumulating such huge amount of money from USSD charges, they insisted that they do not charge for USSD service.

USSD is a critical channel for delivering financial services, particularly for the underserved and the financially excluded,

Aziz

offered by telecoms operators to banks.

Banks use different USSD codes to support transfer of money through the use of mobile devices, without internet data connectivity.

The earlier disagreement between banks and telecoms operators led to the introduction of a new USSD rate of N6.98 kobo from the initial N10.50 kobo rate for every USSD transaction.

Although the new rate has not been implemented by the banks, since it was arrived at in April this year, THISDAY gathered that the banks have now commenced implementation of the new rate.

It was gathered that some banks recently sent notices to their customers, informing them that the banks have commenced deduction of N6.98 kobo for USSD. THISDAY also gathered that the meeting to discuss the sharing formula on the N6.98k USSD charge, would soon be conveyed.

Teledensity and number porting From the data obtained from NCC’s website, teledensity, which measures the percentage of the total number of telephone lines per 100 inhabitants in an area at a given time, dropped from 108 per cent to 100 per cent during the duration of the suspension.

As at November 2020, the total number of telecoms subscribers reached a peak of 207.9 million, with a teledensity of 108.92 per cent, which later dropped to 204.5 million with a teledensity of 107.14 per cent in December 2020, and further dropped to 200.2 million with a teledensity of 104.89 per cent in January 2021.

By February and March 2021, subscribers’ number further dropped to 196 million and 192 million respectively, while teledensity also dropped to 102.72 per cent and 100.80 per cent respectively. Telecoms operators also attributed the drop to unfavorable policy implementation.

For number porting, the statistics from NCC’s website showed that number porting dropped between 2020 and 2021.

As at October 2020, the total number of subscribers that ported from one network to another, was 19,771, which dropped to 16,342 in November 2020, and to 4,085 in December 2020. In January, February, and March 2021, all networks recorded zero porting as well.

Broadband penetration Broadband penetration in the country which had grown from less than than six per cent in 2015, to 45.93 per cent as at Q1, 2020, also witnessed a decline to 41.18 per cent between December 2020 and March 2021, which was the period that Nigerians suffered SIM card ban.

Statistics showed that the number of Nigerians with access to broadband (internet high-speed) services on their mobile devices as at Q1 2020, which stood at 87.6 million, reduced to 78.6 million

by the end of March, 2021.

During the same period, basic active internet subscriptions also dropped from 154.8 million to 144.9 million, according to statistics obtained from NCC’s website.

Nigeria had surpassed the 30 per cent broadband penetration as at December 2018, in the first Nigeria National Broadband Plan (NNBP), which spanned from 2013 to 2018. By 2020, Nigeria came up with a second National Broadband Plan from 2010-2025, with a target of 70 per cent broadband penetration, but industry analysts have said that could only be achieved if the right policies are put in place.

NIN registration The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the government agency in charge of registration of the National Identification Number (NIN), has been facing challenges in registering Nigerians and in issuing our NIN slips, as a result of improper funding of the agency by the federal government, a situation that has slowed down registration process across NIMC’s office across the country.

Nigerians, including NIMC staff have expressed concerns over the inadequate funding of NIMC operations. They are of the view that NIMC must be properly funded in order to offer the best of national identity management services to Nigerians.

The Director General of NIMC, Mr. Aliyu Aziz, also recognised the need for adequate funding, had said national identity management required the political will of government and adequate funding to succeed.

The Chairman of Chams Plc, Demola Aladekomo, had said that Nigeria lost about $2.5 billion in the last 45 years due to poor implementation of several failed national identity projects.

The inadequate funding of NIMC operations across the country, was however aggravated in December last year, when Pantami ordered the linkage of all registered SIMs with NIN, within a short period of two weeks, an order that generated a lot worries among subscribers who felt it was ill-timed, given the fact that it was Yuletide time, when people travel.

Even though the initiative was laudable, Nigerians felt the short time limit of two weeks was not achievable.

Although the federal government had shifted the deadline severally, the latest being from May 6 to June 30, 2021, but the continuous shift in dates also affected effective planning on the part of subscribers and operators, which analyst said, also slowed down telecoms growth and development.

If wrong policies could affect operations and revenue generation, it then becomes obvious that government must come up with policies that will enhance growth in the telecoms sector.

THURSDAY JUNE 17, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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La Riccia: Automation Hub Will Boost Local Resources in Nigeria Ericsson’s Vice President and Head of Digital Services for Middle East and Africa, Lucky La Riccia, in this interview speaks on the benefits of the company’s automation hub in Nigeria and how it will bring a new set of skillsets close to customers for easier transition to automation.

Emma Okonji presents the excerpts: Is Ericsson planning to invest in local tech start-ups in Nigeria?

Ericsson innovation platforms around the world are part of our global push to drive innovation in the markets we operate in. We strongly believe in the transformative impact of network automation as a technology that can fuel innovation. The automation hub will tap into the talent here in the country and will ultimately evolve the nation’s digital landscape.

E

ricsson recently announced plan to launch automation hub in Nigeria.

Can you break down the intricacies around how the automation hub works?

The Ericsson Automation Hub is an open innovation platform, inspired by lean startup methodology in which Ericsson team works in close dialogue with customers, users, and partners to showcase and reach the high potential that network automation allows in configuration, provisioning, assurance, and orchestration of network services. This will enable service providers to gain the ability in their environments to govern, manage and orchestrate hybrid networks holistically and in real time and as a result, offer an enhanced consumer experience.

The objectives of the Nigeria hub are to increase quality and customer experience one step at a time: recruiting and training local resources on Ericsson’s automation portfolio, support local customers and enable automation in project deliveries, bringing a new set of skillsets close to customers for easier transition to automation. Our immediate next step however is the recruitment of engineers with automation and software development skills in Nigeria to ultimately increase the capability of the team on the ground and integrate them into the wider Ericsson global automation community.

Nigeria is yet to roll out 5G network, how does this affect the full potential of the automation hub?

The automation hub is a long-term plan with set objectives which will grow and evolve once 5G is rolled out in Nigeria. However, the benefits of automation are already significant for networks that are being developed, maintained and delivered today. Customers are already benefitting from Time to Market and Total Cost of ownership benefits of more efficient software delivery and higher quality deployments. Service automation has a transformational power for businesses and service providers. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation will further provide value across the lifecycle of network operations to make the most of 5G, when it is launched.

La Riccia

What is motivation for Ericsson and what does the hub seek to achieve?

The initial focus of the hub will be expanding the adoption of CI/CD practices in the Africa region working with customers to make the most of this exciting technology development. Use of such innovations as Kubernetes and cloud infrastructure as a base the hub will be a key link between Ericsson’s African customer base and the quickly evolving adoption of systems automation in the telecommunications sector.

How accessible is the automation hub?

The automation hub is accessible to all Ericsson customers wishing to push their organization forward in this exciting area of innovation. We will also be working with organizations who are not currently Ericsson customers to explore innovation opportunities for their organizations partnering with Ericsson.

How soon will the Hub be established here in Nigeria?

The hub is already established today, we are already revolutionizing Time to Market benefits with automated deployments as a first step.

How many countries in Africa has the hub been established?

We announced our plans to open innovation hubs across the Middle East and Africa region back in 2018. Our Artificial Intelligence and Analytics Hub in Egypt has been operational since 2019.

What are the success stories in other countries?

Late last year, Ericsson’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Analytics Hub in Egypt achieved a key

milestone by shipping its first Cognitive Software to be used by Ericsson customers worldwide to design and optimize networks. The hub focuses on research and development (R&D) in AI and Automation, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to create data-driven, intelligent, and robust systems for automation, evolution, and growth. The establishment of similar hubs are always an opportunity to deliver top-notch technological innovation and transformation plans through local talent.

From Ericsson’s perspective, AI adoption is essential to efficient network management and operations. AI and automation will help address the complexity of 5G networks, drive efficiencies and improve customer experience as well as open new revenue streams for communications service providers (CSPs).

Businesses need emerging technologies to remain competitive. How is Ericsson supporting African businesses in today’s digital era?

As Industry 4.0 accelerates in Africa, automation in operations is proven to boost customer experiences. Ericsson continues to support the telecom industry players in setting #AfricaInMotion, and with the Ericsson Automation Hub in Nigeria, we will focus on driving business outcomes for our partners in Africa as they aim to leverage on digital transformation to turn complexities to opportunities while offering a greater experience and value to consumers.

How will digital connectivity help achieve economic sustainability in Africa?

Africa is home to over a billion people, and it is also a continent with the most growing economies. ICT is essential for the region’s development, and adequate ICT service deployment and digital connectivity will play a crucial role in achieving economic sustainability in the continent.

Shoprite: New Investor Assures Nigerian Lagos PPP Office Identifies New Strategies for Greater Impact Consumers of Improved Services Stories by Raheem Akingbolu Following the acquisition deal between Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited (RSNL), owner and operator of the Shoprite stores in Nigeria, and Ketron Investment Limited, the new investor has assured consumers of robust services in the years ahead.

Ketron, a Nigerian company owned by a group of institutional investors led by Persianas Investment Limited, recently acquired the supermarket brand.

The divestment by Shoprite International was in line with its strategy to change from an ownership model to a franchise model. This change in ownership has also received the approval of the Nigerian regulator the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

Speaking on the acquisition, Chairman, Ketron Investment Limited, Tayo Amusan said,

“We are thrilled to complete the acquisition of Shoprite, ensuring the continued operations of one of the biggest retail success stories in Nigeria. We look forward to building an even stronger company following our acquisition and are excited about the greater impact we will achieve to the benefit of our customers and other stakeholders now and well into the future.”

Since its launch in Lagos in December 2005, Shoprite has expanded to 25 outlets across eleven states and Abuja, FCT. According to the terms of the acquisition, Ketron acquired 100 per cent ownership of Shoprite in Nigeria and will continue operations across all existing outlets. It also plans to open additional stores and introduce more Nigerian-made products in the stores. This he noted, will also result in more opportunities for Nigerians.

“It is our vision to create fundamental change for the

better within Nigeria,” said Amusan. “With benefits from our knowledge of the ever-evolving Nigerian retail marketplace, well-grounded social and economic research, and hands-on experience from our team, we are confident that this acquisition will foster a robust and sustainable business model for the ultimate benefit of all stakeholders,” he concluded.

Professional services firms, KPMG Advisory Services, MBO Capital Management Limited and Banwo & Ighodalo advised Ketron on the deal. CEO, MBO Capital, Jide Ogundare, stated that the deal signalled an opportunity for Ketron to uphold a thriving business.

“It will be hard work,” he said, “but with the plans we have in place, and with the support of the larger Shoprite family in Nigeria including our staff and every Nigerian shopper that walks through our doors, we are confident of success.”

The Lagos State Office of the Public Private Partnership has held a three-day retreat for its staff with a view to deepening their knowledge of the core mandate of the PPP Office.

The retreat which held in Lagos was attended by staff of the PPP Office across all cadres, and it was resourced by experts and policy makers drawn from diverse fields and expertise in public-private partnership, infrastructure development, legislature, legal, finance and integrated marketing communications among others.

Themed, ‘Private Sector Collaboration: A service-driven culture for enhanced infrastructural delivery,’ also sought to empower the staff by exposing them to issues, challenges and opportunities, and current realities in the implementation of public-private partnership projects.

Welcoming the participants, the Director-General of Public Private Partnership, Mr. Ope George, said the key objective

of the retreat was to provide a platform for the participants to refresh their mind, broaden their knowledge generally, and upscale their skill set.

He added that it was also designed to prepare them adequately for greater impact in the discharge of the PPP’s strategic mandate, stressing that the PPP Office is pivotal and very crucial to the accomplishment of the goals of the T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration. ‘‘We are key custodians of the T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda of the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; our role is very strategic. So, in order to effectively deliver on this important role, we have put this retreat together to retool every one of us for optimal performance in our respective role within the value chain,’’ George said.

Chairman, House Committee on PPP, Lagos State House of Assembly, Lukmon Olumoh, also in attendance, commended

the Director-General for the quality of resource persons, as it underscores his vision to position PPP as a force to reckon with, in the efforts to build a greater Lagos through infrastructure renewal and upgrade. He went further to emphasize that it is imperative to review the Lagos State PPP Law (2011) to properly create a more robust and enabling legal and regulatory framework for viable and bankable projects.

Speaking on the topic, ‘Concessions: Regulating and monitoring compliance of terms and conditions of projects against market externalities’, Managing Partner/CEO, G A Capital Ltd, Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi, emphasised that establishing a framework is germane to a successful PPP programme which can only be achieved where there is political will, consistency and continuity in project plan, integration and collaboration among all relevant stakeholders, clear assigned roles and responsibility, and high breed of opportunities for investors.

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How Top African Brands Weathered the Storm amidst Pandemic Raheem Akingbolu reviews the report of ‘The Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands, pointing out that Dangote, GTBand and others retained 13 per cent share of top 100 most admired brands in Africa despite global pandemic.

Dangote

T

he last 16 months have been most enduring for businesses, no thanks to coronavirus pandemics which ravaged the world.

As a result of this, handlers of various brands are compelled to think out of the box to navigate the turbulent waters.

Despite this, some local and global brands that were not prepared for the shock failed and crumbled because they didn’t devise winning strategies.

However, according to a report by The Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands, Dangote Group, MTN Group and Guaranty Trust Bank Group, among other African brands still made it to the top and ranked as the most admired brands in Africa while the World Health Organisation (WHO) and MTN top the list of brands recognised as the most helpful during the Covid-19 pandemic., Reacting to the report, the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer of the Dangote brand, Anthony Chiejina, said he was not surprised by the position, given the fact that Dangote connotes both economic and psychological emancipation by igniting industralisation zeal in the continent, as well as restoring confidence in the narrative that Africans can develop and transform Africa.

He said: “The revolutionary impact of the brand will further be strengthened with the mechanical completion of our 650,000 BPD Oil Refinery later this year as well as the already completed 3 million MT Urea Fertilizer Plant that recently commenced production” In various interviews conducted by THISDAY, most of the respondents were of the opinion that Dangote and others that have made it to the top despite the global crisis achieved the feat because of their consistency and abiding by the best global practice.

For instance, Mr. Toyin Oluwadare, a building contractor, who spoke on the Dangote Cement said the brand has successfully pushed others to the back seat in Africa by not relenting or allowing complacency to set in despite early success in the market place.

“I may not be able to speak for other brands on the stable of the group but as a builder, Dangote Cement has remained my winning tool. Aside the quality, the company gives it a robust marketing support that would make it difficult for anybody to look elsewhere. To sustain the tempo, the manufacturers have been very painstaking and consistent in their strategies” he said.

Meanwhile, with the report under review, it has shown that African brands have continued the retention of their 13 per cent market share of the top 100 most admired brands on the continent in the space of a period defined by the coronavirus pandemic which

GTBank Segun Agbaje

brought the world to a halt with several markets having no other options than to adapt to the new reality.

MTN, consistently the only African brand among the Top 10 brands overall, dropped to number 11 for the first time in a decade while American sports and fitness giant, Nike retains the top spot for the fourth year in a row with consumer-electronic heavyweight, Samsung, tech-giant Apple, beverage maker Coca-Cola, sportswear manufacturing brothers, Adidas and Puma, also joining the list, while Gucci, Toyota and Zara also made the list.

MTN and Dangote retained their status as the most admired African brands.

Also, Nigeria’s Guaranty Trust Bank retained its position as the most admired financial services brand in Africa in 2021.

It was followed by First Bank of Nigeria.

South Africa’s ABSA Bank inched two places higher in the rankings to become the third most admired financial services brands in 2021 from 5th position last year. In the same vein, Nigeria’s top lenders United Bank for Africa (UBA) maintained the fourth position from last year, while Zenith Bank rounded off the top-ten list.

With Covid-19 limiting entertainment options beyond the house, while many businesses struggled, many digital businesses such as streaming services thrived.

This undoubtedly explains South Africa’s DSTV becoming the most admired media brand in Africa, knocking off BBC from its long-held position. Similarly, American Cable News Network (CNN) retained its position at number three alongside Al Jazeera in fourth. Netflix found itself leaping the line into the fifth position from 9th, while Canalsat, Facebook, NTV, MTN and France’s RFI positioned as 6th,7th,8th,9th and 10th respectively.

According to the report, the top 100 brands in Africa have always been dominated by European brands which have held their share at 41 per cent, but falling one step from its previous position.

North America advanced by one place on the ladder, Asia stood unchanged, and Africa retained its 13 per cent share of the most admired brands in the world. Similarly, the leading African countries that dominated the rankings largely retained their positions

with Nigeria one step behind on the log and South Africa unchanged with 5 brands each, Ethiopia (+1) and Kenya (-) also accounted for the13 brands among the Top 100 most admired brands in Africa.

Furthermore, brands within the computer/ electronics (17%)(+3), consumer (non-cyclical) (14%)(+6), luxury (8%)(-2), auto manufacturers (13%)(+3), and apparel (8%)(-) make up the top 5 categories. Consequently, Nigeria’s eCommerce giant, Jumia and telecoms provider, Globacom also ranked amongst the top ten most admired African brands.

In other areas of the ranking, the world health organisation (WHO) emerged as the number 1 most admired global brand perceived to have been the most helpful brand, given its predictably global omini-presence during the pandemic.

Significantly, MTN, which donated over seven million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to nine African countries, was the leading African and private sector brand standing at the number two spot, in private sector list where all multinational mobile operators in Africa such as Vodafone Group at number three, Orange at number four, Airtel Africa at number six position; as well as media brands such as Facebook at 10th on the chart and DSTV at 24th position made the list of the Top 25 most admired brands.

These brands were highly instrumental in communicating about the pandemic and keeping people connected.

However, Nigeria’s Dangote in the eight position is the only industrial brand on the list of most helpful brands.

Based on the fundamental role played by the private sector during the pandemic, the list is 80 per cent dominated by diverse private sector brands and 20 per cent governmental and non-governmental agencies such as the Red Cross holds the 5th position, multilateral agencies such as WHO and Unicef on the 7th position, government agencies such as the Center for Disease Control stand at the number 16 spot and USAID at 19.

Unsurprisingly, the leading pharmaceutical groups, Johnson & Johnson stay 12th and AstraZeneca stays 25th and rounded off the list.

Spectacularly breaking into the list and staying at the 51st position of the top 100 admired brands in Africa is Ethiopian Airways,

Despite the increase in the sample size and countries surveyed and more than 80,000 in brand mentions, the survey continues to yield a very consistent picture of a steadily transforming continental brand landscape and the brands that will drive the African transformation

which is the only African airline to have seemingly thrived during the pandemic, the first of the continent’s airlines to resume service and converting passenger planes into cargo planes to transport critical PPE’s around the world and the continent during the pandemic’s depths. Another cheering news in this edition is that Nigeria’s Globacom Communications and Nasco Group join the list at number 62 and 63 respectively among the top 100.

According to the commentary by Thebe Ikalafeng, Founder and Chairman of Brand Africa and Brand Leadership on the rankings, there is no doubt the pandemic, that continues to cost lives and livelihoods, and coincided with the launch of the implementation phase of the AfCFTA which aims to accelerate intra-Africa trade from 18 per cent to 50 per cent in 2030, is becoming a catalyst for loconomies with nations having to look internally for sustainability. With the internal shifts in the rankings in particular the African brands, Africa can and will need to grow its own brands to meet the needs of its growing consumer market.

African brands will continue to play a dual role of being globally competitive but most importantly of transforming the continent’s promise into a real change.”

Also, Caitlin van Niekerk, Global Client Development Manager, GeoPoll, said “While mobile has always been an expedient and effective tool to provide us reach and accessibility across the continent, it became more important during the pandemic as virtually the only way to reach respondents across the continent, providing us vital and timeous results at a critical time.”

Meanwhile, Karin Du Chenne, Chief Growth Officer Africa Middle East for Kantar, which has been the insight lead for Brand Africa since its inception in 2010 says, “Despite the increase in the sample size and countries surveyed and more than 80,000 in brand mentions, the survey continues to yield a very consistent picture of a steadily transforming continental brand landscape and the brands that will drive the African transformation.”

The take home from the whole exercise is that brands should always be ready considering the top of the mind awareness created by the various brands in a year defined by the pandemic which brought the world to a halt.

It is obvious that the shifts in the rankings this year’s rankings are bound by a common theme – the Covid-19 pandemic. Given its impact on lives and livelihoods, this year Brand Africa survey sought to understand which brands were perceived to have been helpful during the pandemic. No wonder, the WHO, as a result of its global relevance during the pandemic, emerged as the #1 most admired global brand perceived to have been most helpful during the pandemic.

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IMAGES

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯ͵ ͰͮͰͯ

Photo Editor ÌÓÙÎßØ ÔËÖË Email ËÌÓÙÎßØ˛ËÔËÖË̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×

President, Institute of Directors, Chief Funlola Okunnowo (left) and Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, during a courtesy call on the Governor by the president at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta .recently

L-R: Former United States’ congressman, representing State of New Hampshire, Amb. Richard Swett and Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, during the former’s courtesy visit to Government House, Yenagoa. bayelsa state government house

L-R: Samuel Gidson-Jofortan; Celebrant/Pastor in- Charge of Area, RCCG Fountain of Life Parish, Ire-Akari, Lagos, Pastor Joe Gidson-Jofortan, his wife, EuniceOlufunke,and Enochduringthe50thbirthday celebrationofPastorJoein Lagos..recently FUNKEOLAODE

L-R; British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, : Ben Llewellyn-Jones OBE; Commercial Manager, Savannah Energy, Ndidi Ejekam, and Country Director, UK Department for International Trade, Chimwemwe Chalemera, during the breakfast meeting organised for business leaders by the British High Commission in Lagos…recently

L-R: Chairman Board of Directors SecureID Group, Adedotun Sulaimon (MFR); Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Ameachi, and, Founder/MD, SecureID Group, Kofo Akinkugbe during the Minister’s visit to SecureID’s Transport Payment Solutions (TPS) Company in Isolo, Lagos recently.

L- R: Director, Public Affairs, Nigeria Communication Commission NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde; Director, Policy Competition and Economic Analysis, Mrs. Yetunde Akinloye; Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta; Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management; Mr. Adeleke Adewolu; Director, Legal and Regulatory Services, Ms. Josephine Amuwa; Director, Human Capital and Administration, Mr. Usman Malah, at the Industry Stakeholder Forum on Cost-Based Pricing of Mobile International Termination Rate for Voice Services (ITR) organized by NCC at its Headquarters in Abuja… yesterday

THURSDAY JUNE 17, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ , JUNE 17 2021

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

ÜÙßÚ ÏËÞßÜÏÝ ÎÓÞÙÜ˝ ÒÓÏ×ÏÖÓÏ äÏÙÌÓ ×ËÓÖ chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

Securing Greater Funding for Nutrition, Maternal Newborn and Child Healthcare Interventions in Nigeria Amidst the worsening economic, social and healthcare challenges in the country, children are increasingly being affected and their basic needs for survival are no longer guaranteed. Reports in 2020 showed at least one in three children did not grow well because of malnutrition, and at least two in three are not fed the minimum diet they need to grow, develop and learn to their full potential, writes Onyebuchi Ezigbo

A

ccording to the findings of the United Nations, Nigeria has one of the highest maternal and child deaths globally.

About 20 per cent of global maternal deaths occur in Nigeria with more of these deaths occurring in rural areas.

The report of National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS 2018) quoted by UNICEF said maternal mortality in the country is 556 per 100,000.

Most of these deaths occur either during pregnancy, at childbirth or within two months postpartum. The report also said that there are approximately 40 million children under five years of age in Nigeria, of which one in eight do not survive to their fifth birthday: leading to a mortality rate of 132 per 1000 live births.

Despite the economic growth Nigeria recorded over the last decade, poverty remains persistent with child malnutrition becoming the order of the day in most parts of the country. The situation has also come with widespread inequity and regional disparities which has been further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The UN said an estimated 40 per cent of Nigerians ( about 83 million people) live below the poverty line (US$1.05 per day).

In the same vein, the report showed that the overall poverty incidence in Nigeria stood at 64 per cent in 2016, with almost two-thirds of that total found in rural areas with the north-east of the country exhibiting the highest level (74 per cent).

The impact of this startling economic indices on health and wellbeing of children is enormous. The same report has shown that malnutrition is the underlying cause of many childhood deaths in Nigeria. According to the UN agency, “By 2026, with no change in nutrition, more than half the population of children will die from stunting alone.

Malnourished children are more likely to suffer and die from common childhood illnesses such as diarrhea and pneumonia and may be more likely to develop chronic diseases such as heart disease in adulthood.”

Experts say Anemia during pregnancy is associated with maternal and neonatal deaths and is a major cause of low birth weight.

They also said babies with low birth weight are five times more likely to die within the first month of life than normal birth weight babies.

Impact on Education By 2026, it is being projected that if there is no change in stunting, children will lose 33 million equivalent school years of learning from stunting alone.

Regarding it’s impact on economic development malnutrition weakens the affected person and on whole tends to impart negatively on his or her ability to develop and become useful citizen. In order to address the situation in the country, the federal government is collaborating with the UNICEF and state governments to find ways of scaling up funding to promote nutritional health of children, especially in this period of worsening economic difficulties.

MNCHW Week In this regard, a one-day high level advocacy and accountability meeting was held recently for state commissioners of Health, Budget and Economic Planning and Executive Secretaries of relevant agencies to mark the

UNICEF Country Director making her speech at the Maternal, newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) in Abuja

Maternal, Nutrition, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW). A key objective of the event was to secure the commitment and financial support of commissioners for use in promoting nutritional health of children in the country.

The MNCHW in Nigeria was a week-long campaign introduced at the 53rd Assembly of the National Council for Health meeting in 2010 as a priority and strategic action to accelerate the reduction of child mortality and improvement of maternal health. Vitamin A supplementation is a main indicator to determine performance of the MNCHW. Organisers said MNCHW bridges the gaps in uptake of routine health and nutrition services and presents a good opportunity to drive up coverage of services. It also a huge role in overall improvement of nutrition and health indices if done properly and consistently.

The campaign has been implemented for about 10 years now, but many states still miss at least one or both rounds every year leaving many children and women unprotected with life-saving health and nutrition interventions.

There is also need to align MNCHW dates to national dates ensuring six-month interval between rounds of the campaign annually.

As part of efforts to achieve the goal, UNICEF is partnering with the federal government to sensitise commissioners for Health and Economic Planning and Executive Secretaries of State Primary Health Care Boards on the need for enhanced quality and increased coverage of nutritional health interventions in all the states in Nigeria. To this end, the meeting served as an opportunity to formally introduce and present the optimised MNCHW strategy to the commissioners of Health and Economic Planning and Executive Secretaries.

Federal government also said that it will work with UNICEF to ensure that 31,299,942 children between six to 59 months are provided with vitamin A supplement within the next one year. While declaring the event open, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Olusola Idowu said the advocacy meeting was convened primarily to seek ways enhancing budgetary

allocations to efforts at improving nutrition and healthcare of children as well to tackle problems of high maternal mortality rate in the country. She expressed the hope that resolutions reached at the meeting will go a long towards achieving quality and increased coverage of nutrition and maternal heath in the country.

High Level Commitment Speaking at the meeting, the UNICEF’s Deputy Representative, Rushnan Murtaza who was represented by Chief of Nutrition, Nenat Hedjeboj said children’s lives are more threatened today than before. She federal government and UNICEF have demonstrated a high level of commitment over the years in tackling the problem. However she said that “there is a need to scale quality nutrition interventions, sustain, increased allocation as well as timely release of the funds, annually”.

According to her, increase of investment and commitment for MNCHW and Nutrition interventions is needed to contribute to the prevention and treatment of malnutrition among vulnerable women and children under five years.

Hedjeboj said: “This year, we are committed to reaching 31,299,942 children six to 59 months with Vitamin A supplementation”. The UNICEF scribe who expressed worry at the growing number of children witnessing stunted growth said close to 17 million Nigerian children are undernourished (stunted and or wasted), thus giving Nigeria the highest-burden of stunting in Africa and the second highest in the world.

Hedjeboj added that Vitamin A supplementation reduces all causes of child mortality by up to 24 percent; reduces deaths from diarrhea by 12 percent and reduces the incidence of measles by 50 percent. She added that Vitamin A is also an enabler for the reduction of stunting. Nigeria’s Vitamin A supplementation status is unacceptably low (45 per cent).

“Unfortunately, Nigeria is not on track to meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Targets on undernutrition. And since

child nutrition is core to the human capital development of Nigeria, this presents an urgent crisis we need to address.”

She said there is an obvious reduction in donor funding, adding that MNCHW operations are being threatened. In addition, Hedjeboj said that COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the situation. The UNICEF representative further suggested that the best way to respond to reduced donor funding: is for government to take financial ownership of the Intervention programme.

Poor Health, Nutrition Indices On her part, the Executive Director of Nutrition International, Titiola Abolade said Nigeria has poor health and nutrition indices. She explained that the National Demographic and Health Survey 2018 puts Nigeria’s Maternal mortality ratio at 512 per every 100,000 live births and under five mortality rate at 132 per every 1,000 live births.

According Abolade studies show that 37 per cent of children under five are stunted, while 22 percent are underweight and seven per cent wasted. She further said that almost 58 percent of women of reproductive age are anaemic. She said: “Malnutrition especially in children under the age of five and pregnant women has many adverse consequences for child survival and long-term well-being.

Poverty is widespread in Nigeria which has been further increased with the COVID-19 pandemic and the attendant effects of restrictions on livelihoods, access to healthcare and food in households”.

Abolade said government plays critical and vital role at all levels which is vital towards reducing the burden of malnutrition and health issues in Nigeria through quality and increased coverage of maternal and child health and nutrition services. She expressed the hope that the advocacy campaign will secure the commitments of states to prioritise, increase allocation and ensure timely release funds for Nutrition and MNCHW as well as align dates for the conduct of the MNCHW to national dates.

T H I S D AY ˾ , JUNE 17 2021

35

NEWS

Global Fund Provides $900 Million for anti-Malaria, Tuberculosis Intervention in Nigeria Onyebuchi Ezigbo ÓØ ÌßÔË Global has allocated the sum of $900 million to support national efforts to address the challenges of malaria, tuberculosis and HIV in Nigeria.

The amount which is an improvement on the previous project funding of $700 million is meant to cover the third phase of the anti-malaria programme between 2021-2023.

The 13 states that are key beneficiaries of the Global Fund assisted anti malaria intervention are Kaduna, Kwara, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Niger, Taraba, Gombe, Yobe, Adamawa, Ogun, Osun, and Delta.

As part of the strategies to ensure proper monitoring and assessment of the Implementation of the program’me, a health advocacy group, Civil Society in Malaria, Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN) has said that it will deploy 624 community volunteers to help in monitoring the implementation of the anti malaria intervention program’me in the 13 states.

While giving update on the roll out of the third phase of the project during an interactive meeting with journalists, National Coordinator of ACOMIN, Mr. Ayo Ipinimoye said there

is no doubt that considerably results have been achieved in the malaria Intervention in new Nigeria with Global funding.

On the state of malaria problem in Nigeria and the reason for embarking on the next phase of the programme, Ipinimoye said:” Nigeria alone is responsible for 25 percent of the world’s malaria burden”.

“In order to turn this situation around, Global Fund recently allocated the sum of $900 million for the 2021 to 2023 for the anti malaria programme,” he said.

Ipinimoye said that there is need for the federal, state and local government councils to contribute towards the funding of the programme and to take interest in its implementation.

For instance, he said there is a limit to what donor funds can do to solve the health challenges in the country.

He advised communities to appreciate the efforts being put in to address the malaria scourge and not to sabotage such efforts.

He cautioned that just as the rainy season is about to set in, that efforts should directed towards educating and enlightening the people in the communities to avoid keeping stagnant water around their households.

According to Ipinimoye, many of the rural dwellers do not know that these stagnant water being maintained around their houses in the name of storing water during rainy season is a major source of mosquito lavatories that subsequently terrorise them and spread malaria.

ACOMIN Coordinator listed some of the progress recorded on the programme to include improved human resources for the primary healthcare centres, improved community investment and participation and reduced cases of malaria commodity stock out and leakages at the health centres.

Other achievements include increased patronage by community members and access to free malaria care services.

He said that the through the programme, communities have been able have improved Infrastructures such as portable water and electrification.

A representative of the Catholic Relief Services which is a partner in the implementation of the malaria programme, Maureen Okolo said efforts should be made to carry along communities which are the prime target of the health intervention programme so as to achieve lasting results.

Abia Intensities Fight against Sickle Cell Disease, Integrates Study into School Curriculum Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo Efforts to eliminate Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) from Abia State has received a major boost as the state government has now integrated the study of the disorder into the Abia State school system.

Wife of the State Governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu has been at the vanguard of the campaign to break the cycle of SCD in the state, using the platform of Vicar Hope Foundation(VHF), her pet project.

This ambitious strategy of exposing pupils early enough to the knowledge about SCD is seen as the culmination of the Abia First Lady’s relentless campaign to drastically reduce the prevalence of the disease in the state.

Sickle Cell disease is a hereditary ailment that becomes manifest when two persons with mismatched genotypes have babies.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, while flagging off a two-day train the trainer curriculum dissemination workshop for teachers in Umuahia, broke the news of his government’s decision to integrate the teaching of SCD into the school curriculum.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Chris Ezem, the governor said his government was committed to generating as much awareness as possible about the disease so that the populace can make informed decisions about life choices and marriage partners.

He said that his administration has already made a legislation making it compulsory for every citizen in the state to undertake genotype and blood group test and have the results inscribed on their identity cards.

Ikpeazu further stated that institutions and marriage registries that wed or join couples without first demanding genotype test results risked being fined or closed as provided in the legislation.

He commended the Abia First Lady, Dr Nkechi Ikpeazu for driving the effort and her Vicar Hope Foundation, which facilitated the workshops, for its advocacy and technical support to Abia State government that has led to measurable successes in the fight against sickle cell disease in the state.

Governor Ikpeazu therefore charged teachers to ensure they effectively disseminate information to school children and communities while observing the required caution in message development and delivery.

Mrs. Ikpeazu, who is the President of Vicar Hope Foundation, said the interventions made by the foundation were geared towards reversing the onslaught of the hereditary disease.

The First Lady, who was represented by the Administrator of the foundation, Dr Edith Nwosu, noted that the foundation had set up two modern sickle cell care hospitals in the state to complement the sickle cell care focal desks established by the state

government in all the 17 local governments of Abia.

She noted that an estimated 150,000 babies are born each year with sickle cell anaemia and most of the babies die before they are five years old while those who survive the illness beyond age five, become a financial and emotional burden on families and caregivers as they struggle to keep the children from dying.

Mrs Ikpeazu said presently the only cure for SCD is a bone marrow or stem cell transplant, adding that the process is very expensive hence the best approach remains for people seeking to have babies to ensure they have matching genotypes.

The Abia Commissioner for Health, Dr Joe Osuji, represented by Dr Sam Ohaeri, explained that the 17 Sickle Cell focal offices set up in the local governments were meant to assist with drug distribution and case management in rural areas.

He further stated that a Sickle Cell Desk office has been set up by the Ministry of Health, manned by a qualified officer, who is helping to guide government policies and programmes in relation to SCD, while also doing disease surveillance.

In his remarks the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Sir Princewill Eze Ajuzie assured that teachers would imbibe the knowledge and disseminate the information appropriately through the school system.

FERTILITY

Info@lifelinkfertility.com; Website: lifelinkfertility.com 08033083580

Common Misconceptions And Myths About Infertility And In Vitro Fertilization (Ivf) (Part 2)

L

ast week we started addressing the issues of myths and misconceptions about IVF with the aim to debunk them with scientific evidences and facts, this week are having a continuum. The world’s oldest IVF baby will be 42 years on July 25th and this coincides with the World Embryologists Day. However years after, people still have misconceptions about these techniques.

Myth 5: Herbs and Supplements Are Harmless Ways to Boost Infertility Facts: Just as there are different books and sites that guarantee certain diet plans that will enable you to get pregnant, there are also data sources that guarantee unique herbs, naturopathic cures will improve your fertility.

Although some supplements exits that may boost fertility, they are not sufficient to cure anyone’s fertility issues. However, if you must try something, consider this and ask yourself sincerely: is it safe and are these claims all true?

Not all natural interventions are completely harmless. In some cases, they can interact with other medications. Herbal remedies can be as powerful as prescription drugs and some are not regulated by the government and should be treated with utmost caution. The use of wrong dose of vitamins and minerals, which are otherwise beneficial, can be hurtful and may even be deadly.

Myth 6: Fertility Is Not a Problem If You Have Previously Had A Child.

Fact: The term “Secondary Infertility” is used to describe couples who are experiencing difficulties getting pregnant or carrying a baby to term after previously giving birth.

Unfortunately, past successful pregnancies do not guarantee subsequent successful ones.

Changes can occur over time, new conditions may develop or existing ones may worsen. In some instances, previous pregnancies may cause new fertility problems, for example, surgical complications or infections can cause scarring which could lead to fertility challenges.

Regardless of whether you have conceived naturally in the past or not, if you are attempting to get pregnant with another child without success, visit your specialist. There could be something wrong requiring attention Myth 7: Cancer Can Be Caused By Fertility Treatments Fact: Major scientific researches have negated this myth: the records of women who had undergone fertility treatments for any diagnosis of ovarian and breast cancer were tracked, and it was concluded that IVF poses no apparent rise in risk of developing either. Another study in 2018 of over 250,000 women reconfirmed this. It also concluded that IVF treatments pose minimal risk of breast and gynecological cancer risk for women.

Myth 8: Birth Defects and Malformations May Occur With IVF Babies Fact: The absolute risk of delivering an IVF baby with malformations is low. The risk of an abnormal fetus in spontaneous natural conception or IVF babies is the same as in the general population.

Myth 9: IVF Is Not a Safe Procedure due to Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome (OHSS).

Fact: The Choice of an experienced IVF center is important. There are simple ways to predict the right doses of medications.

Monitoring visits and serial ultrasound scans allow for dose adjustments to be made in real time to control the ovarian response.

Also different medications can be used to facilitate an effective and safe release of eggs but reduces the rise of estrogen after egg retrieval. Only about 2% of patients stand the risk of becoming unwell from OHSS. It is extremely rare today for any patient with OHSS to be hospitalized as it is easily and effectively managed. An experienced IVF center is skilled at prevention.

Myth 10: IVF Is For The Rich Patients Only Fact: IVF is a little expensive but cheaper than many other surgeries. The cost has not risen in the past few years. Treatment plans with financial institutions partnering on access to women and children health loans / grants are available. You need to find out the information about waiting periods and eligibility before you begin your treatment plan with fertility center of your choice.

Myth 11: IVF Medications Make a Person Really Moody with Weight Gain Fact: An IVF cycle requires women to take medications known as Follicle Stimulating Hormones to assist with the production of eggs.

As the follicles increase in size and number some women report an increase feeling of bloating and pre-menstrual tension. It is the follicles themselves that release the hormones that some women feel moody. The good news is, by the time this potential change in mood accumulates it is only a few days until all the eggs are collected and the side effects usually subside immediately.

Myth 12: IVF Pregnancies Always Result In Cesarean Births Fact: IVF pregnancies are just like naturally conceived ones and not an indication for cesarean section. Couples who have tried to conceive for many years or those with higher chances of a multiple pregnancy can opt for elective cesarean delivery. A very normal vaginal delivery is possible following IVF. Myth 13: Long time off work is needed for IVF Fact: Fertility Clinics understands that treatment can be time intensive. You need to choose a center that fits treatment around your lifestyle and work commitments. In a regular IVF cycle you can expect to only need one day off work on the day of egg collection for own cycle and in recipient with use of donor eggs ,there is no need to go off work . Most patients are comfortable enough to return to work the next day following egg collection.

Other forms of information dissemination may include telephone consultations with electronic communication except in few cases where physical visit to the clinic is compulsory.

Serial scan appointments can be scheduled for weekends and if on week days it can be appropriately timed so that less time is spent waiting at the clinic TO BE CONTINUED

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T H I S D AY ˾ , JUNE 17 2021

NEWS

UCTH Medical Interns Protest Seven Months Unpaid Salaries r"DDVTF $.% PG OFHMFDU Rebecca Ejifoma After seven months of unpaid salaries by the management of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) Calabar, a faction of health care professionals undergoing internship with the hospital, recently took to the streets and social media to demand their pending fees.

The interns, which include radiographers, medical lab scientists, nurses, dental therapists, pharmacists, and ophthalmologists among others, demonstrated at the main gate of the hospital, chanting continuously, “Pay us now!

Among the inscriptions on their banner displayed is “UCTH,

where did we go wrong?”, “Enough is enough!”, “We are hungry”, “We are tired”, and “We are dying”.

Speaking to THISDAY, one of the interns, Idara (last name withheld) recalled: “We got employed last October, but officially resumed in November.

Since then till date, no payment.

Only house officers, that is the doctors, have been paid. And we all started together.”

According to her, they have been working tirelessly, and were exposed to COVID-19 patients and other diseases, yet the management meted out such “depressing treatment” on them.

To further aggravate the situation, Idara accused the CMD

of the hospital, Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme, of neglect.

“Till date, our CMD has not addressed us. Other teaching hospitals in the country have paid all the interns from November till this month except us,” she bemoaned.

For Idara and her colleagues, whose video recordings were shared with THISDAY, it is very frustrating. “We begged him. We are begging him to do something about it or tell us what is going on”.

Following their plea, the intern acknowledged that the CMD sent N16,500 and N17,750 in April and May to their various accounts to make up for their pending salaries.

Meanwhile, the medical interns

said they are entitled to monthly salaries ranging from N120,000 to N150,000. Having worked for seven months without being paid once, Idara reminded the management, “We have only four months left to round off”.

In her words, “We are tired, frustrated, sick and hungry.

During COVID-19 nobody gave us nose masks or hand sanitisers. We got them with our money.”

Reacting to the accusation that the medical interns have not been paid for seven months coupled with failure on his part to address them, Ikpeme debunked part of the allegations.

“That is not exactly true. Yes, interns have not been paid, as part of the challenges we

are having with payment of non-regular staff nationwide.

It’s not a University of Calabar Teaching Hospital problem,” the CMD said.

According to him, nonregular payroll, as it is called, has not been paid because the government wants to verify the interns. “The government has sent a verification team around the nation to verify them before the payment.

He continued: “The allegation that they have not been addressed is not correct. I have spoken to the interns at least four times even in the presence of witnesses: the management staff of the hospital, the leadership of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), the National Association of Nurses

and Midwives UCTH branch, DSS, the police, and the heads of departments.”

With plans to pay the raging interns soon, the CMD said, “We have prepared all the schedules submitted. That is why I said the government is coming for verification. When the government comes, they should make themselves available to be verified”.

Ikpeme, however, clarified that the interns have been paid something. “Based on the amount of money released, we have paid them something (N16,500, and N17,500 Idara mentioned) all in an effort to try to assuage them that we are trying to solve the problem working with the government.”

MRCC Unveils Cancer Treatment Centre in Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa Rebecca Ejifoma Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre & Specialist Hospital (MRCC), Nigeria’s first fully-equipped private oncology centre has kicked off.

To achieve this, GE Healthcare completed the delivery and installation of advanced radiology and radio pharmacy equipment in Nigeria, which will accelerate diagnostic care for cancer.

Founded by renowned physician Dr. Modupe Elebute-Odunsi and husband, Bolaji Odunsi, MRCC combines the highest standard of care with the latest treatment and technology in comfortable surroundings designed to promote healing.

According to the management, the clinically trained members of the founding team all qualified from medical colleges in Nigeria and completed postgraduate trainings specialised in oncology and haematology overseas.

The exceptional team of highly skilled personnel include consultant medical and radiation oncologists, surgeons, family physicians, radiation therapists, nurses, pharmacists, imaging technicians, laboratory scientists, nutritionists, counsellors, and healthcare administrations, working together to treat and care for patients.

Commenting on the facility, Elebute-Odunsi said: “We built the MRCC hospital to help address the gap in the treatment and diagnosis of cancer in Nigeria.

“Patients, who previously would have had to travel abroad to receive world-class treatment, are now able to get the critical care they need here at home.

Early detection is vital to the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.”

As a consultant haematooncologist, she added that the hospital has finalised partnerships with leading healthcare insurance providers in Nigeria including BUPA, Allianz, AXA Mansard, AETNA, CIGNA, and United Health Group.

For Bolaji Odunsi, they are delighted to see their vision of the MRCC finally come to life.

He described their mission as simple: “bring together an exceptional team of Nigerian medical professionals with international training and experience to deliver the highest quality care to patients

here in Nigeria.

“This expertise supported by new technology now makes world-class treatment here in Nigeria possible and affordable”.

Meanwhile, GE Healthcare is providing the comprehensive suite of solutions to the planning, development, building and equipping of the oncology diagnostic and treatment facility at MRCC. The solutions include the award-winning Senographe Pristina 3D, the first patientassisted compression device in mammography; the advanced LOGIQ F8 ultrasound, the comprehensive radiation therapy solution Discovery RT; and the BRIVO XR575 X-Ray and OEC 785-C Arm, two easy-to-use systems that deliver superior image quality.

While noting that all of MRCC’s medical professionals have completed advanced training on the machines, the General Manager of GE Healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa, Eyong Ebai, expressed, “We are proud to continue supporting the development of Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure.

“Our partnership with the Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre & Specialist Hospital is a true landmark as it underlines the role that the private sector can play in delivering world-class healthcare delivery in the country”.

He outlined that the new solutions are designed to expand capacity and improve quality for diagnosis and treatment at MRCC and help meet the needs of community within the country and region. Citing a study by the World Health Organisation, Ebai acknowledged that it is possible to prevent a third of cancer cases and treat many other cases with early diagnosis and treatment.

He continued: “The latest statistics shows that cancer accounts for 18.2 per cent of premature deaths attributable to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and in 2018, of the 115,950 cancer cases reported, 70,327 patients did not survive.”

Now, the MRCC purpose-built, fully equipped facility on Victoria Island underscores the importance of in-country diagnosis of cancer and other chronic diseases, which has come in this time of travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

UCTH medical interns demonstrating over unpaid salaries

Matrix Energy Organises Free Medical Outreach for Aged People in Its Host Communities Sylvester Idowu ÓØ ËÜÜÓ Over 100 aged persons from 60years and above, have benefitted from a week-long free medical outreach, organised by Matrix Energy Group, for people in its host communities of Ifie, Ubeji, Egbokodo, Ijalla-Ikenren and Aja-Etan, in Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State.

The medical outreach, which began Monday, May 31, rounded up on Saturday June 5, at Ogiame Ikenwoli Hospital, Ubeji-Warri, which was built and equipped

Vanessa Obioha

by the leading indigenous oil and gas company, Matrix Energy Group.

The Head of Health, Safety Security & Environment (HSSE) Matrix Energy Group, Mr. Fredrick Olomuro, who represented the management of Matrix Energy, disclosed that the Ogiame Ikenwoli Hospital, Ubeji, was built and equipped by the company to provide easy access to standard medicare to people of its host communities and members of the public in the area.

Olomuro said the programme was an opportunity to reach

out to the elderly, explaining that the aged people, who are the primary focus, could register and be provided with ambulance services, even with phone call, whenever there is emergency, for a token. The Matrix Energy HSSE Boss, urged people living within the five Warri South Communities of Ifie, Ubeji, Egbokodo, IjallaIkenren and Aja-Etan as well as other members of the public, to make good use of the medical facility and take advantage of the free medicare.

Medical Director of Ogiame Ikenwoli Hospital, Ubeji, Dr.

Olisa Olusegun disclosed that the beneficiaries accessed Consultation /Counselling, Blood Pressure Check, Calculation of BMI, Blood Sugar Check, Outpatient Treatment of uncomplicated diabetes and Hypertension as well as launching of Geriatric care, as health challenges during the free medicare.

Mercy Ukueje and other beneficiaries who spoke during the exercise expressed appreciation to Matrix Energy Group for the programme and encouraged others to take advantage of the medical facility.

Africa Healthcare Awards to Hold in Lagos

A first of its kind Africa Healthcare Awards and Summit will be held in Lagos this month.

Organised by Zenith Global Health, an organisation set up by healthcare professionals for collaboration, shared learning and upholding excellence in healthcare globally, the two-day event will have thought-leading healthcare professionals from across Africa, the USA, UK and Europe in attendance.

“We cannot afford to drop the ball regarding non-communicable diseases,” said Founder and President of Zenith Global Health,

Mary Akangbe.

“The impact of excellence in healthcare across Africa cannot be overemphasised and it is a privilege to be able to celebrate that.”

“This is a great initiative to support as not only is it bringing stakeholders together, it is also a source of inspiration for our youth, especially young girls in choosing ‘STEM’ as a career pathway,” added the First Lady of Kebbi State, Zainab BaguduShinkafi.

The organisation believes the awards will boost the morale of flagging healthcare professionals who are under increased pressure

and give back to their commitment to nursing the nations back to health during the pandemic.

Starting on Friday, June 25, the first day will begin with a summit titled ‘Advances in cancer and diabetes care: Plugging the gaps’ According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated number of deaths associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) will increase by 17 per cent over the next couple of years and by 2030.

This only reinforces the fact that discussion to reduce the numbers should be ongoing. The summit will conclude with the awards ceremony on the evening

of Saturday, June 26 at Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

Some of the recipients include Dr Kunle Hassan for the Lifetime Achievement award; and Dr Mohamed El Sahili for the Special Recognition award.

Founded in 2016, Zenith Global Health has over the past five years hosted its annual awards ceremony in the UK by celebrating innovation, creativity and groundbreaking work of healthcare professionals globally.

The Sheikh Khalifa Medical City OR team, Abu Dhabi is one of the recipients alongside notable individuals on the global platform.

37

T H I S D AY ˾ , JUNE 17 2021

INTERVIEW

Creating Awareness of Orthodontics in Nigeria The Clinical Director and Founder, Smile360 Dental Specialists, Dr. Amy Traore-Shumnosho, is passionately creating more awareness of the positive impacts of orthodontists in Nigeria. Rebecca Ejifoma reports that in commemoration of World Orthodontics Health Day, the expert gave insight on the practice of the profession in Nigeria and the need for awareness

F

or many Nigerians, every problem with the teeth or oral health is the responsibility of the dentist. This is no thanks to poor level of awareness of orthodontics and its existence in the country. That is why the Clinical Director, Smile360, Dr. Amy Traore-Shumnosho, has called for continuous awareness.

She described orthodontics as a specialty of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis, prevention, and correction of malpositioned teeth and jaws, misaligned bite patterns, and abnormal alignment of the teeth and jaw.

The expert, who had her training in Dental Studies and specialisation from the University of Toulouse and the University of Paris in France and also in the US, emphasised the role of the orthodontist to the overall in achieving flawless smiles. “An orthodontist is an engineer and architect of your mouth.

We ensure that your mouth functions and that you have that beautiful and confident smile that will help to change your life so that smile will impact others as well”, she clarified.

Traore-Shumnosho also acknowledged that an orthodontist studies for an additional five years after being a dentist just “so, we have the baggage, competence, and skill to deliver great alignment of teeth, functional bites, beautiful and teasing smiles”.

However, to boost its presence globally, the World Orthodontics Health Day (WOHD), marked every May 15, is set by the World Federation of Orthodontics (WFO) to appreciate the profession of orthodontics and create awareness about the rarely talked about profession.

“This day is set aside to celebrate the profession. Although we don’t have enough orthodontists in Nigeria, we have various dental centres that are having the orthodontics speciality. We now see two to three orthodontist consultants graduating every year. We are going to see the number grow,” she noted.

While giving a rough estimate, she said there are about 5,000 dentists in the country, which translates to only one per cent of orthodontists. Harping on the continuous awareness to upgrade the figure, she noted that “one thing we need to do is to create awareness so that as more orthodontists are being qualified we will have the awareness of what orthodontists can do. The level of awareness is growing thanks to the dental practices at the centres in the various teaching hospitals that are offering this speciality to people”.

And with access to social media today, the

Dr. Amy Traore-Shumnosho

One thing we need to do is to create awareness so that as more orthodontists are being qualified, we will have the awareness of what orthodontists can do. The level of awareness is growing thanks to the dental practices at the centres in the various teaching hospitals that are offering this speciality to people

clinical director noted that people get more information about orthodontics and how they can straighten their teeth. However, she emphasised the need for orthodontists to take control internally so that people get information from the right source like the Nigerian Association of Orthodontics (NAO) website, which affords people a more intense and robust explanation of the profession.

“So WOHD has become necessary today.

One day creating awareness has enabled us to make more impact. We are clamouring what orthodontics can do for the population,” As the president of NAO, Traore-Shumnosho expressed the need for more awareness about oral health in general so people understand the impact oral health has on their overall health.

While knocking off the idea of considering orthodontics as a nice to have cosmetic procedure, Traore-Shumnosho cautioned that

if one’s teeth are not in the right position, one stands the chance to lose those teeth.

“Those teeth may either get secured because of crowding or getting traumatised because of the condition they are in. For as long as we live, we need our teeth to eat; we need our teeth to function”.

The expert soon pointed out that having good health goes beyond the absence of disease, adding that it shows the importance of social wellbeing. “Having teeth that function, and a pleasing smile is not just nice to have, but impacts you emotionally and gives you the confidence you need to take the seat this society has left”.

As a rarely recognised profession in Nigeria, the NAO president says what keeps her going as an orthodontist is the transformation she makes on her patients by changing their bite and their smile. “I see the transformation being more deep by how I change the way they comport

themselves so the transformation is much deeper than just the smile that we see.”

On how to maintain a general oral health, Traore-Shumnosho recommended visiting the dentist twice a year, who would refer patients to an orthodontist, if need be.

Her words: “ There is no better time to have your braces on and have your smile fixed because from a distance that smile will connect you to the next person. It is a remote way of making an impact.

Because we are wearing our masks there is no better time to take care of our teeth at this time.”

And with this year ’s theme, “Smile bridges distance”, the dental specialist says for an orthodontist it is more about the power of a smile. “People should take the opportunity to invest more because a smile can break barriers. It can bring things together and definitely a smile that bridges distance.”

38

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ JUNE 17 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

NSPM Restates Readiness to Print Gambian Currency James Emejo ÓØ ÌßÔË The Managing Director, Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPM) Plc. Mr. Abbas Masanawa, yesterday reiterated the Mint’s readiness to print the Gambian currency the Dalasi.

He, however, explained that this will come to fruition when the proposed collaboration between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) is finalised.

The NSPM boss gave the assurance when the CBT Governor, Mr. Buah Saidy paid a visit to the company in Abuja.

Receiving the delegation, Masanawa explained that the Mint has the capability to print currencies, security documents and provide a wide range of digital security solutions much easier, safer, cheaper and faster for the Gambia.

He specifically commended the proposed partnership as a major boost for the African continent.

He further observed that the success of the collaboration would set a good precedence for other African countries to follow suit.

According to him, the NSPM currency division has the capability and capacity to deliver the entire life cycle of currency production – from the actual design of the currency to the physical printing of the currency.

He said it was on record that over the last six years, the NSPM had continuously and successfully printed 100 per cent of the currency requirements of the CBN. He added that the security document division currently produces conventional secured print solutions including certificates, ballot papers, stamps, among others and digital security solutions such as product authentication and verification; track and trace solutions and document digitisation.

Saidy, who is on a two-day official visit to the country, had earlier met with the CBN

Govenor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele to seek the assistance of the apex bank in improving its operations and collaboration in the printing of its currency the Dalasi.

The team later undertook a facility tour of the NSPM factory in Abuja, where they inspected the state-of-the-art production facilities.

Speaking during the visit, the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Mr. Ahmed Halilu also said the NSPM has the wherewithal to meet the currency needs of other African countries.

He described the financial state of the NSPM as being stable and progressively profitable.

Also speaking, the Executive Director Operations Abuja Factory Mr. Abubakar Minjibir said that the, “MINT is on a sustainable growth path as the foremost security printing outfit in Africa with a dynamic strategy of developing high yield portfolio. Currently, the NSPM is one of the most secured critical national assets”.

European Businesses to Explore Opportunities in Lagos Free Zone European businesses are exploring opportunities at the Lagos Free Zone (LFZ) as their investment destination in Nigeria.

This was disclosed by the President, European Business Chambers (EuroCham), Mr. Adefolu Majekodunmi during a visit by a delegation to the zone recently.

According to a statement, EuroCham is the organisation that represents the interests of leading European companies operating in Nigeria.

The delegation comprised c-suite executives from some of the top European companies in Nigeria. They expressed their delight with the progress made at the LFZ, its plans for infrastructure and the focus on enhancing the Ease of Doing Business for its investors, which they said was a major attraction for Europeans organisations.

Majekodunmi explained that

the purpose of the visit to the LFZ was to explore the opportunities for European companies to simplify their investments and operations in Nigeria.

“My expectation moving forward is that we would see several of our organisations that visited today setting up their facilities within the LFZ. “We do know that many of them have already shown interest in doing this and I think the experience from today has solidified their decision and thought process to make the move to set up a base in the LFZ. It has been a very worthwhile experience for EuroCham and its members,” he said.

Delivering his remarks to the delegation during the visit, the Chief Executive Officer, LFZ, Mr. Dinesh Rathi, described the zone as the next frontier and the best investment destination not only in Nigeria but also in the entire West African sub-region.

Rathi, disclosed that phase one of the LFZ, which covers about 45 per cent of the 830 hectares area, would be completed by the year 2022. He declared that the completion of phase one of the zone would be marked by the completion of the Lekki Deep Sea Port, scheduled to commence its operations next year.

Responding to questions from members of Eurocham on the plan for digitisation in line with the current global realities, Rathi explained that the process flows within the zone were being set out as a modern smart city leveraging on the latest technologies.

“We would leverage technology not only as an enabler but also as a differentiator. LFZ would be a full-fledged digitally enabled zone. We are currently working with a leading telecom and network solutions provider to connect the entire zone with high-speed fibre optic network,” he said.

Lawmakers Commend ITF over its Role in Fighting Poverty, Others Seriki Adinoyi ÓØ ÙÝ The House of Representatives Committee on Industry has commended the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) over the vital roles it has been playing in alleviating poverty and providing employment to the teeming unemployed Nigerian population.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Dolapo Baduru, who led committee members on oversight function to the Fund’s headquarters in Jos, also commended the leadership of the Director General of the Fund, Sir Joe Ari for the industrial harmony, as well as for achieving so much in the face of paucity of funds.

Baduru, who was also at the Grand Cereal industry, expressed satisfaction with the level of local content being produced in the industry, the cleanliness of the environment, and the level of safety precautions the industry observes, adding that it was encouraging to see an

indigenous factory with such an ideal standard.

Presenting the scorecard of the ITF, Ari said despite the enormity of the mandate of providing skilled manpower sufficient to meet the needs of the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy, “I am pleased to note that the ITF has discharged it with great successes by training over 25 million Nigerians that are manning key sectors of the national economy in its 49-year history.”

He added that regardless of these achievements, the Fund has sustained the pace of activities in all facets of its operations; skills infrastructural development, intervention programmes, direct training services, new administrative structure and staff welfare and development, students’ industrial work experience scheme (SIWES), and reimbursement.

He said, “Since the assumption of the incumbent Management in the ITF in 2016,

our commitment to equipping Nigerians with technical skills for employability and entrepreneurship has never wavered.

“Our emphasis on skills acquisition has been premised on our firm belief that it remains the most sustainable solution to increasing poverty and unemployment, and the catalyst to economic growth and development.

“Therefore, in 2020 and despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we implemented the following skills intervention programmes: the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), Special Skills Development Programme (SSDP), Federal Government Skills Empowerment Programme (FEGOSEP), Info-Tech Skills Empowerment Programme (ISEP), and Agri-Preneurship Training Programme (ATP).

“Together, the programmes trained thousands of Nigerians that were empowered with start-up packs for them to set up on their own.

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 ˜ ͯͳ ͰͮͰͯ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $72.05 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $71.99 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).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

39

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯ͵ ͰͮͰͯ

Dangote Cement Raises N50bn Bond to Fund Expansion, Others Goddy Egene Dangote Cement Plc has announced its successful issuance of a N50 billion Series 1 Fixed Rate Senior Unsecured bond under its new N300 billion multi-instrument issuance programme.

The leading cement manufacturing firm said in a statement that despite market headwinds, the bond issuance was well received and recorded

participation from a wide range of investors including domestic pension funds, asset managers, insurance companies and high net-worth investors.

According to the company, the proceeds of the bond issuance will be deployed for its expansion projects, short-term debt refinancing and working capital requirements.

The bonds were issued at coupon rates of 11.25 per cent, 12.50 per cent and 13.50 per

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

cent for the 3, 5 and 7 years tranches respectively.

The statement quoted the Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Cement, Michel Puchercos, as saying the ability to issue Green Bonds and Sukuk will enable the company leverage the depth and breadth of the Nigerian market.

“This bond issuance allows us move a step further in achieving our expansion objectives and will be deployed to projects

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

instrumental in supporting our export strategy while improving our cost competitiveness. We thank the investor community for their continued support in the management of Dangote Cement and their successful participation in the bond issuance”, he said.

The bond is expected to be listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited and FMDQ Securities Exchange. Dangote Cement Plc is Sub-Saharan Africa’s larg-

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

est cement producer with an installed capacity of 48.6Mta capacity across 10 African countries. It operates a fully integrated “quarry-to-customer” business with activities covering manufacturing, sales and distribution of cement. We have a production capacity of 32.3Mta in our home market, Nigeria. Its Obajana plant in Kogi state, Nigeria, is the largest in Africa with 16.3Mta of capacity across four lines;

O F

its Ibese plant in Ogun State has four cement lines with a combined installed capacity of 12Mta, and our Gboko plant in Benue state has 4Mta. In addition, the company has operations in Cameroon (1.5Mta clinker grinding), Congo (1.5Mta), Ghana (1.5Mta import), Ethiopia (2.5Mta), Senegal (1.5Mta), Sierra Leone (0.5Mta import), South Africa (2.8Mta), Tanzania (3.0Mta), Zambia (1.5Mta).

1 6 / 0 6 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

40

˾ THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2021

Thursday, June 17, 2021

s

Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Remains Unchanged The Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index remained unchanged at

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

1,649.29 points.

Local Bourse Inches Higher... ASI up 15bps

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ĞƋƵŝƚLJ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ŽŶ Lagos Customs ƐƚƌĞĞƚ ƚŽĚĂLJ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞůLJ͕ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ĐŚĞƌƌLJ-pick on SEPLAT (+1.5%), MTNN (+1.2%), and ZENITH (+0.1%). As a result, the All-Share Index rose 15bps to 38,564.70

Ticker

Current Price

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

1,649.29

0.00%

753.30

0.0%

29.9%

74.00

0.0%

11.6%

-4.3%

28.05

-1.6%

8.7%

-13.3%

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 BUA Cement Plc

points, YTD loss improved to -4.2% while market capitalisa-

3 Guaranty Trust Bank PLC 4 Zenith Bank PLC

ƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ േϮϵ͘ϵďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϭƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ

5 Dangote Cement PLC 6 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

as volume traded rose 1.8% to 302.7m units, while value

Price Previous Change Current Price YTD Weighting Change

ROE

ROA

P/E

P/BV

5.3x

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

12.4%

64.9%

15.0%

3.5%

-11.6%

-11.6%

10.0%

3.5%

0.6x

5.7%

ot Applicable

2.4%

13.4%

-4.3%

19.1%

11.2%

35.5x

6.7x

2.5%

2.8%

-13.3%

26.6%

4.3%

4.0x

1.0x

10.6%

24.7% 31.7%

23.40

0.2%

6.8%

-5.6%

-5.6%

23.1%

2.9%

3.2x

0.7x

12.9%

230.00

0.0%

6.1%

-6.1%

-6.1%

32.0%

15.5%

12.9x

4.1x

7.3%

7.8%

165.00

1.2%

5.1%

-2.9%

-2.9%

97.1%

11.4%

14.7x

13.3x

5.7%

6.8% 3.5%

1,400.00

0.0%

4.0%

-7.0%

-7.0%

104.8%

17.8%

28.3x

37.9x

4.3%

21.00

-0.5%

3.6%

-0.2%

-0.2%

8.8%

6.2%

10.6x

0.9x

4.8%

9.5%

9 Access Bank PLC 10 United Bank for Africa PLC

8.50

0.6%

3.1%

0.6%

0.6%

16.4%

1.4%

2.6x

0.4x

9.5%

38.7%

7.25

2.1%

2.4%

-16.2%

-16.2%

0.3x

7.2%

units), and WEMABANK (27.1m units) while GUARAN-

11 FBN Holdings Plc 12 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

7.25

0.7%

2.7%

1.4%

1.4%

11.1%

1.1%

3.9x

0.3x

6.2%

58.30

0.0%

2.3%

4.1%

4.1%

4.5%

1.8%

63.2x

2.9x

1.6%

1.6%

TY ;േϳϰϱ͘ϯŵͿ͕ SEPLAT ;േϱϬϲ͘ϴŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ZENITH ;േϮϮϴ͘ϲŵͿ

13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 14 International Brew eries PLC

39.00

-2.5%

1.9%

3.3%

-11.5%

20.7%

2.9%

6.9x

1.3x

8.8%

14.4%

5.50

1.9%

1.5%

-7.6%

-7.6%

-15.5%

-3.4%

led by value.

15 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 16 SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

29.50

-0.7%

1.3%

13.5%

13.5%

700.00

1.4%

1.9%

74.0%

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĨĞůů ďLJ Ϯϯ͘Ϯй ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ േϮ͘ϴďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ stocks by volume were STERLING (37.5m units), ETI (27.4m

7 Nestle Nigeria PLC 8 Lafarge Africa PLC

Price Change Index to Date

17 11 PLC 18 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

0.0%

Mixed Sector Performance

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 Ecobank Transnational Inc

Across sectors under our coverage, performance was mixed

21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc

as 3 indices gained, while the other 3 lost. The Oil & Gas index led gainers, up 0.9% amid buy interest in SEPLAT (+1.5%). Likewise, the AFR-ICT and Consumer Goods indices rose by Ϭ͘ϳй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƉƌŝĐĞ

23 Sterling Bank PLC 24 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria 26 Presco PLC 27 Unilever Nigeria PLC 28 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

while

21

stocks

declined.

COR-

NERST (+10.0%), MORISON (+9.7%), and LEARNAFRICA (+6.5%) led gainers while ABBEYBDS (-9.5%), CHIPLC (9.5%), and CWG (-7.3%) led decliners. We expect market ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ďĞ Ă ŵŝdž ŽĨ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽĮƚ-taking

0.0%

1.0%

15.9%

15.9%

24.6%

16.0%

12.8x

2.9x

6.6%

7.8%

2.26

0.0%

0.7%

-10.3%

-10.3%

11.4%

1.1%

2.3x

0.2x

9.7%

44.4%

5.20

-1.9%

0.6%

-13.3%

-13.3%

0.6%

0.0%

69.1x

0.2x

17.75

0.3%

0.6%

0.9%

0.9%

25.5%

12.6%

7.3x

1.7x

8.5%

13.7%

3.13

1.3%

0.5%

-6.0%

-6.0%

4.8%

29.5%

1.57

-1.9%

0.3%

-23.0%

-23.0%

9.2%

0.9%

3.9x

0.3x

3.2%

25.8%

14.45

0.0%

0.4%

-0.3%

-0.3%

18.4%

5.8%

8.4x

0.90

1.1%

0.4%

0.0%

0.0%

-1.3%

-0.3%

74.00

0.0%

0.3%

4.3%

4.3%

17.9%

7.3%

13.25

1.9%

0.2%

-4.7%

-4.7%

-6.2%

-4.1%

14.1x

3.1x

2.8%

12.0%

0.5x

1.1%

-2.4%

2.4x

2.7%

1.2x

9.4%

9.4% 31.0%

35.5%

4.2%

29.00

0.0%

0.3%

52.6%

52.6%

-17.8%

-9.0%

5.95

0.0%

0.2%

1.7%

1.7%

25.0%

7.8%

3.0x

0.7x

1.09

-0.9%

0.2%

-3.5%

-3.5%

20.5%

3.3%

3.0x

0.2x

145.00

0.0%

0.2%

11.5%

11.5%

19.10

0.0%

0.2%

8.4%

8.4%

8.3%

1.1%

8.4x

35 Wema Bank PLC 36 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

0.55

-3.5%

0.1%

-20.3%

0.0%

0.0%

37 Oando PLC 38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd

2.97

-1.0%

0.1%

-19.7%

1.4%

3.4x

31.0%

33 Total Nigeria PLC 34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

2.4%

105.50

0.2%

7.1% -5.2%

1.7% 4.7x

1.5x

11.3%

0.9x 9.2%

4.2%

4.6%

0.6x

2.0%

11.9% 23.1%

-20.3%

8.4%

0.5%

4.3x

0.4x

7.3%

7.4%

0.9%

6.6x

0.7x

4.3%

-19.7%

14.5%

2.6%

1.3x

0.2x

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-28.7%

-7.6%

0.0%

0.1%

-4.4%

-4.4%

9.3%

6.4%

3.57

0.0%

0.0%

-0.8%

-0.8%

-10.6%

-5.5%

15.1% 78.2%

1.9x 7.6x

33.0% 33.4%

21.9x

52.95

21.2% -22.4%

-100.0%

-16.8%

0.7x

2.1%

0.6x

13.1% -22.5%

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

T o p 10 G a in e r s

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ

recorded in the last trading session as 27 stocks advanced

5.9%

0.3%

39 Beta Glass PLC 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϯdž ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘ϳdž

0.6x

0.0%

31 Custodian and Allied Insurance 32 AIICO Insurance PLC

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

41.0x

1.3%

UNILEVER (+1.9%). Conversely, the Insurance, Banking, and

TY (-1.6%), and WAPCO (-0.1%).

0.9% 3.2%

4.8%

5.80

ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ MTNN (+1.2%), DANGSUGAR (+0.3%), and

ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ due to sell-ŽīƐ ŽŶ CHIPLC (-9.5%), GUARAN-

1.6% 7.4%

-8.5%

0.8x

6.17

29 United Capital PLC 30 Guinness Nigeria PLC

Industrial Goods indices declined by 0.5%, 0.3%, and 3bps

74.0% -100.0%

1.0x

25.9%

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

C OR N ER ST

0.55

10.0%

ST ER LN B A N K

37.5

-1.9%

M OR ISON

1.36

9.7%

ET I

27.4

-1.9%

LEA R N A F R C A

0.98

6.5%

WEM A B A N K

27.1

-3.5%

A F R IP R UD

6.40

5.8%

GUA R A N T Y

26.5

-1.6%

C OUR T VILLE

0.21

5.0%

J A P A ULGOLD

22.1

-1.9%

19.1

0.6% 0.0%

T ic k er

T ic k er

R ED ST A R EX

3.35

3.7%

A C C ESS

H ON YF LOUR

1.40

3.7%

SOVR EN IN S

12.0

LA SA C O

1.39

2.2%

T R A N SC OR P

10.5

1.1%

UB A

7.25

2.1%

Z EN IT H B A N K

9.8

0.2%

UN ILEVER

13.25

1.9%

F ID ELIT YB K

9.1

0.0%

in today's trading session.

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

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

745.3

-1.6%

A B B EYB D S

0.95

-9.5%

GUA R A N T Y

C H IP LC

0.67

-9.5%

SEP LA T

506.8

1.4%

1.15

-7.3%

Z EN IT H B A N K

228.6

0.2%

C WG WA P IC

0.53

-7.0%

M TNN

225.7

1.2%

R EGA LIN S

0.45

-6.2%

A C C ESS

161.8

0.6%

CHA M S

0.20

-4.8%

ET I

142.5

-1.9%

ET ER N A

7.65

-4.4%

F LOUR M ILL

85.9

-0.7%

VER IT A SKA P

0.22

-4.3%

UA C N

59.6

0.5%

0.55

-3.5%

ST ER LN B A N K

57.8

-1.9%

39.00

-2.5%

D A N GSUGA R

53.5

0.3%

WEM A B A N K ST A N B IC

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

P ric e

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

41

THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2021 ˾ 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 15Jun-2021, 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 153.87 155.40 -4.89% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 4.25% Nigeria International Debt Fund 304.06 304.06 -23.78% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 111.36 111.36 -0.66% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A 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 5.56% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.12 3.17 -13.44% info@anchoriaam.com 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 4.82% Anchoria Equity Fund 130.61 132.04 -1.81% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.06 1.06 -20.15% 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 N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Eurobond Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A ARM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 104.65 104.65 2.89% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 129.34 129.99 2.41% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.28% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 1.95 1.95 -20.42% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.06 2.10 -20.78% mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.02 1.02 1.54% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.83% Paramount Equity Fund 16.08 16.37 0.53% Women's Investment Fund 133.36 134.75 0.15% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.85% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 116.49 117.26 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 106.82 106.82 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.41% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.17 1.19 -2.16% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.36 1.36 -14.00% 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 2.96% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 2.97% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,163.42 1,172.49 -2.79% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,376.87 1,376.87 11.01% FBN Balanced Fund 186.49 187.67 -0.63% FBN Halal Fund 109.94 109.94 5.93% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.25% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 125.50 125.50 3.46% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 154.51 156.61 2.21% 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 N/A N/A N/A Legacy Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy USD Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 3,619.59 3,669.78 -3.33% Coral Income Fund 3,358.16 3,358.16 2.50% Coral Money Market Fund

100.00

100.00

5.57%

GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 7.23% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.82 2.89 23.09% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 149.82 150.27 -3.59% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.24 1.28 31.19% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.09 1.09 6.36% 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 1.38 1.40 1.39% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,145.82 1,145.82 3.72% 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 10.96 11.00 4.64% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 6.59% 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 1.62 1.64 7.37% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.44 11.49 -5.74% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 3.94% PACAM Equity Fund 1.62 1.63 2.19% PACAM EuroBond Fund 110.90 112.55 0.88% 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 127.90 127.71 6.46% 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 1.01 1.01 3.21% 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 3,159.59 3,184.94 -1.75% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 230.38 230.38 2.46% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.19 1.20 1.27% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 302.23 302.23 2.57% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 219.35 221.92 0.35% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.70% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,301.80 10,430.72 -1.92% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.26 1.26 2.52% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 114.06 114.06 2.68% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 101.53 101.53 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.35 1.37 -0.82% United Capital Bond Fund 1.95 1.95 2.99% United Capital Equity Fund 0.92 0.94 5.79% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.97% United Capital Eurobond Fund 121.06 121.06 3.38% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.05 1.07 -2.99% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.05 1.05 5.34% 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 Equity Fund 12.65 12.72 6.43% Zenith Ethical Fund 14.01 14.13 14.69% Zenith Income Fund 24.11 24.11 0.57% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.76%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

123.83 51.43

2.56% -1.85%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

12.87 124.41 97.95 17.49 17.50

12.97 124.41 99.72 17.59 17.60

-2.66% 2.19% -1.46% -

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

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.71 5.62 17.11 1.00 19.42 161.16

3.75 5.70 17.21 1.00 19.62 163.16

-1.73% -1.23% 4.63% 4.09% -5.31% -26.37%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.52

13.11%

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.

THURSDAY, ͹Ϳ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

42

NEWS

NPAN Rejects Media Exclusion from Press Bill’s Public Hearing Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Newspaper Proprietors' Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has kicked against the exclusion of the media from the public hearing on Nigerian Press Council (NPC) Amendment Bill.

It expressed surprise at the news of the public hearing on the NPC Amendment Bill, scheduled for today.

NPAN, in a statement yesterday by its President, Mr. Kabiru Yusuf, stated that available information showed that the hearing had

initially been scheduled for yesterday along with four other media-related bills.

“As a stakeholder in the Nigerian media space, we don't understand why print media owners have not been invited to participate in the hearing. This is contrary to

earlier practice when the NPAN was invited to a public hearing on the same bill in the last Senate. This time around, we find it strange that we would get to know of this development by sheer happenstance,” NPAN said.

The media leaders called

on the leadership of the National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives, to redress the anomaly, adding that with the public hearing now delayed by a day, it would endeavour to show up, even without a formal invitation.

“We also call on all media workers and their organisations to pay attention to the public hearing, which may have important consequences on the freedom of the press in particular, and good governance in general,” NPAN said.

Presidency: PDP Can’t Be Entrusted with National Leadership Accuses opposition govs of frustrating LG reforms Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Presidency yesterday took issue with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors over their decisions on national matters at a meeting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

The presidency said the decisions made at the Monday meeting, including the call on the federal government to reconsider the suspension of Twitter's operations in Nigeria showed that the party could not be trusted with national leadership in the future.

It also accused the PDP governors of leading efforts to frustrate moves by the federal government to reinstate the local government system as the third tier of government.

Presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, said in a statement that the PDP Governors’ Forum's communiqué was a demonstration to Nigerians on why the party and its representatives should not be entrusted with national leadership soon.

Garba said: "The PDP governors propose no solutions to any of our nation’s challenges in the face of COVID-19 and global economic downturn: instead, they grasp for more money and mourn their lack of access to social media to spread falsehoods and hate.

Their statement is evidence, if any were needed, as to why the president and the APC ended the PDP’s one-party rule in 2015,

were re-elected by an increased margin in 2019, and why their winning trend is set to continue far into the future."

According to him, in bemoaning the decision by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) not to make contributions to the Federation Account, the governors appeared to believe NNPC can spend the same money twice: once on the petroleum subsidy – which they all support – and then on their states via the Federation Account.

"NNPC is a trustee for the nation – and this means it must manage its finances with prudence and for the long-term to safeguard the financial support it bestows

on our country. What the governors are asking of NNPC is to “break the bank” for their own profligate political ends.

"Similar profligacy and contradiction are in full view with their call to the central bank to appreciate the value of the naira. This would damage exports – including oil revenues on which NNPC depends – as well as damage small businesses and employment. But an appreciated currency would benefit those spending on luxuries from abroad – this, no doubt, being the leading desire of a typical PDP governor," the presidency stated.

It added that when the governors claimed a lack of federal institutions’ money pouring into their states’ coffers

is an affront to democracy, constitutionalism and federalism, they failed to mention their refusal to support the federal government’s earnest desire to reinstate the local government as the third tier and finding a lasting solution to farmer-herder conflicts.

"This initiative brings rights and support for generations of all ages to bring solutions to challenges that different communities of our country have faced, but the PDP governors reject it - denying all Nigerians their constitutional right to live and work in any state of the federation - preferring to appeal to ethnic division and hatred rather than support the first practical solution offered since independence," it added.

The presidency took exception to the call by the PDP governors for their increased involvement in mining and geophysical activities in their states asking why it has taken them this long "as such opportunities and states’ powers have been fully available since independence – yet only now the PDP realises it?"

It also wondered why the PDP will grieve over the suspension of Twitter's operations in Nigeria, adding the suspension represents the curtailment of the opposition party's ability to use the platform "to spread fake news and invented stories to the detriment of community and good-neighbourliness between the peoples of Nigeria."

IPC, CSOs Reject Proposed Tariff Regulation for Satellite TV We have responsibility to monitor media content, says FG Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The International Press Centre (IPC), as well as civil society organisations and other stakeholders in the industry have rejected the proposed tariff regulations for satellite television in the new National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Act Amendment Bill.

This is coming as the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed, has said the federal government has a responsibility to monitor media content.

The stakeholders made their views known yesterday in Abuja during the public hearing of a bill to amend the NBC Act organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values.

They were of the view that giving the NBC the sole right over tariff issues, which cannot be interfered with could be interpreted as an ouster clause that arrogates to it arbitrary powers that

cannot be challenged even in the court of law.

In his presentation titled, 'Independence of NBC/ Depoliticised Process of Licensing, Industry-sensitive Pricing System, Promotion of Inclusivity and Checking Arbitrariness,' the Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, said fixing tariffs arbitrarily could lead to excessive pricing that has the potential to discourage investment in the sector and the attendant job losses.

He emphasised that the provisions must also not encourage the regulator to become a dictatorial behemoth whose powers and conduct cannot be questioned as such would negate democratic norms and values.

The Executive Director noted that unlike other regulatory institutions such as the National Communications Commission (NCC), the appointment of the board, including the directorgeneral is not subject to the confirmation of the National

Assembly.

Arogundade pointed out that the conduct of the NBC overtime presented it as an extension of the office of the Minister of Information and Culture, which rarely acts independently.

He stressed that in In recent times the NBC has taken actions against certain broadcast media that are believed to be politically motivated, adding that the time is, therefore, overripe to make NBC truly independent.

Arogundade noted that the process of licensing broadcast stations is politically compromised, as under the present NBC Act. He stated: "Fixing tariffs arbitrarily could lead to excessive pricing that has the potential of discouraging investment in the sector and the attendant job losses.

"Giving the NBC the sole right over tariff issues, which cannot be interfered with could be interpreted as an ouster clause that arrogates to its arbitrary powers that cannot

be challenged even in the court of law."

The Executive Director, Institute for Media and Society, Dr. Akin Akingbulu, said the most prominent gap in the NBC Act is its failure to provide for the independence of the regulatory body.

He said lack of independence manifests in many ways such as in skewed decision-making, inconsistencies in attention to regulatory functions, inability to protect the industry and strengthen its professionalism, inability to meet international standards and, ultimately, failure to deliver on its mandate.

Also, making his presentation on behalf of Ataguba & Ataguba solicitors, Mr. Emmanuel Ataguba, said the intendment of this amendment to regulate and control prices in the interest of consumers of Digital Satellite Television Services is against the objective of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act which is to "protect and promote the interests and welfare of

consumers by providing consumers with a wider variety of quality products (and services) at competitive prices."

He pointed out that he does not consider that price regulation would be of benefit to consumers, stressing that in public services where government subsidies are involved, price regulation may be relevant.

Earlier in his presentation, the Minister of Information and Culture, Mohammed, proposed that the bill should grant power to NBC to regulate internet broadcasting and all online media.

He stated: "Section 2C states that the commission shall receive, process and consider applications for the establishment, ownership and operation of radio and television stations including Cable Television Services, Direct Satellite Broadcast, Direct to Home, IPTV, Radio, EPG and Digital Terrestrial television.

"I want to add here

specifically that internet broadcasting and all online media should be included in this because we have a responsibility to monitor content, including Twitter."

Declaring the event open, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, said the committee convened the public hearing to allow citizens and stakeholders to review and contribute to draft bills currently under consideration in the House of Representatives.

He said bills under consideration are A bill for an act to amend the National Broadcasting Act, CAP N11; A bill for an act to establish the Nigerian Institute of Translators and Interpreters; A bill for an act to repeal the Advertising Practitioners; A bill for the establishment of a Council for advertising practitioners as the apex regulatory authority for the Nigerian Advertising Profession and Practice and a bill for an act to repeal the National Film and Video Censors Board Act.

It appears that Jigawa State omitted the Grazing Reserves Law as part of its law in the more recent compilation of its laws,” he added.

“Further and be that as it may, none of the extant Grazing Reserves Laws made mention of grazing routes not to talk of making provisions thereof.

“It was only in section 37(1) (a) of the law that the law mentioned ‘trade route’ in criminalising open grazing outside the grazing reserves areas.

“However, what is ‘trade route’ was not defined in the law and there is no other reference to the term ‘trade route’ in the law. The purport of Grazing Reserve Law, contrary to the impression being sought to be created, is to create grazing reserve areas to be created with necessary legal requirements and criminalise grazing outside the grazing areas.

Under those laws animals are only allowed to graze in the grazing reserve or ‘trade route,” the senator explained.

NO NATIONAL LAW ON GRAZING ROUTES, FALANA, BASIRU TELL BUHARI Also speaking on the same issue, the senator representing Osun Central Senatorial district, Basiru, yesterday said Buhari has not received well-informed and proper legal advice from Malami and his legal team.

“Looking through all relevant laws pertaining to cattle grazing, there is in fact nothing to gazette because whether in the North or South there is no law of grazing routes,” the senator said.

He argued that neither in

the North nor in the South has a law creating grazing routes either as state law or federal law, saying it is unfortunate that the president has been misadvised on the matter.

According to him, “The Grazing Reserves Laws in some states created from the former Northern Region of Nigeria are deemed to be state laws by Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), having been adopted from the Grazing Reserve Law of Northern

Region of Nigeria (NN Law of 1965).

“For examples, CAP 3 Laws of Kwara State; CAP 56 Laws of Bauchi State; and CAP 55 Laws of Katsina State. In the case of these laws, it was expressly stated that they are adopted from Northern Nigeria Laws of 1965. There is no provision for grazing routes as it is being claimed,” the senator explained.

Basiru added that there has never been federal legislation on Grazing Reserves and/ or Grazing Routes in

Nigeria, adding that the Northern Region Laws are not applicable everywhere in Nigeria.

According to him, by the present constitutional provisions, such a law cannot be within the competence of the National Assembly.

“The Grazing Reserves Laws are only applicable and enforceable in those states created from the former Northern Regions that chose to adopt same as part of their revised laws like Kwara, Bauchi and Katsina States.

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THURSDAY JUNE 17, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Ex-Bank PHB MD, Atuche Sentenced to 12 Years Imprisonment Davidson Iriekpen A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja yesterday convicted a former

Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB, Francis Atuche, on charges of stealing the sum of N25.7billion belonging to the bank.

Okogie: Nigeria Has Practically Become a Failed State

Peter Uzoho

Emeritus Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Cardinal Anthony Okogie, yesterday lamented the state of the nation, saying Nigeria has virtually become a failed state.

Okogie spoke at his 85th birthday thanksgiving mass and 50th Episcopal Ordination anniversary held at the Catholic Church of Assumption, Lagos.

He said while the problems confronting the country did not start under the present administration, the challenges have worsened in the last six years.

He said it was shocking for President Muhammadu Buhari to declare during the sixth anniversary of his government that Nigerians were better off compared to when he took over.

He stressed that the country is experiencing all indices of a failed state, lamenting the high level of insecurity.

Okogie, a former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), lamented that every part of the country is battling insecurity and insurgency.

He argued that there has been no “articulated and coordinated response” to tackle the challenges apart from the usual “playing to the ostrich.”

He also condemned the recent ban on the micro-blogging platform, Twitter, by the federal government, describing it as too harsh.

He stated that what Nigeria needed was national restoration which he observed is not entirely manmade but given by God. “It seems that Nigeria has become a killing field as impunity and terror reign from one end to the other and there

seems to be no end in sight at present,” he stated.

“As they say, the matter speaks for itself as it is evident that Nigeria has practically become a failed state. A country fails when it is no longer able to protect its citizens from harm and secure their welfare.

“A country fails when, instead of being a harbor of refuge for its citizens, it turns out to be a conundrum of fire and sorrow that consumes its citizens.

“A country fails when instead of reassuring its citizens by actions and policies that the future is secure, it becomes a case of most people planning to flee the country to other climes where their governments are truly functioning. Such is practically our case today.

“Well it is true that our problems did not start under this administration, it seems to have worsened economically and politically in these past six years. Insurgency in the northeast is still ongoing and insecurity has spread nationwide in spite of the military being deployed everywhere.

“The avalanche of banditry and kidnapping that has overwhelmed parts of the northwest and central cannot be described as they stroll casually into schools and cart away tens to hundreds of students and mysteriously melt into nearby forests or bushes, the entire security apparatus often seem clueless or helpless.

“The situation in some parts of the southeast also leaves much to be desired, with the officers mobbed, soldiers butchered, innocent citizens killed, properties destroyed, people are no longer safe in the land.

In a judgment that lasted over 10 hours, Justice Lateefat Okunnu convicted Atuche alongside a former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu.

The court convicted the duo on 21 of the 27-count amended charge of conspiracy to commit a felony and stealing brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Okunnu held that the EFCC successfully proved its case against the convicts beyond a reasonable doubt.

The judge rejected the claims of the defendants that they were merely professionally negligent.

She specifically held that Atuche and Anyanwu abused their

powers, ignored established rules and regulations thereby putting the bank and depositors’ funds in danger.

The court also came to the conclusion that the convicts corruptly took advantage of their positions to confer on themselves undue financial benefits without regard to the health of the bank.

Justice Okunnu however, cleared Atuche’s wife on the charge of conspiracy and stealing.

According to the judge, the EFCC failed to link her to the crime and insisted that suspicion no matter how strong cannot take the place of fact.

The judge held that it was not proven that she was aware of the source of the funds she

received into her account from her husband and she had no powers to take any decision to influence the transaction.

The EFCC had alleged that between November 2007 and April 2008, the accused persons stole about N25.7billion belonging to the bank.

The anti-graft agency had also claimed that of the total N25.7billion, they stole about N14.7billion by fraudulently describing it as a loan to some companies and subsequently converted the said sum to personal use.

The commission had listed the companies as Future View Securities, Extra Oil Limited, Resolution Trust and Investment

Limited, and Tradjek Nigeria Ltd. The EFCC also alleged that another N11billion stolen by the defendants was used to purchase about 984,375,000 units of Bank PHB shares for themselves.

According to the commission, the sum used for purchasing the shares was described as a loan to some companies including, Guesstrade Services, Sentron Trading, Montrax Investico, Claremount Management Ltd., Trenton Trade, and others.

In proof of its case against the accused persons, the EFCC called 12 witnesses who gave oral evidence. It also subpoenaed six others to present some documents which were admitted as exhibits by the court.

HALE AND HEARTY…

National Leader, All Progressives Congress, Senator Bola Tinubu, during his arrival from a trip abroad, in Lagos...Tuesday

Hoodlums Behead Man, Raze Ex-Imo Commissioner, Lawmaker’s Houses

Amby Uneze in Owerri

Suspected hoodlums, who disguised as local vigilante agents, in the early hours of yesterday stormed Okwuamarihe village in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State and allegedly burnt down the private residence of the immediate-past Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Cyprian Akaolisa.

They also touched the residence of the member

representing Orsu state constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Ekene Nnodumele, and allegedly beheaded a man at the lawmaker’s house.

The building, which is situated in the ancestral home of the ex-Attorney General, was completely reduced to ruins with explosives by the criminal elements who later vanished into thin air after perpetrating the dastardly act.

The hoodlums, on arrival at the compound, reportedly shot sporadically into the air to scare neighbours away before setting the house ablaze.

Akaolisa, who is also a former Transition Committee chairman of the Orsu LGA, who confirmed the incident in a telephone chat with THISDAY, expressed shock that some criminal elements could commit such atrocity, which he described as ‘man’s inhumanity to man’.

The lawmaker, Nnodumele, also expressed shock, and described the alleged beheading of his gateman as unheard off.

When contacted on the phone, the state Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, admitted knowledge of the incident, saying he had sent his men to the area for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

He promised to unravel those who carried out the ‘heinous act’ and bring them to book.

people at her sister’s residence located at Oke-Odo area of Tanke, Ilorin two weeks ago.

Since then, security agencies in the state have commenced intensive manhunt for the killers of the student.

Impeccable sources that are close to the family told journalists yesterday that the affected five suspects were tracked and arrested at different

locations in Ilorin in the last four days.

It was gathered that the suspects have made confessional statements over their alleged involvement in the dastardly murder of the student Sources also added that “the prime suspects have been arrested. They’re cooling off and helping the DSS with further

investigation.”

Checks by THISDAY revealed that the suspects were members of cultists group in the institution.

It was gathered that the deceased rejected love advances from a member of the gang who mobilised his group to invade the place where she was residing to rape and murdered her in a cold of blood.

Alleged Assault: Court Rejects Baba Ijesha’s DSS Arrests Five Prime Suspects over the Rape, Murder of Unilorin Student Bail Application Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Sunday Ehigiator A Magistrate Court in Lagos State has denied the embattled Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James Omiyinka popularly known as Baba ljesha, bail in the ongoing trial over alleged sexual assault.

During the trial yesterday, Baba Ijesha’s counsel, Kayode Olabiran, prayed the court to release his client, citing his deteriorating health.

According to him, the controversial nature of the case has made it difficult to secure his release despite his bail which was granted on May 17, as “intending sureties were scared of the likely consequences.”

But in his ruling, the Judge, P. E Nwaka held that the court cannot grant the actor bail because the matter is beyond

its jurisdiction, explaining that the case has already been filed before the high court.

Also speaking, the Superintendent of Police in charge of the case, Yetunde Cardoso, noted that “ Omiyinka was actually granted bail during the JUSUN strike, and based on the conditions given, he couldn’t meet them and he was properly charged today (yesterday).

“Just like the court stated, the case has already been filed before the High Court, and the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) of Lagos State Ministry of Justice has taken over the matter from the police.

“Presently, we have handed over to the DPP, so the case is before them (DPP). It has nothing to do with the police anymore; it’s for the DPP to handle.”

Operatives of Kwara State Command of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) have arrested no fewer than five prime suspects in connection with the rape and murder of a 300 level student of University of Ilorin, Miss. Olajide Blessing.

Blessing was raped and murdered by gangs of some

Rail Track Vandalisation: Police Arrest Syndicate, 36 Suspects Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Nigerian Police yesterday disclosed that detectives have arrested a criminal syndicate responsible for recent vandalisation of rail tracks in the Northwest and North-central parts of the country.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Frank Mba, a Commissioner of Police, said the arrest followed

deliberate efforts by the force to contain and clamp down on perpetrators of recent incidents of rail tracks vandalism, carting away of critical locomotive equipment and other related economic crimes in some parts of the country.

He said the arrested suspected vandals were among a total of 36 criminal suspects arrested by the police recently for banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, possession

of illegal firearms, cultism, murder, economic sabotage, cybercrime, car snatching among other crimes.

Parading the suspects in Abuja, he said the arrests were achieved due to sustained nationwide tactical, anti-crime operations by the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and the Special Tactical Squad (STS) in the ongoing efforts aimed at stemming criminal activities particularly

violent crimes in the country.

Exhibits recovered in the operations included eight AK-49 rifles; three AK-47 rifles; one locally made rifle; 346 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition; 24 live cartridges; 20 AK-47 magazine, N1.4 million; vehicles, including two Toyota Corolla (Abuja -RBC 653 AE and ABC 906 AG); one Toyota Camry; one 307 Peugeot (Abuja-BWR 920 HK); one 406 Peugeot and one Honda civic.

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NEWSEXTRA

Jegede Heads to S’Court as Appeal Court Upholds Akeredolu’s Victory Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and James Sowole in Akure The Court of Appeal in Akure, Ondo State, yesterday declared that the appeal filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, against the decision of the Election Petition Tribunal that upheld the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Governor Oluwatotimi Akeredolu, in the October 10, 2020, governorship poll, lacked merit.

The five-man panel led by Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua gave the judgment after considering the seven grounds of appeal of Jegede.

However, the PDP and its candidate said the decision of the court would be challenged at the Supreme Court.

Jegede had approached the appellate court after the tribunal on April 20, 2021, dismissed his petition challenging the nomination and election of Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa for lacking in merit.

Delivering the lead judgment monitored virtually, Justice Abadua said the appeal was allowed in respect of issues 1,2, 4, 5 with regards to guidelines while issue 6 was partly dismissed and partly allowed.

The appellate court dismissed the grounds 3 and 7 of Jegede’s appeal.

The court said the Electoral Act does not override the

provision of the constitution with regard to qualification or disqualification of a candidate in an election.

The judge said the appellate court came to a conclusion that the appeal lacks merit, though some of the grounds were meritorious.

The other four Justices on the appeal, H. A Barka, Andenyangtso Ali, J.G Abudanga, concurred to the judgment.

Reacting to the judgment, Akeredolu told Jegede that he cannot upturn the will of the people through the back door.

Akeredolu stated this while addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja while reacting to the Appeal Court judgment delivered in his favour.

According to him, “I have said this over and over that this case itself is so flimsy for me as a person. And it is clear, because where you believe that you can go through the back door and up turn the will of the people, it is not going to work.”

The governor said the election result was clear and without contestation as the APC won 15 out of the 18 local government areas in the state.

He added: “You are not contesting the result of the election, but you are hinging your petition on the chairman of the party, who signed the nomination that was as forwarded to INEC. I don’t see any court that will allow that.

“For me, it is clear that with God on our side, no matter where they are going about this case, it will be the same result. It is just like when Yoruba

people say that if you throw the cutlass up 50 times by the time it is landing, it will land on its side.”

Akeredolu said he was of the

firm belief that it was either the PDP was the one instigating Jegede to challenge the result in court or he is the one pushing himself.

Reacting to the judgment, the state APC declared the action of the Appellate Court as an affirmation of the people’s decision.

EXPANSION DRIVE…

Managing Director, Access Bank, South Africa, Mr. Bennie van Rooy (left), and Group Managing Director/CEO, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, exchanging pleasantries at the formal launch and unveiling of the new Access Bank, in South Africa…recently

MTN: Service Disruption Won’t Affect all Subscribers Emma Okonji MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has clarified that only a small group of its enterprise customers will experience service disruptions.

Reacting to what it described as misleading media coverage relating to a notice sent to a select group of its enterprise

customers about potential service disruptions, the Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Karl Toriola, said in a statement yesterday that maintaining network stability and high levels of customer service remained a key priority for the company.

“In line with MTN’s standard practice, this

includes communicating to and informing customers of any potential disruptions in a timely manner, whether due to maintenance on the network, outages due to faults or other circumstances that may pose a risk, enabling them to plan appropriately and put in place business continuity measures.

“The notice in question was

a routine notification to a small group of businesses affected by a specific challenge in very few specific locations. These notices are regularly distributed to partners and are not out of the ordinary.”

The company said small, medium and large enterprises were integral to driving economic growth in the nation.

No fewer than four policemen and a National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer, were feared killed in a gun duel with bandits in Gora Namaye community in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The state police command through its spokesman, SP Muhammad Shehu, had earlier announced that several bandits, who had blocked Gusau -Sokoto highway, had been

neutralised.

Shehu said the road was clear for motorists to ply and that the bandits who planned to attack and rob motorists had been driven away.

“The Zamfara State Police Command has succeeded in repelling an armed robbery attack by large number of suspected armed bandits along Gusau – Sokoto Road, near Dogon Karfe in Bakura LGA.” “The attack which was

planned to rob innocent commuters of their valuables was gallantly foiled by Police Tactical Operatives deployed to safeguard the road against any invasion by criminal elements.

“At the end of the gun battle that lasted for hours, many bandits were fatally injured with some of them believed to have escaped with gun injuries. They however managed to evacuate the corpses due to their large

number that was believed to be around 200.

“The road is now clear for motorists and other road users with rigorous confidence building patrol being intensified to avert further road blockage elsewhere.

However, bush combing of the surrounding forest is being conducted by combined Police Tactical operatives including Police Special Forces,” Shehu said in a statement.

Buhari Visits Borno Four Policemen, Many Bandits Killed in Zamfara to Appraise Security Challenges in North-east Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to visit Borno State to appraise security challenges in the Northeast and commission some projects in the state.

A statement that was issued yesterday by the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, titled: “Thursday: Why Buhari Deserves Borno’s Rousing Welcome,” said the President would be in the state to appraise security situation in the North-east, during which he would commission some developmental projects executed by the state government.

Zulum said that Buhari

is concerned about the humanitarian situation and is sincerely committed to finding peace in the troubled state.

He said: “This is why he is visiting us on Thursday (today). While I must admit that we still have security challenges, at the same time, if we cast our minds back to the realities before President Buhari’s coming, we would factually recall that many of our communities in northern, central and southern Borno were mostly no-go-areas.

“The president is focused on our security situation. Buhari has regularly demonstrated deep compassion and love for Borno State.”

JAMB Releases Mock UTME Results Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) yesterday stated that it has released the results of its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) mock examination conducted on June 3, 2021.

This was contained in a statement issued by its spokesman, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, in Abuja yesterday.

The statement noted that a total of 160,718 candidates indicated interest to sit for the examination, but only 62,780 turned out for the mock exercise which results have now been

released.

Benjamin added that candidates can proceed to the Boards website to check their results. He added that candidates should click on quick link then log on to the facility to provide registration number to check the result.

Benjamin said: “The result of the mock examination conducted on June3, 2021, is now on our website and candidates can check their results by visiting the website.

“A total of 160,718 candidates indicated interest to write the examination but only 62,780 turned out for the mock exercise which results are now released.”

Police Arrest Seven Suspected Kidnappers in Kaduna John Shiklam in Kaduna The Kaduna State Police Command has announced the arrest of seven suspected kidnappers in Zaria and Kaduna.

This was announced yesterday at a news briefing that was held at the command’s headquarters in Kaduna by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Mohammad Jalige.

Jalige said that those arrested included one Mannir Salihu, who was napped in connection

with the killing of one Mr. Idris Bashir, who left his Zaria home on June 4, 2021, and never returned.

Salihu, who was alleged to be a friend to the deceased, allegedly killed him to avoid refunding the sum of N385,000.00, he owed the deceased.

Jalige said: “On June 5, 2021, at about 09.00 hours, the command received a complaint from one Bashir of Zaria town that on June 4, 2021, at about 10.00 hours his biological son,

one Idris Bashir, left home and never returned.”

He said the matter was reported to the police by the father of the deceased who pointed accusing fingers at Salihu, his son’s friend.

He said a manhunt for the suspect was launched and Salihu was apprehended.

The police said that Salihu confessed that he, alongside “one Aliyu Yahaya of No.94 Anguwan Magajiya, Zaria City, lured the victim to an uncompleted building where

they killed him and dumped the body in an abandoned well.

“They decided to commit the dastardly act of ending the victim’s life in a gruesome manner to avoid refunding the sum of N385,000.00 they owed the deceased.

“The suspects led the police to the scene where the body of late Idris Bashir was exhumed and taken to Hajiya Gambo Sawaba General Hospital, Zaria, for examination and later released to the family for burial according to Islamic rites,” Jalige said.

Sanwo-Olu Promises to Deliver on Six-lane LekkiEpe Highway Project Next Year Segun James Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has promised that barring any unanticipated event, the construction of 18.7 kilometre six-lane rigid pavement carriageway from Eleko Junction in Ibeju Lekki to Epe T-Junction in the state will be completed and unveiled by first quarter of 2022.

Sanwo-Olu, after inspecting

the pace of work on the road, expressed delight over the quality of work being done, even as he persuaded the contractor handling the project to increase his momentum in order to push the progress to an encouraging level before the end of the year.

The governor flagged off the first phase of the expansion on the Lekki-Epe expressway last November, kick-starting the

rehabilitation of the 40-year-old infrastructure.

The second phase of the project, which will start later this year, is 26.7km from Eleko junction to Abraham Adesanya junction in Eti-Osa axis.

At the time of the governor inspected the project, the contractor had completed a stretch of 3 km on the lane from Eleko junction inward

Epe, while the right-of-way for the entire project has been fully cleared.

After communicating the work progress to the governor, representatives of the contractor led him and cabinet members on legwork for assessment of features on the completed stretch, including drainage channels, kerb and segregated lane for heavy-duty vehicles.

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Court Fixes Date for Suit against NJC over Marginalisation of South-east Judges Alex Enumah in Abuja The Federal High Court Abuja yesterday fixed June 23 for the hearing of the suit instituted by the South-Eastern group, Alaigbo Development Foundation, against the National Judicial Commission (NJC) over the appointment of judges to the Court of Appeal.

In suit No FHC/ABJ/ CS/347/21, the Incorporated Trustees of the foundation sued the NJC, Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), President

of the Court of Appeal, Federal Character Commission (FCC), and the Attorney-General of the Federation as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.

The group asked the court, in its originating summons, to determine whether the defendants can disregard the principle of fairness, due process, and federal character in the appointment of judges to the Court of Appeal, with regards to the South-East Zone of Nigeria.

It also asked the court to

determine whether the South-east was not entitled to three slots in the ongoing appointment of judges to the Court of Appeal to fill up the vacancies that were caused by the elevation,

retirement, and death of the three justices of the Court of Appeal from the zone.

The group prayed the court to declare the actions of the NJC, FJSC, and the President of the

Court of Appeal as unjustifiable and unconstitutional for only allocating one slot to the Southeast.

It also prayed the court to declare that the zone was

entitled to three slots in the ongoing appointment exercise and restrain the defendants from continuing with the exercise until the South-east is accorded their rightful slots

African Child Must Be Heard, Says Aisha Buhari Michael Olugbode in Abuja The First Lady of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari, has stated that there is urgent need towards making the voices of African children heard.

Speaking at the celebration of the Day of African Child 2021 in Abuja, the first lady who was represented at the event to mark the day in Nigeria by Special Assistant to the President on African First Ladies Peace Mission, Mairo Al-Makura, said: “It is indeed sad to note from research conducted by some organisations that Africa has the largest number of child labourers, which states that 72.1 million African children are estimated to be in child labour, and 31.5 million in

perilous work.”

She lamented that in most African countries, the voices of children have not been heard, insisting that certain cultures and norms and the complexities of their current and past realities put the children on the continent at a disadvantaged position.

She said: “We are also aware that every disaster or conflict comes with terrible consequences for children.

Besides protecting children from harm whenever we can, it is equally important to help them cope with the shattering effects of violence. This involves setting up child-friendly spaces and emergency education initiatives to restore children’s sense of stability and normalcy.”

Oyo Community Sends SOS to Makinde over Encroachment on Land Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan Residents of Orisumbare community in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State have appealed to the Governor, Seyi Makinde, for his urgent intervention over illegal encroachment on their lands by officials of the state government.

This is just as the community said most of the lands affected are farmlands which served as their only means of livelihood, and have nowhere to go if their lands are taken from them by the government and houses on the land also demolished.

Speaking on behalf of

the affected residents, Pa Adetunji Adekunle said the state government had earlier acquired some land in the area for trailer park during the administration of former Governor Lamidi Adesina, which the people believed was for the development of the area.

Adekunle lamented that the developer employed by the present state government is now trespassing beyond the boundary of the land earlier acquired by the government, adding that their farmlands have been destroyed by government tractors and some of the houses on the land also marked for demolition.

Insecurity: Adams Drags FG before UN, AU, US, Others Segun James The Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, has dragged the federal government before the United Nations, as attempt to seek the immediate intervention on the spate of killings in the South-west region of the country.

Adams in his letter to the world body, which was copied the Africa Union (AU), the president of the United States, the British Government and the International Criminal Court (ICC), decried the level of insecurity in the region and the country, saying the “senseless killings and massacre of Nigerians, almost on a daily basis, are tragically sliding toward an anarchical terminal

point.

“The inability or apathetical attitude of the federal government, pitiably as it is, is already compounding an already gory situation.

“While you already know, through diplomatic sources and the media, what is going on in the world most populous black nation, Nigeria, I want to urgently alert you that an agenda bordering on pogrom is gradually being executed in Yorubaland.”

In the letter titled: ‘Urgent Need to Stop Killings by Fulani Herdsmen in Yorubaland’, the Yoruba leader wrote: “This is to bring to your attention a clear and present danger threatening the fragile union of our great country, Nigeria.”

COLLABORATIVE VISIT…

L-R: Principal Partner, Kunle Ogunba & Associates, Mr. Kunle Ogunba (SAN); Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ijebu-Ode Branch, Mr. Olabisi Abdul-Azeez; and the Financial Secretary, Mr. Samuel Ogunnaike when the NBA executives paid a courtesy visit to Kunle Ogunba & Associates in Lagos…recently

Rivers to Send Anti-open Grazing Law to State Assembly Rivers State Goverment has promised to give the ban on open grazing in the state a legal backing by sending the required bill to the House of Assembly.

Governor Nyesom Wike said yesterday that his administration settled for an anti-open grazing bill to protect the people of the state.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Isaiah Odoli/Omerelu Streets in New GRA Phase 1 in Obio-Akpor Local Government

Area yesterday, Wike said the proposed bill was in harmony with the resolution of the Southern governors.

He said: “You can’t go to the farm anymore; those who rear cattle, they’ll not allow your crops to grow. Let me say clearly, now that the House of Assembly has come back, we have to submit the bill on Anti-Open Grazing as we agreed in the Southern Governors’ Forum.

“So, that everybody must understand it, it’s clear, without any hesitation, we must do it to protect our farms, to protect our women, to protect our youths, so that nobody will go and kill them.

“The exchange rate has now got to N510 to a Dollar. When they took over, it was N150 to a Dollar. They said they’ll give employment. Do we have employment today? Are your

children employed?”

Wike said Nigeria was on life support and required prayers from the citizens to salvage the county.

He said: “Since APC came into power, you can now see what Nigeria has turned to. Each day you wake up, you hear people are being killed. If you watch television and read the news on newspapers, you will hear so and so number are killed or kidnapped in so and so state.

Funds Misappropriation: Kebbi APC Sacks Chairman, Presents Replacement Ismail Adebayo in Birnin Kebbi The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State has sacked its caretaker Chairman, Bala Sani Kangiwa, over crisis bothering on the misappropriation of funds released for the inauguration of the party’s wards and local government executives.

A faction of the party’s

executives held a meeting recently where they constituted 11-man committee to investigate the petitions against the caretaker chairman, treasurer and financial secretary of the party.

While presenting the new acting Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammed Kana, to the state Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, after

he was picked by the party’s stakeholders to replace the sacked chairman, they informed the governor that they were at the Government House to brief him on latest happenings and changes in the party executives, as well as thank him and affirm their support for his administration.

The state Caretaker Assistant Secretary of the party, Alhaji

Zayyanu Aliero, narrated in detail the circumstances that led to the suspension of the former caretaker Chairman, Kangiwa; the Treasurer, Alhaji Garba Musa Tungan Marina, and Financial Secretary, Alhaji Aliyu Bature, while the caretaker Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Sani Dododo, resigned on his own volition.

Group Insists on Creation of Aba State The Aba State Movement has told the House of Representatives’ Special Committee on Constitutional Review that the request for the creation of Aba State was a quest for equity based on history stretching more than 40 years.

Mr. Theo Nkire, who presented the case for the proposed Aba State, in Owerri,

Imo State recalled that the House of Representatives passed a motion for a referendum on the creation of Aba, Abia, Ebonyi, and Enugu states from the then Anambra and Imo States in January 1982. In June 1983, the Senate passed the same motion on the creation of Aba, Abia, Ebonyi, and Enugu States from the then Anambra and Imo States.

He argued that on the same day the National Assembly confirmed the four states and others for referendum.

“Of the four States the National Assembly confirmed for referendum by 1983, Aba State is the only one that has not been created from the Southeast,” he said, waving copies of the 39-year-old Hansard that reported the National Assembly’s

decision.

Nkire, who is the first Attorney-General of Abia State, said that most recently Aba State’s case was made by a Committee that Chief John Nnia Nwodo, immediate past President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, inaugurated on 11 September 2018, in his capacity as President-General of Ohanaeze.

Stakeholders Rally Support for Laah over S’Kaduna Senatorial Seat Candidates for the upcoming Senatorial election in Southern Kaduna are lining up.

A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon.Adams Jagaba Adams is to contest against the current Senator Danjuma Laah .

Jagaba is the latest politician in the Southern Kaduna to announce that he is running for the office.

It is his second attempt.

Jagaba is seeking for nomination by the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to challenge the incumbent Senator Danjuma Laah in 2022 senatorial primary election scheduled for February 2022.

Laah is a well-known politician and a businessman

from the Southern in Kaura LGA of Kaduna state .

But many strong politicians from Southern Kaduna considered Laah as a political heavyweight according to a three-term member of Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon.Labari Tella, aka Agroo and a former special adviser to three different governors in Kaduna, Hon.Douglas Habu.

In a joint statement, Habu backed Labari ‘s description of Laah as a heavy duty value politician of repute.

On his part, the convener of SDL 100% Support Group, Comrade Victor Bobai Mathew said the PDP needed a fearless leader and a good team player whose major interest is all about his people.

46

THURSDAY, ͹Ϳ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

BACK PAGE CONTINUATION OBA EWUARE, OBASEKI AND THE BENIN ARTS DIVIDE Meanwhile, the governor has responded to the issues raised by Oba Ewuare II by stating his own side of the story. The Benin Dialogue Group, according to Obaseki in a 14th May 2021 letter he personally signed and addressed to Oba Ewuare II, “is a body made up of curators of major European museums and representative of the palace of the Oba of Benin” that had been meeting for over a decade without much success until he became governor. Upon interrogation, Obaseki said he discovered that three main problems were inhibiting progress in the effort to return the artifacts. The first, according to the governor, has to do with the lack of advanced museum storage and display infrastructure in Benin.

“Having had these works in their custody for almost a century, the international museums argued that artifacts of this importance need to be stored in an environment that possess adequate climatic controls regulating humidity, temperature and other conditions, as well as advanced security systems that operate on a 24/7 basis. To preserve these artifacts, they argue that this infrastructure does not exist in Nigeria today, and are expensive to build and maintain.” The need to respond to this challenge, Obaseki wrote, led him to launch the Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWAA) project which he said, “will provide a comprehensive, world-class set of infrastructure for the storage, research and display of objects not just for Benin artifacts, but for artifacts and art from all West Africa spanning the influence of Great Benin empire.”

The second problem, according to the governor, centred around the multiple claims of owners/relevance in the negotiation process.

Obaseki said that to return such priceless objects, “many institutions and governments who have custody of these works abroad want to be certain that they are dealing with relevant counterparties in Nigeria. One argument raised to forestall the return of artifacts is the question of who the works should be returned to. They argue that there was no country called Nigeria or state government when many of the works were taken to Europe. However, under Nigeria Law, these artifacts of national important come under the purview of the National Commission for Museum and Monuments.” So, according to Obaseki, “a Trust that is independent of all three parties but where each party as an interest allows these issues to be dealt with once and for all,” became imperative, hence he acted accordingly. “The trust does NOT own the object and can only hold an object with the implicit authorization of each party, which means that all relevant parties continue to maintain any and all ownership claims it has – the trust simply acts as a common agent for the federal government, state government and royal palace. It allows the artifacts to be returned to Nigeria and then we can resolve the ownership and display issues on our soil without the involvement of foreign parties,” Obaseki stated.

The third problem the governor identified as informing his decision was the lack of an international standard funding vehicle for the project. Obaseki contends that creating world class facilities and infrastructure to house and maintain these objects requires substantial funding. “A credible funding vehicle will need to be set up which will be structured specifically to attract funding from international foundations, institutions and individuals. Such international funding source required a new vehicle, designed to their requirements with participation/ownership by relevant stakeholders but with a majority of independent directors (satisfactory to them) who they will hold personally accountable for the financial transparency, reporting and performance of the Trust.”

The Legacy Restoration Trust, according to Obaseki, was established to satisfy these exacting funding requirements. “This vehicle will be responsible for not just the establishment of the museum complex but on-going maintenance of such complex,” argued Obaseki who said he had to get a seasoned financier that is very familiar to the international investment community to chair that body. “To date, the Trust has already attracted substantial funding from both international institutions as well as local sources, on the back of the full, written support and authorization from both federal and state government.”

Obaseki explained further that plans by ‘The Legacy Restoration Trust’ and the EMOWAA remain “an integral part of a revamped cultural district” that is central to his government’s urban regeneration and planning. He then concluded his letter with an admonition for Oba Ewuare II: “While I understand that there are concerns and issues that need to be discussed, however given the progress

Benin Bronzes on display at the British Museum. Credit: Alamy and successes in our efforts to repatriate these works and the role of German Government in this regard, it is important that we present a united position and avoid the appearance of disunity which gives detractors and those opposed to the return of object the excuse to delay such returns.”

In my conversation with Oba Ewuare II, he explained what the Benin artifacts mean to him and why he can never agree to any deal that would return them anywhere except the palace.

The more the Oba spoke, the more his story resembled the Biblical account in the book of Chronicles when King David was preparing to transfer the throne to his son, Solomon.

Oba Ewuare II who started his diplomatic career with the United Nations in the early eighties served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Sweden, with accreditation to Norway, Denmark, and the Republic of Finland. He would later serve in Angola and Italy. It was during his diplomatic assignment in the nineties that the idea started for the monarch. “When I was appointed the ambassador to Sweden, Norway and Denmark, my father (who was then on the throne) considered it a very strategic posting because these Scandinavian countries are also royalties. Before I left Nigeria, he commissioned two special Benin bronze works for the Kings of Norway and Sweden. There was also a present for the Queen of Denmark which I cannot now remember. But the two others were big bronze works, heavy materials that were shipped to me abroad and were cleared by embassy officials.”

Pointing to the Health Minister, Ehanire who was seated beside me, the Oba said: “the district where they do those bronze works in Benin is where the honourable minister comes from. That was why I asked you to meet him yesterday. These bronze works have spiritual and aesthetic values. Now, why did my father send those bronze materials? The idea was for my host countries to know that the ambassador they were receiving was also coming from an ancient and respected kingdom.

My father also gave me a special message for them. In presenting the bronze gifts, I told the kings in these countries about the stolen Benin artifacts that were scattered across homes and museums in Europe and the fact that we needed their help to return some of them.

My father always said that we should not seek a return of all the artifacts. His message was that we should allow some to remain in Europe so that they can continue to tell our stories. That was how these efforts started.”

According to Oba Ewuare II, he used his tours of duty as Nigerian ambassador to lead this campaign because he saw it as a national duty, even though he had a personal interest as a direct descendant (great great grandson) of Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi under whose reign the artifacts were carted away. “Any opportunity I had; I spoke about these artifacts. From Sweden, I was posted to Angola where I happened to have met the current Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari. As UN Under-Secretary General, he was there to broker the peace deal.

From Angola, I moved to Rome as Nigerian ambassador to Italy where I hosted your late boss (President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua) during the G8 Summit in L’Aquila in July 2009.”

Oba Ewuare II said he was in constant

communication with his late father whose efforts on the issue, along with others, led UNESCO to recognise the Benin Moth as a World Heritage Site. “Incidentally, I learnt a significant lesson while I was serving in Rome.

When I started the conversation on Benin arts, they told me of their own experience with France which, as at then, I was not conversant with. They said most of their artefacts were carried away and were in France and that they were also battling to retrieve them. I felt encouraged by what I learnt from them about their own history.” A significant event also occurred while Oba Ewuare II was in Rome as Nigerian ambassador which he recalls. “Dr Boladei Igali was the ambassador to Sweden at the time so one day, he called me about an exhibition on Benin Arts in Stockholm. When he noticed I was hesitant about attending, he pleaded that my presence had become central to the event since it was about my heritage.

He added that he had used my presence to sell the exhibition to the Swedish royal family.

I had to clear from the Ministry of foreign affairs in Abuja and I was granted leave to go to Sweden. It turned out to be a big event.

In my speech at the occasion, I made a peach for the return of the stolen Benin artworks.

It was a passionate plea. I told them that the artworks would only have value when they are domiciled in their original abode. The discussions I had with a few people after the event convinced me that people in Europe were paying attention to the campaign.”

Having gone to such lengths, Oba Ewuare II said he could not understand why Governor Obaseki would be establishing a museum to house such artifacts outside the palace and without prior consultation with him.

He recalled the day in 2014 when a retired medical consultant, Dr Mark Walker, whose grandfather was one of the soldiers involved in the 1897 British raid, visited Benin to personally hand over two statues to his later father, Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa I, at a ceremony attended by royal officials and local dignitaries. “So, there were already discussions which my father started on the possible site for the museum within the precincts of the palace.

I had held a discussion with the governor on this before. He is aware of the place we have in mind. But now, all these ideas have been jettisoned,” Oba Ewuare lamented.

The monarch believes that if the governor really meant to carry critical stakeholders along, the composition of his ‘Legacy Restoration Trust’ should not have been done without due consultation with, and input from, his Palace.

The legal framework under which the Trust was established, the funding requirements, accounting mechanism and the identity of the ‘seasoned financier’ who would be chairman remain shrouded in secrecy, according to Oba Ewuare. These and many other issues make the whole arrangement suspicious to him. Besides, he takes the issue very personal. “Return of the looted Benin artefacts to the palace is a sacred mandate given me by my father. It was something he started and would want me to see to reality. I will not agree to any deal that takes the artifacts to any other place but the palace of the Oba of Benin from where they were looted,” Oba Ewuare II vowed.

Moving forward on this issue will require the governor and the monarch sitting down

to resolve their differences. Incidentally, I had been re-introduced to the Benin story when my brother, Ose Oyamendan, a Hollywood-based filmmaker attempted to produce a documentary about the stolen artifacts. After years of trying and being frustrated, Ose abandoned the project to complete an award-winning documentary, ‘Other Voices’, on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Last Saturday, it was part of Ose’s coming documentary film on the ‘June 12 crisis’ that the federal government adopted for telecast on local channels to mark ‘Democracy Day’.

But the conversation around Benin artifacts continues across the world.

Last week, the London Metropolitan Museum of Art announced that it would be returning to Nigeria three Benin artworks. They include two 16th-century brass plaques created at the Court of Benin, and a brass head produced in Ile-Ife (Osun State) around the 14th century.

“The plaques produced at the Court of Benin, ‘Warrior Chief’ and ‘Junior Court Official’, were among the works removed from the Royal Palace in 1897 during the British military occupation of Benin,” the Met explained in a statement.

A month earlier, Museums in Germany also agreed on a coordinated approach to the return of Benin bronzes following a meeting with the country’s culture minister, Monika Grütters.

According to Grütters, the participants were “in agreement that addressing Germany’s colonial past is an important issue for the whole of society and a core task for cultural policy” and “reaffirmed their willingness in principle to make substantial returns” to Nigeria.

That Germany’s museums, like their London Metropolitan counterpart, pledged to “create extensive transparency” regarding the decision to return the Benin bronzes in their collections resulted from recent efforts

by Governor Obaseki through the EMOWAA initiative. Therefore, I believe both the palace and the government should work together with the federal government on this matter.

I agree with Oba Ewuare II not only about the proprietary rights of the artworks but also that their return will only have meaning if they are domiciled at the palace from which they were looted. But I don’t see why this should create a problem for Governor Obaseki who I am aware has done extensive work on the proposed museum for which he is really very passionate.

In writing my book, ‘From Frying Pan to Fire: How African Migrants Risk Everything in their Futile Search for a Better Life in Europe’, I spent considerable time in Benin early in 2018 to research my chapter on ‘Edo and the Prostitution Ring’. That provided opportunity for me to have extensive discussions with Obaseki on sundry issues, including that of the stolen Benin artworks and his effort to have them returned. So, now that there are positive signals in that direction, there is no reason why Oba Ewuare II and Obaseki cannot work together. The West African museum being envisaged will be enriched if domiciled within the precincts of the palace of the Oba of Benin. The returned Benin artifacts can, for instance, take one wing while other works are featured in another. The palace of the Oba of Benin, with its history (including the fact that it was from there that the artworks were forcefully taken) and culture will add value to the entire project.

As things stand, the controversy between Oba Ewuare II and Governor Obaseki only plays into the hands of political hawks in Britain who do not want these artifacts returned to Nigeria. Last September, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden wrote national museums in the country, warning them not to take any action on objects with “difficult and contentious” histories if they want to retain government funding. Given that the British Museum which houses almost 900 of these items is already shielded by the British Museum Act 1963 and the Heritage Act 1983, any division in Nigeria will be exploited to ensure that these stolen artifacts remain in Britain.

From my reading of the situation, both Oba Ewuare II and Governor Obaseki are working to achieve the same goal: Return of the stolen Benin assets that are tied to the history of their people and culture as well as the legacy of Oba Ovenramen who refused to be cowed by some brutal colonialists and paid heavy price in the process. The only fitting and proper final resting place for those artworks is the palace of the Oba of Benin.

But the governor is also right on the need to put in place proper mechanisms to ensure that the returned artifacts do not deteriorate or disappear. I am sure that both Governor Obaseki and Oba Ewuare II can work out a compromise in the interest of Nigeria and all Benin people.

47

THURSDAY JUNE 17, 2021 ˾ THISDAY

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Rivers United FC Manager, Eguma, Kidnapped by Unknown Gunmen Duro Ikhazuagbe The insecurity in the land has crept into the country’s football scene following the kidnapping of Rivers United FC Manager, Stanley Eguma by unknown gunmen on

Tuesday.

Now, the kidnappers are believed to be demanding N10million before the cerebral coach can regain his freedom.

Although the Rivers State owned Nigerian Professional

Okagbare Faces Toughest Hurdle as Tokyo 2020 Olympic Trials Begin Nigeria’s Queen of the tracks, Blessing Okagbare, will today face the toughest hurdle at the National Trials and Invitational Relays in Lagos as she looks forward to winning her eighth national sprint title.

The opening day of the Tokyo 2020 National Trials will see Okagbare competing in the 100m alongside one of the best kids on the block at the moment, Grace Nwokocha.

Okagbare picked her last national championship title in 2016, after winning it back-to-back between 2009 to 2014 and also 2016, missing out only in 2015.

Despite having already qualified for the Olympics, Okagbare will be hoping to continue her preparations for the Games in Japan with

Blessing Okagbare...dominance threatened

sole aim of another podium finish.

Since the likes of Damola Osayomi and Gloria Asumnu left the stage, it has been a stroll in the park for Okagbare in major finals, but will have to contend with Nwokocha who also will be on the flight to Tokyo after securing her qualification at the venue of the National Trials, the Yabatech Sports Complex, Yaba, Lagos.

The key event for the opening day is the 100m with both the men and women’s finals taking place in the evening.

Morning events will witness the 20km women and men final, the 100m prelims, 400m heat (men and women), 1,500m women final and the hammer (women) final.

Apart from the 100m finals expected to take place in the afternoon, there will be shotput men final with all eyes on Chukwuebuka Enekwechi.

Tobi Amusan will be geared up towards erasing the African record in the women’s 100m hurdles when she takes to the track in the heat as the men 110m hurdles will be taking place also.

The trials, which will be used to select Nigeria’s contingent to the delayed Games of the XXXII Olympics in Tokyo which is scheduled to hold from July 23 to August 8, 2021, will see 11 events taking place on the opening day.

Euro 2020: Wales Boost Chances with Defeat of Turkey in Baku Wales took a significant stride towards qualifying for the second round of Euro 2020 as they overcame Turkey 2-0 after a gripping encounter in Baku.

With a crowd of more than 30,000 in Azerbaijan’s capital city effectively making this a home game for Turkey, Wales responded to the hostile atmosphere with a vibrant, attacking display in which they cut their opponents open at will.

After a host of missed chances in a breathless first half, Gareth Bale played a brilliant lofted pass through the heart of the Turkish defence for Aaron Ramsey, who brought the ball down and finished elegantly.

Although Turkey came back strongly, Wales squandered a glorious opportunity to consolidate their lead when captain Bale ballooned a penalty over the bar.

There were some nervous moments for the Welsh defence as they withstood Turkish attacks - with Danny Ward making a vital late save to deny Merih Demiral.

But Connor Roberts struck from a corner deep in injury time to seal a win that takes Wales to four points with one match left in the group stage.

That final fixture will be in Rome on Sunday against Group A favourites Italy, who face Switzerland later on Wednesday.

Football League (NPFL) clubside is yet to make any official statement on the whereabouts of Eguma, sources close to the team hinted yesterday that the Coach did not return to Port Harcourt after their Sunday match with Adamawa United in Gombe.

Top football sources in the Garden City said Eguma is believed to have been abducted around the Enugu axis on his way back to Port Harcourt in his official Hilux

pick up truck with Rivers State government number plate.

“Coach did not return with us. You know he drives in his own official car. We just heard this and we are waiting to hear from the club management,” one source told a Port Harcourt based football only online site on condition of anonymity yesterday.

Eguma was said to be travelling with two of his Personal Assistants and it

is not now known if they were also abducted alongside him or have been released.

Eguma is the second high profile coach of the Nigerian topflight to be kidnapped in recent times after Abdulahi Biffo spent about a month in kidnappers den some time ago.

Players of Adamawa United had similarly faced similar fate along the BeninOre Road on their way to honour a NPFL game in Stanley Eguma...in kidnappers Lagos. den

WALES CRUISING…

Wales players celebrating Connor Roberts’ added time goal in the 2-0 defeat of Turkey at the Olympic Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan.

It was their second Group A match of the ongoing Euro 2020 Championships...yesterday

Egbe Congratulates New AFN Boss, Okowa The Chief Executive Officer of Monimichelle Sports Facility Group, Ebi Egbe, has hailed the emergence of Tonobok Okowa as the new president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

Egbe in a congratulatory message to the Delta State Sports Commission boss, stated that the nation’s athletics family has chosen the right man to lead the federation.

“I congratulate Okowa on his well-deserved victory. I make bold to say that those who elected him have settled for the right man. Okowa has the pedigree to lead AFN and he has demonstrated it with the good job he is doing in Delta,” Egbe stressed.

The stadium construction expert urged athletics stakeholders to rally round Okowa who he noted has a lot of job to do given the

challenges facing the game in the country.

“My plea is for the stakeholders to rally round him and give him the needed support to succeed.”

Egbe stressed that Okowa should on his part take immediate steps to reconcile members of the athletics family in the overall interest of the nation.

“With the elections over, it is time to work and the first job

to do is that of reconciliation so that everybody would be on the same page,” Egbe pleaded.

Okowa had after his victory said the welfare of athletes and coaches remains top on his priority.

The new AFN board was sworn into office on Tuesday in Abuja by Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, who charged the new board to hit the ground running.

Marylove, Oparaoji Make History at Lagos Tennis Cup Teenage tennis star, Marylove Edward and Uche Oparaoji made history at the weekend when they became the first ever women and men’s singles champions of the Lagos Tennis Cup. At the five-day tournament played at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club in Onikan, 3rd seed, Edward, brushed aside the more experienced No. 2 seed, Aanu Aiyegbusi 6-2, 6-2 in the final to claim the crown, while Oparaoji cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 win over Timibra Godsgift.

The maiden Lagos Tennis Cup organised by the Tennis Management Company in

conjunction with the Nigerian Tennis Federation, featured 16 of the best tennis players in Nigeria who qualified for the event after finishing in the quarter-finals of the recent CBN Open played last month in Abuja.

Edward, 16, took full advantage of the absence of the No.1 seed, Oyinlomo Quadri, who beat her 6-1, 6-0 in the CBN Senior Open final, to cruise to the title and claim the N500,000 prize money without dropping a single set.

Quadri had pulled out of the tournament just before it began as she was caught in the middle of securing a

visa to feature in Nigeria’s maiden Fed Cup appearance in Lithuania.

Her Fed Cup partner, Sarah Adegoke, however opted to play, but retired due to injury after setting up a semi-final clash with Edward.

In the men’s final No. 3 seed, Oparaoji, dispatched an apparently fatigued Timibra in straight sets to claim the ultimate prize. The Imo State star was merciless against his Bayelsa opponent who had reached the final after playing four three-setters.

Oparaoji reached the final following the retirement of No. 1 seed Joseph Imeh – who

beat him in the CBN Open final – in the second set of their semi-final clash due to a sore hand. Oparaoji had however taken the first set 7-5.

Imeh became one of four retirees at the tournament as players paid a steep price for participating in three grueling back-to-back tournaments in a space of one month, including the DavNotch Cup, the CBN Senior Open and the Lagos Tennis Cup. The winners got N500,000 each, while the runners-up received N250,000. The semifinalists earned N125,000, while group stage participants got N75,000 each.

Thursday, June 17, 2021

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“Let me be blunt. As I speak here now, there are people providing information to the bandits, especially within the political circle. They send messages directly to the bandits of whatever strategies the government adopts. Whatever we discussed, the details are already with the bandits; they call to tell us exactly what was discussed.

The informants are everywhere even in the Government House, so I don’t trust anybody any longer” – Lamentation by Niger State Governor

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Oba Ewuare, Obaseki and the Benin Arts Divide

I

n March this year, the University of Aberdeen, Scotland announced it would return one of the thousands of metal and ivory sculptures and carvings looted by British soldiers from the palace of the Oba of Benin in 1897. According to the Head of Museums and Special Collections, Neil Curtis, the University had previously agreed to repatriate sacred items and ancestral remains to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, following a procedure that considers such requests in consultation with claimants. “An ongoing review of the collections identified the Head of an Oba as having been acquired in a way that we now consider to have been extremely immoral, so we took a proactive approach to identify the appropriate people to discuss what to do,” said Curtis. Professor George Boyne, principal and vice chancellor, provided further insight into what informed the university’s decision: “It would not have been right to have retained an item of such great cultural importance that was acquired in such reprehensible circumstances. We therefore decided that an unconditional return is the most appropriate action we can take and are grateful for the close collaboration with our partners in Nigeria.”

For the Twitter generation who may not understand what I am talking about (because they were deprived of learning Nigeria’s history), let me break it down in two paragraphs before I go to the controversy that provokes this intervention. In the late 19th century, what is now the Edo state capital had a strong kingdom that survived the British expedition and the 1885 Berlin Conference where Africa was partitioned and shared among European powers at the time. In the last decade of that century, James Phillips, the British Consul General for Niger Coast Protectorate (the present-day South-South zone) found the Benin Kingdom too independent and sought to neutralise the powers of the Oba on the pretext that the palace was engaged in human sacrifices. He therefore requested permission from London to invade the city, depose the Oba and replace him with a Native Council. “I have reason to hope that sufficient ivory would be found in the King’s house to pay the expenses incurred in removing the King from his stool,” Phillips wrote in his December 1896 letter to Lord Salisbury, then Foreign Secretary.

Without waiting for a response from London, Phillips sent a request to the Benin palace to expect a delegation from him. Despite the plea from the Oba of Benin that he could not at the period receive visitors, Philips nonetheless sent a military contingent on a supposedly peaceful mission. But knowing the history of the British, particularly in their dealings with King Jaja of Opobo, the suspicious chiefs decided to confront the British troops. In the aftermath, only two members of the contingent survived to tell the tale of what became known in British history as the ‘Benin Massacre’. In retaliation, Rear-Admiral Harry Rawson, a Naval commander was appointed to lead as many as 1,200 Royal Marines for the 9th February 1897 invasion of Benin, capture the Oba and destroy the city, in an operation codenamed ‘The Benin Punitive Expedition.’

It took just weeks after that invasion for the looted Benin artifacts to find their way to museums and private collections around the world; either as gifts or through purchases.

Governor Obaseki

Oba Ewuare

The first public auction reportedly took place in May 1897, following advertisement in the ‘Times’ newspaper for the sale of “several carved tusks and other trophies from Benin city collected by naval officers in the recent expedition”. But from France (where President Emmanuel Macron has openly endorsed the idea) to Germany that intends to return many (of about 580 Benin artworks scattered in Berlin museums) next year, there is an ongoing conversation around the world about the morality of keeping these artifacts.

But there is serious contention in Nigeria between the current Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II and the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki regarding the issue of ownership and where these artifacts will be domiciled when they return. While Obaseki is working towards the creation of the Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWAA) in the state capital, Oba Ewuare II contends that only a museum domiciled within the palace from where the artifacts were looted, will serve the end of justice.

Two weeks ago, the Oba of Benin was in Abuja, and he called me. After a long telephone chat, he arranged a meeting between me and the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Emmanuel Ehanire, who hails from Benin.

A day after my meeting with Ehinare who briefed me on developments concerning the artifacts and the contending issues, I met Oba Ewuare II at his Asokoro residence amid Benin Chiefs, including my egbon, Oseni Elamah, the executive secretary of the Joint Tax Board (JTB) and the Okaoivbiore of Benin Kingdom.

In an emotional voice that spoke to his pain and anger, Oba Ewuare II shared the story of the artifacts and the sacred mandate he received from his late father, the revered Oba Erediuawa, 39th Benin monarch who ruled for 37 years from 1979 to 2016. Before I get to the beef of my chat with Oba Ewuare II, let me recount the exchange between him and Governor Obaseki on the matter.

A letter dated 10th March 2021 signed by Mr Dennis I. Osaretin, executive assistant to Oba Ewuare II on legal & corporate affairs, was directed to all foreign missions and embassies in Nigeria, the European Union Commission

Office, the British Museum, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Information and Culture and the Director General, National Museum Commission. In the letter, Oba Ewuare II claimed that he is “from time immemorial, the sole authority and custodian of Benin traditional law and custom” and for that reason “all Edo traditional and cultural rites, citizen interests and proprietary rights over collective intellectual property as well as landed, movable, non-moveable property within the premises of the Palace of the Oba” are vested in him. Same with “dealings in any artifact of historical, ancestral, spiritual, cultural or native religious rites’ of significance and value, pertaining to the great Benin kingdom and her heritage,” also vested solely in him or persons or groups so delegated by him.

Then the kernel of the message: “Particular mention is made here of extensive property seized or stolen from the palace, during the reign of Oba Ovenramen Nogbaisi, Oba of Benin Kingdom, (1888 to 1897) the great, great grandfather and direct bloodline ancestor of Oba Ewuare II, in the wake of an invasion by

British Forces in the year 1897, during which the Oba’s palace was burglarized, vandalized and items looted by aliens; a calamity that seriously impacted the over 1,000 years old Benin civilization in a destructive manner.

By that expedition, the history, cultural identity and dignity of Benin people were injured, when priceless ancient heirlooms, the expressions of their history, heritage, and values, were forcefully appropriated and exported by aliens, only to be found in museums around the world.” The monarch then put it on record that neither the Benin royal family nor the board of trustees of the ‘Oba Ewuare II Foundation’, at any point in time, whether verbally or in written form, waived their “proprietary rights of custody of ancient Benin Palace and religious cult artifacts, nor appointed agents or intermediaries to act for, or on behalf of the Palace for this purpose or on any such other business.”

While Oba Ewuare II welcomes the interest and renewed commitment of Edo sons and daughters and other local and international stakeholders, including Governor Obaseki, in the bid to correct “a historical wrong on the royal family and people of Benin, by restoring their expropriated property to their rightful owner and location,” he announced that the ‘Oba Ewuare II Foundation’ had already been established as a special purpose vehicle to “midwife the setting up, for national and international public good, of museums to hold and place on display, said artifacts, of which the Palace shall be lead custodian.”

On what he considers the only appropriate solution to the logjam, the Benin monarch concluded that he and the Board of Trustees of Oba Ewuare II Foundation, “have long before now, mooted the idea of building a classic museum to be known as ‘The Benin Royal Museums’ and to be located in the premises of the palace of the Oba of Benin, where they rightly belong. The Royal Museum is to inherit, protect and manage all artifacts that are returned from the various museums across the world, in trust for the royal family as the heritage of Edo people, for the benefit of students and visitors from all around Nigeria and the world.”

NOTE: Piece is concluded on page 46

2021 Teens Career Conference The 2021 edition of annual Teens Career Conference of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) The Everlasting Arms Parish (TEAP), Abuja holds on Saturday, 14th August with the theme, ‘A Brave New World: Who Dares, Wins!’ Like previous editions, it will bring together teenagers from Abuja and its environs to listen to expert advice on career choices in today’s dynamic and challenging world. Specifically, the objectives of the conference are to: Teach the teenagers to take responsibility for their future; Have their imagination fired through interaction with accomplished professionals in the society; Make them realize that no matter the odds, they can reach their goals, and get them to understand that God still intervenes in the affairs of men.

At the maiden edition in 2016, we affirmed that our lives and our future are not a

laughing matter. In 2017, we reiterated that life is a stage, where we all play our different parts. In 2018, the message was that if we have a dream, we need a healthy dose of hard work, self-discipline, and sacrifice to make it happen and the 2019 edition was dedicated to nurturing talent and developing character. This year, we explore the theme ‘A Brave New World: Who Dares, Wins!’ with three young, accomplished personalities: Mr Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Mr Chinedu Azodoh and Ms Omowale David-Ashiru.

In deference to Covid-19 protocols, we are restricting physical attendance to no more than 250 participants this year. Others may join by Zoom. The Conference registration will begin on Thursday, 1st July, and the portal would be shut once we hit the desired number. For details on the conference as well as profiles of our speakers, please visit www.rccgteapteens.org

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