FRIDAY 17TH JUNE 2022

Emefiele Rallies Stakeholders’ Support to Accelerate Nigeria’s Non-oil FX NPA, Customs, banks, shipping companies to form Ad-hoc team Sanwo-Olu harps on economic diversification Nume Ekeghe The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele has called on the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)

and shipping companies to support the drive by the bankers’ committee to improve foreign exchange (FX) earnings through non-oil exports.

Speaking at the CBN’s Biannual Non-oil Export Summit in Lagos yesterday, with the theme: "Setting

the Roadmap toward achieving RT200 and non-oil export for development," Emefiele stressed that it had become more urgent for Nigeria to increase its forex and has called for coordinated efforts by players in the export ecosystem

to aid seamless export.

Also, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who also spoke at the summit, reiterated the call for economic diversification in Nigeria, saying the country should shift from overdependence on oil

and gas, to agricultural produce, solid minerals, chemical products, furniture and clothing as well as tourism among others.

The Bankers’ Committee had at its meeting in February 2022, unveiled the RT200 FX Program,

which is an initiative aimed at raising $200 billion in non-oil export earnings over the next three to five years. This initiative was anchored on five pillars, namely: Continued on page 5

Telecoms Sector Recorded N3.247trn Revenue, N1.7trn Operating Cost in 2021...page 6 Friday 17 June, 2022 Vol 27. No 9922. Price: N250

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Buhari: We Must Develop Cyber Warfare to Protect Critical National Assets Says his administration has degraded Boko Haram, IPOB, banditry across Nigeria Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano President Muhammadu Buhari,

yesterday, in Kano State, said his government must develop a policy on cyber warfare that has as its strategic focus on the prevention

of cyber-attacks against critical national infrastructure.

Buhari also boasted that his administration had significantly

degraded Boko Haram insurgency, the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), Eastern Security Network, (ESN),banditry and other forms

of insecurity in many parts of the country.

He, therefore, charged the Nigeria Police Force High Command to

evolve realistic strategies and operations geared towards tackling Continued on page 5

PDP Governors, Others Hail as Atiku Names Okowa Running Mate Ex-VP says he’s not afraid of taking difficult decisions, donates N10m to Owo victims Our candidate has solutions to Nigeria’s challenges, Delta gov posits Party plans to offer Wike campaign DG and prominent role in govt if they win Chuks Okocha, Sunday Aborisade, Udora Orizu in Abuja and Fidelis David in Akure Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former vice-president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has continued to receive commendations from far and near, over his choice of the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election.

Prominent amongst those, who had hailed Atiku over his choice partner were the PDP Governors’ Forum led by the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu; the Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jubrin; former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu and Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Ndidu Elumelu, among others.

Atiku had, 24 hours to deadline set for the submission of names of presidential candidates and their deputies by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced Okowa, as Continued on page 5

OKOWA IS ATIKU'S CO-PILOT...

L-R: Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa; National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, and Former Vice President/presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, when the presidential candidate unveiled Okowa as his running mate pick for the 2023 election, at the party’s headquarters in Abuja…yesterday

All Set for Ekiti Election as INEC Chairman Appeals to Staff to Maintain Neutrality... Page 35

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FG Reviews Petroleum Products Freight Upwards as NMDPRA Keeps Mum on Percentage Hike Says pump price remains N165

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government yesterday announced that it had reviewed upwards the freight rate paid to petroleum products transporters under the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), but was surprisingly silent on the newly approved figure.

The development is coming after transporters complained about the

rising cost of operations nationwide, threatening earlier in the year to down tools if the issues were not resolved.

In March, the authorities had hiked the rate from N9.5 per litre to N11.87/ litre, but it was gathered that in the extant development, an increase of N10 per kilometre across board for the transporters was agreed upon.

Although the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) provides for a free , market-driven arrangement in the

sector, however the industry is still highly regulated by the government, with prices of petrol especially still determined at the whims of government.

A statement by the Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the police of that segment of the sector disclosing the development, noted that the new deal was a result of several consultations with industry

stakeholders.

According to the Authority, President Muhammadu Buhari considered and approved the upward review in freight rate for transporters to alleviate the challenges associated with the distribution of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol.

“The review was necessitated by the upswing in the global price of petroleum products especially Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) and

its implications on the cost of transporting PMS nationwide.

“Consequently, the Authority wishes to advise as follows that: In with the mandate of the Authority as prescribed in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) (Section 31(j) to develop and enforce a framework on tariffing and pricing for natural gas and petroleum products, the transporters freight rate has been reviewed to reflect current market realities.

“The revised freight rate takes effect from 1 June 2022 while still maintaining the current regulated PMS pump price of N165.00/litre,” it said.

The NMDPRA explained that an inter-agency team was being constituted to ensure reconciliation and payment of outstanding transporters claims in line with established payment procedure under the Bridging Fund Scheme (BFS).

reaching social support programme ever in the country to tackle poverty, one of the drivers of insecurity, at the roots.

The President, who presented awards to two graduating cadets, Rachel Oluwatosin Babarinde and Isa Abdulateef, added that his government had been able to degrade the terrorists in the Northeast, and as well checkmated the activities of bandits and kidnappers in the other parts of the country.

He added that, his government took a resolute stand against pervasive corruption and focused on repositioning the national security for them to perform their duties.

While congratulating the cadets for successful completion of their training, the president directed them to maintain the spirit of accomplishment as they prepare to face the tasks ahead.

Earlier, in his remarks, the Commandant of Nigeria Police Academy, Assistant Inspector General (AIG), Ahmad AbdulRahama, thanked the President for honouring the invitation, explaining that the institution was upgraded from professional training to degree awarding in 2012, noting that, it had graduated 1,748 cadets, Assistant Superintendent of Police, over the years, including the 205, who just graduated.

BUHARI: WE MUST DEVELOP CYBER WARFARE TO PROTECT CRITICAL NATIONAL ASSETS cyber crimes in the country.

Buhari, who spoke during the passing out parade of the 4th regular course cadets officers of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, in Kano State, explained that Nigeria has now slide from fourth to sixth on the international index of nations affected by terrorism.

"My administration has also focused on security by repositioning our national securities to perform their duties effectively. We have equally embarked on some crucial changes in their funding structure and mode of operation.

"In a world, where insecurity is constantly evolving, the enforcement responses have to equally evolve, not just to keep up, but to stay ahead. This administration has signed into law the new police act to ensure improvement in the welfare and service delivery to reach the best international practices.

"I commend the effort and resilience of the Nigeria Police Force and sister agencies for the giant strides recorded so far in the fight against the prevailing security challenge. As you are all aware, this administration came into office with determination to tackle three areas: the security, building and sustainable economy and fighting corruption. We can say that recent positive development has shown that there is general improvement in all these three areas," he said.

Noting that his administration had since inauguration in May, 2015, has impacted positively in Nigeria's Economy, corruption and security,

Buhari told the graduating cadets that modern policing transcended land, sea and air, and that the internet and new digital technologies had provided a platform for the emerging offences to reach unprecedented levels.

According to him, "Many of the enemies you will confront will be permanently faceless or concealed, leveraging technology to wage warfare that has the potential to be even more destructive than anything the world has ever known.

"We must develop a policy on cyber warfare that has as its strategic focus on the prevention of cyber-attacks against critical national infrastructure, minimizing national vulnerability to

cyber-attacks and minimising damage and recovery time from cyber-attacks."

The president emphasised that his government would continue to demonstrate zero tolerance for crime and criminality, stressing that, "Those who take laws into their hands, who bear arms illegally and who seek to profit from a climate of fear and insecurity will be decisively dealt with.

"That remains our promise to the people of Nigeria, who elected us to keep them safe and secured.

The peace and stability of our dear country will continue to be of utmost importance. You, the Police are our points men and you must rise to

the occasion."

While noting that the nation's security transcended law enforcement to include building the right relationships that underpinned the development of secured societies, he said, "This is why the present administration has been fully committed from the start to strengthening existing relations between Nigeria and her neighbouring countries. It has always been clear to us that there is no way we can achieve the security we seek without the cooperation and support of our neighbours."

The President added that his government had implemented far-

EMEFIELE RALLIES STAKEHOLDERS’ SUPPORT TO ACCELERATE NIGERIA’S NON-OIL FX Value-adding Exports Facility, Non-oil Commodities Expansion Facility, Non-oil FX Rebate Scheme, Dedicated Non-oil Export Terminal and Biannual Non-oil Export Summit.

Emefiele restated that over N3.5 billion had been paid to exporters who brought in their export proceeds. He said in April 2022, the CBN released a total of N3.5 billion non-oil export rebate to exporters through the banks in support of the RT200 initiative.

He appealed passionately to the NPA, the Customs and shipping companies in a working group to work with the bankers’ committee to resolve challenges associated with international trade.

“We have heard of people who want to export their goods queuing for weeks or months before their goods can go out. Because time is against us, in the short run, what can the NPA and customs do for the exporters, whether they want to create a set of dedicated routes from which they can easily export their goods?”

“We need those export proceeds badly. It is sad that because of the problem of finding an easier route for goods to be exported out of the country, Nigerian exporters prefer to transport by road or sometimes barges from Lagos to Accra or the Republic of Benin to export from there. Doing these we lose the opportunity to earn export proceeds.

“Customs and NPA in the working group, we want you to look at the long run and the short run. In the short run look at how we immediately create a dedicated export route for exporters, so that their goods can leave. Many of those containers that bring goods into the country go out empty because of these problems,” he said.

Speaking further, Emefiele said: “Let us work on finding a dedicated route where exports can go out easily. In the long run, how do we work on the Lagos Free Trade Zone and create a road that will take the goods through an express road. The Lekki port has a blueprint of a road that goes to Ondo which is about 50km.

single person. They are all dedicated party-men suitable for this task. I wish all the recommended persons could be announced today as my running mates. Unfortunately, only one MUST be chosen.

"It is a difficult decision that I am called upon to take. But, as someone hoping to lead a complex country such as ours, tough and difficult decisions would remain a part of my everyday life. Let me, therefore, start this momentous journey with a crucial decision about who, among the eminently qualified shortlist, would be my running mate.

"Accordingly, let me state that the person I have chosen as my running mate possesses all those identified qualities. He personifies not only the seriousness the current moment represents for our country but also the future that our young people yearn for and deserve. He is a serving state governor, who has demonstrated, in his state and through his conduct, that governance is about service to the people.

"I know that he will not only add excitement to our already energised ticket and campaign, but will also help to bring focus, discipline and stability to our government, come 2023. I am pleased, therefore, to announce here my choice of running mate, who will help to lead us to victory next year not only in the presidential election but also in the governorship and legislative elections.

“And he will be by my side as I work hard every day to provide our people with security, revive our economy, improve education and unite our country. He has both legislative and executive experiences.

Please, join me in welcoming to

to the non-oil sector.

“For example, we have all been witnesses to the ever-changing fortunes of oil-exporting countries.

Even those that have been reputed to manage their oil proceeds well also suffer from major shocks once oil prices plummet.

“In order to avoid these sudden adjustments to our economic life, it is the view of the banker’s committee to focus on strategies that can help us earn more stable and sustainable inflows of foreign exchange into Nigeria.

“We would need to follow the best practices of other countries and ensure that we protect ourselves a little bit from factors that are beyond our immediate control,” he noted.

Furthermore, he said as things presently stand, the country has very little choice left but to look inwards and find innovative solutions to our problems.

“Monetary Policy alone cannot bear all the burden of the expected adjustments needed to manage these difficulties. These problems call for urgent design and steadfast implementation of other supportive, structural, and complementary policies that are broad-based, coordinated, and focused on complementing the work of the monetary authority.

“We would try as much as possible to provide cheap affordable long-term financing for companies that really truly deserve and would conduct export activities of goods and services.

“But we feel we cannot do this alone. We need a handshake between the bankers, central bank, exporters, and those in the value-chain and more importantly with our brothers and sisters in the government agencies that are involved in the process of export in Nigeria.

“There has been indeed unbearable difficulty and challenges faced by exporters in exporting goods out of Nigeria. We need the support of NPA, please work with us, the bankers’ committee is ready in any way to provide the needed support that can smooth the challenges involved in our port operations in Nigeria. We truly and badly need foreign exchange to fund the import needs of our country. We can no longer continue as a country to depend on revenue from crude oil where we have no control over price and quantity.

“We all need to work together because it is a pledge and responsibility that we can and

Continued on page 36

Continued on page 35

“The Infracorp is ready to fund that if we can yield to that because what I find is that instead of yielding to doing what is good of our country, people want to own colonies because they believe it is their exclusive responsibility. We're talking about how we can work together now.”

According to him, the programme was borne out of the realisation that most of the country’s current sources of forex inflows were unreliable and perennially prone to exogenous vicissitudes of global economic developments.

“And with the grossly untapped potential of Nigeria, there is a strong need for us to work together to diversify our forex revenue earnings

PDP GOVERNORS, OTHERS HAIL AS ATIKU NAMES OKOWA RUNNING MATE his running mate.

The main opposition party, had been back and forth on the choice of its running mate since its presidential convention on May 28, including setting up advisory committees to assist on the choice of the most suitable candidate, and further delayed till 24 hours before the INEC deadline.

However, unknown to many, the choice of running mate is a decision the presidential candidate of any party alone, is constitutionally empowered to make and not of anyone else as clearly spelt out in section 142 ( 1) of the 1999 constitution as amended.

The section states thus: "In any election to which the foregoing provisions of this Part of this Chapter relate, a candidate for an election to the office of President shall not be deemed to be validly nominated unless he nominates another candidate as his associate from the same political party for his running for the office of President, who is to occupy the office of VicePresident and that candidate shall be deemed to have been duly elected to the office of Vice-President if the candidate for an election to the office of President, who nominated him as such associate is duly elected as President in accordance with the provisions aforesaid."

The PDP presidential candidate, therefore, exercised this power and right, although after comprehensively consulting with other stakeholders such as the NWC, BoT, founding fathers, elders of the party to ensure that all of them were carried along, before finally settling for the Delta State governor, yesterday.

However, sources close to the Atiku campaign informed THISDAY yesterday that, the party plans to

offer Wike, who came second in the primary and was one of the top contenders for the postion of VP, the Director General of the Atiku campaign and also a very promient role in the government if they win the election in 2023.

Atiku, who at the unveiling of Okowa as his partner on the presidential journey, boasted that he was never afraid of taking difficult decisions, also donated the sum of N10 million to victims of the recent attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.

On his part, Okowa, while accepting his nomination, claimed Atiku, had solutions to the numerous challenges bedeviling the country.

Reacting to the development, while Ayu, said Okowa was chosen on merit, Jubrin, also described the choice of Okowa as an act of God. Addressing party members, Atiku, said with the convention behind the party, "We have arrived at the stage for me to pick a running mate, because this is a joint ticket. I am very happy to announce today that I have reached a decision on that.

"In arriving at the decision, I held wide consultations with various stakeholders in our party, including our governors, National Working Committee, Board of Trustees, and other leaders to seek their inputs and their wisdom. In these consultations, I made clear that my running mate would have the potential to succeed me at a moment’s notice, that is, a President-in-waiting.

"In other words, the person must have the qualities to be president. The person must have an appreciation of the deep rot, which our country has been put into by the rudderless APC government; understand the great suffering that most of our people

are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering; understand the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide our young people with jobs, hope, and a pathway to wealth.

"The person must appreciate the critical importance of education in the development of modern societies so we can prepare our young people to be able to compete in the increasingly competitive and globalised world.

"My running mate must understand that without security, development will be very difficult, because local and foreign investors, who have been scared away already, would not return to invest in our economy. Thus, my running mate will be a person, who will stand by me as I confront the frightening level of insecurity in our land.

"As you know, the APC government went to sleep as huge swathes of our country’s territory fell into the deadly hands of gangs of criminals, including those masquerading as freedom fighters or pastoralists, while our farmers and genuine pastoralists are unable to go about their businesses.

"The costs in precious human lives and properties have been enormous.

My running mate must also not only symbolise the imperative of reuniting our country but also be able to work with me to achieve that objective. This is because a united Nigeria is a potentially stronger, more prosperous, and more secure country able to lead Africa and give hope to the Black race.

"In addition, my running mate has to be someone, who is not afraid to speak his mind and give honest advice, and, be by my side as I work very hard to reverse the destructive impact of the past seven years of

the APC government."

The PDP candidate explained that in the United States of America from where Nigeria borrowed key aspects of current presidential system, "a running mate is used to balance the ticket, complement the candidate and, after victory, assist the president with governance. Sometimes a candidate is chosen, who generates a buzz and adds huge excitement to the campaign.

"But, today in Nigeria, we face huge challenges, which leave us little room for drama. We have to win the elections and get to work immediately. My running mate has to be ready to start working with me, from day one, in addressing our country’s challenges. Nigerians will not accept anything less.

"That is why I promised the governors of our party that my running mate will come from among them. Our current challenges call for a government that is highly focused and disciplined.

“I have sought the support, guidance, and counsel of the PDP in selecting a befitting running mate, who meets all or most of the qualities enumerated above. The wisemen and sages of the party, put together by our NWC, have gone fishing and brought home an enviable group of awesome politicians that surpasses these qualities.

“Everyone of the recommended persons is a fit and proper individual to hold this office. While this makes me marvel at the bundle of talents that abounds in our party, it also compounded my task of choosing a single person from among them.

"Let me, therefore, pay tribute to my party and, most especially, to all those that made the shortlist that must now be narrowed down to a

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2022

NEWS

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

RACE “TO 200” SUMMIT...

L-R: Deputy Governor, Operations, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Adebisi Sonubi; Deputy Governor, Financial System stability, Mrs. Aishah Ahmad; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Governor, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Mr. Edward Adamu, and Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Dr. Kingsley Obiora, at the RT200 Summit held in Lagos ...yesterday

Telecoms Sector Recorded N3.247trn Revenue, N1.7trn Operating Cost in 2021 Emma Okonji Despite harsh operating environment, telecom operators comprising of GSM operators, fixed wired operators, internet service providers (ISPs), value added service (VAS) operators, collocation and infrastructure sharing operators, as well as other telecoms operators, recorded N3.247 trillion revenue, with total operating cost of N1.7 trillion in 2021.

According to the statistics posted yesterday on the

official website of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the regulator said the collation was based on the submission it received from the telecom service providers for the year ended December 2021.

It also showed that capital expenditure (domestic investment) stood at N1, 24,116,990,000.00 as at the end of 2021, based on submissions from responsive licensees.

According to the statistics, capital flow (foreign direct

investment) into the Nigerian telecoms industry in 2021 was approximately $417 billion as against $942 million it was in 2019.

A breakdown of the figures showed that Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) operators alone raked in a total revenue of N2.7 trillion, while fixed wired operators recorded N375 billion. Similarly, internet service providers raked in N59 billion, while VAS providers recorded N32 billion. In the same vein, collocation and

infrastructure sharing operators raked in N3 billion, while other telecom operators recorded N2.44 billion, amounting to a total of N3.247 trillion revenue generation in 2021.

The data showed that a total of 49, 579 towers were recorded from mobile and fixed operators as well as collocation and infrastructure companies.

The operators also reported a total number of 38,288 Base Stations. iMicrowave coverage in 2021, at 290,940.69km, which covered

Global Remittances Flow May Hit $5.4trn by 2030 Oluchi Chibuzor Despite predictions that the COVID-19 pandemic may have reduced remittance flows, the momentum was sustained due to a 48 per cent increase in money sent through mobile channels, according to a report titled, MobileRemit Africa launched yesterday by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Global remittances, the hardearned money sent by migrant workers to their family members in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) also grew by 8.6 percent in 2021, according to the report.

Speaking as the world celebrated, ‘The International Day of Family Remittances' (IDFR), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, the President of IFAD, Gilbert F. Houngbo said the digitalisation of remittances, particularly through mobile channels was a great opportunity to boost rural development as over half of these funds go to rural areas.

“Digitalisation reduces fees and other transactions costs like travel time, making the process more convenient and safer while promoting digital and financial inclusion," he added.

According to him, remittances

flow of $605 billion more than tripled the total amount of international official development assistance $178.6 billion.

“It is expected that money sent home by over 200 million migrant workers around the world this year is expected to reach $630 billion, providing a lifeline for more than 800 million family members.

“Remittances lift people out of poverty, put food on the table, pay for education, cover health expenses, allow housing investments and many other family goals beyond consumption,” added Houngbo.

“The aggregated flows of family remittances to LMICs are expected to reach US$5.4 trillion by 2030, a figure equivalent to twice the GDP of Africa in 2021," he said.

However, the upward trend seen in remittances’ growth was expected to moderate in 2022 as inflation erodes wages while pandemic-related support programmes end in rich countries, IFAD emphasised.

For the Manager of the Financing Facility for Remittances at IFAD, Pedro De Vasconcelos, “Mobile remittances offer a unique opportunity to bring millions into the formal financial sector, bringing financial services and

income-generating opportunities closer to their communities," he said.

“In Africa more than in any other region, mobile money has triggered financial inclusion, especially in Eastern and Western Africa.

“At the customer level, adoption of mobile money alternatives results in reduced average fees and transaction costs due to saving time and travel to send and receive remittances; increased convenience and safety to both remittance senders and recipients; and expanded reach among vulnerable populations, including rural dwellers and women."

Meanwhile, an analysis of seven African countries

conducted by IFAD in the report, the use of mobile channels for remittances by migrant workers and their families brought an overall reduction in costs.

It however noted that the, “African remittance market remains the most expensive, with an average cost of 7.83 percent against the global average of six per cent.

“Reducing the cost to the three per cent goal agreed in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) would lead to an additional $4 billion per year being received by migrant families in Africa.

“Mobile transfer costs are already in line with the SDG target of three per cent,” it added.

the mobile and fixed Operators.

Furthermore, the data showed that mobile, fixed and other operators recorded a total number of 99 gateways in use in the industry as at December 2021, while fiber optics deployment stood at 86,057km, which included terrestrial fiber and submarine cable as at December 2021.

The NCC figures also showed that telecom subscriber number decreased from 204,601,313 in 2020, to 195,463,898 active voice subscriptions as at December 2021, which was a loss of 9,137,415 subscriptions.

This represented about 4.46 per cent decline in total subscription within the period under consideration.

However, the NCC attributed the decrease in operators’ subscriber base, majorly to the effect of the directive from the Commission in December 2020 to all GSM operators to suspend the sale and registration of new SIMs, SIM swaps and all porting activities.

The objective of the audit exercise was to verify and ensure compliance by Mobile Network Operators with the set quality standards and requirements of SIM Card registration as issued by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the Commission.

In the area of teledensity,

the data showed that Nigeria`s teledensity decreased from 107.18 per cent as at December 2020 to 102.40 per cent by December 31st 2021.

The number of internet subscribers also decreased from 154,318,925 subscriptions as at December 2020, to 141,994,285 subscriptions as at December 2021 representing a decline of 8 per cent.

Broadband penetration also decreased from 45.02 per cent as at December 2020 to 40.88 per cent as at December, 2021. Similarly, Broadband subscriptions decreased from 85,941,222 subscriptions in December 2020 to 78,041,883 subscriptions as at December 2021.

The statistics however showed an increase in internet usage as there was an increase in the volume of data consumed in the year ended December 2021 when compared with the year ended December 2020. The total volume of data consumed by subscribers increased to 353,118.89TB as at December 2021 from 209,917.40TB as at December 2020. This represents an increase of 68.2 per cent in data consumption within the period.

Telecom contribution Gross Domestic Products increased from 12.45 per cent in the fourth quarter, 2020 to 12.61 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2021, the NCC figures further revealed.

MoMo Payment Service Bank Launched in Rivers Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt MoMo Payment Service Bank (PSB) has been launched at Oil Mill Market, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Port Harcourt, Rivers State to the excitement of Nigerians.

MoMo PSB had gotten final approval to launch full services in April this year from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The permit allows the payment

service bank to offer several services provided by commercial banks, the notable exceptions being disallowance from issuing credit and processing foreign exchange deals.

Speaking at the launch in Port Harcourt, Senior Manager, Sales and Trade Department (Rivers region), MTN Nigeria Communication Plc, Mr. Ohuwafasa Obazenu, explained the benefits of the MoMo PSB. He said, "The major benefit of

MoMo is that you will have a bank on your phone, and you will be able to buy airtime, and conduct a whole lot of transactions from the comfort of your phone.”

Miss Blessing Benedict Abuo, one of the canvassers who spoke to THISDAY at the launch of the new package said: "People that cannot go to the bank to do transactions like paying of NEPA bill, subscription of DSTV, GoTV and other transactions,

can easily use their phones to make these transactions by dialling *671# and following the process of creating their wallets."

She said more people were looking at the initiative as an opportunity for security.

THISDAY observed that there were lots of side attractions at the launch, aimed at attracting the attention and interest of prospective customers in the market and its environs.

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PROFILE

The Man, Ifeanyi Okowa If the universe wills, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, might be the next Vice-President of Nigeria, writes Omon-Julius Onabu

H

is physical appearance is not intimidating neither is his mien awe-inspiring. Yet, his social and political status, today, towers like a colossus. Perhaps, his remarkable educational accomplishments in his early days at the famous Edo College, Benin-City, were pointers to Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa's future stature as a great man of destiny.

It is an affirmation of those enduring qualities that have earned him the nomination as running mate by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, for the 2023 presidential election.

Okowa, who was born on July 8, 1959, to an education-loving family of Sir and Lady Arthur Okowa of Owa-Alero in the present Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State, left no one in doubt about his uncommon academic prowess, when he graduated from the University of Ibadan in June 1981, qualifying as the youngest medical doctor at 22 years.

Okowa's love for his people obviously underlined his initial business ventures as he was to establish private medical centres, called Victory Medical Clinics, at Igbanke in the present Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State and Boji-Boji Owa in Ika South, shortly after his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) between 1981 and 1982.

Before then, the young doctor was appointed by the then Bendel State Hospitals Management Board in 1983 and worked at the General Hospital, Uromi, and Government Hospital, Igbanke, at different times, until he resigned the government appointment in 1986.

Okowa ventured into active politics in 1991 under the guidance of his father and became the Secretary, Ika Local Government Council. Following the creation of Ika North-East Local Government Area later that year, Okowa became its pioneer Executive Chairman (1991-1993).

However, the military truncation of the Third Republic in December 1993, saw Okowa resume his medical practice, only to return to politics in 1998, when ban on politics was lifted by the then military government.

Since the restoration of democracy in 1999, Okowa, had served in various capacities in the Delta State Government. He served in three ministries as commissioner for agriculture and natural resources (1999-2001), water resources development (2001-2003) and health from 2003 to 2006.

In view of the 2007 governorship election, he resigned in October, 2006 to run for the office of governor of Delta State on the platform of the PDP. He emerged runner-up at the party's gubernatorial primary election and subsequently became director-general of the successful campaign of his party that produced Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in 2007. He served as the Secretary of the Government Transition Committee between April and May, 2007, the same position he held again in 1999.

In June, 2007, Okowa was appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG). He resigned in July, 2010, to contest the senatorial election for Delta North Senatorial District, eventually clinching the PDP ticket and winning the election convincingly. His membership of the Nigerian Senate was signposted by outstanding payment performance, including the sponsorship of the health bill that produced the National Health Insurance Act and the Contributory Health Insurance Scheme.

Okowa left the Senate after another attempt at the governorship led to his election as the fourth democratically elected governor of Delta State on April 11, 2015.

He was sworn in on May 29, 2015.

Okowa was elected for a second term with minimal opposition, having swept aside the challenge of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Great Ogboru.

The achievements of the Okowa administration in the different sectors of the state's economy in the last seven

years have been a subject engaging many local and international analysts, but it has been that of commendation. Needless to say, expectations have always been high since its creation in 1991, because Delta State is a leading oil producing state with the government expected to work to reflect the huge amount of revenue accruing to the state.

His administration has been scored high in the area of provision of infrastructure, including roads and bridges across the three senatorial districts as well other vital sectors like health, education, job and wealth creation, prompt payment of civil servants, despite the very large civil service structure.

The complementary role of his wife, Dame Edith Okowa, especially, through her '05 Initiative', has also been widely acknowledged locally and internationally as thousands had benefited from her free health and poverty reduction programmes.

Perhaps, the 2020 National Poverty Index, which saw Delta State leapfrog to second place as least poor state in the country, should provide ample insight into how far the Okowa administration had taken Delta from where it met the state on May 29, 2015.

Moreover, the acknowledgement of the administration's wealth creation efforts by the World Bank in 2019 gave further credence to the Job and Wealth Creation programme under the novel Job Creation Bureau in the state.

The administration's development blueprint is encapsulated in the SMART Agenda, and, like the state information commissioner, Mr Charles Aniagwu, advised recently, whoever desired to do an objective assessment of the performance of the Okowa administration should use the SMART Agenda format as "marking scheme".

In the education sector, the state government government recently created three new universities in addition to the first, Delta State University in Abraka.

Besides the state-owned polytechnics, each of the 25 local government areas of the state would have a technical college under the administration's programme to promote technical and vocational education.

The multiple storm water projects in Asaba, have reached advanced stage and sufficiently tackled the flooding challenge in the state capital.

A similar but larger-scale project and urban renewal scheme is also going on under the Warri/Effurun and Environs Development Agency.

The multi-billion dollars Prof Chike Edozien Secretariat Complex in Asaba, which ensures the housing of all the state ministries, agencies and departments, was inaugurated last year by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who had kind words for Okowa as a visionary leader. Osinbajo, in 2019, also inaugurated several road projects executed by the Okowa government in the coastal communities of the state.

The new-look Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba was regarded as jinxed until Okowa stepped in and practically reconstructed it, attracting accolades from former president Olusegun Obasanjo, who inaugurated the stadium. The arena has since hosted several national and continental athletic and football events.

Much credit has been given by many to Okowa for the relative peace in Delta State, which has dipped the number disruption to oil and gas facilities in the state and the resultant leapfrogging of Delta to the first place in crude oil production in Nigeria today. Communal clashes have been reduced to the barest minimum, while the state has witnessed the steady inflow of people from neighboring states and other parts of the country.

Okowa, who presides over the forum of governors of the South-south states, has severally been saddled with the responsibility of helping plan and execute important events of the PDP, including being appointed as the chairman of the party's convention and presidential election in the recent past.

Thus, the leadership, administrative and organisational credentials of Senator Okowa are well acknowledged beyond Delta State.

FRIDAY JUNE 17, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2022

NEWS

BOOSTING NIGERIA-US RELATIONS...

L-R: United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Ms. Victoria Nuland; Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, and United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Mary Beth Leonard, during a meeting at the State House Abuja…yesterday SUNDAY AGHAEZE

ILO: Only 6% of Global Domestic Workers Have Comprehensive Social Protection Ouchi Chibuzor Only six per cent of domestic workers worldwide have access to comprehensive social protection, according to a new report from the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

This leaves more than 94

percent lacking access to the full range of protections, covering medical care, sickness, unemployment, old age, employment injury, family, maternity, invalidity and survivors’ benefits.

Domestic workers make an important contribution to society,

Lagos Begins Demolition of Three Structures on Ikoyi Building Collapse Site Segun James Lagos State government yesterday disclosed that it was set to deconstruct the three uncompleted high-rise structures on the site of a 21-storey building that collapsed at Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, last November.

It revealed that the structures have failed integrity tests, prompting the State Government to embark on a controlled deconstruction to bring them down.

According to the state government, a structural engineering firm, Edge of Design, would dismantle the twin 14-storey and eight-storey structures on the site in a manner that would not pose any health or environmental hazards to residents in the neighbourhood.

The deconstruction, which was expected to be completed within 90 days, “is to be supervised by relevant agencies of the government and private stakeholders in the built industry.”

The development, it was learnt was part of the recommendations by a sixman panel that investigated the collapse of the 21-storey structure owned by Messrs Fourscore Heights.

The land on which the failed structures sit had been forfeited to the state government by law.

The panel also recommended criminal prosecution of the developer for contravening the State’s building codes.

No fewer than 45 persons, who were mainly construction workers and vendors, died in

the incident. Also, the developer, Mr. Femi Osibona, had died in the collapsed building.

Representative of the contractor, Edge of Design, Mr. Olujimi Lewu, explained the step-by-step process to be employed in bringing down the structures, that the work would be done without any injury or fatality. He illustrated how the slabs would be removed, until the structures come down.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, at a media press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Government Secretariat in Alausa, said safety would be the main consideration in the deconstruction.

He said the press conference was in the spirit of transparency for which the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Oku administration is famous.

He stressed that the deconstruction was agreed upon after extensive consultations with stakeholders, residents and regulators in the built industry.

The Commissioner assured residents in the neighbourhood of their safety throughout the exercise, noting that measures had been put in place to ensure that the contractor maintains the agreed safety protocols.

“The deconstruction will be done with one key focus from all stakeholders; this is safety of people in the neighbourhood and everybody that will be working on the site.

The recommendations of the panel are being implemented to prevent this kind of incident,” Omotoso said.

providing vital care for families and households, but they remain undervalued.

According to the report titled: “Making the right to social security a reality for domestic workers: A global review of policy trends, statistics and extension strategies," about half of all domestic workers have no coverage at all, with the remaining half legally covered by at least one benefit.

It noted that the extension of effective coverage had lagged significantly behind that of legal coverage, adding that only one-in-five domestic workers are actually covered in practice because the vast majority are employed informally.

It also noted that despite their vital contribution to society, supporting households with their most personal and care

needs, most of the world’s 75,6 million domestic workers face multiple barriers to enjoying legal coverage and effective access to social security, the report explains.

“They are often excluded from national social security legislation. As 76.2 percent of domestic workers (57.7 million people) are women, such social protection gaps leave women particularly vulnerable.

“While few domestic workers enjoy comprehensive social protection, they are more likely to be eligible for oldage, disability and survivors’ benefits and medical care, and, to a slightly lesser degree, for maternity benefits and sickness benefits.

“Most of them do not have access to social insurance schemes benefits related

unemployment or employment injury," it added.

The report also highlighted major differences between regions, in Europe and Central Asia, 57.3 per cent of domestic workers are legally covered for all benefits.

“A little more than 10 per cent have such a right in the Americas; almost none are fully covered in the Arab States, Asia and the Pacific and Africa regions that include countries where significant numbers of domestic workers are employed,” it added.

It maintained that COVID-19 pandemic has made glaringly apparent the social protection coverage gaps experienced by domestic workers.

“They were among the worst-hit during the pandemic, with many losing their jobs and

livelihoods. Many of those who kept their jobs were often exposed to the disease without sufficient protective equipment.

“However, domestic workers could rarely rely on adequate health protection, sickness or unemployment benefits, further exposing their vulnerabilities.

“The challenges of ensuring social protection coverage of domestic workers are real but not insurmountable, the report says. It points to a number of international labour standards that provide solutions.

“These include the Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189) and Recommendation, 2011 (No. 201), as well as the Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202) and Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102)."

Proposed 2022 FIRS Practice Direction will Enhance Speedy Delivery of Tax Related Appeals, Says A'Court President Alex Enumah in Abuja The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, on yesterday said that the Proposed Court of Appeal (Federal Inland Revenue Service) Practice Directions 2022 will enhance speedy dispensation of justice in tax related matters at the appellate court.

Justice Dongban-mensem stated this in a remarks at a 2 day Technical Workshop for the Review of the Proposed Court of Appeal (Federal Inland Revenue Service) Practice Directions 2022.

The technical workshop which ended in Abuja on yesterday was organised in collaboration with the FIRS to embark on an in-dept review of the Practice Directions on Tax matters which will guide the conduct of appeals bordering on the operations of the FIRS under its establishment Act. The President described the collaboration as a testament to the willingness of the appellate court under her leadership, to

ensure efficient dispensation of justice.

According to her, the Practice Direction will also govern matters brought before the court based on the application of enacted tax legislations in effect in Nigeria, as well as their applications to parties in any appeals brought before the appellate court.

"Its provisions will also minimize incidences of adjournments, reduce delays in preparation and filing of processes related to interlocutory and final appeals before the Court. The Practice Directions also ensures that the parties are active participants in achieving its aims", she said.

Dongban-mensem explained that prior to this exercise, the court had, in line with its active case management techniques, included tax matters in the list of fast - track appeals in the Court of Appeal (Fast - track) Practice Direction 2021.

"Its objective is to enable the Court abridge the time for compliance with any rule, or Practice Direction. As the

government seeks to expand its tax base to generate revenue, it is expected that tax disputes may increase exponentially. It is against this backdrop that the court intends to further equip itself to effectively dispense with tax matters. Hence the need for the proposed Practice Directions.

"Given the technical nature of the subject matter of these Practice Directions, I am delighted that the FIRS, under the leadership of the Executive Chairman Mr. Muhammad M. Nami, is collaborating with the Court to ensure that the Practice Directions are comprehensive, concise and will operate contemporaneously with current and emergent issues touching on taxation."

On his part, the Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Muhammad Nami who spoke through the Coordinating Director, Compliance Support Group, Dr. Dick Irri, said it is imperative to collaborate with the judiciary to ensure speedy justice delivery on tax matters.

"The FIRS continues to recognize that the judiciary is a crucial stakeholder in tax administration responsible for the interpretation of tax laws and resolution of tax disputes; hence, our continuous engagement and collaboration with judiciary to seek for ways to improve our tax system.

"As we all can attest, taxation is a specialized area of knowledge which has continued to evolve overtime. And more recently, following the growth of digital economy, a judicial process that is dynamic to enhance this evolution and ensure quick resolution of tax cases is desirable. It will help in the development of our fragile economy and efficient domestic revenue mobilization to finance the needs of Nigeria."

The Rules committee of the court is expected to harmonize all suggestions proffered by stakeholders during the workshop and consequently present a clean copy for adoption to qualify as the Practice Directions of the Court of Appeal.

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NEWS

ATTORNEYS-GENERAL OF STATES OF THE FEDERATION MEETING...

L-R: Lagos Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo; President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olumide Akpata; Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba, during the Body of Attorneys-General of States of the Federation Meeting held in Lagos... yesterday

Okonjo-Iweala’s WTO Nears Deals on Vaccines, Fisheries in Final Hours of Talks Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The world’s top trade ministers neared major agreements on reduction of fishery subsidies and a loosening of vaccine-production limits yesterday evening after marathon talks in Geneva, which a day earlier looked destined for failure.

If finalised after days of talks, the package would break the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) seven-year negotiating drought and avert a damaging impasse for the organisation.

The WTO has struggled to gain its footing after four years of attacks under former President Donald Trump, a pandemic, strained supply chains and Russia’s war with Ukraine, a Bloomberg report said.

The possible outcome, described by an official involved in the latest talks, emerged after an all-night negotiating session at the WTO’s headquarters on the shores of Lake Geneva.

Bloomberg reported that it may provide a sufficient basis for the WTO Director General

Owo Killings: Declare State of Emergency on Forest Reserves, House Tells FG Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives at plenary yesterday urged the federal government to declare state of emergency in the various forest reserves in Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, Ondo State in order to comb and fish out criminals perpetrating crimes.

The House condemned in strong terms, the recent killings of worshippers in a catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State by gunmen.

It mandated the Police authorities not to stop at just fishing out the perpetrators, but to also prosecute them so that at the end justice may be served.

The lawmakers said it was high time they discussed the issue of state police in order to include it in the constitution.

They directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to alleviate the suffering of family members of those that lost their lives and were injured by supplying them with essential relief materials.

The resolutions were sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by the lawmaker representing the constituency, Hon. Adelegbe Oluwatimehin.

Moving the motion, Oluwatimehin recalled that on Sunday, 5th day of June, 2022, at about 12:00 noon while the holy mass was going on, there was a deadly attack carried out on Saint Francis Xavier Catholic

Church located at Owa-luwa Street, about 200 meters away from the palace of the traditional ruler of Owo, Olowo of Owo Kingdom in Ondo State by gunmen.

He also recalled that a similar attack was carried out on Molege Community within Ose Local Government Area of the state at midnight of 6th January, 2022 where farmlands and houses were set ablaze and 3 Persons were killed.

He noted that the dastardly act was reportedly carried out on the innocent congregation with the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) after which the defenceless people were being shot indiscriminately.

He expressed sadness that the attack left behind over 40 persons dead in their own pool of blood and many more injured and presently on lifeline at various hospitals and homes.

The lawmaker said, "Further Recall that on Sunday, 23rd day of January, 2022, in the dead of the night, there was a deadly attack carried out on Okeluse Community of Ose Local Government Area of the State also by gunmen suspected to be the same Fulani herdsmen razing down farmlands, houses and left 3 persons dead. Further recall that about November, 2021, a group of herdsmen killed the Olufon of Ifon in Ose Local Government, Oba Israel Adewusi, of blessed memory.”

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to claim negotiating success after just over a year on the job.

If approved by consensus before the closing ceremonies, the pacts could put new momentum behind the WTO and its ability to govern the $28 trillion global trading system.

“On the march at the WTO for that final agreement at MC12... getting closer,” European Union Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis tweeted, referring to the WTO’s 12th ministerial meeting, which started Sunday and was extended a day to avoid an impasse.

Among the surprising turnarounds was India’s embrace of a unified approach, after several days of threatening to hold a hard line even if it meant the talks collapsed.

“There was a lot of understanding amongst each other. There was a lot of sensitivity to each other’s concerns and needs,” Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal told reporters Thursday.

“In the true spirit that embodies world trade , in that spirit that the outcomes of the MC12 are being watched by the world as a signal that the multilateral order is not broken,” it added.

Trade ministers will give their final consideration to a deal to water down the WTO’s intellectual-property protections for Covid-19 vaccines -- a key agreement that Okonjo-Iweala said was necessary to end the “morally unacceptable” inequity of vaccine access in poorer nations.

The WTO’s trade and health package also includes commitments to help ease the transportation and distribution of vaccines across borders.

WTO members are also poised to agree to a scaled-down agreement to curb harmful government fishing subsidies, fulfilling a key 2015 United Nations sustainability target aimed at slowing the rapid depletion of global fish stocks.

The package would also temporarily extend the WTO’s 24-year-old moratorium on e-commerce tariffs until March 31, 2023. There were fears that if the 1998 accord lapsed this week, it could it could open a new regulatory can of worms that could result in cross-border tariffs on Amazon.com purchases, Netflix movies, Apple music, and

Sony PlayStation games.

Ministers were expected to give their final assessments of the package at a WTO heads of delegation meeting yesterday evening. The package is not guaranteed and there may be further changes because the WTO’s consensus principle permits any member to reject any agreement for any reason.

Ministers from more than 100 countries were meeting at the global trade watchdog's headquarters in Geneva this week for the first time in more than four years to thrash out new trade rules -- a feat many doubt in an era of high geopolitical tensions.

The body's 164 members must all agree for new global trade rules to be passed, meaning that one member can block deals.

Nigeria Raises Stake in Pan-African Housing Development Firm with N3bn Additional Capital Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government has increased its stake in pan-African housing development financier, Shelter Afrique with about $3.003 billion or $7.15 million in additional capital subscription.

The additional capital subscription at conservative official dollar/naira of N420 to $1, places Nigeria just one per cent behind top shareholder, Kenya, a news medium based in the East African country, busiweek, stated yesterday.

Shelter Afrique, headquartered in Kenya, says it’s the only pan-African finance institution that exclusively supports the development of housing and urban development in Africa.

The organisation is a partnership of 44 African governments, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Africa Reinsurance Corporation (Africa-Re).

Added to Nigeria’s new payment, the company also received more capital subscriptions from Swaziland and Burkina Faso.

The increase in stake now takes Nigeria’s shareholding to 15.8 per cent, one-percentage point behind top shareholder Kenya, which currently stands at 16.85

per cent.

The other top three shareholders of Shelter Afrique whose shareholdings have now changed include AfDB, which now stands at 12.16 per cent, down from 12.71 per cent; Mali at 5.3 per cent, down from 5.54 per cent; and Ghana at 5.05 per cent, down from 5.28 per cent.

Acting Managing Director and Chief Finance Officer of the organisation, Kingsley Muwowo, was quoted to have lauded the government of Nigeria for its show of confidence in the institution.

He said the move now places Nigeria in a good position to become the largest shareholder in Shelter Afrique when the country fully meets its capital commitment.

“We are grateful to the government of Nigerian for their continued support and the importance they have placed on affordable housing.

“We are especially grateful to the Honourable Minister for Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola, Honorable Minister for State, Engineer Abubakar Aliyu, and Honorable Minister for Finance Dr. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, for their long-term support and for honouring this significant

payment.

“Additionally, we appreciate Nigeria’s active shareholder and board participation,” Mr. Muwowo was quoted to have said.

The relationship between Nigeria and Shelter Afrique has been growing in recent years. In September 2020, the institution received $9.4 million additional capital subscription from Nigeria.

Other countries that have so far ramped up capital subscription in the Pan-African housing development financier in 2022 are Swaziland and Burkina Faso which paid $317,854.54 and $34,610.00 respectively, for additional stakes.

“So far, we have received $7,504,295.45 in additional capital from member states within the last six months of 2022.

“We are grateful to our shareholders for this much needed capital injection which will go a long way in strengthening the capital structure of the company to support the ongoing fund-raising efforts to raise additional debt capital required to support project pipeline which now stands at $1 billion across 44 member countries,” Mr. Muwowo said.

Shelter Afrique recently completed a debut N46 billion ($110.7 million) Series 1 fixed rate

senior unsecured bond issuance in Nigeria’s capital market under its N200 billion (US$481.3 million) bond issuance programme for housing and urban development in Nigeria.

The company plans similar bond issuance in East African markets including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.

Earlier in the year, the firm announced that it was in the middle of a restructuring programme aimed at lifting the institution from a financial abyss, leading to the sack of its erstwhile chief executive, Zimbabwean national Andrew Chimphondah, whose contract was scheduled to have run until 2024 from September 2018.

The exit of Chimphondah from the business followed a board decision that appointed its Chief Finance Officer, Muwowo, to take over the position in an acting capacity, pending the recruitment of a substantive managing director.

Shelter Afrique fell into the loss making territory in 2015 following alleged years of mismanagement that led to the ouster of the former Managing Director, James Mugerwa, over allegations of financial impropriety and governance issues.

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NEWSXTRA

PRESENTATION OF AWARD TO STAFF...

L-R: Director Planning, Research and Statistics Ministry of Petroleum Resources (MPR) Mr. Musa Talle; Minister of State Petroleum Resources Chief Timipre Sylva; Director Upstream, MPR. Engr.

Kamoru Busari, and Director Human Resources, Mrs. Fumilayo Otu-Bassey, at the presentation of award to staff of the ministry to mark 2022 Day, in Abuja …yesterday

Lawmakers Urge Buhari to Secure Release of Remaining Kidnapped Abuja-Kaduna Train Passengers, Others Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to expedite action in securing the release of the remaining 51 Nigerians kidnapped in the Abuja-Kaduna

bound train that was attacked by terrorists on March 28, and all others held hostage by bandits and terrorists across the country.

The House also urged the federal government to set up a high-powered inter-agency panel to coordinate efforts and

Kogi West Primary: Adeyemi Rejects Result, Petitions Adamu Sunday Aborisade, Abuja The Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Smart Adeyemi, has rejected the outcome of the recently conducted All Progressives Congress (APC) National Assembly primary in his constituency.

In the election which was held in Kabba, headquarters of the Senatorial District, Adeyemi had lost to a member of the House of Representatives, Sunday Karimi, who was announced as the candidate.

Adeyemi, who addressed journalists in Abuja yesterday, however said he had petitioned the National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, to draw the party's leadership to the alleged anomaly, that happened during the poll.

The Senator said his ordeal started when he refused to comply with the advice of Governor of the State, Yahaya Bello, that he should withdraw from the race.

He explained that Bello had promised to make him the chief of staff when he wins the presidential election.

He said the Governor also asked him to hold a meeting with the Chairman of the APC in the state, Abdullahi Bello but that the parley ended in a deadlock.

He said, "I had a closed door meeting with the APC Chairman of my state, at the instance of my State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello.

"The party chairman suggested that I should not contest the elections, but rather join hands with them for the realisation of Project Governor Yahaya Bello to President Yahaya Bello.

"It is to the knowledge of my constituents and Nigerians

at large that I have remained committed to this project and have not for once minced words about it.

"However, the condition for my stepping aside was to take on a position which was technocratic in nature when my governor eventually emerges as president and this did not align with my personal goals and aspirations as a journalist and a crusader for the common man.

"I immediately informed Abdullahi Bello unambiguously that my training as a journalist will not permit me to aspire to the role and as such, there was the need to fine tune things to accommodate everyone.

"The meeting ended inconclusively, and thereafter, events metamorphosed into threats that I must not contest in the primary elections.”

Speaking further, Adeyemi said: "After due considerations and deliberations with my senior friends, constituents, and my counterparts who are integral members of our great party, I headed their call, summoned courage and participated in the elections none the less.

"Let me state unequivocally and without ambiguity, that the elections which took place on the May 22nd, 2022, in Kogi State were neither free nor fair.

"It is on record that the list of delegates was changed 24 hours to the elections proper.

Individuals who are not from Kogi West were brought in to vote under extremely hostile environment with militants, armed men, and unidentified thugs in their numbers.

"This was apart from authorised security agents who were present to observe the event and ensure law and order.

ensure the release of kidnapped victims across the country, as well as assist their families.

The resolutions of the lawmakers were sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Bamidele Salam and 10 others at the plenary yesterday.

Moving the motion, Salam noted that in the last 10 years, terrorism, banditry, kidnappings and other forms of violent crimes had become a security epidemic in different parts of the country.

He also noted that in 2022, there have been over 100 cases of kidnappings and abduction of innocent Nigerians, the most disturbing being the case of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.

He expressed concern that over 70 per cent of the kidnapped victims were mostly children, women and elderly persons who were violently

attacked and captured by criminals in the course of discharging their daily activities on the farms, villages, roads, worship centres and other places.

He also expressed concern that a large number of the kidnapped citizens had remained in captivity for years, months and days without any form of help to either release them or provide social, medical or economic support to their grieving family members from the government.

The lawmaker said: "Cognisant that some of the unresolved cases of kidnappings include the remnant of 2014 kidnapped Chibok girls, Leah Sharibu in February 2018, the Islamiyya school students kidnapped in Niger State on 30 May 2021, the Bethel Baptist High School Kaduna students kidnapped on July 5, 2021,

and the Students of Federal Government College Birnin Yauri students kidnapped on 21 October, 2021.

“Dismayed that during the train attack, 168 Nigerians were reportedly kidnapped with eight persons killed, including a young doctor due to travel out of the country, the week the incident occurred.

"Concerned that the abductors of the train attack recently released pictures and video footages of 62 victims held hostage in terrible, physical and emotional conditions with a threat to kill them if their demands were not met by the federal government.

“Also dismayed that the hostages include children aged two, five, seven and nine years; men with bullet wounds, a victim with an amputated leg; diabetic patients, while others are citizens with

various health challenges as well as nursing mothers. “Aware that the stories told by 11 of the hostages recently released by the kidnappers depict the increasingly deteriorating condition of the remaining hostages who are getting malnourished, emotionally distressed and psychologically traumatised for over 70 days in the forest."

Salam expressed concerns that if nothing urgent was done to secure the freedom of victims in captivity across the country, citizens would lose confidence in government which may embolden criminals and groups to step up acts of criminality and thus endanger the stability of the nation.

Adopting the motion, the House mandated its Committees on Army, National Security and Intelligence to ensure compliance.

2023: PDP Presents Certificates of Return to Oduah, Uba, 28 Others

Udora Orizu in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has presented Certificates of Return to 30 candidates who won the party primaries into the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly.

Addressing journalists Wednesday night after receiving the certificates, Senator Chris Uba while expressing gratitude to God and the people of Anambra, reiterated commitment towards ensuring victory for the PDP at all levels during the 2023 general elections.

According to him: "It has been a long journey but God has helped us to get to this place and we are promising Anambra people that we are ready for the election and we are going to succeed.

“We have the capacity and everything to run and win this election. PDP has no problem.

We are one united family. The Labour you are talking about is our brother. Obi is our brother.

He is even going to support us because he knows our capacity and we are ready to succeed."

Speaking on the existing

relationship between Governor Charles Soludo who was voted into power on the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Uba said he doesn't have any issues with Obi, saying they are brothers.

"Our governor is very close to us. He is the governor of our state, he is our father. We respect him.

We are all his children. He has to support us and we are going to succeed. We are cooperating with the governor.

“We do not have a problem. We are one family. For the presidential election, we do not have any problem. You are talking about Obi. Obi is our brother. If God says Obi is going to be president, he is going to be president. Anybody God says is going to be we are going to support the person," he added On her part, Senator Stella Oduah applauded the delegates for voting en-masse during the primaries, vowing that the PDP candidates were adequately equipped with strategies to combat the other political parties.

"About six of us are sitting members in the National Assembly

and about six as well for State Assembly. The rest are new people but with wonderful antecedents.

For those who are already sitting, if you take Hon. Lynda Ikpeazu, who is representing Onitsha North and South, you have to visit to see the remarkable work that is going and would continue going on," Oduah said Responding to question on the emergence of the former Peter Obi as the presidential candidate of Labour Party, she said they were not jittery that the Labour Party was coming into Anambra, adding that it was not the first time new parties would be coming into the state.

"But like I said Anambra is a PDP state. That apart, we have people with capacity and antecedents of performance. When you have those two, what do you have to fear? You don’t have to fear anything. Politics is local.

“What we are contesting for is to represent our people to ensure that we continue doing the good work we have been doing. They know we are performers. So they cannot leave what they know to go to what they do not know. Our

campaign is going to be what we have done, what we are doing and what we are going to do.

“Labour cannot say that. Labour is in anticipation of what they might do. So you do not have a comparison. We are not jittery at all. We are more than capable and we are going to defeat Labour.

"On how we get along with the governor of Anambra State, we get on very well. First of all, we are brothers and sisters. He is our governor no doubt about that. But you are talking about legislative elections. He will support us for the simple reason that he knows our capacity.

“What we want is to have the Igbos participate at the national level. Now the candidate that would take us to that level clearly has to be at the majority party. We are the majority party. We were not last time, but 2023 we are going to be the majority party and that is where the Igbos should be.

“We should be at the centre.

So this is not about brotherhood and sisterhood, but what is best for our people and we believe we are best for our people," Oduah added.

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POLITICS

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

Time to Heal: The Tinubu’s Approach John Mayaki says steps taken so far by APC presidential flag bearer, Bola Tinubu, to reconcile with opponents is laudable

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n his victory speech as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared the stiff completion over, ushering the party into a new phase, that of reconciliation, fence-mending and unity against the real ‘enemy’, the Poverty Development Party, as he rechristened the opposition party.

“The competition is now over. Those who did not support me, you have nothing to fear. I hold no grudges. Let us join hands to beat the PDP and beat back their retrogressive understanding of Nigeria,” he said.

Almost a week after his victory, he has made good his vow, displaying the large-hearted, generous, and mature brand of politics responsible for his extensive structure and popular support in all regions of the country.

He was at the residence of the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, one of his main challengers for the ticket whose ambition caused the ripples and generated heated debate, given the circumstances of his rise and the role of Tinubu in it.

Many had expected Tinubu, having prevailed, to extract a pound of flesh and conclusively put “the disciple who tried to outshine his master” in his place for good. But he took the high road, extending a handshake of peace and collaboration to the Vice President, personally inviting him to join his push to keep the APC in Aso Rock beyond 2023.

To him, Vice President Osinbajo’s run, in spite of popular opinion, was a legitimate choice in a democracy and he holds no grudges. The party must turn the corner, it must heal.

Other aspirants such as Ibikunle Amosun, Godswill Akpabio, and Governor Kayode Fayemi, three heroes on the night whose announcement of a step down for Asiwaju Tinubu began a momentum that indicated his march to victory, also received the candidate and paid audience to his rallying call — even though it could be argued that they require no further convincing; Asiwaju preached to the choir!

Governors Yahaya Bello and David Umahi, Senate President Ahmad Lawan also took him as a guest. Governor Bello donated his campaign office in a clear demonstration of support. Asiwaju can place Kogi in the “secure” column.

Jack Rich and Rochas Okorocha, two aspirants whose appeal didn’t quite move the delegates, were not overlooked; Asiwaju reached out to them in true leader fashion. All hands are required on deck.

With the deftness and maturity of a veteran, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has begun the work of healing the divides and uniting the party behind the agenda that matters the most — bringing the APC over the finish line and preventing a reversal set to occur if the Poverty Development Party, as he calls them, is allowed to seize power.

Asiwaju Tinubu also extended the olive branch to the man who came a distant second at the primary, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi

Well Done, Yemi Osinbajo Etim Etim commends Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for not stepping down during the recent presidential primary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)

Putin’s a “Hitler in the Making” Claims Egyptian Billionaire Sawiris Chido Nwangwu likened the occupationist activities of Russia in Ukraine to Germany-Nazi armed squads during the second world war

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t’s a few days after the APC presidential convention, and I will like to commend Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for conducting a decent and effective presidential run that has inspired so many young people and motivated millions of others. Although the VP was not declared winner, there is no doubt that he’s won the hearts of millions of Nigerians across the country. It is obvious to me that APC will never win the presidential election unless Osinbajo’s supporters are in full support of the campaign. It’s therefore in Tinubu’s interest to rein in on his over exuberant supporters who believe that the best way to celebrate is to insult the losers.

To the millions of the VP’s supporters, the young and the educated middle class, please stay engaged and keep mobilizing. I’m happy that Prof Osinbajo did not yield to the immense pressure to withdraw from the race. Stepping down for Tinubu would have been the greatest disservice to the millions of Nigerians who are not only motivated by the freshness he exuded, but also looked up to his leadership. He’s the Obama of our time.

There are indications that Prof Osinbajo would stay engaged in the polity. A few days after the convention, he visited his supporters at the Campaign Office in Asokoro, Abuja, where he thanked them for their support and pledged to continue to support the party. He said: “This movement is a movement within a party. We are not doing something that

Amaechi. He had mounted a serious challenge for the ticket, beginning with a theatrical sprint, but ultimately fell short.

-Mayaki is a Journalist, Historian, Diplomat, Archivist, Documentalist, Communication, Culture and Media expert (Coventry University, England).

He’s also an Oxford and Cambridge University-trained entrepreneurship, leadership and sustainability expert. A Professional Consultant on Communication, Management and Strategy (Chattered Management Institute, England).

has not been heard of before. What is new is that we have a firm belief that a new Nigeria is possible and it is possible through us who are here. “We went to the convention, and the results showed us clearly that we lost, but it is only a battle, it is not the war. There are battles ahead, but we will win the war for a new Nigeria. I have no doubt in my mind that we will win that war for a new Nigeria.

“That is why our movement for a new Nigeria must remain strong and firm.

And we will do everything to keep our movement strong and solid.”

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

T

here are those who beat about the bush regarding what they want to, really, say. Not quite so for one of Egypt’s richest billionaires, Naguib Sawiris. He is the the Chairman and CEO of Orascom.

A few days ago on the American business news network, CNBC, he was asked about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order for the ongoing brutal invasion of Ukraine. First, he made it simple and clear that “it’s the making of a crazy man that woke up one day and decided to invade a peaceful country with no warning.”

He stated that the world should act decisvely and stop the Russians and Putin: “We should be winning this war, because it’s another Hitler in the making. It’s the

same story in the Second World War…. It started like that, we appeased Hitler by giving him a piece of Czechoslovakia. So then he walks into Poland, he occupies the whole thing, and he continues and he continues — it’s not going to stop there.”

He added that “Trying to avoid a confrontation can be always perceived as weakness, and will not be a deterrent….

And then the end, what are we going to do? We see all these Ukrainians dying in front of our eyes, are we going to be watching that? No? So, I am not in favor of appeasing this man.”

Appeasement was a major factor in Hitler rapid rise and his unleashing racist grandiosity, toxic ideas, imperialist sense of empire and raw, deep-seated ambition to control and own more space. Lebensraum!

Evidently, Sawiris read the history of the ancient and mordern greater Russia, the USSR, and new staellite republics around the giant.

As a matter of factual history, the occupationist impetus of Russian armed forces inside several cities in the Ukraine are bloody reminders of the GermanyNazi armed squads who let loose equally punitive air sorties and strikes against non-combatants, women and children.

The current urgent issues in the Ukraine — diplomatic and military — require the provision of support that will force the aggressor to think twice, and follow the path to peace!

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T H I S D AY

DAVID UGOLOR canvasses a stakeholders’ meeting to ensure the review is comprehensive enough to strengthen the operations of the NDDC

CHARLES ONUNAIJU argues that personal integrity and discipline in addition to broad mindedness and rigour are needed criteria for the next president

BUHARI AND THE NIGERIAN CONUNDRUM Even President Buhari’s most inveterate supporters know that he has no magic wand WR ZDYH RͿ WKH DFFXPXODWHG SUREOHPV WKDW have besieged the country. But no one expected that under his oversubscribed leadership things could remain the same or even worse. His long-drawn campaign for the presidency and what appeared as the desperate conspiracy of the established political elites to make him perpetually unelectable, turned him into a mythical, PHVVLDQLF ÀJXUH GHVWLQHG WR KHOS WKH ORQJ oppressed and over-duped masses from the reckless brigandage of the elite. Peasants, artisans, workers, professionals and even

left wing intellectuals especially those untainted by ethnic and religious bigotry saw in the clean resume of President Buhari’s service in the various branches of public life as a launch pad to re-take the country from the cesspool of debilitating corruption to which the shameless elites have plunged it. With no title, except one genuinely earned, and not traditional or honorary easily bought and sold across the country, Buhari came across as a harbinger for something genuinely new, during his long years of struggle for the presidency. With a fairly long political odyssey dotted with recriminating electoral losses, he evoked WKH LPDJHV RI VXFK ÀJXUHV DV $PHULFD·V Abraham Lincoln, and even the Chinese reform patriarch, Deny Xiaoping who fell from power several times and was banished to remote village to pick fruits in order to be “re-educated” by peasants. He returned to power in 1978 to orchestrate the trajectories of China’s economic modernization that has culminated in the country’s awe-inspiring development.

'HVSLWH WKH HOLWH·V SHUHQQLDO EOXͿ RI Buhari’s un-electability, the swath of Nigerian working people, including peasants, artisans and radical intelligential kept faith in his electoral prospects. At the time the traditional political elite and their surrogates were completely discredited, and their political cup full and running over, they made a quick dash to President Buhari who had enormous popular good will and was about the only bridge between the rotten discredited elites and the angry Nigerians.

The hybrid political formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was actually D PXWXDO WUDGH RͿ LQ ZKLFK %XKDUL EURXJKW his street credibility and acceptance, while the drowning political class invested their PRQH\ WR ÀQDQFH WKH H[SHQVLYH ORJLVWLFV RI presidential campaign.

However, most observers and optimists

FRIDAY JUNE 17, 2022

in the Buhari’s traditional camp saw Buhari compromise with the discredited political class as a tactical maneuver only to achieve the strategic goal of attaining power on behalf of the people, after which he would compel the elite to commit suicide as a class and be re-born again as genuinely SDWULRWLF 1LJHULDQV WRWDOO\ ZHDQHG RͿ from primitive accumulation and wholly dedicated to building an inclusive healthy and wealthy nation in which no one is left behind. President Buhari’s strong forte of securing the country and making corruption unattractive were the central pillars of his candidacy and on which a new Nigeria was to spring forth. Even his supposedly then, strong nationalist credential was considered DQ HͿHFWLYH DQWLGRWH WR WKH UHVXUJHQFH RI ethnic and religious bigotry.

But, seven years into the saddle, the Buhari’s over-subscribed brand is on a free fall. The same elite that hounded him and not only caused him to shed tears but insidiously mocked him as “cry, cry *HQHUDOV DUH KLV LQQHU FLUFOH FRQÀGDQWV Workers, peasants, radical intelligentsia are the primary casualties of President Buhari’s rule. Contractors, rent collectors, speculators, front and middle men and women decked in suit, ties and Agbada, circle all over the places, pocketing KXPRQJRXV XQHDUQHG SURÀW ZKLOH WKH Nigerian people groan. Basic services like electricity, water supply are unavailable despite huge investments in the sectors.

The ordinary Nigerian’s have known the empty and deceitful demagoguery of democracy as only an alibi by which the elite perfected their “white” crimes, and did not stick their heads to elect President Buhari for the ritual of democracy demagoguery and chicanery.

But, today and unfortunately, Buhari RͿHUV LQ GRXEOH GRVH WKH HPSW\ VORJDQV RI democracy. Around him and with him, in his presidency are some of his former longterm traducers, a banal clique of self-serving SROLWLFDO SURÀWHHUV GDVKLQJ KRSHV DQG causing the Nigerian people to lose faith in their country.

The security challenges have multiplied while corruption has bounced back as the HQDEOHU DQG VROH FULWHULD IRU SXEOLF R΀FH The disgraced faction of the political elite domiciled in the so- called opposition party have found their voice and as if yesterday never existed, are desperately marketing themselves as messiahs in the waiting.

The question that critically begs for answer is why President Buhari’s seemingly personal integrity and honesty failed to translate to radical program of political FKDQJH 3UHVLGHQW %XKDUL·V IDWDO ÁDZ ZDV in obviously believing that perceived personal honesty and loyalty of associates and even relatives, unrelated to political D΀OLDWLRQV RULHQWDWLRQV ZRUOGYLHZ RU political convictions or ideologies are of nominal or no consequence at all to regime character and performance. That IDWDO ÁDZ RI 3UHVLGHQW %XKDUL KDV Pade his administration despite his personal discipline, an incoherent and acrimonious EXQFK ZLWK UHJXODU LQÀJKWLQJ Mr. Onunaiju writes from Abuja

IMPERATIVE OF REVIEWING THE NDDC AMENDMENT BILL Recently, the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) commissioned a review work on the NDDC Act Amendment Bill ahead of the public hearing on the bill, currently before the National Assembly. The report has been submitted and we consider it expedient to convene a stakeholders meeting to iron out the issues. We thought we should all meet to consider the report, collate and discuss inputs from key stakeholders in the Niger Delta region such as the NDDC, CSOs, media, host communities and others. The intention is to ensure that the ongoing review process is comprehensive and UHÁHFWV VWDNHKROGHUV· IHHGEDFN WKDW FRXOG strengthen the operations of the NDDC. We believe that it is important to review the NDDC Act Amendment Bill, discuss reports relevant to the act and collate stakeholders’ feedback ahead of the public hearing to be announced by the National Assembly.

We hope the outcome of the stakeholders meeting will be used to engage relevant committee of the National Assembly before and during the public hearing to ensure that WKH ÀQDO GRFXPHQW UHÁHFWV VWDNHKROGHUV· input. For us and the cluster organisations, this process is very important as we desire a transparent, accountable and improved NDDC working collaboratively with key stakeholders to develop the region.

We have decided to review the NDDC Act Amendment Bill under the ANEEJ-SCALE project on Enhancing Anti-corruption

We consider this project as an important one that seeks to promote and engage in anti-corruption policy reforms at both the national and sub-national levels with an ultimate goal of strengthening governance to deliver development goals to citizens, particularly in addressing poverty and inequality amongst our people and Social Inclusive Reform Initiatives in 1LJHULD 7KH 6&$/( SURMHFW LV D ÀYH \HDU project being implemented by Palladium and its resource partners with funds from USAID. It is designed to enhance local civil society organizations’ ability to be positive and responsible change agents in Nigeria.

The Enhancing Anti-corruption and Social Inclusive Reform Initiatives in Nigeria project is designed following the anchor cluster model adopted by Palladium to promote and engage in anti-corruption policy reforms. ANEEJ received grant on the SCALE project as anchor organisation working with eight cluster member organizations spread across six states and the Federal Capital Territory. The States

are Abia, Edo, Delta, Imo, Ondo, Rivers and the FCT, Abuja. ANEEJ is working with the eight cluster members located in these states including the FCT to implement and deliver this project.

The cluster organisations are: 21st Century Community Empowerment for youth and Women Initiative, Abuja; Community Empowerment and Development Initiative (CEDI), Warri, Delta State; Community Heritage Watch for Development Initiative, (KAI) Akure, Ondo State; Christian

Fellowship and Care Foundation (CFCF), Owerri, Imo State; Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), Aba, Abia State; Gender and Development Action (GADA) Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Joint Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD) Edo State Chapter; and New Apostolic Church Centre for Development (NCD), Benin City, Edo State.

We consider this project as an important one that seeks to promote and engage in anti-corruption policy reforms at both the national and sub-national levels with an ultimate goal of strengthening governance to deliver development goals to citizens, particularly in addressing poverty and inequality amongst our people.

The project is also designed to address reforms issues within the development commissions set up to develop the Niger Delta region such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the oil and gas producing areas development commissions in Abia, Delta, Edo, Imo and Ondo.

Interestingly, a process has been initiated to amend the NDDC Act, an amendment bill has since November 2021 passed the second reading on WKH ÁRRU RI WKH KDOORZHG FKDPEHU DQG WKH QHHG IRU &62V LQSXW WR UHÁHFW WKH people’s demand before it is passed is paramount.

Rev Ugolor is Executive Director, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice

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FRIDAY JUNE 17, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

INEFFICIENCY AT THE PORTS…11 There is urgent need to upgrade the Eastern ports

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espite repeated promises from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) PDQDJHPHQW DW GLͿHUHQW WLPHV &DODEDU SRUW VXͿHUV FKLHÁ\ IURP low water depth. Hundreds of billions of Naira that have been invested by the federal government to dredge the ZDWHU FKDQQHO PDGH OLWWOH LPSDFW $QG WKDW KDV GHSULYHG WKH SRUW ZKLFK LV FORVHU WR WKH ODQGORFNHG 1LJHU 5HSXEOLF WKDQ &RWRQRX LQ %HQLQ 5HSXEOLF RI good business.

0DULWLPH VWDNHKROGHUV KDYH EHHQ DVNLQJ SHUWLQHQW TXHVWLRQV IRU ZKLFK WKH authorities have failed to provide answers. Why has dredging the water FKDQQHOV GHÀHG WKH odds? Why is the nation unable to provide the QHFHVVDU\ LQIUDVWUXFWXUH DQG UHGXFH WKH H[FHVVLYH pressure on the Lagos SRUWV" :K\ FDQ·W WKH &DODEDU SRUW DORQJ ZLWK 3RUW +DUFRXUW :DUUL DQG .RNR SRUWV EH GHYHORSHG DV KDYHQ IRU LPSRUWHUV LQ WKH UHJLRQ" ,QGHHG ZK\ FDQ·W WKH\ EH HTXLSSHG ZLWK JRRG LQIUDVWUXFWXUH DQG FDSDFLW\ WR FRPSHWH LQ WKH JURZLQJ FDUJR DQG PDULWLPH EXVLQHVV" ,Q UDQNLQJ WKH /DJRV SRUWV DV WK RXW RI SRUWV DVVHVVHG JOREDOO\ WKH :RUOG %DQN &RQWDLQHU 3RUW 3HUIRUPDQFH ,QGH[ UDLVHV FHUWDLQ IXQGDPHQWDO LVVXHV ,Q FRPSLOLQJ WKH ,QGH[ WKH UHSRUW VWDWHG WKDW ´7KH LQWHQWLRQ ZDV WR LQ D FRPSDUDEOH PDQQHU identify gaps and opportunities for improvement WKDW ZLOO XOWLPDWHO\ EHQHÀW DOO VWDNHKROGHUV from shipping lines to national governments to FRQVXPHUV µ 6RPH RI WKH FRQVHTXHQFHV RI SRRUO\ SHUIRUPLQJ SRUWV DFFRUGLQJ WR WKH UHSRUW LQFOXGH VFDUFLW\ LQÁDWLRQ VORZHU JURZWK XQHPSOR\PHQW DQG KLJK LQWHUQDWLRQDO WUDGLQJ FRVWV 7KH DVVHVVPHQW ZDV RQ SRUWV ZLWK D PLQLPXP RI YDOLG SRUW FDOOV ZLWKLQ WKH PRQWK SHULRG RI WKH VWXG\ 0DMRU VWDNHKROGHUV DW D UHFHQW ZRUNVKRS DJUHHG that the federal government has failed to position WKH SRUWV DPRQJ WKH EHVW RQ WKH FRQWLQHQW EHFDXVH

RI VHULHV RI ERWFKHG SROLFLHV HYHQ ZLWK WKH HDVH RI GRLQJ EXVLQHVV LQLWLDWLYH ([SHUWV LQ WKH PDULWLPH VHFWRU VDLG DERXW SHU FHQW RI DOO LPSRUWV WR :HVW $IULFD DUH GHVWLQHG WR 1LJHULD %XW ZKDW JHWV WR our seapRUWV LV EDUHO\ SHU FHQW )RU \HDUV WKH /DJRV SRUW KDV EHHQ JUDYHO\ FKDOOHQJHG E\ SRRU DFFHVVLELOLW\ DQG WKLV LV D FRORVVDO HFRQRPLF ORVV IRU WKH FRXQWU\ ´0RVW VKLSV EULQJLQJ JRRGV WR 1LJHULD SUHIHU WR JR WR RWKHU SRUWVµ VDLG PDULWLPH DQG FRPPHUFLDO ODZ\HU 2OLVD $JEDNRED 6$1 ´,W·V OLNH \RX EX\LQJ D FDU LQ /LYHUSRRO WKH FDU ZLOO JR WR %HQLQ 5HSXEOLF SRUWV LQVWHDG RI JRLQJ WR /DJRV EHFDXVH RI WKH /DJRV SRUW LV FRPSOHWHO\ LQH΀FLHQW µ ,QGHHG LW LV %HQLQ 5HSXEOLF WKDW EHQHÀWV IURP WKH ODUJH PDUNHW of Nigeria. Cotonou has remained the haven for most importers. Huge WUDGH FDUJRHV DUH DOVR ORVW WR 7RJR DQG RWKHU QHLJKERXULQJ FRXQWULHV IURP ZKHUH WKH\ DUH R΁RDGHG DQG WUDQVVKLSSHG WR 1LJHULD GXH WR SRRU VKLSSLQJ FRQQHFWLYLW\ DQG VKDOORZ GUDIW RI WKH SRUW FKDQQHOV 7KHUH DUH QR UHOLDEOH ÀJXUHV EXW WKH FRVW must be staggering to the nation. It is estimated WKDW LQ DORQH WKH FRXQWU\ ORVW DERXW 1 ELOOLRQ WR WKH QHLJKERXULQJ FRXQWULHV GXH WR SRRU VKLSSLQJ FRQQHFWLYLW\ SRRU VWDWH RI WKH SRUWV DQG LQH΀FLHQF\ 7KHUH LV WKHUHIRUH WKH QHHG WR XSJUDGH WKH (DVWHUQ SRUWV WR EH FRPSHWLWLYH LQ WHUPV RI WDULͿ DQG LQIUDVWUXFWXUH -RKQ 2EDVL D SRUW RSHUDWRU RQFH XQGHUVFRUHG WKH QHHG HVSHFLDOO\ IRU WKH &DODEDU SRUW EHFDXVH RI LWV SUR[LPLW\ WR WKH QRUWKHUQ VWDWHV ´<RX FDQ LPDJLQH KRZ PDQ\ WUXFNV WKDW PRYH IURP /DJRV WR WKH 1RUWK RQ GDLO\ EDVLV 6R LPDJLQH ZKHQ WKRVH WUXFNV DUH GLYHUWHG WR &DODEDU ,W PHDQV VDYLQJ D KXJH DPRXQW RI PRQH\ DQG LW·V D JUHDW UHOLHI RQ /DJRV DQG LWV URDGV µ 7KH XQGHUXWLOLVHG VHDSRUWV LQ 1LJHULD KDYH WKH FDSDFLW\ WR VLJQLÀFDQWO\ LQFUHDVH RXU QDWLRQDO revenue and indeed our GDP.

The underutilised seaports in Nigeria have the capacity to significantly increase our national revenue and indeed our GDP. It’s time they are upgraded

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

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

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LETTERS NIGERIA AND ELECTION PALAVER , GLGQ·W NQRZ WKDW WKRVH OLNH PH ZKR DUH FODPRXU LQJ IRU D SDUDGLJP VKLIW LQ RXU SROLWLFDO OHDGHUVKLS GRQ·W PHDQ ZHOO IRU WKH FRXQWU\ +RZ ZRXOG , KDYH NQRZQ WKDW WKRVH RI XV ZKR DUH WHOOLQJ \RXQJ SHRSOH WR EH SDUW RI WKH FKDQJH WKDW ZH ZDQW DUH ZDVWLQJ RXU time?

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Medical practitioner, Lagos

22

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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

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

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

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 15June-2022, unless otherwise stated.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Dollar Fund 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 8.19% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.72 3.79 5.16% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 4.08% Anchoria Equity Fund 149.20 150.88 3.40% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.20 1.20 4.85% info@anchoriaam.com ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 22.18 22.85 9.36% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 515.23 530.76 14.20% ARM Ethical Fund 43.52 44.83 11.71% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.06 1.07 -1.69% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.04 1.05 2.82% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.41% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 105.74 105.74 8.60% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,115.53 1,115.53 11.55% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.12 2.12 7.54% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.37 2.42 20.66% CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.05 1.05 3.93% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.03% Paramount Equity Fund 20.24 20.6 16.02% Women's Investment Fund 152.21 154.13 7.20% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.23% Cordros Milestone Fund 134.94 135.81 8.25% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 109.83 109.83 5.10% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 4.47% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 5.74% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,160.50 1,173.69 -0.35% EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.67% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.05 1.05 8.35% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.07 1.07 16.93% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 102.66 102.66 4.60% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1462.85 1462.85 10.54% FBN Balanced Fund 194.43 195.82 10.94% FBN Halal Fund 120.42 120.42 10.11% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.95% FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) 124.15 124.15 5.58% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 166.55 168.71 9.58% 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 Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

4,215.02 3,567.25 100.00

4,276.82 3,567.25 100.00

18.23% 6.27% 5.41%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.10 1.10 3.87% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.58 1.61 11.70% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,171.25 1,171.25 4.47% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 12.58 12.65 15.07% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 8.10% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 102.34 102.34 7.68% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 8.03% 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 1.69 1.72 7.31% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.82 11.85 5.76% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 5.53% PACAM Equity Fund 1.53 1.55 7.73% PACAM EuroBond Fund 113.61 116.56 -0.16% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 131.51 134.78 8.13% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.04 1.04 8.55% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,709.90 3,752.05 -1.67% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 239.23 239.23 0.15% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.48 1.50 -1.32% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 321.10 321.10 0.25% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 275.21 278.76 -0.53% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.67% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 12,473.88 12,645.66 -1.41% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.32 1.32 0.22% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.63 118.63 0.13% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 109.80 109.80 0.30% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 1.02 1.05 14.99% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.45 1.47 10.50% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.16 1.18 12.13% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.06 1.06 3.33% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.89 1.89 2.99% United Capital Eurobond Fund 121.42 121.42 2.52% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.64% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 14.02 14.16 6.35% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 16.27 16.45 11.37% Zenith Income Fund 22.69 22.69 3.37% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.70% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund 4.01 4.11 -0.13% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 6.38 6.48 9.20% Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund 19.38 19.58 9.54% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.26% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 21.88 22.08 9.43% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 153.14 155.14 -2.91%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

116.90 51.69

3.28% 1.65%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

15.32 146.43 116.07 17.10 16.40

15.42 149.97 118.56 17.20 16.50

9.47% -3.06% -2.37% 19.98% 7.25%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.55

12.10%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

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

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2022

23

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

REPO

A T

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

08056356325

J U N E

S & P INDEX

1 6 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

10.25%

INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

9.56%

1-DAY

0.16%

YEAR TO DATE

7.64%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10.52%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.44%

Experts Call for Inter-agency Collaboration to Improve Safety at Nation’s Airports

Chinedu Eze Aviation security experts have called for collaboration of security agencies at the airport in order to create synergy and effective coverage of airport facilities in Nigeria.

In a paper presented at the on-going National Aviation Conference (FNAC) of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in Abuja, the General Manager, Aviation Security Operations at FAAN, Dr. Anne Otibor Egbadon, said: “Aviation security is the combination of measures and the marshaling of various human and material resources at the international, national and airport levels for the protection civil aviation against acts

of unlawful interference. There is urgent need to ensure good working relationship among all the agencies that are involved in aviation and national security.”

She said that no single government entity could unilaterally fulfill national safety and security, noting that national sovereignty is a function of interagency unity, remarking that very threat against aviation is a threat against national security service and vice versa.

“Aviation security is the combination of measures and the marshaling of various human and material resources at the international, national and airport levels for the protection of civil aviation against acts of unlawful interference,” she said.

According to Egbadon, threat to aviation remained the probability or likelihood of an attack on a target and these include sabotage to aircraft, sabotage of airports, hijacking of an aircraft on the ground or in flight and armed attack on/off airport facilities.

She explained that terrorists and others target aviation and its facilities because the industry is a high profile sector, which attracts global attention when there is serious security breach like the hijack of aircraft, attack at the airports or related insecurity.

“An attack will force governments to react. An attack is likely to cause many deaths and injuries and an attack on aviation can have a huge impact with limited risk to the attacker,” she

said.

To fortify the security apparatus at airports, Egbadon said there should be synergy among security operatives who come from the Nigerian Air Force, Aviation Security from FAAN, the Nigerian police, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Nigerian Customs, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and others.

To improve their operations, she urged that government should increase allocation to security.

“The government is encouraged to increase the budgeting allocation to aviation and national security. There should also be establishment of good, social scheme for the citizens and equal employment opportunities for

the citizens. There should be provision of employment opportunities at equal rate.

“National security is a factor of internal or external influences.

Internal security relates to the political, economic and social factors, which affect a country from within, example, political strife, ethnicity, and control of resources. Also, external security on the other hand is influenced by foreign policies and no country is free from insecurity in spite of all the measures put in place by governments,” she said.

Expressing similar ideas, the CEO of Centurion Security and Safety Consult and former Commander of the Murtala Muhammed International

Airport, Lagos, Group Captain John Ojikutu said that for the different layers of security at the airports to have synergy they must collaborate.

“One would have thought that these airport security layers have been integrated and should be effective so that they would be able to detect any breach, but because they are uncoordinated they become gaps through which criminals slip through some times with the connivance of the airport officials,” he said.

Ojikutu has severally recommended that FAAN should review its security apparatus in the face of homegrown terrorism and also improve ways Continued on page 24

Lagos Harps on Leveraging Digitalisation to Enhance Productivity Hamid Ayodeji The Lagos State Government has urged Nigerians to leverage on technology whilst carrying out their activities in order to enhance productivity.

The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat stated this during the Junior Chamber International (JCI), Nigeria, Global Digital Economy Summit (GDES) themed; “Digital Transformation: Defining our Success Pillars,” held in Lagos.

Represented by the Commissioner, Ministry of Finance, Lagos State, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, he acknowledged that there was a digital transformation going on in the world currently of which any society that is interested in a sustainable developing economy must embrace technology whilst carrying out its operations.

Hamzat maintained that due to the devastating effect of the Covid-19 pandemic the world had to adopt a new technique of

functioning thereby depending more on technology driven solutions to sustain and upscale its activities both at home and at places of work.

He noted that: “The importance of technology towards driving sustainable economic growth can never be over emphasized going by the transformation it has brought to the way we live and carry out our business activities.

“We have seen global economic transactions go from manual to

digitalized platforms due to the introduction and infusion of innovative Information technology skills and solutions.”

He further explained that the Nigerian digital economy diagnostic report identifies key challenges and opportunities of leveraging digital economy for a diversified and sustained growth as it provides an assessment on the state of the nation’s digital economy.

“It has been stated that for Nigeria to reap the benefits of

a digital economy efforts must be geared towards accelerating improvements in five fundamental pillars of the digital economy which are; digital infrastructure, digital platforms, digital financial services, digital entrepreneurship and digital skills,” he added.

On his part, National President Junior Chamber International, Nigeria, Olawale Bakare said, “everything we do today is driven by technology so it is important to be able to see how we can best leverage on it in order to get

optimized results for the benefit of our nation.

“In regards to harnessing and leveraging technology every individual needs to skill up because the problem now is not the lack of jobs rather it is the lack of huge skill gap in the digital economy space. Even if you are not looking to start a career in the technology industry, today every sector utilizes digital platforms and solutions in order to operate, thereby creating the need for everyone to skill up.”

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT T H U R S D AY, J U N E 1 6 , 2 0 2 2 BILLS

BONDS DESCRIPTION

Price

Yield

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

110.10

7.93

108.01

10.14

106.48

10.30

120.26

10.74

113.18

10.81

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

MATURITY

Discount

Yield

OTC F X F U T U R E S

CPS

Change Updated Time (%)

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

2.59

2.60

0.00 June 9, 2022

3.35

3.37

-0.15 June 9, 2022

3.45

3.48

0.00 June 9, 2022

3.76

3.81

0.17 June 9, 2022

NTB 10Nov-22

3.76

3.82

0.00 June 9, 2022

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

Discount Yield 11.19 11.35 7.76

Change Updated Time (%) 0.00 June 9, 2022

7.85

0.00 June 9, 2022

14.49 15.33

0.00 June 9, 2022

8.77

9.07

0.00 June 9, 2022

7.96

8.21

0.00 June 9, 2022

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

Updated Time

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

24

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

AIR WATCH

Microsoft to Enhance Food Security in Africa with Digital Transformation Emma Okonji Microsoft is set to solve Africa’s food security challenges by enabling digital transformation in agriculture that will help farmers take advantage of modern technology tools to boost food productivity.

Microsoft made the disclosure on Wednesday, when it hosted a virtual roundtable panel discussion about digital transformation in agriculture for food security in Africa.

The roundtable explored how accelerating digital transformation in agriculture is leading to agritech developments that have a tangible positive impact on food security in Africa.

With agriculture sustaining up to 70 per cent of Africa’s livelihoods, Microsoft is working with government and private sector partners to enable data-driven, precision and connected farming that optimises yields and boosts farm productivity and profitability.

Microsoft’s initiative to enhance food security, is in line with the Nigerian government’s initiative to diversify her economy and move away from the dependence on oil, to agriculture and technology to boost wealth and job creation.

The virtual roundtable discussion was led by Microsoft Nigeria Country Manager, Ola Williams, and was joined by partners from the Alliance for a Green Revolution (AGRA) and the Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agriculture (NIRSAL).

The discussion explored the ways in which agritech is changing outcomes for farmers across the continent, unlocking productivity and helping farmers access the latest information and farming advice.

Some of the challenges agriculture faces in Nigeria is the absence of value addition and supply chain linkages.

During the panel discussion, panelists were of the view that innovating in these areas of challenges would empower farmers to gain faster access to the market and provide them with an opportunity to grow their businesses at scale. To help farmers adopt technology, partnerships are needed to simplify platforms and provide access to technology, particularly for rural farmers, the panelists said.

To meet these challenges, Microsoft, in partnership with the Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agriculture (NIRSAL) and multinational companies operating in the country, hosted an Agro Innovate

Hackathon. Microsoft and NIRSAL believe that within the Nigeria tech eco system lies the solution to solve most of these challenges. The goal is to create a portal solution where farmers and customers can connect to conduct business, access the internet, and where farmers can gain economic power and improve their profitability.

The Hackathon will produce three winning local agritech startups who will be nurtured through Microsoft’s Africa Transformation Office and NIRSAL, and the intention is to train 30,000 farmers on the use of the platform, enrolling 10,000 farmers on the platform in the first year.

Director, Information Technology Infrastructure Solutions, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Usman Gambo Abdullahi, said: “The Agro Innovate Hackathon will provide livelihood opportunities in the agriculture sector and contribute to the government’s economic diversification agenda while simultaneously offering our brightest young Nigerian minds the chance to launch start-up ventures that will be nurtured by Microsoft. This is an opportunity to make a platform widely accessible to farmers and bridge the gap between farmers and consumers.”

Ethiopian Honored with APEX Regional Pa s s e n g e r C h o i c e Awa rd s 2 0 2 2 Ethiopian Airlines has announced that it has won the 2022 APEX Regional Passenger Choice Awards for ‘Best Entertainment’ and ‘Best Cabin Service’ in Africa.

The award was held in Dublin, Ireland to celebrate airlines being honored with the 2022 APEX Regional Passenger Choice Awards. The awards recognise airlines in various regions for providing the best passenger experiences as rated by passengers.

Commenting on the awards, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew said, “We are very glad to have won the 2022 APEX Regional Passenger Choice Awards for ‘Best Entertainment’ and

‘Best Cabin Service’ among African carriers. As a customer-centric airline, we do our best to exceed passengers’ expectations when it comes to the service we deliver onboard our fights.

I would like to thank our passengers for their vote of confidence, and would like to assure them that we will remain committed to further enhance our in-flight service including our entertainment products to elevate customer experience.”

APEX partnered with the world’s highest-rated travel-organizing app to gather data based on neutral, third-party passenger feedback and insights. For this year’s award, over one million

flights were rated by passengers across more than 600 airlines from around the world using a five-star scale. Passengers were given the opportunity to provide anonymous ratings in various subcategories, and a third-party auditing company independently certified the awards.

This is the fifth time that Ethiopian is crowned with the APEX Passenger Choice Awards following the ‘Best In-Flight Entertainment in Africa’ award and the “Best Airline in Africa” awards it won for consecutive years in the past. Ethiopian has been winning multiple accolades for its remarkable passenger and cargo services even amid the Covid-19

Qatar Announces Record Profit of $ 1.54bn for 2021-2022 Qatar Airways Group said it is celebrating its milestone 25th Anniversary year of operation with its strongest financial performance reflected in its published annual report for 2021/22, 200 per cent above its highest annual historical profit.

The airline said that in the most difficult period ever in the global airline industry.

Qatar Airways Group reported a record net profit of QAR 5.6 billion ($ 1.54 billion) during the fiscal year 2021/22. Overall revenue increased to QAR 52.3 billion ($ 14.4 billion), up 78 per cent compared to last year and a remarkable two per cent higher than the full financial year pre-COVID (i.e., 2019/20).

The Middle Est carrier stated that passenger revenue increased by 210

per cent over the last year, due to the growth of the Qatar Airways network, increase in market share and higher unit revenue, for the second financial year in a row. Qatar Airways carried 18.5 million passengers, an increase of 218 per cent over last year.

“Qatar Airways Cargo remained the leading player in the world as its revenue experienced an impressive growth of 25 per cent over last year with the growth in cargo capacity (Available Tonne Kilometres) of 25 per cent annually.

“The Group generated strong EBITDA Margin of 34 per cent at QAR 17.7 billion (US$ 4.9 billion). EBITDA was higher than the previous year by QAR 11.8 billion ($ 3.2 billion) due to streamlined, agile and fit-for-purpose operations across all business areas.

These record earnings are the result of decisions made during the pandemic to expand the Qatar Airways’ passenger and cargo networks, with a more accurate forecast of the global market recovery, building further customer and trade loyalty and product excellence combined with strong cost control.

Minister of state for Energy and Qatar Airways Group Chairman, His Excellency Mr. Saad Bin Sharida AlKaabi, said: “Qatar Airways Group has demonstrated a robust role in the aviation industry, and these financial results are a clear indication of the Group’s strong performance. Against challenges during the previous period, I am delighted by the achievements that have been accomplished this year and by the way the Group has swiftly responded to these challenges.”

EXPERTS CALL FOR INTER-AGENCY COLLABORATION TO IMPROVE SAFETY AT NATION’S AIRPORTS to detect insider threat by profiling security operatives and other officials who operate at the sterile areas of the airport regularly.

“Let me make recommendations to what could become threats to the airport security in the midst of homegrown terrorism. FAAN should create or provide three levels of parking areas around the local and international terminals. One for government and diplomatic corps and give it to the government airport protocols oversight by your AVSEC. All vehicles parking at the allocated point must carry government recognised numbers. No other vehicle, no matter the official, if not with government recognised or identified number should be allowed to park at the allocated point,” he said.

Ojikutu also recommended that only government or diplomatic registered vehicles should be allowed in the parking area to ensure their security and congestion.

“Secondly, the very important personalities and corporate organisations like banks, oil companies, multinational and international companies; a located area should attract parking fees of N500/ per hour.

“These must register with the FAAN Commercial, pay approved rates monthly, quarterly, annually or pay the hourly rate. The corporate vehicles must be registered with FAAN and any change of the registered vehicle must be brought to the knowledge of the appropriate FAAN authority,” he said.

Ojikutu also recommended that

a national security or intelligence estimates should be sent to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to circulate to all operators both public and private.

“Airports are not the only targets for terrorists to attack;parking aircraft, fuel depots, etc. They require similar directives from the responsible aviation security authority. My take; first, since all operators have approved security programmes by the NCAA, all that is required is for the NCAA to use the security intelligence estimates which should be sent to it by the appropriate national authority to update the National Civil Aviation Security Programmes (NCASP) and send it down to all the operators under its oversight as directives not advisory,” he said.

A I R WATCH

Construction of Second Runway at Abuja Airport

Chinedu Eze Last week, the federal government handed the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Limited, (CCECC), the construction site of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja second runway. he Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika disclosed this via a tweet.

It was also disclosed that Federal Capital Territory (FCT) made available a total of 12,000 hectares of land reserved in the land bank allocated for aviation facilities purposes of which the runway is part of and it was projected that the Abuja runway project is expected to be completedwithin the next 12 months.

The Abuja second runway project is part of the many projects under the umbrella of Aviation Road Map, which include the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Centre; Aviation Leasing Company (ALC); Agro-Allied Cargo Terminals; Aerotropolis or Airport City; National Carrier; and Africa Aerospace and Aviation University (AAAU).

In March this year, the federal government approved N92, 123, 175,305.77 for the construction of a second runway at the Nnamdi AzikiweInternational Airport, Abuja.

About how the project would be funded, Sirika said the Buhariadministration would use same pattern it had used in the past to source for funds for all of its other projects across sectors to achieve the new task.

The construction and eventual use of the second runway at the Abuja airport would be a dream come true because the project was mired incontroversy.

About 14 years ago, the project was supposed to cost about N64 billion, which was described as outrageous. Julius Berger was awarded the contract then, but the House of Representatives refused to approve the budget for it, insisting that the cost of N64 billion was prodigal. During the public hearing for the project in 2008, the House Committee on Aviation made comparative analysis of the cost of the project and similar projects around the world and concluded that the cost of Abuja runway project was outrageous.

About 14 years after, the project would cost over N92 billion, about N28billion more than what it was budgeted for in 2008. Industry analysts said that considering the rate of inflation now and the devaluation of the naira, the cost of the project is lower than what it would have cost to build it in 2008.

In 2008 naira was N117. 98 to a dollar, but today it is at the official rate of N419.50 to a dollar. A financial expert and CEO of Direct 2 The Point Limited, Uzodimma Onwuchekwa told THISDAY that taking cognizance of inflationary trends, the N64 billion in 2008 would have been N227.5 billion today, which is N135 billion higher than the cost of N92 billion.

Industry analysts told THISDAY that the cost was deemed outrageous in 2008 and that was the major reason why the project was dropped.

However, the then Aide to the House Committee Chairman on Aviation and currently the Managing Partner, TMSS Logistics, Nuhu Adam gave more details about why the project was dropped.

He said the committee received petitions that the contract was inflated, disclosing that the confusion

really came from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), which awarded the contract as design and build. Julius Berger and PW bided for the contract but the amount of money PW said it would use to build the project was lower than the cost contained in the proposal of Julius Berger; yet the contract was awarded to Berger.

“After examining the details of the project, the Committee advised FAAN to split the project into two: one to design and two, to build; so they would be awarded as two different contracts,” Adam recalled.

Although the details of the project approved by the Federal Executive Council in terms of the construction design is yet to emerge, but in 2008, the second runway was planned to be more advanced than the existing runways in any airport in Nigeria, according to former Minister of Aviation, Babatunde Omotoba.

Omotoba in interview with THISDAY said designers of second runway at Abuja airport wanted to build 4.5 kilometers runway.

“The current runway that we have was built in 1982 and that is 31 years old now (as at 2014). It was designed to last for 20 years, it has exceeded its useful life and so we saw the need for a second runway. The second and the old one will have about 1.5 kilometer distance between them, for the 1.5 km, 1.5 by 1.4 km.”

He said that the second runway was very imperative. “The issue of that runway has become very clear to the whole country that a second runway is needed in Abuja because of what happened. We have two in Kano and Lagos and of course Abuja being the FCT and with our efforts at developing it as operational hub for West Africa, it sure needed a second runway.

“The second runaway was conceived and designed to handle Airbus A380-800F with Category three Airfield Lighting (AFL). The length of the planned runway was 4.5 kilometers with a width span of 75 meters and its strip, which should be free from any obstacle on both side should be 150 meters on the two sides. The basic length of the runway is about 3.4 kilometers and because of the altitude of Abuja, about 1000 feet above Lagos; that will add about 267 meters to the runway and because of the temperature too we used 35.6 degree centigrade to design the runway, when you have high temperature it takes aircraft longer distance to stop, that added about 753 meters to the runway,” he said.

Omotoba justified the N64 billion because of the details of what was planned to be done at the runway, but all the runways built in different parts of the world then cost far lower than what Nigeria wanted to build.

While many industry stakeholders said that Abuja airport deserved second runway, the Secretary General and former Commandant of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Group Captain John Ojikutu, disagreed, saying that both Lagos and Abuja airports do not deserve a second runway.

“With the reported annual air traffic figures yearly, none of the two major airports has needs for a second runway. None of the airports can continuously process traffic for more than 12 hours daily. What our airports need is Periodic Maintenance Programmes,” Ojikutu said.

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD

OIL & GAS

Normalcy Returns after COVID-19 Protocol Hiccups Many countries have relaxed their COVID-19 protocols, but some are still maintaining certain level of restriction and that has continued to hamper air travel, writes Chinedu Eze

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any countries have relaxed Covid-19 protocols at their airports but there are still some countries that have maintained certain levels of restrictions.

Since the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown and thereafter, there was drastic slump in passenger traffic, although the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said it started picking up since 2021 and expressed hope for a pre 2019 situation.

There was total economic slump in the world since the emergence of Coronavirus pandemic, but now there are moves to rekindle the global economy and moving people from place to place is one of the ways to resurrect the economy devastated by the pandemic.

According to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)’s preliminary compilation of annual global statistics, the total number of passengers carried on scheduled services rose to 4.5 billion in 2019, which was 3.6 per cent higher than the previous year, while the number of departures reached 38.3 million in 2019, a 1.7 per cent increase.

But in 2020 the international passenger data dropped to 1.8 billion passengers, lowest since 1950, according to the IATA. International passengers that flew across the globe dropped to 1.8 billion from 4.5 billion recorded in 2019. This represents a decrease of 60.2% in traffic.

ICAO release disclosed that the global passenger traffic recovered modestly in 2021, revealing that the number of passengers worldwide was 2.3 billion or 49 percent below pre-pandemic (2019) levels, up from the 60 percent drop seen in 2020.

IATA’S DECLARATION

IATA’s announcement of passenger data for March 2022 demonstrated that the recovery of air travel continues, but noted that impacts from the conflict in Ukraine on air travel demand were quite limited overall while Omicron-related effects continued to be confined largely to Asian domestic markets.

IATA stated that the total traffic in March 2022 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was up 76.0 per cent compared to March 2021.

Although that was lower than the 115.9 per cent rise in February year-over-year demand, volumes in March were the closest to 2019 pre-pandemic levels, at 41 per cent below.

“March 2022 domestic traffic was up 11.7 per cent compared to the year-ago period, far below the 60.7 per cent year-over-year improvement recorded in February. This largely was a result of the Omicron-related lockdowns in China. March domestic RPKs were down 23.2 per cent versus March 2019,” IATA stated.

According to the global body, international RPKs rose 285.3 per cent versus March 2021, exceeding the 259.2 per cent gain experienced in February versus the year-earlier period. Most regions boosted their performance compared to the prior month, led by carriers in Europe. March 2022 international RPKs were down 51.9 per cent compared to the same month in 2019.

“With barriers to travel coming down in most places, we are seeing the long-expected surge in pent-up demand finally being realized. Unfortunately, we are also seeing long delays at many airports with insufficient resources to handle the growing numbers. This must be addressed urgently to avoid frustrating consumer enthusiasm for air travel,”

said IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh.

have dropped some of these protocols,” he said.

UNMASKING

RELAXING THE RULES

It is in line with its campaign for total relaxation of all restrictions that IATA welcomed new guidance from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) removing its recommendation that masks should be required in-flight.

IATA said that EASA’s updated Aviation Health Safety Protocol, published 11 May, calls for the mandatory mask rule to be relaxed where rules have been relaxed for other transport modes, noting that this important shift reflects the high levels of vaccination, natural immunity levels, and the removal of domestic restrictions in many European nations.

It added that the updated guidance also acknowledges the need to move from an emergency situation to a more sustainable mode of managing COVID-19.

“We welcome EASA’s recommendation to relax the mask mandate, which is another important step along the road back to normality for air passengers. Travelers can look forward to freedom of choice on whether to wear a mask. And they can travel with confidence knowing that many features of the aircraft cabin, such as high frequency air exchange and high efficiency filters, make it one of the safest indoor environments,” Walsh said.

IATA noted that several jurisdictions still maintain mask requirements. That is a challenge for airlines and passengers flying between destinations with different requirements.

“We believe that mask requirements on board aircraft should end when masks are no longer mandated in other parts of daily life, for example theatres, offices or on public transport. Although the European protocol comes into effect next week, there is no globally consistent approach to mask-wearing on board aircraft. Airlines must comply with the regulations applicable to the routes they are operating. The aircraft crew will know what rules apply and it is critical that passengers follow their instructions. And we ask that all travelers be respectful of other people’s decision to voluntarily wear masks even if it not a requirement,” said Walsh.

In Nigeria, airlines still insist that passengers still wear their mask. THISDAY investigations revealed that many airlines still abide by the COVID-19 protocol, as contained in the directives of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC). While some Nigerian airlines still disembark row by row, still insist in wearing of mask and using sanitizer, some airlines allow passengers to disembark freely.

All Nigerian carriers do not share snacks to be eaten onboard; rather, passengers are handed over the snacks when disembarking the aircraft.

The Head of Communications, Dana Air, Kingsley Ezenwa told THISDAY that the airline is guided by the Covid-19 protocols as directed by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), but disembarking passengers row by row was initiative adopted by the airline to further protect its passengers.

“We shall continue to enforce the rules until we get further directive from the regulatory authority. We are aware that some countries

Earlier in the year, air travellers in Nigeria protested against strict enforcement of Covid-19 protocols when other countries, which recorded severe cases of the virus, had relaxed theirs.

Passengers railed against continuous enforcement of PCR tests by the federal government, as many countries including the US, UK and Saudi Arabia had relaxed COVID-19 restrictions, including dropping of PCR test for travelling public. That prompted the federal government to withdraw compulsory PCR test and currently travellers abide by the protocol of their destination countries.

Many countries still require pre-departure PCR test for inbound passengers and US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) announced last Sunday that it had waived the compulsory PCR test for inbound passengers.

CONCERNS IN NIGERIA

In March many international travellers and foreign airline officials in Nigeria cried out to government, saying the continued enforcement of strict COVID-19 test is a rip-off, as there is global drop in coronavirus cases and Nigeria recorded relatively very low cases at the worst of times.

Also the price of PCR test has not reduced but still about N50, 000 to N60, 000, depending on the lab recommended by officials of Port Health who are in charge of screening passengers who are travelling or arriving Nigeria.

Currently, THISDAY gathered that the price of PCR test still hovers around N50, 000 and passengers travelling to countries that require pre-departure test for in-bound passengers patronise the labs that dote around the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, Nigeria’s busiest gateway.

BUILDING MOMENTUM

In early 2022, IATA reported a sharp 11-percentage point increase for international tickets sold in recent weeks (in proportion to 2019 sales).

It stated that the 11-percentage point improvement between the January and February periods is the fastest such increase for any two-week period since the Covid-19 crisis began.

“The jump in ticket sales comes as more governments announce a relaxation of COVID-19 border restrictions. An IATA survey of travel restrictions for the world’s top 50 air travel markets (comprising 92 per cent of global demand in 2019 as measured by revenue passenger kilometers) revealed the growing access available to vaccinated travelers.

“18 markets (comprising about 20 per cent of 2019 demand) are open to vaccinated travelers without quarantine or pre-departure testing requirements. 28 markets are open to vaccinated travelers without quarantine requirements (including the 18 markets noted above). This comprises about 50 per cent of 2019 demand.37 markets (comprising about 60 per cent of 2019 demand) are open to vaccinated travelers under varying conditions

(18 having no restrictions, others requiring testing or quarantine or both).”

IATA noted that these numbers reflect a spate of relaxations announced around the world, including in Australia, France, the Philippines, the UK, Switzerland, and Sweden among them.

“Momentum toward normalizing traffic is growing. Vaccinated travelers have the potential to travel much more extensively with fewer hassles than even a few weeks ago. This is giving growing numbers of travelers the confidence to buy tickets. And that is good news! Now we need to further accelerate the removal of travel restrictions. While recent progress is impressive, the world remains far from 2019 levels of connectivity. Thirteen of the top 50 travel markets still do not provide easy access to all vaccinated travelers. That includes major economies like China, Japan, Russia, Indonesia, and Italy,” Walsh said.

But IATA has continued to call for the removal all travel barriers (including quarantine and testing) for those fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved vaccine, enabling quarantine-free travel for nonvaccinated travelers with a negative pre-departure antigen test result, removal of travel bans and acceleration of easing of travel restrictions in recognition that travellers that pose no greater risk for COVID-19 spread than already exists in the general population.

“Travel restrictions have had a severe impact on people and on economies. They have not, however, stopped the spread of the virus. And it is time for their removal as we learn to live and travel in a world that will have risks of COVID-19 for the foreseeable future. This means putting a stop to the singling out of the traveling population for special measures.

In nearly all cases, travelers don’t bring any more risk to a market than is already there.

Many governments have recognized this already and removed restrictions. Many more need to follow,” said Walsh.

In April 2022, the Nigerian Presidential Steering Committee revised its Covid-19 travel released on November 29, 2021 and introduced new interim travel guidelines.

It stated that for passengers arriving in Nigeria who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are no longer required to carry out COVID-19 PCR test before boarding Nigeria-bound flights.

It also directed that fully vaccinated passengers arriving Nigeria would not also be required to carry out post arrival PCR test or a Rapid Antigen Test upon arriving Nigeria and children below the age of 18 years would be accorded the same privileges as persons who are fully vaccinated.

“In-bound passengers who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated for COVID-19 shall take a COVID-19 PCR test 48 hours before departure and undergo Days 2 and 7 post-arrival PCR tests at their own cost and all in-bound passengers must register via the online Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP–https://nitp.ncdc.gov.ng).

“All passengers travelling out of Nigeria are encouraged to have evidence of full vaccination against COVID-19; comply with the COVID-19 guidelines of their destination or transit countries; and to familiarize themselves with the COVID-19 travel requirements of their destination and transit countries before embarking on the journey,” the guidelines stated.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2022

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BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

CBN, Banks and Multifunctional Uses of eNaira Clement Nwoji

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here is growing certainty about the multiple uses of Nigeria’s e-currency, popularly known as the eNaira. This stems from the everexpanding developments in digitalisation and the need for a secured means of effecting transactions across borders and continents worldwide.

The eNaira which was formally launched and introduced to the public by President Muhammadu Buhari on October 25, 2021, has thus far, gained international applause and recognition, courtesy of the ingenuity of the nation’s apex bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which had the foresight of ‘midwifing’ the currency in conformity with global monetary and transactional digital exigencies.

It is on record that globally, after the first Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) known as Sand Dollar was launched by the Bahamas in October 2020, Nigeria came second barely a year after with the launch of the eNaira.

For the avoidance of doubts, the CBDCs and, in fact, in this case- the eNaira is government-issued electronic money with the backing of the CBN to effect transactions in place of physical Naira (cash).

It enjoys uninhibited acceptance as a legal tender.

Thus, it has the inherent potential of providing higher resilience, safety, availability, and cheaper costs than private forms of digital money such as Bitcoin.

According to the latest CBN update, the eNaira, which is the digital form of cash used like cash is a direct liability to the CBN while the customers’ deposits are direct liabilities to the financial institutions. Its multiple functions are derived from the numerous objectives of enabling households and businesses to make fast, efficient, and reliable payments while benefiting from a resilient, innovative, inclusive, and competitive payment system. The benefits of the eNaira include but are not limited to being a fast, cheap, reliable, and available payment channel but it also supports the digital economy thereby improving economic activities.

In addition, the eNaira is also expected to simplify and ease cross-border payments and trade, enable the inclusion of the excluded in the financial system, improve the effectiveness of monetary policies, as well as ease tax remittance and collection to support the country’s growth Aside from the inherent advantages of the eNaira to the public and users, the introduction of the nation’s digital currency does not entail usurping

the customers of the commercial banks by the apex bank but rather building more synergy with financial institutions. The framework of eNaira is such that it entrenches many pipelines of collaboration and further strengthens financial institutions’ core service delivery just as it boosts access to more financially excluded people. By its very nature with regards to its mandates, eNaira enhances the structures of these institutions instead of replacing them.

The eNaira opens new frontiers of profitable partnership for progressive innovations by the Deposit Money Banks (DMB) and introduces a whole new market of digital currency users for financial institutions to increase their customer base and add value to their account owners. As the Financial Institutions act as bridges between customers and the CBN, this increased customer interaction stimulates the banks to adopt better customer support models. The CBN guarantees funds to the Financial Institutions with the eNaira Maximum Daily Cumulative Limit which restricts customers from total migration that may result in capital loss for financial institutions.

In terms of security, the eNaira has intrinsic security embedded design and integrated with the best fraud management system, which guarantees security of transactions and fosters customers’ trust.

It seamlessly reduces the difficulties encountered on daily basis by financial institutions in the course of “Know Your Customers” (KYCs) processes. This is made possible with ease as eNaira gives every linked financial institution an access to the data base of customers with wallets domiciled in their banks.

The eNaira is same Naira but with more efficient possibilities. This is justified by the facts that with it, the users/customers can move money from their bank account to their eNaira wallet with ease. It is designed to assist customers to monitor their eNaira wallet, check balances and view transaction history as well as send and receive money faster at very minimal costs. Verifying of r payments and looking up of transaction history anytime, anywhere are also attributes of the e-currency.

According to statistics by the PwC Global CBDC and Stable coin Overview 2022 released in April 4, 2022, more than 80% of central banks are considering launching a CBDC or have already done so either for retail or wholesale payments.

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

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FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Okpanachi: DBN Will Strengthen Catalytic Role, Boost MSME Financing About six years into its operation, the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has proven its worth and lived up to its mandate of facilitating access to affordable financing to MSMEs, thereby stimulating economic growth and development.

The bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive, Dr. Tony Okpanachi, in this interview with selected journalists, tells the success story and challenges recorded so far in servicing the MSMEs sub-sector. Among other things, he shares the short to long-term plans of the development finance bank; its financial prowess; how the bank has not recorded any case of non-performing loans; why the government must strive to formalise small businesses; plans to raise additional capital as well as his general assessment of the MSMEs space. James Emejo brings the excerpts How would you evaluate the performance of DBN since its creation? ince its inception, the institution has fared exceptionally well across various areas and this underscores our drive for Sustainability, which is one of our core values. For us, this means that while we are in business to provide financing support for MSMEs, we strive to be financially sustainable while ensuring we create social impact for MSMEs and the communities around us, and also ensuring our activities do not adversely affect the state of our environment but rather contributing to its resilience and sustainability.

Now, more specifically, in terms of providing financing support for MSMEs, from inception to the end of 2021, DBN disbursed N482 billion to more than 208,000 MSMEs . The Bank’s profitability has also remained resilient despite the challenging environment and the impact of COVID-19. Profit before tax and profit after tax stood at N22.7 billion and N15.7 billion respectively, translating to return on assets and return on equity of 4.8 per cent and 12.8 per cent respectively for 2021 which was our last audited financial period.

Across other metrics such as environmental sustainability, DBN has taken major steps to ensure that its processes and operations align with the global standards on environmental sustainability.

A major feat in this direction is the achievement of the highest global rating of the Sustainability Standards and Certification Initiative (SSCI) by the European Organisation for Sustainable Development in 2021. In the same year, the Bank clinched the highest credit rating, Triple ‘A’ from Agusto & Co, and GCR.

the fiscal authorities’ proactive approach in containing the COVID-19 infection rates and subsequent fatalities has proven sustainable given the growth levels this far.

S

How have the distortions in the global and national economy impacted the performance of the facility of the bank given that the CBN had to grant a moratorium for its facilities?

The headwinds from the global and national economy impacted DBN as much as they did to many other organizations within and outside the country. Consequently, these distortions made the pricing of DBN loans less attractive to financial intermediaries. Nevertheless, we keep broadening our funding base to make financing more available for MSMEs in line with our overarching mandate to alleviate financing constraints for MSMEs in Nigeria. In addition, DBN has various products and programs targeted at meeting the needs of MSMEs. For instance, DBN has an interest drawback program for its PFIs through which they grant rebates on loans to MSMEs playing within sustainability sectors such as renewable energy, waste management, etc.

The interventions of the CBN for Nigerian MSMEs did not disrupt the impact of DBN within the MSME space in that the financing needs of MSMEs within the system are enormous. And although DBN is poised and committed to solving these challenges especially as it relates to bridging financing gaps, MSMEs in Nigeria need several players to intervene in alleviating these constraints, which underscores the imperative for the CBN and other financial institutions to play their role in this area.

How would you assess the various intervention within the system, would you rather the DBN becomes the channel for these series of interventions especially those that border on the SMEs? The challenges within the MSME space are quite substantial, especially as it relates to accessing finance. In light of this, these issues are best addressed when several players can provide support to this space. Therefore, part of our role at DBN is to assess the objectives of these other institutions and collaborate with them to provide financing support to MSMEs. In many cases, DBN also offers technical assistance programs to these institutions to augment their capacity to lend to MSMEs. What is the bank’s short, medium, and long-term focus?

In the short term, we plan to strengthen our catalytic role in the Nigerian economy by expanding our reach to more MSMEs in underserved regions such as crisis-impacted areas and enhancing development impact in other key areas such as women- and youth-owned enterprises, startups, and first-time borrowers.

We will also continue to build our internal capacity to drive the growth ambition of the institution. In

There have been suggestions that DBN’s capital should be raised. Do you really need more money? And do you have any plans to raise funding from any source –especially the capital market or get equity investors to expand their investments?

As a DFI that is not just sustainabilityconscious but has it interwoven into the fabric of the organization which is reflected in our core values, it is important we continue to strengthen our capital base. Also, this is one of our strategic initiatives which require our continuous effort to crowd in more investments. To this end, we are on that pathway.

We continue to expand our funding base both in terms of capital and debt as may be appropriate to meet the needs of MSMEs.

Okpanachi addition, we plan to amplify our sustainability drive through the implementation of our green finance strategy, leveraging our SSCI certification, and exploring Green Climate Fund (GCF) accreditation as a direct access entity.

We also plan to crowd in more social and impact funding to build our balance sheet resilience amidst the challenging macro and business landscape. Finally, to continue providing capacity building for MSMEs and technical assistance to our participating financial institutions to strengthen their lending capacity to MSMEs. In the medium term, we plan to complete the digital transformation efforts currently underway within the Bank and expand our channels of disbursement to MSMEs, which speaks to our drive for increased collaboration with other players within the space.

In the long term, our focus is for DBN to be recognized locally and internationally as the foremost institution driving the growth and sustainability of the Nigerian economy through the provision of financing support to MSMEs. There are all sorts of economic projections by the IMF and the World Bank on the Nigerian Economy. What is your perspective?

The respective economic forecasts by the World Bank and IMF are broadly in line with the economic fundamentals in the country. Notwithstanding, the economy is set for a recovery phase driven by several government policy support programs, reforms and interventions and rising crude prices.

Nigeria exited the pandemic induced recession in the fourth quarter of 2020 and output rose by 4.1 per cent year on year in the third quarter of 2021, with broad-based growth except for the oil and gas sector which has experienced security and technical challenges such as pipeline vandalism, downtime of refineries due to repairs and of course reduced oil production.

The concern I see in terms of the macroeconomic environment has to do with the headline inflation which rose sharply during the pandemic peaking at 18.2 per cent year on year but has since declined to 15.6 per cent in December 2021 aided by the new harvest season and re-opening of the land borders.

As you may be aware, the Micro, Small and Medium enterprises have a lower savings propensity, so when there is an economic shock such as the Covid-19 pandemic, players in the MSME ecosystem are the first to be hit hard which then affects household income.

The level of unemployment is another critical area of great concern. . Notwithstanding,

As Nigeria’s foremost Development Finance Institution, the DBN has received several awards and positive ratings. One of such is the level 5 rating, the highest possible rating in the Sustainability Standards Certification Initiative (SSCI) Project. The rating makes the bank the first DFI in the country to attain such a high-level rating under the Initiative.

What does this mean for the DBN and Nigerian economy?

Sustainability is one of our core values at DBN and part of our DNA. As proof, it is the first core value we espouse as an institution; and this is reflected across our structure inclusive of people, process, and technology.

The SSCI rating was an important step in integrating core sustainability principles into our policies, processes, and procedures.

We are already seeing the advantages in the refinement of key processes across our general operations, products business model, and technology but allow me to speak about three major areas that stood out for us as an institution.

Immense value from the SSCI process was realized in the creation of DBN’s Purpose Statement and High Impact Goals. These have helped to re-focus our attention on using sustainability as a driver. Secondly, we have a newly created Innovation Framework which has caused a resurgence of creative thinking across our operations. We expect that this new model will help drive improved financial and non-financial performances across our institution. Finally, our newly developed Stakeholders Management Framework has enabled us to think creatively about how best to keep a continuous loop of communication with the individuals and groups that matter to us the most.

For the Nigerian economy, this rating means a national DFI is taking conscious decisions today on behalf of the country that will secure lives and livelihoods for the future. This is the essence of sustainability, and we believe DBN has become a custodian of this promise for our country. The future of our country is hinged on being conscious of our environment as well as creating the enabling structure for MSMEs to thrive. DBN will be providing the much-needed support to catalyze the growth of MSMEs and by extension, the country.

The latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics put the total asset of MSMEs in 2020 at N8.41 trillion, while their total number was 39,654,385. Of this figure, over 34 million enterprises are informal. What then is your thought on having these huge numbers of MSMEs still operate as informal businesses?

The formalisation of these enterprises is of utmost importance because of the attendant benefit to the economy and the government.

The government has done considerable work in promoting the importance of MSMEs however, more needs to be done for obvious reasons.

Policies that encourage the informal sector operators to formalize, for example, and of course this should be time-bound but the

reduction of fees for business registrations and deferred taxes on all businesses would surely encourage the formalization of some of these businesses. MSMEs formal or informal are already having a tough time staying afloat. Some of the most pressing problems they face include obtaining finance, irregular power supply, infrastructure deficit, multiple taxations, rent, cost of capital, and so on. Given the plethora of challenges and having already a lowered saving propensity lends credence to why formalization is not a priority to them.

So what is the implication of having more MSMEs operate in the informal sector of the economy?

It has been shown that formal businesses have a higher survival rate as well as an enhanced capacity to run profitably and to use debt more efficiently. This boost in financial sustainability has a significant impact on economic activities, employment and government revenues by way of taxes and levies.

How can these businesses be formalised?

Policies that encourage businesses with the ease of registration would go a long way in formalization. As I earlier mentioned, an example could be a time-bound policy that allows free business registration, especially for businesses that make less than predetermined annual revenue. Conversely, stronger enforcement of illegal businesses would deter new entrants into the informal sector.

Despite having an AAA rating why have the activities of the DBN not been felt across the country? We know DBN facilitates credit for SMEs through the banks but your activities have remained largely unknown?

DBN is a wholly wholesale development finance institution. This means our key activity which is providing finance to MSMEs is carried out through financial intermediaries which we refer to as Participating Financial Intermediaries (PFIs). Therefore, one of the major nuances of this model is that the PFIs become the face of DBN since the bank cannot interface directly with the end-borrowers. This, to a great extent, limits the level of knowledge even the end-borrowers have about the institution but not our impact. However, in addition to the information we share from the lending activities through our PFIs, we shall continue with our other strategic initiatives for public engagements not only to create awareness of DBN’s catalytic role but most importantly, to advocate for the MSME segment, the main drivers of the Nigerian economy.

SMEs are complaining that accessing credit from PFIs is cumbersome, made worse by the high-interest rates and hidden charges from banks despite your insistence that there is no hidden charge. What is the DBN doing to ensure credit is accessible to SMEs at affordable rates?

To start with, without a drive on our part to alleviate these highlighted issues of accessing credit within the system, it will be difficult to describe DBN as a development finance institution. We are well aware of the high-interest rate within the environment. Hence, as an institution, we strive to crowd in more social and impact funding to make financing more accessible for MSMEs amidst the challenging macro and business landscape and in line with our overarching mandate to alleviate financing constraints for MSMEs. In addition, DBN has various products and programs targeted at improving accessibility to MSMEs. The issue of high-interest rate reflects the Macroeconomic environment and crowding in several financing sources would lead to competition and ultimately, ensure market-determined pressure to lower interest as we see in other climes.

Many SMEs especially start-ups have the problem of articulating business plans that are acceptable to PFIs. What is the DBN doing to stand in the gap for SME owners with genuine intentions but who lack the know-how of writing business plans?

DBN has three broad mandates which are on-lending, risk-sharing, and technical assistance to the participating financing institutions.

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

28

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ JUNE 17, 2022

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Standard Chartered Partners UNECA, FSD to Accelerate Sustainability Commitment in Africa In line with its vision to be the most sustainable and responsible bank in the world, Standard Chartered has announced its partnership with Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation (MESTI), and the UK-funded financial sector development agency FSD Africa as founding members of the African Natural Capital Alliance (ANCA).

Standard Chartered in a statement said the Alliance, in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), “will act as an African-led collaborative forum for mobilising the financial community’s response to naturerelated risks and opportunities across the continent. The ultimate aim of ANCA is to help grow and protect Africa’s natural capital by shifting financial flows from destructive activities for short-term gain to long-term stewardship of nature for sustainable economic growth.

“Standard Chartered joins other

leading financial institutions such as Access Bank, the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), Ecobank, Equity Bank, FirstRand, Investec, Sanlam and Zanaco, as founding members of the African-led collaborative forum.”

Commenting on the partnership, Regional Head, Sustainable Finance, West at Standard Chartered, Lina Osman, said: “As a leading global financial institution, Standard Chartered has made a clear commitment to a sustainable future. Our strategy is guided by our vision to be the world’s most sustainable and responsible bank. However, a threat to realising this vision is the exponential destruction and deterioration of forests, arable land, coastlines, and other natural capital resources across the planet – and nowhere is this truer than in Africa.”

She added, “Africa is one of the world’s regions that is most dependent on nature to sustain its economies and societies. Yet, the continent is reaching a tipping

point, and inaction to preserve and rehabilitate its natural capital will lead to rapid biodiversity collapse. Standard Chartered believes it has a responsibility to advocate for such a critical issue, and we are excited to join ANCA in supporting sustainable economic growth by acting as a catalyst for mobilising finance towards nature-positive outcomes.”

CEO of FSD Africa, Mark Napier, said: “The reliance of African nations on their rich natural capital is both a source of vulnerability and a competitive advantage. The case is clear for realigning investments to deliver a nature-positive future for Africa. To achieve this, we need financial institutions, companies, regulators, and policymakers working together. ANCA has a key role to play in creating the capacity and conditions for the financial sector to reflect the true value of nature and embrace long-term stewardship for sustainable growth.”

Purple Merges Subsidiaries for Growth Acceleration Purple Real Estate Income Limited (PREIL) has announced the completion of a merger with the Purple Real Estate Development Company Limited (PREDCO), the real estate development arm of the Purple Group.

PREIL and PREDCO, the company said in a statement, share the same mission of democratising access to real estate investment and ownership in Nigeria by breaking down the barriers that prevent investors from owning real estate assets.

As a combined company, “the new entity will deliver the integrated ownership, investment, development, management, sales, leasing and acquisition of superior multi-use facilities, including residential, commercial, hospitality infrastructure and

prop-tech developments.

“This merger establishes the foundation for the next phase of Purple Group’s growth plan to accelerate the pace and scale at which it provides targeted, premium and affordable lifestyle offerings in strategic locations across Nigeria - delivering technology-enabled services and value-addition to clients and partners.

“The new entity enhances Purple’s ability to scale the business and access appropriate financing to fund a strong pipeline of new projects, expand current services and better deliver against the growing demand for experience-driven solutions that meet the evolving needs of how communities now live and work.

In his remarks, Co-Founder

& CEO, Purple Laide Agboola, noted, “This merger creates the platform for the next phase of our growth, consolidating the assets in our real estate division and delivering operational efficiencies across our internal value chain, while positioning us to access and deliver new, large scale business opportunities. We know that there is significant demand for modern, integrated real estate developments in Nigeria that meet the increasing demand for projects that support modern lifestyles, integrating residential, commercial, entertainment and technology solutions. Purple is more than just a real estate company, Purple is a real estate revolution delivering the needs of a new generation demanding much more from property.”

Wema Bank Holds SME Webinar on Energy Efficiency In line with its commitment to enable business Sustainability, profitability and energy efficiency, Nigeria’s most innovative bank, Wema Bank Plc is organising a webinar for small and medium enterprises on how they can reduce their energy expenditure and increase profit margin.

The SME webinar with the theme, “Managing Rising Energy Costs in Nigeria through Renewable Energy: Strategies for SMEs,” will hold today.

According to a statement issued by the bank and signed by the Head, Marketing Communications and Investors’ Relations, Mrs Funmi Falola, the webinar will explore alternati ve renewable and economical energy sources other than petrolpowered and diesel-powered generators that businesses can use with flexible payment plans.

In addition, she said the webinar will explore business opportunities in the fast-growing renewable energy sector and

how Nigerian entrepreneurs can tap into them.

Among the guests who will be on the programme, according to the statement, are Dr. Wiebe Boer, MD/CEO of All On; Mrs. Omobola Omofaiye, Chief Commercial Officer at Arnergy; Mr. Ilan Wolkov, Consultant at the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management; and Mrs. Abimbola Agbejule, Wema Bank’s Head of Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility.

Oracle, Wificombat Partner to Educate Nigerian Students,Teachers Academy and Wificombat have partnered to train over 100 students and teachers across Nigeria on how to use the Oracle Apex software to build Data Applications for sustainable development goals.

Oracle Academy in partnership with Wificombat Academy, held a 3-week bootcamp called The Oracle Codeweek Nigeria 2022, to teach students and ICT teachers across the country on how to use the Oracle Apex data application software.

At the start of the program, Mrs. Dele Tejuoso, founder of Wificombat academy reintroduced the Oracle Academy

program to students and teachers in attendance. She also explained the benefits of schools being a member of the Oracle academy which is enjoying trainings such as the Oracle Apex Training.

In addition, Mrs. Tejuoso introduced the facilitators that would be teaching the Course and they were; Mr. Kolade and the assistant facilitator Titilayo Hamzat.

These two facilitators were very instrumental in the delivery of the training and students attested to the ease of onboarding with the Oracle Apex software.

Last year, teachers attended the oracle Apex training solely and

got exposed to the Oracle Apex software but this year, the teachers selected some students from their schools to attend the Oracle Apex training to learn how to use the software The bootcamp ran from the 12th of April to the 28th of April. It was held in three batches where students and teachers from private and public secondary schools attended. The bootcamp saw in attendance a total of 107 students who attended and 17 schools; 14 schools from Lagos, 2 schools from Ogun State and 1 school from Osun State.

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 AS AT MONDAY MAY 30, 2022

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

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

29

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯ͵˜ ͰͮͰͰ

Shareholders Laud Sterling Bank 2021 Performance, Approve N0.10 Dividend Kayode Tokede The shareholders of Sterling Bank Plc, yesterday commended the management’s 2021 financial year impressive performance on the heels of global and domestic macroeconomy challenges.

The shareholders at the bank’s 60th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos approved the board’s N0.10

kobo for every share of 50 kobo dividend payout for the financial year ended December 31, 2021.

Shareholders in the 2020 financial year had approved N0.05 kobo for every share of 50 kobo dividend payout.

Speaking at the AGM, the chairman of the Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Boniface Okezie expressed satisfaction with

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

the bank’s 2021 performance, stressing that Sterling bank has remained resilient and growing stronger in the last 60 years despite challenges.

He commended Sterling Bank’s 25.4per cent and 27.1 per cent increase in total assets and customers deposit, respectively, that reflected on 20.2 per cent increase in profit and dividend payout to shareholders.

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

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Speaking to shareholders earlier, the chairman of Sterling Bank, Mr. Asue Ighodalo said, “For us and for the nation at large, 2021 was a year of recovery from the adverse economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.”

He added that, “Breakthroughs in the development of vaccines for the virus, along with the campaigns to inoculate the global population

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

gained ground and bolstered consumer and investor confidence globally and locally.

“The pace of economic recovery exceeded expectations despite threats of a third wave and the emergence of variants of the virus. This brought wind to our sails as we navigated the Bank to increase her profitability and growth.”

“During the period, we were consistent with our strategy to

O F

drive financial intermediation in high impact sectors that aligned with our HEART strategy. This enabled us to focus and deliver innovative solutions that enabled our customers to thrive in a dynamic environment.

“We are unwavering in our commitment to build a forward-thinking organization focused on delivering the best value to our stakeholders.”

1 6 / 0 6 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

30

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2022

Friday, June 17, 2022

Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Lost 58bps Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index fell by 14bps The dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ The Thisday Afrinvest 40 index declined 58bps to

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

at 1,674.89ŝŶĚĞdž points due to sell-pressure on ZENITH (-0.6%), Ϯ͕ϰϲϰ͘ϬϮ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ WAPCO (-1.3%), and UBA (-0.7%). These stocks cumula-

AIRTELAF (-ϭ͘ϮйͿ͕ GTCO (-0.7%), and ZENITH (-

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘Ϯй͘

ϭ͘ϯйͿ͘ ƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ 54.1% of the index.

ASI up 11bps as DANGCEM Gains 3.3%

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

index

rose

by

ƌƵŶ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ E'y- ^/ ĚŝƉƉĞĚ Ϭ͘ϳй ƚŽ ϱϮ͕ϰϭϭ͘Ϭϵ

5 Zenith Bank PLC 6 Dangote Cement PLC 7 Nestle Nigeria PLC

11bps to 39,550.36 points. ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ zd ůŽƐƐ ŝŵͲ

8 FBN Holdings Plc 9 Lafarge Africa PLC

proved to -1.8% while ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ

10 Access Holdings PLC 11 United Bank for Africa PLC

ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ŽŶ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ƐĞůůŽīƐ ŝŶ BUAFOODS (10.0%), AIRTELAF (-ϭ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ZENITH (-1.4%). േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͕ ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ ϮϮ͘ϳй ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ zd ďLJ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ value ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ϴϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ The mostʬ196.4bn traded stocks ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƐŚĞĚ to by volume were dZ E^ KZW ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ & E, (11.1m

ʬϮϴ͘ϯƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ E ^d> ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕ E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

ƟǀĞůLJ ƚŽ Ϯϭϭ͘ϲŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ ʬϮ͘ϰďŶ͘

32.9% 146.4%

5.1x

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

P/BV

0.8x

6.3%

18.0%

82.7%

82.7%

18.2%

6.2%

234.20

0.0%

7.9%

18.9%

18.9%

105.6%

13.9%

14.8x

18.3x

5.8%

74.25

0.0%

6.1%

10.7%

10.7%

23.3%

12.1%

27.9x

6.3x

3.8%

3.6%

21.50

-0.7%

4.4%

-17.3%

-17.3%

19.8%

3.2%

3.5x

0.7x

13.8%

28.2% 36.2%

1.2% 6.8%

21.95

-1.3%

4.2%

-12.7%

-12.7%

20.6%

2.6%

2.8x

0.5x

14.1%

277.00

0.0%

3.9%

7.8%

7.8%

37.7%

16.4%

12.5x

4.6x

7.7%

8.0%

1,400.00

0.0%

2.6%

-10.1%

-10.1%

112.8%

16.1%

24.3x

28.3x

3.6%

4.1%

10.25

3.5%

2.5%

-10.1%

-10.1%

20.1%

1.9%

2.2x

0.4x

3.4%

45.2%

27.90

0.0%

3.1%

16.5%

16.5%

15.5%

11.1%

7.6x

1.1x

7.2%

13.2%

9.55

0.0%

2.2%

2.7%

2.7%

17.9%

1.6%

2.1x

0.3x

7.3%

47.9%

7.55

-0.7%

1.7%

-6.2%

-6.2%

15.6%

1.4%

2.2x

0.3x

13.2%

46.2%

33.55

0.0%

1.2%

-6.8%

-6.8%

15.6%

2.1%

7.1x

1.1x

8.9%

14.1%

63.50

0.0%

1.6%

27.0%

27.0%

10.5%

3.9%

27.3x

2.7x

2.7%

3.7%

1,289.50

0.0%

2.6%

98.4%

98.4%

7.5%

3.6%

13.2x

1.0x

3.2%

7.6%

11.05

0.0%

1.4%

27.0%

27.0%

18.4%

1.0%

2.4x

0.4x

6.1%

42.5%

16 International Brew eries PLC 17 Okomu Oil Palm PLC 18 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

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

Bearish Sector Performance Bearish Sector Performance

P/E

45.5%

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ϭϮ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϭй ƌĞƐƉĞĐͲ

ROA

-1.2%

12 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 13 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 14 SEPLAT Energy PLC 15 Ecobank Transnational Inc

-0.58%

ROE

1,745.00

3 BUA Cement Plc 4 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC

stered ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ the local bourse the AllzĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ĞdžƚĞŶĚĞĚ ŝƚƐ asďĞĂƌŝƐŚ Share

2464.02

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂLJ͕ ƉƌŝĐĞ Bearish ƵƉƟĐŬ Run... ŝŶ ASI ,KEz&>KhZ Local Bourse Sustains dips (+9.8%), E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E, (+0.7%) bol0.7%

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

Current Price

Ticker

25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria 26 Presco PLC

6.90

0.0%

1.3%

39.4%

39.4%

-9.9%

-3.4%

193.50

0.0%

1.2%

36.3%

36.3%

43.6%

25.5%

10.1x

4.2x

4.1%

9.9%

35.00

0.0%

1.0%

23.5%

23.5%

15.9%

4.5%

5.4x

0.8x

6.2%

18.7% 40.4%

1.3x

-7.7%

3.26

-0.6%

0.6%

27.8%

27.8%

13.3%

1.2%

2.5x

0.3x

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breadth, improved to -0.14x ŝŶ ƚŚĞ STOCK (-4.8%) led losers.

Previousfrom day, -Ϭ͘Ϯϭdž we expect the

to rebound as investors hunt for bargain.

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

T ic k er

P ric e C hg %

Investment Research

Brokerage

Asset Management

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Damilare Asimiyu | dasimiyu@afrinvest.com

This

Weekend

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2022

TR

UTH

& R E ASO

N

WEEKLY MAGAZINE

NEWS Bunna Empire Takes a Break to Rejuvenate See page 33

POLSCOPE Muslim-Muslim Ticket: Audacity of a Political Risk See page 34

XTRA Fusion of Fashion and Arts in ‘Adorn’

Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao:

See page 34

Group Features Editor: CHIEMELIE EZEOBI chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com

07010510430

Focused on Enhancing, Sustaining Critical Airpower Capabilities

32

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯ͵˜ ͰͮͰͰ

COVER

Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao: Focused on Enhancing, Sustaining Critical Airpower Capabilities ÓÜ ËÜÝÒËÖ ÝÓËÕË ÖËÎËãÙ ×ËÙ ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ͓͒ÝÞ ÒÓÏÐ ÙÐ ÓÜ ÞËʥ˛ Ï ÒËݘ ÙàÏÜ ÞÒÏ ãÏËÜݘ ÝÏÜàÏÎ ÓØ ÍÜÓÞÓÍËÖ ÝÏÍÞÙÜÝ ÓØ ÞÒÏ ×ÓÖÓÞËÜã áÒÓÍÒ ÒËÝ ÏØËÌÖÏÎ ÒÓ× ÞÙ ÍÙØÞÜÓÌßÞÏ ÝÓÑØÓʨÍËØÞÖã ÞÙ ÎÏàÏÖÙÚ×ÏØÞ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÓÑÏÜÓËØ ÓÜ ÙÜÍÏ áÒÓÖÝÞ ËÍÛßÓÜÓØÑ ßØÓÛßÏ ÚÏÜÝÚÏÍÞÓàÏ ËØÎ ÓØÝÓÑÒÞ ÞÒËÞ ÒËÝ ÝÒËÚÏÎ ÒÓÝ ÝÞÜËÞÏÑÓÍ ÞÒÙßÑÒÞݲ ÚÙØ ËÝÝß×ÚÞÓÙØ ÙÐ ÙʩÍÏ ÙØ ËØßËÜã ͓͗˜ ͓͓͑͒˜ Chiemelie Ezeobi ÜÏÚÙÜÞÝ ÞÒËÞ ÒÓÝ ÐÙÍßÝ ÒËÝ ÌÏÏØ ÙØ ÎÙÍÞÜÓØËÖ ÎÏàÏÖÙÚ×ÏØÞ ËØÎ ËÚÚÖÓÍËÞÓÙØ ÙÐ ËÓÜÚÙáÏÜ ÓØ ÔÙÓØÞ ×ÓÖÓÞËÜã ÙÚÏÜËÞÓÙØݘ ÚßÜÚÙÝÏÐßÖ ÞÜËÓØÓØÑ ËØÎ Òß×ËØ ÍËÚËÍÓÞã ÎÏàÏÖÙÚ×ÏØÞ ËÝ áÏÖÖ ËÝ ÚÖËÞÐÙÜ×Ý ËØÎ ÏÛßÓÚ×ÏØÞ ÝÏÜàÓÍÏËÌÓÖÓÞã ÞÒÜÙßÑÒ ÓØØÙàËÞÓàÏ ×ËÓØÞÏØËØÍÏ ×ÏÞÒÙÎÝ ËØÎ ÖÙÑÓÝÞÓÍÝ ÝßÚÚÙÜÞ ÝãÝÞÏ×Ý

U

ntil his appointment as the 21st Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) by President Muhammadu Buhari on January 26, 2021, Air Marshal Amao was the Commandant of the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Oshodi, a key institution tasked with the responsibility of training and empowering military personnel for post-service re-integration into the civil society.

VISION

Bearing in mind the current security environment as well as the mission of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), “To ensure the integrity of the airspace by gaining and maintaining control of the air while retaining a credible capacity to fulfil other airpower tasks demanded by national defence and security imperatives,” Air Marshal Oladayo Amao coined his vision for the NAF which seeks, “To enhance and sustain critical airpower capabilities required for joint force employment in pursuit of national security imperatives”.

KEY DRIVERS

To give bite to his vision, the NAF Director of Public Relations (DOPRI), Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, noted that the CAS fashioned out five main key drivers which laid emphasis on doctrinal development and application of airpower in joint military operations, purposeful training and human capacity development as well as platforms and equipment serviceability through innovative maintenance methods and logistics support systems.

Other areas of emphasis include ensuring a disciplined workforce essential for combat readiness and bolstering troop morale by improving personnel welfare.

ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR

Thus, upon assumption of office, Air Marshal Amao had assured Nigerians that under his watch, the NAF alongside the sister services would redouble its effort at providing the support and security necessary for the nation’s development, whilst discharging its constitutional responsibilities to the government and law-abiding citizens.

Also, one of his key derivatives was that NAF under his leadership would leverage credible partnership, while focusing on enhancing professionalism so as to promote performance and motivate initiatives that would create an enabling environment for successful operations.

Over time, not only has he focused on such collaborations, he also capitalised on critically applying the principles of war, personnel motivation and inter-service cooperation, which is a time-tested doctrine capable of bringing the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) closer to achieving the core mandate of securing the nation.

In terms of fighting insurgency and terrorism, the CAS through the NAF has sustained some gains. Besides supporting joint operations, the NAF has also conducted independent operations to destroy insurgents’ capabilities.

In March 2022 for instance, aerial operations by the NAF Component of Operation Thunder Strike and Operation Gama Aiki eliminated over 150 terrorists who had been under surveillance for some time and were observed to be in three different groups of approximately 40 terrorists, with at least 25 motorcycles per group.

However, rather than strike individual group separately, the NAF surveillance team patiently waited until the three groups gathered at a crossroad location near Ghana Village. According to the Niger State Commissioner for Local Government, Community Development, Chieftaincy Affairs and Internal Security, Emmanuel Umar, many commanders of the terrorist groups were killed in the operations, pointing out that the eliminated terrorists belonged to the camps of Ali Kawajo, Yello Janbros, Kachalla Halilu and Bello Turji. Similar successes have also been recorded in Operational theatres in the North-east, North-west and Southern parts of the Country.

All these wouldn’t have been possible without adequate platforms enabled by the magnanimity of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, which ensured that the NAF under Air Marshal Amao acquired new platforms while reactivating existing ones.

According to Air Commodore Gabkwet, under Air Marshal Amao, the NAF has witnessed a tremendous boost to its aircraft holdings across various fleets.

In addition to the previously acquired platforms, the NAF has, in 2021 alone, taken delivery of 15 brand new aircraft and Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAV) and have sustained reactivation of hitherto unserviceable platforms to upscale its capabilities in tackling all forms of criminality.

The latest additions of three JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter aircraft and 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft recently inducted into the NAF Order of Battle are presently deployed in various theatres of operation across the country to add impetus to the ongoing war against insurgency, armed banditry and other forms of criminality in the country.

A champion of human capital, Air Marshal Amao also ensured the NAF Special Forces elements were reinvigorated and further given advanced training both at home and abroad.

The NAF has also boosted the capacity of its Regiment and Special Forces with additional training and equipment to improve operations in the fight against insurgency and other forms of criminality.

In the last 15 months, the service has also enhanced its recruitment drive by graduating over additional 2,500 recruits at the Military Training Centre in Kaduna, just as it sent 10 Senior Non-Commissioned Officers of the ranks of Air Warrant Officer and Master Warrant Officer to the United Kingdom for a unique four-part international pre-retirement training.

Meanwhile, in the past 15 months, NAF has winged 56 pilots and operators who graduated from various pilot courses both at home and abroad. In the same vein, several officers, airmen and airwomen of the NAF are currently undergoing different types of training in various countries including the United States of America, South Africa, India, Belgium, Egypt and Pakistan, amongst others.

A firm believer in welfare of officers and men, the CAS has gone out of his way to boost the

morale of personnel by ensuring that they are well taken care of, accomodation-wise, as well as schools attended by their children Also, to enable NAF personnel and those outside the service the opportunity to channel their complaints and grievances against the service or its personnel, the CAS during the year established the Office of the Ombudsman and the Directorate of Veterans Affairs (DVA).

Meanwhile, in its bid to reduce the huge foreign exchange expended on medical tourism, the NAF leadership approved the setting up a NAF Telemedicine portal to bridge the geographical barriers between patient and healthcare provider to access efficient and affordable healthcare services without being physically involved.

Given the invaluable role of Research and Development, the CAS has invested substantially in R&D to develop unprecedented capacity to surmount current and emerging security challenges while also enhancing its operational viability.

CAS has also placed premium on key infrastructural development for all NAF bases, as well as units and commands, inadvertently boosting morale of troops.

In all, Air Marshal Amao in tandem in with his vision and mission for the NAF, is on course to ensure holistic fire power for the Nigerian Air Force while ensuring no doctrine or key derivative is left undone.

FORMATIVE YEARS

Born and brought up in Enugu State on September 14, 1965, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao, is an indigene of Oshogbo Local Government Area in Osun State, who moved home with his parents and then to Kaduna where he attended his early childhood education at Nuhu Bamalli Primary School in Zaria, Kaduna from 1971 to 1977. Afterwards, he attended Command Secondary School Kakuri from 1977 to 1982.

GRILLING IN NDA

After he finished his secondary school he was enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as a member of the 35 NDA Regular Course in the Nigerian Air Force cadet on January 19, 1984 and was commissioned as Pilot Officer on December 20, 1986.

ACADEMICS

Amao also attended the Federal College of Freshwater and Fisheries Technology (FCFFT) New Bussa from 1994 to 1996; the University of Madras India from 2002 to 2003; Kaduna Polytechnic from 2005 to 2006; and PLA National Defence University, China from 2012 to 2013.

OPERATIONS

Amao held several positions in the NAF and prior to his appointment, was the Air Component Commander of the operation against the Nigerian insurgents that was tagged Zaman Lafiya Dole / Lafiya Dole in North-east Nigeria and was also the

Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command (TAC).

Operationally, as a seasoned Fighter Instructor Pilot on the Alpha Jet, Air Marshal Amao served as a Squadron Pilot at the 99 (now 407) Air Combat Training Group Kainji and the 75 (now 103) Strike Group Yola.

He subsequently worked as an Instructor Pilot at both the 301 (now 401) Flying Training School Kaduna and the 303 (now 403) Flying Training School Kano, with over 1,500 Jet and Instructional hours to his credit.

He has participated in the draw-down of the Africaled International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA), as well as the counter-insurgency Operations Zaman Lafiya and Lafia Dole in the North East of Nigeria.

He went on to become Air Component Commander for both operations also serving as Deputy Theatre Commander for the latter. In these roles, he oversaw synergistic employment of Air Power to effectively support land forces in sustaining stabilisation operations across the North-east Theatre.

He then rose to the position of Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Command, the lead combat element (often referred to as the “teeth”) of the NAF.

STAFF EXPERIENCE

Air Marshal Amao was privileged to serve in critical capacities which enabled him to contribute significantly to development of the service whilst acquiring unique perspectives and insights which have shaped his strategic thoughts.

Amao was at various times the Air Assistant to the Chief of the Air Staff, Assistant Director of Operations, Director of Policy, Director of Training as well as Director of Operations at Headquarters Nigerian Air Force.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERTISE

With keen possession of understanding of international relations as they affect defence matters, Air Marshal Amao also served as Deputy Defence Adviser and Acting Defence Adviser at the Nigerian High Commission in London, United Kingdom, Chief of Training and Operations and subsequently Chief of Policy and Plans at Headquarters Nigerian Air Force.

CERTIFICATIONS

He is an alumnus of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji as well as the Defence Services Staff College, India. He is a Fellow of the PLA National Defence University, China and holds a Master of Science in Defence and Strategic Studies from the University of Madras India as well as a Master of Military Science and Strategy from the National Defence University China.

He is also a certified aircraft accident investigator trained in Karachi, Pakistan and at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria Nigeria as well as being a Qualified Flying Instructing (QFI).

HOBBIES

For one whose job is quite tasking, Amao takes off the steam in his spare time by reading, dancing, travelling, playing volleyball and golf as well as fishing and farming. He also finds time for family life, a home he shares with his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Olubunmi Amao and their three sons.

33

˾ ͯ͵˜ ͰͮͰͰ

Insight Publicis Wins Media Account for Amazon Prime Video Stories by Mary Nnah Amazon Prime Video has named Insight Publicis, an agency based out of Nigeria as its creative agency of record as it prepares to launch in Africa’s biggest economy in Q3 2022.

It is the latest move in Amazon’s investment in expanding its streaming service, available in more than 240 countries, into Nigeria’s vibrant film scene.

Founded in 1979, Insight Publicis is a member of Redefini, the largest integrated marketing communications group in West Africa, and also a member of Publicis Groupe, the largest marketing and communications group by capitalisation, globally.

Insight Publicis’ campaigns such as the Komando ‘Girl On Fire’ campaign, 2sure’s ‘Be The Spec’

campaign, and Pepsi’s ‘Love It. Live It’ campaign and a host of others, have gained national and international recognition, including the 2021 Gerety Nigerian Agency of the Year award, the BrandCom 2021 Marketing Agency of the Year, and one of the most awarded agencies at the African Cristal Media and Advertising Summit.

With a population of over 210 million people, the continent’s largest entertainment industry, and the second-biggest film industry in the world, the Nigerian market has become an important territory for the streaming players.

Its entertainment sector, known globally as “Nollywood”, is valued at just over $6 billion - with the potential to become Nigeria’s most lucrative export with around 2,500 films produced annually.

Amazon’s Prime Video has

been strategically expanding its Nigerian content offering in the last year. The company struck a multi-year exclusive licensing deal with Anthill Studios in January, a Lagos-based company behind a couple of well-received movies including Elevator Baby, and Day of Destiny.

This was after closing a similar deal in December 2021 with Inkblot Studios which produced the commercially successful The Wedding Party films. Just recently, Nigerian Highlife singer Flavour N’abania was reported to have signed an exclusive deal with the streamers for the release of a biopic. The race by major global players to claim space and win big in the best-known African film industry is not only a testament to the landscape financial promise - internet penetration is on a

steady increase, the cost of data is low, and the smartphone is the most-used device for entertainment among 18-year-olds but also proof that the Nigerian film industry is a market that global powerhouses must prioritise.

Insight Publicis brings an inconceivable depth of creative expertise through proven management in creating bestin-class campaigns, as well as artistic excellence, to deliver authentic African stories that align with Amazon Prime’s vision to diversify its global offer and draw audiences of Nigeria closer to the platform.

Exciting times for the Nigerian film landscape, as well as the entire value chain, as big players, like Amazon Prime Video, are leading the charge in seeking local agencies for authentic storytelling.

Bunna Empire Takes a Break to Rejuvenate David Bunna, founder of Bunna Empire and Distroplug in Accra, Ghana, a full-service entertainment company founded in 2014 is taking a break from its numerous operations to rejuvenate for bigger exploits.

Bunna Empire was originally established to be the go-to lifestyle and entertainment company in Ghana, Nigeria, and beyond by providing world-class services in artist, brand, and event management; music distribution, and production.

Unfortunately, after years of struggles with minimal success, the Bunna Empire boss recently announced the inevitable end of the Bunna Empire due to a lack of good management and education.

Speaking to journalists recently, the Lagos-born Ghanaian said, “Currently I am taking a break and rebranding my image and personality due to failures from my first love, Bunna Empire. Bunna Empire was everything to me.

“I built it based on family, love, and relationships with friends and people around but this quickly crashed over the years as I couldn’t keep up with the administration of the

Bunna company and that made me understand why education is important, not by going to school but by learning on the job and being discipline which was something I lacked.

“Also, not having any mentors or strong parental figures to guide me on my way in life has been a bittersweet ride so far, good memories and bad ones all make the journey a movie that would be told in the future.”

He said therefore that at the moment Bunna Empire is no more as everything about it is slowly being taken off the internet while a rebranding process is in motion and would be unveiled before the end of the year.

While taking the blame for the failures, the Bunna Empire boss said, “I blame it on no one. I could say I gave my time and attention to the wrong things and the wrong

people who I thought would help me achieve my goals, but one thing I am never scared of in life is restarting the clock, being a creative and taking time to assess everything that has occurred I can only see a pattern to create more and keep reinventing myself.

“Learning from my previous mistakes and this time operating with an open, learned and calm mindset, moving with the guidance and protection of God almighty, my plans remain the same which is taking over the world and showcasing the beauty of African artist and entertainment.

He revealed further that the name Bunna Empire will be discarded while he would be unveiling a new brand name anytime within the third quarter of the year, adding, “I would be delving more into tech, music, and entertainment who knows I could be building the next Apple or Spotify, we have to wait and see. Jesus takes the wheel and we moving at his own pace now”.

He was quick to state that Bunna Empire is not necessarily a failure as it started from $0 with no support and was able to achieve some little glories that will stay with him.

NOG22: MicCom Chief to Speak on Funding Nigeria’s Energy Mix Precious Ugwuzor The 2022 edition of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Strategic Conference scheduled for 4 - 7 July would be focusing on strategies to be employed by the Federal Government and private sector leaders in navigating the everevolving business environment, and defining the country’s energy agenda.

This year’s conference themed “Funding the Nigerian Energy Mix for Sustainable Economic Growth,” will have on one of its panels the Chief Operating Officer of MicCom Cables & Wires, Olubukola Adubi, who will be speaking on the topic “Developing the Power Sector for an Emerging Economy.” An experienced professional and expert in the Nigerian power sector,Adubiisregularlyfeatured in the dailies airing her opinions on problems faced in the industry and proffering solutions.

Some of the issues to be discussed at the conference include challenges with attracting the right investments into the power sector; the potential impact of

Adubi the proposed power sector bill on power generation and distribution; the roadmap to achieving the Presidential Power Initiative; solutions to Aggregated Technical Commercial and Collection Losses; and steps to closing the metering gap in the country.

Recently, Adubi was quoted as saying by Vanguard during a dialogue session between representatives of the Cable Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CAMAN) and the leadership of the Standards Or-

ganisation of Nigeria (SON) at the commission’s headquarters that the cable manufacturers would no longer tolerate fake and substandard cables. Adubi who also doubles as CAMAN’s president lamented the actions of unscrupulous importers who either slapped their member’s logos on their imported products or sellers who reduced cable sizes. She encouraged SON to keep up the good work and also commended the recent partnership announcement between SON and the Lagos

State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA). This will go a long way in providing additional comfort to the general citizenry.

She warned illegal actors that things could get devastating if they did not deter from their actions. “The people manufacturing and providing the fake and adulterated cables should be wary to know that people are coming after them. So it’s either they sit up and shape up or ship out. We’re not going to allow it any longer. Our legacies will not allow it to stand. I’m happy we have the support of SON and the support of the DG particularly. Give another six months, I’m sure the story will be different,” she was quoted as saying.

Other speakers on the NOG22 panel alongside Adubi are Senator Gabriel Suswam, Abdulkadir Ahmed of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company, Dr Nnaemeka Ewelukwa of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company, Sanusi Garba of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and others.

˪ ˾ ÓÝÙáØÝ ßÏÏØ ÜÏØÏ ÙÖÏ ËÝ ÞÜßÝÞÏÏ Rebecca Ejifoma The family of the renowned philanthropist, Sir Mobolaji Bank Anthony, has clarified the issues surrounding the es tate of the late scion.

This was just as they categorically disowned Queen Irene Cole, whom they described as “a self-styled Executive Trustee” of the multi-billion dollar estate of Bank Anthony.

Recently, Cole hosted a press conference where she told the media that as an “executive trustee” of the late Bank Anthony’s Estate, she was collaborating with his family to recover the estate worth over $50billion from some banks and registrars.

According to her, the banks and registrars allegedly connived to deprive the statutory beneficiaries of the will of their entitlement.

But at a press conference last Thursday at Mike Okiro Press Centre, Ikeja Lagos, the Mobolaji Bank Anthony family firmly told journalists that “Queen Irene Cole and her cohorts are not known to the family”.

According to a grandson of Bank Anthony, Mr Babatunde Bank Anthony, “Sir Mobolaji Bank Anthony, at the time of his death in 1991, left a clear and comprehensive last will which depicted his last wishes.

“His last will stated that his estate is governed and run by a list of his chosen trustees. This list did not include anyone named Queen Irene Cole nor did it include some of her partners.”

He added that he and his family do not know Cole and her cohorts, who have spent the last couple of years attempting to insert themselves in the estate and properties of the late Bank Anthony.

Babatunde, who spoke with journalists on zoom from London, noted that Cole has continued to claim her relationship to the Bank Anthony family and has through various methods obtained a court judgement which is currently being legally challenged by the family and the estate.

The grandson emphasised: “It has been brought to our notice that Queen Irene Cole and some of her partners have been using this court judgement in an attempt to access estate funds and engage with property developers.

“We, the family, are using this medium to inform everyone that Queen Irene Cole does not have the permission or the authority to represent the Bank Anthony family and anyone who enters into any business transaction with her in regards to the Bank Anthony Estate does so at their peril.”

Babatunde, however, described the press conferences organised by Cole concerning Bank Anthony Estate as full of fallacies and misleading.

He further cited a newspaper publication where Cole claimed to be a godmother of a beneficiary. Babatunde, however, admitted that Funmiade Bank-Anthony, who has been associating with Cole is a grandchild of Mobolaji Bank Anthony but not a statutory beneficiary from the will.

Another grandson, Mohammed Akintunde, also conceded to journalists that Cole is a godmother to Funmiade.

“Sometime in 2020, Cole had invited Funmiade and me to Sheraton Hotels where we were both persuaded to accept her becoming Trustees to our late grandfather’s estate.”

While Funmiade was said to have consented to the request, Akintunde rejected it with the contention that such a proposal could not fly without the consent of Mobolaji Bank Anthony’s children and the larger family.

According to Akintunde, Cole later procured a Lagos High Court document purporting him as one of the Trustees of the late Bank Anthony’s Estate. This, he claimed, was in an attempt to have access to the Estate’s accounts.

Akintunde was later said to disclaim his inclusion when Bank Anthony’s family took the matter to court.

In the disclaimer dated 30th September 2020 (copies of which were made available to the press), Akintunde expressly stated that he was not aware of the act perpetuating that “I should become the new said trustee of the estate of the late Sir Mobolaji Bank Anthony.

“I am a law-abiding citizen of Nigeria and also one of the grandsons of the late philanthropist Sir Mobolaji Bank Anthony. I would like the court to verify all necessary documents from Irene Cole where and time I sat down to sign the document that warrants me Mr Mohammed Abubakar Akintunde to be a legal trustee of the said Estate”.

The eldest grandchild of the late philanthropist, Fumilayo Bank Anthony who spoke via zoom, said she is a beneficiary in the will while Funmiade is not like some other grandchildren.

The family has disclosed that the case relating to the estate was still in court. They pointed out that Cole and her allies initially got a judgement due to improper disclosure of facts to the court during the filing process.

“The name of a beneficiary has been altered to match the name of one of the beneficiaries stated in the will.

“They have tried everything and anything possible to try to get their hands on the funds of the Estate. The judgement they are parading around is dated 5th August, 200 but subsequently, the case was referred to the Court of Appeals on 5th November, 201. A Notice of Appeal has been put forward and we are presently waiting for an Appeal date”, Babatunde explained.

He added that Cole and her partners hope they can get to the funds of the estate before an Appeal hearing but “We as a family will ensure they will not succeed”.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that after addressing the press in May this year, Cole and her partners have held meetings with some of the registrars to strengthen issues relating to the funds.

34

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯ͵˜ ͰͮͰͰ

POLSCOPE

áÓÞÒ ÎÎã ÎÓàáÜÓ ÏÎÎã˛ÙÎÓàáÜÓ̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙט ͸΀͸ͽ ͻ͸; ΁ͻͽ;

Muslim-Muslim Ticket: Audacity of Political Risk

O

ne would ordinarily not mind the faith of our leaders, if we live in a normal society. After all, what is important is performance and service delivery.

But our society is not normal. Not even the times are normal. We live in weird and perilous times. And this requires no argument to prove. How can we be normal when the comment of an innocent girl is considered blasphemy and she gets stoned to death and her corpse burnt to ashes, as was the case with Deborah Samuel? Few days later, the prelate of the Methodist Church, Samuel Kanu Uche and an accompanying Bishop were kidnapped on the highway in Abia State.

Two days later, they paid N100 million before they could be released. Less than ten days after, St Mary’s Catholic Church in a quiet town of Owo, Ondo state was attacked by gunmen who detonated explosives inside the sanctuary and stationed themselves outside to shoot down those who would want to run for safety. How can we be said to be in a normal society? As if all that was not enough, another Bishop, this time an Anglican Bishop of Kwara Diocese, Oluwaseun Aderogba, along with his wife and driver got abducted on the Ogbomosho highway, two kilometers to their destination. The Bishop and his wife and driver were however released last Tuesday. A day after the Bishop was kidnapped, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Jos east Local Government Area of Plateau State, Rev Fr James Kantoma was abducted from his home in the wee hours of last Monday.

Three days earlier, on Friday June 10, some three missionaries with Kogi State Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) in charge of minding some children in Kogi State were abducted.

Ten years ago, we cannot forget the Christmas day bombing of St Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, Suleja, where several Christian worshippers were killed. That same year, in March 2012, a car detonated a bomb inside St Finbars’ Catholic Church, Jos…. The tales of woes are long. Very long. How can we be adjudged a normal people living in a normal society? No, we are not!

We cannot forget the bombing of hundreds of Christians and attacked in bestial manner, as we only groan and pray. We therefore believe that a Muslim-Muslim ticket is not only insensitive to the feelings of Christians, it will lionize the Islamic terrorists who are already claiming that they own the whole of Nigeria and are threatening to take over the entire country, from Bauchi to Bayelsa. I have listened to the viral audio message, allegedly by one Usman Umar Sokoto, an Islamic philosopher, claiming that the Fulani are determined to take over Nigeria, being the original owners. We shall revisit this arrant rubbish some other day. The Christian Association of Nigeria has confirmed receiving letters of threat hinting at plans to shut down churches all over Nigeria. Where does all that leave Nigeria?

Even if all these attacks and killings perpetrated

by Islamic fundamentalists did not take place, it would yet be necessary for a balancing of public offices in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society like Nigeria. Yet, it is doubly imperative seeing that there is an evident tendency by the Islamic fundamentalists to ride roughshod over the rest of Nigeria, especially as they seem to be above the law. As the Islamic philosopher arrogantly mocked, how come none of these affronts by the Fulani marauders has ever been contained by the law enforcement agencies? How many of them have been prosecuted and jailed? Is it any surprise that despite the repeated presidential directive that anybody bearing AK-47 rifle illegally should be shot, not a single case of such shooting has been recorded in the face of all the attacks.

However, the point must be made that the quest for religious balancing at the presidential level is to give a sense of representation. It is not so much to say having a Christian as Vice President really stops the perpetration of these evil against Christendom. After all, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, a senior and respected Pastor from the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has been in office for over seven years now, yet we

Tinubu have experienced and recorded unprecedented pummeling of Christians in Nigeria. That he is in office does not seem to have had any effect in tempering the spate and fierceness of the attacks on Christians.

In Nigeria, the office of the Vice President is as powerful as the President wants it to be. Before his death, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had practically reduced then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to a duty of reading newspapers in the office, as no tasks, roles, or assignments were assigned to him by the operating cabal at the time. Even now, we have also seen how President Muhammadu Buhari has treated Yemi Osinbajo: creating the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to strip Osinbajo of the roles he was assigned.

Indeed, the President has the prerogative of even assigning regular tasks associated with the office of the Vice President, to serving ministers or even heads of parastatals to perform, while the Vice President is ignored and rendered redundant.

There is no denying the fact that the President is it! Little wonder former Anambra governor, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, once described the role of the deputy governor (or Vice President) as that of a “spare tyre”. It is remembered or called to relevance only when the main tyre is not there. Yet, in the face of all these, it must be stated that the office of the Vice President is a constitutional office. It must be provided for and tasks and roles assigned to it.

So, the question is: if Osinbajo, a Christian leader is in office as Vice President and yet the fire of attacks on Christians is ferociously aglow, how much acidic fire will be unleashed on Christians if we now have a Muslim-Muslim ticket?

Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who in a recent Television interview claimed that “there is no big deal” in a MuslimMuslim ticket is being hypocritical. How can he say there is no big deal? He and his ilk

must be told there is plenty of big deal. In a country that has over 100 million Christians, it cannot be said that their interest, sensibilities and voice cannot be listened to in the country?

Somebody should ask El-Rufai and co whether they can also say there is no big deal if Nigeria settles for a Christian-Christian ticket?

Of course, many Nigerians know how deep gutted el Rufai is in matters of religion. We can see the “no big deal” effect of MuslimMuslim ticket in his Kaduna State which has practically been reduced to a large killing field. His choice of a Muslim as his deputy in his second term has further worsened the security and safety situation in Kaduna State.

If he is sincere, he will know it has not helped matters in Kaduna State, which has a fairly large population of Christians, especially in the Southern part of the state.

It is thus wild and extremely delusional to assume that at the presidency, Nigerians can settle for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

It is cheap and even silly to drive the argument that we should be concerned with performance and efficiency and not the faith of the people in office. Great! The same argument that supports that people from every part of Nigeria should be represented at the federal executive council, for instance, since great and performing officer is not an exclusive preserve of any particular region; the same argument holds sway in the issue of religion.

There are competent and efficient persons in all the faiths in Nigeria. So, if the quest is for competence and result, it can be found from holders of various faiths. It is not only Muslims that can be credited with competence and efficiency. It is delusional to assume that the choice of a Muslim-Muslim ticket can be forced down the throat of Nigerians. Gosh! It will not work, or at best it will be a pyrrhic victory, if it is rammed down the throat of Nigerians. The consequences will be dire.

No discerning and insightful president will

contemplate the arising upheaval.

Those who have argued in favour of MuslimMuslim ticket are quick to cite the June 12 scenario.

But they forget that the times are very different.

This is 2022, not 1993. The state of the nation now is not what it was in 1993. The fault lines were not this defined and bold. It is completely a different ball game. Besides, MKO was a full-blown pan-Nigerian, having established tentacles across the length and breadth of Nigeria. His image was large. No politician today on the stage, approximates the status of MKO Abiola. To cite that one-off instant does not therefore address the fears and dangers inherent in a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

It is bad enough that the presidential candidates of both leading political parties (the APC and the PDP) are Muslims, but it will be doubly bad for one of them to settle for yet a Muslim running mate. It will be regarded as an affront to adherents of other faiths.

Yes, the constitution does not prescribe faith in ascendancy to power, yet, it does not say people of one faith should dominate the leadership structure of the country.

It is instructive to note that even the Military regimes of yore, as hard and strict as they appeared, respected the religious sensitivity of the country by ensuring a fair balancing between both major faiths. That was why Muslim Heads of State were always supported by Christian “deputies”, except the single case of the Buhari-Idiagbon regime.

Some other arguments for the Muslim-Muslim ticket seem to be hinged on political calculation.

The propounders of this school of thought maintain that since the PDP is fielding Atiku Abubakar, a northern Muslim, then the APC should also field a Muslim (the banal reason the likes of Ahmad Lawan, Gov Muhammad Badaru and Senator Ahmed Yerima) were introduced into the presidential race, in the first place. So, now the argument is that Bola Tinubu, a southern Muslim would need a strong northern Muslim as running mate so as to battle Atiku’s Muslim influence in the north.

In other words, only a northern Muslim will be able to mass up votes and support for the Tinubu presidential bid. As one party stalwart argued, “there is no point fielding a northern Christian who will not be able to bring anything to the table and thereby cause the candidate to lose the election”.

The chieftain declared that there is “zero risk” if Tinubu chooses a northern Muslim as his running mate. He argued, rather arrogantly, that even the entire south east states put together is not up to the land mass of Niger State. He dismissed the issue of demography stressing that the population in the north far outweighs that of the south. He is yet to realise the truism in the fact that religion is the opium of the people.

Already, the choice of a running mate, especially by the APC presidential standard- bearer, has raised the tension in the land. Many Christian groups and organisations like the Christian Association of Nigeria, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria and other faith-based groups have all warned against the fielding of Muslim-Muslim ticket.

As at the time of writing this column, there are strong indications that the Tinubu camp has settled for the controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket, a decision that may repel support from vast majority of southerners.

With the likes of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu already canvassing support for a Muslim-Muslim ticket, because “we cannot play two minorities”, it is obvious even the Igbo region would be divided.

Thankfully however, there are other options for Nigerians. The contest is not strictly between PDP and APC. There are fifteen other political parties contesting the presidency, including the Labour Party, fielding Mr Peter Obi, former Anambra State governor as its presidential standard-bearer.

Obi, from social media tractions has provided a veritable alternative to the APC/PDP Islamic tangle. Many believe the issue of religion will see the APC cadging for votes in many parts of the country, for failing to show enough sensitivity to the issue of religion. We watch!

XTRA

Fusion of Fashion and Arts in ‘Adorn’ Mary Nnah A fusion of fashion and arts was seen recently during an exhibition titled, “Adorn”.

The exhibition, jointly held

by Founder, Finicky Stitches, Jevbe Obiomah Utho, and an artist, Enifoghale Agodo of NiftyAgodo, was a showcase of

sheer creativity. The collaboration brought forth a beautiful array of Nigerian-made fabrics and artworks whose motifs were predominately Nigerian.

Speaking at the event on the crossroads for fashion and arts, the designer, Jevbe Obiomah Utho of Finicky Stitches, said, “Same creativity, same craziness; you have to be thinking out of the box and be a little bit

different; you have to search within yourself to be a good fashion designer or artist.”

Obiomah whose designs were displayed alongside Agodo artworks showcased made-in-Nigeria fabrics and accessories. She said, “All the designs here today have a Nigerian motif. They are made with the Nigerian mentality. Nigeria is bold

and audacious; you cannot suppress us. No matter how bad things are, we move on.”

Obiomah’s designs are inspired majorly by women: “I am a designer for women.

I feel that women have been marginalised and put down in one way or the other, so when I am designing, I design with aggression that this woman must stand out, this

woman must take her place, and that this woman must have confidence, so, that is the mentality I use in designing my clothes – even if nothing else, let her stand out from wherever she finds herself.”

“Beautiful and good things come from Nigeria, so I am using Nigerian fabric and these are made in Nigeria products and

they are good enough to compete in any market”, she noted.

Speaking further on the relevance of the joint exhibition, she said, “I want to gain more visibility with this exhibition.

My brand has been in existence for a long but has been very quiet for some time. I just want to gain visibility to say, we are very much around.

35

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2022

NEWS

AWARD PRESENTATION...

L-R: Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose; Chairman, VFD Group, Mr. Olatunde Busari, and Mrs. Chinwe Efobi, during an award presentation to Busari for his continued support as Chairman of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA Lagos branch...recently

All Set for Ekiti Election as INEC Chairman Appeals to Staff to Maintain Neutrality Police deploy 17, 000 personnel Oni, Oyebanji in final campaigns to voters It'll be great loss to state if Oni loses, say SDP leaders, accuse PDP, APC of corruption Appeal court sets up tribunal Victor Ogunje and Chuks Okocha in Ado Ekiti All is set for the Ekiti State governorship election which holds tomorrow as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahood Yakubu has appealed to staff of the commission to be neutral and abide by the code of conduct signed by them.

In a special appeal, he said, "I appeal to you to uphold our Code of Conduct, display your usual sense of responsibility and professionalism; remain above board and firmly resist any unethical behaviour."

He further charged them to ensure that no political party or candidate was accorded any advantage over the other.

"We must also always stick strictly to the oath of neutrality to which we have all subscribed and continually live up to the trust that Nigerians repose in us.”

He said since June 2021 when the Commission released the timetable and schedule of activities for the Ekiti Governorship Election, INEC has collectively implemented several activities and taken every step to guarantee a free, fair. credible, and inclusive process this tomorrow.

According to Yakubu, "This election is coming seven months after the successful conduct of the Anambra State governorship election

in November 2021, but it will be historic because it will be the first governorship election to be conducted based on the provisions of the new Electoral Act2022."

He reminded the staff that at the stakeholders' meeting held last Tuesday, he had assured the political parties, their standard bearers and the good people of Ekiti State that the choice of who becomes the next governor of the state was entirely in the hands of the voters Accordingly, he said, "I said so confidently because I strongly believe

in the commitment. efficiency and determination of all of you our dedicated staff to ensure a level playing field on election day which is just 48 hours away.

"Let us remember that the people of Ekiti State and indeed all Nigerians will be watching us closely and waiting to see if we will fulfill our promise.

"They will observe the opening time of each of the 2,445 polling units in the state, the conduct of our staff, how you attend to voters and your attitude towards persons

with disability," he explained.

He, therefore, thanked the staff for their expected cooperation and good conduct during the election, saying to them: "Thank you for all your efforts."

However, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Johnson Kokumo has disclosed that the state would be properly secured to avoid any break down of law and order during the poll.

He also revealed that a total of 17,000 personnel had been deployed for the poll.

Kokumo said the security operatives deployed for the Ekiti poll were meant to secure the state and not for any form of intimidation if citizens. He said they would secure lives and the rule of law.

The DIG added that soldiers would be at the borders of the communities to prevent any form of intruders to secure every corners of the state.

According to him, all security operatives with VIPs should be withdrawn and returned to base for the purpose of the election.

The DIG called on the people to be law abiding and to respect all the processes of the elections to be able to have a peaceful governorship election in the state.

Also yesterday which was the last day for campaigns, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate for the 2023 polls, Dr. Adewole Adebayo, described the governorship candidate of the party in Ekiti State, Segun Oni as representing a revolution that would change the economic and social facets of the state if re-elected.

Former CJN, Onnoghen Laments Poor Funding of Apex Court Alex Enumah in Abuja The immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen has warned that unless adequately funded, the Supreme Court may soon at best be a glorified High Court.

The former CJN, who gave the warning lamented that justices of the apex court had been suffering in silence since 2008 when their salaries and emoluments were last reviewed.

Onnoghen, who spoke yesterday, in Abuja, at the public presentation of Nigeria's first law book on Construction Law,

revealed that some justices of the apex court still live in rented accommodations in unsuitable areas in the Federal Capital Territory.

Besides accommodation issue, the former CJN explained that chambers of the Supreme Court Justices were unbefitting of their status and called for their proper funding to enable them perform optimally.

He recalled that while in office as CJN, he headed a team comprising the Attorney General of the Federation as well as Solicitor General of the Federation which prepared a

new welfare scheme on the order of the federal government and lamented that since his exit, the prepared welfare scheme which would have enhanced the condition of service of the justices had been jettisoned.

He, therefore, pleaded that funding of judiciary should be immediately looked into with a view to improving on it because of the critical role of the Judiciary in nation building.

Maintaining that the Supreme Court was still been overworked with justices bearing the brunt, Onnoghen canvassed that appeal cases should not get to Supreme

Court as of right but by leave of the court.

"The judiciary is not Nigeria's problem but bad leadership. There must be a rethink on issues affecting Judiciary, because without a strong legal profession, you cannot talk of the rule of law", he said.

He commended the author of the book, Mrs. Ewuwuni Onnoghen-Theophilus and pleaded that youths should be encouraged to enable them contribute meaningfully to the general development of the country.

Also speaking at the book

presentation, a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Chief Bayo Ojo, praised the resourcefulness of the author and expressed optimism that the book would serve as veritable tool to address the crisis bedeviling construction industry in Nigeria.

Also speaking at the occasion, the publisher of the book, a senior lawyer, Chief James Onoja, opined that laws on construction industry as brought out in the book would serve as guide to players in the construction industry, especially in the incessant cases of collapse structure.

finished and semi-finished goods in line with it.

"I have no doubt that this scheme will go from strength to strength, and deliver to an extent beyond the expectations of the central bank and the Nigerian economy. I urge exporters to readily take advantage of it. I also urge the central bank to continue to fine-tune and strengthen this process, while also thinking of new and innovative initiatives that will achieve similar outcomes.

"Let me also commend the efforts of all the businesses that are investing heavily in the production of products that qualify for the RT200. One example that comes to mind readily is the Dangote Group, which recently commissioned the largest granular urea plant in Africa, right here in Lagos.

“I am delighted to note that the factory’s main product, urea, displaced Sesame seeds as Nigeria’s biggest non-oil export in the first quarter of 2022. I look forward to similar impactful investments of this nature, in Lagos and across the country."

In his contribution, the Managing Director, NPA, Muhammed BelloKoko, said to create a seamless ecosystem for export, there was need for coordination amongst all the agencies.

“The problem with automation is that each of the stakeholders is working in silos. So, the level of automation of the NPA is not the same as the customs and the shipping line. The second problem is that when we all automate will we be able to integrate the system,” he added.

EMEFIELE RALLIES STAKEHOLDERS’ SUPPORT TO ACCELERATE NIGERIA’S NON-OIL FX will something as Nigerians to help our country. Nigerian ports authority, the customs, the shipping lines, please lets do this together.

Nigeria can be great in export,” he added.

In his opening remarks, SanwoOlu stressed the need for Nigeria to discourage over-reliance on mono-economic revenue, which is the oil sector, and scale up its non-oil exports. He noted that a situation in which oil and gas consistently account for the bulk of government revenues and foreign exchange earnings, was not ideal.

Sanwo-Olu who commended the central bank of Nigeria for organising a summit to promote non-oil exports in Nigeria said Lagos State was delighted to host the maiden edition of the strategic meeting.

He added: "Lagos State is home to the biggest and most important sea ports in the country.

There cannot, therefore, be any conversations about growing non-oil exports in Nigeria, without bringing Lagos State and our transport and logistics infrastructure into the picture. This is why I am pleased that Lagos State is hosting the maiden summit.

"For us as a government, a lot of the work we have been doing and still doing is aimed at improving the state of transportation infrastructure, to enable imports and exports, and generally bring down the cost of doing business.

"When goods for export get stuck on the roads and can’t make it to the ports, we have a big problem on our hands. There is a big price that the economy

pays for these dysfunctions, at all levels – from the small and large businesses whose goods are being exported to the people in the business of exports, to the users of our roads who have to waste valuable time in traffic because of worsening gridlock.

"It is, therefore, our responsibility, as governments, to ensure that we make the business of exporting (and also importing) as seamless as possible. Nigeria has so much potential to scale up its exports, shifting from over-dependence on oil and gas to agricultural produce, solid minerals, chemical products, furniture, clothing, and so on."

Sanwo-Olu, while stressing the need for Nigeria to scale up its exports said, "a country in need of foreign exchange has no business downplaying the importance of

exports."

He said: "We can do a lot to strengthen the naira and our external reserves by focusing on our non-oil exports. This diversification also gives us immunity from the severe shock of depending on a limited pool of exports.

"I commend the central bank for making this a priority, through the launch of the Race To $200 Billion FX Scheme (RT200), among other laudable initiatives. The RT200 FX Scheme seeks to generate as much as $200 billion in FX earnings, specifically from non-oil sources, over the next few years.

"I am aware that, so far, the central bank has approved the payment of billions of naira to more than 100 exporters who have taken advantage of the scheme and have scaled up their non-oil exports of

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INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD...

L-R: National Vice President, National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), Mrs. Geraldine Etuk; National President, NCWS, Hajiya, Lami Adamu Lau, Frontline Politician, Mrs. Edhekpo Uyoyou and Director, Extension Services, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Dr. Hajara Njidda, during the inauguration of events marking the"International Day of the African Child" by NCWS in Abuja yesterday

Akeredolu, Malami Disagree over State of Security Asks Police to ‘close shop’ if FG can’t meet its Needs, says Ondo gov Governors are responsible for system mismanagement, AGF declares Alex Enumah in Abuja and Wale Igbintade in Lagos The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, yesterday, disagreed over the issues of insecurity and restructuring in the country.

The two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) spoke at the ongoing meeting of the 36 Attorney-General of the Federation held in Lagos.

Akeredolu, had in his Keynote address warned that the inability

of the federal government to secure life and property would soon leave citizens with no choice but to arm themselves in self-defence stressing that the Nigeria Police had been overwhelmed.

The governor, who asked the Police to "close shop" if the federal government could not meet its equipment needs, insisted that the police had failed in their constitutional role of protecting Nigerians and that if the situation did not improve, citizens would be left with no other option but to arm themselves in self-defence.

"The current spate of insecurity

in the country leaves us with no room for equivocation on the right of the states to maintain law and order through the establishment of state police.

"The growing distrust in the polity is a direct result of the disconnect between the federal government and the constituent units of the country.

The economic adversity currently experienced in the country, points directly, at the defective political structure,” Akeredolu said.

The governor, who maintained that a unitary system could not work, successfully, in a country

like Nigeria, further said, "The 1999 Constitution has been amended twice. There is another promise of further amendments arising from the manifest irregularity in many provisions.

"This has compelled many lawyers and educated citizens to insist on having a new Constitution, which will reflect the agitations of the various groups, which make up the country.

The law is becoming increasingly less certain under these circumstances.

"The crises created by the 1999 Constitution, as amended, have been unending. There have been agitations

PDP GOVERNORS, OTHERS HAIL AS ATIKU NAMES OKOWA RUNNING MATE that is ahead of us. By the special for finding me worthy to be on Congratulates Gov. grace of God, we will work hard to the tickets. I want to thank the Ifeanyi Okowa on VP ensure victory for the party. There is party for accepting that I be on Selection no doubt that there is a great work this ticket," Okowa stated.

the ticket, the next vice-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.

"You know him to be a fighter; you know him to care about winning; you know him to care about good governance; and you know him to care about our people.

Now, my dear friends, let’s do the disciplined hard work necessary to win this election. Let’s go. Thank very much.”

Speaking on party unity, Atiku said, "Party unity is critical not only for us to prosecute a winning campaign but also to provide good governance that our country seriously deserves and our people earnestly yearn for. The task of winning the coming elections will be a tough one and we must not take anything for granted."

Accepting his nomination, Okowa said, "First, I must give thanks to God for this day and I want to appreciate the party for having a very successful convention. And I thank the national chairman and his team and the chairman of the convention committee for giving us a convention that everybody could definitely say two or three are fair. And we came out more united than people ever thought.

"I want to thank you, sir, for all that you've done through this very period. I thank God that you were able with your team, the National Working Committee, to steer the party through this period, and we have produced a very experienced candidate, who can take back Nigeria in our rescue missions. I'm sure that we will be able to begin the rebuilding process of this nation right from May 29 2023. We must thank God for that.

"Mr. President-in-waiting, I must truly thank you for finding me worthy to be on this ticket. I do know that it was a very tough decision, even as you have spoken this afternoon. But I thank God that amongst my very qualified colleagues, even those more qualified than myself, that I found favour and I'm here today as the vicepresidential candidate of the party.

"While thanking you, I do understand that it's a great work

ahead of each and every one of us.

“The building back process is going to be collective and we're trusting that all of our team members will want to be part of that story at the end of the day. The story which will obviously be positive and will yield positive results, will require that each and every one of us must support our principle as we move forth in the next few months, and that at the end, we will win the elections with a landslide victory.

"So, we must create in ourselves, in yourself, a new approach to political issues, a new commitment, which I believe we all yearn for. It will require a lot of commitment from each and every one of us. It will require the unity of each and everyone of us in our various wards, in our various local governments and states. We need the PDP to return to power.

"We have answers to the questions because I've had the opportunity of going through our candidates book, and I hope each and every one of us will take time to go through ‘My Covenant with Nigeria’. It is something worth studying. It is something put together, which I don't think, other presidential candidates of other parties have not been able to put together. You need to go through it. You will find the solutions to our problems in that document. I also appreciate our presidential candidate publicly for making this happen earlier.

"Based on social media reports that he has taken time to understudy, because of the experience that he has had in the past, he has been able to prepare solutions. I believe that we will definitely by the special grace of God, we go for the elections, we will wins landslide. I am very happy to be on this tickets.

"I am sure by the special grace of God with the national chairman leading us, it should be well with our party. Please, let's join hands together to walk with our principal to ensure that we win the elections landslide once again. I want to thank Mr. President-in-waiting

Earlier, National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, explained that, Atiku wrote NWC to help help choose a presidential running mate, adding that upon the receipt of the letter, he set up a 17-man committee headed by the Deputy National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagun, and a decision reached was transmitted to Atiku.

The PDP chairman, who denounced claims that, "No voting took place when they met,” stated that the selected committee reached their decision based on consensus and the presidential running mate was chosen based on own merit and criteria as the NWC has no inputs at all.

The occasion was witnessed by the Governors of Edo, Godwin Obaseki, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, among others, including all members of PDP leadership.

Thereafter, Okowa went for screening before the Tom Ikimi-led committee, which gave the Delta governor a pass mark.

Jubrin, who described the choice of Okowa as an act of God, said in a statement that, "this decision must be generally accepted as the act God, who gives life to who He wants and takes away life from who He wants. He has bounties unlimited."

Urging all PDP members to accept this decision in good faith and give the strongest support to Atiku as President of Nigeria and Okowa as his vice-president, he said, "Both Muslims and Christians must come together to give support to them all.

"All PDP members must come together to unite for PDP to take over from APC Government of Buhari. All Muslims and Christians must come together and forget any religious differences and regard Nigeria as one entity. All Nigerians should vote for PDP to ensure that Atiku and Okowa are fully accepted and voted for," he stated.

PDP Governors Forum

The Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum (PDP-GF) yesterday congratulated the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, on his emergence as the Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 General elections.

In a statement signed late yesterday by the chairman PDP Governors Forum. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal noted in particular that the PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, promised to select a serving PDP Governor as his running mate, ostensibly not just because of the contributions of the Governors to the effective running of the Party and its stability, but because of their experience and executive capacity. He kept his word.

He said that Governor Okowa has distinguished himself as Governor of Delta State, stating that he also has cognate legislative experience as a former Senator as well as what it takes to be an effective Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Tambuwal said ' the great task of recovering, rescuing and rebuilding Nigeria begins with the Atiku / Okowa ticket. The APC has completely messed up Nigeria. It has failed in all aspects of governance; insecurity, bad economy, dysfunctional education, health and social services are the hallmarks of the APC administration.

"With the Atiku/Okowa ticket help is on the way. We shall overcome" the chairman of the PDP Governors said.

Obaseki, Secondus, Ekweremadu, Elumelu Congratulate Okowa

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, former national chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus, former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and House of Representatives Minority Leader, Ndidu Elumelu, have congratulated the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, on his emergence as the

that the Exclusive Legislative List in this Constitution is limited to Nigeria’s external trade, customs duties, export duties, tax on incomes, profits and capital gains, interstate commerce, external borrowing, mining rents, and royalties from mineral resources, among others.

"The federal government, has consistently rejected this suggestion, presumably, because of the humongous 52% revenue allocation to it while the 36 States and the 774 Local Governments share the remaining 48%," the governor stated.

Akeredolu, therefore, challenged states to restructure the country by, among others, setting up their anti-graft agencies.

However, in his address at the event, Malami said governors could not continue to agitate for restructuring and state police, when they were responsible for the compromise and mismanagement of the current system.

He said governors, who have taken over the allocations of local government in their states have no moral right to ask for restructuring.

running mate to the candidate of the PDP in the 2023 presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Obaseki, in a statement, said Okowa’s emergence would translate to victory for the party in the forthcoming elections.

“I heartily congratulate you, my friend and brother, His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa on your emergence as the Vice Presidential candidate of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) “An energetic grassroots mobiliser, Okowa, a two-time governor, senator and commissioner, has the needed experience that would guarantee victory for our party in 2023 elections in our bid to rescue the country and place it on the path of progress and prosperity.

“As we embark on this allimportant mission to rescue Nigeria, we must now all work together in unity, as a people and party, to reclaim our country.”

Secondus, in a statement from his media office, commended the duo for the maturity they brought into the contest, which must have been responsible for their eventual victory.

He described Atiku as a square peg in a square hole, whose pedigree in the nation’s political space remains outstanding and speaks for itself, adding that his choice of Okowa as running mate said it all about his knack for picking good heads to be around him for the gargantuan task ahead.

He however, said with the picking of a running mate, the candidacy was complete and PDP was now set for the inevitable journey back to Aso Rock come 2023.

Ekweremadu, in a statement by his media aide, Uche Anichukwu, also described Okowa as highly resourceful and prepared for the office of the Vice President.

He commended the party and its presidential candidate, Atiku for the decision, while calling on all party leaders and faithful to go to work to ensure the success of the ticket at the presidential polls.

“I join our party leaders, party faithful, and supporters in congratulating my brother and friend, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on his

emergence as the Vice Presidential candidate of our great party, the PDP. “This is a sound choice by our presidential flag bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and our party. No doubt, Okowa brings immense electoral value to the PDP ticket. He is highly resourceful and he is prepared for the Office of the VP. I urge every party leader and member to now go to work to ensure the success of the ticket at the 2023 polls,” he said.

Elumelu, in a statement, said Okowa's confirmation as running mate was no doubt informed by the confidence and trust reposed in him by Atiku, other PDP leaders and supporters of the party across the nation.

He, therefore, expressed optimism that with Abubakar leading the charge, and Okowa by his side, the PDP was sure of victory in the 2023 presidential election.

"I heartily congratulate you, Your Excellency, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, the humble, hardworking and down to earth Governor of Delta State, on your emergence as the Vice-Presidential Candidate of our great party the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election.

“You have again brought honour and pride to our dear state, Delta, where you have demonstrated uncommon commitment as evinced in your unprecedented achievements in all sectors and we assure you and His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, of our unalloyed and unwavering support for the task ahead.

"His Excellency Atiku Abubakar is a statesman par excellence, a brilliant administrator, remarkably committed and competent leader, a unifier and detribalized Nigerian, who has exceptionally deep understanding of the challenges of our nation and the solutions thereto.

“Importantly sir, as a leader, particularly, as the Chairman of the South South Governors’ Forum, I earnestly urge you to use your emergence to immediately initiate processes that will lead to peaceful reconciliations and calming of all frayed nerves including some leaders, who may feel sidelined or scorned in the process of nominating the vice-presidential candidate.”

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EFCC Warns Hoteliers, Banks against Assisting Fraudsters Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The Ilorin Zonal Commander of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) Michael Nzekwe, has cautioned hotel owners in the state against accommodating cybercriminals otherwise known as Yahoo boys in their facilities or risk being prosecuted and jailed.

He also cautioned bank officials against aiding and abetting cybercriminals in money laundering.

Nzekwe gave the warning yesterday while addressing a stakeholders’ meeting of Designated Non-Financial Institutions (DNFIs), in Ilorin Kwara State.

According to him, the meeting was called to sensitise stakeholders on the rising trend of the activities of fraudsters and the need to support the commission in the fight against corruption.

He said: “The commission has observed a worrying pattern of cold complicity by hospitality entrepreneurs who appear to be hands-in-gloves with suspected fraudsters by housing them over long spells and making internet facilities available to them.”

Warning hoteliers against

allowing cybercriminals into their facilities, the zonal commander said that hoteliers would be contravening section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act if they continue to allow Yahoo Boys to check into their hotels.

He said:“Section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud And Other Related Offences Act, 2006 provides for a prison term of between five and 15 years without option of fine for any person who permits his premises to be used for any offence under

the Act.” According to him, ignorance was not an excuse under the law.

“While the argument is being made in certain quarters that hoteliers as business people have no means of determining who a fraudster is before allowing them

to lodge in their facilities, that position runs counter to the law”, he said. The zonal commander also implored them to support the commission with credible and actionable information, adding that such information when received would be treated with

absolute confidentiality.

He frowned at the actions of some bank officials, who aid and abet money laundering activities and other economic and financial crimes, describing such acts as “a sign of systemic abuse and failure on the part of such banks”.

ENCOURAGING BLOOD DONATION…

L-R: Laboratory Manager, EL-Lab Medical Diagnostic and Research Centre, Anayo Chidobu; blood donor, Dr. Kiki Omeili; Operations Director,EL-Lab Medical Diagnostic and Research Centre, Chioma Adibo; Human Resources Manager, Oyin Faloye, and Assistant Blood Bank Manager, Gina Ighomuaye, at the 2022 World Blood Donor Day Celebration in Lagos...recently ABAYOMI AKINYELE

Aviation Sector to Police Arrest Four for Killing in Benue Community Grow 7%in 10 Years George Okoh in Makurdi

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

The Director, Commercial and Business Development of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Sadiku Umar Rafindadi has predicted that Nigeria’s passenger traffic was expected to grow at seven per cent over the next 10 years, while the global industry was expected to remain at 5.3 per cent.

Rafindadi also revealed that in 2020, domestic and international passenger traffic stood at 9,358,186 as against the 15,886,955 recorded in 2021, representing an increase by 41

per cent.

Discussing investment opportunities in the Nigerian aviation sector at the ongoing first FAAN National Aviation conference in Abuja yesterday, he noted that the Nigerian aviation sector was strategically positioned to take advantage of the expected growth in the African market due to its proximity to Europe, the Middle East and the rest of Africa.

Adding that most of West and Central Africa was within a 4-hour flying time from Nigeria with no clear dominating airline present.

Centre for China Studies Advises FG to Key in Reclaim Receding Lake Chad Michael Olugbode in Abuja The Centre for China Studies on Wednesday advised the federal government to key into Chinese Government’s Belt and Road Initiative in order to reclaim the Lake Chad which has been receding over the years and has given oxygen to terrorism in Nigeria and parts of sub-Saharan Africa.

Speaking in Abuja at a roundtable discussion, the Director, Centre for China Studies, Mr. Charles Onunaiju, said there is an existing international framework that

could support Nigeria’s effort to reclaim the Lake Chad, which is the Belt and Road International Framework of Cooperation.

Onunaiju explained that the framework comprise cooperation across maritime, overland, cyberspace and even air connectivity and air links.

He added: “And I think that the Lake Chad falls into the area of maritime cooperation and we can engage the Belt and Road Initiative and the enormous liquidity it has to address the challenge of Lake Chad.”

Drilling Firm Drags Oriental Energy to Court over Unpaid $4.2m Debt CS/311/2022 that was filed by its WaleIgbintade

An offshore drilling company, Borr International Operations (BIO), has dragged the Oriental Energy Resources Limited before the Federal High Court, in Lagos, to recover the sum of $ 4,143,856.70 million.

The debt, according to BIO is the outstanding of approved but unpaid invoices for the drilling services provided in accordance with Contract Number OER-C-0560 for the provision of Jack-Up Drilling Unit and Drilling Rig Services rendered in the defendant’s Ebok Field in OML 67.

The BIO, in suit number FHC/L/

Lawyer, Mr. Gabriel Uduafi, is also praying the court for interest on the $4,143,856.70 million based on the current London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), one month interest rate increased by 5 percent and calculated pro data on a daily basis from October 6, 2021, till the date of liquidation of the judgment debt.

The plaintiff, in its statement of claim, said that by the relevant provisions of the contract, the drilling operations, which the BIO was engaged to carry out was required to be done within the firm term of 120 days.

The Police in Benue State have arrested four persons in connection with the killing of 13 people in Igama community of Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue state.

According to a statement release by police authority and signed by it’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Superintendent of

Police (SP) Sewuese Anene,said the Police teams deployed to the Igana area in collaboration with other security agents have been on cordon and search operations within the forest.

“On 15/6/2022 at about 0500hrs, the attackers who were trapped in the bush engaged the police in a gun duel that led to arrest of the following suspects in their hideout; Umar Nuhu,

Dauda Alhaji, Musa Dako and Umaru Alhaji Sale.

“One of the suspects by name Musa Dako sustained injuries and was admitted at St. Mary’s Hospital, Okpoga for treatment where he eventually gave up the ghost and the corpse deposited at the same hospital. Three other suspects are in custody for further investigation,” he said.

The statement also said

the Commissioner of police, Benue State command, CP. Wale Abbas has advised members of Igama community to remain calm and avail useful information to the police for necessary actions.

The suspected herdsmen had attack the community on democracy day and killed many of people and burnt down the entire village.

Allow Amotekun to Bear Arms, Group Appeals to FG Emmanuel Olorunda-Otaru and Rebecca Ejifoma Following the massacre of some worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church Owo, Ondo State on June 5, 2022, Owo Is One Association has appealed to the federal government to permit the state security service, Amotekun, to bear arms so as to protect lives and property.

The association, which is the apex body of all societies and associations in the Owo kingdom, equally charged the federal

government to seek assistance from foreign nations that have dealt with terrorist activities successfully in the past.

According to the association, this will help beef up security in the state and the South-west region, to avert future attacks.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos, the National Coordinator of the association, Mr. Akinboro Aruwajoye, described the incident as barbaric and has unraveled the many loopholes.

He said: “This has thrown up a lot of gaps and lapses in our

security set-up prevention and response. Total lack of intelligence support to guide our security response activities needs to be rejigged.”

Aruwajoye described the emergency response in Owo town as very poor, emphasising that the two police divisions in the town had no vehicles or ambulances to evacuate victims.

He also called for urgent sensitisation of inhabitants on handling of emergencies and the need to provide tools for police and other emergency services.

The association, however, reminded the government of its responsibility for the security and welfare of the people.

On her part, the daughter of the late former civilian governor of Ondo State, Jumoke Anifowose, urged the state security to be vigilant and, “Report strange people or things in the communities to the authorities.”

Anifowose, who is also a trustee of the association, also said: “A fund should be set up for whistleblowers in intelligence gathering.”

NUC Grants Enugu University of Medical and Applied Sciences Licence The National Universities Commission (NUC) has granted licence to Enugu State Government recognising establishment of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), IgboEno, Enugu State.

The licence issued to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, at NUC headquarters, Abuja, was sequel to the enactment of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), Law, Igbo-Eno, Enugu State, on April 13, 2022.

Presenting the licence, the Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof.

Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, congratulated Gov. Ugwuanyi and the people of the state “on the establishment of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences to be located in Igbo-Eno of Enugu State”.

The Law establishing SUMAS was presented to NUC by Enugu State government alongside the Academic brief and master plan of the new university.

The licence recognised SUMAS

as the second Enugu State owned University.

With the final stage of granting the licence, Enugu State will now have a brand new, full-fledged, state-owned University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), Igbo-Eno, Enugu State.

SUMAS, Igbo-Eno has become the 59th State University in Nigeria.

Enugu State with two state-owned Universities has now joined the league of states with more than one state University.

Reacting, the Deputy Chief of

Staff, Government House, Enugu, Prof. Malachy Okwueze, who witnessed the presentation of the licence to Gov. Ugwuanyi in Abuja, said: “We can’t thank the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State enough for achieving this goal of providing the platform for increased access to quality university education for our teeming youths who struggle year after year to gain admission into the university without fulfilling their desires and dreams for university education.”

11.2m People Live with Diabetes in Nigeria, Say Experts of diabetes care in Nigeria, a heart attacks, stroke and blindness and generally making a case for

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

Experts in the health sector have declared that 11.2 million are currently living with the condition in Nigeria and advised Nigerians to practice preventive measures in order to reduce its prevalence of diabetes.

This was disclosed yesterday during the launching of a project between Novo Nordisk and Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja.

Speaking on the challenges

Consultant at Endocrinologist of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Professor Sunny Chinenye, stated that lack of political will, health system issues, access to diabetes care, barriers to diabetes care, social determinants of health and medical issues are leading causes affecting diabetes patients in the country.

Chinenye explained that diabetes is a common cause of sudden death, amputations, kidney failure,

in Nigeria.

He said: “Given the rapid escalation of the diabetes epidemic in Nigeria, all levels of prevention and control (primary, secondary and tertiary) are needed to be put into action simultaneously in order to achieve universal health coverage.

“In accordance with the philosophy behind i-Care Initiative, we should aim at informing, canvassing, educating, advocating

the prioritisation of better care for Nigerians living with diabetes mellitus.”

Also, the President, Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Endocrinologist in Nigeria, Professor Abiola Oduwole, noted the need for cooperation in order to provide an acceptable environment that would enble children living with diabetes to have normal lives at home, school, community, and reaching their life potentials.

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Insecurity: Gani Adams Writes UN, Others, Seeks Urgent Intervention Ugo Aliogo

Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams has sought the urgent intervention of the United Nation (UN) and other relevant international organisations on the raging spate of insecurity across Nigeria and South-west in particular.

Adams’ call was contained in a letter signed by him, titled: “Avoiding a replica of the Bosnian War in Nigeria.”

The letter, which was addressed to Secretary General, United Nations

(UN)Mr. António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres, European Embassies, African Union, United States State Departments, the International Association for Religious Freedom bin United Kingdom, Council on Foreign Relations and other international organizations, noted that in second in two years, Nigeria is in a precarious situation capable of destroying the entire country.

Adams said the world is aware that things are no longer normal in the country, noting that dangerous and despicable

things are happening in the most populous black nation.

He further explained that what happened in the defunct Yugoslavia that led to the balkanisation of that country is becoming like a child’s play in Nigeria, adding that terrorists moving from Northern Nigeria to the South are being embraced, encouraged and empowered by ‘powers that be’ in Nigeria.

“I am raising this alarm now because the effect of this dangerous trend may ultimately balkanise Nigeria and affect sub-sahara Africa,” he said.

Ohanaeze Backs Obi’s Presidential Bid, Says it’s New Dimension to Nigeria’s Politics David-Chyddy Eleke ÓØ áÕË The Igbo apex socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has backed the presidential bid of former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, saying his candidacy has brought a new dimension to the Nigerian politics.

The Vice President of

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as EZE PETER ODINAKACHUKWU now wish to be known and addressed as EHIEZE ODINAKACHUKWU PETER. AII former documents remain Valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EGAN ADAT NDEM now wish to be known and addressed as MRS, EGAN ADAT OKON-EFFIONG All former documents remain Valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as POPOOLA OLATUNJI TIAMIYU now wish to be known and addressed as TIAMIYU OLATUNJI POPOOLA. All former documents remain Valid. General public should take note.

I formerly known as BAWA LARABA UMULKHAIRU now wish to be known and addressed as SULEMAN LARABA UMULKHAIRU. All former documents and credentials remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known as ABAKA ANDREW AKPOTU IGHOHOWHO, now wish to be known and addressed as EGUME JEFFREY UREIGHO. All former documents and credentials remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as BRIDGET ABAH, now wish to be known and addressed as BRIDGET KWANASHIE. All former documents and credentials remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as TIJANI AMINAT ATINUKE, now wish to be known and addressed as OLUFADE AMINAT ATINUKE. All former documents and credentials remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OSUANYANWU OGECHI LUCY, now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWUWETERE OGECHI LUCY. All former documents and credentials remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as CHARITY CHINWE ATENGO (NEE NWOKWU), now wish to be known and addressed as CHARITY CHINWE NWACHUKWU. All former documents and credentials remain valid.

Employers, Business associates and general public should please take note.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Damian Okeke-Ogene, stated this yesterday in Nanka, Orumba North Local Government Area, Anambra State, while receiving the executive members of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in his home town.

Okeke-Ogene said Obi’s presidential quest was no longer an Igbo agenda, but a youth agenda, and a mass movement, as he has proven

to be the most qualified of all the people running for the position.

Addressing the leadership of NUJ led by Dr. Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Okeke-Ogene said the recently concluded primary elections of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were regrettable, as the political class in the South-east frustrated efforts to work for an Igbo president.

Passengers Unhurt as Engine of Overland Airways Catches Fire in Lagos Chinedu Eze All the 33 passengers on board Overland Airways Flight, OF 1188, from Ilorin to Lagos on Wednesday landed safely at the international runway (R18R) of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, even though one of the two engines of the aircraft caught fire before it landed.

Reacting to the incident, the management of the airline

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as IYANU-OLUWA TOLULOPE FOWOKAN and IYANUOLUWA GIDEON FOWOKAN now wish to be known and addressed as IYANUOLUWA TOLUWALOPE GIDEON FOWOKAN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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explained that the aircraft experienced unusual high turbine temperature on one of its engines when it was in the approach phase to land in Lagos.

“Overland Airways wishes to inform the general public that its flight OF1188 from Ilorin to Lagos experienced an unusual high turbine temperature on one of its engines on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, around 7:50p.m.

“This occurred in the approach phase of flight and the aircraft landed very safely as the crew skillfully implemented their standard procedures for such abnormal situations.

Drug War: Legal Icon, Yusuf Ali, Rallies Support for NDLEA Michael Olugbode ÓØ ÌßÔË

A respected legal icon in the country, Yusuf Ali has expressed readiness to rally his professional colleagues to give essential support to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the interest of socio-economic development of the country.

The anti-narcotics agency had recently come under attack from a section of the country for advocating for drug test of intending married couples, politicians and members of the youth corps.

Ali, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN), on Wednesday during a courtesy visit on the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) in Abuja, disclosed that his decision to support agency was borne out of his appreciation of the good works Marwa is leading his officers and men to do for the country as well as his conviction that overcoming Nigeria’s drug scourge is key to solving the security challenges facing the nation.

WORLD OF ISLAM

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

The Spirituality of Hajj (4) By: Spahic Omer/IslamiCity (continued from last week)

TAWAF Tawaf and sa’y are two major components of Hajj carried out one after another. Tawaf is an act of circumambulating or walking around the Ka’bah in an anti-clockwise motion. Seven circles or circuits are to be accomplished.

Tawaf and sa’y represent the dynamism of life and its multidimensionality. Tawaf is derived from the root word “tafa” which means “to go from one place to another”, “to circle”, “to travel through”, “to roam”, and “to traverse and explore”. Ta’if is a person who performs tawaf around the Ka’bah, and tawwaf a person who travels a lot and continuously moves about. Tawwaf is an epithet given to Dhul Qarnayn, a legendary king who traversed the earth from the west (the setting of the sun) to the east (the rising of the sun).

Tawaf and sa’y are about vitality and perpetuation.

Tawaf indicates both the earthly and cosmic energy and movement, while sa’y, predominantly, stands for the former. Tawaf’s movement is circular, which suggests unity, totality and infinity. It likewise implies the ongoing significance and power associated with the whole of creation and how everything is integrated into one.

In its capacity as the House of God, Ka’bah represents divinity. It is the source of all ontological meaning and consequence. It is likewise the source of all physical and spiritual life. A person should stay as close to the Ka’bah as possible - at once physically during tawaf and figuratively besides it - so as to draw on its munificence and use it as a means of approach unto its Owner.

The Prophet (pbuh) said that in each of the seven heavens there is a ka’bah which is frequented by the angels. The Ka’bah of the first heaven is called Bayt al-‘Izzah and that of the seventh heaven is called al-Bayt al-Ma’mur. Tawaf on earth, it follows, replicates scenes and ambiances from the heavens.

It joins the universal chorus. To some, tawaf as well evokes the angels’ surrounding and circling of the Throne of Allah, “glorifying and praising their Lord” (al-Zumar, 75).

A person performing tawaf becomes part of the existential reality and purpose. He is constantly reminded of them and of his close relationship with them. Tawaf starts at the Ka’bah’s corner with the Hajar al-Aswad (Black Stone) and ends there. It is affirmed by the Prophet (pbuh) that the Black Stone was sent by Allah to the earth from Paradise.

Starting tawaf while facing the Black Stone, kissing it, if possible, or touching it with one’s hands, or pointing in its direction, and saying a supplication, reminds a pilgrim of his heavenly origins. He too, like the Black Stone, originated in Paradise. Moving then around the Ka’bah alludes to one’s life trajectory which must unfold within the vicissitudes of everyday life, but which cannot be so distracted thereby that one might be pulled away from his orbit in relation to the Ka’bah (divinity).

A pilgrim’s completion of each of seven circuits by arriving at the point of the Black Stone encourages a pilgrim to make sure that he and his life-story end again in Paradise. His journey should be like a circuit around the Ka’bah: from heavenly origins to the heavenly conclusion. Returning to Paradise – like returning to the Black Stone – would mean that a person’s life has come full circle. He ended where he had started.

That is why circling and circle as a geometric pattern also imply inclusiveness and focus. They suggest continuous progress towards success. Failure is not an option, nor partial success. These are antitheses of dynamism, stability and permanence.

The Prophet (pbuh) said that after descending from Paradise, the Black Stone was whiter than milk (or snow), then it was rendered black by the sins of the children of Adam. The destiny of man is the same.

He too arrived from Paradise pure and with a clean slate. However, he blackened himself with the sins for which he and nobody else is responsible. Now what remains is that man works on bettering his state and reputation in order to facilitate his return to Paradise. The first step is repentance and the washing away of the sins as much as possible, followed by turning over a new leaf.

And there is no better place to start doing so than the sanctuary of Makkah with its Ka’bah, and no better occasion than Hajj and tawaf as one of its first and foremost rites. The Black Stone itself can play a role. It was for a reason that the Prophet (pbuh) said that touching the Black Stone removes sins. He in addition said regarding tawaf: “Whoever performs tawaf around this House seven times and he keeps track of it, then it is as if he freed a slave.” Also: “One foot is not put down, nor another raised (in tawaf), except that Allah removes a sin from a person and records a good merit for him”.

The Ka’bah furthermore is like the sun and people are like stars revolving around it and floating, each in an orbit. The movement is progression from what

a person is and what he intends, yet ought, to be. In all positions and during all times, a person maintains a steady distance with the Ka’bah or with Allah.

The distance depends upon the path that a person has chosen in the system. The tawaf area (mataf) is like a magnetic field with the Ka’bah (the entire orb of divinity) in the centre. People are iron particles.

A person is attracted to the Ka’bah, but he does not rush towards it, or tries to enter it. He lets the Ka’bah enter him instead. His heart becomes the receptacle for the Ka’bah; yet his heart becomes a ka’bah. The interior of the Ka’bah is virtually empty. Thus, a person entering it will not change anything, neither in connection with the Ka’bah nor with the person himself. But the Ka’bah’s entering and conquering one’s heart will mean the world for him.

According to Ali Shariati: “You do not touch the Ka’bah nor do you stop there. Everyone encircles the Ka’bah collectively. The movement is as one unit, one group of people. There is no individual identification, that is, as being a man or woman, nor black or white! It is the transformation of one person into the totality of a ‘people’. All of the ‘I’s’ join and become a ‘We’, establishing the ummah (community) with the aim of approaching Allah.”

He likewise said: “If you remain in the state of self-centeredness, you are not really a part of the tawaf circle. You will be like a visitor standing at the bank of a river, but not in it. Those who are detached from themselves are alive and moving collectively.

Those who are not separated from themselves are stagnant and dead.”

While performing tawaf, pilgrims fixate their sights on the Ka’bah. But the Ka’bah is just a simple and unembellished cube, as its name implies. It is devoid of any worldly sophistication and adornment architecture-wise. Such is the case because in the kingdom of spirit these carry no weight whatsoever, especially if they are employed for some ungodly aims. Generally, on his spiritual journey man needs to partake of matter solely what is necessary and what constitutes a means. More than that is bound to hinder and hold back. Benchmarking in the two realms is different and dissimilar criteria apply.

Under no circumstances should ends be converted into means and means into ends. Such is the sophistication of spirit that there is nothing in the material world that is genuinely similar to it and can be resorted to for the close analogy purposes. The best way, therefore, is to turn away from the failings of matter and stick to the innate human predispositions towards simplicity, purity, wholesomeness, equilibrium and harmony. When adequately employed, these are closer to the world of spirit than to the world of matter.

This strategy is used with regard to the structural appearance of the Ka’bah. The building is so simple, yet so complex and refined in terms of message.

It represents, “houses” and radiates divinity that overcomes the people. The same holds true as regards every symbol, rite, or sign of Allah. People can sense their extraordinary quality and appeal but cannot put what they feel into words. They merely know that they cannot get bored with, nor satiated by, the profusion of spirit.

For instance, a person reads a verse or a short chapter from the Qur’an thousands of times, but every time it feels different and is like the first time - for indeed the treasures of God are inexhaustible. Another person may pronounce “All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds” (al-Fatihah, 2) as a verse from the Qur’an, in which case he will feel the power – and beauty - of God’s holy Words, consciously or otherwise.

However, if the same person pronounces the same formula (All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds), albeit not intending it as God’s Words but rather as his own construction as part of his daily conversations, he will feel almost nothing about it.

The reason for this is straightforward: the former is infused with the life-force of the highest levels of the heavenly dominion, and the latter is not.

This applies to the Ka’bah too. People look at it a thousand times, but every time it feels different and is like the first time. Human capacities are nothing when it comes to appreciating and engaging in absolute beauty, greatness and worth. Man is left with no other choice but to be filled with awe, veneration, and to quiver. For this reason is the architectural minimalism of the Ka’bah grander than the architectural and artistic intricacy of all the “masterpieces” erected throughout history for the sake of glorifying man (humanism-cum-science) and matter (materialism-cum-liberalism). The two are not even in the same league.

That the Ka’bah was originally built as an unpretentious stone structure was apt, making it appropriate to its time, place and people. The Ka’bah is in complete harmony with its natural environment. It grows, so to speak, out of the site. It at once symbolizes and reverberates Makkah’s attribute as haram. Hence, it seems naturally beautiful, hence sustainable and even organic, satisfying the physical and spiritual needs. It exudes an aura of veneration, lure, awe and spiritual and psychological serenity.

To Be Continued

39

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Iwobi's Everton Handed Tough Premier League Opener Onyeka to engage Ndidi, Iheanacho in Match-day 1 fixture

The English Premier League yesterday released the fixtures for the 2022-2023 campaign with some intriguing clashes set to involve Nigerian players on the opening weekend.

Hale End Academy product, Alex Iwobi, should be in contention to

make his 15th career appearance when Everton host Chelsea at Goodison Park on Saturday, August 6.

The Super Eagles playmaker has scored two career goals against Chelsea, both coming in the colours of boyhood club Arsenal.

Tosin Adarabioyo and Fulham have also been handed a tough start that sees them hosting one of the title favourites Liverpool in a lunchtime kickoff on August 6.

The central defender has not tasted defeat in his two previous outings against Jurgen Klopp's team,

winning one and drawing the other.

Frank Onyeka's Brentford will be the first Premier League team to visit the King Power Stadium next season.

The Bees midfielder is in line to face his international teammates Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi

Lagos Maiden Super-Four Sitting-Volleyball Championship Berths Today Lagos State Volleyball Association in conjunction with the Lagos State Sports Commission have concluded arrangements to organise maiden edition of the "Super-Four" Sitting-Volleyball Championship.

The event has been scheduled to take place between 17 and 18 June, 2022, at the National Stadium Indoor Sports Hall, Surulere, Lagos State.

According to the association, the aim is to promote the sport just like the other sports and to also build a formidable team that would represent the state at both national and International tournaments.

It is a competition staged for the top three teams of the just concluded National Para Sports that was recently held in Abuja this year, with Lagos State Sitting Volleyball team to make the total number to be four as the host state.

Chairman, Legacy Volleyball Club, who is also a board member in Lagos State Volleyball Association, Mr.Kayode Ladele, said the essence of the tournament is to encourage sporting activities among Nigeria's physically challenged population.

Last month, he donated sporting equipment to Lagos State Sitting-volleyball players during an exhibition game to select players that will represent the state in the competitions.

"Sitting Volleyball is not a new game but just finding its feet in Nigeria, the sport has been in existence for a long time. Sitting Volleyball requires almost the same techniques as the normal volleyball except that the game is played by the physically challenged person's," Ladele stated.

FIRST WEEK FIXTURES Friday, 5 August C’Palace v Arsenal Saturday, 6 August Fulham v Liverpool Bo’mounth v Aston Villa Leeds v Wolves Leicester v Brentford Newcastle v Nottingham Tottenham v So’thampton Everton v Chelsea Sunday, 7 August Man Utd v Brighton West Ham v Man City

Arsenal Ready to Break Bank for Osimhen, Offer Napoli €100m Kunle Adewale

Alex Iwobi who played a pivotal role in Everton escape dropping from the English topflight is to begin his new season against Chelsea at Goodison Park

English Premier League giants, Arsenal, are set to break their transfer record to lure Super Eagles star, Victor Osimhen, who is one of the most talked-about players in this summer window, to North London.

The Gunners are believed to be ready to offer Napoli €100million for the services of the Nigerian

Ofili, Nathaniel, Nnamdi Lead Eight Reigning Record Holders To Benin Sprinter Favour Ofili, 400m barrier runner Nathaniel Ezekiel and Javelin thrower, Nnamdi Prosper will lead five other reigning Nigeria record holders to Benin for the Commonwealth Games and World Athletics Championship trials which start next week.

Ofili has been in inspiring form so far this year, setting new national records in the 200m indoors (22.46s) and outdoor (21.96s).

The 19-year-old, silver medalist in the 200m event at the 2022 NCAA indoor and outdoor championships is also the fastest Nigerian woman this year and will be one of the stars to watch when the championships begin.

Also set to be the cynosure of all eyes will be Nathaniel, the Baylor University freshman who has improved from a 51 seconds runner over the 400m hurdles as

NCF President Arrive Kigali, Says Kwibuka is Developmental Path for Nigeria The President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Uyi Akpata, has arrived in the Rwandan capital city Kigali to drum up support for the Nigeria’s women’s national team. Akpata watched their last round-robin match in which they lost to the host teamyesterday morning.

He said, “Every time the team shows up at Kwibuka, we see this as part of our developmental journey.

We lost today and I am sure the technical team have their notes full.

“Another interesting dimension is that we have a couple of players here that will form the core of Nigeria’s under-19 team and this experience will surely be an asset to them,” he added.

The Nigeria’s women’s team at the Kwibuka T20 started the tournament with three back-to-backback wins over; Brazil, Germany

on August 6.

In other matchday one fixtures, Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise's Crystal Palace start their campaign against Folarin Balogun's Arsenal at Selhurst Park on Friday, August 5, while Dominic Solanke's Bournemouth host Carney Chukwuemeka's Aston Villa at the Vitality Stadium the following day.

Nathan Tella and Southampton kickoff their campaign with a tough trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to take on Tottenham Hotspur.

In one of the two games scheduled for Sunday, August 7, Shola Shoretire's Manchester United and Odel Offiah's Brighton & Hove meet at Old Trafford.

and Botswana before crumbling in their last four outings against Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.

Nigeria had won the toss and elected to field against the host on Thursday, one that held the Rwandan Women to a 91 for the loss of seven wickets at the end of the first inning. The Nigeria Women struggled to a 68 total with four wickets in hand to lose in the second inning.

Nigeria will be facing Brazil for the team’s last match, a placement to determine the fifth and sixth place at the event.

Leke Oyede, Nigeria’s Coach stressed that there definitely are rooms for improvement and it can only come when the players are subjected to tough games like the ones the Kwibuka offered.

C’WEALTH GAMES & WORLDS TRIALS at this period last year to 49.89 seconds two months later at the World U20 Athletics Championships

in Nairobi.

This year, the 18-year-old has attained world-class status after running 48.42s last month to break Henry Amike's 35-year-old (48.50s) Nigeria as well as set an African U20 record.

Nnamdi will also be in town as the reigning national record holder in the Javelin.

The 19-year-old added 14cm (81.22m) to the 81.08m national record set

by Pius Bazighe in 2019 and will be looking forward to defending the national title he won last year as well as confirm his place on the plane to Oregon, USA for the World Athletics Championships.

Long jumper Ese Favour Ofili...is favorite to win the sprint events Brume who was of the Commonwealth Games and World expected to jet in last night with her Championships Trials in Benin City next week

coach Kayode Yaya aboard Qatar Airways is also coming in for the second time as the Nigeria and African record holder in the event following her 7.17m leap May last year in California.

Sprint hurdler Tobiloba Amusan is expected to arrive Nigeria this weekend and the 24-year-old will be wearing two caps like Brume.

She is the reigning Nigeria and African record holder (12.42s) in the 100m hurdles.

Shot Putter Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, the reigning African Games and African championships champion is not just the defending Nigeria champion in the event but also the record holder (21.80m).

Triple jumper and silver medalist at the 2022 NCAA Championships, Ruth Usoro is also coming to Benin as the reigning Nigeria record holder in the event (14.50m).

African Games and African championships champion Chioma Onyekwere will be defending her national discuss title as the Nigerian record holder (63.30m).

The 2022 Nigerian athletics championships will serve as selection trials for next month's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom and the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA.

TRANSFER NEWS international striker.

Osimhen was in stellar form for the Partenopeans last season, scoring 18 goals in 32 appearances. And his performances have attracted some of Europe’s big boys-mainly from the Premier League.

Newcastle United, Manchester United, and Arsenal are the front runners for the 23-year-old’s signature. Nonetheless, Napoli’s price tag has been a major setback for suitors.

The Partenopeans are demanding a fee in the region of €100million€110million. But none of Osimhen’s suitors have been willing to meet that price.

However, Arsenal could make a U-turn, as according to London’s The Sun, the Gunners are looking to offer Napoli €100million for the Super Eagles star.

The Gunners are looking to improve on their performance of last season when they finished outside the top four, and they could splash the cash this summer, as they are also in talks with Manchester City for Gabriel Jesus.

If the deal goes through, Osimhen would become the most expensive Arsenal player ever, beating the €84million they paid for Nicolas Pepe in 2019.

Victor Osimhen ...wanted at all cost at Gunners Emirates Stadium next season

We Aren’t Going to Underrate Any Team, Says Mo Heats Coach Coach of Mo Heats basketball team, Adeka Dauda, has said they will not underrate any team in their quest to Nick the title.

Dauda whose wards defeated FCT Hardrockers 75 - 59 on Wednesday said since every team is a potential winner, he would not be carried away by the two victories recorded after beating Delta Force yesterday to back the

M A R K D ’ B A L L E L I T E 8 TO U R N E Y maximum points in the series.

"Our next game is against Nigeria Customs on Friday (today) and they are better side deep in experience but we will map out a strategy that will see us overwhelm them," he said.

Adeka explained that the

Delta Force team they defeated was equally a good side but they matched them grit for grit only to slow down the gap was too much.

He said they are going to take each match as it comes and would sound confident until they get to

the semifinal Asked what was the secret of their performance so far, he said it was as a result of the hard work on part of the players, management and the coaching crew.

Meanwhile, Wednesday's conquerors of Kano Pillars, HotCoal Ballers of Abuja lost to Kwara Falcons 54 56 in an entertaining clash yesterday.

Friday June 17, 2022

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MISSILE Ohanaeze to Nigerians Ohanaeze has commended Nigerians, especially the youths, on their efforts to end voter apathy and take back Nigeria in 2023. There will be no democracy without Nigerians; the power to get the best leaders in 2023 will be in the hands of Nigerians; we should awake from our slumber and demand that INEC extends voter registration to September 2022–Secretary General of Ohanaeze, Mazi Okechukwu, urging Nigerians to get their PVCs to vote out corrupt politicians.

OKEYIKECHUKWU EDIFYING ELUCIDATIONS

okey.ikechukwu@thisdaylive.com

APC: Anatomy of a Prediction T he just concluded primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) points to a final confirmation of several worrying, but understandable, motifs that had been defining features of that party. One of the most central of them all is a frightening lack of core, 21st Century developmental values, ideological direction, group cohesion, clear national goals and agreed paradigms on the purpose of government. Alhaji Bola Tinubu pulled off an interesting coalition in 2014, by uniting to form a new party out of four disparate political forces. On one side was the ACN, on the other was the CPC. Then there was the PDP’s breakaway group of aggrieved persons and Rochas Okorocha and other stragglers from APGA. This group of ill-defined political forces, if we must call a ragtag team of people independently seeking power a group, successfully birthed a party. But they were not able to create genuine party members.

The various factions remained loyal to their respective motivations for the alliance. That is why the divergent orientations in the APC coalition never really closed ranks.

Yet they carried on as if they did.

The ACN drove the campaigns, projecting notions of good governance and a better Nigeria. The party spokesperson, Lai Mohammed, did a good job of that. He also did a good job of demonizing the Jonathan government. While he was at it, and while the narrative of “no better Nigeria without Buhari” was being vigorously marketed on all fronts, no one paid attention to the fact that Lai Mohammed was mostly on his own. They all preferred to ignore the fact that the CPC never said anything about anything. This wing of the coalition just got their candidate on the ballot and rested the matter there.

The breakaway PDP and APGA components of the new alliance were rarely heard on any matter whatsoever. While the campaigns lasted, and while Lai Mohammed and social media dart shooters were on rampage, every other person was watching the pie, determined to make a well-choreographed plunge for it as soon as the cooking was done.

On May 27, 2018, in an article titled “APC: A Misfortune Foreseen and Foretold”, I said as follows: “Truth be told, the political coalition that birthed the Buhari government had all the trappings of a group affiliated to Bedlam.

Disparate, and largely unrelated, political forces worked together to oust the PDP government of Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, without foreseeing the trouble ahead.” It was “…an alliance of persons with different reasons for boarding a boat called the All Progressives Alliance (APC)”.

Four years after the above observation, and seven eight years after the birth of the APC, there is no consensus on anything in that party. There are still no unifying catalysers of a new order, or clear indications of a prospective new Nigeria. There is still no real

Tinubu Council of Elders in the party superintending a new breed of leaders for a better Nigeria.

There is no special elixir for national rebirth in the drawer, to be brought out as a joker.

It is still about planning to grab and retain power and take off on a solo flight. The story is the same with the PDP. As soon as the elections were lost and won in 2015, the PDP gang confiscated the senate presidency. They made Saraki their president and damned both the president and the party. The Saraki group remained adamant and made no concessions to anyone, as they held unto their booty. The President, on his part, prepared a list of ministers and made it public; also to the consternation of everyone who was anyone in the new-born APC. Worse still, the speech with which he thanked some states and individuals from the Northern part of the country for making his presidency possible was totally confounding for Tinubu and major players in the South West. It was not clear what the Rochas group represented at any point in time, and even today, beyond the personal ambition of Rochas Okorocha himself.

As I observed, four years ago: “The red lights were also up on Muhammadu Buhari, long before the elections. He was profiled as a man of strict and unbending reflexes, not given to consultation and so set in his ways that he rarely hears alternative viewpoints; no matter how loudly, or stridently, expressed. His love for Nigeria was not in doubt, but it was love on his own terms and based on his untested personal assumptions. His loyalties were said to run deep and unapologetically so. But they run backward, to his roots, his primal, personal, communal and ethnic instincts; as well as real and imagined grievances that he must address to the disadvantage of his target.

His disinclination to ever sit down and get some serious work done was also pointed out. His tenure as military Head of State,

and as Boss of the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF), were said to bear out this prognosis.”

I had observed, repeatedly before the 2015 elections, that what to expect from a possible Buhari presidency were clear, at least in the areas of national security, economy growth, development of the national economy, national cohesion and general overall management of the Nigerian State.

Concerning security my submission before the 2015 elections was based on his repeated response whenever he was asked how he would tackle the National security crisis.

He always said, in response, that he would convene a roundtable of retired senior military personnel for them to brainstorm and find a solution. In summary, he had no idea what the real issues were but would find out when he became president. He also had no idea what the solution might be, but will consult and then work out an intervention template. After he had been elected President? Some of us exclaimed in horror. But it did not matter at the time. The whirlwind of blind optimism had overrun the land.

After his nearly eight years in office today, one is painfully looking at the reality of an easily foreseen, avoidable – and actually foretold – national misfortune. Recall that one of the first steps the new government took in 2015 on security matters was to order the dismantling of road block3, particularly in the northern parts of the country. Then came the disastrous Nyanya, UN building and Thisday bombings. What came after that were controversies about who gave the directive. Then came the claim that it was an unauthorized order from a permanent secretary. A Permanent Secretary? Nothing else was heard about it.

On the economy, I drew attention, back then, to his first tenure as military head of state, pointing out that he has a “barracks ration” approach to national wealth management. A leader with a “sharing” disposition and outlook rarely thinks of what to do about a nation’s “productive” forces. His solution to hunger, scarcity and rising inflation in the country at the time was the procurement and distribution of “essential commodities “. What made milk and a few items on that 1983 list essential commodities? For whom were they essential, etc.? How much of the essential commodities were produced in Nigeria?

And what do we have today? Cash transfer to “extremely poor” families. It’s been on for a while now, has it not? Meanwhile, these are families and neighborhoods that would ordinarily be busy in their farms, workshops and/or shops if their government took the statutory trouble of providing security and easily provided social infrastructure.

It has been a government of palliatives.

A government that is consistently recording frightening figures on school feeding, without asking itself whether there is any improvement in enrollment, retention and/or

learning outcomes. A look at the number of candidates for all competitive examinations in the north says so much. A country that allegedly spent over 200 billion on school feeding when the COVID-19 pandemic was afoot creates genuine concerns, especially when it has a ministry of Zakat wielding a phenomenal budget and exercising cheerful discretion in its deployment and disbursement As Observed in 2018, “The inchoate nature of the APC coalition, and the “tissue rejection” by its presidential candidate, was apparent during the elections. Campaign facilitators made promises at the few rallies the President attended, but the promises showed the APC`s limited understanding of what the issues were. There was no scientific basis for most of its claims and assurances. It knew nothing about the state of the national economy it was threatening to rescue. Some of the reckless declarations of Lai Mohammed, the opposition spokesman, were mistaken for informed submissions and even dubbed policy statements of the incoming government.”

If, as can be seen today, our economy is in shamble, let us remember this: “The President`s early pronouncements alarmed informed investors, especially foreign investors, leading to a run on the Naira and plummeting of the value of the Naira.

Staff reduction, increased production costs, underutilization of installed industrial capacity and capital flight joined forces with business shut downs to unleash a deluge of unemployed persons into an already saturated unemployment pool.

Meanwhile the government was doing nothing, absolutely nothing, for months after being sworn in. It took the President four months to appoint ministers. When he finally did the names and profiles were hardly inspiring. Some even had integrity deficits, already much touted for years, in the public domain. Worst of all, they also sat around for months after their appointment, doing nothing in particular. Just like the President.

Today, nearly eight years after the APC government was sworn in, we are back to conclusions drawn four years ago on this page: “… all the birds have come home to roost. Incompetence is the word everywhere, even as the government stands baffled and clobbered by its own history, its confirmed ineptitude and the fallouts of its many avoidable blunders.

The ruling party is spinning uncontrollably on its originally wobbly hinges. It scores itself very high in precisely those areas of leadership and service delivery that it has failed spectacularly: (1) national security, (2) poverty alleviation, (3) reflation of the economy, (4) job creation, (5) religious harmony, (6) national unity, (7) effective political leadership, (8) professionalization of the armed services, (9) equitable distribution of national resources and much more.”

And it just capped it with the religious coloration of its 2023 presidential candidacy.

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