MONDAY 21TH JUNE 2021

Govt, Operators Move to End $2bn Aircraft Maintenance Capital Flight Initiative to help Nigeria conserve forex Chinedu Eze As part of efforts to end the huge capital flight spent on maintenance of aircraft overseas put at $2 billion

annually, some operators in the aviation industry and the Akwa Ibom State government have taken steps towards developing maintenance facilities in Nigeria.

In the last four years, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has given Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) certificates to Aero Contractors,

7-Star Global Hangers Limited, and Overland Airways for the maintenance of ATR aircraft in addition to the certification given to Execujet, a global maintenance organisation

for executive jets.

Also, by early next year, the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility being built in Uyo by Akwa Ibom State government will come

on stream, while the Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, has announced that the airline has completed Continued on page 10

NEITI: FG’s Earning from Mining Rose to N79.96bn in 2019... Page 8 Monday 21 June, 2021 Vol 26. No 9568. Price: N250

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In Kebbi, 10 Rescued, Scores Still Missing, Hunters Join Battle...Page 49

NADECO Writes Buhari on Insecurity, Insists on Abrogation of 1999 Constitution Seeks suspension of elections until new grundnorm is promulgated Urges UN to intervene in resolving crisis in Nigeria Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) has written to President Muhammadu Buhari over the rising security challenges in the country and canvassed as panacea, the return to the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions to replace the extant 1999 grundnorm, which it said the military imposed on Nigerians.

The pro-democracy group,

which was in the vanguard of the clamour for the rebirth of democracy in Nigeria during the military regime of late Gen. Sani Abacha, leading to the return to civil rule in 1999, in an open letter to the president, pressed for the suspension of further elections until the country gets a new constitution.

The letter, dated June Continued on page 10

Courts, Assemblies Move to Relist Cases, Bills Stalled by Workers’ Strike Our Reporters With the resumption of activities in courts and state Houses of Assembly, the judiciaries and the legislatures in states of the federation have begun to relist cases and bills that were stalled as a result of the strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and the

Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) called off after two months.

THISDAY investigations showed that the industrial action, embarked upon to press home the workers' demands for financial autonomy for the two arms of government in the 36 states of the federation, Continued on page 10

SOLIDARISING WITH BORNO...

L- R: Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Malam Mele Kyari; President Muhammadu Buhari and Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, during the president’s visit to Borno State...recently

Again, Afenifere, Ohanaeze, PANDEF, PDP, Tackle FG over Restructuring...Page 6

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

Again, Afenifere, Ohanaeze, PANDEF, PDP, Tackle FG over Restructuring ACF insists on referendum

Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha in Abuja, Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu, John Shiklam in Kaduna, Seriki Adinoyi in Jos and James Sowole in Akure The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Middle Belt Forum, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Kaduna State branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday tackled President Muhammadu Buhariled administration for taking a position on restructuring that they say is contrary to the wishes of the majority of Nigerians.

Buhari, represented by the Executive Secretary of Revenue, Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Alhaji Mohammed Shehu, at the launch of Kudirat Abiola Sabin Gari, Zaria Peace Foundation on Saturday, had condemned the call for restructuring and national dialogue, saying that he could not hand over to unelected persons.

He described those agitating for restructuring as people, who are mischievously dangerous, and afraid to join partisan politics.

But Afenifere yesterday said the restructuring being clamoured for by various interest groups in the country, would not be at the whims and pleasure of Buhari’s administration.

Afenifere’s Secretary-General, Chief Sola Ebiseni, said the call for restructuring of the country's political architecture was a popular one among all knowledgeable personalities, elected governors and the leaders of entrenched federating ethnic nationalities.

Ebiseni said: "It is so unfortunate that Nigeria has descended so low that the position of the federal government or even the president would have to be deduced from some innocuous officials.

"From what I read in the papers, the fellow to whom this statement is credited is one Executive Secretary, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Alhaji Mohammed Bello Shehu, who

presides over the sharing of the revenue of the federation to which his state probably contributes nothing. How else can he impress his principal than tell him what would soothe his sectional and sectarian ego?

"The elected governors of the constituent states of the federation, the leaders of the entrenched federating ethnic nationalities, former leaders, presidents and knowledgeable personalities are all calling for the restructuring of the political architecture to reinvent the foundational federal principles of the polity and here you find an opportunistic official heading a parasitic office, which had no place in a true federal state, talking down on the nation.

“State governments are demanding the powers to establish state police to deal with insecurity, and prominent traditional rulers, especially emirs, have called on their people to rise in their own defence, and some uninformed government officials are threatening us with war if we seek restructuring or self-determination. It is so nauseating, this rudderless government.”

President of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, also described Buhari’s administration as confused for claiming that restructuring implied that he should hand over to a national conference.

“Otherwise, who told him that by restructuring he’s going to hand over to a national conference? Restructuring has so many components; devolution of power, having electoral system that is acceptable by all, ensuring that power is given to federating units rather than having it centralised at the top,” he said.

The PDP cautioned the Buhari administration to stop pushing the nation to the precipice by its arrogant and dictatorial remarks as well as inflammatory referencing to war, particularly in his apparent aversion towards the constitutionally guaranteed rights of Nigerians.

PDP described Buhari’s reported remarks that he and his All Progressives Congress (APC) had no time

for a discussion on the state of the nation, particularly in the face of worsening insecurity, economic hardship and sectional disagreements, further demonstrated their arrogant and dictatorial disposition towards the people.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement issued yesterday, stated that Buhari as citizens of a democratic state, Nigerians have every right to demand constitutional restructuring as well as a democratic forum to deliberate on good governance and national cohesion.

The PDP stated that such demands are neither synonymous nor contiguous to warfare.

"It is appalling, and to say the least, despicable, that Mr. President and his party, the APC, who came to power in 2015 on the promise of restructuring, have not only reneged, in utter duplicity towards Nigerians, but also turned around, six years after, to label restructuring as warfare

and Nigerians demanding for it as “mischievously dangerous,” the party said. In his reaction, Chairman of the Kaduna State chapter of the CAN, Rev. Joseph Hayab, said it was unfortunate that the same government, which set up a committee for restructuring, was opposed to restructuring.

"This same government has in the past set up a committee on restructuring and it came up with a report. If the same government is saying that there is nothing to restructure then it is telling Nigerians not to believe anything they say in the future seriously,” he said.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo also berated the Buhari administration for saying that it would not yield to calls for restructuring or convocation of a constitutional conference.

Reacting to the administration’s position that those calling for restructuring are “mischievously dangerous,” Ohanaeze Ndigbo National Publicity Secretary, Chief Alex Chiedozie, said since the country is practising democracy,

the president must be bound by the will of the people.

"The entire people of Nigeria have accepted the fact that the only way out of the myriad of the crisis facing the country at the moment is restructuring.

The South-east, South-west, South-south, the Middle belt region and the intelligentsia in the core North have all accepted that we need to restructure.

The president alone cannot impose his views on the rest of us,” he said.

Also in its reaction, the ACF, called for a referendum, adding, however, that the president has the right to hold opinions.

Spokesman of the forum, Mr. Emmanuel Yawe, said the position of the ACF was that a referendum be conducted on whether the country should remain one.

He said: “The president has the constitutional right to hold his views. Whether such views are in line with the provision of the constitution is another thing.

“We, at ACF, have considered this issue of restructuring, and

taken our stand that the country should hold a referendum on whether we want to remain as one country or not.”

PANDEF also described the statement credited to the Buhari administration as indicting the president and the ruling APC, which committee headed by Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State had earlier approved restructuring.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Ken Robinson, PANDEF said no responsible government anywhere in the world would make or sanction such statements against its citizens, adding that "We are, undoubtedly, under a grossly blinkered leadership, sadly, to the detriment of the security and welfare of citizens".

According to the group, the RMAFC executive secretary could afford to voice the prattle remarks on behalf of the president because he is aware of their crooked agenda to perpetuate the subjugation and gross injustice against the rest of the country.

EMIR TAKES OFFICE...

Emir of Rano, Alhaji Kabiru Inuwa (left), and Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, during the presentation of staff of office to the emir in Kano...weekend

Ngige Meets Buhari over Labour Issues, Insecurity in South-east Deji Elumoye in Abuja Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, at the weekend met with President Muhammadu Buhari on some recent labour issues that had led to strikes.

Ngige, in the company of the president’s Chief of Staff, Prof.

Ibrahim Gambari, also briefed Buhari on the challenging security situation in the South-east.

He told journalists in Abuja that he briefed the president on labour issues, including the recent strike embarked upon by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) that paralysed legislative and judicial activities in the country

for two months before the strike was called off last week.

He said: "We are going to monitor the agreement. He is very interested in it. And if you remember, he had to do an Executive Order 10 in consonance with the constitution so that we have independence, financial autonomy for the judiciary and the legislature in the states.

“So, it is one of the few things and he was happy that at least the strikes had been called off."

He added that the recent faceoff between the Kaduna State government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was also discussed at the meeting with the president, adding that the president warned against another industrial action in

Kaduna State.

On the security situation in the South-east, Ngige said: "We also looked at the security situation, especially in my zone, the South-east, and we made some proposal to him, based on the yearnings of the people, and what the government also wants.

"And we are following up with dialogue which at the end of the day is what will happen. We have to talk, we have to discuss. And part of the discussion starts also. The Minister of Defence, Minister of Interior and the service chiefs were in Enugu earlier last Saturday and we are going to do follow-up meetings on that again starting from tomorrow.

"We briefed the president and he accepted that dialogue is the

way to go in all these. Like I keep on saying, there is a very thin line between perception and reality; so, certain things should be done, at least to assuage the feelings of the people in the area and make them not feel unwanted so that area was also discussed. " Ngige stated that his mission at the State House was to brief the president on developments in the labour ministry with regard to the industrial action embarked upon by some unions.

The leadership of the NLC had complained to Buhari that the Kaduna State government had allegedly refused to obey the terms of agreement reached between the two parties after the federal government through the Minister of Labour and

Employment intervened to broker a truce in the industrial dispute between the two.

The minister said it was resolved that there was no need for another industrial disharmony between labour and the Kaduna State Government, especially as the country was faced with serious security challenges.

He added: "We also looked at the Kaduna State Government/ Nigeria Labour Congress imbroglio. We have arrested the strikes, we have apprehended them and formed committees for the workers through the NLC and the Kaduna State Government so that they can do some social dialoguing and reconciliation through that route.

"The NLC just five days

ago, wrote to Mr. President complaining that the Kaduna State government wasn't keeping to their own side of the agreement, signed, especially in the area of victimisation of workers, said that the government of Kaduna State has sacked some staff from their workforce for participating in the strike.

"And Mr. President sought advice on it and we've transmitted the advice today.

So, I and the Chief of Staff have jointly briefed him on that and we are taking action to make sure we don't have a repeat of what happened in that state, he said that we have already been bedevilled with security issues, we don't want any more compounding of those issues."

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NEITI: FG’s Earning from Mining Rose to N79.96bn in 2019 New figure breaks 13-year record Solid-minerals-producing states get 13% derivation Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Nigeria earned N79.96 billion from the solid minerals sector in 2019, representing a 15 per cent increase when compared to the N69.47 billion recorded the previous year, a new report released yesterday by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has shown.

The data contained in the 2019 audit report of the solid minerals sector released by the organisation in Abuja stated that the 2019 earnings accounted for 16 per cent of the total revenues of N496.28 billion that have accrued to the federation from the sector over the period of 13 years (2007 to 2019).

It also represented the highest since 2007 when NEITI commenced reconciliation of payments in the solid minerals sector, now in the 10th cycle of the independent audit.

A breakdown of the 2019 receipts as reported by NEITI showed that taxes to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on behalf of the federation accounted for N69.92 billion or 87.4 per cent of the total, while fees and royalties paid to the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) and Mines Inspectorate Department (MID) accounted for N2.37 billion (3.0 per cent) and N2.55billion (3.2 per cent) respectively.

Revenue accruals to the states stood at N5.1 billion, representing a 42 per cent increase when compared to the N2.1 billion recorded in 2018, with FIRS accounting for the highest flow to the coffers.

In addition, the outstanding amount of N8.887 billion, which accrued from the solid minerals sector as of 31st December 2019, was distributed amongst the three tiers of government in May 2020 using the revenue sharing formula while the balance as of 31st October

2020 was N3.948 billion.

A breakdown of the distribution shows that the federal and state governments received N4.073 billion or 45.83 per cent and N2.065 billion or 23.25 per cent respectively, while local governments got N1.592 billion or 17.92 per cent.

The balance of N1.155 billion was distributed to only solidminerals-producing states as their shares of the 13 per cent derivation.

According to the report, out of 702 companies that paid royalties to the government in 2019, only 74 companies met the materiality threshold of N3 million, representing a 7.2 per cent increase when compared to 69 entities that met the threshold in 2018.

“These 74 companies accounted for 87.63 per cent of total royalties of N2.50 billion paid in 2019, with the top five companies (Dangote Cement PLC; Lafarge PLC; Dangote Industries; Julius Berger; and Reynolds Construction) paying more than 50 per cent of total royalties” the report stated.

It added that a total of 1,296 mineral permits were issued by the MCO in 2019, with small-scale leases being the highest with 602 permits.

This was followed by 501 and 169 for exploration licences and quarry leases respectively, while the least figure of 24 was recorded for mining leases.

The 2019 audit report revealed that the total volume of minerals produced was 59.82 metric tonnes, while a five-year trend analysis of minerals production showed that the total minerals production in the past five years stood at 224,188,056 tonnes, out of which 59.82mt was produced in 2019. This signified the highest in the five years reviewed.

In addition, the 2019 volumetric figures also represented an increase of 29.41 per cent when compared

to 46.7mt produced in 2018, closely followed by 43.08mt and 39.27mt produced in 2016 and 2015 respectively, with the lowest production figure of 35.32mt recorded in 2017.

An analysis of revenues flow from the sector also showed that N79.96 billion recorded in 2019 was the highest in the past five years, followed by N69.47 billion and N69.2 billion recorded in 2018 and 2015 respectively, while N52.76 billion was recorded in 2017 and accounted for N41.98 billion in 2016.

On minerals exported, the report showed that the solid minerals sector accounted for N124.23 billion of the total government exports of N24.275 trillion for 2019, representing 0.51 per cent of

total export for the year.

On contribution of the sector to the economy, NEITI’s report cited data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which stated that mining and quarrying contributed 0.26 per cent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), higher than 0.18 per cent contribution recorded in 2018.

“Nigeria’s GDP in 2019 was N144.210 trillion with contributions from the solid minerals sector totalling N368.99 billion, representing 0.26 per cent of the total amount. This shows steady growth in the sector’s contribution to the economy in the past five years, from a contribution of 0.12 per cent in 2015 to 0.26 per cent in 2019," it stated.

A sectorial review of revenue distribution of taxes and royalties by the 74 companies showed that manufacturing and construction companies contributed 68.60 per cent and 29.67 per cent respectively in royalty and taxes while quarry, mining companies and buying centres contributed only 1.73 per cent.

On environmental impact and social expenditure, the report said 10 companies reported environmental expenditures to the tune of N17.13 million, covering environmental fees, air quality and waste permits, and registration fees for environmental impact assessment (EIA).

The report stated that mines environmental

compliance department carried out reclamation of seven abandoned mines costing N534.81million.

It added that a total of 32 mining sites have so far been reclaimed from 2007 to 2019, costing N2.39 billion.

On social expenditure, the report revealed that N2.598 billion was spent on 557 projects by 44 extractive companies.

To address the nonpayments of taxes and multiple Tax Identification Numbers (TIN), the NEITI report recommended that FIRS should carry out comprehensive tax audits to recover all unpaid taxes by companies and work in collaboration with the superintending ministry to reconcile the numbers.

THANKFUL HEARTS...

L-R: Member, representing Nsukka East Constituency, Hon. Chinedu Nwamba; Enugu State Governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Chairman, Nsukka Local Government Area, Hon. Cosmas Ugwueze and member, representing Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency, Hon. Pat Asadu, during a thank-you rally for the governor in Opi, Nsukka LGA…yesterday

SSANU Rejects Plans to Sack Varsity Staff School Workers Says action may affect 3,000 workers Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) has threatened showdown if federal government goes ahead to remove teachers in staff schools from the Consolidated Salary Scale, (CONTISS), in the 2022 budget.

It warned the federal government to withdraw the circular directing that workers of the staff schools should not be captured in the 2022 budget, saying it would amount to sacking them.

SSANU also warned that reopening a matter that had been decided by the National

Industrial Court (NIC) would affect the industrial harmony being enjoyed in the universities.

It stated that if the government should go ahead to implement the directive, over 3,000 of its members would be affected.

However, the federal government has promised that everything will be done to address the matter and ensure that it didn't lead to a crisis.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, weekend, on the looming crisis in the universities, President of SSANU, Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, accused the federal government of going contrary

to the agreement with the union even when the court had given a judgment on the matter.

Ibrahim, who was reacting to the alleged circular from the Budget Office directing that teachers in staff schools should be removed from the CONTISS in the 2022 budget even when there is a subsisting court judgment in favour of the union, said SSANU would "fight" the development to finish.

He said: "Well, the issue is that we are also taken aback by the recent negative development that we just saw last week that the federal government through the Budget Office directed that

universities should expunge or remove the list of our members who teach in the university demonstration schools, meaning that they shouldn't be captured in the CONTISS salary table.

"But the government is planning to put them in a different salary table called CONPISS, the consolidated public service salary scale".

He said it was a negation of SSANU's agreement with the government, because the workers in the university demonstration schools were bonafide members of university staff, adding that they have their employment letters signed by the registrar's of various universities, as

approved by councils under the terms and conditions for engagement.

"We will not allow this we will fight again with all the vigour and we will follow all the legal ways of making sure that we defend the interests of our membership, like we did in the first instance," he said.

He said the government did not consult the union before issuing the directive and threatened that it will fight it till the end.

"Unfortunately, this development shows that the government is trying to create another friction between us and them.

Because the attempt was

made five or six years ago, when the government decided to remove them completely from the employment and we went to court, as you're aware, we went to industrial court.

"After a long battle, we got a judgment in our favour.

And it was interpreted that members of staff in the universities who teach in the university staff schools or demonstration schools are bonafide members of staff of universities, as employed by councils; therefore, they should be treated as such, those that were sacked should be returned, and that their salaries should be restored,” he stated.

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PAGE TEN NADECO WRITES BUHARI ON INSECURITY, INSISTS ON ABROGATION OF 1999 CONSTITUTION 15, 2021, and obtained by THISDAY, was signed by its General-Secretary, Mr. Ayo Opadokun.

Another letter by the group also dated June 15, 2021, and signed by Opadokun, to the Secretary-General, United Nations Organisation (UN), Mr. António Guterres, requested the global body’s intervention to halt the fast deterioration of national security and political instability in Nigeria.

THISDAY also obtained a copy of the letter to the UN copied to the UN Security Council; the President of the United States; the Speaker of the Congress and Leader of the Senate of the United States; the European Union and European Parliament; the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the House of Common and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Buhari as well as the President of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs of Nigeria.

NADECO, in the letter to the president, accused him of fuelling secessionist agitations through the “Fulanisation” policy of his administration and its disregard for the constitution.

It also decried the deterioration of national security and political instability under Buhari's administration.

It said: "Other than diminishing democracy to a virtual dictatorship, NADECO wonders by which Section of our Ill-founded and presently extremely beleaguered socalled the Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution 1999 do the trio of your good self, Mr. President, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives aided by your hound dog, the Minister of Justice, public service officers all, with specific functions set out in the constitution, find the justification to judge yourselves entitled to jump uninvited, with decrying statements, into the compendium of frays between trespassing Fulani herdsmen and ancestral land owners exercising their primordial rights to decide whom they want or do not want on their lands."

NADECO said perhaps Buhari's interest in supporting the herdsmen was due to the fact of his being the patron of the Fulani herdsmen and cattle traders, (Miyetti Allah), making him to push for the suspension of land

owners’ rights "in awe of such trespassers."

It stated that it is such defence for especially preferred ethnicities that had led to the various discomfort experienced by other groups, including Ndigbo and the whole of the Middle Belt and Southern Nigeria, which now want to opt out of Nigeria.

NADECO argued that the growing secessionist tendencies in the country were fueled by what it called the obvious policy of Fulanisation and the president’s refusal to discontinue the operation of the 1999 Constitution as altered.

It said: "In all the circumstances of this matter, NADECO has no alternative but to join in the insistence that there better be no more elections under the 1999 so-called federal constitution, until we return to the negotiated 1960 and 1963 federal constitutions to which Nigerians subscribed at independence and when we became a republic."

NADECO also expressed concern about the inequitable distribution of political posts between the North and the South, saying that out of the total of 360 House of

Representatives members, the South has 169, while the North has 191.

It also decried the injustice in the distribution of oil revenue.

Citing the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics report of 2017, NADECO stated that the North-central receives 20 per cent of oil revenue and contributes 0.00 per cent, while the North-east receives 16 per cent and contributes 0.00 per cent.

It added that the North-west receives 21 per cent from the oil revenue and contributes 0.00 per cent.

NADECO said every month, the 19 Northern states receive a minimum of 57 per cent of 100 per cent of oil revenue to which they contribute 0.00 per cent.

According to it, the Southwest receives 16 per cent, contributes 6.36 per cent, while South-east receives 11.00 per cent; contributes 3.12 per cent and South-South receives 16.00 per cent and contributes 70.64 per cent.

Working with the data from the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, as published by the Ministry of Finance (2013 April), NADECO stated that the 357 LGAs of

the 17 Southern states received 45.1% and contributed 100 per cent, while the 419 LGAs of the 19 Northern states received 54. 9% and contributed 0.00 per cent.

NADECO added: "The foregoing narrative explains why the owners of Nigeria were not given the opportunity to participate in constitutionmaking whilst the Tables of Rights of the component parts of the country show the reasons why you, Mr. President, and your preferred citizens, will forever not allow Nigeria to go back to what was agreed and formed part of the independence constitution; making one Nigeria the biggest fraud ever."

NADECO decried what it regarded as the nepotism, ill-treatment, inequitable and unjust nature with which the Buhari administration has governed Nigeria.

It said since Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution ousted the jurisdiction of courts, there was no local Nigerian legal forum the entrapped ethnic nationalities who constitute the majority and are occupying four out of the six zones in the country can seek redress.

NADECO accused Buhari of rejecting all entreaties and

appeals by eminent Nigerians and ethnic nationalities leaders for the country to return Nigeria to the independence constitution as negotiated by the founding fathers and upon which Nigeria sought membership of the United Nations, but would rather accuse the protagonists of seeking to break up the country whilst ridiculing and threatening them with the charge of secession.

It said it was based on this that it decided on behalf of Nigerians to put world leaders on notice through the open letter.

NADECO stated that it supported and endorsed the clarion call made by a former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), and the 'Save Our Soul Plea' of the Ilana Omo Odua led by Prof. Banji Akintoye, asking Nigerians to exercise their rights of self-defence.

It said its reason was that the federal government had failed to fulfil its constitutional responsibility as contained in section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution as altered, which states: “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government."

The Chief Registrar of Sokoto High Court, Mr. Bashir Ibrahim, told THISDAY that over 100 cases filed in the state high court were stalled due to the strike.

He lamented that many lawyers complained that their clients who were awaiting trials suffered unnecessarily due to the strike.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Nasarawa State Judiciary, Mr. Enoch Ali-Maku, also told THISDAY that many cases that were on the cause list could not be heard while fresh ones filed shortly before the commencement of the strike could not be listed.

He, however, said he did not have the exact number of the cases whose proceedings were disrupted by the strike.

The Clerk of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Ego

Maikeffi, also said 15 bills were not passed into law by the legislature as a result of the parliamentary workers' strike.

In Bauchi State, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon. Garzali Wunti, said the lawmakers had only four bills pending, which would have been considered and passed if not for the parliamentary staff strike.

In Taraba State, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr. Bashir Bape, who represents Nguroje State Constituency, told THISDAY that some bills that were at various stages of passage were affected by the industrial action.

In Katsina, the Chief Registrar of the state High Court, Mr. Kabir Shu’aibu,

amount of capital flight, monies that could have been used for other things in our nation is going abroad. Let me give you an example, at the last count, as at two weeks ago, Air Peace has 21 planes out of this country. You don’t want to know the amount we are spending on those planes.

“We are at the mercy of these MRO owners overseas and you and I know the way they stigmatise us and everything in Nigeria. So you expend a lot of money taking these planes abroad. We need to have our MROs here. The good thing about having MRO is that you are not only going to be maintaining your own fleet, other Nigerians will come there, the whole of Africa will come here. Aviation is the same worldwide.

“Once you have EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) approval for your MRO, you have FAA (US Federal Aviation Administration) approval for your MRO, NCAA approval and you have other civil aviation authorities’ approval, the whole world will be coming here. And that will be capital influx, not the ones (forex) flying out of Nigeria.

So it will help. Yes, Air Peace

is ready, we have acquired the land, we are ready to give this country a maintenance repair and overhaul facility that Africa will be proud of.”

Recently NCAA granted 7Star Global Hangar Ltd, AMO certificate to operate an all-inclusive Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility.

COURTS, ASSEMBLIES MOVE TO RELIST CASES, BILLS STALLED BY WORKERS’ STRIKE stalled proceedings in over 100,000 court cases, some of which were in the judgment delivery stage, in 16 states.

The strike also stopped the passage of 49 important bills in six states, while debates on many other legislative bills were halted.

According to the investigation, the passage of five bills was affected in Edo State; four in Bauchi; three in Ondo; one in Cross River; 15 in Nasarawa and 21 in Niger State.

Also, proceedings in 880 court cases were halted in Ekiti; over 100 cases in Sokoto; and over 100,000 cases in Katsina, mostly in sharia and magistrate's courts.

To reduce the burden on lawyers and litigants, Lagos and Plateau states’ courts have waived the default fees on

cases that were not filed at the appropriate time.

THISDAY also gathered that the strike may have plunged the Niger State House of Assembly into a constitutional crisis as it sat for only 176 days before it entered a new legislative year last Thursday against the mandatory 181 days stipulated by Section 104 of the 1999 Constitution.

Investigations showed that to avert such a constitutional crisis, the Ekiti and Imo States' Houses of Assembly were sitting at the official quarters of the speakers since they were public buildings recognised by the House rules.

In Edo State, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly.

Hon. Marcus Onobu, told THISDAY that about five bills critical to good governance could not be passed due to

the strike embarked by the legislative workers.

He said: "The assembly has five outstanding bills at various stages of passage before the strike by legislative began."

On the judiciary, THISDAY’s investigation revealed that the judicial workers in the state did not embark on any strike.

It was gathered that their refusal to join the national body was borne out of the experience they had when they participated in such strike during the administration of Mr. Adams Oshiomhole and were not paid for the period they were on strike to date.

In Ekiti State, no fewer than 880 cases were stalled in different hierarchies of courts as a result of the strike, which commenced on April 6 and ended on June 14.

The Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Judiciary, Mr. Oba Olayiwola, told THISDAY that a total of 880 cases were paused by the industrial action.

He said: "Out of these cases, 600 were in the Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti, while the magistrates and other high court divisions had 280 pending cases.

However, the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, said the strike didn't affect the legislature much because the lawmakers were meeting at his lodge regularly to attend to legislative issues.

Afuye, however, agreed that the industrial action affected the passage of some bills, which he assured would soon be passed to make up for the lost period.

Continued on page 11

GOVT, OPERATORS MOVE TO END $2BN AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE CAPITAL FLIGHT plans to set up an MRO facility in Nigeria for the maintenance of its fleet and others.

Owing to these, industry experts said the move would end the huge resources spent overseas in the maintenance of aircraft, which is the highest operations cost to airlines after aviation fuel by Nigerian carriers and others.

The maintenance facilities would, in turn, be a source of forex earner for the country as airlines and aircraft owners in Africa and beyond could maintain their equipment in Nigeria.

The Head of Engineering and Maintenance of Ibom Air, Mr. Lookman Animaseun, told THISDAY in a telephone interview yesterday that it was good that the NCAA was licensing MRO organisations in Nigeria to save the country about $2 billion spent on aircraft maintenance overseas every year.

Animaseun said besides the Nigerian market, airline operators in West and Central Africa would also bring their aircraft to be maintained in Nigeria, which would attract forex to the country.

He said: “It is good that NCAA is licensing MROs. This is good for Nigeria. We also

expect the MRO organisations to reciprocate and properly equip their facilities. I do not have any doubt that we can accomplish that.

“There is huge market for the facilities in West, Central and other parts of the continent and beyond. It makes me happy that the owners of these maintenance facilities have a good purpose. It is people we know their background and we have interacted with.

“These facilities will be saving Nigeria $2 billion annually if properly harnessed.

We shall have more of the facilities by the time Akwa Ibom completes its own early next year.

“What makes me happy is that there is a huge market for these maintenance facilities.

Aero Contractors, which has maintenance facility, cannot cope with the demand anymore. It should look for a place to expand its hangar.

The company needs to up its game to match to what the industry is looking up to now.”

Industry expert, Captain Ado Sanusi, told THISDAY that the MRO business is a good one. “But before investors go into it, they should do their commercial evaluation, looking at the manpower, the

clientele and the skills so that their operations would be profitable,” he advised.

On the market for the MRO facilities in Nigeria, the Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Captain Mahmood Abdullahi, said Aero Contractors had been having third party aircraft (from other airlines) for maintenance and they were not coming from Nigeria alone.

“You can see a lot of third party aircraft are here in the hangar. It is not only Nigerian airlines. There is the Democratic Republic of Congo, they have their Boeing 737 here and we have already signed with the Ghana Civil Aviation and they have given us the approval to maintain aircraft registered in Ghana.

“And so, we have an agreement with Passion Air in Ghana. So is Tunisia, they are working on it to get their approval and then Malta also, we are working on it to get their approval. Yes, we are working on all those approvals; once we have those approvals we will maintain aircraft registered in those countries in our facility here,” Mahmood said.

He also spoke about the cost of taking aircraft overseas

for maintenance, saying: “I think there are so many disadvantages to taking your aircraft out of the country for maintenance. If you talk about how much it is going to cost an airline to fly its aircraft from Nigeria, to probably Europe, or wherever it is going to, if you talk about the fuel that they would burn to go, navigational charges paid, the aircraft goes there, and then fly it back again.

“All these costs are saved by having an MRO here. We have saved the airlines such huge costs. Then, if you come to the maintenance aspect, you are talking about the labour.

If they go there, they pay for man-hour in dollars, but here we charge them the man-hour in naira. So it is easy for them if they cannot access the forex, at least we are giving them an opportunity to pay naira here.”

Onyema decried the huge costs the airline incurs maintaining its aircraft overseas, saying that the company has completed plans to establish a maintenance hangar in Nigeria.

He explained: “The establishment of a veritable MRO is long overdue. You don’t want to know the

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11

MONDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Niger Delta Elders Urge President to Inaugurate NDDC Board Now As youth group warns against violence, petitions DSS Iyobosa Uwugiaren and Emameh Gabriel in Abuja As the one-week ultimatum issued by the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) to the federal government to inaugurate the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) expired weekend, some elders in the region under the auspices of Rural Chiefs and Development Initiative have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to dissolve the interim management committee of the NDDC and inaugurate the president’s nominees cleared

and confirmed by the Senate in 2019.

The Leader of the Forum, Chief Edwin Clark, gave the ultimatum to the federal government a week ago, while addressing journalists in Abuja.

The Ijaw leader had noted that his desire was to see the best man appointed for the job, saying there was no need for the perceived power tussle.

“The two persons involved are from my state and are my children, but all I am interested in is for a board to be inaugurated for the commission.

And this should be done within

PDP Renews Call on Senate to Reject Onochie for INEC Job Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday cautioned the Senate not to test the will of the people by pushing through the confirmation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide, Mrs. Lauretta Onochie, as a national commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

It added that doing so will violate the wishes of the people and the 1999 Constitution as altered.

The PDP accused the Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan, of testing the will of the people by his failure to reject Onochie’s nomination as demanded by Nigerians.

In a statement yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, the main opposition party warned that Lawan pitting the Senate against Nigerians, adding that the consequence of such arrogant derision to the definite provision of the 1999 Constitution as well as the precise demands by Nigerians to return Onochie’s nomination to the president could cost the institution its respect with the people.

It added: "Our party is appalled that Senator Lawan, who swore to protect the constitution, will brazenly debase its clear provision in paragraph 14 of the 3rd schedule by sending

a card-carrying member of a political party for clearance as INEC national commissioner."

The PDP said sending Onochie's nomination to the Senate Committee on INEC for clearance was offensive to all parliamentary procedure of due process as it is akin to sending the name of Buhari to the committee for clearance as INEC chairman or national officer.

It said: "If he meant well, Senator Lawan ought to, upon receiving the obnoxious nomination, immediately return same to President Buhari and advise him to send a replacement.

"Senator Lawan must know that he is holding the office of the Senate president in trust and that the constitution has ample and unambiguous provisions with regard to a legislative official, who chooses to grossly violate its provisions, as being witnessed in his desperation to confirm Onochie as INEC official."

Also, the PDP said it was in solidarity with Nigerians, and urged the Chairman of Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Kabiru Gaya, to detach and distance himself from Lawan, in his mission to desecrate the sanctity of the electoral system.

PDP counselled Gaya not to heed Lawan’s push, urging him to act in line with the demand of Nigerians that Onochie’s consideration is turned down.

the next one week,” he stated.

Clark added that the inauguration of a new board for the commission was critical to enable it to realise its mandate of impacting positively on the lives of the people of the region.

In a letter to the president, the Niger-Delta chiefs described the Interim Management team set up by the Minister of Niger Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as illegal and unacceptable, saying it negates the Act that establishes the commission.

The letter jointly signed by the Chairman of the group, Chief Nengi Eriwori, and Legal Adviser, Mr. Ebinyu Aderigba, made available to THISDAY, said the tenure of the previous interim management board had expired, noting that they were not unaware of the power of the president under the 1999 constitution as altered to delegate his powers to any ministry to carry out any function as contained in Section 170 of the constitution.

They argued that the Act establishing the NDDC does

not contemplate interim management to take over the management of the commission.

The elders also argued: "Since the tenure of the last board elapsed by effluxion of time, it is expedient upon President Buhari to swear in a board in pursuant to the provision of the clear, sacrosanct and unambiguous of the NDDC Act. "We make bold to say that the interim caretaker committee set up by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs is not a legal entity as same is not recognized by law.

Therefore, there is no confusion in the NDDC that will warrant the setting up of an interim management committee.

"We, therefore, demand the immediate dissolution of the interim caretaker committee in the interest of peace and development of the Niger Delta Area, which we stand for as your Excellency may have been ill-advised by some self-seeking persons contrary to the spirit and the intendment of the Act setting up the Niger Delta Development Commission," the Niger Delta’s

leaders added.

Similarly, a group under the auspices of South-South Youth Initiative has also accused Akpabio of a plot to wilfully bypass the established protocol and extant rules as directed by President Buhari to inaugurate a substantive board of the commission for alleged pecuniary reasons.

In a petition dated June 10, 2021, to the Director-General, Department of State Security Service (DSS), made available to THISDAY, the group alleged that it was aware that Senator Akpabio has ‘’cooked up a new list of nominees’’ other than the ones already screened and confirmed by the Senate.

The group recounted how President Buhari had in August 2019 approved the inauguration of the board of NDDC that was "vetted by the mandatory security agencies screened and confirmed by the National Assembly."

The group, however, warned that "any attempt by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to replace

the already screened and confirmed list will be against the spirit of understanding and agreement reached on June 3, 2021, with the youths from the region.”

To this end, it called on the Director-General of the DSS to use his good office to intervene so as to avoid unrest in the region.

The confirmed nominees for NDDC are former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr. Pius Odubu, Chairman; Bernard Okumagba (Delta), Managing Director; Otobong Ndem (Akwa Ibom), Executive Director of Projects; Maxwell Oko (Bayelsa), Executive Director of Finance and Administration; Jones Erue (Delta); Victor Ekhator (Edo); Nwogu N. Nwogu (Abia) and Theodore Allison (Bayelsa).

Others are Victor Antai (Akwa Ibom); Maurice Effiwat (Cross River); Olugbenga Edema (Ondo); Uchegbu Kyrian (Imo); Aisha Muhammed (North West); Shuaibu Zubairu (North East) and Abdullahi Bage (North Central).

Tinubu’s Supporters Accuse Ekiti of Persecution Seek APC's intervention Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The South West Agenda for 2023 (SWAGA), a group rallying support for the presidential ambition of a former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, has condemned the perceived hostilities of the Ekiti State government towards members of the body in the state and called on the national leadership of the party, headed by Yobe State Governor, Mr. Mai Mala Buni, for his intervention.

The group urged Buni to arrest the situation, by calling on the Ekiti State Government to order to ensure a united house that could sustain victory in coming political contests.

The group said these in a reaction to the suspension slammed on two members of the party in Ayede Ekiti, Oye

Local Government Area, Mr. Kayode Adetifa and Mr. Jide Oso, over their membership of SWAGA. It added that the action was allegedly taken by the state government taking punitive action against SWAGA members before Tuesday’s inauguration of the state’s chapter was capable of igniting crisis in the party.

A statement yesterday by SWAGA’s Chairman in Ekiti State, Senator Tony Adeniyi, cautioned the Ekiti State Government against actions that could inhibit the chances of the party in the coming elections.

Adeniyi expressed gratitude to the people of Ekiti State for their loyalty to Tinubu, the show of love for SWAGA and the impressive turnout for the inauguration, despite the odds.

Adeniyi said : "I condemn the ongoing victimisation of members of the group across

the state and the recent refusal of the government to allow SWAGA to erect its billboards in the state despite observing due protocol.

"SWAGA is a group within the APC, rooting as well as canvassing Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to show interest in the coming presidential race and also mounting support for the party’s electoral success in coming elections.

“We are abashed by the unfriendly reception of SWAGA, a wing canvassing the leader of our party, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to contest the forthcoming presidential election for the general good of our party and Nigeria. As we speak, some members of our party who are supporters of SWAGA are going through series of frustrations and victimisation by an APC government that is supposed to embrace and support them

for the enormous patronage, credibility and acceptability that SWAGA is lending our party.

“And as a result of these strange beats, we are calling on the national body of our party to look thoroughly at the lingering political hide-and-seek of our government in Ekiti State and call this Hitler of our party to order.

"A government that allows the billboard of the opposition party to thrive but will not stand the one erected by its own party is at war with itself and must be hurriedly rescued by stakeholders in APC.” But absolving the state government and the party of masterminding the suspension, the state Publicity Secretary of APC, Hon. Ade Ajayi, said the two were disciplined by party leaders at the ward level, for factionalising the party, adding that the suspension has nothing to do with SWAGA.

Prohibition Bill; and the Public Fund Committee Bill of the Judiciary and Legislative Autonomy were stalled by the strike.

"Apart from these three bills, there are other bills at different stages of debate and legislative actions, which were affected by the strike.”

In Cross State House of Assembly, the Cross River State Mining and Quarrying Bill (2020) is the only outstanding Bill whose passage was stalled by the strike.

Speaking with THISDAY, the Clerk of the Abia State House of Assembly, Sir John-Pedro Irokansi, said that with offices shut down, it was impossible for legislative activities to continue during the strike.

For Imo State House of Assembly, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon. Johnson Duru (representing Ideato South State Constituency), told THISDAY on the telephone that the activities of the house was not badly affected by the strike.

He stated that members were meeting at the official quarters of the Speaker, Hon. Paul Emezim, which is a public building in line with the rules of the House of Assembly, to deliberate on matters concerning the smooth running of the state.

Speaking yesterday, the spokesman of the Osun State House of Assembly, Mr. Kunle Alabi, told THISDAY that the state legislature used the period of the strike to increase its oversight functions since the assembly complex was shut.

But the state Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Femi Akande, said the strike stalled all court proceedings in cases as far as hearing of both substantive and interlocutory matters were concerned.

The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in Kwara State, Alhaji Mumin Jimoh (SAN), told THISDAY that thousands of cases that were supposed to be adjudicated upon at the various courts in the state were affected.

COURTS, ASSEMBLIES MOVE TO RELIST CASES, BILLS STALLED BY WORKERS’ STRIKE told THISDAY that there were over 100,000 outstanding cases, whose proceedings were stalled as a result of the strike.

Shu'aibu, in an exclusive interview with THISDAY, said Sharia and magistrate's courts had the highest number of pending cases.

He said: "We have over 100,000 pending cases because of the strike. Sharia and magistrate's courts are the courts with the highest number of these outstanding cases. The police have even called us that they have about 400 inmates and that some of the inmates were dying in their cells because of the congestion during the strike."

The spokesman for the Kano State High courts, Mr. Baba Jibo, told THISDAY that he could not tell the number of pending cases since they were still been compiled.

Chairman, Plateau State House of Assembly Committee on Information, Hon. Peter Dasun, said a backlog of bills and motions were stalled but

added that he could not give an exact figure.

Also speaking to THISDAY, the Chief Registrar of Jos High Court, Hon Ladi Madaki, said the judges were currently ‘calling over’ cases that should have been heard during the strike, and assigning them new dates.

According to her, there is a timing for filing of cases, and defaulters are expected to pay default fees, but the state chief judge has issued a circular that default fees should not apply between April 2021 and June 15 when the courts opened to avoid burden on litigants and their counsel.

She feared that judges' annual vacation, which begins by July ending and will last through August, may further constitute a delay, but said it was statutory for judges in superior courts.

But Plateau State NBA chairman, Mr. Yakubu Bawa, said his association was already meeting the state Chief Judge, Justice Yakubu Dakwak, to appeal to the judges not to go on the

six-week annual vacation.

In Lagos State, the strike had minimal effect on the workings of the state House of Assembly as it carried on its business normally.

Within the period, the assembly suspended six local government and development councils' chairmen for breaching rules and regulations guiding the operations of council areas.

It also approved the executive branch's request for the purchase of operational vehicles for ministerial and extra-ministerial departments.

However, the same cannot be said of the judiciary where all activities were crippled throughout the strike.

Following the resolution of the strike, a memo was sent to all heads of department and registrars of court by the state Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba, waiving default fees in the state from April 6 to June 14, 2021.

In Niger State, the House of Assembly is now in a dilemma over how to comply with

Section 104 of the constitution, which provides that Houses of Assembly should sit for 181 days in a legislative year.

The Clerk of the House, Alhaji Abdullahi Kagara, confirmed that the assembly is thinking about how it will solve the constitutional crisis the strike has plunged it into, as a result of its inability to meet for the number of days it should sit in a legislative year.

Kagara said: "This is a problem we are trying to solve but since it is not deliberate and it is a national issue, we will get over it."

In Ondo State, efforts to ascertain the number of cases stalled by the strike from the Chief Judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Akeredolu, was unsuccessful.

Speaking with THISDAY, the Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Information, Hon Gbenga Omole, said the passage of three important bills were stalled.

He said: "Anti-Open Grazing Bill; Violence Against Persons

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MONDAY JUNE 21, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY • MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2021

COMMENT

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

THE RIGHT TO FOOD

Timi Olubiyi writes that reducing wastage will strengthen food security in the country

T

he demand for more food consumption is a global phenomenon, mainly due to the increasing population year-on- year. One of the extreme challenges that Africa faces particularly Nigeria is that of feeding its growing population amidst other perennial issues. Consequently, this makes hunger, undernutrition, and food insecurity prevalent across the continent despite government agriculture and food business sector supports. Without mincing words, food insecurity might worsen if the population continues to grow and a corresponding response to arrest the situation is not in sight.

In Nigeria, each year the country loses and wastes a substantial portion of its food production which is never preserved despite hunger and undernutrition. One of the key reasons is that food loss and food waste continue to grow without any significant intervention by the government or businesses. The magnitude of food loss and waste (FLW) is undeniably common and high in the country along the food supply chain, from the North to the South of the country. The loss and waste problem have been neglected for so long and the last few years have witnessed a consistent increase as a result of heightening insecurity, movement, and transport restrictions due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, street trading, open animal grazing, decrepit infrastructure, illiteracy, inconsistent power supply, environmental pressure, lack of innovation and climate change. Though food loss and waste are a global problem, it appears it is more prevalent in Nigeria now with the current realities. Therefore, persistent food loss, and food waste amid starvation should not be overlooked.

While I agree that both “food waste” and “food loss” signifies the food portion that is wasted and not eaten, the terms are different but often used interchangeably. Painfully, both are damaging to the economy, businesses, households, and the well-being of the populace. The fact is food loss and waste are quite different anyway in terms of origin and scope and the true difference lies in exactly where the waste occurs.

According to literature, food loss typically takes place at the harvest, storage, transportation, and sometimes at processing, and distribution stages in the food value chain. Staggeringly, in sub-Saharan Africa, post-harvest food losses are estimated to be worth US $4 billion annually - or enough to feed at least 48 million people, according to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In my opinion, the large chunk of this may likely be from Nigeria, considering the population and economic size of the country in Africa.

Further findings in the report indicated that some of the leading causes of food loss are poor storage, insecurity, loss during transportation, insufficient and inefficient agro-processing skills among smallholder farming communities, and lack of innovative approach to preservation, and insufficient infrastructure. It is not out of place to mention that with the current realities particularly with the disruptions occasioned by COVID-19 and increasing insecurity, food waste must have increased exponentially in the last two years, indicating a major barrier to food security and development in the country and this obviously requires attention.

FOOD WASTE OCCURS AT VARIOUS STAGES OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN DUE TO A LACK OF CONSTANT POWER AND ADEQUATE PACKAGING

On the other hand, food waste refers to the food that is of good quality and fit for consumption, but does not get consumed because it is discarded-either before or after and it is left to spoil. Surveys of families in Lagos State, the economic capital of the country, to understand the causes of food waste elicited packaging and preservation as a key aspect of the problem. One of the root causes of food waste is a lack of power and some restaurants equally mentioned lack of proper packaging techniques. It was easy to conclude from the survey that food waste occurs at various stages of the supply chain due to a lack of constant power and adequate packaging.

Though funding and investing in agriculture or food sector can improve food security and promote sustainability, improved food sufficiency can be achieved by considering the reduction of food loss and food waste. This can be a more effective and cost-saving strategy for a developing economy like Nigeria at this time. Because when food is lost or wasted, all the resources that are used to produce the food, including water, land, power, labour, and capital, are also wasted. So, a reduction in loss or wastage will more than likely reduce wasted resources and increase profits along the food supply chain.

To address this prevailing huge problem, businesses and the government must result in policy responses to enhance storage, cooling technologies, and packaging for the preservation of perishable foods and to lengthen food shelf lives. The good news is that there are a variety of ways to prevent food loss and waste throughout the supply chain. For example, investment can be made in the importation of cooling and refrigerated trucks for transportation of perishable fruit and vegetables. Farm produce such as tomatoes, plantain, or even catfish can be preserved with the cooling system from the farms directly to urban businesses or consumers, thereby reducing food loss and increasing fresh produce availability in the country. Furthermore, innovative smart food packaging and smart sensing technologies for monitoring food quality can be also be introduced for the sustainability of high-quality standards and improved product safety. These are lines of business opportunities for investors to explore or for the attraction of foreign direct investments(FDIs). Sincerely, the government, businesses, and decision-makers need to target investments deliberately in the food supply value chain because opportunities abound. The government also needs to create incentives to boost efforts to reduce food losses by businesses and smallholder farmers.

In conclusion, no single solution can tackle this whole issue but having an innovative mindset, can get the government, businesses, researchers and the populace started. In fact, reducing food wastage will strengthen and enhance general food security in the country. Indeed, investments in training, technology, digital agriculture, innovation, and behavioral change are key to reducing food loss and waste. Therefore, innovative initiatives in the agriculture sector should be encouraged because it will create more job opportunities and also improve urbanrural migration, increase food exports, and reduce food imports.

Dr. Olubiyi is an Entrepreneurship & Business Management expert

THE ‘NEW SUPER POWER’ WITHOUT BORDERS It is the government of technology, innovation and creativity, writes Taiwo Akerele

T

ransiting through North Africa, on my way to the United States in the early summer of 2021, gave me an opportunity to digest a non-fiction book I bought a year ago at the San Francisco International Airport, titled the Silk Road: A new History of the World written by John Koparkan, a renowned historian at the Worcester College Oxford, published in 2015.

The size of the book, about 636 pages will discourage even a professor from starting it. However, on this trip, I took the time to read through the book and digest the contents for the two nights I spent en route New York, while attending to my mission.

The summary of the book is that for thousands of years, the world has been ruled and dominated by very powerful individuals who built empires and conquered kingdoms. Territories and treaties were either peacefully signed or cities were violently taken over. Millions of people were forced to pay taxes and royalties to those who have more power and exert influence rather than those who should legitimately do.

The book also tried to explain, that outside of Europe, there was a significant trading and buoyant economic system that existed in the Persia Empire which in turn spurned the economic and industrial growth in Europe centuries later.

It depicted, the very powerful Persia present day Iraq, the Roman Empire, the Portuguese conquest of the East Atlantic, the exploits of the Mongolian war lords, under Ghenkis Khan and his very powerful successors such as Ogedei that ruled between 1221 and 1241, the role of Christopher Columbus in the discovery of the new world and the very innovative Spanish Kingdoms that established forts and military bases in Southern America.

The conquest of China, and the rise and fall of Constantinople, present day Istanbul.

I was proud as an African, reading about the

Songhai Empire and the rich golds of Mali and the generosity of King Mansa Musa who ‘literally dashed’ gold to everybody on his trip to Mecca and Medina. This book also painfully detailed how slavery started and in the process Africans were the major victims as millions of Africans were forcefully sold into slavery in far flung places such as Spain, North and South America.

The inspiration, one got from this very inspiring and well researched book, is that for centuries, the world has been shaped to be ruled and governed by those who have the instrument of force and power, of cohesion; this has later been reduced to a few persons coming together to draft a document on behalf of others and call it the constitution.

This document further details codes and modes of conduct expected of residents in that location prescribing what institutions that could be established such as the Supreme Court for instance, and other arms and tiers of government. Such is the new world order, that has replaced the use of force and physical conquest, which has seemingly brought relative peace to the world as against the old order of wars and warlords and the medieval era that was described by the English Philosopher Thomas Hobbes, as short, nasty and brutish, etc.

While it is instructive enough to note that, yes, the world may have moved from the era of physical warfare rulership, to colonialism and now to constitutionalism, self- rule, sovereignty and independence, territorial integrity and institutional order.

A vast majority of government and people across the world are yet to wake up from their slumber that a new world order has emerged albeit without territory or physical government and a capital devoid of the different arms of government as evidenced in the era that is gradually going obsolete.

The era of government of creativity and innovation has gradually crept in without the shot of a

bullet, chaos and wars as often witnessed during violent change in the society, yet, it has conquered the world. The influence and power of the innovation government didn’t dawn on the world and its people until December of 2020,when Facebook and Twitter deleted the posts of the President of the United States Mr. Donald Trump on the so-called allegation of fraud in the U.S elections that had produced Joe Biden as President elect. Till date, the ex President is still on suspension by Facebook.

As recently as June 2021, the all-powerful Twitter had also deleted the tweet by the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari which was considered as offensive and violating the policies and ethics of the organisation. What? How can you delete the tweet of Nigerian president? For what? Of course, I trust my country, we quickly suspended the operations of twitter in Nigeria amidst huge outcry of some segment of the civil society and youths across Nigeria. Twenty years ago, whoever thought that the Nigerian President will depend on twitter to address his citizens? Not only that, whoever thought that there will be an organisation that will dare suspend the president of the United States from using its platform to share his views?

Are we still debating that power has indeed changed hands in the 21st century and the world affairs are no longer being influenced by the United Nations or the G7 or China alone, but by young boys and girls sitting down behind their laptops in San Jose and San Francisco and in the Silicon valley deploying useful applications and re-writing the whole concept of human rights, go vernance, technology, determining trade volumes and financial systems, balance of trade, maritime and services worth billions of dollars on a daily basis across the globe.

Are we still in denial that there is a new government and power in our hands other than the conventional government? This is government of

technology, innovation and creativity. The issues for consideration are as follows; when will Africa key into the evolving new world order and invest in its own future influenced by technology and creativity?

How much of our annual budget goes into research and development?

Are our youths still regarded as lazy? Do we still rely on oil to fund our whole existence? Are we going to continue with poverty alleviation programs as against wealth creation programs? Are we still going to continue with the culture of ‘empowerment’ where billions are wasted purchasing Keke NAPEP, sewing machines and grinding machines for a group of people that could be deployed into commercial agriculture and its value chain? What is happening to the small and medium scale sector of the economy?

It was widely reported in October 2020 that Paystack, a startup built by Nigerians was purchased for $200m (approximately N85b) by an American technology firm, Stripe. You would think that the Nigerian government should be interested in this business that has made a foreign firm commit such a huge amount of resources into purchasing it, but I guess we are not there yet. You would think that the Nigerian government will conduct a follow up mechanism with those talented young men and others scattered across Lagos and other cities to ensure their knowledge is further tapped for the development of the nation. In context, how many Nigerian government -owned agencies or parastatals can boast of generating N85bn in a year?

Rather 70% of these agencies including the almighty Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) run at a loss and they are subsidised by the government at huge cost to the already over-burdened tax payers. The records are there.

Akerele is Country Director, Policy House International and the author of Sage of Growth and Stranger in Power

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T H I S D AY • MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2021

EDITORIAL WHEN KIDNAPPERS TARGET SCHOOLS The authorities must do more to secure the children

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epeated attacks on schools in recent years have created fear in many vulnerable students and their parents, especially in some sections of the country and is affecting the attitude to education. Criminal gangs now target schools from where they abduct students and teachers, and with damaging implications. Dozens of students and five teachers were last Thursday abducted from Federal Government College, Yauri, Kebbi State, a third of such mass kidnapping within a month. “They killed one of the (police officers), broke through the gate and went straight to the students’ classes,” the school security man told reporters.

While the assurances being offered by the authorities are understandable, payment of ransom and doing deals with bandits whenever they steal our children cannot be a sustainable approach to handling a challenge that borders on law and order. When a school is under attack WHEN A SCHOOL IS UNDER and students become targets, ATTACK AND STUDENTS according to BECOME TARGETS, NOT Manuel Fotaine, ONLY ARE THEIR LIVES West Africa SHATTERED, THE FUTURE OF Regional Director THE NATION IS STOLEN of United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), “not only are their lives shattered, the future of the nation is stolen.”

From Federal Government College, Buni Yadi where no fewer than 58 male students were brutally assassinated to Government Secondary School, Chibok where more than a hundred girls are yet to be accounted for to Government Girls’ Science and Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi where Lear Sharibu remains in captivity three years after, these criminals not only target the most vulnerable of our citizens, there is also a calculated attempt to circumscribe the educa-

Letters to the Editor

tion of children. When gunmen enter school premises almost at will to cart away children, government must understand that it is dealing with a serious problem.

The challenge of insecurity becomes more perplexing when parents can no longer send their children or wards to school without the fear that they could be abducted. The pertinent question to ask therefore is: What have the security agencies done to understand the nature of the sundry forms of criminality that now engulf the country and what are the strategies for countering them?

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

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

ith a growing pattern of roving genocidal gangs, we must challenge the federal government and the authorities in many of the states concerned to do a little more than the usual display of incompetence and blame game that have deepened our insecurity.

The Safe Schools Initiative, launched after the 2014 Chibok kidnap, was meant to counter the growing attacks on the right to education and to build community security groups to promote safe zones for education, consisting of teachers, parents, police, and community leaders. “We cannot stand by and see schools shut down, girls cut off from their education and parents in fear of their daughters’ lives,” said former British Prime Minister, Mr. Gordon Brown, then UN Special Envoy on Education at the launch. “The Safe School Initiative will put Nigeria on track to help more and more girls and boys go to school and learn.”

Unfortunately, the idea has long been abandoned with many of the schools left to their individual devices. There is an urgent need to go back to the drawing board on how to keep the schools safe. We cannot afford to leave our children at the mercy of bandits who are bent on truncating their future.

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-200 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (9501000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer.

NASRDA, SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY AND NIGERIA’S SECURITY

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igeria has the potential to be a great country. This assertion is true and even truer with the successful development by the National Space Research and Development Agency of a satellite technology that has the capacity of tracing the movements of bandits and other criminal elements disturbing the peace of Nigeria and even neutralising them. The development of this technology came at the right time considering the security challenges confronting our country.

The management of the present NASDRA under the leadership of Dr Halilu Ahmad Shaba must be commended for their timely intervention through satellite technology of the security challenges of Nigeria. This goes to show that given the chance, institutions in Nigeria are becoming stronger in fulfilling their mandates just as NASDRA has done.

The agency has also shown that it is willing to collaborate with other governmental agencies charged with the responsibilities of securing the country to live up to their constitutional responsibility of maintaining the peace in the spirit of achieving goals for the general development of Nigeria.

With the readiness of the NASDRA to collaborate with other relevant agencies in protecting lives and properties, I think we should consider empowering NASDRA to develop a SPACECOM project. This is entirely about the formation of a combined space security command that involves agencies like the security agencies collaborating with NASDRA in the formation of command that would be charged with the usage of the developed space technology in fighting insecurity in our country. Examples of countries that has formed and deployed their space programs for security through the space commands are Russia and the United States of America.

Space programmes used to be a luxurious show of technological strength between the United States and the former Soviet Union. Developed nations started to see the

potential of the space programmes in addressing real life issues and improving the conditions of living on earth. Nigeria should not be an exception.

Nigeria by following suit and committing huge but scarce resources to the exploration of space for socio-economic gains and national pride is beginning to reap its fruits through NASDRA. Currently, it is on record that Nigeria has three functional satellite stations orbiting the earth, delivering important data and contributing to the socio-economic development in various sectors of our national life. From an analysis, technology companies are doing a lot, varying from backend programmings to payments platforms, software developments, robotics and internet of things, artificial intelligence and many more which are spinoffs space explorations and commercial activities.

However, NASDRA given the mandate of overseeing space activities in Nigeria, dominates satellite launches in Africa with 10 launches, space policies and operations among others, and operates through sub-centres and laboratories throughout the country.

Meanwhlle, the fundamental goals of Nigeria space programme were to sustain development and security, disaster and environmental monitoring, scientific research development, human capacity development and security intelligence.

The agency recently succeeded in developing a 10-metre digital elevation stimulation map and vegetation density map for Sambisa forest, using the Nigeria SAT-X to assist the Nigerian military in combating the dreaded Boko Haram who at some point overran several towns in Nigeria.

NASDRA is the principal space intelligence team collaborating with the Nigeria military and foreign military aids agencies corroborating to eliminate Boko Haram from West Africa. Therefore, with its development of this space security programme it is actually meeting its goals and mandate.

Musa Musawa, Abuja

PLASTIC, PAPER OR BOTH?

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wo days ago I went to our monthly community food swap morning and noticed that many of the people had paper bags to take produce home, which is in line with our environmental approach.

I joked that the paper bags would come in a plastic bag and yes, they do! The local supermarkets have banned us from using plastic bags which I support but they use lots of them including selling their organic vegetables and fruit in plastic containers.

Have I missed the point or is the world just getting crazier?

No more plastic!

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY JUNE 21, 2021

Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG

POLITICS

Email: nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com 08114495324 SMS ONLY

M O N D AY D I S C O U R S E

Bumpy Ride to 2021 Guber Polls in Anambra David-Chyddy Eleke writes that with just five months to the Anambra State governorship election, there seem to be increasing controversies dogging the process, both on the part of the participating political parties and the electoral umpire

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there is nothing of such, and it can not stand. I want to tell you that there was another judgment on 24 May 2018, by one Justice AO Musa of the FCT High Court. That judgement clearly stated the process in which we emerged, and it stated that we fulfilled all the processes, and we were duly elected.

We have taken notice of the efforts of political merchants and in a short while, those who are bent on being fifth columnists will hear from us.”

He stated that so far, there have been no leadership problems in the state chapter of the party, adding that Mr Ejike Oguebego, who was referred to as the new chairman by the Abuja High Court judgement said to have been delivered via Zoom, has been loyal to the leadership of the party.

Just days after he debunked the judgement, a new chairman of the party resumed work in a separate party secretariat in Awka, just a few meters from the one occupied by Nwobu. The factional chairman who turned out to be, Mr Chukwudi Umeaba while addressing journalists quickly announced the annulment of the election of a three-man Adhoc delegates held by the Nwobu-led faction, which was concluded a day after. He said: “Based

on the above (his reinstatement), I, Hon. Chukwudi Umeaba, the acting chairman caretaker committee of PDP, Anambra State working in concert with the terms of reference and the powers of my office will make pronouncements.

I hereby suspend the ward congress of 9th June to elect a three-man Adhoc committee for the governorship primary. I will contact the NEC of our great party to give me a new date for the ward congresses that will elect the three-man Adhoc committee for the governorship primary.” He urged the party members to keep calm and look forward to new developments that his leadership will bring out to ensure growth of the party in the state.

He insisted that the primary election will go on as planned, and will not be truncated by the change in leadership.

The development has since given the impression that the party may have returned to its old rancorous ways which has cost it elections in the past.

Political analysts say the fight, which has just started may lead to a crisis that will engulf the party, polarizing it, to the benefit of other political parties.

The recent move a source said is the handiwork of the acclaimed godfather of Anambra politics, Chief Chris Uba.

The source said: “He is working for his brother, Ugochukwu Uba. He wants to give the ticket of the party to his brother. It is his stock in trade to divide the party for his personal gain, but this time, his major aim is to use the leadership of the party to favour his brother, Ugochukwu.”

arring unforseen circumstances, on November 6, 2021, Anambra State citizens will go to the polls to elect a new governor, and this is just five months away. Despite the short time remaining for the exercise to take place, there seems to be some hitches to overcome before a smooth election can be conducted.

As at June 15, less than one month for the political parties to conduct and forward the names of their candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the various political parties in the race, especially the most notable among them do not seem to be prepared for the conduct of the primaries at all. This is as a result of political squabbles dogging its leadership, which may have emanated from action of the political parties.

Peoples Democratic Party The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is one of the prominent political parties in the state. It first clinched power in the state in 1999, and again in 2003, but was removed by the court in 2006, with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) replacing it. Several attempts by the party to return to the Anambra State Government House has been unfruitful, not because it’s popularity in the state has waned, but because there have always been infighting among its members every election year.

During the buildup to the forthcoming 2021 governorship election, there have been unbelievable synergy among the party’s bigwigs, including the aspirants, to the level that political pundits believe that if the cooperation is sustained, the party will not fail to clinch the governorship seat in the state. To make matters good for the PDP, the state leadership of the party, led by Mr Ndubuisi Nwobu has tried to remain neutral in the affairs of the party, despite the many camps created by governorship aspirants of the party and the temptation to endorse one of them.

But the same thing being feared by political watchers came calling recently with the rumoured sacking of the Nwobu-led executive committee by an Abuja High Court. This was quickly debunked by Nwobu at a press conference he addressed.

Nwobu said: “Our attention has been drawn to a court judgement delivered via zoom, which purportedly sacked this executive. We want to tell you

Despite the attacks on its facilities, the INEC has shown that it is willing to ensure smooth conduct of election in Anambra State. Though the commission recognises that attacks on its facilities have undoubtedly become a national emergency which may alter its plans for the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State, it has assured all stakeholders that the election would hold. Though the commission noted that so far, not less than 10 of the commission’s facilities in Akwa Ibom, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Anambra have been attacked by arsonists, this would not hamper the conduct of the election. The INEC had in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Festus Okoye said two stores housing electoral materials, 376 generating sets and seven utility vehicles (Toyota Hilux) were completely burnt in the coordinated attack on its state headquarters in Awka. He said: “In what is a major blow to our preparations for the governorship election scheduled for 6th November 2021, two stores housing electoral materials were burnt down

All Progressives Grand Alliance The PDP is not the only party in crisis, the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is also experiencing turbulence. In previous election, APGA is known to have benefited from the division among PDP members, so just when some of its (APGA) members were already rejoicing that their party would take advantage of the crisis in the PDP to win the election, it has now emerged that all is not well with APGA. It started weekend when a story of the disqualification of some of its top governorship aspirants filtered in. The party later confirmed the rumours, announcing the disqualification of five of its governorship aspirants. A press release signed by Barr Ifeanyi Mbaeri, the National Organizing Secretary of the party confirmed it. The aspirants disqualified are: Hon Chuma Umeoji, Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo, Cater Dike Umeh, Hon Nonso Smart and Ozoka Odera Ifeanyi. Meanwhile, those cleared are; Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Damian Okolo, ThankGod Ibe and Ezenwankwo Okwudili.

Even though the party gave reasons for its action, it was believed that the disqualification was a ploy to clear the way for Prof Soludo, while those cleared were only left to give the party’s primary election the semblance of a contest, as the aspirants cleared alongside Prof. Soludo are not known to pose any threat to him. While Uzoka was disqualified for being less than 18 months old in the party, being a registered voter in Abuja instead of Anambra and not also receiving waiver nor applying for it, Nonso Okafor was disqualified for insorbordination, and that such action casts doubt on his person and loyalty as an aspirant in the party.

Carter Dike was disqualified for the same reason as Okafor, and also for being unsuitable to be a candidate of the party, while Umeoji who is known to be Prof Soludo’s main challenger was accused of inconsistent age declaration, doubtful financial status of his nominators and being insorbordinate to the party. Another aspirant, Nwankpo

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY JUNE 21, 2021

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MONDAY DISCOURSE

Buni

Soludo

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was also disqualified for being less than 18 months in the party and also not applying for, or obtaining waiver from the party.

The party had advised that any of the aspirants who feels aggrieved can appeal their disqualification, and the supporters of the disqualified aspirants have already begun making noise about the action of the party, but no one envisaged the twist that may follow it. On Tuesday, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of APGA convened and announced the sack of the National Chairman of the party, Dr Victor Oye and another factional National Chairman, Edozie Njoku.

In their place, Chief Jude Okeke was named as a replacement. The NEC gave the reason for their sack as involving themselves in anti-party activities.

In what gave a hint to the reason for their action, the NEC also suspended a member of the House of Representatives, Hon Chinedu Obidigwe who is known to be a staunch supporter of Prof Soludo. It also annulled the disqualification of the five governorship aspirants, while calling on members of the public to discountenance their disqualification.

Reacting to the news of his removal, Chief Victor Oye has denied that he was sacked by the party, saying that those who announced his sack were not known to the party. Oye who spoke to THISDAY on phone said, “It is what we see in every primary election, so no shaking. If this were in a civilized country, they will be arrested and jailed. There is a procedure and you have to give INEC a notice to be able to convene a NEC. I don’t know them. These people do not exist and I’m surprised that people are giving it publicity. What they did is media sack.

Those people do not exist and they should be dealt with,” Oye said. Be that as it may, those who are conversant with political party administration already believe that the rancour in the party is big enough to cost it the governorship seat.

the group would not support the conduct of the governorship election in the state. Though the group did not state how it would ensure the election does not hold, but the recent attacks on police facilities and INEC offices many believe may be the handiwork of the group and one of its tactics to ensure that the election does not hold.

Recently, there was an attack on the headquarters of the commission in the state. Even though security agencies applauded themselves for successfully repealing the attackers, a warehouse which contains hundreds of power generating sets belonging to the commission was razed down, while operational vehicles and the collation centre were also completely burnt down. Some of these may form part of the challenges for the election. But a governorship aspirant of the APGA and former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo in a previous interview with THISDAY said he has no fears that despite such attacks, that the election would hold.

He said that even in far North-east where there is a situation akin to war as occasioned by banditry and insurgency, elections have severally been held without hitches. He added that the fact that Anambra governorship election is a lone election even makes it better and would give the electoral commission the opportunity to fully focus on ensuring security by demanding adequate security from the Federal Government to ensure that the election was prosecuted successfully.

the commission recognises that attacks on its facilities have undoubtedly become a national emergency which may alter its plans for the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State, it has assured all stakeholders that the election would hold.

Though the commission noted that so far, not less than 10 of the commission’s facilities in Akwa Ibom, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Anambra have been attacked by arsonists, this would not hamper the conduct of the election.

The INEC had in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Festus Okoye said two stores housing electoral materials, 376 generating sets and seven utility vehicles (Toyota Hilux) were completely burnt in the coordinated attack on its state headquarters in Awka. He said: “In what is a major blow to our preparations for the governorship election scheduled for 6th November 2021, two stores housing electoral materials were burnt down.

“New and old (but serviceable) electric generating machines numbering 376 for all the Electoral Wards and the extra numbers for backup were completely burnt. The electric generators were recently relocated from the Local Government Areas (LGAs) to the State HQ in the belief that it is more secure than the LGA offices. Similarly, as part of the Commission’s proactive measures to ensure the success of the governorship election later this year, about 50% of the non-sensitive materials required for the November 6, 2021 governorship election already delivered to the state have also been lost in the fire. In addition, seven utility vehicles (Toyota Hilux) were burnt,” Mr Okoye said.

But speaking last Wednesday, the chairman of the commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu INEC was not only

preparing strongly for the Anambra election, but also for Ekiti and Osun States, whose dates of election he has already announced. The INEC said: “Looking to the near future, the Commission is preparing to conduct the remaining off-season end of tenure elections ahead of the 2023 general election. Already, activities listed in the timetable for the Anambra State Governorship election are being implemented, as well as those of the FCT Area Council election holding on 12th February 2022.

“In the sequence of off-season elections, the Ekiti and Osun State Governorship elections are holding next year. In keeping with our policy of announcing the dates of elections in advance to enable early and effective preparations by all concerned, the Commission has approved that the Ekiti State Governorship election will hold on Saturday 18th June 2022 while the Osun State Governorship election will hold one month later on Saturday 16th July 2022. The detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the two elections have been uploaded on the Commission’s website and social media platforms. We implore political parties and aspirants to ensure rancour-free primaries and thereafter conduct peaceful electioneering campaigns.”

With such strong assurances, there is renewed hope about the success of the forthcoming polls.Speaking with THISDAY, a political analyst, Mr Benard Ndueze expressed hope that the Anambra election would be concluded without hitches if the INEC and the Federal Government have the determination to conduct it. He said: “In 2017, didn’t these separatists swear that there will not be election? Was there an election or not? The good thing is that it is an election that will be conducted in just one state,so the INEC has the power to demand for security logistics that could help them achieve the best in their job. The worst that can happen is that there will be voters’ aparthy, but if that happens, it will still not prevent a winner emerging.

The person who polls the highest vote from among the few voters will still be declared the winner, so long as the spread that fulfils the constitutional requirement is there,” Ndueze said.

As the date of the election draws close, it is expected that before July, the political parties may have been done with their primary elections, and the real candidates standing for each of the political parties would be clearer. In PDP, 16 aspirants have been cleared by the party to slug it out at the primary election which holds on June 26. The All Progressives Congress had earlier announced June 26 too as it’s date for the governorship primary. The party has about 10 notable names running to.clinch it’s ticket. In APGA, the party earlier choose June 23 for the primaries, which would happen between Soludo and four other aspirants. But owing to the squabbles, a faction of the party has fixed July, 1, and has agreed to conduct the election for all aspirants who paid for the form. Only time will tell how the election would go.

All Progressives Congress Though there are no squabbles in the party currently, the party’s members are hopeful that they may use the unity currently being experienced in the party to win the governorship contest in the state.

But a top ranking member of the party who spoke to THISDAY on condition of anonymity said the party is not also spared of squabbles. The source said, “Right now, there is also suspicion by some aspirants of the party that a a certain aspirant has been pencilled down by the powers that be, for the ticket of the party.

Senator Andy Uba’s name has come up repeatedly as being favoured for the ticket of the party by the hierarchy of the party. This has not gone down well with other aspirants, but so far, they have been able to manage it well,” the source said.

IPOB Threat The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has recently announced through its leader, Nnamdi Kanu that

INEC Meanwhile, despite the attacks on its facilities, the INEC has shown that it is willing to ensure smooth conduct of election in Anambra State. Though

The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has recently announced through its leader, Nnamdi Kanu that the group would not support the conduct of the governorship election in the state. Though the group did not state how it would ensure the election does not hold, but the recent attacks on police facilities and INEC offices many believe may be the handiwork of the group and one of its tactics to ensure that the election does not hold.

Recently, there was an attack on the headquarters of the commission in the state. Even though security agencies applauded themselves for successfully repealing the attackers, a warehouse which contains hundreds of power generating sets belonging to the commission was razed down, while operational vehicles and the collation centre were also completely burnt down. Some of these may form part of the challenges for the election

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POLITICS

Winning Seyi Makinde Over in an Argument Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State may present a friendly disposition, but behind that facade is a very active and probing mind that demands incontrovertible evidence and details, writes Nseobong Okon-Ekong

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obody has been able to win him over yet on the matter of issuing, either an outright ban on commercial motorcyclists, better known as, Okada, in Ibadan metropolis or, at least, a restriction from 8:00pm.

The argument has endured, for some time, between the Oyo State Chief Executive and members of his cabinet. Two years on, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is still being badgered, even by the eminent persons on his security committee to issue a decisive pronouncement on the operation of Okada riders in Ibadan. “Show me the data that supports your argument, “ he said to members of his team.

They are all familiar with Makinde’s assertions. He is more interested in facts and statistics that have been collated for reference.

It doesn’t matter what the subject is. It is the same when he is dealing with anything: Whether it is about increasing the yield in Cassava cultivation, justification for siting a new road project or committing funds to any venture, he will convene meeting upon meetings, to hear a more convincing position or a superior argument, even against his own stance, to which he may concede. “We don’t want to be sensational because other states are doing something. I don’t think we should just ban Okada or restrict them to certain areas, he pointed out.

Explaining further, he said, “I took people to Ojoo to see how many people were boarding Okada. From Ojoo to Iwo Road, go and check the number of people that take Okadas on that express road; the number is few and I have tried it more than three times just to convince myself. So, why are people not taking okada on that axis? It is because you have enough Micra cars out there and the road is such that people are moving at a fast pace, and the road is not that great.”

A stickler for details, Makinde takes his time to reach a decision. “We went to the Old Toll Gate and I asked them to tell me how many people they see boarding Okada from there to, say Ogunmakin, the border community between Oyo State and Ogun State. Why are they not doing that? We should create superhighways. How come when I go to my Estate at Kolapo Ishola, we don’t have Okadas in there? If you go inside the IITA, you don’t have Okadas in there, and few estates like that.”

His graphic example of the futility of trying to ban commercial motorcyclists, better known as, Okada may sound hilarious, and indeed, elicited uncontrolled gawfaw around the room, but the didactic and compassionate note was not lost. “You can see them in some general areas where people going short distances use them. I liken the ban on okada to a Police officer chasing after prostitutes. It is fine to see them stand by the roadside and you go and arrest them. But that is the supply side, what about the demand side? What have you done to the people demanding the services of those prostitutes? So, the okada is like that. If the transportation system is such that they are filling a gap, it is okay. And for many of them, that is the only legitimate thing they are doing for a living. Do you want to turn them into armed robbers? I have been to China and I don’t see those okadas on the major highways but I see them on streets all over. So, if you have demand, you would also have supply and if you try to suppress the process, they will go underground.”

It doesn’t take long to become a Makinde disciple as some of the journalists, kept nodding in agreement. The Oyo Governor is willing to go an extra mile to prove a point. “Please, take me up on this,” he challenged the media men.

“We can go to Kigali and check out what they have done. This is a place where they were at war 20-something years ago, but now the current French President bypassed Nigeria, visited them and stayed there for two days.

If we solve that problem, it is solved. When others are coming in, you don’t know them, you ask questions. We want to be able to get on the street, flag an okada down, and say, you, where is your ID card? They must carry it on them. Though here in Nigeria, we cannot

Makinde

manage an ordinary national ID card properly, that is federal. For Oyo State, we should be able to do things right and if we are successful, others can replicate. But I don’t think and mark it, in all the places okadas were banned, give them six months, they will be back there because they are filling a gap.”

The Oyo State Governor suffered heavy criticism last year when many states were on a lockdown to stave off the effects of Coronavirus.

He told a group of journalists conversing with him at Governmemt House, Ibadan, “There is no name Nigerians did not call me. They abused me thoroughly, but I was not going to shut my borders or restrict movement because other states were doing it. We were watching the statistics and analysing the data. There was nothing alarming to be worried about. At certain times of the year. It is called ‘ofiki’, the flu-it comes with all these symptoms-cough, catarrh and cold.” At the time of this report, the the Nigeria Centre for Disease Comtrol (NCDC) COVID-19 statistics for Oyo State show total cases as 6,858; number of persons recovered 6,734 and 124 deaths.

Jumping to conclusions is not the way Makinde likes to operate. He is deliberate about his moves and is not afraid to go alone on a road that is less travelled. Many of his aides told him it was a mistake to make his asset declaration public. He was convinced otherwise and went ahead, anyway. Today, he is an example of transparency and integrity among Nigerian governors, that is difficult to find; not even among the so-called progressives. He believes that the society can only get better if each person is determined to be the change he desires. He mentioned an example of personal sacrifice, he had to undertakeat the beginningof his administration. “We have bbocked a lot of loopholes and reduced the cost of running the government here. For one year, everybody in the cabinet was using their vehicles and the ones we met here. I was using my own car. We prioritized project delivery for the people as opposed to taking care of ourselves first.”

“After I was sworn in, I said I was going to declare my assets publicly. You don’t need freedom of information, I listed where my

Leading from the front and by example is important.

By staying on that commitment, Makinde has been able to change the financial narrative of Oyo State.

He told the journalists, “When we came in, it was almost like we did not meet anything in the treasury, and what was coming from the federation account could not even cover the salary bills. So, what we did basically was to try to increase the IGR, which we have been very successful in doing. We have increased our IGR from less than N2 billion to over N3 billion now, which means monthly, we have N1 billion available, which was not there before now.

The N1 billion in a year means I can do N12 billion worth of projects and the target for us is to push that IGR to about N7 billion per month, and we think Oyo State has the potential to quickly get to that

houses are, so you can go there and check.

You can get the address, the owner, and the estimated value of that property. That is how far the world has progressed. Some people said I should not do that but I insisted I was going to do it. What will be your own sacrifice to ensure that we have a decent society? We all have roles to play really.”

For him, leading from the front and by example is important. By staying on that commitment, Makinde has been able to change the financial narrative of Oyo State.

He told the journalists, “When we came in, it was almost like we did not meet anything in the treasury, and what was coming from the federation account could not even cover the salary bills. So, what we did basically was to try to increase the IGR, which we have been very successful in doing. We have increased our IGR from less than N2 billion to over N3 billion now, which means monthly, we have N1 billion available, which was not there before now. The N1 billion in a year means I can do N12 Billion worth of projects and the target for us is to push that IGR to about N7 billion per month, and we think Oyo State has the potential to quickly get to that.”

Mr. Makinde, 54, one of the new crop of Nigerian leaders who is approaching governance with refreshing pragmatism is a successful engineer and businessman who entered the contest for Oyo governorship on his own, without a political godfather and was able to emerge winner. Not too long ago, he proved that his popularity and increasing understanding of the processes in politics by taking on the enfants terrible of Nigerian politics and former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose in superiority contest over who leads the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-west. Makinde came up tops!

That night as he walked into the ante-room at Governmemt House, Ibadan, he reminded his guests that he was tired and desired a good sleep, but once he was reminded that journalists who were in town the previous night were still waiting for an audience with him, he encouraged himself to keep the appointment. Indeed, for the better part of the day he played host to Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue who accompanied him to commission various projects around the state to mark the second anniversary of the Makinde administration in Oyo State.

The interaction with journalists began as soon as formal courtesies were established. A couple of hours after, it was well past 2:00am in the early hours of the next day when his media aides Messrs Jide Ajani and Taiwo Adisa assured him that there were no more questions. He promptly got up and bumped fists with everyone, as much as COVID-19 protocols would allow.

Completely surrounded by ‘enemy’ states controlled by the opposing All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-west region of Nigeria, being the only PDP-controlled state in the region, Makinde lives under the constant threat of political ambush, therefore, putting him in a position of fighting to stay alive under a barrage of political onslaught from the opposition that wants to dislodge him.

But the Oyo Governor seems unperturbed, leaving everyone with the impression of one who has little time for profanities and is in a hurry to enact lasting legacies.

He dismissed the speculation that he wanted to defect to the APC. “Is that a party that anybody will want to cross to? He asked rhetorically. He then went on to advance reasons why that can never happen. “When we came in, they were saying the previous administration was the architect of modern Oyo State; they said they constructed roads and I asked them to tell me the roads they constructed and calculate the kilometres of the road. We listed all of them and discovered that, for eight years, they did not do up to 40 kilometres of road and you can investigate that. I can list those roads they started and completed for eight years.

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

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

Lessons as Atuche Begged for Mercy Lessons were on display last Wednesday when a former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB, Mr. Francis Atuche, begged Justice Lateefa Okunnu not to send him to prison following his conviction for defrauding the bank of N25.7 billion, Davidson Iriekpen writes

Courtroom

T

he atmosphere inside the Justice Lateefa Okunnu courtroom at the Ikeja High Court last Wednesday was tense and palpable as Francis Atuche, a former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB, literally begged the judge not to send him to prison following his conviction for defrauding the bank of the sum of N25.7 billion.

For the period he held sway in the bank, Atuche could not have envisaged his own downfall. He was like a colossus, he made news and headline, lived large and dressed immaculately. But in dock last Wednesday, he was looking pensive, humbled, sober, reflective and meditative.

The former bank chief, his wife, Elizabeth, and a former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu, were both found guilty of 22 of the 27 counts of conspiracy and stealing charge preffered against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2011.

His conviction brought to an end the first stage of his trial after 12 years of rigorous and tenacious legal battle by the EFCC. Atuche who held sway in the bank from 2004 when it as first called Platinum Bank, had quickly resigned his appointment in anticipation of his sack by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) led Sanusi Lamido Sanusi in the wake of his reforms aimed at cleaning up the banking industry in 2009.

But that still did not stop the EFCC from arresting him as it promptly alleged that between November 2007 and April 2008, the former bank boss stole about N25.7billion belonging to the bank. It claimed that of the total N25.7bn, he stole about N14.7bn by fraudulently describing it as a loan to some companies and subsequently converted the said sum to personal use.

In 2009, he was promptly arraigned at the Federal High Court in Lagos for money laundering and other offences. Not satified with the slow pace of the trial at the Federal High Court, the EFCC in 2011

Atuche and his wife, Elizabeth

arraigned Atuche, his wife, Elizabeth, and Anyanwu before Justice Lateefa Okunnu of the Ikeja High Court on a 27-count charge of conspiracy and stealing of N25.7 billion belonging to the bank via fictitious loans and shares.

After about three years into the trial, Atuche and co-defendants approached the Lagos division of the Court of Appeal to challenge their trial by the lower court on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction.

In a judgment delivered in September 2016, the Court of Appeal stopped the lower court from going ahead with the trial. Though the appellate court failed

to quash the charges against Atuche and others, it ordered Justice Okunnu to hands off the trial. It further directed the Chief Judge of Lagos State to re-assign the case to another judge.

Following the decision of the Court of Appeal, the EFCC approached the Supreme Court to set aside the decision and order trial in the matter to continue.

When the case came up at the apex court for hearing, EFCC’s lawyer Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) revealed that the matter had gone far at the lower court and that the decision of the Court of Appeal hampered the expeditious conclusion of the trial.

After listening to the EFCC's counsel, a panel of the apex court, in a unanimous decision, overturned the decision of the appellate court. The panel agreed that the lower court’s decisions on the matter was “perverse” and, therefore ought to be set aside.

Justice Ejembi Eko, who prepared and read the lead judgment of the apex court, said the order which the Court of Appeal made on September 23, 2016, for the remittance of the casefile to the Lagos State Chief Judge for the purpose of re-assigning the case to another judge, was not aimed at serving the interest of

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EFCC officials

justice.

The Supreme Court panel noted that the appellate court did not adduce any reason for disqualifing the trial judge that took the plea of the defendants in the first instance. Justice Eko also stressed that such order, being “a contentious one”, required the lower court to give reasons why Justice Okunnu should not be allowed to continue with the trial.

The apex court panel equally noted that neither Justice Okunnu nor Justice LawalAkapo were accused of any wrongdoing by any of the parties to the case to warrant the transfer of the matter to a new judge.

It consequently directed that the case be returned to Justice Okunnu for continuation of trial of the defendants.

Other Justices of the apex court that concurred with the lead verdict were Justices Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Paul Galinje and Iyang Okoro.

When the case returned to Justice Lateefa Okunnu of Ikeja High Court, Atuche and his spouse were accused of fraudulent conversion of money described as bank loans. The EFCC said the couple diverted funds belonging to the bank by buying shares for fictitious companies linked to them. Anyanwu, on his part, was accused of using his position as the bank’s CFO to aid Atuche in committing the crimes.

EFCC team led by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), accused the defendants of fraudulently purchasing the bank’s shares for 18 of his companies. A field investigator with the EFCC, David Nkpe, while testifying in the case, claimed that the shares, worth billions of naira, were purchased using funds belonging to Bank PHB. Nkpe, who was being led-in-evidence by EFCC prosecutor, Kemi Pinheiro, claimed that Anyanwu had admitted in a statement to the EFCC that Atuche instructed him to purchase the shares on behalf of the companies.

The companies included Claremount Investment Ltd., Montrax Investico, Stanford Global Ltd., Arabian Probity, Consolidated Business Support Ltd., Commercial Trading Ltd Filemon Enterprise, Oakwood Asset Ltd., Ventures Resources, Caledonia Enterprise, Financial Company Ltd., Claremount Asset Management Ltd, Clairville Business Support, Gazali Yakubu Ltd., Afco Associate Ltd., Septron Trading Ltd., Guess-Trade Services Ltd and Nolly Investment Ltd. He said a thorough investigation and confirmation from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) revealed that these companies were mainly owned by the Atuches.

“During our investigation, we discovered that the shares certificates were collected

by Bank PHB company secretary, who during interrogation, admitted to us that he collected and transferred them to the owner (Atuche). The funds transferred

by Bank PHB were then used to pay for the shares which were taken by these companies owned by Atuche and his wife,” Nkpe said.

According to him, these companies never repaid the money to Bank PHB, despite the fact that the transactions placed them on the top 1,000 list of the bank’s shareholders.

After listening to the submissions, in a judgment that lasted over 10 hours last Wednesday, Justice Okunnu convicted Atuche alongside Anyanwu on 21 of the 27-count. She held that the EFCC successfully proved its case against the convicts beyond a reasonable doubt.

The judge rejected the claims of the defendants that they were merely professionally negligent. She specifically held that Atuche and Anyanwu abused their powers, ignored established rules and regulations thereby putting the bank and depositors’ funds in danger.

Justice Okunnu also came to the conclusion that the convicts corruptly took advantage of their positions to confer on themselves undue financial benefits without regard to the health of the bank.

She said Atuche abused his position of trust by stealing from the bank.

“By stealing from the bank, they stole from innocent customers of the bank.

I hereby make an order of restitution against the first and third defendants to refund the sums stated in counts one to 11, 14 and 24. The sums are to paid to the relevant agencies that recovered the funds on behalf of the bank,” she ordered.

“It was a well-planned, well-executed scheme but the bubble burst when the Central Bank of Nigeria intervened. The first defendant (Atuche) was diversionary and evasive on the witness stand; sometimes confrontational and rude. The third defendant (Anyanwu) was also combative and rude under cross-examination,” she said.

After convicting the two bankers at 8:18 p.m., the judge asked if they had any plea to make. They answered in the affirmative.

Addressing the court, Atuche begged not to be sent to jail. He said: “All the time I was the MD of Bank PHB, I gave

my all to the bank. Never at any material time did it occur to me that I would set up a scheme to defraud the bank. I plead for mercy, leniency, your kindness, and I plead that out of your kindness and generosity, you will not allow me to go to jail.

The convict told the court that as a professional banker and chartered accountant, he certainly did not want to become a convict.

“I am sorry and remorseful. I pray that God will place in your heart to be kind.

I plead from the bottom of my heart. I’m extremely sorry; today will be a turning point in my life, I’m very sorry,” he said.

His counsel, Paul Nneoma, also put in some words for him, describing him as a responsible family man who had never been convicted of any crime. He appealed to the court to give him a fine instead of incarceration, in order to preserve his professional career.

On his part, Anyanwu told the court that he was the only son of a police officer who died when he was barely a year old.

He said that he grew up on the premise of hardwork.

“What I achieved in the banking industry is by stint of hard work. I have suffered in the last 10 years of this trial. I am sorry if I was appearing cocky in the witness box during my examination-in-chief. I have two kids who are barely teenagers.

They look up to their father, and I wonder what kind of impact this will have on them. Please temper justice with mercy,” Anyanwu said.

Anyanwu’s counsel, Silva Ogwemoh (SAN), also begged for mercy on his client. He said that one of Anyanwu’s children had a medical condition requiring special attention. He added that Anyanwu was hypertensive, urging that the court should take judicial notice of the COVID-19 pandemic and impose a fine on him instead of custodial sentence.

The pleas did not stop Justice Okunnu from slamming a 12-year jail term on Atuche, while Anyanwu was given 10 years imprisonment. She held that neither Atuche nor Anyanwu was convincing as ‘witnesses of truth’.

Dismissing the charge of stealing against

I plead for mercy, leniency, your kindness, and I plead that out of your kindness and generosity, you will not allow me to go to jail…I am sorry and remorseful. I pray that God will place in your heart to be kind. I plead from the bottom of my heart. I’m extremely sorry; today will be a turning point in my life, I’m very sorry

Mrs Atuche’s wife, Elizabeth, regarding two companies affiliated to her which were said to have fraudulently received N2 billion worth of Bank PHB shares, Justice Okunnu held that there was no act of fraud or dishonesty overt or covert that had been linked to her.

“Nothing was proved beyond reasonable doubt that she silently or knowingly endorsed the perpetuation of fraud; rather, it was the first defendant (Atuche). On account of this, the prosecution failed to prove its case of stealing against the second defendant (Elizabeth),” she said.

On the charge of conspiracy against Mrs Atuche, the judge held that there was no evidence that linked her to the shares bought for the two companies affiliated with her.

“I find that the case of conspiracy does not hold,” the judge held.

Mrs. Atuche, who was reciting prayers with a rosary during proceedings, heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing the verdict.

The judge equally made an order for restitution.

The conviction of the Atuche brings to three the number of former chief executive officers of banks convicted as a result of the fianacial crises that rocked the banking industry between 2007 and 2009. While the former Chief Executive Officer of the defunct Oceanic Bank, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru bagged six months imprisonment after a plea bargain deal with the federal government, Okey Nwosu of the defunct Finbank Plc was convicted and sentenced alongside three directors of the bank.

A lawyer, Abiodun Mogaji, advised bank executives to learn from Atuche’s fall and not abuse their positions. He also cautioned them to ensure that depositors’ funds kept in their trust are not abused and recklessly stolen.

Mogaji hoped that the appellate courts uphold what he described as “the sound judgment of Justice Okunnu” to serve as a deterrence to other banks’ chief executive officers.

“This is why if you attain a position of trust, you conduct and behave well. From Atuche’s plea, you can see that is actually guilty and that justice was well served.

This is definitely not a case of miscarriage of justice. This should clearly serve as a lesson to other banks’ chief executive, that they should not be careless and reckless.

They should use their positions well and for the betterment of all.

“Imagine the lives Atuche ruined with his recklessness. People put their life-savings in the bank and the bank went under due to recklessness. Let’s hope that the appellate courts do not upturn the sound judgment of Justice Okunnu to serve as a deterrence to other banks’ chief executive officers,” he said.

For now, Atuche and Anyanwu’s fate is in the hands of the appellate courts.

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Group Business Editor Obinna Chima

Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

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REPO 19.25 18.75

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1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

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Quick Takes AfDB Approves €83m Loan for Egypt

WELCOMINGNEWAIRCRAFT

Managing Director/CEO Fidelity Bank Plc, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe (left) and Chairman, Air Peace Airlines, Mr. Allen Onyeama, at the welcome ceremony and water salute for the new EmbraeraircraftofAirPeaceattheNnamdiAzikiweAirport,Abuja...recently

Expert Seeks End to Petrol, Electricity Subsidies Peter Uzoho An economic expert and the Chief Executive Officer of CFG Advisory, Mr. Tilewa Adebajo, has called on the federal government to put an end to the wasteful spending on petrol and electricity subsidies.

According to him, subsidy payments are detrimental to the nation’s economy and no longer sustainable.

Adebajo also called for the privatisation of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to make the agency more efficient in its mandate in the Nigerian power sector.

Fielding questions on, ‘The Morning Show,’ a flagship programme of Arise News Channel, THISDAY’s sister broadcast station, recently, Adebajo described subsidy payment as one of the biggest political problems facing Nigeria.

He argued that even those in the current federal government were the ones that protested against the removal of petrol subsidy by the past administration.

ECONOMY He also made reference to the recent declaration by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, that the corporation would no longer sustain its remittances into the Federation’s Account due to subsidy payments, noting that one of the key structural reforms needed to be made by the government was the removal of subsidy.

Adebajo said: “The subsidy issue in Nigeria is one of the biggest political problems we have had.

Unfortunately, the problem has been politicised, because if you remember clearly, the same set of people who are in government today were the one who were protesting against subsidy removal by the last government.

“But obviously, we can see that the subsidy is not sustainable. You saw the NNPC GMD complaining about the rising prices of fuel and how that is going to impact subsidies.

“The NNPC itself has said it can no longer sustain its remittances into the Federation Account because it has to pay for these subsidies, and the higher the petroleum prices go up, the more the NNPC would have to put aside for subsidies and the less that is going to not only the federal government but the state governments.

“So, we are getting ourselves into this vicious cycle and it’s clear that one of the reforms, one of the key structural reforms we need to make is removal of the subsidy.

“And to re-enforce this, I think the President’s economic management team has also made that recommendation for subsidy because it’s clearly, it’s no longer sustainable.”

He said similar reform where the subsidy regime would no longer be in place should apply in the nation’s power sector, to enable the distribution companies make the necessary investments for efficient service delivery.

He pointed out that the country spends about $2 billion annually

to subside electricity, adding that most of the subsidy does not benefit the poor, maintaining that eighty per cent of that subsidy went to rich people that can afford to pay electricity tariffs.

Adebajo further said: “So, that needs to be scrapped and the power sector reforms need to be put in place so that the distribution companies can make the necessary investment to make the grid more efficient.

“Subsidies are detrimental to the economy and we have a situation whereby government is spending 90 per cent of its revenues to service debts. Clearly, we are into a debt trap and a vicious cycle that is no longer sustainable.

“So, it’s important that the government drops this subsidy so that it can have significant revenue to be able to fund its operations on a day-to-day basis. Because it is clear that the government is finding it difficult to right-size.

“So, that for me, is a no-brainer, it’s not something that we should Continued on page 26

‘64% of MSMEs Affected in #EndSARs Protest Owned by Women’ Ugo Aliogo The Lagos MSMEs Recovery Fund report has revealed that 64 per cent of the micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the destruction of properties by hoodlums during the #EndSARs protests were women-led businesses.

According to the report, there was need for improved awareness for business interruption insurance for MSMEs in the state, adding that insurance companies should create affordable products for MSMEs.

ECONOMY It noted that a significant number of businesses did not have business bank accounts and the grants from the LSETF were paid into the personal accounts of the business owners.

The report revealed that business registration, formalisation of operations and adequate record keeping improves the chances of small businesses to access business support programs and credit from financial institutions. It

therefore recommended increased training for MSMEs on business formalisation.

According to the report, “There is need for policies targeted at MSMEs to be custom made, in order to accommodate the different business categories and growth stages of these businesses.

“Government and nongovernmental agencies should periodically undergo a SWOT (strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threat) analysis before seeking partnerships for projects.

“This ensures that proposals take into cognisance the peculiarity

of the requesting agency and adaptation of the needs and demands of the donor organisation.

“There is need to create awareness on the need for insurance, partner with brokers and insurance companies that can create affordable structures to pay premium.”

Speaking on the report, the Lagos State Government, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, called for the deepening of the recommendations of the Lagos MSME Recovery Fund report by developing a second phase of the report in order

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved an €83 million loan to finance the second phase of Egypt’s Electricity and Green Growth Support Program.

Thefundingispartofthebank’sbudgetsupporttotheEgyptiangovernment to strengthen its electricity infrastructure, which is expected to bolster the private sector and accelerate recovery from the Covid-19 crisis. The program seeks to enhance the power sector’s financial sustainability, governance and operations.

Accordingtoastatement,itwillalsoadvancetheprovisionofclean,reliable energy to drive green growth.

Egypt’s successful reforms in the sector have led to greater private investment in utility-scale renewable energy projects.

“Egypt’s Vision 2030 instills the sustainability ethos across all sectors.

Energy and electricity are amongst the top sectors in Egypt’s International Development Cooperation’s portfolio, pushing towards a green reform,” said Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation, Rania Al Mashat.

“With 2021 being the year of private sector engagement, the Electricity and Green Growth Support Program will contribute towards sustainable growth and job creation and catalyse the development of Egyptian private entities,” she added.

PwC Announces New Strategy

PwC has unveiled ‘The New Equation,’its landmark global strategy which responds to fundamental changes in the world, including technological disruption,climatechange,fracturedgeopolitics,andthecontinuingeffects of the COVID-19 pandemic.The new strategy is based on analysis of global trends and thousands of conversations with clients and stakeholders. It builds on more than a decade of sustained revenue growth and continued investment.

It focuses on two interconnected needs that clients face in the coming years.

“The first is to build trust, which has never been more important, nor more difficult. Organisations increasingly need to earn trust across a wide range of topics that are important to their stakeholders. Success depends onfundamental shiftsinthewayexecutivesthink,organisational culture, systems and ambition.

“The second is to deliver sustained outcomes in an environment where competition and the risk of disruption are more intense than ever and societal expectations have never been greater.

“Businesses need to change faster and more thoroughly to attract capital, talent and customers. Too often, however, narrowly conceived transformation initiatives do not deliver the outcomes they promise.

A new approach is needed,” the statement added.

Commenting on the new strategy, Global Chairman of PwC, Bob Moritz, said: “The profound changes in the world mean that to succeed, organisations need to create a virtuous circle between earning trust and delivering sustained outcomes.”

ItnotedthatPwC’smultidisciplinarymodelisthefoundationforthestrategy, bringing together a passionate, diverse community to help organisations build trust and deliver sustained outcomes.

Ogilvy Strengthens Senior Leadership Team

The First Primus Group (consisting of Nigeria operations of Ogilvy Africa, amongst other subsidiaries) has announced senior level appointments to bolster its country’s leadership team and the business.

The three new appointees, announced by the Group CEO of First Primus Nigeria, Seni Adetu include Henry Akpede, who will be the new Country ManagerandChiefCreativeOfficer;SandeepRInamke,DirectorBusiness Development & Strategy and Jolomi Awala as the Creative Director.

They will work closely with the regional leadership team at Ogilvy Africa, led by CEO, Vikas Mehta.

Akpede is a creative professional with over 15 years’ experience working in some of the top advertising agencies and is expected to bring in strong insight-driven creative skills and hands on experience in creative project management, connected consumer journeys and creative innovation.

Hewillbechargedwiththeresponsibilityofleadingtheday-to-daybusiness operations while doubling as the backbone of quality assurance of the creative service delivery.

“In a resource-dependent nation like Nigeria when crude oil price gets too high, it creates a big problem because your consumers shut down their demand. Demand will go down and obviously even as the prices go up, you will have less volume to sell”

GMD, NNPC, Continued on page 26

Mallam Mele Kyari

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EXPERT SEEKS END TO PETROL, ELECTRICITY SUBSIDIES talk about and it’s important that we ginger up the political will to get that done.”

He, however, called for the federal government to privatise the TCN to make it more efficient and capable of transmitting electricity generated to the distribution companies.

He blamed the TCN, not the generation companies, as the main cause of the problem in the country’s power sector, explaining that, “the fact is that we cannot distribute the power we are generating into the grid because the grid will collapse.

So, it’s important that that aspect of the power sector is actually privatised for efficiencies and opportunities.”

The CFG boss equally urged the Presidential Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government to use the remaining two years of its administration to complete the key infrastructure projects under construction such as rail, roads and bridges.

‘64% OF MSMES AFFECTED IN #ENDSARS PROTEST OWNED BY WOMEN’

to lift millions of Lagosians out of poverty and support small businesses in the state.

Sanwo-Olu, who disclosed this during a virtual launch the report recently, noted that the study which was carried out to identify SMEs affected during the #EndSARs protest brought to the fore some of the things the state government needed to take into consideration in its policy implementation.

“From this report, it is evident that there is need for small businesses to enter into partnerships and affiliations, and organise their businesses into one form or other, so that they can formalise themselves around associations, and sectors, to ensure that they have people that can speak on their behalf and make them become a strong voice in the industry,” he said.

The governor also disclosed that the report revealed how undocumented many small businesses were, stating that it was a challenge and opportunity for the state government to take forward, therefore they are asking for registration around the Lagos State Residency Card.

Expert Advocates Use of Green Technology to End Gas Flare Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

in Houston, is presently partnering with a green technology company to develop the technology which has been successfully applied at the Appalachian Basin in the US. Explaining how the technology works, she stated that it remains one of the most reliable ways to ensure clean energy for the Nigerian people and avoid the hazards associated with carbon emissions.

She added: “It takes the gas, once the well has been completed,

and streams it together with the water in the well to a pipeline. But before this, it has a whole lot of separators right at the well site, the separators will separate the constituents.

“The oil which you can sell and then the gas which you can compress and re-inject if you want to manage your reservoir to maintain pressure in your reservoir. You can compress the gas and sell them or re-inject them for

enhanced oil recovery.

“Then, because a lot of companies spend so much money on water disposal; they drill water disposal wells, they are looking for ways to manage the produced water.

“This case, it is a closed loop and so you don’t need to spend money on disposal. All you need to do is recycle the water and re-inject it into the well for pressure maintenance as well.”

She added: “It is a closed loop

where nothing is wasted. The oil is separated right at your well and then sold, the gas is compressed re-injected or sold and the water is recycled.”

She said the company, which currently consults for Saudi Aramco in Texas is seeking to go into discussion with people in charge of gas-to-power programme as well as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on the benefits of deploying the technology in Nigeria.

Managing Director, Clenik Petrotech Solutions, Clara Ikuku has advocated the use of green technology in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry to end gas flaring and half incessant loss of the molecules.

Speaking on the sidelines of the recently concluded Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS) in Abuja, the geologist and reservoir engineer, who noted that green technology has been successfully applied in basins in Texas where there is zero gas flare.

Ikuku said Nigeria has a lot to benefit from utilising its gas resources from generating more revenue to protecting the environment around the industry.

She said: “My green technology will be a game changer for the gas to power programme. It is time now to end gas flaring because we need the gas to develop our economy and for future generation. We need it for sustainable development.

“We cannot continue to do business as usual. A lot of big banks and financial institutions are taking out their money from the oil sector because they think that we are polluting the environment because of global warming.

“If we show to these stakeholders and these big banks that we can still produce the oil safely with zero gas flares, then we can get the investment we need.”

She said the Canadian-based L-R: Vice President, Sales, TeamApt, Ifeanyi Duru; Chief Growth Officer, Bili Sule; Vice President, Moniepoint, Solomon Amadi, and Chief company which also has an office Operating Officer, TeamApt, Tobi Amira, at a press conference on the company’s expansion plan, held in Lagos... recently ETOP UKUTT

UNVEILING EXPANSION PLAN

Lawmakers Pledge Speedy Passage of NDIC Amendment Bill Dike Onwuamaeze The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Insurance and Actuarial Matters, Hon. Darlington Nwokocha, has pledged that the committee’s would facilitate a speedy amendment of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) Bill in order to boost confidence in the Nigerian banking industry and facilitate a robust deposit insurance system in the country.

Nwokocha, made the pledge during the 2021 NDIC retreat for the House committee with the theme, “Fast Tracking Nigeria’s Economic Recovery Agenda During and Post COVID-19: The Role of the Regulatory/Supervisory

Authorities and the Banks,” which held in Lagos at the weekend.

He said the proposed legislation would enable the corporation to keep abreast with the dynamic changes in the financial sector and provide Nigeria with a deposit insurance system that meet global best practices.

“We want to go through the NDIC Act to know those changes that will be good for our country to meet international best practices standard.

“We will amend any aspect that is no longer useful and have become obsolete in order to give the corporation the strength it needs to work.

“Therefore, we are introducing legislation, via the amendment, that would ensure that Nigerian

insurance would be driven on a robust platform that will be able to cushion our economy and make us to stand better on the international plank.

“I want to assure you that this committee, with the support of the entire House, will use all the legislative fireworks and instruments to give you the legal framework that will ensure that the insurance, as far as the banking sector is concerned, will be one of the best in the whole world,” Nwokocha said.

Speaking during the retreat, the Chairman of the NDIC Board of Directors, Mrs. Ronke Shokefun, told the House Committee that banks were rapidly employing fintech to innovatively deliver financial products and services.

Sokefun, who was represented

by Mr. Adewale Adeleke, observed that the nature and scope of banking risks have changed significantly with the growing adoption of fintechs that have opened up new opportunities for the banking system and equally gave rise to additional risks for the banks and regulatory/supervisory authorities.

“These risks have even assumed a larger dimension as the speed of fintech growth accelerated during the COVID-19 due to the need to deliver financial services through technology platforms to minimise human contact.

“The NDIC is effectively collaborating with relevant stakeholders to effectively manage the risks and ensure that the nation’s banking

industry continues to be safe, sound and stable,” Shokefun said.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NDIC, Mr. Bello Hassan, in his welcome address said the corporation would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to strengthen the NDIC in a bid to achieve the set public policy objectives and effectively deliver on its core mandate.

Hassan said: “We are committed to strengthening the deposit insurance framework; providing timely support to insured institutions as and when required; implementing faster and orderly resolutions of problem of insured institutions and assisting the monetary authority in its efforts at promoting stability in the nation’s banking industry.”

‘Digital Transformation Will Enhance Business Growth, Expansion’ Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) Eromosele Abiodun (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafor (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters

Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy)

Emma Okonji Tech experts have stressed the need for business owners and employees to embrace digital transformation in order to sustain business growth and expansion.

According to them, organisations need to take full advantage of the evolving Information and Communications Technology (ICT) landscape and embrace digital technology capable of positively disrupting their business model in order to survive business challenges, especially the challenge posed by COVID-19.

They spoke at this year’s NerdsUnite hybrid forum

organised by MainOne, held in Lagos recently.

Managing Director of MainOne, Ms. Funke Opeke, was of the view that digital disruption is the change that would occur when digital technologies and business models affect the value proposition of existing goods and services and the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic sparked a new era in the application of ICT to business.

According to her, “The major cause of digital disruption is the rapid advancement of technology and globalsation, which allows new business models to be introduced at an ever increasing rate and with rapidly declining

costs of adopting technology.

“The COVID-19 pandemic, improved technology innovation, growth in broadband penetration, millennials ease with digital platforms, growth in social media, growth in mobile penetration and the shift to work from home.”

Also, Chief Digital Transformation Officer at MTN Nigeria, Dr. Olubayo Adekanmbi, advised organisations during one of the panel sessions to master and own their digital transformation in order to survive, adding that these days, most businesses are going digital and the COVID-19 has made it inevitable.

He, however, said not every organisation’s journey would be the same.

Founder and Group Managing Director, Interswitch Limited, Mr. Mitchell Elegbe, noted that organisations must think of the traps and triggers on their digital transformation journey.

According to Elegbe, “Digital is about solutions that work for everyone. Regulation is very important, as digital has implications for national sovereignty and security.”

On his part, the Chief Investment Officer, GreenTec Capital Partners, Mr. Tomi Davies, stressed the need for the training of competent personnel to drive

digital transformation.

The Co-Founder of CC-Hub, Mr. Bosun Tijani, said both the employer and the employee have great roles to play in achieving digital transformation.

The Chief Digital Officer at Sterling Bank, Mr. Yinka Oni, said more digital solutions should be made available for financial transactions, in order to enhance customers’ experience.

The 2021 edition of the event was collaboratively put together

by Deloitte, which addressed two audiences, the online, which composed of participants from around the world and the offline which accommodated other participants physically.

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Sealink Eyes Stock Exchange Listing James Emejo in Abuja The much anticipated multimillion dollar Sealink project, which is expected to boost intra-African trade, will eventually list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to provide Nigerians opportunity to invest in the company.

Also, barring further delays, the shipping company is expected

to launch out before the end of the year.

Sealink seeks to integrate the West and Central African sub region as well as the continent by trade thereby ensuring improvement in trade statistics.

Chairperson of the Sealink Implementation Committee, Mrs. Dabney Shall-Holma, who disclosed this, also told THISDAY, in an exclusive chat

that the Ajaokuta second jetty had been ceded to the company as the base of the sealink operations.

She said: “Sealink will take off and the consortium partners will continue to manage it for a while, may be six months and then it will hit the capital market.

“I envisage that in the next three to five years, sealink will be a transcontinental project and every African will want to belong

to sealink.”

She said the initiative was conceived, promoted as well as funded by the Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM) to respond to complaints and worries of shipping companies, exporters and importers whose trade was suffering on account of trans-shipment to Europe.

She added:” A cargo will leave Nigeria and is going to Liberia

or Sierra Leone or Côte d’Ivoire or Senegal - and it would go all the way to Europe and be transshipped for weeks and sometimes months before the same cargo is brought back to Africa.”

Shall-Holma said the project was also conceived to reduce cost of shipment among African countries adding that the expenses were often three times more when allowing goods meant for

destinations within the continent to be shipped to Europe and bring back again home. She stressed the need for Africans to trade more with one another, lamenting that while others were trading between 40 to 50 per cent with one another, “Our trade is dismal.

It’s still below 11 per cent.”

“We need to do something about changing the dynamics of our trade as Africans,” she stated.

PMI Offers Nigerian Professionals Discount on Certification Dike Onwuamaeze The Project Management Institute (PMI), an association for project professionals and change makers, has granted 26 per cent discount to assist Nigerian professionals desirous of taking the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exams as well as to ensure the global supply of an estimated 25 million project professionals by 2027.

The PMP is a globally recognised professional certification that is offered by the PMI, a US-nonprofit professional organisation, which is considered essential for project managers.

The discount of 26 per cent would be valid during the second quarter of 2021, but would be reduced to 15 per cent by the third quarter and to 10 per cent by the fourth quarter.

The Business Development Leader for Africa at the PMI, Mr. George Asamani, said, “findings from PMI’s Talent Gap Report,

showed that by 2027, there will be a need for 25 million project professionals working in enterprises around the world.

“With the accelerating and pervasive nature of technological change across industries, newer competitors are now able to threaten incumbents with new ways of working at a pace not before seen.

“This is why at the PMI we encourage and empower organisations to ensure their talents are skilled in order to be at a competitive advantage.

“The PMP initiative was created to encourage individuals and organisations to take the PMP certification, which is the world’s leading project management certification. “The PMP provides project leadership experience and expertise in any way of working.

It supercharges careers for project leaders across industries as well as helps organisations to empower candidates to work smarter and perform better.”

Green Africa Suspends Ticket Bookings, Delays Operation to July Chinedu Eze Upcoming Nigerian airline, Green Africa has announced the suspension of the sale of its tickets because the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has given notice that the award of its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) would be delayed till July, 2021.

The airline said this was reached at a joint meeting between top officials of the regulatory body and senior executives of the airline, saying it was concluded that AOC would not be available till July 2021 due to unforeseen circumstances.

Speaking on the development, Founder and CEO of Green Africa, Babawande Afolabi said, “This

is certainly a bump in the road, and we are mindful of the impact especially on our customers and other stakeholders.

“However, we are confident of the NCAA’s support and commitment to get Green Africa into service, and we have also put plans in place to compensate our affected customers.”

To mitigate against any further occurrence, the airline said new bookings on greenafrica. com have been temporarily suspended and customers who had booked previously would be contacted.

“All customers who have booked flights with Green Africa will be able to move their flights to future dates starting August 2021 at no extra charge.

VersionFlex to Redefine e-Hailing Services Oluchi Chibuzor VersionFlex, an indigenous company, has announced that it is set to redefine online transportation and logistics service delivery, especially e-hailing in Nigeria and West Africa.

The company in a statement said it would consider the prevailing economic situations of Nigerians in both the availability and affordability of its products and services. According to the spokesperson of the company, Mr. Olusola Amosu, “The main drive and priority of the startup is geared towards mass employment and citizens empowerment.

“We are redefining and repositioning the concept and usage of e-hailing to suit the unique Nigerian business environments.

“For too long, Nigerians, who are very mobile, have been taken for granted and have lost so much ‘resources and manpower/ labour hours’ to inadequacies of transportation services.

“We will strive to provide good rides, attractive incentives and quality services.

“Our niche is to make it affordable. It is going to be affordable, dependable and available. Our company with headquarters in Lagos has presence in Ogun State to start with,” he said.

PARTNERSHIP FOR AGRICULTURE

L-R: Managing Partner, ALTS, Akintunde Sawyerr; Co-Chief Executive Officer, Farmforte Limited, Osazuwa Osayi, and CEO, HYBR, Charles Ojei, during the recent signing of a strategic partnership between Farmforte, Agricultural Fresh Produce Growers and Exporters Association of Nigeria , HYBR, and ALTS consulting firm in Lagos…recently

Air Peace Begins Lagos-Ilorin, Ilorin-Abuja Flights Chinedu Eze Air Peace has commenced daily flight to Ilorin from Lagos and Ilorin to Abuja as part of its expansion drive.

The move is also part of the airline’s no-city-left-behind policy to connect major cities in Nigeria.

The inaugural flight, P47110, from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos landed at the Ilorin International Airport by 11:00 am on Thursday, and was received by the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who was represented by the Deputy Governor of the state, Kayode Alabi.

Other dignitaries that welcomed the flight included the National President of the Ilorin Emirates Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), representing Ilorin indigenes at home and in the Diaspora, Alhaji Ota Aliyu Uthman and other excited indigenes of the state who were on ground to welcome the flight.

Safety Manager of the Airline, Capt. Godfrey Ogbogu who represented the Chairman/CEO of the Airline, Mr. Allen Onyema said the commencement of the Ilorin flights, “signifies the provision of more network options and

connectivity for the people in the Middle Belt region.”

Ogbogu described the daily flights into Ilorin from Lagos and Abuja as, “a momentous feat”, saying it would boost the economy of the state and generate employment for the unemployed people in the state.

“If you have been keeping tabs on the trajectory of Air Peace, you will have noticed our strategic and consistent route network expansion. This is driven by our unwavering resolve to plug the gaps in Nigeria’s air travel and more importantly, give the Nigerian flying public multiple network options.

“We are famed for our ‘no-city-level-behind’ initiative. The goal, really, is to interconnect various cities in Nigeria and beyond to tremendously impact the country’s economic indices.

“This explains why we have also extended our wings to Ilorin. With the support of the state government, under the visionary leadership of Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, whom we are profusely grateful to, Air Peace is promising the people of Ilorin and its environs seamless and affordable air travel,” Ogbogu said.

RydalMewsAnnouncesOffer for YoungRealEstateEnthusiasts As part of Rydal Mews’ 10th-anniversary celebrations, the real estate management firm has announced an intern search for young real estate enthusiasts.

A statement explained that the programme aims to help young Nigerians with a passion for real estate management convert their academic knowledge into industry skills.

It is open to young graduates with a maximum of two years of experience in any industry.

The programme will provide an opportunity for successful candidates to gain first-hand real estate management experience through a six-month internship programme with an emerging market leader, it added.

Announcing the initiative, Chief Executive Officer, Rydal Mews, Modupe Anjous, said, “We are excited to give back to the real estate management industry on the occasion of our 10th anniversary by nurturing young professionals and equipping them to start off in the real estate industry the right way.”

She added that Rydal Mews was searching for young real estate enthusiasts willing to be trained for six months.

“The successful candidates would be exposed to the intricacies of negotiation, property management, facility management, and identifying genuine title documentation. They would also be taken through the rudiments of effective business communication.

“We believe the programme would instil professionalism in successful participants, build their work ethic, grow their real estate management knowledge and skills. It would differentiate them from quack realtors that outnumbers the experienced ones, ensuring that they climb the career ladder steadily and surely,” Modupe added.

Application is open to all qualified candidates and can be accessed through the company’s social media pages.

After the first selection, a youth empowerment coach will train the selected applicants among whom the finalists would emerge, it explained.

Founded in 2011 to provide customer-centric services and value addition to the real estate management sector, Rydal Mews has created a niche for itself in the ecosystem.

Firm,IHSNigeriaPartnertoTackle EndemicDiseasesin Ekiti Oluchi Chibuzor The END Fund, a private philanthropic initiative solely dedicated to ending the five most common neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), has announced its partnership with IHS Nigeria, a telecom infrastructure service provider company, to tackle NTDs in

Ekiti State.

It said the planned donation from IHS Nigeria would enable it deliver thousands of treatments to those most affected

by Onchocerciasis, Lymphatic Filariasis, Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis; reducing the suffering, disability and poor health caused by these diseases, and significantly

improving the quality of life of the recipients.

The END Fund announced its partnership with IHS Nigeria on the occasion of its multistakeholder webinar being hosted under the aegis of its African NTD Leadership Initiative on June 01, 2021.

Critical stakeholders who are committed to building and

expanding a sustainable and locally driven movement to end NTDs in Africa supported the event.

“The END Fund is delighted to collaborate with IHS Nigeria, in tackling these diseases that cause cognitive impairment, physical ailments, social isolation, and economic regression.

28

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FG to Expand Farmers’ Biometric Data James Emejo and Folalumi Alaran in Abuja The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono said the federal government has decided to expand the biometric data capture of smallholder farmers from 2.4 million to 10 million farmers.

He said going forward, the database would be the platform which would be utilised by the government for intervention support in the agricultural sector.

The minister said this would effectively put an end to ghost schemes and other unscrupulous practices in the industry.

Nanono, at the opening of the council meeting of the 44th regular meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development (NCARD), themed: “Nigeria’s Agriculture and Food Security in the Face of COVID – 19, Floods and Insecurity,” also said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari remains committed to seeking permanent solution to the recurring clashes between farmers and herders in the country, noting that the clashes had often produced violent and expensive consequences for the country.

He said the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) currently being implemented by the federal government, remained a well-conceived project which will transform the livestock sector from nomadic-dependent sector into an organised ranching.

He also disclosed that going by the aggressive investments in the sugar sector, the federal government planned to stop the importation of the commodity within the next three to four years.

However, he said when fully implemented, the livestock plan would bring an end to the

incessant clashes between the farmers and herdsmen as well as introduce the herders to the modern way of raising cattle among other benefits.

To this end, he pointed out that already 22 states including the Federal Capital Territory had registered with the NLTP Office, out of which 10 states have created their own teams which had been trained by the federal office.

He added that seven of out of the 10 states had also earmarked about 19 grazing reserves for the implementation of the NLTP, with a total land size of about 400,00 hectares.

The NCARD is a platform for appraising existing policies, programmes and projects at the national and sub-national levels for the purpose of entrenching synergy, best practices, entrepreneurship, livelihood and growth in the sector.

The minister said the challenges brought by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, floods and insecurity had galvanised the government into setting up necessary structures and upgrade existing ones to address infrastructural deficiency, technology gaps, security challenges and extension inadequacy.

He said there has also been an influx of new rice farmers as the profitability of rice farming had significantly improved, thereby providing opportunities for young people to engage in farming.

He added that agricultural productivity can only improve through mechanisation of production activities, stressing that the federal government had entered into a partnership with the government of Brazil through one of their foremost technology transfer institution, the Fundacao Getulio Vargas (FGV).

Adi Appointed Newstide Publications Board Chairman Development economist, data scientist, and project finance expert, Dr. Bongo Adi has been appointed Board Chairman of Newstide Publications Limited.

Adi joins a rich list of other renowned experts appointed by the multimedia company.

He brings with him vast experience covering over two decades in the fields of research, consulting, policy design, capital raising, business development, and data analytics.

Also, he has well over 15 years of experience in teaching, policy research, and consulting.

Newstide offers reliable sources of news and analyses on Africa’s social, economic, business, and political trends and developments.

Its publication, Prime Business, is an independent online business newspaper that serves the first and future words of the boardroom and public sector governance.

Adi who was also appointed Editorial Board member of Prime Business, is an assistant professor and has lectured at the University of Tsukuba, Japan, where he was a JSPS fellow, and at the American University of Nigeria. He holds a full-time faculty position in the Department of Economics, Data Analysis, and Strategic Business at the Lagos Business School, Pan Atlantic University, Nigeria.

One of Nigeria’s top economic policy analysts, Dr. Adi holds a multidisciplinary PhD in Appropriate Technology and Sciences for Sustainable Development, encompassing Regional Science and Quantitative Development Economics; an MA in Economic Development and Policy Management under the Joint Japan/World Bank; and postdoctoral training in Data Management at the National Agricultural Research Centre, Japan.

A recipient of several awards, including the Academic Award in Philosophy and Transdisciplinarity 2000, United Nations University Fellowship 2000, World Bank Scholarship for international students 2004, 2005, 2006, the Social Science Prize 2007, and several others too numerous to mention, Dr. Adi’s research have been presented in numerous international conferences, workshops, and published in top-ranking international journals.

Over the years he has consulted for international organisations like the World Bank, JICA, UNCTAD, ICAN, UNDP, Blomberg, and a host of others. He is a resident economic and policy analyst with major TV stations in Nigeria, such as Channels TV, Arise TV, CNBC Africa, AIT, and many more.

NDPHC Plans to Develop Small Hydro Power Plants Peter Uzoho The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has announced plan to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to enable it build small and medium hydro power plants in the country, particularly in the north.

This is just as the company also disclosed that the construction work on the 330/132/33KV substation project in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has been completed and the project due for inauguration soon.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NDPHC, Mr. Chiedu Ugbo, disclosed the planned building of small hydro power plants when he led the company’s management team on a courtesy visit to the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman

Adamu, recently.

NDPHC, in a statement by its Head, Communication and Public Relations, Olufunke Nwankwo, quoted Ugbo, to have explained during his meeting with Adamu that the company was looking at setting up small hydro plants on existing dams in the country, especially those in the northern part of the country.

“We are here to pay you a courtesy visit and at the same time let you know what our programmes are with regards to renewable so that we can start discussing with your ministry in earnest on how we can develop small hydro resources around the country, preferably, in the northern part of the country because of the quality of electricity in the area,” Ugbo said.

He noted that though the

company has 10 power generation plants with eight linked to the national grid and with about 4,099 megawatts, most were located in the southern part of the country and we’re unable to generate optimally due to poor transmission and distribution infrastructure.

According to him, “We have 4,099MW but not all are taken in the grid due to systemic problems. If you check today, we have 500-700MW on the grid. That is not to say our machines are bad, it is because of transmission and distribution challenges.

“In those areas too, NDPHC has done significant work.

We pride ourselves as having invested about 50 percent of the transmission assets in the country.

We have invested heavily in

transmission and distribution assets all over the country, in every state.”

He added that the company had also invested in solar home systems, noting that it started from not just underserved but un-served communities.

Ugbo said in the course of those investments, NDPHC did 20,000 in the first phase, which called ‘Beyond the Grid Programme’, and that it started the second phase in Kazuare Emirate in Bauchi State with 100,000 connections.

“But having developed our thermal plants reasonably, we thought it is time to move to the next phase of our project development and that phase is where after optimising gas resources, we have to optimise other resources we have for power generation.

RENDERING ACCOUNTTO SHAREHOLDERS

L-R: Finance Director, International Breweries Plc, Bruno Zambrano; Independent Non-Executive Director, Olutoyin Odulate; Non-Executive Director, Michael Ajukwu; Managing Director, Hugo Rocha; and Marketing Director,Tolulope Adedeji, at the 44th Annual General Meeting of International Breweries Plc held in Lagos... recently ETOPUKUTT

WISTA to Sensitise Women on AfCFTA Oluchi Chibuzor The Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria over the weekend announced that it has concluded arrangements to organise its 2021 business luncheon aimed at encouraging women’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) through the maritime sector.

The one-day conference, WISTA said, would be part of the group’s efforts geared at increasing and developing shipping policy that would deepen women’s participa-

tion in the maritime sector with the view of empowering them with adequate manpower, policy framework and connections.

Highlighting the significance of the forthcoming conference at a media briefing in Lagos, the President, WISTA Nigeria, Mrs. Eunice Ezeoke, said the organisation seeks to encourage women to participate in trade opportunities within the sector.

She noted that the theme of the event centered on the AfCFTA, provides the opportunity for gender inclusion in the maritime sector, saying there are many financial institutions willing to

give loans to women.

“Other activities include advocacy for women inclusion, gender parity, promotion of gender related activities, encouraging gender friendly policies, proffering solutions and opinions on Industry issues as well as carrying out CSR responsibilities targeted at women in coastal communities and mentoring young female professionals in the sector, ”she said.

According to her, the luncheon would hold on July 8th, 2021, with breakout sessions, “As we have a duty through our Africa Agenda Committee Africa’s Participation which is strategic to our quest

for developing the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy.”

She added: “We are happy that Nigeria has keyed in and embraced the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and is presently sensitising the various stakeholders in public and private sectors.”

Ezeoke, who retired from Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) as a Port Manager in 2017, further revealed that the whole activities of the group was to encourage women participation in international trade, while interfacing with several maritime organisations in the world.

FBNInsurance Boss Lists Importance of Digital for Retail Insurance Ebere Nwoji The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FBNInsurance, Mr. Val Ojumah, has said the future of insurance business lies on digital retail insurance marketing model.

Ojumah , who stated this at the 2020 MD/CEO and Retail Annual Competition (TRAC) Award organised by the company for its staff in Lagos recently, said any firm which builds its retail insurance base will smile when others are weeping.

“It is exciting to know that we sold, made profits and still have our jobs at a time when people couldn’t even go out

to work due to the pandemic.

“Though year 2020 was challenging, it has taught us how to do things better, away from the traditional way. All thanks to innovation and digitalisation”, he said.

According to him, as a business that thrives in difficult times, FBNInsurance, would continue to adapt to changes that evolve with time.

He commended member of the retail team of the company for their efforts and charged them to do more.

He promised to continue to give them adequate support to ensure they meet their sales target.

“Be assured that I and my

team will give more attention to what you will need to meet your targets,” he assured.

Also speaking at the forum, the Executive Director, Retail Business Distribution, FBNInsurance Limited, Mr. Odinakachi Umekwe, commended the efforts of the retail team of the company for the outstanding performances they put forward despite the pandemic which continued to ravage the world during the year.

He added: “This team of over 2000 vibrant men and women all over Nigeria has sold insurance under the most challenging environment to ensure the company stays ahead in the retail space despite the limita-

tions imposed by COVID-19.”

He said the ceremony was to adequately reward the top financial advisors and motivate others to strive more.

At the ceremony, the Abuja sales area won the Best Performing Area award for the period under review while Enugu and Aba areas came second and third respectively.

The winning areas were given cash reward for their efforts.

Similarly, a brand-new Hyundai Car was presented to the overall winner of the 2020 TRAC Award (Financial Advisors category), by Ojumah.

The prize went to one Okonkwo Nkechi Rita.

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Sainte Croix Brings French Cognac Heritage to Nigeria Raheem Akingbolu Punch Marketing, promoters of Sainte Croix, the premium quality cognac, have said that the entry of the brand to Nigeria signals the arrival of the French Cognac heritage and a quality associated only with the best.

It now offers consumers an exciting and challenging experience, one that challenges the establishment and the senses of Congac drinkers.

The company made this assertion at the exclusive event, held in Lagos recently, to present the brand to their Nigerian consumers.

The company’s Country Manager (Nigeria), Chris Parkes, said Sainte Croix, which has been in existence since 1756 and celebrated around the world, delivers the best Cognac experience that the Charente and Charente-Maritime regions of France have come to be known for. Parkes referred to Sainte Croix as a masterpiece,

for connoisseurs and friends, saying the superb quality the brand has been associated with and celebrated across the world over the centuries, is an attestation to the quantum of patience and meticulousness that go into the making of Saint Croix, it is truly the spirit of courage.

He painted the picture of the rigorous process that goes into the making Sainte Croix thus: “We pick only the finest mature white grapes at the annual harvest

to ensure that the white wines that are produced from them are perfect. These selected wines are distilled twice to create the flawless eau-de-vie variants and only the most bold and distinctive variants are selected to be placed in aged wooden barrels for a minimum of not two years as is normal for VS but for four years. VSOP is not just the normal four years but eight and the XO… not just 15 years but 30,” he said.

While he urged consumers to explore their own creativity with Sainte Croix Cognac and cocktails, he informed that there are hundreds of cocktail recipes out there that Sainte Croix takes to the next level.

“Our entry into the Nigerian market has elicited a lot of excitement among Nigerian consumers, understandably. The same premium quality that has come to be associated with Sainte Croix across the globe is the reason for

this excitement. One thing is sure, this feeling is going to be much more in the coming days as the brand gains a stronger foothold in the country,” he added. The highlight of the event was the unveiling of Bolanle Ninalowo, a Nigerian actor and film producer as the brand ambassador.

Speaking shortly after the unveiling, Ninolowo, also known as Nino, expressed his excitement at being chosen as the brand ambassador.

NCAA Grants 7-Star Global Hangar Maintenance Certificate Chinedu Eze The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has granted 7Star Global Hangar Ltd, an Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) certificate to operate an all-inclusive Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility.

The Chief Executive Officer of 7Star Global Hangar, Isaac Balami said, “7StarGlobal is the first independent privately owned MRO in West and Central Africa. I say independent because it is a stand-alone and we were registered in 2012 and since then for about nine years, we have been back-to-back pursuing our license and variation with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

“We are happy today to announce that after over 15 months of the NCAA reviewing our variation and our operational specifications and also expanding our capability list in Wheels and Breaks, Non-destructive testing (NDT) etc, we have finally finished our phase five which is the last stage in the certification process and we have been granted final approval.

“The huge capital in aircraft maintenance we often experience, amounting to over $1billion that

is annually spent in West Africa alone is going to help to create jobs here in Nigeria.”

On the maintenance specification, Balami said the organisation can carry out operations as permitted by the NCAA, adding: “We are happy to say goodbye to four years inspection/maintenance on Augusta 139 helicopters which most VIPs, even the Presidency operate.

“Most oil and gas companies (Mobil, Shell, and Chevron) operate it. We also have EC 155 up to 6000 hours/12 years’ inspection; on the Learjet 45, about 9,600 hours’ inspection; on the small Cessna aircraft, we have about 100 hours/ annual inspection and on the Bombardier DHC-8 100/200/300 (C Checks/8000FH), DHC-8 400 (C checks/8000FH), Challenger 601/604/605 (2400 hours inspections), Hawker Siddeley HS 125-850/900 (A-G Inspections), Bell 429 (5000 hours/5 years inspections), Embraer 135/145 (Up 5000hours/48months inspections), Embraer 600/650 (20000 hours/96 Months Inspections) and Boeing 737-300/400/500 (Up to 8A inspections), we have the highest inspection in most of the aircraft as stipulated in the manufacturer’s manual.”

AMANO Backs Bill Seeking Academy’s Upgrade Oluchi Chibuzor The Alumni of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron (AMANO) has stressed the need for maritime stakeholders in the country to support the bill seeking to upgrade the academy to a specialised university.

This, according to the group, is because the academy has gone through changes geared toward repositioning her for this role through Decree No. 16 of 1988, which placed her on the current status Maritime Academy of Nigerian (MAN).

Explaining to journalists in Lagos on the Alumni’s position on the bill seeking to provide for the establishment of MAN to a University, the President AMNAO, Emmanuel Gankino, said it was long overdue in line with the current developments in the industry.

He said their position on the bill was necessitated because maritime education was a specialised training endeavour that provides specific expertise and proficiency for the professional licensing and competency required to manage the industry effectively.

“AMANO has graciously submitted a memorandum to both the House of Representatives in the 8th Assembly and The Senate

in the current 9th Assembly stating our views,” he added.

Gankino acknowledged that MAN remains the foremost specialised institution in Nigeria that provides the full range of professional education and training in accordance with the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) requirements for the training and certification of seafarers in Nigeria.

He stated that the Alumni, as a unified body, believes that it was time for the Federal Government to upgrade the Academy, as it did in 1988, to a degree-awarding institution.

“AMANO is of the opinion that the Academy retains its status as Nigeria’s specialised training institution with a core mandate to train maritime professionals for both sea-going and onshore careers who serve the nation’s maritime, shipbuilding, port operations, offshore oil & gas, and related industries.

“It is to be noted that there is a global shift in the training and education of maritime professionals to a multi-functional level.

Modern trends in technological developments and digitalisation have made it imperative to train future mariners to meet the new Blue Ocean economy’s demand to operate and manage the maritime assets to achieve it,”he said.

ACCI Seeks Private Sector Input on Digital Economy Blueprint James Emejo in Abuja President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Dr. Al-Mujtaba Abubakar, has urged the federal and state governments to deepen private sector participation in the drafting of digital economy policies so as to reap maximal benefits.

He said amidst the uncertainty in oil sector and global drive against fossil fuel, the digital economy holds the key especially for a country with a youth dominated demography.

Speaking at the signing of

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on digital economy policy between the chamber and the Continental Project Affairs Associates Ltd. (CPAA) in Abuja, he said government’s presence within the ICT sector was a recognition of the digital shift within the economy as ICT contribution to the GDP had been on the increase every quarter.

He added that the potential of the sector as a job creator is well documented.

Abubakar said: “We note the giant strides the ICT sector has taken under the present administration. We particularly commend

the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Ibrahim Pantanmi on the various initiatives so far introduced.

He added: “Government’s efforts cannot fully yield desired effect unless the private sector is effectively integrated into the making and implementation of the digital economy policy.

“Worldwide, the private sector is put on the driver seat to speed up innovation and cost efficient operations of the ever widening sector.

“Designing a digital economy policy without the strong input of the private sector is therefore

a serious error.”

He said to develop the sector effectively, engagement with the private sector remained crucial adding that policies emerging from such consultation will integrate the aspirations of the operators and assist the regulators to emerge as facilitators.

“That is why the ACCI as a leading chamber in Nigeria decides to institute a Digital Economy Policy Series. The series will regularly dwell on ICT Policy issues and produce policy contributions”, he said in a statement by the ACCI Media Officer, Olayemi John-Mensah.

Dubai Expo: FG Eyes $23bn, Establishes Trade Office James Emejo in Abuja The federal government has said it expects to generate about $23 billion from the participation of Nigerian enterprises at the Dubai Expo 2020, which is slated to hold from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Maryam Katagum, said the event with theme: “Connecting Minds, Creating the World,” will afford the country an opportunity

to showcase the abundant natural and human resources available in the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Katagum, at a briefing on the forthcoming exhibition, said critical sectors of the Nigerian economy particularly agriculture, manufacturing, creative industry, culture and youthful generation would be showcased to the world to tap into abundant opportunities available and to benefit from the expo.

This is as the UAE Ambassador

to Nigeria, Fahad Taffaq, has said bilateral trade between Nigeria and the UAE currently stood at about $1.45 billion as at 2019.

The minister said the expo would assist government’s current drive to diversify the economy.

She noted that Nigeria is one of several countries which have benefited from the generosity of the UAE government by providing the country with a $2 million assisted pavilion.

She explained that the journey to Dubai EXPO 2020 started in 2013 when the Bureau of Interna-

tional Exhibitions (BIE) conferred the Hosting Right to the city of Dubai, UAE holding initially in 2020, adding however, that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the expo had now been rescheduled.

Katagum said: “The Expo aims to connect and inspire millions of people from around the world to create a better future.

“It is also a platform for the world to showcase innovation, achievements and aspirations while exploring the three subthemes: Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability.

VDT Optimistic Nigeria Will Achieve 90% Broadband Coverage Emma Okonji VDT Communications, provider of end-to-end IP-based data and voice communications services across the 36 states of the country, has assured the federal government that industry players will work towards ensuring that the country’s target of 90 per cent broadband coverage by 2025.

Nigeria’s broadband plan seeks to deliver data download speeds across Nigeria at a minimum of 25Mbps in urban areas, and 10Mbps in rural areas, with effective coverage available to at least 90 per cent of the population

and landmass penetration rate of 70 per cent by 2025 at a price not more than N390 per 1GB of data.

Group Managing Director of VDT, Mr. Biodun Omoniyi, gave the assurance in Lagos, at a media event held at the weekend to announce the company’s 20th anniversary celebration.

According to Omoniyi, VDT through its connectivity services for enterprise and retail customers, would be able to connect more people and organisations, thereby contributing its quota towards achieving Nigeria’s broadband plan. According to

him, “VDT provides services such as enterprise connectivity and corporate internet to all parts of Nigeria via national carrier backbone. Retail Service; 4G LTE Broadband internet service; SME and APN Services among others. VDT Communications successfully scaled our service infrastructure to 99.9 per cent uptime since 2015. We now generally guarantee 99.999 per cent service availability through the use of multiple carrier trunks while maintaining low latency, that will help Nigeria achieve its broadband penetration target.”

“As we mark our 20th an-

niversary, we look back with pride and thank God almighty for all that we have been able to achieve even in the midst of tough challenges,” Omoniyi said.

“We might not have reached the symbolic 1000 miles yet, however, we have come very far from where we started.

“With all this in place coupled with continual innovation and development, the stage is set for VDT to continue to play the leading role in the Nigeria telecom industry and provide premium quality service to our customers.

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TeamApt Restates Commitment to Africa’s Financial Services Emma Okonji TeamApt, one of Nigeria’s Fintech companies, has reiterated its commitment to transforming financial services in Africa.

The company provides financial services for the underserved mass market through Moniepoint - its financial access product, and Monnify - its payment gateway infrastructure.

The company made this known, while speaking on its expansion plan during a media event held in Lagos recently.

Speaking on the company’s plans to transform financial services in Africa, the CEO and Founder of TeamApt, Mr. Tosin Eniolorunda, said: “To achieve our mission of providing financial happiness for all, we started out by building working infrastructure and distributing this in every of Nigeria’s 36 states. So far, Moniepoint has served over 25 per cent of the 48 million banked Nigerians, previously underserved by the financial system.

“This is a great feat but we still have a lot of work to do. Many Nigerians are still underserved, and with this pain not exclusive to Nigeria but shared among Africans, we intend to scale into more regions of the continent.”

According to him, “The company remains focused

on innovating, and we expect that in the future, through Moniepoint, we will reach more people across Africa and build their trust in the financial system and processes.

“We look forward to empowering our agents with the facilities to offer other financial services directly to customers, beyond deposits and withdrawals.’’

Since launching in 2019, Moniepoint by TeamApt has gained ground as one of Nigeria’s largest agency banking platforms with about 100,000 agents across the nation. Report from SANEF, an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governing agent banking in Nigeria, confirmed that TeamApt accounts for 74 per cent of the agent banking industry based on the volume of transactions processed monthly, Eniolorunda said.

Founded in 2015, TeamApt started out by building infrastructure for Tier 1 financial institutions, a testament to its technology prowess.

In March 2021, TeamApt hit a milestone of transactions worth over 1 trillion ($2.4 billion) for the first time. In May, the value increased to 1.4 trillion ($3.5 billion) with 68 million transactions in volume, and between April 2020 and April 2021, the total value of transactions processed has gone up to $16 billion, the company said.

Qatar Begins Regular Service to Abidjan Chinedu Eze Qatar Airways has announced that it has started flight service to Abidjan, the largest city in Côte d’Ivoire as it landed at Felix Houphouet Boigny International Airport on Wednesday.

With three weekly flights, the service between Doha and Abidjan via Accra will be operated by the airline’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner featuring 22 seats in Business Class and 232 seats in Economy Class, along with capacity of up to 15 tonnes of cargo.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Mr. Akbar Al Baker,

said: “Launching flights to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire - our fourth new destination in Africa since the start of the pandemic, after having recently launched Abuja in Nigeria; Accra in Ghana; and Luanda in Angola is a significant step in our African growth.

“This is testament to our commitment to the African continent where we now operate over 100 weekly flights to 25 destinations in 18 countries via our home and hub, Hamad International Airport.”

“At Qatar Airways, being there for our passengers, trade partners and corporate customers has been our major focus since the start of

the pandemic.

“We thank the government of Côte d’Ivoire for their support to launch these flights, and we look forward to working closely with our partners here to grow this route and support the recovery of tourism and trade in this region.

“As global travel recovers in 2021, we look forward to further expanding our network and offering more connections to and from Africa.”

The launch of Abidjan also supports increased demand for trade between Côte d’Ivoire and destinations on the Qatar Airways network such as Paris,

Beirut and many points in the Indian subcontinent. With up to 15 tonnes of cargo capacity on the aircraft per flight, Qatar Airways Cargo will play a key role in facilitating key exports from Côte d’Ivoire.

The airline said Qatar Airways travellers from Côte d’Ivoire can now enjoy new baggage allowances ranging from 46 Kg for Economy Class split over two pieces and 64 Kg split over two pieces in Business Class. This initiative is designed to offer passengers more flexibility and comfort when travelling on board Qatar Airways.

International Breweries Records N136.8bn Revenue International Breweries Plc (IB Plc) recently held its 44th Annual General Meeting in Lagos.

The meeting had in attendance stakeholders of IB Plc, comprising the company’s executive and non-executive directors, shareholders, representatives of regulatory agencies, external auditors, and staff.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions placed on mass gatherings by the government, the annual event was streamed live to enable shareholders and other stakeholders who could not attend physically to follow proceedings.

The company’s overall results in 2020 were significantly impacted by the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a statement, despite the challenges, net revenue

increased by 3.4 per cent, while gross profit increased by 20.9 per cent with Gross Margin enhancement of more than 320 basis points to 22.3 per cent.

The company expressed gratitude to stakeholders for their support despite the prevailing socio-economic challenges impacting the Nigerian business environment, stating that with the roll out of vaccines and gradual return to full activities, there’s hope for the recovery of the global economy.

“International Breweries Plc will continue to strengthen its market position through diversified development and optimisation of its corporate strategy as it stays committed to achieving a sustainable development and improving product quality to maintain its

competitive edge,” it added.

Speaking on IB Plc’s overall performance, The Managing Director, Mr. Hugo Dias Rocha said, “Our dream of achieving market leadership of the beer industry in Nigeria remains unshaken as we are confident in our abilities and commitment as a team. “Aside from growing our volumes year-on-year, we have also continued to gain market share as we look to becoming even more adaptable to an ever-evolving operational climate.”

He further stated that in the year under review, despite two major economic crisis- COVID-19 and the social unrests, the company hit an all-time record in volume and brand development.

Within the same year under

review, International Breweries launched a new brand - Trophy Stout and the company now houses the top two products (Trophy and Hero) in the country, the statement added.

Responding to shareholders’ questions, the Finance Director of the company, Mr. Bruno Zambrano, stated that, “the rights issue which was concluded in January 2020 (the largest in Nigeria’s history) was targeted successfully at deleveraging the company’s balance sheet.

“All the proceeds of the rights issue were used to reduce our overall debt. As a result, total borrowings reduced from N263.6 billion as at December 31, 2019, to N110.7 billion as at December 31, 2020,” he added.

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Manufacturing Poverty on Industrial Scale Those set of principles were unfortunately not domesticated appropriately and we threw out the baby with the bath water, in shutting down marketing boards instead of reforming our produce aggregation processes.

The greatest drawback of this failure was the abdication of state responsibility for market oversight, and MDAs (Ministries Departments and Agencies) began to carve out empires for themselves and scramble for budget slice.

The silos that emerged thereafter, is why some have admitted not knowing how the economy runs.

With central co-ordination weakened and increasing indulgence of the Treasury by the Central Bank, it’s little wonder we are under such a mountain of debt.

The insufficiency created by poor husbanding of resources over six decades of self-rule, cannot be corrected by foreign investors, who on their own, will be wary local habits.

Charles Iyore

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated the care and bother of the head of state and father of the nation in admitting on the NTA interview, that he is not satisfied with the economy.

The solution however is not foreign investors coming to invest here, but husbanding our resources so well, that we become a preferred investment destination and win in the competition for global capital The President’s dissatisfaction may be more to do with the fact that the outputs are not reflective of the inputs.

Nigeria has been manufacturing poverty on an industrial scale for a long time, and we must be grateful that in expressing his dissatisfaction, he is perhaps ready to resolve the issues.

That will require debugging a fourth generation virus, which has been morphing in between with various hashtags.

Every time public officers protect private interest at the expense of public good, they manufacture poverty.

Every time a public officer makes a critical appointment without considered judgement of merit and competence, he creates slack in the system, which manufactures poverty.

Every time an accounting officer, for a ministry department or agency creates a silo, the linkages in governance are broken and the objectives of the organisation are compromised.

These are events that create slacks in the system, compromising public good and betraying the public trust, and they are occurring at all levels of government. They have become an unregulated utility – egunje.

The manufacturing process Industrial manufacturing is the process of turning infeed raw materials through sequenced unit operations, into value added products. Bread from flour, petroleum motor spirit from crude, etc.

If the plant manager is dissatisfied or does not get the desired output, then the unit operations managers, are either incompetent or do not understand the instructions of the plant manager. The managers are then said to be corrupted and the debugging begins.

The biggest challenge of debugging is not the recovery or reduction of waste, but in ensuring that the managers are appropriately driven.

What is critical therefore, is to fix the mind/ driver of the unit operations manager.

The mind of the unit operations manager Public sector managers have over time, become slaves of a scared past, developed a nervous and suspicious disposition for today, and become incapable of dreaming tomorrow.

For that to change, the plant manager must be clear and unambiguous in his instructions and be strict with measurements and rewards. (equity and justice) The size and population ratio of our needy, is such that we can safely conclude that the production lines of poverty, are at all levels of the administration.

Getting the change process started The vision of the plant manager is critical at this stage, and this he must offer after reviewing the advice available to him. This visioning is why you have concept branding as with Reaganomics, Thatcherism, Glasnost, Perestroika etc.

The first challenge is to re-establish in the minds of the unit operations managers, the

Rolling it all back The President will not get satisfaction with economic performance, if the virus remains at play in the MDAs and in the private sector. The virus, over time, has offered many the opportunity to make a killing, and those waiting in the wings to have a go at the treasury want the status quo to remain. Against that background, only a careful wholesale debugging of the unit operations, will reset the system. The President can therefore expect to be kept insular if his handlers are some of those waiting in the wings.

This is why the interviews on Arise and NTA could begin a new era of engagement which the President ought to sustain.

The Production Lines The productions lines are the MDAs not just in their representation in Abuja, but to the extent that they co-ordinate activities to the local governments, where poverty is manufactured daily.

Buhari capacity to dream tomorrow, free themselves of the baggage of yesterday, and be diligent in their efforts today.

That task was started when the President sent his cabinet members back to their constituencies to explain the challenges of the nation during #Endsars.

That same responsibility should now go to councilors, local government chairmen, members of State houses of assembly, members of the Federal House of Representatives and Senators, but this time not just tasked with explanations, but also with championing community resilience.

Their job description can be so defined as to make it possible to compare like with like.

The President should then invite them for dinner, in various groupings, to brief him of progress, every now and again.

So was #Endsars a stumbling block or a stepping stone? Good wake-up call perhaps.

In debugging the manufacturing process to lift 100 million out of poverty. The President needs to review the utilities or common services, required by the unit operations managers at their points, in the manufacturing process: Currency: why are we unable to use market price discovery mechanisms, to determine non pernicious exchange rates, after 32 years of trial?

Skill sets: why are we unable to train builders to build houses, despite the availability of construction aggregates?

What should the common attributes be, for all communities? (Towns and villages in planned settlements) Why is there so much wastage and wide

seasonal price variations, of agricultural produce?

Will a structured logistics blueprint reduce produce wastage and significantly increase the IGR (Internally generated revenues) of states?

Will farming communities do better on produce purchase rather than grand fertilizer distribution?

Why is the quality of bandit intelligence superior to state intelligence, and farmers as a consequence cannot go back to farming?

Can we introduce global brokerage to our import and export processes and reduce capital flight?

Can we introduce performance measurement for traditional institutions?

Could we introduce a charity commission to monitor NGOs and charity institutions?

Why do the asset allocation ratios of individuals in their homes, differ from those of public institutions? (Let’s bring-in kitchen economics to public finance) Why do the markets not work well for all?

Rising pension assets, dwindling insurance collections and gaps in infrastructure financing?

There are many other utilities’ attributes which can be addressed in a sequenced order, to achieve common and even growth targets, for all communities across the country.

How did the unit operations get so corrupted?

From the very onset, the preference for divisive sentiments rather than seeking points of cooperation, welled up the wrong references of competition. The experimentation to correct those distortions led to the adoption of free market economics for national production.

The Products The products are industrialisation, capacity building and human capital development, reduced infant mortality, a healthy work force, markets that work well and productive adsorption of the growing youth bulge.

If the President works with the list of distortions above, and calls on the skill sets of Nigerians at home and abroad, he would deliver on the promises of the first inauguration address, in an 18-month policy cycle.

This would be an act of immense courage, and would be an opportunity for the President, to press the reset button and begin the process we did not start on morning of independence in 1960. Instead the elites (military and civilians) have been hard at work setting up complex processes they knew would deliver nothing.

Properly done, the economy will recover, our currency will join the IMF basket of currencies, and Nigeria can become the arrowhead of African economic renaissance. The continent can then slowly start to address her trade imbalances, and begin to set tracks for industrial value addition.

A hundred million or more will be lifted out of poverty, and the economic growth will become inclusive This is the challenge the President set for himself in 2015, and that should be his tunnel vision.

Iyore, a Partner at DNA Capital, wrote in from England

Coca-Cola Reiterates Commitment to Recycling Initiatives Raheem Akingbolu In commemoration of World Environment Day, Coca-Cola Nigeria, through recycling initiatives across Nigeria, reiterated its commitment to the support of environmental protection and sustainability in Nigeria.

Since 1974, World Environment Day has been celebrated every year on June 5, engaging governments, businesses and citizens to address pressing environmental issues.

The COVID-19 pandemic led

to several restrictions, including the lockdown which kept residents confined indoors. This development saw the environment benefit slightly, affording the ecosystem time to engineer some restoration. This insight informed the theme for this year’s celebration, aptly titled ‘Ecosystem Restoration’.

At the forefront of this global movement was Coca-Cola, whose environmental sustainability initiatives are driven by its, “World Without Waste,” mandate, which fosters partnership with multiple

stakeholders, including fellow industry players, governments, and civil society organisations, to ensure continued leadership in reducing its carbon footprint.

By 2030, Coca-Cola aims to help collect and recycle a bottle or can for every one sold by the company. In addition, the company is working to design better bottles with 18 per cent less plastic to make all its consumer packaging 100 per cent recyclable globally.

As part of World Environment Day activities, implementing

partners – SWEEP Foundation, RecyclePoints, AREAi and W.A.S.T.E Africa – with support from Coca-Cola Nigeria and its philanthropic arm, The Coca-Cola Foundation, kicked off numerous activities to aid environmental sustainability across key areas in the country.

The Statewide Waste and Environmental Education Foundation (SWEEP Foundation) launched the Eko Beach Race 2021 with the theme ‘A Race Against Plastic Pollution’, in celebration of World Environment Day. The event

saw over 2000 young people, students, and sports enthusiasts participate in a marathon race and a beach clean-up. According to Obuesi Phillips, President of SWEEP Foundation, the event was ‘geared towards recognising the growing contributions of sport to the realisation of societal development’.

In addition, the Aid for Rural Education Access Initiative (AREAi), another implementing partner supported by CocaCola Nigeria, hosted a “Recycle and Win” Festival. The event

included community outreach programmes in Kwara State and clean-ups in Kano, Kaduna, Yobe and Oyo States. Through the event, the initiative sought to recover 10 tons of plastic bottles across all the locations.

Similarly, Chanja Datti, in collaboration with The CANS and Coca-Cola Nigeria, launched an event titled ‘Art of Upcycling Fair: Turning Waste to Beauty’.

The event seeks to showcase ten upcycling artists turning waste into remarkable works of art in line with ecosystem restoration.

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IMAGES

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Photo Editor ÌÓÙÎßØ ÔËÖË Email ËÌÓÙÎßØ˛ËÔËÖË̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×

L-R: General Secretary, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Barr. Daramola Joseph; Head, Women Affairs and Gender Cluster Committee African Union, (ECOSOCC), Adaora Onyechere; Nigeria Representative, African Union-ECOSOCC, Dr. Tunji Asaolu; Embassy of Ireland, Charge D’Affairs, Conor Finn and Director Woman Development Representative, Mrs Oladipo Funke during a press briefing and discussion on the role of Nigeria women in conflict resolution and mediation in Abuja…recently

Wife of Vice Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mrs Arinola Ajose; General Secretary, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), Mrs Yewande Olorunrinu; Representative of Wife of Lagos State, Mrs Oluremi Hamzat; and COWLSO Ex-Officio, Mrs. Rhoda Ayinde, during a special prayer by Lagos women for peace and security in Nigeria, held at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja…recently

L-R: Gov Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; Deputy Gov. of Rivers State, Mrs Ipalibo Harry-Banigo and Rivers State PDP Chairman Amb. Desmond Akawo, during the swearing-in of newly elected Rivers State Local Government Chairmen in Port Harcourt…recently

Senator Representing, Anambra South Senatorial District, Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah (middle) with the members of Young Progressive Party displaying the received screening certificate to contest for the Primary Election of Anambra State governorship race in Abuja…recently

L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat and Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Sam Egube at the Opening of the Two Day Zonal Technical Session on the Preparation of Medium Term National Development Plan (2021 - 2025) in Lagos…recently

President Muhammadu Buhari, addressing military and security personnel of Operation Hadin Kai during his visit to Mai Malari Cantonment Maiduguri, Borno State …recently

President Muhammadu Buhari (M) flanked by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN (left), National Coordinator of the MBO Dynamic Support Group, Hon Usman Ibrahim (2nd right) Chief of Staff Prof Ibrahim Gambari during an audience with the Leadership and Members of the Group Abuja…recently PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva (left) and his counterpart from Ghana, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, during Prempeh’s visit to NNPC tower in Abuja …recently

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L-R: Chief of Staff to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Tayo Ayinde; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Musical Youth Fiesta Initiative (MYFI), Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Board member of MYFI, Pastor Kunle Ajayi during a meeting with the Governor at the Lagos House, Marina...recently

Delta Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa (right) and his Adamawa counterpart, Ahmadu Fintiri, discussing closely at the inauguration of Asaba Specialist Hospital, Delta State..recently

President Muhammadu Buhari receives in the audience the New Special Representative of the UN Secretary General of the United Nations Office for West Africa and Sahel (UNOWAS) Mr. Mahamat Saleh Annadif. during an audience at the State House Abuja...recently PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

L-R; Chairman. Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ. L/S Council, Mr. Leye Ajayi, Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba and Vice Chairman, NUJ, L/S Council, Mrs. Abiola Beckley during the NUJ courtesy visit to Chief Olusegun Osoba in Lagos...recently PHOTO: KOLA ALLI

Lead Economist, World Bank, Marco Hernandez; Country Director World Bank Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri; Director General, Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze; Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Board Chairman, NESG Asue Ighodalo and AIT Correspondent, Nancy Isime; during the launch of the World Bank’s “Nigeria Development Update, Resilience Through Reforms” in Abuja…recently

L-R: SGF, Boss Mustapha; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN, and FCT Minister, Alh. Mohammed Musa Bello during the launch of the FRSC Traffic Radio and tour of the FRSC Command in Abuja..recently

L-R: Chairman, House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Recovered Loot, Movable and Immovable

by Ministries, Department and Agencies of Government, Rep. Adejoro Adeogun; Clerk of the committee, Mr Lawal Mohammed; and member of the committee, Rep. Sada Soli, during an investigative hearing at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja …recently

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CITYSTRINGS

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Peace Dialogue in the Creeks To forestall a reoccurence of the unrest that once characterised the Niger Delta region, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, recently braved the odds to sojourn to the creeks and enclaves to dialogue for peace, Chiemelie Ezeobi reports

Akpabio with His Royal Majesty Oboro Gbaraun II, Aketekpe, the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area

Akpabio and the Deputy Governor of Delta State who represented the governor

T

he Niger Delta region, found in the southern part of Nigeria, is a populous area inhabited by a diversity of minority ethnic groups. Best known for its rich oil resources, the region is also known for its continuous agitation for control of its resources. However, the quest for control has caused years of unrest and insecurity, which snowballed into militancy and kidnapping until the Amnesty Programme was borne to assuage parts of their demands.

But the region was not always known for conflict. It all started in the 1990s, when ethnic groups, most notably the Ijaw and the Ogoni established groups to confront the Nigerian government and multinational oil companies.

Citing undue exploitation and environmental pollution by the foreign oil companies, the groups had taken up arms against them. It exacerbated in 2004 as piracy and kidnappings became the order of the day.

Amnesty Programme In 2009, a presidential amnesty program was established. This came in form of support and training for the ex-militants, who in exchange laid down arms. The programme proved to be a success as about 15,000 militants signed for presidential amnesty program.

Creation of NDDC As part of measures to address the issues, the then administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo created the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in 2000. Its sole mandate is to develop the petroleum-rich Niger-Delta region.

The development is focused on social and physical infrastructures, ecological/ environmental remediation and human development.

Recent Ultimatum Apart from the crisis that almost tore the NDDC apart when calls for audit were made, the region was passably calm. However, a recent ultimatum by Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, who is the self-styled Grand Commander or leader of the dreaded Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, to cause the board of NDDC to be constituted or face a total shut-down of oil operations in the oil region, was not one to be waved off owing by the crisis generated during the infamous militancy days.

The minister with military personnel during the journey to the creeks

Treating the ultimatum with the urgency it required, the minister braved the odds and ventured into the creeks to dialogue with them. His move paid off as after the meeting with the elders, youths, ex-militants, the ultimatum was withdrawn and the possible crisis quelled.

For those in the know, aside the security implication of another crisis in a nation already riddled with regional pockets of insurgency and insecurity, if the ex-militants had lived up to their threats, governance might grind to a halt as the nation is yet to recover from the huge economic loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and falling oil prices.

Peace Dialogue To address the ultimatum, the minister had first engaged in top level meetings before he set off to the peace dialogue.

He embarked on the eight hours to and fro trip to Gbaramatu Kingdom, Tompolo's enclave. His mission was to save Nigeria the challenge of blown up oil installations and Infrastructure.

Backed with a heavy deployment of military forces, he went to the creeks and succeeded in averting a full-blown fire that could cripple the already delicate economy.

According to those in the know, Akpabio had gathered that the underlying message from the militant world showed they were fed with false information,

thus he felt compelled to disprove those non-factual information.

At the creeks, the minister met with Tompolo face to face, as well as with other big lords of the creeks and the elders and leaders of the region. This afforded both parties a rare opportunity to hear each other out without intermediaries and conflict entrepreneurs that may have been distorting the intentions of government to address issues.

At the all-exhaustive parley with the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Kingsley Otuaro, elders, traditional rulers and the youths, Akpabio seized the moment of the visit to explain the real challenges facing the Niger Delta region and why the inauguration of a new board will only be possible after the forensic auditors turn in their reports.

According to him, the audit was not intended to fight the Ijaw or criminalise anybody, rather, the whole essence was to chart a new course for the speedy development of the region through the frugal management of the resources allocated for the purpose and to ensure that the over 12,000 abandoned projects were completed. The new course would answer critical questions like - should the NDDC focus on completion of old projects or to start new ones? How do you do it without falling back to the rot?

He forced them to think beyond clamour for a board but to ask why for over 26 years, it was difficult to

complete the headquarters of the commission and give it a befitting status in the region. He reminded them how this would be a timely stoppage of a yearly rent of N300m paid for the temporary headquarters so far in 21 years, something that has been stopped by the President Muhammadu Buhari through Akpabio.

He wondered why the people, rather than clamour for a substantive board for the Amnesty Office which pays over 30, 000 trained ex-agitators, and being run by an Interim Administration system, though an Ijaw, they looked the other way.

Lamenting at the snail speed in developing the region, he challenged the warlords to ponder over the decision of some ministers and members of the National Assembly from the region, who ordered the International Oil Companies (IOCs) to stop the payment of the statutory three and five per cent of their yearly capital budgets (capex) to the commission's account domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

This, it was gathered, paved the way for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to act on a petition to divert these sources of allocation of funds to a dedicated account tagged EFCC /NDDC account, adding that billions of naira meant for the region's development were trapped in the said account.

It was noted that with such funds made available, other projects would be completed like the recent intervention

by Akpabio to return the contractors handling the East-west Road project to site since 2015, when the project was stalled.

Harping on how Rwanda was set ablaze by false information, he reiterated the need for peace and his desire to champion the development of the region to acceptable standards.

Essentially, since a reoccurence of unrest might include the likely immediate cancellation of the Amnesty Programme that puts cash in the hands of over 30,000 youths of the Niger Delta, the danger of further driving away international oil companies (IOCs) from the region, increased unemployment, poor rentage for landlords, low patronage for business owners, the move by the minister to dialogue and the consequent decision by Tompolo and others to rescind their earlier decision and withdraw the ultimatum remains an added advantage to the current fight against insecurity and a boost for the development of the region.

35

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

CRIME&SECURITY

Navy Hands over 10 SuspectedVandals to NSCDC

The seized boat conveying the stolen products to Benin Republic

The suspected vandals

Chiemelie Ezeobi

Navy (NN) to rid Nigeria’s Maritime space of all forms of criminality and the emplacement of a safe maritime environment for legitimate businesses to thrive".

Noting that the patrol on May 8 yielded a positive result, she said the vandals and seized products were on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 handed over to the Lagos Command of the NSCDC for further investigation and prosecution.

The commander, who reiterated NNS BEECROFT`s committment to the protec-

T

he Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT has handed over 10 suspected pipeline vandals to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), alongside a large wooden boat.

The suspects were said to have been conveying approximately 210,000 litres of AGO concealed in Geepee water tanks inside a large wooden boat around the Lagos Anchorage before

they were accosted by NNS BEECROFT operatives.

According to the Commander, NNS BEECROFT Commodore Bashir Mohammed, preliminary investigation conducted by the base revealed that the suspects are of Nigerian origin and were attempting to smuggle the AGO to Benin Republic before their arrest.

In a statement by the Base Information Officer, NNS BEECROFT, Sub Lieutenant VI Effiong, the arrest was based on the "determination of the Nigerian

tion of critical national infrastructure and the eradication of all illegal activities in its Area of Responsibility, noted that it was in line with the Chief of the Naval Staff`s mission statement and Strategic Directive of 2021-5.

He further posited that as partners for a safe maritime environment, members of the public "especially our host communities are enjoined to kindly furnish the base with credible information to assist in curbing the activities of criminal element and economic saboteurs".

Day Concerned Benue Mothers Gathered to Plead With President Buhari over Killings in Benue George Okoh In Makurdi

I

t was a sorrowful day as representatives of women groups trooped into the Doo Palace Hotel, venue for a press conference by an all female group known as the Concerned Benue Mothers, to protest the constant attacks by herdsmen and bandits that have led to the death of hundreds of people, including women and children.

The venue was tensed and charged as the women dressed in traditional mourning clothes and tearful faces expressed anger over the heinous killings while the leaders of the country kept mute.

Leading the women at the conference which they tagged 'President Buhari is for somebody and not for everyone', Mrs. Rebecca Apezan, a former House of Representatives member frowned at comments made by the President's Senior Special Assistant on Media vowing that grazing routes as well as grazing reserves will be established in the 36 states of the country next month whether anyone likes it or not.

She recounted the spate of killings in Makurdi, Gwer West, Gwer East, Katsina-Ala, Ado, Agatu, Logo and Guma which left over a million people homeless in the state due to the inglorious activities of herdsmen and bandits and wondered why the president's aide who is not elected should make such a declaration, questioning if the country is still operating a democratic government.

"We are wondering if this is the same democracy that we all fought and got in 1999 leading to the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as elected President in 2015. Has Mr President forgotten that this country is now being run by the Constitution and not decrees?

"What about the Land Use Act which vets all lands in the care of State Governors? Has the Act been repealed? From where is President Buhari deriving his authority that he feels he can impose draconian and dictatorial policies on Nigerians and

expect us to applaud him?

"As mothers of this state and the nation, we owe our children the duty to voice our feelings when we see things going wrong and those who should speak have chosen the path of silence.

"We owe this country the duty to call its leaders to order and counsel them when it has become apparent that the leaders we elected are not doing what is right. We have no other country than Nigeria.

She called on President Buhari to urgently address the nation and caution the herdsmen to stop the killings. "We know that if he makes the address directly to them and mean every word of what he says, they will listen to him.

"The Federal Government should also throw its weight behind Southern Governors’ Asaba declaration against open grazing.

"President Buhari should motivate security agencies and direct them to be professional and neutral in the discharge of their duties.

"We also expect Mr President to call his appointees to order to stop assaulting the sensibilities of Nigerians.

What the Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami said comparing the ban on open grazing with spare parts business was insensitive, condemnable and akin to fanning embers of crisis.

"The other aide of the president, Garba Shehu denigrates anyone who holds an opinion contrary to that of the Presidency. This is gross negation of the tenets of democracy. In democracies where government is of the people and for the people, leaders of such countries listen to constructive criticism in order to improve.

"We call on the international community and lovers of peace across the world to show interest in what is happening in Nigeria, particularly in the Middle Belt region where killings of innocent people by herders have become a common sight.

"We expect the federal government to fulfill its promise to assist the Benue State Government in resettling the displaced people back to their homes.

The longer the IDPs stay in the camps, the worse their plight will get.

"We also want to urge our sons and daughters who are still sitting on the fence to wake up and speak against the evil being perpetrated in our land.

This matter is not only about Governor Samuel Ortom.

"Benue sons- home and abroad-, who think that they are not affected by the crisis must know that we are all casualties whether we are at home or not. They should raise their voices to condemn the injustice being visited on us. This is no time for politicking.

"They should send relief materials to those in IDP camps and also solicit the support of international donor organisations to come to the aid of our people.

"Finally, we wish to call on Nigerians who love justice, peace and equity, to rise and condemn what is happening to the innocent people of Benue State.

"The killer herdsmen are still here with us. They have resorted to guerrilla warfare. They now attack our people in their sleep and leave their familiar trademark of death. Enough is enough", she said.

Also lending her voice to the cry, former Vice Chancellor of Benue State University, Prof. Charity Angya, who spoke on behalf of Zone A women, called on the president to defend the people of Benue and the entire country.

“We voted the government in power because we expected good governance.

We didn’t expect that our lands would be taken away and they would kill us.

We can no longer defend ourselves because all weapons of defence have been taken away from us.

“We are calling on the president to protect and defend us. Let the government stand up and do what they are supposed to do. We stand firmly behind the governor to say there is nothing like grazing reserve but ranching,” Angya said.

Mrs. Lydia Anzam, who spoke for the Zone B women, decried the dangerous dimension the herdsmen’s attacks had taken not only in Benue but the entire

country.

Anzam said: “We, Benue Concerned Mothers, are crying for the whole country. This issue did not start today but it has aggravated because our president has been taking sides. We are calling on the president to come out and tell us why the herdsmen..(sic..) have waged war on the Middle Belt and the South, and who is defending us.

“The efforts the president has made in the past are not good enough. We want him to do more to defend us because we can no longer defend ourselves.

War has been declared on us and he should rise up and fight for us. We commend our governor.”

Also, Evangelist Owakoyi Egharuwa, a former chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, who spoke on behalf of Zone C women, also urged the president to intervene and stop the killings by herdsmen: “Our major cry is that the president should intervene.

When it comes to crisis, women are always on the side of peace but when women begin to cry out, then people must act. The killings are still going on.

We want to be heard and our President must come out and defend us.”

Jennifer Gbishe-Igoh, who spoke on behalf of civil society organisations, lamented that, for eight years, she has not been able to go to her village to see the graves of her parents, all because her community has been occupied by herdsmen. She, therefore, called on President Buhari to intervene.

“I stand to speak for all those who cannot speak for themselves. I cannot see my father’s grave, for the past eight years, because they have taken over our community and if you dare go there, you can be killed.

“We are crying because this is happening everywhere, including in the North. Come to our rescue. We do not have AK-47 but we have AK-God. We don’t want to go to war because we are a people of peace but don’t drag us to war. We will keep crying. We are not going to stop. We stand behind the governor to say we don’t want open grazing but ranching,” she said.

36

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ JUNE 21, 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Market Turns Bearish as Investors Take Profit Goddy Egene The Nigerian equities market closed last week on a negative note after two weeks of positive performance. The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited AllShare Index (ASI) declined by 1.30 per cent to close 38,648.91 compared with a gain of 1.11 per cent the previous week.

Investors had, two weeks ago, swooped on stocks with attractive dividend yields ahead of first half (H1) 2021 interim declarations, leading to a growth.

However, the bears dominated trading last week as some investors took full advantage of the gains recorded over in two weeks and booked profit on bellwether stocks. Although the market was positive on three of the week’s four trading sessions, the gains proved insufficient in pushing the market to a green close following losses by Airtel

Africe Plc, Okomu Oil Plc and Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc. But sectoral performance was broadly positive as the NGX Banking Index appreciated by 1.1 per cent, trailed by the NGX Oil and Gas Index that rose by one per cent. The NGX Insurance Index and NGX Consumer Goods Index chalked up 0.8 per cent 0.2 per cent respectively, while the NGX Industrial Goods Index closed flat. Analysts said they expect market performance to remain mixed this week as investors rotate their portfolio towards dividend-paying stocks, which intermittent profit-taking activities would match.

“Notwithstanding, we advise investors to take positions in only fundamentally justified stocks as the weak macro story remains a significant headwind for corporate earnings,” they said.

Meanwhile, a value and volume of trading fell as investors

transacted 981.147 million shares worth N10.384 billion in 15,001, down from 1.058 billion shares valued at N12.831 billion that exchanged hands in 17,854 deals the previous week.

The Financial Services Industry led the activity chart with 695.803 million shares valued at N5.178 billion traded in 8,616 deals, thus contributing 70.9 per cent and 49.8 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Consumer Goods Industry followed with 75.879 million shares worth N1.227 billion in 2,263 deals, just as the Conglomerates Industry closed as the third most traded with a turnover of 67,430 million shares worth N367.306 million in 612 deals. Trading in the top three equities namely Zenith Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc and Wema Bank Plc accounted for 265.649 million shares worth N2.450 billion in 2,742 deals.

Trading floor

MARKET INDICATORS

Julius Berger Pledges Innovation, Superior Services Goddy Egene Julius Berger Nigeria Plc (JBN) has restated its commitment to sustain its leadership of the construction sector in the country through innovation and technical advancement and maintaining its position as the benchmark for construction excellence in Nigeria.

The Managing Director of JBN, Dr. Lars Richter, stated while addressing shareholders at the annual general meeting (AGM) held in Lagos, recently.

According to him, JBN maintains a robust governance system with appropriate policies and systems in place to maintain the company`s culture of integrity and also support its positively productive performance and a sustainable business model

overall.

“Our robust sustainability philosophy and practice extends beyond philanthropy to social inclusion, gender equality, prioritisation of environmental responsibility and reporting for continued progress”, said Richter.

“We remain positive with regards to the potential ahead of us in consideration of our proven ability to face challenges and find success in opportunities over time. JBN continues to be in a strong position to succeed as a partner in progress, to the nation, to our clients, communities and staff,” he said.

Reviewing the performance of the company for 2020 financial year, the MD said despite the numerous challenges faced last year, stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, related

lockdowns and subsequent economic crisis, JBN achieved a very good performance in 2020.According to him, to maintain business viability, JBN Plc conducted a number of stress tests and implemented a business continuity plan, as part of the company`s resilience strategy, protecting staff health and safeguarding their means of livelihood; ensuring no jobs were lost due to COVID-19.

With regard to significant achievements made by the company in 2020, Richter said that JBN successfully inaugurated several projects, including the New Technology Building in Abuja; Okpai Power Plant, Phase 2, in Delta State; 11 Rehabilitated Roads in Rivers State as well as the Rebisi Flyover in Port Harcourt.

Ogun CommencesLoanDisbursement toMSMEs As part of efforts to boost micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs ) in the agricultural value chain, the newly revived Ogun State Agricultural and Multipurpose Credit Agency (OSAMCA) has commenced the disbursement of its 2021 loans to successful applicants, eleven years after its last disbursement.

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, who flagged- off the loan disbursement and performed the symbolic presentation of cheques to successful applicants at Abeokuta, was quoted in a statement to have said the disbursement was in line with the ISEYA mantra of his administration which is aimed at promoting the social welfare and improving the well-being

of the people.

The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele said his administration as part of its commitment to the prosperity of the people revived the OSAMCA after nine years of being comatose to promote financial inclusiveness and help MSMEs sub-sector thrive.

He noted that the loan disbursement which was the first batch of the OSAMCA loan scheme was available in cash and in the form of various equipment such as tractors, tricycles, motorcycles, deep freezers, generators, mattresses among others was meant for 500 beneficiaries adding that more applicants can apply for the loan. Abiodun assured

that his administration would continue to provide adequate funding for OSAMCA to ensure more MSMEs continue to benefit from the Agency’s revolving loan.

Also speaking, Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Kikelomo Longe, said the loan disbursement was apt as it would help address the challenge of access to credit faced by farmers and agropreneurs noting the credit scheme would tackle the challenge of food security and soaring food prices.

The Chairman, Ogun State Agricultural and Multipurpose Credit Agency (OSAMCA), Abayomi Hunye said the agency has disbursed N850 million to over 22,000 beneficiaries as at its last loan disbursement in the year 2010.

DLM Capital Wins Securitisation The DLM Capital Group, has emerged winner at the Capital Finance International(CFI) 2021 awards as the best structured finance and securitisation team in West Africa.

This is the third consecutive year the company is winning the award, thereby affirming the group’s strong performance as a leading investment institution and asset manager.

CFI awards seek to identify the contributions of individuals

and organisations that contribute significantly to the advancement of economies and truly add value for all stakeholders.

Commenting, Head of Corporate Communications and Marketing, DLM Capital Group, Chinwendu Ohakpougwu, said: “In the past three years, our portfolio management team’s performance has remained consistent, and our clients have benefited immensely from exposure to our solutions, including the NMRC

securitisation deal and the DLM Primero BRT Securitisation. ’We are positioned to provide services to an expansive client base of retail, high net-worth and institutional customers.

DLM Capital Group remains committed to constantly providing financial solutions that will enable our clients make a difference, and we are honored to be recognized once again as a reflection of the quality of support offered to our clients.’’

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 Inter-Bank Call Rate

March 2018 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

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $72.29 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $73.16 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

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

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

37

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

NGX Suspends Trading in GTBank’s Shares Ahead of HoldCo Listing Goddy Egene The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited last Friday placed full trading suspension on the shares of Guaranty Trust Bank(GTBank) Plc. According to the NGX, the suspension was necessary to prevent trading in the shares of the bank in preparation for the eventual delisting of GTBank to pave way for the listing of the holding company(Holdco),

Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc on NGX. Shareholders of the GTBank had ratified the plan to adopt a holdco structure and the Group Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Segun Agbaje, had told them the development would see a new corporate entity, Guaranty Trust Holding Plc, take the place of GTBank on the London and Nigerian stock Exchanges.

He explained that change would entail a 1:1 share transfer

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

while the holdco would serve as the parent company and corporate centre for GTBank Nigeria, all GTBank African subsidiaries and all other new businesses that will be created following the transition.

“Our transition into a holdco is a necessary step to future-proofing our leadership position, sustainably growing our earnings and achieving our long-term goal of be-coming one of the top five financial institutions in Africa.

It is also a critical part of our

S E C U R I T I E S

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response to the seismic shifts in customer expectations and changes in business models,” Agbaje had said.

He noted that as a holdco, they will compete more effectively with non-banks in the new competitive landscape; pairing their strength in financial services with an aggressive focus on creating value in every aspect of their customers’ lives. “We will create a new payments business to deliver the innovative solutions

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

that will deepen and extend digital financial services across Africa. We also believe that we are in a better position to drive an asset management business and a pension fund business, given our strong retail base and digital-first approach to financial services, which we have honed over the past decade. Taken together, our entry into these new growth areas will allow us maximize our potential in a way that banks were restricted

O F

from and enhance the value we create as a platform for enriching lives,” he said. According to him, following a decade of birthing innovative ideas and nurturing them into businesses, the holdco structure would he bank to unleash the power within, in ways that allow us thrive in spaces banks were excluded, build out the full value of the innovations they have nurtured over the years and deepen they value we can create stakeholders.

1 8 / 0 6 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

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38

MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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

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

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

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 17Jun-2021, unless otherwise stated.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 154.28 155.81 -4.12% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 4.28% Nigeria International Debt Fund 306.53 306.53 -22.78% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 111.36 111.36 -0.66% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.62% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.21 3.37 -5.55% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 3.29% Anchoria Equity Fund 130.97 132.41 -1.53% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.07 1.07 -19.47% 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 19.06 19.63 5.09% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 416.93 429.50 4.14% ARM Ethical Fund 37.61 38.74 11.56% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.08 1.09 -1.48% ARM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.90% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 104.68 104.68 2.92% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.15% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 1.96 1.96 -20.07% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.03 2.07 -20.20% mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.03% Paramount Equity Fund 16.06 16.35 0.40% Women's Investment Fund 133.37 134.82 0.18% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.05% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 116.53 117.29 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 106.84 106.84 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.58% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.18 1.19 -1.71% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.36 1.36 -14.14% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 2.98% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 2.97% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,163.99 1,173.18 -2.74% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,377.48 1,377.48 10.14% FBN Balanced Fund 187.53 188.74 -0.08% FBN Halal Fund 109.99 109.99 7.49% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.56% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

125.54 154.46

125.54 3.48% 156.57 2.17% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com

Bid Price 1.00 3.95 1.56 1.17

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 3.68% 3.95 2.17% 1.60 2.71% 1.17 3.24% coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price N/A N/A N/A

Offer Price N/A N/A N/A

Yield / T-Rtn N/A N/A N/A

GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.61% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.84 2.90 23.63% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 149.88 150.33 -3.56% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.25 1.29 31.88% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.09 1.09 6.36% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.38 1.40 1.39% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,146.62 1,146.62 3.79% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 10.92 10.95 4.20% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 6.66% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.62 1.64 7.35% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.45 11.50 -5.61% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 3.94% PACAM Equity Fund 1.62 1.63 2.14% PACAM EuroBond Fund 110.99 112.66 0.97% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 127.90 127.71 6.46% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.01 1.01 3.39% 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 3,167.81 3,193.31 -1.49% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 230.46 230.46 2.49% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.19 1.21 1.69% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 302.38 302.38 2.62% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 219.64 222.26 0.49% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.62% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,341.91 10,471.53 -1.53% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.26 1.26 2.55% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 114.09 114.09 2.71% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 101.57 101.57 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.36 1.38 -0.31% United Capital Bond Fund 1.95 1.95 3.03% United Capital Equity Fund 0.92 0.94 6.36% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.35% United Capital Eurobond Fund 121.10 121.10 3.43% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.11 1.13 2.35% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.05 1.05 5.36% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.67 12.78 6.74% Zenith Ethical Fund 14.03 14.15 14.85% Zenith Income Fund 24.11 24.11 0.58% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.21%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

123.95 51.43

2.66% -1.85%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

12.91 125.15 98.32 17.18 17.59

13.01 125.15 100.09 17.28 17.69

-2.34% 2.80% -1.09%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

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

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.73 5.64 17.17 1.00 19.41 147.07

3.77 5.72 17.27 1.00 19.61 149.07

-1.29% -0.88% 4.96% 3.79% -5.36% -32.17%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.52

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

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MONDAY JUNE 21, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWSXTRA

In Kebbi, 10 Rescued, Scores Still Missing, Hunters Join Battle 15 Niger kidnap victims escape from abductors

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Laleye Dipo in Minna The Nigerian Army yesterday said that troops operating under the auspices of Operation Hadarin Daji, supported by Nigerian Air Force, on Saturday rescued one teacher and three students of the Federal Government College, Birnin Yawuri in Kebbi State, bringing to 10 the number of captives rescued by the military.

This is coming as no fewer than 15 people recently kidnapped by bandits in Tegina town of Niger State at the weekend escaped from their abductors The military had on Friday rescued five Kebbi students and two teachers but one of the students died of exhaustion.

A statement issued yesterday by the Army said more troops were deployed to dominate the forest and deny the bandits freedom of operation.

THISDAY gathered that hunters have also joined in the searchand-rescue operation.

Over 80 students, mostly girls and teachers of the school, were abducted by armed bandits last week.

The statement issued by Army

Spokesman, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, said one teacher and three more students were rescued on Saturday.

“Troops of the Nigerian Army operating under the auspices of Operation Hadarin Daji supported

by Nigerian Air Force have rescued more abductees of the FGC Birnin Yawuri.

“One teacher and three students were rescued yesterday at Makuku, in the ongoing search and rescue operations”, it said.

The army statement said “troops also killed one bandit and recovered nine motorcycles and four handsets from the fleeing bandits.”

It said “additional troops have also been deployed to dominate the forest and deny the bandits freedom of action”.

The statement recalled that two teachers and five students were earlier on Friday, June 18, 2021, rescued by troops in a coordinated fire-fight with the kidnappers.

Meanwhile, no fewer than 15 people recently kidnapped by bandits in Tegina town of Niger State at the weekend escaped from their Abductors.

The 15 people were among the

Policeman Goes Berserk, Kills Five Persons, Injures Four in Enugu Ugwuanyi promises to pay hospital bills of victims EjioforAlike There was pandemonium yesterday at therddrdrf Golf Estate area in Enugu as an unidentified police officer went berserk and killed five persons The officer; a Police Inspector attached to Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 9, Umuahia, Abia State, who opened fire on the people on sight, also injured four others.

The remains of the dead ones have been deposited to Parklane General hospital, while the medical officers were battling to save others that were badly injured.

The Governor of Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has also visited the victims at the hospital and promised to pay all the hospital bills.

Confirming the ugly incident, Enugu Police command Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe said in a statement that the Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Ndatsu Aliyu, had ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (State CIID), to carry out thorough investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the shooting incident.

The incident, according to the statement, occurred yesterday at about 0930hrs in the Golf Estate area of Enugu.

The statement noted that a Police Inspector attached to the Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 9, Umuahia, Abia State, who was on duty at RC Lotto Company located in the Estate carried out the shootings Ndukwe also said that the

officer “has been arrested and taken into custody pending the conclusion of investigation.”

“The Commissioner, who made the order after visiting the hospital where four of the persons said to have sustained gunshot injuries are receiving treatment and five others whose injuries were critical, have been confirmed dead by doctors on duty and deposited in the mortuary for autopsy; also ordered the swift conclusion of the investigation to aid further necessary actions by the Police.”

While sympathising with the family and friends of the victims and urging themtoremaincalm,cooperatewiththe command in the ongoing investigation, also, “called on eye witnesses at the scene of the incident to volunteer useful information that will aid the thorough and swift conclusion of the investigation, in view of ensuring that justice prevails.

Meanwhile, Ugwuanyi has also visited the survivors in the hospital where he promised to offset the hospital bills of the ones receiving treatment.

Ugwuanyi was received at the hospital by the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, Mohammed Ndatsu Aliyu and the Chief Medical Director, Prof.

Hyacinth Onah.

According to a statement by the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chidi Aroh, the governor expressed shock over the dastardly act.

The governor empathised with the victims and wished them quick recovery while condoling with families of the deceased.

He equally charged the hospital management to ensure that victims receive adequate medical attention.

adults abducted along with the 156 pupils of the Salihu Tanko Islamic school more than two weeks ago.

THISDAY learnt that after their abduction, the adults were

separated from the children and taken into Zamfara forests, while the children were kept in another location yet unknown.

It was reliably learnt that on Friday night the 15 victims

managed to open the door of the house in which they were locked in the forest after the bandits stationed to guard them were deeply asleep as a result of drunkenness.

THISDAY gathered that the escapees moved in different directions so that they will not arouse suspicion from other bandits in the forest.

SIXTY HEARTY CHEERS...

L-R: Former member of National Assembly representing Edo South senatorial district, Senator Ehigie Uzamere; his wife and celebrant, Mrs. Iriagbonse Uzamere; wife of Edo State Governor, Mrs. Betty Obaseki; and Governor Godwin Obaseki, at the the 60th birthday celebration of Iriagbonse, in Benin City...at weekend.

Be Ready to Confront Any Invaders, Delta Monarchs Tell Communities Traditional rulers in Delta State have appealed to residents to be more vigilant and security conscious following the purported threat by Fulani jihadists to attack Asaba and Agbor over the southern governors’ insistence on banning open grazing.

The monarchs gave the advice in a four-point communiqué issued at the end of their meeting in

Asaba on Saturday.

In the communiqué read by the Chairman of Delta Traditional Rulers’ Council and Obi of Owa, Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor, the monarchs condemned the threat in its entirety and restated their earlier support for the position of the southern governors on the now famous “Asaba Declaration”.

It read, “The monarchs urged

all communities in Delta State to immediately activate their local security apparatus and be ready and prepared to ward off any form of threat to peace and security in their area.

“Royal fathers tasked security agencies in the state not to treat the purported threat with levity but extend their dragnets to all nooks and

crannies of the state with a view to nipping unwholesome activities of criminal elements in the bud.”

While decrying the heightened insecurity across the country, the monarchs called on the federal authorities to take the issue of security seriously in order to stop the nation from drifting to anarchy.

NDLEA Arrests Law Enforcement Officer, Six Others for Dealing in Cocaine, Others Uncovers heroin in Pakistan-returnee’s anus at Lagos airport A serving officer of a law enforcement agency, Popoola Abayomi has been arrested for selling assorted illicit drugs to students of a federal university and cultists in Ogun State.

The drug dealer who serves in the Lagos State Command of the security agency was arrested on Wednesday, June 15, 2021 after days of surveillance on his wife’s shop used as his sales point in Camp area of Abeokuta.

One of his salesmen, a motorcycle rider known as Ogah was trailed to the location at about 8p.m and arrested with six pinches of Colorado weighing 1.17grammes before Popoola who has been on the agency’s watchlist, was nabbed with

different illicit drugs, including codeine -17 bottles; cannabis -22.26grams; tramadol 230 -98grammes; 61 tablets of flunitrazepam -23.72grammes; 113 tablets of molly -48.16grammes and sex drops -43.92grammes.

After the arrest of the two suspects, some student union officials of the institution blocked the NDLEA team with their official vehicle. The narcotic agents however restrained themselves and after hours of standoff, succeeded in moving the suspects to custody.

In the same vein, one Adelodun Kamaldeen has been arrested by operatives of the Oyo State Command of the agency at General Area, Ilorin, Kwara State following the interception of a parcel

containing cocaine and heroin that weighed 10.5grammes and 4.8grammes , respectively on June 13.

The following day, two ladies; Mary Peter, 40, and Mercy Oladele, 39, were arrested at Total Garden, Ibadan when NDLEA operatives acting on a tip-off, intercepted their commercial micra car. The two women were arrested with seven bags of cannabis weighing 77.23kg brought in from Ogbese, Ondo State, to supply a man they simply identified as Alhaji. According to them, they had earlier supplied the same Alhaji two bags before coming with the seven bags they were caught with.

On Friday 18th June, operatives

of the Oyo state Command acting on intelligence also raided the residence of one Alhaji Faruq at Elebu area, Akala expressway, Oluyole LGA, Ibadan, where they recovered 43 ampoules of methylphenidate.

In Kaduna state, a drug trafficker, Segun Abraham was arrested at Panteka area of the state on 17th June with 211.500kg of skunk heading to Kano state.

Meanwhile, a Nigerian returning from Pakistan, Ezenyeche Kingsley Ebuka has been arrested by NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airpirt, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos with five pellets of heroin weighing 250grammes discovered in his anus.

NAF Kills Scores of Insurgents in Borno Army chief visits wounded soldiers

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Air strikes conducted by jet fighters and helicopter gunships of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) killed scores of insurgents in Lamboa in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State.

The air interdiction came as the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.Gen. Faruk Yahaya, visited wounded soldiers in Maiduguri and assured them of support of the army

headquarters in meeting their health and welfare needs.

Spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, confirmed that the air strikes were delivered by Alpha jets and helicopter gunships, killing scores of insurgents.

A notorious ISWAP Logistic Commander, Modu Sullum, was also feared killed in the combat mission.

Sulum was believed to be

the mastermind of destructions of power transmission towers at Malanari along MaiduguriDamaturu Highway and attacks on travellers in Auno and Jakana axis of the state.

The terrorists, reportedly came in a convoy of eight gun trucks, preparatory to launch attacks in Lamboa.

Following the development, the air force deployed fighter aircraft in collaboration with ground troops,

decimating many of the terrorists.

“I can confirm to you that we conducted successful air strikes in Borno Sunday afternoon”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Faruk Yahaya visited the Theatre Headquarters of the Joint Task Force of Operation Hadin Kai in his maiden operational visit from June 16-19, 2021 to assess the operational and welfare state of the troops.

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NEWSXTRA

24 Killed in Benue Police Station Attack, Ebonyi Communal Clash George Okoh in Makurdi The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the killing of 14 bandits who attacked a police station yesterday in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of the state.

Also, 10 people were feared killed in a renewed communal clash between the people of Ezza and Effium in Ado, Benue State, and Ohaukwu in Ebonyi State.

A source said the bandits, numbering over 50, drove in Toyota Corolla vehicles to the police station where some of their gang members were being detained.

According to the source,

they opened fire on the police station, but the policemen, who were already on alert, fired back, leading to the high number of casualties on the bandits’ side “Surprisingly, the police gunned down over 10 of these bandits, while many of them escaped with gunshot wounds. We also heard that two of them were captured alive,” the source added.

When contacted, the Benue State Police Command spokeswoman, Ms. Catherine Anene, a deputy superintendent of police, confirmed that 14 of the bandits were killed during the attack.

“It is no longer news that series of operations are going on in Katsina-Ala Local Government

Area of Benue State. These activities are geared towards a total clampdown on bandits’ activities in the area.

‘On 19th June 2021, five bandits were arrested and detained at Katsina-Ala Police Division for investigation and prosecution.

‘On June 20, 2021 (yesterday) at about 0130 hours, more than

50 other gang members of the detainees mobilised and invaded the police station to rescue their counterparts.

‘Officers at the division who were already at alert engaged them in a gun duel and were able to subdue the bandits.

Fourteen of them were brought down during the exchange of fire, while several others escaped

with gunshot injuries.”

Anene added that security operatives in the area are currently on the trail of suspected bandits who are now at large. eople of Katsina-Ala town are advised to remain calm and avail every useful information about the bandits to the police,” she stated.

On the communal clash

incident, the Chairman of Ado Local Government Area, Mr. James Oche, confirmed to reporters by telephone the killing, saying that 10 people were killed in the renewed communal clash.

While condemning the clash, he said the crisis had truncated the peace process his administration was working to achieve.

NIMASA Launches Campaign to End War Risk Insurance on Nigerian-bound Cargoes Amidst the falling piracy incidence in the Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea since February when the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) deployed the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure popularly known as the Deep Blue Project, the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh has expressed worry over the persisting War Risk Insurance on Nigerian-bound cargoes, calling for its removal.

This came as it has been disclosed that Nigeria’s maritime trade is to say the least threatened due to the increasing war risk insurance premium now being paid by Nigeria-bound vessels.

Although according Jamoh, piracy in the Nigerian waters is waning, stakeholders in the industry are worried that offshore underwriting firms still insist on very high premium to be paid by those conveying cargoes to Nigeria.

War risk insurance is a type of insurance, which covers damage due to acts

of war, including invasion, insurrection, rebellion and hijacking. Some policies also cover damage due to weapons of mass destruction. It is most commonly used in the shipping and aviation industries.

It generally has two components: War Risk Liability, which covers people and items inside the craft and is calculated based on the indemnity amount; and War Risk Hull, which covers the craft itself and is calculated based on the value of the craft.

The premium varies based on the expected stability of the countries to which the vessel will travel, the war risk phenomenon, which was only known to countries with high rate of piracy such as Somalia, also found its way into Nigeria following massive involvement of youths in the Niger Delta in militant activities.

Speaking during the recent official flag-off of the deep blue project in Lagos by President Muhammadu Buhari,theNIMASA boss noted that since the deployment of the deep blue project assets in February, there had been a steady decline in piracy attacks in the Nigerian waters on a monthly basis.

NAFDAC Moves to Register Local Chemical Manufacturing Firms Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has said it will commencethe registration of chemical manufacturing companies in Nigeria.

In a statement signed by the Resident Media Consultant of the agency, Mr. Sanyo Akintola, the Director-General of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said it has agreed with the manufacturers of chemical products in Nigeria to explore how to penetrate the international market to enhance the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

Adeyeye stated this yesterday during a virtual chemical manufacturers stakeholders’ meeting organised by the agency with the aim of sensitising, enlightening, and creating

awareness on the current trends in the regulation of the manufacture of chemicals with emphasis on the need to be listed as a chemical manufacturer in Nigeria.

She added that the objective of the deliberations augured well with the current focus of the NAFDAC management to bring the agency’s regulatory activities in line with international best practices.

The NAFDAC boss noted that Chemical Evaluation and Research Directorate has the mandate to safeguard public health by ensuring that only the right quality chemicals are manufactured, imported, exported, distributed, sold and used in NAdeyeye disclosed that the directorate has put in place effective regulations and guidelines for sound chemical management in Nigeria.

CONGRATULATIONS…

Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited and Country Chair, Shell companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor (left), and Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, at the conferment of the university’s fellowship on Okunbor and presentation to him the 2021 Award for Excellence and Integrity in Corporate Leadership, held at the university…recently

Land Grabbing: Lawyer Petitions Police over Forceful Invasion of Property Segun James A Lagos lawyer, Mr. Tesleem Adewuyi and two landowning families in Majo Village, Orilemo Community in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State have petitioned the Ogun State Police Command over the forceful acquisition of their farmland by a company, Lavika Farms and members of a neighbouring Otesile family.

Adewuyi along with the families - Sosan Adalemo and Deyoruwa - in conjunction with Mr. Femi Alabi in their petition

claimed that their farmland on which they have title and ownership was encroached upon by agents of Otesile Family and Lavika Farms, with armed thugs as their bulldozer and excavators destroyed their produce.

According to Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and lawyers to the petitioners, the Otesile Family, upon destroying and laying claim to over six acres of the petitioners’ land asked them to pay a ratification fee of N2,400,000 as a condition upon which the land already grabbed

and allegedly sold to Lavika Farm would be returned.

Olumide-Fusika wrote that after this demand was rejected, and “while the discussion for amicable settlement was ongoing that persons claiming to be operating under the name of Lavika Farms and the Otesile Family again rolled in their bulldozer and started destroying the petitioners’ crops on the land and now forcefully took over the petitioners’ land measuring approximately 16 acres.”

The petitioners claimed that the parcel of land initially encroached upon was sold by the Deyoruwa

Family while the other one was sold to them by the Sosan Adalemo family, who said that they are the landowners and that they are surprised by the land-grabbing attitude of the Oyesile family who is their neighbours in the area.

Olumide-Fusika said that all efforts by the Bale of Orilemo community, where Majo village is located and elders of the community to call the invaders to order was rebuffed, even though the boundaries between each family have been spelt out by survey plans.

Police Confirm Killing of Popular Ibadan Radio Presenter The Police Command in Oyo State, yesterday, confirmed the murder of a popular Ibadan Radio Presenter, Mr. Titus Badejo, by unknown gunmen.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident in a text message sent to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan.

NAN gathered that Badejo, a former presenter with Naija FM Ibadan, was murdered by unknown gunmen on Saturday, outside Club 407 in the Oluyole Area of Ibadan

at about 11.30pm.

The PPRO said that investigations were ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and apprehend the assailants.

“At about 0730hrs, Sunday 20th June 2021, One Damilola Afolabi ‘m’, Manager, at Club 407, Oluyole Ibadan, reported at the Oluyole Divisional Police Headquarters that on Saturday, 19th June 2021, one Titus Badejo, journalist and freelance disc jockey with the club, was shot outside the club’s

premises by unknown assailants.

“However, comprehensive investigations are in top gear to unravel circumstances surrounding the incident and to apprehend the assailants.

Verifiable updates would be provided soonest,” Osifeso said in the text.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that the deceased, popularly called ‘Ejanla”, meaning ”Big fish” in English, had been at the club with friends since 9.00pm

“When he was leaving with his friends in his car around 11.30pm, two masked men on a motorcycle suddenly stopped his car, wielding a gun and asked all of them to lie down.

“He was the only one shot by the gunmen who left immediately without taking anything or touching the other occupants of the car”, the source said.

NAN gathered that his corpse had since been deposited at the morgue of Adeoyo Hospital, Ring road, Ibadan. (NAN)

Student Shot Dead as Security Men, Rice Smugglers Clash in Badagry An SS3 student was shot dead during a clash between security operatives of the Joint Border Patrol Team and suspected rice smugglers at Irosu Village near Badagry on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that Alade Oba, 18, was hit by a stray bullet and died on the spot during the clash with JBPT comprising Customs, Army and Immigration.

NAN reported that the JBPT,

which was established in the aftermath of the border closure of August 2019, is yet to be disbanded.

It was gathered that the JBPT were on routine patrol at Irosu community near Sawa checkpoint around OwodeApa border post in search of smuggled foreign rice, following a tip-off.

Some aggrieved youths, however, confronted the

operatives, vowing that on no account should any security agent be allowed to enter their domain to carry out the operation.

“However, in the ensuing fracas, the operatives started shooting into the air.

“In the process, one Alade Oba, an SS3 student of Kankon Secondary School, was hit by a stray bullet and died on the spot “This resulted in a serious

protest by the youths who mobilised and burn tyres, demanding the release of Oba’s corpse,” a source at the scene told NAN. NAN reported that the unrest prompted the Commanding Officer of 243 Recce Battalion, Ibereko, Badagry, Col. Nicholas Rume, to lead his men to the area to contain what could have degenerated into further loss of lives.

MONDAY JUNE 14, 2021, ˾ T H I S D AY

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Insecurity Threatening Girl-child Education in Northern Nigeria, Says Lawan The President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, has raised the alarm that the disturbing insecurity in the northern part of Nigeria was already affecting the disposition of young people, especially girls, towards education.

He said the attacks on school hostels by bandits and insurgents who usually kidnap the students was affecting the attitude of girls in the North to education.

Lawan stated this in Abuja on Saturday evening when he spoke

as the special guest of honour at the art exhibition organised by Stephen Binos, the son of the Senator representing Adamawa South Senatorial District, Yaroe Binos.

He said, “It is a very bad development that education is suffering especially with so much kidnapping of school children especially the girl child.

“In northern Nigeria, education has always been a problem and it is getting worse with this kind of abduction of school children and

even those in tertiary institutions.

“I believe we should continue to fight insurgency, banditry for us to

restore normalcy in our country and for our country to make progress.”

Lawan said the desire of the

current administration in Nigeria was to ensure that the country stabilises to be able to provide a

better security environment for the youths to continue to excel and to attract foreign direct investment.

No Increase in Our Cement Price, Says BUA Obinna Chima BUA Cement Plc has denied any plan to increase the price of its cement in the foreseeable future despite the alleged 10 per cent price hike by its main competitor.

A statement quoted the company to have disclosed this in a letter to its distributors and customers, just as it called on members of the public to ignore any rumour of a price increase.

It noted that the timing was not right, saying there were no justifiable business reason for any increase whatsoever.

“We are compelled to release this statement following requests from our distributors and customers seeking clarification as to whether BUA also intends to increase the price of its cement.

“This is in view of a purported increase of N260 by another major Cement producer.”

BUA insisted that it was not a part of the price increase and would not seek to increase the price of its cement (ex-factory) in the foreseeable future.

The cement manufacturer restated its earlier position it had communicated on April 24, 2021, that it would not join in any increase in the prices of Cement for the foreseeable future.

“Whilst we believe it is the prerogative of any company in a free-market economy to determine the prices of their products as they deem fit, based on their urgent business needs, our position not to increase our own prices is anchored on the following: “We are aware of the feedback and outcry from the public, and the government on the high retail price of cement in a period of economic recovery. BUA is also of the firm belief that the current retail prices of Cement are higher than normal, hence our earlier communication not to increase ex- factory prices in the foreseeable future,” it added.

It pointed out that since its last communication to its customers, it has noticed a slight decline in the price of cement due to the commencement of the rainy season – during which demand is reduced. As a result of this, we, BUA in the statement maintained that any further increase in prices would hamper a continuous downward trend as well as hamper a normalisation/stabilisation of prices of the commodity.”

“As a responsible corporate entity, we refuse and reject associations with any actions that are deemed capable of projecting any industry we operate in as a cartel.

Enugu APC Passes Vote of Confidence on Eze The Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has passed a vote of confidence on its 2019 governorship candidate, Senator Ayogu Eze for being a blessing to the party since he joined the party.

In a statement jointly signed by the APC State Caretaker Chairman, Dr. Ben Nwoye; APC Local Government Area Caretaker Chairman, Mr. Desmond Ayogu and the APC Ward Seven, Igbo Eze North LGA Caretaker Chairman, Mr. Nduka Obeta, the party described Eze as a grassroots politician who has brought his wealth of experience and knowledge to help develop the party and widen its appeal and popularity within Enugu State and the South-east geopolitical zone.

Lauding Eze for his contributions to the APC, the party observed that he has always identified with the party in all its programmes and activities, noting that the senator has always put the party very high in his scale of activities and has been one of the party’s faithful that has never missed any opportunity to identify with the party and

her members during festivities and at times of adversity.

The party further commended Eze for being level- headed and loyal to the party in all his dealings, noting that he worked assiduously with other party members to assist the committee sent to Enugu State for the recently concluded registration exercise, led by Senator Jonathan Zwingina, to conduct an outstanding exercise.

The party told Eze that as the leader of the party in Enugu State all eyes were on him to continue to mobilise the party for the coming congresses and national convention and the 2023 general election, noting that he should be prepared to work with other leaders of the party to ensure the party takes over the government of Enugu State at the next polls.

The vote of confidence was addressed to the National Chairman of the APC Caretaker and National Convention Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State.

FOR WASTE DISPOSAL…

L-R: Managing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Mr. Alfred Olajide; Assistant General Manager, Special Duties, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Suleiman Kemi; Director, Sanitisation Services Department, Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Dr. Hassan Sanuth; Managing Director, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), Mr. Matthieu Seguin, and Business Development Analyst, Recycle Point, Mr. Daniel Oderinde, at the launch of the Nigerian Bottling Company Recycling Bank in Ikeja, Lagos …recently ETOP UKUTT

PDP CelebratesVictory in Kaduna By-election, Mocks El-Rufai Chuks Okocha in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the weekend said its victory in last Saturday’s Kaduna State bye-election, “despite the bragging, intimidation and rigging machinations of the state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration,” is a further signal

that the people of the state have since rejected the governor and his party (APC).

The main opposition party won the by-election for Sabo Gari constituency in the state House of Assembly.

Declaring the result of the election in Zaria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, MohammedNuruddin Musa, said the candidate of the PDP, Usman Baba, secured

9,113 votes to emerged winner.

The returning officer added that Musa Musa of theAPC came second, having polled 7,404 votes.

The INEC official said Musa Halilu of PRP secured 305 votes, while Anas Abdullahi of the ADC, and Chindo Ibrahim of the ADP scored 62 and 61 votes respectively.

The Sabon Gari constituency seat, which was occupied by Aminu Shagali (APC), a former speaker of

the Assembly, was declared vacant on April 27, 2021, following his failure to participate in legislative activities for more than 360 days In its reaction, the PDP said its victory in the state, particularly in the political melting point like Sabon Gari constituency, is a foretaste of the crushing defeat that awaits the APC in Kaduna and other states of the federation in the 2023 general election.

UTME 2021: JAMB Delists 24 Centres for Poor Performance Kuni Tyessi in Abuja Less than 24 hours after the annual matriculation examination into tertiary institutions kicked off across Nigeria, the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) has said it has delisted 24 Computer Based Examination (CBE) centres across the country over their poor performance at the

commencement of the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

A statement issued yesterday by the spokesperson of the Board, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said the centres failed during the conduct of the 2021 UTME held on June 19, 2021.

He said: “Candidates posted to any of these centres are required to await further

directives by checking their profile, email addresses and text messages on their registered phone for a new date.”

The list of the affected CBT centres included: Harry Pass Polytechnic CBT Centre, Off Gboko Amelodu Road, Gboko, Benue State; Izisco Obos Institute of Maritime Studies and Technology, Warriors, Delta

State; Oseni Elamah ICT Institute, Auchi, Edo State; GIVITEC CBT Centre,192, Murtala Mohamned Way, Benin, Edo State; Kings Polytechnic, Ubiaja, Edo State; GEF Systems Limited, Public Service Institute of Nigeria, Abuja; Orlu East CBT Centre, Orlu East LGA headquarters, Imo State, and Bethel Baptist High School, Joshua Road, Kaduna State.

Auditor-General Queries NIPC over Unlawful Spending Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Office of the AuditorGeneral of the Federation has queried the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) for unlawfully spending.

The Auditor-General made this known in a 41-page report covering the period between January 1, 2016 and

December 31, 2019.

But in the response sighted

by THISDAY, the commission justified the spending raised in the Auditor-General’s report.

On the allegation that NIPC awarded contracts above the Executive Secretary’s approval threshold of N59,314,528.85, the commission said all the expenses relating to the initial printing of 5,000 copies of the Compendium, which

was released in November 2017, were paid for by Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) to AVIA Global, adding that the printing paid for by NIPC in 2018 were additional copies of the document and were subjected to the provisions of Section 42(1)(d) of the Public Procurement Act. Responding to the allegation that the commission awarded contract to non-registered

company to the tune of N10.7 million, the commission explained that 12 bids were received in relation to an open advert for computer consumables advertised on May 20, 2019, with a bid submission date of July 4, 2019,but added that of the 12 bids, Micheal Jacobs Consulting L i m i t e d p re s e n t e d t h e lowest bid amount of N10,712,100.00.

Lagos Police Arrest Proprietor for Alleged Sexual Assault of Female Student Chiemelie Ezeobi The Lagos State Police Command has arrested the proprietor of Megland Comprehensive School, Lekki, for allegedly sexually assaulting and harassing a female student.

The proprietor, 62-year- old Emmanuel Madueke, was alleged to have sexually harassed a senior secondary student of his school.

According to the Coordinator of the Lagos State Domestic

and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, this act contravenes the Child’s Rights law 2015 as well as the Criminal Law of Lagos State, particularly, sections 135, (Indecent treatment of a child) as well as 263, Sexual Assault.

To this end, she said a team comprising officers of Office of Education Quality Assurance, Ministry of Youth and Social Development

and the DSVRT visited the school, based on the state government’s Executive Order on Safeguarding and Child Protection Programme, 2016.

She said: “It was gathered that the alleged perpetrator had developed a cordial relationship with the student before perpetrating this heinous act.

“In an interview with the student by the team, the affected child disclosed that the school proprietor on May

26, 2021 which happened to be the school’s children’s day celebration, made an advancement towards her, kissed her on her lips but she was able to push him away and ran out of his office.

“She added that since the incident she has made every effort to distance herself from the proprietor.

“Reacting to the allegations, the alleged perpetrator claimed that his action was an innocent gesture on the student’s cheek.

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MONDAY JUNE 21, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Edo Deputy Gov Explains Delay in Formation of Cabinet Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has said the delay in the formation of the state cabinet by the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, was because of the

governor’s position that those who will serve in his cabinet should be nominated by the people at the grassroots level and not by him picking commissioners and imposing them on the state.

He, however, disclosed that the

Ondo Governorship Election: PDP Seeks Release of CTC of A’ Court Judgment James SowoleinAkure The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday complained about the non-release of the Certified True Copies (CTC) of last week judgment of the Court of Appeal to its governorship candidate, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN).

The Court ofAppeal inAkure had last week allowed in part Jegede’s grounds of appeal, against the verdict of the Elections Petitions Tribunal, which upheldthevictoryofthestateGovernor, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

Sequel to the verdict of the appellate court, the PDP governorship standard bearer immediately announced his decision to challenge the verdict at the Supreme Court.

ButthestatechapterofthePDPraised the alarm over an alleged ploy to deny its candidate justice in the apex court, as sixdaysafterthejudgment,theCTCsof thesuithavenotbeenreleasedtoJegede.

The Supreme Court has only 60 days within which to conclude hearing of the appeal.

In a statement to register the complaint, the state PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kennedy Peretei, said: “The Ondo State chapter of the PDP is surprised that our application to the Office of the Registrars of Court of Appeal to get Certified True Copies of the judgement has been met with some kind of bulk passing between officials of the court in Ado-Ekiti and Akure.

“In view of the fact that the Supreme Court has only 60 days from the date of the judgment of the Court of Appeal to dispose of this matter, any attempt to play games or to apply delay tactics will amount to nothing but sabotage and a calculated attempt to subvert the course of justice.”

PAN Laments Negative Impact of Levy Reduction on ImportedVehicles Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia The revision of the import levy on cars from 30 per cent to five per cent by the federal government has taken a toll on the business plan of the Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN).

This was disclosed by the Chairman of the PAN, Hon. Aliyu Ahmed Wadada, in an interview with THISDAY last weekend in Lafia.

Wadada explained that the PAN had a fantastic business plan that was negatively hit by the government’s policy on importation of cars.

He said: “The policy is the reduction of levy on imported vehicles by government from 35 per cent to five per cent, which is a disincentive to the local

assembly plants.

“Before that, the policy that was in place was that 40 per cent duty and 30% levy. When you put the two together you will have 70 per cent, which is very high. The essence of making it that high is to discourage importation so as to encourage the local assembly plants to thrive.”

The chairman of the PAN stated that reduction only helped to open the corridors for the importation fully built automobiles at the expense of locally assembled cars.

“Ironically, government is so desirous and committed to providing employment to the citizens of this country. But how do you provide employment by diminishing the fortunes of your real sector that is manufacturing?

CAC Boss Denies N6.54bn Fraud Allegation James Emejo inAbuja The Registrar General/Chief Executive, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Alhaji Garba Abubakar, has expressed the commission’s commitment to the anti-corruption war of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, adding that it will not in any way be party to corrupt practices.

He said the CAC would continue to work hard to achieve the objectives for which it was established to the satisfaction of its customers and stakeholders.

Abubakar spoke against the backdrop of alleged abuse of power and financial impropriety among others leveled against the management by the CAC staff union

under the aegis of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation , Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE).

He vowed that the commission would not be distracted by mischief makers bent on running down the organisation.

The commission in a statement said contrary to the claims by the union, the registrar-general had declared his assets before the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in accordance with provisions of the laws of the land, pointing out that it was laughable that the claimants were raising doubt over the content of asset declaration they are not privy to.

“It behooves on them to establish any case of wrong declaration,” it stated.

process of picking commissioners had started, and that in a couple of days, a cabinet would be formed.

Shaibu revealed this yesterday while speaking to journalists shortly after the Mass to commemorate the Fathers’ Day celebration at St Paul Catholic Church, Benin-city, where he also served as altar boy.

According to him, “Very soon, we will get a cabinet. The process of getting the names has started from the grassroots. The governor

said he would not the appoint the people; that he prefers the people should play up the names of those that they feel should run the affairs of the state and when they bring the names, in a couple of days, the cabinet will be formed.”

On the significance of the father’s day celebration, the state deputy governor, said serving as an altar boy, which according to him, is the fourth time he is doing so, reminded him of his days as an altar boy in Barnawa,

Kaduna State.

He said: “The significance of father’s day celebration is to remind us as fathers that we should play our role in the society not only at home but also at our work places.

“As a country, the president is the father of the country. The 36 state governors are fathers of the 36 states and they should act as fathers to the country and to their states, and when that is done, prosperity will abound.

“For chief executives of companies, they should also act as fathers in their various establishments; the head of vulcanisers association should act as a father, the head of tomato sellers should act as a father to them as the head. When we do that and stop playing negatively at home and in our workplaces, definitely Nigeria will be a better place.

We should amplify those things that unite us, and make positive statements at all times.

COURTESY VISIT…

L-R: Financial Secretary, Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), Mr. Justus Adejumoh; Head, Legislative and Government Relations, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Bashir Bello; Treasurer (NITRA) Chioma Ezike; Chairman (NITRA), Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi ; Director, Public Affairs (NCC), Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde; and Head, Online Media and Special Publications (NCC), Grace Ojougboh; during the courtesy visit and award presentation by NITRA to the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), NCC in Abuja... weekend

Bandits KillVillage Head in Kaduna John Shiklam in Kaduna The village head of Dogon Daji community in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Mallam Anja, has been shot dead by bandits.

The bandits were said to have raided the residence of the village head and shot him at close range.

Confirming the incident, the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, said investigation

into the incident was ongoing to unravel the perpetrators of the heinous act.

Meanwhile, Governor Nasir El-Rufai has expressed sadness over the death of the village head and prayed for the repose of his

soul.

The governor also sent his condolences to the family of the deceased, and the entire community of Dogon Daji over the shocking and brutal killing

Anambra PDP Governorship Aspirant Explains Abuse of LG System David-ChyddyElekeinAwka A governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State, Mrs. Chidi Ekwueme Onyemelukwe, has stated that ambiguity in the Nigerian Constitution is aiding the abuse of local government system in the country.

Onyemelukwe, the daughter of late former Vice President of Nigeria,

Dr. Alex Ekwueme, expressed worries over the neglect of the local government system, saying the neglect of the system, which is the third tier of government amounts to abuse.

The aspirant, who spoke to journalists yesterday at Nando, Anambra East LGA, during the second session of the fourth Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Niger West, said the recent constitution amendment could be deployed to

correct the anomaly.

According to her, “There are certain ambiguities that exist in Nigerian Constitution that allow state governments to annex and treat local government areas as their operational extensions.

“The local government areas were created as autonomous governance structures, but this ambiguity has given state governors the leverage to abuse the system.

“Such loopholes and neglect of local governments have rendered our federal system dysfunctional.”

She said any meaningful approach to the issue must come through a rigorous constitutional amendment process, adding that if given the mandate of the state, her government will guarantee local government autonomy by holding local government elections within its first year in office.

Twitter: SERAP Sues FG over Directive to Broadcasters Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit asking the Federal High Court in Abuja “to stop the federal government and the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Muhammed from using their patently unlawful directive to all TV and radio stations not to use Twitter, and to delete their accounts as a pretext to harass, intimidate, suspend or impose criminal punishment on journalists and broadcast stations simply for using social media platforms.”

This is in reaction to the order by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) asking TV and radio stations to “suspend the patronage of Twitter immediately” after thesocialmediagiantwasbannedinthe country for deleting tweets of President Muhammadu Buhari.

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/ CS/496/2021 filed last Friday, SERAP is seeking “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the government of President Buhari, the NBC, and Mr LaiMuhammedandanyotherpersons from censoring, regulating, licensing

and controlling the social media operations and contents by broadcast stations, and activities of social media service providers in Nigeria.”

In the suit, SERAP is also seeking “an order setting aside the directive by NBC and Mr Lai Muhammed asking broadcast stations to stop using Twitter, as it is unconstitutional, unlawful, inconsistent and incompatible with the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended], and the country’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and

Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”

SERAP is arguing that “the government of President Buhari, the NBC and Mr Lai Muhammed have consistently made policies and given directives to crack down on media freedom, and the rights of Nigerians to freedom of expression and access to information, and to impose crippling fines and other sanctions on broadcast stations without any legal basis whatsoever.”

IPOB: CNG Faults South-east Leaders, Insists on Referendum Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has described as insufficient, deceptive and unacceptable the disowning of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by South-East leaders chaired

by Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State.

CNG said the refutal by the South-east leaders was unacceptable and insisted that a referendum must be conducted to prepare the stage for the final exit of the Igbo from the rest of Nigeria that had never engaged in such

violent agitations for breakup at any time.

The organisation alleged that while on one hand, the South-east leaders were pretending in their denouncing IPOB, “on another hand, they are working to give legitimacy to the Eastern Security Network

(ESN), which they renamed Ebubeagu, which we all know is a militant wing of IPOB.” The Spokesperson of CNG, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, raised these objections in a statement issued yesterday evening titled, “Biafra: South-east leaders refutal insufficient, unacceptable substitute for referendum.”

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˜ ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

MONDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

OLYMPIC GAMES TRIALS

Okagbare Leads Nigeria’s 4x100m Quartet to Improved Ranking Duro Ikhazuagbe The Blessing Okagbare led Nigeria’s 4x100m Women’s quartet increased their rankings from top 16 to top 15 as curtain was drawn on the 2020 Olympic Games Trials in Lagos yesterday.

On a day that heavy downpour almost pushed the final day of the Meet forward to today, Okagbare who had on Thursday won the Women’s 100m with a 10.63secs, anchored the quartet of Grace Nwokocha, Rosemary Chukwuma and Blessing Ogundiran to an improved 42.97sec.

However, the men’s sprint quartet were not that lucky.

The 39.04secs clocked by Enoch Adejoke, Jerry Jakpa, Usheoritse Itsekiri and Godson Brume means they still need to fight harder to make the cut to the Games in Japan next month.

The Lagos Open Athletics Meet scheduled to begin on Thursday

at the Teslim Balogun Stadium appears another window for the quartet to increase their ranking and make the top 16 .

Both the men and women’s teams could not achieve the dream of improved performances in the 1600m relay events.

The men’s team, which stands at 17th, face a herculean task as they have to run at least 3.02.40 seconds to leapfrog other teams in the race to Tokyo.

They ran 3.05.57secs yesterday.

In all, the four-day Olympics Trial was a much improvement on previous ones in the last three years both in terms of organization and quality of races, jumps and throws.

Over 20 foreign-based athletes made the trials. From Queen of the track, Blessing Okagbare to the likes of Ruth Usoro, Rilwan Alowonle, Tobi Amusan, Ese Brume, Favour Ofili, Chidi Okezie, Seye Ogunlewe, Rosemary Chukwuka, Alex Al-

Ameen, Dotun Ogundeji, Oyesade Olatoye and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, Mike Edwards, Annette Echikunwoke and Chioma Onyekwere.

Despite running 10.63 with a tailwind of 2.7, nothing removes quality from Okagbare’s readiness to shock the world in Tokyo next month.

She was the cynosure of all eyes as she took to the track on the opening day, running to the staggering 10.63secs to win her

eight national title, after achieving same feat between 2009 and 2014.

She skipped the trials in 2015 before returning for her seventh title in 2016, the last time she competed at the national trials.

In the men’s version of the sprint, Adegoke, a bubbling star won the men’s 100m race in a staggering 10.00secs, thereby achieving the Olympic standard as he joined the likes of Divine Oduduru, Raymond Ekevwo and Usheoritse Itsekiri, who already

made the cut.

Former BBNaija house mate, Mike Edwards, nearly turned the arena upside down during his event, the men’s high jump, as his fans since the days of the Big Brother house continued to shout his name at every moment of his jump.

Esther Issa was not left out of the accolade as she jumped a new Personal Best of 1.88m while Chidi Okezie and Patience Okon-George shine in the 400m

for men and women respectively.

Oyesade Olatoye got her first ever gold medal on Nigeria soil, emerging winner in the women’s shot put.

What would have been the icing on the cake was the 100m hurdles final but was marred by a little glitch with the timer malfunctioning as Tobi Amusan raced to the finishing line in 12.3secs, though hand-timed.

Oyeniyi Abejoye also wins the men’s 110m hurdles.

‘Bronze Bomber’ Deontay Wilder Traces His Roots to Edo State

Says: I want to see my culture, my ancestors and learn a lot of things Duro Ikhazuagbe Former World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion, Deontay Wilder, has revealed that he has his ancestry in Edo State, Nigeria.

Speaking in a YouTube video that went viral at the weekend, Wilder admitted tracing his roots to Edo and promised he would love to come back home to learn about the culture of the place.

“I want to go back and learn more about my culture and information with things about me. Once I’m done with what I’m doing, I’m going back to see my tribe, Edo. “I want to see my culture and my ancestors and learn a lot of things. We all have lots of things that we are connected to that we know nothing about. I’ll love to go there and do research about my roots and my tribe,” observed Wilder in the video.

Wilder, who adopted the moniker “Bronze Bomber”, enjoyed a fiveyear reign as the WBC heavyweight champion between 2015 and 2020, losing his strap in a bout with British heavyweight champion

Tyson Fury in February 2020.

They both have signed a dealfor a third world heavyweight title fight in Las Vegas on July 24.

The Britain’s WBC champion was ordered by an arbitration court to face Wilder next, thereby disrupting plans for an undisputed world heavyweight unification clash against Nigerian-born British WBA, IBF and WBO champion Anthony Joshua.

It is not immediately clear if Wilder’s realisation of his roots informed his moniker, “Bronze Bomber.”

Another Edo-born Mixed Martial Art UFC Welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman is presently on visit to Nigeria after over 20 years absence.

Fondly called the “Nigerian Nightmare”, Kamaru has promised to assist youths in the country reach their potentials through the funding of a mixed martial art academy.

Several top boxers with successful careers in the heavyweight category have their roots in Nigeria. Apart from Joshua, Samuel Peters, Herbie Hyde and Ike Ibeabuchi, Efe Ajagba’s career is gradually gathering steam.

NPFL: Jigawa Ruin Kano Pillars’ Chance to Consolidate Kano Pillars’ defeat in the ‘Old Kano’ Derby with Jigawa Golden Stars has caused theSai Masu Gidato drop a step further to No 3 on the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) standing.

Nasarawa United who drew goalless with Enyimba in Aba have stepped up to the second spot while Rivers United maintain their fourth place.

Both Kwara United and Enyimba have their positions unchanged - fifth and sixth respectively.

At the danger zone, FC IfeanyiUbah climbed to the top of the bottom four, just

as Sunshine Stars swap their 19th spot with Warri Wolves, formerly at No.18.

There were no away wins at the weekend.

MATCH DAY 28 Plateau Utd 2-0 W’Wolves Jigawa GS 1-0 Kano Pillars Enyimba 0-0 Nasarawa Lobi Stars 2-0 Kwara Utd Dakkada FC 1-1 Rangers IfeanyiUbah 2-1 Heartland Sunshine 2-1 Abia Warriors Rivers Utd 1-0 Katsina Utd *MFM v Wikki Tourists (To be completed this morning due to rain)

Deontay Wilder...traces his roots to Edo State in Nigeria

M E X I C O F R I E N D LY

Iwuala, Olawoyin, 23 Others to Resume Camping in Abuja Super Eagles’ goalkeepers John Noble and Ikechukwu Ezenwa, as well as forward Anayo Iwuala top the list of 25 players invited to camp for next month’s international friendly between Nigeria and Mexico at the famous Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the State of California, United States of America.

Three –time African champions Nigeria will clash with the CONCACAF Gold Cup holders on Saturday, 3rd Julyin what is part of the Mexican’s MexTour Series that will see them play three matches before clashing with Nigeria.

Also invited are Rivers’ United ace defender Ifeanyi Anaemena, Enyimba FC midfielder Ekundayo Ojo and forwards Ibrahim Olawoyin (Rangers International) and Stephen Jude (Kwara United).

The players are expected to report at the Serob Legacy Hotel, Wuye, Abuja on Tuesday, 22nd Junewith their travel documents.

Only 22 of them will travel to the United States of America for the glamour friendly.

The match, which kicks off at 7.30pmLA time will be the sixth confrontation between the senior teams of both countries, four of which have ended in draws. The

only win in the series has gone to Mexico, when they trumped a US Gold Cup encounter in Dallas (State of Texas) 2-1 on 24th June 1995.

INVITED PLAYERS Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland FC); John Noble (Enyimba FC) Defenders: Olisa Ndah (Akwa United); Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors); Tope Olusesi (Rangers International); Ifeanyi Anaemena (Rivers United); Christopher Nwaeze (Kwara United); Enyinnaya Kazie (Rivers United); Mohammed Zirkiflu (Plateau United); Imoh Ubot (Enyimba FC); Tebo Franklin

Degaulle (Nasarawa United); Lawal Oriyomi Murtala (Kwara United) Midfielders: Anthony Shimaga (Rangers International); Seth Mayi (Akwa United); Uche Nwasonaya (Plateau United); Samuel Nnoshiri (Katsina United); Ekundayo Ojo (Enyimba FC) Forwards: Anayo Iwuala (Enyimba FC); Stephen Jude (Kwara United); Ibrahim Olawoyin (Rangers International); Charles Ashimene (Akwa United); Chinonso Ezekwe (Rangers International); Auwalu Ali Malam (Kano Pillars); Neurot Emmanuel (Plateau United); Abdulmutalif Sanusi (Katsina United)

24 States Enter for Lagos Open Athletics Championship The Lagos StateAthleticsAssociation has confirmed the entry of 24 states and some clubs for its lucrative Athletics Meet fixed for Thursday, June 24, 2021, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

The Meet Director for the Lagos Open Athletics Championship, Yussuf Alli, made the disclosure at the weekend even as he hinted a few other states may still join the already confirmed 24 states and clubs.

He said: “Yes, we are very much on track for the Lagos OpenAthletics Championship which will be coming up this Thursday.

“Right now, we already have 24 states and some top racing clubs that have confirmed their participation, a few more may join before we close the window” The Lagos Open Athletics Championship is a one-day meet

simultaneously serving as another qualifying window for the Tokyo Olympics as well as a preparatory event for athletes that have already qualified for the sporting showpiece.

In the past days, Lagos has been a beehive of activities with the National trials at the Yaba College of Technology Sporting complex and now the train is moving to the heart of the city in Surulere as the build-up to the Tokyo Olympics continues to gather momentum.

The list of events to be competed for at the Lagos Open Athletics Championship includes the 5,000 meters, 400 meters hurdles, 100 meters, 800 meters, 400 meters, and 100 meters.

There would also be top-quality action across the relay events including; the 4x100 meters open, 4x100 meters open and 4x400 meters mixed relay.

Long jump, High jump, Triple jump, Shot put as well as 4x100 secondary schools relay and 4x100 secondary schools relay have all been pencilled down for the maiden Lagos Open

Athletics Championship.

Already, the top three finishers across all the events have been assured mouth-watering prizes by the organisers.

Nigeria’s male sprinters on the starting blocks at the final of the 100m on Thursday afternoon

54

˜ ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

MONDAYSPORTS EURO 2020...EURO 2020...EURO 2020...

Italy Top Group A on Maximum Nine Points, Wales Through Italy topped Group A of the ongoing Euro 2020 with maximum nine points after defeating Wales 1-0 yesterday.

It was the Azzuri’s 30 straight undefeated game. Wales however pulled through to the Last 16 despite finishing the

group stage on same four points as Switzerland that defeated Turkey 3-1 in the other game of the evening.

Wales demonstrated great resolve in defeat against Italy as they clung on with 10 men for a 1-0 result which was enough to

Kane to Start for England against Czech, Says Southgate England striker Harry Kane will start his side’s final Euro 2020 group game against the Czech Republic, manager Gareth Southgate confirmed yesterday.

The Tottenham striker, 27, failed to have a shot on target in England’s win over Croatia and draw with Scotland.

But Southgate said his captain will start again at Wembley on Tuesday.

“You can assume that, yes, absolutely,” he said. “He is fundamental not only to the goals he scores but the build-up play and everything else he brings.”

Kane is England’s talisman, winning the World Cup Golden Boot in 2018, and headed into this tournament having finished with the most goals and assists of any player in the Premier League last season (23 and 14, respectively).

“I know there will be a lot of questions being asked about him at the moment but he has been through that 100 times before and I have answered that in this role several times in the past,” Southgate added.

“He has come up with the goals that have won us the next games and I expect that to be the same moving forward. He is our most important player.”

England full-back Kieran Tripper is confident his former Tottenham team-mate will rediscover his goalscoring touch at the tournament.

“I believe in Harry,” said the Atletico Madrid defender.

“He works so hard for the team and people might not recognise what he does off the ball.

“Harry’s chances will come and, for sure, he will score goals.”

Kane has 34 goals in 56 games for England, but his difficult start to Euro 2020 continued against Scotland as he managed just 19 touches before being substituted on 74 minutes.

“Harry has had an unbelievable season with Spurs,” added Trippier. “He is working hard in training and it is about getting the chances to him.

England’s Manager, Gareth Southgate (left) has promised Harry Kane to start against Czech Republic on Tuesday

T O K Y O 2 0 2 0 O LY M P I C S

Ugandan First to Test Positive for Covid-19 in Japan A member of Uganda’s Olympic squad has become the first to test positive for Covid-19 on arrival in Japan for the competition due to start on 23 July.

The event was postponed last year, but is now going ahead despite a fresh wave of Covid-19 cases in Japan.

Uganda is also experiencing a surge in cases, which forced the government to tighten lockdown measures on Friday.

The unnamed Ugandan was part of a nine-member squad who had all been fully vaccinated, reports said.

The group - who included boxers, coaches, and officials - had also tested negative before leaving Uganda.

However, one of them tested positive on arrival at Tokyo’s Narita airport on Saturday, and was quarantined at a governmentdesignated facility, Japanese officials were quoted by local media as saying.

The rest of the squad left by chartered bus for Osaka,

in western Japan, where they are to train ahead of the Games.

The Ugandans were the second group of foreign athletes to arrive for training ahead of the competition. The Australian women’s softball squad arrived on 1 June.

Foreign spectators have been banned from the Olympics.

A decision is expected to be taken today on whether to allow domestic spectators.

Having no spectators at the Games is the “least risky” option, Japanese medical experts have said.

But other Japanese officials have indicated they want domestic fans to attend if possible.

Tokyo reported 376 cases of Covidand one death on 20 June, 72 more than a week ago, the privately owned The Asahi Shimbunnewspaper reported.

Polls in local media suggest public scepticism about the Games taking place remains high amid a slow vaccine roll-out.

secure their place in the second round of Euro 2020.

Their automatic qualification was under threat with Switzerland beating Turkey 3-1 in Group A’s other fixture, but Wales withstood relentless Italian pressure to scrape through in second place on goal difference.

Italy had already qualified for the last 16 and, despite making eight changes to their team, they were still utterly dominant, Matteo Pessina’s goal giving them a 1-0 half-time lead which scarcely reflected their superiority.

Wales were forced to play the final half an hour a man down after Ethan Ampadu was sent off for a lunge on Federico

Bernardeschi, intensifying the Italian onslaught.

And although Italy’s win was never in doubt - this was their 30th consecutive match without defeat, equalling their national record - Wales dug deep to ensure the margin of victory was not too damaging.

In Baku, Switzerland gave themselves a superb chance of qualifying for the last 16 of Euro 2020 as one of the best third-placed sides with victory over Turkey in an entertaining and action-packed final group game.

Needing a win in Baku to stand any chance of progression, the Swiss produced by far their best display of the tournament - one that could and probably

should have yielded a bigger and more rewarding win.

Xherdan Shaqiri and Haris Seferovic were the goalscoring heroes, silencing those who had questioned their places in the side with a collection of fine goals, all of them assisted by Steven Zuber.

The first of Shaqiri’s brace - to make it 2-0 in the first half - was especially good, the Liverpool man curling in from the edge of the box.

Equally as important was Yann Sommer in the Swiss goal, who produced a string of good saves to keep a much-improved Turkey at bay, especially in the first half.

At the other end, Ugurcan Cakir was just as impressive,

saving numerous times to frustrate a Swiss side who knew that a Wales loss in Italy and a five-goal swing would give them second in the group.

Turkey were able to score their first goal of the tournament and a fine one it was too, Irfan Can Kahveci smashing in a long-range drive to briefly narrow the score to 2-1.

But having been many people’s ill-judged dark horses for the tournament, they depart without a point to their name and a goal difference of minus seven.

Switzerland must now wait for the group games to be completed to see if their efforts will be enough to send them through.

Gareth Bale (second right) consoling Ethan Ampadu after the Wales international was sent off for dangerous tackle

CAF to Go Ahead with Planned Super League African football is going ahead with plans to launch a Super League, the continent’s governing body said yesterday, despite a similar project in Europe crashing after public outcry.

Confederation of African Football (CAF) President, Patrice Motsepe said an African Super League, an idea first suggested by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, was needed to improve the game on the continent and make it financially viable.

“We are assessing and in preliminary discussions to start an inclusive and broadly supported and beneficial CAF African Super League,” he said in a statement.

“We have been following the attempts by some top European clubs to form a Euro Super League and will learn from their experience and pitfalls.”

Infantino raised the idea first in 2019 saying it would comprise 20 permanent member clubs plus other that would qualify via regional competitions, predicting the Super League would have the potential to generate a revenue of US$3-billion over a five-year cycle.

Motsepe said CAF, which is African football’s controlling body, must consider new competitions to generate additional income for itself and

its member associations and “also contribute to African football becoming globally competitive and self-sustaining”.

Motsepe, who took on the job in March, also said that CAF’s image needed improving.

He said “there is a poor perception of CAF concerning its adherence to governance, auditing, ethical, financial and management good practices”.

“These negative perceptions may, to some extent, be confirmed by the incriminating and damning audit which identified irregular, unethical and improper transactions and conduct,” he added, without offering any details.

Motsepe, who replaced Ahmad Ahmad after his predecessor was banned for fraud, said he was committed to ensuring that this would not happen again.

“CAF should be seen as a body that adheres to good governance, ethics and financial and management best practices”, he said.

“It is also important that the quality of (our) competitions are globally competitive and appealing to spectators, viewers and interested parties in Africa and globally,” he said.

Motsepe said steps would be taken to improve stadiums, refereeing and introduce VAR.

Two years ago, CAF scrapped a $1 billion television and marketing rights deal with Lagardere Sports and are now in a legal wrangle, which has seen several broadcasters stop showing its content.

Patrice Motsepe...CAF President

“The issues relating to CAF and its media and broadcasting rights are also receiving serious attention as this is an important source of funding,” Motsepe added.

MONDAY JUNE 21, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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S’East Leaders to IPOB “We condemn in totality the activities of violent secessionist groups in the South-east and elsewhere. We firmly proclaim that we do not support them and they do not speak for the South-east” – South-east Leaders disowning the agenda of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

ALEXOTTI OUTSIDE THE BOX

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& RE A S O

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26 years

alex.otti@thisdaylive.com

Nigeria, as Dr. Uma Eleazu Sees It “It looks as if we are in a vehicle that is going down hill, and the driver and the conductors are fighting so that they cannot even apply the brakes and they don’t even know that they are not just drifting down hill, but there is a precipice, which they are going to fall into. The state of the nation is very precarious” –Dr. Uma Eleazu, July 2019.

I

n the Igbo society, one of the greatest honours to bestow on a person is ‘Ikwa Ya Na Ndu’.

Literally, it means giving a befitting burial honours while the person is still alive. It is usually reserved for people who have achieved so much and have been of such service to society that people would want to let them know exactly how they are regarded. It is the ultimate show of respect and gratitude by the society. In that context, the personality that is our focus today eminently qualifies and in my own little way, I would like to use this column to honour Dr. Uma Oke Eleazu, on the occasion of the celebration of his birthday. I resolved to use this column today to ‘Kwaa Ete Uma Na Ndu’ in a literary form.

He is an elder statesman from Ohafia, in Abia State. He may not look it, but last Wednesday, June 16, 2021, he turned 91. It is no exaggeration to say that he is among the last of a vanishing breed. Rarely, theoreticians are hardly doers and vice versa. It is in very rare cases as in Dr. Eleazu, that you see the seamless combination of both attributes. His career longevity is remarkable and Nigeria has only a handful of his kind who practice what they preach.

Dr. Eleazu graduated with a first degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Kings College, University Of Durham in 1962. Two years later he earned a Master’s degree in Applied Economics from the same University. In 1965, he proceeded to and bagged another Master’s degree, this time in Public Administration from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He subsequently earned a PhD in Public Administration from the same UCLA in 1968. He came back to Nigeria immediately after the civil war and since then, had served in various capacities in both the public and private sectors before his official retirement.

Upon retirement, he found time to expand his pursuits into several other fields. He has been a teacher, consultant, writer, commentator, and so on. As an intellectual, he has been prodigious in his writings and commentaries on the direction of the Nigerian economy and society.

When Dr. Eleazu came back to Nigeria, it was not difficult for him to make his mark in the difficult world of industry, where the country was struggling to find its path to import substitution and self-sufficiency. He was the alter ego of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, a platform that brought together the fledgling group of manufacturers in an environment of poor electricity supply, inconsistent government policies and unstable exchange rate. He was masterful in the way he argued the case of the group and before long, it became one of the most visible positions in the Nigerian economy.

One thing that stands Dr. Eleazu out from his peers is his ability to mentor younger ones . He is a community leader, a religious leader, and an Elder in the church, His association with the younger generation is remarkable, and, in my opinion, is responsible for the wealth of information and knowledge at his disposal. In 1993, Dr. Eleazu offered to run for the presidency of this country under the platform of the Social Democratic Party.

Dr. Eleazu has so many books and academic works to his credit. These notwithstanding, the most impressive thing he has done, in my own opinion is his latest work. While honouring this

Dr. Eleazu rare breed on his 91st birthday, we have taken liberty to showcase and review his flagship book presented last year to mark his 90th birthday.

Even though the presentation was delayed by the Pandemic, towards the end of the year, he was able to finally present the book, “Nigeria, As I See It: Reflections on the Challenge Of Leadership”.

Here we go: The well-packaged book is a very serious work of 418 pages, written in very simple prose format that makes for easy reading. Frankly, it is a book that one picks up and won’t be able to put down until the last page. It is divided into twelve chapters. The book starts on the first page with a preface where the author gives account of what happened with the Abia State governorship election in 2015. He recounts how some young men from his village, came to meet him to express their frustration on why prominent people from the town, including himself, were not showing interest in the governance of the state, which according to them, was responsible for why they were not getting their fair share of democracy dividends. He recounted what he and others had done in the past to engender good governance which yielded no fruits. He challenged them to come up with a credible candidate and if they did, he would convince other elders to lend support. Not too long after, the youths came back with Yours Truly, and the elders genuinely gave their blessing and support. In his words, “Alex did all the right things according to law; he campaigned vigorously and had widespread support but, towards the end of the campaign, we started hearing from a shadowy group in PDP that there was some document called the “Abia Charter of Equity” that zoned the governorship this time to Abia South and that the candidate should come from the Aba-Ngwa axis.” On the basis of this, the anointed candidate of the then outgoing governor was imposed on the party while Yours Truly went to secure the ticket of APGA in order to contest the election. In his own words, “On the polling day, people trooped out and voted massively for Otti….. Mr. Alex Otti won the election. Even INEC figures showed that he won in 14 out of the 17 LGAs.” He then goes further to narrate how the then outgoing governor, now Sen. Theodore Orji and PDP stalwarts, against all decency and decorum, criminally stormed the Collation Centre in Umuahia and intimidated the Resident Electoral Officer and Returning Officer into announcing Ikpeazu as the winner. He gives an account of how Yours

Truly approached the courts, won at the Court of Appeal, a victory which was eventually reversed by the Supreme Court. With the questions Dr. Eleazu raised in the book, there is no doubt that he is of the opinion that both the electoral and judicial systems needed overwhelming reforms.

While I appreciate the courage of Dr. Eleazu for documenting his account of the Abia 2015 governorship election for posterity, I also want to put it on record that Dr. Eleazu never contacted me before publishing this work. I was surprised that at his age, he had all the information which I can confirm, is a true reflection of what happened.

Dr. Eleazu succinctly agrees with Chinua Achebe that the problem with Nigeria is leadership. “Why do we elect people who will fail? Why do we allow mediocre candidates to run for office? Election after election, results are manipulated to produce mediocre leaders. Any wonder then that things do not work, the author queries. His submission therefore is that until we fix our faulty leadership selection process, the society will make little or no progress.

He gives account of his early years where he grew up without clarity as to why he was a Nigerian as against what he was taught, which was that he was from Bende Division in Owerri Province of Igbo land. While some analysts had expressed sympathy to the author’s generation for not truly understanding their Nigerian origin, it is instructive to note that today’s discourse has tended more towards the new generation of Nigerians seeing themselves more from the prism of ethnic nationalities than the Nigerian nation-state. This can also be gleaned from the agitation for separation and self-determination, coming from several ethnic nationalities in the country. Dr. Eleazu stated unequivocally that he was a follower of Azikiwe, the Zik of Africa.

Somehow, from his account, Zik lived ahead of his time because out of all the nationalists, he was the only one that pushed not only the Nigerian Agenda, but a pan-African Agenda.

Election violence is not a recent thing as recorded by the author. He recalled when thugs attacked him at Oshogbo, while on a campaign trail with Dr. M.I. Okpara and also during another campaign trip to Gboko where he was mercilessly beaten and dispossessed of his belongings. He likened what happened towards the 1964 elections as war. Dr. Eleazu spent some time dealing with the theoretical aspects of leadership. He then discusses the First Republic in great details.

First, he establishes the rationale for colonialism which was to prospect raw materials for the industrialisation of Europe in the 19th Century and establish markets for their finished goods.

Understanding the interests of the colonialists was important to also understand that the wellbeing of the colonies was not in the contemplation of the colonialists. The amalgamation of Nigeria by Lord Lugard which happened in 1914 was merely for the administrative convenience. Lugard’s successor, Sir Hugh Clifford, according to the author, did not believe that a Nigerian Nation existed even though it was his responsibility to manage it as the Governor General. Clifford referred to Nigeria as a “collection of self-contained and mutually independent Native states”. Over 100 years after, it is instructive that not much seems to have changed and it does appear that Sir Clifford was right.

The author goes further to give an overview of the the 3 leading Nigerian Nationalists, namely Azikiwe whom we had mentioned earlier, Obafemi Awolowo and Ahmadu Bello. Each of them had different views about Nigeria, independence, and political organisation. He goes further to document that the North-South rivalry has been here for a very long time. In his own words, “the

question of whether each region should develop as an independent state or Nigeria developing as one nation-state remained very topical” If this question was topical in the 1940s, it is even more so today. Azikiwe assumed leadership of the NCNC when Herbert Macauley died in 1946. The NCNC was more of a Pan Nigerian party. From the Pan Yoruba group, Egbe Omo Oduduwa arose the Action Group between 1950 and 1951 led by Awolowo. The Northern People’s Congress was formed in 1948. The race for independence was then intensified even though the Sadauna of Sokoto wasn’t convinced that the North was ready. Dr. Eleazu dedicates a chunk of his work to Constitutionalism and explains that a constitution is to a country what an owner’s manual is to a computer. Where the owner of the computer refuses to operate it according to the instructions in the manual, he may not get the best performance from it.

He rigorously explains how federalism was arrived at and why our founding fathers believed it was the best system for the country. He, however, believes that the country decided to operate federalism in word only, while running a unitary system in deed. On the electoral system, he contends that a good system is measured by its ability to produce good leadership while one that produces people with questionable character or those lacking leadership qualities, is not desirable.

Independence came in 1960 and indigenous leadership was installed. No sooner had the leadership taken over than crises upon crises reared their ugly heads up. The political parties were at war with each other and with themselves, most of the elections held in different regions ended in a fiasco and the census conducted at that time became controversial. In Dr. Eleazu’s words “political leadership in the First Republic lacked the moral courage to do the right thing at the right time. Members of the elite spent their time creating power bases for themselves while neglecting the essence of their being in politics - the welfare of the people who were now being used as canon-fodder”. The rudderless nature of the ship of state created the conditions for the military to intervene in January 1966. He also gave an account of the civil war but insists that the handling of the post war lessons was not properly done, leaving the country haunted by the ghosts of the war. He did not miss out the role of Britain in the war and its commercial interest around oil. The author then navigates readers through the leadership trajectory from Gowon in 1970 to Buhari at present. He is clear that blurry vision, poor commitment and personality issues made it impossible for successive leaders to deliver on the social contract of well being of the nation and its citizens, safety of lives and property and engendering equal opportunity for citizens.

Dr Eleazu concludes that leadership has failed Nigeria and Nigerians. He however does not fail to recognise pockets of successes in some states and gives credit to the leadership of those states.

He insists that performance has all to do with the person, the passion and preparation rather than the usual excuses about resources and funds.

I must declare that this book is a must read for anyone who is interested in understanding the history of our country and why it is the way it is. You don’t have to take my word for it. Just get a copy and see for yourself.

This column salutes Dr. Uma Eleazu, the intellectual colossus and true captain of industry, at 91, and wishes him continued good health and peace of mind. We also thank God for the strength He gave him to produce this masterpiece even at this age. It is a challenge to everybody else who has been procrastinating on putting down their thoughts in the form of a publication.

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