THURSDAY 7TH JULY 2022

IOCs Lament Escalating Oil Losses, Say Threat Has Reached Existential Level Warn new marginal field licensees may face evacuation issues FG pays $100m for Nigeria, Siemens power project NUPRC insists on 40bn barrels reserves, 3m bpd drilling target NLNG's output drops by 35% on rising oil theft, vandalism Emmanuel Addeh and Peter Uzoho in Abuja International oil companies (IOCs)

operating in Nigeria including Shell, Chevron, TotalEnergies, and ExxonMobil have again expressed their frustration over the escalating

oil losses in the Niger Delta due to the activities of oil thieves.

Speaking at the industry leaders’ panel on the topic: "The Future of

Nigeria's Energy Sector in the PIA Era," Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Limited, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, said the high oil losses

caused by crude theft had resulted to Nigeria's daily oil production declining from 1.8 million barrels per day in the last three years to

just a little over 1 million bpd.

This was just as despite current Continued on page 49

Boris Johnson Digs in Amid Growing Cabinet Resignations... Page 49 Thursday 7 July, 2022 Vol 27. No 9949. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

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President Swears in New Ministers

Deji Elumoye, Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja, Fidelis David in Akure and Sylvester Idowu in Warri

L-R: Arise News anchor, Ngozi Alaegbu; Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State and candidate of the All Progressives Congress; Labour Party candidate, Hon. Yusuf Lasun; Social Democratic Party candidate; Mr Goke Omigbodun; Accord Party candidate, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi; Arise News anchor, Dr Reuben Abati; and Executive Director of Enough is Enough, Yemi Adamolekun, at the Osun State governorship debate hosted by Arise News Channel in Osogbo… yesterday

President Muhammadu Buhari has charged the seven newly appointed Ministers to serve Nigeria with all Continued on page 49

Buhari Visits Kuje, Queries Intelligence, Response as ISWAP Claims Responsibility President questions why prison defences failed to work Demands comprehensive report on incident DSS warned correctional facility of planned attack Presidency: Activities of criminals won’t discourage our govt Security cordon in Abuja after Kuje Prison bombing Atiku, Akeredolu, Afenifere, others speak on development Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Kingsley Nwezeh, Olawale Ajimotokan, Michael Olugbode in Abuja, James Sowole in Abeokuta and Fidelis David in Akure President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, visited the Kuje Medium

Security Custodial Centre, Abuja, which was attacked Tuesday night by scores of armed terrorists, and queried the intelligence gathering system of the authorities at the centre.

Continued on page 5

Dwindling Revenue: We'll Not Be Able to Pay Salaries in Coming Months, Govs Cry Out...Page 10

NIGERIA AT WAR...

President Muhammadu Buhari inspecting Kuje Correctional facility in Abuja after the terrorists attack ..... yesterday

PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI

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CONTINUATION PAGE BUHARI VISITS KUJE, QUERIES INTELLIGENCE, RESPONSE AS ISWAP CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY The president, who spent 30 minutes to assess the extent of damage at the Correctional Centre, however, wondered why prison defences failed to work and immediately requested for a comprehensive report on the incident.

But a notorious terrorist group, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), has claimed responsibility for the violent attack on Kuje Prison in Abuja.

Buhari, who, like most Nigerians, was shocked by both the scale and audacity of the attack asked: “How did the defences at the prison fail to prevent the attack? How many inmates were in the facility? How many of them can you account for?

How many personnel did you have on duty? How many of them were armed? Were there guards on the watchtower? What did they do?

Does the CCTV work?”

After inspecting some of the points impacted by the attack, the president spoke to newsmen, during which he expressed disappointment with the intelligence system (and utilisation).

“I am disappointed with the intelligence system. How can terrorists organise, have weapons, attack a security installation and get away with it?” he queried.

Accompanied by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and his Chief of Staff, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, the President, said at the end of the visit that he was expecting “a comprehensive report” on the incident.

Earlier upon arrival, Buhari was briefed on the attack by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Shuaib Mohammad Lamido Belgore, and the Controller General of Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, showing him the bombed-out section used to access first, and the records office, which was set on fire, adding that the invaders thereafter launched an attack on all cells in which Boko Haram terrorists were held.

The Commander-in-Chief was told that at the end of the attack, none of the 63 terrorists were accounted for, but it was emphasised that records were not lost, because they had been backed up.

Buhari was also informed that the security forces had recaptured 350 of the escapees while about 450 others were still unaccounted for, and that rapid work was under way to recapture the rest.

This, nonetheless, the presidency has said government would not be deterred from performing its official duties for the citizenry, despite the activities of terrorists in some parts of the country.

The Special Adviser on media and publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, made this known while responding to insinuation that President Buhari ought to shelve his journey to Dakar, Senegal to attend the International Development Association (IDA) for Africa Summit scheduled to hold today.

Critics had contended that cancelling the trip would allow the president to attend to pressing security issues, following the twin attacks on his advance convoy in Katsina and on Kuje Correctional Centre.

Adesina, who anchored the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting's briefing by ministers, disagreed with the notion, saying, "The president should go (to Senegal), because there's an international conference meant for heads of states and presidents; he should attend.

“You should never give in to terrorists. The moment terrorists begin to stop you from doing things, then, we might as well throw up our hands in surrender.

The President should go ahead.

Yes, it's an international obligation."

In an earlier release, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, had hinted that, the President would leave for Dakar to attend the IDA summit and return today.

IDA, an institution of the World Bank Group, he said, was deepening its support to drive a resilient recovery for countries hit by the global crises of climate

and COVID -19, growing levels of insecurity and more recently, by the impact of the war in Ukraine through its historic $93 billion 20th replenishment cycle (IDA20) which goes into effect between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2025.

ISWAP Claims Responsibility for Kuje Attack

The Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), a notorious terrorist organization, has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Kuje facility, Abuja.

In a footage last night, the terrorist sect showed some of its men shooting their way into the facility, as tens of fighters were seen marching in groups while vehicles and buildings were on fire in the 38 seconds video.

An elderly man dressed in a native attire also joined the young men, who were shouting on top of their voices The Islamic State’s A’maq Agency released the video with the caption, although in Arabic: “Fighters of Islamic State attacked Kuje prison in Abuja, yesterday, and succeeded in freeing dozens of prisoners.”

Security Cordon in Abuja After Kuje Prison Bombing

Meanwhile, there was massive security cordon around Abuja, following the attack on Kuje Correctional Center by fighters of Boko Haram, who stormed the prison and freed 150 terrorists, as well ass 450 inmates detained at the medium security prison, which also houses high profile inmates such as governors and senators.

THISDAY gathered that following fears that the insurgents were still lurking in the shadows and might launch another attack in the city, security forces were deployed to beef up troops at the entry points of the city as well as the entry and exit points of Kuje Area Council.

The Federal Capital Territory Authorities (FCTA), had last week, issued a veiled red alert, directing all social, relaxation centers and recreational parks to close by 7pm daily till further notice.

It was further gathered that beyond troop deployment, massive patrols and surveillance activities were intensified by police and intelligence agencies even as a flurry of security meetings had commenced apace.

There was also controversy surrounding the whereabouts of suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, after bandits attacked the facility, where he was kept.

An official, who preferred anonymity, said the whereabouts of Kyari remained unknown to him as of 09.30am yesterday.

"We have not seen him today. He didn’t also come for early morning prayer as usual. But I don’t know what is happening. I am sure he is not missing and he didn’t escape.

But I don’t know where exactly he is,” he said.

Spokesperson of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Umar Abubakar, also said, “Kyari is not missing” and was not moved from the Kuje prison.

“He is still in our custody. Nothing happened to him. He has not been moved,” he said.

In a statement yesterday, Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), said the armed squad of the service in collaboration with other security agencies responded to the attack.

The statement titled: “Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje attacked by gunmen”, stated that, the armed squad of the the service responded to the attack.

“I wish to confirm that at about 2200hrs, some yet-to-be-identified gunmen attacked the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, in the Federal Capital Territory.

“However, men of the Armed Squad of the Nigerian Correctional Service and other security agencies attached to the Custodial Centre have responded and calm has been restored to the facility and the situation is under control. Other details will be made available soon,” it said.

About 300 Boko Haram terrorists launched a violent attack on Kuje

Correctional Center, deploying bombs, Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) and General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), freeing 1,365 inmates, including 150 Boko Haram fighters detained at the facility.

Six inmates and one security personnel were killed during the attack.

But the Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen Bashir Magashi (rtd), said of the 994 inmates at the prison, 600 escaped.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, and the Commissioner of Police, Mr Sunday Babaji, were at the scene of the attack to inspect damaged facilities in the aftermath of the attack.

Prison officials said at the end of the attack after a roll call was taken at 2am yesterday, only 111 inmates were left.

The situation has also forced the relocation of other other high profile detainees.

The insurgents had attacked through the back of the prison and planted bombs around the facility.

The minister, who said the situation was under control, confirmed that Boko Haram inmates had all escaped.

"The attack started around 10:30pm. They came in their numbers, gained entrance into the prison and they released some of the inmates and which we are now following to see the kind of inmates that they have released.

“Very soon, we will give you the correct figure of the inmates that were taken. Aside that, we are trying to see what we can do to ensure that all escapees are returned.

"The prison is accommodating about 994 inmates and over 600 escaped. Many people have been recaptured and brought back to the prison. Maybe by the close of the day, more will have been captured and returned.

“I think everything is under control. The people who came to do this activity, from the records, we believe they belong to a particular group. Most likely, they are Boko Haram members, because we have sizeable number of Boko Haram suspects in detention, and presently, we cannot locate any of them. I think they are about 64 in the prison and none of them now is available; they have all escaped,” the minister said.

A statement issued by the minister's office, said, Magashi, who was received and conducted round the damaged facility by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Interior, Belgore, described the organised crime as unfortunate.

"The Defence Minister, who had to delay his flying time to Owerri, Imo State, to attend the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL), was also briefed extensively by the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, as well as other heads of military and para-military agencies on hand at the location.

"This was with a view to conducting a post-attack analysis and to forestall a re-currence of the dastardly act by the gunmen believed to be terrorists," the statement stated.

Fielding questions from journalists, the minister, however, appreciated the timely repelling of the attack by the gallant security operatives, who were drafted in on reinforcement to contain the attackers.

He reassured Nigerians that President Buhari would be briefed and also gave an assurance that the jailbreakers could not go unapprehended and would definitely face the wrath of the law.

The defence minister disclosed that further briefing on the incident that led to the attack would be received, adding that one life was lost on the side of the proactive repellants security forces.

The minister also tasked the Gomo of Kuje, Haruna Tanko Jibrin to summon all traditional chiefs in Kuje Area Council to combine intelligence with security agencies to apprehend all inmates, who escaped from the correctional facility.

He called on members of the communities to provide appropriate

intelligence to the security agencies to enable them do their work.

He added that such incidents constituted a threat to everybody, hence the need for everyone to support the security agencies in carrying out their assignments.

Prison officials said over 150 terrorists were freed that night.

"All the major, biggest terrorists, armed robbers and kidnappers have escaped. No reinforcement came two hours after attack. Nobody came for assistance. Kuje correctional center completely taken over and all criminals and terrorists have escaped,” an official, who spoke anonymously, said.

PDP: APC Complicit in Kuje Prison Attack, Probes Redeployment of Soldiers 24hrs Before Attack

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has condemned in strong terms, the spate of insecurity and the audacity with which terrorists ravage the country unchallenged “under the rudderless All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.”

The PDP said the simultaneous terrorist attacks on the advance convoy of President Buhari in Katsina State as well as the correctional facility in Abuja, the nation’s capital, underscored the collapse of the security command and control structure under the failed, ineffective and uncoordinated Buhari-led APC administration.

A statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stated that the terrorists’ attack on President Buhari’s convoy in his home State of Katsina as well as the ferocious invasion and the freeing of hundreds of terrorists and criminals from the Kuje Correctional Facility further confirmed that Mr. President has lost control of the security of the nation and that Nigerians were no longer safe under the APC. According to the PDP, "The escalated spate of terrorism across the country has heightened apprehensions of complicity by the APC to open up the nation to more terrorists’ attacks with a view to stalling the 2023 general election.

"The failure of the APC administration to act on the intelligence provided by the Directorate of State Services (DSS), which on Tuesday July 5, 2022 reportedly warned of an impending attack on the Kuje Correctional Facility, gives credence to fears by Nigerians of complicity at very high level of the APC administration.

"This is in addition to further reports that soldiers deployed to the precinct of the Kuje Correctional Facility and who had become familiar with the terrain were redeployed 24 hours before the terrorists attacked."

The PDP, therefore, demanded that the APC government should come clean on who ordered the reported redeployment of soldiers and who failed to act on the intelligence provided by the DSS.

Atiku Worries over Implications of Escapees on Abuja, Environs

Presidential candidate of the PDP in 2023, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, expressed shock over the Kuje Prison break, stating that it has great security implications for people living in Abuja and environs.

He also consoled the federal government over the death of the immediate past secretary general of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Sanusi Mohammad Barkindo.

In series of tweets, the former vice-president, said, "I am concerned and saddened by reports of the attack on Kuje Prison by suspected terrorists.

"My concern arises not only from the prospects of the escape of detained terrorists and hardened criminals but of its implications for the security of lives and property to residents of Abuja and its environs.

"I wish to restate what I said to THISDAY Newspapers on Monday that our inability to enthrone a regime of law and order

in which the arrest and prosecution of criminals will be made a priority as a deterrent to copycats is the reason why insecurity continues to fester in our country," Atiku stated.

On the death of the immediate past Secretary General of OPEC, Atiku said, "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. I am saddened by the passing away of the Wali of Adamawa, Secretary-General of OPEC, and former GMD NNPC, Dr Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo.

Barkindo left indelible marks in his service to our nation and OPEC. He was indeed a worthy ambassador of Nigeria.

"He died in active service, having delivered a speech at the ongoing Nigerian Oil and Gas Conference in Abuja and held a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari hours before passing. He was my very good friend, and he will be sorely missed.

"My condolences to his family and friends, management and staff of NNPC and OPEC. I pray that Allah forgives his sins and grants him Aljannah Firdaus. Ameen," he stated.

Attack on Buhari’s Convoy Daring, Says Akeredolu

Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), yesterday, condemned Tuesday’s attack on President Buhari’s convoy by bandits in Kastina State, describing it as daring.

This is as the governor said, the call for State Police was not for self-aggrandizement but a reality of the time.

Akeredolu spoke in Akure while playing host to his former school mates at Loyola College Ibadan (1968/1972) set, where he lamented the security situation in the country, adding that, it had gone from bad to worse.

He noted that the country's security challenges had gone beyond Fulani herdsmen to the menace of bandits and ISWAP. “We, governors in the Southwest met and we are still more than convinced that there is no solution other than state police. The truth is that, we will be prepared to protect ourselves and die in the process more than other people from outside. We can only protect ourselves better.

“We will be more committed to protecting ourselves. By the time we have State Police, we will be encouraged to recruit people in a local government to work in that local government as security.

“For me, state police is not for self-aggrandizement; it is a reality of the time. For us in the South and even in the North, I know so many of them that have come to accept that a single command of Police is not good for this country.

This country is too big.

“We will continue to make our voice heard everywhere. We are almost there. We are licking our wounds here over the June 5 attack in Owo. It is a serious wound. We will never forget. We are putting together a memorial in a conspicuous place in Owo,” governor Akeredolu said.

Earlier, the Acting President of the Loyola College Old Boys' Association (1968/1972) set, Mr Ayodele Adigun condemned the June 5 attack in Owo, while expressing shock that such heinous crime could be carried out in the Southwest.

He said the attack was particularly aimed at tarnishing the image of the governor and rubbish his efforts so far, especially, on the security of lives and property of the people.

Afenifere: Insecurity in Nigeria Getting Out of Hands

A Pan-Yoruba Socio-political group, Afenufere, yesterday, described the attack on the advance presidential team to Daura, hometown of President Muhammadu Buhari, and the violent attack on Kuje Prison in the nation’s Federal Capital Territory, as affirmations that the security situation in Nigeria was getting out of hand at a rate faster than is acknowledged by the authorities who should deal with it.

Afenifere, in a damning revela-

tion contained in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, lamented that same evening of same day, Tuesday July 5, 2022, when Buhari’s convoy was attacked, suspected Boko Haram members stormed Kuje Prison in the Federal Capital Territory with explosives and they operated for over one hour.

Afenifere regretted that the two attacks were not isolated as reports of terrorism attacks occasioning loss of lives, kidnapping, raping, bodily harms etc occur on a daily basis.

The group stated that what set the ones of this Tuesday apart was its derring-do nature, another indication that the country was under siege.

"The nature of these attacks should send serious signals to the governments, to the security agencies and indeed to all Nigerians.

"The one on the presidential team seems to be a coded language by enemies of the nation that they are not afraid of anyone notwithstanding the status of such a person.

For it goes without saying that a presidential team would normally be fortified.

"So, for a group to attack such a team must be out of sheer bravado – which unfortunately further exposed how vulnerable our security situation is,” it stated.

Afenifere also noted that the attack on Kuje Correctional Centre, like some other attacks that occurred in such areas, “appears to be a statement by those enemies of Nigeria that they can strike anywhere and at any time.

"For, this Kuje attack, taken together with the fatal attack on a military team in Niger State last month, keeps reminding one of the build-up of the Afghanistan saga that led to the forceful take-over of government in that country last year. Everything needs to be done to ensure that such does not occur here.”

"By this we are referring to the kid-glove manner by which the government and its security arms have been dealing with those caught in banditry and terrorism.

"Normally, anyone around the president or governor ought to have a sense of safety just as the presence of government ought to be an assurance for the citizens regarding their security. The attacks on the presidential team and on Kuje prison, like the ones that had taken place in different parts of the country before, make Nigerians to feel more and more insecure.”

NSCDC Promises to Compensate Family of Dead Officer

Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi, has promised compensation to the family of its staffer lost in the attack on Kuje Minimum Custodial Centre.

Speaking during a visit to the Centre, in company with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr Shauibu Belgore, Inspector General of Police, Controller General of Corrections Service, Comptroller General of the Federal Fire Service, representative of the Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service and Director Special Duties in the Ministry of Interior, Dr Funsho Alabi, Audi assured the family of the deceased, Inspector Ilyasu Abraham, that they would be reached out to and necessary compensation delivered in due time.

The Corps helmsman sympathised with the family of the deceased, who was deployed by the Federal Capital Territory command of the NSCDC to the custodial centre on guard duty but unfortunately paid the supreme price during the attack.

The CG commiserated with his immediate family and prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, adding that Ilyasu was a gallant officer, who fought a good fight and died in active service defending the land.

He urged citizens to keep calm as NSCDC in collaboration with other security agencies were workContinued on page 50

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

NEWS

WE SWEAR TO SERVE THE NATION...

L-R: Minister of State, Transportation, Ademola Adewole Adegoroye; Minister of State, Environment, Odum Udi; Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umanna Okon Umanna and the minister of State, Science and Technology, PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI Ikechukwu Henry Ikoh, taking their Oath of Office, during the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa , Abuja ….yesterday.

FG Backs Fidelity Bank’s Takeover of Benin, Kano, Kaduna Discos over Insolvency Sacks managing directors of two Discos Electricity consumers hail govt's move BEDC’s management kicks Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos The federal government has announced the takeover of three non-performing electricity distribution companies, namely Kano Disco, Kaduna Disco and the Benin Electricity Distribution Companies (BEDC) by Fidelity Bank over the power investors’ poor financial performance.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) effected the takeover based on the statutory responsibilities given to them by the government.

The NERC and BPE in a statement issued yesterday, equally announced the sacking of the managing directors of two of the three Discos and also announced their replacements with immediate effect.

The three firms were considered to be technically incapacitated, and financially insolvent after their inability to meet their loan obligations with Fidelity Bank Plc. The two agencies named Ahmad Dangana as the new Managing Director of Kano Disco; and Henry Ajagbawa for Benin Disco.

They replaced Funke Osibodu formerly of Benin Disco, and Dr. Jamil I. Gwamna, Kano Disco.

However, the Managing Director of Kaduna Disco, Yusuf Yahaya was not affected by the development as he was re-appointed under this new takeover regime.

According to the statement jointly signed by the duo of the NERC Chairman, Mr. Sanusi Garba, and Director General of BPE, Mr. Alex Okoh, the action became necessary as Fidelity Bank had informed the government that it had activated the call on the collaterised shares of the three companies and, “that they have initiated action to take over the boards of these Discos and exercise their rights on the shares.”

This latest takeover brings the

number of Discos taken over by the government to six, as Yola, Ibadan, and Abuja Discos had earlier lost their initial management to the government.

Also, in a statement, the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, through his Media Adviser, Isa Sanusi, disclosed that he had been briefed by NERC and the BPE on the matter.

The minister confirmed that the Discos were unable to repay loans taken from Fidelity Bank to acquire their asset during the 2013 privatisation, and the bank had activated its right to take over the firms.

“The changes announced were

FG Okays N12.44bn for Projects in Environment, Petroleum Ministries Sylva: Abuja fuel queues remain for now Restates Russia/Ukraine war cause of high diesel price Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Federal Executive Council (FEC) rose from its weekly meeting yesterday at the State House, Abuja with the approval of a total sum of N2.449 billion for projects in the Ministries of Environment and Petroleum Resources.

Speaking to newsmen at the end of the meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, Environment Minister, Muhammed Abdullahi, said the Council awarded the contract for consultancy services and design of Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration with an Integrated Contaminated Soil Management Centre at the sum of N449,250,040.50 (VAT inclusive).

According to him, the establishment of the Centre was in fulfilment of the president's promise to the Ogoni people and was meant to impact on them in terms of employment generation and laboratory tests for land remediation efforts on the site contaminated so that it could be made easily cultivatable by the people for their fisheries, farming activities and access to water.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, said FEC approved the award and procurement for the provision of a Conference Hostel Facility in Yenagoa, adjacent to the Nigerian Content Towers, at the

sum of N22 billion to Megastar Technical Construction Company with completion period of two years.

Asked about the persistent fuel queues in Abuja and some other parts of the country, the Minister said the situation, particularly in the FCT, would persist for a while until petrol was finally deregulated.

He explained that the fuel queues were not caused by shortages in supply of fuel but the reluctance of petroleum marketers to sell at the recommended retail price.

According to him, there were queues in Abuja because selling at the recommended N165/litre of fuel was unprofitable to the marketers who according to him had resolved to take the advantage by diverting products from the city centre to where they could sell above the recommended retail price.

He said: "If you look at it, there are no queues when you leave Abuja. In most places, only in the Abuja metropolis you continue to have these queues. So, is it that there is less supply to Abuja than to the rest of the country? It is not so. It is because if you go out of Abuja, they can afford to probably sell at higher prices. And I'm sure a lot of you must be buying at higher prices.

"But within Abuja, because of the watchful eye of the federal government, they cannot sell at

those prices. So it's not a very attractive market for them. I think these are all things that we might have to be dealing with for a while until we're able to fully deregulate."

Giving an update on the rehabilitation of the nation's refineries, Sylva said the Port Harcourt refinery would soon become operational, adding that the Dangote Refinery would commence operation by January next year.

"So, these issues will gradually be resolved and we will get to the

point where Nigeria will be fully supplied from in-country refined products," he assured.

On why Kaduna and Warri Refineries' workers were still drawing salaries even when they were not producing anything, the Minister explained that most of the workers had been redeployed to other units of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited with few others doing skeletal services to prevent pilfering at the facilities.

as a result of the receivership of the core investors in Kano, Benin, Kaduna and Ibadan Discos whereas the actions in Port Harcourt are sought to provide much needed liquidity and prevent the insolvency and risk of collapse of the utility.

“In implementing the changes, the ministry shall ensure that the changes in corporate governance do not impact on the service and stability of the Discos,” it stated.

It reaffirmed that while the government continues to hold a 40 per cent equity stake in all the Discos, the utilities are still private sector-led and going concerns, falling under the provisions of the Companies And Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and subject to regulation by NERC. “The ministry has received a confirmation from the BPE and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that in exercising the rights of lenders to the core investors, the financial institutions do not retain the ownership of the shares and management of the Discos in perpetuity.

“It is therefore expected that clear timelines for exit of the banks would be prescribed by the regulators as and when appropriate,” it noted.

The government reassured electricity consumers in Nigeria that the recent changes in the governance of the Discos would not adversely impact on the ongoing reform initiatives including the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP)

The majority equity in the firms are expected to be sold to qualified private sector investors who will re-capitalise and effectively operate the entities.

Meanwhile, electricity consumers in the country have commended the government for taking over the three Discos for technical incapacitation, and financial insolvency.

The President, Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, Kunle Olubiyo, in a statement, said the three Discos failed in their review of key performance indices.

He said, “Ordinarily, the licensees had a ten years tenor. The mid-term review ought to have taken place five years into the post privatisation exercise. This was not done across board.

“The Open Book Review, Service Level Agreement, Mass Metering, Investment in Network Improvement and overhaul, Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC &C) losses, governance structure.

“The so-called failed in all benchmarked global best practices and key performance indicators. As against investment in immediate, medium and long term, what we had is rent-seeking, profiteering and lack fiscal responsibility and much needed discipline.

“No sector can survive if and where there are no sanctions for Continued on Page 52

Ekweremadu: Court Orders NIMC to Release Organ Donor's Bio-data to AGF Alex Enumah in Abuja Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday ordered the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to release a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the biodata information of David Nwamini Ukpo, to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) for onward submission to the government of the United Kingdom.

The new order was made following NIMC's refusal to release the said document to lawyers of Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, who are currently held in the UK over alleged trafficking of a minor for the purpose

of organ harvesting.

The court had on July 1, ordered NIMC as well as the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), United Bank for Africa (UBA), and Stanbic IBTC to release a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the biodata information of Ukpo, to Ekweremadu to enable them defend themselves in the alleged modern slavery and organ harvesting charge leveled against them at a United Kingdom Magistrate Court.

But rather than comply with the order of the court, NIMC through its lawyer, Muazu Mohammed had approached the court with an application seeking to set aside the court's order on the grounds that its laws forbid it from releasing

details of persons in its custody to an individual.

NIMC however, noted that such documents could be handed over to the AGF who would then submitted to its counterpart in the UK. Ekweremadu's lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, did not object to the release of the document to the AGF and the judge subsequently made an order directing NIMC to release the bio-data information of Ukpo to the AGF. The Metropolitan Police had two weeks ago, arrested Ekweremadu and his wife, for allegedly trafficking a minor to the UK for exploitation and organ harvesting, an offence punishable by prison terms in the

UK. The Senator and his wife had denied any wrong doing, claiming that contrary to the position of the UK Police, the said donor, is not a minor and was neither tricked or induced to donate his organ for the ailing daughter of the Ekweremadus who is currently in a London hospital.

Ekweremadu and his wife accordingly approached a Federal High Court for an order compelling NIMC, Nigeria Immigration Service, UBA, Stanbic IBTC Bank, and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc to release a Certified True Copy of the bio-data information of Ukpo to the defendants to aid their defense in the London Court.

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GOV'SHIP CANDIDATE GETS FLAG...

L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari, Osun State Governor and Party's Governorship Candidate. HE. Gboyega Oyetola, Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Kano State Governor, Alh Abdullahi Ganduje.; Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, during the brief ceremony of presenting the party flag PHOTO: SUNDAY AGHAEZE. to Osun Governorship Candidate held at the State House Abuja...yesterday

Dwindling Revenue: We'll Not Be Able to Pay Salaries in Coming Months, Govs Cry Out LCCI raises the alarm on impending economic recession, looming food shortage Identifies oil theft, petrol subsidy as threat to Nigeria’s sustainability Udora Orizu in Abuja and Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos The 36 state governors have raised the alarm that they may not be able to pay salaries in the coming months as a result of dwindling revenue from the federations account.

Also, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has raised the alarm that Nigeria’s economy might relapse into recession in the second half of 2022, due to the burden of petrol subsidy and government’s dwindling revenue.

The Governors under the auspices of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) expressed their concern in a presentation before the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating the daily consumption of the premium motor spirit (PMS) in Nigeria.

NGF Head of Legislative Liaison, Peace and Security, Fatima Usman-Katsina, accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited of arbitrary deduction from revenue accruable to the federation account as well as the dwindling fortune of remittances to the federal coffers.

Usman-Katsina said FAAC net oil and gas revenues have been declining since 2019 and were projected to decline significantly in 2022 by between N3 billion and up to N4.4 billion unless action was taken urgently.

She said: "Although the operating environment has significantly worsened since the report was released, with NNPC now consistently reporting zero remittance to the federation accountant as profit from joint venture (JV), production sharing contract (PSC) and miscellaneous operations, the position of the Forum remains generally the same.

“The report had noted that FAAC net oil & gas revenues have been declining since 2019 and are projected to decline significantly in 2022 by between N3 billion and up to N4.4 billion unless action is taken now."

She further said the NGF findings revealed that remittances to FAAC have continued to shrink as NNPC recovers shortfall ‘quite arbitrarily’, from the federation’s crude oil sales revenue.

"An analysis of the average monthly PMS consumption by

states showed that a third of the country accounts for over 65 per cent consumption of PMS. The analysis showed that the Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Abuja, Delta, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Rivers, Kaduna, Kebbi and Adamawa accounted for 65 per cent of PMS consumption in the country.

“Households directly consume only about 25 per cent of the PMS that is consumed nationally, with the remaining three-quarters being consumed by firms, MDAs, transport operators or smuggled to neighboring countries where the PMS price is nearly three times what it is in Nigeria.

“Of the PMS consumed by households, the richest 40 per cent of households account for over threequarters of the PMS purchased by households, while the poorest 40 per cent of households purchased less than three per cent of all PMS sold in Nigeria.

“In the current fiscal regime, remittances to FAAC would continue to shrink as NNPC recovers this shortfall from the Federation as a result of crude oil price recovery.

The report recommended a PMS pricing structure that addresses regional arbitrage and smuggling of PMS and provides additional revenue to the federation account.

"There is a significant market opportunity for additional export revenue streams for Nigeria to be given the price parity with our neighbouring countries.

“Privatisation of the three government refineries will reduce the recurring government expenditure on refinery maintenance and increase the country’s refining capacity. There were also economic risks highlighted in the report. Fiscal pressures are threatening Nigeria’s recovery, as rising prices continue to push millions into poverty," she said.

The NGF further estimated that rising inflation between 2020 and 2021, was expected to have pushed an additional 5.6 million Nigerians into poverty.

The forum said, "Fiscal pressures are growing unsustainably with the PMS subsidy significantly reducing the flow of revenues into the federation account. Thirty-five out of 36 states are likely to see transfers from the federation fall (in nominal terms) between 2021 and 2022, with

the average decline projected to be about 11 per cent.

“Most states are already experiencing fiscal stress, with 30 out of 36 states recording fiscal deficits in 2020, including Lagos and every oil-producing state except Akwa Ibom.

"With the projected decline in gross distributable federation revenues in 2022, fiscal deficits and debt burdens will grow even larger and faster. This will mean that transfers from the federation will not be enough to cover even salaries, and certainly not recurrent costs, which are growing in nominal terms.

“With the coming into effect of the Petroleum Industry Act, gross oil and gas revenues could be (much) lower than currently projected because of the new fiscal terms and the earmarking of deductible revenues specified in the PIA, and that could reduce net oil and gas revenues even further.”

Also, in a document submitted to the committee, the Nigeria Customs Service put the total volume of PMS imported into the country between 2015 and June 2022 at about

2,380,814,974.418 metric tonnes in 3,703 vessels, while 876,801,931.515 metric tonnes of PMS in 1,296 vessels were exported within the period.

However, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said the petrol being imported into the country on a daily basis was far above what was required daily and by extension much bigger than the national consumption capacity.

NLC President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, in his presentation said this was done through over-invoicing or other processes of criminality at a huge cost to Nigeria and its people.

According to him, the criminal enterprise was perpetrated by a tiny privileged clique accustomed to circumventing the rules.

He said one of the principal reasons for the frequent increase in the pump price of petroleum products was the presumption that Nigeria imports xyz volume of refined petrol for its internal consumption and the subsidy on this volume was so humongous and killing the economy.

LCCI Raises the Alarm on Impending Economic Recession, Looming Food Shortage

Meanwhile, the LCCI has also called for well-coordinated fiscal and monetary policies that would sustain the pace of economic recovery in 2022, encourage foreign capital inflows into the economy and enable Nigeria to navigate growing global uncertainties.

These views were expressed by the President of the LCCI, Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, when he addressed a media briefing on the state of the economy on Tuesday.

Olawale-Cole said: “There are heightened fears of contracting output, constrained production, and recession risks as we navigate the murky waters of 2022.”

He added that, “in the third quarter, many factors will weigh on growth such as CBN’s rate.

Rising energy costs with diesel above N800/litre, Jet-A1 at N710 per litre, and PMS selling above the government-regulated price of N165/litre will continue to aggravate production costs which may lead to restrained manufacturing and eventual job losses.

“We expect to experience some fiscal constraints because of debt overhang accompanied by a high

debt service burden and heavy subsidy costs.”

He also added that, “with the cost of diesel at record levels and persisting poor power supply, businesses are running on unsustainable costs and producing at uncompetitive prices.

“This can lead to job losses if output is constrained due to the unbearable cost of production. If not quickly tackled, these challenges will likely subdue the GDP growth potentials and projections for 2022.”

The LCCI urged the federal government to take proactive measures that would boost agricultural output and ensure food security in a manner that would discourage continued dependence on food imports.

It warned that, “food security, scarcity is looming large on the horizon, and if nothing smart and quick is done, it would further exacerbate the plight of the poor.”

Olawale-Cole also declared oil theft and continued payment of petrol subsidy as national disasters and critical threat to Nigeria’s public revenue base.

Continued online

Bayelsa Govt, Cuba Consortium Seal Deal to Establish Vaccines Manufacturing Plant Olusegun Samuel Bayelsa State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BioCubaFarma Consortium of the Republic of Cuba for the establishment of vaccines and pharmaceuticals production plant in the state.

This deal was the fall-out of a 3-day investment visit to Cuba led

by Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State.

At the ceremony in Havana, Cuban capital, Commissioner for Health in Bayelsa State, Pabara Newton Igwele and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investments, Patience Ranami Abah, signed for the government while the First Vice President of BioCubaFarma, Dr. Mayda Mauri

Pérez signed for the Consortium.

A statement by the Director, New Media to the Bayelsa State Governor, Dr. Kola Oredipe, indicated that the partnership was in furtherance to an earlier bilateral agreement signed between the Nigerian Government and that of Cuba on scientific cooperation, technology transfer, academic collaboration and the co-production of vaccines and other pharmacological products in the country.

The Republic of Cuba recently joined the league of nations that had gained international recognition for its medical breakthroughs and advancements.

At the signing ceremony witnessed by Governor Douye Diri, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Igwele, said the partnership deal marked a milestone in the

quest of the government to attract investments into the State.

“This is a good development for us in Bayelsa State. The vaccines and other pharmaceutical products are in high demand in Nigeria and beyond. With the centre here, Bayelsa can serve other states and nations in the West African subregion. In the next few months, the technical teams from both sides will work out further details of the agreement with the technical teams from both end,” he stated.

The Health Commissioner said the vaccines and pharmaceuticals production centre would provide job opportunities, build expertise of young Bayelsans and also ensure technology transfer for sustainability of the plant.

Also, as part of the visit, the Bayelsa State delegation met with

Deputy Governor of Havana Province, Cuba, Mrs. Yanet Hernandez Parez and Vice Minister for Trade, Matanzas Province, Cuba, Ms. Deborah Rivas Saavedra to explore other business opportunities for the State including discussion on sugar production, renewable energy, ICT and exchange programmes for students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Others who joined the governor for the various meetings and witnessed the signing ceremony include Ambassador Benaoyagha Okoyen, the Nigerian Ambassador to Cuba, Hon. (Dr.) Fred Agbedi, member representing Sagbama/ Ekeremor Federal Constituency, Professor Ebitimitula Etebu, Vice Chancellor, Bayelsa Medical University, Yenagoa and Major Lancelot Anyanya (Rtd.).

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JULY 7, 2022

POLITICS

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com (08033025611 SMS ONLY)

Okotie: To Save Nigeria, Let’s Operate Aboriginal Democracy Rev. Chris Okotie of the Fresh Party is one of several Nigerian clerics who have dabbled into politics. He spoke to Segun James about the type of government that will solve the nation’s myriad of political woes

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hat is your impression of the Nigerian political situation right now?

I said very clearly recently that the presidential system of governance, which is our second attempt at democratizing the election process has become inimical and subversive to the Nigerian cause.

It has failed us woefully. It has polarized us, balkanised our society, decimated our national psyche, and brought us close to war. So, it must be jettisoned. That is what my call for an interim government is all about. I see the interim government as the only solution to the present political predicament.

But you didn’t suggest what kind of government you want us to operate. If it is parliamentary or any other form of government?

I call it aboriginal democracy. It will still be tripartite in the sense that you have an executive, you have the judiciary, but in this case, the legislature will be eliminated and legislative powers will be given to the people.

What our legislators do is already within the polity. For instance, when they come to National Assembly, they form committees, to address various problems. In the Senate, there are 57 standing committees; in the House of Reps, 89. These committees like the committee on health and the committee on education are already in the polity. In the polity, you have associations like the Nigerian Medical Association. It was established in 1951. The Nigerian Bar Association was established in 1933. The Nigerian Union of Teachers was established in 1931. So, what the Houses of Assembly do is just replicate these associations. And I am suggesting, proposing that we take legislative powers from these representatives and give them directly to the people, empower the people within the constitution, and these associations to make the relevant laws that affect their specialized areas. That way the burden of sustaining that structure, we are talking about billions of naira, will be eradicated and democracy will be brought closer to the people.

But the associations are not elected to represent the people. They only represent certain interests. Don’t you think that will conflict with any form of governance?

Not at all. Because they emanate from the people and they have been established institutions for many, many years. See, they understand the realities in their own sector.

Instead of looking to an elite club that does not really understand what is going on, the Nigerian Medical Association which has been out there at the forefront of trying to maintain a general state of health for our nation and is within the people will know better what is good for the nation in that area. And they will not be paid. So if we are talking about democracy, then we must talk about what the people have engendered by themselves. Lawyers bonding with lawyers, market women, bonding with market women, doctors, bonding with doctors in what I call egregious socialization. They form an organic nexus by way of enterprise and endeavour. They know more about what is going on in those areas within the society than this elite club that we call the National Assembly. And I mean no disrespect. So instead of getting people to represent the people, let the people represent themselves. And like I said, they are not paid. And they have been established in the polity for years longer than any of the political parties that we are talking about today. So, they would be in a better position to give information as to what is needed in that area, in the formulation of policies or in the formulation of laws, than people who are drawn from different places, who do not even understand the dynamics of these areas that the associations or the committees that they represent.

Your suggestion has had an adverse reaction from people, most especially when it is suggested that you wanted to

And another thing is a lot of people suggest that the states and the church should be separate. And now you as a church leader is making such a radical suggestion. Don’t you think that your suggestion will be suspect?

No, I’m not speaking as a minister; I am speaking as a Nigerian. I ran for president as a Nigerian, not as a Christian leader. Under the constitution, Nigeria is a secular state. Do you understand? And I am not saying it’s based on religion. I am saying that under the reality that confronts us today they are there very glaring. Go to the streets and find out what is going on with the people, you will see that it will require patriots. And that is why I am saying, whether you are a Christian or you are Muslim, whether a traditional believer, whatever religious persuasion, patriotism and nationalistic sentiment must galvanise us to make the right decisions to secure the future of our children. So that Nigeria will continue to exist as a corporate entity.

Okotie

be the interim president. What timeframe do you have in mind for this experiment?

Let me first talk about the divergent opinions. First and foremost, you must understand that when you are proposing this kind of philosophy, those who have been benefiting from it in the past would be opposed to it because they recognize that power is being taken from them and given back to the people. That’s number one. Number two, it is very clear that if I was seeking a political career, I would have joined the dominant parties. I ran for president in 2003. And some of the names that are being touted today were still neophytes at that time. And the concept of political leadership has not even entered into their political consciousness.

So, to make that kind of statement, as far as I’m concerned is ridiculous infantility. The only reason why President (Muhammadu) Buhari is president today is that he ran on the platform of a national party like APC. If he had run on the platform of Fresh, my party, there is no way he would have won because Fresh didn’t have any structures. I was not desiring political leadership. I was desiring a platform to begin to philosophize to begin to evoke nationalistic sentiment so that Nigeria can move from being a country into a nation. And that is what I have been doing all these years. So, I just wanted to advise

those who are blinded by their prejudices and their biases to observe my antecedent, and they probably have a rethink.

Number two. Why I want to be the leader of that government is because it’s a concept that I gestated. You can’t know a product better than its manufacturer. See, it’s not just an interim government, it’s a whole new concept of democracy where democracy takes a complete turn. There will be no political parties. There will be no governors, no ministers, and no commissioners in the aboriginal democracy that I am proposing. It will just be the executive, the judiciary, and the people. Then we are going to have a set of people who are volunteers who supervise the states. What I am proposing is government from the people, for the people, with the people. That is what democracy is.

And is going to require an understanding of how that can be translated into practical reality.

That is why I am asking. It’s not because I am desiring to be anything. Like I said, if I wanted a political office, I would have joined PDP in 2003, by now I will be a chieftain. So, I believe that I have paid my dues, I am denominated in resilience and tenacity and Nigerians know me and they can trust me.

Given the fact that what you are suggesting will require constitutional change and changing the constitution will still involve these people that you are asking should no longer be in the system. How do you reconcile that?

I imagined that they are patriots and that a time comes when man prioritizes that. If they are truly patriots and they recognize that we are at a place where we stand at the edge of the precipice, where Nigeria could so easily be fragmented and destroyed, they would do.

History will judge us as to how we handle the sensitivity of the present political climate. It’s easy to be done if the people are willing. There is no other formula, no political equilibrium that can take Nigeria from the present quagmire. It is absolutely impossible. The only thing to do now is to recognize an interim government as the only viable solution forward and accept that as our current reality

There is one question you have not answered, the question of ministers. You said there would be no National and States Assemblies, should there be Ministers? If not, who will be implementing whatever decisions that those associations you suggested take?

What happens is that when a new government comes, it now appoints a political leader over a ministry that has a permanent secretary and has all of the directors that are there. So that person is a political leader and stays there for two years or three years depending on the temperament of that administration. He does not really need to understand the workings of that department, he is just a political leader. The government will be run through the civil service. The structures are already in place. You don’t need a commissioner of education when you already have a minister of education that has a permanent secretary and directors. These people have been in the system for years and are in a better position to advise the government on the workings of that ministry. So, we are duplicating things and carrying all of these overheads and wasting our money. We don’t need that. A head of state does not need to have a minister of education to run the minister of education. He doesn’t.

The system had been there longer than the political parties, we just need to upgrade it and develop it to a place where it functions by itself and can become responsible for the needs of this present administration.

You suggested that this should be done before the president hands over. How many months, weeks, or years of the interim government are you suggesting?

It’s hard to say right now because everything would depend. I am proposing that rather than going through a regime change, we go straight into the interim government. It’s easier for us. So, we only need the president and the National Assembly to enact the laws that are necessary to bring us into that. And that’s it.

The reality is what you are suggesting will require a constitutional change. So, what do you think is the way forward for the country given the scenario you have painted about the situation in the country?

The easiest thing to do is for all the flag barriers and the political parties to come together and recognize that for the first time, we must think beyond self-aggrandizement or personal ambition for the sake of our nation.

History will judge us as to how we handle the sensitivity of the present political climate.

It’s easy to be done if the people are willing. There is no other formula, no political equilibrium that can take Nigeria from the present quagmire. It is absolutely impossible.

The only thing to do now is to recognize an interim government as the only viable solution forward and accept that as our current reality

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POLITICS

Asake: Southern Kaduna Will Not Support Sectional Governorship Candidates in 2023

In this interview with John Shiklam, President of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), Hon. Jonathan Asake, said his people will not support any governorship candidate who is biased against Southern Kaduna people. He also spoke on the security situation in the state. Excepts:

T

he Southern Kaduna people have been crying of marginalisation, but it is alleged that they rarely support their people who contest for the governorship of the state.

It is not true that the Southern Kaduna people always don’t want to support a governorship candidate from their zone. I can remember very serious people who came out to contest for governorship of Kaduna state and they were massively supported. In 1999, we had the late Col. Ishaya Nyan who contested on the platform of the then All Peoples Party (APP).

Somewhere along the line, he was thrown out of the race and he went and picked the ticket of the then Alliance for Democracy (AD).

He was overwhelmingly supported.

In 2007, the late Senator Isaiah Balat, contested for the governorship and the people of Southern Kaduna also gave him overwhelming support. Because of the massive support for him, there was a run-off between Balat and Namadi Sambo.

Even at the run-off, it was the power of incumbency that played out because the then governor of the state, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, supported Sambo.

The late Patrick Yakowa, contested for the 2011 governorship election and was massively supported. When they say that we cannot produce the governor, it is not true, it is a mere propaganda.

Governorship candidates of the various political parties have emerged. Who will the Southern Kaduna people support?

We will support any candidate who is visionary and will run an all inclusive government.

Somebody that will treat all sections of Kaduna state justly and as a family. Somebody who is not a religious bigot or sectional person.

Somebody who will address the security challenges, promote peace and ensure the development of every section of the state.

Once somebody convince us that he is going to be a leader for all, we will support him, no matter which zone the person comes from.

Of all the candidates, we have the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Uba Sani; New Nigeria Peoples Party ( NNPP), Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi; Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), Hon. Isa Ashiru, African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator Caleb Zagi.

There are also candidates of All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA), Action Alliance (AA), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). The Southern Kaduna people are watching all these candidates to see who is the best.

Incidentally, the governorship candidates of the major political parties are Muslims from the northern part of the state, will you support a Muslim-Muslim ticket?

We are looking for visionary leaders who will run an all inclusive government. We in SOKAPU have said through our political committee that there are certain arrangements that give us some sense of fairness and balance in the state, especially power sharing. We are looking at the candidates that will convince us that they will be fair and just to all sections of the state.

SOKAPU had made a statement that any candidate, from the northern part of the state who goes for a Muslim-Muslim ticket is outrightly not in our agenda because there is no sense of inclusiveness.

That is what Governor El-Rufai did in 2019.

His Muslim-Muslim ticket, was for a selfish agenda and not for public interest.

So if you are a Muslim and you are taking a Muslim as your running mate, we will mobilise our people against you.

If you are a Christian from the Southern part of the state and you nominate a Christian running mate, we will not support you because you are not bringing inclusiveness on the table.

You spoke about power sharing and

If there is a problem anywhere, you will see them working round the clock to ensure that there is peace an stability. But El-Rufai came and manipulated the diversity for selfish political interest.

But the governor had defended his stand on all these, saying his appointments are not based on ethnic or religious considerations, but on competence and capacity.

Is he saying that there are no competent people in Southern Kaduna? Competent people abound across all sections of the state.

The political party is only a platform, once you emerge as a leader, you are for everybody.

People like El-Rufai had forgotten that he is under constitutional obligation to apply resources fairly to the development of all parts of the state and make appointments that reflect diversity whether a section voted for him or not.

Asake

inclusiveness. What do you mean by that?

Before the coming of Governor Nasir El-Rufai and his APC, the PDP had a power sharing arrangement that was all inclusive and gave everybody a sense of belonging.

Right from 1999, if the governor is a Muslim from the north, his deputy will be a Christian from the Southern part of the state.

If the governor is from the north, the Minister will be a Christian from the south and vice visa.

If the Secretary of the State Government (SSG) is from South, the the Head of Service will come from the north and vice visa.

We had that arrangement and it ensured stability and mutual respect until El-Rufai came and changed it. The structure of his government is openly biased against Southern Kaduna.

Under him, his deputy, the SSG, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Chief Judge of the state and his Chief of Staff, are all Muslims!

Buhari appointed two ministers from Kaduna state - Ministers of finance and environment. Both of who are Muslims from the northern part of the state.

Virtually everything that gave us sense of balance and belonging was changed by El- Rufai.

Go to all the Local governments in Southern Kaduna, you won’t see any presence of the state government in the past seven years.

Come to Kaduna, the state capital, where he claimed he is embarking on what he calls Urban Renewal programme, apart from roads in Barnawa which people could see, come to Christian communities in Anguwan Boro, Sabon Tasha, Anguwan Pama, Television, Anguwan Romi, Gonin Gora, Anguwan Gimbiya, Anguwan Bulus, Mararaban Rido, Angwan Juji, Kakuri and so on, you wont see the presence of government.

The only thing you see in some of those communities I mentioned is the government of kidnappers. Almost on a daily basis people are being kidnapped in some of those places.

Many residents of the areas have been chased away by kidnappers and are squatting with friends and relations. The kidnappers have also closed down many schools including the one run by my Vice President at Kajuru junction.

Some churches have been closed down, the people cannot go to their farms because of fear of kidnappers.

Today an entire section of the state has not experienced the presence of government.

If you go to Kafanchan, headquarters of Jama’a Local Government Area, the only place you will see road network is inside Jama’a emirate where you have the Hausa Fulani Muslim community.

That is where you see government presence.

Southern Kaduna people are interested in a person whose policies will foster unity among the diversed groups.

Those who governed Kaduna before El-Rufai, were managing the diversity in the state.

We will support any candidate who is visionary and will run an all inclusive government. Somebody that will treat all sections of Kaduna state justly and as a family. Somebody who is not a religious bigot or sectional person. Somebody who will address the security challenges, promote peace and ensure the development of every section of the state.

Once somebody convince us that he is going to be a leader for all, we will support him, no matter which zone the person comes from

The nomination of Dr. John Ayuba as running mate to Hon. Isa Ashiru, the governorship candidate of the PDP seems to be causing ripples among some Southern Kaduna people.

They alleged that it is not fair to have both a Senatorial candidate and deputy governorship candidate from the same Local Government Area.

The senatorial seat is opened to every tribe and every religion in Southern Kaduna.

As for the deputy governorship, it is the governorship candidate that nominates his running mate. I think the candidature of Dr. John Ayuba as running mate to Ashiru is in order.

If Ashiru felt that Dr. Ayuba will add value to his government, I think it is beyond tribal considerations, it is beyond age and any other consideration.

You said any candidate that go for Muslim - Muslim ticket will not be supported by the Southern Kaduna people.

But El-Rufai chose a Muslim running mate in 2019 and won the election.

If you say El- Rufai won the election in 1999, I will allow you to say he won and I will stop at that. But I have always said that I am looking forward to a day when elections would be free and fair and votes will count in this country.

When we have that, nobody can exclude any section of a society in a democracy because all votes count.

The governor of Zamfara state recently asked communities in the state to get guns and defend themselves against terrorists.

What is your reaction to this?

If there is any governor that needed to have initiated that long ago, is Governor El-Rufai.

There is no state that has been ravaged by terrorists and kidnappers like Kaduna state.

Over 85 per cent of communities in Chikun Local government, had been sacked by bandits.

Over 70 per cent of communities in Kajuru Local government area have been displaced.

The governor should quickly take steps to do what the Zamfara state governor had done by asking for licenses for communities to have their guns and defend themselves against these killers.

At a time, El-Rufai advocated the use of mercenaries to deal with the terrorists.

Why will you bring mercenaries when you have sufficient man power? Why not use the money you would spend importing mercenaries to strengthen hunters and see what will happen instead of bringing foreigners.

Many people have condemned the position of the Zamfara government, saying that it will cost more problems.

Those people that are condemning him are not resident in areas that are affected by the attacks. Nobody whose community is being constantly attacked and people are being killed will condemn him. Southern Kaduna is under siege by terrorists and the people are left to their fate.

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FEATURES

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

NEDC: Bringing Succour to the North-east through Waste to Wealth Strategy The North-east region has been bedevilled by a decade-long siege of Boko Haram terrorists which has resulted in nearly 350,000 deaths, with 314,000 of those from indirect causes. The insecurity situation also displaced over two million people and rendered the economy of the region in tatters. Thus, the North East Development Commission was established to breathe life into the region. Now with so many interventions already, it has now moved up the ante with the introduction of another strategy of building wealth from waste, Michael Olugbode reports

Beneficiaries of the Waste to Wealth Programme of the NEDC at one of the training organized in the Six States of the North East

C

onflict can severely disrupt economic activities through the destruction of productive assets, diversion of resources, death and injury to the population, and damage to health and education systems.

Many studies have found that political instability and conflict have a dampening effect on economic growth.

North-eastern Nigeria is not an exemption to this rule- the Boko Haram crisis that has been on since 2009 has further damaged an economy that has been disadvantaged for ages with factors like inequality, low agricultural productivity, and high unemployment, especially among youth tearing the region apart.

With the insurgency sucking life off the region, agricultural production, the dominant economic sector in the region, has been mortally affected; also buildings and transportation infrastructure have been destroyed, while road closures and military bans have impeded the movement and sale of certain goods, with many businesses fully or partially closed, investment reduced, and market activity nearly in comatose.

A World Bank assessment estimated cumulative GDP losses from 2011 to 2015 at $6.21 billion ($3.54 billion in Borno, $1.57 billion in Adamawa, and $1.1 billion in Yobe), the three most affected states by Boko Haram.

In fact, the conflict has drastically reduced agricultural production and productivity; land has been abandoned by agricultural workers who were either killed or displaced and the few that stay may have shifted to lower-risk crops or cut back investment, with agriculture, the main economic activity in North-eastern Nigeria, which employs between 65 and 80 per cent of the populations of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe and the rest of the North-east with the contribution of over half of the regional GDP at the precipice.

Knowing that something urgently was needed to show that the government, especially the federal government, cares; this gave room for the creation of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) by the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The NEDC has subsequently moved in to placate the exacerbated situation left by over a decade crisis which reality has shown by environmental degradation, low productivity, and high sensitivity to climatic factors. The crisis has also left the NEDC with a Herculean task of rebuilding Infrastructure which was destroyed by Boko Haram and has left the overwhelming number of the population with no access to safe sanitation and 30 per cent to electricity, while 90 per cent reported difficulty accessing water.

During the conflict, electricity, energy, and telecommunications networks have been destroyed or damaged. Construction

work was halted while investment stalled, putting planned improvements on hold.

An estimated 75 per cent of all water and sanitation infrastructure was destroyed.

A World Bank assessment estimated the cost of conflict’s damage to infrastructure and social services across North-eastern Nigeria at nearly $9 billion ($6.9 billion in Borno, $1.2 billion in Yobe, and $829 million in Adamawa). This left a huge yearning for reconstruction to which NEDC is championing in the region.

The Commission since its establishment in 2017, following the passing of the bill for its establishment by the National Assembly and subsequently signing of its Act by the President on October 25, 2017, has moved steadily to provide housing, healthcare and economic empowerment as well as help in the revamping of agriculture in the six North-east states of Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Taraba, Bauchi and Gombe.

One of its recent programme was the launch of the Education Endowment Fund Scholarship in which 4,953 undergraduates, 102 postgraduates and 42 PhD potential students have a chance of obtaining full scholarship awards. These scholarship awards are to be given to deserving science and arts students to be selected equitably from the six states of the North-east.

Also 1,800 teachers of the Basic Education segment from the six states of the North-east, have been trained to improve their skills so as to impart knowledge in their respective areas of competence, with another batch of 1,800 including school administrators which are to be selected soon across the states would benefit from the same training.

Similarly, a total of 115 schools have been selected and contracts have been awarded for the construction of one block of three classrooms each, with the supply of school desks and learning materials.

After notable impact in so many areas, the NEDC decided to shift focus to solving the serious challenge the people of the North-east region are facing in the area of effective management of the increasing amount of solid and liquid wastes being produced almost on daily basis. These wastes include plastic, organic, vegetable waste materials as well as glass and metal waste materials and the need to turn it to wealth for the people.

According to Nigerian waste management, the country generates more than 32 million tons of solid waste annually without any efficient way of managing it. Without any tangible or viable solution to the problem, NEDC acting true to being a responsive and proactive organisation, felt it should fill this gap by taking the initiative to save the environment from the health hazard associated with waste disposal and also tap into the countless of opportunities in the growing waste market to lift thousands of youths out of poverty.

Against the background of high rate of youth unemployment in the region, NEDC initiated a training programme for youths on how best to convert waste to wealth in a bid to improve their socio-economic life.

In a programme which is taking place simultaneously in all the six states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe, designed to expose the youths to business opportunities available in the environment by engaging them in wealth creation through the recycling of waste materials into marketable products for the society, NEDC has already assembled seasoned and experienced experts for the training sessions.

During the sessions youths are impacted with the needed knowledge and skills so as to achieve the desired results of improving their standard of living by generating incomes through materials in the environment. The experts focused on the stereotypes associated with scavenging, personal hygiene and protection practices by scavengers, strategies for building sustenance waste to wealth recycling system in the North East. Other areas which were deliberated on include understanding the concept of waste management and recycling, types and nature of recyclable polymers and how to market recycled products in Nigeria and beyond.

The weeklong programme tagged: "Training on Efficient Waste Management Practices and A-Z of Recycling" has its focal point on promoting economic growth and development through youth engagement, which is in line with the

"Against the background of high rate of youth unemployment in the region, the North East Development Commission initiated a training programme for youths on how best to convert waste to wealth in a bid to improve their socio-economic life"

overall goal and mandate of the NEDC centred around socio-economic empowerment of the people which will aid and facilitate in the process of reconstruction and rehabilitation of the entire region.

The commission decided on this programme for it believes there is the need to nurture the culture of turning wastes into valuables within the rules and norms of the society by creating a business around recycling and converting materials superficially viewed as waste in the environment to valuable and marketable products end products for societal use.

It is convinced that the initiative is beneficial to the region on two fronts as it will help to generate wealth for individuals and also save the environment as indiscriminate waste disposal would be reduced.

Speaking on the programme, the MD/CEO of the Commission, Mohammed Alkali, pointed out that the programme is geared towards ensuring that the youths are empowered with the knowledge which will keep them engaged and in turn produce wealth for them.

He said: “The waste-to-wealth skill acquisition programme, was a deliberate attempt aimed at channeling the energy of the youths into a productive and profiting venture.

“Looking at our environment and we can see that a large number of youths are not gainfully employed and there are lots of our youths roaming around the streets."

He noted that part of the intervention by the commission to reduce waste dumped in the states is to institute the process of turning waste to wealth, thereby creating employment to reduce poverty in the region, adding that the commission procured the services of seasoned consultants to deliver the contents of the programme and have been able to achieve the following:150 trainees as well as scavengers trained in each of the six states of the North East; delivered a robust public enlightenment on environmental matters; procured and distributed the following items to the scavengers: waste collection coats, scavenging booths, protective helmets, scavenging gloves, metal sticks.

It has assisted in institutionalising the process of forming trade associations for viable waste collection trade across the region, supply a new washing and drying machine, supply a new PET plastic crushing machine.

Certificates and starter packs were presented to all participants at the end of the training programme in the six states.

The programme is planned to reduce poverty in the region and this is in line with the NEDC Protection Plan and key Sustainable Development Goals, since if waste is turned to wealth, employment would be created and the bruises from Boko Haram would be healed.

Definitely NEDC is making progress, and gradually and surely the North-east is healing from the wounds of over a decade crisis that brought it on its knees!

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͵˜ ͰͮͰͰ

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How Google is Amplifying AlternativeYouth Culture The technology company Google is keen on building a home for African creators who are promoting the Alternative movement through its platforms such as YouTube. It demonstrated this in a recent two-day programme in Nairobi, Kenya, for 25 creators from different parts of the continent, Isioma Usiade witnessed the event

T

he Alternative Movement, colloquially known as the ‘Alté Movement’, is getting the spotlight from the technology company Google. Recently, the company hosted a two-day Residency Programme in Nairobi, Kenya for creators who identify as Alternative and Non-mainstream.

Similar to a Bootcamp, the two-day program was aimed at upskilling and celebrating 25 young creatives whose idea of being misfits or nonconformists is not easily acceptable in mainstream media. The movement champions unconventional self-expression in all aspects of life but mainly through music, fashion and visual arts.

The creatives were a mixed bag. They were alternative artists, and creative and cultural arts journalists from Nigeria, South Africa, Accra, Botswana, Kenya and other parts of the continent.

The Alté Community is an emerging culture that is uniquely African and is increasing in popularity among the Gen Z demographic.

Alté, short for ‘Alternative’, originated as an

avenue for unconventional self-expression that transcends the traditional. At the centre of the Alté movement, is the desire to remain sincere to oneself regardless of existing traditions or cultural restrictions.

The Alté movement arguably has its origin in Nigeria, with musical Artists like Teezee, BOJ, Tems, Odunsi and Lady Donli, driving the movement but the sub-culture is visible among young Africans across the continent. Sichangi, from Kenya and Amaarae from Ghana, are among the musical artists from other parts of Africa who are propagating Alté sounds. Beyond music, Alté has grown as a lifestyle and its influence is also visible in fashion and the visual arts. Mowalola and Tse are some of the creative influencers that are driving the Alté movement in fashion and photography respectively.

There is also a growing number of creative entrepreneurs in the Alté community. These young individuals are running their own businesses and thriving within Africa’s creative ecosystem. By optimising the

internet, they are carving their distinctive identity and propagating the growth of the Alté community in Africa.

Historically, alternative youth culture is rarely recognised in mainstream media, therefore creators have turned to YouTube to connect with their audiences because there are no barriers to entry.

Speaking during the Residency, Sharon Machira, Communication and Public Affairs Manager for Google Kenya said, “It's exciting to see creators that identify as non-mainstream find community on our platform. This comes just a few days after we announced a call for applications for the YouTube Black Voices Fund for 2023 aimed at elevating marginalised voices.”

The residency aims to amplify the impact of the Alté movement in Africa and the world. “We also want to showcase how products like YouTube and YouTube Shorts and platforms like Google Arts and Culture can help drive the culture forward,” added Machira.

Recent Google Search trends from across Africa show an increase in `Alté’ related searches from 2020, with questions like ‘What is alté?’, ‘Who is an alté?’ and ‘How to dress alté?’, being the most searched alté related questions.

Google, through the Alté Residency, is spotlighting and contributing to Africa’s cultural zeitgeist by exposing Alté creatives and expressionists to skills that can be harnessed through the lens of YouTube, YouTubeShorts, Search and Google Arts and Culture, and enable creatives to scale up in their businesses and career. The Residency ran from Tuesday, June 28 to Thursday, June 30, 2022, and helped them learn how to better connect with their audiences and move the culture forward. They will be equipped with entrepreneurial skills on how they can enhance the visibility of their brands.

Google also invited Tshepo the Jeans maker for an interactive fireside career talk with the young creative entrepreneurs on how to further build and monetise their brands.

Group Tasks Govt on Social Security Allowance for Widows

Uchechukwu Nnaike The International President of the Battle Axe Women Fellowship International (BAWFI), Dr. Linda Oge Okoye, has called on the federal and state governments to introduce social security allowance to ameliorate the challenges faced by widows in the country.

She said this in Enugu at the 2022 celebration of motherhood, with the theme 'Women of Influence'.

The event is organised annually in recognition of the importance of women

as special creations.

The group, who held a reception for 96 widows to draw global attention to their plight, also gave them gift items.

Okoye, who stated that the problem of widows has become a global challenge, said the harsh economic climate in the country has worsened their condition and made it difficult for them to survive as many of them could no longer afford a meal a day, and shelter.

The BAWFI boss noted that the introduction of social security for widows in the country has become

inevitable if they must survive, even as she called on corporate Nigeria and multinationals to introduce measures to assist widows such as low cost housing for the poor.

She explained that the group was established with the objective of raising and grooming women into greatness to serve as instrument of change in our society, stressing that “every woman is a sharpened instrument in God’s hands".

The guest speaker, Pastor Esther Okorie of the Christ Winners Church,

Lagos, challenged women to create a change wherever they are, love their husbands and draw people closer to God. While describing motherhood as a mystery, Okorie advised the widows never to stay idle but to always engage themselves in any economic activity to generate income.

Highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of gift items to the over 96 widows in attendance.

The spiritual director of the Living Praise Worship Centre for All Nations, Enugu, Pastor Emeka Okoye, was among the clerics who graced the occasion.

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THURSDAY JULY 7, 2022 •T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2022

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

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

08056356325

J U L Y

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6 , 2 0 2 2

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Global Telecom Operators Move to Make Mobile Networks More Sustainable, Energy Efficient

Emma Okonji As countries globally, Niger1a inclusive, continue to adopt and rollout 5G technology, green business practices are rapidly becoming an integral part of the telecom industry as operators around the globe work toward becoming more sustainable and reducing their energy usage, in order to create a green environment that is free of carbon emissions.

Mobile operators play a central role in reducing the ongoing threat of global warming and

climate change and many are actively working on strategies to minimise their carbon emissions and achieve their netzero goals.

Mobile World Live, the online communications hub for the global mobile industry, in its latest survey report on energy efficiency and sustainability in the telecom sector, highlighted how global telecom operators are working towards making mobile networks more efficient and sustainable in order to reduce their carbon emissions and adopting netzero goals, designed to achieve green and

healthy environment.

Many companies are putting more emphasis on improving their sustainable operations by examining their supply chains, introducing renewable energy sources, shifting to remote work and implementing green solutions.

The survey revealed that more than a quarter, about 27 per cent of respondents that were surveyed, said their company was planning to do everything possible to improve their sustainability.

The report, which was based

on responses from an online survey of mobile operators, tower companies and cloud service providers, was conducted by Mobile World Live on behalf of Galooli Galooli is an industrial Internet of Things (IoT) company that focuses on remote management and predictive analytics for connecting assets and energy sources. Its patented technology enables users from a variety of industries to increase cost savings and energy efficiency while reducing their carbon emissions.

According to the report.

“Mobile operators with fewer than 40,000 towers comprised the biggest group of respondents, about 34 per cent, followed by mobile operators with 40,000 or more towers, about 27 per cent, and cloud service providers, about 29 per cent.

Tower operators with fewer than 40,000 towers and tower operators with 40,000 or more towers made up just 10 per cent of respondents.

“About one-fifth, which is about 21 per cent of survey respondents said they worked

in marketing and sales followed by 18 per cent that said they worked in network management, which is 18 per cent and another 18 per cent said they worked in operations management.

Clevel executives comprised 14 per cent of survey respondents and 28 per cent of those that responded said they worked in other areas of the company such as administration or retail.”

Of those respondents that said they worked for a mobile operator, nearly oneContinued on page 25

For Successful 5G Rollout, NCC Releases Draft Guidelines on Infrastructure Deployment Emma Okonji In preparation for 5G network rollout, slated to commence August 24, 2022, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has released draft guidelines on infrastructure deployment in the telecom sector.

The guidelines are designed to shape the successful rollout of 5G network in Nigeria by next month.

Giving the scope of the guidelines, NCC said they would

provide technical standards for deployment and warned that the guidelines must be strictly adhered to by communications services providers/operators, designers, fabricators and installers of communications towers towards ensuring environmental safety and sound engineering practices.

The guidelines took cognisance of types and constituents of tower structures and also provide a comprehensive data on wind speeds in Nigeria, which may

be used as reference material for engineers in the design of masts and towers.

The guidelines spelt out concerns about public safety, and safety of personnel and equipment, the responsibilities of owners, designers and fabricators of communications masts and towers.

According to NCC, the demands of the local operating environment were also taken into consideration by the guidelines alongside the need to achieve substantial conformity with

applicable international best practices.

NCC however warned that non-compliance with the mandatory provisions of the guidelines shall be deemed to be an offence punishable under relevant provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, referred to as The Act; Nigerian Communications Enforcement Process; Regulations 2019 and other applicable laws.

In the area of fibre optic infrastructure deployment that will drive 5G rollout, NCC

gave the technical and general requirements for network design and planning in the draft guidelines.

According to NCC, the design shall take into consideration the connection of all buildings within a new development with public networks. The design shall be based on a customer demand forecast that takes into account the various types of occupants of the new development and the services they may require.

The design process shall

consider both, the short term and long term requirements of the new development including lot density, terrain and site usage for residential, commercial, industrial, or governmental use. All infrastructure shall be based on demand forecasts of not less than 10 years to reduce delays in provision of service to customers and to avoid future disturbance to the public.

The requirements for reserve capacity must be adhered to, Continued on page 24

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

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

109.58

8.05

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106.55

10.25

120.08

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113.28

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Change Updated Time (%) 1, -0.01 July 2022 1, 0.00 July 2022 1, 0.00 July 2022 1, 0.03 July 2022 1, 0.00 July 2022

MATURITY

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OTC F X F U T U R E S

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

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NTB 10Nov-22

3.90

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0.00 July 1, 2022

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

Discount Yield 11.47 11.56 8.08

Change Updated Time (%) 0.00 July 1, 2022

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15.87 16.71

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10.10 10.44

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CONTRACT Current TENOR Contract Rate ($/₦) (MONTH) NGUS JUL 27 1 429.51 2022 NGUS AUG 31 431.36 2 2022 NGUS SEP 28 3 433.21 2022 NGUS OCT 26 4 435.06 2022 NGUS NOV 30 5 436.92 2022

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THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

L-R: Chairman/CEO, WTS Broadcast Ltd, Otunba Deji Osibogun; President, Fintech Nigeria,Mr. Ade Bajomo; Past President,Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria; (CIBN), Dr. Segun Aina; Former President, CIBN, Otunba Debola Osibogun; Vice President, FintechNigeria, Mr. Stanley Jacob; and President, CIBN, Dr. Ken Opara, at the presentation of an PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT award to Dr. Segun Aina for valuable contributions in the Nigeria Fintech Ecosystem held in Lagos… yesterday

Suleiman: Improving Rural Agricultural Output Critical to Reducing High Food Prices, Tackling Hunger Nume Ekeghe and Oluchi Chibuzor The Managing Director of Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman, has emphasised the need for the country to seek strategic collaboration of resources across private and public impact investments that would improve rural agricultural

output and boost production.

This, he maintained, would help in reducing the high food prices and also align critical players for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) across all sectors.

He disclosed this yesterday at a press briefing to announce the forthcoming Africa Social Impact Summit 2022, that would

enable impact investors to design market-led solutions and accelerate impact investment into Africa to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs).

The summit with the theme, “Rethink, Rebuild, Recover: Accelerating Growth for the SDGs,” will be held in Lagos.

According to him, Sterling Bank feels that for as long,

“as we think of impact as something as we do as corporate responsibility or some kind of charity, then we also know we are limited with the amount of resources we are going to put in that space.

“Our commitment to take the things we describe as impact and bring them to the mainstream such that they become part of

the businesses we do. When we started this it sounded very difficult or almost impossible, but we have seen a huge shift in public opinion and business strategy over the last five years.”

Speaking, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sterling One Foundation, Mrs. Olapeju

Ibekwe, noted that to achieve the SDGs one must run on collective impact.

For her, partnerships and getting SDGs ingrained into businesses remains imperative in affecting the lives of the people and can only be achieved when investors collaborate in marketled businesses solutions to draw people from the bottom of the

African Fintech Has Potential to Attract Investors, Says Fintech NGR Emma Okonji The Fintech Association of Nigeria (FintechNGR) has further stated that the African Fintech has huge potential to attract more investors, given its growing investors’ confidence, which it said was a reflection of the continent’s huge potential due to deepening mobile and internet penetration, a youthful population, increasing consumer sophistication and income, among many other factors.

President, Fintech Association of Nigeria, Mr. Ade Bajomo, who disclosed this in Lagos during the maiden edition of the FinTech Platinum Awards, organised by FintechNGR, in Lagos recently, said Africa can boast of ten unicorns out of which seven, which include: Jumia, Fluttwerwave, Andela, Chipper Cash, Airtel Africa, OPay and Interswitch, are Nigerian.

According to him, African startups raised a total of $4 billion

in 2021, out of which, startups from Nigeria alone raised $1.37 billion in that same year.

“Of these, the FinTech space alone accounted for about 63 per cent of all total funding, compared with just 25 per cent in the year before 2020,” Bajomo said.

Bajomo, who doubles as a director at the Africa Fintech Foundry (AFF), the Fintech arm of Access Bank, headed by Mr. Daniel Awe, said AFF had given so much support to FintechNGR, and other Fintech groups in Nigeria.

“When you think about how

far Fintech in Nigeria has come, you should thank the incredible entrepreneurs who envisioned, pioneered and executed strategic moves that have now crystallized into strong and growing companies today,” Bajomo said.

According to him, “By launching

the FinTech Platinum Awards, we are creating a world-class award ceremony which will mirror the standards of the top global awards we are accustomed to. I must distinguish between FinTech Platinum Recognitions and FinTech Platinum Awards, because

Recognitions are solely decided

by Governing Council (GovCo) members of the Association, while FinTech Platinum Awards will be conducted through a polling process, backed by a reputable consulting or PR firm as approved by the GovCo.”

NIPOST Clamps Down on 28 Illegal Courier Operators in Lagos Emma Okonji In a bid to sanitise the courier and logistics industry, the Courier and Logistics Regulatory Department (CLRD) of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), last week, raided 28 illegal courier operators in Lagos.

During the raid, the enforcement team comprising of the police from Force Criminal investigation Department (FCID) Alagbon, Ikoyi Lagos, and staff of CLRD, seized

several motorbikes and several documents used in carrying out illegal courier operations in Lagos.

The enforcement team carried out the operations on Adeola Odeku road, Victoria Island, Law School Junction and Lekki Penisulla In Lagos State.

The raid was carried out few months after CLRD, in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, embarked on intensive training of licensed

courier operators in Lagos, with the plan to extend such training to other states of the federation.

Addressing the media after the successful exercise, the General Manager, CLRD, Mr. Oludotun Gideon Shonde, expressed disappointment over the operations of unlicensed courier operators in Lagos, who operate illegally, despite the efforts of CLRD in sensitising all those involved in courier business in the country,

on the need to operate within the ambits of the law guiding courier operations in Nigeria.

Shonde who reiterated the commitment of NIPOST to sanitise the courier industry and to put a stop to all forms of sharp practices that are inimical to courier growth in the country, insisted that the exercise would be an on-going thing that would eventually spread to other states.

He lamented the situation, where

the industry is fraught with too many illegal and unlicensed courier operators, adding that CLRD has all the documented proofs of unethical sharp practices nationwide.

He advised the Nigerian public to patronise only licenced operators in order to avoid incessant reported cases of broaching, pilfering, theft, price undercutting, undelivery and loss of customers’ items, emanating from the actions of illegal and unlicensed courier operators.

NCC Moves to Take Broadband to Underserved Communities Emma Okonji

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

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has assured Nigerians that the grass root communities and the underserved population of the country will not be left out of the national broadband plan when the implementation comes to fruition.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, gave the assurance while speaking in Lagos at a session,

which discussed the critical issue of financial inclusion expected to be facilitated by a robust infrastructure deployment for broadband availability.

Danbatta said the Commission was mindful of the infrastructure gaps in the country and therefore, committed to driving national digital economy to the grassroots.

“As a Commission, we have a mandate to ensure availability of universal access to telecom services irrespective of circumstances and

location of Nigerians and other users in Nigeria,” Danbatta said.

Danbatta who was represented

by Freda Bruce-Bennet of the Digital Economy Department of the NCC, reiterated the Commission’s focus in supporting the quest for financial inclusion through provision of robust infrastructure such as broadband.

At the event hosted by Oriental News Nigeria, an online news organisation, at the Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja, Lagos, which focused on:

“Engaging with Critical Grassroots Groups to Develop Effective Financial Inclusion Initiatives”, Bruce-Bennet, said the Commission has been at the forefront of driving technology platforms required to drive increased access to financial services by all and sundry.

She cited the current implementation of an open access model (Infraco licensing) for deployment of broadband infrastructure in the six geopolitical zones, as well as Lagos, which

enjoys a special status within telecom ecosystem, as one of the strategies adopted by the Commission to ensure a robust infrastructure deployments that will support many platforms that can accelerate financial inclusion.

At the event, the Chairman, Bank Customers Association of Nigeria, Dr. Uju Ogubunka, applauded the Commission for its regulatory efforts in creating an enabling environment for digitised financial inclusion.

FOR SUCCESSFUL 5G ROLLOUT, NCC RELEASES DRAFT GUIDELINES ON INFRASTRUCTURE DEPLOYMENT so that sufficient duct capacity is constructed for current and the future service requirements.

In the draft guidelines, NCC also listed the general requirement for fibre backbone installation.

According to NCC, the optical fibre shall be installed on a 20 to 50 cm strip at a distance of between 0 and 5m from the edge of the carriageway, thus

remaining strictly within the right of way on all the Nigerian highway road sections carrying optical fibre.

The requirements for reserve capacity must be adhered to, so that sufficient duct capacity is constructed for current and the future service. All civil works route designs shall consider future developments in the area to avoid the need for any

additional digging.

In the area of telecom masts and towers installation, NCC said the siting of masts and towers shall take cognisance of provisions of the NCC Act and be guided by provisions of the collocation and infrastructure sharing guidelines of the Commission in such a way as to minimise their number, protect and promote public safety, and

mitigate adverse visual impacts on the community. To reduce the visual impact of towers and antennas structure, NCC said Stealth and/or camouflage design of towers and antennas are encouraged.

It added that all masts and towers sited in cities shall conform to the guidelines and standards of the Commission concerning all matters on radio

frequency.

Reacting to the draft guidelines, telecom analysts said the guidelines would allay the fears of the aviation sector, which had before now, complained about the height and proximity of telecom masts and towers around airports, which they said could cause aviation signal interference, especially with 5G antennae.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2022

25

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Dikambi: Blockchain Technology Will Enhance Innovation Key Executive at Binance, Carine Dikambi, speaks about the opportunities of blockchain technology and the need for its adoption and application in multiple industries. Emma Okonji presents the excerpts: built blockchain-based products.

What is BCAT2022 campaign all about and what does the campaign seek to address?

CAT 2022 is a blockchain and crypto awareness tour with the aim to drive blockchain adoption and increase awareness through offline connections and experiences highlighting blockchain impact, use cases and education. At a time when more Africans are seeking alternative means of transacting, as well as information about digital assets, we think it’s important to provide the right information and adequate networks for young people to thrive. This is why Binance decided to sponsor the 2022 edition of the BCAT tour.

B

Who are the target audience of the BCAT2022 campaign, and when is the campaign likely to cover all the geographical zones of the country, having started from Enugu in June?

With this tour, we are targeting crypto enthusiasts and newbies, some of which have heard about crypto but seek a deeper understanding. We are also welcoming to crypto operators and veterans who are keen on expanding their network of mission-driven blockchain professionals. In our industry, the importance of community cannot be overemphasized. The next few tour locations will likely be in Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and Cameroon. However, we will definitely have a few more in Nigeria in cities such as Lagos and Abuja.

Nigeria has a large population of youths with an innate potential to drive digital transformation. How do you intend to unlock such potential in today’s digital era?

At Binance, we believe innovation, education and community are powerful ways to unlock this potential in today’s digital era. This is why we consistently invest in talent, projects, infrastructure and education to provide a breeding ground for the innate potential to emerge. It is also why we are cultivating a strong blockchain community in Africa. There is a great opportunity to build world-changing applications when a pool of brilliant enthusiasts work together.

Globally, emerging technologies are transforming services in a way we’ve not seen

Aside from blockchain technology, what other emerging technologies can you possibly deploy to boost job and wealth creation among Nigerian youths?

With the high rate of employment opportunities in Nigeria, I have seen more youth acquiring tech skills to be able to compete in the global talent market. At Binance, we focus on applications, infrastructure and skills within the blockchain industry as we are a blockchain ecosystem.

However, emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (through chatbots, virtual assistants, for example), Virtual Reality and Cybersecurity Technologies also have numerous applications within the space and are being deployed in various capacities to boost wealth creation for young people.

Dikambi before and Nigeria and Africa at large cannot afford to be an exception. We also recognize the importance of resources in unlocking this potential and so, we invest in the continent through Binance Charity, our philanthropic arm.

Sometime last year, we also launched a $ 1 million fund for developers to aid building within the ecosystem.

As a leading blockchain ecosystem and cryptocurrency infrastructure provider, how can you empower Nigerian youths to take advantage of the opportunities that blockchain technology offers?

As a whole, African youths at large are provided with resources and tools to learn, build and scale through education and vocational initiatives. These youths are empowered through skills and education in order to become or remain employable globally.

Our education initiatives have been very instrumental in this. In 2020, Binance rolled out the Binance Masterclass programmes across the

GLOBAL TELECOM OPERATORS MOVE TO MAKE MOBILE NETWORKS MORE SUSTAINABLE, ENERGY EFFICIENT third, about 32 per cent said their company operated a 4G network, 26 per cent said that their company operated a 5G network, 24 per cent said that their company operated a 3G network and 18 per cent said their company operated a 2G network. Geographically, the largest group of respondents were from companies with headquarters in Europe (39 per cent), followed by North America (26 per cent), Asia (19 per cent), Africa (8 per cent), South America (6 per cent) and the Middle East (2 per cent).

Key findings of the report showed that about 71 per cent majority of respondents said they were either very familiar or somewhat familiar with their company’s netzero goals.

However 30 per cent of respondents said they were not aware of how much of their organization’s annual budget is designated for sustainable practices, less than 17 per cent of respondents said that between 35 per cent to 74 per cent of their company’s energy usage is from renewable energy and 15 per cent said that between 75 per cent to 100 per cent of their company’s energy usage is from renewable energy. Nearly 49 per cent t of respondents said that solar was their primary renewable energy source and 7 per cent said hydropower was their renewable energy

source while 4 per cent said it was wind.

Nearly 31 per cent of respondents said they use a combination of software and manual checks to monitor their energy sources at cell sites while 25 per cent said they use a software monitoring tool, the

report further said.

Overall, the survey results indicated that many companies would benefit from having a better understanding of both energy usage and carbon emissions, particularly if they want to meet certain netzero goals.

continent to teach Africans the fundamentals of cryptocurrencies. The lessons are free to join and open to everyone. Currently, the masterclasses have helped to educate over 540,000 Africans, creating the educational infrastructure that Africans need to be financially free and informed.

In addition to training crypto users, Binance is equipping blockchain developers with the necessary skills to build solutions. For example, we hosted an eight-week masterclass where 1000 blockchain developers in Africa were trained in key skills. The participants also took part in a live demo showcasing newly

Nigerian government is keen on diversifying the Nigerian economy to make it less dependent on oil. How will Binance contribute to the economic diversification, given your strong focus and belief in technology?

Binance is committed to contributing directly and indirectly to economies across the world. This is why we are keen on blockchain education and infrastructure provision. As the biggest crypto educators on the continent, we’ve seen how mainstream adoption, coupled with education has led people to earn a living within the industry - through employment, building on the blockchain, crypto trading and so much more.

On discussions with policymakers, Binance is always willing to contribute and help in any way we can.

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

26

THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

NAPTIP Issues 30 Days Ultimatum to Private Shelters, Rehabilitation Homes Ugo Aliogo The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has given all organisations, shelters and homes, offering services for the purpose of rehabilitation of trafficked persons in Nigeria one-month ultimatum to obtain clearance certificates to operate in the country or risk shut down and prosecution in accordance with the agency’s extant law.

The agency in a statement signed and made available to THISDAY by the Head, Press and Public Relations, Stella Nezan, said the ultimatum, which took effect from Wednesday June, 29, was handed down by the Director-General, Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi at a meeting with a segment of the Agency’s stakeholders.

The statement noted that the ultimatum is based on the powers given to the Agency under the Trafficking in Persons (Control of

Activities of Organisations and Centres) Regulations 2019 and the resolve of the Agency to give more effect to it after the grace period earlier given to the organisations to comply has expired.

The statement revealed that the regulation 2019 was issued by the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN on 9 October, 2019.

The legislation, according to Waziri-Azi, was necessitated by

the disturbing cases of trafficking in persons by Nigerians, under the guise of educational, cultural and musical excursions; labour migration; and sporting related travels to foreign counties, especially the Middle East, Eastern, and Central Europe.

The Director-General also disclosed that the agency was also closing in on travel agents and tour operators involved in the recruitment of Nigerians for labour outside

Nigeria, educational excursions, cultural, music excursions and competitions with children outside the country without obtaining the requisite clearance certificates from NAPTIP. Explaining the rationale for the ultimatum, Dr Waziri-Azi said: “Unscrupulous persons hide under the façade of being a travel agent, tour operator or recruiter of labour to deceive, defraud, and lure naïve victims to foreign countries for the purpose

of exploitation which takes the form of sexual exploitation, forced labour, debt bondage, slavery and removal of organs.

“The Regulation which is fully operational, gives NAPTIP the powers to regulate, control and scrutinise all travels as categorized by the Regulation and ensure that the intent and purpose of embarking on such travels are genuine, and it is projected that this regulatory function will reduce incidents of human trafficking.”

Rite Foods Expands Portfolio, Introduces Fruit Drink Raheem Akingbolu In its commitment to producing quality and refreshing products that appeal to consumers’ tastes, preferences and utmost satisfaction, Rite Foods Limited, Nigeria’s manufacturer of carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks, and sausages have expanded its product portfolio with the launch of a new range of refreshing fruit drink, Sosa Fruit Drink.

According to the management of the company, the new offering “is available in five flavours; Orange, Apple, Orange Passion and Mango, Mixed Berries, and Cranberry, with

a refreshingly unique taste that is smooth. They are available for consumers in 35cl and 1-litre packs.”

Speaking on the launch, Managing Director, Rite Foods Limited, Mr. Seleem Adegunwa, said the Truly World-class and Proudly Nigerian company’s fast strategy on innovation, prompted the introduction of the Sosa fruit drink to meet customers’ demands.

In her remarks, Brand Manager, Beverage and Bakery, Rite Foods Limited, Boluwatife Adedugbe, buttressed that the Sosa Fruit Drink is an exceptional brand that guarantees the highest quality products for consumers’ refreshment.

L-R: Secretary-General, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene; Senior Director, Africa Investment Forum, AfDB, Chinelo Anohu and President, African Export-Imporr Bank (Afreximbank), Prof. Benedict Oramah, at The Africa Debate organised by Invest Africa in London, yesterday

Govt, Private Sector Tech Leader Harps on Tech Career, Address Challenges D o n a t e s C o m p u t e r B o o k s at Lagos Waste Forum Emma Okonji Technology leader and enthusiast, Mrs. Opeoluwa Okosun, has stressed the need for school pupils to develop the culture of building their careers around technology related disciplines, in line with the current era of digital transformation that is sweeping across globe.

According to her, early exposure of pupils, right from nursery class on computer education, would spur their interest in technology adoption.

Okosun made the call, when she took her tech talk campaign to Victory Home School, Ikeja, Lagos.

Okosun, a Chartered Arbitrator, a certified ISO auditor and COBIT professional with over 20 years work experience, said technology would remain the future, adding that the early the pupils are exposed to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) education, the better for Nigeria as a country.

Through her ‘Project Start Young in Tech,’ which she started in 2020, Okosun said the project

was initiated to create awareness, educate, mentor and empower youths early with the basic skills in technology.

She believes that helping to provide the youths early, with the platform and resources to pursue careers in technology can certainly go a long way in positively impacting their lives and giving them opportunities for entrepreneurship or as skilled workers in the area of technology in the future.

She is optimistic that this will

help create and sustain great development towards a digital economy in Nigeria and Africa, in the near future.

At Victory Home School, Okosun, who currently works with a Digital Technology Multinational Organisation in Nigeria, explained how to recognise opportunities in technology and how to utilise these opportunities.

According to her, the ‘Project Start Young in Tech,’ targets students in the primary and secondary schools, which also provides mentorship.

Plaqad Launches ‘PresOfis’ Waitlist for New Media, PR Tool Raheem Akingbolu Brands and businesses can now get connected with journalists, bloggers, influencers and newsrooms across the continent, through recent innovation by African software company, Plaqad.

The company announced it is building a media and public relations tool – PresOfis, to help individuals and organizations execute their media relations

better. PresOfis became available to those who joined the waitlist from June 16, 2022.

PresOfis is only the latest offer from Plaqad, following the launch of PlaqadM, the marketplace for the marketing and corporate communications community; and PlaqadIQ, which helps users track and analyse activities and campaigns in real-time.

Group CEO, BlackHouseMedia and and

founder of Plaqad, Mr. Adekunle Ayeni, stated that the tool was already being dubbed as ‘the Cision of Africa’.

According to him, Plaqad would work to help public relations and communications professionals deliver better value by combining the power of technology and human intelligence.

“It’s media relations on steroids. We’re building a community where content

creators, PR agencies, in-house Comms teams, consultants, brands, celebrities, and publicists can co-create with journalists, bloggers, and influencers in an environment of trust and mutual benefit,” Ayeni said.

According to him, users are able to collaborate and exchange services through PlaqadM, and track ongoing campaigns using the analytics feature PlaqadIQ.

Raheem Akingbolu The Statewide Waste and Environmental Education (SWEEP) Foundation has hosted the 3rd edition of the Lagos Waste Forum, with the aim of capitalising on opportunities in the public and private waste management industries.

The forum which was held recently at the University of Lagos in partnership with Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Coca-Cola Nigeria, was also organised to also catalyze collective solutions to the country’s waste management problems The Lagos Waste Forum, a High-Level Citizens Waste Reduction Forum, was launched in 2020 as a flagship program of the Statewide Waste and Environmental Education (SWEEP) Foundation.

The Director of the Lagos State University’s Centre for Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development (CESSED), Professor Kafeelah Yusuf, who represented the Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University, Prof. Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, expressed her concerns about the country’s

waste management. “Our nation, like many other developing nations around the world, faces difficulties and inadequacies in waste management and control, which are particularly acute in Lagos State,” she said.

The President, Lagos Waste Forum, Ambassador Phillips Obuesi, in his welcome address described the forum as a dedicated platform harnessing opportunities in public and private waste management to drive sustainable megacity and urban circular economy. According to Amb. Obuesi Phillips, the forum is presented as an international conference, awards and exhibition of contemporary waste management solutions.

He invited the audience to seize the opportunity of the forum to glean opportunities for participating in the waste and recycling sector.

In his presentation, the Special Advisor on Environment to the Governor of Ogun State, Ola Oresanya, highlighted significant challenges facing the Nigerian recycling sector and identified financing as a crucial requirement for advancing the economic aspect of the industry.

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY JULYJuly 7, 2022 Thursday 7, 2022 Vol 27. No 9949 TR

See page 28 THE NIGERIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND EXISTENTIAL THREATS PAUL OBI writes the church must adapt to the present situation See page 28 OBI AND THE NIGERIAN SPRING Nigeria’s spring of change may have arrived with minimum notice, writes NDUKA NWOSU See page 29 TINUBU’S SCHOOL RECORD AND MATTERS ARISING What primary and secondary schools did Tinubu attend? asks OLUSEGUN ADENIYI See page 29 EDITORIAL AN UNTIDY PRISONERS’ SWAP PROGRAMME

See page 30

& RE A S O

N

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

EKWEREMADU’S UK CHALLENGE The challenge depicts the enduring father-daughter bond and contradictions that define our nationhood, reckons LOUIS ACHI

UT H

The annoyance so often misplaced and wrongly transferred should be harnessed for well-targeted agitations, writes MONDAY PHILIPS EKPE

POSITIVE ANGER AS A NATIONAL RESOURCE Many Nigerians in their mid-forties and above know that these the annoyance so often misplaced and wrongly transferred should be harnessed for well-targeted agitations to accomplish national transformation. re not the best of times for their once glorious homeland. Those who are younger are equally in various stages of disillusionment, with not much to stimulate their nostalgia.

And most do not need more persuasion to come to terms with the severity of the issues plaguing them at the moment. Since 2019, two major phenomena have given governments and people around the globe reasons to worry and be apprehensive about the future. One is the Covid19 pandemic and the other is the raging Russia-Ukraine War. These two have VLJQLÀFDQWO\ DͿHFWHG SRVVLEO\ DOWHUHG GUHDPV and lifestyles in various parts of the planet, including Nigeria.

What makes our case unique and more painful is that the challenges existed in GLͿHUHQW SKDVHV RI QHJOHFW GHJHQHUDWLRQ and mishandling long before those universal threats. The predictable result is the worsening of an already desperate situation.

The easiest thing to do is heap all the blame on President Muhammadu Buhari and his team, embrace lamentations, scepticism, cynicism, or, simply succumb to ennui. The criticism aimed at Buhari today is in direct proportion to the expectations that were triggered by his campaigns and subsequent YLFWRU\ DW WKH SROOV ÀUVW LQ DQG ODWHU LQ 2019. He publicly announces repeatedly that he has done his best considering the resources available him. But if the president only thinks of access to funds in assessing his performance, he must add the following to the list of assets at his disposal: his vast experience in Nigeria’s public service at the highest levels, wisdom of an elder statesman, robust competences of millions of his compatriots presenting a deep well of choices and options, and a citizenry that has largely exhibited unusual patience and goodwill towards him to the point of docility. Other advantages are ready for his use even now. Will posterity be kind to President Buhari? Will his actions and inactions now stand the test of time and objective scrutiny? ,W LV QR GRXEW GL΀FXOW WR IDXOW WKRVH ZKR argue that time is already up in the life of this administration - with less than one year to its end - to frontally tackle the multi-dimensional obstacles to enhanced welfare of the people, self-actualisation, revived economy, tranquillity and true nationhood. No matter the degrees of frustration felt, looking backwards, though necessary for planning and projecting for tomorrow, could become a huge hindrance to progress. Endlessly SRLQWLQJ ÀQJHUV DW WKLV JRYHUQPHQW RU WKH ruling party is, therefore, not the reasonable path to take. Sadly, successive administrations in Nigeria tend to outdo one another in underperformance, with a dubious culture of castigating the previous one(s). This is one cycle the people themselves must terminate

decidedly if they hope to achieve meaningful development in every sphere of life.

2QH ZD\ WR GR WKDW LV WR ÀUVW GHYHORS WKH right brand and volume of anger and channel same promptly and adequately. Right now, aggression is being transferred from victims to fellow victims. For instance, those who have been ignored in the calculations for the provision of social infrastructure are mostly responsible for the pervasive insecurity experienced nationwide in various forms. In very disturbing circumstances, resentment towards people of other faiths snowballs into violence and bloodletting regularly.

Distrust for other ethnicities has become commonplace. The national question keeps begging for credible and lasting answers as many Nigerians progressively lose faith in the factors that should bind them together.

In the midst of all this chaos, time is running out, not even for the government of the day but the generality of the citizens. I love making the point that the enormous number of visaseeking Nigerians notwithstanding, a greater majority will live and die here. That is the stark reality. It also makes the task of salvaging the country both pertinent and inevitable.

And the earlier we reconcile our hearts and minds to it, the better. Thinking that the nation will somehow get to a certain promised land without the right push is utopian, but not applying appropriate indignation at our current mediocrity and collective misery would result in herd failure, something that would jeopardise the chances of generations to come. From the currency that has become a pariah, to an anaemic public university system, to an over saturated job market, to grossly inadequate interventions of security organisations, and other yawning gaps, the stage is ripe for the outburst of positive fury.

I was once asked on national television during the Arab springs if I expected Nigerians to invade the streets and carry out

Perhaps, the current mad rush for Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) is an indication that the era of pliancy, of endlessly wishing for things to change on their own, of watching helplessly while political leaders squander common wealth and opportunities, may soon end

prolonged protests against their government.

My response was unequivocal: “Nigerians are not Arabs. Concerted, consistent and open ÀJKW IRU QDWLRQDO FDXVHV LV QRW LQ RXU QDWXUH We love life.” I have been hoping to be proved wrong. Perhaps, the current mad rush for Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) is an indication that the era of pliancy, of endlessly wishing for things to change on their own, of watching helplessly while political leaders squander common wealth and opportunities, may soon end. Just maybe. It had better be as there is really no viable alternative to democracy, even as we struggle with the practicality of this system of government. Military intervention LQ SROLWLFV VKRXOG EH ÀQDOO\ JRQH IRU JRRG MXVWLÀDEO\ :LWK WKH SDVVLQJ RI WLPH 1LJHULDQ soldiers in positions of power have clearly not fared better than their civilian counterparts.

Under the watch of the present generation of Nigerians, a country that was once a pride of Africa and threat to the hegemony of the advanced world has been sliding unchecked in virtually all indices of decent living and modern attainments. Countless gun-wielding non-state actors have continued to invade many communities, shattering the lives of the people in the process, with feeble or no resistance. Food security, taken for granted not long ago, is now truly endangered. Being GLVVDWLVÀHG ZLWK WKRVH FRQGLWLRQV VKRXOG QRW be in contention at all. In the face of all these cruel realities, blaming an over-indulged political class continually is both defeatist and destructive.

Iconic German playwright, poet and theatre GLUHFWRU %HUWROW %UHFKW ZDV ULJKW “The worst illiterate is the political illiterate.

He hears nothing, sees nothing; takes no part in political life. He doesn’t seem to know that the cost of living, the price of beans, of ÁRXU RI UHQW RI PHGLFLQHV DOO GHSHQG RQ political decisions. He even prides himself on his political ignorance, sticks out his chest and says he hates politics. He doesn’t know, the imbecile, that from his political non-participation comes the prostitute, the abandoned child, the robber and, worst of all, FRUUXSW R΀FLDOV WKH ODFNH\V RI H[SORLWDWLYH multinational corporations.” This description VKRXOG QRW ÀW DYHUDJH 1LJHULDQV DV QH[W \HDU·V general polls approach.

The forthcoming presidential election, especially, provides an opening for the genuine manifestation of people power. Incumbency ZKLFK LV XVXDOO\ D VWURQJ LQÁXHQFH LQ WKH outcomes of the exercise will now subsist only in party, not the individual occupying the seat.

The deceitful and divisive grounds of region, religion and ethnicity must be discarded this time as they are apparently employed by SROLWLFLDQV LQ WKHLU VHOÀVK DQG LQVDWLDEOH TXHVW for riches and dominance at the expense of the populace. “Our mumu don do,” as they say.

Dr Ekpe is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

OVERTY 2 28

T H I S D AY

The challenge depicts the enduring father-daughter bond and contradictions that define our nationhood, reckons LOUIS ACHI

EKWEREMADU’S UK CHALLENGE 6R IDU OLIH ÁLFNHUV WKHUH LV KRSH ,Q SHRSOH DV :LOOLDP 6ORDQH &R΀Q DFFXUDWHO\ observes, “Hope arouses, as nothing else can arouse, a passion for the possible.” This is a key anchor of the human story and of our enduring humanity.

Although imperilled by kidney crisis, in the bosom of Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s GDXJKWHU 6RQLD OLIH ÁLFNHUV 7KHUH LV KRSH

According to Lao Tzu, “As long as we have hope, we have direction, the energy to move, and the map to move by.”

These compelling insights by Lao Tzu and William Sloane probe the core of our existential dilemma as well as its possibilities DQG RͿHU DQ RSSRUWXQLW\ IRU XQFRPPRQ introspection. These truths ought to nuance the reading of Ekweremadu’s challenge. They should also dimension our LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI WKH FXUUHQW \HW XQYHULÀHG DOOHJDWLRQV RI ´FKLOG WUD΀FNLQJµ ´RUJDQ harvesting”, “modern slavery,” et cetera against him and his wife Beatrice.

The unproven charges relating to organ DQG KXPDQ WUD΀FNLQJ SUHIHUUHG DJDLQVW Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice at the Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court, UK, last week, have understandably dominated the media space and inundated conversations across the country and beyond.

A synopsis of the core narrative is that on account of the long-drawn kidney crisis of Ike Ekweremadu’s daughter Sonia, the former Deputy President of the Senate organised and funded a medical related trip to the UK involving 21-year old David Nwamini Ukpo, the proposed organ (kidney) donor.

But after conducting various medical tests, the Royal Free Hospital in London decided that David Nwamini Ukpo was not a suitable donor because his kidney is not compatible with that of Sonia Ekweremadu’s. Apparently on account of this unforeseen development, Nwamini was then required to return to Nigeria.

It’s perhaps worth noting that across the UK, more than 1,000 people each year donate a kidney or part of their liver while they are still alive to a relative, friend or someone they do not know. The most commonly donated organ is the kidney. A healthy person can lead a normal life with only one functioning kidney and therefore they are able to donate the other to help someone in need of a kidney transplant.

Apparently having seen the glimmer of a promising new life in the UK, Nwamini opted to report himself to the London Metropolitan Police, claiming he is underage (15 years old) and a victim of human/organ

WUD΀FNLQJ )RU WKDW VWHUQ ODZ JRYHUQHG English jurisdiction, he couldn’t have contrived a better plot or sold a better story.

Subsequently Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice were plucked by the Metropolitan Police from inside a Turkish Airline almost WDNLQJ RͿ WR ,VWDQEXO DW +HDWKURZ $LUSRUW and charged to court - the Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court, UK. Charges were preferred and the couple was denied bail until next hearing on July 7.

The London Metropolitan Police said they were charged over the allegation of bringing an underaged to the UK for “organ harvesting” following an investigation by the police specialist crime team. It also revealed that the investigation was launched after detectives were alerted to SRWHQWLDO RͿHQFHV XQGHU PRGHUQ VODYHU\ legislation in May 2022.

However, Damla Ayas, the crown prosecutor, told the court that “part of the allegations” against the couple took place in Nigeria adding that the case was “unique” and would require a decision by Sue-Ellen Braverman, the Attorney General of the England and Wales on where the trial will be held.

But there is a backstory. Ekweremadu had on December 2021 written a letter to the British High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria, backing the visa application of a potential NLGQH\ GRQRU WR KLV GDXJKWHU +H FODULÀHG the donor and his daughter “will be at the Royal Free Hospital London”, adding that he would “be providing the necessary funding”. But after an organ mismatch was established at the London hospital and the donor claimed to be underage, the Met Police moved in.

However so much has happened quickly following the Ekweremadu’s dilemma in the UK. But happily much of the contrived fog is being cleared up. In a statement at the weekend, the Nigeria Immigration 6HUYLFH 1,6 D΀UPHG WKDW GXH SURFHVV ZDV followed in the issuance of Ukpor David Nwanini Nwamini’s passport.

The agency stated that Nwamini applied for the enhanced standard passport using the NIS portal after which he approached WKH *ZDJZDODGD SDVVSRUW R΀FH LQ $EXMD on the 2nd November, 2021 for his interview. ,W DOVR FRQÀUPHG WKH DSSOLFDQW HTXDOO\ presented all the necessary documents required.

These included his National Population &RPPLVVLRQ 13& LVVXHG ELUWK FHUWLÀFDWH showing October 12, 2000, as his date of birth; his National Identity Number (NIN) corroborating the date of birth on KLV ELUWK FHUWLÀFDWH LVVXHG E\ 1,0& DQG a letter of introduction issued by Ebonyi 6WDWH *RYHUQPHQW /LDLVRQ 2΀FH VLWXDWHG at Maitama District Abuja, as well as a Guarantor’s form duly signed by one Mr Uchechukwu Chukwuma Ogbonno to support Nwamini’s application.

Besides the NIS position, reactions from the Ebonyi State government and even the “donor’s” younger brother from Ebonyi 6WDWH FRQÀUP 1ZDPLQL LV QRW D PLQRU E\ DQ\ stretch. Happily, the National Assembly has waded into the contrived crisis, indicated it would reach across to the UK parliament on the matter and also expressed support for Ekweremadu.

Achi, former Associate Editor, THISDAY, writes

THURSDAY JULY 7, 2022

PAUL OBI writes the church must adapt to the present situation

THE NIGERIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND EXISTENTIAL THREATS “The principle of democracy is the recognition of the sovereign, inalienable rights of man as a gift from God, the source of law.”

Fulton J. Sheen American Catholic Bishop, Professor and

continued to be at the receiving end for more two than decades now, and the most victimized within the Nigerian quagmire.

Beyond having its faithful who have occupied strategic positions including the Senate Presidency, ministerial, gubernatorial and other strategic positions, nothing much is known about the church rising up to the occasion to reset its critical role within the Nigerian state - now tilting towards the precipice.

To the extent that even the Canon Code of Laws is now being abused with reckless DEDQGRQ IRU SROLWLFDO JDLQV VSHFLÀFDOO\ with the case of Rev. Fr Ejike Mbaka of Enugu Diocese. Over the last eight years, more than four thousand Christians and Catholics have been brutally killed by terrorists and religious extremists whose preoccupation is to decimate the Roman Catholic Church in Nigeria. No week passed, without a Sacristy, the Lectionary, a Cassock, or Chalice being soaked with the blood of faithful.

Philosopher If there was any doubt about the Catholic Church being a deliberate Growing up in the historical village of target of the terrorists who investigation Kakwagom, in Boki Local Government Area indicates emanated from Mauritania, of Cross River State, as political and social Niger, Mali and other West African scientists postulated, after my immediate countries, the broad day massacre of family, the Catholic Church was the second faithful at St Francis Catholic Church, LQVWLWXWLRQ WKDW DͿRUGHG PH WKH ZKLPV RI Owo, Ondo State bears the marks of a well civilisation. St Patrick’s Catholic Church, orchestrated plan; an insidious and blood.DNZDJRP LV D EHÀWWLQJ DUFKLWHFWXUDO HGLÀFH soaked conspiracy cooked in hell. Since that straddles with civilisation in various then, tons of priests, religious and faithful ways. From the Church building, Handmaid in Kaduna, Niger, Abuja, Kogi, Edo, Ondo of the Holy Child of Jesus (HHCJ) Novitiate, States have either been butchered by Convent to the hospital, it is more than a terrorists, kidnapped and held upstage. spiritual shrine; rather, an amalgam and In the midst of this debilitating situation, epicenter of civilisation. the Nigerian Church is lost about the At the time of birth in the 1980s, it was solutions on how to avert these existential White Irish priest of St. Patrick Missionary threats and attacks.

(SPM) that I met all through; it was only in the The normal response has been to issue mid 1990s that Nigerian priests were posted incendiary press statements of assurance, to the parish. From Fr. Murphy; Fr Jim English weak in solutions, but ones that leave the to Fr Neil Campion, the Church was a great faithful more psychologically wounded LQVWLWXWLRQ DQG LQÁXHQWLDO ,Q DOO P\ VRMRXUQ , about their helplessness and hapless have never witnessed any church architecture situation in the hands of Shepherds of old like St. Patrick in Nigeria except the who ordinarily should shield them from Anglican Cathedral in Ikoyi, Lagos and the danger Jesus Christ, in his ecclesiastical ones I saw in the United Kingdom. This year, postulation in John 10: 1 - 21, same in 2022, St Patrick marks her centenary. In all, Psalm 23 and other biblical provisions We grew up to know the Catholic Church provided laid down that the antidotes to as a great institution with all the layers and the role of a Shepherd. Nothwithstanding, levers of power. The discipline, swift response among the Catholic Bishops Conference to issues, protection, strategic planning, of Nigeria (CBCN), no one has faced grooming mostly through education was the brunt of terrorism as compared to fantastic and uplifting. the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, According to Vatican records and other Mathew Hassan Kukah, a daring and statistical research, Nigeria and Congo unperturbed Shepherd unafraid of the Democratic Republic have the highest enemy. Kukah at a lecture recently argued numbers of Roman Catholics in Africa. The that the prevailing rapacious attacks on Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria Christians, particularly Catholics now (CBCN) since its establishment in the 1960s compels that “Christians must move remains a formidable force of note. Through towards the barking dog.” the Missionary Society of St Paul (MSP), the Since 2015, the Nigerian state has Nigerian Catholic Church is responsible for the watched by, with high level of culpability, propagation of the gospel in Africa far more the increased killings of Christians and than another congregation in Sub-Saharan burning of worship centres in Southern Africa. Its educational institutions from the Kaduna, Benue, part of the North, Ondo 1930s till date remain the most outstanding and Edo States in the South. institutions of learning, alongside health facilities. Beyond the bishopric dichotomy of the more than sixty dioceses spread across Obi, the country, its universality and oneness is a is a journalist, researcher and fellow at the strength unmatched in many social circles.

Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Yet, the Nigerian Catholic Church has Abuja.

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY JULY 7, 2022

Nigeria’s spring of change may have arrived with minimum notice, writes NDUKA NWOSU

OBI AND THE NIGERIAN SPRING Something interesting happened last week. Chief Martin Agbaso, a former APGA chieftain, now a leading force of the Labour Party, and Chairman of the Unite Nigeria *URXS 81* GRQDWHG KLV FDPSDLJQ R΀FH in Owerri Imo State to the party.

According to him: “this is for the purpose of executing the upcoming election campaigns. The movement is real. This is an important time in our history. I am very

delighted to know Distinguished Senator Victor Umeh is now in the Labour Party and supporting the candidacy of His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi for the 2023 Presidential Election.”

This gesture came at a time when Obiskeptics are querying what structures are supporting his Presidential campaign, JLYHQ WKH HQRUPRXV ÀQDQFLDO KXPDQ DQG physical arsenalso the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar organisations have in their war chests.

In this upcoming battle, Obi is David while Atiku Abubakar and Asiwaju are WKH *ROLDWKV LQ WKH ÀHOG -XVW DV *RG instructed Gideon in the battle against the Midianites, a company of 300 soldiers, was all that he needed to do the job of defeating the Medianite Army of 120,000 soldiers.

God is raising an army for Obi, an army that recognises the sense of urgency and awareness needed to win this war.

Ochudo Martin Agbaso has always been a harbinger of worthy causes that cannot be recounted here. What is important is that thousands of Nigerians are rising to make sense of the Obi mantra of no more sharing but a productive economy, away from a consumption-oriented market economy.

This mantra is resonating among millions of Nigerians who constitute the Obi/Labour Party political machine.

The Obi-dient Movement is a case of one good turn deserving another. A woman from Sabongida-Ora in Edo State has converted her shop to that of the Obi Campaign Organisation. She does not have to meet Obi’s aides or those of the Labour Party before launching out to do her mobilisation work. Silver and gold, Obi does not have; she does not need dollars and euros stolen from our collective commonwealth to gather the bullets and foot soldiers of this battle of regaining the soul of Nigeria. It is going to be fought in the hearts and minds of the citizens. As Governor Obaseki lamented while alerting his party the PDP, the Obidient Movement is real. It is more than a political party.

The Sanbongida-Ora convert like thousands of Obidients spread across the country, is on the move, the same way

Agbaso and the Unite Nigeria Group (UNG) as well as hundreds of other volunteer groups, recognise the sense of urgency with which this assignment of rescuing Nigeria from the jaws of hungry lions, should be approached. Some overzealous followers of the Obi-dient Movement have been advised to see it for what it is, a national, spiritual surge to change the status quo.

This is our own Arab Spring, our Prague and Velvet Springs. The Prague Spring was kick started January 5, 1968, under the leadership of Alexander Dubcek, primarily to overthrow communism in Czechoslovakia. Although Dubcek was defeated on November 21, 1968, when the Soviet Union and other Warsaw members invaded the country to quash the reforms against communism, the Velvet Spring (November 17, 1989), that threw up the political leader, playwright and author 9DFODY +DYHO ZDV VLJQLÀFDQW LQ PDQ\ ZD\V Leading his Civic Forum Party, and the Committee for the Defence of the Unjustly Prosecuted, Havel played a key role in the overthrow of communism in Czechoslovakia where he presided as its democratically elected President between 1989 and 1993 and as Czeck Republic President (1993-2003).

The Nigerian Spring is here, is still unfolding, yet to blow, in local parlance.

Like the Arab and Velvet Springs, Nigeria’s Spring of change may have arrived with minimum notice.

Those with eyes know a movement that will liberate this country has begun with the Obidients, prodded by the unseen hand of God. It cuts across religion, tribe, and class. It is a change mantra. Those who have appropriated our patrimony are uncomfortable with what is happening.

We are faced with two choices, to vote those who have brought our country to its precipice and about to bury it, those that have ruined this country through prebendalism and rent seeking, vote for a candidate whose record till date, would signal a futuristic foreboding for the polity or a candidate who has what it takes to turnaround the fortunes of this country to where it ought to be.

7KH\ ZLOO RͿHU EUHDG DQG EXWWHU WKDW can only last for a few days and take your lifetime investment into captivity.

7KH ZHHNV DUH WXUER FKDUJHG Á\LQJ ZLWK unprecedented speed, the same way the Obi campaign network is running the marathon of 2023. There has been so much talk that Obi does not have a structure beyond the social platforms of his nietezens.

For those who can read between the lines, Obi’s social network citizens have left the train station for the city. They are in the hearts and minds of the new generation cutting across the country North to South, East to West. They are the weary, longVXͿHULQJ 1LJHULDQV ZKR VPLOH DQG VXͿHU begging for change, the type of change both the PDP and APC promised to deliver while supplanting them with the worst corrupt practices in modern history.

Can someone advocating for grazing routes in 21st century spaceship earth take us to the global marketplace of ideas where grazing routes constitute a laughable proposition? Your guess is as good as mine.

Nwosu writes from ???????????????

What primary and secondary schools did Tinubu attend? asks OLUSEGUN ADENIYI

TINUBU’S SCHOOL RECORD AND MATTERS ARISING Continued from backpage Meanwhile, our chairman, Mr Nduka Obaigbena, was abroad at this period but as it so ever happened, we used him as a shield and despite the pressure on him, he did not interfere in any of our reports. Of course, it was not easy for us, because of the backlash we also received at a period Tinubu was very popular given the role he played in the pro-democracy struggles during the military era which ended only a few months before.

These, of course, are tales for the future.

Two things followed my story and subsequent publications (not only by THISDAY but also by other media houses, especially The Source magazine, published

by Ms Comfort Obi) on the Tinubu saga—one political and the other legal. On the political front, the Omoworare panel was established by the Lagos State House of Assembly as part of a possible impeachment proceedings.

The Speaker of that House, by the way, is Dr Olorunnibe Mamora, the current Minister of State for Health. On the legal front, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, went to court to charge Tinubu for perjury.

That case went as far as the Supreme Court where it was resolved in 2002 that Tinubu, by virtue of constitutional immunity, could only be investigated but not prosecuted. At that time, Tinubu had a formidable legal team headed by his Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, who is currently the Vice President of Nigeria.

At the House of Assembly, Tinubu went with his lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, ZKLOH 6HQDWRU 7RNXQER $ÀNX\RPL ZKR took responsibility for the ‘error’ in the form, appeared with Prof Itse Sagay, SAN. Several other lawyers were invited by the House, including Mr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, who contended that while Tinubu could not be tried because he had immunity, the House had the power to impeach him if they concluded that he had committed perjury.

Aside from the late Fawehinmi who argued before the House that Tinubu had indeed FRPPLWWHG SHUMXU\ DQG VKRXOG VXͿHU WKH same fate as Salisu Buhari, other lawyers countered that the governor had not done anything to warrant impeachment.

At the end, the House came up with six issues for determination: allegations of perjury, allegation of forgery, comparison between Salisu Buhari and Tinubu, possible impeachment, NYSC primary assignment and immunity. They resolved all these issues in Tinubu’s favour, before they now concluded: “Since the governor himself accepted responsibility for the ‘needless errors’ made, and in any event, he is responsible for documents signed by him, we strongly advised him to be more careful in ensuring the accuracy of documents that carry his signature in future.”

While Tinubu survived both the impeachment scare and the court case by the late Fawehinmi, he faced enormous challenges while seeking re-election in 2003 at a period there was no love lost between him and President Obasanjo. Besides, the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with Chief Olabode George as Deputy National Chairman was determined to take /DJRV $V KH KDV GRQH QRZ 7LQXEX RQO\ ÀOHG his Chicago State University in the space for

education, leaving out his primary and secondary schools. He also survived all the legal and political battles and won his reelection in 2003.

On the whole, I doubt if any politician has faced as much scrutiny as Tinubu in the past two decades and most of what people now

“know” about his alleged Iragbiji (Osun State) heritage, the names he reportedly bore when he was young etc., were written by journalists. A simple Google will give DQ\ERG\ KXQGUHGV RI GLͿHUHQW DFFRXQWV about Tinubu’s parentage, age and other allegations. So, for me, journalism has discharged its obligations. If Tinubu is still so politically relevant that he could win the presidential primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against all RGGV DQG \HDUV DIWHU KH OHIW R΀FH³DQG lost immunity from criminal prosecution— guilt-tripping some people especially along ethnic lines when the journalists that established these claims were also Yoruba makes no sense.

Before I hazard a guess as to what I consider the issue in the Tinubu story, let me state what it is not about. Given our ÀQGLQJV \HDUV DJR WKLV LV QRW DERXW D ODFN of higher education. You don’t get recruited

by Deloitte from an American campus except you are a cut above the rest. Tinubu’s record at the Chicago State University is indeed impeccable. On 28th May 1979, for instance, a letter signed by Andrew F. Sikila, IURP WKH 2΀FH RI 'HDQ &ROOHJH RI %XVLQHVV and Administration, reads: “I recommend that Bola A. Tinubu, a student in the College of Business and Administration be the recipient of the Outstanding Senior Award. Mr. Tinubu exhibits qualities of an ideal student: he shows strong leadership abilities as President of the Accounting Society, and he is an excellent student. In my interaction with this student, I have found him to be inspirational to other students and interested in their problems. It is with pleasure that I recommend Bola A. Tinubu to receive the Outstanding Senior Award.”

Now, what is this all about? I believe, as most reasonable people do, that there is a deliberate omission about Tinubu’s early life in his INEC form that raises serious questions for which he must be ready to provide answers. And if he doesn’t, his opponents can seek legal option, use it for campaign purposes or make it an issue during the presidential debates we must have before the election. What primary and secondary schools did Tinubu attend?

Adeniyi is Chairman, THISDAY Editorial

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THURSDAY JULY 7, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

AN UNTIDY PRISONERS’ SWAP PROGRAMME Importing criminals from abroad would come to naught without the overhauling of the country’s criminal justice system

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Raising Consumer Consciousness on 5x PUFA Abdullahi Tairu

A

s the popular saying goes, the heart knows what it wants. And for it to keep you alive and well, your heart must get whatever it requires to function as healthily and vibrantly as any other organ of the body!

The race to keep your heart healthy actually starts from a consciousness of what you consume.

When you go shopping for your choice of food including edible oil, what healthy index do you look out for? Many edible oils on the market shelf contain a mix of fats, including monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated fats in varying proportions.

If your aim is to buy healthy cooking oil, there are a few things that you need to check on its label to know if it is actually best for you. The most important thing to check is the amount of saturated fat. Saturated fat is a type of dietary fat, regarded as “bad” or unhealthy fat. Along with trans-fat, eating lots of saturated fat can raise your cholesterol level and increase your risk of heart disease. So the proportion of saturated fat in your edible oil must be very limited to achieve a healthy heart.

On the other hand, Polyunsaturated fats are “good” or healthy fats which help lower the bad cholesterol level and risk for heart disease. Polyunsaturated fats include omega-3 and omega-6 fats. These are essential fatty acids that the body needs for optimum brain function and heart health. Our bodies do not make essential fatty acids, so you can only get them from food.

Soya bean oil is among the healthiest edible oils due to its high health-promoting polyunsaturated fat (60%). It is an excellent choice for those looking to choose more healthy fats that the heart and body require to function.

When making the decision for the best edible oil for you and your family, it is important to go for oil with a higher healthy fat content

In Nigeria, one of the leading Soya bean oil brands, Golden Terra Soya oil is raising the consciousness of consumers towards making heart-friendly decisions in their choice of edible oil. Golden Terra Soya Oil is doing so by offering 5x more PUFA (Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid) - an irresistible healthy fatty acid profile from edible oil. In comparison to the 10% to 11% PUFA contents of some other “healthy vegetable oil” brands on the market shelf, the 62% PUFA contained in Golden Terra Soya Oil gives you at least 5x more “good fats,” to promote a healthy heart needed to achieve your goals.

Dr. Olaniran Olabiyi, an Abuja-based general practitioner, noted that the consumption of edible oil and food items with high PUFA content is more beneficial for your heart health.

“Whenever people visit the market to purchase edible oil, they should read the labels and see the concentration of different types of fatty acids contained therein,” he said. “Oils that have the highest amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids should be purchased because they are friendly to the heart, compared to those that have higher levels of saturated fatty acids. People should also reduce the amount of palm oil they use in cooking because it has high levels of saturated fatty acids.”

So, what does your heart want? If staying healthy and maintaining optimal performance is the goal, Golden Terra Soya Oil is the edible oil that is sure to get it there. Staying 5x PUFA conscious is the key to heart-friendly meals.

As you prepare your next meal, feed your heart 5x PUFA using Golden Terra Soya Oil, the leading soya oil in the Nigerian market with its increasing presence across the country. It is 100% pure soya oil, totally sourced and manufactured in Nigeria,

available in sachets, 5liters, 10liters and 25liters.

As the popular saying goes, the heart knows what it wants. And for it to keep you alive and well, your heart must get whatever it requires to function as healthily and vibrantly as any other organ of the body!

The race to keep your heart healthy actually starts from a consciousness of what you consume. When you go shopping for your choice of food including edible oil, what healthy index do you look out for?

Many edible oils on the market shelf contain a mix of fats, including monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated fats in varying proportions.

If your aim is to buy healthy cooking oil, there are a few things that you need to check on its label to know if it is actually best for you. The most important thing to check is the amount of saturated fat. Saturated fat is a type of dietary fat, regarded as “bad” or unhealthy fat. Along with transfat, eating lots of saturated fat can raise your cholesterol level and increase your risk of heart disease. So the proportion of saturated fat in your edible oil must be very limited to achieve a healthy heart.

On the other hand, Polyunsaturated fats are “good” or healthy fats which help lower the bad cholesterol level and risk for heart disease. Polyunsaturated fats include omega-3 and omega-6 fats.

These are essential fatty acids that the body needs for optimum brain function and heart health. Our bodies do not make essential fatty acids, so you can only get them from food.

Soya bean oil is among the healthiest edible oils due to its high health-promoting polyunsaturated fat (60%). It is an excellent choice for those looking to choose more healthy fats that the heart and body require

to function. When making the decision for the best edible oil for you and your family, it is important to go for oil with a higher healthy fat content In Nigeria, one of the leading Soya bean oil brands, Golden Terra Soya oil is raising the consciousness of consumers towards making heart-friendly decisions in their choice of edible oil. Golden Terra Soya Oil is doing so by offering 5x more PUFA (Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid) - an irresistible healthy fatty acid profile from edible oil. In comparison to the 10% to 11% PUFA contents of some other “healthy vegetable oil” brands on the market shelf, the 62% PUFA contained in Golden Terra Soya Oil gives you at least 5x more “good fats,” to promote a healthy heart needed to achieve your goals.

Dr. Olaniran Olabiyi, an Abuja-based general practitioner, noted that the consumption of edible oil and food items with high PUFA content is more beneficial for your heart health.

“Whenever people visit the market to purchase edible oil, they should read the labels and see the concentration of different types of fatty acids contained therein,” he said. “Oils that have the highest amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids should be purchased because they are friendly to the heart, compared to those that have higher levels of saturated fatty acids.

People should also reduce the amount of palm oil they use in cooking because it has high levels of saturated fatty acids.”

So, what does your heart want? If staying healthy and maintaining optimal performance is the goal, Golden Terra Soya Oil is the edible oil that is sure to get it there. Staying 5x PUFA conscious is the key to heart-friendly meals.

As you prepare your next meal, feed your heart 5x PUFA using Golden Terra Soya Oil, the leading soya oil in the Nigerian market with its increasing presence across the country.

It is 100% pure soya oil, totally sourced and manufactured in Nigeria, available in sachets, 5liters, 10liters and 25liters.

THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

NIPR Offers Solution, Seeks NCC’s Collaboration Emma Okonji Worried about the elusive national integration, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), has mapped out a strategy for a multiethnic and multi-sectoral strategy to be consummated through a national integration summit slated for August this year.

After a nationwide consultation with different interest groups, a four-member council team of the Institute, led by Dr. Ike Neliaku, on behalf of President of the Institute, Mukhtar Sirajo, recently visited the Nigerian

Communications Commission (NCC), the telecom industry regulator, to intimate the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta, about the steps already taken to ensure that the unique summit comes to fruition.

Neliaku said the key objective of the visit was to see how the Institute will leverage communication to address security concerns, enhance peace building, and facilitate national integration.

Describing NCC as one of the pillars of Nigeria’s national integration efforts, he said the Institute believed the

Commission would partner in the successful hosting of the “Citizens Summit on National Integration, Peace and Security (CSNIPS)”, which takes place in Abuja, from 23rd to 24th August, 2022.

For the processes leading to the summit, Neliaku said the Institute had organised zonal dialogue sessions with leaders of thought, representing ethnic and institutional interests, and had met with a diverse group of state and non-state actors as a way of rallying all stakeholders to support the project and participate in the implementation of its resolutions.

TECNO Launches Camon 19 Series Smartphone Nosa Alekhuogie TECNO has launched the latest smartphone in the Camon series, the Camon 19. The event was held at the landmark centre, Victoria Island, Lagos recently.

The event saw several dignitaries from the technology industry, the entertainment industry, and even financial stakeholders attend.

In his opening speech, the PR Manager for TECNO West Africa, Vincent Uzoegbu, said: “TECNO is the brand of the people. To us, we are not just making smartphones, we are making companions, best friends for our consumers, devices that make their lives easier and help them achieve their goals.”

With its unique Super Night Portrait mode, the recently released Camon 19 phone, stands out from its predecessors. Its sensor and lens work together to turn portraits taken in low-light conditions into ones that are bright, contrast, and sharp while also removing visual artefacts (also known as “noise”).

With its industry-first 64MP main camera and an RGBW sensor/glass lens co-developed with Samsung, the Camon 19 Pro’s super night camera sets new standards for accurately capturing bright, clear images and portraits in less-than-optimal lighting situations. This is accomplished by employing a sensor system that mimics the focus of a human eye and allows for exceptional light processing, along with a glass lens that increases the light

intake by more than 208 percent and significantly increases the brightness of the image.

General Manager of TECNO, Jack Guo, said: “The TECNO Camon 19 series is the answer for consumers around the world who are seeking a premium smartphone that combines

style and performance with an elevated photographic experience. We are very proud to introduce the TECNO Camon 19 series, which continues to reinforce TECNO’s commitment to exploring more possibilities in the fusion of technology, innovation, and design.”

KongaPay Signs Partnership Deal with Bibimoney Emma Okonji KongaPay, a frontline mobile

money platform and a member of Konga Group, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce giant, has signed a landmark deal with Bibimoney, a UKbased industry leader to expand access to financial inclusion for many in Nigeria, while also raising standards in the Fintech ecosystem in Nigeria and beyond.

The partnership was signed at the House of Lords, London last week by Mr. Shiraz Jessa, Founder and CEO of Bibimoney and Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of Konga Group, witnessed by Lord Anthony St. John of Bletso, Chairman of Bibimoney, and many other distinguished guests.

In his pre-signing speech, Lord Anthony, as he is popularly known, said the world has so much confidence in Africa and the Middle East because of infinite possibilities that could emerge with companies like Konga with great credentials. ‘‘We believe in the pedigree of ownership of such homegrown companies out of Africa and shall do our best

to support KongaPay become a globally respected financial services company with the way technology is simplifying transactions borderlessly. Dr. Ekeh, we have many reasons to trust Konga,’’ he stated.

Jessa congratulated the Chairman and management of the Konga Group for elevating governance and trust in the mobile money business. ‘‘I must tell you that a lot of companies had approached us for partnership, but your history and theprofile of your investors distinguished you from the rest and that is why we are signing an exclusive partnership with KongaPay. I can assure you that a in few months, you will become a very exemplary company out of Africa in the Fintech world after we have implemented the tech backbone that shall drive your different platforms seamlessly,’’ he said.

On his part, Chairman, Konga Group, Leo Stan Ekeh while appreciating Lord Anthony, the management of Bibimoney and other distinguished guests present, assured them that the vision of KongaPay remains very clear and that is to lead in Africa.

Pantami Takes Digital Economic Agenda to Minna Emma Okonji The federal government’s agenda to transform the country to a robust digital economy, became the focal point in the message of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, who was the special guest at the commissioning of a ‘Digital Nigeria Centre’ (DNC) at the Father O’Connel Science College, Minna, Niger State

recently.

The Minister who spoke through the Director of Public Affairs of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Mr. Reuben Muoka, said the current implementation of Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), 2020-2030, emphasises the importance of innovation and startup ecosystem to the development of Nigerian indigenous digital economy.

He said the DNC commissioned at the college targets students and youths among others, for skills acquisition in order to increase ICT literacy among school teachers and students; provide a platform for accessing online educational resources; equip students with ICT skills; facilitate ICT adoption in teaching and learning; and increase the pass rates in mathematics, English language and other science subjects.

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

Advocacy to Ease Sickle Cell Disease Treatment into NHIS Beyond the pain associated with Sickle Cell Disease, the high cost of treatment is another burden borne by patients, which has increased advocacy for incorporation of sickle cell treatment into the National Health Insurance Scheme, Ayodeji Ake reports

E

ven with her eyeglasses, her eyeballs were obviously wet as she was yet to get over her mother’s death. But given that she sat in a public space, she was careful to control her tears from rolling down her cheeks.

Oluwatimilryin Edwin took a deep breath, stirred for a few seconds, and blinked her eyes, gnashed her teeth as she reminisced. “The first thing that happened was negligence; she was in the private hospital for many days. She was ill and the doctor didn’t conduct a test which should have been the first thing. They just assumed and they were treating her as she kept deteriorating.

“She was in the hospital for probably five days and it took me screay for them to run her test that day and by the time we got the test results she was already septic. Then they referred us to a government hospital in Lagos State at the very last minute. We got there and we were told there was no bed space. “’No bed space’ made my mom die in the ambulance that took her to the hospital because we ran around for bed for about 30 minutes.

By the time they started, she was gone and this situation also happened to me last year in May. “I use a government hospital but my first point of call will be a private hospital because of comfort and attendance. There was a bit of negligence in my case as well before the referral came then I was referred to a tertiary hospital, ‘same no bed space’. “ With N20,000, bed space was created. They were adamant. It’s a pity and a shame. I will give it to the government hospitals, they have the resources, they have specialists, and it is the specialist that saved my life, I got to see a hematologist and a cardiologist.

“In fact, different medical specialisation got to see me but I know that eventually when they found out what was wrong with me, the two specialists saved my life. So I was thinking that if during my mom’s time I had just thought or had someone to think for me to bring out money to pay for a bed. This is sad because there are a lot of other people. What if I couldn’t afford the N20, 000?

“I was admitted to the medical emergency for some time before I went to the ward. When I got to the medical emergency there were issues upon issues. I give kudos to the doctors but there is so much corruption in the state medical industry that if you do not bribe here or there you won’t be responded to. “ I remember the first day in the medical emergency, there was a patient beside me who had been gasping for about two hours or more.

Nobody was attending to her. I remember I fell asleep and by the time I woke, her husband was trying to wake her up and screaming her name and it was at that time they started their silly resuscitation.

“Why wait till you have to resuscitate someone?

She passed on-a family lost a mother and a wife. She had young children. How I knew was how her husband started eulogising her, it was really traumatising for me.”

From her utterances you could tell Edwin is very brilliant and eloquent. But over the years, she has been fighting a silent battle with sickle-cell disease, a severe hereditary form of anemia in which a mutated form of hemoglobin distorts the red blood cells into a crescent shape at low oxygen levels.

It is the commonest among those of African descent. Because sickle cell disease is hereditary, she got it from her parents. Her late mother fought the silent battle with the disease until her last breath.

Hereditarily, Edwin is also living with sickle cell.

She narrated the discrimination and stigmatisation and how she lost her relationship of many years with her lover to sickle cell.

“Sickle Cell Disease has affected me in so many ways. I have been faced with stigmatisation in different points in life. Right from as early as secondary, I have been sickly from secondary school which made me subjective to bullying.

“I got out from school but employment also was a difficult sphere, especially trying to get a job, finally got a job, trying to maintain and keep the job, not knowing if to be upfront about your condition or not and so many things like that.

“Even in relationships, social relationships, romantically and otherwise, there are comment you get sometimes that could affect your mental health.

“My fiance walked away from me about five years ago because of sickle cell. He was aware. I made him do his genotype test at the beginning

Chief Executive Officer, CrimsonBow Sickle Cell Initiative, Oluwatimileyin Edwin of the relationship. One and half year late, he realised maybe this was too much for him and he walked away.

“When I asked him, one of the reasons he gave was that he can’t do it. There is still need for the education around it. Yes, it is a serious health condition. Don’t let us underestimate the condition but yet not enough education. There is a much heavier myth of burden around it that can and should be solved. So there is need to be a lot more discussion about sickle cell, a balanced discussion.

CREATING AWARENESS THROUGH CAMPAIGN To raise a voice for people living with Sickle Cell and strong advocacy, Edwin founded Crimsonbow Sickle Cell Initiative, joining forces with different nongovernmental organisations like Sickle Cell Nigeria, Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiate, Tony May Foundation, and NDC alliance, creating awareness on stigmatisation and quality healthcare services and health insurance inclusive for people living with sickle cell.

“Yes, my fiancee at that time had walked away from me and I was out of work for about a year because mental health-wise, I was in a very low place. It was because of him, during that year because I was constantly at home, I didn’t go out. I was at the floor crying every single day, thinking where do I start from but the inspiration came to start this and I just thought, okay if we educate a lot more people maybe life could be better.

“The initiative was born out of education although we do a lot more things right now- we run a clinic that takes care of people living with sickle cell, we buy health insurance for people living with sickle cell, we empower people living with sickle cell mentally and financially. We have all other

projects that take care of people living with sickle cell and we create rural education. We also partner a lot of local governments to bring discussion about sickle cell prevention and management to their local governments.

“So our strategy is to partner a local government or a community leader because those are the people that have the branch root system. Once we partner them, we take their information about the condition and genotype tests,” she said.

So far, to make the world a better place for people living with sickle cell, CrimsonBow Sickle Cell Initiative, has impacted over 15,000 people directly and an un-estimated number of people indirectly.

“It’s over seven years now. We have impacted about 15,000 people directly but indirectly a lot more because we hold a lot of online sessions, through the press as well.

Initially, it was a bit difficult as we relied on donations heavily but now cooperate organisations are beginning to support us. “ Another thing was that it was difficult for corporate organisations because the sickle cell was not a major issue, you will see them wanting to consider other issues that are louder, that are more popular. Now, we are not trying to downplay any other issue, issues that are serious but there should be fairness.

“Nigeria is the sickle cell capital of the world, so it shows that it is affecting a lot of people in this country and I am sure that there even a lot of people undocumented living with sickle cell in this country, in the rural areas that do not even know.

EASING THE SUFFERING THROUGH NHIS INTERVENTION In a conversation with the Desk Officer, Sickle Cell Control Program under the Federal Ministry Of Health, Dr. Alayo Shopekan, who represented the Minister of Health, Dr.

“We still need to do a lot more in terms of awareness creation, advocacy, improving the quality of life for those who are living with sickle cell disease and ensuring that we reduce whatever is going to be out-of-pocket expenses for them”

Osagie Ehanire, during a roundtable discussion program recently in Lagos, he noted that there is work in progress at the federal level to reduce the cost of treatment of sickle cell disease through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

“We still need to do a lot more in terms of awareness creation, advocacy, improving the quality of life for those who are living with sickle cell disease and ensuring that we reduce whatever is going to be out-of-pocket expenses for them.

“The federal government through the federal ministry of health has actually taken a lot of steps like I said. The first one was in 1990/91 when they did a national survey for non-communicable diseases, they included sickle cell and that is because the federal government realised that sickle cell is our problem and we shouldn’t forget Nigeria has the highest burden globally, we are the first followed by DRC Congo and India.

“Strategic plan was of course developed to address sickle cell in Nigeria and in 2011 with the support of MDG six zonal sickle cell centers were established, one in each geo-political zone.

There is one here in Lagos Ebute-meta, it is still there still functioning and they were equipped with high performance liquid chromatography, that is to ensure that we are able to pick these children that are born this early so that we don’t allow them to die before the age of five.

“In addition to that, a national guideline was developed to actually avail practitioners, our colleagues in the hospital to educate Nigerians on Sickle cell so they know to identify a case when they see one and how you manage it.

“Government has to take steps; they are vaccine-preventable, so why can’t we just include it in our routine immunisation. Of course there are some of them that require this up to the age of 15 or 18, but it is there in our immunisation schedule,” he said.

Speaking further on intervention through NHIS to reduce burden, he said: “Out-of-pocket expenses for them is quite huge but you know sickle cell is not the only non-communicable disease that is not well covered under the NHIS and that is why we are calling for the review of that act that established NHIS which is currently on-going at the National Assembly.

“In fact, they have held one public hearing that the minister and everybody were told to look at all these things holistically to have a national health insurance scheme that works for everybody.”

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NEWS

Olam Agri Reiterates Commitment to Food Security, Secures IFC Loan Precious Ugwuzor Olam Agri, a leading agribusiness conglomerate with footprints across the world, underlined its commitment to global food security with a US$200 million MPBO GSPN UIF *OUFSOBUJPOBM 'JOBODF $PSQPSBUJPO *'$ The loan which was an nounced over the weekend by the financing institution would help the agribusiness expand the supply of key production inputs such as wheat, maize and soy to its global subsidiaries to combat the widening shortage of commodities as a result of the 3VTTJB 6LSBJOF XBS BOE UIF XJEFS climate change which are taking a toll on the world population.

3BOB ,BSBETIFI 3FHJPOBM *OEVTUSZ %JSFDUPS .BOVGBDUVSJOH Agribusiness and Services, Asia 1BDJàD BU *'$ FYQMBJOFE i0VS partnerships with key agricultural DPNNPEJUZ USBEJOH DPNQBOJFT such as Olam Agri are crucial to maintaining the flow of critical food staples between countries with surpluses and deficits, ensuring better food security for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable populations”.

Speaking about the facility, Neelamani Muthukumar, Chief &YFDVUJWF 0GàDFS 0QFSBUJPOT BU 0MBN "HSJ TBJE i5IJT GBDJMJUZ further supports us to continue to supply staple crops and ensure food security to some of the most populous countries in Asia and Africa most at risk of global food inflation.” )F BEEFE i8F SF EFMJHIUFE UP DPOUJOVF PVS MPOH TUBOEJOH QBSUOFSTIJQ XJUI *'$ BMJHOJOH with Olam Agri’s focus on better access to food and nutrition for the most vulnerable and on strengthening global food security.”

Meanwhile, the leading agri CVTJOFTT /JHFSJBO áPVS NJMMJOH VOJU $SPXO 'MPVS .JMM $'. limited as part of a concerted effort aimed at addressing the

Ashish Pande pressing global food supply chain crisis and ensuring food security in Nigeria, has officially notified the Federal Ministry of *OEVTUSZ 5SBEF BOE *OWFTUNFOU of its interest to import 500,000 NU PG XIFBU GSPN *OEJB BOE secured the support of the Federal Government on its request.

CFM has consistently shown its commitment to contributing to and aligning with and the FG’s food security, food production TFMG TVGàDJFODZ ESJWF BT XFMM BT JUT PUIFS TPDJP FDPOPNJD HSPXUI aspirations including employment generation.

Following its approval, the ministry has also on behalf PG $'. XSJUUFO UP UIF )JHI $PNNJTTJPOFS PG *OEJB JO "CVKB for it to consider the business’ importation request. *O UIF MJHIU PG UIF DPSEJBM SFMB tionship between both countries and the Federal Government’s FOEPSTFNFOU UIF *OEJBO )JHI Commission has further officially communicated the ministry’s request to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade in

*OEJB On the local front, CFM continues to play its role in the development of the wheat value chain in Nigeria through various intervention initiatives and massive investments under the auspices of the Seeds for the Future Programme as an organization and through the joint efforts of the Flour Milling "TTPDJBUJPO PG /JHFSJB '."/ Wheat Development Programme.

Speaking about the move to booster its wheat supply chain, Ashish Pande, the Managing %JSFDUPS $'. TBJE i"T B IJHIMZ productive company and con tributor to Nigeria’s food security agenda, we strive consistently to provide affordable and healthy food for the populace. i5IF EJTSVQUJPO UP UIF HMPCBM wheat supply chain and chal lenges on the local front call for urgent alternative actions. The endorsement by the Federal Government will help us proceed to the next level of the arrange ment to bridge the local wheat supply shortage.”

HowAppropriateSewerSystem Can Tackle Malaria Scourge in Nigeria, Says Pest Control Specialist r4FXFS TZTUFN HFOFSBUFT FMFDUSJDJUZ GFSUJMJTFS Rebecca Ejifoma A pest control specialist and malaria advocate, Mr Francis Nwapa has called on government at all levels to reconstruct the drainages with appropriate sewer systems in place to combat the malaria scourge and save more lives in the country.

Other recommendations include proper water manage ment, shunning open dumping, adequate funding of the health sector to ensure that the remot est part of this country has a qualitative medical facility that rural dwellers can seamlessly access, and building laboratories in schools among others to ac celerate research.

Nwapa listed these lasting solu tions on his 40th birthday which XBT IFME BU UIF *LPUVO 1SJNBSZ )FBMUIDBSF $FOUSF 1)$ JO UIF "MJNPTIP BSFB PG -BHPT 4UBUF )JT XPSET i*G UIF HPWFSONFOU must begin to position Nigeria in eradicating malaria, then they must ensure our drainages are reconstructed in such a way that water flows directly from our

homes to a central collection point, and ensure that our gutters are not open.”

To drive home his point, the specialist highlighted how advanced countries build their ESBJOBHFT i:PV EPO U TFF drainages open; everywhere is clean. To date in Nigeria, we practise open dumping. i8F BSF TVQQPTFE UP IBWF a seawater system, where the sewer system moves from homes to a collection point.

That can even help Nigeria to generate electricity. We don’t even have to import fertiliser.

We can convert that to manure to help our plants and the agriculture sector.”

While medical experts in Nigeria have frowned at the NFBHSF QFS DFOU / CJM lion) of the 2022 health budget allocation for the 36 states and FCT, a far cry from the Abuja Declaration commitment of 15 per cent, Nwapa believes that if judiciously managed the budget could go a long way. $JUJOH UIF 8PSME )FBMUI Organisation’s estimate that

Nigeria ranks among the highest mortality rate when it comes to malaria, Nwapa decried that 300,000 children die of malaria annually while seven out of 10 pregnant women suffer from malaria. i"OE QFS DFOU PG DIJME hood deaths are caused by malaria. And pregnant women are the highest hit,” adding UIBU i5IBU JT XIZ * EFDJEFE to centre this birthday around sharing insecticides to pregnant women and nursing mothers to see how we can ameliorate the mosquito vector in our homes.”

Meanwhile, he questioned IPX -BHPT 4UBUF IBT SFH istered general hospitals but only one exists in the whole of Alimosho, an undeniably densely populated local government area.

This was part of the reason he launch his advocacy movement UIJT +BOVBSZ i8F IBWF IBE PWFS FJHIU QSPHSBNNFT JO -BHPT BMM funded by me. We are not asking for more. We are advocating for the government to do better against malaria.”

FERTILITY

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

DELAYED EJACULATION PART 1

D

elayed ejaculation, also known as impaired ejaculation, is a common medical condition that occurs when a man require a prolonged period of sexual stimulation before reaching sexual climax and releasing semen from the penis. Some men with delayed ejaculation are completely unable to ejaculate.

Delayed ejaculation can be defined when a person with a penis takes more than 30 minutes to ejaculate despite having a normal erection.

Around 1–4% of the male population suffers from delayed ejaculation.This condition can be very uncomfortable and even embarrassing for the affected man, as it prevents him from experiencing orgasm at the same time as his partner, necessitating extra stimulation. While this condition poses no serious medical risks, it can be stressful and trigger health anxiety, low libido, sexual dissatisfaction, relationship issues and raise a concern for couples who want to start a family. Most men will experience delayed ejaculation at some point in their lives, but it can be a lifelong issue for some.

r -PX TFMG FTUFFN BT XFMM BT GFFMJOHT PG inadequacy, failure, and negativity. r -BDL PG MJCJEP TYPESOF DELAYED EJACULATION The types of delayed ejaculation can be classified into the following: 1. Lifetime vs. Acquired - The problem of lifetime delayed ejaculation exists from the time of sexual maturity while acquired delayed ejaculation occurs after a period of normal sexual functioning, that is, it develops later in life.

2.

Generalized vs. Situational - Generalized delayed ejaculation is not limited to specific sex partners or stimulation types while situational delayed ejaculation occurs only with certain partners or under certain conditions.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMSOF DELAYED EJACULATION Sexual function connects the body and mind. For a sexual response to be produced, the endocrine IPSNPOBM DJSDVMBUPSZ BOE OFSWPVT TZTUFNT JOUFSBDUT XJUI UIPVHIU QSPDFTTFT *O PSEFS UP understand the signs and symptoms of delayed ejaculation, we must first understand the stages that lead to a healthy and successful ejaculation.

They are: 1. Desire or libido or sex drive – the initial thought processes that lead to the desire to engage in sexual activity are referred to as desire. Desire is also a sensory experience that may be triggered by your surroundings, such as touch, thoughts, words, sights, and smells resulting in excitement.

2. Excitement or sexual stimulation – this is the connection between sensory systems in which signals are sent from the brain to the penis through the spinal cord. The arteries that supply blood to erectile tissues relax and dilate, allowing for increased blood flow and blood pressure within the penis, resulting in an erection.

Muscle tension increases throughout the body during the excitement phase.

3. Plateau stage – this is the time between having an erection and ejaculating. During this phase, breathing becomes more rapid, and muscles throughout the body remain tense while the excitement level continues to rise.

4. Orgasm – this is the peak of climax or sexual excitement. Muscle tension throughout the body peaks during orgasm and pelvic muscles contract, followed by ejaculation.

5. Ejaculation – this occurs when the nervous system works with the male reproductive organs to stimulate further muscular contractions around the urethra to propel semen out of the penis, while the bladder neck contracts, preventing the flow of semen backwards, also known as retrograde ejaculation.

CAUSES OF DELAYED EJACULATION Certain medications, chronic health conditions, surgery, substance abuse or a mental health issue such as depression, anxiety, or stress may lead to delayed ejaculation. Causes of delayed ejaculation can be categorized into two: psychological and physical issues.

Psychological causes of delayed ejaculation include: r -PX TFMG FTUFFN r %FQSFTTJPO BOYJFUZ BOE PUIFS NFOUBM IFBMUI issues. r 3FMBUJPOTIJQ JTTVFT DBVTFE CZ TUSFTT PS QPPS communication. r %JTBQQPJOUNFOU JO TFYVBM SFBMJUJFT XJUI B partner compared to sexual fantasies. r 4PNF BOUJEFQSFTTBOUT TFJ[VSF IZQFSUFOTJPO antipsychotic or diuretics medications. r &YDFTTJWF BMDPIPM VTF r 3FMJHJPVT PS DVMUVSBM UBCPPT Physical causes of delayed ejaculation include: r 4PNF CJSUI EFGFDUT UIBU BGGFDU UIF NBMF reproductive system. r %BNBHF UP UIF QFMWJD OFSWFT UIBU DPOUSPM orgasm. r 1SPTUBUF TVSHFSZ r 4USPLF PS TQJOBM DPSE OFSWF EBNBHF r *OGFDUJPOT TVDI BT VSJOBSZ USBDU JOGFDUJPOT r 3FUSPHSBEF FKBDVMBUJPO B DPOEJUJPO JO XIJDI the sperm flows backward into the bladder rather than the penis). r .BTUVSCBUJOH NPSF GSFRVFOUMZ PS IBWJOH B masturbation style that cannot be matched by sexual intercourse, particularly a high speed, high pressure, or high intensity form. r )PSNPOF SFMBUFE DPOEJUJPOT TVDI BT MPX SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DELAYED UIZSPJE IPSNPOF MFWFMT IZQPUIZSPJEJTN PS MPX EJACULATION INCLUDE: UFTUPTUFSPOF MFWFMT IZQPHPOBEJTN r *OBCJMJUZ UP IBWF BO PSHBTNJD PS FKBDVMBUPSZ experience for at least 30 minutes.

COMPLICATIONSOF DELAYED EJACULAr *OBCJMJUZ UP QSPHSFTT UP UIF FYDJUFNFOU TUBHF TION r *OBCJMJUZ UP BEWBODF UP UIF QMBUFBV TUBHF Some complications of delayed ejaculation r %JTDPOOFDUJPO GSPN ZPVS TFYVBM QBSUOFS may include: r -PTT PG DPOàEFODF XIFO IBWJOH B TFYVBM r 3FEVDFE TFYVBM QMFBTVSF GPS ZPV BOE ZPVS encounter. partner. r *OBCJMJUZ UP FKBDVMBUF BU MFBTU IBMG PG UIF UJNF r 4USFTT PS BOYJFUZ BCPVU TFYVBM QFSGPSNBODF of engaging in sexual intercourse. r 1SPCMFNT JO NBSSJBHF PS SFMBUJPOTIJQT BT B r )BWJOH BOYJFUZ BSPVOE TFY result of an unsatisfactory sexual life. r .BMF JOGFSUJMJUZ MFBEJOH UP UIF JOBCJMJUZ UP conceive with partner.

TO BE CONTINUED

40

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2022

FEATURES

World Blood Donor Day 2022: How J Blood Match AI is Saving Lives narrative in Nigeria.

Stanley Olisa THE FOUNDER’S THOUGHTS Angela Ochu-Baiye, the Founder of JDI, said: “JDI has been in the social business of creating awareness for blood donation and organising blood drives in Abuja, under the auspices of the NBTS, even before we decided to develop this very innovative AI. A lot of due diligence was carried out. We obtained a list of verifiable health centres/hospitals from the Federal Ministry of Health and uploaded on the platform to avoid any likelihood of fraud in the process. Hence, the AI will only process requests from recipients in government verified hospitals. It’s free. All you need do is to access it on the Facebook or Telegram apps and register.

Even if you don’t need blood, you can register as a voluntary, unpaid donor. You’ll be saving a life. The system has been configured in such a way that it guarantees the safety of the donor and the recipient. Also, as medically required, we don’t permit more than one blood donation in three months for males and four months for females.

So, the platform doesn’t process donation requests within three or four months of last donation. The AI is programmed to flag this.

“We record a high rate of avoidable deaths in Nigeria, and we can reduce the incidence drastically if we embrace the J Blood Match AI. JDI is looking to expand the application of the system to cover other neighbouring African countries, but we want it to gain much popularity in Nigeria. Hence, we are open to partnership with key stakeholders in the health space to positively change the blood donation story of Nigeria”.

T

here’s no life without blood. No alternative to it. Blood is life. But there are times when, due to a health emergency, one becomes critically in need of blood. This could be consequent upon a ghastly accident, a woman who had severe bleeding during child delivery, serious child anaemic condition or even an organ transplant, necessitating a safe blood transfusion to sustain the life of the victim.

This transfusion can only happen if blood availability is guaranteed. And therein lies the challenge- making blood available to those who need it to stay alive. That’s where Jela’s Development Initiatives, JDI’s, J Blood Match Artificial Intelligence (AI) comes in to salvage the situation, especially with institutional support and that of other key stakeholders in the health sector.

BLEAK STATISTICS On June 14, 2022, Nigeria joins other countries in marking this year’s edition of the World Blood Donor Day, WBDD, a day set aside to create global sensitisation on the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion and the vital contribution which voluntary blood donors make to the health systems of their countries.

It also provides a veritable opportunity to make a clarion call to governments and health institutions to make ample resources available, formulate necessary policies and set up structures that ensure the availability of blood from voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors.

The slogan for this year’s WBDD is “Donating blood is an act of solidarity. Join the effort and save lives”, and it is geared at drawing attention to the roles that unpaid, voluntary blood donations play in saving lives and enhancing solidarity within communities.

Having set that context, it’s important to share some statistics from last year’s WBDD to give you a snapshot of the Nigerian situation. In her message to mark the 2021 WBDD, the Regional Director for Africa, WHO, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, stated that yearly, an average of seven million Africans need safe blood transfusion to survive.

According to Moeti, Nigeria, inhabited by about 200 million people, needs an average of 1.8 million pints of blood on an annual basis to sustain the health its people.

But the National Blood Transfusion Service, NBTS, saddled with the onus of providing safe, quality blood and blood products for transfusion to all who may need it, disclosed in 2021, that it collects only 500,000 pints of blood annually. That gives us a shortfall of over 70 percent, a figure that evinces the large lacuna in the country’s blood supply chain.

Of these 500,000 pints, only about 25,000 were obtained from voluntary, unpaid donors in 2019 and 2020, according to the Head of Planning, Research and Statistics, NBTS, Adaeze Oreh. The import is that a preponderance of the blood units were commercially sourced. In terms of voluntary unpaid blood donation, Nigeria has one of the lowest rates in Africa.

J BLOOD MATCH AI TO THE RESCUE Jela’s Development Initiatives, a non-governmental organisation, founded by a Mandela Washington Fellow and consummate broadcaster, Angela Ochu-Baiye, launched the J Blood Match, Artificial Intelligence (AI) on November 21, 2019, to serve as

Angela Ochu-Baiye, founder J Blood Match Artificial Intelligence an effective platform that seamlessly connects those in need of blood with voluntary, unpaid donors at no cost. This is so novel! With this AI, JDI is innovatively building a solid blood donor network accessible through platforms such as Facebook and Telegram.

The J Blood Match AI is integrated into these platforms and employs AI to collect donor demographic data- gender, location, age, contact- and blood group, which now constitute the donor profile. So, when you’re in need of blood, you simply go to the platform, register with the same data, including the needed blood group, to build a profile of some sort, and the AI sorts through the system and finds a match who is closest to you, depending on available donor data.

Assuming you get a match, the system sends a message to the donor, informing them of a blood need at a hospital close to them. They have the option of accepting or declining the request. If they accept, the system alerts the recipient, forwards the donor’s contact and both arrange for the donation off the platform. The cost of blood screening is borne by the recipient.

JDI’s J Blood Match provides a platform to enable the recipient get a blood match

for free while also giving the donor some ‘humanitarian gratification’- the innate satisfaction of having saved a life or promoted human welfare. This encourages more people to donate freely and improve the voluntary donation statistics of Nigeria.

You get a blood match from a voluntary donor closest to your hospital or health centre at no cost. This is so easy! After a successful donation, the recipient acknowledges this on the J Blood Match platform. In a case where the donor doesn’t show up, the recipient can make another request on the platform.

If the person needing blood is unable to request on the platform, probably due to the criticality of their condition, someone else can register and make the request on their behalf. There are options for this on the platform.

The J Blood Match initiative gives the unpaid donor an opportunity to get their blood screened, and the result can be further used to improve their health, since donors must be screened willy-nilly. JDI’s AI-powered platform is proving to be a very effectual means of closing the subsisting gap between blood demand and supply and has shown promise in changing the grim blood donation

HEALTH ANALYSTS’ PERSPECTIVES Some health analysts have also expressed glowing perspectives on J Blood Match AI. Dr Sunday Agbonika: “J Blood Match bot is a brilliant solution to an overwhelming problem. It’s a simple to navigate way of providing support thus saving a life. The best part, it creates a community where you both support and can be supported in a critical situation”.

Onyeka Awanye: “Blood Match is here to bridge a large gap in the area of blood donation for life saving purposes. All hands need to be on deck to ensure that more and more donors come on board to be able to achieve a deeper penetration and acceptability of donors to reach out to more people in need of blood transfusion”.

Aisha Hussein: “J Blood Match is such a creative and essential innovation. The first of its kind I have heard of as it helps increase the low pool of blood donors through advocates and non-remunerated donors. It’s very useful in case of emergencies and the bot is user friendly and informative”.

CONCLUSION J Blood Match is unarguably a unique platform and will augment the efforts of the NBTS and other relevant actors in ensuring the availability of safe and quality blood for those who need it. It’s also very crucial that we support the JDI as it requires great funding to execute a robust awareness campaign for the platform and foster widespread adoption. J Blood Match AI has the potential to engender a paradigm shift in our blood donation culture, and concerted efforts are requisite. t0MJTB B 13 $POTVMUBOU BOE 4PDJBM $PNNFOUBUPS XSPUF GSPN -BHPT

3000 Residents Benefit from Ijebu Boys Association Medical Outreach Funmi Ogundare Over 3,000 indigent and residents of Ijebuland have benefited from the third phase of free medical outreach sponsored by Ijebu Boys Association (IJ Boys).

The three-day medical outreach which kicked-off on June 9, at the Millennium Hall, Ijebu Ode Local Government Secretariat, Itooro Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, saw 40 medical service providers volunteering their time and resources to conduct test and treat medical conditions such as tooth and eyes problems, hepatitis B and C, malaria , HIV/AIDS tests and treatment, diabetes and

blood sugar tests and treatment, toxicology vital signs checks, among others.

A standby ambulance, medical laboratory, dentistry were also provided with optical tests facility. Five brand new wheel chairs, about 20 walking aids were given out to patients that required them.

The Gbegande of Ososa Ijebu, and a foremost medical practitioner, Oba Adesoye Alatishe, appealed to the state government and the Alaiyeluwa of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona to find a way to recognise and honor the invaluable contributions of IJ Boys to the people of Ijebuland

and beyond.

“This is the third edition of this capital intensive medical outreach and I have personally witnessed two editions. Health is wealth, and healthy citizens are those that can bring about a healthy nation. “ We must appreciate the invaluable contributions of this middle age men who preferred calling themselves ‘boys’. This is not the only service Ijebu Boys Association are rendering to the people.”

He recalled that during COVID-19 pandemic, the association gave out massive palliatives in form of food items, saying, “they did this twice during the long pandemic. They shared this

across towns and villages in Ijebu land.

“My people in Ososa received from the goodies.

They have other things they are still doing. I heard they even painted the hall they are using for this medical outreach.

Let’s join hands to pray that God continues to prosper and protect them and their families.”

The Oru of Imoru Ijebu, Oba Adeposi Bashorun, who also participated, expressed delight about the initiative after he did his vital checks. He donated financially to the association.

The President of the association, Mr Olagbuyi Oduniyi commended its members in

Nigeria and in diaspora for adopting and sponsoring the annual medical outreach as a give back to the community that gave birth to them.

Explaining how Ijebu Boys association came into being, the Publicity Director, Mr. Adetola Odusote said, “IJ Boys came into being in 2017 after the death of some of our prominent childhood friends in 2016, among whom were Bolaji Osinowo and T-Bello.

Few of us came together to form a platform through which we could be checking on one another. “ We adopted the motto, ‘Idagbasoke Gbogbo Akile Ijebu’, meaning, the Progress

of Ijebuland. We had as our mission statement; to cater for the well-being of our members and drive socio economic development of Ijebuland.”

Membership, he noted, is “by your root to Ijebuland or as a friend who grew up together with us and who had primary or secondary education in Ijebu in the 70s and 80s.

“We have liberalided conditions for membership by reducing age limit to 45.

It can also be by marriage to Ijebu daughter or by resident in Ijebu land. But you must know at least three members who can attest to your character and commitment to IJ Boys cause.”

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2022

HEALTH

Wumi Jubril: Providing the Ultimate Wellness Escape Wumi Jubril is the Chief Executive Officer of the Seattle Residences and Spa, one of the leading Luxury Hospitality Brands in West Africa. In her current role as CEO of the Seattle Residences and Spa, she manages a strong team of hospitality professionals who help to curate some of the most memorable wellness escapes in Nigeria. In this interview with MARY NNAH, she talks about her numerous exploits in providing both physical and mental wellness to Nigerians

W

hat solutions were you seeking to provide when you founded The Seattle Residences and Spa?

with the Mint Company, which worked perfectly for us, particularly due to their Eco-friendliness.

We knew for sure that we wanted to provide the ultimate escape. The word “Home-Away-from-Home” is one that we had been so familiar with for so long.

I remember being much younger and wondering what that would mean for anyone. I knew then that it had to feel safe and feel like a space you would never want to leave. A room in a hotel would never be sufficient for that; it has to be safe, cosy, and premium in every sense of the word, translating into a wellness club with all of the best facilities operating 24 hours, and with a fine dining restaurant.

How did it start?

We started three years ago as the Seattle Residences and Spa, which was a 24-apartment building, and one of the most luxurious ones in Nigeria. We knew then that what we wanted was to provide an escape for our clients away from all the hustle and bustle in Lagos; it was a success, and still is. Part of what we provided was our 24-hour premium facilities like the Goodlife Restaurant for fine-dining experiences and the Seattle Spa which is perfect for tastefully designed spa treatments. Both facilities are also going to be present in our other properties (that is, The Pier Harbour by SRS) How do we classify your kind of business?

You seem to be in the beauty business too.

Yes, I am. It’s all a base of luxury living, I would say. Luxury living and beauty go hand in hand, in terms of how hospitality, health and wellness go hand in hand. So, they’re all in the same business line and I enjoy blending both.

How do you identify the need for the services that you provide?

By paying extra attention to our customers’ needs and specifications, we listen to them and ensure our processes and services are curated to meet their needs. We are also very keen on customers’ feedback and input; these help us to serve them better every time.

Are you sure Nigerians are ready for the kind of luxury services you provide?

Yes, most definitely! The pandemic was the perfect evidence; we were fully booked and we found that a lot of our bookings then, at least 70 per cent, came from local bookers. We were running at 100 per cent occupancy. So in response to your question, yes, Nigeria as a country, and Nigerians as a people, is ready for us!

Tell us a bit about The SRS Collection.

What services do you provide?

The SRS Collection is an assembly of luxury

What particular challenges do you face as a female operating in this sector?

Notably, being underestimated mostly and the fact that most times, for some funny reason, being single in Nigeria means you are somewhat irresponsible and as a result disrespected, are some of the challenges I face as a female in this sector. I still find the reactions most truly hilarious. But I move!!!

What are your strategies for expansion?

For the most part, a major focus for us is the properties we currently have, i.e., The Seattle Residences and Spa, our flagship property, Clayhall

by SRS situated in Ikoyi, and Pier Harbour by SRS situated in Victoria Island. We will continue to expand, of course. However, we are working hard at establishing these properties in the Nigerian market for now.

Jubril properties.

The name was coined out of the name Seattle Residences and Spa, the flagship property which started three years ago. SRS Collection came about when we realised that there was a need in the market for more luxury properties. The services we provided played a huge part in complementing the accommodation facilities we provided. To explain who we are, we are a luxury health and wellness group specialising in the art of curating lifestyle escapes for leisure seekers and business travellers.

Tell us about your career journey in the hospitality sector.

It began 12 years ago when I realised how much I loved the whole process involved in the art of catering to people’s needs. Coming from a family where everyone is involved one way or another in healthcare or hospitality, I would say I naturally developed a passion for it. I started with the Sheraton Lagos Hotel as a trainee where I had amazing mentors, and I worked in the sales department for about two years after which I was nominated to represent Sheraton Gambia in Nigeria. I did this for about a year and then got an offer to head Business Development (Outbound) for West Africa. It was all exciting and I learnt so much. The experience I gathered led me to this point with The SRS Collection. I had wonderful mentors in the process of my growth, a lot of whom I am still very much in touch with.

How affordable are you?

We are a luxury retailer, which means that our services are affordable to those who are interested in luxury living.

This is different from the regular apartment business, and even though the cost of living is exorbitant generally, we still provide impressive services for our clients at prices affordable to them.

How have your services impacted the Nigerians generally?

We have impacted the Nigerians in our capacity. We strive to introduce new luxury living styles, amenities, etc. in the hospitality space in Nigeria.

What is unique about the solutions that your firm provides?

We provide an escape for business travellers and leisure seekers. We are saying, literally, “Come to us, and we will pamper you.” From the moment you walk in, it is completely fresh with our popular SRS signature scent; you walk straight into your apartment, led by the butler, who would have been expecting you. Your welcome fruit platter, a welcome drink, and many other amenities/services which we offer on the arrival of guests are served to you at your apartment on your arrival. We have just recently started to have our branded amenities

If you weren’t in the hospitality business, what else would one have found you doing for a living?

It would most probably have been something in the medical industry, architecture or software engineering. I would choose the medical industry because of the hospitality aspect of it, and the tech space because of the processes involved.

Architecture would have been product design indicating my love for art.

You are a very busy person. Do you create time to relax at all? If so, how do you relax?

I mean what do you do for leisure?

I am! I have now gotten to a point where I now receive spa treatments as gifts. I do get some time to relax as in the past, I travelled quite a bit. Ever since the pandemic, I have taken a lot more interest in spending a lot more time with friends and family. It’s always one thing or another… cycling sometimes, exploring new restaurants for wine and food tastings, or attending exhibitions. I can comfortably say that my friends have played a huge part in helping me relax.

What more should clients expect from The SRS Collection?

A whole lot! I know that in the hospitality and luxury industries, clients are always looking for new, unique, and interesting things, such as new cuisines, intriguing architecture, top-notch interior designs, beautiful sceneries, and the likes.

The SRS Collection is changing the game for the luxury industry in Nigeria, and eventually in Africa. The management and staff are continually learning and developing new skills that will set SRS Collection apart in the industry. We’re taking it to a whole new level!

DRASA Takes Awareness Campaign against Antimicrobial Assistance to Lagos Schools Esther Akinola To bridge the gap in the Nigerian health system, the Dr Ameyo Stella Adadevoh (DRASA) Health Trust continues to take awareness campaigns on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) to school-age children across the country.

The DRASA AMR project targets health education programmes to improve awareness, antimicrobial use and hygiene behaviour among children in primary and secondary schools in the country.

This was noted at the launch of the first AMR regional webinar series inaugural session on the theme, “Innovative Strategies for Youth Engagement” hosted by WHO AFRO. Speaking at the virtual conference, Dr Omotayo Hamzat, World Health Organisation (WHO) Consultant and Professional

Officer on Essential Drugs and Medicine, harped on the role of education and interventions.

“Interventions that target AMR and hygiene behaviour have the notable potential of success in school-age children,” he said.

Hamzat, however, bemoaned that AMR has become a silent pandemic, adding thst worldwide, about 2,000 people die daily from drug-resistant infections (DRIs).

“By 2050, this is projected to increase to 10 million deaths annually with more than 4.1 million from Africa.

“The estimated cost of uncontrolled DRIs by 2025 is $100 trillion. Developing countries including Nigeria share the burden of not only DRIs but lack of access to existing effective antimicrobials. An effective response to AMR is essential to prevent a return

to a pre-antibiotic era.”

WHO Global Action Plan for AMR are honed on five strategic objectives including Awareness and understanding of AMR, Surveillance and improved evidence-based on AMR, Infection prevention and control including hygiene and sanitation, Optimisation of the use of antimicrobial medicines, and Sustainable investment for alternatives to antimicrobials including vaccines and diagnostics.

The consultant continued that effective control of AMR depends on coordinated activities including the strategic objectives above.

He said, “Campaigns and interventions that address the threat of AMR are only beginning to emerge in many LMICs. The campaigns and interventions should target different stakeholders”.

Hence, WHO AFRO aims to

conduct targeted awareness and education campaigns amongst school children to effect changes in health behaviour like hygiene practices and antimicrobial use.

This is to assess handwashing and personal hygiene practices after behaviour change intervention, evaluate knowledge of antibiotics and antibiotic/antimicrobial resistance, determine knowledge of proper use and disposal of antibiotics, and proper food safety and environmental sanitation practices Therefore, WHO (Nigeria Country Office with support from WHO Regional Office for Africa and the WHO headquarters) partnered with DRASA Health Trust. The partnership developed a curriculum that fits into schools’ extra-curricular activities (clubs and societies). “It leveraged on the

existing relationship between DRASA and the Lagos State Government on establishing school Health and Hygiene Clubs.

“10 schools with health and Hygiene Clubs, desired health behaviours in the pupils were investigated using the COM-B framework. Members of Health and Hygiene Clubs were named ambassadors, while a random selection of other students (nonambassadors) served as controls.

Assessments were made before (baseline) and after (final) the project,” Hamzat emphasised.

Hamzat further recommended educational programmes for behaviour change targeted at children for an understanding of the role of hygiene in the prevention of infections and the spread of AMR. On her part, the MD of DRASA, Dr Niniola Williams,

said the non-profit organisation works to build a strong and resilient health system that is accessible to all, prepared to handle emergencies, and able to provide quality care and save lives. Williams highlighted: “Our goal is to use a people-centred approach to address the gaps and build resilience in Nigeria’s health system while honouring Dr Adadevoh’s legacy of protecting public health and saving lives.

“We promote hygiene and sanitation, advance infection prevention and control, and strengthen health security and emergency preparedness to keep people healthy and safe.”

To achieve this goal, DRASA says it invests in raising ambassadors and champions (cultural and religious leaders in communities, health workers in hospitals, decision-makers in government, and youth influencers in schools).

42

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2022

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

ICSAN: Widening Exchange Rate Affecting Business Plan Omolabake Fasogbon The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), has expressed concern over uncertainty in foreign exchange rate, saying that it creates an indecisive environment for investors.

President of the ICSAN, Taiwo Owokalade while addressing the press during the institute’s quarterly presidential briefing stated that the widening exchange rate disparity is sending a bad signal to foreign business associates and rubbing off negatively on Nigeria’s external reserve, which has

recorded huge decline lately.

He argued that the instability in the exchange rate had made planning difficult for businesses, adding that employers are not finding it easy to import raw materials.

He stated that these developments have made Nigerian business environment tougher and less competitive, as was further compounded by Nigeria’s huge import- dependency.

According to him, the economy managers and policy makers would need to multiply efforts in getting things right, as well as embrace openess and transparency that will enable constructive criticism.

He said, “Virtually every business in Nigeria cannot stand on its own as Nigeria imports most of its needs, this in effect means that we are not efficient, effective and not competitive as a nation.

As it is, prices of goods and services have soared, yet as a governance person, we cannot be talking of pushing cost to consumers or to reduce quality of production.

He said, “ We feel there is an urgent need to look into this issue as many of our members work for many of these companies across. This is why our last public lecture dealt with this issue extensively.

Wema Bank Launches Leadership School to Re-skill, Groom Leaders Wema Bank Plc, has launched the Leadership Development School as an addition to its Purple Academy to help in the overall development and transformation of its workforce.

Speaking at the formal opening ceremony of the leadership school, the Managing Director/ CEO of the bank, Mr. Ademola Adebise, said organisations have a huge task to optimise performance and deliver value in contemporary times, pointing out that leadership is key in driving organisational success.

Adebise said we need good leaders to blend the various

skills of the employees for the advancement of an organisation and its business success.

The Chief Human Resources Officer of the bank, Mrs Lolade Ogungbenro, described the leadership school as a rich, inclusive, and innovative portfolio with an unrivalled ability to equip the bank’s diverse workforce with skills for the future of work.

“We have designed business and executive education for impact, and the academy is exploring new experiences and diverse perspectives that translate to significant returns

on investment for the business,” she said.

Head of Learning and Development, Oluwaferanmi Owolabi, corroborated Mrs Ogungbenro, saying continuous learning is essential because of the changing nature of work.

“Purple Leadership School is at the pinnacle of our Corporate University that seeks to fuel our current leadership, build resilience, drive succession with a high-performance pipeline and groom the next generation of leaders to thrive and excel in business in an ever-changing world,” Oluwaferanmi said.

NASME Set to Host Youth Empowerment Conference Esther Oluku The President, Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Mr. Abdulrashid Yerima has said that the organisation in collaboration with it’s stakeholders is set to host its first ever Youth Empowerment Conference in Abuja on July 21st 2022.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, Yerima stated that the conference is aimed at providing a forum for the youth business community to leverage on financial and technical support which would be provided by the organisers to grow existing youth businesses and spur the youth population towards entrepreneurship ventures Yerima who was represented

by NASME Zonal Vice president, North Central, Mr. Tajudeen Ajisefinni noted that this year’s conference which is the maiden edition would serve as a springboard to other youth centered programmes which would hold in the coming years.

“The Youth Empowerment Conference is aimed at providing an interactive forum for dialogue between young entreprenuers representing the youth business community and policy makers as well as development organisations to discuss the need to invest in access to finance and technical assistance for young people.

“This event would serve as a platform for database collection to get a view of all youth entreprenuers in the country, refer them to their state chapters who would start mentoring them. We want to see how we can bring them up. With the facilities from the Bank of Industry and our other partners, we would not just abandon these entreprenuers.

The conference would give them an appetizer into the NASME experience,” he said.

On her part, NASME Consultant and Chief Executive Officer, W-Holistic Business School, Ms. Olanrewaju Oniyitan, noted that the conference is a three part event which would feature panel discussions, the National Youth

Enterprise Challenge (NYEC) where youth entreprenuers would be given a chance to pitch their businesses for sponsorship, and a Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (MSME) Clinic.

“The call for application into the NYEC is open from July 5th through July 15th 2022 after which we have the boothcamp that would hold from July 15th to 18th. The business pitch competition would happen during the conference on July 21st. The event will be hybrid so participant who are not resident in Abuja can join online” she said.

Divisional Head, SME- South, Bank of Industry (BOI), Mr. Obaro Osah noted that working with NASME is part of BOI’s activities to support and deepen it’s commitment to youth empowerment programmes.

“We shall work together with NASME to address the challenge of unemployment so that our youth who are seeking for institutions who are supporting them can know where to go to and get the support they need,” he said.

APMTerminals Apapa Sponsors Campaign Against Drug Abuse, Illicit Trafficking Nigeria’s largest container terminal, APM Terminals Apapa took part in sponsoring this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking.

The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking is observed on June 26 annually. The global event highlights the physical and psychological impact of substance abuse, drug overdose deaths and drug-related humanitarian crises with the aim of eliminating the menace from the society.

The theme for this year’s event

is ”Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and Humanitarian Crisis”.

APM Terminals Apapa also participated in activities organised by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Apapa Area Command, to mark the day.

Speaking, Legal and Corporate Affairs General Manager at APM Terminals Nigeria, Chinenye Mirian Deinde said, ”It was a collaborative and interactive workshop comprising of participants in the maritime industry and port community.”

While the audience included secondary school students, members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), government enforcement agencies, community leaders and traditional rulers from the community as well as other port stakeholders, terminal operators had the highest representation of the corporate stakeholder group.

“This shows commitment to partner with the NDLEA to curb the menace of drugs coming in through the seaport,” Deinde said.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT MONDAY MAY 30, 2022

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

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

43

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2022

MARKET NEWS

Neimeth Holds Board Meeting on N3.67bn Rights Issue Kayode Tokede Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc yesterday in Lagos held a completion board meeting to float a Rights Issue of N3.67 billion through the Nigerian capital market.

The Rights Issue which will commence August 3, 2022 will be used to raise the sum of N3,679,618,625 at the cost of N1.55k per 50 Kobo share.

The shareholders of the company had in March, 2022 at the 63rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) approved the creation of 2,373,947,500 additional Ordinary Shares which will be allotted at the rate of five new shares for every four shares currently held in the company.

Chairman of the Board, Dr. Ambrosie Orjiako said the money is being raised to construct a new multi products

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

facility that will be tailored to comply with the Word Health Organization (WHO) current standards of Good Manufacturing Practice (c GMP) at Amawbia in Anambra State r ..It is also to be used to support the company’s strategic plan of maintaining a sustainable capital structure, leverage the company’s balance sheet, reduce cost of borrowing or finance costs and fund working capital.

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

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

The Managing Director/CEO, Pharm Matthew Azoji said the capital market is the most viable and cheaper option to source long term funds because of the high cost of funds through other sources. “We cannot finance such a long term project as the new plant in Amawbia with short term funds from banks. That will not be expedient and cost effective. “ Last year, the shareholders

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

had approved a two-pronged expansion plan , namely the construction of a new plant in Anambra State and a facility upgrade of the Oregun plant.

The Oregun factory upgrade is already close to completion with funds from the Bank of Industry (BOI) and own resources. On completion, the Oregun plant alone will add additional 300 per cent to the company’s production

O F

capacity Orjiako said these projects will not only sustain the current upbeat performance of the company but will give her a quantum leap into the league of leading global health care commodities producers.

The fortunes of Neimeth has taken an upward turn since 2018 when it returned to profitablity after nearly a decade of predominantly losses.

0 6 / 0 7 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

44

THURSDAY, Ϳ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

Thursday, July 7, 2022

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THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

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THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

,KEz&>KhZ

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1,732.20

3 BUA Cement Plc 4 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC

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2427.02

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

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

Current Price

Ticker

-0.04% 0.0%

ROE

30.9% 142.7% 45.6%

81.4%

ROA

P/E

20.2%

4.1%

0.0%

18.2%

6.2%

8.0%

16.9%

0.1%

105.6%

13.9%

14.6x

18.0x

5.7%

6.0%

7.2%

0.0%

23.3%

12.1%

27.0x

6.1x

3.9%

3.7%

20.30

-0.7%

4.2%

-21.9%

-1.0%

19.8%

3.2%

3.3x

0.7x

14.8%

29.9% 36.5%

21.75

0.5%

4.2%

-13.5%

0.2%

20.6%

2.6%

2.7x

0.5x

14.3%

275.00

0.0%

3.9%

7.0%

0.0%

37.7%

16.4%

12.4x

4.5x

7.7%

8.0%

26.20

0.0%

3.0%

9.4%

-0.8%

15.5%

11.1%

7.1x

1.1x

7.6%

14.1%

8 FBN Holdings Plc 9 Nestle Nigeria PLC 10 SEPLAT Energy PLC

10.95

0.5%

2.5%

-3.9%

-5.6%

20.1%

1.9%

2.4x

0.4x

3.2%

42.3%

1,400.00

0.0%

2.6%

-10.1%

0.0%

112.8%

16.1%

24.3x

28.3x

3.6%

4.1%

1,300.50

0.0%

2.6%

100.1%

0.0%

7.5%

3.6%

13.0x

1.0x

3.2%

7.7%

9.50

0.5%

2.3%

2.2%

2.2%

17.9%

1.6%

2.1x

0.3x

7.4%

48.2%

11 Access Holdings PLC 12 United Bank for Africa PLC

7.50

0.7%

1.7%

-6.8%

0.7%

15.6%

1.4%

2.2x

0.3x

13.3%

46.5%

55.85

0.0%

1.4%

11.7%

-5.0%

10.5%

3.9%

24.1x

2.4x

2.9%

4.2%

216.90

0.0%

1.4%

52.7%

0.0%

43.6%

25.5%

11.3x

4.8x

4.1%

8.8%

0.0%

1.3%

21.8%

0.0%

18.4%

1.0%

2.2x

0.4x

6.4%

45.1%

7.1x

1.1x

8.9%

14.1%

0.7x

6.6%

20.1% 40.6%

33.55

0.0%

1.3%

-6.8%

0.0%

15.6%

2.1%

17 International Brew eries PLC 18 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

5.40

-5.3%

1.0%

9.1%

-14.3%

-9.9%

-3.4%

32.50

0.0%

0.9%

14.6%

0.0%

15.9%

4.5%

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 Guinness Nigeria PLC 21 Presco PLC 22 Wema Bank PLC 23 FCMB Group Plc 24 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC

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ŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ďLJ Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲ

ϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ KZE Z^d ;ͲϮ͘ϳйͿ͕ h E ;Ͳϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K ;ͲϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͘

&/ >/dz ;Ͳϭ͘ϮйͿ͘ dƌĂŝůŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ

1.0x 5.0x

-9.9%

3.24

-1.2%

0.7%

27.1%

-5.3%

13.3%

1.2%

2.5x

0.3x

10.8%

90.50

0.0%

0.7%

132.1%

0.0%

17.8%

8.1%

13.5x

2.2x

0.6%

7.4%

165.00

0.0%

0.5%

87.9%

0.0%

7.6x

4.6x

4.2%

13.2% 8.0%

3.40

3.0%

0.5%

372.2%

6.6%

15.7%

0.9%

3.24

0.0%

0.4%

8.4%

-6.4%

10.7%

1.1%

2.9%

0.9%

12.5x

1.8x

7.1%

0.3x

6.2%

0.6x

12.5%

3.2x

11.7%

1.4x

6.3%

0.5x

1.6%

2.00

0.0%

0.4%

-13.8%

0.0%

25 United Capital PLC 26 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

12.80

0.0%

0.4%

29.3%

0.4%

16.00

0.0%

0.4%

-8.0%

-1.8%

27 Transnational Corp of Nigeria 28 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

1.25

0.0%

0.3%

30.2%

1.6%

10.40

0.0%

0.3%

70.5%

8.3%

7.9x

1.2x

2.4%

12.6%

17.10

0.0%

0.2%

94.3%

-0.9%

12.1%

4.1%

18.3x

2.1x

3.0%

5.5%

11.20

0.0%

0.2%

17.9%

0.9%

5.2%

2.3%

12.6x

0.7x

5.8%

7.9%

234.50

0.0%

0.2%

5.7%

0.0%

1.7x

8.3%

29 Cadbury Nigeria PLC 30 UAC of Nigeria PLC 31 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri 32 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

16.7%

19.1x

6.6%

8.6x

0.0%

0.2%

18.6%

0.0%

18.1%

2.3%

5.9x

0.8x

9.3%

17.0%

0.0%

0.2%

-7.6%

4.3%

19.5%

5.5%

4.3x

0.8x

6.8%

23.3%

15.50

1.3%

0.1%

6.9%

4.7%

8.8%

5.4%

30.3x

1.3x

3.2%

3.3%

35 Jaiz Bank PLC 36 Oando PLC

0.81

-3.6%

0.1%

44.6%

-11.0%

17.4%

1.3%

6.3x

1.2x

4.9%

16.0%

5.45

-0.9%

0.1%

23.3%

-3.9%

37 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 38 Sterling Bank PLC

5.55

-9.8%

0.1%

-5.9%

-9.8%

6.1%

0.7%

8.7x

0.6x

1.52

1.3%

0.1%

0.7%

0.0%

10.3%

1.0%

3.0x

0.3x

-17.7%

-4.1%

39 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

62.50

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

6.25

0.0%

0.0%

16.2%

0.0%

T ic k er

P ric e

-21.5%

-165.0% 11.4% 6.6%

1.8x 1.1%

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

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

A C A D EM Y

1.57

9.8%

T R A N SC OR P

15.6

0.0%

C H IP LC

0.75

8.7%

GT C O

13.1

-0.7%

Ϭ͘ϵйͿ ĂŶĚ /Ed Z t ;Ͳϱ͘ϯйͿ͘

J A P A ULGOLD

0.29

7.4%

UP D C

12.0

2.4%

UP D C R EIT

3.60

4.3%

UB A

10.6

0.7%

CHA M S

0.25

4.2%

CHA M S

7.8

4.2%

WEM A B A N K

3.40

3.0%

ST ER LN B A N K

7.3

1.3%

UP D C

1.27

2.4%

Z EN IT H B A N K

7.2

0.5%

ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ

;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϲdž /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ͕ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϬϮdž ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘ϭϬdž ĂƐ ϭϳ

33.3% -9.5%

1.0x

ƟŽŶ ŝŶ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͘ ϯďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ K E K ;Ͳ

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ KƵƚůŽŽŬ

11.6%

7.30

T o p 10 G a in e r s

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

5.2%

26.50

33 Custodian and Allied Insurance 34 Unilever Nigeria PLC

ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ

ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ďLJ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ĂŶĚ Ğƌ͕ ƵƉ ϭ͘ϴй ƉƌŝĐĞ ϭϲďƉƐ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂͲ

6.9%

5 Zenith Bank PLC 6 Dangote Cement PLC 7 Lafarge Africa PLC

10.60

ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚŝƉƉĞĚ ϴ͘ϵй ƚŽ ʬϮ͘ϲďŶ͘

11.0%

1.2%

0.0%

15 Ecobank Transnational Inc 16 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

6.3%

0.0%

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ϴϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ K E K ƌŽƐĞ ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ϮϬ͘ϵй ƚŽ E ^d> Ϯϯϰ͘ϲŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ

0.8x

71.90

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ

ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ʬϭϭϬ͘ϱďŶ ƚŽ ʬϮϳ͘ϴƚŶ͘ DĞĂŶǁŚŝůĞ͕ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ dZ E^ KZW ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ & E, ;ϭϭ͘ϭŵ

5.6x

230.30

13 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 14 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

;ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůLJ͗ Ϯϭ͘ϮйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

P/BV

LIVEST OC K

1.35

2.3%

F ID ELIT YB K

5.2

-1.2%

UN IT YB N K

0.47

2.2%

WEM A B A N K

4.3

3.0%

A IIC O

0.64

1.6%

OA N D O

4.1

-0.9%

ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϭϱ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ DZ^ ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ D zͲ

ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ͕ ϭϲ ůŽƐƚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϲϱ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ /Ŷ < Z ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ,KEz&>KhZ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ ^dK < ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ ĚĂLJ͕ ǁĞ ƚŚĞ ŬĞƚ ƚŽ ;Ͳϰ͘ϴйͿ ĐůŽƐĞ ůĞĚ ŝŶ ƌĞĚ ŝŶ WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ƚŚĞ ĂďƐĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŵŝdžĞĚ͕ ĂƐ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ƐĞĂƐŽŶ

ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƚĂůLJƐƚƐ͘ ŐƌĂĚƵĂůůLJ ǁŝŶĚƐ ƵƉ͘

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

C H A M P ION

3.60

-10.0%

GT C O

267.1

N EM

3.42

-10.0%

A IR T ELA F R I

211.0

0.0%

UB N

5.55

-9.8%

Z EN IT H B A N K

157.0

0.5%

UP L

2.35

-8.9%

M TNN

83.0

0.0%

UB A

78.9

0.7%

T ic k er

ƚŚĞ ƚŽĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌͲ ǁŚŝůĞ dZ E^ ;Ͳϴ͘ϯйͿ͕ > ^ K ;Ͳϲ͘ϳйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ >/s Ͳ

P ric e C hg % -0.7%

R T B R ISC OE

0.37

-7.5%

IN T B R EW

5.40

-5.3%

D A N GC EM

78.2

0.0%

SEP LA T

68.4

0.0% 0.0%

P R EST IGE

0.38

-5.0%

VER IT A SKA P

0.20

-4.8%

WA P C O

49.6

-4.2%

B UA F OOD S

40.3

1.0%

-3.6%

NB

33.3

0.0%

C OUR T VILLE

0.46

J A IZ B A N K

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

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

T o p 10 L o s e r s

0.81

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Damilare Asimiyu | dasimiyu@afrinvest.com

45

THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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

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

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

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 05July-2022, unless otherwise stated.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.22% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.70 3.76 8.72% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 4.66% Anchoria Equity Fund 145.99 147.62 4.84% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.21 1.21 5.74% info@anchoriaam.com ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 22.31 22.98 9.97% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 515.63 531.18 14.29% ARM Ethical Fund 43.95 45.27 12.80% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.06 1.07 -1.42% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.04 1.05 3.10% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.60% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 106.07 106.07 8.93% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,120.70 1,120.70 12.07% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.10 2.10 4.17% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.39 2.44 18.88% CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,019.11 1,019.11 4.81% CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.05 1.05 4.37% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.34% Paramount Equity Fund 19.9 20.27 14.12% Women's Investment Fund 150.60 152.48 6.06% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.99% Cordros Milestone Fund 135.88 136.79 8.97% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 110.16 110.16 5.14% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 5.46% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 6.67% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,164.51 1,179.18 0.06% EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.87% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.05 1.05 8.84% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.07 1.07 17.00% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 102.72 102.72 4.66% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1471.88 1471.88 10.69% FBN Balanced Fund 195.37 196.67 11.48% FBN Halal Fund 121.06 121.06 10.17% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.12% FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) 124.51 124.51 5.96% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 165.14 167.37 8.76% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy USD Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

4,165.06 3,579.14 100.00

4,226.49 3,579.14 100.00

13.77% 6.27% 7.59%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.11 1.11 3.94% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.61 1.64 13.38% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,176.65 1,176.65 4.93% 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 N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 103.00 103.00 0.40% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 7.72% 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 1.68 1.71 4.53% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.62 11.67 4.08% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 6.39% PACAM Equity Fund 1.49 1.51 3.54% PACAM EuroBond Fund 116.81 119.86 1.62% 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 127.24 130.07 5.66% 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 1.05 1.05 8.54% 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 3,693.14 3,735.44 7.82% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 239.65 239.65 1.71% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.47 1.49 14.73% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 321.98 321.99 2.81% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 275.58 279.68 14.71% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.39% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 12,411.62 12,585.17 12.52% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.32 1.32 2.53% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.86 118.86 1.64% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 110.36 110.36 3.73% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Wealth for Women Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Sukuk Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.98 14.11 6.00% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 16.23 16.41 11.10% Zenith Income Fund 22.81 22.81 3.89% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.09% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund 3.93 4.03 -2.04% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 6.10 6.20 4.29% Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund 19.05 19.25 7.69% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.40% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 21.41 21.61 7.10% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 154.15 156.15 -2.28%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

117.13 51.68

3.47% 1.63%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

15.40 143.50 114.10 17.10 16.40

15.50 146.97 116.55 17.20 16.50

10.09% 10.33% 11.29% 21.93% 3.99%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.55

12.10%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

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

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

46

IMAGES

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JULY 7, 2022

Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com

L-R: Students of Powerfields College, Egbin, Sharafa Hawnau and Israel Anyanwu; Chairman, Egbin Power Plant, Mr. Temitope Shonubi; and a student, Chiemele Okoh, during the launching of Greenlectric by Egbin Power Plant in Lagos...recently

L-R: Director, Human Resources, British American Tobacco (BAT), West and Central Africa, Sergio Berlanga; Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige; Director, External Affairs, BAT, West and Central Africa, Odiri Erewa-Meggison; and President, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, during the maiden Nigeria Employers’ Summit 2022, organised by NECA at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja…recently

L-R: Member, Rangers International FC Supporters Club, Okereke Amobi; National Assistant Secretary, Rangers International; Chisomaga Ukwieze; Hero Lager Brand Manager, Dubem Orji; Hero Lager Brand Ambassador, Nkem Owoh; and National Chairman, Rangers International Supporters’ Club, Dr. Orji Iloakazi, at the Hero Lager sponsored Rangers’ football match in Awka, Anambra State…recently

L-R: Legal and Corporate Affairs Director, International Breweries Plc (IBPLC), Mrs. Temitope Oguntokun; Chief Executive Director, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr. Muda Yusuf; Managing Director/ CEO, IBPLC, Hugo Dias Rocha; Director-General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir; Director, IBPLC, Michael Odutayo; and Government Relations/Public Affairs Manager, IBPLC, Christopher Obi, at the 2022 edition of the Nigeria Employers’ Summit in Abuja…recently

Managing Director, Peaklori Production Limited, an oil servicing company, Mr. Charles Lori (left); and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, shortly after he (Lori) received the award of the Company in Oil Service Industry of the Year, at the National MSME Award held at the State House, Abuja...recently

L-R: President, France Old Students Association (FOSA), Ayobola Adedayo; Secretary, Business Development Director, FOSA, Oluwaseun Bankole; mentor and Chairman, FOSA, Mr. Joseph Ajilore; and Member of FOSA, Chioma Agubo, during the official launching of France Old Student Association in Lekki, Lagos… recently PHOTO: KOLAWOLE ALLI

L-R: Bishop of Ikorodu Diocese Methodist Church Nigeria, Lagos State, Rt. Reverend Samson Osundina; Bishop, Diocese of Ikeja Metropolitan, Rt. Revd. Dr. Steven Adegbite; out-going Prelate, Dr. Samuel Chukwu Emeka Uche; Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace, Dr. Isaac Olawuyi; Lay President, Arch Diocese of Lagos, Sir Fredrick Iluyomade Ogunboun; and the Bishop, Diocese of Ereko, Rt. Revd. Joshua Adeogun, during the Prelate apostolic tour and the world press conference addressed by him at the Wesley Chapel, Lagos…recently

THURSDAY JULY 7, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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48

THURSDAY, Ϳ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

MOU FOR VACCINES AND PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTION PLANT...

L-R: Vice Chancellor, Bayelsa Medical University, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu; Bayelsa State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Pabara Igwele; First Vice President, BioCubaFarma, Dr. Mayda Mauri Perez; Governor Douye Diri; Nigeria’s Ambassador to Cuba, Benaoyagha Okoyen, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investments, Barr. Patience Abah, after the signing of Memorandum of Understanding for establishment of vaccines and pharmaceutical production plant in Bayelsa…recently

Peter Obi: I Will Remove Fuel Subsidy, Use Savings for Education, Health, Security Urges Nigerians to vote for competent leaders Says economy in coma, needs him as saviour Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi yesterday faulted Nigeria’s fuel subsidy policy, describing it as a scam, just as he revealed his resolve to end the policy and channel the humongous amount of money it gulps to critical sectors like power, healthcare and education if elected president in 2023.

The former Anambra State governor also said Nigeria’s economy is currently in a comatose state and needs a specialist like him to save its life.

Obi, who said these while speaking on ‘The Morning Show,’ on Arise News Channel, said he was still consulting with political

leaders to get a credible running mate as vice president for the party in the 2023 general election.

Obi argued that labour had never been against phasing out the petrol subsidy regime.

He said the amount of subsidy that had been spent in the past 12 years would have solved a lot of issues in education, health, and power.

“If we have 20,000 megawatts of electricity today, I can assure you that we’d be growing at more than four per cent and would have added over $100 billion in our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

"There has been a lot of mismanagement of resources that would have changed the entire north. We are going to do it in such a way that it will be

transparent. To avoid mistrust, when it (subsidy) is removed, what we are going to do with it should be made known. We must look at it critically.

"I am going to remove subsidy because I am going to use the resources to do something that will benefit the nation. If that can’t be achieved, then, I am not going to remove it’,” Obi said.

He dispelled rumours that he had already picked Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, a Kaduna-based politician as his running mate ahead of the 2023 general election.

According to him, in the coming days, his vice president would be unveiled.

He, however, said he would like to work with someone who is much younger, adding that he

was building a formidable team which would save Nigeria.

Obi explained that he would like to work with someone who can also tell him when he is wrong as he can’t know everything.

“I want somebody who is competent, I have a soft spot for Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed and a few others. We need to start bringing younger people on board with fresh ideas who have something to offer instead of recycling ourselves,” Obi said.

Speaking further, he urged Nigerians to vote for competent leaders and not be swayed by the primitive concentration of ethnicity and religion.

He said the elections shouldn’t be based on ‘its my turn, ethnicity or religion’, stating that it should

UN Agencies Warn of 'Looming Catastrophe' as World Hunger Levels Rise 828m people affected in 2021 11m die annually due to unhealthy diets migration on an unprecedented scale. nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, will only get worse.

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja and Oluchi Chibuzor in Lagos

United Nations (UN) agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organisation (WHO), have warned of a 'looming catastrophe' amid rising global hunger levels.

The warning was predicated on stark statistics that about 828 million people, or nearly 10 per cent of the world's population were affected by hunger in 2021, 46 million more than in 2020 and 150 million higher than in 2019.

The global agencies disclosed in the 2022 edition of the U.N food security and nutrition report which was released yesterday that 11 million people die annually due to unhealthy diets as world hunger levels rose again in 2021 after soaring in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The agencies warned that the Ukraine war and climate change were threatening starvation and mass migration on an "unprecedented scale" this year.

The WFP Executive Director, David Beasley said: "There is a real danger these numbers will climb even higher in the months ahead," adding that price spikes in food, fuel and fertilisers stemming from the Russia-Ukraine war threatens to push countries into famine.

"The result will be global destabilisation, starvation, and mass

We have to act today to avert this looming catastrophe."

Russia and Ukraine are the world's third and fourth largest grains exporters, respectively, while Russia is also a key fuel and fertiliser exporter.

The war has disrupted their exports, pushed world food prices to record levels and triggered protests in developing countries already contending with elevated food prices due to COVID-19 related supply chain disruptions.

The UN report warned of "potentially sobering" implications for food security and nutrition as conflict, climate extremes, economic shocks and inequalities keep intensifying.

It estimated that globally in 2020, 22 per cent of children under five were stunted while 6.7 per cent or 45 million suffered from wasting, a deadly form of malnutrition that increases the risk of death by up to 12 times.

Calling for an overhaul of agricultural policies, the report said the global food and agriculture sector received almost $630 billion a year in support that often distorted market prices, did not reach small-scale farmers, hurt the environment and did not promote nutritious food production.

This support included subsidies that mostly target calorie rich staple foods like cereals, sugar, meat and dairy at the expense of healthier,

pulses and seeds.

On his part, WHO DirectorGeneral, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: "Every year, 11 million people die due to unhealthy diets. Rising food prices mean this

"WHO supports countries’ efforts to improve food systems through taxing unhealthy foods, subsidising healthy options, protecting children from harmful marketing, and ensuring clear nutrition labels."

be based on a Nigerian agenda to serve the country as it is in a state of coma, which needs a specialist, which he said he would offer to Nigerians if elected as president.

He further appealed to people to vote to save Nigeria, saying people should not vote for him because he is from the South-east, but that they should vote for him because he is a Nigerian who is competent to pull Nigeria out of the mess it is in today.

Addressing the remarks made by Rabiu Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) that he wasn’t going to get votes from the north, Obi said his remarks were reasons why Nigerians were still living in poverty, insecurity, adding that children are out of school in the nation and 55 per cent of the population were under employed because of such mindset.

He said there were lots of issues to be dealt with and that should be the focus.

He said, “We choose to vote for incompetence based on a primitive consideration of ethnicity and religion. Tell me, today, you can’t travel from Abuja to Kaduna by air, by road, or by train. Is it because somebody from the South-East is in charge? You can’t travel from Abuja to Minna by road, is it because somebody from the South-East is in charge? Yesterday (Tuesday), we

had an attack on the presidential convoy in Katsina, is it because a person from South-east is in charge? Show me where you can buy food cheaper.” You have not talked about electricity, or people are prospering in the North because northerners are in power? In the South-West because they are in power or in the South-East.”

He urged Nigerians to jettison politics of religion and ethnicity.

He added, “What we have chosen to do in this country is that we consistently hire vehicle drivers to fly the Nigerian airplane, instead of qualified pilots. My commitment is, let us campaign and deal with issues on the problems with the country. There are a lots of problems besieging this country.

“If you don’t know today, this country will soon default in their debt servicing. This is what should be preoccupying us now.

Universities have shut down and we are talking about who we’ll vote for. Let’s deal with the issues.

This election will not be based on ‘my turn’. It will not be based on ethnicity. It will not be based on religion. It will be based on a Nigerian agenda to save this Nigeria. Nigeria is in coma, and it needs a specialist, and that is what I’m offering to save its life or it will die. I’m appealing to people to vote to save Nigeria, and to save Nigeria is to hire the best.”

FG Urged to Establish National Hydrography Commission James Sowole in Abeokuta The Hydro Professional Group of the Nigeria Institution of Surveyors (NIS) has called on the federal government to establish National Hydrography Commission to cater for gathering and management of data and policies in the maritime sector of the country.

The Coordinator of the Hydropro Group of the NIS, Mr. Olumide Omotoso, reiterated the call in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while speaking on the occasion of the 2022 World Hydrography Day. The theme for the Year 2022 celebration was, "Hydrography: Contributing to the United Nations Ocean Decades.”

Omotoso, who said Nigeria was long overdue for the establishment of the National Hydrographic Office, noted that there cannot be meaningful development in the nation's maritime sector unless there was an office where stakeholders in the industry could collaborate and exchange data

and ideas based on survey and research.

According to Omotoso, Hydrography offices are established in all maritime nations to cater for both military and civilian needs.

He said, "Hydrographers gather data from the civil and the military areas. Both the military and the civilian will work together. All data that are related to water bodies are harnessed in that office.

"In such office, we have the military layout of information and the public domain information that is assessed in facilitating policies in aiding decision making.

“With the office, our lives are better in planning so that in flooding, in seabed monitoring around the coastline will be better monitored and managed properly.

"If we set up that office, both the military and the civil components and all the other stakeholders including the Nigeria Ports Authority, Nigeria Inland Waterways, NIMASA, all the people in the oil and gas industry, the dredging

company and everybody that is participating in anything that is maritime will then bring their data to that house that will work like the central bank.

“In that office, we keep data, we manage data, we choose data for research purposes, for prediction, for modelling, just like what the NIMET is doing. If we don't do that, how do we predict what will happen in the ocean.

"If NIMET exists, then we should have the Nigeria Hydrographic Office, giving data to keep the Maritime Sector. Without that, you can't plan anything in the maritime sector.

“Hydrographers are the one that tells you everything that is inside the water. Nobody sees under water so this office will be established where all the stakeholders will collaborate and it is a civil society.

"The military will bring their data and we bring our own under the National Hydrographic Office and where everybody is

contributing. Security is for the Navy's purpose while the civil is for public domain.

"So we need a platform for collaboration among stakeholders and to be headed by a civilian. In the UK Hydrographic Office and other nations like United States that is what they do. We need the National Hydrographic Office in Nigeria. We do not have one yet.

"People confuse the Hydrographer of the Navy with the National Hydrographer. They are not the same thing. There should be a National Hydrographer that takes care of everybody and also the Hydrographer of the Nigerian Navy.

"The Nigerian Navy Hydrography Office is also different from the National Hydrography Office. The two have their different offices. it is when the two come together that they will collaborate in a central office for proper decision making to help the government take policy and action."

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THURSDAY, Ϳ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

FORTY-NINE

Boris Johnson Digs in Amid Growing Cabinet Resignations Boris Johnson is defying calls to resign, as he attempts to face down a growing mutiny among his cabinet.

Home Secretary Priti Patel, a former close ally, has joined a group of rebel ministers who are urging the Prime Minister (PM) to stand down.

But he has defied the growing calls for him to quit, saying it would not be "responsible" for him to go.

According to BBC, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove was fired from his cabinet, after he urged the PM to resign.

Johnson earlier told senior MPs it would not be right for him to "walk away" amid economic pressures and the war in Ukraine.

Under repeated questioning by the Commons Liaison Committee, he ruled out calling a snap general election, saying the earliest date he could see for one was 2024.

A Downing Street source rejected speculation the PM would announce his resignation in Downing Street later.

"There is no lectern outside No 10 tonight. The PM fights on," the source told BBC News.

The ministers urging him to quit also included Chief Whip Chris Heaton-Harris, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, and Welsh Secretary Simon Hart.

Gove told him to go earlier, and Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has told the chief whip the PM should resign.

Johnson rang Gove on Wednesday evening to tell him he was sacked.

A No 10 source said: "You can't have a snake who is not with you on any of the big arguments who then gleefully tells the press the leader has to go."

Hart later resigned from his post,

saying he wanted to help Johnson "turn the ship around" but "we have passed the point where this is possible".

BBC political editor Chris Mason said the rebel group was joined in Downing Street by another set of ministers arguing he should stay.

The BBC had also been told Johnson has been stressing that "millions" voted for him, and questioning whether any of his would-be successors would be able to "replicate his electoral success at the next election".

Meanwhile, Tory party bosses on the executive of the backbench 1922 committee have postponed a decision on whether to change the rules governing a vote of confidence.

However, elections to replace the committee have been pulled forward and will now take place next week.

Johnson survived such a vote last month, and under the rules as they currently stand he would be immune from another challenge for a year.

Culture Secretary and longstanding Johnson ally Nadine Dorries has been seen going into No 10.

The crisis engulfing Johnson's premiership began on Tuesday, following the dramatic resignations of Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid.

They quit within minutes of each other following a row over Johnson's decision to appoint Chris Pincher deputy chief whip earlier this year.

Their departures triggered a wave of further resignations, with one in five MPs in government roles quitting their posts.

A senior ally of the prime minister told the BBC: "It's now a question of how he exits," adding the situation

was "not sustainable".

At Prime Minister's Questions, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the Conservatives had become a "corrupted party defending the indefensible".

He took aim at ministers who have resigned in recent days, saying their decision not to quit before now showed they lacked a "shred of integrity".

And he rounded on those who have stayed in post, mocking them as a "Z list cast of nodding dogs", keeping the PM in power.

He added they were "only in office because no-one else is prepared to debase themselves any longer", calling them the "charge of the lightweight brigade".

Tory backbencher Gary Sambrook accused the PM of blaming other people for his mistakes and was applauded after calling on him to

resign.

But Johnson defied calls for him to go, adding he had a right to stay because of the 80-strong majority he won at the 2019 election.

"The job of a prime minister in difficult circumstances, when he's been handed a colossal mandate, is to keep going - and that's what I'm going to do."

Tribalism is measurable in decibels in Westminster, and the Conservative benches sat in near silence - the noise came from the opposition benches - in what was Boris Johnson's toughest PMQs since the general election.

By early afternoon, the letters of resignation and no confidence were tumbling in, and even Mr Johnson's most loyal supporters privately - and often bluntly and colourfully - acknowledged the game was up, it was over.

IOCS LAMENT ESCALATING OIL LOSSES, SAY THREAT HAS REACHED EXISTENTIAL LEVEL low oil production levels, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), yesterday reiterated its resolve to pursue a three million barrels per day oil production as well as raise the crude reserves to 40 billion barrels.

Okunbor also warned that the new marginal field licensees that would be operating Shell's Oil Mining Lease (OML) 53 and 57 may experience difficulties evacuating their products.

"In three to five years, we were brought down from 1.8 million barrels a day to a little over 1 million barrels a day and frankly, most of that comes out of deep water.

"So, our OML 53 and 57 marginal field licensees, depending on how quickly they can bring production on stream, those who are on land, swamps and shallow water, evacuation is going to be an issue. So it's an existential issue for us,” he explained.

He said two of the most important oil pipelines in the country are currently shut down with hundreds of thousands of barrels a day shut-in.

"We need to address it. If we don't address it, we can do all the new oil development issues, that will continue to occur. But what is really going to move the needle for us in terms of bridging this gap of hundreds of thousands of barrels a day is solving the evacuation

problem.

"So if there's one thing we need to take away from this conference, it's how we can put our heads together: Industry, government, regulators, communities, security agencies as to how we can deal with this culture," he explained.

Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria Limited and Chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), Mr. Rick Kennedy, said while the industry stakeholders collaborate to fine-tune the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in a manner that offers encouragement to all players, it was also imperative for the oil theft challenged to be addressed by all parties.

"My observation is that, leading up to the completion of the PIB and now with the passage of the PIA, there is the need for an unprecedented level of collaboration and partnership across industry, with the regulators with the ministry, and with NNPC. "And I think that will do us well going forward as we all take on the challenges ahead of us, including the high crude theft that we are going through. Let's just carry on that collaborative mind-set and ensure we address these challenges," Kennedy said.

The Executive Director at ExxonMobil Nigeria, Mr. Oladotun Isiaka, who represented his Managing

Director, Mr. Richard Laing, said stakeholders should work together to tackle the oil theft challenge as it was impacting negatively on investments in the upstream sector.

"I see two things: When you talk about production, there are two variables in there. There's capacity and there's downtime. So security and the downtime aspect, and I agree it is existential,” he stressed.

However, the Managing Director of TotalEnergies E&P Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mike Sangster, said the PIA had brought some level of frustrations, explaining that rather that enhancing investment, the Act was enhancing divestments by the IOCs. "I can sense a certain level of frustration that the PIA has been passed. There's been more, let's say more enhancements in terms of divestments than they've been about new investments.

"What I would like to suggest is that we have another dialogue between the industry and the authorities, because we were involved in the definition of the PIA and we worked well with the GMD and with the minister through that process," Sangster stated.

According to him, there have been some delays in the implementation of the Act since its assent in August last year, pointing out that it took a long time for the post-PIA

regulations to be published.

The TotalEnergies boss suggested that another working group be set up between the authorities and the industry in order to finds ways to address some of the issues.

In a related development, the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited has said its six-train gas processing plant is currently experiencing decline in production owing to escalating third party infringement on oil and gas production assets across the Niger Delta region, Stressing that its production has declined by 35 per cent in the last few months, Chief Executive Officer of the liquefaction company, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, disclosed that crude theft and vandalism were gradually strangulating Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

“We have been producing in the last month at about between 60 to 68 per cent production. In other words, roughly 35 per cent of our capacity is empty. There are many factors, but the biggest one of them is crude oil theft.

"If we don’t address this, we will not get out of this quagmire that we’re in," Mshelbila stated.

He reiterated the company's commitment to supply all its Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to Nigeria's domestic market, saying the company had stopped exports

of the product and was currently supplying about 400 million tons of LPG to the country.

"NLNG has high ambitions for its latest project. The long-awaited expansion will increase production capacity by 35 per cent from 22 million tons per annum (22mtpa) to 30mtpa and enhance NLNG’s competitiveness in the global market,” he assured.

"The train 7 project will receive feed gas through a dedicated gas transmission system and will produce LNG, condensate and LPG. The capital investment for the project will be in the order of $3 to $5 billion subject to final design and scope with a design life of 25 years,” he added.

Meanwhile, the federal government has made a payment of $100 million as part of Nigeria's counterpart fund in the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) being undertaken

by German power firm, Siemens.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Senator Gabriel Suswan, disclosed this at the NOG conference during his presentation on the topic: " Developing the Power Sector Policy for an Emerging Economy".

He said the Minister of Power, Mr. Abubakar Aliyu, revealed that to the Senate committee during a meeting with them on Tuesday.

"The government has paid that $100 million for the project so that

someone can quickly activate that contract, so that the power deficit, which has militated against proper servicing of the industry will come to an end.

"And so this issue of grid collapse will become a thing of the past.

We will be able to address the issues, fix the infrastructure, and then we'll increase power supply to about 7000 megawatts as it stands now," Suswan said.

“At the valedictory session for the six former Ministers that departed to pursue other political careers, I promised that their replacement shall be a matter of priority so that the business of governance would not experience delays or setbacks. ‘‘This administration has been in the saddle since 2015 and is now on the home-stretch of its second term, as the nation prepares for the 2023 general elections. All through, it has vigorously pursued the three main electoral objectives namely: securing the nation; diversifying and growing the economy as well as fighting corruption.”

The president added: “You are all coming on-board at this time with new energy, ideas, experiences and vigour, to join the existing team so that the implementation of policies, programs and projects associated with these electoral objectives would be escalated and accelerated. ‘‘There is still so much to be done for our country in the areas of infrastructure development, energy, access to finance, access to justice, technology and innovation, trade, agriculture, education and security.

The list is inexhaustible.”

Buhari urged the newly appointed ministers to be conscious that time was of the essence as they assumed office.

According to him: ‘‘As I assign you portfolios, therefore, I expect you to carefully study your sectors, take wise counsel, reach out to key stakeholders, consult and collaborate with older cabinet colleagues and focus on driving key programs already initiated by this administration. Above all, be loyal to your president and your country.’’

Underscoring the need for the old and new members of his cabinet to work with common objectives of leaving indelible legacies for Nigerians and ending strongly with verifiable accomplishments, the president warned: “You must resist bad counsel, resist temptation and be circumspect in your utterances and conduct. You must totally eschew corruption and be above board because if caught there will be no sacred cows.”

Opiah has assured Nigerians that he would deploy all needed resources to join Buhari in delivering democracy dividends to Nigerians.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after being sworn-in, Opiah said having sworn an oath to serve the country as Minister, he would join other colleagues to build on the existing standards as well as established modalities for growth in the system.

The Minister said he would move to work immediately to key areas of importance in the Ministry, adding that the president had given them charge to contribute their quota to nation building.

“President Buhari has informed us that we have much to do, hence I am prepared to move into action quickly.

"There are key areas that will be of importance in line with the desired of President Buhari administration aimed at improving on the quality of education Nigerians get.

"I promise to deliver in my job using all resources available.

I am delighted to be given the opportunity to serve our country under the administration of our dear President Buhari," he added.

On his part, Umana promised

to be result-oriented and impactful within the short time he would be spending in the Ministry.

He made the assertion during a reception ceremony held on his behalf in the ministry in Abuja.

According to him, “Though the time is short, we can hit the ground running by making the necessary impact. We will be driven by results.”

A statement issued by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Patricia Deworitshe, said while stating that it was time to work to achieve the ministry’s target in line with its mandate, Umana urged the staff to be at their best to ensure that a remarkable difference was made in the lives of Nigerians, especially people in the Niger Delta region.

“This tenure would ensure that a lasting impression is attained, that will make President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians proud,” he said.

Earlier in his welcome speech, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olufunso Olusesan Adebiyi, assured the minister of the unalloyed commitment of the ministry’s management and staff to work as a team in ensuring that his target and set objectives were achieved.

In the same vein, the South South Reawakening Group (SSRG) yesterday commended the appointment of Umana as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

The group, in a statement signed by its Convener, Joseph Ambakederimo, said the appointment of Umana would bring fresh air and respite to the Niger Delta region.

"The deployment of Mr. Obong Umana Okon Umana has brought

a breath of fresh air and respite to the beleaguered Niger Delta region, the deployment has brought with it the euphoria of eldorado and a new lease of life for our people," it stated.

SSRG thanked Buhari for giving a listening ear to the appeal by the people of the region and expressed confidence that Umana would not disappoint giving his background as an astute administrator.

Meanwhile, Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu yesterday assured the president that the confirmation of Adegoroye as Minister would add value to his government and impact positively on the people of the state.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, Akeredolu congratulated Adegoroye, charging the new Minister to exploit the opportunities of his new office to help the Sunshine State in its quest for development, particularly the establishment of the Port Ondo.

“I congratulate Prince Ademola Adegoroye on his inauguration as Minister of State for Transportation.

Adegoroye has been a long-standing member of this progressive family.

His appointment as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is gratifying.

“Having transcended the various phases of this progressive fold, from the Action Congress (AC) to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and now the All Progressives Congress(APC), Prince Adegoroye, no doubt, is equipped with the political experience and the knowledge to galvanise the needed support for the development of the State and the progress of the APC in the sunshine state.

Despite Low Oil Production, NUPRC Insists on 40bn Barrels Reserves, 3m bpd Drilling Target

Also, despite current low oil production levels, the NUPRC yesterday reiterated its resolve to pursue a three million barrels per day oil production as well as raise the crude reserves to 40 billion barrels.

Speaking on the theme: “Providing Regulatory Oversight in the Petroleum Industry Law (PIA) Era”, at the 21st National Oil and Gas (NOG) conference and exhibition event in Abuja, NUPRC’s Chief Executive, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, stated that plans were also underway to raise gas reserves to 220 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF).

Nigeria currently has a daily oil Continued on page 52

PRESIDENT SWEARS IN NEW MINISTERS diligence and maintain unalloyed loyalty to the country and office of the president.

He also warned all Ministers to stay clear of corrupt practices in their official dealings while rejigging his cabinet by moving four Ministers around. He said the redeployment was aimed at reinvigorating certain sectors where the government desired to accomplish improved results.

Speaking yesterday at the swearing-in ceremony, which preceded the virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House, Abuja, the President said as his administration was now on the home-stretch of its second term, more work still needed to be done in diverse areas of the economy and national life.

The newly appointed Ministers and their portfolios were: Ikechukwu Ikoh, Minister of State, Science and Technology; Umana Umana, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs; Udi Odum, Minister of State, Environment; Ademola Adegoroye, Minister of State, Transport; Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub, Minister of State, Works and Housing; Goodluck Opiah, Minister of State, Education and Nkama Ekumankama, Minister of State, Health.

However, the following ministers were re-assigned: Senator Adeleke Mamora, Minister of Science and Technology (formerly Minister of State, Health); Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, Minister of Transportation (formerly Minister of State, Works and Housing); Sharon Ikeazor, Minister of State, Niger Delta (formerly Minister of State, Environment) and Sen. Gbemisola Saraki, Minister of State, Mines and Steel Develop-

ment (formerly Minister of State, Transportation).

Before the swearing in of the new Ministers, a minute silence was observed in honour of the outgoing Secretary-General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mohammed Barkindo, who died Tuesday night at the age of 63.

Buhari urged the new members of his cabinet to consult and collaborate with older cabinet colleagues and focus on driving key programmes already initiated by this administration.

He also warned all members of the cabinet against corrupt practices, reiterating that public officers must be above board and those caught in corrupt practices would face the full wrath of the law.

He explained: “I begin this address by welcoming on board, all newly sworn-in members of the Federal Executive Council. I also congratulate you because the process that you all passed through to reach this stage has been rigorous and meticulous. ‘‘The appointment of these new Ministers is in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which prescribes that the Federal Executive Council shall be made up of members from every state of the Federation. ‘‘I therefore urge you to consider your emergence out of millions of equally qualified Nigerians within the purview of selection from your state, as a call to duty which imposes the obligation to serve the nation diligently and presents to you the unique opportunity to work hard in service to the government and the country.

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STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIP...

L-R: Managing Director, Central Securities Clearing System Plc., Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri; Deputy Managing Director, Ghana Stock Exchange, Ms. Abena Amoah; Director General, Ghana Securities and Exchange Commission, Rev. Daniel Ogbarmey Tetteh; Acting Director General, SEC Nigeria, Mr. Ibrahim Boyi and Executive Commissioner, Operations, SEC, Mr. Dayo Obisan, during a meeting between the Nigerian SEC and Ghana SEC in Abuja...yesterday

Tributes Pour in for OPEC’s Barkindo as His Death Casts Gloom over Abuja Oil Summit Remains of Barkindo were laid to rest yesterday in Yola OPEC member nations, Senate president, Sylva, others mourn Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The sudden death of the Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Dr. Sanusi Barkindo, yesterday cast a dark cloud over the just-concluded Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Conference that took place in Abuja.

The remains of Barkindo were laid to rest yesterday in Yola, Adamawa State.

The pervasive impact the top OPEC chief who had until the end of this month to conclude his headship of the international organisation, did not go unfelt as tributes poured in for him from all over the world.

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mallam Mele Kyari, had in the early hours of Wednesday announced the death of the oil industry expert, stressing that he passed on at about 11pm on Tuesday. Barkindo was aged 63.

His death came as a huge shock to many industry players who were with him at the NOG earlier in the day, during which he gave arguably one of the longest speeches at the event, extending well over 30 minutes.

Barkindo betrayed no sense that he was unstable at the oil summit, receiving what turned out to be his last standing ovation after his speech.

The cause of the death of Barkindo, who was earlier at the Presidential Villa was still undisclosed as of yesterday evening, but THISDAY learnt that he had taken ill suddenly in the night before he was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after.

Meanwhile, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, yesterday mourned Barkindo’s demise.

Lawan described the sudden death of Barkindo as tragic.

The Senate President described Barkindo's leadership of the global oil cartel as exemplary, noting that the deceased worked assiduously to build cooperation between OPEC and non-OPEC countries to save the energy market at a time of a global crisis.

Lawan, in a statement said Barkindo's pragmatic approach and hard work at the critical time brought stability to the volatile oil market.

The Senate President said Barkindo's stewardship at OPEC made him a pride for Nigeria and

BUHARI VISITS KUJE, QUERIES INTELLIGENCE, RESPONSE AS ISWAP CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY ing tirelessly to ensuring the safety of lives and protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure.

The CG, however, said adequate measures would be put in place to avoid such reoccurrence across the country.

Kachikwu Urges Buhari to Resign over Worsening Insecurity

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to resign amid worsening insecurity in the country.

Kachikwu, in a statement, said the attack on the convoy of the President on its way to Daura, Katsina State and simultaneous attack on Kuje Correctional Centre, were clear signs that the country is now faced with a grave security threat.

He wondered who then is safe if the President’s convoy could be attacked as well as the Kuje Prison, which is just a few kilometers to the seat of power.

He insisted that the twin deadly attacks have once again exposed the nation’s weak security architecture, which Buhari has failed to strengthen.

“The events of the last 24 hours, have once again exposed the weak underbelly of our nation’s security architecture. Some members of the President’s advance team were slain while the Kuje prison in our nation’s capital was attacked and scores of prisoners released by terrorists.

“This is indeed another low moment in a series of low moments under the Buhari administration.

I sympathise with the families of those killed in the line of duty. I once again call on President Buhari to do the honourable thing and resign since he can no longer secure the Nigerian people.

“Nigerians are paying a huge price for his inept leadership. If the terrorists are now bold enough to attack the President’s convoy and a heavily guarded prison just a few kilometres away from the Aso Villa, who then is safe in Buhari’s Nigeria?” Kachikwu asked.

Africa, adding that his death was a monumental loss to Nigeria, the world and particularly to the global energy community.

"The news of the tragic death of OPEC Secretary-General, Mohammed Barkindo, came to me as a rude shock. Barkindo's exemplary leadership at the global oil cartel brought stability to the ever volatile oil market.

"The world will remember him for how he was able to rally both the OPEC and non-OPEC members together to save the energy market.

The world will miss him and particularly the global energy community," Lawan said.

The Senate President also condoled with the Government and people of Adamawa State over the great loss and prayed Allah to forgive the sins of the departed and accept his soul into Aljannah Firdaus.

Similarly, in a letter of condolence he personally signed, the Minister of State, Petroleum, Mr. Timipre Sylva, described the demise of the OPEC scribe as unfortunate, stressing that he was a worthy ambassador of Nigeria.

“His contributions in the global

energy space will be difficult to match. We share in your grief and pray that the Almighty Allah will grant him eternal rest and the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” he wrote in a letter to Barkindo’s family.

In its tribute to Barkindo, who was born April 20,1959 in Yola, Adamawa State, OPEC’s secretariat in a statement said it was in “shock” and expressed “deep" gratitude for the over 40 years of selfless service (he) gave to the organisation.

Kyari, in a tweet called Barkindo’s death a “great loss to his immediate family…and the global energy community.”

A former Minister of State, Petroleum, Emmanuel Kachukwu, said he was devastated to hear of the passing of “my brother and friend”, adding that “words cannot express the deep pain and sorrow we feel.”

On its part, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) extended its deepest condolences to the family of the oil industry veteran whom it said fought for the right to develop.

“While words cannot express the tragedy of this loss, the legacy left behind by H.E. Barkindo will be

remembered by the global energy community for years to come,” it said.

“In Africa, he will always be remembered as a patriot, an instrumental figure who fought for the continent’s right to develop our oil and gas,” it added.

Also, the African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) led by its Executive Secretary, Anibor Kragha, described Barkindo as a global energy icon, whose magnificent legacy would never be forgotten.

“He worked assiduously to strengthen the worldwide energy markets at a critical time and successfully ensured stability of the global economy, even during the unprecedented turmoil of the COVID pandemic and other shocks,” Kragha said.

Barkindo was acting OPEC Secretary General in 2006, representing Nigeria on OPEC’s Board of Governors from 2009 to 2010 and was finally appointed as Secretary General in 2016 and re-appointed for a further three years in 2019.

He was an Adviser to former Minister of Petroleum Resources and OPEC Secretary General, the

late Dr. Rilwanu Lukman and was GMD of the NNPC. He oversaw some of the most turbulent periods in the history of OPEC, forging partnerships with non-member countries, including Russia, weathering the COVID-19 pandemic, navigating global oil price fluctuations and geopolitical tensions.

Barkindo was set to join the Atlantic Council as a distinguished fellow in the Global Energy Centre after his term at the OPEC secretariat ended on July 31. He was expected to be buried in his hometown in rural northeastern Nigeria.

Regarded as a consummate diplomat, Barkindo was seen as a bridge when challenges in the global oil industry were being discussed. “We are continually looking to break down barriers,” he once told journalists.

A graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University (1981), he held a diploma in Petroleum Economics from Oxford (1988) and an MBA from Washington University (1991) and between January 2009 and April 2010, served as the NNPC head.

NAF: Air Strikes Killed Scores of Terrorists in Katsina State Fighter jet mistakenly bombed villagers

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said last night that fighter planes struck terrorists near Zakka and Umadan Villages in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The air operation followed what it said was careful coordination between the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji and the Nigeria Police which resulted in the elimination of scores of terrorists near Zakka and Umadan villages in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.

But there were fears that lives of some of the villagers may have been lost and several others injured after the NAF jets accidentally bombed them.

"While on an air recce mission, intelligence was received by the air crew of the sighting of terrorists between Zakka and Umadan Villages.

"The terrorists had earlier overwhelmed the police outpost at Zakka Village after overrunning the police outstation at Dutsen Ma and shooting the Police Area Commander.

"The NAF aircraft thus proceeded to the location and after thorough scan of the area, the terrorists were eventually detected at a Village about 7.1 Km West of Safana town and further west of Yartuda Village.

“Some locals were also sighted fleeing the village as the terrorists had ransacked and taken some of the locals as hostages during their house-to-house search of the community," a statement by Nigerian Air Force Headquarters said.

"The terrorists were later tracked until they had isolated the hostages to a building about a kilometer away from their massing up area near the village. It was at this point

that the permission for an air strike was given.

"Subsequently, the location was struck by NAF aircraft in successive passes with scores of unsuspecting terrorists eliminated. Fortunately, as had been anticipated, the hostages were later seen escaping after the successful air Interdiction by the NAF aircraft.

"The aftermath of the airstrike was that some of the villagers who had dispersed when the terrorists first invaded the village were seen returning. The villagers also confirmed that over 24 terrorists were eliminated in the carefully planned and coordinated air strikes,” it stated.

The statement noted that similar success was also recorded elsewhere in the same Local Government Area as intelligence reports received in the evening of July 5, 2022 had revealed that some terrorists with herds of cattle were

observed dispersed in Abdulkareem Camp near Mahuta Village in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State. Abdulkareem, a well-known terrorist kingpin, had been a source of kidnapping and killings of innocent citizens residing near Mahuta Village and environs.

"Consequently, a NAF aircraft was dispatched to the general area where it remained overhead the area of interest until the early hours of July 6, 2022 when the first human was sighted. After sighting about 18 terrorists amassing within the location, the aircraft engaged the targets.

'The fall of shot was observed within the compound and the impact radius of the blast was effective on other terrorists hiding in the compound. Feedback received has indicated that the strikes were precise and successful", it said.

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INAUGURATION OF THE FAN MILK-DANONE MODEL DAIRY FARM...

L-R: Managing Director, Fan Milk Nigeria Plc, Ferdinard Mouko; Senior Vice President, Partners, Danone, Paolo Tafuri; French Ambassadress to Nigeria, Her Excellency, Emmanuelle Blattman; Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun; Chairman, Fan Milk Plc, Mr. Olayinka Akinkugbe; Managing Director, Fan Milk, Ghana, Yeo Ziobeieton; Commissioner of Agriculture, Ogun State, Dr Adeola Odedina, at the inauguration of Fan Milk-Danone Model Dairy Farm in Odeda, Ogun State...recently

Buhari: I'm Confident APC will Win July 16 Osun Guber Poll Lauds Oyetola's selfless service to the people Atiku group distances self from Ekiti PDP factional crisis Crisis in Kano PDP as stakeholders want chairman suspended Deji Elumoye in Abuja, Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed confidence that the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), would emerge victorious in the July 16 governorship election in Osun State.

He, therefore, hailed the selfless service of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the state, to the people, which he said would earn him a second term in office.

In a related development, a group rooting for the Peoples Democratic Party's presidential candidate in 2023, Atiku Abubakar, has dissociated itself from the factional crisis rocking the party in Ekiti State.

At the same time, the lingering crisis in Kano PDP, has taken a new twist as a faction, led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, has called for suspension of the party's Chairman, Shehu Wada Sagagi.

However, presenting the party's flag to Oyetola at the State House,

Abuja, yesterday, the president commended the performance of the governor for serving the people tirelessly in his first term in office, adding that he had confidence in the party winning the election, fairly and squarely in the coming week.

"I wish you the best of luck”, the president said Responding to the invitation to participate in the Grand Finale of the rallies, next week in Osogbo, Buhari said, “I hope I will make myself available to boost your morale.”

But he gave assurances that the APC was committed to furthering the development journey of the state.

President Buhari gave kudos to the co-chairs of the Osun State Governorship Campaign Council, Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Lagos and Kano States as well as the Vice Chairman and Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, for putting so much energy into the campaign to re-elect Oyetola.

Presenting the candidate earlier

to the President, the Deputy National Chairman of the Party, Senator Abu Kyari, who stood in for the National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, commended the President for leading the party to victory.

He described Oyetola as a performing governor, who has done well in his first term and is deserving of a second one, even as he expressed optimism too that the party would emerge overall winner in the general election in February next year.

Atiku Group Distances Self from Ekiti PDP Factional Crisis

A group rooting for the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has dissociated itself from the factional crisis rocking the party in Ekiti State.

The group, The Atiku Mobilisers (TAM), regretted the polarisation of Ekiti PDP into two factions, and urged the Dr. Iyorchia Ayu-led National Working Committee of the party to wade into the matter and bring the contending forces together.

A group of SWC members loyal to former Governor Ayodele Fayose, had on Monday elected one Alaba Agboola, a known protege of Senator Biodun Olujimi to replace the former chairman of the party in the state, Hon Bisi Kolawole.

In another meeting convened in Ado Ekiti by anti-Fayose forces in the SWC, former Chairman of Ado Ekiti Local Government, Hon. Deji Ogunsakin, was elected a factional Chairman.

The internal squabbles in the party, had largely been interpreted by the public to be a resonation of the crisis between Atiku and Rivers State Governor and Fayose’s known ally, Nyesom Wike.

But a communique issued after its meeting held in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday and signed by 22 members of the group, said neither the group nor its principal had anything to do with the internal crisis in Ekiti APC. Prominent among the signatories were former Assembly Speaker and Acting Governor, Hon Tunji Odeyemi; former Deputy Governor, Sikuru Lawal; former

Families of 50 Remaining Abducted Victims of Train Attack Protest in Kaduna

John Shiklam in Kaduna

Families, relations and friends of the remaining 50 abducted victims of the March 28, AbujaKaduna passenger train attack, have appealed to the federal government to take all necessary steps to ensure the immediate release of their loved ones.

Speaking with journalists on behalf of the families shortly after a peaceful protest yesterday in Kaduna, their spokesman, Dr. Abdulfatai Jimoh, lamented that families of the victims have been under psychological trauma since the unfortunate incident of March 28, 2022.

He said, “Today is exactly 100 days since our love ones were abducted. Their journey was meant to be a journey of two hours, however, it turned out to be 100 harrowing days.

“Since then things have not been the same with us. One cannot imagine what our love ones are going through in these last 100 days in the deep forestwith the same clothes, no clean water to drink, no medical care.

“Many of them are sick, one has even been shot and injured, we don't know his condition now.

“We have been talking to the government we have been appealing to them in the last 100 days to rescue our love ones, but so far we have not seen much.”

Jimoh appealed to the government, “to do all that is necessary to free our love ones within the shortest time possible.”

He said, “If you remember, our love ones spent their Easter and the Eid fitr in the bush. Today we are just three days away from Eid Kabir.

“We are praying they will

spend the Eid Kabir with us.

This is our hope and prayer.

“We want the government to do all that is necessary. We know is possible. They can do it; they should do it please.”

According to him, the government owe it a responsibility to ensure that Nigerians are free and are protected in their country.

“We have surrendered our sovereignty and our security to the government and it is incumbent on them to do what is necessary to protect us.

“We are appealing to Mr. President and his security Chiefs to do what is necessary between their powers.

"We know they can do it, and should do it for us please in the name of God. “We are all vulnerable to this situation. We are expecting them in the next few hours by the

special grace of God not even days. We know they are on it, they should conclude it, Jimoh said.

PDP State Chairmen, Makanjuola Ogundipe and Idowu Faleye, former Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Modupe Alade, a former Commissioner, Segun Akinwumi, among others.

Crisis in Kano PDP as Stakeholders Seek Chairman’s suspension

The lingering crisis in the opposition PDP in Kano State, has taken a new twist as a faction, led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, has called for the suspension of the party's state chairman, Shehu Wada Sagagi.

The party had already split into two factions in the state, as Muhammad Sani Abacha and Sadiq Wali emerged factional gubernatorial candidates respectively.

At a press conference yesterday in Kano, the Wali faction called on the national body of PDP to use section 58(l) to sanction Sagagi over his anti-party activities, capable of causing division in the party.

A former governorship aspirant in the party, Yunusa Adamu Dangwani, who read from a speech, recalled that Sagagi, at a press briefing on Tuesday, called for the resignation of the national chairman of PDP, Iyochia Ayu, on the premise that he (Ayu) promised to step aside and allow a national chairman from southern Nigeria once a presidential candidate emerges from the north.

By this alleged statement, Dangwani accused Sagagi of dancing to the tunes of anti-PDP forces both within and outside the party in the state.

According to Dangwani, "Ayu never made such a promise.

What he said after he was jointly nominated for the National chairmanship - after some engagements by senior party stakeholders from the three zones from the north, was that, he would step aside as National chairman to allow for a chairman of southern extraction once a northern presidential candidate emerges and wins the presidential election.

"We are not surprised by the mischievous utterances of Sagagi.

He is only being used by agents of destruction, who are hell-bent on creating confusion among the millions of PDP members, supporters, sympathisers and leaders with a view to reversing the clear signals of victory that the PDP now massively enjoys across the country.

"We, therefore, urge the National Working Committee to immediately invoke the relevant provisions of the party constitution 2017 as Amended, on Shehu Wada Sagagi.

"We specifically recommend putting him through the party constitution by suspending Shehu Sagagi immediately and directing him to appear before the National Disciplinary Committee to show course why he should not be punished for bringing the party into disrepute," he said.

Okorocha Gets Court's Permission for Medical Trip Abroad Alex Enumah in Abuja Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday granted the request by former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, to travel abroad for medical attention.

Consequently, Justice Ekwo ordered the Registrar of the Court to release Okorocha's international passport deposited with the court to enable him embark on the medical trip.

The judge gave the order while

ruling on an application argued

by Okorocha's lawyer, Mr. Ola Olanipekun, who disclosed that the former governor had been having health challenges of recent and would require medical attention outside Nigeria.

The Senior lawyer argued that Okorocha now a Senator representing Imo West in the Senate would not abuse the order and would return to the country for his trial.

Although, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) represented by Mr. Chile

Okoroma had showed some apprehension, but the court however, stated that the request would be granted with a caveat.

Justice Ekwo, accordingly ordered Okorocha to return the passport to the Court Registrar not later than three days of his arrival in the country.

In addition, Justice Ekwo held that Okorocha would be declared wanted if he attempts to abuse the favour granted him.

He subsequently fixed November 7 for trial.

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NIGERIA-PORTUGAL BUSINESS AND TRADE FORUM...

L-R: Minister of Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo; Legal Director Inventa, Mr. Vitor Fidalgo; Managing Director, Mr. Daniel Reis Nobre; Managing Director, Mr. Tiago Reis Nobre; President Muhammadu Buhari; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, and Nigerian Ambassador to Portugal, Mr. Alex Kefas, at the Nigeria - Portugal Business and Trade Forum in Portugal... recently

Peaceful 2023 Elections Now Under Threat, Warns NEF

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has warned that the prospects for safe conduct of the 2023 elections were being threatened by the conduct of the politicians.

Director of Publicity and Advocacy of the Forum, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday and titled: "Worrying Developments in Nigeria’s Current Politics."

The Forum said it was deeply concerned over developments in many aspects of the country's politics as it related to preparations for the 2023 elections and beyond.

It noted that such developments threatened the nation's already distressed democratic process.

"Our politics now operates outside safe and tolerable boundaries, and the nation will pay dearly for the desperation and limitations of those, who ought to show leadership and responsibility among our politicians," NEF stated.

It further noted that it was not responsible to resist the urge to caution politicians only on the ground that many matters that would impact on the lives and the quality of the country's national existence were purely internal affairs of political parties.

It added: "The search for a running mate for the APC Presidential candidate with religious faith of two individuals as the sole issue at stake represents a sad reminder that our politicians will not allow our

democratic system to grow beyond the narrowest of confinements.

"Nigerians take their faith seriously, but we are also painfully aware that the faith of our leaders has never been a factor in the manner we are governed.

"The political maneuvers in the APC now divert attention from serious issues around the quality of governance, and point to the danger that we are a multireligious country, whose citizens will pay dearly if one politician is not a Christian or Muslim.

"Politicians are desperately shepherding Nigerians into two irreconcilable religious divides, all in a bid to garner undeserved advantages at the expense of religious tolerance and co-existence."

NEF stressed that the melodrama around selection of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate’s running mate, and the role of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, would remain constant reminders that power and wealth, irrespective of how they are acquired, have made the political process its hostage.

The Forum noted that the ransom that would be paid to free the country's democratic process might be such that the nation could not afford it.

Consequently, the Forum stated, “Our nation is being carved into strongholds controlled by powerful individual politicians, who must be placated at all cost, and we will pay a huge price if these politi-

cians succeed in stamping their personalities into the democratic process.”

It also stressed that among a handful of other parties with the potential to make a difference, ethnicity and greed were threatening to frustrate the emergence of

The Nigeria Police Force yesterday passed out a total of 9,989 Police Constables from the 2020 batch of 10,000 police recruits from four police colleges and 12 training colleges across the country as part of efforts to address the age-long manpower.

The Police Constables who had undergone six months intensive and rigorous training in basic, intermediate and advanced police studies were engaged in physically, exerting and intellectually challenging training activities carefully designed to transit the recruits from civilians to professional police officers with the right orientation to meet the challenges of policing an increasingly democratic and rule of law-driven Nigerian environment.

Addressing the Constables in Bauchi, the IGP, Usman Baba Alkali said the recruitment and training represented another huge step in the drive by the federal

government to change the narrative of policing by addressing the age-long manpower gap that had been inhibiting optimal police service delivery in this country.

Represented by AIG Zone 12, Bauchi, Audu Adamu Madaki, he explained that the manpower drive equally aimed to meet and possibly surpass the United Nations (UN) recommendation of 1 Policeman to 400 people.

The IGP appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chairman, Nigeria Police Council for the approval of recruiting 10,000 Police Constables into the Force yearly, and his determination to bequeath the country a reformed and well-positioned Police Force.

He similarly lauded the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, as well as the Chairman and Commissioners of the Police Service Commission for the strong support and synergy which has aided in ensuring that the recruitment exercise is

levels of hostility and ethnic chauvinism, as seen recently in exchanges between Labour Party and New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) leaders.

"Ethnic identity in particular looks capable of being elevated to a point where it alone can

cripple a successful transition to 2023 and beyond. Our politics has become an additional burden on the Nigerian citizen, even dwarfing the spreading insecurity, poverty and cynicism over the prospects of our survival as one one nation."

IOCS LAMENT ESCALATING OIL LOSSES, SAY THREAT HAS REACHED EXISTENTIAL LEVEL production of below 1.3 million bpd, gas reserves of about 208.6 TCF and crude reserves of roughly 37 billion barrels.

Komolafe maintained that the Nigerian oil and gas industry had transformed from a background of regulatory uncertainties to a sector governed by clear rules and regulations as the PIA, 2021 now provides for administrative, institutional governance and attractive fiscal regimes.

In addition, the upstream regulatory agency boss noted that mechanisms for improved Health, Safety, and Environment and achieving peaceful co-existence between operators and host communities had been set out in the new law.

“The PIA 2021 has introduced incentives aimed at growing reserves and increasing Nigeria’s daily production towards attaining the government aspiration of 40 billion barrels and 220TCF of oil and gas reserves respectively and 3 million bpd production target,” he stated.

According to him, the sixth schedule of the Act now provides for production allowance wherein

9,989 Police Constables Pass Out from 16 Police Colleges, Training Schools Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

a nation with the capacity to turn around its fortunes in 2023.

It, therefore, noted that instead of exploring options and opportunities that would improve their chances of giving Nigerians real and credible elections, the nation was only witnessing frightening

undertaken in the most transparent and efficient manner.

According to the IGP, 11 of the 10,000 Police Recruits who commenced the training could not meet up with the standards set for exercise in the course of the training hence they could not pass out as Police Constables.

He noted that shortly after the passing out parade, another set of 10,000 recruits would be resuming training under the 2021 batch of the exercise.

The IGP sounded a note of warning to the newly passed out Police Constables, emphasising that their success as police officers was entirely dependent on the quality of their character, discipline, and professionalism.

He, therefore, admonished them to resolve not to engage in any act that will be unedifying to their good name, that of their families, and indeed the Force as they commence their policing career today.

performance in terms of production milestone will be rewarded.

In a clear departure from the past, he stressed that the new law has introduced a mandatory decommissioning and abandonment fund and Host Communities Development Trust that has replaced the previous low-level agreements.

“These are aimed at achieving operational efficiency, higher productivity, cost optimisation, cleaner and safe upstream environment,” he said.

All these provisions, he said, was to ensure sustainable hydrocarbon exploration and production at optimum cost as well as dealing with issues of environmental remediation.

In the new regulatory regime, he noted that progressive royalty rates have now been introduced compared to pre-PIA royalty rates for all terrains, reduced royalties to 2.5 per cent for gas produced and utilised locally and introduction of hydrocarbon tax and company income tax that are cumulatively lower.

Komolafe stated that there would be zero hydrocarbon tax for deep offshore operations as well as consolidated taxation on lease- and company-basis and other fiscal incentives.

“These sweeping reforms are geared towards creating additional opportunities for new investments and higher revenue for both government and investors,” he stressed.

To ensure fairness, equity, and, justice, he added that the Act

provides under Section 216 that a stakeholders’ consultation forum be held before the finalisation of the regulation which the NUPRC has already carried out.

“The PIA, 2021 recognises the immense importance of host communities and dedicated the entire Chapter three (3) of the Act to Host Communities Development.

“The objectives as stated in Section 234(1) of the Act are to foster sustainable shared prosperity and provide direct social and economic benefits from petroleum operations to host communities while enhancing peaceful and harmonious coexistence between Settlors (operators) and host communities.

“Indeed, it is noteworthy that the commission has made a tremendous stride by unveiling on June 28th, 2022, the Nigeria Upstream Host Communities Development Regulations and Procedure Guide to serve as a navigational aid for the implementation of the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) in line with the provisions of Section 235 of the PIA, 2021,” he added.

Komolafe pointed out that the Act has also made provision for existing producing marginal field operators to be granted a separate Petroleum Mining Lease (PML) after conversion.

Likewise, he noted that any discovery declared as a marginal field prior to 1st January 2021 and not producing shall be converted to Petroleum Prospecting License (PPL) and be issued Model Licence

and contract in compliance with Sections 94(1)(2) and 85 of the PIA. He mentioned that the regulatory focus is engaging operators on the review of field development plans, identifying declining and shut-in wells aimed at enhancing oil and gas production optimisation, gas flare elimination and monetisation.

In the Post PIA regulatory environment, he stated that gas had been accorded robust focus, expressing joy that the product has been adopted as a transition fuel in the energy transition regime.

“The commission is making a concerted regulatory drive towards effective exploitation and monetisation of our gas resources in line with Section 108 of the Act. “It is noteworthy to remark that the PIA provides for gas flaring penalties to be utilised “for the purpose of environmental remediation and relief of the host communities” as provided under Sections 52 (7d), 104 (4) of the Act,” he said.

According to him, the Act has vested the commission in its regulatory activities with sweeping powers to act as an investigator, quasi-judicial, a mediator, a conciliator as well as a business enabler.

“The whole intent is to ensure that the commission is fully equipped statutorily to discharge on its mandates. It is gratifying that the commission has effectively been deploying its statutory powers within the PIA environment to ensure an effective and predictable regulatory environment in the sector,” he said.

FG BACKS FIDELITY BANK’S TAKEOVER OF BENIN, KANO, KADUNA DISCOS OVER INSOLVENCY impunity and no consequences for infractions. In the prevailing circumstances, we are on the same page with relevant stakeholders in the present efforts to clean up the mess and free the economy held by its jugular by the non-performing utilities.”

Meanwhile, the former management of BEDC has reacted to the action of the regulators, saying there was no legal basis for the takeover of the company following the purported activation of the call on its collateralised shares by Fidelity Bank.

The company said in a statement released in Benin yesterday, added: “The referenced report also alleges that certain parties

have been appointed as Board Members, Independent Directors and Managing Director of BEDC Electricity Plc. “We understand these appointments have been communicated to the BPE and the NERC.” However, the management of BEDC stated unequivocally that, “There is no contractual, statutory or regulatory basis for such.”

The statement added that, “For the avoidance of doubt, the shares of BEDC have not been given as security to Fidelity Bank or to any other party.

“As we understand it, Vigeo Holdings Limited (VHL - a nonshareholder of BEDC) obtained credit facilities from Stanbic IBTC

Bank Limited, Fidelity Bank Plc, and Keystone Bank Plc (the VHL Lenders).

“We further understand that the said credit facilities (and any enforcement action in relation thereto) have in the meantime become subject of litigation in a Court action instituted by VHL and other plaintiffs (the VHL Action) with Suit No: FHC/L/CS/239/22 - Vigeo Holdings Limited and 4 Ors v. Stanbic IBTC Bank Limited, and therefore, subjudiced.”

The management of BEDC Electricity Plc warned that, “Any attempt by Fidelity Bank and/or BPE to intervene in BEDC in the manner being reported will be illegal, unlawful and will be resisted.”

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NEWS

You Can’t Proscribe Union Activities, ASUU President Tells Obaseki

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The National President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof.

Osodeke Emmanuel, yesterday told the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki that he has no constitutional power to proscribe the union’s activities in the state owned institution, Ambrose Alli University.

The ASUU president, who stated this when he led other national delegates of the union in solidarity protest to the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma over their unpaid salaries and other sundry issues, said ASUU is a registered body that has the right to operate in the country.

He said: “The governor did not establish the union, therefore, he doesn’t have the right or the power to ban the union. He doesn’t have that right. He is just making noise and it will not work.”

Corroborating the national president, the immediate past president, Prof. Biodun Opeyemi said the union needs to rise up against the action of the state governor for proscribing union activities in the university in order

to deter other state governors for emulating the bad gesture.

According to Opeyemi, “What we are doing today is symbolic in many respects. Firstly, as a

union of intellectuals, we have the responsibility to protect the integrity and sanctity of university education in Nigeria. What Obaseki is doing is tantamount to

destruction of university education and we will not allow it.

“Secondly, we know, no university can do it alone, no university can operate in isolation.

What Obaseki is trying to do is to isolate AAU Ekpoma for destruction.“We owe it a duty to the name of the founder who was a reputable scholar to

preserve the sanctity of Ekpoma.

So, we are here to support our members, boost their confidence and let them know they should stand for their rights.

CORONA SCHOOL GRADUATION CEREMONY…

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Corona Schools’ Trust Council, Mrs. Adeyoyin Adesina; Salutatorian of the Class of 2022,Corona Secondary School Agbara (CSSA), George Nnona; representative of the Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Anetekhai Martins; Valedictorian of the Class of 2022 (CSSA), Somtochukwu Ike;Chairman,Corona Schools’ Trust Council, Justice Raliat Bukunola Adebiyi;Third Best Overall Student Class of 2022, Toluwanimi Sonuga, and Principal, CSSA, Mrs. Chinedum Oluwadamilola, at the Corona Secondary School Graduation and Valedictory ceremony in Agbara, Ogun State… recently ETOP UKUTT

After Serving 21-year Jail Term, Uzodimma Backs Framework for Promoting Inter-agency Collaboration Man, 60, Bags Varsity Degree A 60-year-old former inmate of Onitsha Correctional Centre in Anambra, Mr. Livinus Ugwu, has bagged a bachelor’s degree from National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

Ugwu, who was released from prison in 2018 after serving a 21year jail term, bagged a Second Class (lower division) degree in Peace and Conflict Resolution from NOUN, Awka Study Centre.

Presenting the certificate to Ugwu at Awka Correctional Centre on Wednesday, Director of the study centre, Prof. Scholastica Ezeribe, said that the programme was targeted at providing education to inmates.

“The programme is a clear

demonstration of the importance which the institution attached to inmates’ education.

“We do not only believe in rehabilitation through education, we also believe that nobody is a write-off.

“That is why we give scholarship to inmates, even after being discharged, so as to equip them to be responsible citizens after leaving the prison walls,” she said.

Mr Patrick Chukwuemeka, Comptroller, Anambra Command of Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), said that the scheme was initiated for the educational development and skill empowerment of the inmates.

Displaced Ilaje Residents Urge A’Ibom to Intervene in Communal Crisis Okon Bassey inUyo

The people of Ilaje of Yoruba ethnic group has urged the Akwa Ibom State Government to wade into the lingering communal conflict with the host community.

The people of Ilaje were displaced during a communal wrangling with their host, Mkpanak in Ibeno local government area of the of the State.

The call on the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel to facilitate their resettlement followed strident conditions given by the host community before they would be allowed to the community.

The communal clash broke out between the two communities on April 19,2022 leading to the displacement of over 10,000 Ilaje residents most of whom are still hanging around church premises and filling stations in Eket Local Government Area.

The terms and conditions issued by the host community for the reintegration of the Ilaje people contained in a document and domiciled in the Ibeno LGA ,it was learnt, is the “ instill mutual respect between the two communities and prevent further disagreement and rancour.”

The Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has supported a framework that wouldhelp promote inter-security agency collaboration in the country.

He spoke on Tuesday at the Landmark Event Centre in Owerri, while addressing an audience that attended a lecture organised by the Army leadership as part of activities to mark the 2022 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) taking place in Imo State.

The lecture with the theme: Curbing Insecurity in Nigeria and the Imperative of Inter-Security Agency Collaboration and Coordination, was delivered by foremost intellectual and erudite economist, Prof. Osita Ogbu.

Uzodimma, who assured all security agencies – Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, DSS, the Civil Defence – as well as the paramilitary agencies of his readiness to support a framework that would lead to their collaboration,

hinted that inter-security agency collaboration has recorded huge successes in Imo State, hence, the model should be considered for adoption by the authorities.

The governor said the Army has improved both in “professional competence and intellectual prowess and has in many ways, justified the confidence reposed in them by the Government and people of Nigeria.

“The need for inter-agency

collaboration cannot be overemphasised as it is working in Imo State, though with some challenges, yet there are lots of successes.”

Uzodimma, who commended Ogbu, for a well thought-out paper, also expressed his happiness over the level of patriotism expressed by the Army in her struggle to safeguard the territorial integrity of Nigeria, including the residents and the Nigerian assets.

Man Jailed for Life for Raping Octogenarian in Ekiti An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, has sentenced one Durodola Kayode Ogundele to life imprisonment for raping an 85- year-old step woman.

The convict was arraigned before Justice Monisola Abodunde on one count charge bordering on rape.

In her judgment, Justice Monisola Abodunde said : “I am therefore not in doubt that prosecution had

finally established through circumstantial evidence, that is cogent, compelling and most conclusively, that the defendant intentionally and calculatedly penetrated the vagina and anus of the victim with his penis after rubbing a dark balm on her body and private part.

“On the whole, I find that prosecution had discharged an evidential burden placed on them in law by circumstantial evidence, supported by the

totality of the combined evidence of the witnesses, corroborated by the extra judicial statements of the victim made at the earliest opportunity.

“The defendant is found guilty as charged for Rape contrary to Section 2 of the Ekiti State Gender Based Violence (Prohibition Law) 2019 and he is convicted, and accordingly sentenced to Life Imprisonment in line with Section 2 (2) of Ekiti

State Gender- Based Violence (Prohibition Law) 2019.

The charge reads that Durodola Kayode Ogundele, on 15th day of June, 2021 at Ayetoro Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State, within the jurisdiction of the honorable court, did rape an eighty- five years old woman.

The offence is contrary to section 2 of the Ekiti State Gender Based Violence (Prohibition) Law, 2019.

2023: CSO Tasks INEC on Stakeholders’ Enlightenment A Civil Society Organisation, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to improve on its enlightenment and stakeholders’ mobilisation at the state level.

The Executive Director of CHRCR, Idris Miliki, made the call yesterday in Lokoja, at the stakeholders’ meeting of ”Post Primaries Engaging Political

Parties on Priotising AntiCorruption and Accountability Issues towards 2023 Elections at the State level”.

Miliki, in a communiqué issued after the meeting, which had in attendance all political parties and media practitioners, also enjoined political parties to mainstream anti-corruption into their manifestos and campaign messages.

He stressed the need for INEC to improve on its enlightenment

and stakeholders’ mobilization on its activities at state level to encourage citizens’ confidence and participation.

He also urged the political parties to increase Voters’ Education especially before elections to ensure adequate awareness creation on the electoral process.

The communique condemned the alleged outrageous expenses and monetisation that characterized the recent

party primaries held across the country.

He also advised the media to increase their reportage and investigation on Corruption and Accountability issues in government and nongovernmental entities.

The CHRCR executive director further called for more proactive measures by anticorruption agencies in timely investigation and prosecution of political and election offenders.

Goddy Egene

the oil wells being operated

by NAOC, saying until their demands are met, they will not allow access to the company’s facilities.

The Public Relation Officer(PRO) of Idheze Community, Mr. Power Okpure, said in a statemen that the community decided to protest after a long period of tolerating the neglect and ill-treatment by NAOC. He said for over 10 years,

NAOC has refused to carry out any infrastructural development in the community, and has refused to give employment to the people of the community, whereas the company continues to operate, taking out crude oil and gas.

“The operations of NAOC is guided by the provision that every four years, there ought to be a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with our community.

The MoU that we signed in

2008 expired in 2011. NAOC refused to sign a new MoU since then. By our calculation, there ought to have been two separate MoUs between when that of 2008 expired and last year when the government introduced the Petroleum Industrial Act(PIA).

We have appealed to NAOC through the Delta State Ministry of Oil and Gas and other agencies but the company has refused to listen to us.

Eid-El Kabir: Bauchi FRSC Deploys 987 Personnel Delta Community Protests 10 Years of Neglect by Agip

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The Bauchi Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is to deploy a total of 987 personnel for the 2022 Eidel- Kabir special patrol to ensure an accident-free celebration.

The Bauchi Sector Commander, Mr. Yusuf Abdullahi, who stated this in Bauchi yesterday, said that the 987 personnel comprised of regular, special marshals

and First Road Traffic Corps Respondents (FRTCR) from five major routes in and out of Bauchi State.

Abdullahi also stated that the command would deploy six ambulances; 10 patrol vehicles; one heavy-duty tow truck; two power bikes mainly for highway surveillance, speed control patrol as well as alert motorists of obstructions and failed part of highways.

The people of Idheze Community in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday carried out a peaceful protest to bring to the public court how the Nigeria Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC) has neglected their community for 10 years.

Women from the community barricaded the road leading to

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THURSDAY JULY 7, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

APC Chieftains Ask Court to Stop APC, INEC from Replacing Masari as Tinubu’s Running Mate Alex Enumah in Abuja Two chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have asked a Federal High Court to stop the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from replacing Alhaji Kabiru Masari as the running mate to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the APC in the 2023 election.

Tinubu had few days to the deadline for the submission of his nomination form, announced Masari as his running mate, though on a “Place Holder” capacity.

But the plaintiffs, who were delegates in the just concluded APC National Convention, Zakari Maigari and Zubainatu Mohammed, are by this suit asking the court to stop INEC from accepting any change of the vice presidential candidate from APC. Defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ CS/1059/2022 include; APC,

INEC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Kabiru Masari as defendants.

Plaintiffs in the suit dated July 4, 2022, want the court

to determine whether having regard to the combined effect of sections 142(1) and sections 29(1), 31 and 33 of the Electoral

Act, it is legally permissible for the 4th defendant to withdraw as the vice-presidential candidate of the 1st defendant

and the running mate of the 3rd defendant so as to be substituted or replaced with another person by the 1st

defendant as its candidate for the office of Vice President for purpose of the February 25, 2023 Presidential Election.

PREPARING FOR CENSUS…

L-R: Coordinator, National Population Commission (NPC) Enugu State, Ms Ngozi Onyia, Federal Commissioner representing Enugu State, Chief Ejike Ezeh; representative of Chairman Enugu-North Local Government Area, Enugu State, Mr. Abuchi Ugwu, and Enugu State Coordinator for trial census, Mr. Niyi Alayaki, during the flag-off of training for functionaries of trial census in Enugu...recently

Police Arrest Two Persons Joint Security Operatives Rescue Kidnapped Catholic Priests in Edo for Stealing Sallah Ram Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Officers of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested the duo of Mr. Adetunji Alagbe and Mr. Opeyemi Ogunlokun on July 5 for stealing Mr. Sadiq Abolore’s Salah ram worth N120,000.

The arrest of the suspects was disclosed by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Abimbola Oyeyemi, Oyeyemi said: “The suspects were arrested following a report lodged at Ogijo Divisional Headquarters by Sadiq Abolore, who reported that while he was sleeping in his house at about

3 00a.m., he heard an unusual noise in his compound which made him to peep through the window, only to discover that the iron gate he used to block the entrance where he kept his Salah ram has been pulled down.

“This made him to come out and discovered that his Salah ram which he bought at the rate of #120,000 is no longer there.

“He stated further that when he searched around, he saw three men forcing his ram into a waiting Mazda car booth, which made him to raise alarm, and distress call was made to the police.

Two Killed, 15 Rescued as Boat Capsizes in Lagos Two persons have died in a boat accident in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State yesterday.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, disclosed this in a statement.

He added that emergency responders also rescued 15 passengers on board the boat that sunk due to a mechanical fault.

“The Lion squad of the agency responded to the above incident today 6th of July 2022.

On arrival, it was discovered that a 20-passenger ferry boat carrying 17 passengers named

“R & N 2” had capsized due to a suspected mechanical fault and was rapidly submerged following its departure from the Ipakodo ferry terminal.

“A combined team of water guards, the search and rescue team of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and LASEMA responders were mobilised to the scene of the incident, leading to the rescue of 15 persons alive.”

“Two adult female passengers were retrieved unconscious and were transferred to the nearest hospital for treatment. They unfortunately never regained consciousness and were later declared dead.”

Adekunle Adebiyi to Speak at Africa Revenue Summit The Executive Director, Growth & Partnerships at Itex Integrated Services, Adekunle Adebiyi, has been billed to speak at the Africa Revenue Summit for 2022.

This is in a bid to champion conversations centred around effective management strategies that aid the upscaling of the business operations of start-ups, including large corporates, across the African continent.

The summit, which is scheduled to hold on the 8th and 9th of July, 2022, is themed: “Value Up.” Commenting, Adebiyi noted that the summit, which

is regarded as the largest convergence for revenue leaders across corporate Africa, is wellpositioned to expose small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to sustainable strategies that would guarantee business growth.

He said: “Small and mediumsized businesses have been regarded as the main drivers of diverse economies across the African continent. This is because SMEs, particularly start-ups, serve as a critical driver of economic growth and development across the world.”

The two Catholic priests, Rev. Fr. Udo Peter of St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Uromi, and Rev. Fr. Philemon Oboh of St Joseph Retreat Centre Ugboha, who were kidnapped on Saturday night in Edo, have been rescued by a joint security

operatives.

The clerics, who were rescued in the early hours of yesterday were brought to the Edo State Government House, where they were received by the state Acting Governor, Philip Shaibu.

According to the Chief Press Secretary (CPC) to the acting Governor, Musa Ebomhiana,

the rescue operation was carried out by joint security force.

He noted that no ransom was paid and that the acting governor commended the security operatives for the swift response.

He said: “I can confirm that the clerics have been released and they were brought to the

Government House where they were received by the acting governor who was elated to see them.

“He commended the security operatives for the rescue operation and urged them to keep up the good job and rid the state of criminals,” he added.

NPC: No Trial Census in Bandit-prone LGAs in Niger Laleye Dipo in Minna The National Population Commission (NPC) has ruled out the possibility of conducting the forthcoming trial census in bandit-prone areas of Niger State.

Despite this decision, the commission has picked only nine local government areas

it assumed were safe for the trial census which will begin on July 27 and end on 30.

The Federal Commissioner in Charge of Niger State, Alhaji Mohammed Dattijo Usman, state at a news conference in Minna yesterday that the trial census would hold in Edati, Katcha, Mokwa, Bosso, Gurara, Tafa Agwara, Borgu, and Wushishi

effectively sidelining Shiroro, Rafi and Munya LGAs, which are most prone to terrorists attacks in the state.

On a national scale the Federal Commissioner disclosed that full enumeration would take place in one local government area of Adamawa, Katsina, Nasarawa, Ogun Anambra and Bayelsa States.

Usman disclosed that not less than 7,728 enumeration areas have been selected for the trial census to test run suitability and readiness for the actual census in 2023, adding that: “The selection of the coverage areas has been scientifically and purposively carried out to achieve the objectives of the trial census.”

IG Reiterates Commitment to Recruit More Police to Combat Insecurity Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Alkali Baba Usman, has reiterated the commitment of the federal government to embark on a more massive recruitment exercise as part of the drive to ensure effective manpower is recruited to combat the

country’s security challenges.

In view of this, he said the newly recruited 10,000 constables would be deployed to their various local government areas of origins so as to ensure that effective community policing takes effect and also make all parts of the country safe for all and sundry.

Speaking in Ilorin, the state capital yesterday during the passing out of 10,000 Constables parade in Ilorin, Usman said only 11 out of the expected number did not make the ceremony due to the training rigour or medical challenges.

Represented by the Assistant Inspector General

(AIG) of Police, Ede Ayuba, he said the Nigeria Police intend to recruit 10,000 police officers every year to fill the current gap in the shortage of police personnel in the country.

According to him, “Actually, with what the police are doing in the recruitment exercise, we are filling the gap.

Desperation of Political Parties May Threaten Osun Governorship Poll, Yiaga Africa Warns Yinka KolawoleinOsogbo Yiaga Africa has observed that the perceived desperation of contending political parties in the Osun State July 16 governorship election could threaten the integrity of the poll if care is not taken.

Speaking yesterday at a press conference on the preparation for

the election, a board member of Yiaga Africa, Ezenwa Nwagwu, noted that the major political parties in the state have intensified their campaigns deploying both legal and illegal antics in an attempt to win the governorship race.

He emphasised that the state election is however beyond the contest for the office of the governor,

as the political parties compete tough in a last-ditch effort to gain a strong impetus going into the crucial 2023 general election.

According to him, “With barely 10 days to the Osun State governorship election, the political and security atmosphere has remained tensely unpredictable with the security agency describing

every local government area as a potential flashpoint.”

Nwagwu stressed that Yiaga Africa’s pre-election reports have revealed the activities of cultists and political thugs in some local government areas as capable of threatening the peaceful and credible conduct of the election if not contained.

FG Urged to Establish Hydrography Commission Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

The Hydro Professional Group of the Nigeria Institution of Surveyors (NIS), has called on the federal government to establish the National Hydrography Commission (NHC), that would cater for gathering and management of data and policies in the maritime

sector of the country’s economy.

The Coordinator of the Hydropro Group of the NIS, Mr. Olumide Omotoso, reiterated the call in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while speaking on the occasion of the 2022 World Hydrography Day. The theme for this year’s celebration was “Hydrography: Contributing to the United

Nations Ocean Decades.”

Omotoso, stated that there could not be meaningful development in the nation’s maritime sector until the National Hydrographic Office (NHO), where stakeholders in the industry could collaborate and exchange data and ideas based on survey and research is established.

He said that hydrography office is established in all maritime nations to cater for both military and civilian needs.

He said: “Hydrographers gather data from the civil and the military areas. Both the military and the civilian will work together. All data that are related to water bodies are harnessed in that office.

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Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

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Super Falcons in Make or Mar Clash with Botswana as Injured Oshoala Leaves Camp

Duro Ikhazuagbe After stumbling in the first hurdle in the race to defending the Women’s Africa Cup of Nation (WAFCON) title against South Africa on Monday, Super Falcons will have another opportunity to steady their match

WAFCON 2022 to Nigeria’s 10th continental honour when they clash with Botswana this night in Morocco.

Falcons were beaten 2-1 by Banyana Banyana while the

Botswana ladies picked a massive 4-2 victory against Burundi to lead Group C on better goals difference on same three points as the South Africans.

Against Falcons whose egos were bruised and are going to be without their talisman Asisat

Sterling’s City Exit Imminent, Agrees Personal Terms with Chelsea Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling has agreed personal terms with Chelsea.

The 27-year-old has one year left on his contract at City and had attracted interest from major clubs overseas.

City signed Sterling from Liverpoolin a £49m deal in 2015 and he went on to score 131 goals in 339 games.

Should the deal be completed, Sterling - who has 77 England caps - will become Chelsea's first major signing since they were taken over by a consortiumled

by Todd Boehly this summer.

It is expected the deal will be done in time for Sterling to link up with the Chelsea squad before they leave for their pre-season tour to the United States next week.

BBC Sport understands decisions with all parties have been amicable but Sterling wants a fresh challenge and was impressed

by Blues manager Thomas Tuchel's vision and the role outlined to him.

Other major clubs, including Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich were also interested in Sterling but the player was swayed

by Chelsea's public and privately stated desire to sign him.

City wanted Sterling to stay and

TRANSFER NEWS he has no ill feeling towards the club or manager Pep Guardiola.

However, he views this as the most important contract of his

career and wants to play a pivotal role at a club challenging for all the major honours.

Sterling still has team and professional targets he wants to fulfil, including winning the Ballon D'Or.

Oshoala who got injured in that first game, so much is at stake for Nigeria as cup holders.

Captain of the Super Falcons, 39-year-old Onome Ebi didn’t mince words in admitting that initial loss was painful.

“We feel bad to have lost the opening match, and against South Africa for that matter, but we have been able to put that behind us now. We resolved immediately after the match that we will give what it takes to win all remaining games.

“There is no need for too many words. All we want to do is get the win against Botswana to restore our confidence, and then we can take things from there,” she noted after Wednesday’s training.

First choice goalkeeper

Chiamaka Nnadozie is expected to return against the Botswanans after missing the first match due to suspension, and the forced departure of Oshoala means the vibrant Gift Monday or Mexicobased Uchenna Kanu will start in the fore for the nine-time champions.

Midfield ace Rasheedat Ajibade, who scored the goal against the South Africans, is expected to again be the pivot as the Falcons search for early goals as from 9pmat the Prince Moulay Al-Hassan Stadium.

Coach Randy Waldrum could ring changes in some departments, with Glory Ogbonna likely to take her place at left back to allow the energetic Ashleigh Plumptre return to her accustomed role at

centre-back alongside Captain Ebi, while Osinachi Ohale moves to right back.

Victory on Thursday will calm Nigerian nerves and allow the Falcons to look forward to Sunday’s encounter against Burundi with much confidence.

The team’s medical crew declared yesterday that Oshoala sustained a Grade 2 Medial Ligament strain in the 6th minute of the encounter with the Banyana on Monday, and would be out of action for between two and three weeks, with another one or two weeks period for recovery.

She is due to fly out of Morocco today after medics at her club, FC Barcelona Femeni advised that she return to Spain for proper care.

Raheem Sterling...agrees personal terms with Chelsea

Ex-Ranger, Stephen Ezughah, Passes on Former Enugu Rangers International striker, Stephen Okechukwu Bamidele Ezughah, has died following a foot injury.

A footballing child prodigy, Ezughah was first recruited by CCB Football Club Enugu while still a secondary school student at CIC Enugu.

Stephen Ezughah...former Rangers striker passes on

He was in the CIC team that won the Nigerian secondary school's football championship and represented Nigeria in the world secondary school championship in Belgium.

He was the highest goal scorer before Nigeria lost 0-1 to Spain in the quarter-finals.

Ezughah, popularly nicknamed variously Agarimojo, Kporo, and Ajaku in his playing days, was immediately recruited by Rangers International Football Club, on CIC's return after the competition in Belgium.

He was called to and was briefly in camp with the junior national team that won gold in China in 1985.

He left Rangers at the end of the 1989 season to play for Iwuanyanwu Nationale. At Iwuanyanwu, he scored the lone goal that eliminated Esperance from the African Club Championship, thus becoming the first Nigerian to score in Tunisia.

Former Chess Scribe, AbidemiGaniyu Opolo Passes On The chess community in the country was hit with the sad news of the demise of the longest serving Secretary General of Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF) Abidemi-Ganiyu Opolo.

She died aged 59 years and was due to retire next week Thursday from active service from the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports when she would have reached the mandatory 60 years.

A princess from Ikare Akoko in Ondo State, she served in many Sports Federations including

Cricket Federation of Nigeria (CFN), Handball Federation, the then Nigeria Amateur Boxing Association (NABA), Para-athletics before returning to Abuja where she worked in the Grassroots department of the ministry till her death on Monday this week.

During her time in the chess federation, she attended the World Chess Olympiads in Dresden 2008, Germany, Khanty-Mansiysk in Russia in 2010, Istanbul in Turkey 2012, Trompso, Norway in 2014 and 2016 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Ezughah's short playing career, also, saw him having stints with Udoji United Football Club, Rovers FC of Calabar, and Railways Football Club, Lagos.

He played alongside Joe Ashinze, Okechukwu Uche, and Nwankwo Kanu in his playing days.

He was a month and five days short of his 56th birthday when he died 3:10 pm, on Monday, the 27th of June, 2022 in Enugu.

Asisat Oshoala...injured and ruled out of Nigeria’s clash with Botswana this evening in Rabat, Morocco

Delta Unveils 2022 NSF Mascot and Logo Amidst Pomp Delta State last night at the Government House in Asaba unveiled the official Mascot and logo of the 21st National Sports Festival (NSF) scheduled to hold between November 2and 15, 2022.

Host Governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa led in attendance other top sporting personalities including the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, NOC President, Eng. Habul Gumel, Speaker of the Delta House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Sherriff Oborevwori, former Delta State Commissioner Chief Solomon Ogba as well as members of the state’s executive and other top government officials.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Chief Patrick Ukah who also doubles as the Secretary to the State Government, noted that unveiling of both the mascot and logo of Delta 2022, shows the readiness of the state towards hosting a successful event in November.

Tagged 'Uniting Nigeria, inspiring

a new generation', Ukah said Delta 2022 would go down in history as the best organised and economic viable with the array of sponsors that have already aligned with the event.

Sports Minister Dare eulogised Governor Okowa for his total support for sport over the years,

adding 'Nigeria is finished should Delta State be taken out of her sporting equation.'

Dare said Delta has done so well for Nigerian sport over the years and hopefully the state would be ready to host the next edition of what he called Nigeria's Mini- Olympics.

Okowa, said the state is happy

to bring home the sporting extravaganza it has dominated over the years. " Of course, we want competitors but we are sure of winning even here at home. We are going to put in our best, and at the end, we would show that truly, 'Delta no dey Carry Last.

Amstel Malta Ultra Tips Super Falcons to Bounce Back against Botswana Amstel Malta Ultra, the official Malt drink of the Super Falcons, is very positive the Nigeria women’s team will return to winning ways today at the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

After Monday’s faulty start against the Banyana Banyana of South Africa, the Super Falcons need an outright win today against Botswana to get their campaign back on track.

However, Amstel Malta Ultra believes the Super Falcons have learnt from the mistakes made

against South Africa and would be putting up an improved display against Gaoletlhoo Nkutlwisang's side.

While reiterating Amstel Malta’s unflinching support for the Super Falcons, the Senior Brand Manager, Maire Abia-Bassey, noted that one of the hallmarks of true champions is the ability to come out stronger from initial setbacks.

The Amstel Malta Brand Manager said she believes the Super Falcons will get it right against Botswana and would

make Nigerians proud again.

“No one expected the Super Falcons to have it all easy in Morocco but we remain confident in their ability to surmount every obstacle and make it all the way to achieve their dream for a 10th title” she stated.

Amstel Malta is one of the longest corporate sponsorships on the stable of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and since coming on board, the Super Falcons’ supporters rating has indeed soared.

Thursday, July 7, 2022

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Rafsanjani to President Buhari

“While Nigerians have since 1999 complained about the frequent foreign trips of their leaders, President Buhari’s rate of foreign travels since assumption of office is unprecedented...By and large, President Buhari has merely abandoned governance at home and is fixated with foreign travels”—CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, on the frequency of presidential foreign trips

OLUSEGUNADENIYI Tinubu’s School Record and Matters Arising “T THE VERDICT

he committee invited editors of THISDAY newspaper because of the prominence which they have given to the publication of the allegations. The editors of THISDAY visited us informally, refusing to oblige our invitation and informing us that they would rely on their publications.”

The excerpted quote is from the ‘Report of the ad-hoc committee set up on Tuesday 21st September 1999 by the Lagos State House of Assembly to investigate the allegation of perjury and forgery levelled against the executive governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu’. It was one of the documents attached to the 16th June 2022 letter by the Centre for Reform Advocacy which asked the Inspector General of Police to initiate criminal proceedings against Tinubu on grounds of alleged perjury in his 1999 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Form CF 001.

Let me say three things very quickly. One, I was among those unnamed editors of THISDAY in the Lagos assembly report. Instead of testifying before the panel as requested, we visited the chairman of the committee, Hon Jide Omoworare (who later became a Senator from Osun State) in his office. We explained to him that our information had already been published and we would stand by those reports.

Two, I authored the 29th August 1999 cover story for THISDAY, The Sunday Newspaper, that blew open the scandal. It was titled, ‘From Toronto to Chicago: The Case of Bola Tinubu’. Three, these allegations predated the advent of social media, so it was possible for the national newspapers to conspire and kill any story at the time.

Although I have decided not to begin my series on the presidential candidates until later in the year, I believe I should set this record straight.

A WhatsApp message being circulated implies that certain journalists have ignored the ‘story’ contained in Tinubu’s INEC form where he did not list the primary and secondary schools he attended. Since all the journalists being vilified by the writer are Yoruba, the implication is ethnic motivation resulting in a conspiracy of silence.

The writer did not include my name but I cannot count the number of people who have forwarded the piece to me. Some ask why I have ‘refused to write about Tinubu’s certificates’. To the few that deserved my response, I told them the issue had been over-flogged by the media in the past.

However, it is important to refresh the memory of those who may have forgotten as well as those who were either not born or too young to understand what transpired.

Shortly after the inauguration of the National Assembly and the election of Salisu Imam Buhari as Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1999, TheNews magazine published an expose that Buhari did not attend the University of Toronto, Canada, as claimed in the sworn affidavit attached to his INEC form. Among other allegations, the most damaging was that Buhari was born in January 1970 which then put his age at 29. Since section 65(1) of the 1999 Constitution at the time disqualified anyone below the age of 30 from running for election to the House, it meant that Buhari’s speakership was resting on nothing. On 23rd July 1999, following pressure from the House that had set up a committee to investigate the allegations, Buhari resigned. He was

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

subsequently charged for perjury, convicted and then pardoned by President Olusegun Obasanjo. What followed was a floodgate of allegations about the dodgy credentials being paraded by several other politicians. That was how the allegations against Tinubu surfaced.

All the papers I received were from a source I was almost certain had given them to other journalists as well. As a responsible media house, we of course needed to verify the claims before publishing. I enlisted the support of Waziri Adio, who had just returned from the United States (where he was THISDAY’s New York Bureau Chief) with a master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Columbia. Waziri was the person who emailed and received the first responses from American institutions about Tinubu’s

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qualifications.

We investigated all the allegations. The reporter we sent to Government College, Ibadan met the principal who told him that only the then Oyo State Governor, the late Lam Adesina, could compel the school to respond to our inquiry. We took that as an affirmation that Tinubu did not attend the school.

Did he attend the University of Chicago? A response to Waziri’s mail by their Director of Communication,

Mr Larry Albeiter, said such a name could not be found in their records. That also told us something.

Did Tinubu participate in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme? We confirmed that he served at Haboni Engineering Company, Ibadan in the 1982/83 batch and we obtained a copy of his NYSC discharge certificate, number, OY/FORN/82/9106. Did he attend Chicago State University? A quick response came that Tinubu graduated from the school. We also got his Chartered Public Accountant (CPA) record and the years he obtained different qualifications.

To cut a long story short, when we thought we had our story of false claims about aspects of his INEC form, Waziri and I sought appointment to see the governor. We met him at a Lagos State government guest house in GRA, Ikeja. He was with his then all-powerful Chief of Staff, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the current Information and Culture Minister. It was only the four of us: Myself, Waziri, Tinubu and Mohammed. In the more than one hour we spent at the session, we asked Tinubu all questions pertaining to his education from primary school to university. It is an interaction I will never forget and will certainly form part of my memoir when I write one. Perhaps being a lawyer, Alhaji Lai Mohammed made our job rather difficult with his interjections. So irritated was Waziri that, at one point, he snapped: “Sir, will you please allow the governor to speak for himself?”

While still attempting to establish the veracity of the allegations, TODAY, an Abuja-based weekly newspaper owned by the late Abadina Coomasie, (brother of the former Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Coomasie) ran a report titled, ‘Tinubu in Fraud Sensation’. But the story was more an attack on the ubiquitous ‘Southwest media’ that the paper claimed had resolved not to publish the Tinubu allegations, unlike the way we treated the Salisu Buhari saga. A sectional tone permeated the report. When I eventually wrote my story on Tinubu, I referenced the fact that “the document on which TODAY based its story had been sent to virtually all media houses in Lagos and THISDAY on receiving a copy had commenced investigation.”

On reflection, even the intro to my story was somehow defensive: “Aside falsifying his age, Salisu Buhari, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, lost his office and seat to the claim that he attended University of Toronto, Canada when he never did.

Now, Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, is facing a similar allegation that borders on another foreign university, this time in Chicago, United States.

Olusegun Adeniyi, who has been following the development, reports.” There were a series of other reports and backpage columns on the issue with Waziri writing three, including the one savaging the Yoruba establishment and the other taking on the media, titled “The Hypocrisy of the Ngbati Press”.

I also wrote two backpage columns, including “In the Beginning Was Toronto.”

Continued on page 29

The Passage of Barkindo

I

doubt if anything can be more harrowing than for an aged mother to open the veil covering the face of a deceased prominent son and begin to invoke powerful prayers. That was what happened yesterday in Yola, Adamawa State where the remains of the late Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Dr. Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo were laid to rest. Although Barkindo’s mother appeared strong as she prayed on the corpse of her son who died at 63, many of the people in the room could not hold back tears. The same happened at the palace of the Lamido of Adamawa where the Janazah prayer was held for the deceased.

Not surprisingly, the Adamawa State capital stood still yesterday for Barkindo and most people had

positive stories to tell about him. On our way to Yola yesterday with Barkindo’s remains, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Yayale Ahmed and the ADC to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Brigadier General Mustapha Onoyiveta (rtd) recounted their interactions with him in the hours preceding his sudden death on Tuesday night.

Life, as William Shakespeare reminded us in Macbeth, is no more than a “walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more.” From all accounts, Barkindo played his part well before he exited the stage. May God grant his family the fortitude to bear this most painful loss.

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