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Stakeholders Identify Non-oil Exports as Panacea for Economic Rejuvenation at Zenith Bank Int'l Trade Seminar Nume Ekeghe Stakeholders have unanimously called for support of Nigeria’s non-oil export sector at the seventh annual edition of the Zenith Bank

International Trade Seminar with the theme: “Unlocking Opportunities in Nigeria’s Non-Oil Export Business,” which was held yesterday in Lagos as well as virtually.

In his goodwill message presenta-

tion, the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Jim Ovia called for a concerted effort towards diversifying Nigeria’s export base through the promotion of non-oil exports.

Highlighting the importance of non-oil export to the nation’s economy, Ovia pointed out that Nigeria exported cocoa and several other non-oil products for years before oil was discovered.

He cited the example of the 25-storey Cocoa House in Ibadan, which was built with proceeds from cocoa exports. He pointed out that many countries in the world, such as Japan and China

have been successful because they are doing a great deal of innovation, production and manufacturing of goods and services.

Continued on page 10

Nigeria in Darkness as National Power Grid Suffers Sixth Collapse in 2022... Page 5 Thursday 21 July, 2022 Vol 27. No 9963. Price: N250

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Kyari: My Target is for NNPC to Emerge Top 50 in Fortune 500 Companies in Three Years

Says upstream assets alone worth about $90 billion Group CFO explains why refineries may not operate at 100% capacity

after rehabilitation Senator Ademola Adeleke (right) receiving his certificate of Return as governor-elect of Osun State... yesterday

Continued on page 10

Buhari to Shettima: I’ll Hand Over to You and Your Boss in 2023, God-Willing Optimistic APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket will win presidential poll I remain committed to selection choice, Tinubu insists CAN disowns bishops who attended Shettima’s unveiling Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, at the State House, Abuja, told the Vice-Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Kashim Shettima, that he was confident he would hand over the leadership of the country to him and his principal, Bola Tinubu, in 2023, God-willing.

Buhari, however, in spite of the growing concern over APC’s preference for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, expressed optimism that the party would win the February 2023 presidential election regardless.

The president, who spoke while playing host to Shettima, after he was formally unveiled at the Yar’Adua Centre as Tinubu’s running mate, boasted that the APC would return to power next year.

In the same breath, Tinubu, at Shettima’s unveiling yesterday Continued on page 10

ZENITH BANK INTERNATIONAL TRADE SEMINAR R – L : Group Managing Director/CEO, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu; Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; President & Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank, Mr. Jim Ovia; former Chief Executive/Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Olusegun Awolowo; and Managing Director/CEO, Bank of Industry, Mr. Olukayode Pitan at the 2022 Zenith Bank International Trade Seminar held at the Civic Centre Lagos,... yesterday.

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

I PRESENT TO YOU SHETTIMA… L-R: National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Adamu Abdullahi, party’s Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima and Presidential Candidate, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during the unveiling of the former Borno Governor as Tinubu’s running mate at Abuja…yesterday

Nigeria in Darkness as National Power Grid Suffers Sixth Collapse in 2022 Emmanuel Addeh and Peter Uzoho The national electricity grid yesterday suffered its sixth system collapse in 2022, throwing many homes and businesses across the country into total blackout.

The system failure, which occurred at about 11.27.am, according to industry sources, led to the crash of the entire power supply nationwide to 40 megawatts (mw) as against 3,000MW generated on Tuesday.

THISDAY learnt that allocations to the 10 electricity distribution companies (Discos) were zero, except

40MW and 10MW to Abuja and Ibadan Discos respectively, when the incident occurred.

The cause of the system collapse was yet to be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.

However, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which manages the national grid, has embarked on an investigation to ascertain the cause of the collapse.

Confirming the incident in a notice to its customers, Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) said it was in talks with the TCN to ascertain the cause of the collapse and possible restoration timeline.

EKEDC stated, “Dear customers, we regret to inform you of a system collapse on the national grid at precisely 11:27a.m today, July 20.

“We are in talks with the Transmission Company of Nigeria to ascertain the cause of the collapse and a possible restoration timeline.

We will keep you updated on the situation."

The development threw many parts of the country , including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT,) into total darkness and had yet to be resolved as of yesterday evening.

Also, the Head, Corporate Communications, Kaduna Electricity

Distribution Company (KAEDC), Abdulazeez Abdullahi, announced the incident on behalf of the company in a statement published on its Facebook page.

“We regret to inform our customers that the power failure currently being experienced is as of the collapse of the national grid which occurred by 11:28 this morning.

“We hereby assure our esteemed customers of restoration of normal power supply as soon as TCN restores supply to us. We sincerely regret the inconveniences caused by the system failure,” he stated.

In the same vein, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) in a statement noted: “Please be informed that the current power outage is due to a system failure from the national grid.

“The system collapsed at about 12:23 pm today, 20 July 2022, causing the outage currently being experienced. We appeal for your understanding as all stakeholders are working hard to restore normal supply,” it said.

The nation's power sector has apparently defied all attempts made towards improving it even after the privatisation of the generation and

New Senate Bill Allows States to Generate, Distribute Electricity Lawmakers pass Nigeria Start-up bill Confirm Joe Ohiani as ICRC DG Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Senate yesterday passed a bill that would allow states to generate and distribute electricity.

The bill’s passage was sequel to the consideration of a report by the Committee on Power.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Gabriel Suswam (PDP, Benue North East), in his presentation, said the bill seeks to, amongst others, provide an Ideal legal and institutional framework to leverage on the modest gains of the privatisation phase of the electricity power sector in Nigeria.

He also said anyone or firm generating electricity below one megawatts do not need licence to do so.

He said, "The bill, when signed into law, will open up the space in the power industry and allows states or individuals with capacities to generate their own power and distribute.

"Since electricity is on the Concurrent List in the constitution, the bill has allowed state governments to license people who intend to operate mini grid within the state.

"The bill also gives legal backing to renewable energy. If you decide to generate one megawatt of power using solar as energy source, that is also provided for.

"That is the only way the power problem would be solved. The space is now opened. There is little restriction as to who will generate power and distribute.

"What is obtainable now is that any power generated must be put on the national grid for transmission and distribution.

"The bill also provides that any power generated below one megawatt does not require license to distribute."

He added that when signed into law, the bill would improve utilisation of generated power through increased investments in new technologies to enhance

transmission and distribution of generated power to minimise aggregate value chain loses.

According to the lawmaker, the piece of legislation would, “reinvigorate the Institutional framework for the reform of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) initiated and implemented by the Federal Government.”

He disclosed that the provisions of the bill seek to promote policies and regulatory measures

that would ensure the expansion of power transmission networks in Nigeria in order to address any imbalance in the existing transmission infrastructure.

Suswam noted that the bill would stimulate policy and regulatory measures to scale up efficient power generation, transmission and distribution capabilities of the sector; as well as address technological limitations and outdated infrastructure that are

responsible for value chain loses.

The Senate President midway through consideration of the bill sought to know the role and operational capacity of banks that had taken over distribution companies (discos) indebted to them.

Responding, Suswam explained that the take-over of entities (Discos) by banks was duly carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Continued on Page 36

distribution segments over eight years ago.

There has not been any marked improvement in the power supply situation in the country, if anything, it was a continuation of the darkness that has pervaded all homes and offices across the country for decades.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) which had stated in Lagos, last month, that Nigerians were going to experience an improvement in power supply from July 1, has now got not a lot of persons disappointed.

THISDAY had reported that the Chairman of NERC, Mr. Sanusi Garba had said that market participants including TCN, generation companies (Gencos), Discos and others had agreed to activate contracts that would guarantee seamless gas supply to Gencos as well as steady payment for gas and power generated.

He had said the arrangement, which was the first of its kind in the country, would result in the delivery of 5000mw minimum electricity supply to Nigerians from the stated date, with potential for increase to 7000mw progressively.

But July 1 has come and gone and the month is fast running out without any visible improvement in the sector.

Abba Kyari’s Alleged Cocaine Deal: NDLEA Tenders $61,400 Cash, 24 Sacks of Hard Drug Alex Enumah in Abuja The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday tendered before a Federal High Court, Abuja, exhibits linking suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari with alleged drug trafficking offences.

The exhibits which included the sum of $61, 400 and 24 packs of cocaine were admitted as evidence in proof of the allegations.

Kyari is standing trial on charges bothering on alleged involvement with hard drug deals. While the $61,400 cash tendered was said to be money used to bribe the NDLEA's officials who arrested him, the packs of cocaine were the ones at the heart of the trial.

According to the NDLEA, Kyari had attempted to bribe its senior officer with $61, 400. 00 at

a restaurant in Abuja to avoid the testing of part of the cocaine that was seized from the two arrested drug pushers.

As part of proving its case, the anti-drug agency called its third witness, one Peter Joshua, a Chief Superintendent of Narcotics and an exhibit officer attached to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the agency.

According to CSP Joshua, the cash was handed over to him on January 25, after he weighed and conducted preliminary test on wraps of cocaine that were seized from two convicted drug pushers- Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwane, co-defendants with Kyari.

Joshua in his evidence stated that the money, all in $100 bills, were given to him for safekeeping by the Director of Intelligence and

the Deputy Commander-General of Narcotics, at the office of the Commander, NDLEA, FCT Command.

The $100 bills which were in a transparent nylon, were then counted in the open court, and was subsequently admitted in evidence by Justice Nwite.

While the monies were marked as Exhibit 11, the document containing their serial numbers, was marked as Exhibit 12.

Besides the cash, the NDLEA, also through Joshua tendered 24 packs of cocaine that were handed over to it by the Kyari led IRT. The cocaine was brought before the court in two travelling bags.

While the first bag contained nine packs of cocaine wrapped in white cotton sacks, the second bag, contained three additional packs of cocaine and 12 pellets that were

separately tied in nylon bags.

Since lawyers to the defendants did not raise any objection to their admittance, Justice Nwite subsequently admitted the packs in evidence and marked them as exhibits.

The Certificate of test form was marked as Exhibit 5, just as the Packing of substance form was admitted as Exhibit 6.

Likewise, while the green bag that contained three sacks of cocaine and 12 pellets, was admitted as Exhibit 7, the Chocolate bag that contained nine sacks of cocaine, was marked as Exhibit 8.

The court equally admitted three international passports that were seized from the convicted drug pushers, Umeibe and Ezenwanne, in evidence.

While two of the passports belonging to Umeibe (6th Defendant),

were marked as Exhibit 9 and 9a, the third passport belonging to Ezenwanne (7th Defendant), was admitted as Exhibit-10.

Recall that both Umeibe and Ezenwane had on arraignment pleaded guilty to the charge against them and have since been convicted.

However, Kyari and the other four defendants who are also members of the IGP IRT team denied the allegations.

They included ACP Sunday Ubia, Insp. Simon Agirigba, Insp.

John Nuhu, and ASP Bawa James.

The NDLEA had alleged that Kyari and his men, unlawfully tampered with 21.25kilograms worth of cocaine that they seized from the two convicted drug traffickers- Umeibe and Ezenwane, even as it also accused them of dealing in cocaine worth 17.55kg.

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LAGOS RESIDENT MULTIPURPOSE IDENTITY CARD...

L-R: Lagos Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Hakeem Fahm; General Manager, LASRRA, Mrs. Ibilola Kasunmu; Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Sotobi; Ranodu of Imota Kingdom, Oba Ajibade Agoro; Opeluwa of Lagos, Chief Lateef Ajose and Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Mrs. Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, during the official launch of the Lagos State Resident Multipurpose Identity Card (LAG ID) at Ikeja... yesterday

Malabu Deals: Witness Narrates How Dan Etete Shared $1.3bn Claims Ex-minister, others forged board resolution to alter company’s ownership Alex Enumah in Abuja Mr. Ibrahim Ahmed, an official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at a Federal High Court, Abuja yesterday narrated how a former Minister of Petroleum, Chief Dan Etete allegedly shared the proceed of $1.3 billion from the sale of Oil Processing License (OPL) 245 among his associates OPL 245 otherwise known as Malabu Oil was said to be owned

by Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd. Its sales said to be enmeshed in complicity and fraud have been contested in the courts even outside Nigeria.

Giving evidence before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Ahmed narrated how the proceeds from the sale was transferred from JP Morgan into Malabu’s accounts with First Bank and BankPHB (now Keystone Bank) and subsequently transferred to various companies’ accounts.

According to the witness, some of the beneficiary companies included those owned by, Mr. Aliyu Abubakar, an Abuja businessman currently standing trial before the court.

Besides Abubakar, the EFCC is prosecuting seven other companies said to have benefitted from the alleged diversion of the proceeds of Malabu Oil sales.

They are Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd, A. Group Construction Company Ltd, Rocky Top Resources Ltd, Megatech Engineering Ltd,

Novel Properties and Development Company Ltd, Imperial Union Ltd and Carlin International Nigeria Ltd. Ahmed testifying further in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/ CR/268/2016, disclosed that some board resolutions were forged to alter the actual ownership of Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd. Led in evidence by EFCC’s lawyers, Offem Uket, Ahmed said: “Again, in 2010 another purported board resolution was filed in Corporate Affairs Commission by one Barrister Ayo Ademola.

‘The documents filed by Ademola suggested that the initial directors have resigned their directorship and their shares in which Joseph Amara and Seisougha Munamuna were appointed as directors not minding the changes earlier made.

“When the documents were filed with the Corporate Affairs Commission, having them discovered that those documents were forged, the Corporate Affairs Commission returned the company to status quo.

“Similarly, the second step was to identify the bank accounts owned

by Malabu Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited and the investigating team discovered that Malabu Oil and Gas have two accounts which are domiciliary accounts domiciled at First Bank and former Bank PHB and the only signatory to the accounts was Chief Duazia Loya Etete," he said.

Speaking further, the EFCC official said that analysis of the statement of account, revealed that

the account of Malabu Oil and Gas Limited domiciled with Keystone Bank (formerly Bank PHB) on August 24, 2011 received the sum of $400 million from JP Morgan.

He stated further that Etete, on September 6, 2011, fraudulently transferred the sum of $334 million to Rocky Top Resources account domiciled with the same Keystone Bank.

“On September 24, 2013, another sum of $75 million were transferred to the same Malabu Oil and Gas Limited account with Keystone Bank out of which $74 million and some fractions, same was transferred to the Rocky Top Resources account but only $73 million and some fractions got into the account.

“Similarly, on August 24, 2011,

another sum of $401,540,000.00 was transferred to Malabu Oil and Gas Limited account with First Bank from J. P. Morgan.

“On August 29, 2011, Chief Etete transferred the sum of $157 million into the account of A Group Construction Company Limited.

“On the same August 29, 2011, Chief Etete again transferred the sum of $180 million to the Megatech Engineering Ltd. “On the same August 29, 2011, the same Chief Etete transferred the sum of $34,540,000.00 to Novel Properties and Development Limited.

“On September 2, 2011, he transferred another sum of $30 million to Novel Property and Development Limited,” he alleged.

On the account with First Bank,

he said his team, “discovered that A Group Construction received $157 million from Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, Megatech Engineering received $180 million from Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd. “Furthermore, Novel Property received $34,540,000.00 and also $30,000 000.00 from Malabu Oil and Gas Limited.”

Ahmed disclosed that on further studying of the account opening documents of MegaTech Engineering and, A Group Construction Company, it was discovered that Aliyu Abubakar (the 8th defendant) was the signatory to the accounts.

He added that investigation revealed that before the transfer to Rocky Top Resources, Aliyu Abubakar had interest in the company, adding that when

the money came in, he sold the company and introduced Chief Dan Etete as the sole signatory of the account.

He told the court how Abubakar volunteered statements and the prosecution was at the point of determining the statements when the defence team including Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Olalekan Ojo (SAN), Joshua Musa (SAN) and others objected on the grounds that the statements were not made voluntarily.

Responding, trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo opted to conduct a trial-within-trial to ascertain the voluntariness or otherwise of the statements.

Justice Ekwo then adjourned till October 24 for the commencement of the trial-within-trial.

Atiku Commends Commercialisation of NNPC Says APC denigrated him when he broached the idea

Chuks Okocha in Abuja Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has commended the commercialisation of the NNPC. He, however pointed out that he was denigrated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government when he broached the idea in 2018.

The Nigerian National Company

Limited (NNPC) officially transited into a private entity that would be regulated in line with the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) on Tuesday. With the new structure, the NNPC Limited would no longer be required to remit funds money into the federation account for sharing by the three tiers of government monthly.

President Muhammadu Buhari officially unveiled the NNPC Limited and had declared that the new entity was henceforth

free from institutional regulations.

In his reaction, Atiku commanded the processes but said, "I had in 2018 made public my plans to reform the NNPC to make it more profitable, transparent and efficient. The APC-led government denigrated me for my patriotic vision.

"But today, I am happy to note that the same government has taken a tentative step along the lines of the suggestions that I had made.

It is a step in the right direction, but we are still far from what I had envisaged.

"I hope I'll have the opportunity to complete the process of turning the NNPC into a genuinely world-class company in the mould of NLNG, Aramco of Saudi Arabia and Petrobras of Brazil, where Nigerians and institutions will invest in," Atiku wrote on his verified Twitter handle.

Osun: PDP Savours Appeal Go and Showcase Our Achievements, Buhari Directs Ministers, Heads of Parastatals Court Judgment on Adeleke Says 266 ecological projects completed since 2015

Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, has directed ministers and heads of departments and agencies to go and showcase the achievements of his administration in the last seven years by publicizing them.

He also disclosed that under his watch no fewer than 266 ecological projects have been completed across the country since 2015.

Speaking yesterday at the State House, Abuja, while launching a compendium of ecological projects undertaken by his administration, the president directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to without further delay showcase their performance and achievements to the public.

He disclosed that 332 ecological projects were approved during the period in review, out of which

266 were accomplished while the remaining 66 were at different stages of completion.

Buhari who launched the publication before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, commended the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Management Team of the Ecological Project Office (EPO), for the judicious use of available resources for the effective implementation of approved projects, as well as the initiative for the publication.

The president stated: “The enormity of Nigeria’s ecological problems and inherited infrastructure deficit in general, has the tendency, like the proverbial drop in the ocean, to always drown our achievements in addressing ecological challenges and infrastructure deficit at large.

“It is against this background

that publications like the one being launched today, become very important and a useful tool in correcting the negative public perception, that government has not done anything in addressing these challenges.

“The documentation and publication of these achievements in our modest effort to tackle ecological problems is, therefore, predicated on our quest to improve communication in governance, as a tool for keeping citizens well-informed and helping them to hold government accountable. This is the most significant implication of the Ecological Project Office’s initiative in publishing this compendium.”

The President noted that the Compendium, which was for the reading pleasure and knowledge of Nigerians, would bridge the information and communication gap

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

between Nigerians and the real-time performance of his administration by portraying the specific locations of ecological projects, with pictorial evidence as well as proofs of handing over the projects to the beneficiaries.

He, therefore, urged states and local governments to judiciously use their shares of the ecological fund, strictly for ecological projects towards addressing the ecological problems in their areas.

Speaking earlier, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, told the president that the 554-page publication supervised by the Permanent Secretary, EPO, Dr Habiba Lawal, was aimed at keeping the public abreast of the efforts of the administration in addressing verified ecological problems in all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria.

Continued online

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, said it received with delight, the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed the PDP Governorship Election Primary that produced Osun State Governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke, as the rightful candidate of the PDP for the July 16, 2022 Osun State governorship election.

The Appeal Court judgement, which put to rest, all contestations regarding the validity of Adeleke’s candidacy came as further validation of the will and aspiration of the people of Osun State, which they expressed on Saturday, July 16.

The party said, the judgment was a firm confirmation that the Osun State governorship primary was transparently conducted by the Senator Iyorchia Ayu-led National Working Committee (NWC) in strict

compliance with the provisions of the PDP Constitution and Electoral Guidelines as provided by the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

According to a statement signed by the National Publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, "Our Party commends the Judiciary for its courage,” adding that, “the judgment has further restored the confidence of Nigerians on our judicial system and the processes of the PDP." The PDP further congratulated the people of Osun State and charged all party stakeholders in the state to remain united behind Adeleke in his determination to institute a transparent, peopleoriented and development-based government that would rebuild and revamp Osun from the misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

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BRIEFING AFTER FEC MEETING...

L–R: Minister of Environment, Suleiman Adamu; Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohmmed and the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, at the briefing after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja...yesterday

House Summons Sylva, Nami, Others over Fuel Subsidy Probe IPMAN distances self from product diversion allegation Lawmakers invite HoS over alleged skewed MDAs’ recruitments Udora Orizu in Abuja

the subsidy regime.

The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, the Executive Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Muhammad Nami and other major stakeholders in the oil and gas industry to appear before it unfailingly on July 27, to give account of petroleum products subsidy regime in Nigeria from 2017 to 2021.

The lawmakers had on June 29 while adopting a motion sponsored

by Hon. Sergius Ogun resolved to set up an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate

But at the investigative hearing yesterday, the Minister, FIRS, AA. Rano and other stakeholders sent representatives, to the disappointment of the lawmakers.

Frowning at the development, the Deputy Speaker Hon. Idris Wase, who declared the investigative hearing open said he was disappointed over the absence of those in authority who were expected to come and give account of what they have done to Nigerians.

He disclosed that the money assumed to have spent on subsidy during the period under review

amounted to N4.9 trillion, saying going by the estimation, presently the amount has risen to N6 trillion.

He charged members of the committee to ensure that nobody was spared or made to feel that he or she was above the law.

Corroborating his view, the Chairman of the adhoc committee, Hon. Ibrahim Aliyu described the absence of the stakeholders as unfortunate, unacceptable, undemocratic and an infraction on the separation of powers of the legislature in carrying out one of its legitimate functions of oversight.

He said it was more worrisome that this was happening during an era of change by the very people

who should be in the Vanguard of the change mantra to this administration.

Aliyu said, "Let me start by expressing the displeasure of the committee for the nonchalant attitude exhibited by some MDAs as well as some executive of the oil companies for non-compliance on the request of the committee to provide vital information on the subsidy granted by the federal government.

“NNPC should submit details of oil companies and other parties involved in the crude oil swap, direct sales and direct purchase agreement and beneficiaries of

ACJA: EFCC, ICPC Kicks against Case File Submission to AGF Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) yesterday rejected a proposal in the ongoing amendment to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

The provision makes it mandatory for the ICPC and EFCC to submit case file of a matter to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

The Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa kicked against

the provision in the bill at a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

The proposed legislation is titled, "A bill to amend the Administration of Criminal Justice Act" The EFCC said the provision would constitute undue interference by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation who is a political appointee.

The EFCC in the memorandum presented said, "This will constitute undue interference by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federa-

Yar’Adua’s Son Weds in Maiduguri Shehu, son of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua will on Saturday in Maiduguri, Borno State, be joined in marriage to Yacine, daughter of Hon. Mohammed Nur Sheriff, representing Bama/Ngala/ Kalabalge federal constituency in the House of Representatives.

Top politicians, traditional rulers, captains of industry and members of the diplomatic community are expected to grace the occasion.

According to family sources, a planning committee headed by the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed has been meeting in the past few weeks at the residence of the groom’s mother and former First Lady, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua, in preparation for both Saturday’s wedding Fatiha in Maiduguri and the 31st July dinner in Abuja.

Shehu, 29, obtained his first

degree in Economics from the Schellhammer Business School, Spain and a Master’s in International Relations from Webster University in Netherlands. The bride, Yacine, 22, holds a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management from the University of Surrey, United Kingdom.

Apart from the central planning committee chaired by Yayale with former Defence Minister, Alhaji Lawal Batagarawa as deputy and Brigadier General Mustapha Dennis Onoyiveta (rtd), former ADC to Yar’Adua as secretary, six sub-committees.

The finance sub-committee is headed by former Kebbi State Governor, Senator Muhammed Adamu Aliero with former PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu as deputy. Dr Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi is the secretary.

tion who is also the Minister of Justice and a Political appointee, in the work of the law enforcement agencies."

Also, the representative of the ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owosanoye said the agency also supported the all the positions of the EFCC in the amendment of the bill.

The anti-graft agencies also kicked against provision for the freezing of account under investigation for period of 14-days by exparte order.

It said the section was unnecessary as it would impede the activities of the investigation agencies and freezing of account containing proceed of crime.

The Chairman of the Senate

panel, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele said the bill sought to establish the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Council as obtainable in other jurisdictions, similar to the Bureau of Justice in the United States of America and the London Criminal Justice Board.

He said, "The Bill also seeks to establish the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Council as obtainable in other jurisdictions, similar to the Bureau of Justice in the United States of America and the London Criminal Justice Board.

"This is with a view to delivering a fair, efficient and effective criminal justice service in Nigeria and to improve outcomes, through active partnership."

those subsidies. We are not here to blackmail or witch-hunt anybody but within the period under review, we are taking about five years to date, a lot had gone wrong.

Nigerians are asking questions."

Moving a motion, a member of the Committee Hon. Mark Gbillah suggested that all agencies not duly represented by their Heads, should not be allowed to make presentations.

Meanwhile, in its presentation, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) denied involvement in the diversion of Petroleum Products by any of its members.

IPMAN President Chinedu Okoronkwo said such had been the usual allegation, adding that any marketer found guilty of the act should be treated as criminals.

He accused some petrol depots of selling fuel at the rate of N158 naira per liter instead of the government approved price of N148, saying it was the cause of the hike in pump price.

House Summons HoS over Alleged Skewed MDAs’ Recruitments Also, the House of Representatives has mandated its Committees on Federal Character and Public Service Matters to invite the Head of Service of the Federation (HoS), Folashade Yemi-Esan and the Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Engr. Sule Abdulaziz to explain the rationale for the alleged marginalisation of Bayelsa and other states in the ongoing recruitments exercise by TCN and other Ministries, Departments and

Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government.

The resolution of the lawmakers followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Preye Goodluck Oseke at the plenary yesterday.

Moving the motion, Oseke noted that the TCN was in the process of concluding a recruitment exercise in which over 400 applicants had been favourably considered.

He also noted that only a few of such successful applicants were from Bayelsa, despite the very many eligibly qualified applicants from the said state.

He further noted that considering youths’ restiveness on account of mass unemployment, the act of bias and uneven distribution of opportunities could negatively impact on unethical conducts perpetrated by youths of the state.

He said, "Concerned that the disequilibrium of the opportunities skewed against Bayelsa State is not only discriminatory, but amounts to a clear breach of sections 14 (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) on the application of the federal character principle.

“Aware that section 318(1) of the 1999 Constitution defines Federal Character as ‘the distinctive desire of the people of Nigeria to promote national unity, foster national loyalty and give every citizen of Nigeria a sense of belonging to the nation as expressed in section 14(3) and (4) of the Constitution, which means that beyond the constitutional imperative to comply with the Constitution is the utilitarian value of fairness and justice.

WHO Charges State Governments to Pay Their Counterpart Funds Laleye Dipo in Minna The World Health Organisation (WHO) has charged state governments across the country to pay their counterpart funds in order to benefit from the global organisation’s support for health infrastructure.

WHO Representative in the country, Mr. Galadima made the call in Minna yesterday, at the continuation of the deworming of children in the state capital.

He said failure to pay the counterpart funds by the state governments was hindering the development of the health sector across the country.

Galadima noted that there was no way WHO would release its own part of the fund if the state governments failed to honour their own part of the bargain insisting that, "That is the memorandum of understanding we entered into with governments.”

The WHO representative however said the organisation was committed to supporting the states to improve the health status of its people.

The Regional Sales Manager (North) of Biomedical Nigeria Limited which is partnering with the Niger state government on the deworming programme, Mr. Adams Abdullahi Danjuma disclosed

that not less than 450 children of between two and five years of age as well as pregnant women were to be dewormed throughout the country during the exercise.

Danjuma also disclosed that the firm would donate some consumeables to the government for distribution to families across the states.

The firm he said had carried out similar deworming exercise in Kwara and Oyo states as well as the Federal Capital Territory FCT adding that the objective is to improve the lives of the people especially children and pregnant women.

Wife of the state Governor Dr

Amina Sani Bello flagged off the deworming campaign on Monday during which she solicited for the cooperation of major stakeholders for the success of the programme.

Dr. Bello gave an assurance that the state government will continue to sustain all its health care services programmes by partnering with reputable organisations to bring health care delivery services to the door steps of the average person in the state.

The Governors wife also emphasised the need for women to take advantage of the free services of the "Safe Motherhood and Vaccination programme being provided by the government.

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TEN BUHARI TO SHETTIMA: I’LL HAND OVER TO YOU AND YOUR BOSS IN 2023, GOD-WILLING reiterated that he was committed to his choice of a Muslim-Muslim preference, even as the former Borno State governor explained that his pick was in no way an imposition.

At the same time, the Director, Media and Communication, Tinubu Campaign Organisation (TCO), Mr. Bayo Onanuga, for the umpteenth time, has reacted to the MuslimMuslim presidential ticket of the APC, saying it was far from religion and ethnicity considerations, but performance-enhancement based.

However, responding to Shettima's speech, Buhari, who was absent at Shetiima’s official unveiling as the APC leader, said, “I will respond to your speech, when I am handing over to you and your boss. God willing, you are going to win,” adding that, he is very happy with the choice of the former governor of Borno State as Tinubu’s running mate.

“I wish you the best. Your consistency in the party is very respectful. You served your two terms as governor and finished well. You have kept touch with your base. At every important occasion or event, you are maintaining support for the one who succeeded you. This is commendable," he said.

Earlier, Shettima thanked the president for his empathy, support and positive role, leading to his emergence as running mate to the APC presidential candidate.

While praising him for having a special place in his heart for Borno and Northeast, he added: “I can cite 20-30 instances of support you have rendered, for which you will be remembered.”

He mentioned the establishment of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and the Independent Power Plant for Maiduguri by the NNPC, “after many years of darkness,” noting that, “words cannot describe our appreciation of your support. We will remain eternally grateful."

He requested of the President to appreciate his successor, Babagana Zulum, who was in his company, along with the Minister of State, Agriculture, Mustapha Baba Shehuri, for spurning “recurring mention” of him and pressure from his governor colleagues to bid for the vice-presidential ticket.

Shettima, however, pledged to remain “loyal and devoted” to the President, promising that his vice-presidency would not be for the “troika of Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri,” but for all Nigerians, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or geographical place of origin.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Tinubu said, every election brings with it, the promise of renewed hope, and that, the 2023 elections would be no different. He, however, insisted that, the APC must win the 2023 elections in order to

bring a better life to the people of this country.

Tinubu said: "Every election brings with it the promise of renewed hope.

This one shall be no different. For our party and for our nation, we hold the chance to move the nation and our collective cause forward as never before.

"To do this, we must be wise of thought and courageous of action.

We must win this election so that we can bring jobs, education, food, medicine, hope and belief in a better life to the people of this country.

"I stand ready to make this journey and, today, I am delighted to stand shoulder to shoulder with my good friend, brother and running mate, His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima."

Tinubu who noted that much has been said and written about his decision to pick Shettima as partner, insisted that he remained committed in the choice of Shettima.

His words: "As a committed democrat and progressive, I have read and listened to all that has been written and said. It has been an emotional and moving period. I understand the strength of feeling that has been displayed by some within our party and I cherish and respect the views of all.

"Yet, I remain steadfast in my belief in the selection of Senator Shettima. I am unwavering in my belief that, he is the very best person to run for office and to, hopefully, govern by my side.

"I believe in the project this party embarked on at the moment of its foundation. I believe our diversity is our strength and I believe that we must be victorious in order to achieve the greatness of which this country is capable."

Shettima, at his unveiling, said his emergence as the running mate to Tinubu was based on the party’s forthright assessment of the threats ahead, adding that he was honoured by the consensus of the party's stakeholders to trust him and represent the nation’s interests.

According to him, "There’s no

weight I carry very carefully, as much as the burden of trust, and learning from public servants, who never take the expectations of the public, for granted. I’m standing here today, because of the benign testaments of those, who believe in me – those who crawled so that some of us could walk, and those who walked, for others to run."

Shettima noted that he was not unaware of the difficult political arithmetic that produced this moment, especially, the understanding of the party’s stakeholders and supporters, across religions, regions, and ethnicities, adding that, their resolve to settle for this ticket, was a testament to the faith they have in them.

"This ticket isn’t an imposition; it’s an outcome of democracy at its practical best, and based on the aggregation of the ideas and insights, of our great party’s stakeholders. If this were an unpopular option, as the cast of partisan provocateurs has attempted to paint, there wouldn’t have been the tonnes of goodwill messages, especially, from distinguished Christians, from all over the country. This ticket is a Nigerian project, not a sectional agenda, that the frightened camps have been struggling to sensationalise.

"I’m sincerely proud of the rational citizens, who view this, as nothing but a pragmatic permutation, to defeat our opponents at the polls, and based on acknowledgment and implementation of the candid perspectives of our Christian brothers and sisters in the APC, who, like us, are bound by the passion for us to retain power, in order to deepen the delivery of unifying and transformative governance, to Nigerians."

Shettima recalled that about 30 years ago, Nigerians came together to market the Muslim-Muslim ticket of MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe, adding that, the Abiola and Kingibe ticket defied the stereotype of Nigerians, as hopelessly sectional, and incapable of prioritising reason over sentiments.

He said; "This reincarnation of the 30-year-old hope that produced the late MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe, came at a time the country is being pushed to the edge of anarchy, by conflict entrepreneurs, in gaudy suits and babanriga.

“But the overwhelming endorsement of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, at the APC presidential primaries, by aspirants from the very groups predicted to reject him; and his subsequent election by delegates from the same groups, is a clear message, that Nigerians are beyond the stereotypes of those desperate to tear the people apart."

Earlier, the APC National Chairman, Senator Abdulahi Adamu, said Tinubu chose to work along the path of Abiola by choosing a Muslim to be his running mate.

He stated categorically that Tinubu as a person, has also thrown his arms around every tribe in the country and has offered his shoulders for those in pain to lean on, stressing that he could be trusted to run an inclusive government.

"Those of you who are students of our recent political history will note that in choosing Shettima as his running mate, Jagaban chose also to walk along the path that other great son of this country, Aare Onakakanfo, the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, did. He chose a Kanuri, Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe from the North-East geo-political zone, as his running mate in the 1993 presidential election.

"We are beginning to suspect there must be some synergy between the Yoruba and the Kanuri. Maybe there is a mutual attraction between them that the rest of us do not know. Never mind, we will put the searchlight on them.

"The 1993 presidential ticket and the current one bridged one of our fault lines in the management of our diversities. Nigerians overwhelmingly voted for that ticket, because they trusted Abiola, a man, who opened his arms to every tribe and religion in the country, to run an inclusive government in which no

man or woman would be denied his or rights as a Nigerian citizen by the profession of his faith "Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a man, who has also thrown his arms around every tribe in the country.

He has offered his shoulders for those in pain to lean on; he has used his wealth to bring succour to the needy. He can be trusted to run an inclusive government in which character, competence and vision matter to his administration."

In his submission, Fayemi said no doubt, APC governors would have preferred one of them to be the running mate to Tinubu, but added that Tinubu couldn't have made a better choice.

Fayemi expressed optimism that Shettima being a former governor would protect the interest of APC governors.

"Asiwaju can't find no better assistant, no better partner, no better companion than Shettima. Even in the toughest of time, he led with courage, he led from the front, he challenged us to do more…," he said, stressing that Tinubu has found himself not just a governing partner, a bridge builder, a consensus builder, but a talent sporter in Shettima.

According to him, Shettima would not be a "Yes Man" to Tinubu, adding: "Asiwaju is someone that I know very well, and he does not like ‘yes people’ around him. Kashim Shettima is not going to be a ‘yes man’. Kashim Shettima is going to offer honest, sincere, independent, verified advice that will be to the betterment of our country."

The APC governors that graced the occasion were, Chairman of APC Governors’ Forum and the Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu; Kano State Governor, Abdulahi Ganduje; Nasarawa State Governor, Abdulahi Sule; Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; outgoing Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola; Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zullum; Deputy Governor of Kogi, Edward Onoja; Kastina State Governor, Bello Masari; Ogun State Governor, Dapo

Group Protests MuslimMuslim Ticket in Abuja

Meanwhile, anti-Muslim-Muslim protesters, yesterday, stormed the national secretariat of the APC to register their grievances. The protest took place almost at the same time the leadership of the APC was unveiling Shettima.

Speaking to newsmen, Convener of Forum, Abdullahi Mohammadu, said they would not stop protesting until the party does the right this.

In a letter addressed to Adamu, Mohammadu stated that they saw the selection of Shettima as an aberration that should be corrected immediately by the leadership of the party.

"We write to your good office in light of the prevailing circumstances arising from the decision of our presidential candidate to select a Northern Muslim as his vice-presidential candidate.

"While it must be stated that there is a right to make decisions, however, such decisions must not be made to the collective detriment of the sensibilities of the people that make up the country of Nigeria especially, at a time of mutual suspicion amongst the Christians and Muslims in the northern part of the country," the letter read.

Onanuga: Understanding Why Tinubu Picked Shettima Director, Media and Communication, Tinubu Campaign Organisation (TCO), Bayo Onanuga, has said if Tinubu intended to cash in on ethnicity, he would have picked a running mate from the North Western part of Nigeria, which has the highest number of registered voters.

According to him, “If he wanted to appeal to the base instincts of religion, he would have also gone for a candidate in the Christian dominated parts of Nigeria. But Continued on page 36

KYARI: MY TARGET IS FOR NNPC TO EMERGE TOP 50 IN FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES IN THREE YEARS Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari yesterday disclosed that working with the Board, management and staff of the company, his target is to make the entity be among the top 50 among the Fortune 500 Companies in three years.

The NNPC Limited on Tuesday officially transitioned into a private entity that is now regulated in line with the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).

Speaking on Arise News Channel, THISDAY’s broadcast arm yesterday, the GCEO explained that with the huge assets available to the company and the new corporate culture of profit orientation, NNPCL would soon become the toast of the entire continent.

Fortune 500 refers to a list of 500 of the largest companies compiled

by Fortune magazine, United States, every year wherein companies are ranked by their annual revenues for their respective fiscal years.

The list includes both public and private companies using publicly available revenue data. According to him, the target would be achievable

in the near term.

While admitting that because of the mode of operation of the company in the past, Nigerians had lost faith in it, Kyari stated thathenceforth the company has no room for excuses not to deliver on its mandate as a commercial venture.

“We have to deliver together and we are ready to deliver. We know our shareholders, the 200 million Nigerians are doubtful, but we need to surprise them because we know that there is a new expectation and this expectation can be met and this will be led by culture change.

“Before, you could lose money

and nothing will happen, government could always pay, but the law now says we have no recourse to public funds, it will be a commercial relationship...and we have no room for excuses,” he assured.

Kyari pointed out that the net assets of the new company remain a major factor working in its favour, stressing that its upstream assets alone could be worth between $80-$90 billion.

“The meaning of this is that the NNPC will clearly not be below 150 (currently) in the Fortune 500 companies and I can tell you this upfront: Our target is that by sheer act of doing things right, we are

STAKEHOLDERS IDENTIFY NON-OIL EXPORTS AS PANACEA FOR ECONOMIC REJUVENATION AT ZENITH BANK INT'L TRADE SEMINAR According to him, Nigeria should also look at promoting the nation’s non-oil export sector through technology to create technological giants like Apple, Tesla, and Google.

“And we already have technology companies in this mould in Nigeria, such as Flutterwave, which has a valuation of $3 billion, making it more valuable than some banks in Nigeria,” he said.

Speaking further on the enormous potential in Nigeria’s non-oil sector, Ovia highlighted the phenomenal growth of Nigeria’s emerging financial technology (Fintech) companies such as Flutherwave, OPay, Interswitch, Kuda and Paystack, with market valuations of $3 billion, $2 billion, $1 billion, $500 million, $200 million, respectively.

According to him, this underscores the enormous opportunity in the Fintech space.

He also noted that the most capitalised companies in the world, such as Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Tesla, Visa, etc., are not oil companies but are in the technological innovation space.

In his welcome address, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, said the annual Zenith Bank Trade Seminar has served as a veritable platform to deepen the conversation on promoting non-oil export in Nigeria, bringing together non-oil export practitioners and

Abiodun; and former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

relevant government agencies to interact and explore the opportunities and proffer solutions to the challenges of non-oil export in the country.

Speaking on the origin of the Zenith Bank Annual International Trade Seminar, Onyeagwu said the commodity price slump of 2014-2016 was a watershed moment.

According to him, “when crude oil prices plummeted from $114.55 per barrel in June 2014 to $28.76 in January 2016, with an attendant effect on the availability of foreign exchange, it was time to look towards the non-oil export sector for a more sustainable source of foreign exchange that is not susceptible to external shocks and price volatility.”

Highlighting some of the salient outcomes of the past six Zenith Bank Annual International Trade Seminar editions, Onyeagwu noted that previous editions’ outcomes have found expression and influenced policy initiatives.

For instance, “the extension of the period of repatriation of non-oil export proceeds from 90 days to 180 days and the policy mandating shippers not to carry export without a Nigeria Export Proceeds (NXP) Form Number were recommendations from previous seminars.

“Also, the need to incentivise exporters to repatriate their export proceeds through the official chan-

nels and the recommendation to create export terminals across various export hubs in the country were also from past seminars. “Also, previous editions recommended having Export Desks in commercial banks, which has now been instituted.”

He also stated that Zenith Bank has trained over 100 exporters through its ‘Zero to Hero’ programmes which provide a platform for grooming and exposing beginners to become strong exporters by providing training on documentation, product sourcing, access to market and financing. He noted that Zenith Bank would continue the advocacy of promoting non-oil export.

Delivering his goodwill message, the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, commended Zenith Bank and its leadership led by Ovia for its laudable initiative in organising an annual export seminar to explore opportunities in Nigeria’s non-oil export with a view to increasing the nation’s non-oil export base and ultimately increasing its share as a percentage of total export.

In his words: “This is why the theme of this year’s seminar “Unlocking Opportunities in Nigeria’s Non-oil Export Business,” is timely and appropriate. This is because the global economy and structure are changing rapidly before our eyes.

“The previous world economic

order underpinned by globalisation and seamless trade possibilities seems to be suffering major disruptions lately. We believe Nigeria has a lot of potentials, and we can harness this for the good of our people and country.”

He pointed out that the CBN has undertaken several initiatives to promote the non-oil export sector because of its firm belief that the non-oil export sector holds enormous potential to contribute to employment generation, wealth creation and economic growth of the country.

In his keynote address, the President/Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said, “Nigeria’s non-oil export is quite low compared to other African top oil producers.

This exposes the economy to oil price/production risks.

“There is much room for growth, and the CBN is helping drive this through the RT200 programme.”

According to him, the CBN RT200 FX programme, which aims to achieve $200 billion in foreign exchange earnings from non-oil proceeds over the next three to five years, has very laudable objectives, including enhancing foreign exchange inflow, diversifying the source of FX inflow, increasing the level of contribution from non-oil export, and ensuring stability and sustainability of FX flows.

In his Goodwill Message, the Secretary General, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, enumerated the progress and achievements of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the efforts to improve intra-Africa trade.

Also, in his goodwill message, President/Chairman of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Prof. Benedict Oramah, highlighted the efforts of Afreximbank to enhance intra-Africa trade through the implementation of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS).

According to him, the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System would make it easy and seamless for Africans to trade amongst themselves and receive payment for goods and services in their local currencies, eliminating currency conversion challenges.

Zenith Bank remains committed to promoting the non-oil export sector in Nigeria by identifying emerging opportunities which help stimulate non-oil exports and develop robust financial products and incentives for operators in the sector.

The bank launched the nonoil export seminar in 2017 as an initiative to deepen the discourse on promoting the non-oil export business in Nigeria.

getting into a business, delivering value and investing appropriately and within three to four years’ time, we should be counting ourselves among the first 50 in the Fortune 500 companies,” he boasted.

He disputed insinuations that the NNPC was presently in a, ‘deep financial hole,’ insisting that no company declares profit when its finances are in trouble like the NNPC did last year.

He added that although Nigerians were losing faith in the NNPC as a corporation, the company would shock doubters by its new mode of adopting global best practices in its operation.

“Things have changed and that change is now being amplified because we have an enabling legislation and we are bound by a new set of rules under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA),” he noted.

Stating that the oil and gas industry remains a very profitable one and that the company was willing to scale up its value, he lamented that oil firms less than half of NNPCL’s assets were making more profit.

“We are going to be IPO ready by the middle of next year,” he reiterated, insisting that the company’s processes will henceforth be world class, reducing wastes as well as paying more taxes to the government.

Already the largest company in Africa, Kyari noted that Nigerians will be proud of the new NNPC in years to come, with a clear deviation from the way it operated in the past.

In the coming years, he stated that the company would have private equity, explaining that this would mature in the next 11 months, culminating in a mixed ownership of its shares.

“We are not in the rank of companies which will be talking about N287 billion (its profit in 2020). We felt very little doing that last year, but we also know we are coming from a past. It’s a process and it will be scaled up,” he added.

Continued online

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POLITICS

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

‘Buhari Govt Has Abysmally Failed to Secure Nigeria’

In this interview with Ibrahim Shuaibu, the Kano state Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party in the 2023 poll, Salihu Tanko Yakasai, says President Muhammadu Buhari administration has failed in its bid to secure the Nigerian nation

I

nsecurity and economic downfall are two of the problems facing this country, generally what is your assessment of the Buhari administration?

In terms of assessment, I have already said that he has failed woefully and I think, unfortunately for him perhaps he will go down as one of the worst commanders-inchief that we’ve had in this country in terms of security. But I think my recommendation, most importantly I think, is not just about condemning but what are the solutions, what are the ways forward. But being from Kano and being someone that served in the government for almost six years, I can tell you that one of the things that the state government has done in collaboration with the service chiefs in the state is gathering intelligence at the local level.

Quiet and secretly without putting people to harm. I think there is a synergy between the government, the security agencies on the one hand and of course the people of the state on the other. There I’d collaborate, there isn’t a single kidnapping case in Kano state that has not been foiled by the security agencies.

Recently they rescued the mother of the Senatorial candidate of the APC, Mr Zaura, they rescued her from the kidnappers then.

There are a number of cases like that. There are times whereby the kidnappers will go and kidnap people outside of Kano and bring their people to Kano and security forces will salvage the situation.

You can see that something has been working in Kano state, we thank God for that. You know Kano people are very faithful and prayerful and I think these are the things other states and the Federal Government need to emulate.

Provide the right equipment to the security forces, ensure that there is synergy and cooperation among them, focus more on intelligence gathering and find ways to involve the people without putting them in harm. This is very important. When you do that, you will begin to see changes in the insecurity situation that we are having. Anywhere this insecurity issue is rampant, you will realise that it is the lack of these things that I mentioned that is at play. Either the people are guilty or have been compromised and so on and so forth.

I think my recommendation is improve on intelligence gathering and act on it as well.

If there is detailed intelligence information, attack or something similar to that, act on it as quickly as possible before the culprits execute their plans. Hopefully by His grace, God will handle the rest for us.

When you served the administration of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, there were times when you were suspended over your views, what do you have to say to this?

There is no reaction, actually this is the stance on which I have been even before joining the government. For instance, I vehemently criticised the government of Goodluck Johnathan when he was in power over his inability to address the issue of insecurity in the country then. And it has continued. One of the promises that President Buhari made was to tackle the issue of insecurity, so what has now changed?

In fact, you can even say that during Jonathan’s regime the major insecurity we had was Boko Haram, I’m not downplaying it, but it was Boko Haram. But now, Boko Haram at that time, even though it was mostly in the North East, but relatively the situation is not as terrible as it is today in terms of spread of banditry, insecurity in the southeast, everywhere. There is total turmoil in the country today in terms of insecurity.

So, this is the issue. At that time, we called on the president to do what was expected of him. We talked, we advised anyone that we could with a listening ear that there needs to be a change with the way and manner the government was handling insecurity in the country. But we haven’t seen any change.

There was a lot of pressure on the president to change his service chiefs and he changed them but things are more or less the same.

Tinubu and you are in the PRP, how will you reconcile this?

The relationship with the Tinubu camp is personal, politically I am now in PRP and not in the APC and I am not going to campaign for APC candidate while I am in the PRP. I wouldn’t do that. In PRP we have our own presidential candidate Lateef Kola Abiola, the flag bearer of the party.

We’ll wait and see what his plans are for the country and see how we can look towards campaigning for the party. But all I want in 2023 is I want people to vote for the best candidate, you understand. We await this presidential candidate, I’m not talking about my own personal opinion now, I’m talking about the general situation of the country. We need the best hand to be the President, absolutely the best hand for 2023.

I want people to look at the manifesto of these candidates, to look at their plans. What do they intend to do in terms of security? Any candidate that does not offer a solution, to us I think that is really what Nigerians should worry about. Anyone that doesn’t have a plan, we have seen how Buhari came in without a plan, we have seen how he has fumbled over and over again. So, it is important for Nigerians to wait and see what these candidates have to offer. I pray that my own candidate, that of the PRP, comes up with a better plan so that Nigerians can vote for him. But by and large, I am urging people to make sure they put sentiments aside and elect based on competence and based on the person that best moves Nigeria forward.

Yakasai

These are the issues and up till today we’ll continue to say these. The number one responsibility of any government is the protection of lives and properties. If you failed in that and score in every other thing you have failed. If you cannot protect people, everyone is scared. There is not a single person, particularly in northern Nigeria that has not been affected by this insecurity directly or indirectly. I am also a victim of it, everyone is a victim of it. These are the issues. We will not keep quiet; we are not going to be hypocritical in addressing the issue of insecurity in this country.

Just look at what happened recently, the convoy of the president was attacked, his own convoy was attacked. The prison at Kuje in Abuja that is just a few minutes, a few kilometers away from the seat of power? It was attacked and nobody could stop it. Is it not a sign that the security is at the point of anarchy in this part of the country?

So, these are the issues, in terms of security we are not going to keep quiet. We’ll continue to highlight it. Unfortunately, I don’t see the government doing anything before it leaves power but at least we’ll continue to call on them, we will not keep quiet and we have no

regrets over that.

You are contesting under the PRP while you served under the APC, are you now saying the APC has failed Nigerians?

APC nationally has failed Nigerians absolutely, I have no doubt about that. APC in Kano has done well in terms of infrastructure and maybe one or two areas. But generally, you can see that there are a lot of resentments towards the APC government and the people want something new, and that is what we are offering with PRP. PRP is a historical party, it is a bend name, people know its historical track records in the past when it was in government in Kano state and Kaduna state and we have seen the warm reception that is being accorded us, I just concluded my tour of 44 local government areas of the state. I did a thank you visit to party leaders and delegates for electing me as candidate of the party and we used the opportunity to pay homage to the district heads of these local governments and the chief Imams of these local governments and we have seen the reception we are getting from these people. Kano people are really ready to embrace PRP and people will be shocked with the margin with which we are going to win this election by the grace of God in 2023.

So, I’m absolutely sure that we are on the right track and we are going to make history by the grace of God. You are known to be a close ally of the presidential candidate of the APC Bola

The number one responsibility of any government is the protection of lives and properties. If you failed in that and score in every other thing you have failed. If you cannot protect people, everyone is scared. There is not a single person, particularly in northern Nigeria that has not been affected by this insecurity directly or indirectly. I am also a victim of it, everyone is a victim of it. These are the issues. We will not keep quiet; we are not going to be hypocritical in addressing the issue of insecurity in this country

You are aspiring to be governor under the PRP, what informed this decision?

First of all, I think people are generally tired of the current system that we are having, the governments and leaders that are running the affairs of the state government.

They have tried these leaders for 20 years.

Since 1999 it has been revolving around a particular clique of leaders. People are tired of them, they’ve done their best, the best they could, but it seems that in Kano state it is not enough. There is a need for complete overhaul of the governance structure in Kano state in terms of how people are being led, in terms of people-oriented projects, the state needs a new direction.

As a result of this, people want to have new and fresh blood in the system. As such they urged me to come out and contest for the office of the governor, the highest seat in the state so that we can lead a new generation of leaders in the state, that’s one reason.

The second reason is that all these political parties either lack ideologies or they don’t practice their own ideology or political manifesto they are built upon. If you ask an APC member what are the founding principles of the party, he doesn’t know, if you ask a PDP member, the same. So, we looked at the political parties and we realised that the Peoples Redemption Party is the only party that has a manifesto that is built on principles. The five cardinal principles of PRP today were the same principles 44 years ago when the party was formed in Kano state.

If there is one of these cardinal principles, for instance the value for human life, which is the number one principle of the Peoples Redemption Party, if the government will take just one cardinal principle of the party and implement it fully, we wouldn’t be where we are today as a nation. So, we believe the PRP is built upon a solid foundation and principles.

It has a manifesto that is people’s manifesto, a mass manifesto, we believe once we implement some of these mass-oriented policies, we will certainly see significant change in the state.

So, these are some of the reasons why we decided to go into this contest and by the grace of God we’ll come out victorious.

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

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

FEATURES

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

Why We Must Fix Nigeria Before it Fixes Us Sen Annie Okonkwo

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ith the way things are going on in Nigeria, it has become prerequisite for all to work toward getting the country back to track.

It's no longer time to consider your personal interest or what you stand to benefit, it's time to do the needful before things get out of control.

To fix this country, religious and tribal sentiment must be buried while we make haste to hand over Nigeria to capable hands that will revive it before it's too late.

This is not time for "It's my turn to become the president or the turn of the south to produce the next president but the turn of the capable and competent person.

According to 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

We have witnessed alot in the past few decades. killings and atrocities has almost become an everyday event. As we enter the election season, we must think beyond the gain we make today as the future of our children is at stake.

Andy Andrews once said: "There are generations yet unborn, whose very lives will be shifted and shaped by the moves you make and the actions you take."

But for me, this generation and the youths have key roles to play in defending and protecting their future. The first step is to get thier Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC).

As a matter of fact, private firms, churches and leaders also have a role to play to ensure the future of this generation and that of yet unborn is protected and secured by launching operation get your PVC. They must ensure that people under their watch get their PVCs, and also educate and orientate them about the battle ahead.

It's time to reclaim this country or never.

I read in the news recently where the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) launched Operation Show Your Permanent

Okonkwo Voter’s Card (PVC) by its members during Sunday worship services across the country.

Other churches and forms must do same to ensure that 90% of Nigerians get their PVC. Your vote is your power.

Nigeria needs a new breed of leaders with vision and mission to build not

same people who have been in the political space in the last three decades without making any or much positive impact.

Democracy is supposed to be a form of government that empowers the people to exercise political control, provides for the separation of pow-

ers between governmental entities, and ensures the protection of natural rights and civil liberties.

In most democracies, the needs and wishes of the people are represented by elected lawmakers who are charged with writing and voting on laws and setting policy.

But in Nigeria today, the people have gotten the opposite of what democracy represented. And this narrative has to change. The youth must stand fame and say no to election rigging, come out en mass and vote for a visionary leader that can revive this country before it's too late.

The youths must look beyond the peanut that the desperate politicians will will give to them during the election and montage their future.

Zambia used to be governed by corrupt and clueless leaders but In 2022, Zambian Youths trooped out and launched a well organised massive campaign for Hakainde Hichilema of the UPND. Youth Movement, successfully removed Edgar Lungu of the LP, a man adjudged as one of the most corrupt leaders.

Since Zambians got Hichilema duly elected as the their President, the country has been transformed. It has also become very peaceful.

If Zambian Youths could successfully launch such a democratic campaign against a repressive government that had held them hostage over the years, and remove Lungu in a landslide victory, what about the more sophisticated Youths of Nigeria?

Today, Nigeria is besieged with similar threat, the youths must rise and ensure the person that will revive the economy of this nation is elected so that the labour of our heroes will not be in vain.

In synopsis, we must fix this country now before it's late and become unhealthy us to live in. The youths are boiling, insecurity issues in all region, and reports have it that those acts are mostly perpetrated by the youths. And those same youths are yearning for Peter Obi. t4FO "OOJF 0LPOLXP XSPUF GSPN #PVSEJMMPO *LPZJ -BHPT

Interswitch Sponsors Hotel Expo Nigeria 2022 Precious Ugwuzor

S

takeholders in the Nigerian hospitality and tourism industry convened at the Hotel Expo Nigeria 2022, with Africa's leading integrated payments and digital commerce company, Interswitch, as one of its sponsors, to discuss the way forward for the sector that faced unprecedented challenges occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event that held from recently at the Landmark Centre, drew players from the various corners of the sector, including manufacturers, hoteliers, tourism and booking agents, and top executives, among others, to give insights into the hospitality business. With the disruption caused by the pandemic in hindsight, the two-day event focused on conversations around developing innovative solutions that will boost recovery and growth of business operations. The expo also served as a common ground where ideas were shared and a community formed.

As a leader in Nigeria's technology and innovation ecosystem, Interswitch is poised to provide bespoke robust business solutions to players in the hospitality industry to support their business growth aspirations.

Representatives of Interswitch who spoke at the event as members of the panelists were the Group Head, Engineering, Interswitch, Abdul-Hafiz Ibrahim and Business Manager, Interswitch, Olatunji Lasisi, delivering insights into the role technology can play in boosting the hospitality business. Also on the panel at the event was the Head of DSTV Business, Abayomi Famakinwa.

During the panel session, Ibrahim noted that as the hospitality business emerges from the economic downturn occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need to leverage efficient technological solutions that aligned with the changing market trends.

Interswitch at the just held expo He also added that it was important for businesses to take note of the dynamic consumer needs, as this will help them stay ahead of the competition.

He said, "The hospitality sector has undergone unprecedented challenges in recent times; and there is a need to have conversations around business solutions that will revitalize the sector and improve efficiency.

"The Hotel Expo Nigeria 2022 is a relevant platform in this regard as it brings together critical stakeholders to drive the conversation.

"As a cross-sector player, Interswitch’s

cutting-edge products such as the Quickteller Business Smart PoS and the Payment Gateway help organisations drive efficiency and boost service delivery."

Lasisi, on his part identified the Quickteller Business Smart PoS and Payment Gateway as innovations from Interswitch that have helped businesses make quick recoveries from the harsh economic realities brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lasisi said that the Quickteller Business Smart PoS, by design, was developed to aid businesses in accepting and pro-

cessing payments from all major local and international cards, availing customers with multiple payment options such as transfers that provide immediate payment confirmation right on the PoS terminals to USSD, QR and Verve Paycode, pre-authorization, completion and refund features, providing real-time business performance reporting, among other features. At the same time, the Payment Gateway service will enable businesses to Accept payments easily on their websites from international and local customers alongside other multiple payment options. Integration of the Payment Gateway is 100 percent free and easy.

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY JULYJuly 21, 2022 Thursday 21, 2022 Vol 27. No 9963 TR

See page 20 THE CHALLENGE BEFORE ATIKU AND TINUBU JOSEF OMOROTIONMWAN projects how Northerners may treat Tinubu’s aspiration

See page 20 THE SPIRIT OF CHINA-AFRICA FRIENDSHIP Remarks by former Defence Minister, ALIYU MOHAMMED GUSAU at ongoing 11th meeting of the China[1]Africa think tanks forum in Beijing See page 21 NIGERIA AND THE CURSE OF OIL NURUDEEN DADA argues that the speaker of the House of Reps has done his bit to restore sanity to a rotten system See page 21 EDITORIAL THE MENACE OF MALNUTRITION IN CHILDREN

See page 22

& RE A S O

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

ON THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE A combination of insecurity and economic problems are pushing Nigerians to the edge, writes KENE OBIEZU

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The striking university lecturers need to refocus and re-strategise, writes MONDAY PHILIPS EKPE

PICK YOUR FIGHTS, ASUU MEMBERS Discussions about strikes by lecturers in the public universities in Nigeria have since assumed a life of their own at various fora.

As it is in football where millions of Nigerians DUH VHOI FHUWLÀHG FRDFKHV DQG FDQ DOZD\V WHOO why their teams win or lose, all of a sudden, virtually everyone knows what or who is right or wrong in a situation that threatens the very survival of our apex tertiary education. While I do not claim to have a complete grasp of all the issues surrounding the perennial closure of our ivory towers, I am not a stranger to them either. Having had my undergraduate schooling at the University of Benin, Benin City in the 1980s and later obtained my higher degrees at the University of Ibadan - the QDWLRQ·V ODVW DQG ÀUVW RI WKH ÀUVW JHQHUDWLRQ universities respectively - both owned by the federal government, and also privileged to teach in a federal university at the moment, let me express my thoughts here, sincerely.

In doing so, I choose not to employ almighty statistics to analyse the demands the government claims to have met and what some critics see as the high-handedness and REVWLQDF\ RI WKH $FDGHPLF 6WDͿ 8QLRQ RI Universities (ASUU). A lot of that is already in the media arena. As is usually the case in prolonged disagreements and quarrels, lines EHWZHHQ IDFWV DQG ÀFWLRQ JHW EOXUUHG ZLWK time and you are let with a situation my lecturer once described as ‘faction’. Last week, a colleague sent me a chat saying that Dr Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, was being used to cause confusion in the ongoing crisis. My question to her was: “By who, is he not a part of the government?”

For most lecturers, Mallam Adamu Adamu, Minister of Education, may as well be another anathema in the current quagmire.

As for President Muhammadu Buhari, their boss and upon whose desk the buck stops, he does not appear to be in possession of all the details and arguments necessary for informed and decisive decisions on the matters in contention. His ‘enough is enough’ comment made last week from the comfort of his home in Daura in relation to the lecturers’ VWULNH KDV RQO\ DGGHG SHWURO WR WKH ÁDPHV ,W LV GL΀FXOW WR DVFHUWDLQ ZKDW KH DFWXDOO\ PHDQW to achieve with that. That it came at the time when ASUU members were under the illusion that negotiations with their employers had been concluded, only awaiting the president’s endorsement, further dampened hopes for quick and amicable resolution. Some attribute Buhari’s seeming aloofness to lack of adequate communication between him and his aides.

2WKHUV VLPSO\ ZULWH KLP RͿ DV QRW KDYLQJ genuine interest in instituting a healthy education sector. But now that he has given $GDPX WZR ZHHNV WR UHVROYH WKH FRQÁLFW ÀYH months into the impasse, very few persons would expect concrete outcomes soon.

That pessimism is understandable. Should Nigerians look forward to any sustainable answer from one individual and within a

very short time after series of attempts by several governmental, cultural, religious and industrial entities?

I am not too sure if ASUU has properly articulated its positions to the satisfaction of the other critical stakeholders, especially students, parents, guardians and the rest publics but, at the heart of the agitations, in my view, is the ÀJKW WR SHUSHWXDWH DQG QRXULVK WKH YHU\ VRXO of public universities in Nigeria. Even if some of the methods adopted by the lecturers are faulty, surely, the credibility and desirability of the mission are indisputable. Not too many people are aware that the bulk of the monies in contention is for the revitalisation of the various institutions, which means that individual lecturers will not gain directly from them. What concern can be more noble than that? But for the struggles embarked upon by the past generations of dons, a large percentage of the amenities in our institutions would not have been. One major motivation of lecturers in the pursuit of their cause today, in the face of daunting odds, is the need to keep with that tradition. No self-respecting trade union would let down its guards easily.

A truth that should not be ignored is that majority of Nigerian families cannot shoulder university training, hence the push to keep the government in. Over time, ASUU has felt compelled to defend the right of Nigerian youths, particularly the less-privileged, to advanced learning.

In prosecuting that goal, however, the union which proudly parades an enviable pedigree should urgently wake up to some pertinent SUHVHQW WUXWKV 7KH ÀUVW LV WKDW WLPHV DUH changing faster than was anticipated even in the recent past. With that comes, inevitably, shifts in capacities, perceptions, values, dispositions DQG VWUDWHJLHV :KHQ WKDW GHÀQLQJ GRFXPHQW was signed between the government and ASUU in 2009, the realities then were radically GLͿHUHQW IURP WKH RQHV QRZ 7KH RQH UHYLVHG under the last administration is also far from being implemented, unfortunately. The lesson here is that, time was when governments were a continuum. Not anymore. The pain

As a critical component of the university system, the union should invest more energy in the enhancement of the wellbeing and entitlements of its members

of the university teachers is compounded by WKH IDFW WKDW ZKLOH R΀FLDO FULHV RI VKRUWDJH RI IXQGV DQG DSSHDOV IRU VDFULÀFH ÀOO WKH DLU functionaries of state are yet to lead the way in that regard. Instead, reckless spending of public funds has continued unabated.

For long, ASUU members have been bearing burdens that should not be theirs primarily. In societies that place premium on education, the legislature as representatives of the people, civil society, alumni associations, parents, students and the enlightened segment of the populace constantly mobilise themselves to protect the integrity of academic organisations. The protests being planned for next week by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to support ASUU could signify a welcome departure from the docility that has come to describe the weary population.

It could also mark the prospect for a better DSSUHFLDWLRQ RI OHFWXUHUV· HͿRUWV VHOI DVVLJQHG troubles largely misunderstood and dismissed right now by those who should be thankful.

In the past, lecturers and students were XVXDOO\ RQ WKH VDPH SDJH ,W LV D GLͿHUHQW world now, one in which some branches of the National Association of Nigerian Students 1$16 WKH PDLQ WDUJHW EHQHÀFLDULHV RI WKH industrial action, randomly threaten their teachers and ‘order’ them to return to work.

7KH FXUUHQW ÀQDQFLDO FRQGLWLRQ RI 1LJHULD PDNHV VX΀FLHQW HGXFDWLRQDO IXQGLQJ YHU\ GL΀FXOW LI QRW LPSRVVLEOH 3HUKDSV LI $688 can look the other way while commensurate tuition fees are charged, most homes will realise the enormity of the crisis and comprehend its role more. The heaven will not fall, in any case. This posture of “the defender of the universe’ assumed by the strikers has brought needless disrespect and disdain from unexpected individuals and groups. People hardly mention lecturers when they count the victims of the closure of universities because they are often viewed as the aggressors.

As a critical component of the university system, the union should invest more energy in the enhancement of the wellbeing and entitlements of its members. It should engage the government harder in order to extract better conditions of service. That would not EH VHOÀVK DW DOO 6HOI ORYH LV DQ LQDOLHQDEOH ODZ of life, after all; for there is only one material existence. When medical doctors are tired of shouting for equipment, they quietly establish private clinics where patients patronise, thankfully. Cottage universities are impossible here, so, lecturers, many of whom are in the process of losing their dignity altogether, should wear new sets of gloves and face their professional battles squarely. A friend once said that even if lectures are held under trees, like what obtains across the country in many primary and secondary schools, Nigerian parents will still send their children there.

Dr Ekpe is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

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T H I S D AY

THURSDAY JULY 21, 2022

JOSEF OMOROTIONMWAN projects how Northerners may treat Tinubu’s aspiration A combination of insecurity and economic problems are pushing Nigerians to the edge, writes KENE OBIEZU

ON THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE The grave challenges facing Nigeria as a country irreducibly require that all hands must be on deck to arrest the seemingly unstoppable national slide into chaos and anarchy as insecurity and poverty continue to spiral out of control. While it is true that too many hands spoil the broth, the Nigerian experience has uniquely been one where those who have forced themselves to steer the ship of the state have at best VKRZQ IUDJLOLW\ DQG DW ZRUVH ÀOWK The question that also makes a lot of sense right away is: if those who have been steering the ship of the Nigerian state to date have done a messy job, showing in the process that they are not capable of much exertions in that wise, what has stopped the gears from shifting to accommodate new hands?

Like many countries of the world, Nigeria is a patriarchal society. And for all its faults, it remains one. For many

into paid work over the last decades and, increasingly into leadership positions in industry, there have been continued headwinds: societal expectations, employer policies, the legal environment and the availability of care infrastructure.

This has continued to limit the educational opportunities women access as well as the career possibilities they can pursue.

At the World Economic Forum, the Center for the New Economy and Society is complimenting measurement of gender gaps with a growing portfolio of action initiatives and leadership communities dedicated to accelerating progress. The Gender Parity Accelerators aim to hardwire gender parity in the world of work. The sixteenth edition of the report also provides new data on emerging trends in the labour market and society more widely.

The Global Gender Index benchmarks the current state and evolution of gender parity across four key dimensions (Economic Participation ad Opportunity, There is no doubt that Educational Attainment, Health and the country must do more Survival, and political empowerment.

In the 2022 report, the index benchmarks for its women in terms of 146 countries, providing a basis for robust cross-country analysis. political empowerment. A In 2022, the global gender gap has been golden opportunity beckons closed by 68.1%. At the current rate of progress, it will take 132 years to reach with the general elections full parity. This represents a slight fourscheduled for next year. It is year improvement compared to 2021 estimate (136 years to parity). Across the one Nigeria cannot miss 146 countries covered by the 2022 index, the Health and Survival Gender gap has closed by 95.8%, Educational Attainment years, the country has been structured in by 94.4%, Economic Participation and such a way that it has become ingrained Opportunity by 60.3%, and Political in the national psyche that it is women Empowerment by 22%.

ZKR PXVW SOD\ VHFRQG ÀGGOH WR PHQ 7KH LQGH[ JLYHV RͿ VRPH LQWHUHVWLQJ Actually, it comes from history and begins insights. Of all sub-Saharan African from childhood where boys are often put countries, it is only Rwanda (81.1%) in 6th before girls often without a jot of reason or and Namibia (80.7%) in 8th that feature in respect. Thus, girls grow up hearing that the top ten. Nigeria comes in 123rd place in a country and world where men put out of 146 countries, with a score of 0.639 themselves everywhere, throwing their which is an improvement from its 2021 weight around, they must serve as second position of 139th and score of 0.627. In class citizens.

Economic Participation and Opportunity, The problems this kind of mentality and Nigeria ranked 50th with a score of 0.724, reality have posed over the years have been an improvement from its 2021 position of simply immeasurable with only glimpses 78th and a score of 0.67.

FDXJKW LQ WKH KRUULÀF DQG YDULHG IRUPV In Educational Attainment, Nigeria RI DEXVH ZRPHQ VXͿHU IURP PHQ IURP ranks 134th with a score of 0.826 which is time to time which abuse always receives an improvement from its 2021 position of some sort of endorsement by a society 146th with a score of 0.806. In Health and conditioned to approve one sex as slave Survival, Nigeria ranks 97th with a score drivers and another as slaves. The road to of 0.967, an improvement from the 104th justice has often proven a treacherous one. position it posted in 2021 with a score of If the world is to become a better place 0.967. On Political Empowerment, Nigeria than it currently is, equality cannot remain ranked 141st with a score of 0.040 as the mirage it is at the moment. Invariably, opposed to 2021 when it scored 0.047 but this means that the gaps that exists in scored 149th. so many places would have to close From the report, Nigeria`s struggles themselves or be closed. It would appear are clear for all to see. The Giant of Africa that in 2022, amid multi-layered and performed poorest in the area of political compounding crises including the rising empowerment for women. There is no cost of living, the ongoing pandemic, the doubt that the country must do more for its FOLPDWH HPHUJHQF\ DQG ODUJH VFDOH FRQÁLFW women in terms of political empowerment. and displacement, the progress towards A golden opportunity beckons with the gender parity is stalling. general elections scheduled for next year. It This halt in progress towards parity is is one Nigeria cannot miss because as soon a catastrophe for the future of economies, as the gender gap remains, gender justice societies and communities. The World and a more equal society will remain Economic Forum recently released its ÁHHWLQJ GUHDPV Global Gender Gap Report for 2022. The report revealed some startling insights.

Kene Obiezu, While more women have been moving keneobiezu@gmail.com

THE CHALLENGE BEFORE ATIKU AND TINUBU Following the 2019 Presidential Election, I predicted that the 2023 contest would be a VWUDLJKW ÀJKW EHWZHHQ IRUPHU 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW Atiku Abubakar, and the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.I also proceeded to argue that for all we know, to the average Northerner, there is QR GLͿHUHQFH EHWZHHQ WKH PDLQ RSSRVLWLRQ Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling APC. It was, therefore, clear to us then that the same forces that helped President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, would also help in Atiku in 2023. Consequently, Tinubu would be thoroughly beaten.

Forty months on, what has changed in this direction? Nothing, absolutely nothing!

The 13 Daniels of the North came to judgment. They were wiser than the rest of us. In fact, for that master stroke, they deserve a medal, a gold medal for that matter. They

their own trade? They agree openly with the rest of the civilized world the choice of a running mate is the exclusive preserve of the candidate, but they quickly turn around and want to choose the running mate for him. See how the League of PDP Governors turned themselves into a trade union for the purpose of giving Atiku a running mate. He picked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta. But by the reckoning of the League, he should have picked Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers.

Compatibility was thrown to the winds.

But in Atiku’s estimation, those who want to pocket a small snake out of kindness, will soon know that there are limits to kindness. And in the core Igbo land, who can beat Okowa’s reach across Delta, Edo and many other states? None! Remove ‘gra-gra’ from the whole thing, and you ZLOO ÀQG WKDW 2NRZD LV D PRVW SHUIHFW IHDW

stepped in to save the soul of the APC for their future use. If the primaries had gone the way the Buharists wanted it – Northern candidates for both the APC and PDP, the APC by now would have scattered into several unrecognizable pieces. All that was required was for Jagaban to pull out of the APC and the party would be lying prostate - gone forever!

They reckoned, and correctly so, that it would be better to give Tinubu that pyrrhic victory at the primaries and then ambush him at the main election. In other words, let him continue to win the battle and lose the war. He will not claim they did not help him.

If you want to be reminded of how the Northerners are focused on the agenda of a Northern President, you only need to think back at the speed with which Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State stepped down for IRUPHU 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW $WLNX $EXEDNDU DW WKH PDP primaries. That was a speed directed from outside the arena of the primaries, and LI KH KDG ZDLWHG IRU ÀYH PLQXWHV *RYHUQRU Nyesom Wike would have clinched the victory.

By their reckoning, Atiku is the next President of Nigeria. At the appropriate time, the Northern Daniels will still come to MXGJPHQW E\ WHOOLQJ WKHLU SHRSOH ZKHUH WR À[ their thumbprints!

The only annoying thing, though, is the impunity with which these people are doing what they have always done. So early, they have dispatched emissaries to continue to spread the results of the coming election.

They are all over the place. In his venom titled ‘Fulanis own Nigeria’, Usman Umar Sokoto sums it up most succinctly, “...presidency goes to another Fulani in PDP who will rule for eight years.”

Who will ever cure the Nigerian politicians’ propensity to introduce fatal distractions into

for the job!

Again, the impression is given that most of the aspirants were not running to win.

Ordinarily, a serious contestant would, from the very beginning, have an idea of who his or her running mate would be, if he or she won at the primaries. As a way of getting out of the awaiting-runningmate syndrome, may be, we should ask every aspirant to give an indication of who would be his or her running mate on the nomination form.

In the particular case of Tinubu, the push has started. In local parlance, what will kill a dog, does not smell to it. In spite RI WKH VWLͿ RSSRVLWLRQ WKDW JUHHWHG WKH initial idea of a Muslim-Muslim ticket, the Northern Daniels have now baited Tinubu LQWR WKH REYLRXV PLVDGYHQWXUH RI Á\LQJ one. Unfortunate!

Is it not a height of naivety to think that with a proper electronic transmission of results direct from the polling units, you still expect to heave those humongous ÀJXUHV IURP D ZDU WRUQ UHJLRQ DV \RX GLG in 2019? Haba! Evidently, they are now pushing him down the dark alley. Not only does this obnoxious idea of a Muslim0XVOLP WLFNHW RͿHQG WKH FROOHFWLYH sensibilities of Nigerian Christians, it is also the very albatross of Tinubu himself!

Even for Atiku, it is not yet Uhuru. :H FDQQRW QRZ FRQÀGHQWO\ DGYLVH KLP to go and dry-clean his best babariga, preparatory to his inauguration because of the facts on ground. For sure, the Peter Obi Revolution is not a term in the abstraction.

It is real! This will be the topic for our next outing.

Omorotionmwan wrote from Canada

321

T H I S D AY THURSDAY JULY 21, 2022

Remarks by former Defence Minister, ALIYU MOHAMMED GUSAU at ongoing 11th meeting of the China[1] Africa think tanks forum in Beijing

THE SPIRIT OF CHINA-AFRICA FRIENDSHIP The organization of this event comprising intellectuals, academics, experts, and policy formulators, is timely given the increasingly VLJQLÀFDQW UROH &KLQD $IULFD UHODWLRQV KDV DVVXPHG LQ WKH GHYHORSPHQW WUDMHFWRU\ of African countries and communities. It is very important for fora such as this to pause and take a critical look at the roles of both Chinese and African governments and institutions to detect and address policy defects, weaknesses, and errors, but also to appreciate progress.

It is to China’s credit that it has placed Sino-African relations as an important component of its international relations and cooperation policy. Gusau Institute recognizes the importance of the role that China plays and that is why, in collaboration ZLWK WKH =KHMLDQJ 1RUPDO 8QLYHUVLW\ ZH instituted biennial bilateral conferences to examine issues of mutual interest to China and Africa.

Relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), at present, are the most VLJQLÀFDQW VWUDWHJLF OLQN IRU DOPRVW DOO African countries, and particularly for most sub-Saharan states, because they UHSUHVHQW D TXDOLWDWLYH GLͿHUHQFH IURP SDVW experiences. This is not merely because of the high levels of investment by China in Africa, but because the links do not mirror KLVWRULFDO SUHMXGLFHV RU H[SHFWDWLRQV In addition, the important advances China has recorded over the past few decades in economic and political development, poverty alleviation, as well as technological and military advancement are unprecedented in history in terms of rapidity and success. It provides a sound model for developing states to follow. Nonetheless, there are also room IRU LPSURYHPHQW UHJDUGLQJ HͿHFWLYH collaboration between China and Africa in several areas.

In the security sphere, there is great appreciation for the more than 40,000 Chinese peacekeepers who have served RQ 81 PLVVLRQV PDLQO\ LQ $IULFD VLQFH WKH ÀUVW GHSOR\PHQW LQ &KLQD KDV DQ opportunity to be a positive force for peace, stability, and development, but I would like to emphasize that African citizens should be at the centre of these engagements.

In our view, given the tremendous development of relations, especially in the economic sector, the security cooperation between China and African countries has not been given the level of attention required to enable African states improve their capacity to deal with the threats they are facing. Africa and China need to focus JUHDWHU DWWHQWLRQ RQ WKH FDXVHV RI FRQÁLFWV These include natural phenomena such DV WKH HͿHFWV RI FOLPDWH FKDQJH DQG GHVHUWLÀFDWLRQ 2QH LVVXH LQ RXU UHJLRQ WKDW deserves mention is the receding Lake Chad which has brought about displacement of communities, large scale poverty, and DUPHG FRQÁLFW The security threats fuelled by religious extremism, banditry, piracy, etc. are posing existential threats to many African countries.

These threats are also endangering the safety of the growing number of Chinese citizens who are involved in development SURMHFWV RQ WKH &RQWLQHQW $V DQ H[DPSOH in Nigeria a particular bandit is fast gaining a reputation as an expert in the kidnapping of Chinese citizens for ransom. Many SURMHFWV WKDW UHTXLUH &KLQHVH H[SHUWLVH DUH

QRZ QHJDWLYHO\ DͿHFWHG E\ WKLV HPHUJLQJ phenomenon.

African states are also becoming more sophisticated in their battlespace management and require access to greater real-time reconnaissance and communications capabilities. Similarly, several of the bigger African economies ZRXOG EHQHÀW IURP WHFKQRORJ\ WUDQVIHU WR create self-sustaining ordnance and defence support capabilities. We need to know to what extent China can support these needs. ,Q WKH HFRQRPLF VSKHUH %HLMLQJ·V IRFXV RQ either African resources or African markets for PRC goods is sometimes viewed with scepticism. Critics believe Africa is not seen DV D SDUWQHU ZLWK WKH 35& EXW UDWKHU MXVW a resource and marketplace. Allegations of the deliberate creation of debt traps, lack of transparency, and corruption abound.

Therefore, for a country that possesses one of the most robust anti-corruption law and law enforcement systems, China needs to ensure that there is better probity and transparency in the granting and management of loans to African countries. While it is absolutely expected E\ $IULFDQV WKDW &KLQD VKRXOG EHQHÀW IURP its relationships in Africa, it is also expected

by African societies that the relationship should not be seen as exploitative of Africans. Otherwise, it draws comparison with the earlier colonial powers. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has to date focused heavily on raw materials extraction, both agricultural and solid minerals, and the development of transport infrastructure. It must now move to the next phase.

The question is at what point would LW EH LQ %HLMLQJ·V LQWHUHVW WR SDUWQHU ZLWK African states in the development of manufacturing and processing industries on the Continent so that African states FRXOG EHQHÀW IURP WKH IXOO YDOXH FKDLQ" 7KH 5XVVLD 8NUDLQH FRQÁLFW KDV IRU H[DPSOH particularly damaged most African states E\ QRW MXVW GLVUXSWLQJ JUDLQ VXSSOLHV WR Africa, but, more importantly, disrupting IHUWLOL]HU VXSSO\ 7KLV MHRSDUGL]HV $IULFDQ agricultural performance in the coming few years at a time of general African economic downturn. Africa needs a greater emphasis on local fertilizer production from its natural hydrocarbon resources.

This would be critical if Africa is to meet food requirements for the PRC and other export markets.

The overarching question that faces African states in the current political climate of an emerging new Cold War, however, is whether any treaty relationship with China could endanger an African state’s neutrality. In other words, will $IULFDQ VWDWHV EH EHWWHU RͿ UHIXVLQJ WR JHW into formal alliances with the West, or with 5XVVLD RU WKH 35&" 2Q WKH RWKHU KDQG LW needs to be acknowledged that China, by interacting with African governments on a higher level of equality, has given African states greater leverage and stature in dealing with European powers and the 8QLWHG 6WDWHV RI $PHULFD 86$ With these few thoughts I would like to conclude my remarks. It is my hope that over the next two days this 11th conference will address these and other issues of mutual concern.

Lt General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, at the Africa-China forum in Beijing.

NURUDEEN DADA argues that the speaker of the House of Reps has done his bit to restore sanity to a rotten system

NIGERIA AND THE CURSE OF OIL For years, the nation’s petroleum sector was opaque, smeared with dirty deals. From the military government to their civilian counterparts, the opaqueness gave ample room to massive grafts which impeded the growth of the sector and indeed, the nation’s economy.

Nigeria remains a paradox, a leading oil SURGXFLQJ QDWLRQ WKDW FRXOG QRW UHÀQH KHU crude into petroleum and allied products but rather prefer to depend on other nations that are not endowed with crude oil. The nation’s UHÀQLQJ IDFLOLWLHV ZHUH OHIW WR URW Turn around maintenance had been carried RXW UHSHDWHGO\ ZLWK ELOOLRQV EXW ZLWK QR HͿHFW 7KH VDERWDJH RI WKH UHÀQHULHV E\ WKRVH ZKR DUH SURÀWLQJ IURP WKH URW KDV EHFRPH D PDMRU concern for many Nigerians.

7KH UHÀQHU\ FDSDFLW\ ZDV GHOLEHUDWHO\ grounded by those who are more concerned about their personal fortunes at the expense RI WKH QDWLRQ·V JURZWK WR FUHDWH DQG MXVWLI\ D

rent system and, ultimately, the importation of petroleum products with hard currency.

The National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives has investigated various scams under the nation’s petroleum subsidy regime. In the Seventh National $VVHPEO\ WKH 6SHDNHU )HPL *EDMDELDPLOD DV the minority leader of the House, headed the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating claims by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) about the 1 EQ GHEW RZHG E\ PDMRU RLO FRPSDQLHV The massive corruption of round tripping and outright theft of crude oil, over invoicing of oil import bills, all other mind-blowing corruption were unravelled by the House committee saddled with the assignment to expose those bleeding the nation with the aim of bringing them to book.

The same posture was seen when players in the sector were summoned by the House to explain the lingering fuel scarcity and the general energy crisis facing the nation. The House sought to know the actual volume of petroleum products Nigerians consume and DOVR WR ÀQG WKH ZD\ RXW RI WKH SURWUDFWHG quagmire.

The speaker who cares less whose ox is gored especially when the collective interests of Nigerians are involved spoke in strongest terms and vehemently condemned the nonDSSHDUDQFH RI WRS R΀FLDOV RI WKH IHGHUDO government before the ad hoc committee on the volume of fuel consumed daily in Nigeria DW LWV LQYHVWLJDWLYH KHDULQJ LQ $EXMD *EDMDELDPLOD SDUWLFXODUO\ FDOOHG RXW WKH Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, *RGZLQ (PHÀHOH DQG WKH &KLHI ([HFXWLYH 2΀FHU RI WKH 1LJHULDQ 1DWLRQDO 3HWUROHXP Company Limited (formerly Group

Managing Director of the defunct Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation), Mele Kyari; as well as the Managing Director of Petroleum Pipeline Marketing Company, Isiaku Abdullahi, among others.

The committee, chaired by Abdulkadir Abdullahi, summoned the GMD of the NNPC; MD of the PPMC; AccountantGeneral of the Federation; the CBN governor; Minister of State and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources; Minister of Finance and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance.

7KDW LV WKH VWURQJ OHDGHUVKLS *EDMDELDPLOD has brought to the legislature since 2019 when he assumed the speakership position.

He rises above prependal sentiments to ensure that the right things are done at all times.

0RUH WKDQ DQ\ SXEOLF ÀJXUH LQ UHFHQW KLVWRU\ *EDMDELDPLOD KDV EURNHUHG WUXFH over industrial crises between labour unions and the federal government. *EDMDELDPLOD QLSSHG LQ WKH EXG WKH imminent strike of airline operators over the rising Jet-A, aviation fuel. The House under his watch, summoned stakeholders in the sector including the NNPC Boss, Mele Kyari, Nigerian aviation regulatory heads to resolve the crisis.

Many practical options came to the fore including the proposed issuance of importation licence to airline operators to import Jet-A directly into Nigeria. In their usual elements, they (stakeholders) went to sleep over the serious matter until the crisis got to the head.

Now, airline operators are threatening WR VXVSHQG ÁLJKW RSHUDWLRQV RYHU VFDUFLW\ of aviation fuel. Nigeria’s oldest airline operator, Aero Contractors, said, “Due to the impact of the challenging operating environment on our daily operations, the management of Aero Contractors Company of Nig. Ltd. wishes to announce the temporary suspension of its scheduled SDVVHQJHU VHUYLFH RSHUDWLRQV ZLWK HͿHFW from Wednesday, July 20, 2022.

“The decision was carefully considered and taken due to the fact that most of our aircraft are currently undergoing maintenance, resulting in our inability to RͿHU D VHDPOHVV DQG H΀FLHQW VHUYLFH WR RXU esteemed customers.

“We are working to bring the aircraft back to service in the next few weeks, so we can FRQWLQXH WR RͿHU RXU SDVVHQJHUV WKH VDIH H΀FLHQW DQG UHOLDEOH VHUYLFHV« µ According to the airline, the past few months have been very challenging for the aviation industry due to the high cost RI PDLQWHQDQFH IXHO LQÁDWLRQ DQG IRUH[ scarcity resulting in high foreign exchange UDWHV ZKLFK DUH DPRQJVW WKH PDMRU components of airline operations.

Meanwhile, Ibom Air, one of the most promising local airlines, earlier announced that passengers will experience delayed ÁLJKWV LQ WKH FRPLQJ ZHHNV GXH WR VFDUFLW\ RI aviation fuel and the closure of the domestic runway at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos. It will be said of the speaker that he acted in good faith in the nation’s interest when the crisis reared its ugly head.

When the health sector professionals downed tools over unfair treatment and the university teachers downed tools, *EDMDELDPLOD PDGH IUDQWLF HͿRUWV WR SODFDWH the striking workers to return to work.

Dada writes from Lagos

22 4

T H I S D AY

THURSDAY JULY 21, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

THE MENACE OF MALNUTRITION IN CHILDREN As the main cause of child mortality, the authorities should work to tackle malnutrition in Nigeria

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

23

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Global Smartphone Shipments Slide 9% in Q2 as Market Share Drops in Nigeria

Emma Okonji A report by Mobile World Live has revealed that global smartphone shipments slide by 9 per cent in the second quarter of 2022.

Mobile World Live is the online communications hub for global mobile industry and the official news portal of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), which represent the interest of global mobile network operators, including

Nigeria.

In its second quarter result on global smartphone shipments, Mobile World Live said the slide in global smartphone shipments, came at a time when market share of smartphone vendors in Nigeria also dropped slightly.

According to statistics on market share of smartphone vendors in Nigeria, published

by Statista in May this year, Tecno, which was the market leader in smartphone sales in Nigeria as at March this year,

with 28 per cent of the market share of mobile device vendors in Nigeria, followed by Infinix which was ranked second with 23.7 per cent share, and Samsung with 10.7 per cent of the market share in Nigeria, all witnessed a slide in their market share, due to drop in sales.

According to the numbers from Statista, Tecno market share of mobile device vendor in Nigeria slide from from 29.44 per cent in February this year to 28.43 per cent in March this

year, while Infinix slide from 23.8 per cent in February to 23.7 per cent in March, and Samsung market share also slide from 10.84 per cent in January to 10.71 per cent in March. Apple also slide in its market share from 9.51 per cent in January to 8.73 per cent in March. Huawei also had its slide from 3.52 per cent market share in January to 3 per cent in March. Xiaomi had a slide in market share from 2.7 per cent March to 2.65 per cent in February, but picked up

slightly in March to 2.78 per cent, while Nokia also had a slide in market from 2.12 per cent in January this year to 2.06 per cent in March this year.

On the global scene, the second quarter report on smartphone shipments from Mobile World Live, shows that worldwide, smartphone shipments declined 9 per cent year-on-year in Q2 due to economic headwinds and regional uncertainty, but Apple’s iPhone 13 remained in high demand and Samsung

benefitted from lower-tier models, according to preliminary data from research company, Canalys.

The report from Mobile World Live said shipments of the iPhone 13 helped boost Apple to a 17 per cent share compared with 14 per cent in Q2 2021, ranking it second overall in the recent quarter.

Samsung took the top spot with a 21 per cent share compared with 18 per cent, Continued on page 24

UNIDO: FG Should not Take 90% MSMEs Contribution to Nigerian Economy for Granted Raheem Akingbolu The Regional Director of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Mr Jean Bakole, has opined that the current economic situation in Nigeria can be boosted if the federal government takes cognizant of the huge contribution of the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises to all business activities in the country.

Speaking in Abuja on the various interventions being spearheaded

by UNIDO in the country in recent years, Bakole pointed out that the MSMEs accounts for 96 per cent of all businesses in Nigeria and contributes 50 per cent of the GDP as well as providing over 48 percent of all employment opportunities in Nigeria.

He, however, regretted that in spite of their critical role in the economy, they are faced with a litany of daunting challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He pointed out that the capacitybuilding project embarked upon by the agency had strengthened about 124 MSMEs in the health sector to transform into the formal sector, develop the rural economy, and create sustainable economic growth and development while providing quality PPEs and other healthcare-related products.

He said, “In the Nigerian economy, the role of the MSMEs is absolutely key. They represent almost 96 percent of the business

activities in the country. They are contributing to about 50 percent of the national GDP and account for 48 percent of all employment in the country.

“Despite the critical role of the MSMEs, we have to also recognise that they are facing a number of challenges in the country including, but not limited to accessing finance and markets, infrastructure deficit, multiple taxation, technological disruptions, and regulations framework issues.

Start-ups constitute the future of the economy globally, and Nigeria cannot be left behind.”

While presenting the project to the public, UNIDO’s Chief Technical Officer (PPEs), Mr Jarl Hansstein explained that the capacity-building initiative had sought to strengthen the ability of selected local MSMEs/ manufacturers including at least 30% women-led and 20% youth-led businesses to upgrade production processes and adopt standards and technical regulations as a reference

for production of high-quality PPEs and healthcare products to meet local demand and for export to ECOWAS sub-region.

According to him, “A total of 97 enterprises have so far benefited from UNIDO’s technical assistance and training as of today, of which 94 are in production and equipment management, 97 in quality management, 70 in strategic marketing and 125 MSMEs will be benefiting from equipment supplies.”

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

BONDS DESCRIPTION Price 14.20 14MAR-2024 13.53 23MAR-2025 12.50 22JAN-2026 16.2884 17MAR-2027 13.98 23FEB-2028

10.780,00

Yield

Change (%)

903,00

-0.54

10.807,00 1.130,00

0.00

10.340,00 1.130,00

0.24

12.008,00 1.070,00

0.00

11.043,00 1.140,00

0.53

Updated Time July 15, 2022 July 15, 2022 July 15, 2022 July 15, 2022 July 15, 2022

MATURITY

Discount

Yield

OTC F X F U T U R E S

CPS

Change Updated Time (%)

NTB 11Aug-22 NTB 8-Sep22 NTB 13-Oct22 NTB 10Nov-22

11.10

11.19

-0.01 July 15, 2022

9.75

9.90

0.00 July 15, 2022

9.00

9.20

-0.01 July 15, 2022

3.90

3.95

0.00 July 15, 2022

NTB 26-Jan23

7.50

7.81

0.00 July 15, 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

Change Updated Time (%)

20.39 20.52

0.00 July 15, 2022

16.64 16.77

-0.01 July 15, 2022

19.61 20.73

0.00 July 15, 2022

13.85 14.41

0.00 July 15, 2022

13.05 13.55

0.00 July 15, 2022

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

Updated Time

July 15, 2022 July 15, 2022 July 15, 2022 July 15, 2022 July 15, 2022

24

THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Effiong: Telcos Must Adopt Emerging Technologies to Prevent Identity Fraud Senior Operator Partnerships Manager at Infobip West Africa, Martin Effiong, speaks on the rising rate of identity fraud and how online scammers take advantage of the growing amount of data and personal information available on digital platforms to defraud their victims. Emma Okonji presents the excerpts: How will you describe the growing rate of identity fraud in cyberspace and its impact on economies? dentity fraud has increased significantly in recent years, with scammers taking advantage of the growing amount of personal information available on digital platforms to obtain goods or services in their victim’s name.

According to Evina, a French cybersecurity firm with presence in more than 70 countries worldwide, including 15 African countries, a recent report titled State of Mobile Fraud in Africa, shows that professional cybercriminals ate targeting Africa’s one billion mobile phone users, which is a significant challenge.

The necessary data can be obtained in a variety of ways, ranging from breaches of customer databases to simply analysing social media profiles. SIM swapping is a particularly sophisticated method that has emerged, in which criminals trick their way into gaining access to the victim’s SIM card, allowing them to receive calls and SMS messages, leading to disastrous consequences such as account takeovers.

According to the United States Attorney’s office, eight Nigerians were indicted in October 2021 on several charges related to conspiracy to engage in internet scams, the most common of which was aggravated identity theft.

I

What is SIM swap fraud all about and what kind of security risk does it pose on consumers?

There are plenty of reasons why you would swap your SIM. Say you have lost your phone or bought a new one – but your old SIM card doesn’t fit. Or maybe your SIM card was damaged, or you found a better deal with a new operator. It’s a perfectly legitimate process, but one which sadly many fraudsters are looking to exploit. So, the abuse of a SIM replacement process for the benefit of individuals or perpetrators who are not the rightful SIM owners, and which usually happens without the knowing or participation of the rightful SIM owner is actually the SIM swap fraud. On why this is a serious security risk, to acquire access to a brand-new SIM card belonging to a legitimate owner, a SIM swap fraudster uses confidence techniques and internet stalking to mimic someone to an operator. They can intercept phone calls, SMS messages, social media accounts, and banking credentials using this method, giving them all the information, they need to develop a victim’s profile. Fraudsters can then use the profile to take over accounts, transfer money to themselves, and steal not only people’s life savings, but also their identity, in less than 20 minutes.

To what extent has this threat grown and evolved over the recent years?

According to data from the South African Banking Risk and Information Center (SABRIC), SIM swap-related fraud increased by 100 per cent in South Africa between 2018 and 2019. In Nigeria, we have some equally frightening statistics, with mobile channel fraud increasing by 330 per cent between 2019 and 2020. This report, published by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Scheme (NIBSS), demonstrates that it is a global phenomenon, but it is also very damaging to developing world economies due to their heavy reliance on the internet and mobile GSM generated or GSM enabled Internet services. So, yes, it has grown exponentially as internet and smartphone usage in the region has increased. In most instances, the first lines of defense are a username and password, but they should not be the only ones. Layering your security will help you

Effiong protect your customers better and, if done correctly, will also improve their overall experience.

What steps should consumers take to protect themselves from SIM swap?

The steps outlined here are the standard global best practices for using electronic devices that connect to the internet. Starting with the most general steps and progressing to those tailored to mobile device users. When using the internet, it is recommended that you be cautious and build security awareness of what can happen. When you are on your device, the privacy of your room does not translate to any form of privacy on the internet. As a result, you must exercise extreme caution in what you do, how you do it, and what information, particularly private information, you post on the internet, particularly on publicly accessible sites or social media applications. It’s also a good idea to make sure the websites you are visiting are secure. In terms of SIM swap fraud, make sure your SIM cards have a PIN lock. As a result, whenever your phone is turned off and turned back on, it will request a SIM PIN, or whenever your SIM is removed and re-inserted into your phone, or a new SIM is inserted, it will request a SIM PIN. In this manner, a stolen phone device whose SIM is being Swapped will request a SIM PIN. Lastly, In the event of the receipt of unsolicited texts or emails about your SIM being ported or a PAC request, or if you unexpectedly lose phone service, contact your telco service support immediately. The same is true for contacting banks if a fraudster attempts to make an online or phone transfer. However, much of the onus should be placed on the verification services that operators have in place

to protect their customers.

Can the establishment of global security standard for telecom services providers reduce the threat?

From my perspective, Telcos and enterprises are doing a lot but can still do more to sensitize their customers of the associated risk of mobile-enabled transactions from SIM swaps. They will also do well to implement technology to better protect their customers from these frauds. Setting a global verification standard to confirm a person’s mobile identity is critical in preventing SIM swap scams, in my opinion. The standard must be set by telecom operators (telcos), which have all the information required to verify any identity and, more importantly, in real time. For example, if a customer called a company with a question, the company could silently authenticate the person in the background using telco information, eliminating the need for the customer to answer a series of onerous security questions. Simultaneously, if any irregularities are discovered during the frictionless check, the suspicious activity is flagged, and a SIM swapping attempt may impeded. This is how the Mobile Identity authentication solution from Infobip works. It can confirm the mobile account activation date by checking for changes to the customer’s International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number, or more simply, ‘telecom account data’.

If there is no reason to be concerned, authentication will take place silently in the background, without interfering with the user’s experience. If the IMSI number has recently changed, this will be flagged as suspicious activity. The service provider will then contact the user and request for additional verification.

What other measures should telcos

take to help protect consumers from identity fraud?

Due to the negative impact of SIM swap fraud on customer experience, it’s understandable that GSM service providers would have to strike a balance between offering very strict security measures on the SIM replacement process to protect their customers from SIM swap fraud and also improving their customer service experience.It is about associating security with a positive customer experience and trust. Many businesses are looking for ways to remove friction from customer interactions in order to provide the best possible experience. However, some critics believe that removing friction will reduce security and make customers less confident in their interactions with businesses. A smooth approach, however, should not jeopardize security. At least three real-time identification and authorization services should be included in a strong authentication layer. At Infobip, this includes silent mobile verification (SMV), account takeover protection (ATP), and SIM Swap. Furthermore, as part of the customer journey, these checks should take place behind the scenes. This is especially significant in light of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) recent steps in granting licenses to two telecommunication companies to operate as Payment Service Banks (PSBs). This is after these businesses successfully completed a series of applications and requirements.

This license allows the telcos to complement rather than compete with other banks.

One of the key provisions of the PSB license issued by the CBN is safety of funds to the consumers of the Payment Service Banks’ products. This is where leveraging technology for Know Your Customer (KYC) checks through a strong customer authentication framework comes to play in reducing fraud while increasing authorization rates. PSBs and Fintechs must implement security measures, consisting of at least two real-time identification and authentication services, when customers make an online purchase to meet KYC requirements. This enables businesses to verify the customer’s identity as well as the validity of the credit card being used to complete the transaction.

Tell us a little bit about what you do for Infobip?

Thank you for the opportunity to interact with you about such a crucial subject. I’m Martin Effiong, Senior Operator Partnerships Manager in Anglophone West Africa for Infobip. I manage robust engagements with the region’s mobile telecom operators in pursuit of collaborations that allow both of our entities to grow. In simple terms, we rely on operators for connectivity when they are suppliers to us, and we cater for their business communication needs when they are our customers.

Infobip is a global cloud communications platform that enables businesses to build connected customer experiences across all stages of the customer journey at scale, with easy and contextualised interactions over customers’ preferred channels. Accessed through a single platform, Infobip’s omnichannel engagement, identity, user authentication security and contact centre solutions, help clients and partners overcome the complexity of consumer communications, grow their business and increase loyalty–all in a fast, secure and reliable way.

With over a decade of industry experience, Infobip has expanded to over 68 offices on six continents offering natively built technology with the capacity to reach over seven billion mobile devices and ‘things’ in over 190 countries connected directly to over 600 telecom networks.

GLOBAL SMARTPHONE SHIPMENTS SLIDE 9% IN Q2 AS MARKET SHARE DROPS IN NIGERIA largely due shipments of its mid-tier A-series.

On the global scene, Chinese manufacturers Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo suffered double-digit declines in shipments, leaving

them with shares of 14 per cent, 10 per cent and 9 per cent, respectively, compared with 17 per cent, 11 per cent and 10 per cent in Q2 2021.

Analysing the global statistics

of smartphone shipments, a global research analyst, Runar Bjorhovde, said: “Economic headwinds, sluggish demand and inventory backlogs resulted in vendors reassessing their

strategies for the rest of 2022.

“The oversupplied mid-range is an exposed segment for vendors to focus on adjusting new launches, as budgetconstrained consumers shift

their device purchases toward the lower end.”

Another global analyst, Toby Zhu noted that consumers’ disposable income was impacted by soaring inflation

this year, but he insisted that he expected vendors to accelerate promotions and special offers to drive sales ahead of launches during the holiday selling period.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

25

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Babaeko: Local Agencies Must Be Creative to Compete Globally The Chief Executive Officer of X3M Ideas, Steve Babaeko, speaks to Raheem Akingbolu on the evolution of the Marketing Communications industry and the need for local agencies to deepen their creative ingenuity to be able to compete maximally with global firms.

How would you evaluate the practice of advertising between 1990s and now? here has been an impressive transition.

I believe we are heading in the right direction, though there are still a lot of challenges ahead for the industry because fragmentation keeps happening. In the early 1990s, advertising agencies were able to put PR, events and media services under one roof. So, what was supposed to be a problem is fast becoming a blessing in disguise because, with that out of the way, it is easier today to focus on brand solutions, creating strategies and developing quality work.

Expectedly, this has made advertising agencies become specialists and more focused. What we need to do now is maintain the momentum and find a way for clients to pay premium for the top-class creativity being witnessed across board. The future is bright for the industry without a doubt.

T

How will you describe the journey that started back in 2012?

It gladdens my heart that X3M Ideas is 10 years old. It just shows us the value of time.

Sometimes you loose track of time, when you are busy building for the future. At times, I reflect on what would have happened if we didn’t take the bold step to start X3M Ideas 10 years ago. No one knows what the future holds. Whether or not you take intentional actions to set yourself on the path of greatness, time will still pass, so make the best use of the time you have now.

Babaeko My team and I are super grateful to God for backing us to achieve this milestone and reap the rewards of our hard work and dedication to excellence.

To have built a solid organisation within the marketing communications industry in this country with peculiar challenges is no mean feat.

Have you achieved some of the goals you set for X3M Ideas when you started?

Right from inception, we set out to be the number one in the industry.

We wanted to lead and I strongly believe, after 10 years of exceptional practice, that we can unequivocally say that X3M Ideas has attained that lofty position today.

We also set an ambition to own a worldclass facility within the first five years of operations and that became a reality in the first three years.

Part of the goal was to also be able to spread out our tentacles beyond Nigeria within the first five years. That target was met within the timeframe and as we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we can proudly say we are an international agency operating in different markets in Africa and across the globe.

What I am most proud of is the quality of our work and the value we add to our clients. In the last decade, X3M Ideas has provided exceptional value to all the great brands we have been privileged to work with. That was an important goal we set for ourselves when we decided to embark on this journey.

What operational philosophy drives X3M Ideas?

Excellence is a major driver of everything we do. Whenever we conquer a challenge, we are immediately motivated by the next big thing. We set our focus to the next level to take our creativity and execution. By doing this, we find ourselves breaking new ground in our utilisation of cutting-edge technology

to drive set goals.

What are the achievements you can say X3M Ideas has achieved in its 10 years of practice?

The biggest achievement for me will be the quality of our team. We have a diverse team of exceptional talents who are motivated and passionate about doing great work. It is a huge satisfaction to have these phenomenal talents in our rank, considering that we have had to overcome many obstacles in putting the all-star team together.

Secondly, I take pride in the quality of creativity and strategies we have been able to deploy in support of the brands that our clients have magnanimously put in our custody.

There is a special sense of accomplishment when we see our work impacting a brand’s growth. This validates our approach to work.

What is the staying power of X3M Ideas that has made it dictate the pace for a long period?

We don’t like to rest on our laurels. While it is common for people to win this year, go to sleep and become complacent, at X3M Ideas, we see every accomplishment as the beginning of a new journey.

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

Fasawe: Lagos State Will Reduce Burning of Fossil Fuel The General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Dr. Adadolapo Fasawe, speaks about the commitment of Lagos State government to promote Clean Air initiative, Trash for Can, and Switch to Gas initiative, among other plans. Ugo Aliogo brings the excerpts. trash for cash.

What is the latest development about the Eko for Clean Air, Trash for Can and of course, the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu switch to gas initiative. Can you shed light on these three innovative projects? t the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), we focus on the three P’s: the People the Planets, and Profitability, and I’m adding another S which stands for Sustainability. Whatever we are doing, we try to examine if it is good for the people. If it is good for the planet in terms of global warming, climate change, pollution, degradation, and if it is profitable.

We do this because we can spend a billion dollars saying we want to clean Atlantic Ocean when people are hungry. So, all those three P’s must be met before we proceed So, I will start with a call for clean air.

Lots of people are ignorant of the fact that air pollution causes death and the health impacts of air pollution is not known. But for most people out there, they are ignorant.

A study done by World Bank in 2020, in Lagos, shows that 65 per cent of deaths were premature and it was caused by air pollution. From that 65 per cent almost 70 were children below the age of five, and it goes without saying that you strap your child on the back, and you are frying beans cake (Akara) or selling commodities.

There is something called particulate matter in the air. Our lungs can only filter oxygen, and our lungs is made for oxygen clean air.

When there is air pollution, then we are troubling the lungs. So Eko for Clean air in that case considered the people a call for clean air.

Now the planet itself. When we look at the issues of global warming and climate change, it comes back to affect us, it comes back to hunt us. With global warming you will see that at sometimes we have incredibly hot temperature, for instance in dry season, it starts raining, while in rainy season, it becomes hot. When all of that start to happen, there is flood, and the planet is complaining, when we throw plastics into the drainage and our drainage channels are blocked, and

people, finding problems and mitigating those problems.

A

Fasawe it goes back into the water. It will come back to us. That is for the planet. In terms of air, the air is life not only for human beings, also for life underwater. There is a particular sustainable development goal, I think it is goal 17 that focuses on life underwater. So Eko for clean air is touching on all of that.

Talking about profitability, the single thing we want to achieve is reducing or stopping the burning of fossil fuel, such as cooking with firewood, and burning your waste. It is illegal in Lagos State to burn your wastes. It is illegal there is a fine for it. There is even imprisonment time for it. So how do we now start to let people know all these things I have spoken about? We need advocacy, education, and information. But the most important part is communication. I realized that mostly in government we talk at people, we don’t get feedback. So, with Eko for cleaner, we want feedback. Right now, we are doing a study on knowledge, attitudes and practices of a certain area of Eti-osa in collaboration with a donor to the agency, IHS towers, and what we discovered is that it calls for urgent intervention and Eko for clean air is about educating

Can you give an insight into the Trash for Cash Initiative?

There is the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA), and Ministry of Environment. But we all have one goal which is to keep and sustain the environment. But what LASEPA is doing is called trash for cash. Now, back to the people, and my three Ps. We want people to start understanding that there is nothing called waste. Some of these wastes is somebody’s raw material. I was at a factory in Denmark where they use urine to manufacture beer and when you think about it, it seems disgusting. But urine really comes from our human body. They just remove the excess then use the water, and some of human wastes to make beer.

On the other side, faecal waste is very good for fertilizer, and improving your soil quality.

That is just a basic understanding of the fact that somebody’s waste is somebody else’s raw materials. Now considering plastics, I would like to state here that things that are valuable you don’t see them littering the street. Why do we see plastic bottles all the time littering our sea shores. Lagos is a coastal city. So, whenever there is rain, the rain water brings out all the assaults and pollution and leave it there, just walk across the shores from Eko Atlantic all the way to Oniru, and Ajah anytime it rains, there is a plastic trail all over.

There are a few recyclers around.

Thankfully, Lagos State Waste Management Agency has a registry and they are getting more and more people coming up every day recycling plastics, so this cash for trash is a joint initiative, and we are mapping out areas where it will be expedient for recyclers to have their base for example markets, food courts, areas with many restaurants let us have recyclers. So, they are not clustered in one place and the end point of cash for trash is what will mop up the current plastics on the streets of Lagos. And the sustainability plan is people will continue to scavenge for plastic, for

Recently, the Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC) donated 200 multiple-use bottles as part of efforts to tackle plastic pollution.

What is the plan of the agency to effectively utilize these 200 multiple-use bottles to tackle plastic pollution in all the LGAs? Okay, before Coca Cola donated 200 bottles, we had made about 1000 bottles for all our staff. And if you look around this agency, there are water dispensers all around because pet bottles and single use plastics are banned.

Coca Cola has supported us we with those flasks and more than that they have also supported us in ensuring that we get bottled drinks in our canteen. So, they sell liquid content only. We recycle the bottles and that is what I am doing to ensure that it goes around.

What about partnering with stakeholders?

The stakeholders really will be the bottling, manufacturing companies such as, Feabhra and LASEPA. I have many touchpoints. As a matter of fact, were expecting funding from feabhra to help with our advocacy on proper disposal of the products. Feabhra is made up of a lot of all the bottling companies Coca Cola, Nestle, and Heineken all of them as long as you do plastics. Last thing I know. They come together, put money together and join the state government in fighting pollution.

There is something called extended producers’ responsibility. The stakeholders, they have a responsibility to ensure that their products do not cause pollution and menace.

If you look at a bottle of Coke or Nestle water closely at the back. There is a small dustbin that says depose of this responsibly. So, we are going to talk more about extended producers’ responsibility.

They also have a role to play in helping us tackle plastic pollution. Also, the consumer (you and I) everyone that drinks out of a plastic bottle, there is opportunity for recycling, and reuse.

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

26

THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Report: Nigerian Economy Reaping Benefits of Real-time, Digital Banking Transformation Emma Okonji Nigeria’s real-time and digital payments revolution is driving economic growth and financial inclusion at unprecedented levels for the largest African economy, according to the third edition of Prime Time for Real-Time, published by ACI Worldwide,in partnership with GlobalData, a leading

data and analytics company, and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr).

ACI Worldwide is a global leader in mission-critical, realtime payments software.

The report, which tracks real-time payments volumes and growth across 53 countries, includes an economic impact study for the first time, providing a comprehensive

view of the economic benefits of real-time payments for consumers, businesses, and the broader economy across 30 countries.

The report reveals Nigeria as Africa’s undisputed real-time and digital payments leader, adding that Nigeria recorded 3.7 billion real-time transactions in 2021, ranking 6th in the league table of the world’s most

developed real-time payments markets, behind India, China, Thailand, Brazil,and South Korea.

In recent years, Interswitch has partnered with ACI to deploy cutting-edge technologies that are changing the face of payments in Nigeria. These innovative products include single-issuing platforms for all payment types, digital

payment acceptance for acquirers, enterprise payment platforms and secure omni channel payment processing platforms, among others.

Managing Director, Digital Infrastructure and Managed Services, Interswitch Systegra, Mr.Jonah Adams, said: “As more Nigerians continue to adopt real-time and digital payments, we have seen a commensurate

increase in the need for backend infrastructure that enable these transactions.

“Interswitch and ACI are committed to driving digital transformation across Africa via the deployment of relevant digital, innovative Infrastructure and solutions that optimize business efficiency and drive customers’ growth and profitability.”

MTN: Investing for Impact Key to Uplifting Communities Emma Okonji

L-R: Founder, Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Pastor Paul Enenche; Managing Director, PremiumTrust Bank, Mr Emmanuel Emefienim; Secretary, Economic Planning, Revenue Generation and Public Private Partnership, Hon Lukman Agboola Dabiri; and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Aliyu Shehu Shinkafi, during the opening of PremiumTrust Bank, in Abuja… recently

Expert Calls for Regulatory Polices to Protect Smaller Telecom Operators Emma Okonji Ayoola Oke, a former Special Assistant to the former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, has raised the alarm that over 90 per cent of home grown telecom operators may go into extinction within the next five years, if appropriate measures are not put in place.

He therefore called for strict regulatory policies that would protect smaller and home grown telecom operators from going into extinction.

Oke, an Information and Communications (ICT) Legal and Regulatory expert, spoke to newsmen in Lagos recently, about

the issues affecting local telecom operators and raised the issue of how the bigger telecom operators are driving smaller operators out of business, insisting that should such development continued unabated, it might likely force smaller telecom operators out of business in the next five years.

Oke described the industry as sub-divided into three tiers: Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3. According to him, the Tier 1 operators are the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), such as MTN, Globacom, Airtel, 9mobile and ntel, while the Tier 3 operators are the Internet Service Providers (ISPs), such as Spectranet PNLs, Swift Telephone Networks, Rainbownet and the International Data Access Service

Providers.

He however said almost all the Tier 2 operators like Starcomms, Intercellular, Mobitel, MTS First Wireless, that were active and vibrant 14 years ago are now dead or struggling, leaving the Tier 2 space almost empty, noting that Tier 1 operators are currently faced with little or no competition, and as such, not ready to improve on their networks.

He said none of the local operators in Tier 2 space have been able to grow to become Tier 3 operators because they are dying gradually adding that the country would soon be left with only the Tier 1 operators who will operate a monopolist market, which he said, would be detrimental to the growth of the

telecom sector, if the home grown operators eventually die out.

The Former Special Assistant cited the instance of bigger operators asking smaller operators to pay for termination rate in dollars rather than the country’s legal tender which is the naira and consequently leading to their disconnection.

“It is not a prophesy. If certain regulatory steps are not taken and things not done the way it should, more than 90 per cent of home grown local telecom operators will probably all die out in the next five years and that will be terrible for the country and consumers.From the way the industry is structured now, the bigger operators are suffocating the industry,” Oke said.

LASG Implements AfDB’s Innovative Flood Solution

Emma Okonji

The Lagos State government has become the first in Africa to implement the innovative SLAMDAM flood management solution at the Omojuwa Estate in Kosofe Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

Speaking at the Omojuwa Estate formal flood-barrier equipment handover ceremony at the community, the Director, Lagos State Drainage and Planning Services, Tayo Fagbeku, who

represented that Permanent Secretary, expressed delight at the development. “We decided to be part of this project because we are not averse to innovative ideas that will be of benefit to our people and contribute to the various solutions we have to manage floods in Lagos. The result of this pilot has been excellent and encouraging,” Fagbeku said.

CEO, Natural Eco Capital, Dr. Eugene Itua, said: “This pilot started with Omojuwa Estate and Iponri communities in Lagos

State. While Omojuwa is the first to complete the process, Iponri will follow soon. The mobile flood barrier (SLAMDAM), and other associated types of equipment are being given free of charge through the AfDB-supported project. One interesting aspect of this whole solution is that water is being used to fight water.”

Project Lead Consultant and CEO of Zephyr, Omar Saleh, spoke about the project approach and objectives. The project location was selected through; interaction

with relevant stakeholders, field visits and, hydrodynamic modeling software, followed by determining the deployment strategy and locations for the flood barrier.

The community leader of Omojuwa Estate Charles Otabor, said: “We like the community approach of this project as we were involved from day one and even in the selection of the site. The project team has trained some members of our community as the initial crop of the Flood Response team.”

MTN Foundation Executive Secretary, Odunayo Sanya has said the Foundation is committed to solving problems and creating sustainable value in communities where MTN operates.

She revealed this during a panel discussion at the Africa Social Impact Summit held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, recently.

Speaking on MTN Foundation’s model for community investment, Sanya said: “At the Foundation, our focus is on two key areas: Youth Development and National Priority because we believe that we should be able to deliver on national priorities.

Under youth development, we drive education and capacity building. We take

students through scholarship schemes and equip them through collaborations with tech ecosystem partners. By the time they get into the labour market, they are able to land jobs or even create their own businesses.”

Speaking on the state’s efforts in improving the health and education sectors during the summit, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, revealed that the state is committed to providing access to quality healthcare and education for all. He said, “Year on year since 2020, we have had to increase our budgetary allocation for health and education, and it is deliberate. On education, we realise that we need to have a government that ensures that access to quality education is available to all.”

‘ISPs Urged to Restrategise for Sustainable Growth, Profitability Emma Okonji Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Nigeria have been challenged to revamp their business and market operations for growth, sustainability and profitability.

The Chief Operating Officier, WTES Projects Limited, Mr. Chidi Ajuzie, who made the call at a recent telecom event in Lagos, during his paper presentation, said the Nigerian ISPs were going through a major survival challenge, and must therefore be ready to expand their scope of operations and look out for more opportunities, not only for sustainability but also for growth and profitability.

Ajuzie said the sub-sector

would need regulatory support in terms of licensing issues, spectrum availability and price, inter-sector policies framework, Right of Way (RoW) intervention, human security and safety at the plants.

“The past two years have been very challenging for the ISPs, lots of damages done to infrastructures, particularly in Lagos State.

Federal Government needs to enact laws that will enforce the protection of critical telecoms infrastructure.

“Although ISPs play an important role in providing internet connectivity and achieving the National Broadband Plan (NBP 20202025), they do not need to be static to ensure their survival,” Ajuzie said.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

27

BUSINESSWORLD

E–BUSINESS

Redefining the Future of Africa’s E-commerce E-commerce business, which is mainly driven by access to ubiquitous broadband and internet connectivity, has expanded across African countries in a unique way, since Jumia launched in Nigeria 10 years ago, writes Emma Okonji

I

n June 2012, Jumia launched its e-commerce business in Nigeria from a single office location on Wole Olateju Crescent in Lekki, Lagos, from were it expanded to other African countries. Today the online digital trade has redefined online business in Africa, with Nigeria offering the best and most robust selling locations across Africa.

In the intervening ten years, Jumia has grown into one of Nigeria’s most recognisable brands and one of the few brands that can describe itself as truly pan-African.

On its way to becoming one of Africa’s most successful brands, Jumia has done much more than sell items over the internet, which is what many erroneously thought e-commerce was about. Conquering Nigeria’s behemothsized albeit uniquely challenging market, has seen the company morph into different things when needed, such as a logistics and delivery solution today; an efficient warehousing and order fulfilment operation the next day; and a successful marketplace platform integrated with a native payments solution the day after.

For ten busy years, it has been an unbroken story of constant learning, improvement, iteration and ultimately, ground-breaking success and market leadership. From setting out to prove that e-commerce could crack the Nigerian market in a way some said was impossible, Jumia now finds itself chasing an entirely new set of objectives, having delivered on its initial promise.

LEADING THE WAY It is difficult to exaggerate just how little was known about the African e-commerce market before Jumia set up in Lekki ten years ago and started expanding across the African continent. Initially, the idea some had about e-commerce in Africa barely went further than replicating a regular big-box retailer - huge warehouses and all - and adding an online storefront to it. The reasoning was that given the size and dynamism of Nigeria’s market, plus the convenience of being able to purchase anything at all at the tap of a button, the market would catch on quickly, and Africa would finally have cracked e-commerce.

In reality, most entrants into the African e-commerce space who merely replicated the structure and processes of offline retailers discovered very quickly that few things are worse for a business of that description than having warehouses filled with slow-moving inventory. Jumia was the first e-commerce company in Nigeria to figure out that this model only did not work, and the company rapidly pivoted to the now-prevalent marketplace model.

Under the new model, which it pioneered in Africa, Jumia acts as a broker connecting sellers and buyers on a secure, trusted platform that also collects payments on behalf of sellers.

To this end, JumiaPay was developed.

The metamorphosis into a marketplace model was possibly the most significant business decision ever taken in African e-commerce to date. This was key because it helped spark the realisation that a tech company operating in a retail space was and should still be, first and foremost, a tech company.

Buttressing this point while sharing some of his thoughts at the 10thanniversary luncheon in Lagos, Jumia

Nigeria CEO Massimiliano Spalazzi said: “We started from a small house in Lekki, and when we started, we didn’t know what would happen next, but we knew very well what we wanted to achieve, which today still stands as the number one company value at Jumia – to improve people’s lives through the internet and to enable our vendors and logistics partners to do better and do more business together with customers.”

FUTURE OF AFRICA’S E-COMMERCE Having discovered what did not work and fixing it rapidly, Jumia also figured out what did work in Africa’s e-commerce space. Even more interestingly, Jumia in 2019 became that rarest of rarities - an African tech startup that actually made it all the way to an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange.

In her keynote address at the 10th anniversary launch of Jumia Nigeria, the Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chinyere Almona, referenced Jumia’s market-leading position in Nigeria. She said: “Jumia is not only the largest e-commerce platform in Nigeria but the most innovative. It is great news today that the coming of Jumia into Nigeria ten years ago revolutionised and popularised e-commerce in Nigeria. The performance of Jumia has positioned the company as a leader and reference point within the industry. Your impact on the Nigerian economy is multidimensional and profound.”

Despite having clearly won the business and market dominance argument, Jumia still sees itself as a socially responsible and inclusive operation. According to statistics from Jumia Nigeria, of its over 1,000 direct employees and over 10,000 independent sales agents, women make up over 30 per cent of its workforce and more than 51 per cent of its sellers. Indirect jobs are hundreds of thousands across the country thanks to all the Jumia ecosystem. Perhaps closing Africa’s gender-based economic participation gaps through e-commerce might sound very difficult, but if anyone can do it, it would probably be the company that hacked e-commerce in Africa.

What best sums up the company’s worldview can probably be surmised from Co-CEO and Co-Founder Jeremy Hodara’s comments at the 10th-anniversary luncheon, when he said: “Ten years ago, no one believed e-commerce could work, but we are here today. We don’t do everything ourselves; we do it with our partners – we are not only proud of where Jumia is but where the entire ecosystem of e-commerce is.”

The story of e-commerce in Nigeria is not close to its conclusion yet, and if the story of Jumia shows anything, it is that Africa is nothing if not a dynamic and often unpredictable market.

What the story of Jumia also indicates, however, is that where others tried to conquer this space with varying degrees of success, only one entity has consistently found the answers to enable it to move forward on the road to fully integrating Africa’s consumer markets with the internet. That entity is Jumia, as displayed by the e-commerce giant during its 10th anniversary celebration in Lagos recently.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

28

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Malnutrition and Its Alarming Endemic Situation in Nigeria Public Health experts see malnutrition as one of the major public health and development concerns, globally. In Nigeria, especially in Nasarawa, Kaduna and Niger, the situation is dreadful - as revealed at a stakeholders meeting in Abuja recently. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, who was at the meeting writes

T

he two-day review meeting on ‘’Allocation, Release and Utilisation of Nutrition Budget’’ - with key stakeholders from the legislature and nutrition line ministries in Kaduna, Nasarawa and Niger States, held between 28 and 29 June in Abuja, was timely and strategic.

Organised by Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) under the PINNS 2.0 Project, the strategic meeting was apparently designed to evaluate 2021/2022 nutrition budget performance and make a case for adequate fund provision in the 2023 annual budget/allocation.

And at the end of the meeting, there was a resounding resolution by stakeholders on the need to set up nutrition departments and create other steps - as means to improving nutrition budget in the three states and the nation in general.

Public health experts said that ‘’malnutrition is one of world’s major public health and development’’ trepidations. In Nigeria, the situation is said to be dire. To be sure, UNICEF said in its recent report that five in 10 children under five years old suffer from the effects of being malnourished.

This, experts said, may have an allencompassing impact on the lives, future and productivity of Nigerian children, if deliberate and sustained efforts are not taken urgently to address the situation.

The nutrition endemic in Nigeria has been attributed to poverty. And one of the concerns of poverty is the lack of access to nutritious food, which influences people to poor nutrition.

By extension, poverty increases the chances of malnutrition. Malnutrition, in turn, tricks communities in poverty. And poverty and malnutrition are said to be intricately related.

Indeed, the recent report by the global institution, UNICEF, that malnutrition is a direct or underlying cause of 45 percent of all deaths of under-five children, makes the conversation at Abuja stakeholders meeting well-timed.

In the report, Nigeria has the ‘’second highest burden of stunted children in the world’’, with a national prevalence rate of 32 percent of children under five. ‘’An estimated two million children in Nigeria suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), but only two out of every 10 children affected is currently reached with treatment. Seven percent of women of childbearing age also suffer from acute malnutrition’’, the global organisation said.

The report also suggested that states in northern Nigeria are the most affected by the two forms of malnutrition – stunting and wasting, adding that high rates of malnutrition pose significant public health and development challenges for the country.

According to the report, stunting, in addition to an increased risk of death, is also linked to poor cognitive development, lowered performance in education and low productivity in adulthood - all contributing to economic losses estimated to account for as much as 11 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Also, The Global Nutrition Report - the world’s leading independent assessment of the state of global nutrition, data-led and produced each year to cast a light on progress and challenges - aims to inspire governments, donors, civil society organisations, businesses and others to act to end malnutrition in all its forms, also suggested that despite some progress, diets are not getting healthier and make increasing demands on the environment, while deplorable levels of malnutrition persist. ‘’The high human, environmental and economic costs of continuing our current trajectory are so significant that we will pay a far higher price if we fail to act. While COVID-19 is exacerbating the problem, this report shows that it is just one part of a much bigger picture’’, the report has warned. The Report may just be referring to Nigeria, when it stated further that ‘’in the Africa region,

Some malnourished children no country is on course to meet any of the diet-related NCD targets.’’

To be sure, the current nutrition situations in Nigeria, especially in three states: Niger, Nasarawa and Kaduna, lead credence to the report – as it relates to Nigeria NUTRITION SITUATION IN NIGER, NASARAWA AND KADUNA STATES Niger State The scope of nutrition challenges in Niger State – as presented by the State Nutrition Officer, Asmau Abubakar Mohammed, is alarming: Number of children exclusively breastfeed-6.2%; incidence of low birth weight (less than 2.5KG), 6.3%; number of children that are stunted (short for their age) 28.2%; number of children that are wasted (thin for their height) 5.0%; number of children underweight 14.2%; and infant mortality rate is 67/1000 live births.

Still on the scope of nutrition problem, the official said that under five mortality rate is 132/1000 live births; ANC attendance 67% while Health Facility Delivery is37%; complementary feeding - 72% but only 11% compliance with minimal diet required by age (IYCF); early initiation of breast feeding- 12%.

Although there are efforts by the state government to make interventions through the Community Management of Acute Malnutrition approach; micronutrient supplementation – with 25% children aged 12-59 months receiving deworming tablet in the past few months; 91% children aged 6-59 received Vitamin A capsules

in the last 6 months(supplementation) and 43% pregnant women receiving iron and folic acid supplement, Asmau said there are still huge challenges.

Some of these challenges, according to the State Nutrition Officer, include, taboos, myth and misconception among the people; inadequate funding of nutrition activities from relevant MDAs; gender issues militating against accelerating nutrition result; uneven scale up of interventions in the state; insecurity in some part of the state and others.

She explained further that malnutrition and nutrition-related morbidity have continued to be of public health concern in Nasarawa State, adding that malnutrition manifests mainly as ‘’under-nutrition, over-nutrition and micronutrients’’ - minerals and vitamins deficiencies.

According to the officer, the trend in undernutrition among children under five has not shown significant changes as revealed by the Multiple Cluster Indicator Survey (MICS) 2017 and Nigeria Nutrition and Health Survey (NNHS) 2018.

Nasarawa State In Nasarawa State, the poverty situation in the state - children from the poorest economic quartile have been shown to be four times more likely to be malnourished than children from the richest households as indicated in the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, MICS, 2011 Also, Food Security-Available data shows that total average household expenditure on food for the period between 2009 and 2010 is about 65% (NBS, 2012), while agricultural production has remained small-scale at subsistence level and largely dependent on rainfall. The State Nutrition officer, Halima Yusuf, who was present at the meeting suggested that investment in agriculture by the state government has not significantly contributed to reduction of under nutrition at the rate needed to meet the state development goals. He argued that the economic consequence of this state of food insecurity in terms of productivity loss, is huge and requires urgent attention

Kaduna State The situation in Kaduna State is not as bad as that of Nasarawa State. Presenting the State Primary Healthcare Board Report of Nutrition Program Performance & Activities Q1 2022, the State Nutrition Officer of the Kaduna State, Ramatu Musa, who was at the stakeholders meeting, submitted that the state nutrition situation is of ‘’public health concern.’’ She stated that malnutrition accounts for more than 50% of under-five mortality, citing the NDHS 2018 survey. ‘’Maternal - Infant and Young Child Nutrition (M-IYCN) practice have remained unsatisfactory with the rate of timely breastfeeding initiation as low as 35.9%; Only 27.2% of children exclusively breastfed and only 12.7% of children age 6 to 23 months were fed appropriately.

However, it is encouraging to note that the prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight among children under five years dropped from 56.6%,41.7% and 57.6% (NDHS 2013) to 48.1%, 4.8% and 22.1% (NDHS 2018), respectively’’, she stated.

The presentation revealed that there was significant reduction in malnutrition death from 142 children in 2020 to 58 children in 2021.

While new admission reduces from 24,061 children in 2020 to 20,334 children in 2021 There is decrease in the number of death of children with SAM from 672 in 2017 to 58 in 2021 The data also indicated that there was significant reduction in cured rate from 58.9% in Quarter 4 2021 to 37.2% in Quarter 1 2022, linking it to the stock out of RUTF in the state.

“Malnutrition is one of world’s major public health and development’’ trepidations. In Nigeria, the situation is said to be dire. To be sure, UNICEF said in its recent report that five in 10 children under five years old suffer from the effects of being malnourished”

CONTINUED ON PAGE29

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

29

NEWS MALNUTRITION AND ITS ALARMING ENDEMIC SITUATION IN NIGERIA

FERTILITY

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

VA G I N I S M U S ( PA RT 1 )

Malnourished children undergoing treatment Emphasising some of the state’s achievements, the officer stated that there are 255 health facilities currently QSPWJEJOH /VUSJUJPO TFSWJDFT TUSFOHUIFO and increase food demonstration corners BOE GPPE EFNPOTUSBUJPO JO 1)$T BQQSPWBM BOE QSPDVSFNFOU PG 365' XPSUI GSPN UIF 1)$ .P6 BOE procurement, training and distribution of 100 phones tablets to 100 H/Ws for FGGFDUJWF EBUB DPMMFDUJPO "/3J/ XPSUI / In spite of these encouraging BDIJFWFNFOUT UIF /VUSJUJPO 0GàDFS admitted some challenges. They include, reduction in cured rate due to the stock PVU PG 3FBEZ UP VTF 5IFSBQFVUJD 'PPE 365' BOE MPX OVNCFS PG NFO SFBDIFE with nutrition messages - despite the importance of the men in decision making.

While only 120 out of 255 wards providing maternal - infant and young child nutrition BOE POMZ PVU PG -("T QSPWJEJOH $.". TFSWJDFT Regions with Worst Nutrition Problem Apart from the three states analysed at the TUBLFIPMEFST .FFUJOH UIF /JHFSJB %FNPHSBQIZ and Health Survey, indicates that malnutrition JT CBTJDBMMZ DPODFOUSBUFE JO /JHFSJB T OPSUIFSO states. The proportion of stunted children is IJHIFTU JO UIF /PSUI 8FTU BU BOE MPXFTU JO UIF 4PVUI &BTU BU -PPLJOH BU UIF TUBUFT TUVOUJOH JT NPTU QSFWBMFOU JO ,FCCJ BU +JHBXB BU BOE ,BUTJOB BU BOE UIFTF BSF BMM /PSUI 8FTU states. It is least prevalent in the South-East TUBUFT PG "OBNCSB BU BOE &OVHV BU In addition, tAhe proportion of children who are wasted – where a child is too thin for their height – is approximately twice as IJHI JO UIF /PSUI &BTU BU BOE /PSUI 8FTU BU *O UIF PUIFS [POFT UIF QFSDFOUBHF JT BU 5IJT HBQ JO DIJME NBMOVUSJUJPO CFUXFFO OPSUIFSO BOE TPVUIFSO /JHFSJB IBT been constant over time.

THE CONSEQUENCES .FEJDBM FYQFSUT BSF JO BHSFFNFOU UIBU malnutrition, in all its arrangements, inflicts excessively high costs – direct and indirect – on any nation. It is also said to expand the already thin and poor economy, and has significant economic consequences at the individual, household and community level.

At the individual level, experts are of the view that malnutrition leads to impaired physical development with a long-term effect on cognitive development, educational performance and economic productivity in adulthood and on maternal reproductive outcomes. .BMOVUSJUJPO JT BMTP TBJE UP XFBLFO UIF immune system, resulting in a higher risk of severe infectious diseases, including diarrhoea and pneumonia.

At the household level, nutrition expert said the economic consequences are the health expenses and the opportunity costs incurred in caring for sick children. The risk of chronic diseases goes up so more money is spent on medication and accessing healthcare services.

Having a huge number of malnourished children could lead to lost investments in human capital associated with preventable

child deaths, experts have consistently argued.

In all, malnourished children frequently suffer from loss of physical growth and may not attain their optimal height. There is a body of evidence that shows associations between height and outcomes in the labour market. Indeed, the World Bank estimates that B MPTT JO BEVMU IFJHIU EVF UP DIJMEIPPE TUVOUJOH JT BTTPDJBUFE XJUI B MPTT JO economic productivity.

The thinking by experts is that the ‘’economic viability of a country largely depends on its human capital and optimal child nutrition’’ is key to harnessing this. $PODFSOFE CZ UIF DPOTFRVFODFT PG NBMOVUSJUJPO the stakeholders in a communique signed by 25 of them, including state lawmakers, permanent secretaries, directors and nutrition officers, they said malnutrition is a condition that occurs when people consistently do not consume or absorb the right amounts, types of food and essential nutrients the body needs. They attributed it to inadequate funding of proven high impact and low-cost interventions designed to reduce and eventually eradicate it. /PUJOH UIBU QPMJUJDBM XJMM IBT B MPU UP EP with this driver - as it is a sensitive aspect of nutrition intervention that affects the nutrition specific intervention, the participants said that all gathered evidences from both primary and secondary data indicated clearly that nutrition is underfunded in comparison with the burden in the states.

To this end, the meeting noted that there is: low level of political will and DPNNJUNFOU JO TPNF TUBUFT MPX QFSGPSNBODF of implementing the multi-sectorial strategic QMBO PG BDUJPO PO OVUSJUJPO JOBEFRVBUF EBUB on budget performance and ineffective mechanisms to track implementation of nutrition programs.

Other factors noted include, low level of DPMMBCPSBUJPO BNPOH .%"T JNQMFNFOUJOH /VUSJUJPO TQFDJàD BOE TFOTJUJWF JOUFSWFOUJPOT inadequate human resources for nutrition at BMM MFWFMT JOBEFRVBUF CVEHFUBSZ BMMPDBUJPO BOE SFMFBTFT GPS OVUSJUJPO BDUJWJUJFT MPX acceptance of nutrition best practices due to myths and misconception $POTFRVFOUMZ QBSUJDJQBOUT BHSFFE UIBU UIFSF JT OFFE GPS TZOFSHZ XJUI /BUJPOBM Orientation Agency and the media platforms across all levels for advocacy in creating awareness for nutrition budget lines and advocacy to legislators to carryout oversight functions on the level of nutrition implementation Some of the participants at the meeting JODMVEF %S )BKBSB /J JNB ,FSB %JSFDUPS 1VCMJD )FBMUI ,BEVOB +FTTJDB #BSUIPMPNFX 4UBUF $PPSEJOBUPS ,BEVOB )PO "NJOV "INBE m $IBJSNBO "QQSPQSJBUJPO $PNNJUUFF ,BEVOB 4UBUF -FHJTMBUVSF BOE )PO "MJZV %PHBSB .PIBNNFE m $IBJSNBO "QQSPQSJBUJPO $PNNJUUFF /BTBSBXB 4UBUF House of Assembly.

0UIFST BSF )PO .PIBNNFE #BTIJS -PLPHPNB $IBJSNBO BQQSPQSJBUJPO DPNNJUUFF /JHFS 4UBUF /VIV 6TNBO #VOV 1FSNBOFOU 4FDSFUBSZ .JOJTUSZ PG "HSJDVMUVSF BOE 8BUFS 3FTPVSDFT /BTBSBXB 4UBUF BOE &NNBOVFM .BNNBO "MJE[J 1FSNBOFOU 4FDSFUBSZ .JOJTUSZ PG 'JOBODF #VEHFU BOE 1MBOOJOH /BTBSBXB 4UBUF

W

e all expect ‘sex’ to feel good and pleasurable. The truth is experiencing pain during sex is extremely common in women. Some people are physically unable to have sex because of the pain. If this describes you, you may have Vaginismus, a condition that causes involuntary contraction of the muscles surrounding the vagina, making penetration extremely painful and often impossible.

WHAT IS VAGINISMUS? The vagina is part of the female reproductive system. It connects the lower part of the uterus (cervix) to the outside of the body. Vaginismus is an involuntary tensing or contracting of the muscles around the vagina. It is a complex condition that can make having sexual intercourse, gynecological exam, or inserting a tampon painful, difficult or impossible. When attempting to insert an object into the vagina, the muscles surrounding the opening of the vagina or in the pelvic floor may contract involuntarily, causing mild discomfort to severe pain. Vaginismus, if left untreated can create discomfort and distressand it may worsen. However, treatment is possible.

TYPES OF VAGINISMUS There are two main types of vaginismus.

1. Primary Vaginismus This is a chronic condition in which the pain begins the first time a person attempts sexual intercourse or inserts an object into the vagina, such as a tampon. A gynecological exam may also be difficult for a person to undergo. A partner is unable to insert anything into the vagina during sex. They describe it as “hitting a wall” at the vaginal opening. A person may feel pain, burn, or have generalized muscle spasms or contraction.

When the attempt at vaginal entry stops, the symptoms stop. It is most commonly found in teenage girls and women in their early twenties, as this is when many girls and young women attempt to use tampons, have penetrative sex, or undergo a pap smear for the first time. Vaginismus may not be recognized until vaginal penetration is attempted.

2. Secondary Vaginismus This happens when a woman has previously had sex without pain, but then it becomes difficult or impossible. It is also called acquired vaginismus. It can happen at any age. This is usually the result of a single event, such as an infection, menopause, medical condition, surgery, or childbirth. Even after the doctor has successfully treated any underlying medical condition, pain may persist if the body has become conditioned to respond in this manner.

CAUSES OF VAGINISMUS Vaginismus is a condition that may occur due to physical or emotional factors, or both. It can become anticipatory, which means it occurs because the person expects it to. It is frequently associated with anxiety or fear of having sex, but it is not always clear which comes first, the vaginismus or the anxiety.

Some women have vaginismus in all situations and with all objects, whereas others only have it in certain situations such as with one partner but not others or with sexual intercourse but

not with tampons or during medical exams.

Factors that may contribute to vaginismus can cause a physical, psychological and sexual issue, which includes: r 7BHJOBM EBNBHF TVDI BT GSPN DIJMECJSUI r 'FBS PG QFOFUSBUJPO IVSUJOH CFDBVTF UIF vagina is thought to be too small r &YQFDUJOH TFY UP CF QBJOGVM r 1BJOGVM FYQFSJFODFT UIF àSTU UJNF IBWJOH TFY r 3FMBUJPOTIJQ JTTVFT TVDI BT IBWJOH BO abusive partner or feeling vulnerable r 5SBVNB GSPN TFYVBM BTTBVMU PS DIJMEIPPE sexual abuse r 7BHJOBM JOTFSUJPO USBVNB GSPN B HZOFDPMPHJcal examination or other medical procedure r $IJMEIPPE FYQFSJFODFT TVDI BT FYQPTVSF to sexual images or portrayals of sex while growing up. r *OGFDUJPOT MJLF B VSJOBSZ USBDU JOGFDUJPO (UTI) or yeast infection r "OYJFUZ BCPVU QBJO PS QSFHOBODZ r *OTVGàDJFOU GPSFQMBZ r *OBEFRVBUF WBHJOBM MVCSJDBUJPO r /FHBUJWF TFYVBM QFSDFQUJPOT PS CFMJFG JO sexuality myths r " QBJOGVM NFEJDBM DPOEJUJPO TVDI BT UISVTI r 1FSGPSNBODF BOYJFUZ PS GFFMJOHT PG HVJMU r .FEJDBM DPOEJUJPOT MJLF DBODFS PS MJDIFO sclerosus r .FOPQBVTF Sexual problems can affect both men and women. A person should not blame or feel ashamed. In most cases, treatment can be beneficial.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF VAGINISMUS Dyspareunia (painful sex) is frequently the first sign of vaginismus. Only with penetration does the pain occur. It usually goes away after withdrawal, but this is not always the case. .BOZ XPNFO XJUI WBHJOJTNVT FYQFSJFODF QBJO when inserting a tampon or having a pelvic examination. These symptoms are involuntary, which means that a woman cannot control them unless she receives treatment.

The symptoms vary between individuals.

Some may include: r %ZTQBSFVOJB QBJOGVM JOUFSDPVSTF XJUI tightness and pain that may be burning or stinging r %JGàDVMU PS JNQPTTJCMF QFOFUSBUJPO r $ISPOJD TFYVBM QBJO XJUI PS XJUIPVU B known cause r 1BJO EVSJOH UBNQPO JOTFSUJPO r %JTDPNGPSU EVSJOH B HZOFDPMPHJDBM examination r .VTDMF TQBTN UISPVHIPVU UIF CPEZ EVSJOH attempted intercourse 1BJO DBO SBOHF GSPN NJME UP TFWFSF JOUFOsity, and the sensation can range from mild discomfort to a burning sensation.

Vaginismus does not prevent people from becoming sexually aroused, but it may cause people to be anxious about sexual intercourse and avoid sex or vaginal penetration.A person with vaginismus can still have an orgasm from clitoral stimulation during sexual activity. This ability is not impaired by the condition, which only affects penetrative sex. Some people with vaginismus, on the other hand, have other sexual dysfunctions, such as difficulty reaching orgasm To Be Continued

30

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

NEWS

23-year-old FUTA Undergraduate Urgently Needs N12.5m for Kidney Transplant, Others Esther Akinsola

L-R: District Coordinator Global Extension Team, Lion Johnson Efunkomaya; Public Relations Officer, Lion Vera Odu; District Cabinet Secretary, Lion Shamsideen Kareem; Chairperson Constitution & By-law, Lion Alex Irotumhe; District Governor, District 404A1 Nigeria, Lion Anogwi Anyanwu; Chairperson Elders Forum, Lion AVM (Rtd) Anthony Okpere and District Chairperson Marketing & Communication, Lion TPL Soledotun Abdulkarim-Yusuf during a press briefing to announce activities for the Lions’ annual calendar

Lions Club to Build Diabetes Centre in Lagos Mary Nnah One of the core projects for the current Lions year of the International Association of Lions Clubs, District 404A1 Nigeria, is the building of a Diabetes Centre at the General Hospital, Epe, Lagos State, the District Governor, Lion Anogwi Anyanwu has revealed.

This centre envisaged to be a one-stop centre for Diabetes Management within the Epe axis, Anyanwu explained, will be funded 70 per cent by Lions Clubs International Foundation and 25 per cent by the District and Partners.

The centre he stressed further will ease the suffering endured

by Diabetic patients within that axis who have to travel long

distances to the nearest centres in LUTH and LASUTH. While he noted that the estimated cost of the project is N100 Million, the District Governor appealed to all friends and partners to support the laudable project.

Anyanwu who revealed this during a press briefing to announce the activities for the current Lions year calendar said that for the District to achieve its dream of building the diabetes centre, a Fund Raising Ceremony will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2022, by 3.00 pm at the Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos, during which he will be publicly presented as the District Governor of District 404A1 Nigeria of the International Association of

Lions Clubs.

He said his tenure is billed to offer humanitarian service towards sight preservation, diabetes prevention, pediatric cancer, feeding the hungry and environmental protection and management which is in line with the International Association of Lions Clubs’ focus.

He listed some of the programmes lined up for Lions year, which starts on July 1 and ends on June 30 of the next year to include, “Membership growth; new clubs formation; leadership development; contributions to Lions Clubs International Foundation; service to humanity among others, noting that the theme for the 2022/23 Lions Service Year is ‘Love and respect.”

The District Governor added further, “In the International Association of Lions Clubs, service is the essence of our existence.

Our services have an impact and add value to the people we serve. Our services meet humanitarian needs.

“We will continue to encourage our clubs to render impactful service in the community where they exist, conducting proper “Needs Assessment” to ensure that our services meet the needs of the people in the community.”

He said that in the Lions Year that just ended, the District services impacted more than a 1.5milliom people, adding that in this current year that started recently, he hopes to serve 2 million people.

Be Prepared for Next Pandemic after COVID-19, West African Lab Scientists Warn Rebecca Ejifoma The West African Medical Laboratory and Research Scientists have urged countries to move fast and put measures in place in readiness for the next pandemic.

According to the scientists, it’s only a matter of time before the world experiences a new disease outbreak after COVID-19.

This was contained in a communique issued at the end of CelebrateLAB West Africa 2022 Conference, the annual meeting of West Africa Medical Laboratory Professionals which was held in Accra, Ghana.

Delegates noted that it took just a spate of three to four years between the outbreak of three epidemics (the Spanish Flu, Avian Flu MERS) and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, unlike older outbreaks which took longer time between their occurrence.

“Based on the period – January to March – when the world was alerted on COVID-19 and later declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), and how countries moved quickly from one case to thousands and millions of cases in a matter of days, countries must move faster to put measures in place in readiness of the next pandemic and epidemic,”

the scientists implored.

The communiqué was signed jointly by Conference organiser Candace B. Eastman CEO, Africabio Enterprises, Liberia, Air Cdre Edward Abayomi Akinwale (Rtd.), HUF for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Nigeria and Dr Abu Rahamani, President, Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS).

They admitted that COVID-19 pandemic has caused West Africa “hugely in mortality, morbidity, social relations, loss of jobs and economic hardships, driving

more people into poverty”.

The scientists also conceded that the pandemic exposed the gaps in West Africa’s health sector and uncovered the subregions’ diagnostic challenges.

“The initial difficulties with obtaining testing kits and other diagnostics supplies affected the region’s response to the pandemic.

“Additionally, the challenges in securing vaccines at the onset of the vaccine deployment across the world highlighted the need for West Africa to work relentlessly towards achieving self-sufficiency in vaccines, diagnostic kits and

materials, and other medical supplies,” they further said.

They further pointed out that the sub-region has, like the rest of the world, learnt important lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and other disease outbreaks such as the Ebola Virus Disease, Lassa Fever and Dengue Fever among others.

With this, the delegates recommended that the lessons learnt should be applied in critical policy formulation and programmes to strengthen the sub region’s health systems to combat infectious diseases and future pandemics.

NHEA Celebrates Exceptional Healthcare Providers Esther Akinsola The Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award (NHEA) is an annual event geared towards recognising prominent personalities and organisations who have been of great impact in the Nigerian healthcare sector. NHEA yearns to make Nigeria’s healthcare system attain International standards via an innovative approach to well-being.

The award recognition strives to maintain and regulate quality, service improvement and innovation in the Nigerian health sector, which leads to improved delivery and management of fundamental health issues.

The event affords its attendees, nominees, sponsors

and guests the opportunity for recognition, new alliance, interaction with innovative healthcare practices and solutions, quality assurance strategies, marketing concepts and opportunities to network and collaborate with industry leaders.

The event which was held on Saturday, June 24 at the Eko Hotels and Suites had over 500 attendees across major sectors in Nigeria, the Nigerian Healthcare Excellence award has been referred to as the “Healthcare oscar award in Nigeria ‘’ with its consistent commitment to celebrating forward-thinking healthcare organisations.

Themed “Innovative healthcare services in the era

of change” the event was corroborated by the recognition of 30 healthcare organisations that utilize industry best practices.

Notable dignitaries were awarded for being a force that has helped spread the significance and impact of the healthcare system in Nigeria.

Following a thorough evaluation of performance, service delivery, and adaptability to new trends and business models organisations such as Leadway assurance, Wellness HMO, Smile Train Inc, Medbury medical services, ACEGID, Redeemer’s University Ede, Seven Up bottling company, Nasarawa State, Polaris bank, Pharmanews, Nigeria Health Watch among others were awarded.

Twenty-three year old Federal University of Technology Akure(FUTA) undergraduate, Mojeed Adegoke, is in desperate need of N12.5 million for a kidney transplant and other chronic ailments.

Adegoke was an app builder, working for Google. His dream was to be one of the best tech builders in Nigeria and Africa until his dream was botched three years ago when sickness suddenly struck and disoriented him.

He was said to have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in 2021 after he was subjected to severe headaches.

This, however, made him put a hold on his final year project at the Federal University of Technology, Akure.

According to ABUAD Multi-System Hospital in Ekiti State, Adegoke had been to their facility on August 5, 2021 with complaints of recurrent headaches and reduction in urine output of eight months duration.

Examination at presentation, urine and blood tests and ultrasound scan results showed features suggestive of chronic kidney disease possibly secondary to Chronic Glomerulonephritis.

He was discharged to a haemodialysis clinic after sustained clinical improvement to continue thrice-weekly dialysis on an outpatient basis on current medications.

On the projected cost of dialysis for six months, Adegoke would be expected to continue three times weekly hemodialysis among others.

Speaking to newsmen on his sick bed, Adegoke pleaded with Nigerians to come to his aid. “This sickness has not only snatched my ambition in life,” he lamented profusely. “It has rendered me vulnerable and depressed.”

If you’re touched by Mojeed’s story, donations can be sent to his account.

2264680303, UBA Mojeed Olanrewaju Adegoke.

World Drug Day: Lagos Calls for Fact Sharing on Dangers of Drug Abuse Esther Akinsola Lagos State government has merged with state and non-state actors around the world to advocate for fact sharing on the dangers of drug abuse and illicit trafficking as well as evidence based prevention, treatment and care available to citizens, as part of the effort to address drug challenges confronting the world.

This was after the Lagos State Inter-ministerial Drug Abuse Control Committee held an Awareness Walk around AlausaIkeja to Commemorate Year 2022 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Speaking during the walk, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye noted that fact sharing about drug situations amongst citizens especially youths and young adults help address drug abuse and illicit trafficking challenges and create a society free of drug abuse.

Ogboye, who was represented by Director Pharmaceutical Services, who also doubles as the Chairman, Lagos State Inter-ministerial Drug Abuse Control Committee, Pharm.

Oyebisi Omolanbe said fact sharing on drug situation is the responsibility of all stakeholders and citizens adding that it is only when everyone plays their part that the goal of a world free of drug abuse can be achieved.

The Permanent Secretary explained that the theme for this year’s World Drug Day: “Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and Humanitarian Crises” was thoroughly thought to address the drug abuse challenges around the world particularly with regards to the recent health and humanitarian crises plaguing the world.

He noted that persons affected by health or humanitarian crises are vulnerable to drug abuse or substance use disorders adding that recent reports have revealed that drug abuse rate soared during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“World Drug report 2021 revealed that about 275 million people used illicit drugs in 2020 which is projected to raise by 11 per cent by 2030 globally and as much as 40 per cent in Africa. This calls for urgent attention” he said.

Ogboye stressed the need to guide people against the use of drugs as a coping mechanism during health and humanitarian crises adding that the use of drugs is a negative coping mechanism that will worsen the situation.

“We need to let the people know that taking drugs during challenging times will not solve any problem as it would only worsen the situation. The key point here is that we should learn to say no to drugs and say yes to life.

“I urge everyone to get information on drug abuse and illicit use from verifiable sources, cascade the knowledge to our immediate family and communities and share only real facts.

“It is by doing so that we can save lives and attain a society that is drug abuse free”, the Permanent Secretary said.

While reiterating the state government’s commitment to fight against drug and substance abuse and illicit trafficking, Ogboye noted that the Lagos State Inter-Ministerial Drug Abuse Control Committee and the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate Unit of the Ministry of Health will not relent in carrying out the mandate of a drug abuse free Lagos.

31

THURSDAY, JULY 21, 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 19July-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 196.88 198.03 17.93% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 4.97% Nigeria International Debt Fund 307.96 307.96 -0.52% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 106.20 107.35 7.62% 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 8.15% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.75 3.81 10.25% 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 4.77% Anchoria Equity Fund 146.31 147.94 5.07% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.21 1.21 5.55% 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 22.41 23.09 10.50% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 523.24 539.01 15.97% ARM Ethical Fund 43.76 45.08 12.33% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.08 1.09 0.19% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.05 1.05 3.29% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.21% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 87.16 87.16 -9.66% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,093.99 1,093.99 9.40% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.09 2.09 3.56% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.38 2.44 18.31% CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,008.08 1,008.08 5.48% CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.05 1.05 4.65% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.55% Paramount Equity Fund 20.29 20.66 16.34% Women's Investment Fund 152.00 153.91 7.05% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.78% Cordros Milestone Fund 136.17 137.15 9.22% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 110.31 110.31 5.03% 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 5.98% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 7.19% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,116.19 1,131.68 0.26% 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 8.05% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.05 1.05 9.14% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.07 1.07 17.08% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 102.82 102.82 4.75% 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 1477.56 1477.56 10.70% FBN Balanced Fund 195.58 196.88 11.59% FBN Halal Fund 121.51 121.51 10.17% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.37% FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) 124.77 124.77 6.26% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 164.04 166.25 8.12% 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

4,174.64 3,587.15 100.00

4,236.45 3,587.15 100.00

13.27% 6.25% 7.91%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.11 1.11 3.96% 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 13.71% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,154.00 1,154.00 5.18% 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) 101.11 101.11 1.75% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 7.97% 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 1.67 1.70 6.23% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.79 11.81 5.45% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 6.83% PACAM Equity Fund 1.49 1.51 4.85% PACAM EuroBond Fund 117.37 120.19 3.05% 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 126.44 128.61 5.19% 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 8.36% 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 3,700.68 3,743.86 8.05% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 240.02 240.02 1.87% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.48 1.50 15.50% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 322.82 322.83 3.08% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 274.25 278.31 14.15% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.08% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 12,365.45 12,540.09 12.11% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.33 1.33 2.72% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 119.03 119.03 1.79% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 110.71 110.71 4.05% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 1.00 1.03 13.08% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.36 1.38 4.03% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.17 1.19 12.93% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.07 1.07 3.97% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.90 1.90 3.53% United Capital Eurobond Fund 122.02 122.02 3.01% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.20% 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 13.96 14.09 5.88% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 16.15 16.33 10.54% Zenith Income Fund 22.86 22.86 4.14% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.24% 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 3.89 3.99 -2.94% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 6.04 6.14 3.27% Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund 19.23 19.43 8.69% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.38% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 20.71 20.91 3.62% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 153.33 155.33 -2.79%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

117.74 51.82

3.98% 1.90%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

15.17 143.56 113.19 17.10 16.40

15.27 147.03 115.61 17.20 16.50

8.41% 10.37% 10.39% 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.

32

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ JULY 21, 2022

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Infrastructure Deficit: IoD Decry Paucity of Funds, Weak Fiscal Regime Gilbert Ekugbe The Institute of Directors (IoD) has blamed the combinations of paucity of funds, poor implementation, poor maintenance culture, corruption, weak fiscal regime and policy summersaults for Nigeria’s huge infrastructure deficit.

Indeed, the Institute stated that despite numerous plans by successive government and regimes to address the infrastructure deficit in Nigeria, these factors have worked against Nigeria’s quest to achieve infrastructural development.

The president, IoD, Mrs. Ije Jidenma, at the Institute’s national stakeholders forum on infrastructure development in Nigeria, Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit is estimated at $100 bil-

lion annually, a figure that is 100 per cent above its annual infrastructural budget in the past few years.

The President, ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, Mr George Donkor, noted that Nigeria had in its priority for infrastructural growth and development, focused on policies that finance infrastructural development through Public - Private Partnerships (PPP).

Donkor, represented by the Bank’s Director, Research and Strategic Planning, Mr. Macdonald Saye Goanue, said the country’s Infrastructure Company Limited (InfraCo) would substantially reduce its infrastructural deficit.

Deputy Director, Planning Division, Ministry of Aviation,

Mrs Mama Edet, stated that the critical role of infrastructure in the lifespan of a country like Nigeria would spur economic growth to help local economies access global market.

The Founder, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises (CPPE), Muda Yusuf, noted that at the heart of global competitiveness and production is infrastructure, said the private sector must invest in bankable infrastructural projects.

The president, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mansur Ahmed, called for a working implementation framework within the right legal arrangement and backing to ensure that the country’s infrastructural plans become a reality.

Standard Chartered Acts as Lead Issuing House for Dangote’s Debut Bond Standard Chartered has announced that it acted as Lead Issuing House on the landmark N187.6bn Series 1 Bond Issuance

by Dangote Industries (“DIL”).

The issuance comprises a 7-year 12.75% Tranche-A and a 10year 13.50% Tranche-B Senior Unsecured Bond.

This represents the first issuance by DIL, under its newly established NGN300 billion Debt Issuance Programme.

Standard Chartered in a statement said the bond issuance was well received by the market, “and recorded participation from a wide range of investors including domestic pension funds, asset managers, insurance companies and high net-worth investors. DIL plans to utilize the net proceeds from the Series 1 bond issuance to complete the financing of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery Project, an Integrated Petrochemical Complex, and the largest Single Train Petroleum Refinery in the World,

which is currently scheduled to commence operations in the first half of 2023.”

Speaking on the transaction Standard Chartered’s Executive Director, Corporate, Commercial and Institutional Banking, Nigeria & West Africa, Mr Olukorede Adenowo, noted that, “Standard Chartered is proud to have led this historic transaction which marks the largest corporate bond ever issued in the Nigerian capital markets, reflecting the strong credit quality of the issuer as well as the resilience of the Nigerian domestic markets, despite the current global market volatility.”

Also speaking, Executive Principal, Debt Capital Markets, Amaka Nsofor, said, “We are very pleased with this remarkable feat. Standard Chartered continues to be a leading debt capital markets house both in the domestic and international markets. In line with our man-

date, we will continue to work with our clients across Africa to deliver on their growth aspirations and use our market leading position in the capital market to drive development on the continent.”

Dangote Industries is one of the leading, diversified and fully integrated conglomerates with operations in Nigeria and Africa with 11 distinct business lines, with the cement, sugar and salt business currently contributing the majority of the group earnings. DIL also has two project companies, Dangote Oil Refinery Company Limited (“DORC”), a 650,000 b/pd integrated crude oil refinery and petrochemical plant, which is expected to be Africa’s largest oil refinery, and Dangote Fertilizer Limited (“DFL”), a facility with a production capacity of up to 2.8 Mtpa which is expected to be Africa’s largest granulated urea fertiliser manufacturing facility.

Financial Experts to Converge at Wealth Summit 2022 Sunday Ehigiator No fewer than 5,000 participants, including top business and financial experts, are expected at this year’s edition of Wealth Summit, an annual event that provides attendees a chance to get inspired and maximize great opportunities in their various businesses.

According to the Summit’s Head, Organising Committee, Damilare Oshokoya, through a statement yesterday, the summit, an initiative of Pertinence Group, (a top-tier real estate firm, headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria), is billed to take place at The Dome, KICC Mende, Maryland Lagos, on Saturday,

July 30, 2022, by 11:00 prompt.

He said the summit will be serving as a kickstarter for a week-long celebration to mark the 10th year anniversary of the Pertinence Group.

“The Wealth Summit had previously hosted Akin Alabi, Ali Baba, and Debola Williams, among others; and will this year bring together business leaders and financial experts to speak on wealth creation and management, focusing on the theme, ‘The Real Money of Lagos’.”

Oshokoya said the summit attendance is free, and will also focus on opportunities to make suitable investments, while participants will also

benefit from business mentorship from experts.

“The summit is free, but registration is compulsory.

Wealth Summit is the flagship programme of the Pertinence Group. It is one of our empowerment pillars.

“The company is a people empowerment and enterprise development firm; and we want to ensure that we stay on that pillar, as we have done in the last 10 years,” said Oshokoya.

He added, “The Co-founders of the company thought it wise to bring in industry leaders with genuine stories to show how they moved from nothing to something.

CIS to InaugurateAdeosun as 12th President The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) has said that it has concluded arrangements for the investiture of its 12th President and Chairman of Governing Board, Mr Oluwole Ololade Adeosun.

The Institute, in a statement, said that one of the high points of the event is the send-off of the immediate past president, Mr Muhammed Olatunde

Amolegbe, FCS who served as 11th President from 2020 to 2022. Adeosun emerged the President in a seamless transition after serving as the 2nd Vice President and 1st Vice President for (a) two-year tenure respectively.

He is a Fellow of CIS with over two-decade experience in the financial market. He holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Business Admin-

istration from the University of Ilorin in 1986 and capped it with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) specialising in Finance and Banking from the University of Lagos in 1993. He has been a long-standing member of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers and has served in many Committees.

L-R; Company secretary/Legal Adviser, Abbey Mortgage Bank, Mr. Geoff Amaghereonu; Non Executive Director, Mr. Abiodun Olufemi Soewu (Rtd); Managing Director/CEO, Abbey Mortgage Bank plc, Mr. Mobolaji Adewumi; Executive Director, Treasury and Business Growth, Mr. Oladipupo Adeoye during the 30th Annual General Meeting of Abbey Mortgage Bank plc in Lagos recently

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 ˜ ͵

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).

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Yuguda: SEC Regulatory Space in Digital Currency is Evolving Kayode Tokede The Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Lamide Yuguda has expressed that the commission’s regulatory space in digital assets is evolving, stressing that Nigeria is leading other countries in making the rules on digital asset space in Africa.

The DG who was represented by, the Executive Commissioner, SEC, Mr. Dayo Obisan at a virtual

Nairametrics Economic Outlook on the theme: “Resetting Nigeria’s economic growth trajectory,” noted that the commission is making it viable for the operators and protecting investors.

Other speakers at the virtual meeting include: Partner fiscal policy and Africa tax leader, PwC, Taiwo Oyedele and Managing Director/CEO Cowry Asset Management Ltd, Mr. Johnson Chukwu.

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According to Obisan, “The reality is that Fintechs are here.

Months ago, we still released additional rules on crypto and Nigeria is leading in Africa in terms of making the rules in the digital asset space.

“Recently, the US has just released its own rule for digital assets and this is something we are trying to catch up on so that we can regulate that space, make it viable for the operator

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and protect investors that are going there.”

While a lot of people confuse the function of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to SEC with regards to cryptocurrency regulation, he said the SEC comes into the picture when crypto is used as investment.

Speaking earlier, the fiscal policy partner and Africa tax leader at PwC, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed that Min-

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istries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of federal government, among others do not remit withholding tax to Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). According to him, “You will be surprised to know that the National Assembly, presidency and EFCC do not remit taxes according to the audit report of the auditor general.”

He said the federal government is taxing poverty in Nigeria, advis-

O F

2 0

ing MDAs to remit taxes on staff and that the federal government must harmonise taxes by reducing the taxing agencies which should work in tandem with blocking leakages. He said the government was basically taxing poverty at current rates, warning that if the poverty threshold was $2.15 and the average size of a household was five people, “it means we are taxing poverty when people can’t feed.

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NEWS

LAUNCH OF ECOLOGICAL PROJECT COMPENDIUM… L-R: Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha; President Muhammadu Buhari and Permanent Secretary, Ecological Fund office, Dr. Habiba Lawal, during the launch of the Ecological Project PHOTO: SUNDAY AGHAEZE Office Compendium as President Presides FEC Meeting at the State House, Abuja... yesterday

Nigeria on High Alert Following Incidence of Marburg Virus in West Africa Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has declared a disease epidemic emergency in the country following the outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) and its detection in West Africa.

Marburg disease was recently detected in Ghana. Due to the development, the NCDC said that it has heightened surveillance at the border and all other entries points to the country.

However, the NCDC said both importation of the disease and its potential impact on Nigeria’s population would be moderate.

In a statement issued yesterday by the NCDC, it noted that given the proximity of Ghana to Nigeria as well as the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) alert, it has set up, "multi-sectoral National Emerging Viral Haemorrhagic Diseases Working Group (EVHDWG) that coordinates preparedness efforts for MVD, and other emerging viral haemorrhagic diseases."

The statement signed by the Director General of NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa said a rapid risk assessment had been conducted to guide in-country preparedness

activities.

"NCDC is aware of the declaration of an outbreak of MVD in Ghana confirmed by the WHO on the 17th of July 2022.

"Based on available data, the overall risk of both importation of the disease and its potential impact on the Nigerian population is said to be moderate as assessed by NCDC experts and partners given the proximity (same region), high traffic from Ghana and countries that share borders with Ghana, the

incubation period of 21 days of the virus, heightened surveillance at point of entry, Nigeria’s capacity to respond to the outbreak in country and the fact that persons with MVD transmit the virus when they become symptomatic unlike for SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 that can also be transmitted by infected persons without symptoms."

According to NCDC, this would be the second time the zoonotic disease has been detected in West Africa following the previous

are promptly taken to healthcare facilities for diagnosis and initiation of supportive treatment.

“Other health advisories approved by the NCDC include, strict practice of infection prevention control in the healthcare setting for all suspected patients, survivors of Marburg virus disease should practice safer sexual practices and hygiene for 12 months from onset of symptoms or until their semen test negative twice for the virus infections.”

Tasks engineers on nation-building, professionalism Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja A former President of Nigeria’s Appeal Court, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa yesterday decried the deteriorating state of the nation, laying the blame on the country’s leaders and professionals.

Speaking at the 2022 Charles Mbanefo Distinguished Lecture Series in Abuja, Bulkachuwa, who was the first woman to occupy

the Appeal Court presidency in Nigeria, lamented that things have gone so bad that people now tag the country a failed state.

The event organised by the Abuja chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) had as its theme: “Governance and sustainability of an Egalitarian Society Within the Context of the 1999 Constitution and Our Democratic Setting: The Role of Engineering Practitioners.”

Says vote-buying a phase that will pass away A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, Mr. Kodilichukwu Okelekwe has identified poverty and ignorance as some of the reasons vote-buying during election is thriving in Nigeria.

Okelekwe, a senatorial candidate of the party for Anambra Central zone, who spoke during a stakeholders’ meeting of members of APC in the state, said poverty was real the reason people do not consider the loss of four years, instead would prefer paltry sums to cast their votes.

"Vote buying is now an issue in election process, but we know that it is a passing phase. Before now, it used to be ballot box snatching, but innovation in election process has phased that out.

ence Laboratory in Abuja and the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital laboratory Centre for Human and Zoonotic Virology.”

It also said diagnostic capacity could be scaled up to other laboratories if required.

The NCDC added that several measures were being put in place to prevent an outbreak of the disease in-country.

The measured it listed included ensuring that all persons with the symptoms described above

Ex-Appeal Court President Blames Nigerian Leaders for Growing Insecurity, Poverty

Poverty, Ignorance, Reasons Vote-buying is Thriving, Says APC Chieftain David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

incidence in Guinea in August 2021.

"The cases were reported in two unrelated males - 26 and a 51 years old - who both died from the disease. The disease was first discovered in 1967 following outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia.

"Since then, outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in some African countries.

NCDC assured that Nigeria has the capacity to test for the virus presently at the National Refer-

"Today, it is vote buying, and we know that too will pass someday.

Vote buying is made worse by poverty and ignorance. Someone will not consider the good education, good healthcare and many other dividends that come from good governance, but will rather insist on collecting money to vote," he added.

The senatorial hopeful lamented that vote buying was one of the reason a party like APC with its over 450,000 members in Anambra could not pull enough votes to win the state.

"I have analysed the membership of our party in the state and found that we have over 450,000 members, yet people have won governorship of this state with less than 200,000 votes. So why

can we not pull our votes together and make a governor?" Okelekwe queried.

Earlier, a professor of Political Science at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Prof Charles Arinze Okoye delivered a lecture on party loyalty among members of political parties.

Okoye also corroborated the claims of Okelekwe, stating that, "poverty is reason vote buying is thriving in Nigeria today. There is no election in Nigeria that you will not see canvassers soliciting for votes and giving money.

"That is where we need the media to sensitise the people of the dangers of selling their vote.

For every vote you sell, you are enthroning bad leadership and incompetent people."

The ex-judge stated that things were deteriorating really fast in all spheres of the country’s life, calling on professionals in government who are in positions to make and execute policies to do the right thing.

She explained that today, whether on land, sea or air, Nigerians feel unsafe to move around, insisting that it would seem that the security apparatuses have totally failed.

“It appears all the security apparatuses have broken down as every part of the federation is now occupied by criminals.

Kidnapping and terrorism are on the increase. Everybody appears helpless. Security challenges are staring everyone in the face.

“There is hardly any economic growth or egalitarian state that can be attained by any nation facing such serious challenges as we face in Nigeria. There is no steady supply or generation of electricity; many industries have closed down; workers have been laid off; millions of employable youths and other categories of people are either under-employed or unemployed.

“Educational institutions have been financially and academically affected by the economy; learning institutions are dilapidating and lecturers go on strike for months if not for years,” she lamented.

According to her, while the universities are graduating students of various professions every year, there’s no hope of a feasible employment for them.

“Many take to crimes and prostitution, schools are being closed down due to lecturers strike on

grounds of failure to pay teacher salaries and inability to fund viable research projects.

“Most major roads in the country have collapsed...and almost all roads throughout the country are now in a bad shape. Kidnappers and criminals make it impossible for people to travel on roads and for farmers to access their farms for food production. To travel by air is now fraught with its own challenges. The prices keep increasing,” she added.

Bulkachuwa pointed out that, these challenges notwithstanding, there are men and women of different professions running the affairs of the country in both private and public sectors, stressing that yet things have gone so bad.

“There’s hunger in the land and the commoners as well as the so-called middle class or high class in the society are all living in fear of insecurity and unstable economy. The problems are colossal and daunting,” she maintained.

She added that members of the public are rightly pointing accusing fingers on their leaders, stressing that Nigerians cannot be blamed for doing so since it’s now one bad news after another in the country.

According to her, there’s no visible honesty in the response to the challenges, insisting that the challenges need to be addressed as soon as possible.

With many people having been killed or displaced by insurgents, she stressed that while everyone has a role to play, there has to be some form of social welfare for

the people.

“Most of the problems confronting our country can be traced to leadership failure, incompetence of some experts and professionals involved in policy and decision making,” she lamented.

She therefore urged the engineers in the country to embark on internal cleansing, including removing quacks from among them.

Bulkachuwa described engineers as nation builders, maintaining that as important stakeholders in Nigeria, the professionals must take their jobs seriously.

While commending them for their role so far, the former judge stated that no nation will develop without a core of competent engineers, urging them to ensure that jobs are professionally carried out.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Abuja branch of the NSE, Mr. Abdulbari Abdulmalik, noted that the programme was meant to honour and celebrate Mbanefo, whom he described as a visionary leader, a motivator, a distinguished gentleman and an inspiration to younger engineers.

He added that the event in respect of the octogenarian, a past president of the NSE was because of his (Mbanefo's) invaluable contributions to the profession both within the country and abroad.

Also speaking, President of NSE, Tasiu Wudil, said the theme for this year was significantly different from those in the past because a knowledge of the law remains a critical tool for any engineer who intends to go far in the profession.

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UNVEILING OF THE STATE OF PRIMARY HEALTHCARE...

L-R: Executive Director, Engagement and Mobilisation, Serah Ugbabe; Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator. Ibrahim Oloriegbe; Singer. Aituaje Iruobe, popularly known as Waje; Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Niger Delta. Henry Nwawuba; and Executive Director for Africa at The ONE Campaign, Mr. Edwin Ikhuoria; during the official unveiling of The State of Primary Healthcare Service Delivery in Nigeria held in Abuja...recently

FG: Aviation Workers Joining ASUU Solidarity Protest will Have Security Implication Describes NLC's planned action as illegal, unhelpful Okays N7.5bn for airports surveillance equipment, irrigation project Deji Elumoye in Abuja The federal government yesterday formally reacted to next week's planned protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in solidarity with public university-based unions over the five-month old industrial action, saying such protests could threaten the nation's security.

It specifically warned that there was bound to be serious security consequences if aviation workers join the planned labour solidarity

protest scheduled for July 26 to 27, 2022, over the protracted strike by university-based unions.

The government equally described the planned protest as not only illegal, but unhelpful to efforts being made by all parties involved to resolve the protracted industrial action.

Answering questions from newsmen on threats posed by aviation workers' resolve to join the solidarity protest, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who spoke

at the State House, Abuja, after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, described the development as worrisome.

According to him: "I'm naturally concerned about this if the aviation union will shut down in support of ASUU. I would say they have no need to. I will say also that we should begin to look at civil aviation as a critical national security enterprise. It has all the implications.

We should not contemplate or

Chimamanda Expresses Support for Obi's Presidential Ambition Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Award-winning author and literary icon, Chimamanda Adichie has extolled the leadership qualities of the former governor of Anambra state and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, describing him as humane and pragmatic.

In her birthday message to Obi who turned 61 on Tuesday, the Anambra-born author wished that him and his running mate, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed would ascend the mantle of leadership of the country in 2023.

"I cannot wait for February 25, 2023, when I, with personal pride in you and with hope for what Nigeria can become, will cast my vote for you and your running mate, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed," she said.

Chimamanda said she had always admired Obi's humane pragmatism and his willingness to talk to almost anyone if it will bring about a good outcome.

She also described Obi as someone who does not work in exclusion, but who sees, "people as people, knowing that human value is not measured in material terms."

The awarding-winning author, in a well scripted birthday message said she was inspired by Obi's intellectual curiosity, his eagerness to learn and genuine love of education "Sometimes it is the simplest of language that captures the most complex of things, and so I will end with simplicity: You are a good man.

You are loved. You are appreciated.

"My dearest big brother, I will never forget your kindness to my beloved parents. Thank you for the

respect you showed them, for your many visits to Abba, where you gave to Daddy and Mummy the most precious gifts: your time and your attention.

"Thank you for walking this stillunbearable journey of grief with my siblings and me. I remember how you regaled Daddy and Mummy with your stories until we started joking about your obsession with the ‘GDP of Malaysia.’

“But your obsession spoke of hope: your hope for Nigeria, your belief in what Nigeria could be. A belief that has always been practical, grounded in numbers and in reality.

"I remember when you came to support me as I was being

honored by the United Nations Foundation in New York, and I teased you about the inexpensive hotel you were staying in, and you shrugged and said, ‘it’s just a place to sleep, why do I need to be in an expensive place?’

"And then only days later, you once again exhibited your incredible generosity to the causes you believe in and it reminded me of all the hospitals and schools and churches you have supported over the years, and often without fanfare.

"You have always been clear about what your priorities are, what matters to you, what you believe should matter, and that is deeply admirable," she said.

think about an aviation disaster.

We should also think about the general activity on the economy of Nigeria without aviation. It's okay.

“This is democracy, you can push for demands, but in pressing for demands you should be reasonable in doing so.

"Where the life that you're trying to promote would be seriously affected and hampered; where lives can be lost because of your own activity, I think it should be reconsidered. So, civil aviation workers, I think should not be part of this.

“Yes, I am concerned and yes we've spoken to them and I don't think they will join because they know that there's huge responsibility of lives on their heads. If you're an Air Traffic Controller, it involves national security, it involves the capability of preventing external aggression and so on and so forth.

“I believe that they are very aware of the enormous responsibility upon them in civil aviation and they should continue to see it so and continue to be as law abiding as we want them to be."

Speaking in the same vein on the planned NLC protest, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed said people should begin to interrogate what labour was doing, insisting that there was no direct dispute between labour and the government.

According to him, the government was already addressing the

dispute with the university workers, pointing out that NLC was even a member of the tripartite panel looking into their grievances.

He said: "So calling out people on street protest, you begin to wonder, what is the motive of NLC in this matter? But you see here, we do not interrogate what NLC is doing.

NLC by its own laws, cannot even give out pamphlets. And NLC is supposed to be completely insulated from politics.

“Now, if you declare dispute with us, yes you can go on strike.

Even that one would depend on whether certain steps have been taken or not. But this particular NLC, you know, asking and mobilising people to come out on strike on July 26 and 27, is clearly on nothing".

Reminded that the labour union was affected because the prolonged strike was affecting their children, Mohammed said the government was as worried as everybody but felt that the labour union should join hands with the government in finding lasting solutions to the logjam.

"They are part of the tripartite agreement that have been negotiating with federal government on this ASUU issue. So why are they now going out to take sides? I think you also interrogate it yourselves. I think it's popular to get NLC out and support but ask yourself how does that help the problem? How does that solve the problem? What you

Ikpeazu Under Fire as Abians Bemoan Abia Poly Loss of Accreditation Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has come under fire as indigenes and residents yesterday reacted angrily to the loss of accreditation of Abia State Polytechnic (Abia Poly), Aba, saying that the governor "is running down the state and killing its institutions."

The National Board for Technical Education had on Tuesday withdrawn the accreditation of Abia Poly, citing the inability of the institution to pay its staff who are overburdened with over 30 months arrears of salaries and allowances.

Announcing the withdrawal of accreditation for Abia Poly, a spokesperson for NBTE, Ms. Fatima Abubakar, said in a statement that the board acted, "with the

utmost sense of responsibility," in its decision "to withdraw the accreditation status of the polytechnic to safeguard the quality assurance mechanism of the board.”

It was one closure too many for Abians as the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba, had already been shut down as it lost its accreditation by the Medical Council following the abandonment of the institution by doctors and other workers over the issue of non-payment of salaries.

A cross section of Umuahia residents who spoke with THISDAY condemned the Ikpeazu administration for not doing enough to save the affected educational and health institutions from going down.

A commercial tricycle(keke) operator, Mike Ugorji, who introduced himself as a university graduate, said it was appalling that

a state governor with background in academics would turn out to be the one presiding over the demise of educational institutions.

"I really can't believe what is happening, that a man who was a university teacher before he was made governor cannot save Abiapoly from collapse," he said.

A civil servant, who preferred to remain anonymous, said she was disgusted after reading about, "the calamity that has befallen our state", adding that "there appears to be no end in sight for the unfolding ugly situations."

She expressed disappointment that Ikpeazu, "has not shown enough seriousness in tackling the problems" in the state, citing, "his recent pleasure trips abroad when he should be attending to the serious business of saving our collapsing institutions."

Ikpeazu recently raised eyebrows in the state after pictures of him and Governor Nyesom Wike vacationing in Turkey went viral.

It was quickly followed by another one showing the Abia governor attending the graduation ceremony of the son of his Rivers counterpart in the United Kingdom.

"I weep for my state, our government don't just care about making things better," Mr. Hosea Nwuzor, a shop owner at Isigate city centre lamented, adding, "when other states are building new universities we are losing the ones we already have in our state.”

He stated that with what happened to Abia Poly and ABSUTH, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has given the opposition enough firewood to roast it when electioneering for next year's election begins in September.

are going to create is more anarchy.

And I think the NLC should think twice about their proposed strike in solidarity with ASUU." Meanwhile, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved contracts worth N7,499,603,500 for an irrigation project augmentation in Adamawa State and surveillance equipment for two airports in the country.

Minister of Aviation, Sirika, who disclosed this said Council approved contracts worth N1,499,603,500 for the award of contract for surveillance equipment for two airports in the country.

According to him, the benefiting airports are those of Kaduna and Port Harcourt in Kaduna and Rivers States respectively.

He said: “The approval is for the award of contracts for the design, supply and maintenance of mobile surveillance observation systems with remote controlled licence and these are for the airports of Port Harcourt and Kaduna and it will continue to other airports progressively.

“We are beginning with the first two but it will continue with the remaining airports in the future and the contract sum for this particular procurement is N1, 499,603,500.00 including the 7.5 percent value added tax and it will be delivered within 30 weeks”.

Sirika also announced that FEC approved that Nigeria enters into a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with Canada.

He explained that the agreement was in accordance with the Chicago convention, to which both Nigeria and Canada are signatories.

Minister of Water Resources, Sulieman Adamu, also said Council approved the augmentation of N6 billion for the Chochi irrigation project in Adamawa State.

According to him: “As you know the trend with us since the inception of this administration has been to lay emphasis on completion of ongoing project that we inherited.

“This project started in 1988 during Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) era to provide 1,200 hectares of irrigation in Chochi in Yola, Adamawa State, unfortunately, it has suffered a lot of setbacks.

“First of all following the dissolution of PTF, it was transferred to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and was kept in the cooler for about eight years, before it finally emerged in 2006 and reawarded to the same company Impressive Bacolori, but in subsequent years, it has suffered so many things.

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NEWS

YOUTHS SOLIDARITY VISIT TO UGWUANYI...

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (right) with the Director General of United Ovogovo Youth Forum (UOYF), Nsukka Local Government Area of the state, Hon. Chimaobi Ezema, when members of the group paid a solidarity visit to the governor, for his achievements in office and 2023 senatorial bid, at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday.

Buhari: Murder of Catholic Priest in Kaduna Heinous, Despicable Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the murder of a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. John

Cheitnum of the Kafanchan Catholic Diocese, four days after he was seized by gunmen, in Kaduna State.

Reacting to the incident in Abuja, yesterday, Buhari, in a release by his

spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, said, "I am deeply disturbed by the murder of this revered religious figure by outlaws, who seem to be bent on creating chaos and

Ortom, Obi Meet over 2023 Polls, Task Party Candidates on Unity George Okoh in Makurdi Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has challenged Presidential Candidates of the various political parties in next year's general election to put Nigeria first above personal interests.

Governor Ortom threw the challenge yesterday, when he received at his private residence in Abuja, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, who paid him a visit.

He said Nigerians were in dire need of people with "commitment and competence" that would fix the leadership crisis that has plunged the country into outright chaos.

The governor noted that Obi

was one among those qualified Nigerians that the people were looking forward to taking the country out of the leadership conundrum.

Ortom commended the decision of the former Anambra governor to engage Nigerians, especially, major players in the country's politics, irrespective of political leaning on his desire to serve as the country's next president.

He said even though he was a major stakeholder of the PDP, the candidate considered him as a Nigerian to consult on his aspiration.

Earlier, Obi, had explained that the visit was to show respect to his former political ally in the PDP,

noting that although they were now in different political parties, their friendship as citizens of the country was most important.

Responding to a question that he did not have the needed structures to win elections, Obi maintained that the millions of Nigerians, who have been impoverished by bad leadership over an extended period "are my structures to win".

He pointed out that it was time for all hands to be on deck to correct the wrongs for a better Nigeria.

The two leaders had met for about an hour behind closed doors after which they jointly addressed journalists on the thrust of their meeting.

NEW SENATE BILL ALLOWS STATES TO GENERATE, DISTRIBUTE ELECTRICITY Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE).

According to him, there was a transitional process put in place during the take-over of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) by the United Bank for Africa (UBA) to ensure efficiency in service delivery.

He noted that such transitional process usually involves the invitation of new investors to scale up generation and distribution capacities.

He further disclosed that the federal government had disbursed $100 million to Siemens to kick-start transmission in the distribution end of the power sector.

On his part, Senator Ahmad Babba-Kaita (PDP - Katsina North), said the faulty way in which Discos were created was largely responsible for their inability to live up to expectations.

He, therefore advised the federal government to ensure a transparent process in the selection of companies to take-over power generation and distribution across the country.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, in his remarks after the passage of the bill, said, “because

of its importance and sensitivity, we would like to see a quick concurrence by the House of Representatives, because time is of essence as far as Nigeria is concerned when you talk about electricity and energy supplies in Nigeria.

“So, we would like to see that this bill is fully processed in the National Assembly and sent to the Executive side of government for the consideration for assent by Mr. President.

“We believe that this piece of legislation can change the fortunes of the electricity industry in Nigeria for the better.”

Senate passes Nigeria Start-up Bill Meanwhile, the Senate has passed the Nigerian Start-up Bill, 2022.

The passage of the bill followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on ICT and Cyber Security.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Oseni Yakubu (APC - Kogi Central), in his presentation, said the bill seeks to provide for the establishment of the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

According to him, the council, upon its establishment, would

create and develop an enabling environment for technology-enabled start-ups in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, a bill for an Act to provide for the ease of doing business to ensure transparency, efficiency and productivity in Nigeria and for other related matters, on Wednesday, scaled second reading.

The bill was sponsored by the Deputy Senate Leader, Ajayi Boroffice (APC - Ondo North).

The bill after consideration, was referred by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to the Committee on Trade and Investment for further legislative inputs.

The Committee was given two weeks to report back to the chamber in plenary.

In a related development, another bill to establish the Federal Nephrology and Kidney Research and Treatment Centre Hadejia, also scaled second reading on the floor.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Hassan Ibrahim Hadejia (APC Jigawa North-East), was referred

by Lawan to the Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary).

The Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe-led Committee was given four weeks to turn in its report.

disorder in the country."

He explained that, "The persistent attack on innocent people, including religious figures, by gunmen is a matter of grave concern for this administration, because security is one of the major issues of our campaign promises.

"Let me reassure Nigerians that my commitment to this issue is as

firm as ever. I have always made it a duty to regularly summon security chiefs to discuss these challenges and the way forward.

I'm not allowing the security chiefs to rest unless and until we find a very effective solution to this disturbing security situation.

“The security of all Nigerians remains our major priority and

I assure Nigerians that we are determined to crush these enemies of humanity with all the resources at our disposal," the president declared.

He extended his condolences to the family of the deceased and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) leadership in Kaduna State over the death of the priest.

Masari Donates N21m Foodstuffs to Victims of NAF Fighter Jet, Banditry in Katsina Francis Sardauna in Katsina Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, has donated relief materials to residents of Kunkunna community in Safana Local Government Area of the state, who were mistakenly bombed by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jet.

The jet was said to have hit the wrong targets in the recent operation launched against terrorists' enclaves in the community, leading to the death of at least six villagers and displacement of many others.

Distributing the items to the

beneficiaries yesterday, the governor reiterated his administration's readiness to continue to protect the lives and property of the citizenry in synergy with security agencies in the state.

He said the N21 million worth of foodstuffs were also distributed to victims of banditry in five communities of Zakkah, Sabon Garin Gamji, Kunamawa, Kukar Rabo and Tsaskiya of the local government, who were recently attacked by suspected terrorists.

The governor explained that the items distributed to the victims included 400 bags of rice, 200 bags

of maize, 100 bags of guinea corn, 50 bags of millet, 100 cartons of spaghetti, jerricans of vegetable oil, mats, bathing soaps, among others.

Masari, represented by the Chairman of Safana Local Government, Kabir Muhammad Umar, said the humanitarian gesture would go a long way in alleviating the plight of the beneficiaries and their households.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Abdulkadir Ado, applauded the state government for the support, which he said would cushion their hardship especially in the area of feeding.

BUHARI TO SHETTIMA: I’LL HAND OVER TO YOU AND YOUR BOSS IN 2023, GOD-WILLING there was no such consideration.

Instead, he picked a tested politician and technocrat from the minority Kanuri ethnic group from the North East,” He added that the factors at play were issues germane to confronting the multi-dimensional crises the nation faces today, which included insecurity, economic problems, such as the unemployment crisis facing our youths.

“Our candidate canvassed on his track record in Lagos to win the APC primary last June. As governor between 1999 and 2007, he was able to transform a decadent state into the fourth biggest economy in Africa. He believes that his feat in Lagos can be replicated all over Nigeria.

“To assist him in realising this vision, he picked Kashim Shettima, who also established a track record of development in Borno State ,while he was governor for eight years, despite the Boko Haram crisis.

Surely, only the deep knows how to call onto the deep. Nigerians have a lot to gain in having the two tested leaders at the helm of affairs.

“Naturally, some Nigerians with closet motives have failed to see the opportunities and possibilities the twin candidates present to our country at this time of difficult security, economic and political developments, preferring to fan the embers of religion and ethnic divisions among their unsuspecting and vulnerable compatriots,” he explained.

CAN Disowns Bishops Who Attended Shettima’s Unveiling

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has discribed Bishops, who attended the official unveiling of the vice-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Kashim Shettima as selfish desperados.

Vice-President of CAN (19 Northern States and Abuja) and its chairman in Kaduna State, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, said this in an interview with journalists in Abuja.

He said, “The people we saw at the unveiling of Shettima paraded as Bishops are people,who did not have enough time to learn how

to wear Bishop garments. Take a closer look at their photo and you will see another Nollywood movie.

"CAN wonders why the desperation. First, a story was out claiming to have come from the Chairman of CAN Borno State only to be refuted. Secondly, there was another lie that BAT (Bola Ahmed Tinubu) and his running mate were on their way to meet CAN President one night. A meeting that was not true and was on a night that the CAN President was in Alabama, USA attending the Baptist World Alliance Conference of which he is the Vice President.

“Another desperation story was that they met Papa Adeboye, which the RCCG later refuted. If Christians are not important why the desperation.

“BAT is free to hire mechanics and other artisans and sew clerical garments for them. An effort that will only add to their many ropes, when the political exercise is over but will not change the need for fairness and justice that CAN is calling for," he said.

THURSDAY JULY 21, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

൮൲

NEWS

NCAA Suspends Dana Air Indefinitely over Poor Financial Safety Chinedu Eze The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended Dana Airlines’ Air Transport Licence (ATL) and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) indefinitely, with effect from yesterday, 20th July, 2022 over the airline’s poor financial status.

In a statement signed by the Director General of NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, the agency said the suspension was made pursuant to Section 35(2), 3(b) and (4) of the Civil Aviation Act, 2006 and Part 1.3.3.3(a)(1) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs), 2015.

“The suspension order, handed down by the Director General, Captain Musa Nuhu, has since been communicated to the management of Dana

Airlines.

“The decision is the outcome of a financial and economic health audit carried out on the Airline

by the Authority, and the findings of an investigation conducted on the Airline’s flight operations recently, which revealed that Dana

Airlines is no longer in a position to meet its financial obligations and to conduct safe flight operations.

“The NCAA acknowledges

the negative effect this preemptive decision will have on the Airline’s passengers and the travelling public and seeks their

understanding, as the safety of flight operations takes priority over all other considerations,” the statement said.

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L-R: Field Marketing Lead, Westcon Comstor, Maina Kamau; Executive Director, Arit of Africa Limited, Olusola Ogunsola; Regional Sales Manager, English West Africa at Westcon Comstor, Lanre Oke; Managing Director, Arit of Africa Limited, Ronke Okeremi, and Managing Partner/ CEO, Carthena Advisory, Wole Ogundare, during the Arit of Africa 2022 Customer Workshop in Lagos...recently

Edo Assembly Repeals 1972 Matawalle Bars Emirs from Conferring Law, Passes Bill to Liberalise Traditional Titles without Permission Onuminya Innocent In Sokoto Special Adviser on Public titles to anyone,” Matawalle must appoint anybody into Enlightenment, Media and was quoted as saying in the any traditional office without Electricity Market Malam statement. securing official permission Governor Bello Matawalle Communications,

The Edo State House of Assembly has passed a bill to repeal the Rural Electricity Board Law of 1972 to re-enact a new law that makes provision for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity for the residents of Edo State, paving the way for the establishment of an electricity market in the The Assembly unanimously adopted all six parts of the bill during a session of the committee of the

whole on Tuesday, July 19, 2022.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Marcus Onobun, directed the Assembly Clerk to forward clean copies of the bill for assent to Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The passed bill provides for the liberalisation of the electricity market in the state, allowing for a more pragmatic approach to rural electrification and expansion of distribution infrastructure in the state.

Alleged N9.4bn Fraud: Court Issues Warrant onf Arrest on Lebanese, French Businessmen Wale Igbintade Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court, in Lagos has ordered the arrest of two businessmen Mobile Edmond Moukarzel and Halawi Fidaa over their refusal to appear in court to take their pleas in an alleged N9.4 billion fraud case filed against them by men of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID).

Moukarzel, a Lebanese and Fidaa, a French national were accused of obtaining the sum of N9,442, 788,578.93 from a Nigerian Bank under false pretences.

The police after concluding its investigation had filed a three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and stealing against the foreigners.

The charged, FHC/L/260C/2021,

was signed by two police prosecutors, Williams Tijani and S. O. Ayodele.

It read: “That you Mabil Edmond Moukarzel ‘M’, Halawi Fidaa ‘M’ and others now at large sometimes in the year 2014 at Apapa Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria conspired among yourselves to commit felony to with obtaining the sum of N9,441,824,102.14 from Ecobank Nigeria Limited under the pretence that you are using the said sum to import goods to Nigeria.

A representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

Expert Embarks on Advocacy for Brain Tumors Ijeoma Okonji World Brain Tumor Day was celebrated recently to raise awareness about brain tumors and dispel related misconceptions with theme “together we are stronger.”

According to a statement made available to THISDAY, heeding the advocacy call-toaction for increased awareness, a Neurosurgeon at Evercare Hospital, Lekki, with experience in a diverse range of brain and spine pathologies, Dr. Edward Jolayemi, has embarked on an enlightenment of the society about

brain tumors, the risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options.

The statement further explained that brain tumors are abnormal growths within or around the brain.

Jolayemi, whose competence spans the fields of neurotrauma, neuro- oncology, pediatrics neurosurgery, pituitary surgery, neurovascular and spine surgeries, highlighted that the brain is a complex organ that is vulnerable to insults from trauma, infections, tumors, drugs including alcohol, metabolic disorders, to mention a few.

of Zamfara has barred all traditional rulers in the state from conferring traditional titles without government clearance.

The directive was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the governor’s

Zailani Bappa.

“All Emirs, Senior District Heads and District Heads in the state are hereby directed to officially seek permission from the State Government before conferring traditional

He said the directive became necessary to check indiscriminate awards and possible abuse of the traditional institution0.

“Henceforth, no Emir, Senior District Head, or District Head

and clearance from the state government.

“Compliance to this directive is now mandatory and failure to abide by it will attract serious reprimand from the state government,” he warned.

NECA Implores Buhari to Refuse Assent to NYSC Bill Dike Onwuamaeze Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, has implored President Muhammadu Buhari to refuse to grant presidential assent to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Bill that has been passed by the National Assembly (NASS).

The NASS recently passed the NYSC Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill that imposed a levy of 1.0 per cent of the net profit of companies and organised private sector operating a business in Nigeria; 0.2 per cent of total revenue accruing to the federation account; any take-off grant and special intervention fund as may be provided by

the federal, state, and local government for the maintenance of the NYSC’s scheme.

But Adeniyi, in his “President’s Address at the 65th Annual General Meeting of NECA, lamented the dangerous trend of continuous introduction of new levies, taxes and charges on businesses by all levels of governments in the country.

He said: “The introduction of a new NYSC Levy on businesses, while industries groan under the weight of many challenges will have negative consequences on organised businesses. We urge the President, in his usual magnanimous way, to refuse assent to the NYSC Bill passed into law by the National Assembly.

Politicians,LeadersUrgedtoDiscourageVotingalongReligious,EthnicLines Michael Olugbode in Abuja An association of cattle herders, Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has warned politicians and religious leaders to desist from calling on Nigerians to vote along ethnic and religious lines.

The association in a signed statement yesterday by its National President,

Hon Khalil Bello, said: “We are assiduously working hard to bring peace between cattle rearers and their beloved brothers, the arable farmers. We in KACRAN have noted with dismay and dissatisfaction, the habit of some politicians, religious leaders and preachers, who play primitive and parochial politics with religion by inciting and promoting inter faith conflicts in their political campaigns

and messages. We utterly condemn this practice, and hereby appeal to all politicians, religious leaders and all Nigerians to discountenance and disregard political campaigns where people are told to vote on religious or tribal lines.”

KACRAN while appealing to all politicians and religious leaders to pay more attention to what will bring unity in Nigeria, than what will further divide citizens

of the country, said: “KACRAN wishes to express its sadness on how some of our politicians and religious leaders who are supposed to help towards bringing peace and unity in the country, painfully resort to making utterances that will bring division in the country, at this crucial time, when we seriously need ardent prayers for peace and unity.”

N400m Payroll Infractions: Akeredolu Directs Dismissal of Workers Fidelis David in Akure Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) yesterday directed the state Head of Service to dismiss officers who are receiving double salaries from the state payroll.

Governor Akeredolu gave the directive while receiving the report of the Committee for

Verification, Scrutinisation and Clean-up of the State Payroll.

The governor, who suspected that the State Payroll including salaries and pensions had been compromised, set up a seven-member committee to continuously clean up the payroll of infractions.

Receiving the reports, governor Akeredolu frowned at the different infractions

discovered in the payroll, lamenting the over-bloated workforce which he said was occasioned by many ghost workers.

Akeredolu also directed that all Ministries, Departments and Parastatals in the State should stop recruitment under any guise until the Salary Verification Committee has concluded its assignment.

He said: “We have overbloated workforce, and undoubtedly, I am sure there are many ghost workers.

Those who are receiving double salaries, apart from recovering the money from them, I am directing the Head of Service to get them dismissed. They must serve as deterrent to others,” he said.

Abe Confirms Leaving APC, Restates Support for Tinubu Former representative of Rivers Southeast Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe said he has left the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.

He, however said that he is still part of the family of the APC Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Abe, who stated this while speaking on TVC Television Programme, yesterday in Abuja, maintained

that he left in order to seek fortune somewhere else.

The Senator insisted that although he has left the party, the purported letter of resignation circulating online does not originate from him.

He said: “I have since left the APC in Rivers State but the letter circulating round is not from me. I am still part of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s family and has no issue with him whatsoever.

“I am a part of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed

Tinubu’s political family and I’m also part of his own family, and that is a very separate thing, from the politics of Rivers State.

“Yesterday, there were some funny letters circulating on the internet, that I have resign from the APC because Asiwaju refused to intervene in the politics of Rivers State, that is ridiculous, all politics is local, I have no interest whatsoever in the APC in Rivers State.

“When people talk about resignation,

how do I resign from the party I don’t even know who the ward chairman is, so I couldn’t have written a letter to people that I don’t know, what I know from the Constitution of the APC, and the constitution of the country is that there are several means by which you leave the party, and one of the means is by way of resignation. So resignation is just one of the ways that are available to members to leave the party.

38

THURSDAY JULY 21, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Sanwo-Olu Relaunches Lagos Residency Card with Smart Features Segun James The move by Lagos State Government to generate a comprehensive database of all persons residing in the State has moved a notch higher, with the launch of an upgraded and chip-embedded smart residency card by the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) yesterday.

Governor Babajide SanwoOlu personally unveiled the smart residency card at an events held simultaneously across five locations in the state. The locations included Ikeja, Lagos Island, Badagry, Ikorodu and Epe. The new card offered a transition from an ordinary plastic card, meant only for identification purposes, to a smart, multi-purpose ID that combines biometric identification with other benefits, such as security, financial services, transportation and access to government services and amenities.

Lagos started enrollment

of its residents for residency registration in 2011, to create a reliable database to enable effective and realistic planning by the state government, especially for the provision

of social services and amenities.

Already, 6.5 million residents had been enrolled on the database by LASRRA, with the State witnessing four-fold increment in registration in the

last three years.

With the launch of the digitalised card format, SanwoOlu said the state government would be targeting to capture 10 million residents on the

database before the end of the year.

This new residency ID, according to LASRRA, is a multipurpose smart card with 28 applets that make

the provision of 28 services possible to the cardholders.

The governor said: “Today’s relaunch is borne out of the need to embrace change and align with global best practices.

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Jealous Fiancée Burns Cairo- Man Bags 30 Years for Ingesting 72 Wraps of Cocaine in Enugu based Partner in Osun

YinkaKolawoleinOsogbo

Tragedy struck as a jealous fiancee named IfeoluwaAkanji set ablaze her Cairo-based partner, Bolu Bamidele over alleged infidelity.

THISDAY gathered that Bolu and Ifeoluwa had their introduction ceremony in March 2022 before the former travelled to Cario where he was based.

It was learnt that Bolu built a bungalow for Ifeoluwa in Osogbo township and also bought a car for her to ease her movement before building another private house at Coker area in Obokun Local Government area of Osun.

Sources around the victim, which

confided in THISDAY said, Bolu travelled back to Nigeria to celebrate the birthday of Ifeoluwa last week when the wife discovered that he impregnated another woman after reading his WhatsApp chat.

He said: “Bolu and Ifeoluwa had been on the issue for about a week before he set the private house on fire while Bolu was inside the house, locking all entrances on Sunday and fled to an unknown destination.”

An eyewitness and the neighbour who rescued Bolu disclosed to THISDAY that it took them 40 minutes before they could rescue him from the fire. But eventually died at the University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital.

Enugu Youths Celebrate Ugwuanyi’s Achievements Youths of Ovogovo in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, under the auspices of United Ovogovo Youth Forum (UOYF), have described Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as a manager of human and material resources, According to them, the governor assumed office at the most difficult time in the socio-economic life of the country but changed the tide in the state positively with numerous development projects and peopleoriented programmes.

Speaking when they paid a solidarity visit to the governor at the Government House, Enugu, the Director General of UOYF,

Hon. Chimaobi Ezema, described Gov. Ugwuanyi as a man of peace, wisdom and vision, who saw the need to develop young people so that they can play their societal role as leaders of tomorrow.

He commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for the peaceful and successful conduct of the party primary elections in Enugu State ahead of the 2023 general elections, pledged their unalloyed loyalty and support to the governor towards his bid to represent Enugu North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, assuring they are solidly behind him.

Heritage Oil Appoints New CEO Heritage Oil Limited (HOL) has announced the appointment of Adogbeji (Ado) Oseragbaje as its new Chief Executive Officer.

The appointment became effective from July 14, 2022.

According to a statement, Oseragbaje would also lead HOL’s Nigerian operations as Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited.

“Ado brings 25 years of global leadership experience in the oil and gas business and joins us from Baker Hughes where he was vice president covering sub-Saharan Africa. He has previously held senior positions, including at General

Electric and Schlumberger, across the world,” it added.

Commenting on the appointment, Chairman of HOL, Michele Faissola, stated: “Ado brings a wealth of experience to the role that will be of huge benefit to the company and its stakeholders, particularly in Nigeria. We are delighted to appoint a person of Ado’s caliber as our new Chief Executive Officer.”

The new CEO holds a Master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from Imperial College London and a Diploma in Real-Time Oilfield Project Management from Heriot-Watt University Scotland.

The Federal High Court sitting in Enugu yesterday sentenced one Charles Ude, 53, for ingesting 72 wraps of cocaine weighing 3.7 kilogrammes.

Udeh, resident of No 5 Nkanunta Street, Meniru in Awkunanaw, of Enugu State was convicted to a two-count charge for drug trafficking.

The father of five children

was arrested by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on December 3, 2021 during an outward clearance of the Ethiopian Airline at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

According to the Prosecutor, Afum Obeta, Udeh was arrested by 12.30pm on Dec.

3, 2021 during screening at the airport and was placed under surveillance at the agency’s custody.

“While under observation for some hours at about 10pm, the convict excreted the substance at two different times which was discovered to be cocaine after forensic analysis.

During hearing, Udeh, who

previously pleaded not guilty to the two count charge preferred against him later changed his plea and admitted committing the crime.

He said he was lured into the crime by a man called Schoolboy who capitalized on his poor condition of life adding that he was a first offender to the crime.

Group Accuses Obaseki of Non-performance Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City A coalition of pressure groups in Edo State, under the umbrella of Benin Socio Cultural Organisations (BSCO), yesterday carpeted the state government for not fulfilling its numerous campaign promises.

The group also alleged that the opposition parties in the

state were not living up to expectations and described the Edo State House of Assembly as rubber stamp.

However, in a swift reaction, the Special Adviser, Media Projects to Governor Godwin Obaseki, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, described the group as an unknown association sponsored by politicians that the governor

sent out of job since the 2020 governorship election.

Osagie said: “As reputable organisations, the media should know the difference between empty allegations from a group of politicians displaced by the new brand of politics promoted

by His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki, and real criticism meant to promote

good governance.

“The only thing new about these lies and those who promote them is that they have incorporated a few more recently displaced individuals who for their personal, pecuniary interests recently tried to destabilise the harmony within the PDP in Edo State but failed miserably.

Bauchi Students’ Unions Flag off PVC Awareness on Campuses

Segun AwofadejiinBauchi

The National Union of Bauchi State Students (NUBASS) and the Kaura Students Support Forum (KSSF) yesterday flagged off an awareness campaign programme in some selected secondary schools and tertiary institutions in Bauchi State on the importance of obtaining the Permanent Voters Card (PVC).

Speaking at the commencement

of the sensitisation held at the Aliko Dangote College of Nursing Sciences Bauchi, the NUBASS President, Mahmud Abubakar, encouraged the students to take the advantage of the ongoing voters’ registration to obtain their cards to enable participate actively in electoral processes.

According to him, “Elections are coming, and therefore, we are here as your leaders to sensitise

you on the need to obtain your PVC in order to participate in the forthcoming general election. I want to use this medium to appreciate the effort of the state Governor Bala Mohammed, towards the advancement of the education sector in the state.”

He assured them that the NUBASS leadership would continue to remain focus in ensuring the welfare of Bauchi State

students through the collaboration with relevant stakeholders particularly the state government.

On his part, the National Chairman of the Kaura Students Support Forum (KSSF), Sani Adamu, said the awareness campaign would be conducted in all tertiary institutions across the state for massive participation of youths in the next year’s general election.

Bayelsa Govt Clears Air on State of Its Airport Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State government has clarified that the state-owned international airport has not been downgraded as being insinuated by some persons.

It said the absence of scheduled flights to and from the Bayelsa International Airport for a couple of weeks now was not the making or fault of the

state government, but has to do with some technical issues with the two airlines operating on the route.

The Deputy Governor, Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the clarification yesterday, when the Federated Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Bayelsa State Council, paid him a courtesy

visit in Yenagoa.

Ewhrudjakpo explained that the two airlines, Ibom-Air and United Nigeria Airlines - were carrying out what he called D-Check on their aircraft, which had also affected their flight operations from their primary routes.

According to the Deputy Governor, the D-Check was a major maintenance check to

determine the air-worthiness of an aircraft after it had made commercial flights for a period of 10 years.

He pointed out that the state government was in touch with the management teams of both airlines, giving the assurance that normal flight operations would resume at the airport before the end of the month.

LP Receives Defectors, Unveils Candidates Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Ahead of the 2023 general election, over 200 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to the Labour Party (LP) in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State.

This is just as the party LP unveiled some of its candidates

for the 2023 election.

The candidates include Femi Dexter Akin-Alamu, (Ibadan North federal constituency); Dayo Taiwo (Ibadan South West constituency 2); Ayodeji Babalola, (Ibadan South East constituency 2); Babatunde Onirin, (Ibadan North constituency 1), and Kayode Adejumo Bello, (Ibadan North constituency 2).

The state Deputy Chairman of the party, Aare Abiodun Adeyeye, while receiving the defectors during the general meeting of the party in the local government area, said the party is poised to deliver Nigerians from the shackles the major parties have put them, assuring them that Labour Party is coming with full force to change the situation.

According to him, “We enjoin yothe people are clamoring for a real change. Hence, there is no other party better ready for that than we the third force, and no party can dislodge us now.

“We are bringing change!

When you look at what has been happening in the last seven years, that is their own change but we are moving Nigeria to a greater height.”

39

THURSDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Super Falcons Boycott Training in Morocco over Bonus Row

Duro Ikhazuagbe

In what has become a recurring story, Nigeria’s Super Falcons embarked on another boycott of training yesterday in Casablanca, Morocco ahead of their WAFCON 2022 third-place match with Zambia on Friday.

The nine-time African champions lost their bid for a 10th title to hosts Morocco on in a dramatic semi final that witnessed the sending off of two Nigerian players before the Atlas Lionesses won 5-4 in penalty shootouts. Regulation and extra time ended one all.

But after playing from the group stage to the last four stage without getting the about $10,000 each of the players was entitled to, they had no other choice but resort to boycott of training to press home

WAFCON 2022

their demands. Falcons were entitled to $3,000 apiece for the victories over Botswana, Burundi and Cameroon.

The players boycotted training on Wednesday evening, prompting officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to act swiftly in order to prevent another strike before the match against Zambia on Friday.

"The players have refused to leave their hotel in Casablanca over unpaid bonuses," a top NFF official told BBC Sport Africa.

"There is also an issue over the unpaid first five days of camp, which the players expected in their bank accounts but has not arrived."

The financially-stricken NFF, which receives its funding from the

Nigerian government and sponsors from Corporate Nigeria, has made a $1,000 payment to each player to cover their 10 days' allowance.

NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, told BBC Sport Africa in Morocco yesterday that his federation is "dealing with the issue" - but funds need to come from the country's Federal Ministry of Sports before any payment can be made.

A special adviser to the Minister

of Sports, Sunday Dare, said the "issues are being resolved" and the team has received verbal assurances that they will be paid.

"The issues are being resolved and the NFF has assured the team they will get all that is due them," Toyin Ibitoye stressed.

"The sports ministry has presented NFF's request for financial intervention to the relevant quarters and it is receiving urgent attention.

"The processes for receiving funds from the government take time and the team now understands this. Both the ministry and NFF are working to ensure things move at a faster pace.

It is not the first time players of Africa's most successful women's side have protested over unpaid bonuses.

The Super Falcons have twice been involved in sit-in protests

in hotels at previous WAFCONs. The first came in South Africa in 2004after they won the title, with another in 2016 in Abujaafter claiming their eighth continental crown in Cameroon.

At the 2019 Women's World Cup in France, the players staged another sit-in protest over unpaid salaries and bonusesafter their Round of 16 elimination by Germany.

Lewandowski Joins Barca Teammates in Miami after €50m Switch from Bayern Poland striker Robert Lewandowski who switched from Bayern Munich to Barcelona on a four-year contract worth 50m euros (£42.6m) joined his new teammates in Miami in the Catalan giants four-match tour of the United States.

The 33-year-old had one year left on his contract with the German champions but in May said: "My story with Bayern is over.".

"I'm finally here. I'm delighted to be at Barca," Lewandowski said announced yesterday.

"The last few days have been very long, but the deal is done and now I can focus on a new chapter and challenge in my life.

"I've always wanted to play in La Liga and for the big clubs.

"I'm here to help Barca get back to the top and win as many titles as possible."

Lewandowski, who has a buyout clause of 500m euros (£425.9m), joined Bayern on a free transfer in 2014 after his departure from Borussia Dortmund.

TRANSFER NEWS He scored 50 goals in 46 games last season as he helped Bayern win a 10th straight Bundesliga title.

Lewandowski has scored 344 times in 374 games for the club and is their second-highest scorer of all time behind Gerd Muller.

He has won the league in all eight of his seasons at Bayern and also won the Champions League in 2019-20.

Lewandowski is Barcelona's fourth signing of the summer following Brazil winger Raphinha joining from Leeds Unitedin a deal worth up to £55m, while Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie and Denmark defender Andreas Christensen have arrived on free transfersafter their respective contracts with AC Milan and Chelsea came to an end.

France winger Ousmane Dembele has also signed a contract extension with Barcelona this summer.

Super Falcons in tears shortly after losing the penalty shootouts 4-5 to hosts Morocco...on Monday night. Now, they have boycotted training to press home their demands to be paid their outstanding allowances and bonuses

Oshoala, Mane on Cusps of Retaining African Titles Nigeria's Asisat Oshoala and Senegal's Sadio Mane, have a chance to retain their Confederation of African Football's (CAF) Player of the Year awards today in Morocco after the organisers cut down its shortlist in the men and women's categories.

Mane, the last man to be crowned Africa's best player back

in 2019, will go up against former Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah of Egypt and compatriot Edouard Mendy of Chelsea.

Riyad Mahrez, Naby Keita, Vincent Aboubakar, Karl Toko Ekambi, Achraf Hakimi, Sebastien Haller and Kalidou Koulibaly have all fallen by the wayside from the 10-long list released over a

week ago.

The women's shortlist has also been revealed, with Africa's most decorated footballer Oshoala, Cameroon forward Ajara Nchout Njoya and Zambia midfielder Grace Chanda making the final three.

Barcelona forward Oshoala was named Africa's best female

Lagos Agog for 3rd Adewale Isa National Junior Tennis The annual Adewale Isa Memorial National Junior Championship will kick off at the National Stadium, Surulere, from August 1 Speaking at the press conference to herald the kick off of the competition after staging the first two editions in Kaduna, Yinka Isa-Adigun said the essence of the competition was part of their late father’s legacy of developing tennis players in the country.

Isa-Adigun, who is the eldest daughter of the late national tennis referee, said it was in continuation of this tradition started by the family to immortalise his legacy,that this edition is holding in Lagos.

She said the tournament is an open event for junior players from across the country with the sole aim of complimenting the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) efforts at grassroots development of the sport.

On his part, the National Junior Tennis Coach, Mohammed Ubale, said the tournament would help NTF to select players for the national team, especially for international competitions.

“We are so excited at NTF that the family decided to bring the tournament to Lagos and we believe this would give us the chance to

select players for the national teams.

This is an open tournament for junior players across the country and we believe this will help to unearth a new set of talent for the country.

“Outstanding players from the tournament will be invited to the national camp in Abuja for a three-week camping ahead of some international competitions later this year,” Ubale said.

Explaining the format of the event, the tournament referee, Arinola Isa, said the tournament will be competed in U-12, U-14 and U-16 with the round of 32 in a knockout format, while players that could not make the top 32 will battle for honours in the round robin matches as all participating players will taste action during the competition The late Alhaji Mustapha Adewale Isa was Kaduna State coach and he produced many national and international players. Notably on this list are; tennis Olympian, Yakubu Suleiman, Olympian Sadiq Abdullahi, the current national Junior Coach of Nigeria, Ubale Mohammed, and his son Nurudeen Isa, the Nigerian Master's Champion in 2000. Alhaji Isa died at the age of 98 years in 2015.

L-R: Asisat Oshoala; Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah

Egbe: What Nigerians Need in NFF is Falcons’ Kind of Fighting Spirit Sports Facility Expert and Chief Executive Officer of MoniMichelle Group, Ebi Egbe, has joined the band of football enthusiasts applauding the performance of the Super Falcons against host Morocco in the semi final of WAFCON 2022 last Monday.

Egbe while heaping praises on the girls who bowed out of the competition on penalty shootouts after playing two girls down for

most part of the semi final clash, said the doggedness displayed by the girls is what is needed at the NFF’s Glass House.

He noted that Nigeria has in Amaju Melvin Pinnick, a dogged football administrator who pursues his target and vision in an unrelenting manner.

"It is this doggedness that has seen Amaju rise to the highest level of football administration globally.

“Nobody gave him a chance when he took a shot at CAF and FIFA and today he is there. We can't chase away such a man because some people don't like his face or what he has achieved. Let us base things on what he is bringing on the table for Nigerian football. Nigeria's interest should come first and not that of some selfish individuals who some of us know have nothing to offer," Egbe concluded.

player three years ago - since when the awards have been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, the only snag for Oshoala who got injured at the WAFCON 2022 in Morocco and had to return to Spain for treatment is that, she may not be available to receive the continental honour.

Going by CAF’s unwritten rule since 2007 edition held in Benin Republic in 2008, no person had won the award in absentia. Cote d’Ivoire’s Didier Drogba was tipped to be the winner but was relegated to the third position owing to his absence. Mali’s Frédéric Oumar Kanouté was then given the award.

The last player to be given in absentia was Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o at the 2005 edition.

CAF, African football's governing body, has also announced the final lists for other men and women's categories including Coach, Young Player, Interclub Player, Club, National team and goal of the year awards.

All the winners will be named today apart from the women's national team of the year award, which will be announced after the WAFCON final on Saturday.

FINAL 2022 NOMINEES Player of the Year (women) Grace Chanda (Zambia & BIIK Kazygurt) Ajara Nchout Njoya (Cameroon & Inter Milan) Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Barcelona) Player of the Year (men) Sadio Mane (Senegal & Bayern Munich)l Edouard Mendy (Senegal & Chelsea) Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)

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Thursday, July 21, 2022

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MISSILE

Aminu Masari to Ada Aliero

“If he enters Katsina, we will arrest him so that he can answer for his atrocities. Even if they say he has stopped attacking people in Zamfara, we know that here in Katsina, he is still killing people and his followers are still killing our people”---Katsina State Governor on the recent coronation of notorious terrorist, Ada Alero by an emir in Zamfara State

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

The Adelekes and the Last Laugh I

watched the video clip of Davido in tears of joy as he prostrated for top politicians he believed helped his uncle, Ademola Adeleke, over the line in Saturday’s Osun State gubernatorial election. The video says a lot about what the family has had to endure these past eight years and the hubris of political titans who tried to play god in the state. In spite of the fact that the only ‘manifesto’ from the victorious Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate during the five years he pursued his ambition was dancing; that was enough to see him through.

In the wake of the Osun result, we’ve witnessed a lot of back slapping by PDP leaders, which is to be expected. Particularly as we inch towards the 2023 general election. It is a big scalp for the main opposition party to claim.

But I don’t want them to get carried away nor should Nigerians be misled into believing that the Osun gubernatorial result will follow the same pattern next February. All politics, as they say, is local. Besides, given the unpredictable variables thrown into the mix by Peter Obi whose aspiration has turned the Labour Party into a mass movement, especially among young Nigerians and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the fast-growing NNPP, the 2023 general election may not be like the usual two-party contest of the past.

But before I make my point, it is important to commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for constantly improving on their performance. It is now becoming increasingly difficult to game elections in our country. And because they can no longer manipulate results after ballots have been cast, desperate politicians are now stockpiling money to buy votes on polling day. Incidentally, this is not a peculiar problem. In 19th-century Britain and the United States, according to a University of Florida research paper published on www.cambridge.org/core, “vote buying was commonplace. Parties gave voters cash, food, alcohol, health care, poverty relief, and a myriad of other benefits in exchange for their votes.

To gain leverage over them, parties gathered information about voters’ debts, their crimes, even their infidelities.” But today, “these forms of distributive politics have basically disappeared from both countries, as they have from most other advanced democracies where they once were practiced.”

As other societies have done, we must also checkmate the activities of vote buyers if we are to advance our democracy.

Let me also say something about how the election of Adeleke speaks to the issue of religious tolerance in Yorubaland in a manner that may be difficult for outsiders to understand. The late patriarch of the family, Second Republic Senator Raji Ayoola Adeleke, was a respected community and Islamic leader in Edeland. His wife, Nnena Esther Adeleke (nee Akpara) hailed from Akwete, Ukwa East local government area of Abia State, and was not only a Christian but the founder of a Cherubim and Seraphim church in Ede. Their eldest son, the late Isiaka Adeleke was a Muslim, but his immediate younger sibling, Tajudeen Adedeji Adeleke (Davido’s father) is a Seventh Day Adventist Christian. Meanwhile, the governor-elect, Jackson Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke is as comfortable in a Church as he is in a Mosque!

Last Sunday, THISDAY carried a brilliant

Adeleke...dancing to Government House headline: “APC, Tinubu, Oyetola: Won Lu’le…”

That adapted Yoruba phrase, recently popularized by the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, depicts how President Muhammadu

Buhari lost three presidential elections in a row.

A crude translation: ‘they fell ignominiously’.

I love the headline because in so many ways, it tells a compelling story of the battles the Adelekes have fought to preserve a family legacy.

The story of this election began in 2014 when the late Isiaka Adeleke, the first civilian governor of Osun state, led thousands of supporters from the then ruling PDP to join the APC, cobbled together only a year before. Fondly called ‘Serubawon’ (the intimidator), the late Adeleke was a colourful politician whose family holds significant influence in Ede and environs. In fact, their late father, a Second Republic Senator, represented a huge swathe of what is now Osun State. ‘Serubawon’, the eldest of the Adeleke brothers, had been a PDP gubernatorial aspirant before he was muscled out by the party leadership who ceded the ticket to Omisore.

Addressing APC members in Osogbo as he switched party on 31st May 2014, ‘Serubawon’ alleged he had been physically assaulted by a number of PDP bigwigs, including Omisore. “I was asked to come and vie for governorship, that Omisore is not capable. I accepted. But a day to the congress I got to the hotel in Osogbo and the people I sent there were on the floor with guns pointed at their heads and I told the police that they are members of our party from Ede,” ‘Serubawon’ recounted at the APC rally.

“I then moved towards the room where I met Sogo Agboola, Jelili Adesiyan, Iyiola Omisore, Gani Olaoluwa and others. As I was about explaining what happened outside to the Minister (Adesiyan), he descended on me with blows.

So also, was Omisore and others.”

Adesiyan, who was at that period the Minister of State for Police Affairs (a position he owed to Omisore), of course did not allow the allegation to go unchallenged. But he replied ‘Serubawon’ in a manner that would have cost him his job in saner climes. Apparently unmindful of the implication of his words, Adesiyan told reporters: “Adeleke is lying if he says Omisore and I beat him. One upper or lower cut would have landed him in the hospital. After running to his people in the APC, they perfected the

story for him. You know they are very good at propaganda. Ta lo nje ode aperin niwaju ode ap’eyan (who is an elephant hunter in the presence of a hunter who kills human beings?)

I will one day leave office as a minister of the federal republic of Nigeria, and I will fight Adeleke.”

It was amid this acrimony that the late ‘Serubawon’ left PDP for APC. With his support, Aregbesola defeated Omisore in August 2014 to secure a second term as governor. By way of payback, the then incumbent APC Senator, Mudashiru Hussein was asked to step down for ‘Serubawon’ who was given the party’s senatorial ticket for Osun West in the 2015 general election. Two years after winning his senatorial election, ‘Serubawon’ died on 24th April 2017. To assuage their feeling of hurt, the family demanded that the APC ticket be given to his younger brother, Ademola to complete the term. But power brokers within the party and Aregbesola opted to give the ticket back to Mudashiru Hussein. In protest, the younger Adeleke left APC for the PDP where he was handed the senatorial ticket.

In the bye-election held in July 2017 just a few days after joining the PDP, Ademola Adeleke defeated the APC candidate by a landslide, an indication of the popularity of his family. He won in nine of the 10 local governments that make up the senatorial district. With 97,480 votes to Hussein’s 66,116 votes, Adeleke won in Iwo, Olaoluwa, Ayedare, Irewole, Ede North, Ede South, Ayedaade, Egbedore and Isokan local governments, losing only in Ejigbo local government. Beyond the victory of Adeleke in the senatorial contest, the clear message from that election for the APC was that Osun West people were not happy with the status quo in the state where they felt marginalised. The ‘Awa L’okan’ (it is our turn) clamour for the governorship mantle was already very strong in the zone and the Adeleke family knew it.

In fact, in moving from the PDP to APC in 2014, the late ‘Serubawon’ must have made a number of strategic calculations.

Continued on page 22

A Blatant Culture of Dishonesty

L

ast Friday, the Mail of London carried a report on the Ogun State football Cup final which ended in a bizarre penalty shoot-out after the match ended goalless. “For one of Ijebu United’s spot kicks, the Remo Stars goalkeeper stands on his line and remains perfectly still” the paper reported.

“He then appears to allow his opponent to direct a fairly tame penalty into the bottom corner.

Things got even more bizarre when a Remo Stars player stepped up to take a penalty and then blasted his effort sideways, with the ball flying off the side of the pitch. He then held his hands on his head in an apparent effort to make the miss appear genuine.”

Although the newspaper also reported that the Nigerian podcast host, Ibukun Aluko, who broke the story later claimed that the Remo Stars squad had deliberately missed their penalties to protest officiating in the match, not many would buy that story. Besides, this is not an isolated incident. “Remo Stars would eventually

go on to lose the penalty shootout 3-0, with Ijebu United lifting the cup. Whatever the reason for the misses, you’re unlikely to ever see a more bizarre penalty shootout,” the Mail wrote.

Whatever the excuse, this is a familiar emblem of shame for our country. I once wrote on what happened on the last day of the 2005/2006 football season, concerning a crucial match in Oron, Akwa Ibom State between then promotion-seeking Akwa United, a professional Division One team and Calabar Rovers. For Akwa United to gain promotion into the Premiership, winning their match would not be enough, Bussdor United of Port Harcourt also had to lose or at least play a draw. Because of the wide goal difference, any other result would consign Akwa United to Division One for another season. Except of course they could score 13 goals within 90 minutes!

Expecting a team that had not scored 12 goals all season to then bang in 13 goals in one match would be expecting a rare miracle in modern competitive football games. But that was exactly

what happened. Within a few minutes of a most scandalous match where the referee and the 22 players on the field acted out a macabre drama, Akwa United actually won by 13 goals to zero!

That record in infamy was bettered in July 2013 when Plateau United Feeders somehow conjured the 79 goals that they needed to defeat Akurba FC while Police Machine FC also demolished Babayaro FC 67-0 to qualify for the Nigeria Nationwide League Division 3.

As I have also argued in the past, I am sure many Nigerians will laugh about those sordid reports and say it is only football. But it should worry all of us that this kind of dishonesty has permeated all strata of our society such that there seems to be no sacred values to hold dear again. The lesson to draw is that a system that encourages such perfidy is clearly endangered. I hope the authorities in Ogun State will hold people accountable for that disgraceful outing between Ijebu United and the Remo Stars.

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