FRIDAY 24TH JULY 2020 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

FG Targets N18tn in New Revenue Drive James Emejo in Abuja The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, has said the federal government has identified new revenue initiatives that could fetch it between N13 trillion and

N18 trillion from both oil and non-oil revenue sources. This, according to her, will be done under the federal government’s Strategic Revenue Growth Initiative (SRGI) that was launched last year. She also emphasised the

commitment of the federal government to the achievement of the 15 per cent revenue-toGDP target by 2023. Ahmed said during a web conference with the theme: "Leveraging Data to Drive Inclusive Policy, Revenue Generation and Improved

Governance," organised by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in collaboration with Softcom, that the country's revenue to GDP stood at eight per cent since 2018. She added that this is significantly below those of its comparator countries and

the continent average as well as below the ERGP target. The minister stated that there are ongoing efforts to work towards achieving the 15 per cent target, which still represented major change in policy behaviour driven by data to purposely target

revenue generation. “Clearly, this pandemic has brought to the fore the need and the urgency to further diversify the sources of government revenue and the wisdom of our Strategic Continued on page 50

COVID-19: THISDAY Dome, Best Treatment Centre, Says FG... Page 8 Friday 24 July, 2020 Vol 25. No 9237. Price: N250

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Akpabio Blinks, Says He Didn’t Accuse Lawmakers of Being NDDC Contractors House threatens lawsuit, probes police invasion of Nunieh's residence Senate demands agency's IMC dissolution, refund of N4.923bn Deji Elumoye, Adedayo Akinwale and Udora Orizu in Abuja Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has walked back his claim that National Assembly lawmakers got 60 per cent of contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), an agency under his ministry's supervision. Akpabio, in a letter to the

House of Representatives, which had on Tuesday given him a 48-hour ultimatum that expired yesterday, to publish the names of the contractorlawmakers, said the reference he made to 60 per cent during his presentation before the House NDDC Committee was in response to a question by a member of the committee. NDDC matter was also Continued on page 10

Oshiomhole: PDP Provided Evidence that Nailed Obaseki Ex-APC chairman, clutching at straws, says opponent Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday told

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to blame the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for his disqualification by the APC screening Continued on page 10

ON A PEACE MISSION... President Muhammadu Buhari (left) with the President of Mali, Mr. Ibbrahim Boubacar Keita, on Buhari's arrival in Bamako, for a peace mission by ECOWAS Heads of Government ....yesterday

FG: No Political Interference in Fixing Electricity Tariffs... Page 5

FRIDAY JULY 24, 2020 â€¢T H I S D AY

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

FG: No Political Interference in Fixing Electricity Tariffs

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government yesterday dismissed insinuations that political consideration was inhibiting it from determining electricity tariffs. It noted that rather, Distribution Companies (Discos) were responsible for setting the tariffs after consultations with consumers, subject to the approval of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). The clarification came against the backdrop of the controversy over a new tariff regime, which was supposed to have become effective on July, but was deferred following disagreement among stakeholders in the power sector. Speaking yesterday during a web conference, tagged “Critical Decisions for the Power Sector”, organised by Nigeria Electricity Hub, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, stated that the challenges in the power sector were costing Nigeria a lot. She added that the federal government was striving to resolve the issues within the sector and some of its steps have started yielding fruits. Ahmed noted that because of the nature of electricity supply, results are usually not felt until the entire process is completed. She said aside the ongrid electricity supply, the government was also investing in alternative off-grid power sources. However, other members of

the panel, including the Chief Executive Officer, ZJK Energy, Mr. Rumundaka Wonodi; Principal Consultant, Emtech Energy Services, Ifey Ekeonu; and Head, (PMU) Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), Mr. Kenny Anuwe, agreed on the need to reduce the political influence in the power sector. Ahmed stressed that the current framework will ensure that apart from the fact that tariffs will be tied to power supply, the poor would no longer subsidise the rich. She said: “Tariffs are set by Discos but they are expected to consult with consumers. Government does not set tariffs, but Discos do with the approval of the regulatory agency. “It ( power challenge) is costing us a lot. The regulators are working on a certain number of hours of service and tie it to tariff. We insist that the most vulnerable must not suffer. “Now, the rates are staggered. If the Discos agree with consumers after consultations and if it works, there will be more liquidity and Discos can have more financing, but it takes time,” she stated. According to her, as part of efforts in ensuring that things are done differently, the regulator has licensed separate companies to import metres to ensure efficiency. She, however, said the federal government was willing to support the companies with rebates and review of import duty. “But we prefer they bring in

Military Chiefs, Others Pay Last Respects to First Female Combat Pilot, Arotile Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello; his wife, Rasheedat; Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd); as well as military top brass, led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, were among dignitaries that paid tribute yesterday as the remains of the first Nigerian female combatant helicopter pilot, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, were buried. The body of Arotile, 24, who died in a motor accident in Kaduna, was buried at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja with full military honours. Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Pauline Tallen; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, and Disaster Management, Sadiya Umar Farouq; Chairman of Senate Committee on Air Force, Senator Bala Ibn Na'lla; his House of Representatives counterpart, Hon. Shehu Koku; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, representatives of the Chief of Naval Staff, and Chief of Army Staff were also at the funeral. In his speech, Abubakar said Arotile was a national heroine who made an impact. He stated that the Nigerian Air Force had so much confidence in her before her demise. "Nigerian Air Force is still in shock and grief. We had so

much confidence in her but our confidence has been cut short. "As a service, we had so much expectations from her, which she lived up to before her death. She made an impact on anti-banditry operations in the North-west and North-central. Her memory will remain indelible in our minds," he added. The mother of the deceased, Mrs. Damilola Arotile, thanked God for the life of her daughter. She thanked the NAF for the expert training given to her that made her outshine her peers, recalling that as a child, she always thought of flying an aircraft. She noted that she was passionate about God, family and work and thanked the nation for the support given the family. In his homily, the Director, Chaplaincy, NAF, Group Captain Dogo Bari Gani, said Arotile saw the evil going on in Nigeria and took the challenge to fight from the air and urged the authorities to create the atmosphere for a generation of other fighters to continue from where she stopped. Magashi, Olonisakin, Abubakar, Tallen, Farouq, the mother of the deceased and a representative of her course mates performed the wreathlaying ceremony. The traditional 2-gun salute was also rendered in her honour.

parts to enhance value addition,” she stated. She also said Discos needed to remit more funds, adding that NERC was monitoring key performance indices and improvement plans submitted by the power distributors. The minister said from feedback from NERC, consumers were willing to pay more, but added that the tariff hike must be tied to the provision of better

service. In her intervention, Ekeonu, an energy expert, lamented that neither the federal government nor consumers has benefited significantly from the privatisation of the power sector. “Nigeria is at a critical stage. When privatisation was done, there were expectations, but they have not been met. “Political interference or tariff issue is not a stand

alone issue, but the challenges must be tackled holistically. In developing countries, tariff is a political issue and politicians intervene,” she noted. Wonodi also said there was no clarity on how to measure the performance of the Discos and other participants in the power value chain. He added that tariff hike must not take place for the sake of it, but must be tied to verifiable,

factual and data-based key performance indicators. He said: “Right now, tariff doesn't mean any measure of service. There's a lack of clear key performance indicators. What are the tariffs doing for the consumers who have no clear signals the difference it will make? What does cost reflective tariff mean to the consumer? Is he getting better service?"

IN TOUCH WITH DONOR AGENCIES... Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) during a virtual conference with a delegation of international agencies in Nigeria supporting the Economic Sustainability Plan and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in Abuja...yesterday

Magu Unable to Submit Defence to Panel, Says Counsel Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commision (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, yesterday appeared before the Justice Ayo Salami-led presidential panel probing allegations of financial infraction against him, but the panel did not attend to him. Magu's counsel, Mr. Wahab Shittu, confirmed to Channels TV that Magu was before the panel to defend the 21-point allegations preferred against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami. This comes as a human rights lawyer, Mr. Agozie Benedict Okonkwo, has berated the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay and Magu's counsel, Mr. Tosin Ojaomo, over their criticism of the minister. THISDAY gathered that Magu went to the panel with his lead counsel and senior lawyer, Shittu, and waited from 12pm to 7pm but was not attended to. The panel had previously refused to accept Magu's

submissions. Magu, who is seeking to debunk all allegations levelled against him, is expected to continue his presentation today. Meanwhile, Okonkwo has accused Sagay and Ojaomo, who was the prosecutor for the defunct Special Presidential Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Property, of demonstrating a determination to avenge Magu’s ordeal on Malami, for daring to touch what they considered sacred to their interest which the AGF had desecrated. "While Sagay, my senior colleague, has never hidden his dislike for Malami since the inception of this administration, Oluwatosin is the lawyer to Ibrahim Magu at the ongoing presidential panel grilling him over the allegations levelled against him in the AGF’s memo. "Therefore, one will not be surprised if any of the duo would take such a negative position against Malami at this point. They wish to demarket him at all cost, including fabricating stories that are obviously lies. "This is unbecoming of personalities who are supposed to help to shape the anti-corruption

efforts of the administration rather than castigating for selfish reasons," he said. "Oluwatosin Ojaomo, as one of the defunct SPIP prosecutors, had accused the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), of sitting on all the SPIP files handed over to him on the directives of the president in September 2019, when he dissolved the SPIP and directing that he (AGF) should immediately take over all outstanding investigations and other activities of the SPIP. "In response to Mr. President’s directives, the AGF being very mindful of all the corruption allegations levelled against the defunct SPIP, which led to its dissolution, had set up a panel that looked into all files in question and distributed them to the appropriate security agencies who are verifying them to determine if there are prima facie cases established. "It is therefore very laughable for anyone, including Oluwatosin, to attempt to confuse the public that there is any infraction against the AGF in handling those files. "As a lawyer, Oluwatosin

should also realise that a poorly investigated case cannot be allowed to go to court by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation. So, he should be patient and allow the agencies verifying those files to complete their assignments," he added. He said Sagay, on his part, had accused Malami of lukewarm attitude to the anti-corruption war, adding that "he doesn’t play his own part. As the AGF, Sagay said that he is supposed to coordinate common platforms involving the fight, common platforms where PACAC, ICPC and EFCC operate. "Ironically, one of the AGF’s allegations against the deposed EFCC Acting Chairman was act of insubordination. Of all the other security agencies, the AGF only petitioned the former Acting EFCC Chairman. Events playing out have clearly shown that Sagay, as an elderly person, misled Ibrahim Magu by encouraging him to ignore the directives of the Hon. AttorneyGeneral as the supervising authority," he said. When contacted, Ojaomo, promised to "respond soon" to the allegations

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COVID-19: THISDAY Dome, Best Treatment Centre, Says FG To give states, FCT N3.7bn to combat pandemic Appeals to govs to shelve Sallah celebrations 604 new COVID-19 cases raise tally to 38,948 Olawale Ajimotokan, Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Martins Iﬁjeh in Lagos The federal government yesterday described the THISDAY Dome Isolation Centre, located in Abuja, as Nigeria's most comprehensive facility for COVID-19 treatment. Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, at the media briefing by the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, in Abuja, said the facility had started admitting people infected with COVID-19 for treatment. He also spoke on plans by the federal government to give each of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) N100 million, totalling N3.7 billion, to enhance high impact priority response activities to the COVID-19 pandemic. The THISDAY Dome Isolation Centre, which was inaugurated in May, is designed to accommodate 300 beds and is scalable to 500. It is equipped to provide care for persons living with disabilities who might get infected with coronavirus in addition to an intensive care unit for the treatment of the most severe cases of COVID-19, particularly levels 1 and 2 categories. Speaking on the facility yesterday, Ehanire said: "It is the most comprehensive of our treatment centres, fully equipped to treat mild, severe and even critical COVID-19 cases. "It has ventilators, oxygen concentrators and even dialysis machines. On behalf of His Excellency, the President, I again express appreciation to the CACOVID group who set up the centre and the CBN, who is providing hospitality to staff and patients. Personnel will be deployed from the FCT to join the expert team from Irrua, who have been assigned to ensure smooth take-off and mentor a critical mass of health workers to operate the centre." On financial assistance to states and the FCT, the minister said they would receive the support to combat COVID-19 response through the Regional Diseases Surveillance Enhancement (REDISSE) Project. "I am pleased to mention that all states of the federation, including the FCT, are receiving support from the COVID-19 response through the Regional Diseases Surveillance Enhancement (REDISSE) Project. "With this support, all states of the federation will receive N100 million each to enhance high impact priority response activities. The soon to be reactivated BHCPF will join the funding pool," he said. Ehanire also spoke on the assistance Nigeria received from India to support the crusade against COVID-19. He said the High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, Mr. Abhay Thakur, led a delegation of the High Commission to the Federal Ministry of Health a week ago to donate seven tonnes of essential medicines and commodities to support the Nigerian government’s efforts in combating the pandemic. The minister also said the final result of investigations into the efficacy of the Madagascar herbal drug did not show any evidence

that it could cure COVID-19. "The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) has shared its final report on the evaluation of the COVID-19 organics from Madagascar. The initial report had showed that its main ingredient is the same as Artemisia anua. While the preparation at high dose showed activity in reducing the frequency of cough, it did not show any evidence that it has real curative properties against COVID-19," he stated. Ehanire, however, added that the federal government will continue to support all genuine efforts towards finding local COVID-19 cures. On the issue of access to testing facilities, the minister said the country was only able to utilise 40 per cent of the capacity of the its COVID-19 laboratories. Ehanire also said President Muhamnadu Buhari had started an initiative by which African countries would work towards having access to COVID-19 vaccines, whenever they are discovered. The minister expressed fresh concern that the threat of further escalation of infections is real. He also advised Muslims to avoid mass gatherings during the forthcoming Sallah celebrations and not to forget the health precautions that have been prescribed, so as to reduce the risks of COVID-19 infection. He urged citizens to get the right nutrients to ensure best chances to build immunity and strengthen capacity to resist infections.

opinion upon which the next set of recommendations to President Muhammadu Buhari would be based. Mustapha also called on state governors to emulate their counterpart in Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, who has banned public gatherings in the state during Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

FG Considers November GCE External Exams for Students Minister of State for Education, Mr. Emeka Nwajiuba, said

the federal government was considering the option of having the secondary school students sit for the GCE external examinations in November since it was not certain when schools would reopen to allow students sit for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations. Nwajiuba insisted the federal government will not reopen schools if it is not safe to do so. He said talks were ongoing between the federal government and WAEC to conduct the language subjects peculiar to Nigeria, including Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa in the first part of the time-table while working out a

domestication table to take care of other subjects after the general papers. He said the federal government would from July 29 to 30, engage stakeholders, including all state commissioners, chairmen of SUBEB, association of private school owners and Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) members on the readiness for the reopening of schools.

604 New COVID-19 Cases Raise Tally to 38,948 Nigeria's COVID-19 cases rose to 38, 948 yesterday with

the discovery of 604 new infections. According to the NCDC, 20 fresh deaths have brought the fatalities to 833 while16,061 patients have been discharged. In a breakdown yesterday, NCDC said of the 604 new COVID-19 cases, Lagos recorded 203; Oyo, 87; Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 79; Edo, 41; Osun, 35; Ogun, 24; Rivers and Kaduna, 22 each; Akwa Ibom, 20; Plateau, 18; Delta and Ebonyi, nine each; Imo, eight; Enugu, Kano and Cross River, five each; Nasarawa, three; Borno and Ekiti, two each and Bauchi one.

NCDC Implementing Five-pronged Strategy to Increase Testing On his part, the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said the centre had adopted a five-pronged approach to enable it to scale up testing nationwide. He explained that the strategy included increasing the number of laboratories across the states, improving on sample collation mechanism, collaboration with private sector concerns in improving laboratory capacity, deployment of the Genexpert machines and speeding up of validation process for innovative test kits. "We have adopted a five- pronged approach to achieving the national strategy on improving testing. We now have 59 molecular laboratories and 13 Gebexpert machines around the country," he said. In his remarks, The PTF Chairman, Mr. Boss Mustapha, said Nigeria was responsible for five per cent of Africa's coronavirus death count of 16,444 fatalities. According to him, the PTF, other relevant institutions of government and the private sector are working with partners to conduct research that could lead to the discovery of vaccines and drugs to cure COVID-19. He stated that the PTF will rigorously evaluate the developments on the basis of emerging data. He said the approach would help the PTF in forming an

GOOD BYE, WELCOME... L-R: Ogun State new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Edward Ajogun; Governor Dapo Abiodun and the outgoing Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kenneth Ebrimson, during a visit to the governor, in Abeokuta... yesterday

PDP Resolves House Minority Caucus Leadership Crisis NWC to lift suspension on Elumelu, others Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved the crisis among its members in the House of Representatives over the leadership of the minority caucus, THISDAY has learnt. It was gathered yesterday that the issue featured at the Wednesday’s meeting between the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and other leaders of the party in Abuja, where the gathering resolved to pardon members who allegedly worked against its choice of Hon. Kingsley Chinda as the minority leader. A source told THISDAY that with the new development, the main opposition party will soon lift the suspension slammed on the House Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, and his group. Crisis hit the main opposition party when Elumelu, Hon. Wole Oke, Hon. Lynda Ikpeazu, Hon. Anayo Edwin, Hon. Gideon Gwadi, Hon. Toby Okechukwu and Hon. Adekoya Abdul-Majid, on July 9, 2019,

emerged minority leaders of the House, against the choices of the party. Elumelu and his group were subsequently suspended for alleged indiscipline, insubordination and disobedience to party's directives. The source said though the meeting was called to discuss the need for the PDP lawmakers to present a united front on electoral reforms and amendment of the Electoral Act, it provided an opportunity for the resolutions of the year-long crisis over the House minority caucus leadership. A chieftain of the party who attended Wednesday’s meeting told THISDAY that one of the issues discussed at the meeting was the resolution of the controversy over the emergence of Elumelu as the House minority leader. The source added that the NWC had earlier set up a panel chaired by Sokoto State Governor, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, to use his experience as a former House speaker to

make PDP lawmakers close ranks and to recommend to the NWC how to resolve the dispute. The source stated that Chinda, leader of the PDP House Caucus, however, appealed to the meeting to lift the suspension on Elumelu and others. Chinda was said to have told the meeting that PDP cannot present a united front during the debate and public hearing on the amendment to the Electoral Act, if the crisis is not resolved. THISDAY gathered that the meeting, therefore, resolved to get the party's National Working Committee (NWC) to implement the resolution. "The PDP caucus in the House of Representatives is a mother of necessity and is established and recognised with Hon. Kingsley Chinda as leader. "PDP lawmakers in the House of Representatives to work together as one strong opposition. "They're to work together and fight and promote electoral reforms so that the will of the

people is not frustrated by security agencies. "The chairman of governors' forum to be informed on decisions taken here today and given two weeks to address same in line with resolutions taken here today," the source said. It was learnt that the NWC would meet in the next one week to decide whether or not to lift the suspension on the Elumelu group. However, despite the resolution of the crisis, the source stated that the PDP would retain the extant arrangement of Chinda remaining PDP caucus leader in the House. The source added that another issue discussed at the NWC meeting with House of Representatives members was how to ensure that the PDP caucus in the National Assembly press for electoral reform, especially ensuring that the amended Electoral Act that was not signed by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, was recalled and updated.

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PAGE TEN AKPABIO BLINKS, SAYS HE DIDN’T ACCUSE LAWMAKERS OF BEING NDDC CONTRACTORS the focus of the Senate yesterday as it demanded the dissolution of the agency's Interim Management Committee (IMC), the return of its supervision to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the refund of N4.923 billion in illegal payments to the coffers of the commission. Akpabio's letter was submitted to the House Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, at the plenary yesterday, soon after he signified the House's intention to take a legal action against the minister for perjury and civil defamation. Akpabio, while appearing on Monday before the House Committee on NDDC investigating financial malfeasance in the commission, had said 60 per cent of NDDC contracts were given to federal legislators. But in the letter, which is a response to the one Gbajabiamila had directed the House clerk to write to the minister to substantiate his allegation, Akpabio had explained that a lawmaker had asked him whether a medical doctor (Dr. Cairo Ojougboh) could serve as an executive director in charge of projects at the NDDC, to which he responded by saying that since 50 to 60 per cent of NDDC contracts were medical related, then there was nothing wrong in a doctor being in charge of projects. He stated that Ojougboh sent him a list of 19 contracts yet to be paid for, which the chairman of the House Committee on NDDC insisted must be paid before the 2020 budget of the commission could be passed. Akpabio appealed to the speaker to pass the message to the lawmakers who probably misunderstood his statement. He said: ''...the investigating committee refused or neglected to give me the opportunity to explain the reference to ‘most NDDC contracts awarded since 2001 from the records allegedly to members of the National Assembly was done without the knowledge of the alleged beneficiaries. However, the two chairmen of the committees in both chambers have adequate knowledge.

''I never referred to members of the ninth National Assembly as beneficiaries of NDDC contracts as NDDC is yet to fully implement any NDDC budget since the commencement of the ninth National Assembly. In fact, the 2019 budget passed in February and harmonised on 5th of March, 2020 was received by the commission in the middle of April 2020 when the same was designated to expire on May 31, 2020. ''However, it is pertinent to point out that the clerk forwarded a letter dated March 20, without attaching the budget details, this anomaly was brought to the attention of the Senate investigating purported financial recklessness by the management of the commission in July 2020. ''It has always been known that the two chairmen of the committees on NDDC in both chambers exhibit unusual influence to the exclusion of committee members and even the management of the NDDC appropriate funds projects after passing of line items at plenary. ''May I assure Mr. Speaker that as a former minority leader of the 8th Senate of Federal Republic of Nigeria, I shall forever promote the ideals of the National Assembly as an institution hence I will not make the attached documents public since I obtained it from the lead forensic auditors in confidence. Permit me explain that any reference to 50 or 60 per cent during the investigative hearing was in answer to a question by a member of the committee as to whether or not a medical director could act as executive director to projects within the confines of NDDC Act 2000. ''I answered in the affirmative, pointing out that the greatest project in the world today is COVID-19 pandemic, which is medical in nature. Furthermore, I am made to understand that 50 to 60 per cent of NDDC yearly budgets are medical in nature. Therefore, it is fitting for a medical doctor to act as executive director of projects in those trying times.'' Responding, Gbajabiamila said he knew when he asked Akpabio to prove his

allegation that there was no way or how that was going to happen because no such thing happens in the National Assembly. ''I'm not passing the socalled misunderstanding to the 9th Assembly but to the whole world; the minister is saying here that he never said what we thought he said. I knew when I made bold that statement, for him to come up with his proof of allegation, that there was no way or how that was going to happen. Because no such thing happens here. ''His letter has confirmed it; he has pointed fingers to the chairman of the committee here in the House and Senate, but in pointing those fingers again, he has said the chairman was not a member of this House at the time and all he said about the chairman is that he asked him to pay people who are owed contracts. Anything here needs to be further examined. I'm glad we've put this to rest," he added. The speaker referred the letter to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges for further consideration. However, before Gbajabiamila read Akpabio's letter, the lawmakers had resolved to file a lawsuit against Akpabio for criminal perjury and civil defamation. Gbajabiamila, at the commencement of plenary, had said the decision to head to court was sequel to the failure of the minister to publish names of members he accused of getting 60 per cent of NDDC contracts. ''This morning, I asked the Clerk of the House of Representatives to engage the services of legal counsel and instruct them to initiate a criminal complaint of perjury against the minister. At the same time, we will instruct counsel to explore the possibility of a civil defamation suit against the minister. ''The House of Representatives is a public trust placed in our care for the duration of our term in office. We must prove ourselves worthy of this public trust or risk the censure of history. Therefore, we will resist every attempt to undermine this institution, whether such attempts come from within or from outside.

This House will live up to the highest expectations of the Nigerian people. This is our commitment, and we will not fail,” Gbajabiamila had stated.

House Probes Police Invasion of Nunieh's Residence The House yesterday also ordered investigation into the invasion of the residence former acting Managing Director of the IMC of the NDDC, Dr. Joi Nunieh. The lawmakers ordered the investigation following the adoption of a motion by the Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, at the plenary yesterday. While moving the motion, she said in pursuant to Section 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 2 of Legislative House (Powers and Privileges) Act 2017; the sudden invasion of Nunieh's residence by heavily armed men dressed in police uniform, at the early hours of July 16, amounted to excessive use of force in the circumstance. Onyejeocha said Nunieh as a trained lawyer with over 30 years of experience in active practice and being the Managing Partner of Nunieh & Nunieh, a law firm, by her status knows the implication of a police invitation that was not served before invading her residence. The lawmaker expressed worry that the intention of the policemen who invaded Nunieh’s residence should be investigated as they failed to apply international best practices in carrying out their assignment. Onyejeocha added that the police breached the Police Act, 2018 part 5 Clause 33 on notification of cause of arrest and right of suspect to be informed of the cause or need for arrest through an invitation. She stated: "It was alleged that the purported arrest was an attempt by the Nigeria Police to sabotage the cause of investigation; this was to prevent her from travelling from Port Harcourt to Abuja to testify before the House of Representatives Committee on the NDDC. “The House therefore should mandate the House Committee on Police Affairs

to investigate the reason for the invasion of Nunieh’s residence."

Senate Demands Dissolution of NDDC IMC The Senate yesterday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Professor Kemebradikumo Pondeiled Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NDDC for alleged financial recklessness. It also recommended that the NDDC should be returned to the Office of the SGF for proper supervision. The agency, which was formerly supervised by the SGF, is now being oversighted by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs following recent directives by the presidency. In addition, the Senate called on the IMC to refund the N4.923 billion it paid to staff and contractors in breach of the procurement process and approvals. These resolutions were taken after the consideration of the report of the Senate Ad hoc Committee on the alleged N40 billion fraud at the commission, presented to the Senate yesterday. During the debate on the report, senators blamed the alleged corruption in the commission on the failure of the National Assembly to carry out its constitutional responsibility of checking against abuses by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Some senators noted that the committees of the Senate, particularly the one in charge of NDDC, had not done enough to expose corruption in the agency. The Senate in considering the report of the Senator Olubunmi Adetumbi-led committee, resolved that alleged involvement of some members of the National Assembly in abuse of procurement process in the NDDC should be investigated by its Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee, headed by Senator Patrick Akinyelure. The committee was given a four-week deadline to submit its report. Adopting the report of the ad hoc committee, the Senate also recommended

that the monitoring and advisory bodies recognised by the NDDC Act should be inaugurated without further delay. The Senate also approved that the N4.923 billion paid to staff and contractors in breach of procurement process and approvals be refunded to the NDDC treasury. A breakdown of the refunds include N85.7 million for overseas travel to the United Kingdom; N105.5 million for scholarship grants; N164.2 million for union members trip to Italy; N1.96 billion for procurement of Lassa fever kit; N1.12 billion for public communications and N1.49 billion spent on COVID-19 palliatives. Adetunmbi, while presenting the report, said: “In conclusion, the committee noted that it is difficult to find a correlation between Niger Delta community development and cash invested in the zone. “Continued cash injection in the Niger Delta has not worked under the various IMCs. “It may be useful at this juncture for the government to intervene by stepping down the EIMC (Executive Interim Management Committee), thereby helping them leave the stage for a properly constituted board with specific mandate to address the pains of the Niger Delta people.” In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, stated that the presidency was awaiting the report of the Senate on NDDC. He said: "President Muhammadu Buhari is waiting for this report and it will receive the attention it deserves. I am hopeful that this report and recommendations will get the attention it deserves. "The Senate and the National Assembly have been sensitive to the yearnings of the people of the Niger Delta to ensure that special developmental attention is given to the zone. "But those given the responsibility to mitigate the problems in the zone have squandered the resources. This report has exposed the corruption in the NDDC."

OSHIOMHOLE: PDP PROVIDED EVIDENCE THAT NAILED OBASEKI committee for the race for the ruling party's governorship ticket. According to him, PDP, which the governor defected to after his disqualification to emerge its candidate in the September governorship election, supplied the evidence on which the APC screening committee based its decision on. But PDP dismissed his allegation, saying Oshiomhole is clutching at straws to escape the imminent defeat of his party. The APC screening committee had on June 12 disqualified Obaseki and two others from vying for its governorship ticket. The governor was declared ineligible for the party's primary on the grounds that the committee could not vouch for the authenticity of his Higher School Certificate, which he

claimed to possess but could not produce. However, Oshiomhole, while addressing his supporters in Benin City yesterday, said the APC only relied on the documents supplied by the PDP when the main opposition party took the governor to court in 2016 to challenge his candidacy. He added that the PDP's suit was struck out because the party filed it out of time. According to him, APC learnt a bitter lesson from the mistake in Bayelsa State, where the Supreme Court, on the eve of his inauguration, disqualified its governorship candidate that had won the election because of issues over his running mate's credentials. The experience, he added, made the APC to decide to stick to the rules. He said: “PDP took

Obaseki to court that he forged certificate. Now, you remember one governor that said they are tax collectorswhen someone moved. So, they collected the taxes and the certificates became okay. But let me tell you, they know that the man who has forged documents even if you vote for him, you know what happened to us in Bayelsa. So, I need to assure you that the decision of the screening committee to disqualify the sitting governor was based on the evidence provided by PDP, which they found to be correct and you do not repeat the same mistake twice. “The only task we have is to go to every ward, every unit, every local government and every community and remind them of where we stopped and ask them since we left what new thing has

been brought in? “If I fail GO (Godwin Obaseki) examination, by the grace of God on POI (Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu), I will score A1. It is not unusual to misread people but it will be unusual after misreading them, you continue on that dangerous path. We have a duty to correct it. I assure you there are no personal issues whatsoever.” On his removal as chairman of the party, he said: “I hear some people say ‘Oshiomhole has lost his seat as the national chairman,’ and I asked, ‘is it my father’s job?"

...Oshiomhole, Clutching at Straws, Says PDP But in a swift reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr. Kola

Ologbondiyan, dismissed Oshiomhole's allegation. He described him as a man desperate to do anything to save APC from an imminent defeat. "Adams Oshiomhole is clutching at straws, having been abandoned in the sun by his party, the APC. "He must be alive to accept the fact that the people of Edo State are interested in returning a governor that has performed creditably well and denied the godfathers access to the treasury of the state. "The PDP is not interested in any unsubstantiated allegations being bandied by Oshiomhole and as such, our party is moving from ward to ward talking to people of Edo State to return Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, for their performance in office,” he added.

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FRIDAY JULY 24, 2020 â€¢ T H I S D AY

FRIDAY JULY 24, 2020 â€¢T H I S D AY

FRIDAY JULY 24, 2020 â€¢ T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͰͲ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

COMMENT

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

NIGERIA’S BATTLE WITH INSECURITY Bayo Salami writes that the service chiefs have outlived their usefulness

“

The government is not on top of security. Everybody says that security has degenerated each passing day. There are more people being killed (now) than when we were in the civil war. A lot of people are being killed in the north west, in the north east and everywhere. Nowhere is safe. When you talk about people who are being kidnapped in the country, it is simply shocking. There is no security in the country. That is why people are asking that the service chiefs be changed and retired….” That was elder statesman, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark. He re-echoed what many Nigerians have clamoured for in recent years following the obvious and repeated failures of the sitting Service Chiefs to rein in the wave of insecurity in the country. As rightly said by Clark, thousands of Nigerians have died from banditry and terrorism. And the death toll includes even soldiers and other paramilitary personnel. It is even worse seeing that the hope of a more secured Nigeria dims by the day as long as the present crop of service chiefs continue in office, even as they have clearly run out of ideas on how to rescue the nation from the steely grip of bare-faced criminals manifesting as bandits, terrorists or kidnappers. The National Assembly as well as many stakeholders across the country on varied occasions had called for the sack of the Service Chiefs. But nay, they remain plugged on to their sockets. What many Nigerians do not realise is that President Muhammadu Buhari, whose duty it is to appoint or fire the service chiefs, is patently scared of sacking them. Some of the service chiefs had boasted to their allies that they would remain in office until whenever they (service chiefs) decide, “no matter what anybody thinks or says.” Call it impudence, and you won’t be wrong. Some had argued that the refusal of the president to sack the ineffective service chiefs is sheer respect for military ethos. But it is not. What kind of military ethos would condone indolence and sheer incompetence? Some uncharitable persons had sworn that Mr President had been bewitched by the service chiefs so that he will never notice their weakness or count it as any defect. The service chiefs were however taken aback when recently, Mr President read what seemed like a riot act to them when he said that their best was not good enough for the country. But even after that charge, many more attacks by the bandits in the northwest and the terrorists in the north east have been recorded. What is worse, all the service chiefs, except the Naval Chief –

WHAT IS HOWEVER CLEAR TO ALL IS THAT THE SERVICE CHIEFS HAVE NOT REMAINED IN OFFICE AS A RESULT OF COMPETENCE AND PERFORMANCE

Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (from Cross River State), and the Chief of Defence Staff-- Gen Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (from Ekiti State), are from the northern part of the country. Perhaps nobody would mind the region or religion of the service chiefs if and only if they are performing. It is generally believed that the said service chiefs have completely run out of ideas on how best to secure the country, thus necessitating the call for the appointment of new service chiefs who would come in with fresh ideas and operational styles that could improve the state of security in the country. Nothing seems to hit the president enough to prompt a rejig of the security architecture of the country. Not even when Mr President’s home state of Katsina had been ravaged and ransacked by bandits, to the extent that the paramount ruler of his town (Daura) was kidnapped. The neighbouring Zamafara State is perpetually under lockdown, not by the Coronavirus pandemic, but by a mass of bandits who have literally seized the state by the jugular. And the security chiefs wring their hands in utter helplessness and cluelessness. Sometime last year, the Benin-Ore highway as well as the Abuja-Kaduna highway suddenly became den of kidnappers and killers. Travellers were either kidnapped or killed even after ransoms had been paid. People became scared-stiff to travel by road. The police and the entire security apparatchik in the country appeared (and still appear) helpless and hapless in the face of mounting insecurity. Just everywhere you turn, you are confronted with different shades and degrees of insecurity. In some southern communities, Fulani herdsmen have literally seized the farmlands of the natives to the sordid point that the natives have to frequently “settle” the herdsmen before they can gain access to their farmlands. What else is colonization? And the service chiefs remain in office, simply because Nigeria is sadly becoming a country of no consequences. Were it not so, the natural logic would be that if you fail to perform in a given task, you get dropped off. It is even doubly so when the task in question has to do with protection of lives and property, the raison d’etres of every government, in the first place So the question remains: Why is Mr President afraid of his appointees? What did they (service chiefs) do to deaden his anger against them? What is however clear to all is that the service chiefs have not remained in office as a result of competence and performance. Salami, a security consultant wrote from Ilorin, Kwara State

THE FUN AND FURY OF SAPELE Lanre Arogundade recounts some exciting childhood adventures on his 58th birthday

ssorted crayfish first aroused my curiousity about Sapele. Layoonu Arogundade, my mum, would return with baskets full of them after each trading expedition to and from Osi-Ekiti; along with different grades of Sapele water the testing of which was a spectacle. Little quantities would be poured on the ground and sparked into flame. Blue flame meant grade one and attracted the highest price; fairly blue fame was grade two for lower price and yellowish flame was grade three and went for the least price. Testing the ‘cray-fishes’ on market days as we helped Layoonu prepare them for sale was more spectacular - in the left and right corners of my mouth, the harder I worked or the harder I pretended to work! They all tasted grade one and not even the occasional slaps of Layoonu because ‘se ofe kimi jere lori ede kimo se wahala la gbe a lati Sapele ni’ (do you want to deny me of profit on the crayfish I laboured to bring from Sapele?) could deter me. Layoonu can slap and it was in Sapele I really discovered. The second curiousity arose out of meeting the Abus in Iwoye-Ijesa whenever I travelled with Layoonu for her maternal grandfather’s family functions. Seemingly all looking alike, especially the children of Chief Joshua Adebayo Abu, the first Baale of the Yoruba in Sapele, I thought the Abus were the largest and most beautiful family in the world. If crayfish that travelled several miles (the 1970s were not years of kilometers) tasted that good, what would it be like at source? I yearned for Sapele and pestered Layoonu to take me there. She set a condition. I had to gain promotion to the next class and avoid a second repeat of my first year in secondary school. I passed the challenge and Layoonu promptly issued me the Sapele visa during the long vacation of the 73/74 academic session. In those days, it was a long and winding journey in a lorry (Bolekaja), but on good roads - all the way from Osi-Ekiti to Ado-Ekiti, to Owo axis, to Sobe, to Agbanikaka and so on. As our lorry stepped on

the Agbanikaka bridge, a bell rang loudly to my consternation. Layoonu, on whose laps sat Sade, the youngest in our family, allayed my fears explaining that the device was meant to alert vehicles coming from the opposite direction to wait for ours to pass. The bridge was narrow and lacked space for vehicles moving in opposite directions. A good educator, Layoonu also explained that the bridge used to be much more sophisticated and beautiful before it was bombed during the civil war. The civil war temporarily halted Layoonu’s trading trips to the city where she was taken by her mother, Wuraola, at about age five. Where she grew up as a Sapele babe fluently speaking Itsekiri language and pidgin English, and some Isoko and Ibo; where along with other fun loving kids and teenagers she would swim across River Ethiope; where she watched Hubert Ogunde perform live on stage,had a crush on him and wanted to elope with him but was stopped by the God of Thomas Akinyemi Arogundade, who years later, would come around to ask her hand in marriage. The bridge across River Ethiope into Sapele had not been built then, so it was Layoonu that paddled the canoe that ferried her future husband across. Midway into the journey Layoonu had teasingly asked Thomas what would happen should the boat capsize knowing that he could not swim. Thomas burst into loud prayer in his Ijesa dialect: “loruko Jesu, e maa dojude” (In Jesus name the canoe would not capsize) while Layoonu laughed aloud. We entered Layoonu’s Sapele late at night and arrived the Abus vast compound at Abu junction to the warm embrace of Chief J. Ade Abu himself. Early morning introductions to my new mummies, some of chief’s wives followed: from Mama Tope to Mama Adisa to Mama Tetsoma, etc. Mama Biodun would visit later from her Ibadan base. I was offered grade one Sapele water in Mama Tetsoma’s place which meant the introductions ended on a slightly dizzying note but not so dizzy for me not to notice the frowning Tetsoma. A fight with her seemed destined and it occurred

within days of the arrival of the village champion. If I had informed my immediate caucus of Biodun, Taye and Adisa that a battle with Tetsoma was looming, they would have advised me to back off. It was a duel worthy of a championship label. I boxed her but she readily traded punches. I opted for head butting and she answered with flying head butts. To overpower her, I switched to wrestling, but as I wrestled her to the ground, she unfolded her game plan. Her dangerous left arm went for my neck and she held me by the jugular. It was a strangulating grip and fearing the worst, the other cousins stepped in to end the battle. The weekday routine was predictable. After morning chores we would head to Chief’s Vono distributorship and retailership store on market road. Our duty was to load the iron beds and mattresses into vehicles whenever there were sales. The blast of the time siren from the plywood factory for which Sapele was once famous would signal it was lunch time and arrangement would be made for someone to buy food… Before Layoonu returned, she ensured we visited the other two Abu Uncles - Ayodele Abu (Baba Barracks) and Ibitayo Abu (Baba Pupa). I had also followed her to the banks of River Ethiope where inside moored boats and canoes, she bargained and purchased cray fish and other goods. There was no room for tasting especially with baby Sade on my laps. But my roving eyes saw one to two- year- olds being dipped into the river to prepare them for the art of swimming. I later heard tales of how some thieves would dive from the birthed ships into the River with non- perishable goods. Sapele ought to have produced Olympic gold winning medalists in a country that believes in encouraging natural talents. But they had one more trick up their sleeves. Layoonu had arrived to take me back to Ekiti ahead of schools’ resumption and on the eve of our departure my cousins convinced me to join them for farewell football. When it was time to return home, I couldn’t find my sandals. Pretending to be helping

me to look for the sandals, my cousins walked up and down with gloomy looks. Finally, Taye walked up to me saying they had discovered those who took my sandals but they had to be settled before they would return it. They wanted about six pence. I ran home to tell my Mum I needed to buy something urgently. She wanted to know what it was but I mumbled something incoherent. She gave me the money all the same while concealing her suspicion. We returned to the playing arena but the guys would not return my shoes. Taye, the supposed gobetween eventually collected all I had, disappeared and returned with my sandals. It was late by the time I got back and when my mum asked where I had been, she welcomed my incoherent answer with a slap that momentarily produced stars. It was actually the slap that cleared my head. My cousins led by Taye had played a fast one on me. We would joke about it years later but in terms of learning to be street wise and not street foolish, Sapele was a great university. I write this as a 58th birthday memoir. More importantly, I write it as a tribute to my mum, Layoonu Hannah Arogundade, the Sapele babe who trained me and my siblings with love and discipline. And, I write it as a tribute to my maternal Uncle, the great Chief J. Ade Abu, the late high chief Segbua of Iwoye-Ijesa. I still recall how excited he was to see me several years later in the late 80s during a visit home. ‘That is my son, come and sit by my side. I like you. You fired them. You fired those military bastards’, he had said proudly in apparent reference to my exploits as NANS president. This year is the 30th anniversary of his demise and may his great soul continue to rest in peace. So also the soul of my departed cousins - Demola, Adisa and Taye - who helped me to see the fun and fury of Sapele streets. Arogundade, a former Assistant Editor/member of Vanguard Editorial Board, is the Executive Director of International Press Centre, IPC, Lagos

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2020

EDITORIAL DEATH OF THE AID WORKERS The killing of the aid workers is another wake-up call

lthough President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the recent execution of ﬁve humanitarian aid workers in Borno State, there is need to do more if our country is to be rid of “every remaining vestige of Boko Haram” as he promised. Against the background that the activities of the terror group have brought Nigeria into the rank of “extreme” countries where many face the greatest level of killings, the president should walk his talk by putting in place measures that will restore conﬁdence of citizens and residents of our country that they are indeed safe. Quite naturally, the killing of the aid workers has generated outrage both at home and abroad. We commiserate with the agencies whose staff suffered this gruesome fate as well as the families of the deceased who died in the course of serving the most vulnerable of our society. But what this administration must understand is that in a vibrant country such as ours, the issue of IF THERE IS ANY MESSAGE citizens in distress FROM THE TRAGEDY, IT IS should always be on THAT BOKO HARAM AND the front burner of THEIR MORE VICIOUS public discourse. AFFILIATE ISWAP, STILL The United CONSTITUTE A MAJOR Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in SECURITY CHALLENGE Nigeria, Edward Kallon naturally expressed shock and horror by what happened to the aid workers. “Their safety and securing their safe release have been our highest priority since they were captured in June,” said Kalou who reiterated the danger posed by the insurgents. While condemning all violence targeting aid workers and the civilians they are assisting, Kalou expressed concerns about “the number of illegal vehicular checkpoints set up by non-state armed groups along main supply routes. These checkpoints disrupt the delivery of life-saving assistance and heighten the risks for civilians of being abducted; killed or injured,

Letters to the Editor

with aid workers increasingly being singled out.” Only last December four aid workers who were staff of Action Against Hunger, one of the international humanitarian organisations working to provide relief and aid to teeming Nigerians affected, were killed by the insurgents. Nd barely two weeks ago the Islamic extremists attacked a UN aid helicopter killing two, including a ﬁve-year-old child

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

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Niger Delta And The Story Of Maggots

ith the offensive stench coming out of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), one wonders what has become of patriotism, accountability and the love for one another in Nigeria. The agency, which was designed to play an interventionist role between the almighty federal government and the impoverished people of the region, by bridging the ever-yawning gap orchestrated by years of neglect and a bleeding parasitic relationship between the two, has become a cash cow for both the government and the very people it was designed to help. This is paradoxically nauseating and a painful antithesis against the backdrop of the sprawling poverty, pervading the Niger Delta region. Before we blame the maggots, let us also not forget to blame the government who repealed the laudable and people-oriented provisions of the OMPADEC decree to create an agency attached to the apron strings of the Presidency who appoints the CEO of the agency, (without an input from the Niger Delta people) thereby making it a political appointment. Such political appointee becomes a willing and a loyal tool of the government of the day. It is against this backdrop that some people felt that the agency was designed to fail from the onset, reason

e hope the military authorities will note those concerns expressed by Kalou. But if there is any message from the tragedy, it is that Boko Haram, the brutal insurgent group and their more vicious affiliate ISWAP, still constitute a major security challenge at a time the country’s internal security is threatened by other violent crimes such as kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and cultism on a regular basis. Indeed, the country is losing the dominance of the machinery of violence to non-state actors. Death through criminality is gradually becoming a norm and constituting additional instability to a country already on fire. From what has transpired in recent weeks, it is obvious that our security experts need to combine as many tactics as is feasible to defeat Boko Haram and its allies, while new strategies need to be adopted to tackle the general insecurity that pervades our country. That all the security agencies of state have been rendered impotent led some of the North-west governors to signing ceasefire agreements with the bandits and granting them “amnesty”. But with the Senate joining other stakeholders to call on the president to replace the service chiefs, it is evident that something has to give. The message is simple: You cannot continue to do the same thing and expect a different outcome. The brutal killing of the aid workers should be another wake-up call to the authorities. If we are to address once and for all these incessant cases of violence there is an urgent need to overhaul the entire military apparatchik. And there is no better time to effect such a change than now!

being that the very commission designed to help a people is systematically taken away from the control of the same people. Therefore, the weaponisation of sentiments falling out from the “roforofo” fight between Senator Godswill Akpabio and Dr Joi Nunieh on one hand and the dramatisation of the probe of Prof Keme Pondei on the other, to make the federal government look like saint in this saga is annoying. While one may not excuse the financial atrocities committed by those who helped themselves with our common patrimony, it is equally imperative to look at the systemic corruption and enablers that paved the way for today’s dramatis personae to feed fat from the collective wealth they were called to manage and the palpable fact that the NDDC is equally a patronage agency of the federal government. It should be recalled that the 1998 OMPADEC Decree, promulgated by Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, charged the agency with the primary responsibility of developing the oil producing communities, according to the priorities set by the communities. But the NDDC act repealed this populist and grassroots oriented objective and charged the commission with the responsibility of developing the communities according to the priorities set by the federal and state governments. Austen Akhagbeme, Abuja

Contest For Power And The People

hursday June 25, 2020 must go down as a watershed in the 2023 chain of events. A 7-day- old member of the PDP, Godwin Obaseki became the party’s newest goose. As Mr. Obaseki was being packaged as the party’s ‘consensus’ gubernatorial candidate, Operation DDay was taking place in the next house. The CPC wing of the ruling party, in a political blitzkrieg, snatched control of the party’s machinery, casting the pro-Oshiomhole NWC into the streets of the federal capital. As the clinically coordinated plan was being executed in the chambers of the Federal Executive Council, forces in Abuja/ Kebbi/Kaduna/Ekiti were having a victory lap, while Lagos remained eerily quiet. In a familiar repeat of history, the shed built with spittle has been ambushed by the dew. The die is now cast, the cards are out, and the gladiators are back to the trenches. But in all of these, what ought to be in it for ‘We the People’? The people must recall all the pandemics they have been battling pre-Covid 19 and are still likely to have in their face going forward. Pandemic of rampaging insecurity, extra-judicial killings, and a police force waiting for a bail. Pandemic of a struggling economy, unemployment, and begging bowl social programmes.

Pandemic of unprecedented nepotism, favouritism, and systematic marginalisation. Pandemic of a nearly abandoned educational system, disappearing public schools, and struggling universities. Pandemic of an epileptic electricity sector and huge infrastructural deficit. Pandemic of a people quarantined in poverty and squalor, yet insulted through vote-buying with monies stolen from them. Pandemic of a political class who waves the broom with one hand, but uses the other to hide the umbrella under their armpit, in case it rains. In fact, there is the pandemic of a government, which appears to be a house divided against itself. Now is time, more than ever before, for the people to begin a conversation on crafting the way out of this mess. The contest for power is a major underpinning of politics everywhere in the world, but the difference in the advanced world, is that people-oriented development takes place alongside. This must be the peoples’ take at this time. As the new season of media fights develops, as mass cross-carpeting begins, as hitherto idle corruption case-files are being dusted, the people must not get carried away with the cacophony. Two things are certain. Olusola Babatunde Adegbite, Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JULY 24, 2020

POLITICS

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

Between a Minister and a Board: On NBC Code Amendment Alabi Akinrogun argues that Information Minister, Mr. Lai Mohammed may have deceived to pass on an amendment to the National Broadcasting Commission code that clearly serves private interest in the garb of protecting Nigeria’s sovereign goals

trange things are known to happen all the time in Nigeria, and especially in matters of governance and public policy, mostly to the detriment of the population, despite occasional bright spots. As the Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka once quipped, if he had written about these strange happenings in Nigeria as fiction, before they happened, people would have probably thought he was going crazy. Rather unfortunately, Nigeria sometimes confounds fiction with the actual occurrences that go on here. In a strange case happening now in the Nigerian broadcasting sector, which despite all sorts of challenges, has shown an inclination to grow, particularly on the content side, and with foreign players and investments coming into the country to give it a sorely needed uptick, and enhance benefits to the creative economy and national image, we have a minister who, in a fit of pseudo-nationalism, is bent on foisting a policy on the broadcast sector that can only do incalculable harm to it. This policy being smuggled in through the amendment of the Broadcasting Code – a perfectly legitimate and obligatory act – has all the hallmarks of a rampaging elephant let loose in a glass shop, in an attempt to get rid of a pest. The consequences can only be imagined. More than enough has already written by industry players on how their output, their investments would be affected, with major players like Iroko TV, Netflix, etc. being shaken and troubled by this development. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Code was to be amended in due course, and thus in 2017, a full stakeholders’ consultative forum was held, with the Board, Information Ministry representatives and over sixty industry stakeholders present in Kano. The output from that forum was then to be subjected to due process and a final draft of the document made available for further input, comments, et al, before the final amendment to the Code would be ratified and published. In 2019, following the electoral campaigns and elections, having noted the various infractions in the sector, with potential serious national security implications, by various media houses, the president-cum-Federal Executive Council tasked the minister in charge to come up with policy reforms to check future infractions. Somehow, this assignment seemed the perfect opportunity for the minister to smuggle in his own agenda, which was also driven by an industry player with an eye on swinging the Broadcast Code to help smite his own perceived monster competitor and help break the shackle of great content rights held by this perceived competitor. The minister, working under the guise of a nationalistic agenda, which sadly was not “road tested” or “stress tested”, was now held as the gospel agenda. For some reason, the NBC Code 6.0 is now the minister’s priority, though he had said to all and sundry at the start of his tenure in 2015, that the actualisation of the digital switch over (DSO) was his priority, and for the first three years or so, that was his song everywhere, to the point of usurping the role of the NBC and the Board in driving the DSO implementation programme through the DigiTeam. Somehow, the DSO implementation is no longer a priority, although everything else rides on it. One wonders why this is so. Could it be that the minister wants us to forget the failure of implementing the DSO four years after they kicked out the former director-general of NBC who was driving this? And/or now that “the benefactor-beneficiary” of the DSO has

passed on, there’s no more enthusiasm? Now, let’s backtrack a bit and consider the set up of the Commission and the Act enabling it. The Act setting up the Commission is almost a unique one among the ministries, departments and agencies of government (MDAs)/parastatals in Nigeria, in that whilst the minister runs the supervisory ministry, the Commission’s powers and acts are mainly vested in its Board. The minister may request the Board to take action on an issue, but

actually not direct it to do so. The minister may advice and guide the Board, but not issue directives on the running, management and policy decisions of the Commission, which are the preserve of the NBC Board. The minister in question, however, despite being a lawyer of many years standing, seemingly seems ignorant of the following, which guide and guard the work of the Board: (a) The Act setting up the Board;

The Need to Present Oyefusi as PDP Candidate for Lagos East Senatorial Contest Deyemi Benson alerts stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party, Lagos State Chapter of subtle moves to replace Princess Abiodun Oyefusi in the impending Lagos East Senatorial election, following the passage of Senator Gbenga Osinowo, which created a vacancy. Oyefusi was the PDP candidate in the same contest in the 2019 national elections

he 2019 elections have come and gone but we must be bold enough to ask questions and educate the people generally on the need to always protect their votes. Comparing results signed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) agents to what the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced simply confirmed real ‘concoctions’ of results. Some of the ‘concocted’ results in some specific local government areas in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) outnumbered the total number of registered voters. The entire arrangement was a total sham which didn’t reflect the true wishes of the people for their preferred elected candidate. Apart from the illegal ‘arithmetic’ of INEC, numerous multiple voting was a ‘normal thing’ all around. Whichever way, Ikorodu, that produced the PDP candidate, Princess Abiodun Oyefusi had over 15,000 ‘concocted’ scores added to ‘helping’ the APC candidate to win. Same was also done in Kosofe Local Government Area. Considering the poor ‘arithmetical’ scope of these manipulators, the total number of votes declared in some of

these Local Government Areas were far above the total no of registered voters. This is not just absurd but very crazy! Princess Oyefusi was massively supported by the people of Ikorodu and other areas under the Lagos East. She won a few wards, won her own polling unit and numerous adjoining polling units around her ward in Ikorodu. Her support base cut across party lines. This is quite encouraging. She sincerely did very well and kudos must be given to everybody that made it real. For her brilliant showings during the 2109 elections, the PDP National Headquarters appreciated her via a letter written and tagged; ‘Message of Hope and Congratulations’ for making the PDP very proud. As a public analyst, I will simply advise that the coming election is winnable if the PDP won’t allow ego, infiltrators and intra-party crises beneficiaries to hijack the system. They must learn to work as a team and ensure that wasteful spendings across board by all aspirants for the task ahead are prevented. -Comrade ‘Deyemi Benson writes from Ikorodu

(b) The Civil Service Rules that guide the operations of the Commission, and (c) The Booklet of the Bureau of Public Service - The Corporate Governance Manual. Fast-forward to 2020, following the presidential/FEC directive to the minister, a retreat is organised for the Board in Lagos, which had decided to workshop the amendment to the Code and sought to incorporate the policy review requested to deal with political broadcasting infractions, emerging occurrences of hate speech and so on. In the midst of this retreat in Lagos, a couple of directors, a board member or so, a popular professor of Mass Communications and the vested private sector player, who is behind the minister’s “nationalistic agenda”, are pulled aside and ensconced in a separate venue to suddenly deliberate on the NBC Code amendment. And voila, a few hours later, they pull out of their hats “The NBC Amendment Code 6.0”! As Fela Anikulapo sang, “Government Magic!” Not even the famed magician, Professor Peller could have done better. Now, with the outcry by various industry players talking about the negative consequences of this new Code on their businesses, the Board of the Commission saw fit to advertise and ask for more memoranda to evaluate the potential impact of the new insertions into the Code, following the 2017 stakeholders’ meeting, and shockingly, two or three days later, another advert is published by the NBC and signed by the acting DG, asking the public to disregard the earlier advert placed by the Board of the Commission, asking for additional memoranda. This embarrassing and demeaning advert could not have been published by the acting DG without some ‘higher backing”. The higher backing in this case, no doubt, being the minister. The Laws of Unintended Consequences of policy making is such that when a full stress test has not been properly carried out, even the most well-meaning regulator (and this applies globally) can unleash misery and destruction on the very sector it might have thought it was protecting or promoting. All we have to do in broadcasting is to look at the eventual cost of the European Premiership League (EPL) Rights to the Nigerian and Ghanaian broadcasting sectors and we would see clearly what eventually happened to the supposed Nigerian beneficiary, the defunct HiTV. We can go further afield globally to look at other examples of these unintended consequences of policy making, in terms of regulation. Now, we are back here again. Although sports is the ruse, yet all aspects of the creative business are at stake. This is in terms of forced sublicensing and forced price-fixing. We might as well have the “Commodities Board” buying their content directly from content makers at a fixed government prices and the re-selling of this to local broadcasters. Strange and far-fetched it might seem, but isn’t it just a matter of degrees? In the midst of a global recession - most severe since the 1930s Great Depression, it is being predicted to be - with a COVID-19 and oil demand and prices slump, and Nigeria already rated as not being business- and investor-friendly, would the minister in his bruising battle with the Board of the Commission, within the purview of his new obsession with the Code, not be hammering the final nail in the anti-business posture of the Nigerian government, despite all the strenuous work that the vice president has been doing to reverse that image to a pro-business one?

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JULY 24, 2020

PERSPECTIVE VIEW FROM

AMERICA

chido@usafricaonline.com@Chido247

The Trump Virus Baptism by Pelosi Chido Nwangwu, Publisher of USAfrica magazine and USAfricaonline.com posits that President Donald Trump of America has met his match in name calling in Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives

ntil a few days ago, President Donald Trump was the undisputed king of trash talk. He was the best at giving unwanted and stereo typical names which diminished any opponent . It seemed like this day would never come. Somehow, the Democrats in the United States did not seem to have it in their genes to be able to counter or even pretend to match the jousting and rib cracking labels the combative president of United States easily gave to his opponents. If I had to make a list of the top 10 hits by Trump, one of those will be “Crooked Hilary” — for the former First Lady and Secretary of State, the distinguished Hilary Clinton. There was Marco Rubio who was baptized “Little Marco” for the Republican Senator from Florida. And who would have forgotten the favorite target of Trumpian coarse put-down for former governor Jeb Bush, son of former President George Herbert Walker Bush and brother to former President George W. Bush —for Jeb, Trump had the harsh target name “Low Energy Jeb”. The name tag followed the man like his shadow! Significantly, for his opponent in the 2020 election, former Vice President Joe Biden, he calls “Sleepy Joe”. He seems to have met his match in the person of the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. Remember that Trump snubbed and refused to shake the outstretched hand of the Grand-dame and chief host of the 2020 State of the Union address. Trump had a name for her. He called her “nasty Nancy.” In a critical blow in their almost 43 months war of words and snub, the Speaker Pelosi, a Democrat from California, on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 labeled the Coronavirus the “Trump virus.” The soft-spoken but influential powerplayer and grand mother amplified her comments during an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer: “So what you’re saying is that thousands of Americans have died because of what the president has done or not done. Is that what you’re saying?” Blitzer asked. “Yeah. Yes, that’s what I’m saying,” Pelosi affirmed. “I think with the president’s comments today, he has recognized the mistakes that he has made by now embracing maskwearing and the recognition that this is not a hoax, it is a pandemic that has gotten worse before it gets better because of his inaction and, in fact, clearly, it is the Trump virus,” Pelosi added.

“Well, what do you mean when you say the ‘Trump virus,’” CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer asked the liberal lioness of the Congress. “The Trump virus,” Pelosi repeated with serious emphasis. “If he had said months ago ‘Let’s wear a mask, let’s socially-distance’ instead of having rallies or political whatever they were, then more people would have followed his lead. He’s the president of the United States, instead of being a bad example, making it like a manhood thing not to wear a mask.” On the clash of science and the beliefs of most of President Donald Trump’s supporters, Pelosi insisted that “A briefing on the Coronavirus should be about science and that is something that the president has ignored. It should be about governance and now he’s finally embracing saying ‘OK, it’s OK to wear a mask.’ So I think a good deal of what we have suffered is clearly the Trump virus.” On his part, since March 2020, Trump has always referred to COVID-19 as the “China virus.” But the battle-tested legislator from the San Francisco area seems the first person to have turned the table on teflon Trump. Twitter was abuzz with excitement and retweets a few minutes after Pelosi delivered the upper cut to the political plexus of the President, Donald Trump. First, politics benefit from comedic interventions when they are jokes between politicos. A good sense of humour works well for any person; politician or priest; Wealthy or poor! Without any doubts, there has been a strain of mean spiritedness and outright malice in most of the aggressive comedic decimation of his opponents — be they Republican or Democrats — by Trump. But Nancy Pelosi cannot be said to have a clean slate or a clean hand in the throwing of brickbats. She infamously tore, live on national television, the state of the union speech give by Trump in January of 2020. Second, as a consummate political strategist and hard nosed analyst of the political environment, she has noticed and accurately that Mr. Trump is increasing falling out of favour of not only the majority of Americans but among some of his philosophically reflective supporters. His rally in Oklahoma without protective masks or any form of safety gear to check the Coronavirus reinforced the President’s failure to set the factual and responsible message to all Americans. Third, the sensible refusal of most of Trump’s supporters to expose themselves to the mortal danger of the fast killing Coronavirus sent a message to Pelosi that it was a perfect time to strike the sleek talking, bombastic, truth distorting and racially divisive President, Donald J. Trump. Fourth, should Trump lose the 2020 presidential election, it will primarily be as a result of the impact of the pandemic of Coronavirus and his evident failures to serve and speak as President for all Americans. Finally, to make matters worse for his legacy, Nancy Pelosi is determined to re-baptize Trump as the wretched embodiment of the destructive and catastrophic visitation of the evil virus aka “Trump virus.” Will this label stick on Trump? Or would it wash off like water poured on the back of a duck? The answer, my friends, is blowing in the wind.

Anyim Fires Back at Arthur Eze Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim ﬁres back at businessman, Prince Arthur Eze for calling him a failure in government

am constrained to address this letter to you, to express my utter displeasure over your relentless and mindless attacks on me for so long. I have maintained a dignified silence in the face of your multiple provocations but I can no longer do so as you have taken my silence for granted. It is my wish to recap my story with you and advise that, at your age, you should try to show some sense of dignity and decorum. In an answer to a question in your interview, in THISDAY Newspaper of 16/7/2020, you, in your exuberance, veered off the question put to you, and gleefully recounted how public officers from other parts of the country had enriched you with contracts and oil blocks, while no Igbo man had done as much for you. Then you took on me, as has become your favorite pass time, on how, in your own judgement, I favoured my hometown without doing anything for the entire South East. In your own words: “during the time of Goodluck Jonathan, we had the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Pius Anyim. What did he do for Igbo People? He brought Julius Berger and they tarred his own road; the one leading to his house. All our roads were bad. It is President Buhari that is tarring our roads now. Look at Enugu – Onitsha Road, Enugu – Port Harcourt Road, Second Niger Bridge. He went and modernized Zik’s grave. Did Jonathan do that? Jonathan’s people wrote petition against him. His people said that he took their land and built a house. They copied me the petition and I showed it to him. I said look at it, they are your people. What do you want the north to do?” It is clear from your thought process, as can be seen from the interview, that your anger was that I did not patronize you with contracts while I occupied the office of SGF. It can also be seen that in your convoluted judgement, any public officer who did not patronize you with contracts is not worthy of office. However, as is usual with me, I would not have bothered to dignify you with a response. But because you have taken it as a hobby to seek me out at any opportunity, if I do not respond, silence may no longer be golden. Let me crave your indulgence to state where my paths crossed with yours, the reason you have sustained your campaign of calumny against my person. As you would recall, shortly after I assumed office as SGF, you came to my office with one man and a bunch of documents. You told me that the documents were the company profile of the man and that you wanted me to facilitate the man getting the contract for building

It is clear from your thought process, as can be seen from the interview, that your anger was that I did not patronize you with contracts while I occupied the office of SGF. It can also be seen that in your convoluted judgement, any public officer who did not patronize you with contracts is not worthy of office

the Headquarters of the Code of Conduct Bureau since the Code of Conduct Bureau was under my office. I told you that I had just assumed office and needed time to understand the workings of the office. And that I do not get involved with what my Boss did not ask me to do. Above all, contract awards must follow due process and I was not in a position to interfere with the process. I advised you to summit to the due process for securing government contracts. You left and I did not know what else you did but somehow your man got the contract. Since then you have been seeking me out at any opportunity. You lobbied and boasted everywhere that you must remove me from office. Your mischief came to public display the day Chief Ifeanyi Ubah was launching his then Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) programme in the South East at Dr. Alex Ekwueme’s Square, Awka. I was invited to the programme as the representative of the Federal Government. Midway into the programme, you and your followers stormed in and demanded that I should not be allowed to represent the Federal Government as you had gotten approval from Abuja that another person should represent the Federal Government. You jumped on the podium to force the organizers to make the announcement that I was not the person to represent Government. However, when it was time for me to speak, I was duly called upon to speak for the Federal Government and that left you thoroughly deflated. You may wish to recall that even as all those were going on, I neither paid any attention nor said a word to you, because as a true Igbo son, I have respect for my elders. The purpose of this reply, therefore, is to advice you as follows: *That I maintained my silence in the face of those provocations as a mark of respect for the office I occupied, and to ensure that nothing distracted me from the job I was appointed to do. r5IBU BT B XFBMUIZ NBO ZPV TIPVME channel your resources and time to more worthy ventures. You may do well to emulate people like Alhaji Aliko Dangote or even our brother Chief Cletus Ibeto and be more useful to people around you. In any case, I am not surprised that you could claim that President Jonathan’s administration failed in project delivery because your understanding of a performing government is one that gives contract to yourself. It is unfortunate and indeed a shame that you are now speaking ill of President Goodluck Jonathan. How ungrateful can you be. I will not bother myself about the performance of President Jonathan’s administration because the records are conspicuous before the eyes and minds of Nigerians who are not contractors of your kind. Just for the records Julius Burger never executed any Federal Government road contract in Ebonyi State let alone any road leading to my hometown while I served as SGF. However, this is neither the time nor medium to give account of my service as SGF. In conclusion, it is my wish to advise you to please respect yourself and your age. Never forget that respect is earned and that as a Prince from the esteemed Ukpo community, you should have more sense of honour. You perched around President Jonathan like a hungry fly while President Jonathan was in office. Now, you shamelessly and dishonourably say derogatory words about President Jonathan. One can only bet that you will do the same to the leadership of the present administration once they are out of power. That is not in the character of Ndigbo. Finally, now that I am a private citizen take note that I can no longer tolerate your unwarranted attacks on my person.

FRIDAY JULY 24, 2020 â€¢T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY Ëž JULY 24, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

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

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Quick Takes Firm Announces 2020 Tourism Personalities

INVESTITURE CEREMONY

L-R: Immediate Past President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, (CIIN), Mr. Eddie Efekoha; President-elect, Muftau Oyegunle; his wife, Iyabode Oyegunle, and the Past President/Administrator of Oath, Ladipo Ajayi, at the investiture of the 50th President/ Chairman of the Council, CIIN, held in Lagosâ€Ś. recently PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN

Travellers Now Go to Neigbouring Countries for Overseasâ€™ Flights Chinedu Eze Nigerians who are desperate to travel to long-haul destinations now go to Benin Republic and Equatorial Guinea to catch international flights. Investigations by THISDAY reveal that these two countries did not close their borders because of coronavirus pandemic. Owing to this, THISDAY learnt that people travel by road to Cotonou in Benin and by boat to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea to catch international flights to Europe and other destinations. A reliable source who also travelled out of the country recently, told THISDAY that lots of Nigerians are in hotels in Cotonou waiting for their flights to different destinations and airlines like Air France, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopia Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Brussels Airlines, Tunisair, RwandAir, Air Burkina Faso still operate to

AVIATION the West African country. In addition, THISDAY also learnt that the fare is relatively cheap compared to the flights that operate into Nigeria, dubbed evacuation flights. Since the Nigerian airspace was closed to international flights on March 23, 2020 series of evacuation flights have been taking place and normally, fares to one-way flights are very expensive. For instance, economy fares for evacuation could be as high as $1,800 for one-way flight out of Nigeria, but that is what a passenger in Benin Republic pays for business class return ticket to Europe. For example, a Turkish Airlines flight ticket made available to THISDAY showed that the Cotonou-London flight; business class for return ticket was

ÂŁ1,863 with Cotonou-London slated for August 7, 2020 and London-Cotonou on October 25, 2020. â€œDespite the rough road from Nigeria to Cotonou, many Nigerians are leaving the country to take advantage of these cheap fares and also some people were travelling to Malabo from Calabar by boat to also catch flight and travel overseas,â€? the source revealed. Although many consider leaving Nigeria by road or by boat as tortuous journey but THISDAY learnt that it is not only Nigerians that are embarking on the trip, even few expatriates who live or visited Nigeria who wished to leave the country are taking the routes as well. Eyewitness account explained that initially some flights were getting approvals to fly to neigbouring countries from Nigeria, until the Nigerian government

clamped down on the airlines. â€œBut under pressure the government of Benin Republic shut down the route for foreigners without visas and Nigerians so they went by boat to Malabo. When Benin saw the loss of business, they relaxed their requirements and business returned; so now while Nigeria screams of loss of revenue at the airports, Benin and Equatorial Guinea are earning the revenue,â€? the source added. Travel expert and organiser of Akwaaba African Travel Market, Ikechi Uko, while reacting to the development said that there is no time it was indicated that Nigerians abroad cannot come home, noting that air fares from neigbouring countries are cheap because a price of one way economy class to or from Nigeria could get a traveller return ticket for business class through Nigeriaâ€™s neighbours.

Bala-Usman: Why Sea Ports Remain Congested Eromosele Abiodun The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman, has blamed the non-availability of other value chain in the cargo clearing process at the nationâ€™s seaports for the increased port congestion. Besides, she said the interstate travel restriction due to COVID-19 pandemic also added to the slow cargo clearance from the ports, revealing that importers from outside Lagos could not move their to the point of delivery as a result. She stated this while speaking at the recent 14th edition of the Annual Business Law e-conference hosted by former Attorney General of Lagos State, Olasupo Shasore, tagged, â€œBusiness Unusual: Digital Acceleration for Growth in a New World.â€? Bala-Usman, explained that when the federal government

MARITIME declared the port operations as essential service provider, it did not take cognisance of other aspects that were closed down. â€œSo when you bring your cargo into the port where are you taking them to, you are taking them to a warehouse, you are taking them to a manufacturing site, you are taking them to other location that has been close down, workers in your location that need those items that were brought into the country are not at work, so invariably you are unable to clear your item,â€? she said. Speaking on the issue of rent waiver, she said: â€œWe at the NPA felt the need to provide equipment because we know it has an effect on the turnaround time of vessel, one of the things that we sought to do is provide consignees with the cushion.

â€œThis is for even consignment that are within the Lagos area. Then we had the state lockdown, so if I have my cargo coming to Lagos and I need to take them to Port Harcourt or Kaduna I canâ€™t transverse those states to get there so invariably I am stuck in the port and that is why the NPA felt the need to grant waivers.â€? The NPA, she stated, is giving the terminal operators a credit note for the portion of the waiver. â€œSo if you now give N10 million rent fee for the period NPA is refunding you that amount in form of credit, it is the federal government that is losing that amount of money that it could have gotten from your operations for that period. â€œYou gave a waiver for N10 million and government has reimbursed you, as terminal operator you donâ€™t lose anything, what you could lose is the efficiency in the operation of your port,

the turnaround time of your vessels and need for enhanced evacuation of cargo.â€? Also, she blamed the crisis at the port on efficiency of the equipment of the terminal operator. She added that while there was outside portion of the congestion in Apapa Area, the NPA needed to ensure that inflow and outflow were streamlined, â€œWe needed to ensure that the terminal operators had the necessary cranes do container operation. Terminal operators needed to have improved equipment to offload the cargo from the vessel ,they need to have the necessary improved infrastructure within their terminal and we have that incidence with APMT where we did not see commiserate investment in equipment and infrastructure to enable them take on all those volumes of cargos that were needed to be discharged.

African Travel Quarterly has said it will announce nominations for the 2020 edition of Top 100 Tourism Personalities in Nigeria. The award is expected to honour personalities in the travel and tourism sector that had been exemplary in the industry and contributed to the growth and development of the sector. The Top 100 Tourism Personalities in Nigeria would also recognise tourism experts who had promoted and advanced the fortunes of Nigeriaâ€™s tourism and hospitalityindustry.TheTourism100clubisalistofthebiggestandthe besttourismpractitionersinNigeria.TheTop100Tourismpersonality list would unveil top players in the tourism industry and would also enable government, foreign missions and various corporate bodies to know whom to engage when it comes to tourism in Nigeria. The 2020 Top 100 Tourism Personalities in Nigeria will also be inducted into the Seven Wonders Project.They will be part of the nomination process to discover the wonders embedded in different regions of the country between June 2020 and November 2021. It will involve seven man-made and seven natural wonders of Nigeria. Theprocesswouldinvolvegovernmentwhowouldnominateasmany locationsastheydesire.MembersoftheTourismClub100Nigeriain the 2018, 2019, and 2020 class will act as judges to make a shortlist fromtheinitiallistnominatedbythegovernment. Thepublicwillstart voting from November.

Ethiopian Welcomes Back Customers

EthiopianAirlineshassaidduringthepandemic,itwasthego-toairline foressentialtravel,repatriationflightsandairliftofmedicalandpersonal protective equipment (PPE). The airline stated in a statement that with the easing of travel restrictions across the globe, it is happy to welcome back business and leisure travelers with programs aimed at safeguarding their health and safety.The carrier said the program reinforcesitspledgetoprotectthehealthandsafetyofitscustomers andstaff,whichincludestepstheairlineistakingtomaintaincustomer andstaffwellbeingthrough-outtheservicechainbeginningfromthe firstinteractionwithcustomersduringticketing/reservationandup to arrival at destination. GroupCEOofEthiopiaAirlines,TewoldeGebremariamsaid,â€œEthiopianis proudtobetherewhentheworldneededitmostâ€“repatriatingcitizens, re-unitingfamilies,facilitatingessentialtravelandtransportingmuch neededmedicalandpersonalprotectiveequipment(PPE)forhealth professionalsandthegeneralpublicunderverydifficultandchallenging circumstances. â€œWeareproudtobeanintegralpartofthefightagainstCOVID-19.Now wewanttoplayaleadingroleinthenewnormal.Toaverylargeextent,it isaboutgettingbacktheconfidenceofbusinessandleisuretravelers. â€œWith the protective measures we are taking in line with CDC, IATA, ICAOandWHOguidelines,customersandstaffcanrestassuredthat their safety and health are well looked after when flying with us.â€?

Unions to Shame Protocol Violators

The President of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Ben Nnabue has directed members to report VIPs who violate Covid-19 protocol and assault airport workers, warning that such dignitaries will have to be embarrassed. In a signed statement, Nnabue said, â€œThe reported incident of unruly behaviourbyex-governorYariofZamfaraStateinwhichhephysically assaulted an airport worker and prevented him from executing an important Covid-19 protocol of disinfecting his luggage is quite abhorring and regrettable. There are reports of a similar incident in Port Harcourt recently. â€œWehadthoughtthattheusualrepugnantandabrasiveattitudeofmany NigerianVIPswouldyieldtotheemergencyoftheCovid-19pandemic and allow reason to prevail at this trying time.These incidents show that is not the case, which is quite unfortunate. â€œWe are compelled, therefore, to sound this note of warning toVIPs, and indeed all airport users that our union will henceforth take more than passing interest in unruliness of any kind at Nigerian airports, especially as regards flouting of Covid-19 protocols. â€œAccordingly, all airport workers are hereby directed to immediately reportanysuchincidenttolocalunionofficialsforimmediatemitigating action. In addition, any airport user who falls culprit in this regard will bedeclaredpersonanongrataatallNigerianairportsandmayassuch be embarrassed if found within any airport premises.â€?

â€œWe are compelled to sound this note of warning to VIPs that our union will henceforth take more than a passing interest in unruliness of any kind at Nigerian airportsâ€? National President, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE),

Comrade Ben Nnabue

T H I S D AY ˾ JULY 24, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Airport Concession as Catalyst for Development Aviation industry stakeholders have posited that concession is the only choice government have to attract private funds for the development of the airports, writes Chinedu Eze

t is becoming inexorably clear that the only option Nigeria has to develop its airports and deploy state of the art terminals, technology based facilitation utilities and synchronised security system is to attract external or local funding from investors. These investors will be guided by government regulation and vision through public, private partnership (PPP) to conceptualise and grow airport infrastructure to meet international standards, as obtained in many other countries of the world. The federal government has said variously that it cannot fund airport infrastructure development because other critical social amenities like healthcare, schools, road and rail transport should be given priority and the limited resources at the behest of government cannot enable it extend the huge funding needed for airport development. Private Funding So, the only choice government may have is to bring in the private sector to partner with it to develop the airport facilities, as it being done in many countries. It is also expected that private sector operators would also prioritise effective management, human and physical capacity development and entrench performance culture - three foundational ingredients required to run modern infrastructure and deliver compelling experiences for travellers and indeed concessionaires operating within these facilities. Industry analysts said government could not deliver the modern experiences at the airports that stakeholders deserve and are willing to pay for. They noted that in terms of passenger, airline and concessionaire experiences - Nigeria’s international airports lag behind many other African airports. Currently Nigerian airports are at different stages of underdevelopment with decayed infrastructure, unkempt toilet facilities, no transit facility for connecting passengers at international airports and besides the fact that new terminal have been added to Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano airports, they still don’t collectively improve the airports in terms of technology upgrade and check-in passenger facilities. In 2019 statistics no Nigerian airport is in the five busiest airports in Africa. OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa is the busiest airport in Africa, followed by Cairo International Airport, Egypt, Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa is the third, Cape Town International Airport, South Africa is the fourth, while Mohammed V International Airport Casablanca, Morocco is the fifth. Yet, Nigeria arguably has the highest number of indigenous travellers in the continent. In 2018 statistics, Nigeria’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos is the 11th busiest airport in Africa. Analysts indicate that Nigerian airports are not passenger friendly so people are not attracted to the airports and people who travel are largely on essential trips like business and not for leisure. Need for Concession The Group Managing Director, Finchglow Group and former President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Mr. Bankole Bernard said concession would attract international funding to upgrade, modernise nation’s airports and removes political and government interference in the management of the facilities. “Simply explained, an airport concession involves the transfer of the responsibility of management and development of the airport to a private operator, while the ultimate ownership remains with the government. “According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), there are predictions that developing countries including Nigeria will see a surge in air transport in the next 15 - 20 years. “However, with this predicted growth in air transport, many of these countries including Nigeria do not have the facility to manage this traffic. This situation perfectly describes

Nigeria. With the country’s situation of having limited resources to expand its airports, the best option in view is the concession of our airports as rightly raised by the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika.” Bernard cited the National Bureau of Statistics figures to have disclosed that in 2018, Nigeria’s air passenger traffic inched up by three per cent with a total number of 14.82 million travellers, as against 14.26 million in 2017. In 2019, the passenger traffic in the first half of the year hit 8.48million compared to 7.56million in 2018. With passenger traffic growing at that pace, “even though we have seen some setback due to the COVID-19, air transport will soon rebound and the expansion of our airports should be a focus area,” the operator stressed. Furthermore, he cited a material published by the International Air Transport Association on Balanced Concession for Airports in 2018, to have pointed out what “we must consider to make our airports work.” “Some of the areas that should be critically checked are as follows: selection of airport concessionaires, determinants of concession length, concession payments and charges, super-profit protection, consultation processes, capital planning and execution and continual improvement and airport service quality,” Bernard said. Bernard who is also the Chairman Airline and Passenger Joint Committee (APJC) identified the benefits of concession to include the development of the airports to world-class standard, proper management and accountability, removal of government or political interference in the activities of the airport.

Simply explained, an airport concession involves the transfer of the responsibility of management and development of the airport to a private operator, while the ultimate ownership remains with the government

“It would also give room for technology and advancement, customer satisfaction and economic growth at the airport and the government can focus on other areas with its limited resources. But people do not understand what concession is all about. “Concessioning does not mean transfer of ownership. The ownership of our airports still remains in the coffers of the government. The only thing that is being transferred is the responsibility of management of those airports. “So let us conveniently separate it, ownership remains with the government, but the responsibility of the management of those airports is now in the hands of reputable technocrats that understand the industry very well. So when the concessioning is given to reputable hands then they will deliver better service to the travellers, better service in the industry, better service even to the regulators,” Bernard explained. Making Airports Viable On his part, the Director of Engineering, Ibom Air, Lookman Animaseun told THISDAY that Nigeria may not have any other choice if it wants to develop the airports than to concession the facilities, noting that it is the only key way airport infrastructure could be developed. Animasuen who is a labour leader in the aviation industry said he looks at concession from two perspectives: the perspective of business and the perspective of labour. In terms of business, he said that with the present economic situation in Nigeria, it is obvious that government does not have funds to deploy for the development of airport infrastructure, so it would be good for government to concession the airports to organisations with corporate governance. “But it is not good to give out only the viable airports without attaching unviable ones to them, so the concessionaires will develop both the viable and unviable ones across the country. They will also create opportunities to make the currently unviable ones profitable. They will elevate the facilities and make them profitable. “So what government is to do is to ensure effective regulation and also give them targets with a clause that the concession would be withdrawn if the terms of agreement were not met. “The airports will create jobs but it will need skilled manpower, but those who may currently be employed who are not skilled and who are not doing anything would lose their jobs. Many jobs will be created when the airports are developed,” Animaseun said. Labour The Ibom Air Director of Engineering said the aviation unions who are now pitted against the decision to concession the airports because of the fear that workers would lose their jobs should have broader perspective to the programme in order to protect their

interests in a more effective way. He recalled that in the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL) where he worked for many years and where he was active as a unionist, the mistake the unions made then was to narrow their interest in protecting their jobs and therefore stood against the privatisation of NAL. “But looking back, if the unions had allowed privatisation to take place with the condition that all entitlements of the workers, including compensation for losing their jobs, the workers would have earned their entitlements and maybe the airline would not have been liquidated and the workers would not have spent many years agitating for the severance and other entitlements under a long interregnum when many of them lost their lives. “To me, this is not the time to go against concession, but to concern themselves with labour issues. They should be able to negotiate compensation the workers would leave with. They should negotiate their pension and inconvenience allowance, which must be paid them before thy leave. This is because our people will suffer if we don’t negotiate. If they continue to fight the decision of government to concession, it will not favour them in the long run,” Animaseun said. Similarly, industry consultant and CEO of Aglow Aviation, Tayo Ojuri said concession is the only way to solve the infrastructural challenges facing Nigerian airports as government does not have business in managing airports; so what is key is the way forward and the transparency of the concession process. Competitiveness and Transparency Ojuri, however said the current efforts to concession the four major airports in the country need to have global competitiveness. “So what is key is the way forward and transparency. The process has been wobbling from the beginning. The Transaction Adviser process lacks global competitiveness and this fact challenges the process. What is key is transparency but you don’t necessarily have to agree with all the stakeholders, but if the process is clear it will be a successful concession. “Also the legal outstanding issues need to be tackled. What is being done? There was mistake in the past, what has been put in place to ensure that such mistake does not happen again. Collaboration is really key; what model is government looking at? Everything seems to be shrouded in secrecy and that is cause for worry, which has given rise to scepticism. We expect the process to be objective, we expect that there should be due diligence because this should be a long term plan to revamp the industry in terms of infrastructure,” Ojuri said. Balanced Concession The International Air Transport Association supports airport concession as long as it is balanced and does not heap huge charges on airlines, which are consequently passed to passengers, thus increasing airfares. So the global body believes in balanced concession. IATA’s book on Airport Ownership and Regulation sets out key safeguards of public value in a concession project. These include a competitive and transparent transaction process, assessment of bids on balanced criteria, and ensuring the key terms of any concession contract underpin improvements in efficiency, quality of service, and appropriate investment in the airport for the benefit of airlines and consumers. IATA said it is recognised that there is no, “one size fits all” solution, with individual airport requirements and markets varying significantly, and the optimal concession design needs to be developed with key stakeholders and potential private sector counterparties. Nigeria has a good example of a concessioned airport terminal, which comparatively is doing better than the ones under the management of a government agency. What stakeholders want is that the process should be made transparent in line with international practices so that the pitfalls that dogged the last concession would not accompany subsequent ones that would be done.

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Need to Protect Local Airlines In order to grow the air transport industry to significantly contribute to the countryâ€™s gross domestic product, create jobs and provide efficient service to the country, it must adopt decisive diplomatic policies to protect local carriers, writes Chinedu Eze

nfolding events in the aviation sector during the coronavirus lockdown showed that Nigeria may still be trapped in the colonial mindset. This period exposed a situation where countries used diplomacy as business warfare to carve out markets for their own airlines. Some international carriers also capitalised on weak diplomatic policies in some countries to exploit aviation markets in those countries, especially in Africa and stripped local airlines business opportunities. Nigeria made commendable efforts through its pronouncements to protect its own carriers but made feeble diplomatic moves to implement its decision. These were the views of many industry stakeholders who spoke to THISDAY and insisted that the federal government must take advantage of Nigeriaâ€™s huge travelling population by ensuring that local airlines are able to operate international destinations. Evacuation exercises being carried out by countries due to the coronavirus lockdown had been described by many industry observers as extension of the marketing competition by airlines because majority of the evacuations are conducted by well-known major carriers of the world. All airlines want to continue to earn revenue through evacuation and cargo operations in other to sustain their business and the host government of these airlines protect them, chart diplomatic ways for them to continue to do their business in other countries. It was the Group Managing Director of Ethiopia Airlines, Tewolde Gebremariam that said that European and Middle East carriers have over 80 per cent of international flights in Africa. This is also reflected in the evacuation exercise but and ironically, while African countries open their hands to welcome these carriers to operate, European and other Western countries use diplomacy to block African countries in the well-known tactics known in the aviation industry as aeropolitics. British Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Air France have flown many times into Nigeria to carry out evacuation exercise and currently investigation is being conducted by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) that some of these airlines are actually carrying out full commercial operation, which they dubbed evacuation. UK, Canada Diplomatic Spat During the current lockdown where thousands of citizens have been evacuated by flights arranged by governments through their embassies, many countries have evacuated their citizens from Nigeria and it is not on record that any that followed due process was turned back or refused, but Canada and UK have refused Nigerian airline from evacuating Nigerian citizens on what many industry observers described as spurious excuses. After the federal government announced that only Nigerian carriers would conduct repatriation of Nigerian citizens for government backed evacuation exercise, it designated Air Peace to evacuate Nigerians from Canada, but the North American country turned the airline down and made its own arrangement through its embassy in Nigeria where it wanted to deploy a foreign carrier that charged Nigerians over 40 per cent of the fare charged by the Nigerian carrier. At the end, Canada had its way. The Nigerian carrier was not allowed to conduct that evacuation. Although the federal government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs complained about the action taken by Canada, it did not do anything further. Also, recently the British government denied Air Peace the landing right to evacuate Nigerians from London in a flight scheduled for July 13, 2020. British authorities had said Air Peace did not have the landing rights to fly to the United Kingdom as scheduled operator, but according

Sirika

Onyeama

to the International Civil Aviation Organsiation (ICAO) Annexe 9, countries are allowed under emergencies as such occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic to dispatch flights to evacuate their citizens so long the airline has the approval of the Civil Aviation Authority. Ironically the Nigerian carrier successfully operated evacuation flight from London on June 28, airlifting 327 Nigerians and the Nigerian government arranged for two more evacuation for Air Peace slated on July 13, 2020 but the British government refused further flights from Air Peace and insisted that Nigeria must contract European carrier to conduct the evacuation.

out the evacuation a day later than scheduled but for much higher fares. These higher fares could legitimately have been passed on to the evacuees but Air Peace bore this huge cost itself. â€œThis is to let the aggrieved evacuees know that the objects of their grievance should neither be Air Peace nor the Nigerian Government. They should rather be eternally grateful to Air Peace. The Nigerian Government will review its Air agreements with various countries as a result of the unacceptable treatment of Nigerian carriers during this pandemic.â€? Reacting, the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa described the United Kingdomâ€™s denial of landing permit to a Nigerian carrier, Air peace, at the last minute as outrageous and absolutely unwarranted. The NIDCOM boss revealed this via her Twitter handle @ abikedabiri. â€œThe decision by the UK government to deny Air Peace landing permit at the last minute is outrageous and absolutely unwarranted.â€?

Reviewing Air Agreements Reacting to the sudden decision of the UK government, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, had written on his verified twitter handle: â€œHaving been allowed to carry out one very successful evacuation of Nigerians from London at very low fares, Air Peace in coordination with the Nigerian Government and full knowledge of the UK authorities scheduled two additional flights. â€œAll the arrangements were made including payments, only for the UK authorities to withdraw landing rights close to departure despite strong representations by the Nigerian Government including pointing out the hardship that would be caused to hundreds of Nigerian evacuees. â€œAir Peace could have just refunded the passengers but exceptionally, patriotically and altruistically agreed to find an alternative carrier acceptable to the UK authorities to carry

This is a policy issue because if the federal government introduced a policy that every foreign operator would be designated to only airport and would partner with local airline to add another airport to their operation, they would partner with Nigerian carriers

Diplomacy It is expected that the Nigerian government would take actions against the sudden decision taken by the UK government against the Nigerian carrier, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs but what is known over the years is that the Nigerian government rarely respond decisively against this unfavourable actions meted against local carriers by foreign countries. The last decisive action as could be recalled was the one done by the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, the late Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, who reacted when South African immigration authorities deported 125 Nigerians over not meeting their requirement for vaccination document (yellow card). The late Minister deported 56 South Africans and vowed that the federal government would henceforth take tough action against â€œany country that takes delight in ill-treating Nigerians.â€? It happened then that the Nigerian passengers that were deported then were those who flew to Johannesburg with Arik Air and the plan was to discourage travellers to that country from using Arik Air, a Nigerian airline, where the only alternative was South Africa Airways. But because of the immediate reaction of the Nigerian government, South Africa government issued an apology. According to BBC report on March 8, 2012, â€œSouth Africa has apologised for the deportation last week of 125 Nigerians over suspicions that their yellow fever certificates were fake. The action quickly turned into a diplomatic spat - with Nigeria refusing South Africans entry and the foreign minister branding Pretoria xenophobic. South Africa has rejected that claim - and promised new procedures to avoid a repeat of the â€œregrettable incidentâ€?. At one stage Nigerian carrier, Arik Air, suspended flights to South Africa.â€? Former Secretary General of the National

Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Olayinka Abioye, noted that foreign airlines have not employed many Nigerians despite the huge amount of money they cart away from the country. â€œIt will surprise you to see or hear how much money these foreign airlines earn annually and compare that with the number of employment opportunities they create for the Nigerian people. Shocking to say the least. â€œSecondly, almost on regular basis, they still confront us (labour) with redundancy, laying off staff by claiming that new technology or restrictions from home office necessitated such staff reduction. â€œThirdly, where there is no such redundant or laying off of employees, there are no regular employees as almost every staff in one or two of the foreign airlines are contract staff. As you may wish to know, contract staff has no promotion, no benefits, except the terms and conditions upon which he/she was contracted. They circumvent our labour laws through the engagement of local legal officers who help them perfect those back door policies,â€? Olayinka said. Government Policies, Partnership Industry consultant and CEO of Aglow Aviation, Tayo Ojuri said that Nigeria airlines should partner with foreign airlines so that it would help them to acquire spares at good prices and also not subjected to pay before service, which is the current experience. He acknowledged that currently foreign carriers may not be willing to partner with Nigerian airlines because government is giving international airlines multidesignation as they request, but emphasised that if government could introduce a policy, where each foreign carrier is given one designation and asked to partner with local airlines if they want to operate to more than one airport, it would encourage interlining and other partnerships between Nigerian and foreign airlines. â€œThe solution to aeropolitics is that Nigerian airlines should partner with foreign airlines. This is a policy issue because if the federal government introduced a policy that every foreign operator would be designated to only airport and would partner with local airline to add another airport to their operation, they would partner with Nigerian carriers. This will enhance spares transfer and other benefits,â€? Ojuri said. The CEO of Overland Airways and a seasoned Nigerian operator, Captain Edward Boyo recently reacted to critics of local airlines and said, â€œThose foreign airlines you sing praises of, are presently in intensive care units of their governments today. Example, British Airways, Air France/KLM, Lufthansa, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar, United Air Lines, American, Air Canada, South Africa Airways, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian, Air India, to mention a few, while others within your admiration have closed shop. â€œYet (you say) Nigerian airlines are bad. Air Peace, Dana Air, Azman, Max Air, Aero, Arik, Ibom Air, Overland, are still standing at a very good level and still growing. Even without any palliatives from government. As of today they have started serving the nation with this indispensable service of flight. Like Dr Harold Demuren (former Director General of NCAA) will say, there nothing wrong supporting your own. â€œPlease pray for the nation, pray for the airlines that they succeed. They have not laid off staff as our counterparts in other climes have done. They are looking after their people with what they have. â€œ Air Peace alone employs over 3000 Nigerians and shoulders a huge salary bill of about a billion Naira monthly. Please add up for other airlines and collateral jobs arising from airline operation. You donâ€™t need to imagine and you can already see the effect over the last four pandemic months of airlines not flying. Even the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) will soon fold up if airlines donâ€™t fly.â€?

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BUSINESSWORLD

MARITIME

Revisiting NCS’ Failed Scanner Purchase Eromosele Abiodun writes that the Nigeria Customs Service should capitalise on its existing information communication and technology platform that has robustly supported its revenue collection drive, provide scanning services and back off its nebulous chase for a more costly options

n February 2017, during an inspection tour of the ports in Lagos, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col Hameed Alli (rtd) had promised to end the long wait for cargo scanners to be provided at the ports and guaranteed that scanners would be provided in the first quarter of 2018. Specifically, he had said: “New cargo scanners to arrive in Nigeria next year. The new scanners would arrive the ports by the first quarter of 2018, to make cargo examination easier, faster & Surer.” Responding to stakeholders’ demand for the audit of N9.2 billion scanners at the ports, the CGC had noted that: “After examining the scanners, only two can be immediately repaired and put to use, but the others will be repaired over time.” At another forum on October 4, 2017, the CGC again promised, saying: “Hopefully, before a couple of months from now, we will have scanners at the ports.” However, three years after his first promise, no single scanner has been acquired by the NCS, fueling speculation that the NCS boss’ promise was just a political statement. Since 2015 when the last batch of scanners installed at the nation’s seaports was handed over to the government under conditions contravening its contractual provisions, the eventual breakdown of the equipment has left the maritime business in dire straits. For several years running, the ports have remained without scanners, causing a clog to the efficiency of the port system. Mobile and fixed scanners are essential equipment for international businesses as it helps in facilitating ease of doing business. This is because it aids in addressing modern procedures for cargo examination for importation, exportation, security and other purposes. Unfortunately, this all-important equipment has been absent from the Nigerian ports due to the total breakdown of the previously provided ones. Experts believe the greater consequence is that lack of functional scanners has taken Nigeria away from countries in West and Central Africa seeking to position as operators of modern port system and a hub for maritime activities in the two regions. Maritime expert and a member, Task Force to Reform Customs in 2010, Lucky Amiwero, blames the collapse of scanners at the nation’s ports on the doorsteps of the NCS and the Ministry of Finance (MoF). According to him, the scanners that have eventually packed up at the seaport now was mismanaged by MoF and Customs because both organisations did not ensure that the equipment were properly transferred to the government after the expiration of the contract tenor of the concessionaires. Based on the provisions of the contract between the federal government and contractors in 2006, Amiwero explained, the intervention committee, which was appointed by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in 2014 was supposed to have ensured that functional scanners were transferred to the federal government upon the completion of the contract tenor. He regrets that what the committee eventually recommended did not conform with some of the provisions of the contract when the concessionaires were leaving. He said: “Under Article 4 of the contract, there was provision for pre and post-investment process. The contract was such that we have a post-investment deal for a functional equipment transfer.This means that the concessionaire shall ensure the transfer of the scanners to the federal government in top working condition. It includes six months after the transfer, replacement with brand new components, including labour and maintenance. But in 2014 / 2015, all the scanners collapsed. Nigeria has not benefitted from the post-investment aspect of the contract; so we did not enjoy the post-investment component of the contract.” “The manufacturing companies are supposed to do all the component replacement before handing over to us and also provide

Ali maintenance for the scanners until six months after the expiration of their contract before handing over to us. Over one million euro was allocated for this aspect in the contract. But this was not done and that accounts for the state of the scanners today.” Clog to port efﬁciency For now, the lack of scanners at the nation’s seaports has continued to constitute a clog to the efficiency of the port system. While the NCS has resorted to crude, manual cargo inspection otherwise called 100 per cent physical examination, there have been times that dangerous goods like arms, ammunition and prohibited drugs exited the ports undetected, This would not have been were the scanners available. Recently the Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Vicky Haastrup, decried the high rate of manual examination of cargoes at the nation’s seaports and asked the NCS to deploy technology to drive the process. Manual examination of cargoes, she argued, is not efficient and does not promote social distancing at this COVID-19 pandemic era. She said: “The NCS should do everything possible to install functional scanners at the port to reduce the high rate of physical examination of cargoes and to reduce human contacts. Customs should also make it possible for consignees to process their release documents and make necessary duty payments online without having to visit the port or Customs commands. “There is also need to reduce the number of government agencies that participate in cargo examination at the port in addition to reducing the number of checks carried out on cleared cargos both inside and outside the port premises. Customs’ clearing process must become smart at this time.” Amiwero also share the view of the STOAN boss, saying that physical examination is not done anywhere in the world. “The process is nebulous, it is time-consuming and expensive overall.Invariably this is why we are running the most expensive port. Globally, 80 per cent of cargoes are not subjected to 100 per cent physical examination,” he said. Wild goose chase Meanwhile, the NCS rather than capitalise on its existing Information Communication Technology (ICT) platform that has robustly supported it’s revenue collection drive to also provide scanning services in a more cost-effective and seamlessly synchronising manner, the service has embarked on a nebulous chase for a more costly and probably unreliable option. Also, the NCS failed to utilise a ”No Objection Certificate” earlier given to it by the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) in 2018 for the purchase of three units of scanners. THISDAY findings revealed that the NCS wrote to the BPP in May 2020, requesting for “due process no objection” for cost variation due to non-inclusion of withholding tax,

value-added tax and exchange variation for purchase of three units of Rapiscan mobile cargo scanners. The exchange rate variation and cost implication alone is leading to more losses for the government given the differential in the exchange rate at that time and now. The NCS is projecting a total contract sum of N9,253,890,000 at an exchange rate of N360 to the United States dollar. Further findings revealed that $26,385,000 was earlier approved for the contract by the Federal Executive Council at an exchange rate of N305 to a dollar. The NCS is also seeking an additional N1,206,465,000 to be paid to Wymo Finance Limited, Messrs Air Waves. The letter of credit is expected to become effective upon presentation of relevant shipping documents to NCS that was expected to receive the consignment. The local payment amounting to N2,975,400,000 net of taxes for which the contractor has provided performance bond is expected to be made periodically based on achievement of milestones in the project while taxes amounting to N330,600,000 was being expected to be remitted to the Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS). Managing scanners Meanwhile, the National President, Association of Nigerian Licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA), Tony Nwabunnike, wants professionals to handle the scanner project and its operation. He said: “Yes we may have customs personnel that can handle scanners, but they are not professionals on it. If you have professionals on it, it works more effectively than when those on it are going through training on the job. Globally, Customs is not to be the custodian of scanners; we need to do things right. Customs should be in line with the scan operators.” He advised that procuring, installation and

operation of the scanners should be executed through a PPP arrangement contract so that they take liability and face the consequences if the scanners break down. “The previous scanner regime handled by Cotecna, Globalscan and others were efficient. When the previous scanners were installed they were handled by professionals and it worked well; they trained the customs personnel as well on its usage, but when the professionals left it, some of those scanners were not functioning except for those by Globalscan, which was the only indigenous company in the scan,” Nwabunnike said. Inﬂux of arms, drugs The unavailability of scanners at the nation’s ports has continued to have dire consequences. For instance, in January 2017, operatives of the NCS’s Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Ikeja, intercepted a Mack truck carrying container load of rifles that had exited the port of Lagos. That is not all, several trucks of illicit drugs like tramadol have been seized by enforcement officers of the NCS. Officers stationed at the port could not detect them during the examination due to reasons of possible corruption and lack of scanner to electronically detect container contents quickly and accurately. Though the NCS has been outstanding in revenue collection with over N569 billion collected as at end of May 2020 bringing it closer to achieving and surpassing its about N900 billion target for this year, it has been severally advanced that the Federal Ministry of Finance should wrap up discussions to provide the scanners. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

FRIDAY JULY 24, 2020 â€¢ T H I S D AY

THIS WEEKEND WEEKLY MAGAZINE

NEWS METRO THISLIFE ART WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com 07010510430

Olori Boye-Ajayi: Positioning for the Emerging World

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COVER

Olori Boye-Ajayi: Positioning for the Emerging World Olori Boye-Ajayi is the founder of the KatieWang Company, a growing global export fashion trading company with operations in four continents. One of her major objectives over the years is to make Africa indigenous products renowned by connecting and creating opportunities for local designers in the global market. Beyond breaking frontiers in the fashion industry, BoyeAjayi is passionate about sustainable development in Africa. To this end, the Co-founder and Chief Operations Officer of The Ark Coaching Company, a global company focused on human potential and enablement across Africa, on July 4 co-hosted a life-changing webinar, the“Fix-It Conference”, aimed at helping people take their lives, businesses and careers to a whole new level. In this interview with MARY NNAH, she talks about how she has been positioning Africans for the emerging world

ell us a bit about growing up Like many in Nigeria, I have a humble beginning. Though I was born and bred in the United Kingdom, I found myself in Nigeria living with my dearest late grandmother at a very tender age. At the time, she lived in one of the poverty-stricken areas in Lagos – Mushin to be precise. It is one of the experiences that marked my mind because it presented to me the life I didn’t want for myself or children. I eventually went back to London for college and my university degree. I started working in the corporate world at the age of 16 and that was when I got exposed to environment of value exchange, specialists in various sectors, capitalism and many more things. At the age of 18, I encountered my first mentor, Jackson Ogunyemi at a point when I had zero drive and thought life was limited work, sleeping and eating. Jackson decided to coach me out of that immature pattern of thinking and that was when I started my journey to discovery and becoming. And here I am today. My career started as a fashion retailer eight years ago. I built and drove the first Fashion Truck in West Africa. Fast forward a few years later, I got into export and manufacturing and that’s when I started the fashion network of garment manufacturers in 2017 and started a structured free-to-attend training called ‘Business Side of Fashion’. It was one of the most rewarding seasons in my career, a major highlight. Today, there are almost 350 fashion entrepreneurs in that network. The business quickly evolved into export trading and sourcing and today we thrive and derive so much fulfilment in linking international buyers to local producers in Africa. What were your childhood dreams? As I said, I grew up with my grandmother when I was much younger and what I was exposed to showed me I cannot live this way – I knew there had to be more. That exploratory spirit pushed me into breaking out of the mould that I was in. When I was younger, I wanted to be everyone but myself because I saw it as a form of escape from the mould I was living in. My first coach at the young age 18 helped me to navigate through that cobweb and blurry vision and I started to dream about being a woman who impacts the borough of Islington at that age. I wasn’t thinking world domination but I certainly liked the idea of it. I was exposed to greatness early through those who thought anything was possible – my childhood dream was to meet them. Let’s talk more about your company Katie Wang Company. When and how did you start? The Katie Wang Company (TKWC) started as Olori’s Place in 2012. We evolved into TKWC because our offering expanded and we want to rebrand. I stumbled into fashion retail actually and it was called ‘Olori’s Place’ because that’s what it was, just a place in my apartment in Magodo. I moved back to Nigeria after my MSc in 2010 and everything fashion was so expensive (almost triple the price) I was used to. I had the opportunity to go back to London for a few days in November of 2011. Upon arrival, my childhood friend gave me a belated birthday gift of about 100GBP and the next day a friend of mine asked me to escort her to Roman road market. I did. I was in shock, everything

those of African descent, to unleash their inner potential and contribute their quota to Africa’s development. What was the propelling force behind your recently held programme tagged, “The Fix-it Conference” and why at this particular point in time? We have the conviction that the movement of the African continent into an era of peace and prosperity will be accelerated when African themselves have their mindset changed, the way they do business transformed and they learn the true principle of money and generating wealth. Africans can no longer sit and wait for aid, grants, funding – we must elevate ourselves to be globally competitive.

Olori Boye-Ajayi

was so stylish and super affordable – I used my 100GBP to buy everything possible, took pictures and sent to my friend who worked in an office, I added enough profit and all the items sold out before I left London – JACKPOT. That’s how I stumbled into fashion and I have never looked back since. Were there particular challenges you faced while starting off? The cost of renting a store was and still is something that can deter anyone wanting to come into the industry. That is what led to the building of the fashion truck, it was definitely less expensive and it was mobile so it meant I had the advantage of stationing the fashion truck in different areas across Lagos mainland or the island. Also, at the time, there was very little assistance in the form of business support on how to build an online store. How has the Katie Wang Company fared in the global world? We still have a lot of possibilities ahead of us. When we launched out to other countries a few years ago we learnt the hard way but we wouldn’t change that story because it has given us the edge we need for experience. We’ve had operations in Australia, the United States and a one-off consignment to Europe, recently Canada has been a place of interest. We’re looking forward to getting more ‘made in Nigeria’ quality products into the global marketplace.` What are the opportunities for Nigerians in the global fashion industry? In my opinion, I believe Africa’s rising fashion industry is ripe for greater penetration into global retail chains not just as souvenir fashion or niche market, we’re ready for fast fashion. In recent years, a lot of our young designers, models and even our music have received global attention. With further development in our infrastructure and upskilling, Nigerians can compete and play in the global fashion industry. The creative industries in Africa as a whole offers massive potential for continent-wide job and GDP growth, in recent years no other sector has done this after the agriculture sector. In some African countries, the private sector has shown avid interest by investing heavily via banks and other trust funds to offer fundings to the SME’s operating in that space.

From your experience in the fashion industry, would you say Nigerians have been able to maximise the opportunities in the industry? Well, that question is an easy answer. There are so many stakeholders in the industry that haven’t taken ownership of their contribution to the development of the industry. The few that have, like Omoyemi Akerele have done so with the support that can only do so much for a pool of hundreds of thousands or millions across the continent. I hear more and more people use the word collaboration but I think it’s high time to move in that direction. You are said to be on a global mission to revolutionise Africa. How do you intend to achieve that? Very simple – At the Ark, we have the conviction that the movement of the African continent into an era of peace and prosperity will be accelerated when Africans renew their mindset, upgrade and transform the way they do commerce and upgrade their knowledge on the principles for success. We kickstart this process with the FIX IT Pan-African Virtual Conference happening Saturday, July 4th, 2020. Then we take a sizeable amount of business owners through a multi-level program with our business leaders and Personal Transformational Coaches who hand-hold them on the journey to changing their communities and economies. What informed your interest in the Ark Coaching Company and how does it aid in fulﬁlling your objectives above? TheArk was born out of the state of emergency in our inability asAfrican businesses to push past the barrier or ceiling where business influence and wealth acquisition is concerned. In Asia, they have thousands of young millionaires in their tech space but in Africa, it seems the same people are celebrated across a whole continent that is the anomaly The Ark seeks to correct. Our core focus at TheArk Coaching Company is on human potential and capacity enhancement that allows participants in our programmes to rise above their present occasion and change the narrative about themselves, their environment, and the world at large. We often like to say, “Once you step into the Ark, you can’t leave the same.” Our Mission is to enable people, especially

How would the outcome of this conference help the country’s economy return to normal especially in the post COVID-19 era? Our goal for the conference is to help the people to navigate the current shift and position themselves strategically for the digital world that is emerging. We expect our participants to leave with a blueprint of global opportunities.There is a lot of information ﬂying around about repositioning after covid19 but sometimes information overload can lead to paralysis. We want to get people who attend to jot down with the heading – WHAT NEXT? It was a virtual conference, do you think this will adequately get to your target audience? With advent of new technologies, we believe the virtual conference will be able to reach the target audience; everyone is online more in the advent of current situations. Last time I checked our registration list, we had people with African names from as far as Oman and Australia, only technology can help achieve this. Why did you pick the title,“Fix –it Conference”? The journey to fixing Africa starts with the individuals, one community at a time. The fixing will take time and a lot of excavation from what we’ve been conditioned into believing. We looked at the three main areas we’ve seen past members of our coaching programs needed guidance on the most and it was on their money, mindset and business and so we decided to widen our reach to help more Africans and African businesses – FIX IT during the conference. What impact has the Ark Coaching Company had on the Nigeria youth? Since operations, we’ve helped not just Nigerians but Africans in diaspora and Africans at home. Our efforts have helped over 100 businesses with an increase in revenue, building structures for B2B and B2G (government), converting to tech-based operations, incorporating lean operations. In elevating their mindset, we address critical thinking and understanding their personal contributions in Africa’s development. The youth need attention and hand-holding in the process of transforming their minds, The Ark Coaching Company is here to do that.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͲ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

POLSCOPE

have tried , ever since he appeared in the public space, to follow his type of politics. And I can declare that he is a perfect representation of all the features of a typical Nigerian politician. He is loud, verbose, somewhat charming, cunning, desperate, power devotee, spends money with valueless spirit, lover of the klieg light, ideologically unstable, sometimes gawky etc. All of the above and more are what define Obong Godswill Akpabio, a lawyer and politician: former commissioner, former governor, former senator and now sitting minister of the Niger Delta. Let me first acknowledge that Akpabio registered impactful governance when he presided over the affairs of Akwa-Ibom State for eight years. He is credited with “uncommon achievements” in terms of infrastructural development in the state. And he blared this loud on the public podium. There are several remarkable projects that not only defined his taste but also his determination to drive an impressionistic governance. The roads, the Ibom Hotel, the hospitals, the Ibom Airport, the Gulf Course, the Ibom Air , surely are some of his legacy projects. Perhaps given the scarcity of such epochal achievements across the nation, nobody bothered to ask at what cost these said projects were executed. In fact, Akpabio believes he is Akwa-Ibom State and Akwa Ibomn state is him. Little wonder he groups the years before his governance streak, as Akwa Ibom B.A (Before Akpabio), in the same way historians refer to events Before Christ (B.C) He believes he is the apotheosis of the state. But that is as far as his good deeds can be stretched. As said earlier, people were literally carried away by the razzmatazz of his “uncommon projects” such that very few bothered to ask the cost of such feats. It was only the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that dared to peep into his books, and what they saw was reeky enough to commence prosecution immediately he left office as governor of the state, when his immunity expired. But as many things in Nigeria go, the cases of fraud and corruption filed against him by the EFCC has long become hitched. The case is neither dead, nor alive. Nobody talks about them anymore, especially when he decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the All Progressives Congress (APC). Nobody is exactly surprised that immediately Akpabio bathed the APC waters, all his sins were washed away, and he became clean enough to join the cabinet of a government pitched high on anti-corruption war. Didn’t Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the former National Chairman of the APC once declare that as soon as any filthy politician joins the APC, all his sins are forgiven and so becomes as white as snow? Only in Nigeria! But this same Akpabio it was who after leaving office as governor, retained the custody of some apartments in the Akwa Ibom Government House, especially as he was yet very chummy with his godson, the sitting Governor Udom Emmanuel. They have long broken apart. It was reported that on September 4, 2015, that the operatives of Department of State Security (DSS) uncovered a stockpile of arms and Ammunition, plus a whole room loaded with United States Dollars and British Pounds within the Presidential Lodge of the Akwa Ibom Government House complex. Akpabio still had the keys exclusively to the Presidential Lodge, even when he was already in the senate. The catché of arms and ammunition plus bags of foreign currency were seized by the DSS. The then young Gov Emmanuel had protested to President Muhammadu Buhari on what was described as the invasion of the Akwa Ibom Government House. The president intervened, faulted the “invasion”, and as they say in Nigeria, that intervention “died” the matter. Till date, we do not know what happened to the hard currency and even the arms and ammunition. The case was closed. Only in Nigeria! It was this same Akpabio, two years earlier, on March 18, 2013, who went to Port Harcourt, for a South-south zonal reconciliation meeting of the PDP. And in a brazen show of impulsive spending zipped open his purse and doled out six million Naira, to the six state chairmen of the party for, wait for it… “Mr Biggs refreshment” That was people’s money! Just before he left office as governor, he had caused to be passed a wild terminal benefit law with uncommon privileges and provisions for

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This Same Akpabio…

Akpabio

a former governor. There is no space to share all the details of the law, but one of it was that a former governor would be entitled to N100 million annual medical fund to take care of his health. The wide condemnation that followed the mindlessness of the provisions of the law sooner than later forced the withdrawal of the law altogether, especially as people were already praying that may Akpabio really suffer such ailments that will cost him N100 million per year, to treat. This same Akpabio! It is a tribute to the foggy system we run in Nigeria that Akpabio, who was a first time senator in 2015, bulldozed his to become a principal officer of the senate when he emerged as the Senate minority leader—a position hitherto reserved for ranking senators. Fast forward to his advent as a Minister. He was appointed at a time he had lost his senatorial contest. He had indeed gone to the tribunal to challenge the outcome of the election as he was dazed, having fallen out with the sitting governor. But Akpabio, being a schemer laboured hard to ensure that the running and operations of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) which hitherto had been under the supervision of the presidency---Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)--- got transferred to the Ministry of Niger Delta. It was the target, such that even when the tribunal called for a repeat election, Akpabio chickened out. A bigger apple was already in hand. And after that, the game began at a higher keel. Long before this point, Akpabio had pushed his quisling, Nsima Ekere to head the NDDC as the Managing Director. While Ekere presided over the NDDC a lot of water passed under the bridge. The forensic audit ordered by Mr President shall reveal how much water it was that passed under the bridge; that is if the so-called forensic audit ever takes place. As the Supervising minister, Akpabio was instrumental to the appointment of the Managing Directors of the NDDC. So much has been spilled by the former Managing Director of the NDDC, Ms Joi Nunieh, as it concerns the micro-managing bid of the Honourable minister. Her refusal to be “loyal” in doing whatever the minister wanted has been officially described as “insubordination”. Nunieh in recent times had been decoding what the insubordination actually meant. But Akpabio has not been able to creditably address the issues and allegations Nunieh raised against him. The idea of an Interim Management Com-

mittee (IMC) was entirely that of Akpabio who, sadly, has seen the length and breath of the Niger Delta ministry as defined by the goings on in the NDDC. The IMC, as illegal as it is, has thus become the waste pipe of the commission. First, Akpabio had said the IMC will be in place for six months to oversee the forensic audit which was also supposed to last for six months. But at the end of the six months, nothing like the structure of the said audit had taken place, prompting the extension of the exerciseby another six months, ending December this year But many doubt if it is not all hoax, given that nothing in that direction has happened yet. Last Monday, the Honourable minister appeared at the National Assembly fact-finding panel to unearth the rumours(?) of sleaze that filled the public space. Given the humongous sums that were being bandied as having been spent in just seven months or less, not a few people had thought the commission was being run by Hushpupiie. Talking about N81.5 billion gone in five months was simply mind blowing! And to know that this was coming at a time a forensic audit was supposed to be probing into how wisely or otherwise the funds of the commission have been utilized. At the panel, it was obvious both the panel members and the Honourable minister were ready for each other. Too many times, the minister was driven to a tight corner as he was seen struggling to explain away his actions, dodge questions et al. He denied being involved in the day-to day management of the commission even as his several memos showed otherwise. Certain contractors like Rodnap construction company who was involved in the construction of the permanent building is believed to be brought in by Akpabio. That same company was a major contractor in Akwa Ibom in Akpabio’s governorship days. Too many times, Akpabio pretended to be hard of hearing (could that be as a result of the uncommon slap?) and so talked endlessly on issues not related to the questions asked. Many think it was mere red herring tactics. Although Nunieh had alleged that Akpabio demanded and got 30 contracts awarded to him, the minister claimed that he was involved only in three contracts: the purchase of operational vehicles, the contract for the lead forensic audit consultant and the provision of COVID-19 palliatives. Even if we concede the propriety of the first two contracts, how does Akpabio explain the COVID-19 palliatives to the tune of

N1.5 billion?, even though the acting MD (who faints when hard questions are asked), Prof Daniel Pondei said it is “only” N1.32 billion was spent on palliatives. They claimed they were spending from 2019 budget. Hey, before we come to the propriety of spending so much on palliatives, how come COVID-19 palliatives was accommodated in a 2019 budget whereas corona virus came to Nigeria late February 2020? What kind of foresight made them know in 2018 (when the 2019 budget was being prepared) that Corona Virus will hit the world, let alone Nigeria? Haba! Do these people fear God? As our dear Mrs Patience Jonathan would say, there is God-o! It is remarkable that it was when Pondei was asked to point out the budget head that supported the expenditure for palliatives that he theatrically(?) slumped. In a country where the battle to pay N30,000 minimum wage raged for years, a regional interventionist agency had the “mind” to splurge N1.32 billion on palliatives under the ministerial approval and permission of Mr Akpabio. Gosh! I do not know anybody in my state that got any NDDC palliative. How many of the 31 million people of the Niger Delta tasted of the so-called NDDC palliatives? The said Pondei had the guts to say “we had to take care of ourselves too” Really? What impudence! What happened to their salaries? He got N10 million, the Executive Directors got N7 million each and some staff N1million while others N600, 000. What a bazaar! To NDDC workforce, COVID-19 should happen frequently. And in a bid to search out ways to waste the money, thereby cornering the much they can, the NDDC spent N475 million to buy face masks and sanitisers to the Nigeria Police. Pray, what is the business of the NDDC funding the Police? Is the NDDC the Police Service Commission? And what kind of face masks/ hand sanitisers cost N475 million? What is the population of the Nigeria Police Force? And this is just a part of Akpabio’s (third) approved contract! This same Akpabio in circumventing the questions he was asked tried to explain away the appointment of a medical doctor as Executive Director, Projects in the NDDC, Dr Cairo Ojuigbo. The minister claimed that about 50 per cent of the projects in the NDDC had to do with health and so there’s no better person to handle such department than a medical doctor. How disingenuous! The man bandies figures anyhow as if he is on a political campaign rostrum. How can 50 % of the needs of the Niger Delta be health-related? The Act setting up the NDDC had provided for an engineer as Executive Director Projects. But our Honourable minister, with his uncommon wisdom thinks a medical doctor can as well perform the function of an engineer. Little wonder that Cairo Ojuigbo, Akpabio’s Man Friday, spent N52 million hiring boats to go inspect projects in the riverine areas. Pray, how much are the boats he hired for N52 million? Not even in Egypt can Cairo spend N52 million to hire boats even if he is to sail the entire length of River Nile. Cairo, a man with very scant reputation and a foremost political charlatan had been shouting himself hoax (that corruption is fighting back) ever since the probes have been spilling the beans in the commission, as its unofficial spokesman, had been in the very middle of the mess in the commission. Cairo admitted collecting huge sums meant for him to attend the graduation ceremony of graduating students (under NDDC scholarship) in the UK. The money has been collected since April for a ceremony allegedly billed for September. These are the same students that have been protesting their abandonment by the NDDC and some of them threatened with expulsion. But Cairo and co are preparing for the fanfare of graduation ceremonies. Why do NDDC officials even have to attend such graduation ceremonies? Has that been the practice? Wonderful Cairo! What about the N9 billion for de-silting and clearance of water hyacinth? Akpabio has not responded to the many allegations made against him. In normal climes, the likes of Akpabio, Ojuigbo and the gang should either be locked away in prison or be declared persona non grata to public office. But this is Nigeria. The Nigeria Akpabio understands so well. While we strongly oppose the scrapping of the NDDC as some have advocated, we look forward to a decisive report from the National Assembly on these matters. But if it all ends as an anti-cimax as in times past, it will be simply Akpabioic, but certainly not God’s will for the people of the Niger Delta.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͲ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

TRIBUTE

Omowale at 90: A Tribute to Walter Carrington In this piece, Adedayo Akinwale highlights former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Walter Carrington’s contributions to the struggle for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria as he celebrates his 90th birthday today

ormer United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Walter Carrington, needs no introduction in Nigeria. The seasoned diplomat who turns 90 today, though a patriotic American, is an African at heart, who loves Nigeria with passion. A fearless diplomat, Carrington played a major role in helping to enthrone democracy. At a period that has been described as the dark days of the Nigerian nation, he stood firmly on the side of Nigerians fighting for justice and seeking an end to military rule. Following his appointment in 1993 by President Bill Clinton as US Ambassador to Nigeria, he arrived in Lagos a few months after the annulment of what was regarded as the freest and fairest election ever held in Nigeria. No doubt, the annulment of the election caused great unrest, regional and tribal resentment, which finally led to the General Ibrahim Babaginda regime handing over power to a civilian interim President, Ernest Shonekan. Carrington arrived just in time to be the last diplomat to present his credentials to the new president before General Sanni Abacha removed Shonekan in a bloodless coup two weeks later. During the four years he served as Ambassador of the United States to Nigeria, Carrington was an outspoken champion of human rights and advocate of Nigeria’s return to democratic rule. In spite of threats to his person and family, Carrington continued to call for the end of military rule throughout his tour in Nigeria and after returning to the United States. In speech and deed, the retired diplomat fearlessly confronted the regime of Sani Abacha, urging the United States to impose stricter sanctions on his regime. When Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, winner of the June 12 Presidential Election, and several other pro-democracy activists were arrested and detained, he constantly called for the release of political prisoners and when his calls went unheeded, he provided comfort to the families of the detained. Carrington, an uncommon diplomat, openly identified with the persecuted citizens of Nigeria rather than with the unelected military cabal which persecuted them. Few, if any, foreigners have so consistently identified with the aspirations of the Nigerian people as did this illustrious African-American. It was due to his fearlessness and his unapologetic campaign for rights of Nigerians and indeed blacks that he was christened Omowale - a Yoruba name that means “the child who returned home.” After his tour of duty in Nigeria ended, Carrington continued to remain involved, doing his best to enable the country to return to democratic rule. Upon the restoration of civilian rule in 1999 and in appreciation of his contributions to the struggle for democracy in Nigeria, the area in Lagos on which American and a dozen other diplomatic missions are located was renamed “Walter Carrington Crescent.” In 2003, President Olusegun Obasanjo conferred on him the national honour award of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR). While in 2010, former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, hosted a State banquet in honour of Carrington’s

Ambassador Carrington and wife, Arese

80th birthday. Human Rights groups and Pro-democracy activist also put together a book of tributes to celebrate his birthday. Also, in 2011 the United States consulate in Lagos established the Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI). The Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI) is a dynamic youth-based initiative launched in 2011 by the U.S. Consulate General, Lagos. CYFI brings together Nigerian youth of exceptional vision, skills and experience to design and implement projects that have a positive impact on Nigerian society. Carrington, is a champion of civil liberties, democracy and closer ties between the U.S. and Nigeria. CYFI fellows are committed to putting the ideals of Walter Carrington into practice. Before Carrington cut his diplomatic teeth, his involvement with Africa began more than 50 years ago as a member of the United States delegation to an international youth conference in Senegal. A few years later, in 1959, on the eve of Nigeria’s Independence, he led a group of students on a program called ‘The Experiment in International Living’, where they spent a summer living with Nigerian families in Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Kano and Kaduna. On that occasion and on subsequent visits when he was an official of the Peace Corps he met many of Founding Fathers of the country. Carrington started his diplomatic carrier in 1980 when President Jimmy Carter appointed him as Ambassador to Senegal. At the end of his meritorious service, President Abdou Diouf conferred on him the national award of Commander in the Order of the Lion. Born in 1931, the retired diplomat was a civil rights activist during his university days at Harvard University. Carrington was the first student elected to the National Board of Directors of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). A graduate of Harvard College (1952) and Harvard

Law School (1955), Carrington practiced law in Massachusetts and served on the three-member Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination becoming, at the age of 27, the youngest person to be appointed a commissioner in the state’s history. While there he was in charge of the case which led to the Boston Red Sox, the last remaining all white Major League Baseball Team, hiring their first black player. He returned to Africa in 1961 as one of the first overseas Directors of the Peace Corps. In 1967 he had the responsibility of evacuating the young Americans as Biafran troops were advancing towards Benin. After the Peace Corps, Carrington’s professional career continued to revolve around Africa. He became a highly respected American specialist on Africa and America’s policy toward the Continent. In the 1970s, as Executive Vice President of the African-American Institute in New York, he oversaw programs that provided scholarships to hundreds of Nigerians for study in the United States. He served as publisher of the Institute’s magazine, Africa Report, which was then the leading publication on African affairs in the United States. He reported on Nigeria’s post-war efforts of reconstruction and rehabilitation. Carrington later taught African Politics and American Foreign Policy at several universities in the United States. He has written and lectured widely on Africa and on the status of African-Americans in the United States and hosted a television series, ‘The African World’. He has worked on African issues as a top staff aid in the U.S. Congress and at the leading African-American think-tank, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in Washington, DC. His academic teaching and administrative experience has included Visiting Professorships at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.), Sim-

mons College, Washington College and Marquette University, where he has taught courses on U.S. Foreign Policy, Islam in Africa and African Politics. At Howard University he created and developed the Department of International Affairs which oversaw the University’s international endeavors. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Council of American Ambassadors and the Association of Black American Ambassadors, Carrington has served on the Board of Directors of several development agencies including Africare, TransAfrica, Appropriate Technology International, the International Development Conference, International Voluntary Services and Private Agencies Cooperating Together (PACT). In 1994 Ambassador Carrington was selected by the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine as one of the 100 most distinguished living graduates of Massachusetts’ public and parochial schools. His Nigerian born wife, Arese, is a medical doctor, international public health consultant and human rights activist. They met in Nigeria and got married during his tour of duty as US envoy in 1995. The two of them are joint recipients of the 2014 City of Newton Lifetime Human Rights Achievement Award. A collection of his Nigerian speeches, ‘A Duty to Speak: Refusing to Remain Silent in a Time of Tyranny’, was published in Nigeria in 2010 and launched as part of his 80th birthday celebrations. Carrington is working on his memoir and a book on Nigeria under military rule. Fully aware of the difficulties the country still faces, he continues to look forward to a stable Nigeria that will eventually harness its potential and take its place as one of the great countries of the world. As Omowale celebrates his 90th birthday today, his contributions to the struggle for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria will remain indelible. Happy birthday Omowale Walter Carrington!

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͲ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

TRIBUTE

Tribute to Late Mrs. Grace C. Okeleke Andrew Okeleke I could only wish

unday, May 10, 2020, was an unusual one. Life at home began with the usual religious programmes on the television and various digital platforms. But it became boring afterwards. Every one was indoors. The usual family, town or religious meetings that usually characterised Sunday life were absent, no thanks to the raving COVID-19 pandemic. For me, the mood was dull. I could not easily rouse myself to do anything, whether domestic or official. Indeed, it took me up till about 4p.m. before I freshen up. Moments after that, I asked my wife if she was free to join me for a drive around Ikorodu. She accepted the invite with lots of enthusiasm. “Give me just five minutes and I will be ready,” she said excitedly. Immediately, she ceased all she was doing. Moments later, we drove out to the biggest shopping mall in that part of Lagos, Justrite. Unfortunately, they were shutting down for the day’s business as we approached the gate. You could imagine the expression on our faces. Disappointment filled our hearts. She had planned to use the opportunity to pick up some important groceries, she confessed. To satisfy her, we quickly drove to another neighbourhood super market by Ikorodu Grammar School. Luckily, it was still open. She picked up some items. Noticeable among them were cans of sweet corn and other salad ingredients as she had planned to prepare salad for the family’s dinner. We savoured the salad amidst discussions that centred on some important family plans. Unfortunately, I never knew that that was going to be her biblical “last supper” with me. Before I left the house that black Monday, there was nothing that betrayed any looming sorrow. If anything, there was joy; there was peace; there was love. Absolutely, nothing suggested that I was seeing my wife for the last time. She was very healthy, calm and hopeful for a good life in the week. Interestingly, she bade me the usual corporate compliment: “have a nice day”, as she lay in bed that morning. She equally laced the greeting with a short prayer, “God will go with you.” She was full of life and blood; she exuded hope of a better evening when we usually take analysis of the day’s outing, both on her business and my job. I recall we talked on phone almost consistently to review our plans as the day progressed. We kept discussions alive until the evening when we scheduled to meet at a place, about one kilometre from the popular Agric bus stop, just before Ogolonto, outward Ikorodu. Amidst heavy flow of traffic which the Mile 12-Ikorodu Road is noted for, particularly at that time of the day, we had agreed I should pick her up at Oak Hospital where she planned to wait for me. She told me that her Business Supervisor, Lekan, had driven her to the point where she would cross to the other side of the road, specifically by Nipco filling station. She consistently made calls to me, inquiring to know how close I was to enable her to walk across to the other side of the road to join me. Specifically, at 7.14p.m., she called and I told her that I had passed Owode spare parts market with an assurance that I would be with her soon as the traffic seemed to be improving. I ran into another traffic build-up as I approached Majidu bridge. I called her at 7.31p.m. and got the usual network response: “the number you are calling is not available.”

Late Mrs. Okeleke

Shocked, I called her business supervisor who confirmed: “I just dropped mummy at Nipco filling station for her to cross over.” After several calls to her lines gave the same answer, I thought her phone batteries were out. Another instinct told me that she must have changed her mind and gone back home. As I approached our agreed meeting place, I saw a huge crowd at the other side of the road. I thought the police had begun to stop people from driving out of Ikorodu as it was close to the 8p.m. curfew time. I got to Oak Hospital and did not meet her, so I decided to call my daughter to find out if she was home already. But my instinct failed me. She was not. My daughter screamed at the other end of the line: “Daddy, please go to Agric bus stop now. Somebody called me to say that a BRT bus killed a woman there.” This prompted many questions from me at the same time. “What are you talking about? How do you know it is mummy? Which number did the person call you with?” “The person said they called her with mummy’s number,” she screamed, crying. Quickly, I raced back to the scene I passed earlier and thought it was a police check point. And, behold, the lifeless body of my wife was lying in a pool of her own

blood. “Nkem! Nkem! Darling!” I yelled without response. I rested my left ear on her chest to know if she was responding. But she was gone. The relationship of over 30 years was suddenly ended by a reckless BRT driver. My expectation to pick her up alive ended in tragedy. Instead of riding in our car with me, lively chatting and laughing as couples would usually do, there was a sharp separation in just less than 30 minutes after we spoke. She rode cold to the mortuary. Instead of driving home for dinner, she ended up in the morgue, sleeping with other saints, while I drove home empty. Her journey of life ended abruptly, leaving pain and sorrow in the family. The story of our marriage was suddenly re-written by the violent death caused by the carelessness of a BRT driver, who turned our joy into mourning. The dreams we shared together flew away. The tragic sight of seeing her lifeless body and picking her up with the assistance of some Oak Hospital staff and a police woman, was the trauma I will live with forever. Hard to believe that her sun had suddenly set at noon. There was no goodbye! Lekan was to explain later that

“mummy” told him to close and drive home as she was going to buy a loaf of bread before crossing the road. Indeed, she picked the bread, but could not eat it. I could only wish she did not go for the bread but crossed in the presence of her supervisor. Maybe she would have avoided the evil BRT bus. I could only wish she had allowed Lekan to take her across the road, no matter the time; maybe she would have arrived home alive. I could only wish she did not go out that evening, maybe I would have met her at home. Honestly, I could only wish, but destiny seems to be waiting to be fulfilled. Her time had come to meet her Creator. The tragic death of my wife, Mrs. Grace Chibuzor Okeleke, has taught me a lesson about life. Life is a huge market. People go to the market at different times. They leave at different times. While some leave the market as early as noon, others leave late in the evening, apparently fulfilling the natural injunctions of the Creator of the market. One good thing about this market is that any time a trader enters the market is his morning. My dear wife, you joined others in the market in the morning with lots of enthusiasm and expectations to leave in the evening. But it is difficult to believe that you left so soon without fulfilling some of your expectations. For over 30 years that we both began to navigate this market, I found you to be an exceptional wife, mother, partner. You were the woman I cherished, an epitome of womanhood. Your love and care was second to none. At the incipient stage of our marriage, you tolerated me – a young man from a very poor family. You glued to me while I struggled to make ends meet in Lagos where our household income was a pittance. You kept faith with me in the one-room face-me-I-face-you apartment that we shared together, believing that one day, the sun will shine. You encouraged me to work harder and supported me in all the decisions that I took, albeit risky, to improve my life. You were the rallying point in the family. You were our planner; our builder; our encourager; our organiser. Without your support, I may not have been where I am today. You were too kind to a fault; a complete giver to the family, relations, needy, and to the work of God. Your spiritual and material support to the things of God was phenomenal. Amiable, warm, self-sacrificing, accommodating, passionate; words are not enough to describe your disposition. You were my heart; you were my legs. With your exit, I feel a stab in my heart and my legs have lost strength to carry me on. Nkem, as we fondly called ourselves, I can’t believe that you have left me and our children in this market at this noon time. How do I navigate the evening alone? An evening full of loneliness, tears, fears, emotions! Since that dark Monday, May 11, 2020 when the evil BRT bus snuffed life out of you, I have been devastated; loneliness has taken your space in my life; thoughts have filled my heart; sleep has disappeared; and I am alone with the children in this evil world. Your exit is a mystery, but I am grateful to God for your salvation. I will miss you; your children will miss you; relations, Christian fellows will miss you so much. But our consolation is that you are resting in the bosom of the Lord until we meet to part no more. Forever, you will remain in my heart. Goodbye my Nkem! Andrew Okeleke Husband

FRIDAY JULY 24, 2020 • T H I S D AY

OPEN LETTER TO CJN The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Supreme Court Complex, Three Arms Zone, PMB 308, Abuja. Your Lordship,

ABUSE OF COURT PROCESSES AND MANIPULATION OF JUSTICE:

WE DEMAND THAT JUSTICE CHUKWUJEKWU ANEKE OF THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT 7, IKOYI RECUSE HIMSELF FROM SUIT FHC/L/CS/2321/19 With utmost respect, we bring greetings to Your Lordship and Nigerian Customs Service, the EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation from extraditing him to United States of America wish you Happy Sallah celebration this weekend. to face some alleged criminal trials. Thank God for the resilience Following series of public outcry and manifest bias in court of the Attorney-General who further approached the Appellate processes, we wish to draw the attention of the CJN to a case Court to set aside the restraining judgment as given by Justice of prejudice, conflict of interest, abuse of court processes and Okon Abang and the matter is still in court. manipulation of justice in suit FHC/L/CS/2321/19 handled by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of It is necessary to letYour Lordship know that the eventual outcome the Federal High Court 7, Ikoyi, Lagos as the Judge. For this reason of this matter is of no interest and importance to us. However, we demand that Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke recuse himself from the recusal of Justice Aneke from the case as a presiding Judge will allow both the Plaintiff and the Defendants have a level the case in the interest of justice. playing field; a situation that you can agree will reassure both We are making this demand on the premise that his personal parties of fairness. As it stands, the defendants - Retail Lottery relationship with Senator Buruji Kashamu is interfering with most Stand operators and of course the civil society groups following of the cases handled by him that involve Kashamu. In this particular this matter have lost confidence in Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke instance, the Plaintiff, Western Lotto Nigeria Limited believed to deliver a fair, sound, credible and unbiased judgment in this to be owned by Senator Buruji Kashamu is receiving support matter. Recall, Your Lordship, that there had been a number of of prejudice and bias against the National Lottery Regulatory mass demonstrations in front of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi Commission and 22 other lottery companies,z alleged to have to protest the bias inclination of Justice Aneke on the matter. The infringed on the sole right of Western Lotto Nigerian Limited to entire nation is watching and we know Your Lordship wouldn’t a product called ‘the Ghana Games’. This action clearly negates want the confidence reposed in you by Mr. President to sanitize Rule 12 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the the judicial system messed up by the alleged judicial sentiments of Justice Aneke. Federal Republic of Nigeria. Let us bring to your knowlegde,Your Lordship, that we are known as Conduct and Due Process Group; a civil watch and advocacy group whose sole aim is to hold government and private entities responsible for their actions and inactions in matters relating to due process, conducts and corruption. We have an indisputable record of helping government, anti-graft agencies and security agencies in civil investigations and generating of petitions where necessary to assist authorities achieve sanity in the system, including Judiciary and anti corruption crusade generally. On this note, Your Lordship, a petition has been submitted at your office, drawing your attention to some sharp practices of Justice Aneke in cases involving Mr. Kashamu, not just this one alone. In the petition, the President and Commander-in-Chief and the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice were copied.

We are of the strongest opinion that if Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke in October 2018 could recuse himself from a case involving the warring Kashamu’s faction of Ogun State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP National Chairman and Secretary General, Uche Secondus and Senator Ibrahim Tsauri, respectively, on grounds that the defendants showed discomfort with the proceedings in his court, then he can do the same in this case where the defendants have lost absolute trust and conﬁdence in him. Still standing on the grounds of our petition, Your Lordship, we are appealing that you reassign the case with suit number FHC/L/ CS/2321/19 to a different Judge that is impartial and cannot be allegedly compromised by Senator Buruji Kashamu or his lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede. Once this is done, we are sure the trust of the common man in Nigerian judicial system will be restored.

Let’s refresh your memory a little, Your Lordship, by letting you know that in November 2015, Mr. Kashamu was a plaintiff in a Thank you. case which was presided over by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke where a favourable judgment was alleged to have been given to him, barring ﬁve (5) commercial banks from instigating his arrest. This is who Mr. Kashamu is; he has a record of compromising Judges and abusing court processes. Another case at hand was the strange restraining order he obtained, barring the NDLEA, the

ADEDIRAN RAYMOND, Secretary.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͲ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

INTERVIEW

Ighodalo: We are Determined to Provide Succor to Couples The Pastor of Trinity House Church, Ituah Ighodalo, in this interview speaks about the Project40at40 initiative of the Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation, just as he pledged to further his late wife’s last wish to enable vulnerable couples struggling to have babies. Dike Onwuamaeze brings the excerpts: What is it that makes the Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation (IIF) stand out from other Foundations? I do not know of any other foundation anywhere in the world that actually focuses on In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) like the IIF. I know some foundations do motherless babies and some do mother and child counseling while some do scholarships, but I don’t know any that has focused on assisted reproduction. The thinking is it is only for the rich and if you can do it, go and do it and sort yourself out. But my wife, because of her passion and love for people and because of her love for the down trodden said to herself that nobody should be denied the opportunity of good health facility just because because they cannot afford it. Even in abroad, they will not give you insurance for IVF. So, for this to be done by a Nigerian in Nigeria is an extremely good thing. You have displayed a great level of strength since the passing on of your wife. How is that possible? The first thing I can say is that God gave understanding. The day I received the news was in the middle of the night so I had enough time to have conversations with God. The next thing was that I asked God for direction and instruction. What do I do because it was not about me or my pains and sorrows; it was about my wife, and God and other people. So, I switched the narrative and I said what will God have me do? And I obeyed God’s instruction to the letter as to what he will have me do. So, I didn’t think about myself at that point in time or about my loss and about my pain. I didn’t focus on them. I focused on how I should react appropriately according to the will of God to this particular situation. I focused on what is God saying and expecting from this situation. And that gave me calm and peace and what I think was apparently the right reaction. I will not say that there were not flashes sometimes when I will say how did it happen? But by God’s grace they were not long lived because I rested in God. As the chairman of the board, what has been you level of involvement in the IIF and what will it be this time around? Before now I was really chairman and my wife will come to tell me what she wanted to do and her plans for my advice. I would give her advice and support and she used a lot of my contact base for most of the things she did both in the foundation and her business and I will make myself available to support her whenever she needed. She did most of the thinking, most of the strategies and planning while mine is to approve and tick the boxes and sometime to raise the money. But now that she is no more my involvement has to be much more in that I need to do a lot of the thinking, a lot of the strategy, a lot of the management even to some extent the day to day management until the foundation is stabilised and have proper structure in place. Then I can retire a little bit more to my usual role of just being the chairman of the board. What are the modalities for the selection process and the level of transparency to be expected from it? The selection process will take us two months and the application process is online from any part of the country. You don’t need to know anybody in IIF to apply for this grant. Again, we are going to use our online process to weed out those who are not qualified and our criteria are very well spelt out. Number one, you must be legally married. At the moment we are not reaching the single parents as we are not going that way yet. We may go there maybe later. Number two, you must have been married for at least five years with an evidence of childlessness, which includes your medical history. So, there will be medical examination to determine the applicant’s medical history. Three, our preference is for the less privileged couples in the lower echelon of the society who cannot afford it the treatment on their own. However, they must be able to look after the baby when it comes. Those earning more than N5 million per annum are probably not those we are looking for. Couples earning

Ighodalo

combine income of N10 million per annum, can, if they struggle, save enough money within a year or two on their own. But we will give you this grant if you are earning N4 million or less in a year. Even then we expect that you too will contribute a small sum to your own treatment. English people say that ‘you must have a scheme in the game.’ And then you must have enough resources to look after the child within even though you may not be able to afford the IVF procedure on your own. Then, they must be responsible and not drunkards, prostitutes or on drugs. The computer will automatically weed those that don’t qualify because we know all sorts of people will apply. Some will even tell you untruth. Again the wife must be below 50 years for medical and psychological reasons. We will have an online interview or a face-to-face interview with those selected by the computer to further assess and this will prune down the number to 100 people. Then, they will be subjected to physical medical examinations to ascertain if they have fibroid, blocked tube or issues that can even affect them or the health of the baby when they got pregnant. It may be diabetes, high blood pressure etc., to help us further weed out those who are not fit. It will also help us, where necessary, to anticipate and prepare for treatments of other ailments when pregnant occurs. That means that if we take someone who is hypertensive we also have to get a doctor to manage those identified with hypertension and get the couples to sign a form that we are not liable in case of any eventuality. We will not like liability when trying to help people. We don’t want any embarrassment. People must sign form that we are not liable of any unfavourable outcome though we are not praying for it. The final 60 will be subjected to a ballot to choose the final 40. How has COVID-19 impacted on the activities of the foundation? I cannot say that COVID-19 has affected our activities. By God’s grace we have been raising money and you know that people are still managing themselves and are still prospering even under COVID-19. People are not going to roll over and die because of it. Our medical support team is

still ready to support us in spite of COVID-19. You need to know that my wife died in active service for COVID-19 where she was setting up centres for the care of COVID-19 patients all over the country though she was never infected with the disease. She was just providing succor and help to those that had the disease. It was a risky thing for her but that was my wife for you. How many couples have beneﬁtted from IIF? I know that many have benefitted but I cannot give you the exact figure right away because she has been doing this informally until she set up the foundation to make it formal. She was also involved in helping couples to adopt babies. She also has passion for a lot of women on the street. She sometimes goes out in the night to pick these women on the streets, dress them up and brings them to the church to hear the gospel and adopted them to become her friends. Another thing she does is that every Christmas she will celebrate the season with babies and can buy gifts and toys for as many as 1000 babies at a time. She would also take me to visit children born in hospitals and sometimes we found out that some babies have been “arrested” because their parents could not pay the hospital bills and we will start writing cheques. That was Ibidunni for you. Anywhere she saw people who needed help she would stop to provide succor to them. Sometimes she would cook and went to street to start feeding beggars. So, I cannot give you the exact numbers and figures. How do you intend to fund the nearly N150 million it may cost to achieve the project 40at40 target? We are people of faith and we believe in the Almighty, knowing that God will provide. We live it in the hands of almighty God. God provided for a lot of things we have done in the past. I will not say that we are people of exceptional grace but my wife and me we work extremely hard and there may be a little money somewhere that I can make available to make this possible. But not only that, lot of people been offering their

helping hands, and I will not want to mention names, men that are responsible and in high places that I heard about this project and started sending money. Even as at today monies are coming in into the foundation’s account every day because Nigerians can be generous if you appeal to them in the right way. So, God will provide. God is providing. We have gotten 30 to 40 per cent of the money through friends, associates and family members and are looking for 60 to 70 per cent. Moreover we want it to be sustainable so that after doing 40at40 this year we will be able to do something next year. Maybe we will do 60 next year because that will be my 60th birthday. But at least we will not do less that 40 every year as long as God gives us life the foundation will continue to be sustainable. One of the reasons for this interview and the press conference I held in the morning is to appeal to well-meaning Nigerians to come to Macedonia and help us to do this thing. And we are putting up proper structures in place for accountability and compliance. This foundation is established solely to give hope to others and provide them with strong counseling for their emotional and spiritual needs. Because a lot of people needs counseling to take away the stigma and anxieties that goes with struggling to have a child. We are hoping for people to join us and be part of this project. Can a couple have the privilege of double opportunities? That is a good question. What we want to do is to give people one opportunity, again one opportunity to carry their bundle of joy. If they really want a second child and God has not provided I will recommend adoption. There are a lot of babies out there looking for homes and there are many homes looking for babies. So, I will recommend adoption in that area. I also run a foundation that teaches mentors and supports adoption, which is the heritage foundation. So, at this moment we will not support couples seeking a second child. It is not be our priority. Our priority is to support couples who have never had their own baby.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͲ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

MARKET NEWS

NSE to Support Champion Breweries for Improved Performance Goddy Egene The Chief Executive Officer (CEO)of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema, has assured the leadership of Champion Breweries Plc that the exchange will remain a trusted business partner in achieving the strategic business objectives of the brewing firm. Onyema, gave this assurance while welcoming the newly appointed Managing Director

of Champion Breweries Plc, Mr. Georgios Polymenakos, to perform the digital closing gong yesterday. The NSE boss said he said the exchange was committed to providing issuers the platforms that allow them to achieve their business and strategic objectives. According to Onyema, the closing gong ceremony is organised to support and recognise milestones and accomplishment of listed companies and also allow

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newly appointed boards and CEO of listed companies to be introduced to the Nigeria capital market ecosystem. He congratulated the Champion Breweries MD, and restated exchange’s continued commitment to offer issuers opportunities to derive great value from their interaction with the market. trusted business partner in achieving their strategic business objectives. Commending the leadership of the NSE for the opportunity,

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Polymenakos said he was deeply honoured to participate at the event. He described himself as a passionate advocate of the Nigerian economy and the future of Nigeria. He noted that in spite of the ups and downs, the company has remained steadfast in producing top quality product that could be compared with any company or brand all over the world at affordable prices. Polymenakos said it is the quality of the products the

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company is offering that has translated to being the most preferred brand by the consumers in the areas they operate. “The company’s beer brand has, during the last two years, grown with over one hundred and fifty percent which led the company to profitability in 2019 and the momentum continued in the first quarter of the year 2020. This momentum has also enabled the company to navigate the turbulence in the economy successfully,” he

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said. Welcoming Polymenakos to the market, the Doyen of stockbrokers, Alhaji Rasheed Yussuff, said the capital market community was pleased to have the MD of Champion Breweries in the market and urged him to embrace the challenge ahead to restore the hope of the investing public. He advised him to remain close to the market to always update members of the investing public of the goings on in the company.

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FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Citizenship-by-Investment Firm Opens New Office in Nigeria Goddy Egene Passport Legacy, a leading citizenship-by-investment and

residence-by-Investment advisory firm with its global headquarters in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (U.A.E), has opened an office

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

in Nigeria, thereby strengthening its partnership in Africa. According to firm, its mission is to become the premier partner

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 22Jul-2020, unless otherwise stated.

to Nigerians looking to acquire a second passport to do business globally, engage in international travel with fewer restrictions, or

buy real estate abroad for sustained upward mobility. Commenting, Managing Partner, Passport Legacy, Jeffrey Henseler,

said: “The decision to expand into Africa and open a second office in Nigeria was a logical step in our business growth strategy.”

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors. Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return. NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.92 0.93 1.74% ACAP Income Funds 0.78 0.78 9.78% 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 6.41% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.89 2.96 17.64% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Anchoria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 13.92 14.34 -9.14% ARM Discovery Fund 331.48 341.48 -4.04% ARM Ethical Fund 30.01 30.91 3.19% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.75% 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 91.87 92.51 -4.38% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.96% 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 2.17 2.17 22.06% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 1.80 1.82 -8.53% 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 0.06 0.04 5.71% Paramount Equity Fund 10.78 10.98 -13.86% Women's Investment Fund 107.27 108.15 -2.88% 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 4.93% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 99.77 99.99 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 100.08 100.32 Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 100.96 100.96 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.73% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.91 0.92 -1.65% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.55 1.55 16.41% 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 N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,367.93 1,369.18 12.22% FBN Balanced Fund 147.63 148.65 0.55% FBN Halal Fund 107.65 107.68 7.65% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.72% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 118.16 118.66 1.79% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 110.86 112.61 -14.81% 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 1.00 1.00 4.20% Legacy Debt Fund 3.79 3.79 3.75% Legacy Equity Fund 1.07 1.09 -5.31% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.11 1.11 2.85% 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 Growth Fund 3,061.85 3,092.88 0.65% Coral Income Fund 3,202.37 3,202.37 4.11% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 4.43% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.97% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.26 2.30 3.06% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 8.41% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 146.80 147.34 2.35% 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 N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 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 1.35 1.37 10.49% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.02 12.08 6.64% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 3.60% PACAM Equity Fund 0.99 1.00 PACAM EuroBond Fund 107.16 109.56 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 118.50 121.32 -7.87% 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 1.00 1.00 5.50% 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 2,521.35 2,532.80 -0.80% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 0.40% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 -0.57% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 0.50% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 0.33% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.37% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -2.18% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.16 1.16 0.29% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.18 118.18 0.00% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.12 1.14 -6.07% United Capital Bond Fund 1.83 1.83 5.89% United Capital Equity Fund 0.62 0.64 -11.24% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.12% United Capital Eurobond Fund 113.42 113.42 3.83% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.02 1.03 -2.73% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 10.00 10.10 -2.80% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.54 11.61 -0.87% Zenith Income Fund 22.44 22.44 1.05% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.84%

REITS NAV Per Share

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

116.39

3.85%

53.25

2.31%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

8.88 81.24 64.47

8.98 82.96 65.62

2.01% -4.41% -2.33%

Union Homes REIT

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

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Grifﬁn 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

2.69 4.02 10.96 1.00 10.73 199.55

2.73 4.10 11.06 1.00 10.93 201.55

-24.18% -31.84% -9.38% 5.20% 3.20% 5.45%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.03

16.90%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

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˾ FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2020

WORLD OF ISLAM

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

How to Implement The First Ten Days of Hajj in Our Lives By: Aslam Abdullah/IslamiCity Why are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah more sacred than any other days? Dhul Hijjah, the last month of Islamic lunar calendar has begun. On the tenth of this month, Muslims all over the world would commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s call to universal brotherhood and sisterhood and relive the sacrifices offered by mother Hajjar and her son Ismail. These days are defined as the best days of the year. Signiﬁcance of The First Ten Days 1. In these days, the idea of the oneness of God and oneness of humanity was introduced by the family of Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) through offering sacrifices. 2. In these days, a vision of creating a community based on their devotion and prayer to God was promoted by the family of Prophet Ibrahim. 3. In these days, a call was made by Prophet Ibrahim to constantly strive to win over the hearts of people through learning about them and serving them. 4. In these days, the family of prophet Ibrahim proved through their living style that constant struggle is the essence of human existence. In the Holy Qur’an Allah reminds us about the prayer of Prophet Ibrahim, which epitomizes the spirit and purpose of Hajj. In the prayer Prophet Ibrahim prays to Allah by saying, “O our Lord! surely I have settled a part of my offspring in a valley unproductive of fruit near Thy Sacred House, our Lord! that they may keep up prayer; therefore make the hearts of people incline towards them and provide them with fruits; haply they may be grateful.” (14:37). We can live by this spirit of Hajj anywhere

in the world as only 3 million people would be in Makkah to personally perform the rituals associated with the pilgrimage. Pledges For The First Ten Days We can live the spirit of Hajj by: 1. Pledging to remove all traces of racism and bigotry from our hearts and minds. 2. Pledging to ourselves to identify with the rest of the humanity. 3. Pledging to constantly struggle for the improvement of all aspects of our lives. 4. Pledging that we would remain grateful to God by not wasting his resources in any sense of the term. It is this spirit that was the real intent of this great institution and it is this spirit that each one of us can participate. For that you do not have to be present in Makkah only. But pledge is not enough, although it is the first step towards the direction of the spirit of Hajj. Actions We Can Implement In these ten days, we can focus on the following things: 1. Reminding and retelling the story of Hajj to our family members. 2. Outreaching to Christians and Jews who share Prophet Ibrahim with us with our version of the story. 3. Celebrating the spirit of Hajj through an interfaith form where the three monotheistic religions offer their tribute to the family of Prophet Ibrahim. 4. Identifying the marginalized and needy sections of the community and society and helping them in every possible way. 5. Planting a tree to show our gratefulness to the creation of God.

Hajj Disrupted, Eid Muted: Spirit of Adha Continues By: Sadullah Khan/IslamiCity There is an overwhelming sense of melancholy experienced by over two million Muslims worldwide, who had intended to perform the Hajj this year. Believers typically come from every country on earth to attend the largest annual assembly of faith in Makkah. This year, neither will the hajj assembly be so large nor will it cater for any people around the world, except a thousand locals from Hijaz. Pandemic and Pilgrimage This Hajj of 2020 has been adversely impacted and unceremoniously interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic; a disease that has infected over 14 million people, and has thus far resulted in over 600,000 deaths worldwide. The novel coronavirus continues to wreak havoc across the globe and is the malefactor that has upended the plans of prospective hujjaaj, leading to the cancellation of their eagerly anticipated travel to the blessed city of Makkah. As disappointing and heart wrenching as this may seem, it should be noted that 2020 is not the first time in history that Hajj had to be readjusted. In the past 1,400 years, drought and famine (1048), political conflict (865, 930, 1256) and epidemics (967, 983, 1814, 1831, 1837, 1846, 1865, 1883 …) have jointly caused disruption or cancellation of hajj on more than forty occasions. Intended Hajj We certainly empathize with those who anticipated performing pilgrimage this year. They may have been physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, and spiritually prepared and primed for the sacred journey; as they had aimed to complete the fifth pillar of Islam. Unable now to go, they surely feel a sense of deflation of

their aspiration and a dispossession of their opportunity to fulfill their obligation. Many of them strove for years to prepare for this life-changing journey and some had saved their entire life-earnings in order to embark on this pilgrimage. They have combined all dimensions of the connotation of hajj in their effort, because literally “hajj” and its derivative meanings imply “to travel purposefully to a particular destination,” “to sincerely perform an important act” or “to undertake pilgrimage.” They may have exerted themselves to the best of their ability in this regard, except for the fact that they will unfortunately not be able to fulfill that obligation this year. We pray that the Almighty grants them the opportunity to fulfill their desire for pilgrimage and we take collective solace in the words of the Prophet (pbuh) when he said; “Whoever intends to perform a good deed but is unable to do so, then Allah will record it as a completed good deed.” [Bukhari & Muslim] Spirit of ‘Eid Lives On This season of Hajj, we may have none of our relatives or friends on the plains of ‘Arafah or circumambulating the Ka’bah. This ‘Eid-ulAdha we may be physically distanced in our prayers and gatherings, but we will nonetheless continue to strengthen our bonds through distant socializing. Even though our Eid-ul-Adha may not be in full congregation and our takbeers may not be reverberating as resoundingly in the mosques as usual; we still intend to imbibe the patience of Sayyidah Haajar and the obedience of her son Nabi Isma’il (peace be upon them). We undauntingly continue the sacrificial practice of Nabi Ibrahim (pbuh) who first announced the Hajj; and our hearts are ever beating in acknowledgement of the fact that Allah indeed is the greatest, while our lips utter … Allahu Akbar!

FRIDAY JULY 24, 2020 â€¢ T H I S D AY

FRIDAY, ͺͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS XTRA

Govs: We’re Not Opposed to Autonomy for Judiciary, Legislature Chuks Okocha in Abuja Governors of the 36 states of the federation have debunked claims that they are against President Muhammadu Buhari's Executive Order 10 of 2020, granting financial autonomy to state judiciary and legislature. The governors, in a communiqué issued yesterday at the end of their virtual meeting, held under the auspices of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), said they were still in talks with the federal government to resolve some contentious issues on the implementation of Executive Order 10. According to the communiqué signed by the NGF Chairman and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, "there were ongoing consultative meetings with the

federal government to resolve the contentious provisions of the Executive Order 10. State governments have expressed that they are integrally not opposed to the autonomy of the judiciary and the legislature." The communiqué said the governors also deliberated on the arrangements for the disbursement of other funds to help close the financing gap created by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the $100 million COVID-19 Support from the World Bank and the N1 billion to each state from the federal government to fund health mitigation measures and refunds from the federal government for federal roads constructed or rehabilitated by the states. The meeting also discussed the governors’ collaborations with the EU/UN Spotlight

Initiative and its partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on sexual violence and protection for women and children. The communiqué said: "The new partnership is aimed at strengthening actions kick-started by the state governments following the declaration of a state of emergency on sexual and gender-based violence by the forum at its meeting of 10th of June, 2020, and the willingness of members to engage in the development of a national post-COVID-19 blueprint." It added that the governors discussed a new partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) aimed at strengthening

the implementation of the programme and creating more economic opportunities for small holder farmers in all states. It said the governors were in consultations with the Senate Health Committee, the Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and National Health Insurance Agency to facilitate the continuous implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) during the pandemic. "All parties have agreed to lift the requirement for counterpart funding to enable qualified states access undisbursed funds in the facility," the governors said. They also received updates and presentations from the Governor of Delta State, Dr.

Ifeanyi Okowa, who is the Chairman of the NGF Subcommittee interfacing with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19. The governors noted that Okowa spoke on the collaboration between states and the federal government to reopen schools, especially for graduating students of secondary schools, and government strategies to increase the volume of sample collection, which is currently around 30 per cent. The communiqué said that the Task Team Leader for the World Bank States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability - Programfor-Results (PforR), Mr. Yue Man Lee, provided key updates on the programme and actions for state governments to meet upcoming deadlines for

the 2019 Annual Performance Assessment (APA) and the SFTAS Additional Financing Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs). Also, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Dr. Sani Aliyu, gave a briefing on the need to for governors to strengthen the risk communication pillar of the COVID-19 pandemic response. According to the communiqué, the NGF Secretariat’s Agric Advisor, Mr. Olatunde Akande, also made a presentation on the NGF/CBN partnership on the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP). In the light of the proposed partnership with the CBN on the ABP, the communiqué said an official MoU signing would be held on July 28.

House Urges Buhari to Reinstate Suspended NSITF Officials Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to reinstate the suspended executives of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF and ensure that due process is observed in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund Act. This is coming as the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has maintained that he acted within presidential directives on the suspension of top management

staff of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF). The appeal by the lawmakers followed the adoption of a report by the Ad-hoc Committee on the Need to Investigate the Arbitrary Breach of Presidential Directives on the Suspension of Top Management and Executive Committee Members of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), at the plenary yesterday. The House had faulted the suspension of the top management of NSITF by Ngige, saying it is a breach of presidential directives.

The lawmakers resolved that an ad hoc committee be constituted to investigate the procedural breaches of the presidential directives by both the Ministers of Labour and Employment and his counterpart in Power ministry. Presenting the report, Hon. Miriam Onuoha said the procedure leading to the suspension of the officials of NSITF and the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) were in breach of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund Act. She also urged the Minister of Power to review disciplinary action against the Chief

Executives of the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). Meanwhile, Ngige yesterday maintained that he acted within presidential directives on the suspension of top management staff of NSITF. He said that in the exercise of his supervisory function, he also took cognisance of Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF) Circular REF:SGF/OP/1.S.3/T/163 dated 19 May 2020. According to Ngige, "even after the presidential assent for disciplinary action against

the MD and these officers for financial breaches, the Chief of Staff to the President (CoSP) still communicated the SGF because of the new circular and the SGF still subjected the Minister of Labour and Employment to submit the prima facie infractions and serious misconduct in view of circular above. The Minister of Labour and Employment complied and submitted the copy of the report and alleged gross misconduct again by letter dated June 23, 2020." A statement by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations in ministry, Mr.

Charles Akpan said the minister stated this in his submission to the investigative committee set up by the lawmakers. Ngige said that he did not go contrary to presidential directives, emphasising that the suspension also followed procedural compliance to the relevant authorities (Constitution, Public Service Rules, NSITF Act, Presidential Directives). The minister maintained that the suspension of the officials was hinged on issues bordering on financial and procurement infractions, as well as acts of serious of misconduct.

monitoring and evaluation of government's performances relating to planned targets. Ahmed stated that the goal of government policy is to ensure that policy decisions are driven not by ideology but by data. She commended the leadership of the NBS under Dr. Yemi Kale for the remarkable progress recorded in data production system in recent times, despite the challenges of producing the official statistics in the country, adding that the statistical agency has continued to manage and sustain the delivery of data both in quality and timeliness. The minister added that data will continue to positively shape the current administration's policy choices, behaviour and provide the benefits of inclusive growth and good governance to Nigerians. She noted that while data should be informed and lead to change in policy behaviour, "denying what the data says for policy reasons make any sense...Unfortunately, too often, we have let emotions rather than data guide the debate on diversification of revenue

sources." The World Bank Country Director, Mr. Shubham Chaudhuri, also at the forum, commended the federal government's transparency policy and open treasury portal initiative, which he said had allowed Nigerians more access to information on fiscal administration for the purposes of accountability. He said: "Just in the last six months, what the federal government had done in terms of opening up the administrative and fiscal data of government to the public has truly been remarkable." He also commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for publishing its financial accounts for Nigerians to see how monies were being generated and spent. He said: "That kind of basic administrative and fiscal data will not only enable the government to do better but also for citizens to be better informed and hold government more accountable for what is being done with public funds." He added that the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the need for real time data

for policy intervention in the country. Kale, on his part, said as the apex body of official statistics, a key function of the NBS is to centralise and mainstream the data generated within the public sector, adding that this could provide the most useful insight into opportunities for revenue generation, and highlight gaps that exist within the tax collection system. According to him, technology and innovation are expanding the boundaries of administrative data and the speed and accuracy of value creation, adding that blockchain technology and artificial intelligence (AI) could help governments predict areas for intervention, detect tax liabilities from different groups efficiently, assess fraud risks that underpin corruption, and monitor processes internally. But he said despite the ability to impact on the process of good governance, the country's data production architecture still faced some challenges, particularly the resistance to data sharing internally, which is reinforced by the realisation that with transparency comes accountability, or the common

misconception that sharing data means the loss of ownership or visibility as it relates to the information being shared. He identified improved data sharing and capacity as central to achieving the nation's collective goals of leveraging data for revenue generation and policy impact. The NBS boss stressed the need to address the capacity and skills gap within government, which is required to ensure timely and reliable transmission of administrative data. He said the twin shocks of the health and economic crisis coming amidst historically low oil prices, provided a unique opportunity to develop frameworks that solidify better use of data to drive the country's response to these challenges. Kale said: "An oftendownplayed aspect of data which is critical to its positive use in policy outcomes is the issue of trust. Before data can be leveraged towards meaningful use, both internal and external users must trust the data and ensure that the data is used in ways that reinforce public trust."

FG TARGETS N18TN IN NEW REVENUE DRIVE Revenue Growth Initiative which we launched in 2019. Unfortunately, too often, we have let emotions rather than data drive the need to diversify our revenue sources. “Analysis of revenue data showed that in 2018, Nigeria’s revenue to GDP stood at eight per cent, significantly below our comparator countries in the continent as well as the continent’s average. It was also below the Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) target of 15 per cent GDP. In fact, even at 15 per cent revenue to GDP, Nigeria will still lag behind comparator country. But there is an ongoing effort to move towards that 15 per cent. Under the SRGI therefore, we have identified various revenue initiatives that would potentially generate N13 trillion to N18 trillion across both oil and non-oil revenue sources to ensure that we achieve the 15 per cent revenue-to-GDP target by 2020,” she added. According to her, the economic and fiscal challenges currently confronting the country resulted from limited resources in the face of unlimited needs and wants. She added that to meet

public needs and deliver good governance, government must make certain expenditures. Ahmed said the revenue to meet these expenditures had been severally diminished, especially as a result of the effect of COVID-19 as well as the crash in crude oil price. Ahmed, however, said the provision of accurate and reliable data remained critical to informed policy choices, plugging revenue leakages as well as identifying new sources of revenue for the government. She said in spite of the current challenges, the government had taken steps to cushion the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nigerians by adopting a data-driven approach to prioritise responses. The minister said the production of reliable and accurate data would remove unnecessary emotion from the discourse around public policy and facilitate result-oriented decision-making in the face of uncertainty. She said quality data would also provide a basis for comparing alternative policy choices and allow for

FRIDAY JULY 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

EU, US, Zulum Condemn Killing of Aid Workers in Borno Alex Enumah in Abuja and Micheal Olugbode in Maiduguri

The European Union (EU), the United States government and Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum have condemned the recent killing of

aid workers abducted in June along the Monguno-Maiduguri road in North-east Nigeria. In a statement signed by its Nigerian office spokesperson, Mr. Chukwulaka Modestus, yesterday, the EU expressed shock. “The EU would like to

Nigeria Records 20 COVID-19 Deaths as Cases Rise to 38,948

Martins Ifijeh

Within the last 24 hours, Nigeria has recorded 20 deaths caused by COVID-19 pandemic, raising the tally from 813 to 833 in a single day. The country has also recorded 604 new cases of the infection, bringing to 38, 948 the number of confirmed cases in the country. Announcing this yesterday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said Lagos

recorded 203 new cases; Oyo, 87; Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 79; Edo, 41; Osun, 35; Ogun, 24; Rivers and Kaduna, 22 each; Akwa Ibom, 20; Plateau, 18; Delta and Ebonyi, nine each; Imo, eight; Enugu, Kano and Cross River, five each; Nasarawa, three; Borno and Ekiti, two each; and Bauchi one. It said: “Nigeria has recorded 38,948 confirmed cases of COVID-19. 16,061 patients have been discharged, while 833 persons have died.”

Gunmen Attack Black Maria in Plateau, Free Six Suspected Criminals Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Gunmen numbering about 20 yesterday ambushed a Black Maria - vehicle conveying criminal suspects- billed to appear before Plateau High Court in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, attacking and freeing six of the 10 suspects conveyed in vehicle and injuring four persons at the court premises. The incident, which occurred at about 10a.m, witnessed sporadic gunshots and pandemonium at the court premises, a development that aided the escape of the inmates brought from Jos prison for trial. A source at the court revealed that the inmates were brought with about four armed escorts of correctional service, adding that the gate was immediately opened and as soon as they entered the court premises the

gate was locked. “But in the process of unhandcuffing them, the attackers swooped on the vehicle and began to shoot and aided the escape of six, while the remaining four were apprehended by troop of the Special Task Force, Sector 4 command and taken to Police Divisional Headquarters in Barakin-Ladi”, he explained. The people within the court premises scampered to safety in the midst of the pandemonium, as many were injured in the confusion. When contacted the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Gabriel Ubah who confirmed the attack, said the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Edward Egbuka has visited the scene of the incident, adding that three motorcycles left behind by the gunmen had been recovered while investigations have begun.

Pandemonium as Police Disperse Abuja Mobile Court There was pandemonium and sporadic gunshots yesterday afternoon in Dei-Dei, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), when police officers fired shots to disperse the FCT Mobile Court sitting to try violators of COVID-19 safety protocols. The incident was said to have thrown residents and motorists into confusion. Everyone, including the Magistrate, Prosecutors and other officials scampered for safety. Trouble was said to have started when personnel of the FCT Ministerial Joint Enforcement Task-team on COVID-19 Restrictions arrested a policeman (name withheld) for allegedly not wearing face mask and overloading his vehicle, a Gulf car with passengers. The culprit, who was arrested around the premises of the court, was said to have called on his colleague (name withheld) to

resist his arraignment. It was gathered that the two were subsequently charged for the alleged offences and sentenced accordingly. But they were said to have refused to pay fines or engage in community service as directed by the court. The duo allegedly mobilised operatives from the Mobile Police Barracks in Dei-Dei who stormed the court, shooting sporadically. The policemen were said to have dismantled the court’s canopy and vowed they would no longer allow any sitting in the area. When contacted, Chairman of the Task-team, Ikharo Attah, said he had been adequately briefed about the development. He expressed confidence in the ability of the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, to apprehend the erring personnel and mete out appropriate sanctions.

express its condolences with the families, friends and colleagues of the five victims and our thoughts are with them,” the statement said. According to the statement, the EU appealed for the adherence to international humanitarian law and the safeguard of human rights. “Conflict is not an excuse to breach these rules and target humanitarian workers and civilians,” the statement said. It said, “it is an extremely difficult time for the humanitarian community in Nigeria”. It lamented that the informal vehicle checkpoints and ambushes along the main roads in Borno State have resulted in hundreds of civilians being abducted, wounded or killed since the beginning of the year. “Insecurity in conflictaffected North-east Nigeria is severely impacting the civilian population and hindering the capacity to provide humanitarian assistance to people in need of urgent support. “Humanitarian workers have one mission – that of saving lives. At a time when humanitarian needs are at their highest in North-east Nigeria, compounded by the coronavirus pandemic, relief workers continue to selflessly

help the people in need for whom this aid is their only lifeline. Saving the lives of others should not cost lives.” Also, the United States embassy in Nigeria has reacted to the execution of the aid workers.

“We are deeply saddened by the execution of five humanitarian workers by terrorists in North-east Nigeria. This comes against a backdrop of deteriorating conditions for millions of Nigerians,” it said.

“These brave individuals dedicated their lives to easing human suffering. We hope that their families and colleagues can take comfort in their selfless sacrifices on behalf of others. We will remember their dedication to others.”

NINETY-ONE HEARTY CHEERS...

Former Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande (left), and his wife, Alhaja Abimbola, during his 91st birthday at his Lagos residence...yesterday

US Court Dismisses Fraud Case against Woodberry A United States court has dismissed the case against Olalekan Ponle, a Nigerian accused of multi-million dollar wire fraud. Ponle, popularly known as Woodberry, was arrested, alongside Ramon Abbas (Hushpuppi) in the United Arab Emirate on June 10 for multiple fraud charges after a

raid by operatives of the Dubai crime unit. The duo were extradited to the US on July 2. According to the complaint against Ponle, an unnamed Chicago company was tricked into sending wire transfers totalling $15.2 million. Companies based in Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, New York and California also were

victims of the fraud, prosecutors say. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) nabbed Ponle through details accessed from his WhatsApp, iPhone and Bitcoin transactions. He was extradited to the United States on July 2. The 29-year-old was facing charges bordering on wire fraud conspiracy at a United States District Court in Illinois.

In fact, a report of the grand jury, a group of lawyers empowered to conduct legal proceedings and investigate potential criminal conduct, indicted him. The jury summed up the allegations against him to an eight-count charge of wire fraud, which violates Section 1343 of the United States Codes.

Ohanaeze Backs Senate’s Call for Resignation of Service Chiefs Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday supported the call by the Senate for the removal of the present service chiefs. It said their continued retention was becoming a national and international embarrassment. Ohanaeze Ndigbo described

the response of the Senior Special Adviser to the President to the call as unacceptable and an insult to Nigerians who were receiving the brunt of the attacks and killings on daily basis. The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Emeka Attamah,

said Ohanaeze wondered why the federal government has refused to save the nation from undeserved calamity. The statement read in part, “What was special about the current service chiefs that made them indispensable? It is unconstitutional to keep a worker in service long after he is due for retirement.

“It was not surprising that there are overt dissensions in the military with soldiers resigning in their numbers due to dissatisfaction and disaffection coupled with the alleged corruption in the force. “The situation now suggests that there is more to their retention than the interest of the country which the Federal government needs to explain to Nigerians.”

Women Protest against Killings in Southern Kaduna Communities John Shiklam in Kaduna

Hundreds of women from communities in the southern part of Kaduna State yesterday protested against the killings in their communities. The protesting women urged the government to fish out the perpetrators of the ‘inhuman act’ and bring them to justice.

In the past three days, no fewer than 39 people have been killed by suspected herdsmen in three communities in Zangon Kataf, Kaura and Kauru Local Government Areas of the state. Last Sunday, gunmen invaded Kukum-Daji village in Kaura LGA at about 10p.m. and open fire on the villagers, mostly young people, who

were celebrating a wedding, killing 24 people with 22 others seriously injured. Another attack took place last Monday in Gora, Zangon Kataf LGA, where 10 people were killed, while last Wednesday also, five people were killed in the attack in Kizachi community, Kauru LGA. Zangon Kataf and Kauru LGAs

had been under 24 curfew since June 11, 2020. The protesting women, most of who were dressed in black while others were half naked, condemned the killings and wanton destructions of their property by the invaders as well as the failure of the state and the federal governments to stop the killings.

Group Faults Obaseki’s Response to Okunbo’s Letter Peter Uzoho A group known as New Nigeria Collective (NNC) has criticised Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State over his response to a recent open letter written to President Muhammadu Buhari and Edo people by renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist, Capt. Idahosa

Wells Okunbo. NNC in a statement signed by its Chairman, Adeola Adewunmi, said Okunbo’s letter did not deserve the kind of reply given to it by the governor, noting that the letter only painted a vivid picture of the issues. The group said the letter was an indication of a man, who came clean to the public

with all the facts before him, and that Obaseki only resorted to emotional blackmail and danced round the issues without paying attention to the clearly identified issues. “We read with absolute shock and its resultant helplessness, albeit momentarily, all the response put together by Governor Godwin Obaseki, in an attempt

to look good before the public against the well documented grouses of one of Benin’s great and illustrious sons, Captain Idahosa Okunbo,” NNC said. According to NNC, the governor also went further, using his alleged libelous claims through his media team, without any proof, adding that, that exposed the modus operandi of the state.

FRIDAY JULY 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS XTRA

House to Investigate Alleged N100bn Fraud at North East Devt Commission Adedayo Akinwale and Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives is to investigate an alleged misappropriation of about N100 billion at the North East Development Commission (NEDC).

Adopting a motion of urgent public importance at yesterday’s plenary, the House mandated its Committee on NEDC to investigate the allegations and report back to the House for further legislative action. Sponsor of the motion, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu said that the

NEDC bill was signed into law in October 2017 by President Muhammdu Buhari to replace other initiatives such as the presidential initiative on Northeast (PINE) and Victims Support Fund (VSF) while the board of management inaugurated in May 2019. According to him, the commission was established with a mission of coordinating funds accruing from the federation account and donor agencies for the purposes of rehabilitating

and resettling of victims of insurgency, reconstruction of homes, infrastructural development and tackling of illiteracy in the North-eastern part of the country. He reminded the House that there has been massive displacement of Nigerian citizens in the Northeast as a result of the activities of Boko Haram insurgents, where houses, schools, mosques, churches , farmlands and businesses were destroyed thereby rendering

people homeless and jobless. The NEDC he said was set up to ameliorate the sufferings of the people is alleged to be enmeshed in serious corrupt practices by the management. He expressed concern about corrupt practices in the agency and over inflation of contracts, awards of non-existent contracts, massive contract splitting and flagrant disregard for the procurement laws in the award of contracts. He alleged that ‘the N100

billion so far disbursed to the commission by the federal government is said to have vanished under a year without any visible impact on the refugees nor any infrastructural development credited to the name of the commission in the whole of the Northeast. Elumelu said if these consistent abuse of procurement laws are not put to check, they may defeat the purpose for the establishment of the commission, hence the need for an urgent investigation.

The ongoing edition of hit reality television show, Big Brother Naija (BBN), which kicked off on Sunday, will bring an estimated N2 billion into the Nigerian economy, financial sector stakeholders have disclosed. MultiChoice, producers of

the show, explained sources, have had to ensure that the show, holding in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, is held under much stricter measures in conformity with the public health and safety protocols. According to financial

sector sources, MultiChoice’s investments in the show have risen to N2billion because of capital-intensive projects necessary for the successful hosting of the show. These include the addition of 250 square meters (sqm) to the 1800sqm Big Brother House,

provision of furniture, technical equipment and other safety systems. The costs are said to be exclusive of production, marketing, talent performances and other sunk costs absorbed by the pre-existing Big Brother House.

... to Invite Indian Commissioner over Assault on Nigerian Students in India BBN to Generate N2bn for Nigerian Economy Udora Orizu in Abuja

The House of Representatives at the plenary yesterday resolved to immediately engage the Indian High Commissioner following the assault on two Nigerian students in India. On July 15, two Nigerian students were seriously beaten up by eight people in Roorkee Institute of Technology (RIT) in India after a disagreement with payment for food at the college canteen. The House also mandated the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Mr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa to urgently investigate the remote cause of the disagreement and find out their present health condition in hospital and report to the

house in two weeks It also urged the Minister of Foreign Affairs to send a strong message to his Indian counterpart conveying the Nigerian Government’s disappointment. The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance, titled, ‘Need to investigate the assault of the Nigerian students by college administrators in India,’ sponsored by Hon. Mohammed Musa Pali. Moving the motion, Pali expressed worry that the students were beaten up by a mob called by the administrators of the school over disagreement with payment for food at the college canteen.

Ita-Giwa Mourns Funtua Sunday Okobi

A former presidential aide and the leader of the Bakassi people, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, yesterday extolled the virtues of the late Malam Ismaila Funtua, as she mourned the media mogul who passed on few days ago. In a statement made available

to THISDAY yesterday by the former senator, she said Nigeria has lost a strong voice for unity with the passing of “this illustrious Nigerian.” Describing him as a true nationalist and a bridge builder, Ita-Giwa recalled her encounter with him during the Abacha’s Constitutional Conference in

1994. According to her, “I first got to interact with him during the Abacha era’s constitutional conference in 1994. As a vocal voice for resource control at that conference, it was not unusual for me to be in the thick of heated debates on the issue. “It was taken for granted

that people like Alhaji Funtua would be leading a vociferous opposition to our insistence on resource control and the principle of derivation. To my consternation and those of my colleagues, Alhaji Isa Funtua served as a bridge builder between us and his northern compatriots on the issue instead.

FRIDAY JULY 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

Police Detain ASP, Inspector over Treatment of Lady Arrested with Boyfriend The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest and detention of two policemen, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Tijani Olatunji, and Inspector Gboyega Oyeniyi, for allegedly subjecting a suspected armed robber’s girlfriend to dehumanising treatment at the man’s house in the Ibadan area of Oyo State. The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, who confirmed the development in a statement yesterday, said efforts were on to arrest another officer and a yet-to-be-identified civilian

involved in the incident. Mba, however, said the officers were on legitimate duties. The police team was said to have been on the trail of the suspect, who was traced from Lagos to his house in Ibadan, where he was arrested. His girlfriend, who identified herself simply as Towobola, was also arrested. One of the policemen, identified only as Wyclef, filmed himself interrogating Towobola and the suspect. The lady, while wailing and

Senate, FG Resolve to Revive Ajaokuta Steel Mill Kasim Sumaina in Lokoja The Senate yesterday in Lokoja, Kogi State capital, expressed its resolve to cooperate with the executive arm to make the Ajaokuta Steel Company work. In his remarks, Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, who led the Senate team on an oversight visit to Ajaokuta Steel Mill and the Itakpe National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) in the state, commended the efforts of the federal government towards reviving Ajaokuta steel company, noting that they were sent to assess the situation on ground.

According to him, “All of us are aware of the efforts being put in place by the federal government to revive the company. “Ajaokuta is a place that if visited by anyone, would shed tears, but there is hope now going by what is being done.” Speaking in same vein, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals/Metallurgy and immediate-past Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Tanko Almakura, expressed the readiness of the National Assembly to cooperate with the executive arm in making the steel company work.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and address as MISS KIKELOMO ANUOLUWAPO ADEBOYEJO, now wish to be known and address as MRS KIKELOMO ANUOLUWAPO OPAYEMI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note. I formerly known and addressed as MISS OLAWALE DAMILOLA ROSELINE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ARIKAWA DAMILOLA ROSELINE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I Formerly know and address as JOHN BRAIMAH PRECIOUS AGBOVOBO .E. Now which to know and address as AKHANEMHE PRECIOUS. All former document remains valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS EHIOGWU FLORENCE OHINSHE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS SAFARI FLORENCE OHINSHE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note. I formerly known and addressed as ADEOYE ADIJAT KUBURAT, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEYEMI ADIJAT RACHAEL. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note. I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ONYINYE EKENE NWOKEJI, now wish to be known as MRS ONYINYE EKENE NWAULU. All former documents remain valid and the general public please take note.

I,formerly known and addressed as BITRUS SHUNIKAN ONI now wish to be known and addressed as BITRUS JOSEPH. All formal documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OLUKOTUN RACHEAL, now wish to be known and addressed as OLUKOTUN TEMITAYO RACHEAL. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note. I formerly known and addressed as OKOKO ALICE, now wish to be known and addressed as FELICIA ADA ADOYI-OGUNADE, and my DoB was wrongly written as 7th July 1982 instead of 6th July 1982.All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I Formerly know and address as MISS NWAOKORO PEACE UDODIRIM Now which to know and address as MRS ONAH PEACE UDODIRIM. All former document remains valid. Banks, Nigeria immigration services, WAEC and Laspoteach should please take note

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AGEZEH DEBORAH ELOHOR, now wish to be known and addressed MRS OBOMANU DEBORAH ELOHOR KENNEDY. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note

I formerly known and addressed as MISS MARGRET SOLOMON, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MARGRET SOMINA BRIGGS. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note. I Formerly know and address as MISS MOJISOLA ESTHER FABIYI. Now which to know and address as MRS MOJISOLA ESTHER ODUOYE. All former document remains valid. The general public should please take note. I Formerly MISS JOSEPHINE EHIAGUINA, now wish to be known as MRS OKOH JOSEPHINE INOKPOARE MAUREEN. All former documents remain valid. Nursing Council of Nigeria and General public take note.

pleading with Wyclef that she was unaware of the suspect’s atrocities, said she only paid him a visit on the day of the arrest. But Wyclef accused her of being a prostitute, as she pleaded her innocence. “Why did you leave your former boyfriend that you are having sex with to follow an

armed robber?” he demanded. She replied, “I don’t have a boyfriend. You can check my phone. I just finished serving as a corper and collected my NYSC discharge certificate three days ago.” Wyclef further asked, “Why did you break up with the person that deflowered you?” She said, “He broke up

with me himself because we used to fight a lot,” as the officer interjected, saying it was because she was promiscuous. The policeman said, “If he (suspected robber) doesn’t have money and car, will you have an affair with him?” “I do business and it is because he said he wants to

buy shoes from me; please, I am begging you to stop recording me,” she replied. She also denied Wyclef’s claim that she passed the night at the suspect’s house, saying she only visited “to assist him in cooking.” Are you saying he has not had sex with you since you met?” Wyclef asked.

Ikpeazu Signs Abia Revised 2020 Budget of N102b Tobi Soniyi Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has assented to the revised Abia State 2020 Budget of N102,660,432,904.00 (One hundred and two billion, Six hundred and sixty million, four hundred and thirty two

thousand, nine hundred and four naira only) recently passed into law by the state House of Assembly. A statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Enyinnaya Appolos, said the governor thanked the legislators for the expeditious passage of

the revised budget. He stated that Abia, like other states across the federation, faced economic stress as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the present economic reality called for all hands to be on deck in securing the socio-economic

future of the state. The governor further highlighted some of the measures taken by his administration to mitigate the economic effect of the pandemic with emphasis on improvements in agriculture and industrial production.

SECURITY ON THEIR MINDS...

L-R: Edo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Philip Shaibu; Governor Godwin Obaseki; Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo; and Director, Department of State Services, Edo State Command, Mr. Mohammed Waziri, after the State Security Council meeting at Government House in Benin City...yesterday

Glo Offers Additional Data Value to Subscribers National telecommunications operator, Globacom, is offering its customers additional value for every data plan they subscribe to. The new data volumes are meant to assist subscribers who now rely on the internet to conduct most of their business, education, social and religious activities because of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. The company said in a

statement issued in Lagos yesterday that the generous data bonuses will be received by subscribers who purchase any of its data plans including night volume which is operational between 12 midnight and 5 a.m. Giving the breakdown of the offering, Globacom said any new customer who purchases a daily data plan of N50 will get additional data value of 18MB which will give

That is why the federal government is still unrelenting in its desperate acquisition of a rash of loans, the bulk of which will not go into any investment, or development project. It is all for consumption and nothing more. That is also why we have our current pump price for petrol, amidst global indices suggesting that we should be buying petrol at less than half of its current pump price in Nigeria. Remember that the reign of the late Gen. Sani Abacha as Head of State saw an upward review of the pump price of petroleum products. The government said it would put the accruals into very important national development projects. So, it set up the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF). But the PTF was, first and foremost, a vote of no confidence on the existing institutions of state, since it was venturing into their statutory functions. The other point is that all PTF budgeting and spending were in areas covered by existing

ministries, departments and Agencies. This created the problems of accountability, of cohesion in government policy and developmental efforts; as the PTF operated without recourse to measures already put in place, following the budgets and projects of the various ministries and agencies. Thus came PTF roads, PTF drugs and what not; all at peculiar costs. Worse still, the consumption tax that provided the PTF resource was sourced mostly from the South, while over 75% of the projects executed with it were in the North. By the time the military was ready to hand over to the civilians in 1999, the Trust Fund had drawn much distrust. It had neither brought development, bridged the shortcomings of the agencies it tried to bail out, nor risen above board in many respects. But those benefiting from it had become even more determined to ensure that the incoming civilian regime of Obasanjo retained it. Thus, the media

a total of 50MB when added to the former data value of 32MB. This includes a night bonus of 5MB. For a N100 daily data plan, the customer will now get 150MB which will include 35mb of night bonus. Similarly, a N500 data plan, which is valid for 14 days, now gives 1.35 GB instead of 1GB and includes a night time bonus of 550MB. If the subscription is for the

SCRAP THE NDDC, OTHERS

was approached, including some of us on The Guardian Newspapers Editorial Board, to drive a ‘media consultancy’ that would push a strong campaign, to arm-twist the then Presidentelect into not scrapping the PTF after being sworn in. But I refused to get involved; and gave my reasons. A media consultancy must be accompanied by an overriding sense of social responsibility. This means that the person who has the capacity to influence public opinion, or public policy, has a higher duty to his conscience and the greater public good. Given that the PTF was all about procurements, supplies and constructions, and also given that it was set up in the expectation that the weak institutions of state should recover and take up their statutory functions, I argued then that the incoming civilian president should be given the chance to revive the Nigerian state, instead of being saddled with an extra institutional contraption that will create an unwieldy administrative

N1,000 monthly data plan, the customer will now have a massive 2.9GB instead of 2.5 GB and will include a night time bonus of 1GB. Such heavy data volumes are also available on other plans such as N2,000, N3,000, N4,000, N5,000, N10,000 up to N20,000 recharge which now gives an unmatched data volume of 12GB, bringing the total to 138GB instead of 115GB.

structure and also undermine accountability by being almost a parallel government. And so, I rested my case. I recall that my comments drew some derisive laughter from a senior journalist at the time – not from The Guardian stable. When I saw proof in the media that the ‘consultancy’ must have caught on, with several write ups giving very elaborate reasons why the incoming Obasanjo Presidency should retain the PTF, for “doing a damn good job,” I made my own intervention in The Guardian titled: “Obasanjo, Remember the PTF.” In it I argued that one of Obasanjo’s first duties as president should be to scrap the PTF and strengthen the statutory institutions of state, for effective service delivery. Twenty-one years later, my view is that the NDDC, the Niger Delta Ministry and similar establishments should be scrapped. Change the revenue allocation formula, stop choking Nigeria and let actual leaders take responsibility.

FRIDAY JULY 24, 2020 â€¢T H I S D AY

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FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

NFF’s Committee Submits Damning Report on Why Nasarawa Utd’s Player Died Duro Ikhazuagbe The Adhoc Committee on Safety and Security set up by the Nigeria Football Federation ((NFF) to unravel the circumstances that led to the death of Nasarawa United’s player, Chineme Martins in March, 2020 submitted its report to the federation yesterday with damning revelations. The Committee headed by respected Member of CAF’s Committee on Sports Medicine, Dr Peter Singabele, while submitting the report in a virtual conference to NFF’s President, Amaju Pinnick,

revealed that Nasarawa United had neither a medical doctor nor a physiotherapist at the stadium on the day Martins collapsed and died during a NPFL home game at the Lafia Township Stadium. “Instead, Nasarawa United had a retired community health assistant heading its medical team. And this led to the mismanagement of the rescucitation process of Martins,” revealed the report. It also noted that there was no functional ambulance stationed at the stadium on that fateful day.

Bielsa Targets Eze to Lead Leeds’ Resurgence in Premier League Championship winners Leeds want QPR playmaker Eberechi Eze to lead their return to the Premier League. Marcelo Bielsa has identified the exciting England Under-21 international as the creative spark his team will need next season. And he is ready to outbid Spurs, West Ham and Crystal Palace for the 22-year-old Londoner who has been earning rave reviews this season. Sunsport understands that Leeds first declared their interest in Eze in January and told QPR that they would come in with a firm bid if they were promoted. Now they are preparing to fulfil that promise when the transfer window officially opens next Monday. Eze, who has scored 13 goals and provided eight assists this season, is valued at £20million by QPR. The West London club feared that price would drop as a result of the pandemic which has restricted the spending ability of every club. But with so much competition for the attacking

midfielder QPR are still hoping to get close to the full asking price for their star player. West Ham boss David Moyes was at Loftus Road last Saturday to see Eze’s Man of the Match performance in QPR’s 4-3 win against Millwall. And after paying £22m to sign Jarrod Bowen from Hull in January, Moyes has no concerns about paying big money for a player with no Premier League experience. But master tactician Bielsa has made it clear to Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani that Eze is exactly the kind of prospect his team should be looking to sign. Radrizzani this week has been speaking about the possibility of bringing veteran superstars Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani to Elland Road as free agents. But the £200,000-a-week wage demands of both players would be way beyond Leeds’ reach and Eze would be a much more realistic long-term investment.

Leeds Defend Open-top Bus Celebration to Fans Leeds United defended the club’s decision for the players to parade the Championship trophy in an open-top bus at Elland Road after thousands of fans ignored pleas not to gather at the stadium. Marcelo Bielsa’s side had already sealed promotion back to the Premier League for the first time in 16 years as champions prior to Wednesday’s 4-0 home win against Charlton. Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani and managing director Angus Kinnear had appealed before the game for Leeds fans to help in the fight against coronavirus by staying at home. But thousands of supporters gathered outside Elland Road for the second time in a week after also doing so when promotion

was sealed on Friday. Players boarded the bus to join in the celebrations after their pitchside trophy presentation had concluded. “Following consultation with the SAG (Safety Advisory Group) and (Leeds City) Council, Leeds United arranged for a bus to be parked outside the East Stand reception as a contingency to assist dispersal should a crowd congregate at Elland Road, despite a month-long campaign from the club and supporter groups to encourage supporters to stay at home,” said a club spokesman. “The safety group believed that a brief appearance from the players with the Championship trophy would help to signal an end to proceedings, encouraging fans to head home safely.

“There was no functional ambulance at the stadium as at the time of the incident, which led to a faulty evacuation process, and the player died before he could reach the hospital and; Nasarawa FA and Nasarawa United FC failed in their duties to put in place emergency medical services for the match,” stressed the report. Although the report admitted its handicap in getting an autopsy carried out on the late footballer due to the refusal of the family of the late footballer to release the body for the physical examination, it recommended that to forestall

a repeat of such unnecessary death on Nigerian pitches, all clubs should have a minimum of one qualified medical officer and a physiotherapist. “All club players must undergo mandatory PCMA in line with CAF and FIFA standards; clubs must keep adequate medical records of players and officials and; there must be mandatory preseason basic medical screening.” It also recommended things that home teams must provide before games should start; safety and security precautions to be assured by the State Football Association. It recommended the temporary suspension of the club from all

NFF organised competitions. “The Nasarawa FA should be temporarily suspended from hosting all NFF-organized matches (including domestic league matches) until some clearly stated conditions are met. “The player (Martins) must be immortalized. Nasarawa United FC should pay a fine of N10million to the LMC for non-compliance with Club Licensing Regulations and violation of NPFL Framework and Rules, and should pay all financial entitlements of the late Martins immediately, including arrears of salaries and insurance benefits, if any.” While receiving the report

Late Chineme Martins

in a virtual presentation, NFF President, Pinnick, praised the efforts of the federation’s Adhoc Committee on Safety and Security for a good job.

William Troost-Ekong (right) and teammates celebrating their famous 2-1 defeat of Juventus...yesterday

Ekong’s Udinese Win as Juve Miss Chance to Wrap up Serie A Title Juventus missed out on the chance to wrap up the Serie A title as they fell 2-1 to a surprise defeat at struggling Udinese. Super Eagles defender, William Troost Ekong, played all

90 minutes as Udinese stepped out of drop zone to 15th spot on 39 points from 35 matches. Juve, who have been Italian champions for exactly 3,000 days, need victory in one of their final three games to win

their ninth title in a row. They led through Matthijs de Ligt’s powerful drive. But Ilija Nestorovski headed in an equaliser before Seko Fofana’s brilliant winner in injury time.

As Maurizio Sarri’s side pushed for a winner, Fofana ran from the halfway line, beat Alex Sandro for pace before cutting inside De Ligt and slotting the ball under Wojciech Szczesny.

‘Victor Osimhen Can Transform Napoli’ Former Internazionale, Torino and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Benoit Cauet has tipped Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen to make a big impact at Napoli. The 21-year-old striker looks set to move to Serie A giants Napoli when the 2019-20 European season has drawn to a close. Napoli sources revealed last night that the deal has been sealed and a formal announcement is expected to be made today in Naples. Osimhen racked up 13 goals and five assists for Lille in a Ligue 1 season cut short by the coronavirus pandemic, and he has become one of the most

Victor Osimhen...Napoli to announce switch today

talked about players when it comes to transfer speculation.

Napoli’s transfer fee to secure the Super Eagles player from Lille

could be as high as €80million, according to some European reports, but it will be money well spent, says Cauet. “Osimhen can make the difference, he can make Napoli make a qualitative leap,” he told Sky Sports Italia. “He is physically strong and this year it has exploded in everyone’s face. “He is a truly talented young man. Napoli is a great team and he needs to make the qualitative leap. He needs to explode.” Osimhen’s young career has seen him on the books of VfL Wolfsburg in Germany and Belgium’s RSC Charleroi before joining Lille a year ago.

Friday July 24, 2020

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Oshiomhole to Obaseki â€œI need to assure you that the decision of the screening committee members to disqualify the sitting governor (of Edo State) was based on the evidence provided by PDP leaders in 2016, which they found to be correct and you do not repeat the same mistake twiceâ€? â€“ Former National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole, revealing justifying the disqualification of Governor Godwin Obaseki from the APC governorship contest.

IBRAHIM B.BABANGIDA Good Night, My Dear Isa Funtua GUEST COLUMNIST

t has taken me two days of shock to be able to muscle the strength to write this tribute and condolence to the family of my departed brother, friend, associate and ÂŒÂ˜Â—Ä™ČąÂ?ÂŠÂ—Â?Ç°Čą ÂœÂ–ÂŠÂ’Â•ÂŠČą ÂœÂŠČą ÂžÂ—Â?ÂžÂŠÇŻ I am still left in awe to come to terms with the shocking news, but like every mortal, we must taste death when it is time. Irrespective of age, status and social standing, when we lost our dear ones, we are left in pains, emotional trauma, grief and nostalgia. Mallam Isa, was like an alter ego to me since our path crossed Â˜Â&#x;ÂŽÂ›Čą Ä™ČąÂ?Â?Â˘Čą Â˘ÂŽÂŠÂ›ÂœČą ÂŠÂ?Â˜ÇŻČą ÂŽČą Â‹ÂŽÂŒÂŠÂ–ÂŽČą Â™ÂŠÂ›Â?Čą Â˜Â?Čą Â–Â˘Čą family since then and we remained so closely Â”Â—Â’Ä´ČąÂŽÂ?ČąÂžÂ—Â?Â’Â•ČąÂ‘Â’ÂœČąÂœÂžÂ?Â?ÂŽÂ—ČąÂ?ÂŽÂŠÂ?Â‘ČąÂ?Â Â˜ČąÂ?ÂŠÂ˘ÂœČąÂŠÂ?Â˜ÇŻ Mallam Isa, as I fondly call him, was one Nigerian who never pretended about issues and situations. You would rightly know where he belongs. He was not given to frivolities and shenanigans. He was pointedly frank when he needed to make his position known on ÂŠÂ—Â˘ČąÂ–ÂŠÄ´ČąÂŽÂ›ÇŻČą ÂŽČąÂŒÂŠÂ›Â›Â’ÂŽÂ?ČąÂ Â’Â?Â‘ČąÂ‘Â’Â–ČąÂŠÂ—ČąÂŠÂžÂ›ÂŠČąÂ?Â‘ÂŠÂ?Čą Â?ÂŽÄ™ČąÂ—ÂŽÂ?ČąÂ‘Â’ÂœČąÂ™ÂŽÂ›ÂœÂ˜Â—ÂŠÇŻČą ÂŽČąÂ–ÂŠÂ?ÂŽČąÂ?Â›Â’ÂŽÂ—Â?ÂœČąÂŠÂŒÂ›Â˜ÂœÂœČą Funtua

the length and breadth of Nigeria, from the North to the South, East to the West. He was indeed a bridge builder, a peace maker and one who believed so much in the unity of Nigeria. He believed so much in constructively engaging issues, apply mediation to resolving issues than seeking alternative methods. As friends and brothers that we were, he never hesitated in speaking his mind in a Â‹Â›ÂžÂ?ÂŠÂ•Â•Â˘Čą Â?Â›ÂŠÂ—Â”Čą Â–ÂŠÂ—Â—ÂŽÂ›Čą Â—Â˜Čą Â–ÂŠÄ´ČąÂŽÂ›Čą Â Â‘Â˜ÂœÂŽČą Â˜ÂĄČą is gored. He carried himself with uncommon patriotism and always ready to reach out to Â™ÂŽÂ˜Â™Â•ÂŽČąÂ—Â˜ČąÂ–ÂŠÄ´ČąÂŽÂ›ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽÂ’Â›ČąÂ‹ÂŠÂŒÂ”Â?Â›Â˜ÂžÂ—Â?ÂœČąÂŠÂ—Â?ČąÂ?Â›Â’Â‹ÂŠÂ•Čą inclinations. He was a pan-Nigeria statesman who was largely misunderstood by some and eternally appreciated by many who understood the dynamics of his engagements. Often times, he would insist that Nigerians must live to Â•Â˜Â&#x;ÂŽČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽÂ–ÂœÂŽÂ•Â&#x;ÂŽÂœČąÂ?ÂŽÂœÂ™Â’Â?ÂŽČąÂ˜ÂžÂ›ČąÂ?Â’Ä›ČąÂŽÂ›ÂŽÂ—Â?ČąČƒÂ?Â˜Â—Â?ÂžÂŽÂœČą ÂŠÂ—Â?ČąÂ?Â›Â’Â‹ÂŽÂœČ„Ç°ČąÂ‹ÂŽÂŒÂŠÂžÂœÂŽČąÂ’Â—ČąÂ‘Â’ÂœČąÂ&#x;Â’ÂŽÂ Ç°ČąÂ ÂŽČąÂŠÂ›ÂŽČąÂ‹ÂŽÄ´ČąÂŽÂ›Čą Â˜Ä›ČąČąÂŠÂœČąÂŠČąÂžÂ—Â’Â?ÂŽÂ?ČąÂŽÂ—Â?Â’Â?Â˘ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŠÂ—ČąÂŠČąÂ?Â›ÂŠÂŒÂ?ÂžÂ›ÂŽÂ?ČąÂ—ÂŠÂ?Â’Â˜Â—ÇŻ Mallam Ismaila, a publisher, business guru, socialite, patriot and pan-Nigerian in every

sense of the word, would be greatly missed. His death, has once again, reminded us of the ÂŽÂ™Â‘ÂŽÂ–ÂŽÂ›ÂŠÂ•Â’Â?Â˘ČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂ•Â’Â?ÂŽČąÂŠÂ—Â?ČąÂ’Â?ÂœČąÄšČąÂŽÂŽÂ?Â’Â—Â?ČąÂ—ÂŠÂ?ÂžÂ›ÂŽÇŻČą Â?ČąÂ’ÂœČą a call that should remind all of us to be God fearing, in our trajectories and engagements in life. I have no doubt in my mind that Isa, Â•Â’Â&#x;ÂŽÂ?ČąÂŠČąÂ?ÂžÂ•Ä™ČąÂ•Â•ÂŽÂ?ČąÂ•Â’Â?ÂŽČąÂŠÂœČąÂŠČąÂ?ÂŽÂ&#x;Â˜ÂžÂ?Čą ÂžÂœÂ•Â’Â–ČąÂŠÂ—Â?Čą lover of humanity. On behalf of my family, Aisha, Muha, Aminu and Halima, I wish to convey our hearty condolences to the family at this grieving moment. Words alone cannot convey our condolences but we are rest assured that only Allah knows why this death came at this time. ÂŠÂ˘Čą Â•Â•ÂŠÂ‘ČąÂ?Â›ÂŠÂ—Â?ČąÂ‘Â’ÂœČąÂœÂ˜ÂžÂ•ČąÂŠÂ•Â“ÂŠÂ—ÂŠÂ‘ČąÄ™ČąÂ›Â?ÂŠÂžÂœÇ°ČąÂŠÂ—Â?Čą strengthen his family to cope with the pains and agonies often associated with losing a dear one. We are indeed in pains, and our hearts are heavy with mournful thoughts. Adieu, Dan Isa, until we meet to part no more. ČŠ ÂŽÂ—ÂŽÂ›ÂŠÂ•Čą ÂŠÂ‹ÂŠÂ—Â?Â’Â?ÂŠÇ°ČąÂ?Â˜Â›Â–ÂŽÂ›ČąÂ–Â’Â•Â’Â?ÂŠÂ›Â˘Čą Â›ÂŽÂœÂ’Â?ÂŽÂ—Â?Čą Â˜Â?Čą Â’Â?ÂŽÂ›Â’ÂŠÇ°ČąÂ Â›Â˜Â?ÂŽČąÂ’Â—ČąÂ?Â›Â˜Â–Čą Â’Â—Â—ÂŠÇ°Čą Â’Â?ÂŽÂ›Čą Â?ÂŠÂ?ÂŽ

OKEYIKECHUKWU EDIFYING ELUCIDATIONS

okey.ikechukwu@thisdaylive.com

Scrap the NDDC, Others T

wenty years on, one of the questions that people of the Niger Delta, and Nigerians in general, must answer for themselves today is whether the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has brought real development, or is capable of bringing real development, to the oil producing states of Nigeria. The other question is whether development commissions generally, especially as they are now turning into a new industry for replicating the functions of existing Institutions of State in Nigeria, represent a step forward for any nation in the 21st Century. In answering these questions, we must make a distinction between money being budgeted and sent to the NDDC and evidence of sustainable economic and other interventions by the commission over the last two decades. And this is not just about the NDDC. The Diaspora Commission, despite its impressive strides and media visibility, Â‹Â˜Â’Â•ÂœČąÂ?Â˜Â Â—ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂŠČąÂœÂžÂ‹Â?Â•ÂŽČąÂ&#x;Â˜Â?ÂŽČŹÂ˜Â?ČŹÂ—Â˜ČŹÂŒÂ˜Â—Ä™ČąÂ?ÂŽÂ—ÂŒÂŽČą Â˜Â—ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČą Â’Â—Â’ÂœÂ?Â›Â˘ČąÂ˜Â?Čą Â˜Â›ÂŽÂ’Â?Â—Čą Ä›ČąÂŠÂ’Â›ÂœÇŻČą Â˜ČąÂŒÂ›ÂŽÂŠÂ?ÂŽÇ°Čą fund and manage a full blown commission for a job that belongs to a unit of the foreign ÂŠÄ›ČąÂŠÂ’Â›ÂœČąÂ?ÂŽÂ™ÂŠÂ›Â?Â–ÂŽÂ—Â?ČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂŠÂ—Â˘ČąÂ–Â˜Â?ÂŽÂ›Â—ČąÂœÂ?ÂŠÂ?ÂŽČąÂ?Â˜Â?ÂŠÂ˘ČąÂ’ÂœČą simple proof that we are creating unmanageable administrative apparatus in a world that is driven by miniaturisation and compacting of the state. Â˜Â’Â—Â?ČąÂ‹ÂŠÂŒÂ”ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČą ČąÂŠÂ—Â?ČąÂ›ÂŽÂ•ÂŠÂ?ÂŽÂ?ČąÂ–ÂŠÄ´ČąÂŽÂ›ÂœÇ°Čą that commission has the highest number of abandoned projects in the country. Besides the federal government, it is also the most indebted of all institutions of state today. Except in one or two isolated cases, when

some people at the helm tried to make some Â›ÂŽÂŠÂ•Čą Â?Â’Ä›ČąÂŽÂ›ÂŽÂ—ÂŒÂŽÇ°Čą Â?Â‘ÂŽČą Čą Â‘ÂŠÂœČą Â›ÂŽÂ–ÂŠÂ’Â—ÂŽÂ?Čą ÂŠČą metaphor for sleaze, patronage and titanic ÂŽÂ•Â’Â?ÂŽČąÂ‹ÂŠÄ´ČąÂ•ÂŽÂœČąÂ?Â˜Â›ČąÂžÂ—ÂœÂŒÂ›ÂžÂ?Â’Â—Â’ÂœÂŽÂ?ČąÂ™Â•ÂžÂ—Â?ÂŽÂ›ÇŻČą Â?ČąÂ‘ÂŠÂœČą ÂŠÂ•ÂœÂ˜Čą Â™Â›Â˜Â‹ÂŠÂ‹Â•Â˘Čą Â—Â˜Â?Čą Â‹ÂŽÂŽÂ—Čą ÂŠČą Â™Â˜ÂœÂ’Â?Â’Â&#x;ÂŽČą Â’Â—ÄšČąÂžÂŽÂ—ÂŒÂŽČą on youth development in the Niger Delta, ÂŠÂœČą Â’Â?ÂœČą Č ÂœÂŽÄ´ČąÂ•ÂŽÂ–ÂŽÂ—Â?Č‚Čą Â˜Â?Čą Â›ÂŽÂœÂ?Â’Â&#x;ÂŽČą Â˘Â˜ÂžÂ?Â‘ÂœČą Â Â˜ÂžÂ•Â?Čą seem to outweigh its positive interventions in the area of economic empowerment. We ÂœÂŠÂ˘Čą Â—Â˜Â?Â‘Â’Â—Â?Čą ÂŠÂ‹Â˜ÂžÂ?Čą Â?Â‘ÂŽČą Â‘ÂžÂ–Â˜Â—Â?Â˜ÂžÂœČą Ä™ČąÂ?ÂžÂ›ÂŽÂœČą Â?Â‘ÂŠÂ?ČąÂŠÂ›ÂŽČąÂ›ÂŽÂ?Â’Â›ÂŽÂ?ČąÂŠÂ—Â?ČąÂ‹ÂžÂ—Â?Â•ÂŽÂ?ČąÂ˜Ä›ČąČąÂ‹Â˘ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂŽÂ•Â’Â?ÂŽČą under the nebulous umbrella called youth empowerment. It has remained the epicentre Â˜Â?ČąÂ?Â›ÂŽÂŠÂ?ČąÂ‹ÂŠÄ´ČąÂ•ÂŽÂœÇ°ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂ‹ÂžÂ•Â”ČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂ Â‘Â’ÂŒÂ‘ČąÂ‘ÂŠÂœČąÂ—Â˜Â?Â‘Â’Â—Â?Čą to do with the long term welfare of the people. That is why its mandate has remained ÂœÂžÂ‹ÂœÂ?ÂŠÂ—Â?Â’ÂŠÂ•Â•Â˘ČąÂžÂ—Â?ÂžÂ•Ä™ČąÂ•Â•ÂŽÂ?ÇŻČą Â‘ÂŽČąÂ?Â›ÂŽÂŠÂ–ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŠÂ?ČąÂ•ÂŽÂ?ČąÂ?Â˜Čą its creation has remained a delusion and the struggle to retain it has remained the business Â˜Â?ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂ™Â˜Â•Â’Â?Â’ÂŒÂŠÂ•ČąÂŽÂ•Â’Â?ÂŽČąÂ Â‘Â˜ČąÂŠÂ›ÂŽČąÂ‹ÂŽÂ—ÂŽÄ™ČąÄ´ČąÂ’Â—Â?ČąÂ?Â›Â˜Â–Čą it. No one seems interested in doing a costs/ Â‹ÂŽÂ—ÂŽÄ™ČąÂ?ÂœČą ÂŠÂ—ÂŠÂ•Â˘ÂœÂ’ÂœÇ°Čą Â?Â˜Čą ÂŠÂœÂŒÂŽÂ›Â?ÂŠÂ’Â—Čą Â?Â‘ÂŽČą Â Â’ÂœÂ?Â˜Â–Čą of retaining such a drainpipe that has no real value. It waddles about year after year, Â˜ÂœÂ?ÂŽÂ—ÂœÂ’Â‹Â•Â˘ČąČ Â?ÂŽÂ&#x;ÂŽÂ•Â˜Â™Â’Â—Â?Č‚ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂ˜Â’Â•ČąÂ™Â›Â˜Â?ÂžÂŒÂ’Â—Â?ČąÂœÂ?ÂŠÂ?ÂŽÂœÇ°Čą whereas much of what it does in reality is Â™ÂŠÂ˘ČąÂœÂ?ÂŠÄ›ČąČąÂœÂŠÂ•ÂŠÂ›Â’ÂŽÂœČąÂŠÂ—Â?ČąÂŽÂ—ÂœÂžÂ›ÂŽČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂœÂžÂœÂ?ÂŽÂ—ÂŠÂ—ÂŒÂŽČą of the frightening takings of a leadership elite from all over the federation that has held it hostage. So, to dare suggest that such a hapless cash cow that is being used by the elite to plunder the state in the name of the people be scrapped is to draw the ire of vested interests. That is why, despite the burgeoning scandal in the organisation today, scrapping it and having the monies going to the states

is not one of the options on the cards. One can understand the objection that the states themselves are performing miserably on all fronts. But the advantage of scrapping the plethora of commissions will be the reduction of â€œthieving pointsâ€? for the elite. But the more likely thing is that the federal government will create more of such commissions, instead. Sections of the elite that are not holding substantive positions in Â?Â˜Â&#x;ÂŽÂ›Â—Â–ÂŽÂ—Â?ČąÂŒÂŠÂ—ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽÂ—ČąÂŠÂ•ÂœÂ˜ČąÂ‹ÂŽČąÂœÂŽÄ´ČąÂ•ÂŽÂ?ČąÂ‹Â˘ČąÂœÂžÂŒÂ‘Čą appointments. Already there is the North East Development Commission. Others are in the Â˜Äœ ČąČąÂ—Â?Ç°ČąÂŠÂœČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂŒÂ•ÂŠÂ–Â˜ÂžÂ›ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ?ÂŽÂ?ČąÂŠÂ?ČąÂ•ÂŽÂŠÂœÂ?ČąÂŠČąÂ?Â˜Â˜Â?Â‘Čą into the Nigerian cherry, outside the strictures Â˜Â?Čą Â˜Äœ ČąČąÂŒÂ’ÂŠÂ•Čą Â™ÂžÂ‹Â•Â’ÂŒČą ÂŠÂ?Â–Â’Â—Â’ÂœÂ?Â›ÂŠÂ?Â’Â˜Â—Ç°Čą Â?Â›Â˜Â ÂœČą Â’Â—Čą crescendo. And it is working. The South-east, North-west and other regional commissions are being rehearsed in the maternity section and labour rooms of the National Assembly. And when we now have all these commissions, then what? There will still be the federal government, federal ministries, state and local governments, wards and councils. There will still be federal and state budgets, worked out into details of what should be spent on various aspects of our national life. So, why balkanise the state and waste public funds so mercilessly? What we see, looking ahead, is the fact that new commissions will expand the avenues Â?Â˜Â›Čą Â™ÂŠÂ?Â›Â˜Â—ÂŠÂ?ÂŽÇŻČą Â‘ÂŽÂ˘Čą Â Â’Â•Â•Čą ÂŠÂ•ÂœÂ˜Čą Č Â?ÂŽÂ–Â˜ÂŒÂ›ÂŠÂ?Â’ÂŁÂŽČ‚Čą opportunities for the questionable exercise of political discretion. All this will be happening below the radar of rigorous state scrutiny. So, we are likely to have more commissions,

instead of less. And that is because we are saddled with a leadership class that mistakes the existence of institutions and the passing of laws and budgets for leadership and service delivery. If that were not the case, someone would have sat down to take a detailed inventory of the uselessness of the over 500 government parastatals in the land. Hardly is there any parliamentarian, governor, or head of a government agency who does not use a bullet-proof SUV. Check the cost of one such vehicle. Then multiply it by, say one thousand. Add a pilot vehicle, a security vehicle, a bus for the press crew, among others. Then consider that new ones are bought every three to four years. Now add the security personnel and other appurtenances. What do you have? What do most of these people, individually and collectively, deliver to the Nigerian citizen to warrant the runaway expenses? It is time for us to sit down and ascertain whether we must remain locusts, or turn into Â?ÂŠÂ›Â–ÂŽÂ›ÂœČąÂ Â‘Â˜ČąÂŠÂ›ÂŽČąÂŠÄ´ČąÂŽÂ—Â?Â’Â&#x;ÂŽČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂ?Â•Â˜Â‹ÂŠÂ•ČąÂ ÂŽÂŠÂ?Â‘ÂŽÂ›ÇŻČą The readings out there are telling us that this is the season to shrink expenses, expand value-yielding engagements and generally be guided to adopt sustainable templates for our continued existence as a nation. But we are not looking in that direction at all. That is why the takings of our lawmakers are still what they are, at both federal and state levels. That is why our governors, across all political parties, are still clinging to the public robbery called security votes. Continued on page 53

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