TUESDAY 2ND AUGUST 2022

UBA Announces New GMD, Executive Board Appointments Alawuba takes over as Uzoka retires

Nume Ekeghe

The United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), Africa’s global bank, yesterday announced the appointment of Mr. Oliver Alawuba as its Group Managing Director.

Alawuba is to oversee all the Group’s banking operations across its 20 African country network and globally in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, and the United Arab Emirates.

The bank disclosed this in a

statement yesterday.

Alawuba joined UBA in 1997 and has held a series of senior positions, including as the CEO of UBA Ghana, the CEO of UBA, Africa and most recently as Group Deputy Managing Director.

Commenting on the new appointment, UBA Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu stated: ‘I am very pleased to announce Oliver Alawuba as the new Group Managing Director of the UBA Group. Oliver has extensive experience in Nigeria

and our African network and is well equipped to advance our pan-African and global strategy.

“I have no doubt that Oliver will build on the legacy of Kennedy Uzoka, who has exemplified transformational leadership by cham-

pioning a customer-first philosophy; launching our twentieth operation in Africa, UBA Mali; acquiring a wholesale banking licence for UBA UK in the United Kingdom and Continued on page 10

El-Rufai: APC Still Consulting over Presidential Campaign Council... Page 12 Tuesday 2 August, 2022 Vol 27. No 9975. Price: N250

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Sylva: Future of Nigeria, Others’ Oil, Gas Industry Bright Despite Energy Transition Threat L-R: Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management, Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC), Mr. Adewolu Adeleke; Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Kashifu Inuwa; EVC/CEO, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta; Special Assistant Innovation and Technology to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Olatunbosun Alake; Minister, Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami; Chairman, House Committee on Communications, Hon. Akeem Adeyemi, and Chairman NCC Board, Prof, Adeolu Akande, during the maiden edition of the Nigerian Telecommunications Indigenous Content Expo 2022 held in Lagos...yesterday

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

The Minister of State for Petroleum Continued on page 10

UK High Commissioner: Atiku’s Ideas on Security, Economy, Development Interesting

As PDP presidential candidate seeks increased collaboration with Britain Wike's group gives condition for peace, wants equal stake Party’s BoT meets, sets up committee on reconciliation Chuks Okocha in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, yesterday, expressed interest about how the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, planned to address the country's seemingly overwhelming security, economic, and development challenges if elected into office next year.

The show of interest came as Atiku sought increased collaboration between the governments of Nigeria and the United Kingdom in the search for solution to issues that affect both countries.

In another development, the embittered camp of the opposition PDP led by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, allegedly, gave conditions for peace, which included being considered equal stakeholders in the party.

Wike was poised to win the PDP presidential ticket during the Continued on page 10

wedding of late president's son...

L-R: Former President Goodluck Jonathan; former First Lady, Turai Yar’Adua; the couple, Shehu and Yacine Yar’adua; the bride's mother, Aishia Nur Sheriff and the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, at the wedding ceremony of the son of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, held at the International Conference Center, Abuja...weekend PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI

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

NEWS

CHANGING OF GUARD AT UBA...

R-L: Newly appointed Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr. Oliver Alawuba; Group Chairman, Mr. Tony Elumelu, and immediate past GMD/CEO, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, at an event to announce the new GMD/CEO, DMD and four Executive Directors, held at UBA House, Lagos...yesterday

OPEC’s New Head Assumes Office, Engages Nigerian Media on Stabilising Oil Market Assures voice of 600m Africans without electricity must be heard Mourns Barkindo Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The new Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Kuwaiti’s Haitham Al Ghais, yesterday engaged the Nigerian media on his immediate plans for the oil industry, hours after he assumed duty as the new head of the organisation.

Al Ghais, who spoke glowingly of his predecessor, Sanusi Barkindo,

who died while on a visit to Nigeria last month, explained that while the legacies of the late Barkindo would continue to be upheld, members of OPEC would collectively determine the next set of decisions by the body.

The new OPEC secretary general was unanimously picked by member nations in January and was already in waiting to succeed Barkindo before the death of the Nigerian-born global oil and gas

NNPC Urged to Fix Nigeria’s Ailing Refineries Sylvester Idowu in Warri The Chairman of DAS Energy Services Limited, Delta State, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has said the commercialisation of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) will make no sense when the four refineries in the country are not working.

Onuesoke, who spoke to newsmen against the backdrop of the recent unveiling of the new NNPC by President Muhammadu Buhari said his position was anchored on the fact that there were unresolved issue with the refineries.

"There is nothing wrong in Nigeria having a national oil company, but to save the NNPC, it is important to keep the fundamentals in mind. NNPC’s transformation comes at a time when the world faces an energy crisis, and a cost-of-living dilemma.

“The emergence of a new NNPC is a good idea, but it seems to me that the best that the Mele Kyari-team can do, for now, is to lay the foundation for a more far-reaching process.

“It makes no sense that the

country’s four refineries are grounded, or running at a loss.

It is shameful that Nigeria cannot meet its OPEC quota.

"How does a country with crude oil operate without functioning refineries such that it has to import refined oil?,” he stated.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain argued that, “for the new NNPC to succeed, it is expected to do things differently to attract investment, promote innovation, eliminate corruption and inefficiency, and ensure clarity.”

He said the new NNPC Ltd must measure up like Saudi Arabia’s Aramco and Brazil’s Petrobras adding, "Its business model must work for the country’s benefit. The new NNPC must represent a transition in real terms into a new style and philosophy.

“They have to make themselves functional, effective and efficient.

It is no longer the NNPC of yester-years whereby you blow government money.

“If they operate efficiently, it means Nigeria will gain, with the federal government still maintaining a substantial share in the company,” he maintained.

leader.

Fielding questions during the virtual event, Al Ghais stated that the 600 million Africans currently without electricity must be considered while the global discussions on the current energy transition are ongoing.

“The African continent has over 1.2 billion population, with over 600 people without electricity. There is an ongoing discussion about energy transition, and the voice of the people needs to be heard and taken into consideration and accounted for.

“In the energy transition, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Everybody’s voice must be represented and everybody must be part of the dialogue, particularly on the African continent,” he declared.

While underscoring the critical role Nigeria plays in OPEC and its pivotal place in the African oil and gas market, he promised to visit Nigeria soon, maintaining that with the cooperation of Nigeria

and other member nations, OPEC would weather the storms in the global oil market.

Describing the ongoing construction of a regional gas pipeline that would convey Nigeria’s gas to Niger, Algeria and then to Europe as a significant development, Al Ghais stated that any assistance to be rendered to the continent must be collectively discussed and agreed on by all stakeholders in OPEC. According to him, while OPEC decisions are usually collective, the framework laid in stabilising the global oil industry by Barkindo at the organisation will not be abandoned.

He added: “In OPEC, the direction is dictated by market conditions, which is what unites OPEC and the wider group of OPEC+, to do whatever is necessary to maintain the market balance.

“Healthy state of the market, which is a balance between supply and demand, is to the benefit of not only the oil producing, but also

the oil consuming countries, and the wider global economy.

“I will maintain this course and direction. It is not only me personally, it is all the organisations within OPEC member countries and the wider alliance of the OPEC+ who are interested in maintaining what late Barkindo embarked on in 2016.”

After observing a minute’s silence for the late Barkindo, he described the former OPEC head's death as tragic, noting that the demise was not only a personal loss, but one that was felt globally.

Al Ghais stated that Barkindo worked for OPEC’s multilateralism and played prominent roles in the dialogue among energy stakeholders around the world and expressed the hope that he would be able to build on the many legacies of the late Nigerian.

“We travelled together for various meetings and occasions related to OPEC, and OPEC+, and Mohammed Barkindo and I were such

close personal friends...His death was a tragic day for me. When I woke up at 6am in the morning in Kuwait, and I got a message from one of the governors here representing one of the member countries, I was in disbelief.

“The name Mohammed Barkindo is well known everywhere you go. He was an ambassador for OPEC and for OPEC+. He was a man who worked for cooperation, for multilateralism, for dialogue among everybody and all the energy stakeholders around the world.

“We will ensure his legacy will live on. He has built a lot and I hope to be able to build on it,” he said.

Responding to a question on how he intends to handle pressure from the United States to supply more gas to the global market, Al Ghais noted that he would be willing to sit down with officials from the country to discuss the way forward for the industry.

Osinbajo UrgesYouths to Support Fight against Human Trafficking Alex Enumah in Abuja Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged Nigerian youths to fight the scourge of human trafficking, calling on all stakeholders, including the international community, to increase collaboration in the fight against trafficking in persons and associated vices.

Osinbajo, speaking yesterday as a special guest at an event organised to commemorate this year's World Day against Human Trafficking, noted that human trafficking was devastating to the human race and economy.

Osinbajo, represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the

President/ Office of the Vice President, Mr Adeola Ipaye, said, "It is only by working together that we can collectively develop solutions capable of addressing the root causes and risk factors that perpetuate human trafficking across the world."

According to the vice president, nurturing the generation of young people who understand and are conversant with technology and can easily speak to the issue through the tools of technology would enhance Nigeria's efforts at eradicating the menace.

"We, therefore, rely on you students and other youngsters to make the change even where

we have hitherto fallen short," said Osinbajo.

In a welcome, Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Dr Fatima Waziri-Azi, said the choice of this year's theme, 'Use and Abuse of Technology', was apt, underscoring the dynamism of the crime of human trafficking and the growing use of online interactions as an efficient enabler.

Waziri-Azi further noted that while technology was frequently misused to facilitate trafficking in persons, its positive use helps in combating trafficking and supporting anti-trafficking work, such as aiding investigations that enhance

prosecutions and scaling awareness campaigns.

Meanwhile, the Network against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) commended the NAPTIP boss and other partners for the elevation of Nigeria to Tier 2 in the 2021 TIP report.

NACTAL president Mr Abdulganiyu Abubakar stated, "Our members across the 36 states and the FCT in the last few days have embarked on various activities on the street of Nigeria to commemorate the World Day against Trafficking in Persons in partnership with NAPTIP with the support of various development partners."

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NEWS

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ACCESS CORPORATION AND LBS...

L-R: Managing Director, Access Bank Plc. Roosevelt Ogbonna; Group Chief Executive Officer, Access Corporation, Dr. Herbert Wigwe; Dean, Lagos Business School (LBS), Prof. Chris Ogbechie, and Chief PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN Operating Officer, LBS, Charles Ivenso, during the MoU signing agreement on strategic partnership between Access Corporation and LBS in Lagos...yesterday

INEC: Ekiti, Osun Guber Polls Have Prepared Us Better for 2023 Releases details of voter registration, puts total at 12,298,944 Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, said its experiences at the last governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states had prepared it better for the 2023 general election. Chairman of Board of Electoral Institute (TEI), INEC, Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, stated this during the opening of the Post Election Training Audit (PETA).

The commission put the voter registration at 12,298,944.

INEC said appraisal of the two off-season elections was necessary to understand the challenges in the states, stressing that without such evaluation it would be difficult to prepare adequately for the 2023 general election.

Zuru said the appraisal was to enable the commission understand the challenges encountered, so as to correct them and avoid a repeat of such situations in the preparation for next year’s general election.

He listed the purpose of the post-election audit to include, to, “Review and interrogate the just concluded training exercises in the build-up to the Ekiti and Osun elections so as to track progresses

made in the implementation of the approved cascade training plans.

"Examine the synergy between the Training and Research and Documentation Departments of TEI, on the one hand, and other collaborating departments of the commission, security agencies and the National Youth Service Corps on other in field operations before, during and after the election day; "Keep the Electoral Institute and, by extension, the commission apace with the build up to a sustainable, effective and efficient electoral service delivery towards the 2023 general election; inculcate the concept of quality assurance of trainings in line with international best practices; and come up with enduring general and actionable recommendations on how to improve the quality of electoral trainings in the commission.”

Zuru further said, "The electorate’s perception of the fairness, freeness, credibility and inclusivity of an election is largely determined by the performance of the poll workers.

"That is, the ad hoc staff in our nomenclature. Poll workers play a critical role in elections, as they serve as a bridge between voters, who cast their votes, the election

Insecurity: FCTA Demolishes Illegal Structures in Kuje Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) yesterday commenced a week-long massive demolition of illegal structures at Kuje to rid the satellite town of crime and mitigate the proliferation of illegal structures, purportedly obstructing human and vehicular movements in the area.

A few days after the Boko Haram attack on the Kuje Prison, the demolition followed months of sensitisation and the expiration of authorities' notices to illegal occupants to vacate the area.

During the clean-up exercise, which lasted for about seven hours, hundreds of structures ranging from kiosks, containers, attachments to stores and worship centres, shanties and signposts encroaching on the road corridors were pulled down.

FCTA officials rolled in the bulldozers and dismantled roadside

encroachments from the notorious Tipper Garage to the Kuje main market while some illegal squatters frantically salvaged some of their belongings before the demolition team arrived.

The Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah, said the exercise was sanctioned by the FCT Minister, Mohammed Musa Bello and was under the guidance of FCT Police Commissioner Sunday Babaji and other security heads in the territory.

He said the minister was displeased with the extreme violations at Kuje, noting that the multiple contraventions like illegal settlements, extreme road encroachment, roadside trading, and encroachment of rail corridors made Kuje a very unsafe area.

He said the clean-up would be a week-long exercise, as Kuje had been very worrisome in some areas of insecurity.

management body, and, indeed, the officials to be elected for a country; positive disposition of poll workers encourages voter turnout while negative disposition evokes apathy."

In his remarks, Director General of the Electoral Institute, Dr. Sa'ad Umar Idris, said the essence of the appraisal of the Osun and Ekiti governorship elections was to undertake an evaluation and audit of all electoral training activities that took place in the two states.

Idris said the review would consider reports from both internal and external observation and monitoring groups from the field during the governorship elections that showed there were recorded improvements

in the overall performance of poll officials as a result of quality training delivery.

According to the INEC update, fresh registrants as at August 1, 2022, stood at 10,487,972, while completed registration was at 12,298,944.

Giving further details of the update, INEC said online registration was 3,444,378, while physical was 8,854,566 In the same manner, the male registrants were 6,074,078, while the female voters, as at August 1, were 6,224,866. The Persons living with Disability (PWD) was 87,083, while the youths were 8,784,677 The leading state was Lagos, with 585,629, followed by Kano,

with 569,103. The least were Ekiti State, with 124,844, and Yobe State, with 152,414.

However, barely 24 hours after the suspension of voter registration, INEC disclaimed a site that claimed to be continuing with the exercise, insisting the exercise ended on July 31.

A statement by INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Information and Chairman, Voter Education, Festus Okoye, said, "The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been drawn to an online site urging Nigerians to enrol for ‘VOTER CARD (PVC)’ registration claiming that the federal government has

approved individual VOTER CARD (PVC) registration online to avoid unnecessary crowd in the ‘NIMC’ CENTERS." According to Okoye, "The commission states unequivocally that the site is not linked to the commission and the link/portal is spurious and from a dubious source.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission is the only body constitutionally and legally mandated to conduct the registration of persons qualified to vote in any election in Nigeria and to update and revise the register when the need arises.

Continued online

US Appoints New Consul General for Lagos Segun James A new Consul General, Mr. Will Stevens has been announced for the United States Mission in Lagos.

Stevens succeeds Claire Pierangelo who led the US Consulate General Lagos from August 2019 to April 2022.

According to a statement, as Consul General in Lagos, Stevens is the senior US Government representative to the Nigerian people throughout the 17 states in southern Nigeria.

He is responsible for leading

and overseeing US government activities that enhance trade and investment relations and bilateral people-to-people ties across the region.

"My family and I look forward to getting to know Nigeria firsthand – exploring the region, experiencing the culture, and most importantly, meeting the people," Consul General Stevens said.

It stated that Stevens had served more than 19 years in the US Department of State as a career Foreign Service Officer with overseas experience in South Africa,

Russia, Turkmenistan, Israel, and Belarus, as well as experience in Washington at the Foreign Service Institute, the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, and the Bureau of African Affairs.

“Before arriving in Nigeria, Mr. Stevens served as the Acting Consul General in Cape Town, South Africa, where he directed the U.S. government's engagement in South Africa's three cape provinces.

“Under his leadership, US-South Africa's trade and investment expanded by 50 percent over two years, and he coordinated

Shuttlers Partners RCCG to Transport 50,000 Members to Redemption Camp Shuttlers, Nigeria’s leading techenabled bus sharing company that covers more than 115 routes in Lagos and Abuja, has partnered the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) to ease transportation for its members and decongest traffic along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The collaboration will enable Redeemers to enjoy safe, affordable, and comfortable shuttle rides on over 400 routes, from 98 provinces in Lagos to the campgrounds of RCCG, according to a statement

by Shuttlers.

The partnership will start ahead of the church's 70th Annual Convention, scheduled for August 8.

“We are excited to kickstart this partnership with Shuttlers which

will help improve the typical transportation experience for our members who will be attending the 70th Annual Convention,” said Pastor Adeolu Adeboye, Chief Operating Officer of RCCG Traffic Mayors and LASTMA Traffic Mayor.

Pastor Okey Mofunanya, Security Adviser to the General Overseer, RCCG Worldwide, explained that some of "our members have had hectic commuting experiences in past conventions, and we believe this partnership will improve the general experience of this year’s convention and subsequent events."

In Lagos, congestion costs the economy more than $14 million per day, Shuttlers said, "and it is not atypical for most residents to

spend over two hours travelling just eight kilometres to the Redemption Camp."

It noted that attendees of the 70th Annual Convention could schedule rides with Shuttlers’ mobile application from the comfort of their homes. It stated that "members who book successfully ahead of the convention date will get the opportunity to enjoy a hassle- and stress-free transport experience to and from the RCCG campgrounds."

Shuttlers CEO Damilola Olokesusi said, "We are providing software and assets to ease operations, enabling real-time bus tracking and transforming the transport experience of members visiting the camp."

the US government's response to COVID-19 in the Cape.

“In 2014, he received the Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Public Diplomacy, the State Department's highest award in public diplomacy, for leading the U.S. Government's Interagency Task Force on countering Russian propaganda during the Ukraine crisis.

“In the Bureau of African Affairs, Mr. Stevens served as Senior Advisor on countering violent extremism and, as the Bureau's Spokesperson.

“He directed the public affairs planning and messaging for the 2014 U.S.-Africa Heads of State Summit that brought together 50 African leaders in Washington for the first time,” it added.

Stevens was the Director of the Foreign Service Institute's Public Diplomacy (PD) Training Division from 2017-2019, where he coordinated the training of the State Department's entire public affairs and public diplomacy corps.

His leadership and the team were recognised in the Public Diplomacy Council's annual "Ten Best" for the "Best Use of Social Media by an Embassy while serving as the Spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Moscow between 2014 and 2016.

He has also served as Chief of Staff at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, chief of public affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan, and in the press and cultural affairs offices at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv.

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CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION OF SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS...

L-R; Chairman, SPE Nigeria Council, Prof.Olalekan Olafuyi; SPE Nigeria BOT Member, Olatunji Akinwunmi; President SPE International, Kamel Ben-Naceur and MD/CEO Kenyon International, Marcel I. PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA Amu, during the opening ceremony of Society of Petroleum Engineers Nigeria Annual International Conference & Exhibition (SPENAICE 2022) in Lagos...yesterday

Minister Kicks against Planned Implementation of 5% Excise Duty in Telecom Sector Emma Okonji The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, yesterday rejected the planned implementation of five per cent excise duty in the telecom sector.

Pantami expressed his disapproval for the policy at a telecom forum in Lagos, organised by the Nigeria Office for Developing the Indigenous Telecoms Sector (NODITS), an agency domiciled in the Nigeria Communications

Commission.

He said he would explore every legitimate means to stop the planned five per cent excise duty tax on telecom consumers.

The federal government through the Ministry of Finance, had last week in Abuja, disclosed that it would begin the implementation of five per cent excise duty tax on all voice calls, SMS and data services, in addition to the existing 7.5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT), paid for goods and services across all sectors of the economy.

Government made the disclosure on five per cent excise duty during a stakeholders' meeting, organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator.

At that meeting, the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, who was represented by the Assistant Director, Tax Policy, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Musa Umar, said: "The five per cent excise duty has been in the Finance Act 2020 but has never been implemented. Henceforth the

five per cent excise duty will be collected by telecom operators and payment made to the federal government on a monthly basis, in or before 21st of every month."

Pantami, faulted the timing and process of imposing the tax on the telecom industry, insisting that part of the responsibility of a responsive government was not to increase the challenges citizens were facing.

He maintained that he was not in support of five per cent excise duty.

“I have not been contacted of-

Benin River Port: Edo Govt, Regulators, Others Meet over Environmental, Social Impact Assessment The Edo State Government, will on Monday, August 8, 2022, host regulators and other stakeholders to a public hearing on the draft Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Report for the Benin City River Port (BRP) Project.

In a statement, BRP Chairman, Greg Ogbeifun, said the public hearing will take place at the John Odigie Oyegun Training Centre in Benin City.

The statement reads: “The Executive Governor of Edo State, His Excellency Mr. Godwin Obaseki has continued to record sustained progress in his renewed drive to develop the Benin City River Port (BRP). Apart from the draft Outline Business Case (OBC) which has already been completed and submitted to regulatory authorities, the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) has also been completed, including the Assets Inventory Valuation exercise.

“In this regard, the Minister of Environment has approved the Public Hearing on the draft ESIA Report for the BRP Project. This is coming after the initial approval for the Public Display of the ESIA Report, notification of which was published in The Vanguard and The Nigerian Observer newspapers on 15th June 2022. The display had been for the statutory period of 21 working days, which lasted from 17th June 2022 till 15th July 2022, and was variously at the Local Government Councils, and at the State and Federal Ministries of Environment. There were also announcements on Radio Nigeria Station for the first and last five (5) days of the display exercise.

“For the Public Hearing, the

Minister had constituted a Review Panel, comprising of experts, as well as relevant Regulators from the Local Government Council, and the Ministries of Environment.

Among the key stakeholders invited to participate in the event, holding at the John Odigie Oyegun Training Centre in Benin City on Monday 8" August 2022, were the Host Communities, Consultants, and other interested parties.”

Ogbeifun continued, “BRP is a legacy project which is of historical and economic significance to the local communities, the people of Edo State, and Nigeria at large, and is aimed at contributing to the development of both the maritime and agricultural sectors, and creating massive employment opportunities in lifting the Nigerian economy.

“The project site is located at the confluence of Osse River and Benin River, making it the closest port to the sea after the ports of Lagos, at only 32km from the coastline. This proximity is a major attraction to shippers, as it reduces the sailing time of ships into the hinterland, along with the associated security risks. As part of the project, a double-lane dual carriage way Access Road is planned to be constructed to the Port through Ekewan Road and Gelegele, while a Railway link is being proposed from Agbor to the Port in future, to facilitate movement of goods from all over the country.

“The site has a vast expanse of available land of which over 700ha has since been surveyed and designated for the project by Edo State Government, including

Topographic Survey of the Access Road, and Bathymetric Survey of the sailing Channel along Benin River, through the estuary and into the Atlantic Ocean.

“The project site was carefully selected in such a way to avoid having to relocate any community, and the host communities have been very supportive, and continue to show encouragement for the project.

This had started with a very cordial and frank stakeholders meeting, which was followed with the recent award of fully funded scholarships to the first batch of indigenous students to study Maritime courses in universities overseas, who are expected to eventually return to join the workforce at BRP.” He further noted that “the Draft Outline Business Case (OBC) for the

BRP Project had been prepared by the appointed Transaction Advisers, CPCS Transcom, Canada, after an extensive research and study of the cargo and traffic throughput potentials, and the viability of the proposed port, amongst other considerations. Some potential Investors have also been identified for financing of the proposed PublicPrivate-Partnership contract that would be secured under custody of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).

These activities will continue until the development of a Full Business Case (FBC), and attainment of a Financial Close, leading to commencement of actual construction works.

Continued online

ficially. If we are, we surely will state our case. The sector that contributes to the economy should be encouraged. You introduce excise duty to discourage luxury goods like alcohol, but broadband in the telecom sector is a necessity."

“If you look at it carefully the sector contributes two per cent excise duty, 7.5 per cent VAT to the economy and you want to add, more to create additional hardship.

This cannot be tolerated at this time and it will be resisted," Pantami said.

He urged the tax masters to expand the scope of other sectors not contributing to the economy to do so.

“We must come together and salvage the sector. Only telecom sector contributed 13 per cent and you want to add more. This is unacceptable,” Pantami said.

Pantami who also faulted the lawmaking process that produced the harsh tax, said the Chairman of the House Committee on Communications, was not aware of such tax and that it must be re-enacted for the benefit of telecom subscribers, the telecom industry and the Nigerian economy.

Pantami was of the view that further tax on the sector would impact negatively on its contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“We will explore other means to reverse it. As a minister, based on the provision of the Constitution of Nigeria, Section 148, we are exercising powers of Mr. President.

That is what the constitution says.

At least, I am a major stakeholder, when VAT was increased to 7.5

per cent, I was not consulted on the five per cent excise duty.

“I only heard the announcement and I think there is something questionable and I am glad that we are on the same page with our National Assembly members that are here.

“They have not been consulted and they are part of the committees.

So, may be beyond making our position known, we would go behind the scene and go against any policy that will destroy the digital economy sector. This is a sector, which we cherish and we will go any length to legitimately and legally defend its interest,” Pantami added.

On his part, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, insisted that the new tax burden would be passed to subscribers if the federal government should implement it.

Adebayo said: "It is a strange move; it appears a bit unusual.

Excise duty is supposed to be apportioned to goods and products, but we are surprised this is on telecom services.

“We will continue to support government but ALTON will not be able to subsidise this on behalf of subscribers in addition to the 7.5 per cent VAT, making it 12.5 per cent payable by subscribers to the federal government.

“We currently pay a lot of taxes, running into 39 of them, so we can not add more to the existing burden. We will not be able to absorb this on behalf of subscribers.”

N22.45bn Wonder Bank Funds: Court Declares Nospetco Investors’ Suit against CBN, SEC Statute-barred Wale Igbintade Efforts by Nospetco Oil & Gas Limited investors to recover their investment worth N22, 445, 571 446.84 billion may have suffered a technical setback as a Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed their suit against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Justice Lewis Allagoa in his ruling on a Preliminary Objection, filed by counsel to the CBN, Mr. Olumuyiwa Aduroja, held that the suit filed by Nospetco investors is statute-barred and no longer legally enforceable owing to a prescribed period of limitation

having lapsed.

Fourteen Nospetco investors through their lawyer, Debo Adeleke, had on behalf of 13, 741 other investors, instituted suit number FHC/L/248/2012, against the Security & Exchange Commission, (SEC), the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), and Nospetco Oil & Gas limited.

The plaintiffs are praying the court to mandate the 2nd Defendant (CBN) to release a sum of N22, 445, 571, 446.84 presently in its custody on the instruction of the 1st Defendant.

They are also praying the court to mandate the CBN to release the N22, 445,571,446.84 billion back

to the investors through their solicitor or through the court in a profit-yielding account.

In addition, the plaintiffs also prayed the court for an order compelling the 3rd Defendant, (Nospetco Oil &Gas limited) to stop forthwith its illegal, unlawful and fraudulent business and banking activities, which it has been relentlessly carrying out under the covers since May 2007.

Also, they are demanding for N10 million damages against the defendants.

However, Justice Allagoa in his ruling upheld the submissions of CBN counsel, Aduroja that the plaintiffs failed to commence the

suit within the statutory period of three months as prescribed under CAP. P41, LFN, hence the court has no jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

Aduroja had in a preliminary objection brought pursuant to Section 6(6) (b) of the Constitution and Section 53 of Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, argued that the plaintiffs’ cause of action arose on May 2007, and the suit was filed in 2012.

He argued that the suit was filed five years beyond the three months within which the plaintiffs were allowed to bring an action against a public officer including corporate or statutory corporations or bodies like the CBN.

TUESDAY AUGUST 2, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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Al Qaeda Leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri Killed By US Drone Strike in Afghanistan Al Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri has been killed by a United States airstrike in Afghanistan, according to US media reports.

Sky News quoted a senior official in President Joe Biden’s administration to have said: "Over the weekend, the United States

conducted a counterterrorism operation against a significant Al Qaeda target in Afghanistan.

"The operation was successful and there were no civilian casualties."

Biden was due to speak from the balcony off the White House Blue Room as he remained in isolation

in the residence while he continues to test positive for COVID-19.

The death of al-Zawahiri would be the biggest blow to al Qaeda since its founder Osama bin Laden was killed by the US in 2011.

A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said a drone

strike was carried out by the CIA in the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that a strike took place and strongly condemned it, calling it a violation of "international principles".

Speaking on 31 August 2021, after

the last US troops left Afghanistan, Biden had said the US would not let up on its fight against terrorism in that country or elsewhere.

"We will maintain the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan and other countries," he had said.

"We just don't need to fight a

ground war to do it."

Previewing the strike that would occur 11 months later, Biden had said at the time: "We have what's called over-the-horizon capabilities, which means we can strike terrorists and targets without American boots on the ground - or very few, if needed."

SYLVA: FUTURE OF NIGERIA, OTHERS’ OIL, GAS INDUSTRY BRIGHT DESPITE ENERGY TRANSITION THREAT Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, yesterday has said the future of Africa's oil and gas industry remains very bright despite the challenge posed by energy transition.

The minister stated this in Lagos at the 45th Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE) organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council, with the theme: “Global Transition to Renewable and Sustainable Energy and the Future of Oil and Gas in Africa.”

However, also speaking at a four-day stakeholders’ consultation on domestic gas pricing organised by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in Abuja, yesterday, Sylva while responding to questions stressed that the oil and gas sector was yet to be deregulated, noting that whatever increase in the pump price of fuel noticed recently was at the whims of marketers.

“Well, I can tell you authoritatively that we have not deregulated.

The government is still subsidising and if there are increases in the price, it is not from the government, it is probably from the marketers,” he told participants.

He, however, assured that the authorities were doing their best to ensure that the queues noticed in recent weeks disappear as soon as possible.

Speaking further in Lagos, Sylva said Africa has a key role to play in securing a greener world where clean natural gas is used to power the continent's economies sustainably, charging petroleum engineers and other industry stakeholders present at the event to not fail the continent "I have no doubt that the future of Africa’s oil and gas industry is still bright, despite the global energy transition uptake. You are central to making this a reality. Don’t fail us," Sylva said.

While observing that it was generally acknowledged that transition to low carbon energy sources would make the world a better living place with a cleaner climate, Sylva noted, however, that energy transition was better viewed as providing clean energy, and not as abandoning some energy sources.

He maintained that while current forecast indicated that the global cost of renewable energy was declining steadily, the reliability and sustain-

ability of renewable energy supplies had been challenged by the recent energy crisis in Europe and the Americas, which has re-awakened new interest in fossil fuel supplies.

"We have seen coal plants being fired up in several European Countries recently, and a renewed interest in natural gas supply from Africa.

There are also reports of increased oil and gas drilling operations in the USA with spontaneous permits being granted recently.

"Anticipated economic growth and rising global population, especially in Asia and Africa, will significantly push energy demand upward to a level that renewable energy sources only cannot meet by 2050.

"All these imply that the global energy mix will remain with us, amidst greater dominance by hydrocarbon energy sources, at least in the foreseeable future. It also indicates that energy transition will remain a gradual process, as against a rapid and radical shift as some have presented it," the minister said.

For Africa, he noted that adaptive strategies for the energy transition should be adopted across the continent, adding that it meant that the different socio-economic, political and developmental peculiarities of individual nations should be taken into account in their transition plans.

Arguing that Africa was still bedeviled with chronic energy poverty in this modern age, with about 600 million people having no access to electricity, and about 900 million having no access to clean cooking fuel, he described the situation as unjustifiable.

He insisted that all available energy sources would be required to end the high level of energy poverty in Africa and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) of providing access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

According to Sylva, Africa’s approach towards the climatechange-net-zero-emission should be to optimise the use of the continent's abundant gas resource as a transition fuel option.

Sylva further said, "Africa’s energy poverty would have to be addressed by responsibly developing and utilising Africa’s abundant natural resource – Fossil

fuels, from where the renewable energy would be funded amidst a gradual energy transition.

"Nigeria, as the oil and gas industry leader in Africa, is committed to pursuing the energy transition to promote economic growth, and is gradually investing in renewable energies, primarily solar, to reduce carbon emissions, whilst continuing to exploit hydrocarbon resources, especially natural gas – recognised as the energy transition fuel for Nigeria.

"Nigeria has the most extensive gas resource in Africa with proven gas reserves of over 200 trillion cubic feet. It is envisaged that with the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 in full implementation across the broad spectrum of the oil and gas industry, Nigeria is well positioned for a reformed oil and gas industry that could sustain the local demand for natural gas and a high export income.

"On a relevant note, the campaign for reduced funding of fossil fuels explorations has led to a gale of divestment by the international oil companies in Nigeria. I strongly believe that this is an opportunity for oil and gas exploration in the country because Nigeria's independent producers have developed capacity to fill-in the gap."

The minister stated that it must be admitted that the risk of limited international financing of oil and gas projects could jeopardise Africa’s energy transition and roadmap to attaining net-zero.

"Hence, Africa will have to look inward and harness its resources, while accelerating technology development, to face the global energy transition onslaught.

"We need to develop cross-border infrastructure and expand regional energy market to guarantee longterm energy security," he added.

In his presentation, the President of SPE International, Mr. Kamel Ben-Naceur, said an estimated five trillion cubic meters (5TCM) of natural gas had been discovered in some African countries including Namibia, Mauritania, Senegal and other basins.

The Tunisian-born president of SPE International also projected that Africa could supply another 30 billion cubic meters by 2030.

While describing that as good news for the continent, he said none of those 5TCM has achieved Final

UBA ANNOUNCES NEW GMD, EXECUTIVE BOARD APPOINTMENTS opening our fourth global operation, UBA Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.”

Also, Alawuba expressed his commitment to his new role as Group Managing Director saying, “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead this great institution and would like to thank the UBA Group Chairman and the members of the Board of Directors for the confidence they have put in me to deliver the mandate.”

Alawuba assumed his new position from August 1, 2022, subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Equally appointed, according to the statement was Muyiwa Akinyemi as Deputy Managing Director.

Akinyemi joined UBA in 1998, as a Senior Banking Officer in UBA’s Energy Bank and has served the Group in Nigeria and our broader Africa network for twenty-four years.

Other executive appointments announced by the bank included: Ms. Sola Yomi-Ajayi as Executive Director, Treasury and International Banking. Yomi-Ajayi has been with

the Group since 2004 and has considerable international experience, culminating in her appointment as CEO of UBA America.

In the same vein, Mr. Ugochukwu Nwagodoh was appointed the Executive Director, Finance and Risk Management. According to the statement, Nwagodoh joined the Group from PwC in October 2004. He has since held a series of significant roles in the areas of performance management, compliance, financial control and reporting.

“Mr. Alex Alozie, Executive Director and Group Chief Operating Officer, who joined the Group in 2019 and has driven the Group’s digital transformation and operational efficiencies.

“Ms. Emem Usoro, Executive Director, North Bank. Emem joined the Group in 2011 and has served in a series of senior regional appointments across Nigeria, covering the retail, corporate and public sectors,” it added.

The Board also announced the retirement of Executive Directors who had completed their tenor, many of whom the statement

disclosed would continue to serve the broader Group upon regulatory approval of a holding company structure. They included Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, Mr. Uche Ike, Mr. Chukwuma Nweke, Mr. Ibrahim Puri, and Mr. Chiugo Ndubisi.

A further announcement was made on the retirement of a NonExecutive Director, Ambassador Joe C. Keshi, who served as Vice Chairman of the board. This took effect from August 1, 2022, after a completion of his tenure of 12 years.

The Group Chairman congratulated the retiring Directors on the completion of their tenors and their exemplary records.

United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 35 million customers globally.

Operating in 20 African countries and in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology.

Investment Decision (FID).

"We estimate that about five trillion cubic meters of natural gas have been discovered in Africa including the latest ones in areas like Namibia, in areas like the MSGBC Basin: Mauritania, Senegal and so on basin.

"So, this is very good news for the continent. But those 5tcf have no FID yet. So, we have to go to the next stages. And it's estimated that Africa could supply another 30 billion cubic meters by 2030," Ben-Naceur stated.

In the sustainable future, BenNaceur predicted that oil and gas would remain a significant part of the energy mix for the next three or four decades, adding, "This is a fact that we all have to reckon and pass the message. Oil and gas industry will be very strong today, tomorrow and in the future."

He said the world had experienced 30 per cent reduction in upstream investment between 2019 and 2020, worse than the 26 per cent drop in 2015 and 2016.

He said the situation had compounded over the last five to six years, with the global upstream investment declining by almost 50 per cent, adding that this has been compensated by the investment in other parts of energy.

However, upon the recovery of the industry, he said the world was hit by very high oil and gas prices especially in Asia where energy import costs went up by

a factor of 15.

"We have never seen that on a year-to-year basis. And so, these are things that are leading to very strong inflationary pressures around the world and also creating very deep concerns about the sustainability and affordability of energy.

"So looking forward to next year, we see that the oil and gas demand will come back above the levels of the pre-pandemic which is very good news for our industry. But we are not prepared.

We have underinvested in oil and gas industry and this is the reason for those prices," the SPE president stated.

Also speaking, the Managing Director, Assa-North Ohaji-South Gas Plant, subsidiary of Seplat Energy Plc, Mr. Okechukwu Mbah, said with the investments being committed to gas business, the company would become a onebillion cubic feet per day (1bcf/d) of gas producing company in the country.

He also disclosed that the $700 million gas plant would come on stream next year, saying that would raise the company's gas production to 800 million standard cubic feet per day.

"So next year, we'll bring on stream the Assa-North Ohaji-South Plant on production. That's a $700 million investment. That takes us to almost 800 million standard cubic feet of gas per day producer, when combined with our gas investment

in Western asset.

"So we're aiming to be a one BCF gas per day company before the 2025. So that means we're really really very aggressive in the gas business. And we strongly believe that, with the cash flow out of a mainstream business and upstream business, will then be able to invest heavily in the new energy space," he stated.

NMDPRA Begins Consultations on Gas Pricing, Petroleum Shipment Regulations, Others

Meanwhile, the NMDPRA yesterday commenced a four-day stakeholders’ consultation on the much-talked-about gas pricing domestic demand and delivery regulation as well as the petroleum transportation and shipment regulation.

For investors, gas pricing in Nigeria remains a major issue, particularly since they believe that by controlling prices at which the product is sold to high consumers like the power sector, the government has removed the motivation for new investments.

In addition, the prevailing situation has made the international market more attractive for producers in Nigeria who would rather export their product rather than sell locally.

Flowing from the Petroleum Continued on page 35

UK HIGH COMMISSIONER: ATIKU’S IDEAS ON SECURITY, ECONOMY, DEVELOPMENT INTERESTING primaries in May in Abuja, until a last-minute withdrawal from the race by his erstwhile close ally, Sokoto State Governor and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, turned the table in Atiku’s favour. Tambuwal’s decision to step down, which Wike viewed as premeditated betrayal, triggered a chain of resentment and division that PDP is still trying to resolve.

The PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) scheduled a meeting for Wednesday, after setting up a committee to discuss how to resolve the post-presidential nomination disagreements in the party.

Laing, after a meeting with Atiku at his residence in Abuja, the nation’s capital, took to her Twitter account and wrote, “Good to meet the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar @atiku today.

“Interesting to hear his ideas on the economic, security and development priorities for #Nigeria ahead of #2023elections.”

The high commissioner stated that the meeting with the former vice president was part of an ongoing engagement by the UK government to enhance democracy and ensure credible elections in Nigeria next year.

Laing was accompanied to the meeting by the Deputy High commissioner, Gill Atkinson; Head of Political Section, Aneesah Islam; Senior Economic Adviser, Stuart Tibbs; and Second Secretary, Political, Max Lindon.

Atiku, in a statement, said the meeting with Laing discussed a wide range of issues bordering on security, education, agriculture, economy, and Nigerian unity. He thanked the UK delegation for the meeting, stating, “The bilateral ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom have a rich history and it was important for both countries to leverage that to promote issues that are of mutual concern.”

The presidential hopeful stressed that he expected the United Kingdom to play a more active role for

the survival of democracy in Nigeria.

He said he was confident that the 2023 presidential election would be free and fair.

Atiku decried the poor security situation in the country and solicited UK’s assistance, especially, in the areas of training and intelligence sharing.

He said if given the opportunity to lead Nigeria, he would, among other things, abolish the multiple exchange rate regimes and reduce tax to encourage genuine manufacturers and promote investment.

The PDP presidential candidate promised to boost agriculture in order to create employment for the country’s teeming population.

He expressed concern about the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the crisis in the education sector, and promised to carry out reforms in the sector, including the reinvigoration of financial loan schemes to Nigerian students.

Meanwhile, an insider at Sunday’s meeting of the Wike camp told THISDAY that defection was not considered an option by the Rivers State governor, who, however, insisted there must be a meeting to discuss inclusivity in PDP. The source stated, “Atiku Abubakar supported General Muhammadu Buhari. When he eventually won the election in 2015, what did he get? He was subsequently victimised.

“It is part of our position to ensure that what happened in 2015 does not repeat itself again. We are PDP members, but cannot be taken for granted. When they are ready for talks we are ready.

"As far as we are concerned, we are open for discussion. We want everything to be put on the table.

We remain in the party. We are not going anywhere, we want to be seen as equal stakeholders.”

It was against that background that the chairman of the PDP BoT, Senator Walid Jubrin, said the board would meet Wednesday to discuss

how to resolve the post-presidential nomination crisis.

According to a statement, Jubrin said, “Interestingly, the BoT, the highest advisory body and the conscience of the party, is meeting on Wednesday, August 3, to discuss the issues accordingly by coming up with strong recommendations with the special committee for the special reconciliation of aggrieved members especially, Governor Wike.

"After the BoT meeting, we will meet with Wike and all aggrieved members and all past presidential aspirants. It is my prayer as Chairman of BoT that the PDP will remain strongest and win all elections in 2023."

The BoT chairman also stated, "I notice with great concern that the PDP primary election of Atiku Abubakar and the appointment of the Delta State Governor, Chief Ifeanyi Okowa, as vice president is unnecessarily causing confusion among some PDP members.

"May I point out very strongly that there is no problem, as being envisaged by some people in our great party, the PDP. "I want to assure everyone that all plans are on ground to bring all members together as one and united, as what is happening in PDP can never be compared with the situation in APC, especially, their plans in trying to bring religious issues of Muslim-Muslim president and vice president.

"I have also noted that some groups are coming up, trying to solve the issues of Governor Okowa as vice president. The latest group include some former governors of the party and the current governors, some BoT members and elders, including Professor Jerry Gana, the chief spokesman of the group of governors, Wike, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Governors of Enugu and Abia states, former governor of Kogi State, Ibrahim Idris. The aim of the group is to reconcile the aggrieved especially, Governor Nyesom Wike."

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N-BA EXECUTIVE ROUNDTABLE HELD IN LONDON...

L-R: Former President of the Nigeria-Britain Association (N-BA), Mr. Tunde Arogunmati; N-BA Assistant Hon Secretary, Mr Tobi Asehinde; Founding Partner, Obaseki Solicitors, Dr Jennifer Obaseki; N-BA President, Ms. Abimbola Okoya; Executive Chairman, Strategic Alliance Promotion Company, Mr Sonny Iroche; Managing Director, Chiswick Park Studios, Ms. Lindsey Oliver and Vice Patron of the N-BA, Mr. Philip Hall OBE, at the maiden edition of the N-BA Executive Roundtable held in London, United Kingdom...recently

70% of Infants in Nigeria Denied Breastfeeding, Say WHO, UNICEF FG: Breastfeeding prevents 80,000 children’s deaths annually Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja More than 70 per cent of infants in Nigeria are denied the right to breastfeeding in their formative years, the World Health Organisation and UNICEF have revealed, just as the Federal Government claims that 80,000 child deaths are prevented annually due to breastfeeding.

This startling disclosure was made in a joint statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russel and WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus on the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week.

"In Nigeria, the exclusive breastfeeding rate is 29 per cent, meaning that over 70 per cent of infants in Nigeria are denied the aforementioned benefits of breast milk in their formative years," noted Russel and Ghebreyesus.

They added only nine per cent

of organisations had a workplace breastfeeding policy, indicating that mothers lack the enabling environment to breastfeed their babies optimally.

"The results are high stunting rates of 37 per cent of children Under-five, of which 21 per cent are severe, and wasting among children under five years of age (seven per cent). They continue to present severe consequences for the child," the statement added.

The federal government said about 80,000 child deaths were reported to be prevented annually when optimal breastfeeding was practised, helping to prevent postpartum bleeding and lowering a woman’s risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, stated this at the celebration of the 2022 world breastfeeding week held on Monday, said that adherence to proper breastfeed-

UTME: No Guidelines on Uniformity of Scores for Institutions, Says JAMB Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said there was no uniform minimum Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scores for any of the tiers of tertiary institutions, saying it has not decided the requirements for any institution.

The Head of Public Affairs and Protocol of JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, stated this in a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.

"The board does not and has never determined any uniform national UTME scores otherwise known as cut-off mark by the general public for any tertiary institution because, in actual sense, there are no uniform national UTME scores.

“The lucid process of admission which the former President of the Academic Staff Union of University, Prof. Nasir Fagge, expounded is the exact process being followed in the conduct of admission exercise to tertiary institutions in the country."

He said the process has even been improved upon with the elimination of human interference through its full automation with the introduction of the Central Admissions Processing system(CAPS).

The board said for the purpose of

emphasis, it conducts the UTME and hands over the results to institutions for the conduct of admissions.

"However, before the admission exercise commences, a policy meeting is held with all the Heads of the institutions in attendance and chaired by the Hon. Minister of Education.

Continued online

ing can prevent overweight and obesity.

According to him, the government aims to reach the 2025 World Health Assembly target of raising the rate of exclusive breastfeeding to at least 50 per cent.

"However, many of the actors lack the necessary knowledge, attitudes and skills to support

these women. Thus, there is a need to strengthen the capacity of all actors across the different levels to protect, promote and support breastfeeding," stated Ehanire.

"Breastfed babies have stronger immunity, reduced risk of infections and many childhood illnesses, and may also have longer-term health benefits including reduced

risk of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence.

Studies have shown that obesity rates are 15 to 30 per cent lower in breastfed babies compared to formula-fed babies."

Inadequate feeding practices and malnutrition contributed to over 50 per cent of children under five mortality, with two-thirds of

We Have Extracted Undertaking from Buhari on Judges’ Welfare, Says Olanipekun Alex Enumah in Abuja In what may seem like a glimpse of hope for judicial officers in the country, the Chairman of the Body of Benchers (BoB), Chief Wole Olanipekun has revealed that the body has succeeded in getting President Muhammadu Buhari commitment to improve the welfare of judges in the country.

Olanipekun made the disclosure at a ceremony held in commemoration of the 80th birthday celebration of a former Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Francis Tabai (Rtd) who is also the traditional ruler of Tuomo Kingdom in Burutu Local Area of Delta State.

Pouring eulogy on the erudite justice of the apex court at 80, he said in developed countries his Lordship would still be in service, giving his best to his fatherland but

unfortunately a justice in Nigeria had to retire at 70.

While disclosing that he was among those who hitherto was against the early retirement of justice he said following the sad realities confronting the judiciary he had long jettisoned such position, adding that the poor welfare conditions of judges got so bad that he had to lead the current leadership of the BoB to Buhari and they were able to, "extract an undertaking from Mr President to upgrade the salaries of the Judiciary."

According to Olanipekun, "It is those who suffer from injustice that knows what it means, " adding that after they drew the attention of Buhari to the plight of the justices he agreed with us that something must be done immediately.

"We told him how we interfaced with justices of the Supreme Court

one on one to ascertain their working conditions, we told him how bad things are with the judiciary, that justices are not encouraged, that they are underpaid, that what they give to justices are peanuts when compared with the other arms of government.

"We told him everything. We also told him that if we don't maintain justice, justice will undo us soon."

The Chairman of the BoB added that the president agreed with them that, "each arm of government must be treated fairly and none should be treated as slave to the other."

Responding to newsmen's questions, Olanipekun said, "the President gave his commitment voluntarily.

It was in response to my address, that the President assured that he was going to take immediate action.

“And, that for now the president has given instructions to those in

FG Launches Court Duty Solicitor Scheme Targeted at Offering Free Legal Services to Indigent Nigerians Alex Enumah As part of efforts to implement the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, the federal government yesterday launched the Court Duty Solicitor Scheme (CDSS), targeted at offering free legal services to indigent Nigerians in the country.

Executive Secretary of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC), Mr Sulayman Dawodu, speaking at the launch in Abuja, stated that the scheme would ensure speedy trials and decongest detention facilities in the country as well

these deaths occurring in the first year of life, which is closely related to poor breastfeeding practices, he added.

Ehanire further mentioned that the health ministry remained committed to eradicating malnutrition in Nigeria, stressing that improving the breastfeeding rate is a costeffective means of achieving this.

as reduce the dockets of judges across the country.

Dawodu said his committee started with the Police Station Duty Solicitor Scheme (PDSS) in January in about 16 police divisions in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), “placing lawyers in police stations to render legal services to indigents and those who don’t have legal representatives to go through their interviews, secure bails and to ensure their welfare and protection of their rights.”

He, however, expressed the committee's worry that suspects are charged to court with no

lawyers to represent them.

Dawodu said, "We were concerned and wanted to fill in that gap to ensure that those charged to court also have legal representation at their first appearance. We believe that will obliterate the necessity of remanding in the custody of people who are not able to get bail, to have someone with a legal voice to speak for them and apply for their bail."

According to him, the scheme will help suspects on how to plead at arraignment. However, he disclosed that court-duty lawyers would not be involved in full-blown trials of suspects.

A lawyer, Uche Nwora, involved in the scheme, told journalists he and other lawyers had handled close to 50 cases, securing bail for suspects charged to court.

He explained that some people are brought to the Magistrate or Upper Area courts confused by either the ICPC or the EFCC, and “when we got to know of it, we moved in there to represent them in filing an application for their bail and sometimes, negotiate for their administrative bail with the authorities on behalf of the suspects who are not represented by a lawyer.”

charge to dust a report that is on ground, which was submitted in 2018 on judges’ welfare and act as we have requested.”

On whether the president gave a timeline for the execution of his instructions, Olanipekun said they have elected to take Buhari’s by his words.

“Well, you know he is the President, and we went visiting him and customarily, we cannot demand that the President should give us a timeline. If a President has given his words that he will act, we believe him,” he added.

Olanipekun, who argued that the judiciary was unfairly treated when compared with the other arms of government, noted that, “today you can hear the grumbling, you can see the tears of the Judiciary, though they are not coming out.

The judiciary is crying silently.

“We all watched and heard what happened at the Supreme Court.

If gold rusts, what happens to other metals? In this context, the Supreme Court is the gold. And if the Justices of the Supreme Court can cry out over poor remuneration, then what happens to those in the lower courts?

According to Olanipekun it was unfair that a Justice of the Supreme Court takes home N250,000 monthly salary and a cumulative pay of N750,000 per month compared to a Senator who earns not less than N3 million a month.

He, however, assured that he would commit his tenure at the BOB to work with relevant stakeholders to improve the standard of the judiciary, stressing that, “this not a time for distraction, it is time for collaborative action on the part of us in the legal profession.”

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PREPARING FOR THE CONFERENCE OF THE COMPUTER SOCIETY...

L-R: Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Patami; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and President, Nigeria Computer Society, Adesina Sodiya, during a courtesy visit to the Governor’s Office ahead of this year's conference of the Computer Society in Abeokuta… yesterday

ASUU Extends Strike By Four Weeks, After Spending 168 Days at Home Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has extended its ongoing industrial action by another four weeks, saying it would give the federal government more time

to meet its demands.

The union took the decision at the end of its National Executive Council meeting at its national secretariat in Abuja on Sunday.

The strike entered its 168-day yesterday.

In a statement issued by its President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, the union stated: "Following extensive deliberations and taking cognisance of government's past failures to abide by its own timelines in addressing issues raised in the

2020 FGN/ASUU Memorandum of Action (MOA), NEC resolved that the strike be rolled over for four weeks to give government more time to satisfactorily resolve all the outstanding issues.

"The role-over strike action

is with effect from 12.01a.m. on Monday, 1st August, 2022."

It noted that the government was not serious in addressing their demands.

“Since there is no sign of any serious commitment on the part

El-Rufai: APC Still Consulting over Presidential Campaign Council Keyamo may emerge spokesperson Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, yesterday, said the All Progressives Congress (APC) was yet to constitute its presidential campaign council, because it was still consulting, especially, with critical stakeholders of the party.

El-Rufai hinted at this yesterday, when the governors of the party met

with their presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, to keep him up to speed with developments, since he handed them the assignment.

This is as indications have emerged that the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Festus Keyamo, might have been tipped as the likely spokesperson of the campaign council, all things being equal. If he is eventually announced

as the spokesperson of the Tinubu Campaign Council, it would be the second he would playing that role. In 2019, he was appointed Spokesman of Buhari Presidential Campaign and later emerged Minister of State for Labour and Productivity following Buhari's re-election.

The Kaduna governor, who addressed the sitting of stakeholders, maintained that though the Director-

Former Lawmaker Tackles Melaye over Comment against Peter Obi Buhari's govt clueless, incapable of curbing worsening insecurity, says Obi Support Group Adedayo Akinwale, Udora Orizu in Abuja and David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene has described Senator Dino Melaye as a poor student of history.

Ogene was reacting to claims

by Melaye that former Anambra governor and the presidential candidate of Labour Party, (LP), Mr. Peter Obi was discovered by former vice president, Atiku Abubakar.

Ogene in a statement he signed and made available to THISDAY in Awka, described Melaye as a political lackey who served different political gods according to season.

Ogene, a former Deputy Chairman, Media and Public Affairs of the House of Representatives, contended that it was either Melaye missed his Civics classes or was simply a poor student of current affairs, to describe a pacesetting two-time governor of Anambra State as "not known nationally, until 2019."

"Besides being a record-breaking chairman of the South East Governors Forum during his tenure, Mr. Peter Obi was simultaneously vice

chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum at about the same time, despite being governor on the platform of a minority party.

"Even before all these, Obi had been chairman of a pre and post-consolidation bank, and an internationally acclaimed businessman. Pray, what can be more national than these?

"It is, perhaps, a veritable proof of his forgetfulness, or poor knowledge of contemporary Nigerian politics, that Dino Melaye would consider a man at whose behest, through a novel Supreme Court pronouncement some states - including Dino's Kogi - now have staggered governorship elections, as not known nationally," Ogene said.

He described Melaye as a political featherweight, who has been chased out of Kogi politics by a younger brother, Governor Yahaya Bello.

"Melaye appears to have crossed over to nearby Abuja to seek relevance, not as a political gladiator, but an irritant intent on gaining notoriety through theatrics.

"Besides Melaye's diversionary tactics, the truth remains that rival political platforms, especially the All Progressives Congress, APC and the PDP, are scared stiff of the burgeoning acceptance of

the OBIdient Movement, geared towards taking back our country from political lackeys like Melaye.

"Otherwise, one wonders why Melaye and his new paymasters would continue to lose sleep over a movement propelled by the Nigerian people.

"Perhaps, Melaye would rather Nigerians continue to reel under an APC-led administration, which he and his ilk helped bring to power in 2015; or seek to replace the regime with the same profligate PDP, whose reign of impunity Nigerians are yet to forget."

Buhari's Govt Clueless, Incapable of Curbing Worsening Insecurity, Says Obi Support Group

Meanwhile, the Labour Party presidential candidate’s support group known as the National Coordinating Council (NCC) of the Obidient Movement, yesterday described President Muhammadu Buhari's led All Progressive Congress (APC) administration as dazed, clueless and incapable of curbing the deteriorating economic and security situation in the country.

Continued online

General of the council, had been picked, the official unveiling and inauguration of the council was being stalled, because of the ongoing consultations.

According to El-Rufai, who had earlier been erroneously tipped as the likely campaign DG, “This is a delegation of the Progressive Governors Forum led by our Chairman, Dr Atiku Bagudu and the Party represented by the National Secretary.

“We came to report on an assignment given to us by our Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his running mate to begin the broad consultations and develop a structure for the presidential campaign council.

“We have done some work on it. We have briefed the candidate and his running mate and inputs have been taken and our hope is that in the shortest possible time, the candidate will consult more with the party leadership and brief Mr

President and get his input and then we formally unveil the presidential campaign council.

“A decision has been taken on the Director General but other positions in the campaign council are still being discussed. The president and the National Chairman and National Working Committee will be briefed before a formal announcement," he added Those at the meeting were the presidential candidate of the APC and his running mate, Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima; Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu; Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje and the Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle.

Others were the Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole; National Secretary of APC, senator Iyiola Omisore and Tinubu’s former vice-presidential placeholder, Alhaji Kabiru Masari.

of the government, there was no need for the NEC to consider suspending the strike. Can anybody say this is what the government is offering? They were the ones who set up the Briggs Committee and it made recommendations and the government jettisoned the report.

“The government is not sincere.

Let us assume that we are asking too much, which is not even the situation, is it not that the government will come out with its offers and we will deliberate whether to accept or not.

“We have been saying it that they want to kill the university system just as they did public primary and secondary schools," it added.

ASUU had called out its members on a one-month strike on February 14, 2022, over the non-implementation of the Memorandum of Action (MoA) it signed with the federal government and the insistence of the government on the adoption of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel information system (IPPIS) as payment platform for all federal workers.

The union had proposed UTAS as an alternative platform for the payment of salaries for its members following alleged discrepancies highlighted in the use of IPPIS. Prior to Sunday’s extension of the industrial action, the university teachers were on a three-month strike declared by ASUU after the expiration of the two-month warning strike.

Group Seeks Shettima’s Arrest, Prosecution over Alleged Double Nominations Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Center for Reform and Public Advocacy has asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to immediately arrest and commence prosecution of the Vice Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Senator Kashim Shettima over alleged double nominations for the 2023 general election.

APC's presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu had last month announced Shettima as his substantive running mate in next year's presidential poll.

Shettima was announced to replace Ibrahim Masari, who was earlier announced as vice president on a place holder capacity, to enable Tinubu meet the deadline for submission of his nomination forms.

However, the acceptance of the nomination is generating issues for which the arrest and subsequent

prosecution of Shettima was being sought.

In a petition to the IG, the Center for Reform and Public Advocacy claimed Shettima committed an offence punishable by a jail term of two years if convicted.

According to the petitioner, the amended Electoral Act, 2022 forbids a candidate to present him or herself for two different positions in the same election, an offence they alleged Shettima had committed by submitting two nominations: first as candidate of the APC in the Borno Central Senatorial election and the second as vice presidential candidate of the APC in the 2023 general elections.

The petition signed by legal adviser of the group, Mr. Kalu Agu was dated July 29 and received by the office of the IG same date.

A copy of the petition seen by THISDAY read in part: "That the APC in compliance with section

29 of the Electoral Act, 2022 submitted the name of Senator Kashim Shetima to the Independent National Electoral Commission as its candidate for Borno Central Senatorial District of Borno State for the 2023 general election.

"That Senator Kashim Shetima signed INEC EC9 form on oath which is his nomination form as the candidate of the APC for Borno Central Senatorial District of Borno State for the 2023 general election.

"That INEC in compliance with section 29 of the Electoral Act 2022 on June 24, 2022, published the name of Senator Kashim Shetima as the APC candidate for Borno Central Senatorial District of Borno State for the 2023 general election.

"That after the said publication of Senator Kashim Shetima, the APC on July 15, 2022 submitted the name of Senator Kashim Shetima to INEC as its Vice Presidential Candidate for the 2023 Presidential election.

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POLITICS

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

Amazons as Governorship Running Mates in 2023 Vanessa Obioha looks at what may be responsible for the choice of three Nollywood actresses; Carolyna Hutchings, Funke Akindele and Tonto Dikeh, as deputy governorship candidates in Akwa Ibom, Lagos and Rivers states respectively by their political parties

Akindele

Hutchings

F

emale politicians in Nigeria are not new to serving their various states as deputy governors. From Lagos to Plateau; Kaduna to Ogun; Rivers, Enugu to Osun and Akwa Ibom to Anambra (where Dame Virgy Etiaba, was promoted by circumstances of the times to become illegal Governor for a brief period of three months.)

The decision to have women as deputies are influenced by different environmental and political factors.

However, it seems that at this particular moment in Nigeria’s political history, women in the entertainment industry, particularly film are becoming aware and stepping out deliberately more than ever before to secure the deputy governorship position of a few political parties. This is coming at a time when there is a lot of cultural and societal inhibitions against the wholesome participation of women in politics.

Records from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) indicated that in 2019 only 2,970 women were on the electoral ballot. This is an abysmally low number of nominated candidates. Just 11.36 per cent. In 2015, only six women were appointed to the federal cabinet. There were seven female senators

and six female deputy governors.

Only one female contested for the office of president and four for vice president.

While many derisively refer to a deputy governor as a ‘spare tyre’, the importance of the office only needs to be highlighted to the extent that it is a joint ticket; with the governor as Number one Citizen and the deputy governor having the honour of being addressed as the second citizen. It is pertinent to note that should the governor be absent from his duty through ill-health or other forms of incapacitation or death, the deputy governor automatically assumes the office of governor. That is how Important and sensitive the office of a deputy governor is.

Speaking on a national television, Tonto Dikeh, deputy governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for Rivers State didn’t mind being called a ‘spare tyre’. She seemed to turn the joke back on her critics. Exhibiting a lot of

Dikeh

self-confidence, she said “I am willing to be the best spare tyre. I am prepared for this. I have had three years to work this out. It is not something that just came out. We have had a lot of time to work for this and for this criticism, I am ready.”

Dikeh is working with the Rivers governorship flag-bearer of ADC, Mr. Tonte Ibraye.

Since the return of this enduring season of democracy in 1999, Nigeria has recorded a crises of confidence between governors and their deputies in many states; sometimes leading to impeachment of the deputy by the state houses of assembly, often acting like an appendage of the executive arm.

While it is not exactly clear why female actors in the Nigerian community, popularly known as Nollywood have decided to be more active in the political process of the 2023 national elections by seeking office as deputy governors, perhaps, the response of Carolyna Hutchings, deputy candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in Akwa Ibom State is a pointer. When asked if institutionalized politics in Nigeria was not structured against actors. She said, “politics favours anyone who is willing to serve the country and demonstrate that they can and have created lasting change.”

Hutchings’ principal in the bid to lead Akwa Ibom come 2023 is Mr. Iboro Otu who was on the ballot for the same office in 2019 on the platform of the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP).

“We are tired of recycled faces and the same old lines that have no effect on the development of Akwa Ibom State. It will be a good thing for Akwa Ibom if fresh, educated, skilled minds, technocrats and professionals, could take political leadership and do things differently from the norm,” she explained one of her reasons for contesting for public office.

For Nollywood actress, FunkeAkindele, becoming the running mate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Lagos State governorship candidate, Olajide Adediran, better known as Jandor comes at huge personal cost to her booming acting career, which has been suspended. A recent publication on her Instagram Page stated that her acting career has been “necessarily put on hold.” She disclosed in the video. “My resolve is that no sacrifice is too huge for the actualisation of the urgent mission to rescue our people and our dear state.”

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

Intrigues in Race to Succeed Masari in Katsina As 13 governorship candidates battle to succeed Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State in 2023, Francis Sardauna, chronicles the intrigues and chances of some candidates in the race.

Radda

A

s the battle to occupy the Katsina State Government House in 2023 rages on, hordes of governorship candidates from different political parties are angling and realigning their political strategies and manifestos to succeed Governor Aminu Bello Masari whose second tenure would end by May 29 next year.

The governorship candidates who clinched the tickets of their respective parties at separate governorship primaries conducted in the state, are advancing reasons they should be given the opportunity to govern the historic state that has so far produced two presidents of the

Lado

federal Republic of Nigeria.

There are permutations as to which of the three zones in the state should be considered for the plum job. Popular opinion in the polity suggests the central zone as most favoured in tandem with the initial zoning formula the current democratic setting stands on.

Coincidentally, most of the guber candidates are from Katsina Central and Southern zones.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Katsina,13 registered

Khalid

political parties in the state out of 18, had fielded candidates for the 2023 governorship election which political pundits said wouldn’t be “business as usual” because of the electronic transmission of results as encapsulated in the nation’s newly amended Electoral Act. The commission, in a data made available to THISDAY by the Head of Department, Election and Party Monitoring, Abdullahi Ibrahim Usman, listed the guber candidates to include Dr. Muhammad Bara’u Tanimu, Accord (A) party; Mustapha Ahmed, African Action Congress (AAC); Ibrahim Aminu, African Democratic Congress (ADC); Murtala Ahmed, Action Democratic Party (ADP).

Others are Dr. Dikko Umar Radda, All Progressives Congress (APC); Nura Haruna, Allied Peoples Movement (APM); Kabir Kado, Boot Party (BP); Abdu Ibrahim Habu Musawa, Labour Party (LP); Muhammad Nura Khalid, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Yakubu Garba Lado, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Imrana Jino, People’s Redemption Party (PRP); Bello Adamu Safana, Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Ibrahim Turkur Saude, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

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

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY AUGUST 2, 2022

POLITICS

Hamzat the Peace Maker

Segun James writes about moves by Lagos state Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat to resolve pocket of crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress in the state

Hamzat

I

t was an unexpected and spontaneous action, which happened during a scheduled meeting of party elders and leaders called to resolve the lingering crisis rocking the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Acme Road, Ikeja secretariat of the party. At the meeting, the Deputy Governor of Lagos, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat was allegedly attacked by politicians who were angered by how he was handling the crisis.

Hamzat pulled no rabbit from his political hat when he allegedly delivered his decision on the issues. The reaction of the people was said to be swift and spontaneous. That was not how Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the party would handle situations, the people cried as they allegedly tear into Hamzat and other leaders on the high table at the conference hall of the secretariat.

The situation would have gone bloody if the security agents attached to the Deputy Governor, including his Aide de Camp (ADC) had been inside the hall when the attack took place. It took the wit of the Deputy Governor to calm the situation and stopped the police and the Department of Security Service operatives from arresting the aggrieved political warriors. Hamzat had said that the attack was simply a party affair as he was whisked away from the venue.

What led to the attack on a Deputy Governor? What gave the attackers the audacity and why did they go so far? And what led to this? These are the questions agitating the minds of political leadership in the state.

It all started when a meeting of elders, leaders and aggrieved party members was called to resolve the issues that are threatening to tear the party apart in the state. At the time Hamzat was to enter the venue, hundreds of the party faithful were locked out of the venue by security operatives. Seeing that the situation may degenerate into a free-for-all, he was said to have ordered that the people be allowed into the secretariat premises even though they would not be allowed into the meeting’s venue. This somewhat calmed the agitated nerves.

But the situation changed at the conference hall when the leaders, including the Deputy Governor, were accused of imposing candidates who had not done anything for the party and people that are unpopular within the party. Instead of calming frayed nerves, the Deputy Governor was said to have told them to accept the party’s decision in good faith.

That was when all hell broke loose during the protest.

THISDAY learnt that the most contentious were issues concerning Lagos Mainland Local Government. “The Local Government in question is Lagos Mainland LGA which has several important issues that need to be cleared and managed, so the “protest” was very normal to us, as party members, it was bound to happen once in a while,

Tinubu

but the Deputy Governor was the main person that handled and calmed the situation and took them into the Party Secretariat.

The source was angry at the insinuation that Hamza was beaten up by protesters. “Who is arguing with You on “protest?”

He queried. “Or what’s the goal post that shifted? I was there, the headline says “Deputy Governor beaten up.” Aggrieved members were called to a meeting, period.

Who argued about “protest?”

Protests are normal, the Deputy Governor was the one who handled the situation and told people to come into the secretariat and spoke to them. There was no attack on his person.”

Trying to debunk the report, the office of the Deputy Governor put out a statement that was signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Tunde Alao.

According to him, “the Office of the Deputy Governor wishes to state in unequivocal terms, for the attention of millions of readers that the report is untrue, mischievous, fake and unfounded.

“While we would not have joined issues with the originator of the story and his/her cohorts, we are compelled to write this piece due to the inaccuracies it conveyed; as the story was completely different and not a true reflection of what happened at the meeting. Also, we would not allow some quack bloggers and journalists with mischievous inclinations to bring the personality and name of the Deputy Governor to disrepute.

“It is important to state that truly, a meeting was called by the Party to discuss with all the party candidates, aspirants and party chairmen. The meeting which commenced earlier on

Sanwo-Olu

that day was abruptly brought to a halt as suspected political miscreants who were supporters from one of the Local Governments took over the venue of the said meeting shutting out other members from accessing the meeting room.

“The Deputy Governor got to the Party Secretariat and with the support of his aides promptly calms frayed nerves and had a meeting with the aggrieved parties for over one hour; after which photographs were taken and everyone went about their business peaceful.

“The above narrative is exactly what happened at the Party Secretariat on Monday and was accurately reported

by Vanguard on its online page with the caption, “APC Primaries: Hamzat Intervenes As Aggrieved Members Disrupt Truce Meeting In Lagos” and on page 29 of Nigerian Tribune of Tuesday, 26th July 2022. So, one wonders and we are indeed amazed where the writer got his/ her own side of the misleading story or information that the Deputy Governor and others were ‘Thoroughly beaten up.’

“Truth must be said, this is a sad example of awful journalism and abuse of the social media space which we all must endeavor to do away with from our public discourse.

We cannot have journalists cooking up stories without verifying and without a credible basis. To us, this story succeeded in exposing the unprofessional and unethical quality of the writer. In this specific case, he/she goofed.

“Let those who are interested in professional reports continue their good work and the crooked ones should stop their falsehood because it will come back to haunt them.”

Since the last primaries of the party, especially at the local government level, the party has been rocked by a crisis that is now threatening to derail the secondterm aspiration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. It is well enough that the APC is facing a crisis at the national level because of the all Muslim presidential ticket of the party, but this was coming on the heels of the gubernatorial debacle in Osun state,

Over the years, Tinubu had used the carrot and stick approach to effectively control the politics in the party and Lagos state. He had ensured that tens of millions worth of juicy incentives are passed to the political class to keep them quiet and perpetuate his anointed in power. Also, visible projects on water, land, food and other basic infrastructural development were embarked upon for the people to see in order to ensure their continued loyalty. The result of this is his effective control of the levers of power in the state

a bad omen for the party in the run for the 2023 election.

A crisis at this time will only give the PDP an opportunity to make headway in the volatile political situation in the state.

Rebellion is in the air in Lagos APC and it is threatening to derail the well-ordered political system put in place by Tinubu.

It is gathered that anger on the issues is not just directed at the Deputy Governor personally, but also at the Governor whom, the party at the grassroots considered aloof and distant.

Before now, issues such as these would have been handled directly by Tinubu or through the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) which was created to handle such problems. But with Tinubu now occupied with his presidential ambition and focused on his election; political leadership was handed over to Sanwo-Olu, who in turn asked his deputy to be in charge of all political issues. How he handles issues in the coming months will definitely determine the outcome of the governorship election in 2023.

According to a chieftain of the party who spoke on condition of anonymity, “time was when Tinubu was in charge. He would have nibbed the issues in the bud before it gets to the point of an attack on a leader of the party. But not anymore.”

He lamented that “with the leader now enmeshed in his own election wahala, the party may implode on the governor.”

Whether it was Tinubu’s presidential ambition or the fact that he held power for so long without grooming any successor, what is however agreed upon is that the APC in Lagos is in serious crisis and the outcome may be costly.

On a governance level, the past four years have seen a sharp contrast between Lagos and the recession-hit federal government and the rest of the country which are forever dependent on the allocations coming from the federal purse.

In the rough-and-tumble politics of Lagos, the woes are not all on one side.

Despite the economic achievement of the state, it is suffering on the political front, no thanks to the unrelenting effort of Olajide Adediran aka Jandor who has been capitalizing on the crisis within the APC. Over the years, Tinubu had used the carrot and stick approach to effectively control the politics in the party and Lagos state. He had ensured that tens of millions worth of juicy incentives are passed to the political class to keep them quiet and perpetuate his anointed in power. Also, visible projects on water, land, food and other basic infrastructural development were embarked upon for the people to see in order to ensure their continued loyalty.

The result of this is his effective control of the levers of power in the state.

But now that Tinubu is hoping to move up the political ladder, crisis has started to erupt. This is the situation as the race towards 2023 hots up.

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& RE A S O

Tuesday August 2, 2022 Vol 27. No 9974

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

WHY INEC SHOULD EXTEND VOTER REGISTRATION CHIKA MOORE and EMMANUEL MOK argue for the extension of voters’ registration till September

See page 23 OBI AND THE 2023 ELECTION Nigerians should vote right in 2023, urges PAUL OBI

See page 23

EDITORIAL THE REPAIR WORKS ON REFINERIES

See page 24

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Violence is being democratised in the city of all Nigerians, writes PAUL NWABUIKWU

‘GOD DON CATCH ABUJA PEOPLE’ Depending on your source, last month’s jail break at the Kuje prisons in the vicinity of the Abuja International Airport unleashed between 400 and 900 detained and convicted felons, including KLJK SURÀOH WHUURULVWV LQWR WKH IHGHUDO capital and its environs. Since then, the headlines have been full of reports of worsening insecurity in Abuja, along with reports of car jackings, kidnappings and a few robberies in Wuse 2 and other expensive neighbourhoods.

It is therefore not surprising that those of us who live in the city and therefore close to “the seat of power” have been receiving the kind of attention usually reserved for residents of Kaduna, Zamfara, Borno and lately, Owo – parts of the country that have been repeatedly traumatized by terrorists, bandits and kidnappers.

On second thoughts, scratch that.

Actually, the whole country is currently traumatized by the exploits of criminals of various stripes. You don’t have to be D GLUHFW YLFWLP WR EH DͿHFWHG E\ WKH WDOHV of wickedness and gore in the headlines.

Even Nigerians in the diaspora cannot resist being drawn into the horrors captured in videos and audios on social media and frantic calls from home.

Murder and mayhem have become 1LJHULDQ VLJQLÀHUV DORQJ ZLWK $IUREHDWV JDUUL DQG JDOORSLQJ LQÁDWLRQ So it is no surprise that for several GD\V QRZ ,·YH EHHQ ÀHOGLQJ DQ[LRXV calls from worried family and friends within and outside the country. They all want to know if I am alright and “keeping safe” - an expression which has assumed the fervency of anxious advice and passionate prayer. There are many enquiries about my movement, ZKHQ , OHDYH WKH R΀FH DQG , DP XUJHG WR avoid nocturnal movements and lie low in order to escape the arrows of the evil ones.

But not all the reactions to the VHFXULW\ LVVXHV FXUUHQWO\ D΁LFWLQJ WKH federal capital are sympathetic. Some Nigerians are not sad that “you people in Abuja are experiencing what we have been experiencing”. In fact, many are quite happy that the burgeoning democratization of violence has reached XV WKDW ZH DUH DOO QRZ VXͿHULQJ together. You can hear the gleeful tone in voices and tweets, and that distinctive Nigerian “God don catch una” tone in which derision and fake sympathy are communicated. It’s unsettling but quite understandable.

Abuja is not just another place in Nigeria, it is not just a collection of KRXVHV DQG R΀FHV DQG IDFWRULHV DQG KRPHV DQG RWKHU VRFLR FXOWXUDO ÀOOHUV that make up Nigerian urban centres. %H\RQG LWV R΀FLDO VWDWXV DV WKH FDSLWDO RI

the country, it has over the years acquired a reputation for both political intrigue and grand corruption.

It is the city of Transcorp Hilton, where political big wigs hold caucus meetings VXUURXQGHG E\ À[HUV HUUDQG ER\V SUDLVH singers and some buxom female talent to add some colour; the city of expensive empty mansions owned by billionaire civil servants, military generals and politicians who are too rich to care about losing rent money; the city of rich young people whose only claim to fame is that they are related to the powerful by EORRG SURÀW RU ERGLO\ ÁXLGV $EXMD LV WKH headquarters of grand political scheming DQG WDUJHWHG LQÁXHQFH ZKHUH WKH LGHDOV of nationhood go to die and healthy policies get hollowed out, becoming skeletal monuments to fraud. For many 1LJHULDQV $EXMD LV D ÀYH OHWWHU ZRUG which inspires angry four-letter reactions (and their equivalents in local languages)

by Nigerians to the many things wrong with the country.

But of course there’s the other Abuja – the slums which exist in close proximity to the expensive neighbourhoods where the powerful hold court. They are scattered all over the city, a testament to failed anti-poverty and urban planning policies. Outside the city, there are the vibrant and rowdy outskirts where some quite comfortable and many not so comfortable people call home. This is the Abuja of Mararaba, Nyanya, One Man Village, Zuba, Karimajiji and parts of Bwari, Pape, Dutse and other places where the majority, like their counterparts in Ajegunle and Maroko on the outskirts of Lagos survive in far less opulence. In these places, life is an obstacle course

Abuja is the city of Transcorp Hilton, where political big wigs hold caucus meetings surrounded by fixers, errand boys, praise singers and some buxom female talent to add some colour; the city of expensive empty mansions owned by billionaire civil servants, military generals and politicians who are too rich to care about losing rent money

of poverty, poor infrastructure and that desperate dash to escape nightmarish WUD΀F EHIRUH EHGODP HQVXHV The current anxiety over security unites the two Abujas in an unlikely solidarity WKDW GHÀHV FODVV DQG PRQH\ 7KH DUHDV RQ the outskirts and other areas farther from the city centre started feeling the pinch of insecurity much earlier than the better resourced zones. Which is not surprising considering that a disproportionate percentage of criminals come from poor neighbourhoods and it’s only natural that they are more comfortable operating in familiar and less protected precincts.

But as the capacity of Nigerian security forces becomes more degraded and the number of personnel remains abysmally few compared to the population (Less than 300,000 soldiers and less than 400,000 policemen to a population of about 200m), they are becoming more ambitious.

Of course, the most exclusive parts of Abuja have never been perfectly safe. The United Nations building, the popular Banex complex of stores in the heart of the city and other places were bombed during the Jonathan administration. I recall an early morning operation by some formidable looking fellows at the popular Sahad junction that scattered WKH WUD΀F WKDW P\ ZLIH DQG , ZHUH SDUW of to the four winds. The next day’s papers reported that the robbers had traced a large consignment of cash from a bank to the junction where they forced the vehicle carrying the money to a screeching halt with blazing guns. It was an awful experience.

But while violence in Abuja is not exactly a new phenomenon, what makes the latest spate more ominous is that previous attacks gave the sense that the military is too weak and compromised to cope. The audacity of violent criminals, ZKHWKHU LQVSLUHG E\ UHOLJLRQ RU SURÀW is increasing even as the Nigerian state, UHSUHVHQWHG E\ VLJQLÀFDQWO\ OHVV HͿHFWLYH security forces, seems to be in retreat.

For instance, there were widespread reports that soldiers on guard within the vicinity left before the Kuje attacks.

Like similar ones in the past, there has EHHQ QR VWURQJ R΀FLDO UHVSRQVH WR WKH reports. Government and the military high command need to take these reports more seriously. The spectacle of criminals in widely shared videos threatening to kidnap the president or ÁRJJLQJ NLGQDSSHG YLFWLPV LV QRW JRRG for the image of the country or for the peace of mind of citizens whether in privileged Abuja or less powerful parts of the country.

Nwabuikwu is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

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TUESDAY, ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

More Facts About Tinubu’s Drug Proceeds Forfeiture O

n this edition of #TheAlternative, I would like to thank one Kehinde Bamigbetan, who did a rejoinder to last week’s edition, titled ‘How is Tinubu Better Than

Abba Kyari’.

In his riposte, titled, ‘The RENOvation of Falsehood’, Mr. Bamigbetan was rather rude and almost defamatory. So, you may be wondering why I thanked him.

It is because he has given me a further and better opportunity to expose his principal (Bola Tinubu) for who he truly is. Mr. Bamigbetan is a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State, and was once Chief Press Secretary to Bola Tinubu.

His argument against my original treatise is premised on the false proposition that though Bola Tinubu was fingered when a white heroin drug cartel was busted, Tinubu was merely an innocent victim.

His exact words were “Any professional hunting for business can innocently fall into the hands of criminal elements. This is my reading of the investigation .”

That is a puerile argument, since the indictment upon which Bola Tinubu was charged showed that he (Tinubu) was an active associate of the drug cartel, and that he was a known associate of Mueez Akande, fingered as the head of the cartel, and had shared living accommodation with him.

Moreover, I pose this question to Mr. Bamigbetan: As a spokesman for Bola Tinubu, can you tell Nigerians if it is, or it is not true that the wife of that Adegboyega Mueez Akande, whose white heroin drug proceeds Bola Tinubu was accused of laundering, is now a commissioner in Lagos? Also, is she or is she not the blood sister of Bola Tinubu’s wife, the infamously Igbo-hating Senator Oluremi Tinubu?

Just a yes or no would do.

The fact of the matter is that the charges brought against Tinubu by the FBI are very clear, detailed, and unambiguous. In the course of a sting operation, one Abiodun Agbele sold white heroin to an undercover FBI agent on November 28, 1990.

Upon his arrest, he named one Mueez Akande as his drug boss. Upon investigation, it was revealed that funds from Mr. Akande’s white heroin drug cartel had found its way into Mr. Tinubu’s account and that they could not be justified by his legitimate income, then about $2400 a month.

That Bola Tinubu was found to have shared accommodation with the said Mr. Akande, who had been his known associate for years.

And that rather than fight the charges of laundering money for a drug cartel, Bola Tinubu entered into a plea agreement with the US Federal Government to forfeit $460,000 in drug money to the government.

Those are the undeniable FACTS! Mr. Bamigbetan further attempted to stand reason on its head, by stating that Tinubu is clean as a whistle, because he can go in and out of the United States without let or hindrance.

Again, his exact words were as follows: “It is on record that Tinubu, convinced of his lack of complicity, flew to the United States to fight the forfeiture and got justice.

He accomplished this task and returned home to continue his activities.

Would the US Authorities allow someone so described as Omokri such liberties and clearances? Certainly not.”

Bola Tinubu lived and worked for years in the United States. Meaning that he is either a citizen or a permanent resident of the United States (Green Card holder). That he goes in and out of the United States is no evidence that he is not a known drug lord.

Both the United States State Department and the Department of Justice cannot stop him from entering America. It is his right as a Green Card Holder.

Being able to ingress and egress the United States is not proof that he has been exonerated.

If a US permanent resident is convicted and imprisoned and serves his sentence, he can

Tinubu fly in and out of America without hindrance.

The only persons who would not be able to enter America upon such a conviction are non-citizen aliens, of which Bola Tinubu is clearly not an alien.

The grounds for inadmissibility into the United States are found in Section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (I.N.A.) and they do not apply to Bola Tinubu.

The fact remains that Bola Tinubu is a known drug lord and by accepting a plea bargain, in which he voluntarily agreed to forfeit his assets, rather than go to trial, he is seen in the eyes of the law to have admitted to being a drug lord.

Kehinde Bamigbetan may not have a background in law, but I do. I have a solid background. I have a Master’s degree from a UK university, and my father was a Justice of the Court of Appeals.

According to the United States Department of Justice, “Asset forfeiture is designed to deprive CRIMINALS of the proceeds of their crimes.” This can be found in their official website www.justice.gov/afms/types-federalforfeiture. Tinubu forfeited assets in a drug forfeiture of assets case. So what does that make Tinubu? Perhaps, the kindergarten lawyer, Kehinde Bamigbetan, may like to respond to this.

Surely, Nigeria deserves better than to have an admitted drug lord as her President. A man who forfeited assets to the US Federal Government, in a case brought against him by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, which had to do with one of the most dangerous narcotic drugs on Earth, White Heroin, a hard drug that kills 15,000 Americans annually.

How can we have such an odious fellow as our President? And Mr. Bamigbetan’s only defence is that Tinubu still goes to America?

Look, we are not all high on white heroin mister! Some of us have a practically functioning brain!

I hate to bring this up, because I know it causes distress to them, however, there are prominent Nigerians, including a former military ruler, whose children have been convicted for

being involved with drug cartels. One was even sentenced to 40 years’ imprisonment, but after 22 years, he was freed in 2015.

Many of them still go in and out of the United States without any issues. A spent conviction, or forfeiture, does not automatically render a permanent residency invalid. Only an immigration judge can revoke an already subsisting permanent residency, and they do so in very specific cases outlined in Section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. So with that as a precedent, Mr. Bamigbetan’s defence collapses like a pack of white heroinlaced cards!

But even if Tinubu’s proceeds of drugs forfeiture case did not tantamount to a conviction, is that the type of character that we should even be considering to lead 210 million Nigerians in the year 2022? Are we a banana republic?

Even in a banana republic, there are standards. Colombia never descended so low as to elect Pablo Escobar. If Nigeria elects Bola Tinubu as President in 2023, then we would be lower than a banana republic. We would be the butt of jokes in the international community!

My issue with Bola Tinubu is not capacitybased. If you look at how he managed men and resources when he was the governor of Lagos, you must admit, if you are unbiased, that he is Nigeria’s best-ever governor. But I am grousing about his character. Should a KNOWN DRUG LORD be our President?

NEVER!!!

Even the fact of the Muslim/Muslim ticket is not as disqualifying as Tinubu’s drug history.

If Tinubu did not have a history as a known member of a white heroin drug cartel, I would have campaigned for him despite his age. After all, Beji Caid Essebsi was elected President of Tunisia at 88. And he performed!

But his drug past. I cannot get over that.

Not at all. Not at all!

Again, I ask, how is Tinubu better than Abba Kyari? Kyari was exposed as a drug cartel member during a sting operation on Valentine’s Day 2022. Now, he is in Kuje prison.

Tinubu was exposed as a DRUG LORD in a sting operation on November 28, 1990. Now, he wants to go to Aso Rock?

Are we that useless to allow that to happen to us? 210 million people and the only person we saw is a KNOWN DRUG LORD? And not just any drug lord. A drug lord that his own in-law has exposed to be 86 years old (although he has made an about turn 72 hours later? Tee Mac is 74 years old and he said he used to call Tinubu ‘uncle’ when he was a young man! How can ‘uncle’ now be younger than him at 70?

We already know that Tinubu is a KNOWN DRUG LORD, courtesy of his drug forfeiture case brought against him after his patsy, Abiodun Agbele, was nabbed in an FBI sting operation. But we can solve the controversy about his age easily. Bola, show us your birth certificate!

Tinubu should be proud of his age. Not everybody gets to live that long. How and why should you be ashamed of your real age? Mahathir Mohamad was Prime Minister of Malaysia at 95. Embrace your age of 86.

How can you be younger than Tee Mac, who is 74 and called you uncle in his youth?

No be juju be that?

Reno’s Nuggets If you pluck grapes and squeeze them, you can sell their juice for $2 per litre. But if you wait for 21 days and let the juice ferment, you can sell the wine for $20 per litre. It is the same with your money. Don’t spend it immediately. Allow it to ferment in investment before you spend!

Christ said “no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.”-Luke 5:39. Old money is usually better than new money. You can actually tell people who have new money by the crass way they sometimes behave.

Old money behaves better! #RenosNuggets #FreeLeahSharibu

323

T H I S D AY TUESDAY AUGUST 2, 2022

CHIKA MOORE and EMMANUEL MOK argue for the extension of voters’ registration till September

Nigerians should vote right in 2023, urges PAUL OBI

WHY INEC SHOULD EXTEND VOTER REGISTRATION

OBI AND THE 2023 ELECTION

Nzuko Umunna, a Think Tank group of Igbo Professionals requests the Partnership /Collaboration of INEC towards actualization of its voters’ registration and PVC Collection Support Initiative.

This initiative is driven by the urgent need to ensure increased opportunity of TXDOLÀ HG 1LJHULDQV GHVLURXV RI UHJLVWHULQJ and participating in the 2023 elections to get registered and vote at the elections.

Presently, as Nigerians prepare to go to the polls in 2023 and elect a new government, many individuals are facing challenges of getting registered and those that have

UHJLVWHUHG DUH À QGLQJ LW GL΀ FXOW WR FROOHFW their PVCs. Though, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) extended the days for registration to 31st July, 2022, the reality on ground is that the SHULRG JLYHQ ZDV LQVX΀ FLHQW WR FDSWXUH WKH huge number of persons willing to register and get their PVCs before the forthcoming 2023 elections.

Clearly the additional few days given

by INEC were not necessary going by Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022 which SURYLGHV WKDW ´7KH UHJLVWUDWLRQ RI YRWHUV updating and revision of the Register of Voters under this section shall stop not later than 90 days before any election covered by this Act”. Going by this provision, the Electoral umpire is still within time to continue registration way beyond 31st July as communicated by INEC. The registration period can be legally and conveniently extended to 30th September 2022. ,GHQWLÀ HG DUHDV RI FRQFHUQ GHVHUYLQJ urgent attention in the electoral process are voters registration, printing and distribution of PVCs which are still very outstanding. INEC is therefore expected to do more for the entire process to SURFHHG PRUH HͿ HFWLYHO\ DQG VXFFHVVIXOO\ Fundamental action that INEC needs to take if it really wants to register every or PRVW RI WKH TXDOLÀ HG DQG ZLOOLQJ FLWL]HQ LV WR communicate clearly the extension period for registration and give adequate time for this (we suggest that the extension period ends on 30th September 2022 at the least).

INEC also needs to release all or most of the electoral biometrics registration capture machines to all the Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria paying special attention to major cities and towns of Nigeria and the whole South East region especially.

The 209 units of machines INEC released across the country are a drop in the ocean of needs. If these machines are deployed to only Lagos State for example, the 20

LGAs in the state will receive just 10 units per LGA. It is pertinent to note that each of these LGAs have populations in excess of one million people.

Facts on ground indicate that the minimum length of time to register a person is about 15 minutes, if data capturing is fast.

However, this can take much longer time, where the process is slow. So in a nine-hour day, from 9am to 6pm with 540 minutes, each machine is expected to attend to approximately 36 persons. This translates to 900 persons a month of six days including Saturdays working 9am to 6pm daily without break.

If average of 36 persons are successfully registered per machine, per day, with the addition of 10 machines added to the SUHVHQW DYHUDJH RI À YH PDFKLQHV SUHVHQWO\ making 15 then, the outcome would be registration with 15 machines x 36 persons x 25days which comes to 13, 500 persons monthly per LGA. So, for three months of extension period, this will amount to registration of 40,500 persons for each LGA and 810,000 for the entire 20 LGAs of Lagos State. We believe this 810,000 is less than 30% of the number of people wanting to do fresh registration in Lagos State alone.

Same situations are prevalent in all other states of the country. The numbers may EH OHVV KRZHYHU WKH\ UHDVRQDEO\ UHÁ HFW same challenge. Going by the analysis from Lagos State, the 209 machines released by INEC are very inadequate considering the number of persons desiring to be registered across the country. Reports have it that many states outside Lagos are worst hit in terms of machine and manpower gaps.

Some LGAs have only four machines and in some cases, some of these are not working.

It is important and very urgent that major LGAs with big towns are provided with 30 registration machines while not so populated ones are given 15 new machines each.

INEC has very large quantities of these machines in storage and unused. They need to be deployed. If this is not done, one may be compelled to believe that INEC is planning on rigging the 2023 elections by purposeful disenfranchisement of large populations of interested eligible voters. $QRWKHU DUHD ,1(& PXVW WDNH HͿ HFWLYH timely action is in the area of printing and distribution of PVCs. We need your support to persuade and strengthen INEC in terms RI GHSOR\LQJ H΀ FLHQW DQG HͿ HFWLYH PHDQV of printing and distribution of the old and newly printed cards to enable the owner’s vote.

It will be very helpful to have a policy in place to enable those that INEC could not give their voter cards to vote. The policy FDQ DOORZ WKHVH SHUVRQV WR EH LGHQWLÀ HG with their temporary registration slips DQG DQ\ RWKHU R΀ FLDOO\ UHFRJQL]HG PHDQV RI LGHQWLÀ FDWLRQ LQ 1LJHULD VR WKH\ WRR FDQ YRWH $QG IRU HͿ HFWLYH SULQWLQJ ZH propose that more machines be procured and printing be done on a state-by-state basis. For distribution, that religious and community-based associations be coopted into the distribution support system.

3URI 0RRUH and +RQ 0RN are respectively the President and Chairman, Election Participation Committee of Nzuko Umunna Advocacy Group

“The collective power of the people to choose governments through the procedure RI HOHFWLRQV UHQGHUV VX΀ FLHQW SODXVLELOLW\ WR WKH EHOLHI WKDW WKH ZLOO RI WKH SHRSOH LV WKH XOWLPDWH DUELWHU RI UXOHµ $GDP 3U]HZRUVNL On Saturday, 29th May, 1999, Nigeria was ushered into civil rule, democratic governance and electoral democracy after years of excruciating military rule. The civilians ZKR WRRN RYHU KDG D GHÀ QLWH PDQGDWH UHVHW Nigeria, rebuild her economy and empower the people, and reposition Africa’s most

populous nation to greatness. That mandate was torpedoed for the worst form of state capture and clientele politics any nation on earth has ever witnessed.

From 1999 to 2015, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) attempted resetting Nigeria during the then President Olusegun 2EDVDQMR·V DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ WKH DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ succeeded in bringing Nigeria back to the comity of nations, achieved debts cancellation, sustained economic growth and development and entrenched pan-Nigerian nation-state.

Conversely, PDP failed woefully to tame corruption - distributive politics and naked sharing of the nation’s wealth among party cronies became the norm. During PDP era, graft was elevated to the podium of public policy. The party also postponed the restructuring of the country and promotion of democratic consolidation that would have repositioned Nigeria far better.

After the exit of PDP from power in 2015, the All Progressives Congress (APC) that came was even worse. APC government was and is audaciously corrupt, quintessentially FOXHOHVV LQWHOOHFWXDOO\ OD]\ DQG XQÀ W WR govern. It has baggage of tribalism, nepotism, religious bigotry and politically chaotic, and GDQJHURXVO\ LQH΀ FLHQW WR VWLU WKH DͿ DLUV RI D heterogeneous nation-state. Worse still, APC has mismanaged Nigeria’s diversity. After eight years of APC’s ruinous reign, Nigeria has become the poverty capital of the world. $ FRPELQDWLRQ RI KXJH GHEW SURÀ OH HFRQRPLF mismanagement, unemployment and insecurity are the familiar telltales.

With such misfortune from a leadership that is unperturbed, many Nigerians saw 2023 elections as the year of redemption.

0DQ\ VHQVLQJ WKDW $3& ZDV XQÀ W WR JRYHUQ had looked up to PDP for rescue. But with the coronation of the highest bidder in its primary, that hope has been dashed. Then, entered Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State.

Obi may not come as a regular politician, but there is something about him that sets him apart.

Obi’s understanding of running a state as a business is a contradiction to the typical Nigerian politician who sees the state as

a platform for pillaging. His focus on education, production and savings are sustainable antidotes for any nation willing to jumpstart its path to development. Obi’s resolve to empower the Nigerian youth as a critical partner in the Nigerian nationVWDWH LV JHDUHG WRZDUGV À OOLQJ WKH JDS OHIW

by APC and PDP in the last 22 years. His integrity and discreet lifestyle of prudence is a departure from the wasteful years when politics is dictated by self-interest and the plundering of the national wealth.

It is on the basis that many youths and other Nigerians have now made Obi their sing-song, and his campaign, a tsunamic wave that has two options. Option one, win the 2023 presidential election, or two, cause a disruption in Nigeria’s chronic clientele state and rentier economy. So, for those who are underestimating Obi, these two variables, one is a likely outcome in the February presidential election. The main people supporting Obi’s presidential candidacy are not asking for dollars, or some sleazy deals in order to lend their support. They are genuinely doing that from personal conviction.

Again, Obi is not running for Nigeria’s presidency on the basis of tribe or religion - for instance, this writer is a Boki man from Cross River State and has no links or lineage to Agulu, except the similarity of our surname. But there is a conviction WKDW ZH VKRXOG SXW 1LJHULD À UVW DQG forward, not our personal interests.

Hence, the glowing and growing support for Obi. Also, he (Obi) is running based on competence, ability and capacity to govern, requisite expertise and experience to manage people and resources. He has no toga of corruption, nor allegations of helping himself, his family or cronies ZLWK VWDWH FRͿ HUV 7KHUH LV QR DXUD RI arrogance, and disrespect for the people.

Obi’s electioneering mantra is more of an invocation of the popular lyrical lines ‘Straight Outa Compton’, been there; done that; and lets do it again at the presidential level. As Adam Przeworski posited above in the opening quote, the will to reset Nigeria lies with the voters and the choices they make in the forthcoming presidential race.

Thus, Nigerians are compelled to face, make or betray history in the February 2023 presidential election. It’s a triumvirate race among Peter Obi of Labour Party, Bola Ahmed Tinubu of APC and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP. Nigerians must choose right. Obi, represents equity, social justice, competence, has the physical and intellectual capacity to govern and stay the course, and can be trusted with public funds. For so long, Nigerians have focused RQ WKH VXSHUÀ FLDO DQG LUUHOHYDQW PDQWUDV which have dominated our leadership recruitment process and system; we must therefore go for the substantive matters of state and humanity. Gabriel S. Lenz in his book, Follow the Leader? How Voters Respond to Politicians’ Policies and Performance asked, “do voters still judge politicians on such irrelevant and VXSHUÀ FLDO FKDUDFWHULVWLFV RU GR YRWHUV YRWH on substantive matters? With Obi, it’s a path with substantive matters.

Obi, is a journalist, researcher, interested in media, elections, politics and democracy

24 4

T H I S D AY

TUESDAY AUGUST 2, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

THE REPAIR WORKS ON REFINERIES What has become of the controversial budget approvals and contracts awards to fix the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries?

B

of course, we are quite happy,” he said. Soundbites from \ IDLOLQJ WR SURSHUO\ PDQDJH LWV UHÀQHULHV LQ Sylva and Kyari, two key actors on the issue, do not look Kaduna, Port Harcourt, and Warri, the ‘old, WRR GLͿHUHQW IURP ZKDW REWDLQHG LQ WKH SDVW %HVLGHV Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation EEO G RXW RI EEO G QDPHSODWH FDSDFLW\ RI (NNPC) turned Nigeria into a full-blown Port Harcourt is meagre and uninspiring. It makes no petrol importer, with dire consequences. dent on our reliance on foreign petrol and how it has Before changing name and logo, the old ruined our national economy.

NNPC embarked secured the Federal Executive Council $JDLQ ZH DUH WDONLQJ DERXW D FDVH ZLWK HVWDEOLVKHG (FEC) approval to rehabilitate the Warri and Kaduna evidence of failure--practically defying all forms of UHÀQHULHV ZLWK D UHSRUWHG ELOOLRQ IRU WKH rational reasoning even when it should be a nonIRUPHU DQG IRU WKH ODWWHU FRQWUDFW DZDUGHG issue. Pertinent questions are: How do we know WR ,WDOLDQ FRPSDQ\ 6DLSHP 7KH 3RUW +DUFRXUW UHÀQHU\ WKDW WKLV LV GLͿHUHQW IURP WKH SUHYLRXV FDOOV" $QG E\ DOVR JRW D ELOOLRQ FRQWUDFW DZDUGHG WR DQRWKHU ,WDOLDQ what percentage will both ÀUP 0DLUH 7HFQLPRQW 63$ UHÀQHULHV DW IXOO EODVW UHGXFH to fully overhaul it.

RXU IXHO LPSRUWV" Warri and Kaduna Repairing and UHÀQHULHV KDYH LQVWDOOHG Transparent and accountable business processes should be the hallmark productively running its RXWSXW FDSDFLWLHV RI difference between the new Nigeria National Petroleum Company UHÀQHULHV VKRXOG EH WKH ODVW barrels per day (bbl/d) and of any challenges on the EEO G UHVSHFWLYHO\ Limited and its offshoot company, the ‘old NNPC’ which was poorly run plate of a corporation with while Port Harcourt more than four decades of KDV EEO G $V operational experience. Yet, announced, their revamps NNPC’s failures have cost Nigeria a lot, and its successor T H I S D AY ZKLFK 113&·V KHDG 0HOH .\DUL VDLG ZRXOG EH D EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU PXVW QRW FRQWLQXH RQ WKLV SDWK $Q $IULFDQ DGDJH QRWHV FRPSOHWH RYHUKDXO DQG UHKDELOLWDWLRQ DUH LQ SKDVHV RI DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA that you could tell how the day would pan out from how DQG PRQWKV IRU .DGXQD DQG :DUUL DQG DQG MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO the morning begins. The posture of the new company PRQWKV IRU 3RUW +DUFRXUW )XQGLQJ IRU 3RUW +DUFRXUW DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU could thus be read from how it manages issues such as CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI DFFRUGLQJ WR WKH 0LQLVWHU RI 6WDWH 3HWUROHXP 7LPLSUH EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN WKH UHÀQHULHV UHSDLU ZKLFK LV UHDOO\ LPSRUWDQW WR 1LJHULD 6\OYD ZLOO FRPH IURP 113&·V FDVK ÁRZ JRYHUQPHQW·V MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI Questions that revolve around the status of the repair EXGJHW SURYLVLRQV DQG $IUH[LPEDQN 7KH ¶QHZ 113&· THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE ZRUN DQ D΀UPDWLYH GDWH RI UHWXUQ WR SDUWLDO DQG IXOO has inherited these contracts, but we are worried about operations, percentage contribution to national daily WKH VWDWXV RI ZRUNV DW WKHVH UHÀQHULHV QRZ WKDW LW·V FOHDU petrol consumption vis-à-vis reduction of imported WKH FRXQWU\ LV EURNH $V DW WKH HQG RI 0D\ WKH 113& T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D volumes, and most importantly, the funding disposal KDG IDLOHG IRU D ÀIWK PRQWK UXQQLQJ WR UHPLW PRQLHV WR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA given the country’s economic challenges, should be in WKH IHGHUDWLRQ DFFRXQW EULQJLQJ LWV FXPXODWLYH GHÀFLW WR GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, the front-burner of the conversation between the ‘new ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI 1 ELOOLRQ DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, NNPC’ and Nigerian stakeholders. Transparent and ,Q $SULO ZKLOH LQVSHFWLQJ WKH 3RUW +DUFRXUW ANTHONY OGEDENGBE accountable business processes should be the hallmark UHÀQHULHV 6LOYD SURPLVHG WKDW WKH ÀUVW SKDVH RI WKH DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI GLͿHUHQFH EHWZHHQ WKH QHZ 1LJHULD 1DWLRQDO 3HWUROHXP UHSDLU ZRXOG EH FRPSOHWHG LQ WKH ÀUVW TXDUWHU RI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH &RPSDQ\ 113& /LPLWHG DQG LWV RͿVKRRW FRPSDQ\ ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI ´7KLV SURMHFW NLFNHG RͿ VHFRQG TXDUWHU ODVW \HDU DQG where they are now is quite impressive. It is on schedule. CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI the ‘old NNPC’ which was poorly run.

DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO We hope that Kyari and his management will learn 7KH FRPPLWPHQW LV WR GHOLYHU EDUUHOV SHU GD\ TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com useful lessons from the inglorious past.

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Letters to the Editor Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LETTERS

SEARCH FOR JUSTICE IN THE HOUSE OF JUSTICE The clean hands doctrine is a simple one that says “who comes to equity must come with clean hands”.

The Judiciary is the third arm of government whose primary role is to interpret laws enacted by the legislature for the good of the society. It has become obvious to the watchers of the third arm of government that all is not well with the institution. It is on the verge of being destroyed, but some components may still be redeemable if the right steps are taken. %XW ZKR ZLOO FOHDQ WKH $XJHDQ VWDEOH" :KR ZLOO GLVSHQVH MXVWLFH LQ WKH KRXVH RI MXVWLFH" What is happening in the judiciary had long been foretold. It will be recalled that a few decades ago a panel was set up to look LQWR WKH SUREOHPV DQG SURͿHU VROXWLRQV WR WKH SUREOHPV EHVHWWLQJ the judiciary in Nigeria. The Justice Kayode ESO Panel which had many notable legal minds, indicted many judges, including those who had passed away; the report recommended dismissals, or outright retirement from the service for those who were found wanting. But like many such reports in Nigeria, nothing was done about it.

In recent history we had the case of Justice Walter Onnoghen, IRUPHU &KLHI -XVWLFH RI 1LJHULD 0RVW UHFHQWO\ WKH UHVLJQDWLRQ RI

-XVWLFH 7DQNR 0XKDPPDG ZDV WDLQWHG ZLWK DOOHJHG FRUUXSWLRQ ,QGHHG UHWLUHG +RQ -XVWLFH (MHPED (NR RI WKH $SH[ FRXUW GXULQJ KLV YDOHGLFWRU\ DGGUHVV ZDV EROG HQRXJK WR VSHFLÀFDOO\ SRLQW RXW that the ICPC and EFCC should investigate the Heads of Courts in Nigeria: that is to say the Chief Judge of States, High Courts, Chief Justices of Federal High Courts, Customary Courts, Grand .KDGLV RI 6&$ 3UHVLGHQWV RI &RXUW RI $SSHDO DQG &KLHI -XVWLFH RI 1LJHULD GXH WR WKHLU UHFNOHVV ÀQDQFLDO PLVPDQDJHPHQW In all of this, there’s nowhere it has become so glaring the PDOIHDVDQFH LQ WKLV DUP RI JRYHUQPHQW OLNH WKH &RXUW RI $SSHDO where a justice recently procured two expensive cars worth over 1 P DV R΀FLDO FDUV 7KH PRVW XQIRUWXQDWH DVSHFW RI ZKDW LV JRing on is that in last two years there had been no payment whatsoever of roving allowances to lawyers, unlike in other ministries DQG SDUDVWDWDOV 7KHVH ZHUH EHQHÀWV WKDW ODZ\HUV XVHG WR HQMR\ LQ WKH SDVW OLNH WKHLU RWKHU FRXQWHUSDUWV LQ RWKHU 0'$V In addition to all this, the court is owing contractors huge sums of money. Contractors that have executed jobs with the court running into hundreds of millions of Naira have still not been paid, including even monies appropriated for the payments of such contracts. This means the court has expended the sums without

WKH QHFHVVDU\ YLUHPHQW ZKLFK LV LQGHHG D ÀQDQFLDO FULPH DV IDU DV WKH ÀQDQFLDO ODZV LQ 1LJHULD DUH FRQFHUQHG (YHQ PHPEHUV RI VWDͿ LQ DFFRXQWV GHSDUWPHQW KDYH EHHQ JLYHQ OHDYH WR UHVW VR WKDW management will not be bothered by the demands of contractors DQG LPSRUWDQW VWDͿ FODLPV 7KH FRXUW ZDUHKRXVH VWRUHV GHSDUWment have become a ghost of its former self with no stationery to work with. $QRWKHU ZRUULVRPH LVVXH LQ WHUPV RI ZHOIDUH LV WKDW WKHUH KDV been no international training for Justices of the court for several years now. Yet some top men enjoy medical tourism abroad.

6WDͿHUV FDQQRW DFFHVV 1+,6 VLQFH 7KH +02 KDG WR ZULWH DOO KRVSLWDOV LQ WKH FRXQWU\ QRW WR DWWHQG WR DQ\ VWDͿ IURP WKDW FRXUW due to the non-servicing of liabilities. The absence of this health safety net has brought about embarrassment, untold hardship DQG LW KDV HQGDQJHUHG VWDͿ DQG WKHLU IDPLOLHV We must collectively come together to salvage what is left of the judiciary or else the refuge of the common man will be in permanent ruins.

Badmus Adejoh, Department of Computer Science School of Postgraduate Studies, Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State

LAWYER TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022

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2022 AGC TCCP CHAIRMAN, TOBENNA EROJIKWE

‘2022 AGC Will be an Unforgettable Experience for Lawyers’

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

IN THIS EDITION

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Effect of Failure to Provide Evidence to Substantiate a Claim Page IV

ll be i W C G A 2 ‘202 able t t e g r o f n U an ers’ y w a L r o f e c n Experie QUOTABLES ‘What Governor El Rufai disclosed, inadvertently strengthens the argument of those calling for the President’s impeachment. If you are not aware of a threat made against you, if you are just blindly unaware of a threat made against the rest of us, it is a shocking indictment that he did not know. He is oblivious to the obvious…..’ - Tundun Abiola, Lawyer, Anchor, The Morning Show, Arise TV

‘I seriously believe we are in a serious crisis situation, and I do hope the Presidency or the Government will save the country from imminent collapse. We are moving inexorably, to the precipice.”

Femi Falana, SAN

Lagos Lawyers Bellow Over Slow Pace of Judiciary Administration Page V

Major Intervention in Criminal Justice Promised, as NBASPIDEL Partners LawPavilion on New App Page V

LAWYER

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE: EDITOR, JUDE IGBANOI: DEPUTY EDITOR, PETER TAIWO, STEVE AYA: REPORTERS

III THE ADVOCATE

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022

Of Contempt, Justice and Abuse of Power

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re the reports that I read in the various newspapers about what transpired between our learned colleague, Mr Inibehe Effiong and the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Hon. Justice Ekaette Obot (CJ), an incomplete account of what really happened to land Mr Effiong in prison for a month, for purported contempt of court? Because, so far, the available accounts do not show any contemptuous conduct on his part.

Distilled Facts & Matters Arising: I was able to distill six facts from the various news reports that I read - 1) that the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel is the Claimant in the matter and Mr Effiong is the Defence Counsel; 2) that Mr Effiong had applied that the CJ recuse herself from the matter; 3) that the CJ asked that a Premium Times Reporter leave the court room, to which Mr Effiong politely asked the CJ to let the Reporter stay in the court room since the proceedings were in public - the Reporter however, obeyed the Judge’s order and vacated the court room; 4) that Mr Effiong expressed his discomfort to the court, on the presence of two armed Policemen in the court room; 5) that the CJ asked Mr Effiong to remove his wig and step out of the Bar - an order which he was said to have complied with; 6) that Mr Effiong was committed to prison for contempt of court without a charge being read to him, being tried and found guilty.

In Leaders & Co. Ltd v Kusamotu 2004 4 N.W.L.R. Part 864 Page 519 at 540 per M.D. Muhammad JCA, the Court of Appeal held that “A contemnor is a person against whom a committal order had been made by the court.

Such an order is said to be made where the person accused of the contempt has been tried, found guilty, and sentenced for the contemptuous conduct”. To try an individual for contempt of court means to put such person in the dock, specify the charge against him/her, and ask him/her to show cause why he should not be punished for his/her contempt. See the case of Franklin Atake v AGF & Anor 1982 13 N.S.C.C. 444 at 469-470 per Idigbe JSC. From these distilled facts, one must ask what Mr Effiong’s contemptuous conduct was? Was the proper process followed, to make him a Contemnor?

The news reports also say he wasn’t properly tried, that his charge wasn’t specified and read to him.

In Franklin Atake v AGF & Anor (Supra) per Idigbe JSC, his Lordship stated that he found it difficult to accede to the Appellant’s submission in that case, that without following the aforementioned trial steps in a case of contempt in the face of the court, it would be null and void. On the contrary, in the case of Joseph Agbachom v The State 1970 6 N.S.C.C. Page 62 at 67-68 per Lewis JSC the Apex Court held that “since contempt of court is an offence of a criminal character, it must be proved beyond reasonable doubt”.

How is the commission of an offence proved, let alone without reasonable doubt, without a charge?

1) Recusal of the CJ “Justice must not only be done, but also seen as done” - see the case of R v Sussex Justices Ex Parte McCarthy 1924 1 K.B. 259 per Lord Justice Heart. When Counsel asks a Judge to recuse him/herself from a matter, it invariably means that Counsel does not believe he/she will get a fair hearing, if that particular Judge hears the matter. Of course, the issue of fair hearing is extremely important, as denial of it is contrary to a litigant’s fundamental right to fair hearing as provided by Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)(the Constitution). A denial of fair hearing, vitiates proceedings; and can render them null and void. See the case of Otapo v Sunmonu 1987 1 N.W.L.R. Part 58 Page 587.

Even if one didn't think the CJ was biased initially, the harsh punishment meted out on Mr Effiong (without due process), would allow for second thoughts.

Many judicial officers never take kindly, to being asked to recuse themselves from a case, even if it is as clear as day that for example, they may be biased. I remember as a fairly young Lawyer, being the Counsel to a Defendant in a Trademark matter before the then Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. Opposing Counsel was Sylvia Shinaba, SAN of blessed memory. I brought an application that the matter be struck out for lack of diligent prosecution after attending court about 36 times and the Plaintiff/Plaintiff Counsel failed to appear in court, or always had an excuse as to why the matter could not go on. The CJ FHC lambasted me for making the application, citing the fact that the Plaintiff being wheelchair-bound was a valid excuse for the lackadaisical manner in which the matter was being prosecuted on his behalf. When I argued that it was the Plaintiff and not counsel or the case before the court that were wheelchair-bound, and that not only was the Plaintiff in a wheelchair when he instituted the frivolous action, but being in a wheelchair was no longer seen as an impediment in the modern

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive. com onikepob@yahoo.com

The

Advocate “…..so far, the available accounts do not show any contemptuous conduct on his part…. I suppose Mr Effiong will shed more light on what actually transpired between him and the CJ, when he is released from prison; whether the CJ’s conduct was simply an abuse of power and office, combined with overzealousness and ‘eye service’, because the Governor is involved in the case”

world, but simply a slight physical challenge, the CJ FHC lampooned me further, even calling me insensitive. Anyway, my application was denied. Subsequently, I applied that the matter be reassigned to another Judge, because the body language of the CJ FHC wreaked of bias, and I felt that I would not get justice in the case, even though I had a strong defence. My application again, was refused. Luckily, the CJ FHC retired soon after, and the case, which I eventually won, was commenced de novo before another Judge.

I know many Lawyers believe that an opponent cannot win a matter involving a State Government or a Governor in that State’s High Court; and the opponent usually has to bide his/her time to get justice when the matter goes on appeal. In these circumstances, most Lawyers just build a good case at first instance even if they are bound to lose, so that they have a strong case to present to unbiased Justices on appeal. Would this perception or misconception, be enough to prove bias? Maybe not. If the Reasonable Man's Test is applied, would the reasonable man believe that there is bias or a likelihood of it, and that Mr Effiong's client would not get justice if the trial continued in the CJ’s court? There must be proper, cogent grounds, for believing that a particular court is not the proper venue for one’s matter. In Deduwa v Okorodudu & Ors 1976 1 N.M.L.R. 237, the Apex Court held that "there must be cogent and reasonable evidence to satisfy the court that there was in fact, such bias or real likelihood of bias as alleged…..the mere vague suspicion of whimsical, capricious

Mr Inibehe Effiong

and unreasonable people, should not be made a standard, to constitute proof of such serious complaints". Also see the case of Rafiu Jomiloju & 6 Ors v Fatai Ogisanyin Anibire & 4 Ors SC.211/2002 per Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad JSC (as he then was).

2) Humiliation Most Lawyers would feel humiliated, if a Judge asked them to take off their wig and step aside from the Bar. Does a judicial officer have the right to do so, without just cause? Are Lawyers now little school children, that can be put in the ’naughty corner’ in open court? What was the act complained of by the CJ, that led to Mr Effiong’s committal to prison for one month for contempt of court? Surely, it could not just be his No. 3 & 4 comments highlighted in the second paragraph above, that qualified as contemptuous conduct and an affront or an insult to the Judge ‘incuriae facie’ (in the face of the court), or was there more?

Some Judges are happy to address Counsel 'anyhow'; some are outrightly hostile and abusive to Counsel. This should not be so. There must be mutual respect, between the Bar and the Bench. If the CJ found Mr Effiong’s submissions or demeanour so distasteful, would it not have been better to accede to his request and transfer his matter to another Judge?

3) Contempt of Court There is no exact definition of contempt of court.

See Re-Dunn (1906) L.R. 490. It can either be civil or criminal contempt, and in the face or outside the face of the court. In Ezekiel-Hart v

Ezekiel-Hart 1990 1 N.W.L.R. Part 126 Page 276 the Supreme Court held that contempt “is criminal, when it consists of interference with the administration of law, thus impeding and perverting the course of justice. It is civil, when it consists of disobedience to the judgements, orders, or other process of the court resulting or involving private injury”. From the available reports, we do not see evidence of either civil or criminal contempt in Mr Effiong’s conduct.

In Brittania-U (Nig) Ltd v Seplat Petroleum Development Co. Ltd & Ors (2016) LPELR-40007(SC) per Ngwuta JSC, the Apex Court held that “Contempt is an affront to the authority and dignity of the court. It can be either contempt ex facie curiae or contempt in facie curiae”. In Nzidee v Kootu 2007 1 N.W.L.R. Part 1014 Page 99 at 123 per Dongban-Mensem JCA (now PCA), the Court of Appeal held that contempt in the face of the court is that which the Judge sees with his own eyes, needs no evidence of witnesses and can be dealt with by that Judge himself (brevi manu) immediately. However, an example of contempt outside the face of the court, is an article or publication which scandalises or is calculated to bring the court into disrepute. See the case of Ebhodaghe v Okoye 2004 18 N.W.L.R. Part 905 Page 472 at 501. In such a case, a Judge involved in a contempt case outside his court should not be the one to try the case.

In Franklin Atake v AGF & Anor (Supra) Idigbe JSC quoted Stephenson L.J. in the case of Balogh v St Alban’s Crown Court (1975) 1 Q.B.D. 73 thus: “….If they are to do justice, they need power to administer it without interference or affront, as well as to enforce their own orders and to punish those who insult or obstruct them, directly or indirectly in the performance of their duty, or misbehave in such a manner as to weaken or lower the dignity and authority of a court of law….It must never be invoked unless the ends of justice really require such drastic means; it appears to be rough justice; it is contrary to natural justice; and it can only be justified if nothing else will do”. I submit that, so far, from the accounts available, Mr Effiong didn’t obstruct, insult or disrespect the court, nor did he insult the Judge, diminish the dignity and authority of the court or bring the court into scorn or disrepute.

Why did the CJ invoke such drastic means against him? Assuming, but not conceding that the CJ thought Mr Effiong’s comments were discourteous, and we cannot rule out the fact that indeed, Mr Effiong could have been discourteous, in Ene Oku v State 1970 6 N.S.C.C. Page 53 at 58 per Coker JSC, the Apex Court held inter alia that, it is not every act of discourtesy to the court by Counsel that amounts to contempt.

See the case of Ezenwankwo v State 2015 2 N.W,L.R. Part 1443 Page 265 at 278-279. In fact, in Joseph Agbachom v The State (Supra), the Supreme Court held that “….no wrong is committed by any member of the public who exercises the ordinary right of criticising in good faith, in private or public, the public act done in the seat of justice….provided….not acting in malice or attempting to impair the administration of justice, they are immune…..”.

Conclusion I suppose Mr Effiong will shed more light on what actually transpired between him and the CJ, when he is released from prison; whether the CJ’s conduct was simply an abuse of power and office, combined with overzealousness, and ‘eye service’ because the Governor is involved in the case. Just as all must show respect to the court, the power of a Judge to commit an individual for contempt of court, must not be exercised frivolously or arbitrarily. See the case of Balogh v St Alban’s Crown Court (Supra).

What do you think, my dear colleagues?

P.S. I listened to our Arise TV’s Morning Show on Friday, about how the President of the Central Bank of Russia, Elvira Nabiullina, has not only kept the Russian economy together, she has ensured that the Russian Rouble is the strongest currency in the world, in spite of the war with Ukraine and the economic sanctions that were meted against Russia subsequently. Should Nigeria/ CBN not go and take lessons from the feet of the master, Ms Nabiullina, since, on the contrary, our currency is losing value on a daily basis? Or take Nigeria’s economy, harnessed and unharnessed resources, as a case study to Stanford or Harvard Business School for them to proffer solutions on how to maximise them, since it is obvious that those in charge of our economy are not doing a good job of managing it properly? I thought it must be an error, when I saw in a news report that Nigeria has only about $300,000 left in the Excess Crude Account. As usual, the Minister of Finance had a ready excuse for this terrible state of affairs.

IV LAW REPORT

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

Effect of Failure to Provide Evidence to Substantiate a Claim Facts The 1st Respondent instituted an action at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) against the 2nd and 3rd Respondent, in which it sought inter alia, a declaration that the 2nd and 3rd Respondent’s letter dated 20th September, 2001 purporting to revoke the 1st Respondent’s right in a parcel of land known as Plot No. 1053, Zone AO, CBD, Abuja-FCT was null and void.

During the proceedings in the suit, the Appellant applied to join as a Defendant. Upon its joinder, the Appellant filed its Statement of Defence and Counter-claim, wherein it sought a declaration that it is the beneficial owner of a larger parcel of land which comprised of the said Plot No. 1053, by virtue of a Certificate of Occupancy issued in its favour by the 3rd Respondent. The case of the Appellant was that it was granted the said parcel of land since October 1990, after which the land was said to have been revoked by a letter of 20th May, 1997 and it was during the period of the revocation of the Appellant’s grant on the land, that part of the said land was re-allocated to the 1st Respondent.

However, the revocation was subsequently withdrawn by the 2nd and 3rd Respondent in the year 2001.

Prior to delivery of judgement, the Appellant filed an application for the dismissal of the suit on the grounds that the cause of action had been overtaken by events and had thus, become academic.

The application was heard and in its ruling which was delivered simultaneously with the judgement in the substantive suit, the trial court struck out the said application. The court also dismissed the Appellant’s Counter-claim. Aggrieved, the Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal, which court dismissed the appeal, and affirmed the decision of the trial court. Still dissatisfied, the Appellant filed the instant appeal before the Supreme Court.

The 2nd and 3rd Respondent also cross-appealed.

At the Supreme Court, the 1st Respondent raised Preliminary Objections to the competence of the appeal and the Cross-appeal.

Issues for Determination in the Main Appeal The Supreme Court determined the main appeal on the following issues: 1. Whether the Court of Appeal was right to have discountenanced and struck out the Appellant’s issue no. (i) before it, on the basis that the Appellant had abandoned the said issue.

2. Whether the Court of Appeal was right in holding that the Appellant abandoned its Counterclaim in the suit and thus, discountenanced same.

3. Whether the State Land Act pursuant to the provision of Section 13 of the FCT Act and the doctrines of priority, nemo dat quod non habet as raised and canvassed by the Appellant before the lower court, ought not to have been considered by the lower court in its determination of the Appellant’s appeal before it.

Arguments 1st Respondent’s Preliminary Objections The 1st Respondent challenged the competence of the main appeal, on the ground that the Appellant unilaterally altered the constitution of the parties to the suit on the Notice of Appeal by omitting the name of the 4th Defendant at the trial court, without leave of court. He contended that this contravened the provision of Order 6 Rule 2(1) of the Court of Appeal Rules and Order 2 Rule 8 of the Supreme Court Rules and rendered the Notice of Appeal incompetent.

In its Preliminary Objection to the 2nd and 3rd Respondent’s cross-appeal, the 1st Respondent argued that the 2nd and 3rd Respondent cannot be heard to challenge the judgement of the trial court which was affirmed by the court below, since they were deemed to have accepted it, having not filed a Cross-appeal or a Respondent’s Notice against it at the Court of Appeal.

Arguments on the Main Issues On the first issue, counsel for the Appellant contended that arguments were duly canvassed on the Appellant’s issue (i) in the Appellant’s brief before the Court of Appeal; hence the court was wrong to have struck the issue out on the ground that it was abandoned. Conversely, counsel for the 1st Respondent submitted on the first issue, that the Appellant’s omission to make submissions on its entitlement to be heard by the trial court on the motion, constituted abandonment of the issue as

Honourable Mohammed Lawal Garba, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 27th day of May, 2022 Before Their Lordships Olukayode Ariwoola Amina Adamu Augie Uwani Musa Abba Aji Mohammed Lawal Garba Adamu Jauro Justices, Supreme Court SC.126/2013 Between TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA LTD

APPELLANT

AND 1. NEO-VISTA PROPERTIES LTD 2. FEDERAL CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 3. MINISTER, FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY

RESPONDENT

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Mohammed Lawal Garba, JSC)

rightly found by the court below.

Arguing the second issue, counsel submitted for the Appellant that it did not abandon its Counter-claim, and that the Court of Appeal misconceived the issues joined by the Appellant and the 1st Respondent and the evidence led, in its evaluation and judgement, when it restricted itself to the 1st Respondent’s claim and overlooked the Appellant’s Counter-claim.

Counsel for the 1st Respondent argued contrary to the position of the Appellant, that since the Appellant had sought for a declaratory relief in the counter-claim, it had the duty to adduce evidence to prove same, whether or not the 1st Respondent filed a defence thereto. He submitted further that since the Appellant did not file or adduce any evidence in support of its counter-claim, the success of the 1st Respondent’s claim must necessarily result in the dismissal of the abandoned counter-claim of the Appellant.

In its argument on the third issue, counsel for the Appellant contended that the Court of Appeal failed to pronounce on the issue of the applicability of the State Land Act pursuant to the provision of Section 13 of the FCT Act

“Failure to produce or adduce evidence in support of her pleadings of facts would leave them dead on arrival, and the claim based thereon, liable to be dismissed; for in such a situation, the law presumes and deems it to have been abandoned”

raised before it, thereby denying the Appellant’s right to a fair trial. On the other hand, counsel argued for the 1st Respondent that the issue on the applicability of the State Land Act canvassed by the Appellant are irrelevant in so far as the Appellant was suggesting that its title was wrongly revoked, since the court is not the proper forum to challenge the revocation.

The 2nd and 3rd Respondent argued the main appeal along with the cross-appeal in their brief, primarily supporting the appeal.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Resolution of the 1st Respondent’s Preliminary Objections On the preliminary objection to the main appeal, the Court held that an Appellant is not bound to retain the same parties in an appeal as obtained in the trial court, and so is at liberty to state or set out on the Notice of Appeal, only parties directly affected by the appeal as required in the applicable provisions in Order 6, Rule 2 of the Court of Appeal Rules and Order 8 Rule 2 (1) of the Supreme Court Rules. BUKOYE v MOGAJI (2017) All FWLR (Pt. 667) 338 at 356, Par. E. The Appellant adopted the provisions above, when it set out in its Notice of Appeal the names of only the parties indicated to be directly affected by the appeal. On the basis of the foregoing, the court dismissed the 1st Respondent’s objection to the Appellant’s appeal.

Regarding the objection to the 2nd and 3rd Respondent’s Cross appeal, the court held that a Respondent’s role in an appeal is to defend the judgement of a lower court, and not to assist the Appellant in attacking such judgement and seeking that it be set aside. LAFIA LG

v GOVERNOR, NASARAWA STATE (2012) 17 NWLR (Pt. 1328) 94, 125, 132-133. Having accepted the decision of the trial court by not appealing same at the Court of Appeal, the 2nd and 3rd Respondents cannot be heard to attack the same decision before the Supreme Court.

The preliminary objection was upheld, and the Cross-Appeal struck out thereby.

Deciding the first issue in the main appeal, the Supreme Court held that without submissions in support thereto, an issue raised and submitted to a court for decision in a matter or appeal, is practically and in law, deemed abandoned JOLASUN v BAMGBOYE (2010) 18 NWLR (Pt. 1225) 285 (SC). Further to the authority referenced, the court held that the arguments canvassed by counsel for the Appellant under the said issue (i) were not related to the real complaint in the issue; hence, the issue was left bare without the requisite arguments to support it. Furthermore, contrary to the complaint in the issue that the Appellant was not heard by the trial court on its motion of 24th May, 2010, counsel for the Appellant had conceded that the Appellant was in fact afforded the opportunity to be heard, and was heard on the said motion which was subsequently struck out. The wind had thus, been taken out of the sail of the real complaint raised under the said issue.

In its determination of the second issue, the court held that claims or counter-claims for declaration of title to land must be proved by positive evidence of entitlement thereto to the satisfaction of a court, before they could succeed and be properly granted. Such claims cannot be granted merely on admission on pleadings, absence of a defence by the other party, or even the weakness of the other party’s case - BELLO v IWEKA (1981) 1 SC. 101 and MOGAJI v CADBURY NIG LTD (1981) 2 NWLR (Pt. 7) 393. Failure to produce or adduce evidence in support of her pleadings of facts would leave them dead on arrival, and the claim based thereon, liable to be dismissed; for in such a situation, the law presumes and deems it to have been abandoned.

UKAEGBU v UGOJI (1991) 7 SCNJ 224; NIKA FISHING CO LTD v LAVINA CORP (2008) 6-7 SC (Pt. II) 200.

The Appellant had put its title in question in the Counter-claim, and thus, bore the burden to prove its entitlement to the declaration of its ownership of the land and the title it claimed.

However, the evidence by the sole witness called by the Appellant did not show the existence of a valid right or interest over the land in question at the time of the grant to other parties, so as to support the Counter-claim and prove the existence of a valid interest of the Appellant in the land at the material time of the allocation to the other parties. The re-allocation of some part of the land in dispute was done during the period of the revocation of the Appellant’s grant in 1997, and before the withdrawal thereof in 2001, at which time the right granted to the Appellant was no longer subsisting. And so, the 2nd and 3rd Respondents could validly grant or allocate interest/right over the land or some portions thereof to other parties. Until the later grant or re-grant or allocation or re-allocation was validly revoked in accordance with the law, there could not have been a subsequent re-instatement of the Appellant’s right which was, in the circumstance, non-existent at the time of the purported withdrawal of the 1997 revocation in 2001. In the premises, the court below was right to have affirmed the finding of the trial court that the Counter-claim was not supported by evidence and so, in law, deemed abandoned.

Regarding the third issue, Their Lordships held that the Court of Appeal lacks the competence to consider and determine an issue raised before and pronounced upon by the trial court, without prior leave of that court. The question of the applicability of the State Land Act to the Appellant’s case was neither raised nor canvassed before the trial court, and so was not pronounced on by that court for it to have been properly and competently raised and canvassed before the court below by the Appellant.

Appeal Dismissed; Cross-Appeal Struck Out. Representation I.O. Aniakor Esq. with Pamela Unegbu-Amadi Esq. for the Appellants.

O.I. Olorundare, SAN with others for the 1st Respondent.

Godwin Sunday Ohboji Esq. with others for the 2nd and 3rd Respondents.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

V

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

New Wigs at Call to Bar

Mr Ope Olugasa

Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba

Lagos Lawyers Bellow Over Slow Pace of Judiciary Administration Stories by Steve Aya Lawyers in Lagos State have demanded urgent reforms to judicial administration, as the current slow pace is not good for business.

This was the main subject of a meeting between Lawyers representing all the Branches of

the Nigerian Bar Association in Lagos State on Thursday July 28, 2022, at the Chambers of the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba.

Leading the NBA Team were Dr Babatunde Ajibade, SAN, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, Dr Monday Ubani, Mr Yinka Farounbi, Ms Patience Patrick-Udoh and Chairmen

1491 Applicants Called to the Nigerian Bar The Body of Benchers on Thursday called 1491 successful Applicants from the Nigerian Law School to the Bar, as qualified and eligible legal practitioners under law.

The Applicants who were successful in the May Bar Finals were presented for call by the Director General of the Nigeria Law School, Prof Isa Chiroma, SAN. Presenting the Applicants, the Director General stated that 2299 persons had applied while 1491 persons were successful, thus amounting to a 65.42% success rate in the Law School.

In his report to the Body of Benchers (BoB) during the colourful ceremony, Chiroma said that with the current security tension in the nation, all threats to the Nigerian Law School, have never and will never see the light of the day. He however, noted that the Council is not leaving any stone unturned, as security had been beefed up around the Law School for adequate protection.

He equally appreciated the heads of the Nigerian Law Enforcement agencies, for their support towards the protection of the Law School.

Chiroma stated that the Nigerian Law School had contributed to the training of the legal manpower of sister African countries such as Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Cameroon. He stated that NLS had made the most, despite the limited resources at their disposal.

He appreciated graciously, the intervention Governor Nyesom Wike, who built a Law School Campus in Port Harcourt, Rivers State which will soon be commissioned and handed over to the

Council of Legal Education, NLS. In lieu of this, he expressed his gratitude once again to President Buhari, Governor Wike, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN for making this possible.

He also thanked the class of 1986 of Nigeria Law School, for the building and commissioning of twin moot courts for use in the NLS, Headquarters, Abuja.

The Director General in his report, remarked on the planned celebration of the golden jubilee of the NLS, stating that by January, 2023, NLS will clock 60, and the details of a planned celebration would be communicated subsequently.

On this note, the Director General went on to present the 1491 candidates for Call to Bar, attesting to their good performance. He congratulated the new wigs and their parents and guardians, and charged the new wigs to take good advantage of the opportunities in the legal profession, as well as ensure strict adherence to the ethics of the profession.

He went on to present the list of the 1,491 applicants to the Chairman of the BoB, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN who called them to Bar. “By the powers conferred on the BoB by Section 3(10) of the LPA, and by the powers conferred on me as the Chairman of the Body of Benchers by Regulation 16 of the Body of Benchers Regulations, 1983, I admit the 1491 students wherein present as Barristers and Solicitors of Supreme Court of Nigeria. You may put on your wigs”, Chief Olanipekun pronounced.

of all NBA branches in Lagos State. The meeting was also attended by the Honourable Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN. In recent times, there have been protests from Lawyers and litigants, particularly concerning the slow and frustrating process of filing papers in the Registry of the Court, due to the ineffectiveness of the Judicial Information System.

Welcoming the Bar leaders, the Chief Registrar of the High Court, Magistrate Tajudeen Elias, said that the meeting was part of the existing statutory meetings between the Bar and the Bench.

The Chief Judge who was openly delighted, said he is happy that there is an avenue for the Bar and the Bench to interact.

Dr Babatunde Ajibade, SAN, who presented the case of NBA, pointing out that the human interface in the JIS system of

e-filing is frustrating the process of access to justice, stated that it takes an average of one or two months for a permanent suit number to be assigned to a new case, even with an affidavit of urgency. He cited the example of Rivers State, where the e-filing system has been working effectively.

He stated further that, there must be the political will to support the system with functional infrastructure for optimal performance, given the position that Lagos State occupies in the Judiciary in Nigeria.

Contributing to the matter at hand, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN gave a firsthand experience at the E-filing Section of the Lagos Division of the Court. He gave particulars of a new case that he filed in July 2, 2022, and only got the permanent suit number last week. He said he was at the Court Registry personally on Tuesday July 26,

2022, to continue the process of filing a fundamental right application with an affidavit of urgency that was commenced the previous day, July 25, 2022.

He could not complete the filing until late in the afternoon, by which time the vacation Judge had risen for the day.

Responding to the problem as stated, Justice Alogba said that he had heard of these complaints, but no one had given him specific particulars of how cases are being delayed to enable him deal with the situation decisively. He empathised that the Governor of Lagos State is very much concerned about the Judiciary, and he takes issues relating to the administration of justice as top priority. He assured the Bar that efforts are ongoing, to improve the e-filing system.

In his contribution, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, stated that it is necessary to fast track the process of access to justice, and he gave assur-

ance that the Judiciary would do its best to ensure that the filing system is self-operative, to remove human interface.

He said a timeline should be worked out before the end of the current annual vacation of the court, to implement a completely self-operated e-filing system.

At the end of the deliberations, it was resolved that the processes of e-filing will be thoroughly overhauled to remove the need for human interface in order to reduce or minimize physical presence in the filing process.

It was also resolved that a joint task force between the Bar and the Judiciary will be set up to monitor the smooth execution of all issues agreed upon at the meeting.

The meeting agreed on September 1, 2022, as the take off date of the new e-filing system that will remove the need for physical presence at the Court Registry.

Major Intervention in Criminal Justice Promised, as NBA-SPIDEL Partners LawPavilion on New App In recognition of the importance of public safety to Nigeria's national life and economic development, and further recognising itself as a very important stakeholder in the Justice sector, the Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) is set to up its role of being the ‘Conscience of the Nation’ as well as the Public Ombudsman on matters pertaining to Civil and Criminal Justice, by partnering with foremost legaltech Solutions provider in Nigeria, LawPavilion, to provide an app intended to spur a radical Ease in the criminal justice system of Nigeria. The one-stop sociolegal yet exciting app, will provide an avenue for effective citizen engagement, security intelligence, crime and rights violation tracking, as well as a digital evidence bank for the

judiciary.

NBA-SPIDEL has taken up the responsibility, of midwifing the delivery of this new mobile app. The mobile app, JustEase, will be launched at the NBA-SPIDEL Conference scheduled to hold in Abuja between the 4th and 5th of August, 2022.

It is not the first time, that the LawPavilion will be positively interfering with the conservative legal status quo with their technological innovations. Having caused a dynamic shift in the legal practice through their LawPavilion Electronic Law Report (LPELR), E-Registry, Court Manager, and Case Manager, it is not unexpected that they have come up with another product that will not only shake the legal space, but improve the Nigerian Criminal Justice System.

According to Mr Ope

Olugasa, the MD/CEO of LawPavilion Business Solutions Ltd: ‘‘the justice system of every society rests on three legs, which are: access to justice, prompt legal service delivery, and effective justice delivery.

Our technological solutions are not yet encompassing until we open the channel to access justice to the general public; it is a part of our company’s social responsibility’’.

Continuing, he said: “as Thomas Hobbes rightly posited that without government, life would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short; government, in turn, leans on the instrumentality of the Rule of Law and Access to Justice, to guarantee the desired safety and protection of citizens’ interest.

“Rule of law and access to justice, are the rudder with which government upholds the sanity in the society. Gover-

nance cannot be optimal when citizens are being denied access to justice, either because they do not know their rights or are not empowered for effective reporting and monitoring of crimes and violations.

“For so long, upholding the rule of law and access to justice has been left in the exclusive purview of government, and this has undoubtedly been overwhelming. More than ever, there is the need for a collaboration between the public and the government, through the framework of citizen driven Community Policing. This collective responsibility for proactive management and monitoring of incidences of crimes and rights violations in the community, can be further driven by technology”.

All members of the Bar and the Bench, alongside notable guests, are being invited to grace this history-making event.

#upjudicialsalaries “The Court of Canada held that considering citizens’ right to fair trial before an "independent and impartial" criminal court, inadequacy of judicial salary and pension, which compromises those basic norms of justice, is a violation of that constitutional right.” - Supreme Court of Canada

VI

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

TALKING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY DR. MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN

0809 889 8888 SMS ONLY

Why is INEC Recklessly Striving to be Neckless? (Part 2) Introduction

W

ith the cacophony of voices emanating from INEC, which appears to be having some internal ego and superiority contest between the Headquarters and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), Nigerians wait with baited animation as to how it will all end.

But, it appears to me that INEC is striving very hard to self-immolate and self-destruct. I plead with it to retrace its steps immediately.

Can there be More than One Primary Election for the Same Position?

Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, gives us a clue to the effect that, a political party can conduct more than one primary for an election. For ease of reference, Section 29 (1) of the Electoral Act provides: “Every political party shall, not later than 180 days before the date appointed for a general election under this Act, submit to the Commission, in the prescribed Forms, the list of the candidates the party proposes to sponsor at the elections, who must have emerged from valid primaries conducted by the political party.”

There are three key phrases in the section cited above. They are “valid primaries,”“list of candidates”, and the “candidates the party proposes to sponsor.” The phrase, “candidates the party proposes to sponsor at the elections’’ evinces an intention on the part of a political party, to have a “list of candidates” that emerge from “valid primaries”. The deadline for the actualisation of this intention, is 180 days before the conduct of the general election. It must be borne in mind that the organisation of primaries, is the business of the political party. INEC is however, the sole umpire. Once the political party gives notice of party primaries to INEC, INEC is legally obligated to honour the invitation.

INEC is not an aspirant for the election, and cannot therefore cry more than the bereaved.

The Electoral Act in Section 84(14) gives any aspirant who complains that any provisions of the Electoral Act and the guidelines of the political party have not been complied with in the selection and nomination of a candidate, the right to approach the Federal High Court for redress.

Powers of INEC to Disqualify a Candidate that Emerges from Invalid Primary or No Primary At All No express provision in the 2010 Electoral Act, gave INEC that power to reject or disqualify a candidate that emerged from an invalid primary.

The Electoral Act 2022 has now given INEC such power, in no uncertain terms. Section 84 (13) therefore is clear and unambiguous, as regards the powers of INEC to reject the candidate of any party that did not pass through the proper channel to emerge as a candidate.

For the avoidance of doubt, it provides thus: "Where a political party fails to comply with the provisions of this Act in the conduct of its primaries, its candidate for election shall not be included in the election for the particular position in issue."

Why does INEC Fight Recklessly to be Neckless?

There are three types of primary elections recognised in Section 84(2) of Electoral Act. They are direct, indirect and consensus primaries.

In direct primaries, all registered members of the party shall vote for the aspirants of their choice, at the designated venue for the elections.

The disadvantage of this mode of election is that, it is quite expensive and time consuming.

Adopting it however, gives every member of the party the opportunity to partake in the election process; thus, a sense of belonging.

In indirect primaries, elected delegates cast their votes for the aspirants of their choice. The National Executive Committee of the party, shall designate the centre/venue and date for the election. The Electoral Act is silent, on the

issue of time for the primaries. However, it is believed that the NEC of the party will usually specify the time for the election, and communicate same to INEC. Consensus candidacy requires the written consent of all the aspirants, indicating their voluntary withdrawal from the primary in support of the consensus candidate.

All these three modes of primaries, are valid. A political party can adopt any of them.

However, the catch is that failure or neglect to comply with the provisions of Section 84(13) cited above, is that the candidate who emerges from such invalid primary shall not be included by INEC in the election for the particular position in issue. This section, unlike the previous provisions of the Electoral Act, thus, gives INEC the express powers to reject the candidate of any political party, that fails to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act. INEC could however, not disqualify candidates under the 2010 Electoral Act. The power of INEC to screen and reject the candidate of a political party for failure to comply with the Act has however, always been recognised by the courts, even where the Electoral Act did not expressly provide for it.

The courts had reasoned that the provisions of the Constitution empowering INEC to regulate, observe and supervise elections in Nigeria would be in vain if INEC cannot, in exercise of that that power, reject a candidate who has not met the requirements of the Constitution.

The case of INEC v ACTION CONGRESS & ANOR (2007) LPELR-9028, where the Court of Appeal as follows, is apposite here: “See Adisa v Oyinwola (2000) 10 NWLR (Pt. 674) 116, 203-204. See also Section 32(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) and (6) of the 2010 Electoral Act, as amended. See also paragraph 15 of the Third Schedule and Section 137(1) of the 1999 Constitution… What is in contention is whether the Appellant, the body charged with the power to organise, undertake, and supervise all elections to the office of President, Vice President, etc, as well as carry out such other functions as may be conferred upon it by an Act of the National Assembly in pursuance of Paragraph 15 of the Third Schedule, can ensure the observance of the provisions of Section 137(1) of the Constitution? It is the view of the learned senior counsel for Appellant that it could. There is merit in the submission of the learned senior counsel for Appellant, since the maker of the Constitution would not make these provisions for the fun of it. I am of the firm view that if the Appellant decided to close its eyes to the infraction of the provisions of the Constitution, it

“What is now expected of INEC under the new dispensation, is to closely monitor the primaries of the political parties, and ensure that only candidates that emerge from a validly conducted primary are accepted by them as the candidate of the political party in question”

would be tantamount to abandoning the heavy responsibility placed on it by the provisions of the Constitution to wit to organise, undertake and supervise the conduct of a credible election. Apart from this constitutional power, it is inherent in Section 32, particularly Subsections (1) and (2) of the Electoral Act that the Appellant has a primary duty to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Constitution. It will be a mere circus show, for the Commission to be expected to go to court first to seek a declaration before treating the information supplied to it. The submission of the learned senior counsel for cross-Appellants, that screening of candidates is exclusive responsibility of the political parties in view of his reliance on the case of Ajadi v Ajibola (supra), a Court of Appeal decision which upheld the right of the Appellant to screen candidates, seriously undermines his position. For the avoidance of any doubt, having regard to the clear provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act discussed above, it is my considered view that the Appellant has the power and authority, not only to screen candidates sent to it by political parties, but to also remove the name of any candidate that failed to meet the criteria set out by the Constitution without having to go to Court".

In the above case, the court recognised the role of the INEC as the Umpire-General of all elections. The court also recognised the fact that, INEC is the one saddled with the responsibility to enforce the provisions of the Constitution relating to qualification for an election. Thus, if INEC were merely to observe and not reject a candidate that has failed to meet the constitutional requirement for qualification for an election, it would have meant that the provisions of the Constitution and the powers conferred on INEC are in vain.

The above case is quite significant, because it was decided at a time the powers of INEC to disqualify a candidate were not made so expressly stated in the Electoral Act. Now, such powers have been expressly donated to INEC in Section 84(13) of the Electoral Act, 2022, to reject a candidate who emerges from an invalid primary. In particular, INEC is now empowered in Section 84(13) to exclude such candidate from the list of candidates in the election. INEC can now declare a candidate unqualified for an election, and expunge his name.

INEC’S Expected Role What is now expected of INEC under the new dispensation, is to closely monitor the primaries of the political parties, and ensure that only candidates that emerge from a validly conducted primary are accepted by them as the candidate of the political party in question. There is thus, no room for the emergence of a candidate who has not participated in a party primary, as the candidate of the party in an election.

The close monitoring of primaries is usually achieved by INEC, by sending a team of monitors across the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT, to monitor the

party primaries nationwide. Speaking on how the INEC monitors party primaries, INEC’s spokesperson, Mr Festus Okoye, explained how INEC monitors party primaries. According to him, “There is supposed to be a team from the Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) Department from the headquarters that will go to the State, but the team will report to the REC who will head them because he is the most senior officer.

Only a team monitors party primaries, he said.

“There’s only one team from the Commission.

We don’t make any distinction between the team from the headquarters and the team from the State”, Mr. Okoye added. “For instance, in a Governorship primary, we send an Assistant Director or Deputy Director, or even a Director from the INEC headquarters. The Director will report to the REC who is the most senior officer in that particular State, and the REC will lead the team that will go and monitor the Governorship primary or Senatorial primary of a particular political party”.

At the end of the monitoring exercise, the officers of INEC monitors are expected to submit a report of that exercise to the INEC headquarters. Where the name of a candidate is submitted to INEC by a political party, it behooves INEC to check the names submitted to it by the political parties, and ensure that the names are the same with the names contained in the various reports of its State officers as the winners of the said primaries. If they are not the same persons that emerged for the primaries, then INEC should exercise its power in Section 84(13) of the Electoral Act, 2022 to reject the names. INEC undoubtedly, has the power to do so. That was what it did in Zamfara State when its power was not so express, where it declared that the APC had no candidate in the 2019 governorship election in Zamfara State, because no valid primary was conducted by the APC. In recognition of the powers of INEC to regulate the operations of political parties by taking decisions (including rejection of candidates), Section 285 (14)(C) of the 1999 Constitution grants political parties the right to challenge "... the actions, decisions or activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission disqualifying its candidate from participating in an election...." . Thus, under the Constitution and the 2022 Act, INEC has undoubted powers to reject candidates that did not emerge from primary. In OMAJALI v DAVID & ORS (2019) LPELR-49381, the Supreme Court held as follows: "In view of Section 87 of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended; I do not think it is correct to state or submit, in general terms, that the choice of who the political party's candidate is, is not justifiable. In a way, it is. When the choice of the candidate of a political party is done in flagrant disregard or violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act, the party Constitution and the Party Guidelines for the nomination of candidates for general elections, a dispute therefrom is justifiable."

What the Apex Court is saying, is that the right of the political party to select its own candidate for an election is not absolute. The selection of the candidate, must be through a valid primary. Where the candidate did not so emerge, the INEC is given the power to reject the candidate. (To be Continued)

VII

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

A Much Overdue Impetus for Change in the Administration of Justice in Nigeria The Question of Judicial Salaries and Pensions This article by Dr Chile Eboe-Osuji discusses the case brought by learned Senior Advocate, Chief Sebastine Hon, in respect of the ‘pay-freeze’ which Nigerian judicial officers have endured for 14 years, commending the judgement and orders of the trial Judge, Obaseki-Osaghae J. of the National Industrial Court. He also recommends amongst other things, that Government may want to adopt the Canadian model of periodic pay increases, for our judicial officers of the importance of adequate judicial salaries and pensions in Nigeria. This is because, the equivalent of Section 11(d) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is Section 36(1) of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended), which also guarantees for Nigerians the right to fair hearing before independent and impartial courts. Notably, Section 36(1) specifically guarantees that right - even in proceedings against “any government or authority”. It should, of course, escape no one that the “government or authority” contemplated in the provision often holds the proverbial yam and knife, as Igbo people would say, regarding matters of judicial salaries and pensions. It thus, puts in sharp focus the significance of judicial independence and impartiality that the provision guarantees as a constitutional right for all Nigerians. Hence, it becomes wholly unsatisfactory to leave to such “government or authority” an unfettered discretion over judicial salaries and pensions, which are critical elements of that basic norm of judicial independence and impartiality.

Background The recent judgement of the National Industrial Court in Hon v National Assembly & Others, is one of the most consequential judgements in the administration of justice in Nigeria.

The case was brought by Chief Sebastian Hon, SAN, complaining that the 14-year pay-freeze that Nigerian Judges have endured, violates the Constitution and must end. To that effect, immediate salary increases must be ordered in specified amounts for all levels of Judges on the payroll of the Federal Government.

Obaseki-Osaghae J, agreed.

Obaseki-Osaghae J's judgement, was very competently written. Above all, it is wholly consistent with international standards and the best practices of nations.

Proper Judicial Salary, Pension and the Wealth of Nations It is right to correct judicial compensation now. Adam Smith tells us why. In 1776, he published his famous book, The Wealth of Nations, which earned him the reputation of the chief guru of political economy. He was inquiring into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations. He also accounted for an independent and impartial judiciary, describing it as the most important economic factor. "[B]ut above all," he wrote "that equal and impartial administration of justice, which renders the rights of the meanest subject respectable to the greatest, and which, by securing to every man the fruits of his own industry, gives the greatest and most effectual encouragement to every sort of industry."

"Commerce and manufactures", he explained, "can seldom flourish long in any State which does not enjoy a regular administration of justice; in which the people do not feel themselves secure in the possession of their property; in which the faith of contracts is not supported by law; and in which the authority of the State is not supposed to be regularly employed, in enforcing the payment of debts from all those who are able to pay."

These considerations give value to Adam Smith's view that, the proper expenses for the administration of justice "may no doubt be considered as laid out for the benefit of the whole society".

Centuries later, Professor Martin Friedland of the University of Toronto, wrote that the ultimate reason that Judges must be afforded financial security through adequate salaries and pensions, is not for their own benefit. It is "for the benefit of the public".

Obaseki-Osaghae J's judgement, is entirely consistent with the views of both Adam Smith and Professor Friedland. For the sake of the entire system, it is critical to stabilise the Judiciary as a matter of priority. A Judiciary thus stabilised, will, in turn, as it is their job, help to stabilise the rest of society, so that all its members can pursue their fullest potentials.

Then again, the appeal to Adam Smith’s and Martin Friedland’s formula, assumes that all the comparators in the country are in the same boat. But, is it truly the case that all the functionaries in the three branches of government are suffering from the same kinds and levels of deprivations that the Judiciary has endured?

If it is only the Judiciary that has been left to languish in personal penury and institutional indigence, then the case for immediate correction becomes unassailable and urgent indeed.

Jurisprudence of Eminent Courts from Around the World Technically, too, the judgement in Hon v National Assembly, is perfectly in line with judgements of the most eminent courts who have dealt with this question.

In unison, they have found financial security to be a critical element of judicial independence and impartiality.

Financial security reasonably insulates Judges, from undue venal influence and pressure that compromise independence and impartiality. The Supreme Court of Canada said so in Reference re Remuneration of Judges of the Provincial Court of Prince Edward Island, and earlier in R v Beauregard. So did the

Dr Chile Eboe-Osuji US Supreme Court in US v Hatter, the High Court of Australia in Austin v Commonwealth, and the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Justice in Associação Sindical dos Juízes Portugueses v Tribunal de Contas.

Standards-Setting International Instruments Hon v National Assembly is also consistent with prominent international instruments that have stressed the value of financial security for Judges, as a critical element of their independence. Amongst them are the “United Nations Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary”,the “Universal Declaration of the Independence of Justice” (known for short as the Montreal Declaration), the “IBA Minimum Standards of Judicial Independence”, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe’s “2010 Recommendation on Judges: Independence, Efficiency and Responsibilities”, the “European Charter on the Statute of Judges”, the “Commonwealth (Latimer House) Principles”, and “Appointment, Tenure and Removal of Judges Under Commonwealth Principles: Compendium and Analysis of Best Practices”.

Regarding the European documents, one can readily anticipate the raising of the eyebrows, by those who will be thinking of the leading economic power houses of Europe, silently asking whether Nigeria can compare. But, the European documents are directed at all the nations of Europe - including Eastern Europe.

Nigeria’s GDP is bigger than that of many western European countries (including Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Portugal, Greece, Luxembourg and Iceland), and that of any East European nation except Poland. As indicated earlier, the Judiciary

“For, the victims of the penury of Judges and the general indigence of the Judiciary, are not the Judges alone. The real victims are ultimately justice itself, and the society that it must serve”

cannot be the only branch of government that is left to languish in the malaise of the “Giant of Africa”, when functionaries of the other branches are remunerated at levels that compare with what obtains in Europe, if not far better.

In any event, the Commonwealth to which Nigeria belongs, also has standards-setting documents that say the same thing. And, there are countries in Africa and the Caribbean - none of them wealthier than Nigeria - that are living up to those standards.

Constitutional Law and Access to Justice Within the Commonwealth, a leading case law on judicial salaries and pensions, is the Canadian Supreme Court judgement in Reference Remuneration of the Judges of Provincial Court of Prince Edward Island. It shares important parallels with Hon v National Assembly. They both articulate the matter of adequate remuneration of Judges as a requirement of constitutional law, particularly under the general rubric of "peace, order and good government".

But, there is another important constitutional angle from which the Canadian Supreme Court approached its judgement. It was from the angle of Section 11(d) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, dealing with the right to fair trial.

On that account, the Supreme Court of Canada held that considering citizens’ right to fair trial before an "independent and impartial" criminal court, inadequacy of judicial salary and pension, which compromises those basic norms of justice, is a violation of that constitutional right.

Hon v National Assembly appeared not to have been argued on the additional basis of the right of Nigerian citizens, to have their cases tried by independent and impartial courts. The focus rather, was on the perfectly sensible and admirable interest that Chief Hon, SAN (and other eminent Nigerian Barristers) should rightly have, in serving on a properly remunerated Judiciary for the benefit of the nation.

But, it must also be considered that, the further reasoning of the Supreme Court of Canada in Reference Remuneration of Judges of Provincial Court of Prince Edward Island is of persuasive authority, in any appreciation

Justice Must Not Only be Done, but Must Also be Seen to be Done "Indeed, Justices and Judges who man the Temple of Justice, are themselves victims of a great injustice.

What an irony!" Obaseki-Osaghae J lamented.

But, indeed, that was a modest observation. For, the victims of the penury of Judges and the general indigence of the Judiciary, are not the Judges alone. The real victims are ultimately justice itself, and the society that it must serve. Space prevents fuller elaboration.

It is enough, though, to recall the famous maxim that justice must not only be done; it must also be seen to be done. And, one can readily see how the penury of the Judiciary - in their capacity as one of the three branches of the government - victimises justice itself and the society as a whole. The picture is clear enough, from this observation of the Canadian Supreme Court in Reference re Remuneration of Judges of the Provincial Court of Prince Edward Island: "Public confidence in the independence of the Judiciary would be undermined, if Judges were paid at such a low rate that they could be perceived as susceptible to political pressure through economic manipulation, as is witnessed in many countries".

There are stories of retired Nigerian Judges - including those from the Supreme Court - dying in abject poverty.

Stories of litigants giving lifts to Magistrates, at the end of court hearings. How easily will the public to see that justice is being done? More so, when Judges are constrained to render judgement, as they must at times, against people who are neither wealthy nor powerful.

Recommendations In conclusion, the judgement in Hon v National Assembly is a much overdue impetus, for the improvement of the Nigerian Judiciary. In a way, it is only the starting point.

In that regard, I strongly make the following recommendations. First, Government should accept the judgement, in the same way that the Attorney-General of the US accepted the judgment in United States v Beer (2012), where a similar judgement was rendered that brought to an end, a long-standing pay freeze of the US Federal Judiciary in 2014.

Second, the principle in Hon v National Assembly should also extend to judicial pensions, and not salaries alone. This is because financial security includes, not only protecting Judges from worries about how to make ends meet during their terms of office, but also worries about how to make ends meet during retirement.

Third, the Canadian model of periodic pay increases for Judges, should be closely studied and followed.

The model comprises minor annual increases linked to the national consumer price index, but with a major review every four years, to see whether there is a need for a pay raise beyond the annual minor increases.

The major review is conducted by a dedicated Judicial Compensations Commission that is “objective, effective and independent”.

Finally, during the periodic major reviews before the Judicial Compensation Commission, it is the Canadian Bar Association that represents the interest of Judges in urging major increases. The Nigerian Bar Association should play a similar role. And, lastly, the upgrading of the Judiciary should start immediately, based on the order in Hon v National Assembly. But, it shouldn’t end there.

Dr Chile Eboe-Osuji, former President of the International Criminal Court

VIII

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

COVER

2022 AGC TCCP Chairman, Tobenna Erojikwe

‘2022 AGC Will be an Unforgettable Experience for Lawyers’ Africa’s largest professional body, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is set to host its 62nd Annual General Conference (AGC) in Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, Lagos from 19th to 26th of August, 2022. With over 30,000 Conferees expected to attend both physically and virtually, this year’s Conference promises to surpass the previous ones. In a chat with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi, the 2022 Conference Planning Committee Chairman, Tobenna Erojikwe explains why this year’s Conference is a must attend for Nigerian Lawyers. He went further to explain the choice of world acclaimed award-winning Nigerian author, Chimamanda Adichie as Keynote Speaker, the highlights of the Conference including the entertainment lined up for Lawyers to relax, and why the NBA is partnering with Meta (owners of Facebook) to power the Conference

T

he Nigerian Bar Association is holding its 62nd Annual General Conference in Eko Atlantic City, Lagos from 19th to 26th of August, 2022.

Lagos at this time of the year is known to be a logistics nightmare, given the incessant rains occasioning impossible traffic to the Victoria Island axis. As Chairman of the Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP), what are your plans to tackle these challenges? Do you plan to provide viewing centres outside of VI, like Ikeja, Surulere, Epe, Ikorodu and Badagry?

The 62nd Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), is a legacy conference for the Olumide Akpata administration of the NBA. The administration has paid great attention to social mobility amongst its members, and has promoted inclusiveness. With this in mind, we have designed the Conference to interest all members of the profession, regardless of their location or jurisdiction. It is thus, not surprising that we have seen an unprecedented number of persons registering for the Conference.

Regarding logistics, let me quickly say that notwithstanding

“The AGC is perhaps, the most important event in the annual calendar of the NBA, and is an event of significant interest nationally and internationally.….As far as Conference structure is concerned, our aim is to ensure that value is created throughout the Conference”

the challenges you allude to, Lagos remains one of the most friendly places to host an event of such magnitude, that can cater to the desires of members of the legal profession. We have also made efforts to address some of the logistical issues that Conference delegates may otherwise have to contend with. For instance, we have partnered with a logistics company to identify and assist Conference delegates with booking hotels that are in close proximity to the Conference venue, at hugely discounted rates. We are also making arrangements for transportation of delegates to ease movement to and from the Conference venue.

You must also note that we are hosting the Conference in a Centre that is being specifically designed for the Conference, and we would like all Conference delegates who have indicated interest in attending the Conference, in person, to enjoy the optimum experience that

we are curating for them at the Eko Atlantic City.

That said, for persons who for one reason or the other will not be able to make it to the Eko Atlantic City, we have also carefully invested in creating a wholesome virtual experience such that anyone unable to physically attend the Conference can experience the it from the comfort of their homes or offices. In this regard, we have partnered with notable technology companies including Meta (owners of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) to deliver a digital experience that competes with physically attending the Conference. This obviates the need to set up viewing centres in other parts of Lagos, or indeed, any other parts of the country. All that needs to be done is to register for virtual attendance, and log in when the Conference commences. Virtual participation is also available to all delegates who are registered for the Conference, and we have made provisions for 30,000 delegates to participate virtually.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

'2022 AGC Will be an Unforgettable Experience for Lawyers’ Kindly, speak to the theme of this year’s Conference, ‘Bold Transitions’.

What does it mean? What is the message? Does the theme have any connection with Meta, with whom NBA is partnering with for the Conference? What is the correlation?

Agreeing a theme for the Conference was the first task that members of the TCCP had to deal with, and we decided on ‘Bold Transitions’ after a very robust conversation amongst ourselves. In our view, the AGC must speak to the current realities of our time and seek to find solutions to the challenges that we encounter, as we navigate through the various issues that confront us daily as Lawyers in Nigeria. The theme recognises the fact that we are confronted by phenomenal change every day, as a result of amazing creativity and innovation across the globe which affect us every day.

As you know, we are confronted by many positively disruptive situations that we are compelled to adapt to, or go extinct. We are in a world that is confronted by various transitions, from energy transitions to technology transitions, as well as transitions in the Nigerian political and democratic space.

Most importantly, the theme recognises the various ground-breaking achievements of the Olumide Akpata administration of the NBA which has seen the NBA repositioned, with an emphasis on ensuring that its members are equipped with the right mentality and training to confront the future that they will of necessity have to deal with. The theme celebrates innovative schemes like the creation of an NBA Stabilisation Fund, the Access to Finance Scheme, the introduction of an affordable health insurance scheme, the various free trainings and career development initiatives driven by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, amongst others.

The theme recognises the fact that this would be the last Conference of the Akpata administration, and that there would be a change of guard at the NBA immediately after the Conference. It is a call on members of the NBA to confront the challenges that they face, boldly, and to lead on those inevitable realities that confront us daily. It is a call on the NBA and its members to be at the forefront of creating the change that they want to see. Everything else about the Conference flows from the theme: the choice of keynote speaker, the collaborations, the location and the topics to be discussed.

The theme for the Conference does not directly have anything to do with Meta, but it appears to resonate with the Meta team and must be one of the reasons why they are working with us on the technology discussions at the Conference. Without a doubt, technology is critical to driving bold transitions, because technology helps to connect people, and we have seen this in motion in different countries, including here in Nigeria in the recent

2022 AGC TCCP Chairman, Tobenna Erojikwe

past, when we had the #EndSARS protest. At its core, the protests showed us that technology can be used to drive social change by connecting people. This is similar to our theme, Bold Transitions, and I believe this aligns with the Meta vision statement.

The world acclaimed Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Adichie, is the Keynote Speaker at the Conference. What informed the decision to pick a non-Lawyer to speak to Lawyers at the Association’s flagship event? Who are some of the other Speakers lined up and the topics? What are some of the breakout sessions?

What are the highlights of the Conference?

The AGC is perhaps, the most important event in the annual calendar of the NBA, and is an event of significant interest nationally and internationally. Historically, we have had non-Lawyers as keynote speakers at our Conference, including last year when we had Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah as speaker.

As you may know, Ms Adichie’s views on contemporary issues are well regarded across the globe, and she has delivered very well received speeches at many notable Law Schools including, Harvard University and Yale University.

Most importantly, the call on our profession to make Bold Transitions, suggests that we may have been shy on taking initiative previously.

From Ghandi to Mandela, Clinton to Blair and Obama, Lawyers have always been major drivers of change globally. It is our view that in order to set the tone for this call to action, an honest interrogation of the state

“In this regard, we have partnered with notable technology companies including Meta (owners of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) to deliver a digital experience that competes with physically attending the Conference”

of play and expectations of us by society would be a great way to kickstart a stimulating series of conversations.

As far as Conference structure is concerned, our aim is to ensure that value is created throughout the Conference. The Sessions are divided into three - Day 1 is termed ‘Nigeria in Transition’ - Day 2 is - ‘The Legal Profession in Transition’ and Day 3 is - ‘Focus on NBA Sections, Fora and Institutes’.

Day 1 topics recognise the role of law in society and deals with issues that are fundamental to our existence as citizens of Nigeria, and specifically, as Lawyers in the polity. There will be two plenary sessions every day on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and eight breakout sessions.

For the first plenary, we have invited the leading Presidential candidates for the forthcoming presidential elections in Nigeria, including Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Peter Obi to speak on Democratic transitions.

The second plenary will focus on Energy Transitions and its potential effect on the Nigerian Federation. We have invited the Governors of Lagos State, Anambra State and Nasarawa State, and also expect Ibe Kachikwu and Adesua Dozie to be on that panel. We are excited about the schedule of events for Day 2 of the Conference. Day 2 presents the legal profession with a unique opportunity to look at its objectives and have a conversation regarding the state of play with issues like regulation of the profession, review of the rules of professional conduct, ethics, financing and finances of the Association, Justice delivery, security agencies brutality against Lawyers, amongst others. Our view is that the Conference must focus on real issues, especially as there is no platform where Nigerian Lawyers have an opportunity to discuss matters that

affect them.

The first plenary session on Day 2 is tagged ‘A Conversation with the Presidents’ and will have the current President, Mr Olumide Akpata, incoming President, Mr YC Maikyau, SAN, past President, Mr Paul Usoro, SAN and past President, Mr AB Mahmoud, SAN on the panel. The past Presidents on the panel were selected in order of succession, and it is expected that their experience will bring some perspective to the conversation and help the incoming President put things in perspective.

In addition to the enlightening discussions expected at the plenary sessions, the breakout sessions will drill down on key thematic issues that concern the profession and the Nigerian society at large. One of the sessions on Day 1 will be anchored

by Meta and will explore the different ways in which technology is shaping the future and how lawyers can adapt to the changing times.

Another session will examine the changes to international trade as a result of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and how Nigerian lawyers can build capacity to service a globalised economy. Also on Day1, we will have one breakout session that explores the emerging issues in the adoption of financial technology in a developing nation like Nigeria while another breakout session will x-ray the security issues facing the Nigerian federation.

There will be four breakout sessions on Day 2, all of which have been designed to revolve around the development of individual legal practitioners and collective growth of the legal profession in Nigeria.

One of the breakout sessions will look into the options we have in building a respectable Bar and touch on some of the recent issues we have had to contend with when it comes to regulating the legal profession in Nigeria. A second breakout session will drill further down to the process of making a fit-for-purpose lawyer by causing us to reflect on the state of legal education in Nigeria. Relatedly, cont'd on page X

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COVER

'2022 AGC Will be an Unforgettable Experience for Lawyers’ cont'd from page IX

a third breakout session will focus on Legal Ethics and Etiquettes as we seek to restore the dignity of the legal profession in Nigeria.

One key issue that we will also deal with during one of the breakout sessions is the issue of lawyers’ welfare, remuneration and earning capacity. It has dominated discussions in many fora in recent times especially during the recently concluded NBA elections and we believe that the AGC provides a great platform for us to further examine the report of the NBA Remuneration Committee and the White Paper Committee set up to evaluate the recommendations of the Remuneration Committee.

Yet another breakout session that conference delegates should look forward to is one on Technology and the Law: Creating a Digital NBA. This session will look at some of the initiatives of the current NBA administration in accelerating the use of technology within the legal profession and how we can further build on current efforts.

For persons who want to know what the NBA has been doing to address brutality and harassment of lawyers by security agencies, they may want to pay attention to the breakout session we have designed specifically for that purpose and it promises to be a frank discussion.

We will have representatives of the security agencies and lawyers who have been in the forefront of challenging the menace of abuse of office to shed light on the issue.

The last breakout session on Day 2 will help all lawyers to better understand how to take advantage of the NBA Access to Finance Scheme.

The scheme is one of the most important initiatives of the Olumide Akpata-led NBA and the purpose of establishing the scheme can only be achieved when lawyers understand the rationale for the initiative and how to access funding under the scheme.

So, I urge everyone attending the conference to pay close attention to that particular session.

In addition to the plenary and breakout sessions I have talked about above, the different Sections, Fora and Institutes of the NBA will also get the opportunity to anchor sessions that deal with various issues confronting the legal profession and the country, on Day 3 of the Conference. Some of those issues to be addressed include gender parity, building sustainable regulatory institutions, ensuring consistency in judicial pronouncements, as well as health and well being. Thus, in all, I am confident that everyone attending the Conference will greatly benefit from the topics and speakers that we have lined up to feature on the different days of the Conference.

What concessions are available for Young Lawyers to make the Conference expenses more affordable for them? For one, Hotels

2022 AGC TCCP Chairman, Tobenna Erojikwe

on the Island are priced out of the reach of young Lawyers who basically form the greater percentage of Conferees. For those who might be taking up cheaper and more affordable accommodation on the mainland, what transport arrangements are in place for them and at what cost?

The cost of running the AGC has become a very big issue. Being mindful of the current economic climate and the hardship faced

by Nigerians, the TCCP took the view that it would not increase the fees paid for the AGC and maintained the fees that were charged in 2019, despite inflation and the rapid depreciation of the Naira. We know young Lawyers constitute the greater percentage of Conference attendees, as you mention, and will therefore, be the biggest beneficiaries of the concession we have made by retaining the Conference fees that were charged in 2019. We have also gone a step further, to reduce the fees for virtual attendance. Thus, many young Lawyers who may not be able to attend the Conference physically, will pay even less to have access to an optimal digital Conference experience that we are making available this year. Let me stress that we are enhancing the virtual conference experience this year, and those who attend the Conference virtually will have almost the same experience as those attending the Conference physically.

On accommodation, we have a partnership with a logistics company through which we are providing premium accommodation

“In our view, the AGC must speak to the current realities of our time, and seek to find solutions to the challenges that we encounter as we navigate through the various issues that confront us daily as Lawyers in Nigeria”

at subsidised rates for Conference attendees, including young Lawyers. So, young Lawyers attending the Conference are enjoined to take advantage of the initiative.

Additionally, and as I have mentioned before, we are making arrangements for transportation to aid the movement of Conference delegates from the Conference venue to their hotels. The details of the arrangement will be circulated in due course.

All work and no play, makes Jack a dull Lawyer. What package is in place for fun and entertainment? Music, live shows, sight seeing, tourism, etc? How will your Committee project the true spirit of ‘Eko for Show’? Especially events that could involve non-Lawyer spouses?

We have designed the entire Conference experience to be a unique one, for all who attend the Conference. In essence, we are creating a Conference village and there will be so much to savour right from the opening of the AGC Friendship Centre on Sunday, in the course of which we will be having auditions for various talents, for which we have engaged notable musician, Illbliss as the Creative Director.

Mind you, this is the first time we will be having such auditions as part of the NBA Conference, and the idea behind it is to create a highly interactive and vibrant social experience, right from the opening of the Friendship Centre till the closing party on Wednesday.

The areas we are looking at for the talent show include music, comedy, dance and poetry. We expect the auditions to throw up delightful talents who will go on to showcase their talents at the Conference, which will add to the entertainment at the Conference, whilst also putting the participants in the limelight; and there is no telling how far they can go from there.

In addition, there are already plans in place to have a production that showcases Lagos, and this is in tune with what you have described as the true spirit of ‘Eko for Show’.

More so, Conference delegates

will also get the opportunity to tour the Eko Atlantic City, in addition to benefiting from the sights and sounds of the recreational area. Without a doubt, these events are open to Lawyers and their spouses who are registered to attend the Conference.

In addition to the things I have mentioned above, let me also point out that the Conference venue will have a multi-faith area for prayers, a sporting arena and a creche for babies.

These are just some of the things we are putting in place, to create a wholesome Conference experience for everyone who is attending.

Speak to us about security.

These are not easy times in terms of security. To what extent are security agencies involved in this Conference?

We are quite conscious of the security implications of hosting over 13,000 people in one location, and have made adequate arrangements to ensure the safety of everyone attending the Conference. We are working closely with all the security agencies and the Lagos State Government, to ensure that we have an adequate number of security operatives drawn from multiple agencies to secure the Conference venue.

For physical attendees, what plans do you have for Conference materials, which has always been a huge challenge over the years? Many Lawyers end up not getting their Conference materials for many weeks and even months after Conference?

Last year, we adopted a system that ensured that Conference delegates received their Conference materials in good time, and we are looking to improve upon that experience this year. We are working on reducing the time spent between arrival at the Conference venue and collection of the Conference materials to less than 10 minutes. Everyone who has registered for the Conference will be adequately and promptly attended to, as far as the collection of Conference materials is concerned.

What Continuous Legal Education Points are accruable to Conferees from the AGC? This is important to most Lawyers.

There will be a total of 24 NBA Institute of Continuing Legal Education points allotted to every Conference delegate, relative to the number of sessions attended.

2.8.2022

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XII

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

Russia Imposes Travel Ban on Dozens More Prominent Britons Ten years ago, when Phnom Penh last held the chair, foreign ministers failed to issue a joint communique for the first time in ASEAN’s 45-year history after Cambodia objected to mentioning China and its confrontations with the Philippines and Vietnam in the South China Sea. It was considered a major diplomatic blunder for the host nation, and divisions have emerged ever since with Cambodia, a major benefactor of Beijing’s largesse, often seen by observers as a Chinese proxy within the group.

Russia announced sanctions Monday against dozens of British politicians, officials and public figures, accusing them of supporting the “demonisation” of the country.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said 39 Britons would be banned from entering the country, joining more than 200 other British nationals that Moscow has already banned.

The latest additions include opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, former Prime Minister David Cameron and TV presenter Piers Morgan.

The British government has been a strong supporter of Ukraine since Russia invaded the country at the end of February.

Most of Britain’s leading politicians have already been banned from travelling to Russia.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Monday the newly sanctioned Britons “contribute to the hostile course of London aimed at the demonisation of our country and its international isolation.

In a separate move Monday, the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office designated a British nonprofit group, Calvert 22, as an “undesirable” organisation.

The group was founded in 2009 by Russiaborn economist Nonna Materkova. It supports art and culture projects about Russia and eastern Europe.

Mali’s Government Lashes Out at Macron

US Issues Fresh Iran Sanctions, Targets Chinese, UAE Firms The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on Chinese and other companies it said were used by one of Iran’s largest petrochemical brokers to sell tens of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian products to East Asia, as Washington continues to crack down on Iranian oil sales to the region.

The US Treasury Department, in a statement, accused the designated companies of being used by Iran’s Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industry Commercial Co. to facilitate the sale of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products from Iran to East Asia.

The United States imposed sanctions on four companies from Hong Kong, one from the United Arab Emirates, and one from Singapore on Monday, according to the Treasury website, the latest salvo in its stepped-up effort to enforce US sanctions designed to slash Iran’s revenues from oil and petrochemicals.

The action freezes any US-based assets and generally bars Americans from dealing with them. Those that engage in certain transactions with the firms also risk being hit by sanctions.

Since taking office in January 2021, US President Joe Biden has been reluctant to sanction Chinese entities engaged in the oil and petrochemical trade with Iran due to hopes of securing an agreement to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Efforts to resurrect the deal - under which Iran had curbed its nuclear program in exchange for relief from US and other sanctions - have so far failed, leading the US administration to look for other ways to increase pressure on Iran.

“The United States continues to pursue the path of diplomacy to achieve a mutual return to full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action,” the Treasury’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson, said in the statement, referring to the 2015 deal by its formal name.

Ukrainian Grain Shipments Resume from Odesa Grain shipments from Ukraine’s port of Odesa resumed Monday, the first since Russia invaded its neighbour in late February.

The Sierra Leone-flagged cargo ship Razoni was the first to leave port, carrying more than 26,000 tons of corn bound for Lebanon. In a statement, Turkey’s defence ministry said other unspecified ships would also depart Ukraine on Monday.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the Razoni was “loaded with two commodities in short supply: corn, and hope. Hope for millions of people around the world who depend on the smooth running of Ukraine’s ports to feed their families.”

He added, “What we’ve witnessed today in Odesa is an important starting point.

It must be the first of many commercial ships bringing relief and stability to global food markets.”

Guterres said that “ensuring that grain, fertilizers, and other food-related items are available at reasonable prices to developing countries is a humanitarian imperative.

People on the verge of famine need these agreements to work to survive.”

As part of the renewed shipments, Guterres said the UN’s World Food Program plans to buy 30,000 metric tons of Ukrainian wheat soon and ship it out of the country on a UN-chartered vessel.

Turkey and the UN brokered an agreement with Russia and Ukraine in late July to get grain exports going again amid a global food crisis that the United Nations says has been worsened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

yanmar Junta Chief to Extend Emergency Rule for 6 Months The head of Myanmar’s junta, Min Aung Hlaing, will extend the state of emergency in the country for a further six months, state media said on Monday, reporting that the junta’s national defence and security council had given its approval.

The junta first declared a state of emergency after seizing power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup in February last year.

“The members (of the security council) unanimously supported the proposal to extend the period of the declared state of emergency for another six months,” the Global New Light of Myanmar reported.

“In our country, we must continue to strengthen the ‘genuine and disciplined multi-party democratic system’ which is the desire of the people,” the paper cited Min Aung Hlaing as saying.

Myanmar has been in chaos since the coup, with conflict spreading across the Southeast Asian country after the army crushed mostly peaceful protests in cities.

The junta said it had taken power because of voting fraud in a November 2020 general election easily won by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s party. Election monitoring groups found no evidence of mass fraud.

Brutal Gang Rape Shocks South Africa A South African court on Monday began proceedings against more than 80 people

arrested after the brazen gang rape of eight women. The women were filming a music video last week when masked, armed men attacked them.

Women’s rights activists protested outside the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court against the high rates of gender violence in South Africa as dozens of men detained in sweeping arrests in the aftermath of the incident were set to appear in court.

No one has yet been charged with rape, and police investigations into the incident are continuing.

Eight women were raped and robbed while shooting a video in the mining area of Krugersdorp outside Johannesburg last Thursday, Police Ministry spokeswoman Lirandzu Themba told VOA. They were approached by men wearing balaclavas, firing guns in the air and raped multiple times.

“On Sunday, the police minister Bheki Cele met six of the eight survivors of the gang rape that has shocked the country,” said Themba.

The youngest of the women was just 19, Cele said after the meeting. “Let me tell you; they’re quite traumatised.

They’re not in a good shape, mentally or otherwise.”

Local media reported that many of those arrested were believed to be illegal miners, known here as zama-zamas and that some had also been arrested for being illegal immigrants from neighbouring countries.

Two suspects were killed during the shootout with police last Thursday.

Myanmar, South China Sea to Divide, Dominate ASEAN Summit F oreign Ministers from the 10-member Asiation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will try and thrash out their differences, ranging from the conflict in Myanmar to the disputed South China Sea to admitting East Timor to the bloc, when they meet in Phnom Penh, Cambodia this week.

Bradley Murg, a senior adviser to the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, said the Philippines is expected to raise the South China Sea issue under new President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is reasserting Manila’s 2016 arbitration award over China at The Hague. That ruling invalidated Beijing’s territorial claims in the waterway.

Mali’s military government has lashed out at French President Emmanuel Macron, accusing him of having a “neo-colonial” attitude and stirring up ethnic hatred.

Government spokesperson Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga read the official statement on Mali’s state TV and radio station ORTM and posted it to the station’s Facebook page.

Maiga referenced statements made by French President Emmanuel Macron on the situation in Mali during Macron’s visit to Guinea-Bissau, the last stop in a tour of West Africa in which he pledged support to several countries in the fight against extremism.

The transition government demands President Macron to abandon his neocolonial, paternalistic and condescending stance definitively,” Maida said in French.

Maiga also called Macron’s remarks, in which he deplored “systemic violence” targeting the Fulani population,” “hateful and defamatory,” saying they are “likely to arouse ethnic hatred” in Mali.

Malian and French armies have been accused of violence against the Fulani community in recent years during antiterrorism operations. The UN accused France of killing 19 civilians during an airstrike on the Fulani village of Bounti, Mali, in 2021, and human rights organizations have accused the Malian army of arbitrarily killing dozens of men from the Fulani ethnic group on several occasions.

Maiga also called Macron’s remarks expressing concern over the presence of Wagner mercenaries in Mali “erroneous accusations.”

Pelosi Visits Singapore Amid Speculation on Taiwan Stop US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived Monday in Singapore for a two-day visit, leading a congressional delegation to Asia amid speculation the trip could include a stop in Taiwan.

Singapore’s Foreign Ministry said Pelosi would meet with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and other officials.

In a statement Sunday, Pelosi said she is leading a group of five other Democratic Party lawmakers to Asia “to reaffirm America’s strong and unshakeable commitment to our allies and friends in the region.”

She did not mention whether she would defy China by stopping in Taiwan on the trip that has Malaysia, South Korea and Japan among the US delegation’s scheduled visits.

US media reports Friday suggested Pelosi was tentatively planning to stop in Taiwan. Pelosi has indirectly spoken about such a possibility, even though her office has not confirmed it, citing security protocols.

It would be the highest-level US visit to Taiwan since 1997 when former House Speaker Newt Gingrich led a congressional delegation there.

China had repeatedly warned Pelosi’s trip would be an unacceptable violation of what it sees as its sovereignty over the self-ruled island.

Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a civil war, with the defeated nationalist forces fleeing to Taiwan and setting up a government that later grew into a vibrant democracy.

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY Ͱ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

IMAGES

XIII Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com

L-R: Director, Research and Development, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Ismail Adedigba; staff member of the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna, Niger State, Dr. Caroline Alenoghena; Executive Director, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, 9Mobile, Abdulrahman Ado; Executive Vice Chairman/ CEO, NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Dambatta; Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, NCC, Mr. Ubale Ahmed Maska; and Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Kabir Bala, during a recent NCC consultative forum held in Kano with the academia on innovative research and commercialisation

A cross-section of lju Irewolede Cooperative Thrift and Credit Society members during their 25th Silver Jubilee and Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos…recently PHOTO: DAN UKANA

L-R: Interim Administrator, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Effiong Akwa; Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Obong Umana Umana; and Permanent Secretary, NDDC, Olusesan Abeyi, during a media briefing after a two-day management retreat organised by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja...recently PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI

L-R: National CGO of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Province 19, Pastor Paul Alonge; Assistance Provincial Pastor (Admin), Lagos Province 19, Pastor Olayemi Rasaqi; Pastor in charge of RCCG, More Than Conqueror Area, Pastor David Olayemi; wife of pastor in charge of the Area, Assistance Pastor Oluwaseyi Olayemi; and Pastor in charge of RCCG, Sure Foundation Zone, Pastor Segun Bamidele, during the 12th anniversary of RCCG, More Than Conqueror Area, in Lagos…recently

L-R: Deputy Director, Legal Department, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Bernard Ebe; Director, Investment Management, SEC, Mr. Tunde Kamali; and Director of Registration, Exchanges and Market Infrastructure/ Fintech, SEC, Mr. Abdulkadir Abbas, at the National Assembly in Abuja...recently

Ekiti State Governor-elect, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (left), and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo (right), at the final burial ceremony of late Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Oba Ademola Ajakaiye, in Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti State…recently

L-R: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri; CEO, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), Mr. Temi Popoola; Director-General, Debt Management Office (DMO) Nigeria, Ms. Patience Oniha; CEO, Chapel Hill Denham, Mr. Bolaji Balogun; Director, Financial Markets, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), DJ Yanfa; Director, Market Development, DMO, Mr. Monday Usiade; Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Capital; Mr. Funso Akere; Group Executive Director, Vetiva Capital Management Limited, Mr. Damilola Ajayi; and Divisional Head, Business Support Services, NGX, Mrs. Irene Robinson-Ayanwale, during the Closing Gong Ceremony to commemorate the listing of the Triple-Tranche of $4.00 billion Eurobonds, $1.25 billion Eurobonds, and N250billion Sukuk on NGX in Lagos...recently

XIV

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY Ͱ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

FEATURES

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

Tackling Gripping Terror Siege on Abuja Kingsley Nwezeh looks at the tense security situation in the nation's seat of power, the terror attacks, the efforts of security forces to contain rampaging non-state actors and government's new security strategy

President Buhari

L

ike other parts of Nigeria, terror groups, Boko Haram and the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP) are fighting hard to establish a stronghold in the Abuja, the nation's seat of power.

With a daring attack penultimate week on Kuje Correctional Center and the release of 600 inmates including 64 Boko Haram members held in the prison facility, the insurgents have, undoubtedly, become more emboldened.

They have celebrated this seeming feat by engaging presidential guards and killing officers and soldiers of the Brigade of Guards in the Bwari Area Council of Abuja, forcing the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) to order the closure of schools.

Following the development, the Nigerian Law School in Bwari had to move its graduation ceremony to another safer area inside the city while the Federal Ministry of Education announced the closure of unity schools in the territory.

Neighbouring Nasarawa State also ordered the closure of all schools in the state as a proactive measure.

But the terrorists have not stopped at that.

On Thursday last week, they attacked a military checkpoint around Zuma Rock Resort in Mandala near Abuja and engaged soldiers in a prolonged, all night shootout. The insurgents succeeded in killing one soldier.

Threat to Kidnap President Buhari, Governor el-Rufai The terror groups, Boko Haram and the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP), having successfully rescued their colleagues in Kuje Prison, set the ball rolling with a threat to abduct President Muhammadu Buhari and Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai.

But prior to that, they had also attacked an advance convoy of the president in Katsina.

Speaking on the threat in Kaduna, the Kaduna State governor wondered how bold terrorists had become to threaten to abduct the Nigerian president.

“I also heard about a video where they threatened to abduct Buhari and myself. I have been warned to be careful including my families too. How can we be in a country with soldiers, police and federal government but some terrorists will be threatening to abduct the president? “ If in the past those in government think this is a joke and see it as only happening in Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger, it’s now at home and we must rise up to deal with these people.

“This is why I met with the president and told him about these problems. I also told him about the video because up to that day he was not even aware. I told him and the following day Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, also confirmed to him that he saw the video too so as to take action", he said.

He said Buhari informed him “that he met

Service Chiefs with the service chiefs three to four days before our meeting and that he gave them a clear directive to have a comprehensive military operation to deal with those people.”

He restated his recommendation that the Nigerian security forces should carry out a carpet bombing in forests in the North to end banditry.

“We hope God willing, the soldiers and police that were given the directives will hasten up to finish the job. We don’t have to wait until they strike before we respond.

"They (soldiers) must go after them wherever they are to deal with them. The truth is we are worried about the security situation but we hope the federal government will do the right thing", he said.

Avalanche of Intelligence Reports, Security Alerts With the escape of 64 Boko Haram suspects from Kuje Prison, it was clear that very dangerous men had been let loose. The escaped insurgents were said to be experts in making Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), marksmen and bomb experts.

The attack and release of the Kuje Prison inmates, especially the terrorists, meant that danger is lurking in the shadows for residents of Abuja.

This has manifested already in the killing of presidential guards and a further looming danger of a grand offensive by the terrorists.

But before the attacks, there were intelligence alerts of an impending terror attack all over the place, switching the entire territory into a panic mode.

Penultimate week, there were fears of an impending attack on Abuja. This followed a security alert issued by the Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) of a planned terror attack on churches, schools and public

infrastructure.

Another anonymous alert, patterned after standard security alerts which had trended on social media indicated that there were sightings of influx of unknown persons over time, around Karshi Hills and Orozo, in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

It said some persons were seen regularly and clandestinely going up the hills around Navy Town Estate thus raising high suspicion that the invaders were massing up in camps within the hills which also connect to other adjoining forests within the FCT and Nassarawa State.

The alert said the terrorists planned to attack educational institutions located in the area.

The anonymous intelligence alert that made the rounds in Abuja said unknown persons were sighted on July 6 and had continued to maintain presence in Karishi Hills close to Navy Town Estate.

"These persons clandestinely go up the hills around Navy Town Estate thus raising high suspicion that the invaders are massing up in camps within the hills which also connect to other adjoining forests within the FCT and Nassarawa State.

"A follow-up intel dated July 7 suggests the plan by the terrorists to attack Federal Science School Orozo, Nigerian Navy Estate, Karshi and the University of Abuja Students Hostel along Giri Road", it said.

Other areas listed include "Federal Science and Technical College, Orozo, Uni Abuja Boys Hostel, Uni Abuja Main Hostel, Government Secondary School, Karshi Abuja, Karshi Hills, Karshi Water Falls, General Hills behind (West) of Navy Estate to Karshi Water Fall and environs.

"For those of us in Abuja, the following information may be helpful. Please be alert", it said.

DSS Issued 44 Security Reports Before Kuje Prison Attack The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Idris Wase, had disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS) issued about 44 intelligence reports ahead of the attack on the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, without any commensurate action from the authorities.

"You can’t imagine what’s going on today in Abuja. I went through DSS report, 44 report were given before the attack of kuje prison.

And it all has to do with this. There’s no com-

I also heard about a video where they threatened to abduct Buhari and myself. I have been warned to be careful including my families too. How can we be in a country with soldiers, police and federal government but some terrorists will be threatening to abduct the president?

munity where attack will happen that you don’t have an intel. So, we have to cooperate with government,” he said.

Fresh Terror Alert in FCT, Lagos, Four Other States An anonymous alarm patterned after standard security alerts from security agencies and issued last week, also warned that terrorists were planning to attack the FCT, Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi and Lagos States.

The alert said the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP) had mobilised fighters and high calibre weapons, particularly, Rocket propelled Grenade (RPG) launchers, Anti-Aircraft (AA) guns and General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), which they intended to deploy for the offensive in Katsina State.

“We have received credible intelligence that Boko-Haram and the ISWAP Terrorist groups have mobilised fighters and high calibre weapons particularly Rocket propelled Grenade (RPG) launchers, Anti-Aircraft (AA) guns and General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGS),which they Intend to deploy for the offensive in Katsina State.

“In another development, two separate bandits groups are plotting coordinated attacks on North-west, North-central and South-west (Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi, FCT and Lagos respectively)."

The security alert which appeared to have emanated from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said “consequently the Commandant-General, has directed you to scale up deployment in all strategic places, including schools, worship centres and critical national assets in your respective states to checkmate any possible threats by these criminal elements,” it said.

Why Guards Brigade Set Up Board of Inquiry But the Brigade of Guards said last week that it set up a board of inquiry to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the attack and the involvement or otherwise of soldiers posted in the Kuje Correctional Center on the day of the attack.

Guards Brigade, charged with the security of the president Vice President, his family and the seat of power, said it set up a board of inquiry to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the attack on the Kuje Correctional Center by Boko Haram and the roles, if any, played by soldiers assigned to the facility.

Speaking in Abuja, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations and Public Relations Officer of the Brigade of Guards, Capt Godfrey Abakpa, said "the board of inquiry was set up to ascertain what happened that day in order to get to the root cause of the attack.

"A board of inquiry has been set up to ascertain what happened that day in order to get to the Continued on page XV

XV

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY AUGUST 2, 2022

FEATURES

IG of Police root cause of the attack".

He said contrary to reports that many soldiers were detained in underground cells over the attack, no soldier was in detention.

He, however, affirmed that soldiers deployed to that area were responding to the demands of the investigation.

"Nobody is being detained.

Investigation is ongoing. Everybody is telling his own side of the story. It is not our job to guard prisons but we respond in support of civil authority.

"The board was set up because it happened within our area of responsibility", he said.

President Buhari had also been handed a report of the security agencies on the matter.

On the security cordon around the seat of power, he maintained that the measures were taken to ensure that the fleeing inmates, who escaped from Kuje and who may be lurking in the shadows were arrested.

"Checkpoints and patrols were ordered because some of the escapees are believed to be still around like the one arrested in the Area 1 park", he said.

He assured that with the measures in place presently, such attack would be difficult to come by.

"There should be no panic. There is the tendency that no such further attack will be possible with the arrangements in place", he said.

Assurances of Safety To douse the continued public panic, the federal government, the military establishment as well as the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) had issued several reassurances of a tightened security in Abuja and and the determination to protect lives and property.

Speaking in Abuja, Director, Defence Information (DDI), Maj Gen Jimmy Akpor, said security agencies were at alert and determined to contain any security threats to the seat of power.

On fears over terror attack, he said "security agencies are not sleeping. They are doing what needs to be done to keep the place safe. A lot of things are being done. Measures have been put in place. Of all the security agencies, non is sleeping".

On the intelligence alert of an impending attack making the rounds, he said expectations were that the citizenry would provide available information to security forces and not circulate such on social media.

Troops Kill 30 Terrorists in Abuja In another fora, the duo gave further assurances of the measures taken to protect Abuja and disclosed that in a counter attack conducted against the non-state actors in Bwari, 30 of them were killed in Abuja.

It said the military air strikes conducted by the Nigerian Air Force in a joint operation with troops of 7 Guards Battalion decimated 30 terrorists in Bwari Area Council of Abuja even as it restated the commitment of the Armed Forces to protect the seat of power and Nigerians.

He said the operation was a response to the killing of military personnel by insurgents in the same location last week.

It restated its commitment to the protection of the seat of power and Nigerians in its ongoing operations to weed the nation's capital of terrorists.

It debunked claims that more soldiers other

Major General Magashi (Rtd) than the official figures released were killed in the clash with terrorists in Abuja as contained in a viral voice note of an alleged soldier just as it maintained that the military high command would probe claims that military personnel were involved in collection of ransom payment meant for kidnappers if such a report is brought before it.

Speaking in Abuja, Director, Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Maj Gen Bernard Onyeuko, said "troops of 7 Guards Battalion and 167 Special Force Battalion in conjunction with the air component of Operation Whirl Punch conducted a clearance patrol around Bwari general area between 24 – 26 July 2022.

"Troops successfully cleared Kawu and Ido Villages. Consequently, about 30 terrorists were neutralised and their enclave and hide out destroyed.

Ground troops also recovered 6 x motorcycles, 2 x AK47 rifles, 1 x fully loaded LMG magazine amongst others during mop up", he said.

Onyeuko affirmed that the military high command remained committed to the protection of the seat of power and the rest of the country.

"The hierarchy of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies wish to re-assured Nigerians of its commitment and pact with all Nigerians.

"With the recent operations carried out from July 23, we wish to assure residents of FCT in particular that we are undaunted and unrelenting in our efforts to ensure the safety of lives and property.

“People should go about their normal business as their safety is guaranteed.

"The support and cooperation of all Nigerians is hereby solicited as security is everybody’s business. Citizens are encouraged to report any unusual persons in your community to security agencies. If you see something say something,” he said.

Speaking in the same vein, the Director Defence Information (DDI), Maj Gen Jimmy Akpor, urged the media to continue to support the military in ensuring that the enemies of the nation were defeated.

On the voice note being circulated on social media purportedly belonging to a soldier involved in the attack,

Akpor said that inquiries to know its authenticity was unnecessary but maintained that if found to be true an investigation would be initiated.

Police Fortification Drive The police high command also joined on the wave of reassurances that the nation's capital remains safe.

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, said the police had fortified the seat of power and surrounding environment.

A statement by Force Headquarters said the IG ordered additional deployment of assets to strategic areas of the FCT while the Force Intelligence Bureau was charged to engage in robust intelligence gathering and information sharing with other security agencies.

But a violent demonstration by about 20 motorcycles and the sporadic gunshots fired to contain them also added to the tension.

The FCT Police Command, however, denied that it fired any shot during the demonstration.

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command explained that police dispersed violent motorcyclists, who protested the seizure of their motorcycles by the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) following the ban of motorcycles in some parts of the FCT. It said 20 motorcycles were seized by operatives of the Durumi Divisional Police Headquarters on an enforcement round for violating the ban.

The command said, in a statement, that the motorcycles were taken to the division and subsequently handed over to the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) for screening.

"Upon sighting the VIO at the division, the errant motorcyclist in their numbers decided to obstruct the VIO from moving out of the station and started attacking the officers.

"The police swung into action, dispersing the violent motorcyclists, who took to the street to express their displeasure the situation was properly managed. No life was lost nor properties damaged. Normalcy has since been restored.

The command urges members of the public not to panic, and to go about their lawful business while monitoring of the area and surveillance continues", it said.

Monguno: Gov't to Implement New Security Strategy Briefing the media last week after a security meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Security Adviser (NSA) said the federal government was working on a new strategy aimed at containing criminalities in the country.

However, Monguno, who revealed that government was currently working on new strategies to curtail the worsening insecurity in the country, explained that the military had

Members of the armed forces have also made a commitment that in the coming weeks, they have already started working on a new strategy to deal with these snippets of violence and they have given their word, their commitment to the president, that there will be a change in momentum

agreed on new strategies to curtail the menace, assuring Nigerians that there would be a renewed momentum against terrorism.

"Members of the armed forces have also made a commitment that in the coming weeks, they have already started working on a new strategy to deal with these snippets of violence and they have given their word, their commitment to the president, that there will be a change in momentum, regardless of the fact that there might be certain institutional limitations, which they face. But they understood the enormity of the responsibilities that they have."

Stressing that the security situation could result in the citizenry gravitating towards self help, he said, "I know people are weary, people are tired, people are beginning to gravitate to other places for self help. The truth is that help is rooted in everyone working for the other person."

He, therefore, canvassed for the support of the people in fighting terrorism, saying tackling security problems should be the task of everybody and not that of government alone.

"Today's meeting was convened by the president, as a continuation of the meeting that took place last week to discuss the technical issues and the tasking that were given to the various security agencies. The meeting deliberated on all those issues, after the brief by the National Security Adviser, which is usually the procedure.

"Again, council deemed it necessary to inform the general public, that fighting this type of asymmetric conflict is a collective effort. It's not something that should be confined to only the security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies", he said.

"When we keep saying whole of society approach, whole of government approach, to get a whole of nation approach, what it means is that everybody has to partake in this enterprise.

The truth is that no country can ever overcome the difficulties of an asymmetric conflict by virtue of the fact that the enemy of the state is embedded within the population within the wider society.

"It is true that the local people are averse; they're scared; they're worried and there's no confidence. That is understandable. But without their support, without the cooperation in terms of giving information, it makes it very hard for the operational elements.

"A few days ago, troops of the guards brigade were ambushed and decimated. Had there been a collective effort by way of just snippets of information, we might have averted that incident.

That is not to say that the responsibility is for those outside the security domain. It's a collective responsibility", he added.

Conclusion While the FCT residents continue to live in fear of where the next attack will come from, while they await the new, innovative strategies of the government and the armed forces, residents are of the opinion the they must at all times look up to God in prayers for divine protection in view of the perilous time upon the country.

According to them, "Psalm 127:1 says Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain".

XVI

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY AUGUST 2, 2022

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Botched UN Staff Housing: Kaniz Construction Blames Subscribers Bennett Oghifo

A

large number of United Nations staff in Nigeria on the platform of the Federation of United Nations Staff Association in Nigeria (FUNSAN) that subscribed to the proposed FUNSANKaniz Estate development housing project in Abuja,

are distraught because they are unable to take possession of the homes the developer promised them.

Reacting to the allegation, the Managing Director and Chairman of Kaniz Construction, Mr. Dare Osunkojo stated that some staff of the UN have taken possession of their housing units and that those who have not been able to have not paid more than the

initial 10 per cent deposit for their house type, stating that this was not unconnected with their incomplete documentation of the National Housing Fund (NHF).

He said, “Some of them that their National Housing Fund (NHF) is ready are already living in the estate, some of them are collecting their refund and they are now saying we are fraudulent. A lot of them

have collected their refund, a lot. Where in the world will you give 10 per cent and be expecting to have a house?”

According to Osunkojo, “150 UN staff subscribed and that over 40 have taken possession of their homes and their houses are at different levels and 60 people have collected refund. Twenty people that their NHF is ready, we are in the process of delivering

their houses. All these people causing the problem are like 30. They all applied for NHF but some have not been approved; they have paid 10 per cent, can 10 per cent payment give you a house?

“The agreement was that they will deposit 10 per cent, the NHF will be ready, when the cheque is ready we give them the house,” stating that some staff whose NHF is

ready have been given their homes and that others have to wait because construction is still on. “Construction is a process. Some of them have not completed their NHF documentation.”

Osunkojo said his company had an agreement with the UN staff that subscribed to their estate, stating, “we only have a few people that are causing this problem.

Pan-African Climate Justice Movement Launched Ahead of COP 27 Bennett Oghifo Pan-African social agency, Crtve Development (CD), has said it

Wedi

launched the WE!ARE movement to build a pan-African voice on climate justice ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Summit (COP 27).

With COP 27 poised to take place in Egypt in November 2022, there has never been a better time for the continent to raise its voice in climate discourse. While contributing the least to climate change, the African continent is the hardest hit by the global climate crisis.

According to Josefa Sacko, the AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, it is

estimated that up to 118 million impoverished people will be exposed to drought, floods and extreme heat in Africa by 2030 if adequate response measures are not put in place.

Those with the least capacity to cope and adapt to these impacts of climate change will face the most significant threat.

Despite the profound repercussions of climate change on human rights and social justice, climate justice remains one of the least understood and socialised policy themes in contemporary African develop-

ment. Dr. Okito Wedi, Founder and CEO of Crtve Development, stated: “Through the WE!ARE campaign, we want to harness the power of art and creativity to change the narrative on climate change and development in Africa and bridge the gap between communities who will most be affected and policymakers who will determine our climate future”.

The WE!ARE movement aims to inspire young people across the continent to share their vision of the Africa they want to

see and voice the climate justice demands of their communities through creative mediums. The movement is championed by emerging and established creatives, policymakers, designers, visual artists, auditory artists and community leaders across Africa. Collectively, the WE!ARE champions and supporters of the movement will shape the broader narrative of climate justice and centre important policy issues for the respective communities and nations leading into COP27 and beyond.

To further highlight the

importance of climate justice in Africa, Crtve Development, in partnership with Africa No Filter, issued a call-out for creative participation in WE!ARE showcases that will resemble climate justice in the context of “The Africa We Want To See”.

Creative Hubs in participating countries were invited to apply for grants to curate pop-up showcases and creative installations as well as the execution of three workshops using art and creativity as a tool for social change in local communities.

BSTAN Plans 100,000 Annual Increase in Nigeria’s Housing Stock Fadekemi Ajakaiye A real estate firm, BSTAN Homes has said it plans to grow the nation’s housing stock by 100,000 units annually and that its major preoccupation is to make them affordable.

President of BSTAN Homes, Becky Olubukola stated this at the launch of the company’s Lagos office recently, adding that they intend to build many

of these homes in Lagos to take care of the huge population.

“We have been in business for 16 years now and we understand housing development. I am a stakeholder in Housing development. I am a PHD holder in Estate Management and Construction.

I have a voice in Housing and I know the most important thing to do as a real estate firm is to make your homes

affordable.

According to her, “Several projects going on in Lagos are not affordable. What is important is to build what people can afford, make mortgages available for them.

This is one of the things that make us different in all the 11 states we operate in Nigeria, especially our head office in Abuja.”

BSTAN, she said has 14

on-going projects in Abuja that have been sold out, noting that the company’s projects are often sold out between three and six months, stating that they have mortgage plans for customers and that prospective buyers could “make daily payments, N33,000 weekly payment, N50,000 monthly payment and N150,000 quarterly payment.

“We have the Kiddies legacy

for the children, projects for youths and for everyone. One of the things to be rest assured is that there is something for everyone in BSTAN Homes,” she added.

Olubukola said one of the major achievements for BSTAN is the National House Fair and it will be holding the 6th edition of the Fair this year, 1st of December, 2022 at Oriental hotel, Lagos.

Olubukola

IIM Africa, RIMA Foundation Begin 2022 Data Protection Campaign Fadekemi Ajakaiye The Institute of Information Management (IIM) Africa and Records and Information Management Awareness (RIMA) Foundation have commenced the 2022 free National Awareness Campaign tagged “National Digital Transformation and Data Protection Awareness Campaign” in a bid to sensitise

organisations on the importance of digital revolution and data preservation.

The campaign debuted in 2020, following the directive issued by Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, the Head of Service of the Federation to the ministries, departments and agencies to automate their files and records.

Ambassador Dr. Oyedokun

Oyewole, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the IIM Africa said the decision to focus on data protection awareness in the 2022 edition is informed by the need to enlighten organisations on the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) issued by the National Information Development Agency (NITDA) on January

25, 2019, which is now being implemented and enforced by the newly-established Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB).

In Oyewole’s words, “The regulation requires that any organisation dealing with or keeping data of Nigerian citizens is expected to comply with the NDPR, failure of which could result in financial loss, damage to reputation or

imprisonment. The penalty attracts up to N10 million or two per cent of the company’s annual global gross revenue of the preceding year, whichever is higher.”

He explained that the free awareness campaign holding between Tuesday, July 26 and Friday, August 12, 2022 is aimed at educating organisations as well as providing technical and

non-technical information and support required for successful implementation of files and document digitisation. Oyewole added that the campaign will provide quality knowledge and bridge skill gaps, with guidelines and standards for digitisation and ultimate implementation of Enterprise Content Management (ECM) solution.

Lagos, Onikate of Ikate Disagree Over Eviction Notice The Lagos State Government, Lagos House of Assembly and the Onikate of Ikate, a wellrespected King, disagree on the process adopted in serving him an eviction notice on a property owned by Theophilus Mabayoje Banjo in Ikeja that he rented for use by his business, Latris Fashions.

The king’s displeasure, according to him, stems from how the Lagos House of Assembly members disrespected him when they visited the property recently.

On what caused the disagreement, Mrs. Abiola Paul-Ozieh (Nee Banjo), one of the Administrators of the Estate of Theophilus Mabayoje Banjo- landlord to the property, said that about four years ago, Oba Lateef Adams took them to court to stop further increase in the rent of the property,

as he could not pay higher rent than the amount he was paying at the time.

She said, “We appeared in court for about a year, and the court passed a judgement that since he had not been paying his rent, he did not have a case because no relationship of landlord and tenant between us. After that, we approached the court to recover the property from him because he was occupying both the down floor and first floor.

“We were in court for almost four years due to COVID-19 and Justices’ strike but later, judgement was given that Oba Lateef Adams should vacate our property, giving him four weeks’ quit notice.

But when he did not comply, we followed the court process of eviction and were able to eject him on January 10.

“In the process of eviction, our thought was that the judgement covered both ground floor and first floor, but a call came in that the Sheriffs should not go to the first floor despite the fact that he had not paid any rent on the first floor in the last four years.”

She said this made the landlord to approach the Lagos State Government and House of Assembly on the issue, pointing out that “after the intervention of the Committee in which our lawyer and that of Oba Lateef were in attendance, they resolved that he should vacate the premises by the end of June and commence the payment of the outstanding debts on the property.” She added, “but up till now, he is still occupying the building.”

A team of officials from Lagos State government and the House of Assembly visited the property situated on Allen Avenue and expressed displeasure at the alleged refusal of Onikate of Ikate, Surulere, Lagos, Oba Lateef Adams to vacate his business office, after a directive of the state government, stating that it was “an abuse of office and blatant disrespect for the state.”

The team was led by the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions & LASIEC, Mr. Victor Akande, Director, Chieftaincy Affairs, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Folami Aina, and Coordinator of Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers, Mr. Owolabi Arole.

Speaking during an over-

site visit to the property, Akande said that the family of Theophilus Mabayoje Banjo, the landlord of the property, approached the House over the alleged “refusal of their tenant, Oba Lateef Adams under the name Latris Fashion to vacate the premises after the court judgement.”

According to Akande, “They brought the case to the House and after deliberation between the lawyers representing both parties, we agreed that Oba Lateef Adams, under the name Latris Fashion, should vacate the building completely by end of June, 2022, and commence gradual payment of the outstanding debts on the property.

“To our surprise today, (during the oversight visit to the property recently) we observed that the man in

question is still occupying the building. This is a sad development. The fact that he is a King is not an excuse to disrespect the rule of law.

“As a King, you are supposed to be a good ambassador and role model that your subjects can emulate. If as a ruler, you don’t have regard for constituted authority, what will you expect from your subjects?”

However, when the Oba was called on phone, he expressed displeasure at the manner he was treated by the House of Assembly members, saying that they disrespected his office, threatening to take legal action against the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC, over the manner he talked to him on phone in the presence of his landlord.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022

25

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

REPO

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

08056356325

A T

A U G U S T

S & P INDEX

S & P INDEX

1 , 2 0 2 2 EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

10.25%

INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

9.56%

1-DAY

0.16%

YEAR TO DATE

7.64%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10.52%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.44%

Concerns over Safety of Electricity Users, 156 Nigerians Killed, 87 Injured in Power-related Accidents

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja In 21 months, spanning January 2020 and September 2021, at least 156 Nigerians were killed while 87 were injured in electricity-related accidents, data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has revealed.

The huge number of deaths and injuries, although not fully reported by the victims, bring to the fore the general attitude of the industry players to the safety of electricity users and workers in the sector.

By law, the Nigerian Electricity

Management Services Agency (NEMSA), which was established in 2015, is empowered to carry out the functions of enforcement of technical standards and regulations.

In addition, the organisation is empowered to carry out technical inspection, testing and certification of all categories of electrical installations, electricity meters and instruments to ensure an efficient production as well as delivery of safe, reliable and sustainable power supply and guaranteeing safety of lives and property.

Although, it rarely gives account

to the public on its activities, the Health and Safety (H&S) issues in the industry are believed not to be restricted to the failure of NEMSA alone as other issues like old assets as well as illegal actors like equipment thieves beset the industry.

The priority of the agency, it says in its mission statement, is having electricity networks that are stable, safe, and reliable and ensuring zero incidences of electrical accidents as well as eliminating substandard equipment and materials and ridding the system of quack electrical personnel.

But a THISDAY analysis of the number of deaths and injuries between the first quarter of 2020 and the third quarter of 2021 from the latest data released by NERC, indicated that the Discos submitted 114 health and safety reports to the power sector regulatory agency in Q1,Q2, Q3 and Q4 respectively in 2020.

Out of the submitted incidents, Nine persons died in Q1, 26 were killed in Q2, 19 were electrocuted in Q3 while 22 died in Q4 of the same year.

In the same vein, four persons were injured in electricity-related

accidents in Q1,12 in Q2, 11 in Q3 while 13 persons were severely impacted by the accidents in Q4 of the same year.

In the first three quarters of 2021, spanning between January and September, the NERC report indicated that 24 people were killed by electrocution between January and March, 26 died between April and June, while 30 were killed between July and September of last year.

In addition, in terms of injury, including those affecting employees in the sector and third parties, the report stated that 13 persons

were maimed in Q1, 15 in Q2 and 19 in Q3 of 2021.

A THISDAY editorial on the matter quoted the Q2 NERC report in 2019, as lamenting that no fewer than three persons were electrocuted every week while in the last quarter of 2018, there were 136,393 complaints from customers about the negligence of the electricity Distribution Companies (Discos).

It stated that by the first quarter of 2019, the complaints had jumped to 151,938, expressing Continued on page 29

World Bank Pledges $315m for Food Security in West Africa Gilbert Ekugbe The World Bank has scaled up its financing for food security with an additional $315 million to strengthen the resilience of food systems in West Africa.

According to a statement obtained from its website, some additional two million people will benefit from a

second phase of the West Africa regional Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP-2) approved in International Development Association (IDA) financing.

The Development Finance Institution (DFI) said FSRP-2 would support Chad, Ghana and Sierra Leone to increase their preparedness against food insecurity and to improve the

resilience of their food systems, stressing that the move is coming at a moment where it is projected that approximately 38.3 million people in West Africa are projected to be in food security crisis.

According to World Bank, across the targeted areas in the three countries, FSRP-2 would help to reduce food insecure

FOOD

COMMODITIES

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

RICE

100KG

ABUJA

N23,000–N25,000

SORGHUM

50KG

OYO

N22,000-N25,000

50KG

PLATEAU (JOS)

N23,500-N25,000

50KG

KWARA N24,000–N27,000

50KG

LAGOS

50KG

RIVERS N23,000–N26,500

50KG 50KG

N23,000–N26,500

SOKOTO N11,500–N13,000 EDO

N17,000–N20,000

people by 25 per cent, noting that access to hydro and agro meteorological advisory services will be extended to over 400,000 food system actors, while nearly 500,000 producers are expected to adopt climate smart agricultural technologies.

“Moreover, about 12,000 hectares of land area will benefit from integrated landscape

SIZE

PRICE

STATE

100KG JIGAWA

management practices, and intra-regional traded productions in selected value chains will increase by 30 per cent.

“Multiple shocks, driven by climate change and environmental degradation, weaknesses of the food markets, conflicts and insecurity, Covid-19 implications, and the war in Ukraine have further

deteriorated food insecurity and inflation across West Africa,” the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ms. Massandjé Toure-Litse said.

She added that, “FSRP-2 further expands cooperation across the ECOWAS region to Continued on page 29

T O D AY

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

N9,000

C O C OA

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

1 TON

ONDO

N740,000 – N760,000

1 TON

OSUN

N730,000 – N750,000

1 TON

EDO

N720,000 – N740,000

100KG

BENUE

N8,500

100KG

KADUNA

N8,500

50KG

ENUGU

N23,000

50KG

LAGOS

N17,000

1 TON

CROSS RIVER

N700,000 – N720,000

100KG

DELTA

N23,000

1 TON

AKURE SOUTH, ONDO

N730,000 — N755,000

26

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Report: OPEC+ Slumped 2.84m bpd Below its Oil Production Target in June Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, the OPEC+ group had a massive shortfall of 2.84 million barrels per day (bpd) in June between actual production and the target oil output level as part of the deal, two delegates at the

alliance told Argus.

As OPEC+ is unwinding its cuts, more and more members, including Nigeria, are falling further behind their quotas due to a lack of capacity or investment in supply.

In June, the compliance rate at the OPEC+ group soared to 320 per cent from an estimated 256 per

cent in May, according to Argus’s sources, suggesting that the gap between nameplate production per the agreement and actual production continues to widen.

As per the survey from earlier this month, OPEC+ pumped more than 2.5 million bpd below its target in June, despite a rebound in Russia’s oil production that helped

the group’s output rise by 730,000 bpd from May. Russia’s oil production rose in June and was approaching the levels last seen in February, just before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Most of the rebound was due to higher intake from domestic refiners.

The 10 OPEC producers in the

OPEC+ pact pumped 24.8 million bpd of crude oil in June, OPEC data showed in the Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR), with production falling 1 million bpd short of the target levels.

Top OPEC producer Saudi Arabia naturally raised its crude oil production by the most in June compared to May. Yet, per OPEC’s

secondary sources, even the Saudis were lagging behind their quota for June.

Saudi Arabia’s oil production rose by 159,000 bpd to 10.585 million bpd. To compare, the Saudi target was 10.663 million bpd, so the Kingdom was 78,000 bpd below its quota last month using secondary source figures.

Cassava Seed Producers Fret over Unavailability of Loans, Insurance Cover Gilbert Ekugbe Cassava seed producers have raised concerns over their inability to access loans and insurance cover to hedge against risks.

They spoke at the second edition of the cassava seed business summit organised by the Building an Economically Sustainable and Integrated Cassava Seed System, Phase 2 (BASICS-II) project of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

The president of Industrial Cassava Stakeholders Association of Nigeria (ICSAN), Mr. Charles Adeniji, noted that even though the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), commercial banks and microfinance banks have funding programmes, they are usually burdened by administrative and process challenges that make access difficult.

Adeniji said: “Generally, financing is available with CBN. The commercial banks and microfinance banks have intervention funds, but there are barriers to access, high-interest rates, short tenure, and often strident conditions.”

According to the Vice President of the National Association of Cassava Seed Entrepreneurs Network (NACSEN), Dr. Augusta Amajuoyi, poor access to loans was a major challenge for a private sector-led cassava seed system.

“Seed entrepreneurs find it difficult to get loans because of the harsh conditions given by banks requesting collateral and

all manner of things. Sometimes, interest rates are up to 28 per cent,” she lamented.

The summit with theme “Financing and Insurance Opportunities for the Sustainable Growth of the Cassava Seed System,” was held virtually recently, with over 130 cassava entrepreneurs and stakeholders in attendance.

In his welcome remarks, the Managing Partner at Sahel Consult-

ing, Mrs. Temitope Adegoroye, the summit convener and one of the implementing partners of BASICSII, stated that finance and insurance were crucial for sustainable growth in the cassava seed system.

In the keynote address, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Mr. Ernest Umakhihe, encouraged seed enterprises to make insurance covers

part of their business strategies.

The Deputy Director for Irrigation, Federal Department of Agriculture, Mrs. Sugra Mahmood, who represented the Permanent Secretary, stressed the need for awareness creation on the business prospects of cassava seed multiplication and the importance of partnerships and collaboration to support the growth of a sustainable cassava seed system.

The Head, Agriculture Insurance, Veritas Kapital; Mr Ayodele Olaleye, the Group Head of Agriculture, Sterling Bank, Mr. Olushola Obikanye, and the Country Manager of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Tanzania, Mr. Stephen Magige, spoke on the various financing and insurance opportunities available to stakeholders in the cassava value chain.

The Acting Executive Director, National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike, Dr. Godwin Asumugha, , IITA BASICSII Project Manager, Professor Lateef Sanni, and the Zonal Manager of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) in Tanzania, Mr. Paul Enecko, explained the steps being taken to develop the cassava seed system in Nigeria and Tanzania.

Petroleum Ministry Inaugurates Committee on Establishment of Oil, Gas Promotion Office Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The ministry of petroleum resources has inaugurated a committee on the establishment of an oil and gas investment promotion office in Abuja to interface with businessmen

interested in investing in the sector.

In his remarks at the ceremony, the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Kamoru Busari, said that having an investment promotion office in the ministry

was a strategic milestone to get investors to put their money in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, stressing that the initiative would come in handy to businesses, given the country’s enormous oil and gas deposits.

The inauguration, accord-

ing to Busari, was sequel to the approval granted by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, on 22nd June, 2022.

“The oil and gas investment promotion office is expected to be well equipped

to support Investors and further create awareness to investors about Nigeria as an attractive destination for oil and gas investment which when established will act as a one-stop shop of oil and gas investment”, Busari noted.

OSGoF Commences Full Enforcement of Survey Coordination Act Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGoF) has commenced full implementation and enforcement of the Survey Coordination Act of 1962 as

amended.

The office stated that this is in order to strengthen Nigeria’s national security architecture and enhance the development of physical infrastructure as well as properly situate other critical assets in the country.

The Head of the Survey Coordination Department of the Office, Semiu Ayinde, disclosed this in a meeting with a team from Polaris Digital Tech Ltd and Google representative headed by Niyi Okuboyejo, on behalf of the

Surveyor General of the Federation (SGoF), Abudulganiyu Adebomehin.

Speaking in the same vein, the Head of the Photogrammetry and Remote-Sensing, Azeez Afeez, said web and mobile mappings and other

related forms are products of surveying and mapping.

He insisted that both the raw data and processed information ought to be deposited with OSGoF, which is the repository of geospatial data in the country.

Energy Crisis: Coming Months Will be Challenging, Says IEA Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

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

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has reiterated that the crisis in the global energy sector may become worse in the coming months if urgent steps are not taken to mitigate it.

“The IEA has been warning for many months that the world is experiencing the first truly global energy crisis in history – and the coming months will be particularly challenging,” the organisation said.

It noted that the natural

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Gilbert Ekugbe The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Mohammad Abubakar, has stated that Nigeria has revived its economic ties with Mexico to boost hibiscus production in the country.

Abubakar said that the move is apt considering the nation’s historical hibiscus trade relationship, which

PRICE

25CL LAGOS N20,000-N25000 25CL

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earned Nigeria $35 million from export of 1,983 containers of hibiscus to Mexico in 2017.

He made this known when he received a delegation led by the Mexican Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Mr. Alfredo Miranda in Abuja, He stated that Mexico is not just another country that Nigeria has good diplomatic relations with, but also a strategic trading partner and

N21,000 – 24,000

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N21,000–N24,500

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N17,000–N20,000 N19500- N25000

the biggest importer of the country’s hibiscus.

Abubakar stated: “It is regrettable that the suspension of hibiscus trade lasted for nearly three years longer than it should and resulted in a slowdown of the momentum of export activities around hibiscus.”

Responding, the Mexican ambassador said that his country is deeply involved

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N5,000

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stated that in September 2021 – five months before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – it pointed out that Russia was preventing a significant amount of gas from reaching Europe.

The agency said it raised the alarm further in January,

with Executive Director Fatih Birol highlighting that Russia’s large and unjustified reductions in supplies to Europe were creating “artificial tightness” in markets and driving up prices at exactly the same time as tensions were rising over Ukraine.

Nigeria, Mexico Strengthens Economic Ties to Boost Hibiscus Production

FOOD NAME OF COMMODITY

gas crisis in Europe has been building for a while, and Russia’s role in it has been clear from the beginning, explaining that countries must take responsibility.

On its efforts to ensure that the crisis did not get to the current state, the IEA

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in strengthening the capacity of Nigeria’s agricultural sector, adding that hibiscus is worth more than $600, expressing his delight to do business with Nigeria.

Alfredo added: “My country can develop 14 varieties of maize which can be good for other purposes, 14 varieties of rice which can be sold in different conditions, four varieties of

sesame and several varieties of soya beans.

On his part, the Comptroller General, NAQS, Dr. Vincent Isegbe, said: “Hibiscus is one of the products that we have been exporting to Mexico. We have been doing well on it until we have hitches, but with the resumption of the new ambassador it took only three hours to resolve the matter.”

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022

27

BUSINESSWORLD

INDUSTRY

Nigerian Industrialists Scrapes Through Q2 In spite of the excruciating business environment the Nigerian manufacturing sector struggled to scrape through the second quarter of 2022 on a positive note, writes Dike Onwuamaeze

T

he Nigerian manufacturing sector sustained its positive performance in the second quarter of 2022. During the period, the aggregate Manufacturers CEO’s Confidence Index (MCCI) score rose to 54.6 points against 53.9 points it recorded in the first quarter of 2022.

This is contained in the MCCI’s report for the second quarter of 2022, which was released last week by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).

Nevertheless, the MCCI report noted that the increase recorded during the period under review was achieved in spite of the harsh business condition experienced by most manufacturers which was more challenging than what was obtained in the first quarter of the year.

AGGREGATE MCCI The MCCI report attributed the growth recorded in the second quarterto two factors. One of them was “the survival strategies adopted by Nigerian manufacturers that improved production.” The second factor was “the increase in the aggregate index score to the feedback on the anticipated improvement in business condition, employment condition and production level in the third quarter of the year.”

It also added that the “compelling adjustments made by government, manufacturers and households in response to general increase in price, foreign exchange shortage, increasing cost of energy, scarcity of raw materials and many more, thrown up by the war in Europe,” helped to make the increase in the aggregate MCCI index possible.

The MCCI is a research advocacy publication of the MAN, which measures quarterly changes in the pulse of operators and trends in the manufacturing sector in response to movements in the macro-economy and government policies by using primary data mined through direct survey on over 400 chief executive officers of MAN member-companies.

The index has a baseline score of 50 points and scores above the baseline indicate improvement in manufacturers’ confidence in the economy, while index score less than the baseline suggests deterioration in the operating environment.

The MCCI report said: “In the second quarter of 2022, the index of MCCI marginally increased to 54.6 points up from 53.9 points recorded in the first quarter of the year, despite the plethora of challenges including poor access to foreign exchange for importation of raw materials not available locally, effect of rising global inflation, aggressive drive for revenue by government, frequent collapse of the grid, increase in price of diesel, scarcity of wheat and other manufacturing inputs due to the ongoing war in Europe between Russia and Ukraine and the wide spread insecurity that limit productive activities in the economy during the quarter.”

The afore-mentioned meager improvement in the index scored in the second quarter of 2022 implied that manufacturers responded to the economic challenges that prevailed in the quarter with appropriate survival strategies and

adjustments, including the remodeling of production operations after the marginal slowdown experienced in the first quarter.

SECTORAL GROUP MCCI The sectorial analysis of the report for the period under review showed that the Wood and Wood Products group recorded a marginal increase in the index score of sector that grew up to 49 points in the second quarter of the year, which was a slight uptick from 48.9 point it recorded in the first half of this year, even though it is below the 50 baseline points.

Similarly, the index score of Electrical and Electronics group also recorded marginal improvement to 50 points from 49.9 points obtained in the preceding quarter. But the index of the Motor Vehicle and Miscellaneous Assembly moved above the baseline to 50.1 points from 49.2 points of the preceding quarter.

The report summed that “based on the above backdrop, activities in the Wood and Wood Products and Electrical and Electronics sectoral group signaled an improvement over the results of the first quarter despite the fact that the operations of the groups were most impeded by unfriendly operating environment.

“However, the Motor Vehicle and Miscellaneous Assembly group appeared to be gradually finding its footing back after operational difficulty in the first quarter of the year.”

INDUSTRIAL ZONE MCCI The report showed that operating environment in the zones within the middle belt and Rivers/Bayelsa zone was the toughest during the quarter under review. For instance, the index score of Bauchi/Benue/Plateau fell below the 50 points baseline at 46.3 points from 48.3 points recorded in the first quarter of the year.

Likewise, Index score of Abuja zone also declined to 43.5 points from the 44.8 points in the first half of the year. River/Bayelsa scored 45.0 points, which fell short of the 46.0 points recorded in the first quarter.

The MCCI report said that “the middle belt that houses Bauchi/Benue/Plateau industrial zones is the most unsettled region due to insecurity challenge in the country. As a result of the situation, a number of companies in the zone operated at sub-optimal level, while others have either shut down their operations or relocated to a safer environment.

“The companies also experienced severe stock out of primary raw materials, particularly agro-allied as most of the farmers had taken to their heels due to insurgency.

“Manufacturing and other business activities in the Rivers/Bayelsa zone also appeared to be struggling with the impact of aggressive drive for internally generated revenue by government to bridge revenue gaps occasioned by the divesting activities of International Oil

Companies from hydrocarbon to renewable energy sources.”

The report also acknowledged the impact of the ongoing Russian/Ukraine war on businesses in the country. It noted that the war has clearly underscored the popular maxim that the world has become a global village; and that occurrence of an incidence in one part of the world, notwithstanding how specific it might be, could actually become a global issue.

It said: “Apart from the need for ardent management of global peace, the series of global occurrences and the lessons learnt demand that national governments should begin to take drastic measures to manage these phenomena proactively going forward.

“Undoubtedly, phenomena such as the China-America trade war, the Asian and Global Financial crises, and the challenges thrown up by COVID-19 pandemic and now, the Russian-Ukraine war called for the development of a sustainable national anticipatory policy measures.

It said: “The business ambiance in the second quarter was no doubt beset by numerous macroeconomic, regulatory and externally induced challenges, compounded by the lingering backlashes of COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war. Clearly, the resultant effects of these challenges continue to manifest in the escalation of global inflation, shortfall in the global supply chain followed by the rise in energy cost, fertilizer and fertilizer inputs, wheat grain, etc.

“Cumulatively, these challenges interplayed to shape the direction of performance of the manufacturing sector in the second quarter of 2022.

“It is therefore important for the government to intentionally create an anticipatory policy framework that will facilitate automatic stabilisation of the economy in the event of domestic or global shocks, while addressing the afore-mentioned familiar operating challenges limiting the performance of the sector.”

The Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf, in his half year review of the economy noted that the war between Russia and Ukraine, insecurity and scarcity of foreign exchange posed serious challenges to manufacturers during the second quarter of 2022.

Yusuf stated that output declined significantly in many industries because of the challenges of accessing raw materials due to the scarcity of foreign exchange that is constraining many play to resort to the parallel market at very prohibitive cost, as very little access existed on the official window.

He said: “The sharp depreciation of the exchange rate and the parallel market which is over 300 per cent has worsened the profitability of investments. The capacity to retain employment and the capacity to create new jobs have been greatly endangered

because of the foreign exchange crisis,” adding that “capacity utilisation is impacted when access to forex is constrained.”

He said that the FX crisis has imposed high cost of production on industrialists because of the high import dependence of the Nigerian manufacturing sector for imported raw materials.

He also noted that manufacturers were faced with the burden of low sales and turnover because of the increase in price and effect on demand and erosion of profit margins because not all the additional cost can be passed on consumers.

Yusuf said that the worsening insecurity in Nigeria has forced “many industrialists especially those who are in the agro-allied sector to grapple with challenges of getting raw materials from the crop producing areas of our country. This has continued to negatively impact capacity utilization, turnover, cost of production and the value delivery to shareholders. Some now source raw materials from neighbouring West African countries.”

KEY CHALLENGES OF NIGERIAN INDUSTRIALISTS Yusuf said that sugar and resins are currently scares. He pointed out that “sugar is used in many of the beverage industries, bread and the likes. Raisins are used for purposes of packaging materials. These are also critical inputs for practically all manufacturing sectors. Access to these products is becoming extremely difficult and we appeal to the fiscal authorities to intervene very quickly to remove whatever bottlenecks that exist in ensuring the availability of these critical inputs for the manufacturer.”

He noted that “manufacturers also continue to grapple with the problems of high cost of logistics, access to foreign exchange, access to raw materials and the impact of excise duty on alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages which is impacting demand for their products.

“The high inflationary pressure is also constraining the capital expenditure of many of the manufacturing firms. Capacity to expand is being constrained because of the high inflationary situation. These are some of the challenges that are faced by the manufacturers.

“Most of the exports to ECOWAS countries are by road and most of these export or import goes through Benin Republic, but Benin Republic has for a few years now been imposing prohibitive transit taxes and levies on transit goods passing through Benin Republic, it is making many of these cross-border businesses very unproductive and very unprofitable. It is a major cause of frustration to many cross-border investors.

“We appeal therefore to the authorities in Nigeria and Benin Republic to resolve whatever issues there is on this matter. This prohibitive fees and levies on transit goods are a clear violation of ECOWAS protocols. This does not portend a good omen for our economy integration and the larger issue of the African Continental Free Trade Area because over 80 per cent of trade is by road and if a fellow African country continues to pose this kind of challenge and this kind of impunity to our transit cargo then it gives a great cause for concern.”

28

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

AGRICULTURE

Boosting Food Security with Smart Farming Techniques Investment in smart innovations to boost food production without significantly stretching finite resources such as land and water is the surest path to attain food security, Gilbert Ekugbe writes

T

he Russia/Ukraine conflict has put many developed economies especially import dependent nations on the edge as food prices have continued to rise in unprecedented manner that have cnstrained countries to begin to think out of the box to meet their food needs.

Recently, the Director General, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Mr. Qu Dongyu, said that the food import bill for 62 nations he described as net food importers in the low and the lower middle-income groups, has increased to $24.6 billion affecting 1.79 billion people, hence the urgent need to prioritise investment into smart farming technologies.

For Nigeria, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) stated that smart farming via digital platform under the National Adopted Village for Smart Agriculture (NAVSA) would engage 10 million farmers across the agricultural value chain by the year 2032, but it would require the political will by successive governments to achieve this feat.

Current state of Nigeria’s agricultural sector The Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its latest report said the sector grew by 3.16 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms in the first quarter (Q1) of 2022, maintaining that the sector also grew by 11.55 per cent year-on-year in nominal terms in Q1 2022, showing a fall of 3.59 per cent points from the same quarter of 2021 and contributed 22.36 per cent to overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in real terms in Q1 2022.

The NBS said this was higher than its contribution in the first quarter of 2021 and lower than the fourth quarter of 2021 which stood at 22.35 per cent and 26.84 per cent respectively.

Despite several interventions to boost the sector’s productivity, it is yet to come out of doldrums which goes to say that funding is not the major challenge hindering the industry, but channeling the resources to productive ends.

Crop production has remained the major driver of the sector. This is evident as it accounted for 92.05 per cent of overall nominal growth of the sector in the first quarter of 2022. Quarter-onQuarter growth stood at -19.75 per cent in the first quarter of 2022.

Agriculture contributed 21.09 per cent to nominal GDP in the first quarter of 2022. This figure was lower than the rate recorded for the first quarter of 2021and lower than the fourth quarter of 2021which recorded 21.42 per cent and 24.17 per cent respectively.

SMART FARMING BENEFITS

Smart farming techniques is an emerging concept that refers to managing farms using technologies like Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, drones and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to increase the quantity and quality of products while optimising the human labour required by production. It reduces waste, improve productivity and enable management of a greater number of resources through remote sensing.

In traditional farming methods, the farmer has to be out in the field and constantly monitoring the land and condition of crops. But with larger and larger farms, it has become more challenging for farmers to monitor everything everywhere

every time. This is especially true with micro-farming, where many remote plots of land may be farmed for different crops that required different conditions and precise control of soil and water.

Today, the combination of smart irrigation and control being linked to local sensors, as well as sensing for pH and other environmental conditions, including insolation and local temperature, can stave off many issues that traditionally had been done by “walking the field.” Remote monitoring, through smart farming systems enable production yields to increase because farmers have more time to attend to their farm’s real issues: applying their expertise to solving problems with pests, watering in any location, amending soil conditions all through the use of sensing and automation.

During production, it is about managing one’s resources to improve the growing process. For example, precision farming systems concern precision seeding using automated tractors to reduce possible loss of seed and optimise spacing of plants to create the highest possible yield per acre.

Another example is water, through the use of precision water delivery, such as trickle or subsurface methods, to reduce evaporation and to improve soil moisture content, delivering water only when it is needed through the use of sensors and automation.

On the demand side, smart farming systems are about careful management of the demand forecast and delivering goods to market just in time to reduce waste. Furthermore, it is about managing the delivery channel and ensuring that the transfer of product to the midmarket handler reduces waste through gentle and efficient handling, such as sufficient refrigeration. Overall, the entire process from farm to table is software-managed and sensor-monitored, reducing overall costs, improving overall yield and quality of the supply, and ultimately the experience for the consumer.

GOVERNMENT’S ROLE

Apart from creating the enabling environment for the sector to thrive, there is also the urgent need to formulate policies that would attract both local and foreign agri-tech investors. Most investors are conscious of the fact that inconsistent policies still remain a challenge hindering the growth of the sectors. There is need to boost the confidence of investors on Return on Investment (RoI) for smart farming to thrive in the country. Also, the need to invest massively in research and development is vital for smart farming to take the Nigerian food sector to the next level.

Increased investment in research institutions to develop new ways and innovation to boost food production such as faster gestation periods of crops, boosting soil fertility and ensuring good farming practices to achieve healthy farm to table food to the Nigerian populace. Reports have it that most agricultural institutions are not really

impacting activities in the sector as a result of not being business-minded and do not with the private sector to put their research into productive and profitable use.

The President, Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), Mr. Emmanuel Ijewere, recently announced plans to deploy climate-smart agricultural techniques to boost food production in the country, saying that with support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Group has been working on developing a National Framework for Climate-Smart Agriculture with the theme ‘Cleaner, safer, rewarding agriculture’ targeted towards efficient and effective use of land resources and modern farm technology.

He emphasised that the Climate-Smart Agriculture project would bring about increased harvest and less input sustainability; improve quality soil; sustainable greenhouse gas levels; high production and falling cost, new methods on weather and harvest forecast, among others, while also stressing the need for Nigerian farmers to adopt climate-smart agriculture as a solution to crop cultivation, mitigating post-harvest losses, improving crop yields, restoring soil nutrients, and improving livestock farming amidst ravaging climate change impact on the ecosystem.

AGRIC STAKEHOLDERS’ THOUGHT

The President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said that Africa’s food systems must be made more resilient to future shocks such as floods, droughts, and disease, pointing out that urgent and sustainable increase in food production is needed to reduce reliance on food imports and reduce poverty, and this is where digital services come into play.

“But digital services do not just raise farmgate prices, they are the gateway to farm loans, crop insurance, and greater economic security, which in turn enables farmers to increase their resilience to climate change by experimenting with new, drought-resistant crops, for example, or innovative farming methods.

Text messages with weather reports help farmers make better decisions about when and what to plant, and when to harvest,” he said.

He added that phones and digital services also speed up the spread of information through social networks, helping farmers learn about new drought-resistant crops or services that can increase productivity, stressing that free-to-use mobile phone-based app WeFarm, for example, has already helped more than 2.4 million farmers find certified suppliers of quality seeds at fair prices. “Examples of digital innovation abound, sometimes across borders.

In Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria, equipmentsharing platform Hello Tractor is helping farmers rent machinery by the day or even hour, while in Ethiopia, AfriScout, run by the non-government organization Project Concern International with the World Food

Programme and the Ministry for Agriculture, provides satellite images of water supplies and crops every 10 days so problems can be spotted quickly to aid remedial action,” he added.

According to him, transforming food systems digitally has demonstrably excellent results, saying that the multilateral institution has allocated over half of its climate financing to adaptation since 2019, which has already helped 19 million farmers in 27 countries to lift yields by an average 60 percent through applying digital technology.

For the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), climate-smart agriculture is an approach that helps guide actions to transform agri-food systems towards green and climate resilient practices, saying that CSA supports reaching internationally agreed goals such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. FAO said CSA aims to achieve sustainable increase in agricultural productivity and incomes, adapting and building resilience to climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions where possible.

“The CSA supports the FAO strategic framework 2022-2031 based on the four betters” Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all and leaving no one behind.

The Chief Operating Officer, Tingo Mobile, Mr. Alao Ayoade, said that Tingo launched an app last year to boost the productivity of Nigerian farmers by about 60 per cent with its smart farming technologies.

He stated that the move is apt considering the nation’s rising population that has made boosting farmers’ productivity a categorical imperative that cannot be overemphasised.

He noted that smart technology will be connecting millions of farmers through their various cooperative societies thereby getting them to markets locally and internationally from their comfort zones.

In his words: “With this, farmers have unlimited access and market information such that their worries about infrastructural challenges, time and product wastage is totally addressed. It is a win, win, situation for these farmers and commodity traders across the world as well as our company serves as the link bridge.

“To simplify this process and also assist these farmers, we have had to provide them with our customized mobile devices. We currently have over 15 million of such devices in the market,” he said.

He stated that Tingo Mobile has been able to reduce time wastage, increase productivity of farmers and helping their wellbeing as they have more time to rest.

“With Tingo Mobile, farmers will be able to increase their profitability by 40 -60 per cent, thereby boosting their investment to produce more while also connect to a global market and network that help resolves challenges in their farming value chain. It will help to reduce food waste by over 50 per cent, increase Nigeria’s share of non-oil export, address poverty in rural community as well as rural to urban migration and help the country to achieve Sustainable Development Goals,” he added.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Libya’s Oil Production Recovers to Pre-blockade Level Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report Libya’s crude output has rebounded to its early April levels, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member’s oil minister said, in an increase that could help cool a jittery global oil market.

Output has climbed to 1.2 million barrels per day, Oil Minister Mohamed Oun said in a telephone interview with Bloomberg.

The level is a milestone after production had been more than halved since mid-

April. The increase comes after officials reached an agreement earlier this month with protesters and tribal leaders to reopen fields and export terminals largely shut for months.

The North African nation’s oil output has been hit by a power struggle between rival governments headed

by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah in the west and Fathi Bashagha in the east. Each claim to be the legitimate prime minister, who each claim to be the legitimate prime minister.

The ramp-up in production

would not only help bring in foreign currency into the country, but also could offer some relief for under-supplied oil markets and high prices that have stoked inflation across the globe.

Libya’s oil output has see-sawed over the past years, largely as a result of the political and security unrest in the country that ensued after the ouster of Moammar Al Qaddafi in 2011. Power struggles between rival governments have compounded years of neglect in developing or revamping the oil infrastructure.

Stakeholders Seek Trackable Metrics for Home Grown Telecoms Sector Emma Okonji Participants who attended the telecom stakeholders’ conference in Lagos last week, organised by the Policy Implementation Assisted Forum (PIAFU), have called for the establishment of traceable and trackable metrics for developing indigenous telecoms sector in the country.

Speaking during the conference, the Chief Executive Officer, eStream Networks, Mr. Muyiwa Ogungboye, stated that policy makers should strongly desire motivating and incentivizing local entrepreneurs to develop local content.

Ogungboye decried the situation where all devices are imported and consequently paid with foreign currency, noting that only the

Internet Service Provider (ISPs) who have access to forex could buy such devices.

He also noted that the cost of acquiring spectrum had become so high.

“Policy makers must be aware that local entrepreneurs are motivated and incentivized to develop local content. All the devices we use are all imported and we buy everything with dollars, including routers. Only ISPs that have access to Forex can buy the devices.

“So, what chances do the local companies have, when access to Forex is very difficult. The cost of acquiring spectrum is high and only those who have access to Forex can buy telecom devices,” Ogungboye said.

The Chief Executive Officer, Open Access Data Centre, Dr. Ayotunde Coker, noted that Data residency remained crucial for national economic growth.

Ayotunde explained the need to educate the populace on a new world of interconnectivity.

According to him, there is a dynamic of wealth that is open, noting that one can get access to wealth as long as the person gets the business model right.

The Divisional CEO, ipNX Nigeria, Segun Okuneye said the panacea for stimulating growth of indigenous companies, would involve capacity building, exposure of the work force, appointment of capable persons, and good stimulus package for the board and executives.

WORLD BANK PLEDGES $315M FOR FOOD SECURITY IN WEST AFRICA ensure food security, now and into the future. More specifically, the new financing will help to increase the effectiveness of agriculture and food crises prevention and management and strengthen the capacities to adapt to climate variability and change, strengthen the adaptive capacity of the food system’s productive base and make it sustainable and support the regional food market’s integration by linking the beneficiary countries, consolidating their food reserve systems, and strengthening

the development of strategic regional value chains.”

According to the World Bank’s Vice-President for Western and Central Africa, Ousmane Diagana, “facilitating the trade of agricultural goods and inputs within and across national borders in West Africa is a key element to address food insecurity in the region.”

For the World Bank’s Director for Regional Integration for Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Northern Africa, Boutheina Guermazi,

the approval of FSRP-2 and incorporation of Chad, Ghana and Sierra Leone expands impacts not just of national activities, but of targeted spill-over effects from regional activities.

“We are eager for this innovative program to maximise its reach across West Africa,” Guermazi said.

With FSRP-2, the multi-phase FRSP programme now amounts to a total of $645 million of IDA (instead of the $570 million initially approved in November 2021).

CONCERNS OVER SAFETY OF ELECTRICITY USERS, 156 NIGERIANS KILLED, 87 INJURED IN POWER-RELATED ACCIDENTS concern that while the body counts continue to mount, the regulatory authorities had not been able to provide any solution.

Many of the accidents, it said, are caused by electricity surges, leading to an explosion of cables, blaming negligence on the part of the operators in the sector.

Also, it was learnt that electricity company workers often ignore early warnings and appeals from residents about faulty wires in their neighbourhoods as the time lag between when a fault is reported and it is fixed are usually far apart.

Old and broken down wooden and concrete electricity poles, some with naked wires dangling overhead, are rife in the sector, while serious rainfall or heavy wind could blow off some of the poles, leading to instant deaths.

But the regulatory for the power sector, NERC, noted in the latest report that it will continue to work with other related organisations within the sector to reduce the number of deaths and injuries

suffered by Nigerians.

“As emphasised in the preceding reports, the safety of all electricity providers and users in Nigeria remains one of the key priorities of the commission in accordance with Section 32 1(e) of the EPSRA. “The commission has continued to monitor the health and safety performance of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) in order to guarantee the delivery of safe and reliable electricity to Nigerians,” NERC assured.

According to NERC, it will keep monitoring and evaluating the health and safety performance of licensees in order to ensure that operators keep up to their responsibility of delivering safe electricity services to consumers.

“The commission, in line with its mandate to ensure licensees’ commitment to safe energy delivery, has commenced the review of the accident investigation reports

on various health and safety incidents recorded during the quarter for proper regulatory interventions.

“Moreover, in line with its 2017-2020 strategic plan, the commission has intensified efforts at implementing various safety programmes aimed at eliminating accidents in the industry.

“Among the safety programmes being implemented by the commission include but not limited to the standardisation of protective schemes, public enlightenment on safety, engagement of government agencies on Right of Way (RoW) violation, and a review of an operational procedure for distribution system operators on fault clearing,” it stated.

Although NERC also sanctions Discos and other operators who are found to have blatantly flouted the health and safety regulations, victims complain that compensation, in cases where they are paid, are usually either too meagre or takes a long while.

T H I S D AY • Tuesday, August 2, 2022

30

BUSINESSWORLD

News

WELCOME TO NPA

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko (middle); Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Matsunaga Kazuyoshi (2nd right); Wife of the Ambassador, Matsunaga Yoko (2nd left); Head, Political / General Matters, Embassy of Japan, Maehira Tomoyoshi (left); Special Adviser to the Ambassador of Japan, Victor Ipigbhe (right) during a courtesy visit to the management of NPA at the Corporate Headquarters, Lagos...recently

‘Bill to Regulate Manufacturing, Importation of Fertilisers, Pesticides Underway’ Gilbert Ekugbe The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), has stated that it is working with several international NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs), donor agencies and stakeholders to unveil a reviewed Nigeria Pesticide Bill for harmonisation into

a single Act 2022 into the existing fertilizer Act 2019.

The Director, Farm Inputs Support Services Department (FISSD) of the FMARD, Mr. Mohammed Sani Kwaido, represented by the Deputy Director, Mr. Yahaya Usman, at a sensitisation programme held recently at Sabon Gari market, said the new draft would

regulate the manufacture, importation, distribution, sales and quality of fertilizers and plant pesticides as well as other agricultural inputs in Nigeria is undergoing legislature processes at the National Assembly.

Earlier, the Kano State Coordinator, Mr. Abba Gana Danmani, stated that the sensitisation

workshop was meant to update marketers, dealers and farmers with the requisite knowledge and procedures when intending to venture into fertilizer or agro chemical business in Nigeria.

In his welcome address, the Head, Agrochemical and Quality Control Division, FISSD, Mr. Abbas

Kashmi Bashir, noted that some agrochemical plant pesticides had been banned in Europe and other developed nations but sold in African markets particularly in Nigeria.

In his Goodwill Message, the National President, Northwest Agro Inputs Dealers Association, Mr. Kabiru Fara, commended

the ministry for coming up with such initiative and pledged the support of the association in the fight against fake fertilizers and agrochemicals inputs to boost the agricultural production in the country. In attendance are Smallholders Farmers, Agro-Chemical Dealers, Marketers, among others.

Mara Set to Train 1m Developers in Africa in 5 Years Expert Calls for Robust Digital Transformation in Power Sector Emma Okonji

The Chief Executive Officer, Mara, Mr. Chi Nnamdi has said the company will train over one million developers in Africa in the next five years.

He made this known during an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos, at the weekend.

The CEO added that over one billion would be educated on cryptocurrency in the

nearest future.

Nnamdi explained that the training would be done quarterly starting from September this year.

Speaking on its acceptability of cryptocurrency in Nigeria,

Mara CEO noted that efforts were being made through communications with the relevant regulatory authorities to ensure that all the identified loopholes are covered and well attended to.

Fawehinmi Steps Down from FeW Models, to be Replaced by Ibeh Sunday Ehigiator FeW Models, a leading Africa Model-scouting and Management Company, has announced that FeW’s Founder, Bolajo Fawehinmi, has stepped down from her role as CEO of the company while naming her protégé, Peace Ibeh as a

replacement effective from July 31, 2022.

A recent statement made available by FeW’s Founder, Fawehinmi, yesterday revealed that her exit was premised on her decision to play a more passive role in the company.

In her tenure, Fawehinmi

led the company through significant milestones as seen in her partnership with one of the world’s biggest agencies, IMG models, as the first African partner and creating new generation modelling stars such as Eniola Abioro, Bola Edun, Olamide Ogundele, Dotain

Yeshitela, and Feyi May. In the statement, Fawehinmi expressed confidence in the future of the company and most especially in the leadership capabilities of her protégé, Peace Ibeh in taking the company and its talents to the next stage.

Expert tackles Customer Service Concerns in New Ebook Tosin Cleg Customer Service Expert who focuses on re-engineering businesses across the globe in order to achieve high profitability by delivering exceptional experiences to customers, Jennifer Orode, has penned her wealth of experience in an Ebook, which

intends to aid businesses manage their customers well.

Shedding more light into the purpose of her book she highlights that, “With this book, many businesses would thrive successfully after discovering the secrets to maintaining good customer relationships and ensuring their satisfaction in all dealings

with their business. It has all there is to know about how to maintain good customer relationships and to ensure that your business doesn’t go extinct.

Good referrals is good publicity for any business and that’s why my book is out for anyone who needs to know how to run their

business successfully.”

Her book, “The CUSTOMER YOU HAD BUT NEVER KNEW” further speaks widely about the nitty gritty of customer service and how best to be in the good records of customers as well as amassing more customers while delivering top notch services to their satisfaction.

Emma Okonji The Chief Executive Officer, Refuel Energy Limited, Mr. Moses Ekhator has called for a robust digital transformation programme in the power and utility sectors of the Nigerian economy in order to address the country’s dwindling power crisis.

Ekhator, who made the call while speaking during the Power and Water Nigeria Conference and Exhibition 2022, which held recently in Victoria Island, Lagos, asserted that global energy generation and distribution stood at the threshold of a new age with disruption in supply, demand, changing needs and expectations of consumers exuberated by the recent Covid 19 pandemic and current global economic events, coupled with rapid technological advances.

According to him, “To remain relevant, players in the energy sector need to understand the full impact of these changes along with

the broader implication of global energy production and consumption trends.”

He stated that understanding the strategic collaboration and technology required for effective digital transformation of the Nigerian energy sector, would be vital for an effective overhaul and a successful transformation.

Ekhator further said: “Digital transformation is the strategic adoption of digital tools to improve processes and productivity to deliver better results and experiences.”

He noted that creating the right innovative technology transformation program, would come with the opportunity to understand international best practices, improve processes, executing efficiently and break barriers for better output, which he said, would not only improve the country’s energy production, but would also have the capability to position it as a potential hub, generating enormous output to become a major player in the region for years to come.

31

TUESDAY, A ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

ʬ ʬ

ʬ

7 R S 7 U D G H V E \ 9 R OX P H

7 R S * D LQ H U V T ic k er

P ric e C hg %

Z EN IT H B A N K

22.7

9.5%

F LOUR M ILL

18.9

0.0%

9.9%

UB A

15.6

5.9%

1.12

9.8%

FB NH

15.2

0.0%

21.95

9.8%

D EA P C A P

11.4

0.0% 5.0%

P ric e C hg %

UB N

5.50

10.0%

M ULT IVER SE

1.88

9.9%

UC A P

11.10

T R A N SC OR P

Vo lum e

P ric e

N GXGR OUP

T ic k er

F ID ELIT YB K

3.18

9.7%

GT C O

11.0

J A P A ULGOLD

0.23

9.5%

F ID ELIT YB K

10.4

9.7%

Z EN IT H B A N K

20.70

9.5%

UA C N

8.9

8.7%

IN T B R EW

5.35

9.2%

UC A P

7.9

9.9%

UA C N

11.20

8.7%

A C C ESSC OR P

7.3

5.9%

7 R S 7 U D G H V E \ 9 D OX H

7 R S / R V H U V T ic k er

P ric e C hg %

-9.6%

F LOUR M ILL

575.1

0.0%

C A VER T ON

1.00

-9.1%

Z EN IT H B A N K

459.3

9.5%

WEM A B A N K

3.29

-8.4%

M TNN

245.3

5.3%

-7.5%

GT C O

215.3

5.0%

FB NH

164.8

0.0%

1.85

C OUR T VILLE

0.40

-7.0%

LIN KA SSUR E

0.54

-6.9%

UB A

108.1

5.9%

UA C N

94.7

8.7%

C H A M P ION

3.65

-5.2%

ET ER N A

6.20

-4.6%

N EST LE

93.4

0.0%

6.50

-4.4%

GUIN N ESS

88.3

0.0%

1.15

-4.2%

UC A P

84.6

9.9%

C UST OD IA N LIVEST OC K

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

Value

P ric e C hg %

8.50

A C A D EM Y

T ic k er

P ric e

PZ

Investment Research

Brokerage

Asset Management

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

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

Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Damilare Asimiyu | dasimiyu@afrinvest.com

32

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Wema Bank Records Impressive Financial Performance in 2022 Half Year Kayode Tokede Wema Bank Plc, pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, has posted a growth performance across all financial indices in the First-Half of its 2022 operations.

The bank’s financial results for the Period Ended 30 June, 2022, showed an increase of 50 per cent in its gross earnings from the N39.82 billion in H1 of 2021 to N59.59 billion. It also grew its interest income by 55 percent year-on-year, from the N32.19 billion recorded at this period last year to N49.75 billion.

The bank’s non-interest income went up from N7.64 billion in the period ended 30 June, 2021 to N9.85 billion, an increase of 29 percent.

Similarly, Wema Bank recorded a 43 per cent increase in Profit before tax (PBT) from N4.30 billion over the same period last year to N6.13 billion for the period under review.

The bank’s Profit after tax (PAT) also increased from

N3.72 billion in H1 2021 to N5.30 billion reflecting a raise of 42 percent.

The bank also grew its deposit by 13 percent from N968.17 billion reported in FY 2021 to N1.09 trillion in the H1 2022. It also grew its loans and advances from N418.86 billion to N447.23b in H1 2022, an increase of seven percent.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of the bank, Mr. Ademola Adebise, attributed the remarkable performance to increased customer satisfaction the bank delivers through its investment in technology.

“Our performance has shown strong and promising results in the second quarter. Customers have continually shown trust in our proficiency, innovation, and service delivery even as the market gets more challenging.

That said, I am confident, that despite increased volatility and uncertainty, we will continue to scale up, manoeuvre the environment, creatively manage our resources, and drive

long-term, substantial returns for shareholders, ”Adebise said.

In his remarks, the bank’s Chief Finance Officer, Mr. Tunde Mabawonku, explained that the strong performance stems from the bank’s diversification of its business and value derived from its digital assets “This has been a strong first half with Interest Income up 55% and Profit Before Tax up 43% compared to H1 2021. This strong showing is down to diversification at different levels of our businesses. Also, it is a testament to the advantage of our investment in digital banking assets, which have continued to boost customer satisfaction and build trust for us.

“Also, we are aware of the challenges that the rising cost of living is having on our customers and stakeholders. Given the size of our balance sheet and income growth, we have trust in our ability to continue to provide support and help cushion the impact of growing costs in the market,” he explained.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

Union Bank Announces 6.7% Increase in Profit to N12.3bn Kayode Tokede Union Bank of Nigeria Plc has reported N12.3billion profit before tax in its unaudited half year (H1) financial statements for period ended June 30, 2022, representing an increase of 6.7 per cent from N11.5billion reported in prior half year ended June 30, 2021.

The bank’s gross earnings was up by 12.5 per cent to N87.4billion in H1 2022 from N77.7billion in H1 2021, driven by higher earnings assets.

The profit & loss figures also revealed net operating income

after impairments of 2.6 per cent increase to N49.6billion in H1 2022 from N48.3bn reported in H1 2021, driven by higher trading income.

In addition, the Operating expenses of Union Bank of Nigeria was up by 1.3per cent to N37.3billion from N36.8billion in H1 2021, over an outcome of higher non-discretionary regulatory costs and power costs.

From balance sheet position, Customer deposits was up by 7 per cent to N1.5 trillion as of June 30, 2022 from N1.4 trillion in Dec 2021, while Gross loans dropped by 0.4 per cent to N895.3billion from N899.1billion reported in

2021 full financier year.

Commenting on the results, Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mudassir Amray, in a statement said: “Following the successful acquisition of majority shares of the Bank by Titan Trust Bank, we are now focused on strengthening the core business and improving operational efficiencies across board.

In parallel, we are going full throttle on integrating the two banks to form a ‘stronger Union’ positioned to deliver value to all stakeholders, leveraging technology and digital innovation. The integration is expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter.”

Unity Bank Reports 23% Growth in PAT KayodeTokede Unity Bank Plc has reported 23 per cent increase in profit after tax of N1.6billion in unaudited half year (H1) financials submitted to the Nigeria Exchange Limited (NGX) from N1.38 billion reported in H1 2021.

The retail bank grew its Profit Before Tax (PBT) by 23 per cent which rose to N1.8 billion in H1 2022 from N1.5 billion in the corresponding period of 2021.

The key highlights of the financial statements showed growth in interest and similar income, which rose 18% to N23.938 billion from N20.273 billion in the corresponding period of 2021, an indication

of sustained growth in the loan book as well as improved earnings from the lender’s robust digital channels, arising from sustained investment in its digital payment infrastructure.

Similarly, the lender posted sustained asset growth as total assets moved up by seven per cent to N574.3 billion from N538.9 billion in 2021.

Commenting on the financial statements, the Managing Director/CEO of Unity Bank Plc, Mrs Tomi Somefun noted that while the key performance indicators continue on an upward trajectory; PBT (23 per cent YoY), Total Assets (seven per cent YoY) and gross earnings (17 per cent YoY); the outlook for our financial position

has now moderated significantly looking at other fees and income lines which performance was hitherto characterised by volatilities in the operating environment.

“As the Bank aims to further grow all indices to double-digit regions in the coming years, one reassuring take from the financial position lies in the market confidence, as well as steadily growing retail and SME franchise arising from the development of products that resonate with different markets segments, which will enable the Bank to continue to operate and successfully navigate the tough operating environment, amid rising economic headwinds,” she stated.

Hall 7 Real Estate Bags Award Hall 7 Real Estate Limited, one of the leading real estate companies in Nigeria just bagged the Innovative Real Estate Company of the Year Award in the just concluded 16th Africa International Housing Show (AIHS) organised by FESADEB Media Group which held in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital City.

This year’s edition had, “Housing for all: The Role of Government in Providing an Effective Enabling Environment,” as its theme.

Speaking during the award presentation to Hall 7, the

organiser of the event Mr Festus Adebayo said that Hall7 Real Estate has been recognised and awarded based on her exemplary innovative and unique building types which has stood out in Nigeria’s real estate industry over the years.

Adebayo said, “Hall 7 Real Estate has distinguished itself in the real estate sector in Africa by the being innovative in their house types and the unique facilities that stands them out in the industry.”

While receiving the award on behalf of Hall 7 Real Estate

Limited, the Projects Director of Hall 7, Mr Emmanuel Musa thanked the organisers of the event for recognising the giant strides taken by Hall 7 in developing the real estate sector in Nigeria while highlighting the distinguishing features of the Hall 7 house types which stands Hall 7 out amongst other players in the industry. Mr Emmanuel said, “the award would inspire the management and staff of Hall 7 Real Estate Limited in their drive to create more intentional communities across in Nigeria and beyond.”

(MILLION NAIRA)

JUNE 2022 Money Supply (M3)

48,865,823.53

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

167,956.2

Money Supply (M2)

48,797,867.32

-- Quasi Money

28,405,330.1

-- Narrow Money (M1)

20,392,537.22

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,722,785.91

---- Demand Deposits

17,669,751.32

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

6,242,394.29

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

42,623,429.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

57,267,178.05

---- Credit to Government (Net)

17,996,690.06

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

39,270,488

--Other Assets Net

5,566,430

Reserve Money (Base Money

11,320,304

--Currency in Circulation

3,259,269.15

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,320,303.72 384,377.56

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

June 2022

Inter-Bank Call Rate

11.10

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

13.00

Treasury Bill Rate

2.45

Savings Deposit Rate

1.38

1 Month Deposit Rate

3.48

3 Months Deposit Rate

4.55

6 Months Deposit Rate

4.97

12 Months Deposit Rate

5.30

Prime Lending rate

12.29

Maximum Lending Rate

27.61

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT THURSDAY, MAY 7

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

33

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022

MARKET NEWS

FCMB Group Records 73.2% Profit Growth, Impressive ESG Scorecard in H1

Kayode Tokede

For the six months ended June 30, 2022, FCMB Group Plc has reported better-than-impressive Earnings, Revenue, Deposits, Loans and Asset Under Management growth, and impressive environmental, social, and corporate governance scorecard.

The Group in a statement said it recorded a profit before tax of N15.4 billion, a 73.2% year-on-year growth compared

to N8.9 billion in 2021 and double-digit growth across its business segments: 84.2% in the Banking Group, 42.7% in Consumer Finance, 41.9% in Investment Management, and 253.8% in Investment Banking.

Gross revenue was up 34% to N126.2 billion from January to June this year, as against N94.2 billion in H1, 2021.

Commenting on the half-year financial results, the Group Chief Executive of FCMB Group

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

Plc, Mr Ladi Balogun, said: “We continue to leverage our unique group structure to enable a technology-driven ecosystem of platforms, customers, partners, talents, and capital to contribute to the sustainable and inclusive growth of the communities we serve. We believe that despite the challenging domestic and global environment, FCMB Group is well positioned to sustain its performance trend in financial and non-financial metrics”.

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

In compliance with its commitment to safeguarding the environment, FCMB Group further reduced its carbon footprint by moving eight (8) branches of its retail and commercial banking subsidiary to Solar Power. Thus, taking the number of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited branches running on renewable energy to 150 (73% of its branch network) – from grid/diesel generators to solar power.

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

He added, “In the period under review, the Bank disbursed over 442,000 loans, totalling N21.0 billion, to more than 171,000 persons via its digital channels in the first six months of 2022. It also gave loans to over 12,000 small businesses, totalling N93.4 billion disbursed through its digital channels in H1, 2022. FCMB’s focus on financial inclusion and MSMEs has been further bolstered by a $17.3 million funding partnership with Mastercard Foundation to

O F

0 1

provide affordable loans to 100,000 MSMEs over the next five years with a focus on 90% participation by women.

“In addition, it contributed to food security and import substitution in Nigeria by growing its lending to the agricultural sector from N53.6 billion in H1 2021 to N87.9 billion in H1 2022, a net disbursement of N34.3 billion over the last year, which represents 16.5% of total loan growth over the period.

/ 8 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

34

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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

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

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

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 29July-2022, unless otherwise stated.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.16% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.60 3.66 5.72% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 5.71% Anchoria Equity Fund 138.40 139.95 -0.61% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.20 1.20 4.56% info@anchoriaam.com ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 21.49 22.14 5.95% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 510.40 525.79 13.13% ARM Ethical Fund 43.16 44.46 10.80% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.07 1.08 -0.61% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.05 1.05 3.53% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.55% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 101.71 101.71 4.64% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,090.82 1,090.82 9.08% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.08 2.08 2.52% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.31 2.36 12.42% CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.06 1.06 4.89% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.87% Paramount Equity Fund 19.27 19.62 10.48% Women's Investment Fund 146.99 148.80 3.51% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.22% Cordros Milestone Fund 131.51 132.41 5.67% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 110.41 110.41 4.90% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 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 EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.10% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.03 1.03 6.40% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.04 1.04 14.48% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 102.91 102.91 4.84% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1482.42 1482.42 11.11% FBN Balanced Fund 193.48 194.74 10.40% FBN Halal Fund 121.90 121.90 10.27% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.36% FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) 125.00 125.00 6.38% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 158.29 160.40 4.77% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy USD Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

4,046.12 3,592.66 100.00

4,101.29 3,592.66 100.00

6.69% 6.23% 9.34%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.11 1.11 3.98% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 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 12.23 12.28 12.03% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 9.32% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 101.49 101.49 1.98% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 7.99% 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 N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM EuroBond Fund N/A N/A N/A SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 126.74 129.10 4.45% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.05 1.05 8.38% 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 N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 0.98 1.01 10.16% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.33 1.35 1.79% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.15 1.17 11.00% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.07 1.07 4.16% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.90 1.90 3.68% United Capital Eurobond Fund 122.20 122.20 3.15% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.32% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.64 13.76 3.39% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 15.98 16.15 9.36% Zenith Income Fund 22.90 22.90 4.30% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.46% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund 3.73 3.83 -6.86% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 5.68 5.78 -2.72% Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund 18.44 18.64 4.27% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.61% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 20.52 20.72 2.69% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 151.70 153.70 -3.82%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

117.84 51.82

4.06% 1.90%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.99 132.60 103.75 17.10 16.40

14.09 135.78 105.96 17.20 16.50

0.02% 4.25% 3.97% 20.56% -4.61%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.55

12.10%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

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

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

35

TUESDAY, ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

ABE'S HAT IN THE RING...

L-R National Publicity Secretary, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Amb. Rufus Aiyenigba; National Women Leader,Ajiya Saadatu Abdullahi; Rivers State SDP gubernatorial candidate, Senator Magnus PHOTO: ENOCK REUBEN Abe; National Chairman, SDP, and National Welfare Leader, SDP, Judith Suaibu, during Abe's thank you visit to SDP National Secretariat... yesterday

Insecurity: Masari Changes Mind Again, Urges Katsina People to Defend Themselves Francis Sardauna in Katsina Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari, yesterday, reprised his earlier call on residents of the state to acquire weapons and defend themselves against the ravaging activities of terrorists in frontline local government areas of the state. Masari spoke at a special

prayer session in commemoration of 'Yaumush Shukur' (Thanksgiving) day for Allah's blessings and bounties for Katsina State, Masari, who had always spoken vehemently against the security situation in his state, recently recanted and praised President Muhammadu Buhari for doing a lot in the area of security for the

state and the country, in general.

But yesterday, Masari explained that the security of lives and property of the citizenry was not only the responsibility of government and security agencies but also a collective duty. Hence, he called on residents of the state to defend themselves against the hoodlums, saying citizens should not fold their

arms and wait for the government to protect them.

The governor admonished the people of the state to pray fervently for God to bring an end to the prevailing security and other challenges bedevilling some parts of the state and the country in general.

He stated, "The security chal-

Arewa Youths to Buhari: It’s Time to Seek Foreign Help, Sack Your NSA Adedayo Akinwale, Udora Orizu in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna The Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA), has told President Muhammadu Buhari, that the two things he needed to do in the immediate to contain growing insecurity were to seek foreign help in the fight against terrorists and also sack his National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno.

In a statement on Monday in Kaduna, the group said, “Available evidence points to the fact that our numerous Generals without war experience can't fight the ragtag terrorists, who have taken charge of rural areas and are now threatening the nation capital, including Mr President and Governor el-Rufai with kidnap.”

The statement signed by Mohammed Danlami, spokesman of the AYA, also called on Buhari to immediately sack Babagana Monguno, the National Security Adviser (NSA) “due to obvious failure of strategy and counsels emanating from his office.”

The group alleged that, “some saboteurs whom the President trusted with power, appear to be systematically handing over Nigeria and even Mr President to terrorist as it was in Afghanistan.”

The statement said the recent spate of attacks and killings in Abuja, the nation’s capital, “which ought to be the last place to fall in the case of any war, shows that things have fallen apart and terrorist elements seemed to be reigning supreme in the land.

“The Assembly urged Mr President to seek foreign help in his bid to make Nigeria a safer place, as available evidence point to the fact that our numerous Generals without war experience can't fight the ragtag terrorists, who have taken charge of rural areas and are now threatening the nation capital, including Mr President and Governor el-Rufai with kidnap.

“Nigerians cannot continue to fold their arms and watch their loved ones being abducted or killed with little or no effort from the powers that be,” it said.

The AYA warned that if the situation continued unabated, it would be forced to mobilise its members in the Northern part of the country to defend themselves against the criminals.

“By this, we wish to reiterate our earlier call on Mr President to sack the NSA, who has run out of ideas with immediate effect, failure which we will be forced to occupy the NSA’s office in the next 14 days,” it stated.

Insecurity: Protesters Demand Immediate Sack of Monguno, Magashi over Alleged Abdication of Duties Meanwhile, scores of aggrieved persons under the aegis of the

Guardians of Democracy and Development Initiative (GDDI), had also called on President Buhari to relieve Monguno and the Defence Minister, Maj. Gen. Bashir Salihi Magashi (Rtd) of their duties for allegedly abdicating in their duties.

The protesters, who commenced the march from the Abuja Unity fountain, brandished several placards and banners with inscriptions like: "Defence Minister is incompetent, sack him now", "Magashi must go", "We say no to incompetent NSA and Defence Minister".

Speaking on their behalf, Comrade Danesi Momoh threatened to join those calling for the resignation or impeachment of President Buhari if he fail to heed their call to sack Monguno and Magashi.

"We wish to start with the statement credited to the National Security Adviser himself, Maj. Gen.

Babagana Monguno (Rtd), where he was quoted as saying: ‘people are getting tired and are beginning to gravitate into other means of selfhelp. Truth is that Nigerians are not just getting tired; we are suffocated, frustrated, threatened, apprehensive and completely uncertain about our safety and that of our loved ones.

"We cannot continue this way, and both the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Minister of Defence Know that. We have had to tolerate a National Security Adviser, who has no record of achievement in his seven (7) years in office. And right under his supervision, intelligence has been ignored (as has now being exposed by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives). There is no proactivity and no evidence of any practical input from him in addressing National Security before its total collapse status.

Internet Fraudster Jailed 19Years, EFCC Nabs 24 Others Nine convicted for cyber-fraud in Ibadan Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja A serial internet fraudster arrested and prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been convicted and sentenced to 19 years' imprisonment.

Justice Toyin Bolaji Adegoke of the Uyo Division of the Federal High Court in Akwa Ibom jailed Noble Dainge Tamunoateli for fraudulent impersonation, possession of fraudulent documents and money laundering to the tune of N14, 751,558.00.

In a related development, the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has convicted and sentenced nine cybercriminals to six months of community service.

They were convicted and sentenced on Friday for impersonation and obtaining by false pretence, contravening sections 484 and 419

of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The convicts are Lateef Adedeji Sulaiman, Iliasu Azeez Olajuwon, Adebanji Ayomide Idowu, Joseph Timileyin Evbosaru, Ademola Azeez Taiwo, Hassan Warith Ademola, Idowu Babatunde Awojulu, Olagoke Olalekan Bayo and Victor John Enya.

Upon their arraignments on one count charge each before Justice Bayo Taiwo, they all pleaded “guilty” to the charges filed against them by the Ibadan zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Meanwhile, operatives of the Lagos zonal command of EFCC have arrested 24 suspected internet fraudsters.

The suspects are Kelvin Essen, Michael Ekene, Steve Ochanogor,

Olatujoye Samuel, Ohaeme Samuel, George Emeka, Adenigbo Igbola, Famugiloh Hakeem, Samuel Elohor, Michael Ugochukwu, Olumide Olalekan, Ayomipo David, Adulawo Oladipupo Victor and Okenwa Emeka Okobi.

Others include Adeyanju Olamide Blessing, Temi Simon, Elias Andrew Ogbe, Elvis Akuya, Onyebuchi Chisom, Abraham Nnanna, Nwune Fortune, Golden Felix, Azeez Ola and Sushi Christian.

They were arrested on Sunday at Silver Spring Estate, Agungi, Lagos, following credible intelligence on the activities of some members of an organised cybercrime network.

Exotic cars, and mobile devices, including laptops, were seized from them. The suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded, an EFCC statement said.

lenges we are facing in terms of killings and kidnappings is not only limited to Katsina or Nigeria but it happens everywhere, even in America and China. But their citizens didn't fold their arms and wait for the government.

"So, don't lock yourselves inside and say it is the responsibility of the government or police to defend you: how many people will the police defend? But if you defend

yourself, it will reduce the work of policemen and soldiers."

The prayer session was attended by the deputy governor, Mannir Yakubu; the state Chief Judge, Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar; Emir of Daura, Dr. Umar Faroq Umar; former Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Mustapha Muhammed Inuwa, among other top government officials and Islamic clerics.

SYLVA: FUTURE OF AFRICA'S OIL, GAS INDUSTRY STILL BRIGHT DESPITE ENERGY TRANSITION THREAT Industry Act (PIA), other regulations to be discussed by stakeholders in the next three days include the ones on assignment and transfer of licence and permit, midstream and downstream petroleum (operations) and petroleum pipeline regulations.

Others include: Natural gas pipeline tariff regulations, midstream and downstream decommissioning and abandonment regulations, environmental regulations for midstream and downstream operations, midstream and downstream gas infrastructure fund regulations as well as environmental remediation funds regulations.

Speaking at the event, Sylva, noted that it was the first engagement of key industry stakeholders of the midstream and downstream value chain since the enactment of the PIA in August last year.

The minister noted that the meeting was in fulfilment of the provisions of Sections 33 and 216 of the PIA 2021 which mandate the NMDPRA to consult with relevant stakeholders prior to finalising and making any regulations concerning the processing, refining, transmission, distribution, supply, sale and storage of petroleum products.

Stressing that the administration understands the need to have an allencompassing, well thought-out, and unambiguous regulatory instrument, Sylva stated that it was required to attract much needed investments and create opportunities in the sector.

While noting that the current state of the local energy landscape is dire and in need of ingenious solutions, Sylva stated that the consultative forum has an opportunity to ameliorate the situation through the new set of regulatory instruments.

According to him, the regulations would provide clarity and certainty for investors, promote and build investor confidence, increase and improve foreign and indigenous participation in the sectors and optimise value for all stakeholders.

Also speaking, the Authority Chief Executive, Mr. Farouk Ahmed, explained that the consultation fulfilled a key promise of the PIA 2021, noting that unlike in the past, stakeholders in the industry will henceforth participate in the

making of regulations which impact on them.

While appreciating all those who ensured the passage of the PIA, he assured that the new guidelines would deliver opportunities to the industry which he said had been waiting for nearly two decades for the ‘unique’ legislation.

“As you are all aware, Section 216 of the PIA mandates the Authority to consult with stakeholders prior to finalising any regulations or amendments to regulations.

“However, we do not consider this an obligation or box-ticking exercise as continuous engagement with our stakeholders to enable their business is at the core of our regulatory philosophy.

“To this end, the Authority consistently provides avenues for our industry partners to engage with us on regulatory and operational issues. We are proud to say that the learning outcomes from such conversations are reflected in the regulations to be considered over the next few days,” he said.

Ahmed added that the NMDPRA had also commenced the issuance of the next phase of regulations and will from yesterday publish the petroleum measurement regulations and midstream and downstream petroleum (safety) regulations.

He added that the new policies would enable investment and ease of doing business, create employment opportunities for Nigerians and prevent undue burdens on its partners.

“We are also conscious of the fact that effective regulations must, amongst many outcomes, ensure fairness, equity, transparency, and certainty for all players in the regulatory space,” he declared.

While 1,156 submissions were received in all, the highest number of input came from the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), with 276, followed by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), with 275 while NLNG made 103 presentations.

Others who made submissions included: The World Bank, Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG), Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), among others.

TUESDAY AUGUST 2, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

36

NEWS

Youths Protest Bad State of Benin-Sapele Highway in Edo Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Commuters and motorists plying the ever busy Benin-Sapele road in Edo State were stranded yesterday as youths blocked the highway and its adjoining routes following the inability of the federal government to fix the failed portions.

The youths, in a peaceful protest, mounted canopies and chairs on the major roads while others displayed their wares for sales, an indication that they are not prepared to leave soon.

The aggrieved youths, on the platform of Freedom Ambassadors Organisations in conjunction with Sarbag/Sapele Road residents, had earlier warned residents in the state not to contemplate traveling Benin-Sapele road the next day.

Addressing journalists, Chairman, Sarbag/Sapele road axis, Mr. Daniel Omorogbe, said the blocking of the major road and its adjoining routes became necessary following series of deaths and unquantifiable man hours commuters spent on the road while trying to get to their respective destinations.

He said when the road got

bad previously, they went on a peaceful protest which drew the attention of the Edo State government to commence work on it. But he added that to their amazement, the federal government halted the ongoing

work, claiming that it is its own sole responsibility to fix it and not the state government.

“Last year, we protested and the state governor came and made his promise that within 24 hours, he is going to mobilize

contractors to come and work and really, he did. He came with Hartland and Levant contractors and after first day of their working, the federal government sent their troops. I was there and nobody told me about it. They

asked the contractors to stop the work because the road belong to the federal government and not to the state.

“And ever since, they have not been working. So, we did another letter to the Federal Ministry of

Works, Abuja to Fashola, they replied us.

“They said the road has been awarded to Levant Construction company. I went to Levant and the contracting firm said they didn’t award the road to them.

FGN BOND LISTED ON FMDQ EXCHANGE...

L-R: Director-General, Debt Management Office (DMO) Nigeria, Ms. Patience Oniha; Chief Executive Officer, FMDQ Group Mr. Bola Onadele.Koko, and Executive Director, Vetiva Capital Management Limited, Mr. Damilola Ajayi, at the listing ceremony of the Federal Government of Nigeria Eurobond and Ijarah Sukuk on the FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited in Lagos …recently

FCTA Reopens Millennium Park Dangote Cement Grows Revenue by 17% to N808.04bn in Six Months Olawale AjimotokaninAbuja The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, yesterday reopened the Millennium Park after it was closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He lamented that almost 95 per cent of the parks in Abuja have totally derailed from the FCTA park policy.

He appealed to the media and the public to support FCTA’s efforts towards rediscovering Abuja from what it was meant to be by the founding fathers.

The minister pleaded with those opposed to the FCTA park policy to have a rethink and support the administration in the journey to transforming all parks to what

they were meant to be.

“Today signifies a very important milestone for the city. A day when officially our own Millennium Park in Abuja will be open after over two years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the minister said.

He also used the occasion by applauding Salini Nigeria Ltd, which singlehandedly constructed the park over 22 years ago for being a very reliable partner and cooperate citizen of Abuja.

The minister said: “And what we have seen today and what we have witnessed is what truly a park supposed to be in Abuja.

They have an opening time, they have a closing time, they have perimeter fence, lights, security and toilet.”

Fayemi Grants Autonomy to Ekiti Revenue Service loopholes and leakages had been Victor OgunjeinAdoEkiti The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has granted autonomy to the state internal revenue service in order to be more productive in its revenue generating drives.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a week induction programme organised for its new staff in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, yesterday, the Chairman of the Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service(EKIRS), Mr. Muyiwa Ogunmilade, said the autonomy would further fortify the revenue generating body to operate independently and rake in money into the state coffers.

Disclosing giant strides made by the service to curtail financial drift, the EKIRS boss added that all

blocked, while the government had also deepened transparency and accountability in revenue processing and generation in the state.

Ogunmilade said the government had with the employment, hired the services of capable and competent hands to enable the service meet its mandate in terms of revenue generation. He said the one-week induction programme would build the capacity of the staff towards optimal service delivery.

According to the EKIRS boss, “Effective IGR drive can only be achieved through robust ICT platform,” calling on government to support the service with state of the art facilities.

Four Burnt to Death in Delta Accident

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Four persons were yesterday burnt to death in an auto crash involving a Toyota Sienna van and a truck in Ughelli, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The Sienna van, it was learnt, rammed into the truck while trying to escape from security agents for carrying illegally refined diesel.

Sources disclosed yesterday that the incident occurred on the East/West road leading to Warri in Delta State.

According to the sources, “The Delta community of

Ughelli was thrown into a state of mourning when a Sienna car carrying illegally refined diesel rammed into a stationery Dangote truck on the East/West road leading to Warri.

“The vehicle conveying the black market diesel lost control and ran into the stationary truck leaving those praying beside the truck burnt beyond recognition.”

An eyewitness, Ibrahim Ali, said the Sienna van burst into flames immediately after ramming into the truck and burnt four persons who were praying besides the truck.

KayodeTokede

Dangote Cement Plc yesterday announced 17 per cent increase in revenue to N808.04 billion in its half year (H1) unaudited financial statement for period ended June, 30, 2022, compared with N690.55 billion reported in the corresponding period of 2021.

Dangote Cement reported group sales volume of 14.2 metric tonnes, consisting of 9.3

metric tonnes done by Nigerian operations while the balance was contributed by operations in other African countries.

Dangote Cement closed H1 2022 with a profit before tax (PAT) of N264.89billion in H1 2022 from N281.25 billion in H1 2021.

Speaking on the results, Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Cement, Michel Puchercos, said: “Despite the elevated inflation due to a very volatile global

environment, the first half of 2022 has been positive. We recorded increases in revenue and EBITDA that drove strong cash generation across the Group. We recorded revenue of N808.0 billion up 17 per cent compared to last year and Group EBITDA of N373.2 billion, up 6.3 percent with an EBITDA margin of 46.2 percent.”

Puchercos explained that significant increase in energy and AGO costs are impacting negatively

on production and supply of cement products. He added, “to drive consumer engagement and support demand ahead of the rainy season; we have commenced the 3rd season of our National Consumer Promotion – “Bag of Goodies 3”.

On the operational side, we are ramping up production at our Okpella plant and are progressing well to deploy grinding plants in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.”

Security: Obaseki to Begin Recruitment of Forest Police Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city

In a renewed effort to enhance security across Edo State, the state Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his government has finalised arrangements to recruit new Forest Police Officers.

He said documentation and audit of the state forests is already on in order to achieve this feat.

Obaseki disclosed this at a

Special Security Council Meeting with relevant stakeholders in Edo South senatorial district held at the Government House in Benin-city.

The governor also held similar meetings with stakeholders in Edo North and Edo Central senatorial district to review security strategies and mechanisms to tackle insecurity in the state.

Obaseki said the government in partnership with relevant

stakeholders is strengthening the security architecture and adopting various measures to sustain security in the state, including bush combing, registration of motorbikes and marketplaces, signing of the anti-grazing laws, residents’ registration among others.

He said: “The responsibility of any government in any society is to guarantee the security and safety

of the people. No government can call itself a government if it cannot protect and secure the lives of the people that it oversees.

“That is why for us in Edo State, given what is going on in the country today, we have decided that security is now our number one priority. Also, we have completed documentation and audit of all our forests in Edo State, particularly in Edo South.

Group Urges Niger Delta Minister to Inaugurate Board without Delay Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogoin Umuahia Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Obong Umana Okon Umana, has been urged to seize the momentum of the assurances given by President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently inaugurate the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission

(NDDC).

The call was made by a group under the aegis of Niger Delta United Congress (NDUC) in a statement signed by its President, Ebizomor Brisibe, and Secretary, Edem Archibong.

Buhari, while delivering a keynote address during the opening ceremony of top management

retreat organised by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, had last Thursday given his presidential assurance that the NDDC board was underway.

Banking on this assurance, the group, NDUC, at the weekend said the minister had no reason whatsoever to allow the present “illegality” of sole administratorship

and interim management to linger at the NDDC. The group reasoned that President Buhari has given the green light, hence, it called on the Niger Delta Affairs Minister to “urgently implement the inauguration of the board and management of the commission” without further delay.

Osun PDP Warns Oyetola against Illegal Local Government Election Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The Osun State Chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has warned the outgoing Governor of Osun State, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola and the Osun Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) against going ahead with the planned local government election in Osun State, condemning same as unlawful, illegal and criminal.

However, Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) had stated that it was not planning to hold any local government election in the state.

The Spokesperson of the OSSIEC, Mr. Babatunde Fanawopo, debunked the rumour yesterday via a phone conversation with THISDAY in Osogbo.

Fanawopo stated that it is only OSIEC that is backed by law to

announce such exercise and not social media announcement.

He equally stressed that any arrangements regarding local government election exercise would come directly from the Chairman of OSIEC, Mr. Segun Oladitan.

According to him, “unconfirmed reports have stated that the commission had planned to hold local government elections in the state on October 29, 2022.”

The Director of Media, Osun State PDP, Mr. Oladele Oluwabamiji, in a press statement made available to THISDAY yesterday adverted the mind of Governor Oyetola and the state’s electoral body to a pending suit before the Federal High Court, Osogbo, in FHC/OS/ CS/94/2022, by which the Peoples’ Democratic Party is Challenging OSSIEC on the planned illegal local government election.

Army Chief’s Wife Inaugurates Nursery/Primary School in Ogun The Wife of the Chief of Army Staff and President, Nigeria Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), Mrs. Salamatu Yahaya, has inaugurated the NAOWA Creche, Nursery and Primary School at Sappers’ Barracks in Ilese Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

Yahaya, who said that the

project would contribute greatly to the educational upbringing of their children, also inaugurated the secretariat of NAOWA at the barracks.

She said: “It is worth mentioning that this newly built crèche, nursery and primary school will provide quality and affordable

education to complement the existing educational structures in the barrack and neighbouring communities.

“The school will also afford our members, as well as other qualified individuals, job opportunities thus improving on the socio-economic wellbeing of

beneficiaries.”

The wife of the chief of army staff also commended the NAOWA Coordinator, Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers, Mrs. Adebukola Kadiri, members of NAOWA and all those who contributed to the successful completion of the project.

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NEWSXTRA

Woman, Newborn Baby Die while Fleeing from Terrorists in Kaduna John Shiklam inKaduna

A pregnant woman, who gave birth while fleeing from terrorists’ attack in Damari town, Kazage ward of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was reported to have died alongside the new born baby shortly after delivery.

The rampaging terrorists, who invaded the community last Sunday, were said to have also abducted 50 people during the attack.

The Birnin Gwari Emirate

Progressives Union (BEPU) disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday in Kaduna.

The statement, which was signed by the Chairman of BEPU, Ishaq Kasai, said the incident occurred last Sunday when the terrorists surrounded the community and unleash mayhem on residents.

He said in the last five days, BEPU had been alerting relevant authorities and the public of the heartless attacks by terrorists in Damari, following the withdrawal of Ansaru, a splinter group of

Suspected IPOB Member Killed by Police in Delta Sylvester Idowu inWarri

A suspected member of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was yesterday killed in a gun duel with policemen in Delta State.

The suspect was gunned down at Ogbada quarters along Illah–Akwukwu-Igbo Road in Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state.

The Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP. Ari Mohammed Ali, gave the cheering news while briefing journalists at the command’s headquarters in Asaba, Ali said that the deceased and two other armed men suspected to be members of IPOB attacked a police patrol team “attached to Illah Division while on stop and search duty at Ogbada quarters along Illah–Akwukwu-Igbo Road and the team in response

“engaged them in a fierce gun duel during which one of the hoodlums was neutralised while the other members of the gang escaped with gunshot injuries.

“One AK47 rifle with breech no 2534896 and six rounds of 7.62MM ammunition were recovered. Manhunt for the fleeing members of the gang is ongoing,” he disclosed.

He identified the recovered AK47 rifle as among the two rifles carted away by the armed men, who in the early hours of Sunday, July 24, 2022, ambushed and killed three police officers attached to the Okpanam Division also in Oshimili North Local Government Area.

The three slain officers were responding to a distress call from members of the Okpanam community vigilante when they were ambushed and killed a few metres from the station.

Boko Haram, from the area.

According to the statement, “The persistent attacks on the community “in the last 72 hours had reached a catastrophic situation.

“Yesterday (Sunday), bandits encircled Damari and abducted

about 50 people, before and after troops from the military field-base in Dogon-Dawa went to the town and escorted some residents who were willing to move to comfort zones in neighbouring communities and even to as far away Zaria.

“The most worrisome situation is when a pregnant woman, who was running away alongside her colleagues, was left behind by the fleeing groups, and she fell down and delivered a baby boy but unfortunately, both the mother and the baby lost their

lives instantly.”

Kasai said Damari is considered as the largest town in the entire eastern part of Birnin-Gwari, adding that about 20,000 people, including women and children, have been displaced by the incessant attacks in the area.

Group: Only 3% of Original Inhabitants of Abuja Have Access to Portable Water Kasim SumainainAbuja

A baseline study on improve access to inclusive basic services conducted by a non-governmental organisation has revealed that only three per cent of the Original Inhabitants of Abuja (OIAs), has access to portable water.

Findings and outcome of the study conducted in 60 communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), amongst the six area councils and 10 communities from each of the council’s indicated that aside

access to portable water, some of the communities lack educational facilities.

The Executive Director, HipCity Innovation Centre, Mr. Bassey Bassey made the disclosure during the presentation of the study on Improving Access Basic Services for OIAs, in Abuja.

Bassey said the findings was to assess the level of access and inclusion of social services across three key areas of basic education, basic healthcare and WASH available to

the OIAs within their communities.

He noted that his group and co-advocates have been canvassing for the promotion of the rights of the OIA and for better social services in their respective communities.

According to him, the findings of the baseline study was to prove that many OlA communities do not have primary schools, “some have to trek miles to reach the nearest school.”

Also, even in communities where there are schools, many are in various

states of disrepair, lacking educational facilities and lack equipment, not serving the educational needs of the PWDs in the communities.”

Bassey said some primary school children still learn sitting on the floor with no desk, stating, “most of the schools sampled, the sanitation and hygiene situation was abysmally poor with very few schools who could boast of having functional toilets with water running for the maintenance of proper hygiene by the students.”

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BACK PAGE CONTINUATION NIGERIA: MORE UNIVERSITIES WHERE? university teachers. The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige has been heard saying the government cannot pay such money because there is no money anywhere as Nigeria grapples with a local and global season of economic distress.

Well, well, well, it is true that Nigeria’s debt service profile exceeds country revenue by about 119%.

Excess crude Account has been depleted. What do we have there now? Some little change above $300 million. Our foreign exchange situation is so bad, the Naira is beginning to look like toilet paper in comparison to the dollar! University teachers of Nigeria insist that they do not want the government’s payment system that places them under what is popularly known as IPPIS, they want their own payment system called UTAS. They are asking for revitalization funds for universities. They want the number of universities to be rationalized because they think there are too many universities in the country, resulting in the lowering of standards. They reject the idea that Nigerian students should pay appropriate fees.

They think the provision of quality education for the Nigerian child is a sacred duty and anything to the contrary drawn from Western, neo-liberal economics is wrong-headed, human development strategy. There are more than enough hard liners on both sides, however: between those who think government must have its way, and those who think government is manned by stupid persons who have lost the capacity to think intelligently.

In that middle are parents whose children have been wrong-footed, a country whose education system is being destroyed and young Nigerians whose future has been mortgaged.

It is perhaps necessary to define the context of this reflection. Once upon a time in this same country, the education system flourished. In 1955, the Western Region led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo and strategic thinkers like Chief Adekunle Ajasin and Professor S. O. Awokoya introduced Universal Free Primary Education System in the Western Region. The policy promoted education in the Western region. By 1957, the Eastern Region led by had also introduced a framework for a similar promotion of education. In 1959, the leaders of Northern Nigeria had their first major summit on education with a clear intention to promote education in the North. The regional system encouraged competition and each region working on its own comparative advantage. The West succeeded with its plan, producing generations of educated persons. The East also succeeded, but the civil war truncated the growth of the East.

The East has since recovered pushing forcefully ahead on the competitive plane, after the civil

Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba war, a reflection of the people’s resilience, with Igbos now having the highest number of Ph.D holders in Nigeria today. The only region that fell behind is the North where a large number of Nigeria’s out of school children is concentrated and the result has been banditry, terrorism, and illiteracy. My point is that there was a time when every region of Nigeria tried to promote education, learning, and culture, with relative differences.

As a primary and secondary school pupil in this country, government gave us books. Some of our schools could easily compare with some of the best schools in England and Europe. Students came to study in this country from other parts of the world. Many of our teachers from primary to university level were expatriates, and they were very happy living and working in Nigeria, with their families.

I remember this: my secondary school got featured on the then old WNTV because we had one of the best farms in the Western region cultivated by the school under the leadership of Chief Sesan Soluade who later became Deputy Governor under Chief Olabisi Onabanjo as Governor of Ogun State.

At the university level, we had access to quality.

There was water. There was electricity. Hostel staff laid our beds, washed our bedsheets, and every morning cleaned our rooms. The university

cafeteria was a place of delight. The food was good. The menu was heavenly. They fed us to make us study well. We drank tea every morning.

Every meal came with tea and dessert. Every Sunday afternoon, we looked forward to the special chicken delicacy that we got served as a special treat. Food was so important to us, and a source of celebration that even our cafeteria had a Chairman who was so appointed and recognized by students! Only the Chairman had the right to arrive whenever he wanted and he would be allowed to go straight to the head of the queue.

The Chairman was a true Chairman in any case, because he was always the first person to show up at the cafeteria, morning, noon, and in the evening.

The irony was that he was a science student with all their laboratory sessions, but he seemed to have taken his reputation as the cafeteria king as his major mission in the university. Chairman graduated. Mr. Jeun Koku didn’t repeat a class!

He graduated on schedule.

In the more uptown universities like the University of Ibadan, we were told that the situation was even better. Those ones wore gowns and some of the boys behaved like they were future lords.

Before we graduated, everything collapsed. The cafeteria system disappeared. Nigeria under Ibrahim Babangida, had taken the IMF pill. The country went downhill and has not recovered since then.

By the time I got to Ibadan for graduate studies, I met a culture of “bush attack”. There was no water.

No normal environment. Boys and girls took to the bush in early morning hours to empty their bowels. Everywhere stank. Then, they brought undergraduate girls to graduate hostels and hell broke loose. Boys started behaving like girls. I ran for election as Secretary of Awolowo Hall along with others who thought we needed to save our Hall of Residence, and won, but we all ended up being very friendly with the female wing! It is now so bad that the education system has completely failed. Over 13 million Nigerian children, most of them in the North are out of school. Northern leaders have been holding meetings since 1959 to promote education and enlightenment in the North. They meet every season, every year, every electoral cycle. The number of illiterate children in the North keeps expanding. The situation has been compounded by the menace of Boko Haram, terrorism and the insecurity of lives and property in the North. Religious and ethnic dimensions to the crisis make it more terrible. Not even schools are safe. They have become targets in the hands of those who believe that western education is a sin and that anyone who goes to school must be kidnapped and eliminated.

Given these circumstances, the proposed recklessness of breathing more tertiary institutions into existence through legislation is annoying.

Nigeria does not need more tertiary institutions.

This is one of the major arguments of ASUU and other unions. I think they are right. Even with the Nimi-Briggs proposition, nothing will change.

Has anyone even seen the Briggs paper? What the university teachers want is a quality education system. They do not want the proliferation of mushroom universities that spring up at every corner without the wherewithal to keep them going.

The education system is so bad that employers of labour in Nigeria do not even want to employ graduates of Nigerian tertiary institutions. If you must employ them, you would need to set up a training school and this is why perhaps there has been an explosion in training budgets in Nigerian companies. The graduates who come out of Nigerian schools cannot speak English.

They do not know the difference between a formal and an informal letter. You should not be surprised if they show up in the office wearing those rags that they call clothes. They behave so badly senior managers are the ones who now have to act in loco parentis. Some of the senior managers are themselves products of a bad era, creating a community of Nigerian managers and their staff who are totally lacking in skills and competence. They pollute the environment. Even when companies recruit foreign graduates, the ones who studied abroad, it is often difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff. Many of those pretty looking ladies and smart boys that you meet in banking halls who speak through their noses have actually never gone anywhere beyond Lekki or Surulere. They have international passports and have had the privilege of getting a visa and probably spent two weeks in downtown Europe, and they would have returned with such strange accents you would think that their grandmother came from Europe.

Nigeria must resolve the crisis in the education sector, starting this time from top to bottom.

Having a key percentage of Nigerians in the top educational range sitting at home, doing nothing, and embracing depression, indeed some university lecturers have become petty traders, some of the women I hear, now prepare and sell nkwobi and pepper-soup, is disgraceful to the nation. Ministers of the Federal Republic abusing and threatening university teachers, will not solve the problem.

The Minister of Education has missed the twoweek deadline. ASUU and other unions are still on strike. As things stand, our universities may remain shut until after the 2023 general elections.

Trump to Vladimir Putin, and onto Boris Johnson, right down to our many other past and present leaders. They possess arrogant, self-importance and self-entitlement characteristics. They believe, once in power, that they know it all. They then become exploitative and careless with the things they say and do; telling lies and not caring about the effects and consequences of these lies. These Politicians dwell in the practice of telling lies because they know that they have gullible and stupid followers, who once they are brain-washed, believe anything they are told. These followers often do not care about the truth because they are blinded by primordial tendencies like; religion, tribalism, race and ethnicity.

Our politicians are smart. They understand the deceptive position and power of the internet and the social media in information dissemination.

The clique that “the internet never forgets” is the Politicians best tool. If a lie is told so many times on the internet, it becomes a credible source of the perpetration of a lie, as it grows into an irrefutable proof of its validity and authenticity as true.

The season for political lies and promises is around the corner. Knowing and not caring that the immorality of political lies and false promises destroy the trust factor between the politicians and the electorate, our politicians continue to lie and promise about what they will do once given yet another opportunity to be elected into office.

SEE SOME OF THE LIES FROM OUR POLITICIANS: “We will build you new schools” “We will give you free education” “We will build you new roads and bridges” “We will make the naira equal in value to the dollar” “We will make petrol cheaper” “We will change the constitution; restructure the nation” “We will stop terrorism and kidnapping” “We will return the kidnapped school girls” “We will give you uninterrupted electricity” “The only way to have stable electricity, is to vote out PDP” “We will stop Corruption” “We will only serve one term” “Stone us if we do not perform” “We will allow the other Zones to serve” “We will conduct free and fair elections” “WE WILL TAKE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK” These lies and promises have been with us for so many years. And when these lying thieves are caught in their lies, they, without any remorse

or shame, counter by using the ever-familiar gimmickry in euphemisms such as; “I was misquoted; I misspoke; my words were taken out of context; you distorted my statements; overstated, understated, misstated, exaggerated, twisted, biased media”. All these have all become the lying politicians’ favourite words.

It is quite obvious that one of the determinants of political distrusts in our democracies is the amount of lies that politicians tell to the electorate.

Trust in our political institutions are vital for the stability of our governments. When the Nigerian people begin to trust these institutions and the administrators, there will be an inclination for efficacious synergies between policymaking and proper moral civic behaviour. Trust entails that a person in authority (politician, technocrat, business leader) is responsive and will not tell lies, but will do what is right even without constant scrutiny or oversight. This by extension requires and demands that while seeking for the well-being of our society, the virtues of impartiality, transparency and the delivery of efficacy must be the watchword of our politicians.

Without much doubt, I believe that once our politicians stop their lying game, we will begin to see that there are theoretical and empirical evidence of a correlation between political trust and stable and reliable government with the populace becoming better and productive citizens.

Whereas my main focus is on lies told by politicians and their cohorts, I must add that we must denounce all lies; salutary or otherwise, or even noble lies told for the so called common interest, as intrinsically evil and against the doctrine of all religions. Philosophically, it is abhorrent to hide the truth as it is as bad as uttering a lie. Many philosophers have addressed the issue of lying, many stating that every liar invariably conceals the truth, but that not everyone who conceals the truth is a liar; for we often conceal the truth not only by lying but by being or remaining silent.

Are our politicians edifying this philosophical doctrine to avoid being called liars? Are they concealing at any opportune moment issues and matters that may seem advisable to hide; but never permissible to admit as lies, yet they spread by means of lies to the electorate? Yes, they do, but by the notion of virtue and monotheism, we must create, expose and explore the huge gap and dichotomy between politics, realities, lies and truths.

Yes, we must always aspire to tell the truth, as it will set us free from the morasses of lies and deceit. r%S 0LFZ "OVFZJBHV JT B 1PMJUJDBM &DPOPNJTU

THE POLITICS OF TELLING LIES, TELLING TRUTHS Although I am not claiming perfection in the department of telling the truth, I constantly practice the gratitude of knowing the efforts of my parents in raising me right as being the keys to how some good aspect of my life unfold sometimes.

Today, as these political leaders, the politicians, the technocrats and our business leaders engage in the competitive duel of who tell better lies, how do they expect their children, our children to behave in this business of telling lies, and telling the truth? Where will they derive the moral authority and rights to tell these growing up, impressionable children, not to lie? When these youngsters witness us adults spewing dangerous lies every second, how do we demand of them to tell the truth? This is a grievous dilemma for us and our country today.

In our country, the most contemporary and belligerent ills plaguing and pervading all aspects of our life, is lying. The perfidiousness and impetuosity of this trend is alarming and deleterious.

Spiritually, once someone’s soul is taken over by the evils of lies, the person’s being becomes polluted and defective. Our politicians fit this mold so perfectly. They turn everything they know to be true into deadly lies. Once they are sickened in spirit, they turn into unrepentant, villainous and compulsive liars.

In “The Prince”, the great Philosopher Nicolo Machiavelli alluded to the importance of politicians behaving like foxes; to be cunning and to tell lies and habitually make it an obligation to always see honesty as an impossibility and an antithesis of the game of politics. Our politicians have copied this doctrine and put its practice and manifestation into praxis.

This short essay as heuristics as it may be, is intended to further teach us that we can live our lives in more honourable ways without laying a faulty foundation for our children to follow. Although I set out to tell this tale in as contemporaneous a fashion as possible, I am very aware and worried about the pernicious and harmful effects of telling lies in all spheres of our lives.

My writing focuses more on intuitively narrating the sub-human capacities and failings of our political class and elite in what they tell us, the followers – the common people. In fact, I strongly believe that our politicians and those who work for them have sold their souls to the devil. That their bargain with the devil, is to constantly in the line of duty to their bosses, undermine the public trust by telling mountains of lies at will. It has become common knowledge that one of the major requirements to qualify as a politician, or a staff to politicians, is the willingness to sublimate

your conscience and become infinitively ready to delegitimize, or at the least, rationalize the truth, and when demanded of you, to outrightly lie.

Indeed, the extraordinary lies that we have been subjected to by our politicians from the past to today, and the level of its preposterousness have bumfuzzled the populace. With astonishing results, it is incredible to recount how easily these politicians have looked us dead in our eyes and lied with such maximal sangfroid, piety and aplomb. To understand the level of the barefaced lies these people peddle, is to become alarmed with a high sense of foreboding. Their lies are compulsive and exhibit such disdainful imperturbable penchant for denying the undeniable – like denying their father’s tribe and religion with a straight and bold face.

In our country, and indeed in the entire world, lying has become a powerful tool in the hands and arsenal of our leaders - in all sectors. This ugly trait has completely defined the character and behavior of our politicians and corporate leaders who misrepresent, bend, disfigure, dissemble, spin and destroy with such prevarication, the truth.

They have no shame in lying as they hide under the dictum that lying is part of politics as long as you are not caught. But the willfulness by which these lies are told, has become a bulwark for the disregard of the consequences and complicity.

In order not to become a plaudit to these lying politicians, we must never confuse “Politics” with Lying. Both are mutually exclusive, although both possess a certain level of benignity as they compliment each other.

Now, let us consider some of the lies that have been told over many years. Where can one start? From the scurrilous to the ridiculous ones, the perilousness or wantonness of these lies, is what should worry all well-meaning Nigerians.

During one of the last elections, some bullion (money carrying) vehicles were filmed entering a politician’s home. Expectedly, there were uproars in the media with scores of people condemning this act. There were also valorous defence of this politician. My jaw dropped when I heard one of the defenders say on TV that the vans could have been carrying food and not money for the supporters of this politician. While spewing this lie, he kept a straight face and did not blink. Until today, no one has told us the precious menus that those money trucks were delivering or how the sumptuous meals were consumed.

I believe that one of the major reasons our politicians constantly lie to us is because they are all, without any exception, narcissists; from Donald

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TUESDAY, ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Gold Medalist Lawal Didn’t Know She Claimed New Games Record 19-year-old Adebukola wins another weightlifting bronze

Duro Ikhazuagbe Nigeria's Rafiatu Folashade Lawal who won Team Nigeria’s second gold medal at the ongoing 22nd Commonwealth Games in Birmingham claimed yesterday she didn’t know her lift in the women’s 59kg weightlifting event was a game’s record.

Lawal, 25, triumphed with a new Games record of 206kg from her snatch and clean and jerk lifts on Sunday to win the gold while Jessica Gordon Brown of England and Canada’s Tali Darsigny settled for the silver and bronze medals respectively.

"I'm really happy because I didn't even know I broke the record. I was only focussed on winning the gold medal," she told BBC Africa Sports yesterday.

She however have the Nigerian fans who were rooting for her during the event.

"Hearing the fans (Nigerians in the crowd) really helped.

Although it's not the first time I will be facing a huge crowd, but the support really calmed

BIRMINGHAM 2022 my nerves,” Folashade Lawal hinted.

While admitting that the gold medal she won on Sunday means so much to her, Folashade Lawal says her parents will be proud of her latest success.

"They are always proud of me, but I think my parents will be prouder than before.”

"This Commonwealth gold means a lot to me, and I'm really excited about it because I didn't expect it, but God did it for me."

Lawal has already conquered the continent by picking 59kg gold at the 2019 African Games and the 2021 African Weightlifting Championships.

A gold medallist at the 2021 Commonwealth Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, she admitted her Commonwealth record was unexpected on the way to winning Nigeria's second gold in Birmingham.

Lawal's success in Birmingham

Rasheed Adeyemo Set for Professional Boxing Fight in US All eyes will be on Nigerian boxer, Rasheed Adeyemo, as he set to continue his pro boxing career in the United States of America.

The Superwelter weight boxer remains unbeaten in seven fights in the country and he is set to move out of the continent of Africa after signing with Boxing Elite in America.

Born in Lagos, the orthodox boxer, who is a product of the Gifted Cole Boxing Academy has been impressive in three of his fights so far this year with three wins from three fights.

Hometowns production DRP, who are aware of the talent have swung into action to arrange his first professional fight in the United States.

"I have had some tough fights in Nigeria in the past one year, three so far in 2022

and my dream is to one day show the world that I belong to the best," he said.

Adeyemo’s promoter, Jamal Binford, is excitedly looking forward to have the young Nigerian unleash himself in a competitive boxing environment.

Gifted Cole, who has been encouraging young boxers over the years in Nigeria described Adeyemo as a special talent who has gifted hands to be one of the best in the world but admitted that the boxer will be guided to fulfill his potential.

Emmanuel Chiori, director and part owner of Gifted Cole boxing Academy is expected to accompany the boxer to the United States for his first fight expected to hold at the Greenwood Culture Centre, Oklahoma with a yet to be announced opponent.

is a positive for Africa's most populous nation whose previous weightlifting successes at the Commonwealth Games have often been blighted by doping violations.

Speaking on the achievements so far at the Games, President of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), Dr Abdul Ibrahim, admits he’s on cloud nine in Birmingham.

The youthful NWF boss who was basking in the euphoria of Monday’s bronze medal feat by 19-year-old Islamiyat Adebukola said it is time corporate Nigeria comes to back the sports ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

“We have lifters who can take on the world. I’m happy with our performance here and things can get better if we get the needed support. I urge corporate bodies to support us. In weightlifting, we are open, we are transparent and we have integrity,” Abdul noted.

Team Nigeria has won two gold medals and two bronze in weightlifting and more are likely to be won before the end of competition.

Folashade Rafiatu Lawal...new Commonwealth Games gold medalist in women’s 59kg

Boxing to Debut as Medal Sport at NUGA Games in 2024 Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) and the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) have jointly announced that boxing will be the 18th scoring sport at the 2024 NUGA Games in Jos, Plateau State.

The unveiling of the partnership was announced yesterday at a press briefing in Abuja addressed by the President of NUGA, Mr Emeka Ogbu, the Vice President NBF, Azania Omo-Agege and the Technical Chairman NUGA, Prof Musa Garba Yakassai.

Yakasai said they saw that many students were interested in boxing following a demonstration carried out at the last NUGA Games held at this year at University of Lagos.

He said boxing will feature as the 18th medal sport at the 2024 Games at University of Jos, by joining other combatant sports like Taekwondo, Judo and Karate which are medal sports at NUGA. He also urged the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, to back a policy that will it make it mandatory for Nigerian university students to be considered for selection for the Olympic Games,

Commonwealth Games and the All Africa Games in the future given the depth of talent at the universities.

In his remarks, Ogbu thanked Omo- Agege for his relentless effort from the beginning of last year to make boxing get into the university system.

He said he was overwhelmed that 52 students registered for boxing at the last Games, adding as a result they would be taken to the World University Games billed for Turkey in September.

The NUGA President described the partnership with NBF as a

worthy initiative as it will enable students channel their energy into boxing, tackle anti-social behaviour and equip the female students with self defence skills.

“Sports is also a team builder between campuses by building friendship and providing the platform for our students and society to give the students the opportunity to showcase their talent,” Ogbu said.

Omo-Agege thanked NUGA for partnering with the federation while expressing sadness that boxing is not getting same sponsorship like football.

Ghana v Nigeria Again in the CHAN 2022 Qualification Battle NWFL Declares NWFL Club It’s Black Stars stopped the Super reach the 2023 African Nations first leg 3-0 in Cape Coast and Ghana, whose last tournament Eagles from qualifying for the Championship (CHAN) after Daniel Afriyie's goal was enough appearance was in 2014 when they Owners Association Illegal After 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Ghana seeing off Benin in the second to beat the Squirrels 1-0 in the finished as runners-up, will face The Secretariat of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), from it's base at the NFF Glass, Abuja, yesterday declared the NWFL Club Owners Association an illegal body, as it is not a recognised body by the Statutes governing the game.

The Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria Women Football League, Modupe Shabi, in a signed letter to the clubs, disclosed that, the Club Owners’ body was earlier accepted as a valuable link between the NWFL Secretariat and the clubs.

The letter continued: "I am directed by the Chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League ( Aisha Falode) to respond to your letter ( from the Club Owners Association of the Nigeria Women Football League, NWFL) dated 22nd July 2022, purportedly, informing the NWFL Secretariat of election into offices of your Executive Council.

“The NWFL wishes to inform

all the clubs that while the Club Owners Association is not a statutorily recognised body, by the Statutes governing the game, it was a valuable link between the NWFL and the clubs.

"In the light of the possible abuses of the relationship, the NWFL wishes to inform the clubs of the cessation of any dealings with the Club Owners Association with immediate effect.

"The NWFL Secretariat will henceforth deal with the clubs directly. Please ignore any correspondence from any individuals, group or body claiming to act on behalf of the clubs in your dealings with the NWFL. "This position has become neccesary following developments that could be inimical to sustaining the gains of the women's game,” concludes the statement in response to the letter from the Club Owners Association to the NWFL.

have again set up a qualifying showdown against Nigeria to

leg of their first-round tie.

The Black Galaxies won the

reverse fixture at the Stade de l'Amittie, Cotonou.

Nigeria’s home-based Eagles have a daunting task to ensure they elIminates Ghana to book a place in next year’s 2023 CHAN

their West African arch rivals in the final two-legged Western Zone B play-off this August and September.

The first leg between is expected to take place on the weekend of August 26-28 in Cape Coast, while the return leg will be played in Nigeria by the weekend of September 1-3, 2022.

Elsewhere in qualifying, Mozambique upset Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) champions Zambia.

The second and final round of fixtures will determine the qualifiers from each regional zone for CHAN 2022.

The expanded 18-team CHAN finals,a tournament for domesticbased players, are scheduled to be held from 8-31 January 2023 in Algeria, with holders Morocco and Libya already assured of a place.

Morocco are chasing a third straight title, having defended the trophy at the delayed 2020 finals which were held in Cameroon last year.

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Tuesday, August 2, 2022

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Northern CAN to Buhari

“Nigeria is on the verge of collapse if urgent steps are not taken to stem the deadly activities of terrorists and other criminal elements across the country.

Nowhere is safe! Once again, we call on President Buhari to rise to the occasion, by living up to his constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property of citizens and defending the sovereignty of Nigeria” --- Northern CAN Secretary General, Sunday Oibe, lamenting the terrorists’ siege on the country.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI Nigeria: More Universities Where?

I abati1990@gmail.com

stumbled on a story in the Nigerian media which says that the National Assembly is planning to consider no fewer than 63 bills for the creation of new universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and monotechnics, and I wondered whether madness has finally descended on Nigeria’s education sector. Nigeria at the moment has about 49 Federal Universities, 59 state universities, Polytechnics - about 40, stateowned universities- 49, and private universities – 76, federal and state-owned colleges of health – 70, private colleges of health – 17, Colleges of Education – 219. So, who wants to add 63 more institutions to this array of moribund, inefficient, poorly governed and perpetually-on-strike-colleges?

Every tertiary institution is a creation of the law, there is no doubt about that, but it would amount to gross stupidity for any group of lawmakers to sit and deliberate over the possible creation by law of additional tertiary schools in Nigeria today. The sponsors of such bills should not only withdraw them, they should hide their heads in shame, and must not be heard forthwith making any such silly suggestions.

Many lawmakers want a tertiary institution in their own neck of the woods. They want it said that as part of democracy dividends, it was during their term in office that a school was brought to their village, or community. They are forever desperate to be seen to be doing something that would fetch them another term in office. It is

Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu not difficult to see why community projects so called constitute such a big competition among lawmakers. Some lawmakers collude with the traditional rulers of their communities to give chieftaincy titles to their colleagues to support their plans to establish Universities of Medicine in their villages. If established. such universities would be no better than Primary Health Care Centres.

Worse, actually. Higher institutions of learning should not be created on the basis of political expediency. No school should be established to massage the ego of politicians. Tertiary education should not be about quantity, but quality and capacity, not political convenience, but political interest. We do not need to have a university or a polytechnic in every hamlet of Nigeria - that would be a prescription for chaos and confusion.

Today, it would be exactly two weeks since the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari gave or did not give, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, a two-week ultimatum, to find a solution, to the strike since February 14, 2022, of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Some other reports indicated that the Minister himself was the one who volunteered to end the strike because he had found a special formula to the matter. The two weeks is up today, so what has happened? What has happened is that by yesterday, ASUU told everyone that the union is extending the strike by university teachers for another period of four weeks. If ASUU was aware of any progress being made with the negotiations, its communique would have said so, but there was absolutely nothing like that. An academic session is about 9 months. Nigeria’s universities have been shut down for more than six months.

A whole academic session has been sacrificed on the altar of nothing. Many students by now would have forgotten whatever they learnt in their other

life as undergraduates. Many of the boys and ladies would by now have ended up as fathers and mothers, victims of unwanted pregnancy or adolescent sexuality, due to distraction and idleness, quite a number from privileged homes would have moved on to foreign schools or private universities, a larger majority would simply have dropped out to become a big burden unto society.

When university teachers embarked on their strike in February 2022, it was just them, but they have since been joined by other unions within the education sector. For months, Nigeria’s public education sector has been on its knees. On the plain surface of it, this is not good enough. It is condemnable, because the crisis is avoidable, and speaks to the failure of leadership and governance.

The involved unions - ASUU, SSANU, NASU, ASUP - are asking for better conditions of service and a quality education system in Nigeria. ASUU insists on a number of issues: fulfilment of the 2009 ASUU-FG agreement, and the re-negotiated agreements of 2014, 2020, and 2022 in line with the sacred principle – pacta sunt servanda – that is the sanctity of agreements. It would appear that the Federal Government of Nigeria does not want to respect any agreements including the latest Nimi Briggs committee proposal. The Briggs committee is recommending an over 100% increase in salaries and allowances for Continued on page 38

OKEY ANUEYIAGU The Politics of Telling Lies,Telling Truths G GUEST COLUMNIST

rowing up, the first thing we learnt in our household was not to tell lies, and to always tell the truth no matter the consequences. Even when the lies were as insignificant, as in who dipped his or her fingers in the sugar jar for a little succulent taste of its sweetness, they drew dire consequences from our parents. I used to wonder why we got serious rebuking for such small, silly lies, but my parents took pains in reminding us children that it was not the weight or significance of the offence, but the gravity of the lies that drew the dire consequences.

I once told a lie to my mother that I thought was not that serious, and she flew into what was an uncontrollable rage. This particular lie was that I had brushed my teeth in the morning when it was obvious that I had not, considering the early morning stench from my mouth that flowed freely around the breakfast table. I found it then quite difficult and abstruse to understand why such a flimsy lie drew so much anger from my mother. Now, I know better. Being a parent to five children and expecting from them the same standards my parents set for me in the lying department, and in other endeavors, I have come to understand why we were expected and demanded to never lie and to always tell the truth no matter the consequences.

The act or art of telling lies and telling the truth has become a standard of measurement in

President Muhammadu Buhari our politics. It was long ago, and still is today, a yardstick adopted in the recognition of good and bad politicians. Historically, it was a virtue to find politicians who always told the truth; who never told lies. The American people, in this line, regarded their two Presidents, Washington and Lincoln, very highly, and they were famous mainly because they told their people the truth.

Americans trusted these Presidents because truth to them meant trust. I am not sure that they felt the same way about Donald Trump.

One of the severest test of a great and an upright leader is his or her ability to tell his followers the truth even when the consequences are severe to their personal position of power and influence. To speak painful and inconvenient truth through loving words and compassion, to me, is the sign of true leadership and everlasting strength and vigor.

Today, our political leaders and politicians, and even our technocrats have not only turned to big liars, but have all virtually become lie-making machines. Lying has become second nature to them – it has become an appendage to the already convoluted politics mired in trickery, lies and deceits. They have perfected the act and art of lying that even when they are telling the truth, they are telling it by lying. When I watch and listen to them lie, without blinking or batting an eyelid, I begin to wonder if they didn’t have parents, or if their mothers did not raise them well.

I recall a very painful experience I had as a six year old boy growing up at home. My mother was an extremely successful business woman, and one of her thriving ventures was a large-scale bakery and confectionary industry that catered for patrons beyond the Kano metropolis where we lived. On one particular evening, I snuck in

into her bakery house and stuffed my two khaki shorts pockets with very special pastries that she and her staff had prepared for very important clients. I escaped into my bedroom and began to devour my loot, stuffing my mouth rapidly.

Suddenly, my mother walked into my bedroom and caught me redhanded; my entire face covered in sugar, flour and other juicy condiments. She asked me what I was eating, and with my mouth overstuffed and my pockets dripping with baking oil, I told her that I was eating nothing; I lied.

My mother was stunned and weakened at my blatant lie and the boldness and effrontery by which I told it, that she began to invoke the power of God on me. She did not curse me, but she was so shocked that she asked Jesus to have mercy upon my lying soul. I was ashamed of myself and filled with guilt that I could not sleep for some nights. Each time I attempted to shut my eyes, I would see the angry face of Jesus looking at me, and clutching a long horsewhip.

I never got the whipping from Jesus, but I never lived-down the guilt of my sin and the lying that followed for a long while.

From these small but unflappable experiences, one is grateful that our parents tried to instill in us the attributes of being good citizens. I am grateful for these smallest things that made my life to be seemingly shaped from the inside out.

Continued on page 38

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