TUESDAY 31TH AUGUST 2021

Digital Currency Gains Traction as CBN Appoints Technical Partner IMF urges caution on adoption of cryptocurrency as national currency

Ndubuisi Francis and James Emejo in Abuja The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday announced the formal engagement of global fintech company, Bitt Inc., as technical partner for its proposed digital

currency, also known as e-Naira.

CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, disclosed this in Abuja.

But the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cautioned that countries seeking to adopt the digital currency should be wary of its disadvantages.

Emefiele said the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) would bring about increased cross-border trade, accelerate financial inclusion, and lead to cheaper and faster remittance inflow. He said the digital money, also known as cryptocurrency, would lead to easier

targeted social interventions, as well as improvement in monetary policy effectiveness, payment systems efficiency, and tax collection.

CBN’s Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mr. Osita Nwanisobi, explained, in a statement, that the e-Naira project had

been a long and thorough process for the apex bank following its resolve in 2017 to digitise the local currency after extensive research and exploration.

Nwanisobi said CBN’s decision was in line with an unmistakable global trend in which over 85 per

cent of central banks were considering adopting digital currencies in their countries.

The CBN pointed out that the selection of Bitt Inc. from among highly competitive bidders was Continued on page 40

N1.5 Trillion Spent on COVID-19 Management, Says FG... Page 5 Tuesday 31 August, 2021 Vol 26. No 9640. Price: N250

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Insecurity: We’re Lucky to Have Buhari in Govt, Says Shehu of Borno Declares president’s administration has changed the tide Lawan applauds ongoing surrender by terrorists, rallies support for initiative Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar ElKanemi, yesterday, said the people

of Borno State were lucky to have President Muhammadu Buhari in government as his reign has changed the tide against insecurity

significantly.

This is as the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, has also lent his support to the Boko

Haram terrorists turning themselves in to the Nigerian troops, saying the move should be seen as a welcome development and should

be encouraged to end insurgency in the NorthEast.

The Shehu of Borno, who spoke when Lawan paid him a

courtesy call over the loss of his elder brother, said his people had Continued on page 40

CJN Moves to Save Judiciary, Summons Justices over Conflicting Court Orders Says NJC has always warned judicial officers to be circumspect in granting Exparte NBA threatens to sanction erring senior members SANs welcome Muhammad’s intervention Tobi Soniyi, Alex Enumah and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja In obvious reaction to THISDAY lead report yesterday, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Tanko Ibrahim Muhammad immediately swung into action by summoning six Chief Judges of State High Court in the country in a bid to halt the apparent decay in the judiciary, often occasioned by indiscriminate granting of court orders and injunctions by some pliable judges who have by their dishonourable conduct brought the Bench to disrepute.

Some of the states Chief Justices invited before the NJC include that of Rivers, Anambra, Jigawa, Kebbi, Continued on page 40

Cholera: NCDC Records 2,035 ON ECONOMIC RECOVERY...

Deaths, 58,698 BRIEFING L-R: Statistician General of the Federation, Dr Simeon Harry; Minister of Information, Culture and Orientation, Alhaji Lai Mohammed ; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning , PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI Cases... Page 5 Zainab Ahmed; and Minister of State,Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, during a press briefing on the economic recovery in Abuja... yesterday.

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

NEWS

NIMASA VISITS OBASEKI… L-R: Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Chairman, NIMASA, Barr. Margaret Orakwusi and the Special Adviser to the Director General of NIMASA on Communications Strategy, Ubong Essien, during a courtesy visit at the Government House in Benin City, Edot State...yesterday

N1.5tn Spent on COVID-19 Management, Says FG Declares economic activities back to pre-pandemic levels Predicts 5% GDP growth in Q3 Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja The federal government yesterday revealed that it spent over N1.5 trillion in managing the effects of COVID-19 in the country. Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this during a media briefing in Abuja.

The briefing was attended

by Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mr. Clem Ikanade Agba; and the newly appointed Statistician– General of the Federation, Dr. Simon Harry.

Ahmed took a holistic look at the recent second quarter (Q2) 2021 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which showed a 5.01 per cent growth. She said the growth rate was an indication that business and commercial activities had fully returned to pre-pandemic level.

The minister also predicted that if necessary economic measures and policies were put in place and sectors, such as agriculture, were improved upon, the economy would maintain a five per cent growth rate in the third quarter (Q3) of the year.

Cholera: NCDC Records 2,035 Deaths, 58,698 Cases

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

A total of 2,035 deaths through cholera was recorded in the country as of last Friday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has disclosed.

According to the latest Cholera epidemic report by the NCDC yesterday, the total number of suspected cases of Cholera infection in the 23 states of the federation was 58,698.

The report disclosed that there was a 44 percent decrease in the number of new suspected cases in week 33 (3098 cases) as compared with week 32 (5476 cases) The NCDC report stated that, "As at 27th August 2021, a total of 58,698 suspected cases including 2,035 deaths (CFR 3.5 percent) have been reported from 23 states and FCT in 2021.

There was a 44 per cent decrease in the number of new suspected cases in week 33 (3098) compared with week 32 (5476)."

The latest report gave the breakdown of the suspected cases of Cholera as Bauchi (1,145), Katsina (691) and Zamfara (454) account for 73.9 percent of 3,098 suspected cases reported in week 33.

It stated that in the reporting week, "12 states reported 3,098 suspected cases including, Bauchi (1,145), Katsina (691), Zamfara

(454), Yobe (216), Sokoto (196), Jigawa (187), Kano (80), Niger (79), Borno (30), FCT (11), Adamawa (6) and Kebbi (3).

Of this, there were 35 RDT confirmed cases from Katsina (14), Yobe (7), Adamawa (6), Zamfara (4), Borno (2), Jigawa (1) and FCT (1).”

Also the disease control centre stated that 13 culture confirmed cases were from Yobe (6), Adamawa (6) and FCT (1) "In addition, there were 63 deaths from Katsina (19), Bauchi (16), Niger (7), Zamfara (6), Jigawa (4), Sokoto (4), Borno (4), Yobe (1), Kano (1) and Adamawa (1) states," it added.

It further stated that of the suspected cases since the beginning of the year, age group 5 - 14 years was the most affected for both male and female It further stated that of all suspected cases, 51 per cent were males and 49 per cent were females.

The NCDC further stated that 23 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT had so far reported suspected cholera cases in 2021.

The states were Benue, Delta, Zamfara, Gombe, Bayelsa, Kogi, Sokoto, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Kebbi, Cross River, Nasarawa, Niger, Jigawa, Yobe, Kwara, Adamawa, Enugu, Katsina, Borno, Taraba and FCT.

According to the NBS Q2 GDP report, the economy grew 5.01 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms in the second quarter of the year (Q2 2021), compared to the -6.10 per cent recorded in Q2 2020. This marked three consecutive quarters of growth following the negative growth rates of -6.10 per cent and -3.62 per cent in Q2 2020 and Q3 2020 year-on-year, respectively.

Explaining the specific activities, which recorded growth during the quarter under review, the finance minister said trade, transportation, coal mining, metal Ores, and insurance recorded double-digit growth.

Ahmed stated, “The report, however, also indicate that some activities, such as oil refining, crude petroleum, and natural gas production, as well as financial services, recorded negative quarterly growth.

“Overall, a total of 42 out of 46 economic activities expanded during the quarter, compared to only 13 at the same time last year, while 37 activities performed better than they did last quarter (Q 1).”

The minister explained further that the non-oil sector was a major driver of growth during the quarter, recording a growth rate of nearly seven per cent. This, according to her, represents the fastest growth in the non-oil sector since Q3 2014.

“When these estimates are considered along with declining inflation rate, which slowed from 18.17 per cent at the end of Q1 to 17.75 per cent at the end of Q2, and as at July, which stands at 17.38 per cent, it is clear that the economic recovery is gradually picking up steam.”

Ahmed was hopeful that with favourable global economic

conditions expected as economic activities and normalcy returned across major economic sectors, and local conditions continued to improve to allow business activities, the Nigerian economy would maintain a steady path to more inclusive growth.

On the growing domestic and external borrowings, the minister maintained that the federal government was borrowing responsibly, saying, “if we don’t invest now, we will regret it later.”

Speaking on the cost of managing the effect of COVID-19, the minister revealed that the federal government spent over N1.5 trillion in managing the effects of the pandemic.

Speaking at the occasion, the statistician-general said the federal government only needed to improve and sustain its revenue drive.

According to Harry, “From all

that is happening now and the improvement of funding of this year’s budget, the third quarter of this year is going to record a tremendous success.

“In managing an economy, you don’t expect magic if there is no adequate funding of the economy. So far so good, this year has been recording timely releases of budgetary allocations for all MDAs and we expect that to have multiplier effects on other sectors of the economy. So, what we need to do to encourage this is to look at other sectors that are not performing; for instance, in Q2, agriculture performance was not encouraging.

“But with improvement in funding, we are hoping that agriculture and other sectors under it will improve. Overall, we are expecting that by end of the year, the economy will able to grow above five per cent.”

NNPC’s Project Funding Shortfall, JV Cost Recovery Hit $1.84tn in July OPEC may leave supply volume unchanged for September Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) underfunded its priority projects and under-serviced its Joint Venture (JV) obligations to the tune of $1.84 trillion in July, latest report from the national oil company has indicated.

While the projected amount of $536 million was budgeted for cost recovery and government priority projects per month, rounding off at $3.7 billion for the year, actual dollar funding was $1.911 trillion as of July this year, leaving a deficit of $1.84 trillion.

A breakdown of the figures released by the national oil company showed that in January, funding was $276.4 million, it was $252.9 million in February, $307.6 million in March and was $239.2 million in April.

In addition, NNPC funded the projects and its JV obligations to the tune of $392.2 million

in May, $202 million in June, while it hit $240.6 million in the month under review.

Shortfall in funding was $259.6 million in January, $283.1 million in February, $228.3 million in March, $296.7 million in April, $143.8 million in May, $333.7 million in June, and $295.3 million in July.

According to the report, some of the government’s priority projects include the ExcravosLagos pipeline expansion phase 1 and 11, Odidi-Warri expansion pipeline, gas supply to Egbema, Ogidigben gas city and the Obiafu/Obrikom-Oben project.

Others include the Trans-Sahara gas pipeline, West Niger Delta project, Egbin gas project, Sapele metering station, upgrade of Oben metering project, and Gbaramatu gas supply facility.

In all, the report showed that crude oil export sales increased by two per cent to hit 178,185,000 barrels, while domestic crude oil production due in September

was 8.4 million barrels, an increase of 98 per cent compared to the previous month.

According to the report, JV cash call arrears stood at $1.46 billion, with total payment to date being $3.22 billion out of the total negotiated debt of $4.68 billion, although Mobil Producing Nigeria’s debt of $833 million had been fully paid.

Monies from crude oil and gas sales were paid by 13 companies, including Bono, Duke, an NNPC subsidiary, Mocoh, Cepsa, Sahara Energy, and MRS, it stated. Furthermore, the quantity of crude sold by the companies was 6.8 million barrels at a unit price of $65.7, totalling an equivalent of N171.3 billion, and royalties of N32.8 billion.

Meanwhile, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), with its allies (OPEC+), may likely keep its oil output policy unchanged when the group meets tomorrow

and continues with its planned modest production increase. This was revealed yesterday.

OPEC and allies, including Russia, collectively known as OPEC+, would meet on September 1, to discuss the previously agreed increase of 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) for the next several months.

US President Joe Biden's administration had urged OPEC and its allies to boost oil output to tackle rising gasoline prices that it viewed as a threat to the global economic recovery.

On Monday, Brent was down 16 cents or 0.2 per cent at $72.54 a barrel, but rose more than 11 per cent last week in anticipation of disruptions to oil production from Hurricane Ida. But OPEC+ sources said the recent rise in oil prices was temporary, driven mainly by disruption of supply in Mexico and the severe storm hitting the U.S. Gulf Coast over the weekend.

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1,033 MDAs Fail to Submit Audited Report to OAuGF 65 FG's agencies never audited since their establishment Dike Onwuamaeze Chairman of the Public Account Committee (PAC) of the House of Representatives, Hon. Oluwole Oke, has disclosed that 1,033 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government have failed to submit their audited reports to the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation (OAuGF) for decades. Oke revealed this yesterday during a “National Workshop on Auditor General’s Queries – The A-B-C of Responses and PAC Technology Innovation and MDAs Compliance.”

Oke said a breakdown of the figures showed that, “12 MDAs have never been audited from 1993 to 2010; and 65 agencies have never been audited since they were created.”

He also disclosed that 956 MDAs did not submit their reports to the OAuGF between 2011 and 2016.

According to Oke, the House of Representatives would include stiff penalties in the Federal Audit Bill for MDAs that fail to render their audited reports to the OAuGF. Oke revealed these numbers yesterday during a, “National

Workshop on Auditor General’s Queries- The A-B-C of Responses and PAC Technology Innovation and MDAs Compliance,” which was held in Lagos.

The workshop was put together by the ninth Assembly PAC of the House of Representatives, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). It was to, among other things, find ways to enhance compliance through the use of information technology to eliminate manual submission of reports in hard copies to the National Assembly by over 800 MDAs at a minimum cost of N1.5 million per agency.

According to the figures provided by the PAC chairman, 76, 85, 109, and 148 MDAs were not audited in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively, while 215 and 323 MDAs were not audited in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

The figures for 2011 to 2016 showed a festering impunity, as the number of unaudited MDAs grew progressively each year from 76 in 2011 to 85 and 109 in 2012 and 2013, respectively, and thereafter

galloped to 109, 215 and 323 in 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively.

Oke, who was represented by Deputy Chairman of PAC, Hon. Abdullahi Abdulkadir, at the workshop, explained, “Prominent among these issues were refusal by the MDAs to render accounts of stewardship and in many cases, these accounts were rendered very late.

“It becomes obvious that we cannot make any meaningful progress and make valuable contributions to national development if we fail to change our current mind-set with respect to audit issues raised by the OAuGF.” Abdulkadir told journalist that the workshop was meant to raise awareness about issues of rendition of audited accounts to the OAuGF and enable various accounting officers and chief executive officers of the MDAs to see the OAuGF as their partner, “because some of the queries that were brought before us shouldn’t have arisen if they had proper communication with the OAuGF.” He added, “Until, maybe, we put sanctions, penalties for defaulting MDAs, this ugly trend

may continue to progress. We are really considering putting stiff penalties for any MDAs that refused to render its accounts to the OAuGF. “If we allow this conduct to continue it will mean that the whole essence of the anti-corruption fight has been defeated as we have detected that a lot of infractions were committed by the MDAs but no questions were asked because

Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the confession

by Minister of Transportation Chibuike Amaechi that stealing was going on quietly under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration vindicated the opposition party’s allegation that the ruling party was a haven of thieves and treasury looters.

PDP said the alleged looting confession confirmed that the

L-R: Chairman, Federal Character Commission, Dr. Muhabat Dankaka; Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and commissioner representing Ogun State on the Board of FCC, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade, during a courtesy visit to the governor at Abeokuta, Ogun State... yesterday

Experts Peg Nigeria's Infrastructure Gap at $3tn Research experts have estimated that Nigeria has an infrastructure gap of $3 trillion, which according to them is about six times the size of the country’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Senior lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Muhammed Usman, in a virtual presentation yesterday, said between 2009 and 2013, Nigeria invested a paltry $664 annually in infrastructure, which represents three per cent of its GDP, compared with an average investment of $3.060 or five per cent of the GDP in developed countries.

Usman noted that this had widened the country's infrastructure gap posing a major impediment to economic growth.

He noted that this "poses a major funding challenge in the face of the current fiscal imbalances.

Besides, the country is currently grappling with the hydra headed problems of inflation (17.33%), unemployment (33.3%) and rising debt.

"Infrastructural development plays a pivotal role in enhancing economic growth, improving living

standards, reducing poverty, and contributing to environmental sustainability."

He said with rapid growth of the country's population, the demand for infrastructure was outpacing its supply, adding that the country's weak infrastructures were exposed in the wake of the global pandemic in 2020.

Earlier, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, (NESG), Mr. Laoye Jaiyeola, who chaired the meeting, noted that infrastructure was a major hindrance to the country's competitive development.

Jaiyeola said one of the challenges facing the private sector was infrastructure, adding that the country needs funds annually to finance infrastructure if it must get out of the rocks.

He stated, "I have been involved in a lot of surveys that look at the competitiveness of nations, and each time we look at our ranking around where we are in the world competitiveness index of doing business, one thing that stands out is the poor level of our infrastructure, and the extent to which it has hindered us from significant development locally.

"So this thematic group comes in at a time when all of us are looking at how to ensure that we do significant backward integration; how can we ensure that we make the environment very competitive enough that not only do we meet the needs of our people locally, but good enough for the outside market that we can export.

"Nigeria has been a nation where we are still at a very primary level of industrialisation; by this I mean we have abundant resource of crude oil but we spend significant amount of money importing fuel.

"And so we can't use this crude oil to get all the assorted benefits we have yet we export our raw materials in terms of cocoa and yet bring back coffee and chocolate to the country. Or export our hides and skin, and yet bring back leather to the country."

Speaking also, Executive Secretary of TETFund, Professor Suleiman Bogoro, said the fund was reviewing a report on the draft executive bill on the establishment of the National Research and Development Foundation (NRDF), earlier received from

this across over 800 agencies for four years and you will realise how much that is being wasted in documentations.”

Chairman of ICAN’S Lagos Mainland District Society, Dr. Kenneth Okpala, said, “This workshop is meant to demystify the auditor general’s report and queries. If for many years a lot of queries have not been answered it means that there are issues.”

PDP Mocks APC over Amaechi’s Alleged Looting Confession

FCC VISITS ABIODUN…

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

no information was given to the OAuGF.” The Technical Adviser to PAC, House of Representatives, Dr. Greg Ezeilo, said the lawmakers had come up with technology innovation for rendition of accounts because, “it takes a minimum of N1.5 million for each agency to produce sacks of documents that they submit to the National Assembly. Take

the RDSC. Bogoro said he was in contact with the leadership of RDSC and other relevant stakeholders for the purpose of offering informed advice on the final document that will leave his desk, and proceed to the Federal Ministry of Education, for it to be considered as a document worthy of being taken to the federal executive council.

Speaking on TETFund's interventions, he said, "We have raised our interest to the level of knowing the microscopic application of our funds that have impact on the key areas of not just the Tertiary institutions. That we are directly funding but the ancillary partners, including research institutes, the industry, the larger picture of Nigeria in the biggest of context."

He expressed gratitude to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), for proceeding to identify the institutionalisation of NRDF as part of its negotiations with the federal government.

In his remarks, Chairman of RDSC, Professor Njidda Gadzama, stressed the importance of infrastructure, saying whatever is done in terms of development cannot be successful without infrastructure.

Buhari administration had been providing cover for corrupt officials, who have turned government agencies to cash cows and Automated Teller Machines (ATM) for themselves, their cronies, family members and mistresses.

According to the National Publicity Secretary, PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, "The situation as presented by Amaechi shows that quiet stealing is a policy of the APC administration. This explains why the administration is heavy on propaganda and has failed to prosecute its officials and the APC leaders openly indicted for corruption, but only resort to “easing out” such thieves with a pat on the wrist.

Ologbondiyan said, "The confession by Amaechi exposes why the APC administration has failed to recover the over N25 trillion reportedly stolen by APC leaders in various government agencies.

"Nigerians now have a clearer picture on how the N9.3 trillion as detailed in the reported NNPC memo was stolen, how over N2 trillion was allegedly siphoned under fraudulent subsidy regime,” the PDP added.

The party stated that was in addition to the revelation by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Babagana Monguno, that billions of naira meant for security under the APC could not be traced.

The spokesman of the PDP said Nigerians now know how billions of naira reportedly stolen from various agencies, including the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), as well as the N500 billon Social Investment Programme fund, as revealed by First Lady, Aisha Buhari, were siphoned.

The party further said, "Amaechi’s confession has also shed more light on the circumstances behind the alleged stealing of N165 billion in the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) under his ministerial purview, the N1.5 trillion and $9.5 million reportedly stolen from Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the $65 million (N31 billion) frittered from the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) as well as the N90 billion looted from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), among others.

"This is in addition to the alleged secret looting of huge part of foreign loans and repatriated funds placed at the disposal of the APC and its administration," he said.

The PDP charged Nigerians to hold the APC and its leaders responsible for all the woes that have befallen the nation in the last six years and ensure the party is not allowed anywhere near the governance of the nation, come 2023.

Tegina Islamiyya’s Parents Vow Not to Allow their Children Return to School there is no insecurity.

Laleye Dipo in Minna

Some parents of the pupils of the Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School, Tegina, in the Rafi local government area of Niger State whose wards regained freedom from the den of bandits last Thursday have vowed never to allow their children return to the school.

The parents even said their children would no longer pursue either Islamic or Western education as a result of insecurity.

Those affected made the declaration in Tegina, at a community meeting organised by the school management and attended by majority of the parents, representatives of the Rafi emirate council and that of the local government council.

A source at the meeting informed THISDAY that virtually all the parents at the meeting lamented what they and their children went through in the couple of months, insisting that they are not prepared to undergo such trauma again.

In fact one parent according to the source immediately after reuniting with his child on Saturday, evacuated all the family members and their movable property from Tegina and relocated to Kaduna.

It was learnt that when the parent was informed of the insecurity situation in Kaduna he said he would settle down in a local government area where

According to findings, the school management informed the aggrieved parents that a four-week holiday had been given for those who would like to return to enable the management upgrade the security architecture of the school and for the released children to get proper medical care.

The state government has been urged through the Commissioner for Education to assist in the renovation and upgrading of the school since " it is not a few paying educational institutions" the source said.

The Head Teacher of the school Alhaji Alhassan Abubakar Garba when contacted confirmed that the meeting took place, saying steps were being taken to renovate the school.

Asked about the threat by some parents to withdraw their children from the school and even from pursuing Western education the Head Teacher said " have heard such thing but we will talk to them that it is not the wise thing to do".

A total of 93 abducted pupils of the school mostly girls and aged between three and 15 years regained freedom last Thursday after more than 80 days in captivity.

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello had received the children at the government house Minna last Friday, before they were taken back to Kagara where they were reunited with their parents.

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ON A CONDOLENCE VISIT...

L - R: Deputy Governor Borno State, Usman Kadafur, Senator Sadiq Umar, President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni on arrival at the Airforce Base during a condolence visit on Monday to the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Elkanemi, and the Kingibe family.

Lalong, Lawmakers at Loggerheads over Jos Crisis Heavy security presence in assembly as gov relaxes 24-hour curfew Seriki Adinoyi in Jos The crisis in Jos, on Monday, assumed a new dimension with Governor Simon Lalong getting at loggerheads with members of the state House of Assembly over purported attempt to seal the state House of Assembly.

THISDAY observed on Monday morning, there was a heavy presence of security personnel including the Police and the DSS in and around the Assembly complex, denoting that there was a problem in the arena.

Speaker of the Assembly, Hon Abok Ayuba, later raised the alarm that the assembly complex was being sealed by security agents, thereby creating more tension in the city.

When THISDAY visited the assembly, there was actually unusual presence of heavily armed security personnel in and around the complex, but it was not sealed as purported, because people were seen going in and out of the complex.

However, the extra presence of armed security men raised questions. THISDAY gathered that it might not be unconnected with the position of the Lawmakers, in which they expressed worries that the Presidency was bias in its condemnation of the attacks in Jos. The House had said the Presidency was quick to condemn the attack on Muslim commuters that were on transit from Bauchi, but did not find a voice to do same, when a Christian community was heavily attacked and over 35 were massacred.

The House also gave two weeks to the governor, whom they accused of being complacent with his handling of the crises to put an end to the persistent attacks and killings, urging him to stop playing politics with the lives of the people.

The stand of the House was allegedly seen as confronting the high authorities, a development that didn’t go down well with the governor and indeed the presidency, leading to the beefing up of security at the Assembly.

Reacting, the governor denied having a hand in the unusual drafting of heavily armed security to the Assembly, urging the speaker to direct his worries to the appropriate security agents.

Commissioner for Information, Mr. Dan Manjang, described the Speaker’s alarm as “false allegation”.

He said: “The attention of the Plateau State Government has been drawn to allegations made by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abok Nuhu Ayuba, who appeared on Channels TV programme on Monday 30th August claiming that the Assembly Complex has been sealed. This false allegation has further been circulated on social media associating the Executive arm of Government and the Governor as being behind it.

“We wish to make it abundantly clear that the Executive arm of Government and the Governor are not aware or behind the purported sealing of the House as he (governor) does not dabble into the affairs of another independent arm of government. It is on record that His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako was the first governor to implement full autonomy for the legislature and judiciary as

well as Local government in the country.

“It is therefore not possible for him to be associated with any action that will impede the activities of the House, which has its rules and conventions. The Governor remains the longest serving Speaker of the House in the history of democracy in Plateau State, understands the workings of the House, and has demonstrated uncommon respect to the leadership and members of the Assembly.

“To the best of our knowledge, the House of Assembly remains open for legislative business. The good people of Plateau State and members of the public are advised to ignore the allegation and refrain from dragging the Executive arm of government and the governor into the affairs of the House.

“Those who have any concerns should channel them to the

security agencies and desist from peddling falsehood against the Executive arm of Government and His Excellency the Governor.”

Earlier, the governor, who has relaxed the 24-hour curfew, had in a statewide broadcast blamed some political and religious leaders, as well as a section of the media for escalating the crisis in the state with their utterances.

Lalong said, “During these trying times, I have watched with great disappointment the unfortunate comments and utterances of some citizens including religious, political and community leaders from within and outside the state, who rather than calm nerves and join hands with the government to ensure the quick restoration of peace, resorted to pushing out ethno-religious sentiments that further created tensions.

“Some sections of the

mainstream and social media also chose to play to the gallery and fanned the embers of hatred and disunity. However, majority of media platforms performed their duties diligently and highlighted government’s efforts in discharging its constitutional obligation of ensuring the safety of lives and property.

“I must commend people of conscience across different faiths, ethnic and political backgrounds, that have remained objective, dispassionate and resolute towards condemning the criminal actions of the attackers and offering useful suggestions to government on ways to improve public safety.”

While reviewing the 24-hour curfew, the governor said, “After my visit to Yelwa Zangam village, I took a tour of the Jos metropolis to see things for myself. I also engaged the security agencies to review the general security

situation in the three Local Government Areas where the curfew was imposed, as well as other parts of the state.

“At the end of the review, government took the decision that the curfew in Jos North is to be relaxed. Beginning from Monday 30th August 2021, the curfew shall be enforced from 6pm to 6am until further notice. The curfew in Jos South and Bassa is to also be further relaxed. As from Monday 30th August 2021, the curfew shall be enforced between 10pm to 6am until further notice.

“The Ban on Tricycles (Keke NAPEP) and hawkers remains in force within Jos/Bukuru metropolis. The Plateau Economic and Investment Summit earlier scheduled for the 1st and 2nd of September 2021 has been postponed; new date will be announced and communicated to all our invitees.”

Lawan, Omo-Agege Commiserate with Senator Na'Allah over Son's Death Lawmaker speaks on son’s murder, how killers gained access to his house Deji Elumoye in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan and the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie OmoAgege have commiserated with the family of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Air Force, Senator Bala Ibn Na'Allah, over the gruesome murder of their son, Abdulkarim Na'Allah, in Kaduna.

Abdulkarim Na'Allah, a civil pilot, was strangled to death at his GRA, Kaduna residence on Sunday.

The two presiding officers of the Ninth Senate in separate messages yesterday, condoled with the Na'Allah family over the loss of their son.

Lawan, in his condolence message expressed sadness over the dastardly murder of the young pilot by yet unidentified cowardly criminals.

He urged security agencies to thoroughly investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators and others unleashing terror across Nigeria to justice.

According to him: "We have to continue cooperating with the security agencies in their onerous tasks of protecting us against heartless criminals who are indiscriminate in their assault on the security of our nation.

"We must not allow the criminals to overwhelm our capacity to secure our country and drag all of us under the reign of terror".

He prayed Allah to comfort the family and repose the soul of the departed in Aljanaah firdausi.

On his part, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Omo-Agege condemned the killing of the eldest son of the lawmaker representing Kebbi South in the National Assembly.

Omo-Agege, in a statement called on the police to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to book.

This, he stressed, would serve as deterrent to others.

The ranking Senator urged the family of the deceased to find solace in the Islamic faith and the good memories left behind by their late son, emphasising that his legacies should be kept alive.

According to Omo-Agege:"It is from God Almighty that we came and unto Him we shall all return.

It is the positive difference we are able to make for the betterment of the people around us during our earthly sojourn that matters.

"We all know the pains that such a tragic loss inflict on every family, especially in this unfortunate circumstance.

"I pray that God Almighty grants our dear Senator Balla

Na'Allah and all members of his family, the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss".

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Airforce has said the killers of his son gained access to his residence from the roof top and were not armed with guns In a statement yesterday, the senator said his son was strangulated to death by the assailants.

“Let me on behalf of Na'Allah's family specifically confirm the death of Abdulkareem Na'Allah who was attacked and killed by yet to be identified persons.

“From the reports received so far, his attackers were not armed with guns. They simply gained access to his house through the roof and strangulated him to death.

“As a family we will continue to love him even in death because he was such a wonderful person in his life”, the statement said.

Na’Allah said his son’s life is not better than any other Nigerian adding that the family has left everything in the hands of God. He said, “As a family we leave everything in the hands of Almighty Allah to whom we have since surrendered in pursuit of the strength to bear the loss of Abdulkareem in our family and

by the numerous calls, messages and visits we have received so far, we have every course to thank Almighty Allah for his love and mercy to the family.

“We assure the public that though we fill greatly diminished in the manner he was killed, we shall remain steadfast in our unshakable believe in the will of Allah.

“We shall persevere and overcome this tragic loss of one of the finest Ambassadors of our family who has done us proud in his life.

“We express hope that his death will play a major role in finding solutions to the problem facing our great Nation. May Allah grant him Aljannah fiddous”.

Na’Allah also thank the Nigerian Police and the Government of Kaduna State for their intervention so far.

In a related development, the Kaduna state police command, said it was saddened by the killing of the junior Na’Allah, adding that the Police Commissioner, Mr. Abdullahi Mudassiru had since directed a full scale investigation with a view to unraveling the identities of the culprit and bringing them to book.

In a statement in Kaduna, spokesman of the command, Mohammad Jalige, said detectives

were currently leaving no stone unturned in compliance with the directives.

Jalige said, “On the 29th August, 2021 at about 1530hrs the Kaduna Police Command received an unfortunate report of the assassination of Capt.

Abdulkarim Ibn Na-Allah 'M' 36 years and a son to Senator Bala Ibn Na-Allah.

“The report has it that the assassins forcefully gained access into the resident of the deceased at Umar Gwandu Road Malali, Kaduna during the night hours, choked him to dead in cold blood and made away with his Lexus SUV to an unknown destination.

“The deceased was until his untimely death, a pilot by profession and not an army captain as being peddled in some quarters of the media.”

The statement added: “The Command is deeply saddened by this incident and extend its condolences to the grieving family as CP Abdullahi Mudassiru have since directed that a full scale investigation be carried out with a view to unraveling the identities of the culprit and bringing them to book.

“Detectives are currently leaving no stone unturned in compliance with the directive.”

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COMMENT

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

ENSURING SAFETY IN THE SKY Tunde Olusunle urges a dispassionate look at the aviation sector

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he mishaps happened in quick succession. First it was the Bellview Airlines flight 210. It originated from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos that Saturday October 22, 2005 and was destined for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. A few minutes after takeoff, however, even when it was still within the precincts of the Lagos-Ogun megalopolis, the Boeing 737-200 aircraft nosedived in Lisa village in Ogun State, about 30 kilometres north of Lagos, killing all 117 people on board, including passengers and crew members. Top level functionaries in the administration at the time and senior private sector chiefs were among the victims of the crash. The nation was enveloped in palpable lachrymose. The air mishap was a monumental calamity, even as interrogations into the cause of the air accident continued. Earlier that year, on March 27, 2005, another Boeing 737 in the Bellview fleet, had crash landed with one of its engines catching fire.

Less than two months after the Lagos Bellview incident, December 10, 2005, a McDonnel Douglas DC-9-32, owned by Sosoliso airlines, crashed at the approach into the Port Harcourt International Airport, after taking off from the federal capital territory. Flight 1145 had 110 passengers on board, including many students of the Abuja-based Loyola Jesuit College, a highbrow secondary school, with students from across the country. Initially, there were seven survivors from the crash, but only two eventually made it. Those two air incidents were not the only ones to have been witnessed during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. A Boeing 727-200 aircraft operated by Chanchangi Airlines, overshot the runway on June 11, 2005, at the Murtala Mohammed Airport. Another airplane had also overshot the runway at the Yakubu Gowon airport in Jos, a day before the Lagos incident. Back on May 4, 2002, a BAC 1-11 aircraft operated by EAS Airlines, killing all 75 passengers on board, including Nigeria’s Sports Minister at the time, Ishaya Mark Aku. An additional fatality of 73 persons on the ground, brought the total number of victims of the tragedy, to 148. The Bellview and Sosoliso incidents, however, jolted Obasanjo to action.

The deeply perturbed former President, immediately set up a Presidential Task Force on the Aviation Industry, to probe into the root causes of the serial air crashes the nation had witnessed over the years, with particular emphasis on the air accidents which occurred under Obasanjo’s watch. The task force was headed by Paul Dike, an Air Vice Marshal, AVM, at the time and Air Officer Commanding, AOC, Tactical Air Command, Markudi. Dike would go all the way to become Nigeria’s first four star air force general, when he was promoted Air Chief Marshal, under President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration, following his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff.

Dike, by the way, was not Obasanjo’s kinsman. One of Nigeria’s best ever aviators, Obasanjo inherited Dike as Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, known for short as PAF in government circles, from his immediate predecessor, General Abdulsalam Abubakar. Abubakar himself met Dike, who hails from Delta State, in the State House in the same capacity, when fate thrust him to the leadership of the country in 1998.

The air force chief was deployed to that office by General Sani Abacha in 1997 and served diligently until Abacha’s demise. A substantial degree of meritocracy and competence still characterised public service, away from the suffocating nepotism in contemporary statecraft.

The Dike-led inquiry made far-reaching recommendations including: Measures to tackle manpower shortage in the aviation industry; Need to provide bailout funding for troubled airlines; Imperative for the revival of aviation facilities; Recapitalisation by the airlines and the need for autonomy for the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCCA. The task force also proposed an age limit for aircraft flying in the nation’s airspace, which hitherto was popular among operators seeking to cut corners, so as to minimise the free reign of deathly contraptions in the nation’s air territory.

WE CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT AS A NATION UNTIL WE HAVE TO ERECT ANOTHER CENOTAPH IN SOME FOREST, SWAMP OR MARSHLAND, IN MEMORY OF OUR COMPATRIOTS, WASTED BY THE INSENSITIVITY AND NONCHALANCE OF GOVERNMENT

The body also made suggestions on the reorientation of airworthiness inspectors on the necessary steps and checks they are to effect concerning ageing aircraft. Aviators are also to ensure that the most experienced professionals are assigned to inspect ageing aircraft and ascertaining the air-worthiness of ageing aircraft. Aviation agencies were also mandated to develop in-house maintenance manuals, to serve as a standard against which maintenance performed levels could be measured at anytime. The Paul Dike task force, made recommendations of what the federal government was supposed to do in the short, medium term long terms.

Compliance with, and enforcement of the recommendations of the Paul Dike task force, imposed some sanity on the aviation sector for a few years. Except for the crash involving 12 senior ranking military officers who died in an air crash aboard a military aircraft in Benue State, en route Obudu in Cross River State September 17, 2006 and an ADC airliner with 114 passengers on board which crashed after takeoff in Abuja October 29, 2006, the recurrence of fatal air accidents, were substantially reduced. Indeed, but for the crash of a McDonnel Douglas MD-83 operated by Dana Air on June 23, 2012, the frequency of air mishaps, reduced considerably after the work of the 2005 task force. The said Dana Air crash claimed 153 passengers, including the crew.

While, thankfully, there has been no crashes by passenger aircraft in recent years, developments in the aviation sector, that is recent experience in the mainstream civil aviation sector and the military segment, compel very urgent and holistic appraisal of this all-important sector, by the federal government. March 16, 2021, the NCAA had cause to suspend flights on *Azman Air* for about a week. The aviation regulatory body stated that it observed series of incidents involving the Boeing 737 aircraft in the fleet of the airline.

Two months later, May 18, 2021, a Boeing 737 aircraft belonging to *Max Air* originating from Kano and destined for Abuja, had to make a quick air return shortly after takeoff. The aircraft was hit by a bird strike which damaged three of the blades in one of its engines. The Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero and 139 other passengers were on board the flight. On the same day, an *Aero Contractors* flight which took off from Port Harcourt, was also hit by bird strike 10 minutes after ascent and had to return to base. The aircraft, also from the Boeing 737 stock, had 90 passengers on board. Roused by the twin occurrences in one day, the House of Representatives mandated its Committee on Aviation to investigate both occurrences, which were ascribed to bird strikes leading to engine failure. Bala Sani Umar, a legislator who spoke under “matters of public importance,” noted that there were allegations on the part of airliners in applying safety precautions, culminating in these near fatalities.

On Friday July 23, 2021, an Air Peace flight into Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, lost one of its tyres upon landing. While the incident was initially misconstrued as a near crash, the NCAA and the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, denied that there was a crash at the airport.

The development ensured that there were no flights into the Ilorin airport, for about 48 hours. The aeroplane was subsequently moved to the hangar of the Nigeria Air Force, NAF, abutting the Ilorin airport.

The story is not any better in the military aviation sub-sector. This year alone, the air force has been involved in at least four air crashes, with varying degrees of fatalities. February 21, 2021, a Beechcraft King Air 350i, went down in Abuja, killing all seven officers on board the flight. They include Flight Lieutenants Haruna Gadzama and Henry Piyo. Flying Officer Michael Okpara was the third pilot who lost his life in the accident. On March 31, 2021, an Alpha jet, came down at Abba-Jille in Konduga local government area of Borno State, while supporting Nigerian troops battling insurgents in the North East of the country, claiming the lives of the pilot and co-pilot.

Dr Olusunle is a Member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors

LIFTING NIGERIANS OUT OF POVERTY

The new phase of GEEP offers higher funding to more beneficiaries, writes Chido Nwakanma

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new phase of the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme (GEEP 2.0) took off on 24 August 2021 with one million beneficiaries, four schemes and higher funds for beneficiaries. It is an increment on the first phase of the scheme that commenced in 2016. GEEP offers three programmes: TraderMoni for marginalized youth, MarketMoni that targets vulnerable women, and the FarmerMoni specifically focused on rural farmers.

“Part of the new strategies include an increase in the loan portfolio of TraderMoni and Market Moni loans from N10,000 to N50,000, while the Farmer Moni is now N300,000 along with the provision of value chain and creation of digital marketplace (E-platform) for beneficiaries to sell their products”, so said the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Hajiya Umar Sadiya Farouq.

GEEP2.0 will also include “a digital integration and coordination platform along with a strong and centralized monitoring and evaluation system aimed at enhancing loans recovery”.

GEEP2 is a component of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), a cluster of poverty reduction interventions approved by the federal government in 2016. The NSIP clusters include the

NPOWER, GEEP, the Conditional Cash Transfer and the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, which collectively have so far impacted over 12 million households since inception and the numbers are growing.

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development manages the NSIP. The Ministry says “The GEEP Programme was designed to give access to credit for poor and vulnerable people who are at the bottom of the economic pyramid; this includes persons living with disability. The target beneficiaries will be people who are already engaged in business enterprises such as traders, artisans, enterprising youth, farmers and agricultural workers, and other categories of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in furtherance of poverty eradication, employment generation, growth, and development of MSMEs throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Hajiya Umar Sadiq Farouq, minister, elaborated at the launch of GEEP2: “The GEEP programme is a veritable tool designed to end poverty in many ways. In other words, GEEP targets the unbanked poor and vulnerable but skilled population that have always been left out on credit delivery programmes and is directed at providing soft and

affordable loans to finance their businesses”.

GEEP emphasises “credit and financial inclusion for over 37 million Nigerians at the base of the pyramid who are involved in active commercial activity but have never had the opportunity to access loans.”

The Humanitarian Affairs Ministry says GEEP has provided “incremental loans of between N10, 000 and N300, 000 to about 2.3million beneficiaries under the three programmes. Beneficiaries are traders, artisans, agricultural workers and enterprising youth and other micro-service providers.

Umar Sadiq Farouq said GEEP2 builds on presidential approval to expand the scope to reach one million beneficiaries. She stated further that GEEP2.0 will effectively deliver soft loans and skills to a wide range of unemployed citizens including persons living with disability, marginalized women and unemployed youth amongst other vulnerable groups in our society”.

Under GEEP2.0, TraderMoni will empower and uplift vulnerable youth “like scavengers, market wheelbarrow boys, orphans and youth with special needs” and have a nationwide reach.

GEEP2.0 will do more. It will empower farmers, scale up FarmerMoni into agropreneurship to increase agricultural production, food security

and job creation, while Market Moni will focus on indigent and marginalised women in communities.

The Buhari administration has been driving the National Social Investment Programme as the pivot of a poverty reduction effort. GEEP is a major component of the NSIP. Hajiya Farouq called on potential beneficiaries of GEEP2.0 to ensure that they take advantage and enrol. The ministry also enjoined beneficiaries to register with cooperative societies aligned with the scheme.

GEEP2.0 is structured along federal, state and local governments. It would deploy two povertyreduction models. One is the Grameen Model that brings poor and vulnerable but economically active groups together to improve their access to finance.

“Grameen model only gives out loans to people in cooperative groups. The recovery rate of Grameen model loans have been 90-99% performing”. The other is the Associations Model that targets persons in trade associations of common business interests.

The various loans will be demand-driven, the ministry asserts. That means that “Only beneficiaries that need the loan will come forward for enumeration” while the ministry will sensitise prospects through public communication in jingles, announcements and more.

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EDITORIAL

MASARI AND THE SELF-HELP CAMPAIGN Resort to self-help will worsen the security challenge

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pparently frustrated by the widespread criminality and wanton killings of innocent persons in Katsina and environs, Governor Aminu Masari recently asked residents of his state to stand up and defend themselves against banditry and terrorism. Last weekend, Masari doubled down on his call which he said was informed by the reality of existence in Katsina, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari. “The situation we have on ground is such that bandits would come to a village, kidnap and collect over N500,000 from villagers and in some cases get N5 million from them,” said Masari. “And in the same village, when you ask them to contribute and train vigilantes to defend them at night, they would not give you N20,000.”

We understand Masari’s desperation, given how sundry criminal cartels have made life difficult for residents of his state. In the last two years, he has tried several measures to restore peace to his domain. On two different occasions, the governor entered into an THE PROLIFERATION agreement with bandits OF WEAPONS THAT IS terrorising the state.

BOUND TO HAPPEN WILL He has had to engage representatives of gangs FUEL AND AGGRAVATE INSECURITY IN THE STATE of criminals – cattle rustlers, armed robbers, AND BRING IN MORE kidnappers, for an DISTRESS. agreement to maintain the peace. In the process, the state government bought off the weapons of the gangsters at enormous cost. But the bandits soon reneged.

However, as much as we appreciate where Masari is coming from, resort to self-help is no solution to the challenge at hand. It can only worsen the security situation in Katsina and beyond. The proliferation of weapons that is bound to happen will fuel and aggravate insecurity in the state and bring in more distress. Besides, advocating that Nigerians should defend themselves against criminals is an admission that

Letters to the Editor

the government has failed without accepting responsibility.

With Nigeria gradually descending to the Hobbesian state of nature where life is “nasty, brutish and short”, this is an open invitation to anarchy.

M T H I S DAY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGED ENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO

eanwhile, Masari is not alone in the call. In February, Defence Minister, Bashi Magashi, made a similar call that citizens should defend themselves against criminal gangs bearing arms. We dismissed his call because the rule of law, as opposed to that of the jungle, presupposes that anybody accused of a crime, however heinous, is entitled to a fair trial before punishment could be meted if found guilty. That perhaps explains why more and more Nigerians are shunning the instrumentality of the law in the settlement of disputes. Because the state is not only powerless, but also showing in words and deeds, including negotiating with bandits for the release of students abducted from schools) that it has surrendered power to criminals.

The danger ahead is real. According to reports, many individuals, and communities in the Northwest and North central are already contributing money to acquire weapons to self-arm in response to the security challenge. These are weapons that may lead individuals and communities to rise against one another and worsen the security crisis. Only recently, former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar said there are estimated six million weapons in the hands of nonstate actors in the country, adding that the numbers “exacerbated the insecurity that led to over 80,000 deaths and close to three million internally displaced persons.”

Without any doubt, the most pressing challenge facing the nation today is that of insecurity. The solution to the crisis cannot be in everybody carrying arms to defend themselves.

As Masari also suggested at the weekend, we must embrace a multi-level policing system. But for it to make any meaning, it has to be under a holistic restructuring of the current system to ensure a devolution of more powers and resources from the federal to the states.

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WAITING FOR REPENTANT BANDITS YOBE AT 30: SO FAR, NOT SO GOOD

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he war against Boko Haram is nearing an end. Cheering news is emerging daily that many members of the deadly group are surrendering. Although mixed reactions have continued to trail their repentance. Since the group emerged to wage war against Nigeria, Boko Haram is reported to have killed over 100,000 Nigerians in addition to displacing millions of others.

However, our committed and gallant soldiers deserve a pat on their back for ensuring they sustained the onslaught against the insurgents. At least, the north east states, especially Borno which is ravaged by the activities of the group, is heaving a sigh of relief after many years of horrible experience.

For the members of the group believed to have a strong link with ISIS to back track, repented and embraced amnesty, it is an indication of victory over them. Also, in a country overwhelmed by myriad of security problems, the news of their repentance is a welcome development.

Ironically, while many Boko Haram members are surrendering and government is rolling out programs to rehabilitate them, bandits in the Northeastern states are inflicting more harm on the helpless poor communities. In Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Niger States, bandits have become

kings. They impose taxes and only allow local farmers to harvest their crops if certain levies are paid. In the last three months, there have been increasingly cases of students’ abduction for ransom. The continued abduction of students has forced government to close schools with dire consequences to the education development of the region. Sadly, these daredevil bandits have continued to rake billions of naira from the victims’ poor families. Disturbed by the continued killings of his people, Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State recently directed his people to arm and protect themselves against the rapacious bandits. Governor Masari’s self-defence statement indicates government’s failure or inability to protect the lives and property of Nigerians as guaranteed by the constitution.

The last straw that broke the Camel’s back was the shameful invasion of Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), recently by bandits.

Whether it was security breach as alleged by the military or not, the audacity of those bandits proved the poor security network in our military formations. The unfortunate attack should serve as a wake-up call to the government that like Boko Haram, the bandits are not only attacking soft targets, but also highly secured places.

Ibrahim Mustapha, Pambegua, Kaduna State

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t has been 30 years since Yobe State was created by the then head of state, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida on 27th August, 1991. The state has seen grace and glory; it has also witnessed downturns and menaces. There have been achievements recorded so far, but still, there is a need to call the attention of the current administration to work harder to improve the socio-economic development of the state.

Yobe State, for its democratic running of the education sector for 30 years, could be deemed as being unsatisfactory at all levels.

Cases such as children dropping out of school, come from the poor attention being paid to schools by the state government. Even though in some areas, like Damaturu, Potiskum, Nguru, and Geidam, that are considered as the eyes of the state, the state government renovated only a few schools without supporting them with technical and financial aid.

However, around the local governments, numerous public schools have been built for more than 60 years. The schools need renovation, academic materials, and the welfare of both teachers and their students should be greatly considered. The efforts on education shown by the state government seem believable, but getting things done at the

right time is where it all fails. Apart from the local buildings, the issue of teachers’ treatment by the state government is something to focus on. Those teachers sacrifice their time and energy to teach thousands of children in an effort to support better education. Devastatingly, policies on promotions, salaries, welfare, and academic support are run aground and buried. Since the state is getting older, toeing the path of its golden jubilee, such a system of running education by the state government needs to change. The state government should cherish teachers, by paying attention to their basic needs.

For health issues, it is very important to look thoroughly at how the state government, from independence to date, has handled health management. Yobe was ruled under democracy by (Dr.). Bukar Abba Ibrahim, late.

Sen. Mamman B. Ali, Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam, and currently Governor Mai Mala Buni. The aforementioned dignitaries governed the state with their style of government, building, renovating, and restructuring hospitals and health care management. It would be good for the government to initiate a committee that will observe how health management is being run and take adequate actions to change things for the betterment of society.

Kasim Isa Muhammad, Maiduguri

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POLITICS

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

Like Sulhu, Unlike Amnesty Beyond pampering terrorists through the federal government Sulhu programme, security agencies should adopt a more responsive and spread-out approach that could address the threats of the antisocial elements, like the amnesty programme of the Niger Delta region. Iyobosa Uwugiaren reports

Buhari

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ven though insiders in the Defence Headquarters say the horrendous state of insecurity created by the deadly activities of terrorist groups in Nigeria have reduced by 39 percent in the last two months - due to dexterous strategies by the nation’s security agencies, the new strategy – Sulhu programme, being executed in the northern part of the country to tackle terrorists, is generating mixed reactions.

From the analysis of many security experts and defence headquarters, radical Islamist terrorist groups like Boko Haram and the breakaway Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the scrubland of the North-east, remain the local terrorist threat to the country.

These groups consistently stir up and capitalise on the nation’s weak governance, conflict, political instability, ethno-religious crises and longstanding political whinges to pursue their deadly aims. And of recent, they have employed different ways and means that have hugely challenged the security agencies counterterrorism hard work, including setting state-like governing institutions within some local government areas in the North-east and North-west parts of the country, and employing sophisticated weapons – so much so that they can now bring down military fighting helicopters.

Many believe that the attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), the nation’s institution that recruits and trains the military personnel, killing two senior officers and abducted a military personnel, by the insurgents signals the fact the nation’s insecurity has reached a frightening level.

Commenting on the attack on NDA, His Royal Majesty, Retired Air Vice Marshall Lucky Ararile, the Ovie of Umiagwa Kingdom in Delta State, said that the bold attack by bandits on NDA, shows that nowhere is safe in Nigeria. “We are not sure that even Aso Rock or any military unit is safe any longer. Government has to tackle these bandits or whatever they call themselves with the seriousness it deserves. These embarrassments are becoming too much,” he said.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Lucky Irabor, also described the incident as worrisome, but said the military was looking into it with keen interest. The Defence Chief, who did not rule out insider collaboration, said the military authorities would get to the root of the attack.

THISDAY recently reported that a United Nations (UN) publication has detailed a secret government programme tagged, Suhlu, created to pull commanders of terrorists groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP) out of the forests, rehabilitate them and provide them with a means of livelihood.

Irabor

The development, according to the exclusive report, is coming at a time intelligence agencies have launched investigation into the recent surrender of over 1,200 terrorists and their families in the last three weeks. The investigation, THISDAY gathered, seeks to establish whether the surrender was genuine or a ploy to activate and coordinate terror sleeper cells across the country.

The planned investigation may have been prompted by different protests by North-east communities, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Afenifere and traditional institutions against the potential reintegration of the terrorists/insurgents into different North-east communities.

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garbai El-Kanem and Audu Ogbeh-led ACF raised concerns that the communities where thousands of people were killed by the terrorists and houses destroyed might not be in the right frame of mind to accept the surrendered terrorists, who recently sought the forgiveness of Nigerians.

However, a report by a United Nations’ publication, The New Humanitarian, indicated that a concealed Nigerian government programme was reaching out to senior jihadist fighters in the bush to encourage and inspire them to abandon their deadly activities and their goal of building a caliphate by force of arms, and to defect.

Going by the design, security officials and experts strongly believe that Sulhu could open the door to a “peace deal’’, ending a stalemated conflict/violence that is now in its 12th year. But there is apprehension in some quarters that such a deal would amount to rewarding mass killers and rapists.

According to the UN report, one of the ex-commanders and beneficiary of the Sulhu programme, Aliyu, now has a new life. The old was the decade he spent fighting with Boko Haram and then with the breakaway ISWAP in the scrubland

Yahaya

of the North-east.

“In his early thirties, with a wispy goatee, Aliyu has remarried to a forthright woman from the North-eastern city of Maiduguri.

She is also former Boko Haram, and they have been set up with the rent-free house in Kaduna, a business license, and a small monthly stipend provided by Nigeria’s domestic spy service, better known as DSS,” the report stated.

The strategy is to get Aliyu to work with security agencies to turn other terrorists and jihadists under a clandestine project known as Sulhu –Arabic for peace-making.

It was gathered that the security project is so controversial that no government agent would go on record to discuss it.

But Sulhu is applauded by those who designed it - as smart warfare – a means to remove terrorists and senior jihadists from the battlefield more effectively than the stuttering orthodox military campaign.

As insider put it, “We have a foolproof concept; it’s working. It’s depleting the enemy’s fighting force.”

But there are reports that the men on the Sulhu programme are almost certain to have been involved in noxious atrocities. They have not been granted a formal amnesty, but they have also not been held to account for any crime committed in a brutal conflict in the past 12 years. The UN reports said it’s a war that has killed 35,000 people – 350,000 if you include the victims of the accelerated humanitarian crisis – and upended the lives of millions more.

Sulhu was said to have emerged out of the behind-the-scenes attempts to free the more than 270 Chibok schoolgirls seized

by Boko Haram in 2014. After years of painstaking contact-making through a network of mediators, it may have dawned on the negotiators that not only did they have an opening to secure the release of some of the schoolgirls, but there were also Mujahideen - signalling they might be open to dialogue – a prospective leap forward in a deadlocked conflict.

A total of 150 Mujahideen were said to

In Nigeria, without the contractual means to maintain or enforce behaviour, the CJTF has developed into a rogue actor in some areas despite receiving a state stipend, drawing-in criticism for human rights abuses,” the scholars explained

have surrendered their weapons and crossed over since 2019. To be sure, in the last few weeks, security experts said that there has been a separate surge, related to internal feuding within the jihadist movement following the death this May of Abubakar Shekau, who had led Boko Haram since 2009.

Some of those Mujahideen, like Aliyu, were commanders, known as Qaid – in charge of several districts. Such was the importance attached to the initial group that they were invited to Abuja, where they reportedly met with representatives of President Muhammadu Buhari. Insiders say that under Sulhu, defectors are enrolled in a six-month “deradicalisation” course in the military’s demobilisation and reintegration centre in Mallam Sidi, in Northeastern Gombe State.

After promising to reject violence and be good citizens, they are issued with a graduation certificate, signed by a high court judge – and some of them are said to have to set up businesses, from cap-making to chicken-rearing. Sulhu is run by DSS and the military, but is separate from the army’s much larger disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration initiative, known as Operation Safe Corridor (OSC) and also based in Mallam Sidi.

OSC is aimed at low-risk former combatants, although as many as 75 per cent of those on the programme may never have held a weapon – just villagers snagged in the military’s catch-all dragnets, with years spent in detention without trial. Those on the Sulhu initiative are said to be the turbaned Rijal seen in the low-res YouTube videos, exultant in victory, killing without remorse.

The report indicated that before joining ISWAP, prior to the 2016 split from Boko Haram, these men had been obedient to a maximalist “Takfir” creed, promoted by then-leader Shekau, who declared that anybody living outside their zone of control was an infidel, punishable by death or enslavement.

THISDAY reported recently that more than 1,000 Boko Haram fighters have surrendered to the army in the last few weeks – handing over the weapons they carried. ISWAP is militarily on the front foot, but there can be exhaustion with the years of conflict for any number of reasons, explained a Nigeria-based researcher, who asked not to be named so they could speak freely.

“Some [defectors] have lost faith in their leaders, accusing them of corruption; some have even forgotten why they were fighting; others just want their children to go to school,” the report revealed.

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 31, 2021

POLITICS

How PDP Governors Are Striving to Rescue Party There is no doubt that the Peoples Democratic Party is witnessing a most trying period in its over two-decade existence, but Nigerian governors elected on the party’s platform have waved an olive branch at the warring camps in the party, writes Chuks Okocha

Tambuwal

F

or months, the crisis threatening the soul of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appeared insurmountable. For a party desirous of journeying to the centre in the 2023 election cycle, the self-inflicted troubles couldn’t have come at a worse time.

Although, forces bent on shoving national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus out of office have been at work for close to one year; internal squabbles hit new heights when a few weeks ago, a member of the party and former Commissioner of Information in Edo state, Prince Kassim Afegbua accused him (Secondus) of financial recklessness, an allegation he denied, availing journalists the state of party finances with regards to accruals from sales of nomination forms.

Despite the various efforts of the PDP governors, the leadership tussle has remained unabated At a time, the embattled National Chairman, Uche Secondus was give a relief by the court in Kebbi state, another court threw him off balance A Port Harcourt High Court had restrained Secondus from parading himself as the National Chairman of the party and his membership of the PDP. The Rivers High Court interim order in the suit No HC/240/2021, specifically restrained Secondus from assuming the office of National Chairman of the 2nd Defendant, (Peoples Democratic Party, PDP).

Twenty four hours later, to the NEC meeting, a Kebbi state High Court reinstated him as the chairman of the party.

Secondus had obtained a Kebbi High Court order to reinstate him as national chairman last Thursday following an earlier injunction obtained against him from a Rivers State High Court.

The victory did not last long ago as a new twist was added to the leadership crisis plaguing the PDP. A court in Calabar, Cross River State restrained the embattled National Chairman from presiding over the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party billed for Saturday The injunction granted by a Cross River High Court also barred the PDP from allowing Secondus to function as national chairman or preside over the NEC meeting of the party.

The interim order was issued by the court, presided over by Justice Edem Kufre, on Friday upon an application brought by a member of the party, Enang Wani, ahead of the PDP NEC. But in a deft political move, Secondus asked the Deputy National Chairman (South), Yemi Akinwomi, to preside over the National Executive Committee meeting of the party in his stead.

Secondus in a letter to Akinwomi, said, “I hereby request you to preside over the National Executive Committee meeting of the Party,

Secondus

taking place today, 28th August, 2021@ 12 noon, in my absence.

All these backward and front, the PDP governors have not relented to see to the resolution of the leadership crisis. As at the last count, they have endorsed the position of Elder Yemi Akinwomni as the acting chairman of the party. They were instrumental to the setting up of a six man committee led by former senate president, David Mark to resolve the crisis.

The role and the importance of the governors is crucial for more reasons than one. They are the funders of the party. It is through that capital they provide that the PDP is funded as a political party. They are also relevant because, they control the delegates.

Their aim, is to ensure that all court cases are resolved out the court. As the chairman of the PDP governors forum, Tambuwal said, “PDP cannot afford to go into the 2023 general elections as a divided party.”

This position informed their several meetings to bring peace to the party. The PDP governors assumed this yeoman’s role because the party is in the opposition.

Hitherto, this role was played by the President because the occupier of the seat is seen and acts as the leader of the party.

As in the days of Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’adua and even Goodluck Jonathan, in crisis, issues were resolved at the presidential villa, where the resolution becomes binding. But in the circumstances, the PDP governors have stepped in albeit through persuasions, carrot and stick policies.

At the moment, through the actions of the governors, the David Mark committee has intensified efforts to resolve the crisis. The committee has met with both Secondus and Wike. It is expected that there would be light at the end of the day, as it is not in the interest of the

party for the crisis to linger It is therefore expected among stakeholders that the resolution of the crisis is now in sight as the date of the national convention has been confirmed.

One of the resolutions reached which cannot be changed is that a national convention would hold between October 30 and 31 in Abuja, except by a court order. A new NEC meeting is expected to hold September 9 to ratify the zoning of the offices for a new National Working Committee of the party A fortnight ago, the plot to ease Secondus out of office grew intense following the resignation of seven national officers who branded the national chairman a lone ranger, running the affairs of the party almost like a personal fiefdom.

To worsen an already bad situation, Mr Sunday Udeh-Okoye, National Youth Leader of the party joined the anti-Secondus forces and claimed that in the event of the PDP boss’ failure to throw in the towel, some members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party would leave.

Almost simultaneously, more voices, including placard carrying youths, joined the call for the sack of Secondus and despite the attempt by highly-placed PDP stalwarts to resolve the crisis; it only festered and grew more intense with each passing day.

Conscious of a possible implosion, the PDP Governors’ Forum, ably led by its chairman and governor of Sokoto state, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, swung into action and convened series of meetings in a bid to resolve the crisis. The governors, acting in sync with party’s organs went to the heart of the matter by inviting warring parties to brainstorm on the way forward.

It is to the credit of the Tambuwalled Governors’ Forum that both parties conceded grounds and accepted

The victory did not last long ago as a new twist was added to the leadership crisis plaguing the PDP. A court in Calabar, Cross River State restrained the embattled National Chairman from presiding over the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party billed for Saturday. The injunction granted by a Cross River High Court also barred the PDP from allowing Secondus to function as national chairman or preside over the NEC meeting of the party

the resolution to bring forward the national elective convention of the party to October, two months before the expected expiration of the tenure of incumbent NWC. It was not just the demonstration of sufficient leadership will that mattered but the manner Tambuwal, with the backing of his colleagues, seized the moment to drive home some salient points that arguably drove fears into the psyche of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the governor, Nigerians must learn to dismiss insinuations that some PDP governors were nursing intentions to defect to the APC, stressing that “if you want to go, go where?”

In an extempore speech, reminiscent of politicians of the First Republic famous for peerless oratory; Tambuwal jibed the ruling party this way: “There is no party to defect to, no government to defect to,” even as he reminded anyone who cared to listen that all 13 governors elected on the platform of the PDP, including deputy governor of Zamfara state, Mohammed Mahdi Gusau attended the meeting.

The way out to salvage Nigeria from the clutches of backwardness, according to him, is for all Nigerians regardless of status or political affiliations to stay united and work assiduously to send APC packing in 2023.

Perhaps, the biggest take away from that meeting with the possible exception of the resolution of the crisis, was Tambuwal’s apt admonition to party chieftains to stop seeing governors as their financiers.

In his words, governors remain the servants of the people, the ambassador of the electorate who defied obstacles to queue in sunny and rainy ambience to elect them to power.

Given the resolution of the crisis, the governors are expected to go the whole distance to ensure party cohesion in their various states, preparatory to the 2023 general elections.

The efforts of the PDP governors in bringing the crisis to an end would not be complete without the admonition of the former governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Seriake Dickson who is also a serving senator.

In his intervention, Dickson said that the party cannot stand the risk of a caretaker committee in the face of the 2023 general election. The former governor cautioned that the issue of a caretaker committee is unknown to the party.

He explained that stakeholders have observed for sometime the growing tension, recriminations and outright attack on the National Chairman and members of the National Working Committee by some leaders of the party.

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

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FEATURES

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

30 Years After, Akwa Palm Set to Become Multibillion-dollar Plantation Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, has embarked on an aggressive revamping of the Akwa oil palm plantation left moribund for over 30 years, writes Charles Ajunwa

The vandalised oil mill

G

overnor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom is using his private sector experience to drive aggressive economic reforms. Since assuming power in 2015, Udom, who inherited a civil service state, has brought his experience to bear on such sectors as housing, health, water, road, education, aviation, oil/ gas, environment and agriculture.

The governor’s Midas touch accounted for the IGR increase from N15 billion to N30 billion monthly. Even with the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on global economies, the governor did not only muster the political will to start resuscitation the abandoned oil palm plantation. He mobilised funds to revamp the over 3,000 hectares of oil palm plantation, which past successive governments neglected.

The oil palm plantation, which stretches across three local government areas: Uruefong Oruko, Mbo and Esit Eket, currently has 200,000 oil palm trees and a 300,000 capacity nursery for oil palm seedlings.

Entrusted with the responsibility of resuscitating the oil palm plantation is the state's Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Pastor Umo Eno, who is deploying his private sector experience to drive the administration’s agenda of making Akwa Ibom a self-sustaining state.

Eno, executive director of Agricultural Investments, a directorate in Akwa Ibom State Investment Corporation (AKICORP), said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) oil palm initiative informed the state government's decision to revisit the abandoned oil palm plantation.

According to him, the oil palm plantation, which can employ over 500 workers during its active years, contributed 34 per cent of Nigeria’s palm oil export in the 1970s and 80s. The commissioner, who lamented the long neglect, said the late businessman MKO Abiola brought Malaysians who took palm oil seedlings from Akwa Palm. Malaysia today is

Udom...driving development in Akwa Ibom

Eno

ranked the second-largest producer of palm oil in the world after Indonesia.

“The managing director of NIFOR came here, saw Akwa Palm and cried,” Eno said.

There are plans to open up roads in the next six months, build new administrative blocks, and secure the entire oil palm plantation where the locals have encroached. At the last count

In the early 1960s, when Nigeria was the world's largest oil palm producer, the South-east region accounted for 90 per cent of the total output, with Akwa Ibom state alone contributing about 60 per cent, Eyiboh recalled that this led the World Bank to declare the region as the global fastest-growing regional economy in 1964

during the inspection, the bulldozer deployed to the plantation had cleared 12 old roads covered by bushes. Eno also revealed that the Nigeria Institute For Oil-Palm Research (NIFOR) would provide Akwa Ibom seeds yielding two to three years.

"But what we have there still has a three-year life span to produce. So we can’t cut those trees down now. We have to prune them, get a proper mill; all the mills there were vandalised,” Eno added. On the viability of the oil palm plantation, the commissioner said the state had already received letters of intent from major companies such as Cadbury, PZ and others.

“Now, Cadbury has said they will buy from us. PZ too. The off-takers will come from within the country. But the mill within the country is difficult. Right now, I am communicating with a company in Portugal. They can give us a mill within a year. It will come with tank farms to produce and store the oil, and then you can distil," Eno explained. “Now the CBN is prepared to loan us up to N10 billion. But you must show good faith. Now, the government has said revamp, and we are opening up all the roads. Now all the roads in Akwa Palm are open, and tractors are working there. Akwa Palm seats within three local governments. I am going to bring in 500,000 Tenera oil palm seedlings. Akwa palm will need 200,000 while 300,000 are for out-growers.”

According to the commissioner, the state government has finalised plans to engage the over 400 AKADEP staff and others to work as agric extension officers to improve productivity in the oil palm plantation. “When we do that, unemployment will be reduced.

If anybody comes to tell you in Akwa Ibom your employment is this, you say no. These are people who will show statistically how you have engaged people because you cannot employ everybody into the civil service, you can create jobs and agriculture is the biggest employer of labour,” Eno added.

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FEATURES

Eno (4th right) during an inspection at the Akwa Palm A youth leader in Etebi, Mfon Etang, who was part of the inspection, said the state government’s decision to revamp Akwa Palm, apart from attracting investments into the state, would create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths who are being lured into crimes because of idleness.

The oil palm plantation, said Etang, survived because the various communities constituted committees headed by village heads appointed agile youths to secure the Akwa Palm in the past 30 years.

He further disclosed: “The youths of our community are ready to join hands with the state government to ensure that this massive oil palm plantation bounces back to life. If it starts full operations again, most of the youths who presently don’t have anything to do would be gainfully employed, and they would be able to fend for their families.”

Commenting on the move by the Akwa Ibom government to resuscitate the palm, ex-lawmaker in the House of Representatives, Eseme Eyiboh, applauded the governor for having the political will and vision to revamp the palm which laid waste for over 30 years.

Eyiboh said Akwa Palm was the most important source of income for the South-East region in the 1960s, with Akwa Ibom contributing 60 per cent.

In the early 1960s, when Nigeria was the world's largest oil palm producer, the South-east region accounted for 90 per cent of the total output, with Akwa Ibom state alone contributing about 60 per cent, Eyiboh recalled that this led the World Bank to declare the region as the global fastest-growing regional economy in 1964.

However, with the advent of crude oil in Nigeria, the sector was relegated to the background. The hitherto busy substation of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research, NIFOR, in Abak that donated oil palm seedlings to Malaysia in 1960 became a shadow of itself.

He added, "Visitors from Malaysia were said to have collected oil palm seedlings and cross-pollinated them in Ikot Okpong, in the then south-eastern state. Today, Malaysia is the second-largest producer of oil palm in the world after Indonesia. Though Nigeria is ranked third in the world in terms of land area planted with oil palm, the country is only the fifth-largest palm oil producer in the world due to low yields. The reason for the low yields is not far-fetched."

Nigeria’s oil palm cultivation is by small scale farmers, who grow oil palms with other crops instead of the industrial oil palm plantation approach practised by the "Asian Tigers and the Latin Americans."

It is against this backdrop that the decision of the Akwa Ibom government to reactivate the moribund Akwa Palm Oil Plantation was made, he pointed out. The move is in response to repeated calls for states to identify one specific dominant crop in their locality and cultivate it in commercial quantities for local consumption and for export. The 3,000 hectares Akwa Palm Oil Plantation was established by the government of the then South-eastern state in 1962. It stretches across three local

A bulldozer clearing roads in the oil palm plantation government areas of Esit Eket, Mbo and Uruefong Oruko.

Akwa Palm plantation had 500 staff in its workforce and contributed an estimated 34 per cent of Nigeria’s crude palm oil export in the 1970s and 80s.

With 200,000 stands of palm trees and a 300,000 capacity nursery for oil palm seedlings, the plantation can produce thousands of tons of palm oil annually worth billions of naira.

Eyiboh, a former director at the Akwa Palm Industries Limited, said plans by the Akwa Ibom government to reactivate the plantation came at a time when the average price of a ton of palm oil has reached a decade high of $1,241.

“Current price of palm oil in Nigeria is about N100,000 ($758) per metric ton, while the current international price is $438 (N57,816) per metric ton," he revealed.

"Also, the COVID-19 restrictions have further increased global demand for palm oil. The fact that the local price of the commodity is skyrocketing every day is a clear demonstration that any investment in the sector is futuristic and worthwhile."

Eyiboh also stated that the Udom administration should go beyond mere rhetoric and political pronouncements to ensure that the ongoing work at the oil palm plantation was completed in

no distant future.

"Modern palm plantations, as seen in Southern Asian countries, are designed as a fully-integrated agro-industrial establishment, equipped with oil palm trees, palm oil mills, palm kernel extraction plant and vegetable oil refining and fractionation plants," said Eyiboh. "The Akwa Palm should not fall short of this standard.

Those handling the project should adopt strategies that will enable the company to obtain international certification as a member of the Global Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, RSPO. This will enable its products to compete favourably in the international market."

When fully reactivated, Eyiboh believes the economic benefits of the Akwa plantation to the state in particular and the nation, in general, are enormous. The plantation will work in partnership with small scale oil palm farmers to address the current fluctuating trends in the production and marketing of palm oil in the state. "Furthermore," he explained, "this investment will boost the state’s internally generated revenue, IGR, thereby reducing dependence on federation allocation."

In economic terms, he further pointed out, oil palm has a long shelf life span, and it is used in more than 50 per cent of all the products sold in supermarkets.

“Current price of palm oil in Nigeria is about N you100,000 ($758) per metric ton, while the current international price is $438 (N57,816) per metric ton," he revealed. "Also, the COVID-19 restrictions have further increased global demand for palm oil

The diverse use of oil palm makes it versatile and capable of lifting millions of people out of poverty. In Asian countries, oil palm plantations have created millions of well-paying jobs and enabled tens of thousands of smallholder farmers to acquire their own land.

With enough political will, Akwa Ibom and Nigeria can achieve the same feat.

If palm oil is produced in commercial quantities in the state, it will encourage the springing up of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) where the commodity will be used to produce body care products such as soap, toothpaste, shampoo and other household cleaning agents.

"In the area of foreign exchange earnings, a steady increase in the local production of palm oil will promote export and reduce the amount of revenue used to import the item," stated Eyiboh.

He disclosed that Nigeria spent about $500 million to import 600,000 tons of oil palm in 2016 alone.

“The amount doubled in 2017," said Eyiboh.

"This is a reverse of what obtains in Indonesia where the oil palm industry accounts for 1.6 per cent of the GDP, employs 4.5 million people and brings in more than $18 billion a year in foreign exchange. If the Akwa Palm is reactivated and made to work optimally, Akwa Ibom state will, in no distant future, become a designation centre for manufacturers who are looking for natural seed oils, like palm oil, as an alternative to unhealthy hydrogenated fats."

The Akwa Palm should not be seen as a political gimmick to settle party supporters.

But as a people-oriented scheme that should receive the support of all, irrespective of political or ethnic background, Eyiboh warned.

He urged the Akwa Ibom government to use the same level of zeal and commitment applied in executing the Ibom Air project to bring the Akwa palm reactivation to a reality.

“Just as Ibom Air has almost assumed the status of a national carrier, the Akwa Palm Plantation scheme, if well implemented, will equally become the cynosure of all eyes, attracting international recognition and generating income to many households," he stated. "If states must survive in the post-COVID era, there should be a healthy competition among them, in investment in productive ventures that will diversify the economy away from crude oil."

The reactivation of Akwa Palm Oil Plantation in Akwa Ibom is one of such investments expected to enhance the state's economic fortunes and add the much-needed value to the national drive for non-oil exports.

According to Eyiboh, a federal agency like Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) should inject funds into projects like the Akwa Palm.

“An interventionist agency like NDDC bluntly refused to see the prospects in the prosperity of the people. If NDDC spent all the money they are wasting, if they had put one-quarter of that money into Akwa Palm, I’m sure that this place would have by now increased the state’s IGR and created employment for the teeming youths,” Eyiboh lamented.

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NBA, Partner Agencies to Tackle Money Laundering, Financing of Terrorism Page V

There is enough work for God to do. But, we haven’t done our own share. In our daily conversations now, there’s too much God.’ - Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, Minister of Works and Housing; Governor, Lagos State (2007-2015) ‘Our unanimous position is, what is needed now is to wipe out the Bandits. We must go into this forest; nobody living in that forest is innocent, and just kill them all.’ - Nasiru El Rufai, Governor, Kaduna State, Federal Republic of Nigeria

‘Police Must Charge Glory Okolie to Court or Release Her Unconditionally’, A2J Page V

EFCC and Charge of Witch-Hunting Opposition Page VI

III THE ADVOCATE

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021

Of Insecurity and WrongHeaded Policies Standing My Ground s I expected, I had some feedback on my piece of last week, 'Kano Hisbah: A Clear and Present Danger?' - both good and bad. I have absolutely nothing against Islam, nor was I being partial to Christianity in my said editorial - I was simply telling the truth, and upholding the provisions of the Constitution.

As a student and teacher of the Constitution, its provisions must come first. So, for those who condemned me as being partial to Christianity - rather, I am partial to Section 10 of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, because I am a supporter of peace and One Nigeria; and one of the only ways that we can achieve peace in a multireligious society like ours, is by strictly adhering to the provisions of Section 10 of the Constitution, and laying less emphasis on religion publicly. I stand my ground on this issue. Religion is personal, and best kept that way.

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Some Other Truths: Since I seem to have ingested a good measure of truth serum, here is the truth about two other issues which occupied the front burner recently - Workers/ Doctors strike and granting amnesty to Nigerian criminals.

1) Labour This is a home truth - the remuneration structure of this country is warped, and Government is doing nothing to improve it. We have Incessant strikes, caused in my opinion, by Nigeria’s age-long inequitable remuneration system; a system which is very much at variance with Sections 16 & 17 of the Constitution. Take for example, Teachers, Medical Doctors, and Judges - they are being exploited by Government, while their conditions of work are unjust and inhumane.

In civilised countries, the wealthiest professionals are Doctors, while Judges, Teachers and Lecturers function in optimal conditions and are well taken care of. In Nigeria, NASS members, a good number of whom possess only basic educational qualifications, are paid fabulous salaries and allowances for doing little or nothing, while for instance, Doctors, who risk their lives and save lives daily, are paid peanuts.

Imagine a $10 hazard allowance! Apparently, Nigeria has about 72,000 registered Doctors, out of which only about half are practicing. Already, the ratio of Doctors to our population of over 200 million people, is inadequate; and now, a good number of them are trying to ‘check out’ to places like Saudi Arabia to seek greener pastures and better working conditions. Is Government just going to watch them go? I guess so, if Government is not prepared to improve their working conditions. After all, freedom of movement is a fundamental right, and nothing stops Doctors from relocating to places where they are better appreciated.

I still cannot quite understand a system where those who are less educated and do less work, are better remunerated than those who are not only educated, but perform crucial tasks in society. It is not only inequitable and therefore, unconstitutional, it shows Nigeria’s lack of appreciation of education. No wonder there are so many out of school children! Why bother to go to school, at least beyond primary or secondary level, when you will just end up being unemployed, or paid next to nothing if you are even lucky enough to secure a job after graduation? You are better off becoming a Politician after secondary school!

Section 16(2)(d) of the Constitution provides that workers should be paid at least a reasonable minimum living wage. Is N30,000 reasonable in this day and age? No. This is the plight of majority of workers in Nigeria; and this type of ridiculously unrealistic salary structure, is a major catalyst for corruption and criminality. There is no better time than this, for Government to re-evaluate our remuneration structure.

2) Repentance and Amnesty Another truth to be told, is about this issue of ‘repentant' Bandits and Boko Haram insurgents, and what to do with them. A few weeks ago, I shared my views on amnesty, and concluded that I did not particularly believe in it, at least not what Sheik Gumi is asking for ‘Bandits’ anyway. And, even if it may seem to have worked in the Niger Delta, it is definitely not a blanket solution to all the different types of insecurity we are experiencing today. Amnesty is usually for political crimes, arising from those who may have been fighting for a cause, and should not be for vicious criminals. One of the main arguments against granting amnesty, is even that it encourages criminality.

Truth be told, it wasn't as if granting amnesty to the Niger Delta militants was a voluntary, joyous step that Government took. On the contrary, Government was constrained to do so. It was an economic decision. With all the bombing of oil pipelines and installations, kidnapping of oil workers and so on, the militants had leverage, because their activities impacted extremely negatively on oil production and output; and oil being Nigeria’s main source of

to go scot free, then, I submit that, every inmate in every prison in Nigeria should also be allowed to go home, once they openly declare that they have repented. Fair is fair. Should the suspected Herdsmen/criminals who cruelly murdered the 36 defenceless people in Plateau State, majority of whom were women and children, be forgiven because they claim to be repentant? They are murderers, and law amply provides for their crimes.

Thankfully, President Muhammadu Buhari clearly stated in the recent past, that his administration would “continue to deal with insurgents, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals who constitute a threat to innocent citizens across the country”. I concur. My dear readers, what is your opinion on the issue of amnesty?

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive.com onikepob@yahoo.com Twitter: @TheAdvocate

The

Advocate “If coldblooded killers, kidnappers and rapists are forgiven because they claim to be repentant, and they are allowed to go scot free, then, I submit that, every inmate in every prison in Nigeria should also be allowed to go home, once they openly declare that they have repented. Fair is fair” revenue, the sector where we have the most FDI, the economy was affected badly. A drop in oil production and export, coupled with dwindling oil prices, IOCs going to look for safer environments to continue their business, the global trend going in the direction of seeking alternatives to oil, you will all agree with me, that this was not a good combination for the Nigerian economy.

The fact that the Niger Delta is seriously polluted and lacking in infrastructure, amongst other drawbacks, is no secret. And, so we could see that even if some believe that the Niger Delta militants had gone about registering their dissatisfaction the wrong way, they did/do have a genuine and legitimate cause. Having mumbled and grumbled about this cause to not much avail, maybe they felt that taking drastic steps, would be the only way to get Government’s attention - and they did.

Luckily, the solution that Government put in place - amnesty and training for the Niger Delta militants etc, proved to be fairly effective in this situation. But, is it the proper step to take, and will it be effective in the case of the insurgents and bandits? A pertinent question to also ask at this juncture, is whether the Boko Haram insurgents even have a legitimate cause or any cause at all, in looking at some of the conditions which may qualify them for amnesty?

That Western education is an abomination?

I think not, because Islam, the religion they claim to profess, encourages the quest for knowledge, for both the female and male. Their outlandish belief also goes against the spirit and purport of Section 18 of the Constitution

which sets out the educational objectives of Government - eradicating illiteracy and providing free education up to tertiary level if possible, plus adult literacy programmes.

Do the Boko Haram insurgents, who have been recognised by the Global Terrorist Index as the third deadliest terrorist group in the world, deserve amnesty, when Governor Zulum has declared that at least 100,000 lives have been lost due to the heinous crimes they have committed? Or would this same fact be the reason to grant amnesty, in order to stop the killings?

I wondered whether Governor Zulum’s position on amnesty for repentant insurgents was borne out of helplessness more than anything else, since over 10 years later, the insurgents have not been decimated by Government, and are still causing chaos in the Northeast, possibly with no end in sight. That this is the position that Governor Zulum and other proponents of amnesty have been constrained to take in the interest of peace for their people, with no other solution to stop the violence and mayhem in sight, just as Government was forced to take the same position in the interest of our economy in the Niger Delta situation.

Do we then restrict this amnesty to the Boko Haram insurgents, or extend it to the Bandits, Kidnappers, and Herdsmen who rape, destroy and kill for one form of financial gain or the other, be it for ransom payments or forcefully making use of peoples’ crops and farms for their cattle to graze, some of whom Sheik Gumi is seeking amnesty for? If coldblooded killers, kidnappers and rapists are forgiven because they claim to be repentant, and they are allowed

Conclusion While this administration is not particularly the cause of many of the issues Nigeria is presently facing, they cannot be absolved of a good deal of blame because they have compounded matters with the way they have responded to them. Government’s decision to then cow the media into submission with intimidation, threats of arrest and closing down media outfits in order to stop them from reporting their failures, not only runs foul of Sections 22 and 39 of the Constitution, if yet another truth be told, is a further step in the wrong direction.

Dear Editor Re: Kano Hisbah: A Clear and Present Danger?

Dear Editor, Hisbah under Ganduje, who fancies himself as “Khadimul Islam” (servant of Islam) has been empowered, and is thus, metamorphosing into something else. Though, they have always been present in Kano, under this Government which seems to not only accommodate but praise their petty atrocities, Hisbah acts with impunity at a whim, despite they themselves being found wanting in morals and character. In February, the Hisbah Commander was caught in a hotel cheating with a married woman. This shows you that there is a deficiency of Islamic Knowledge and ethics, even within Hisbah members.

I am not, however, against Sharia law, as most of the culture in the Northern States that practice it has been almost completely usurped by the Islamic way of life. Therefore, it seems a suitable alternative to regard as customary law in these parts. However, like you rightly pointed out, Shari’a law needs to find a way of existing within our constitutional framework, and by any means, it should not trample on the rights of innocent citizens who do not adhere to the Islamic Faith. One of the main facets of Shari’a law is that it applies to only Muslims, as practicing Islam is itself part of the Shari’a. Therefore, people who are not Muslims should not be compelled to practices which are alien to their chosen way of life. The Qur’an has a verse which categorically says: “There is no Compulsion in Religion” (Qur’an 2:256). This verse automatically negates the acts perpetrated by the Hisbah. As for the Hisbah itself, it should be constrained to Shari’a Courts and administrative offices. It should by no means be given the power to act like the Police, neither should they be allowed to carry on without some sort of supervising body A.W., Abuja

Dear Editor, A clear and present danger. But, is there enough consideration and provision for adherents of Islam within the context of our constitution? The counter argument is that, the Nigerian Constitution is built strict on a judeo Christian foundation and core values. There is a school of thought (which should not be discountenanced) that states that the coloniser - Britain, founded all Nigeria's national institutions, systems, processes and legal grundnorms on Western based cultural idiom, and on a purely Christian worldview. As a result therefore, Islam has to find its own space, and this is the reason for this disequilibrium we are now experiencing; and until an accommodation of Islam is achieved on an equal footing within our constitutional framework, these disquieting experiences such as those you just described and even the extremes ones, will continue.

B.I., Abuja

Dear Editor, That’s how Afghanistan started. Ditto Iran. Sudan.

Too many examples. As Saudia is moving forward, Kano is going backwards.

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum

S.J., Abuja

IV LAW REPORT

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021 • T H I S D AY

Propriety of Making Similar Applications at the Supreme and Appeal Courts Simultaneously Facts The Federal High Court, Lagos delivered its judgement in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/50/2012 Mrs. Francis Pablo-Amaran v Virgin Atlantic Airways & 2 Ors – on 30th November, 2016. The Judgement Creditor/Respondent (the Respondent) commenced the enforcement of the judgement by an application ex-parte for a Garnishee Order, which Order Nisi was granted by the trial court on 13th January, 2017 and the proceedings adjourned for the Garnishees to show cause why they should not pay to the Judgement Creditor, the amount standing to the credit balance of the Judgement Debtor’s account with them.

The Judgement Debtor/Appellant/Applicant (the Applicant) who was listed as a party in the ex-parte application and named a party to the proceedings, thereafter, filed a Notice of Appeal against the judgement of the trial court delivered on 30th November, 2016 and the appeal was entered on 7th February, 2017, following which the Applicant applied to the trial High Court for a stay of execution of its judgement, setting aside of the Garnishee Order Nisi and stay of further garnishee proceedings pending the determination of the appeal. Based on the foregoing applications, Honourable Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, JSC the trial court declined further jurisdiction in the matter, and declared every application and orders In the Supreme Court of Nigeria made in the proceedings, as nullity.

Holden at Abuja Aggrieved by the decision of the trial court, On Friday, the 5th day of February, 2021 the Respondent appealed to the Court of Appeal, which appellate court allowed the appeal, restored Before Their Lordships the Garnishee Order Nisi, and ordered the trial Olabode Rhodes-Vivour court to await the determination of the substantive Amina Adamu Augie appeal at the appellate court. The Applicant, who Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju was dissatisfied with the outcome of the appeal, Abdu Aboki filed a trinity application against the judgement Emmanuel Akomaye Agim of the Court of Appeal delivered on the 29th June, 2018. The application was initially filed at Justices, Supreme Court the Court of Appeal. However, the said motion SC.918/2018 could not be heard before the expiration of the three-month period provided for. Consequently, the Applicant then filed a Motion on Notice at the Between Supreme Court dated 3rd October, 2018 seeking the trinity prayers for an Order of the Supreme Court Virgin Atlantic Airways … … …

Appellant/Applicant extending the time within which the Appellant can And seek leave to appeal against the judgement of the Court of Appeal, leave to appeal the decision, and Mrs. Francisca Pablo Amaran… … …

Respondent extension of time to appeal to the Supreme Court.

And In its affidavit in support of the application, the Applicant stated the reasons for the delay. It stated 1) Zenith Bank Nigeria Plc that the application was filed on the 3rd October, 2) Guaranty Trust Bank Plc … … …

Garnishee/Respondent 2018 because the 29th and 30th of September, 2018 fell on a weekend while the 1st October, 2018 was declared a public holiday. The Appellant further (Lead Ruling delivered by Honourable Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, JSC) stated that, the processes had to be conveyed from Lagos to Abuja on 2nd October, 2018 for filing on 3rd October, 2018. However, the Appellant did not disclose why it had waited for two months 1. Whether the Applicant has a competent Court of Appeal did not strike out the said before filing the initial application at the Court application before the Honourable Court to application until 16th October, 2018 followof Appeal, which could not be heard within the vest the Supreme Court with jurisdiction, ing the withdrawal by the Applicant. The three-month period stipulated for appealing the having not complied with Order 28 Rules Respondent also challenged the application decision of the Court of Appeal.

3 and 4 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2014. on the basis that the Applicant was not a The Respondent filed an objection contending 2. Whether the Honourable Court ought party to the Garnishee Order Nisi, and can that the Applicant’s application was an abuse of not to grant the Appellant leave to appeal only appeal against same as an interested court process, as a similar application was filed against the judgement of the Court of Appeal, party after seeking and obtaining leave of at the Court of Appeal which was subsequently Lagos Division delivered on the 28th day of court. In response, counsel for the Applicant struck out on 16th October, 2018 following the June, 2018 by their Lordships; Hon. Justice submitted that in accordance with Order 2 Applicant’s withdrawal of same. The Respondent Ugochukwu Anthony Ogakwu and Hon. Rule 28(4) of the Supreme Court (Amended) contended further that, as the Applicant is not a Justice Jamilu Yammama Tukur in Appeal Rules 2014, the Appellant had filed a similar party to the Garnishee Proceedings where the No. CA/L/471/2017- Mrs. Francisca Pablo- application for leave to appeal before the order Nisi was made, it can only appeal against Amaran v Virgin Atlantic Airways & 2 Ors. Court of Appeal, but same was not heard the said order as an interested party after obtaining owing to the court’s annual vacation. The the leave of the Court of Appeal, and when such Arguments Court of Appeal resumed sitting on the 17th leave had not been sought or obtained, then the By way of objection to the competence of the October, 2018, but the Applicant could not Supreme Court lacked the requisite jurisdiction application before the court, the Respondent get a date for hearing of the motion for leave to entertain the application. had submitted that the application before the because the time prescribed by the Rules for Issues for Determination Supreme Court, filed on 3rd October, 2018 seeking leave to appeal at the lower court In its determination of the application and the was an abuse of court process, because a had expired; hence, the Applicant had to file objections of the Respondent thereto, the Supreme similar application was filed at the Court the application at the Supreme Court, while Court considered the following issues: of Appeal on 24th August, 2018, and the waiting to withdraw the first application at the Court of Appeal.

“Order 2 Rule 28(4) permits a second application to the Supreme Court, in circumstance(s) where it is impossible to apply to the Court of Appeal; more so, where the period for appealing against the judgement of the Court of Appeal has expired, only the Supreme Court can extend the prescribed time….”

Court’s Ruling and Rationale Deciding the objection to the competence of the application, the Supreme Court found that the Applicant provided a satisfactory explanation to show that the filing of the second application at the Supreme Court was not made in bad faith, and that withdrawing the first application was the proper thing to do in the circumstance as the three-month period allowed under Section 27(2) of the Supreme Court Act to appeal had expired by 30th September, 2018. Order 2 Rule 28(4) permits a second application to the Supreme Court, in circumstance(s) where it is impossible to apply to the

Court of Appeal; more so, where the period for appealing against the judgement of the Court of Appeal has expired, only the Supreme Court can extend the prescribed time by virtue of Section 27(4) of the Supreme Court Act – AFRIBANK NIG. PLC. v AKWARA (2006) 5 NWLR (Pt. 974) 619. The court held that where there is no want of bona fide, a process issued in accordance with law in pursuit of the due process of justice, cannot be an abuse of the process of court.

Regarding the objection that Applicant was not a party to the Garnishee Proceedings and that it could only appeal against the Garnishee Order Nisi as an interested party after obtaining the leave of the Court of Appeal, which it failed to obtain, thereby robbing the Supreme Court of jurisdiction to entertain the appeal, the Apex Court found that the Applicant was a nominal party in the Garnishee Proceedings up to the making of the Order Nisi. The Applicant became an active party after filing an application to challenge the Garnishee Proceedings on the ground that its appeal against the decision sought to be enforced had been entered at the Court of Appeal, and the trial court upheld its objection. The decision of the trial court on this objection, was what resulted in the appeal leading to the Supreme Court.

Thus, the Applicant was not only a party to the Garnishee Proceedings, but a main Respondent to the appeal against the Ruling of the court below.

The court held further that a named party in a trial proceedings or party who actively participated in the proceeding has a right to appeal against any decision in the said trial proceedings, and does not require the leave of the court to appeal against a decision in such trial proceedings as person interested – Section 243(a) of the 1999 Constitution. Thus, the argument that the Applicant has no right to appeal against the ex-parte Garnishee Order Nisi by virtue of Section 14(1) of the Court of Appeal Act 2004 is unnecessary, as the instant appeal is a further appeal resulting from the Applicant’s objection to the jurisdiction of the trial court, and not against the ex-parte order of the trial court.

Being a party to the appeal, the Applicant can exercise its right of appeal to the Supreme Court by virtue of Section 233(2) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution. By this, the Supreme Court dismissed the objection of the Respondent to the application.

Now, considering the merit of the application seeking the trinity prayer before the Supreme Court, their Lordships held that by the provisions of Order 2 Rule 31 of the Supreme Court (Amended) Rules 2014 which regulates the practice and procedure in respect of an application of this nature, the conditions stipulated in Order 2 Rule 31(2) must be complied with. In essence, every application for an enlargement of time in which to appeal or in which to apply for leave, is to be supported by an affidavit setting forth good and substantial reasons for the failure to appeal or to apply for leave to appeal within the prescribed period, and there should also be exhibited grounds of appeal which prima facie show good cause why the appeal should be heard, amongst others. Failure to satisfy these two conditions would result in such application being dismissed by the court – SEBASTIAN ADIGWE v FEDERAL RUPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (2015) S.C. 115. In this case, the reason given by the Applicant for its failure to apply and obtain leave within the prescribed time, was owing to the annual vacation of the court for the year 2018. The Applicant however, failed to disclose why it waited for about two months after the delivery of the judgement of the Court of Appeal before applying to the Court of Appeal for leave to appeal the decision. The Supreme Court concluded that, the affidavit in support of the application did not disclose good and substantial reason for the failure to appeal or apply for leave to appeal within the prescribed period, so as to be entitled to the discretionary power of court in its favour.

Application Dismissed.

Representation Victoria Adedapo for the Appellant.

P. Amaran with J. Okogbo for the Respondent.

B.B. Lawal, Esq. for the Garnishee/Respondent Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)(An Affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

V NEWS

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021

Glory Okolie

NBA President, Olumide Akpata

Hon Justice Nicholas Oweibo

‘Police Must Charge Glory Okolie to Court or Release Her Unconditionally’, A2J On the 17th of June, 2021, Glory Okolie, a young girl of 22 years left home and never returned home, leaving her family and friends perplexed, especially because it was not customary for her to keep late nights or sleep outside the house. The emotional torment from the sudden disappearance of Glory Okolie continued until late June 2021, when a young man released from the Inspector General of Police, Intelligence Response Team (IGP-IRT) disclosed to Glory’s family that she was in the custody of the IGP- IRT, Tiger Base in Owerri, Imo State, and was made to cook and clean for the Police Officers. Armed with this new information, Glory’s parents went to the IGP-IRT office to secure her release, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Instead, the Police transferred Glory Okolie to Abuja.

As the story of Glory’s predicament began to filter out into public space, it generated public outcry, and individuals and civil society organisations began to call for the release of Glory Okolie.

This prompted the IGP to order an investigation into the matter. Within a couple of days, and in a rather shocking twist, on the 22nd of August 2021, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Aremu Adeniran, issued a press statement purporting that Glory Okolie is an informant of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN), and labelled her a ‘militant spy girl’.

As an organisation that pursues justice for everyone, Access to Justice finds Glory’s case to be especially disturbing because, prior to the press release issued by the Police and the allegation slapped on Glory Okolie, she had been detained for over 70 days without access to legal representation, a clear violation of her right to fair hearing

and a breach of the Police Act, 2020 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. Even more worrying, is the fact that there was no formal or informal communication made to Glory’s family notifying them of her arrest since the 17th of June, 2021, giving her arrest and her illegal detention the appearance of an abduction and enforced disappearance.

Access to Justice therefore: i. Expresses dissatisfaction with the manner in which Glory Okolie has been handled by the Police, especially regarding the violations of her rights, and thus, demands that Glory Okolie be charged to court if the Police have evidence to back their claim or release her unconditionally.

A2Justice is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation working to promote integrity, transparency, accountability and independence in legal and judicial institutions, and to protect the rights of individuals and groups to justice. A2Justice is the 2009 recipient of MacArthur Foundation’s Award for Creative and Effective Institutions and also the 2010 recipient of the first- ever Nigerian Bar Association’s Gani Fawehinmi Award for Human Rights and Social Justice. ii. Questions the integrity of the investigation which led to the conclusion that Glory Okolie is a spy for IPOB/ ESN, and therefore, calls on the Police Service Commission to carry out an independent investigation into this case to determine the substance of the matter, and to sanction all persons involved in the violation of the rights of the detainee. iii. Demands that the National Assembly should call the IGP to order, and impress on him to ensure that Police officers must be seen to employ due process, and work within the provisions of the law when dealing with

the public at all times. iv. Notifies the InspectorGeneral of Police and the

Attorney-General of the Federation that should there be a delay or reluctance to

take action on this matter, a suit will be filed against all concerned parties, to

ensure the enforcement of Glory Okolie’s fundamental human rights.

Court Dismisses Bankruptcy Case Against ex-Staco Insurance Boss Tobi Soniyi A Federal High Court in Lagos, has dismissed a bankruptcy petition filed against the former Managing Director of Staco Insurance PLC, Dr Sakiru Olanipekun Oyefeso. The court also awarded costs of N50,000, against the Insurance firm that wrote the petition against Oyefeso.

In its statement of facts, Staco Insurance had alleged that while in office, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the company, Dr Oyefeso obtained unauthorised loans in the name of the company and converted same. He was also accused making illegal expenditures to himself, his relatives and other third parties from the funds of the company.

The company said the alleged irregularities were discovered in the course of the forensic audit

carried out by Ernst & Young, and that despite repeated demands for payment, he has failed to pay, and as at the date of filing the Petition, he owed the company N575,943,276.70.

Consequently, the company as the creditor, urged the court to issue an order declaring Oyefeso bankrupt. The creditor also sought an order directing that all assets, interests, and his holdings, either held personally or through third parties and privies, be liquidated and the proceeds applied towards off-setting the debtor's debts, particularly the sum of N575,943,276.70. An order divesting Oyefeso of all shares, interests and holdings in all public and private companies. It also asked for an order of perpetual injunction, restraining him from taking up appointment as a Director in any company in Nigeria.

However, Oyefeso denied all

the allegations. He stated that he had for 25 years invested and dedicated himself to the company, as the founding Managing Director and shareholder. He denied that he was indebted to the company. He asked the court to dismiss the suit, on the grounds that all the allegations against him were false, contrived and biased.

He tendered and relied on a forensic report conducted on the company by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

Oyefeso said that the funds that the creditor alleged were loan, were monies he personally provided to the company in order to facilitate its business when required, and that the supposed loans were repayments by the company to him as reimbursements.

He explained that some of the alleged unauthorised payments

were deferred benefits he was entitled to, and subsequently approved for payment by other Directors, and for which other Directors were similarly compensated. He told the court that all the allegations were trumped up charges made against him, as a conspiracy to remove him as the MD/CEO of the company at all cost.

His Lawyer, Mr Seni Adio, SAN, while asking the court to dismiss the suit, argued that the company has no grounds to have his client declared bankrupt.

In his judgement, Justice Nicholas Oweibo said "In this case, there is an allegation by the creditor (Staco Insurance) that the debtor Dr Sakiru Olanipekun Oyefeso is indebted to it in various sums. Acts of bankruptcy which will entitle a creditor to file a petition are listed in Section 1(1)(a)(I) of the Bankruptcy Act.

NBA, Partner Agencies to Tackle Money Laundering, Financing of Terrorism Steve Aya A resolution by Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and its partner agencies have been reached, to ensure that the fight against money laundering and financing of terrorism is won in Nigeria.

The resolution was reached, during a workshop which took place in Abuja. The event was organised by the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Watch (CFTIW). In attendance were the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), the civil society, among others.

With the negative effects of corruption, money laundering,

terrorist financing within financial, non-financial institutions and other professions, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) are applying measures.

In his address CFTIW Director, Umar Yakubu, stressed the need for Nigeria being an integral member of the global community to be bound by the preventive actions.

“The support of legal practitioners and the legal community are key, in order to foster cooperation between the NBA, the Judiciary, anti-corruption agencies, regulators, and civil society groups”, Umar noted.

The participants admitted Nigeria’s deficiencies regarding inter-agency collaboration,

sustained oversight and common definition of designated non-financial institutions. They highlighted that the establishment of the SCUML under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, though laudable, may have missed the mark.

Participants cited how blacklisted countries are subjected to sanctions by FATF memberStates. The stakeholders said this would affect trade and finance, in addition to the dent on Nigeria’s credibility, decline in global business networks, and the attendant financial hardship.

In a communique, they agreed to scale up capacity building sessions for NBA members, to improve awareness on the Anti-Money Laundering/ Combating the Financing of

Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act. The gathering called for deeper synergy between CBN, NFIU, SCMUL and NBA to further clarify, define and establish clear compliance with the Act. The Lawyers urged agencies involved in the AML/CFT implementation, to foster better engagement with partners such as the NBA Anti-Corruption Committee.

The professionals, however, commended the Association for exploring options for a self-regulatory billing system.

“That NBA members consider themselves as being on the same team on AML/CFT matters, establishes and strengthens the capacity of anti-corruption units in all branches.

VI

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021 • T H I S D AY

Introduction orruption has been the bane of national development of Nigeria, which showed so much potential back in 1960. Billions of dollars have been lost to the scourge, thereby making mendicants out of most of her citizens. Nigerians therefore, heaved a great sigh of relief when the then administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo established the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) ,and it took off in 2004 under the pioneer leadership of Malam Nuhu Ribadu.

Abdulrasheed Bawa was appointed the Commission’s youngest Chairman at barely age 40, earlier this year. I have listed his ground breaking achievements in earlier articles published in many national newspapers, and so there is no need here to take do so again.

C

PDP’s National Publicity Secretary’s False Report It was with dismay that I read a report credited to the National Publicity Secretary of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, that the EFCC is being used by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to witch-hunt the opposition and coerce them into joining its fold.

The statement was titled: ‘2023: PDP Accuses APC of Using EFCC to Hound Opposition, Dissenting Voices’.

The statement reads in part: "Our party, however, states that no amount of intimidation, harassment and use of anti-graft agencies to clampdown on its leaders on trumped up corruption charges, can cow or make the PDP surrender…..”.

"The APC knows that it has been rejected

by Nigerians, having failed woefully and that there is no way it can win elections under any condition. As such, it seeks to use the State apparatus of power to decimate and muzzle opposition and dissenting voices, and foist an anti-democratic situation on Nigerians. Part of this heinous plot by the APC is to use the EFCC to bully, harass and hound PDP leaders, who are rallying Nigerians for the task ahead, with a view to coercing them to abdicate the mandate of the people and join the APC. "This explains why the EFCC and other security agencies have been harassing PDP leaders such as former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, former PDP State Governors, Abia State, Senator Theodore Orji, Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, his Kano State counterpart, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and other key PDP leaders, on trumped up charges, while their counterparts in the APC with similar allegations as well as others who defected to the APC are moving around freely.

"Even corrupt officials of the APC administration who are looting our national treasury, are doing so freely under Buhari’s watch.

Furthermore, our party has been made aware of the plots by the APC administration to use the EFCC to further harass outspoken chieftains in a bid to muzzle our party, force a one-party State and deny Nigerians a voice to challenge the atrocities of the APC and its administration. We alert Nigerians at how many of our leaders are being harassed by emissaries of the APC, in a bid to get them to compromise their stand against the corrupt and inept APC administration."

“If the APC had done well; if it had not devastated Nigerians and brought so much pain to the people; if the APC had managed our national resources well, instead of engaging in unbridled treasury looting, stealing over 15 trillion Naira and turning our nation into the poverty capital of the world; if APC had

EFCC Chairman, AbdulRasheed Bawa

EFCC and Charge of WitchHunting Opposition This article by Erasmus Ikhide roundly calls out the National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, Kola Ologbondiyan, accusing him of going against the cardinal principle of his profession, Journalism, which mandates that facts must be sacred, as a result of his allegations against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of partisanship and the witch-hunt of high ranking PDP members on trumped up charges, in order to force them to switch allegiance to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) which the PDP sees as a sinking ship. Mr Ikhide buttresses his argument, by citing examples of three key APC leaders who have been investigated by the EFCC not compromised our national security and threw our nation open to bandits, insurgents and terrorists, would it not be celebrating by now instead of this plot to force its people to submission?

"In all, the APC should know that the evil enterprise cannot bend our leaders, or sway Nigerians to jettison their determination to oust the APC from office at all levels across the country come 2023. Nigerians already know that they are saddled with a “failed President” and his “failed APC”, for the remaining of his second and final term which will end in 2023. However, the PDP calls on the EFCC Chairman to quickly insulate the Commission from APC’s manipulative enterprise, which ruined the former leadership of the Commission, especially as the clampdown

“Why did Ologbodiyan ignore the fact that these three APC leaders have been investigated by the EFCC? His statement is nothing short of propaganda……”

cannot save the APC in 2023".

Bile and Falsehood: In Defence of EFCC and Bawa This statement, full of bile and falsehood, is unfortunate, and speaks of the personality of Ologbondiyan who tragically started his career as a journalist with the This Day Newspapers, one of the nation’s best national dailies, where he rose to become its political editor. He violated a cardinal principle of journalism which the legendary Editor of the Manchester Guardian made into a journalistic creed ‘Comment is free, but facts are sacred’.

The EFCC under Bawa’s watch thoroughly investigated Senator Rochas Okorocha, a prominent member of the APC and staunch supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari. It secured a court order which has seized numerous assets, allegedly acquired illegally when he governed the State between 2011 and 2019. Okorocha plans to build a tuition free Islamic University in Daura the hometown of Buhari. Did that stop the Bawa led EFCC from investigating him, and ensuring that his assets were confiscated?

Does that speak of any form of bias? Did the EFCC neglect its duty because of the ‘philanthropy’ of Okorocha?

The same EFCC investigated former Governor of Abia State and current Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu. It ensured that he was briefly detained, before a court order set him free. It is a well known fact that Kalu is close to Buhari, but did that prevent the anti- graft

agency from performing its investigative duty?

The EFCC Boss disclosed to the Independent Newspaper on June 21, 2021 that the National Leader of the APC and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is under investigation by the body. He said he wouldn’t be tempted to engage in any form of media trial, and Nigerians should allow the anti-graft agency to do its work in the best interest of the nation.

Why did Ologbodiyan ignore the fact that these three APC leaders have been investigated by the EFCC? His statement is nothing short of propaganda, which exposes his shallow thinking. Was it wrong for the EFCC to investigate the aforementioned PDP leaders with the gargantuan allegations of corruption against them? Should the fight against corruption be viewed based on party lines? Shouldn’t the battle against corruption be fought in national interest, devoid of party affiliation?

Conclusion It is a monumental tragedy that Ologbodiyan, whose skills as an Opposition Spokesman, in my view, are questionable, should be ascribing partisanship to the EFCC. We urge him to praise the EFCC for its fight against the hydra-headed monster of corruption, whether it involves his party members or not. He should stop spewing petty garbage, as the fight by the EFCC isn’t selective, since some prominent members of the ruling ,party are also being investigated.

Erasmus Ikhide, writes from Lagos

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021

TALKING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY DR. MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN

0809 889 8888 SMS ONLY

The Existence of Grazing Routes in Nigeria: Fact or Fiction (Part 2) Introduction

L

ast week, we commenced this vexed issue on the existence of grazing routes in Nigeria, fact or fiction. Today, we shall continue our discourse. Read on.

The Southern Governors’ Accord and Reaction of the Federal Government (Continues) He revealed that he had asked the AGF to begin the process of recovering land from persons who have allegedly converted cattle grazing routes for their personal use. In his words: “What I did was ask him to go and dig the Gazette of the First Republic, when people were obeying laws. There were cattle routes and grazing areas. Cattle routes were for when they (Herdsmen) are moving up country, north to south or east to west, they had to go through there.

“If you allow your cattle to stray into any farm, you are arrested. The farmer is invited to submit his claims. The Khadi or the Judge will say pay this amount, and if you can’t the cattle is sold. And, if there is any benefit, you are given and people were behaving themselves. In the grazing areas, they built dams, put windmills in some places, there were even veterinary departments so that the Herders are limited.

Their route is known, their grazing area is known. So, I asked for the Gazette to make sure that those who encroached on these cattle routes and grazing areas will be dispossessed in law, and try to bring some order back into the cattle grazing.”

Reactions to Mr President’s Statement The kite flown by President Buhari, expectedly provoked reactions from different quarters across Nigeria.

Are there Grazing Routes in Nigeria?

When this question was thrown up by the Guardian newspaper, Prof. Agu Gab Agu, Professor of Law and a former Dean, Faculty of Law, replied thus: “What do you think about the move by the Federal Government to reopen grazing routes for cattle rearers? Where will those cattle be going? I was encouraged when they were rebuilding train stations and tracks, because that, to me, is required for improvement on economic development. Why should we be talking about cattle routes at this time? They should be talking about donkey and camel routes as well. It does not exist in this part of the country. I think it is only in the North that they have such.

But, I am not even sure that it is backed by adequate legislation; so on what point is the person going to stand to implement it?

“There were a few things that were done in those days to aid movement of people, so that they could reduce congestion on major ways. It does not have legal backing, and it is anachronistic to think about cattle routes at this time. Is there any law backing cattle as having rights to free movement in Nigeria? Those fuelling this should consider some of these things. It is unfortunate that we are thinking in this direction, instead of issues that should deepen development in Nigeria”.

In the past, there were what could be called footpaths and motor paths. Those were drawings made and eventually improved on by our local technicians, with no legal backing whatsoever. So,

Open Grazing they were difficult to enforce. There did exist grazing routes in certain parts of Nigeria, as a form of informal arrangement; but, there was never a National law on grazing suggested

by President Buhari to back this up, except in some States in the North.

The Senate Spokesman, Dr. Ajibola Basiru (APC, Osun Central), while speaking on this issue, opined thus: “Nigerians should be concerned over whether the Nigerian President is actually getting the correct legal advice from his Attorney-General and the legal team. As far as I am concerned, as a legal practitioner, there is nothing like grazing routes or grazing reserve law, in the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. There is nothing like that.

“There is no Federal legislation that the President can implement over such matter.

The executive powers of the President, merely rely on the powers of the National Assembly to make laws, when you look at Section 5 of the Constitution.

“Any area where the National Assembly cannot make laws, and there is no express grants of powers to the President under the Constitution, a purported exercise of power by the President in that regard, will be null and void because it is inconsistent with the Constitution by Section 1(3) of the 1999 Constitution.

“I am aware that there is a Northern Nigerian law on reserve and grazing routes, which was promulgated by a 1964 Decree by the Premier of the defunct Northern Nigeria region. It is not a Federal law, unless the legal adviser to Mr President is equating a Northern Nigeria law, which was not applicable in the West, Mid-west, and Eastern Region or in anywhere in the Southern part of Nigeria, to be a Federal or a Nigerian law.

“The President does not have the power to implement that law, because it is not a Federal law. He can only implement Federal legislation made by the National Assembly or deemed to have been made by the National Assembly. The grazing routes law is not a National Assembly law, so there is nothing for the President to implement. It is regrettable that, the President has not been properly advised by his Attorney-General and the legal team”.

“The purport of the Grazing Reserve Law, contrary to the impression being sought to be

“….. whether the law prohibits open grazing or not, the opening of grazing routes is no more tenable in modern Nigeria, it is not tenable in the modern world. What is obtainable in the modern world, is ranching”

created, is to create grazing reserve areas with necessary legal requirements, and criminalise grazing outside the grazing areas.

“Under those laws, animals are only allowed to graze in the grazing reserve or “trade route”. In fact, Section 37 of Grazing Law CAP G3 Laws of Kwara State, provides that an offence is committed by any person, being the owner of specific animal or the person in taking care of who; “(a) allows such animal to graze anyhow other than grazing reserves or trade route established pursuant to this law; or (b) fails to control such animal and the animal causes damages to any crops.

“Section 40 of the law also prohibits possessing, carrying or using for any purpose, any firearms or other weapons for other purposes in the grazing areas. There is also provision for a constitution for local government grazing reserve, in the law.

“Rather than making reference to laws that do not exist or not applicable, what is required and should be pursued by our Government and my great party, the All Progressives Congress as the way forward to address the issue of Farmers and Herdsmen crisis is to adopt, promote and finance the modern animal husbandry by way of ranches and modern grazing reserves.”

According to a report obtained from the Vanguard online, Nigeria has 415 grazing reserves in 21 States, with just two in the entire South, of which 141 are gazetted.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Director, Department of Animal Husbandry Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Winnie Lai- Solarin.

Solarin gave a nebulous and fictitious description of grazing routes in Nigeria.

According to the Punch of 19th June, 2021, Winnie Lai-Solarin said that: “… there are some stock routes that we have across the country, and in the past, we had monuments along these stock routes, particularly the primary stock routes… And in the course of farming or other human activities along those stock routes, the monuments were altered, but we know where they are.

So, we are saying that some of them can be retraced. And this is particularly for areas that are not encroached upon as of now. The pastoralists know the routes, and on some of those routes, you will see the pieces of the monuments along them….So, for those that are not encroached upon and are not in conflict zones, we will go ahead to retrace and guide the pastoralists along them. We didn’t get to where we are today in one day, and so we cannot expect that every pastoralist should suddenly start ranching now… Some would still have to move, but let’s keep the movement as safe as possible and in areas that are not conflict zones. That is what I am saying. We are not going to retrace stock routes, where there are infrastructures

that are for the public good.”

Reacting to the Presidents comment on grazing routes, the National President of Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Dr. Bitrus Pogu, poignantly pointed out the way forward thus: “We know that yes, there was the grazing reserve law that was passed by the regional government of Northern Nigeria. And, the grazing reserve is for the animals to remain within the reserve. It was not a ranching thing per se, but the herders were supposed to remain within the grazing reserve area, and not to be roaming around.

“Now, but here we have a President who is taking us backward, by trying to impose open grazing on a progressive Nigeria which not tenable. He mentioned other things that suggest that, he is more inclined to his people in Niger Republic. If you remember what he said, when he was answering the question on why he is doing projects in Niger Republic, he said there are three tribes, Kanuri, Fulani and Hausa that have their nations there.

“But you see, whether you are talking about grazing reserves or we are talking about the original laws of Northern Nigeria then, the important thing is that the policies he is talking about, that is opening grazing routes and all that, are not tenable in modern Nigeria.

“And whether the law prohibits open grazing or not, the opening of grazing routes is no more tenable in modern Nigeria, it is not tenable in the modern world. What is obtainable in the modern world, is ranching.

“And the earlier Mr. President revisits the ECOWAS Treaty allowing for free movement, which allows herders to roam about from Mali, the Central African Republic, Burkina Faso into Nigeria, in order to stop it, the better.

“He should revisit the law and tell other countries that this thing is responsible for the instability, the killings and for the insecurity in Nigeria. So, every country should retain their herdsmen and let them practice ranching. Whether the law prohibits open grazing or not, what is tenable is ranching, and that is the way forward.”

Serious and Trivial There are two sides to every coin. Life itself contains not only the good, but also the bad and the ugly. Let us now explore this.

“If a Nigerian youth makes a false promise of marriage to a woman and obtains money from her, the EFCC will arrest him for ‘romance scam’. Yet, Buhari made false promises to restructure Nigeria, and obtained votes from Nigerians based on that. Is that not ‘election scam’? The biggest issue General Buhari campaigned on in 2015 was restructuring, now, he says those advocating for restructuring have nothing to say? That is deceit. That is obtaining votes by false pretences. That is why the Southwest and Southeast are agitating for secession….” - Reno Omokri.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK “Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives”. (Ronald Reagan)

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Federal Gazette Provides for Grazing Reserves: Fact or Fiction?

Since the Northern Governors Forum, the Southern Governors Forum, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and other stakeholders, seem to agree that open grazing is an anachronistic method, and ranching is a better approach to animal husbandry in today’s modern times, it has continued to baffle and confound many, the reason why the Presidency, despite Government’s National Livestock Transformation Plan, is still talking about Federal Gazette on grazing reserves and routes, claiming to have identified 300 of such reserves in 25 States of Nigeria. In this Discourse, Femi Falana, SAN and Dr Osagie Obayuwana insist that no such Gazette or nationwide grazing reserves exist, and see Government’s claim as an attempt to somehow try legitimise open grazing, a regressive move which should be rejected by all

Illegality of the Open Grazing Policy of the FG Femi Falana, SAN Background

O

n April 4, 2018, the National Economic Council reviewed the incessant violent clashes between herders and farmers, which had led to mindless killings and wanton destruction of properties in many parts of the country.

Consequently, the members of the Council

resolved to ban open grazing and adopt the Livestock Transformation Plan of the Federal Government. The 36 State Governors, Central Bank Governor and Minister of Finance, are all members of the National Economic Council which is chaired by the Vice President. Owing to the delay in the implementation of the policy of the Federal Government, the violent clashes between herders and farmers continued leading to incessant killing of farmers, rape of women and destruction of properties.

The disturbing development was reviewed by the Northern Governors Forum, in a meeting held on February 9, 2021. In the

“Since the land in every State is vested in the Governor….and the Federal Government never acquired any land for grazing reserves before the enactment of the Land Use Act, it is submitted that open grazing cannot be enforced outside the Federal Capital Territory”

communique issued at the end of the meeting, it was expressly stated that: "The current system of herding mainly through open grazing is no longer sustainable, in view of growing urbanisation and population of the country." Consequently, it resolved to sensitise herders on the need to adopt new methods of herding, either by ranching or other acceptable modern methods.

It appealed to the Federal Government to support States with grants to directly undertake pilot projects of modern livestock production, that would serve as a springboard for the full implementation of new methods of livestock production.

Two days later, the Nigeria Governors Forum held a virtual meeting where the 36 State Governors unanimously rejected open grazing and adopted the National Livestock Transformation Plan of the Federal Government. On May 14, 2021, the Southern Governors Forum met in Asaba, Delta State and reiterated the plan to ban open grazing with effect from September 1, 2021. Curiously, the Presidency

attacked the resolution of the Southern Governors Forum to ban open grazing.

In dismissing the resolution of the Governors, the Presidency said that the proposed ban on open grazing "is of questionable legality, given the constitutional right of all Nigerians to enjoy the same rights and freedoms within every one of our 36 States (and FCT) - regardless of the State of their birth or residence."

The position of the Presidency was faulted by many Lawyers who pointed out that the fundamental right of citizens, including herders to freedom of movement and right to settle in any part of Nigeria, do not extend to cattle and other animals.

Grazing Reserves and Routes in Nigeria Regrettably, the confusion of the Federal Government was compounded, when President Buhari announced that he had given instructions to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN (AGF) to produce the Gazette on all grazing reserves and routes in the country. Even though it was pointed out that the 1965 Grazing Reserves Law

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Federal Gazette Provides for Grazing Reserves: Fact or Fiction? was not of general application as it was only applicable in the former Northern Region, the Federal Government has announced that it has identified over 300 grazing reserves in 25 States. Since the Federal Gazette on grazing reserves and routes never existed, the AGF has not been able to produce it!

However, it is submitted without any fear of contradiction, that the Federal Government never acquired land for grazing routes and grazing reserves at any time, in the history of Nigeria. To that extent, it cannot reclaim what never belonged to it. It is on record that, the Government of the Northern region had grazing reserves in the 1960s. The assets of the Government of the Northern region have since been distributed among the 19 States in the Northeast, Northwest and Northcentral zones. The grazing reserves being identified by the Federal Government, are deemed to have been taken over by the respective States in the North. In other words, they are now owned by the State Governments under the Land Use Act. In any event, since the Federal Government has adopted the National Livestock Transformation Plan including ranching, the attempt to legitimise open grazing by the Presidency should not be allowed. More so, that the Northern Governors Forum, the Southern Governors Forum, Miyetti Allah and other stakeholders have kicked against open grazing, and adopted ranching for animal husbandry.

Indeed, based on the ban on open grazing, not less than 24 State Governments have submitted applications to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, for grants to facilitate the establishment of ranches in line with the Livestock Transformation Plan of the Federal Government.

Meanwhile, Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano State has invited herders who are adversely affected by the ban on open grazing in other States, to move to the RUGA Settlement established by the State Government. While commissioning the first batch of 25 out of the 200 of the settlements, the Governor said that his Government engaged in the project for two fundamental reasons; “first and foremost is to avoid clashes between Farmers and Herders; secondly to avoid movement of Herders, which is the source of conflict and to avoid cattle rustling”.

On July 16, 2021, it was disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the sum of N6.25 billion, for the immediate establishment of ranching in Katsina State. The disclosure was contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu in Abuja. In confirming the disclosure, Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State said that: "Mr. President has graciously approved the sum of N6.25 billion, for ranch development purposes in Katsina State. Part out of this amount, N5 billion, is already in the account of the State Government, and within a few weeks you will see

Femi Falana, SAN

Dr Osagie Obayuwana

advertisement calling for interested Beyond (ASCAB) has urged Presicompanies and consultants that will dent Buhari to jettison the planned participate in construction”. implementation of grazing reserves in any part of Nigeria.

Ranching Funds and Surrounding Controversy Conclusion The implication of the special al- It is time the attention of the Federal location of the sum of N6.25 billion Government is drawn to the position to the Katsina State Government, is of the law, to the effect that while the that President Buhari has adopted land in the Federal Capital Territory ranching to replace open grazing is vested in the President, the land in line with the National Livestock in each State of the Federation is Transformation Plan of the Federal exclusively vested in the Governor of Government. However, the President that State pursuant to the provisions was embarrassed last week, when of the Land Use Act, Cap. L5, Laws Governor Samuel Ortom criticised of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. the special allocation to only Katsina In view of the foregoing, it is State. Apparently embarrassed by indisputable that the 36 State Governthe criticism, the Presidency claimed ments have rejected open grazing that the Ebonyi State Government and opted for ranching. Since the has been given the sum of N6 billion land in every State is vested in the for ranching. But, the Government Governor pursuant to the Land Use of Ebonyi State has denied receiving Act, and the Federal Government any funds for ranching. However, never acquired any land for grazing since what is good for the goose is reserves before the enactment of the good for the gander, we call on the Land Use Act, it is submitted that President to approve the allocation open grazing cannot be enforced of the same sum of N6.25 billion to outside the Federal Capital Territory. every other State Government for To that extent, President Buhari ought ranch development purposes. This to drop the planned implementation demand is in consonance Section 17(1) of open grazing in the country. of the Constitution, which stipulates that the people of Nigeria shall have Femi Falana, SAN, Human Rights equality of rights, obligations and Lawyer and Activist; Recipient of the Bernard Simmons Award of opportunities before the law.

Since the Northern Governors the International Bar Association Forum and the Southern Governors Forum have rejected open grazing and adopted the National Livestock Transformation Plan of the Federal Government including ranching, the Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and

“…..the Gazettes are not a matter of public knowledge, and the location of the reserves and the States where they are, remain a matter of mystery. As of Friday August 27th, 2021, Officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture pointedly refused to disclose the States”

Open Grazing Controversy: Why FG Must Rescind its Decision Now Dr Osagie Obayuwana

Perhaps, nothing captures the attitude of the Buhari Presidency to governance in Nigeria today, more than its position on the issue of grazing reserves and grazing routes. The position symptomises a mindset, the anchor of which is insistence on a line of action, irrespective of public opinion and the law. One would have expected that, in view of the various articulations on the issue, particularly the illegality of it, Mr

President and his team would proffer arguments in rebuttal of what has been argued to be a frontal challenge to the provisions of the Land Use Act, a piece of legislation that enjoys constitutional status. Is Mr President, by his silence, arguing that the Constitution does not confer powers of management of land use on the State Governors, with the exception of the Federal Capital Territory?

Gazettes: Do they Really Exist?

In the latest rare direct public statement on the issue, Mr President informed the nation that he has charged the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice(AGF) to, in his words, “dig up and fish out Gazettes on the subject-matter, dating back to 1963”. To date, neither the AGF nor the Presidency has formally presented the Gazettes and their contents to the nation. Rather, what Mr Garba Shehu, the Presidential Spokesman has as recently as 19th August, 2021, said through a Press Statement to the nation, is that the President has “approved the review of 368 Grazing Reserves in 25 States across the Country”. Up till this moment, the Gazettes are not a matter of public knowledge, and the location of the reserves and the States where they are, remain a matter of mystery. As of Friday August 27th, 2021, Officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture pointedly refused to disclose the States.

Mr President is said to have based his Order on the recommendation of a Committee, the existence of which before now has not been formally declared, but said to be chaired by Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the Chief of Staff to the President. This so-called approval of the Committee’s recommendation, clearly signifies a commitment to self service and disdain for popular opinion, and no room for public input. What the Committee’s Main Report looks like, based on which it made recommendations now said to have been accepted by Mr President, rather than being in the public realm, is all shrouded in mystery.

This leaves the entire country to continue to wonder whether indeed, there are Gazettes that provide for grazing routes and reserves. Is it not true that those Gazettes, if they exist, are subsidiary cont'd on page X

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Federal Gazette Provides for Grazing Reserves: Fact or Fiction? cont'd from page IX

instruments to regional laws which are clearly inferior to the Constitution, and by implication, overtaken by the Land Use Act? Curiously, among the terms of reference of this select Committee, is for the Committee “to gazette grazing routes and reserves that have not been gazetted”. One has to wonder what the authority and legal basis is for a Presidential Committee to gazette grazing reserves and routes that, before now, had not been in existence. Can a Presidential directive be sufficient authority for this?

Interestingly, the same Committee has been saddled with the task of creating a ‘data base of national cattle herders, a census of sorts, of cow owners in Nigeria. This connotes preparation for the allocation, presumably by Mr President, of the grazing routes and reserves, once identified by the Committee.

The question is, why does Mr President feel he can present the country with a fait accompli on this matter and get away with it?Furthermore, what is the altruistic interest of the Federal Government, and in particular, the Presidency, in the issue?

The Plight of the Herders Cattle rearing has been recognised to be a private business, just like fish farming, poultry, snailery or piggery. As a profitable venture, there are business expenses that go with cattle rearing, like for the others; and these expenses include feeding of the cows, and attending to their medical needs. It has also come out clearly in the debates, that generally, the Herders do not own the cows; the millionaires who do, live in the comfort of their air-conditioned opulent homes with their children, who are given the opportunities to feed and clothe well, and receive the best education and healthcare.

Thus, the Herders are no more than workers, whose entire lives are tied to tending the cows from birth to sale, as a product. There are no work hours, and no defined periodic pay cheques.

They are denied of the right to found a family for the most part, and therefore, do not enjoy the consort of a marriage partner. Little wonder the pervasiveness of rape of farmers wives and daughters as they roam with their herds of cattle for months and years without female companions. Only this also, explains pictures and videos showing some of them mating with the cows.

Is there a Conflict of Interest?

The question that remains is, whose interest in the final analysis, is the Presidency seeking to protect, that of the impoverished herdsmen or those of the millionaires who own the cows?

How does Mr President extricate himself from the charge of a conflict of interest in this matter, given his widely known status as an owner of a large herd of cattle?

Many have accused the President of encouraging the belief on the part of Fulanis, not only in Nigeria but in the West and Central African regions, that Nigeria belongs to them; that the time

President Muhammadu Buhari

to take Nigeria over irrespective of all opposition, even through military might, is now, that President Buhari, one of their own, is the President of Nigeria.

One would have expected General Buhari to have frontally addressed this issue, dispel the misconceptions of his fellow Fulanis and allay the fears of those who are non-Fulanis who are targeted, and who in fact, have suffered uncountable loss of lives and property for years now, under the Buhari Presidency. It will be recalled that the RUGA proposal as championed by the Federal Government under President Buhari, was roundly rejected as a pretext for planting Fulani settlements in all Local Governments of Nigeria, particularly in the South where these have not been. Those who argue that the Fulanis enjoy the constitutional right to live and carry out their business in any part of the country, choose not to respond to the counter-argument that freedom of movement and right of residence does not justify exclusive usurpation of land holdings for exclusive occupation by a group, effected by Presidential fiat and at public expense.

It is generally known that the National Livestock Transformation Plan is one that virtually all the State Governors of the Federation have bought into, whereby in a 10 year period (2019-2028) through the instrumentality of ranching, the mode of cattle rearing in particular, would have been changed. Mr President has failed to address

“….the Herders do not own the cows; the millionaires who do, live in the comfort of their air-conditioned opulent homes with their children, who are given the opportunities to feed and clothe well, and receive the best education and healthcare. Thus, the Herders are no more than workers…..”

Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN

the nation, on how his insistence on grazing routes relates to the Transformation Plan, or is it that the Presidency has jettisoned the Livestock Transformation Plan? If, as it is reported, that Mr President has released the sum of N6.5 billion to Katsina State, which by the way is not one of the pilot States for the purpose of ranching, one would have thought that the focus of the Presidency now should be on how to treat all other States equally, and allow the implementation of the plan following due appropriation and budgeting, instead of propping up the ghost of grazing routes.

Routes are known to originate from one point, and destined for another.

This suggests that the movement of the cows to different parts of the country is for a purpose, which is, supply of cow meat to the intended markets. In the light of reports in the past, of people out of protest organising to boycott cow meat, does this not envisage the need for existence of a mutually beneficial relationship based on concord? Can Mr President use his fiat to compel the people of Nigeria to patronise, and live in peace with sellers of cow meat who have ruined their livelihoods?

It seems to me that Mr President hopes to ride roughshod over public opinion and opposition by his insistence on grazing routes, without the use of sound reasoning, logic and the tool of persuasion.

This only fuels the suspicion of an ulterior motive, and a hidden agenda.

What Mr President Should and Should Not Do Mr President needs to appreciate that, by his reliance on Presidential powers to foster sectional interests, which are subject to legal and political challenges, he is damaging inter-ethnic relations in Nigeria, and creating problems that will outlive his Government and himself.

He needs to know now, that the wounds already inflicted which he

unfortunately proposes to continue to inflict, by conferring unearned and undeserved privileges on the foundation of nepotism, will leave scars that will define the relationship between the Fulani and the rest of Nigerians for a long time to come. Successive Governments after him, will have to contend with this.

The Presidency needs to appreciate that those telling President Buhari to have a rethink, are patriots concerned about the present and future of Nigeria.

The Buhari administration is touted to have done very well, in the development of the railway network in Nigeria. One has to wonder whether Mr President has given a thought to movement of cows by rail? Whether of live cows, or slaughtered cows in refrigerated coaches.

Obviously many Fulanis believe that their time is now, to maximise what they can get out Nigeria, and that they are getting desperate that time is running out.

Nobody else bears the task more than President Buhari himself, to let the Fulanis know that he is the President not just for Fulanis, but for all persons in Nigeria. He needs to reassure the Fulanis and all Nigerians, that the new Nigeria in the process of being born is one in which no persons, irrespective of ethnicity and religious belief, will have any special favours or privileges which all the people will not enjoy. Failure to publicly discharge this duty, will be the ultimate failure that President Buhari fears would mark his years as President.

President Buhari and his supporters need to appreciate that Article 3 of the ECOWAS Protocols on Free Movement of Persons and Goods, is not intended to provide a free passage for armed robbers, kidnappers and bandits from the West African and Central African sub-region, as their heinous crimes does a grave injustice to the lofty ideals of ECOWAS and the African Union, for the oneness of African People, and the urgent need for social and economic integration.

Dr Osagie Obayuwana, former Attorney-General of Edo State; National President, Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR)

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Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed

The Unconstitutionality of NBC's Attacks Media Freedom For Emmanuel Onwubiko, the recent attack on Channels Television by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), is one too many. He believes that the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, is using the NBC as a tool to deploy tactics to stifle press freedoms contrary to the provisions of Sections 22 and 39(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria Background ince coming to office in 2015 and winning a tumultuous and indeed, pyrrhic victory in 2019, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has done everything it had said a lot against, prior to winning power. Specifically, the then opposition APC, had prior to the 2015 election and the inauguration of the former military ruler Major General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) as elected President, made extensive use of the media of mass communication and especially the social media platforms to market their party, and to seek to win the minds and hearts of the electorate against the then ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which had the former University Teacher and one time Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, as the President. The APC had the current Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, as its spokesman, and it was this spokesperson who was frequently seen by Nigerians, freely making extensive and unrestrained use of the media to demonise the then Government; and the then opposition party had a lot of foot soldiers who spent a lot of time and resources mainly working on the psyches of the Nigerian electorate through all kinds of opinions, some of which were toxic and outright falsehoods.

S

Lai Mohammed’s Anti-People and Unconstitutional Plots However, it's ironic that Lai Mohammed who headed the media wing of the then opposition APC, was made the Information and Culture Minister in 2015, and his first task was to fashion out all kinds of anti-people and unconstitutional plots, to seek to limit the extent to which the citizens are allowed to enjoy their unfettered freedoms as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Chapter 4.

Lai Mohammed has attempted to protect the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), and to influence that agency of Government to introduce all kinds of obnoxious and unconstitutional guidelines aimed at

curtailing free practice of broadcast journalism in Nigeria, as against the provisions of Section 22 of the grundnorm, which makes the media the fourth estate of the realm and the conscience of the nation.

Lai Mohammed v Alhaji Modibbo Kawu & NBC Lai Mohammed and the hierarchy of the NBC in 2015 had running battles regarding the overbearing influence of the Minister, who was alleged to have handicapped the then Director-General, Alhaji Modibbo Kawu; and this squabble dovetailed into a supremacy battle regarding the administration of the funds domiciled in the NBC for the digitisation of the broadcasting industry in Nigeria, from the analogue system to the global best practices of digital. That was the fight on one hand. And this fight led to prosecution by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, regarding the administration of the funds and the dispensing of some to a private business concern that won the licence to carry out the digitisation programme alongside the publicly owned Nigerian Television Authority. That fight between the Minister and the Director-General then, did not allow the Minister to achieve his overall programme of crippling the democratic practice of the media industry, which he had wanted to deploy the NBC to achieve.

And, the NBC Swung Into Action: Idachaba and Ilelah The then embattled DG lost the battle, leading to the appointment of an acting DG, who slavishly allowed the NBC to be deployed for a vendetta against private broadcasting stations, who grant interview times to persons the APC Government does not like their faces and opinions.

This acting DG, Idachaba, went to work by slamming a range of fines on some of Nigeria's reputable privately run television stations. NBC

“…..acting DG, who slavishly allowed the NBC to be deployed for a vendetta against private broadcasting stations, who grant interview times to persons the APC Government does not like their faces and opinions”

fined Arise TV, Channels, and AIT over their socalled ‘unprofessional coverage’ of the #EndSARS protest on 20 October, 2020.

The NBC said it fined Channels Television, AIT and Arise TV N3 million each over their “unprofessional coverage” of the EndSARS protests and the crisis that followed it.

The then controversial Acting Director-General of NBC, Prof Armstrong Idachaba announced the sanction at a press conference in Abuja. He stated that, if the Commission escalates the violations that emanated from the misuse of social media sources by broadcasters, sanctions according to the provisions of the law, NBC can comfortably shut the stations down.

Idachaba said the stations’ offence was capable of leading to a breakdown of law and order, but the option of the fine will serve as a warning to the stations and others. Ironically, he was sacked.

The television stations he fined, challenged this illegality.

So, President Buhari on June 10, 2021 then appointed one Balarabe Ilelah as NBC DG, about 15 months after Modibbo Kawu’s suspension in February 2020, bringing to an end the dictatorship of Idachaba against private broadcasters in Nigeria; but the dictatorship against the media had only just got escalated by the appointment of Ilelah, who was hitherto, relatively unknown in media circles.

President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, a Broadcaster, as the substantive Director-General of the NBC. Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced Ilelah’s appointment in a statement on Friday, Armstrong Idachaba having had held sway as acting DG of the Commission since Kawu’s suspension. He worked with the Information Minister to amend the country’s Broadcasting Code which some stakeholders objected to. His stint as NBC acting DG was characterised by controversies. The NBC under him, recently asked all social media platforms and online broadcast platforms to register with the NBC. The Commission also asked broadcast stations to deactivate their Twitter accounts, following a suspension of the microblogging site by the Federal Government.

Alhaji Mohammed said the new DG, Ilelah, has a tenure of five years. As recently as 48 hours ago, the new DG fired a warning salvo at Channels Television for their interview with the Governor of Benue State, Mr Samuel Ortom, who carpeted President Muhammadu Buhari for undermining national security. The NBC summoned the Reporters who conducted the interview.

HURIWA’s Reaction Angered by this continuous tyranny against media freedoms, and for the umpteenth time, a leading Civil Rights Advocacy body, Human

Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) warned the National Broadcasting Commission to stop obstructing citizens’ exercise of their constitutionally protected fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression.

Against the backdrop of the reported warning letter sent to Channels Television by the NBC on the interviews of the Benue State Governor and a security expert and erstwhile Naval Intelligence Officer, Commodore Olakunle Olawunmi; HURIWA warned the NBC to avoid taking the laws into its own hands, by constituting a clog in the wheel of the progressive enjoyment of right to media freedoms.

However, in a media statement by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, and the National Media Affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA said the NBC does not have an overriding supremacy over the clear provisions of the Nigerian Constitution enshrined in Chapter 4, and in many international legal instruments which speak to the issue of democratic freedoms.

HURIWA stated that the agency of the Federal Government, such as the Broadcasting Commission set up by an inferior legal statute cannot, and must never be allowed to destroy the different ramifications of fundamental freedoms that citizens are entitled to, just as the Rights group said that constitutional democracy will collapse the moment the NBC is allowed to dictate to broadcasting stations who to interview. The National Broadcasting Commission on Thursday, queried Channels Television for granting an interview to Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State.

NBC said the move followed “inciting, divisive and unfair comments” made by the Governor during a programme, ‘Sunrise Daily’ last Tuesday. Interview, how to interview and what the citizens of Nigeria should or should not say, as if Nigeria has become communist country like China, or as if Nigeria is under a repressive dictatorship.

HURIWA cited Sections 22 and 39 of the Constitution, as those finest provisions that empower the media to act as the social vanguard of Nigeria.

Specifically, Section 22 of the Constitution states as follows: “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times, be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people”. Then Section 39(1) of the grundnorm provides thus: “(1) every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference”.

Besides, Section 1(1) of the Constitution states thus: “This Constitution is supreme, and its provisions shall have binding force on the authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, including Alhaji Mohammed and the NBC. Emmanuel Onwubiko, Head, Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria (HURIWA)

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021 • T H I S D AY

Palestinian/Israeli Conflict

Palestinian/Israeli Conflict: “Reality On Ground” In this piece, Felix Eghie Sugaba examines the issues at play in the Palestinian/Israeli Conflict, and attempts a journey into the future of what is arguably the most protracted conflict in the Middle East

R

eno Omokri`s recent piece on the Palestinian versus Israeli conflict, made an interesting reading. One must commend him for the write up.

It served to educate those of us, who erroneously believe that the conflict between the two entities is based on religion.

Even as I do not intend this as a rejoinder to that of Reno Omokri, I am however, tempted not to ignore some of his assertions that I disagree with.

Two-State Solution Let me pick on the two-state solution. Two-State Solution Omokri wrote in his piece, “Islamic Jihad, Hamas not recognising the right of Israel to exist, is “what is militating against the two-state solution”.

Permit me to disagree. Indeed, the destruction of the State of Israel was enshrined in the creed of not only Hamas and Islamic Jihad, but also in the Charter of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO).

However, during the Oslo accord in April 1993, this issue was addressed in an exchange of letters between PLO leader, Yasser Arafat, and Israel Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres. In those letters, the PLO unambiguously conveyed its acceptance of UN Resolution 242 and 338, and its recognition of the right of Israel to exist. In response, Israel reciprocally recognised the PLO, as the representative of the Palestinian people.

This measure was formally ratified by the entire Palestinian National Council (PNC), whose meeting took place in Gaza in December 1998. (Source: Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Guide to the Mideast Peace Process).

Note that, the PNC is an amalgam of all Palestinians and their representatives, in and out of the occupied land. Part of its functions is to formulate policies and programs for the Palestinian Government. The major outcome of that Gaza meeting in 1998, was the unanimous decision to abrogate from the Palestinian Charter, the clause that calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. The State of Israel was formally recognised, and the right of Israel to exist was unequivocally pronounced and upheld by all the Palestinian factions (including Hamas and Islamic Jihad) who were represented at the conference. It is therefore, not correct to state that any Palestinian

Organisation is yet to recognise the State of Israel.

What is militating against the two-State solution? It is quite simple: East Jerusalem.

As part of her proffered solution, Israel has indicated time and again that she is willing to embrace the two-State solution, if the Palestinians renege on their claim to East Jerusalem as their future capital, a proposal the Palestinians regard as “haram” (forbidden) and vehemently refuse. This stalemate over East Jerusalem, is the primary reason for Israel’s refusal to accept the two-State solution.

The strategy is premised on a simple logic: a head is not desirable without a body. It simply means that without a Palestinian State (body), Palestinians would have no need for East Jerusalem as capital (head).

The Reality on Ground The gloom and despair that is witnessed over the Israel/Palestine conflict, simply underlines the very nature of it; age-long, intertwined, ancestrally knotted, protracted and frustratingly, irreconcilable. It is obvious, even to the wildest optimist, that the issues are virtually unresolvable. The international community has begun to reconcile itself to what it calls “the reality on ground”. The reality on ground, is the Israeli continuation of settlements in the West Bank; it is the ongoing forceful displacement and removal of Arab residents from East Jerusalem, to pave way for an undivided Jewish capital in Jerusalem; it is the declaration of Golan Heights and other annexed enclaves by Israel as her territories, despite UN Resolution 242 which calls for withdrawal from such territories; It is the Israeli State policy to maintain the demography of Israel as a purely Jewish State, thereby indicating that the return of Palestinian refugees is a forgone conclusion.

The reality on ground in effect, is the solution Israel has unpretentiously carved in place which is playing out in all her actions and inactions against the Palestinians. The Arab world and other Middle East players are

“In my opinion, the solution lies mainly in prosperity for the Palestinians…..

Israel needs to reverse its course to bring prosperity to Palestine, and dispel this present despair that contributes an existential threat to Israel’s security”

gradually coming to grips with the “reality on ground”. Negotiations between the two parties, are stalled. The roadmap to final status, leads to no destination. The recent normalisation of relations between Israel and other Arab States of Sudan, Morocco, and more notably, Bahrain and UAE which is termed Abraham Accord, is the clearest indication that ‘things are falling apart’ for the Palestinians, ‘the centre can no longer hold’.

That Israel is being courted by its decades sworn enemies, speaks volumes. These developments are no footling gestures towards Israel.

They are quite remarkable, a paradigm shift in Middle East politics, with a clear message that the status quo is no longer sustainable.

The realignment in the Middle East shows how wearing, exhausting and costing the Palestinian/Israeli issue has become. It indicates that the Arab countries are ready to move past the current stalemate, and have begun to prioritise their own security and economic needs, as well as other domestic and international policies. They have no more appetite to dwell continuously on a conflict, the outcome of which is predictable, and much seems concluded. At least, not any longer at the expense of their own strategic interests.

My Summary Given the share intractable weight of the contentious issues that are referred to as stinking points, namely: the claim to East Jerusalem, Return of Palestinian Refugees to their ancestral homes and Return to pre-1967 borders, here is my summary of the outlook Israel appears to have casted on stones: (a)East Jerusalem: Never will it be the capital of a Palestinian State. Jerusalem is the undivided capital of Israel. (b)Return of Refugees: Palestinian refugees would never be allowed back to their ancestral homes in Israel. Such a move will alter the demography of the Jewish State. (c)Borders: Israel will never recede to pre-67 territorial borders.

The security of the State rests on it.

It is my contention that, it is no longer appropriate or feasible to talk about solutions or amicable solutions, to be more precise.

The question that readily comes to mind, is whose solutions? As the warring parties clutch their non-negotiable set goals to their chest, the word solution becomes relative and subjective. The bigger question therefore is, what next? Can we be rational and pragmatic in our pursuit of solutions? In my opinion, the solution lies mainly in prosperity for the Palestinians.

Solution: Poverty Alleviation It is an understatement to say that, poverty is quite severe and punishing in Palestine. It is important to emphasise that, the situation has its root in Israelis policy of blockade that is akin to Nigerian policy of deprivation during the Biafran war. The strategy aims to strangulate the Palestinians to submission,

by blocking or selectively disallowing essential goods and services from flowing into Gaza and other Palestinian enclaves. In addition, a large percentage of the land meant for production, has been occupied by Israel. The Palestinian economy, is in shambles. Even where production is possible, resources are scarce. Education is completely at the mercy of foreign donors. Movement and freedom for Palestinians, is drastically curtailed. Why Israel considers induced poverty as an effective weapon, remains to be seen. It is a strategy that has defied its purpose. Instead, it induces frustration, and weaponises the anger in the land. Palestinians are collectively emboldened, by poverty and hopelessness.

Israel’s current policy is simply brewing successive generations of stone throwers and suicide bombers, who live in desolation and see the road to their future paved with squalor and perpetual bondage. Israel needs to reverse its course to bring prosperity to Palestine, and dispel this present despair that contributes an existential threat to Israel’s security. That way, the new generation of Palestinians will be provided jobs to occupy their hands that are currently deployed for throwing stones at their “occupying masters”.

Hunger and hopelessness prompt all manner of questions that could otherwise, be ignored.

Massive infrastructure development, job creation and prosperity, would undoubtedly serve as a vital catalyst to bring about some measure of peace in Palestine.

Time Solution Ancestral attachment weakens with the passage of time. Moreover, time has a way of dampening the will to forge on. The current generation of Hamas officials and their stone throwing children, are probably the second or third generation of the Palestinians that witnessed the forced “Exodus” from Israel. The newer generation’s attachment to their ancestral land, cannot be as ferociously bonding as that of their earlier generations. The sentiment and anger that boil over in the later generations come more from their poverty condition, immediate environment and the general circumstances of deprivation they live under, than from the ejection and injustice their ancestors suffered in the hands of Israel some decades ago.

Of course, other factors are not to be undermined and taken for granted. The issue of territorial borders, is significant. In this respect, the continued acquisition of Palestinian land and expansion of settlements by the Israelis, is an albatross to any meaningful negotiation between the warring sides.

The current Israeli policy of wanton destruction of lives and property at every opportunity, can yield Israel neither peace nor security.

Finally, with no formidable opposition beyond rhetoric, Israel’s massive arsenal against the Palestinians in this asymmetric conflict speaks for itself. The future seems bleak for the Palestinians.

I foresee a reminiscence of the Kurdish situation, in the Middle East. Take it or leave it, the “reality on ground” is real indeed.

Felix Eghie Sugaba, Zurich, Switzerland

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TUESDAY AUGUST 31, 2021 •T H I S D AY

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Text

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY AUGUST 31, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun

Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

A U G U S T

S & P INDEX

3 0 , 2 0 2 1

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OBB

6.50%

CALL

4%

INDEX LEVEL

562.93%

1/4 TO DATE

5.62%

N411.63/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

7.17 %

1-MONTH

6%

1-DAY

0.11%

YEAR TO DATE

– 16.02%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10%

MONTH-TO-DATE

4.78%

At Average of $73pb, NNPC Loses $438m Oil Barrels to Shut-ins in June

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) lost 6.035 million barrels of crude oil to emergency shutdowns in June, latest data released by the national oil company, has shown.

In its August presentation to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), which held between the 18th and 19th of this month, the corporation revealed that there were 32 of

such incidents throughout its facilities in the country.

At an average of $73 which the product sold in June, that would be a whopping $438 million shortage posted for the month and roughly N219 billion at N500 exchange rate to the dollar.

Put side by side the NNPC’s contribution of N47.162 billion to the federation account in the month under consideration, the huge 6 million barrels worth over

200 billion, dwarfs the entire funds shared in the joint pool by the federal, state and local governments.

It is also roughly the same amount to be allocated to the host communities’ fund in the Petroleum Industry Act (ACT), if the law was to take effect in the beginning of this year.

A breakdown of the losses, according to the document indicated that the highest combined shortage of 1.62 million

barrels was from Qua Iboe, with a breakdown of 200,000 barrels due to production shut-in arising from flare management and low well head pressure.

Still on Qua Iboe, a further 530,000 barrels were lost to shutins following tank top concerns, 650, 000 million barrels as a result of production cut-back as directed by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) as well as a loss of 240,000 barrels due to a gas leak on one of

the assets.

This was followed by losses from the Forcados facility, which shed 200,000 barrels, 84,000 barrels, 30, 000 barrels and 80,000 barrels respectively on different days, with reasons ranging from leak repairs, tank top issues, a fire incident and declaration of a force majeure.

Forcados continued its shutins, shedding an additional 405,000 barrels of crude oil at the Uzere/Afisere/Kokori

axis following a shutdown as a result of protests by community workers as well as a loss of 80, 000 barrels due to a fire incident.

Anyala Madu shed 105,000 barrels, Bonny suffered total shut-ins of 335,000 barrels, Ugo Ocha lost 30,000, Okono’s shutdown led to loss of 96,000 barrels, while Sea Eagle lost 750,000 barrels.

Continued on page 28

Flood: Allocate 1% of Your Annual Budget for Early-warning Tools, NiMet Tells States, LGs Kasim Sumaina in Abuja As the country approaches flooding cycle, the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has called on states and local governments to as a matter of priority allocate 1 per cent of their annual budgets to enhance the development of early-warning tools for disaster risk reduction across the country.

This is even as its counterpart, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), hinted that it would not hesitate to activate it’s emergency operations centers for search, rescue and needs assessment as the need arises.

NiMet, lamented that it is regrettable that with all efforts dedicated to the development of the early-warning tools and the analysis of their implica-

tions, governments, especially at the sub-national level failed to heed to the advisories therein contained.

The agency had advised 34 States across the nation to prepare for three days of flash flood, noting that the occurrences could increased likelihood of cars skidding of the road, chances of car crashes, destruction of settlements, farmlands and bridges.

The Director General/ CEO, NiMet, Prof, Mansur Bako Matazu, in his goodwill message at a recent National Consultative Workshop on 2021 flood preparedness, mitigation and response activities organised

by NEMA in Abuja, noted that stakeholders must make concerted and deliberate efforts to, as much possible, strive to prepare very well to minimise flooding rather than always

sitting back to manage its full occurrence.

Matazu, represented by the General Manager, Agro Meteorology, Mr. Haruna Zakari, advised that with the manner climate change events are unfolding globally, whereby a number of predictions are upturned, stakeholders must continue to come together to review and brainstorm on emerging extreme events hap-

pening within and outside the country to strategies and unfold on ways to address events as they unfold.

According to him, “We must develop a mechanism whereby all are engaged and tasked to continuously monitor and report on serious deviations that will counter to the predictions so that necessary measures are put Continued on page 28

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT M O N D AY, A U G U S T 3 0 , 2 0 2 1 FGN BONDS DESCRIPTION 11.150 FGNSB 11-SEP-2021 12.364 FGNSB 12-SEP-2021 12.175 FGNSB 10-OCT-2021 11.244 FGNSB 16-OCT-2021 10.296 FGNSB 13-NOV-2021

Price

Yield

BILLS Change (%)

MATURITY

OTC FX F U T U R E S

Discount Yield Change (%)

100.25

3.28

-0.01

NTB 9-Sep-21

2.80

2.80 0.00

100.32

3.28

-0.01

NTB 16-Sep-21

2.96

2.96 0.00

100.98

3.31

0.00

NTB 30-Sep-21

3.27

3.28 0.00

101.00

3.32

0.00

NTB 14-Oct-21

3.59

101.40

3.35

0.01

NTB 28-Oct-21

3.90

CONTRACT TENOR (MONTH) 1

Contract

Current Rate ($/₦)

NGUS SEP 29 2021 420.93

2

NGUS OCT 27 2021 422.38

3

NGUS NOV 24 2021 423.83

3.61 0.00

4

NGUS DEC 29 2021 425.28

3.92 0.00

5

NGUS JAN 26 2022 426.73

C Ps MATURITY

Discount Yield

Change (%)

TTNG CP II 31AUG-21 SIBP CP I 2-SEP21 NBRP CP XIII 2-SEP-21 DUFL CP III 3-SEP-21 UNCP CP IV 6-SEP-21

4.73

4.73

-0.02

4.27

4.27

-0.01

4.95

4.95

-0.01

5.80

5.80

-0.01

6.23

6.24

-0.01

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TUESDAY AUGUST 31, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS OUTSTANDING POLITICAL BRAND LCON… L-R; Vice Chairman, Troyka Group of Companies, Mr. Jimi Awosika; Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Wife of CEO, Marketing Edge, Mrs Modupe; Founder/Group CEO, First Primus, Otunba Seni Adetu and Publisher/CEO, Marketing EDGE, Mr. John Ajayi during the presentation of Marketing EDGE “Outstanding Political Brand lCON of the year” to Sanwo-Olu at the 2021 National Marketing Stakeholders Summit & Brands and Advertising Awards of Excellence of the Company in Lagos... weekend PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA

Stakeholders: Central Bank’s N250bn Gas Support Fund to Unlock 206TCF Reserves, Spur Growth Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The N250 billion National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) being funded by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, has the capacity to unlock Nigeria’s 206 trillion standard cubic feet of gas reserves, some industry stakeholders have said.

In addition, it is expected to create about 2 million direct and indirect jobs annually by harnessing existing gas resources to spur other critical sectors

of the economy, especially industrial activities, including petrochemicals.

According to the CBN, the fund will further support large industries enhance growth in agriculture, can be deployed for industrial applications as well as textile and help stimulate investment in the gas value chain.

Aside that, as a cleaner source of fuel, it will be of benefit to Nigeria’s poor and vulnerable, who are exposed to harmful carbon emissions through the use of archaic sources like firewood.

The African Refiners and Distribution Association (ARDA) had recently warn of imminent danger if Africa fails to quickly adopt modern clean cooking energy as over 600,000 Africans, mostly Nigerians may die yearly due to household air pollution like firewood and charcoal.

Currently, a kilogramme of cooking gas, which traded for about N300 earlier this year now sells for over N500 across the country, following continuous weakness of the naira and the increasing price

of natural and refined gas at the international market.

While the current consumption of gas stands at about one million metric tonnes, the country has set a five million consumption target for 2021.

Speaking on the need to support local production, Executive Director, International Support Network for African Development (ISNAD-Africa), Adedoyin Adeleke, stated that if Nigeria continues to import over 70 per cent of gas product, especially LPG without domestication, boosting

local utilisation at an affordable rate could be a mirage.

“The importation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) inflates the cost of gas in the country making it unaffordable for most Nigerians. Coupled with the increasing cost of living in the country, increasing unemployment, unabated increase poverty rate.

“The vast majority of Nigerians will be pushed to resort to firewood for cooking hence increasing deforestation in the country, ”Adeleke said.

He added that there was need

for the government to support the private sector for massive investment in gas production in Nigeria.

Adeleke noted that the exclusion of importation associated cost, economies of scale and participation of multiple players would catalyse competition which would crash the price of LPG in the country.

He added: “Local production for local consumption is the way. While it would be good to export, local consumption should be the priority. Farmers do not sell their seeds.

PIA: Efficient Implementation, Competent Regulation Top Experts’ Call Peter Uzoho As the federal government through the Timipre Sylvaled committee sets out to discharge its mandate of implementing the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), oil and gas and economic policy experts have advised the committee to take steps that would lead to efficient, effective and smooth

implementation of the Act. The experts, who spoke with THISDAY in separate interviews, called for the committee to immediately embark on wide stakeholder engagements and consultations in order to find ways to harmonise the contentious provisions in the Act. They also advised the committee to ensure that persons with high technical and

managerial competences were appointed as heads of the new National Upstream Regulatory Commission and the National Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority (NMDRA).

President Muhammadu Buhari had signed the protracted Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law on August 16, 2021, bringing into existence the PIA, which has removed the legal,

regulatory and fiscal uncertainties in the operations of the Nigerian oil and industry.

The Act comes with a number of benefits for the country and investors, including increase in foreign direct investment (FDIs), increase in oil revenue, attractive fiscal terms for operators, massive host community development, and job creation.

But, according to the experts,

all these would only be realised if the Act is implemented promptly and efficient and in a manner that prevents potential crisis arising from ill-feeling by some critical stakeholders.

“One of the challenges the federal government will face is that we are already in electioneering, like any other incumbent government, they would want to hold on to power

in 2023.

“So, to avoid any frustration in implementing the PIA, the committee must make a state-wide consultation to find a soft landing for this government that is already in transition,” Chairman of Entek Integrated Resources Limited/Lead Promoter of EnergyhubTM, Dr. Amieyeofori Felix; told THISDAY.

Nigeria, Others to Chart Way Forward for Global Food Systems Gilbert Ekugbe To address failing agri-food systems, Nigeria and other

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

countries across the globe have agreed to have a common position at the forthcoming United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) scheduled to hold in New York, United States next month.

The Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, at the official opening of the UNFSSS PreSummit held in the Italian capital, Rome, stated that Africa’s common position is

in line with the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) for Africa to pursue solutions in its priority areas.

He said African Union’s (AU’s) New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), is the African Union’s implementing agency as he was quoted as saying that NEPAD has been providing support to African national

governments on the UNFSS process in order to have a common position for the continent ahead of the US summit.

Rwanda holds the chair of the African Union (AU) and by virtue of that, Kagame is the chairperson of the NEPAD heads of states and governments orientation committee.

Kagame said Africa as part of its priority areas

to transform food production, will adopt nutritious food policies, support local markets to get access to food, invest in agro-processing, make agricultural financing available and facilitate stakeholder farmers to establish cooperatives and to ensure women participation in food production.

He said Africa will also invest in climate change

early warning systems, adding that, the UNFSS should take decisive action to transform food systems, especially due to time lost due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

He noted that digital and biotechnology play a role in global food production, but stated that farmers in Africa do not have access to this technology.

FLOOD: ALLOCATE 1% OF YOUR ANNUAL BUDGET FOR EARLY-WARNING TOOLS, NIMET TELLS STATES, LGS in place to mitigate against such deviations and the unwanted effects that may occur.”

Matazu, further lamented that despite the very useful early-warning tools issued annually and, updated periodically by both NiMet and

NIHSA, that could be used to avert and minimise flooding across the country, “we still seem to not to find the right strategy to utilise these tools optimally to achieve that objective. I am referring here to the Seasonal Climate Prediction

(SCP), and the Annual Flood Outlook (AFO).”

Speaking in similar vein, the Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Habib Ahmed, stated that the national workshop is one of

the expedient steps necessary to collectively prepare for and provide strategies to strengthen flood risk mitigation and effective response among disaster management stakeholders in the country.

He stated that, already, there

are reported cases of flooding in 210 local government areas in 32 states and FCT with attendant loss of lives, livelihood and properties, adding that the agency will activate the Emergency Operations Centers if needs arises.

AT AVERAGE OF $73PB, NNPC LOSES 6M OIL BARRELS TO SHUT-INS IN JUNE WORTH $438M Usan shed 585,000 barrels in June, Brass lost 200,000 barrels, Erha lost 230,000 barrels and Yoho lost a cumulative 280,000 barrels during the month.

Agbami shed 630, 000 barrels during the month, Egina lost 70,000 barrels of crude, Pen-

nington shed a total of 195, 000 barrels, while Ima posted a loss of 30,000 barrels in the month under review.

The June figure trumps that of May which was 4.1 million barrels and almost doubled that of March, which was 3.6 million

barrels lost to the shutdowns and shut-ins for that my month.

These figures are however separate from the roughly 200,000 barrels of crude oil daily which the NNPC said Nigeria loses to theft and vandalism, another very big challenge for the industry.

With the price of $67.64 per barrel at the time NNPC Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari, made the disclosure, Nigeria was losing N5.1 billion ($13.5 million) daily to the activities of the oil thieves an vandals.

“Though petroleum products theft on the system 2B pipeline has reduced considerably due to support from the security agencies, but the nation is still losing about 200,000 barrels of crude oil daily to theft and vandalism, ”he told Nigerians.

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BUSINESSWORLD

OIL & GAS

Unpacking the Petroleum Industry Act A lot of controversies and misinformation have dogged the newly-signed Petroleum Industry Act, a piece of legislation meant to streamline the operations of the oil and gas industry. In this piece, Emmanuel Addeh attempts to break down the component parts of the law, which have attracted so much public attention

O

n August 16, President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the much talked-about Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which seeks to provide a legal, governance, regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian oil and gas sector.

In all, the Act comprises five chapters, 319 sections as well as eight schedules, dealing with governance and institutions, administration, host communities’ development, fiscal framework and miscellaneous items.

However, questions have arisen, especially concerning various contentious parts of the bill involving frontier basins, administration of host communities funds, among others. This treatise will untangle some of the knotty areas.

Frontier Exploration Fund While many of the frontier basins may be found in the northern part of Nigeria, other parts of the country in the south also boast of a number of such areas.

Unlike the host communities fund, which goes directly to the oil-producing communities, the frontier exploration fund is not going to be spent by people found in the frontier areas, whether in the north or south.

In fact, in sharp contrast with the host communities’ fund, which will be managed by a board to be jointly set up by the settlors (oil companies) and their hosts with oversight from the proposed commission, the frontier basins funds will have to be appropriated by the national assembly.

In any case, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) already operates a frontier exploration services, for which N50 billion was budgeted this year and out of which N14.514 billion had been released as of July this year.

While it is befuddling to some that Nigeria is continuing to spend scarce resources in search of a product like oil which in the next two decades or so is projected to lose its relevance in the energy mix, proponents of the fund have argued that the country has to quickly get the commodity from under the ground and make the best use of it before it becomes useless.

On this, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, says: “Thirty per cent of that crude profit is what is going into reinvestment fund we call frontier exploration and it’s a reinvestment fund because we have to commit to find more oil in the frontier territory.

“The ultra deep offshore is a frontier territory.

You have the Anambra basin to explore and there’s already some gas finds in the Anambra basin. The Calabar basin is also a frontier basin. The Chad basin is also a frontier territory. “ So there are a lot of other territories out there.

So, these funds will be available to invest in these frontier areas so that we can find new oil especially at this time when we actually need to urgently produce the oil in Nigeria, because the oil era is almost getting to a close.

“So, we need to have this money so that we don’t look for money or don’t need to be going around looking for money when we want to invest.”

Wherever oil is found in the country, in some sense, Nigeria remains a federation and so monies from the basins will be pooled back into the joint account for the entire country to share.

3% AND 30% CALCULATION The question that most Nigerians wants an answer to is if 3 per cent and 30 per cent be calculated on same basis? No, Not exactly. In fact, there’s no basis to calculate both on the same equivalence. The host communities’ fund will be calculated on the basis of oil companies’ operating expenses from the previous year, while the frontier exploration fund will be computed on the profit oil and profit gas from the NNPC. So, the 3 per cent and the 30 per cent will not be from the same pool, meaning that it’s not as straightforward as a case of giving Peter a paltry N3 and handing over to Paul a humongous share of N30.

So, for instance, going by last year’s figures, if the PIA were to start functioning from the beginning of this year, what would accrue to the communities and for oil exploration respectively?

The NNPC has estimated that if this were to be so, for the whole of 2021, the oil-producing communities will earn $500 million, based on the operating expenses of $16 billion by the entire oil and gas sector in 2020.

Conversely, given the NNPC’s profit oil and gas for 2020, if the law were to be operationalised this year, exploration funds will get $400 million. While profits are not guaranteed in the industry, oil companies must always spend on payment of salaries and other such expenses included in their operation basket.

To ensure that these monies are not frittered, the law makes it mandatory that 75 per cent must be spent on capital projects, 20 per cent as retained earnings or put in the reserve and 5 per cent is expected to be spent on administrative expenses.

When the sum, which is 30 per cent of the proposed NNPC Limited’s profit oil and profit gas is added to the estimated $500 million to be spent on host communities, being the 3 per cent approved by the Act, both cost centres will gulp a cumulative $900 million or roughly N450 billion every year.

Group Managing Director of the national oil company, Mallam Mele Kyari, while throwing more light on how it will be calculated said that although the exploration fund percentage may be appear outrageous, it is indeed lower

than that accruing to the host communities.

“For instance, when you say 30 per cent of NNPC oil and gas, it’s a very small number, you know the percentages may appear very outrageous, but 30 per cent of what? Nobody has sat down to look at this. When you say profit percentage, it will probably come down to less than $400 million per annum.

“And then the other side of it is that 30 per cent is a big number, but when you come to the host community fund, you have 3 per cent of operating expense. We spent about $16 billion in fiscal year 2020 across the industry and that number comes above $500 million, far above the budget of the Niger Delta Development Company (NDDC),” he argued.

While stressing that there’s no wrong in looking for more oil because of the direction the industry is now moving, Kyari mentioned that whether there’s profit oil and gas, the oil companies must have operating expenses which the host communities fund is built into.

“But you must spend money, so we are very sure that the provisions that are meant for the host communities will be implemented and will be delivered. But then when we even come to the frontier exploration, what is the issue?

“There is this common understanding that when you say frontier, you mean northern Nigeria, it’s absolutely wrong.

“Frontier is a very technical word and it means where you haven’t found oil, but there’s potential for finding oil and this spreads across the country, from the Chad Basin, to Sokoto basin, the Bida basin to the Anambra platform, the Calabar embankment, including the ultra deep water in the Niger Delta which has not been explored,” he added.

YAR’ADUA 10% APPROVAL Another contending issues is the fact that former President Umar Yar’adua approved 10 per cent for host communities. Yes. But according to those in the know, the late former Nigerian leader envisaged that the monies will be taken from NNPC’s profit oil and gas, while this new legislation says it must be pulled out of the outgone year’s operating expenses.

On this, the President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Mr Festus Osifo, while stressing that although the figure for the Niger Delta could have been better, explained however, that it is a good way to start.

He argued that the Umar Yar’Adua government in 2008, proposed 10 per cent of oil and gas profit, whereas the new one proposes 3 per cent of operating expenses in the previous year.

“So, the 10 per cent would have meant that any year that the companies don’t make profits,

like last year most of the companies operating in this sector actually reported losses, you will get 10 per cent of nothing.

“So, we think that this 3 per cent as it is today now is already in law. The fact that we have 3 per cent of the operating expenditure of the preceding fiscal year, if it was 3 per cent of profit, we would have said it’s bad, if it was 3 per cent of capital expenditure, it would have been bad.

“But operating expenditure is there because the company must operate, pay salaries, the company must expend some sizeable amounts of their fund on operating expenditure,” he maintained.

However, he said that the challenge is to make sure that funds are used judiciously, so as not to have issues like what is currently happening with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

“So, our advocacy is that this amount of money that is to be set aside should be used judiciously for us not to have issues like the ones with the NDDC, ”he said.

But the PENGASSAN chief advocated that there should have been a deliberate attempt to start developing renewables because a lot of companies today are transiting from being just oil and gas companies to energy concerns. “ So, that was our advocacy, that some percentages should be set aside to start developing our renewables, so that the energy transition will not catch up with us, because from the research currently ongoing, it is really difficult for us to predict the future of oil in the next 30 years. So, the time to act is now,” he added.

MONITORING COMMUNITY FUND You may also want to know if state governments and Niger Delta Affairs Ministry have any role in monitoring community fund. No. Indeed, part of the reasons the 3 per cent is going directly to the oil-producing communities is the perception that the governors have not dealt fairly with local host communities when it comes to the disbursement and deployment of the 13 per cent derivation, which they get from the joint account every month.

In addition, neither the Niger Delta ministry nor the NDDC has any role to play in the management of the fund. Responding to a question on comments allegedly credited to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Godswill Akpabio that the ministry will be part of the management of the fund, Sylva jocularly said it’s possible that maybe people were already proposing amendments to the new legislation.

“I am not aware of that and there’s no role specifically for the Niger Delta ministry that I am aware of. Maybe that’s an arrangement they are already proposing, I don’t know.

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

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BUSINESSWORLD

INDUSTRY

AfCFTA: Guide for Export-oriented Nigerian Manufacturers, SMEs The National Action Committee on AfCFTA provided needful guide on how Nigerian enterprises could participate effectively in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), writes Dike Onwuamaeze

T

he Managing Director of Macjames Global Resources Limited, Mr. Chinenye Justin Nwaogwugwu, came all the way from Port Harcourt to to attend the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) seminar on “AfCFTA: The Roadmap for Exporters Successful Participation,” which was held on Thurday, August 26, with two nagging questions.

Nwaogwugwu kept silent throughout the proceedings of the seminar until the microphone was handed to him during the question and answer session and he ceased the opportunity to voice his concerns.

He said: “Good day all. I have two basic questions for Mr. Francis. Sir, I want to know whether the products regulatory authorities will harmonise certifications for manufactured products under the AfCFTA project so that we do not need to certify products country by country in Africa.

Two, how is your committee working with the regulatory authorities in Nigeria to make it faster for SMEs products to be certified if they meet basic requirements?”

Nwaogwugwu, who is a manufacturer with eyes on the African continental market, also narrated a recent experience that informed his questions. He exported a sample of its water treatment innovative product, SaferEx, to Stubhub (Pty) Limited, Botswana.

The Botswana Water Utilities Corporation (BWUC) did laboratory runs with it on their two rivers water which lasted for six months or so and found the product satisfactory to be used as a disinfectant and coagulant.

But the BWUC demanded that the product should be certified by the NSF International, which is in Belgium. “We wrote to this certification body, which after giving us the cost, told us that it cannot come to Nigeria to take a sample of our product for the certification process because of the prevailing security challenges in our country.

“It also cannot allow us to send the product to Belgium for certification because Nigeria is rated below 50 percent by the Transparency International.

So, Sir, what is the National Action Committee (NAC) on AfCFTA doing to ensure that African manufactured products that have been certified in Africa would be acceptable in any AfCFTA member countries without repeating the certification outside Africa?”

Nwaogwugwu was not alone. Another participant at the seminar, the Proprietor of Dasun Integrated Farms Limited, Ms. Bosun Solarin, who is also the chairperson of the LCCI’s Export Group, said: “I am still a little bit confused today about what AfCFTA holds. I want to know how I can be able to export my products under the free trade regime to Egypt and other African countries. I am still confused on how to export my goods. That is why I am here today. We want you to tell us how we can get into those countries and sell our products. The bankers should tell us how we can quickly get paid when

we sell our goods abroad.”

On hand to answer their questions and remove any perceived confusion about how trade under the AfCFTA is the Secretary, NAC on AfCFTA, Mr. Francis Anatogu, who is also a Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Sector Matters.

AfCFTA AND TRADING

Anatogu started by showing the participants the steps they should take trade in AfCFTA, which took effect on January 1, 2021. However, trading has not commenced under the agreement because member states are still negotiating trade rules and protocols.

He said: “What is important is to know the steps and how to take them. It is important to know what is in place and what are still being discussed to enable businesses to get up and do what that are needed to be done.

“The AfCFTA is about rules and making them clear; about reducing tariffs and harmonising policies, standards and operationalising corporation among African countries so that we can increase trade among ourselves. It is also about exporting and earning FX,” adding that the agreement offered those who are able to produce, the market to sell at discretional terms.

Anatogu disclosed that the negotiation around protocols on trade in goods, services as well as the mechanism for dispute settlement have been concluded under Phase One of the AfCFTA while negotiations have just commenced under the Phase Two for protocols on intellectual property rights, competition policy, etc.

He further disclosed that there are 6000 tariffs lines under the free trade agreement but emphasised that the agreement offered elimination of tariffs on 90 per cent tradable items.

However, it would take a period of 10 years, starting from the day the clock started ticking, to wipe out 90 per cent of the tariffs. But the clock has not started ticking yet.

Besides, there is another seven per cent that is classified as sensitive list, which would require a longer period for their duties to be removed. Again, Anatogu stated that every member country has the right to designate some products as sensitive products that will be subject to liberalisation over a longer term period.

He added that the remaining three per cent would be used to protect infant industries of member states that could not compete under a liberalised market. Therefore, the import tariffs on these three per cent would never be removed.

“The ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ELTS) has identified those 90 per cent that will be subjected to liberalisation, which has been

submitted to the African Union but they have not been published. These products (schedule) need to be adopted by the Heads of State and then published. The first step is adoption. When it is adopted, the customs union in Africa will update their tariff book. That is when you can go to the custom portal and say I want to export under AfCFTA. “However, these products must also be liberalised in the country of export destination for trading under the AfCFTA.”

nominated but not yet approved.

The duty of the DCA of the exporting state party is to authorise any exporter, who frequently exports products to the satisfaction of the customs authorities, all the guarantees for verifying the originating status of products as well as compliance with all other requirements to make out origin declarations regardless of the value of the products concerned. He shall issue to the approved exporter an authorisation number, which must appear on the origin declaration.

REMOVAL OF TARIFF

IDENTIFIED COMPANIES

If the eventual removal of tariff on 97 tradable items could be described as the unique selling proposition of the AfCFTA, then the Rule of Origin (RoO), would be viewed as its central issue.

The RoO simply means the percentage local content of a product that is derived from Africa.

It would be the key determinant of trading under AfCFTA with the implication that any product that did not satisfy the RoO would not be acceptable for duty waiver under the AfCFTA. He explained that, “unlike the ELTS, the AfCFTA has what we call product specific rule of origin, meaning that the rules are different for different products. It could be 100 per cent local content for some and substantial transformation for others, which is adding substantial value on materials sourced from outside the continent.”

The criterion for substantial transformation is broken into four. It includes the level of transformation that would warrant a change in the entire classification. For some, it might be a change in sub-classification. The third is value of non-originating materials for measuring what was imported outside Africa. The fourth one is manufacture or processing operation, which is about the kind of operation the product has undergone.

For instance, wood from the forest is exported under HS Code 4403. Sawing it moves the code to 4407, which is a change in subheading. If you make it into furniture it will move to 94.03.

Anatogu added: “For you to be able to export, you will follow the normal exporting process that we have today, but you need to obtain your AfCFTA certificate of origin as well as meeting all the export requirements of the destination country.”

Moreover, there will also be enterprise registration for companies to have their AfCFTA numbers that will identify them in any African country along with their products approval or registration.

He explained that companies would obtain their certification from a designated competent authority (DCA) for Nigeria, which has been

In addition, the NAC has identified 25 companies from different stakeholders’ organisation in Nigeria to do the trial runs in terms of going through the process of assessing the compliance of their products to the AfCFTA’s RoO. The process has just started and might run for the next two months. These are to ensure that Nigerian businesses would take off on a very strong and robust footing.

He advised businesses in Nigeria to locate their export market by finding out goods that Nigeria is exporting beyond $10 million that Africa is importing in billions of dollars, which Nigerian businesses are not playing in? These includes automobiles and spare parts, electrical, machineries, and pharmaceuticals amongst others. “We must develop capacity to play in these segments,” Anatogu said.

He identified ECOWAS as Nigeria’s core market along with Egypt, Kenya, Morocco and South Africa.

“These will give us 50 per cent of the continental market,” he said It would be unwieldy, according to him, for Nigeria to target all the AfCFTA member states because of the logistics and the strenuous nature of contracting customs cooperation and mutual recognition agreements.

He added that effective custom cooperation would be able to solve AfCFTA’s biggest issue: the infiltration of goods made outside Africa through one African country into the Nigerian market.

The Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria, Mr.Patrick Akinwuntan, who was represented by the Executive Director of Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Kola Adeleke, stated that the AfCFTA provided Nigerian businesses with a market to earn FX that would facilitate smooth running of their business without depending on the central bank.

He said: “Export is very important because it adds on the GDP. It also adds on the employment rate of any country. It provides businesses the opportunity to earn their own foreign exchange since the CBN cannot meet all the FX demand.

“What some Nigerian businesses are doing now is to export part of their products to be able to earn FX. I know of a firm that generated $2million within one month by exporting to Ghana. This reduced its FX pressure and gave it the opportunity to grow more capacity. We are financing its business expansion to enable it to produce more.”

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AGRICULTURE

Border Closure has Revived Idle Milling Plants, Increased GDP, Says Agric Minister Gilbert Ekugbe The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Mohammed Sabo Nanono, has stated the decision of the federal government to shut the country’s borders has started paying off with the resuscitation of many rice milling plants.

Nanono said that the policy also impacted positively on the nation’s agricultural sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic

Product (GDP), maintaining that the directive to shut the borders was one of the best decisions ever taken by a sitting administration.

He noted that policy would set Nigeria on the right path of achieving self sufficiency in food production while also serve as a catalyst for agro-allied and industrial development The minister in a chat with THISDAY said: “The policy did a lot especially in regards to the production of rice in two

important areas. One is in the area of direct production of rice.

Nigerian farmers were given incentives to grow more rice; secondly, our milling plants were just lying idle because of smuggled imported foreign rice. One of the reasons why we put emphasis on rice is that a lot of imported rice in our neighbouring countries were being shipped into Nigeria and that is the only market and these rice are not produced in

Togo, Niger Republic or Benin Republic, No? They were from Thailand India or elsewhere and most of them are over 10 years old in production. So when we closed down the borders, this rice movement was gravely affected imported rice as all our milling plants started going full blast.

“You know, if you take in Kano for instance which is the center of these processing plants, there are now about 52 rice milling plants in Kano doing about 400

tons per day and in addition to employing people between 200 to 400 and that is something for the country and not only that, you know, it integrate the country more in terms of both production of rice or movement of rice from the North to the South.

“I was particularly happy when I met one of the largest rice producing communities in Kano, called Kura. I met some groups of rice traders

from Lagos with their trailers coming to pick up local rice and they do not even see it as imported rice and that was a surprise to me. And for many Nigerians, I realize that most people in the South prefer the local rice than imported rice and ironically, in the North, where we are producing the local rice, because of smuggling business, we prefer to market the smuggled rice than the local rice that is the irony.”

Mastercard, Agrolog Target 60,000 Farmers to Boost Ginger Production in Nigeria Gilbert Ekugbe The Agrolog General Services Limited (AGSL), in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, has announced plans to empower 60,000 smallholder farmers to boost the production of ginger in the country.

Nigeria’s contribution to total global output of ginger is low when compared to other countries despite being ranked first in terms of percentage of total hectares under cultivation because of the country’s reliance on smallholder farmers’ old traditional production techniques.

The Managing Director of Agrolog Limited, Dr. Manzo Maigari, explained that in addition to improving yields of ginger from 18 metric tons per hectare (MT/ha) to 25MT/ ha, the intervention would also create 60,000 on and off the farm jobs that will benefit the farmers and their communities by providing economic recovery, growth, and social stability.

According to Maigari, only smallholder farmers that belong to existing organized cooperatives within these local government areas would participate in the initiative.

He added that farmers who

are selected will receive support ranging from training to farming implements that they could immediately use on their farms to cultivate ginger and food crops.

“The ginger value chain, if well harnessed can transform livelihoods. Ginger products such as ginger spices, powder, oil, medicine, tea, and tonic confectioneries hold massive opportunities for smallholder farmers, young people, and women across the entire value chain. From planting, harvesting, cleaning, cutting, processing, bagging, storage, and sales, this initiative offers a ray of hope to thousands of families in their local communities who have been further paralysed by the pandemic. Now, they will be able to rely on a steady and sustainable income stream through ginger farming and processing,” he said.

He said the partnership would unlock a multitude of benefits to farmers and the farming community, including mechanisation, training and capacity building, farm mapping, standardisation of measures, increased yields, improved processing, access to organized markets, and financial inclusion.

Agric Devt: Firm to Empower 10,000 Youths in Kogi, Nassarawa Gilbert Ekugbe Worried over the aging population of farmers, the management of SEEED Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited is set to empower over 10,000 youths in Kogi and Nassarawa States to boost Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

A research by the Federal University of Technology, Ondo State, revealed that Nigerian farmers are old, with their average age pegged at 65 years, which has made the need to get more youths involved in the nation’s food sector a matter of categorical imperative.

The President and Chief Executive Officer, SEEED MCS, Mr. Lugard Okonobo, at a preparatory stakeholders meeting, stated that the 10,000 youths would be selected through the use of agromediapreneurship to promote and expand agro-products in each local government of the states.

He stated that the preparatory stakeholders’ meeting was to validate the One Local Government One Agriculture Product (OLAOP), saying that SEEED has paid working visit

and had interactive meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nasarawa State; Ministry of Agriculture, Kogi State and the Office of the Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Kogi State on Special Projects and Social Investment Programmes, to discuss modalities and strategies for the implementation of this initiative.

“It is interesting to note that in this digital age where most youth occupy the social media space, we must all collaborate to explore that space for our mutual benefits,” he said.

He noted that OLOAP, an initiative of SEEED MCS, was designed to expand the capacity for agriculture production in areas of each local government’s comparative advantage.

He explained that this could be achieved by leveraging on the demography of the youth to use the social media space to create massive awareness and campaign on the 5Ps of agriculture which includes Production, Processing, Potentials, Preservation Techniques, Packaging Possibilities and Promotional opportunities.

AFRICAN HALL OF FAME…

L-R: Director-General, Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isah Hayatu Chiroma, Hon. Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed; Director-General, Center for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) Hon. Oluwabunmi Amao at the Open House Commissioning of Black and African Hall of Fame held in Abuja... recently

Wheat Production: Olam Empowers Female Wheat Farmers with Irrigation Equipment Gilbert Ekugbe Crown Flour Mill (CFM) Limited, a subsidiary of Olam Nigeria Limited, has empowered some female wheat farmers in Kano State with farming irrigation equipment to boost wheat production in Nigeria.

Indeed, wheat production has declined in Nigeria due to harsh weather conditions and seed varieties according to Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria (WFAN).

The CFM stated that the move was part of its ongoing strategic investment drive to support Nigeria’s food production self-sufficiency and food security aspirations, and its short to medium term value chain developmental efforts

aimed at raising the current local production levels of wheat in the country.

The irrigation equipment, according to the flour milling company, is meant to assist the female smallholder wheat farmers and ultimately enhance their productivity levels.

The company explained that the irrigation equipment comprising mainly of a highpressure water pumping machine, were formally presented to the female farmers at a ceremony held in Giyamusu, Ajingi Local Government Area of Kano State.

The firm noted that the realisation of the productivity potential of women smallholder farmers in the country has largely been constrained by poor

access to land and farming tools, especially irrigation equipment.

To CFM, access to modern irrigation infrastructure on the farms boosts the yield of crops.

“Meanwhile, wheat crops yield higher returns when properly irrigated. The presentation of the pumping machines to the women smallholder farmers marked a needed upturn in women farmers’ aspiration to scale as well as support and meaningfully contribute to the ongoing federal government’s agricultural development programmes,” CFM said.

The Olam’s subsidiary firm further stated that the recipients of the farming irrigation equipment were Lauratu Kassim, a 40-year-old wheat farmer with three years

wheat farming experience, Maryam Ahmad, who has been practicing crop cultivation for many years but went fully into wheat farming four years ago and Atika Shuaibu, another 40-year-old female farmer who started wheat farming two years ago.

The farming profiles of the CFM’s wheat recipients indicated that Shuaibu owns a very big farm where she plants rice and other crops and a wheat farm, but has no pumping machine for irrigation. Hasiya Muhammad, who has had to rely on her husband’s farming equipment to sustain operations on her farmland, and 40-year-old Liti Audu are the other beneficiaries of the farming infrastructure support.

AFEX Partners Ogun State Government, Agric Firm, to Boost Staple Food Production Gilbert Ekugbe Nigeria’s leading commodity player, AFEX has partnered with agricultural investment company, South-West Agriculture Company (SWAgCo), and the Ogun State Government to boost production of staple food in Nigeria.

The partnership would also bring to fruition the development of 5000 hectares for the production of multi-crops in the South-West region of Nigeria.

The partnership was announced at an MoU signing ceremony at the deal room of the Feed Nigeria Summit 2021 with focus on cassava, rice and maize.

The Commissioner of Agriculture for Ogun State, Dr. Adeola Odedina, highlighted the alignment of the project with the ambitions for agriculture in the State.

“Our agricultural agenda as a State continues to be bold and exemplary, and this

agreement is a very important step in that agenda. Together with AFEX and SWAgCo, we are creating a Staple Crop Zone as a vital part of the execution of the Special AgroIndustrial Zone (SAPZ) for the State, being developed in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).”

He noted that AFEX will deploy its exchange platform

to raise financing for the project and enable market access for the products derived from the project.

The Chief Executive Officer, AFEX, Ayodeji Balogun said the partnership with the Ogun State government and SWAgCo is integrating the private sector’s efficiency and innovation with the forward-thinking plans and agenda of the government of Ogun state to create jobs and enable wealth creation for the country.

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NEWS

Doubts Over Shell’s Reasons for Planned Onshore Exit, Litigations, Environmental Obligations Swell Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Royal Dutch Shell’s decision to exit Nigeria’s onshore and shallow water may not be unconnected with growing litigations against the oil company and pressure to force it to carry out environmentally friendly operations, a THISDAY review has shown.

After over half a century of pumping oil out of Nigerian swamps, Shell, in May acknowledged that its spill-prone operations there were no longer compatible with its plans to go green.

The Anglo-Dutch company has been gradually selling onshore assets in Nigeria for more than a decade, as it sought to put aside chronic problems such as pollution caused by ruptured pipelines and the resulting legal battles with local communities.

But the company has attempting to turn the tables on its host communities, which have borne the brunt of its operations for about six decades, saying that most of the pollutions were from self-inflicted activities like vandalism. In May, Shell’s Chief Executive Officer, Ben van Beurden told investors that: “The balance of risks and rewards associated with our onshore portfolio is no longer compatible with our strategic ambitions,” adding that the company “ cannot solve community problems in the Niger Delta.“ With a litany of lost and pending court cases, the company may be looking for an “escape route” to avoid taking responsibility for years of damage to the Niger Delta environment.

Secretary General of the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities, Capt.

Bassey Henshaw, told THISDAY yesterday that the oil company must clean up the environment

it has degraded over the years as well as pay compensation before any talk about leaving its onshore and shallow water operations in the region.

“We do not dispute the fact that they can go green or whatever, but there has to be some closure.

You have a business running and there are issues emanating from those businesses. You do not wake up and say you are going green.

All the issues have to be fixed and resolved.

“We are totally against it and we will do everything to frustrate them and send a petition to the federal government and the concerned ministry that we vehemently kick against it. We cannot hold then ransom if they want to leave, but they have to have a closure of the previous business they have done, the degradation of the environment, the oil spillages and all,” he said.

According to the Niger Delta youth leader, the clean-up shouldn’t take much time since the company already has a idea of what it will cost to carry out the reversal of the destruction done to the environment.

“You cannot start a new business until that old one is totally settled. If they try that, we will move for the federal government to nationalise them until the issues are resolved. There should be a clean-up of Ogoni and the entire Niger Delta and if they agree, no problem and it should be a full package.

“The closure that I am talking about should include compensation. If they are serious, they have the records already, having consulted with the companies doing the clean-up. Once they pay and bring in the indigenous people to be part of it, then they can exit. They can’t use us this this time, it will backfire,” he

noted.

The company already has a number of cases brought against it by locals who have felt shortchanged by the activities of the oil company.

For instance, in 2008 four Nigerian farmers filed three separate suits against Shell in The Netherlands, where Royal Dutch Shell (the parent company) is headquartered, with each one addressing the impact of oil spillages in the three villages namely Oruma, Goi and Ikot Ada Udo. In January 2021, the Dutch Court of Appeal held Shell Nigeria liable for damage caused by the oil spills as the court pronounced that the company owed a duty of care to affected villagers and liable for a failure to prevent future oil spills.

It noted that the Shell Nigeria subsidiary must compensate for oil spills in two Niger Delta villages over 13 years ago and must build warning systems to detect future leaks.

In February, a UK Supreme Court ruled that oil-polluted Nigerian communities in Bille community and the Ogale of Ogoniland could sue Shell in English courts, a decision seen as a victory for the communities after a five-year battle that overturned a Court of Appeal ruling.

Although Royal Dutch Shell did not dispute that pollution had been caused, it argued that it could not be held legally responsible for its Nigerian subsidiary.

Similarly, in 2015, Shell accepted responsibility for two spills and agreed to pay £55 million ($76 Million) to the Bodo community and assist in the clean-up. The company recently consented to pay N45 billion to some Ogoni communities in a legal tussle that has lasted over 31 years.

Foreign Firms Jostle for Nigerian Market as Incubator Presents Opportunities Peter Uzoho A number of multinational companies from the United States, Japan and Latin America have indicated their eagerness to expand their businesses into Nigeria and other countries in Africa and take advantage of the continent’s market.

Some of the foreign multinationals stormed Lagos, recently to acquaint themselves with the nation’s huge market and other opportunities and kick-start the process of their investment in the country.

Among them were US-based trio of MaC Venture Capital, an investment group passionate about investing in technology start-ups; GE Capital, the financial services division of General Electric, and Trident Capital, an equity firm investing in Software, Services and Internet.

Also, Japanese multinational tech conglomerate, SoftBank Group Corp, which boasts of $342.34 billion asset base as at 2020, according to information on its website, was among the foreign investors jostling for the Nigerian and African market.

SafeRoom - a SaaS platform that provides secure messaging for businesses was also readying to invest in the country.

The highlight of their few days stay in the country was the launch of ‘Africa Walk Unicorn Day Exhibition’, by the Unicorn Group, an initiative intended to change misconceptions about

Africa and help foreign investors better understand the continent’s business landscape.

Attracted by the nation’s over 200 million population which presents a huge market for them, some of the companies who visited the Unicorn Incubation Centre in Yaba, said Nigeria was full of business opportunities, great human capacity as well as rich socio-cultural heritage that they need to succeed in the country.

Their coming was facilitated by Platform Capital, a financial and investment services group and promoters of Unicorn incubation centre, as part of the company’s strategy of linking investors with Nigerian technological start-ups that need to scale up their business.

Speaking at the launch, Partner, Platform Capital and Director at Unicorn Group, Dr Ponmile Osibo, said despite the opportunities across sectors on the African continent, there was still huge misconception about its narrative. Osibo explained that the Africa Walk initiative was launched to demystify Nigeria and Africa to international investors, by inviting them to come and see the country and the continent for themselves, particularly the culture, and opportunities.

“We wanted to change the misconception about the reality of Africa. We wanted to create an initiative and environment where we demystify Africa, where we would help investors understand

the continent through our eyes the way that we see Africa,” he said.

He added that the visits by foreign investors would provide clarity to them and help them understand that Africa was like other parts of the world.

He stated that the initiative which kick-started in Nigeria and Kenya, will be done annually, and that different investors would be brought in to visit two countries on the continent yearly.

“The initiative is new and as we continue to bring in investors to visit different Africa countries yearly, within the next 25 to 30 years, we would have taken different investors all across every country on the continent,” Osibo said.

Speaking on the economic impact of the initiative, he said the initiative would help drive foreign direct investment, generate more jobs for the continent’s economy and drive economic growth.

According to him, five foreign investors and three companies from the United States and Latin America are already in Nigeria and would be visiting Kenya under the Africa Walk initiative.

Also speaking, Managing Partner, MaC Venture Capital, Marlon Nichols, said his company had been looking at investing in Nigeria owing to its large and young population.

A seed-stage venture capital firm, MaC Venture Capital invests in technology start-ups leveraging shifts in cultural trends and behaviours.

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY AUGUST 31, 2021

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY AUGUST 31, 2021

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Parkland Estate Promoter Promises Good ROI, Lifestyle Upgrade

P

rospective investors in the proposed Parkland Estate, promoted by Wealth Island Properties (WIP), are sure to receive good returns on their investments, the Managing Director, Tade Cash has said.

Parkland Estate is planned on 14.5 acres of land and designed to have 150 housing units.

The piece of land is surrounded by a lake and residents can enjoy a boat ride to adjoining area like Ajoa Estate that is close to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport.

Cash said the estate was designed to also

upgrade the lifestyle of its residents while enhancing urbanisation in the neigbourhood, particularly because of the world-class infrastructure they plan to build, adding that “every great city is built on great and innovative infrastructure.”

They intend to provide 24 units of 3 bedrooms and 2 bedrooms, costing N18.9 million and N14.5 million, respectively with a 600-metre road network. The project includes site and services scheme but owners of such would build to the promoter’s specifications.

He said they would spend over N150 million to build a bridge and would invest an

unspecified amount to clear the canal to enable a boat cruise by residents.

On the reason they are investing so much on infrastructure, he said: “Majority of Lagos can be categorised as urban slum areas. Most prime neigbourhoods like Victoria lsland, Lekki and other parts of Lagos are a mixture of shanties and cities. This is what has brought about a high deficit in infrastructures. The problem urban slum areas pose is that it could become a hideout for social miscreants and that defeats the overall goal of the government’s vision to build great cities and have a safe environment

Architectural drawing of homes in Parkland Estate

for residents.”

His company, he said would their type of infrastructure to correct the ugly experiences of residents in some highbrow estates in Lagos, stating that “where one lives determines how he lives.”

The cost of estate development in Lagos, he said was hampered by the high cost of approval fees, poor infrastructure provision where developers are expected to provide needed infrastructure, delays and multiple taxation that discourage investment from the private sector.

The managing director urged both state and federal government to “provide an enabling environment and competitive infrastructure to enable businesses such as ours thrive.”

Cash said his holding company would provide financing for subscribers for between five and 10 years on 13 per cent interest. According to him, he believes in the maxim that says generosity is a winning strategy and would want every prospective subscriber to be part of their strong customer base that can serve as a referral point.

He said: “Our mission is daring it is driven by a fundamental philosophy to make cities in seemingly impossible places. Some people call this whole area a canal but looking at the level of infrastructure we are bringing here bringing here, we decided to call it ‘the love canal. Boats will be able to cruise around and it is going to be a healthy environment for the residents.

The philosophy driving us as an entity is to build cities that enable the prosperity of all.”

Other limiting factors, according to him, are the high cost of building materials, he said when they started building in the estate the price of cement was relatively manageable but regretted that today the prices has hit the roof with 200 per cent increase.

Imo Govt Stalls Multi-billion Naira Gee Plaza Hotel Project The need to bring investment nearer home to promote job creation and expansion was a clarion call by former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha but he failed to live by it, writes Amby Uneze When former Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State came to power in 2011, he appealed to investors and businessmen to relocate to the state for its expansion and job creation.

Many expressed interest to invest in the state. One of those investors/businessmen, who developed the idea to bring their businesses to their fatherland in the spirit of “aku ruo ulo” (invest in your home to promote employment and develop the area), was Senator Athan Achonu who attracted his investment to Imo with the hope of actualising his dream and in line with the state government’s clarion call.

Many had expected a more progressive way of encouraging businesses and investments, as the former Governor was a reputed businessman who was also reputed to have investments all over the country, in particular, heavy investments with the capacity of creating meaningful jobs badly needed then in the state.

To the unsuspecting intending investors, that was the spirit,

especially considering the fact that Imo State being the “Eastern Heartland’’ which enjoys equidistance, according to the present governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, with other neigbhouring states.

However, not too long after those serious-minded investors/businessmen returned and started putting their dreams to fruition and in an effort to realise the intention of the government at the time that saw those beautiful ideas nose-diving due to political sentiments, etc. Those optimistic sentiments were soon dispelled as land grabs, discouragement of investors and investments, meaningless and non-durable projects and mindless victimisation of those who disagreed with the government, especially business and commercial disagreements began to filter out to the general disappointment and amazement of everyone.

Eleven years after construction, it was unkindly halted by that administration, the graceful shell of the proposed Gee Plaza Hotel still overlooks

the old Ama Jay Kay Park, a gracious luxurious piece of greenery, distastefully ruined by a government to make way for an ill-conceived multi storey car park, which has become another Siamese elephant, abandoned project and ugly to sight.

The proposed Gee Plaza hotel is powered by billionaire businessman, Senator Athan Achonu and is built near the old Imo hotels complex which is owned by Senator Achonu and the Imo state government in a 60-40 per cent share ratio, meaning that Senator Achonu is the majority shareholder in the arrangement.

Interestingly, the conception of the Gee Plaza hotel was that of a five star hotel with conference halls, malls and relaxation/games arcade. Apart from the plans to turn it into a tourist hot spot, additional subsidiary industries such as water bottling and Tissue paper factories were to be added to the investment to service the hotel and relaxation area thereby creating hundreds

of jobs.

Owerri, by its nature, is a tourism town and like Las Vegas in the United States of America, the hospitality

industry thrives and provides jobs for not only the employees of hotels but suppliers, technicians, car hire services, decorators etc. The presence

of quality hotels such as Gee Plaza would have added value to industry in the state that currently lacks little or no heavy industries.

Abandoned Gee Plaza hotel, Owerri

Building Industry Can Turn Around Nigeria’s Economy, Says Daniel Bennett Oghifo Former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has said that the building industry has capacity to turn around the ailing Nigerian economy.

Daniel, an engineer of repute, stated this at the 2021 Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Building

(NIOB) held in Lagos, recently.

The theme of the AGM: Advancing technologies, systems and standards in building construction practice, actuated by the need to refresh the members of NIOB and keep them abreast of the state of the art and emerging technology options for delivering the complete building and its components. Members of

the Institute and guests were welcomed by the National President, Bldr. Kunle Awobodu.

The former governor, who was Chairman of the occasion, gave an example with Israel, stating that the desert space that was Israel was transformed into a first-rate nation with agricultural and technological prowess, using a “closed system”, which ensures

that “Israel’s money stays in Israel.”

He said, “The problem we have in Nigeria is that Nigeria’s money is not in Nigeria. The system is primed in such a way that most of the money that should stay in Nigeria does not stay in Nigeria.”

According to him, Nigerian companies are not favoured in

most construction jobs done in the country and that when they are not favoured, the benefiting foreign companies repatriate the money to their countries.

He said even when they support Nigeria with loans, all the equipment and technical knowhow would be provided by these foreign countries to the total exclusion of Nigeria. “When

I was governor for eight years, I did not award contract to any company outside Ogun State, and when I could not find in Ogun State, it is then I opened it up to the rest of Nigeria.”

Also, the Keynote Speaker, renowned legal luminary, Femi Falana stated that only certified builders should engage in building construction in Nigeria.

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T H I S D AY ˾TUESDAY AUGUST 31, 2021

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT

Fashola Gives Ultimatum to Berger-Kara Bridge Mechanics Fadekemi Ajakaiye Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has given an ultimatum to the mechanics operating illicitly under Berger/ Kara Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to leave.

He stated this during his inspection of the ongoing work on the bridge and its axis, recently.

He warned the technicians who initially defied the evacuation notice, that the government would be left with no other option than to enforce the law if they fail to leave the axis this time around.

In a meeting with the mechanics, he told them that according to

world best practices, no mechanic operations take place under the bridge, rather it is in a workshop or yard. He explained that the then government of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states gave the land as right of way of 47.5m, both to the left and right to the Federal government during the construction of the bridge.

Fashola gave the new ultimatum of leave as November 30, 2021, so as to enable them to cater to ember months plan for travellers. He stated that, going with what the law says, they should have been given just seven days to relocate, but on compassionate grounds, he is given them an extension.

Fashola stated that the ongoing rehabilitation of the highway would soon extend under the bridge, in addition to the coming ember months repairs by the Ministry of Works.

He stated that their activities like burning, spilling, cooking and so on, cause a lot of damage to roads and bridges, which in turn is costing the government a great fortune.

The representative of the mechanics appealed that the Federal government assist in providing an alternate location for the workers who are over three hundred, in order for them to be able to provide for their families.

Responding to appeals for alternative space, Mr Fashola advised the association to officially engage the Ogun state government to make their request, promising to help them fast-track the process.

The Minister advised the occupants to write to Ogun State Government and put in copy, the Controller of Works in Lagos and Ogun states to request for assistance on their relocation.

He said once the letter is sent, he will be able to also appeal on their behalf.

He assured them that a suitable and more befitting place will be provided for them, and they will be able to run their

trade with more ease.

The Minister also visited the Wey bridge, which is being refurbished along Berger way.

He stated that” no matter how beautiful the highways are built, they are built with specifications.

Once you don’t comply with those specifications, you are misusing or abusing the assets,” he said.

“Nigeria is a signatory to the ECOWAS hassle load regulations, signed by all ECOWAS countries and imbibed also by President Buhari through the regulations laid down, even as seen published on the walls of this place, showing approved hassles per truck, type of trucks and what each truck can carry”,

he said.

“There are fines for those who exceed the specified tonnage per hassle load ranging from N1million to N10million. The reason for this enlightenment is because, we want to make it cheaper to comply and very expensive to break the law.

That way, people will choose to comply that paying excessive penalties”, he said.

“At the end of the day, we are slowly hoping to return governance, law and order on enforcement and compliance to not just our highways but our general way of life, as all of us would be better for it”, he said.

Stakeholders Seek Youth Inclusion in Global Biodiversity Framework Bennett Oghifo An EcoKnowledge Derivative policy, an initiative of the International Support Network for African Development (ISNADAfrica), with support from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has called for youth inclusion in post Covid-19 biodiversity framework to address prevailing challenges.

The group raised concerns over the rate of nature degradation, insisting that exclusion of youth in policy making, especially in the African continent is disastrous.

According to the stakeholders, Nigeria and other African countries are losing as much as $3.8 billion to erosion, pollution

and other environmental and health threatening issue.

Executive Director of ISNADAfrican, Adedoyin Adeleke said effective youth engagements in the implementation of the framework, beyond awareness creation was sacrosanct, adding that strategies for resource mobilisation should be conceptualized and operated based on intergenerational equity as well as ensure adequate resources allocated towards capacity- building and empowerment of youth and youth-led organisations.

Adeleke said: “Improvement in the availability, accessibility, and dissemination of information resources with special attention on the youth at all levels”

remained critical, stressing that initiatives on intergenerational knowledge, language learning and transmission, especially by indigenous peoples and local communities, are institutionalised and supported through government policy and funding, among other instrument was equally key.

“ISNAD-Africa strongly supports the harmony of the post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

While the post 2020 GBF would contribute to the implementation and realisation of the 2030 Agenda, the implementation of the post 2020 GBF will also leverage on the progress

made towards the achievement Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Therefore, the harmony of the post 2020 GBF with the SDGs would promotes policy coherence that breaks silos and fosters synergies, thus reducing the duplication of effort which result in coherent and complementary actions towards green growth.”

Adeleke said the GBF would be a major milestone in global agreements on the protection of biodiversity that would set the international ambition for the new decade, adding that the framework intends to promote and strengthen equity considerations by upholding the rights-based approach.

Adeleke feared that waning rate of the ecosystem may lead to the extinction of over one million plants and animal species across the world, especially in Africa With minimal contribution and focus on the youth in policy formulation and decisionsmaking process in countries like Nigeria, Adeleke said projected gains of United Nations Convention for Biological Diversity, especially the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity (2011-2030) could remain a mirage.

Regretting the over $4 trillion loss in the tourism sector for years 2020 and 2021 and the over $125 Billion spent by the World Bank to combat the impact of the health,

economic and social impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Adeleke said the roles of the youths in addressing some of the challenges faced by nature could be a game changer.

“The inherent and associated losses that accrue to nature are indeed undermining the increasing investment for sustainable development in the run-up to 2030. Therefore, the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) need to acknowledge the urgency to stop and reverse the nature and biodiversity losses if the aspirations of the United Nations 2030 Agenda must be achieved,” Adeleke said.

Rotary Club of Akowonjo Spreads Development Projects in Alimosho Fadekemi Ajakaiye Rotary Club of Akowonjo under Rotary International District 9110, on Monday August 16, 2021stormed Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos in its usual style spreading humanitarian services to impact lives and the environment with the commissioning of renovated blocks of classrooms and tree planting at State Senior High School, Alimosho by the District Governor Rotarian Remi Bello (FCA) as the high point of the event.

The club whose aim is ensuring that society witnesses positive development, embarked on this exercise to mark the official visit of the District Governor, Rotarian Remi Bello (FCA) for the 2021/2022 Rotary year under the club’s leadership of Rotarian President Comrade Victor Amaraegbu.

In an interview by journalists, the District Governor, Rotarian Remi Bello (FCA) stated that

the Rotary Club of Akowonjo has gone the extra mile in ensuring that the Rotary International standard is upheld despite the global economic downturn owing to the raging Covid-19 pandemic.

According to him, “although Rotarians, the world over have had their own share of financial challenges with regards the Covid-19 pandemic, I am glad we are able to tackle that to make sure the club’s dream remains intact”.

The visitor to the club admonished that “the commissioning of the school to support education and tree planting in support and beautification of the environment as part of the seven areas of focus of Rotary International were just tips of the iceberg compared with the grand plans we are about to execute” adding that “I am sure Rotary Club of Akowonjo will do more in the years to come,” he assured.

In his own reaction, the President of Rotary Club of Akowonjo, Rotarian Victor Amaraegbu disclosed that the

club has been known for its humanitarian guestures for thirty six years of its existence and development activities in its catchment community, Akowonjo-Alimosho.

Speaking with reporters, Rotarian President Victor Amaraegbu said “let me make this clear, this is not the first time we are embarking on projects commissioning in our community, we have been doing so for thirty six years now”. “It has been known as our annual rite to give back to the society”.

“It is not about the millions we are spending annually on humanitarian services but about the awareness we are creating for people to learn how to share love and develop the society with the little they have”. “We are not getting any financial reward in return but happy making positive impacts and developments in our community,” he stated.

As part of the District Governor’s itinerary, the club paid a courtesy call to Alimosho Local

Government and proceeded to Rauf Aregbesola Nursery and Primary School, Akowonjo, where it donated qualitative books to students of the Adult Literacy Programme which the club has

been sponsoring for over twenty five years.

Also as part of the club’s programme was a visitation and donation of generous gift items at the Little Saints Orphanage,

Shasha and a royal visit to the King of Egbeda Kingdom, Oba Aremu Orelope Kareem Laka, inducting him a honorary member of Rotary Club of Akowonjo.

R-L: President, Rotary Club of Akowonjo, Rotarian Victor Amaraegbu; Past District Governor, Otunba Bola Onabadejo; Past Assistant Governor, Kayode Odebode and Past President Gbenga Ojo at the commissioning ceremony... recently

6th Construction Industry Hall of Fame Holds in September Activities leading to the hosting of the 6th edition of the Nigeria’s Construction Industry Hall Fame, the industry most prestigious event/platform is hitting up as Minister of Water Resources Engr.

Suleiman H. Adamu, FNSE, President, Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Engr. Dr. Alex O. Ogedegbe, FNSE, FNSChe, FAEng, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Physical

Planning and Urban Development, Engr. Dr. Mrs. Abiola Kosegbe, FNSE, FNICE and the National President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Esv. (Chief) Emmanuel Okas Wike, FNIVS are among the Class of 2021’s confirmed for induction.

The Nigeria’s Construction Industry Hall of Fame, a biennial event which started

in 2011 is an initiative designed to recognize outstanding practitioners, organizations and key players in the Nigeria’s construction industry and allied sectors.

This year event, the 6th edition will hold at Sheraton Hotels Ikeja, Lagos with strict adherence to Covid19 event protocols on Thursday, the 23rd of September 2021.

The event will be chaired by

Surv. Kayode Oluwamotemi, FNIS, President, Nigerian Institution of Surveyors with Engr. Mustapha Balarabe Shehu, FNSE, Executive VicePresident World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) delivering the keynote presentation on the theme: “Changing the Dynamism of Professional and Business Practice in the Construction Industry - Lessons from

Covid-19 Pandemic”. Other speakers at the event include Mrs. Doris N. Okechukwu Mbadiwe, Executive Director, Inter-Bau Construction Limited who will be speaking on the key areas of women in construction: “Challenges and Opportunities” Nigeria’s Construction Industry Hall of Fame an initiative of Construction Industry Development Foundation-NGI

is organised and managed by Century 21 System Communication Ltd and promoted by Construction and Engineering Digest (CED Magazine) a publication focused on information centered on the Construction, engineering and allied sectors in Nigeria and the world as related to Africa. The event is also endorsed by the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV).

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ 31, 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Edo State, BOI Launch N2bn Fund for Over 50,000 MSMEs The Edo State Government and the Bank of Industry (BOI) have unveiled a Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) development fund worth N2bn to support entrepreneurs in the state.

The fund was launched during a citizens’ engagement session organized by the Edo State Skills Development Agency, also known as EdoJobs, held at the Government House, in Benin City. Speaking at the event, Governor Godwin Obaseki said, “The Bank of Industry (BOI), which is a reliable partner, is here today to launch the MSME fund. The initial amount is N2 billion. Edo State Government provided N1 billion, while BOI provided the other N1 billion, making it N2 billion, with an attractive interest rate.”

“In addition, we have a N165 million fund, as part of the first tranche from the Edo State Government. It will be made

available to small businesses, which are currently domiciled in our production hub, to support and encourage them to grow their businesses.

“BOI has the capacity and resources to support this kind of programme. From this N2 billion fund, we estimate that we can impact as many as 50,000 businesses in Edo State.

We have other facilities with other institutions like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This is a start-up fund, as we expect it to continue to grow: If you start with N50,000, now and when you do well tomorrow in your business, you will need N200,000.

Borrowing is part of business, provided you continue to grow,” the governor stated.

The governor assured that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, his administration remains committed to improving the livelihoods of the people and creating opportunities for the youths to thrive.

He stated: “We have continued to create opportunities for Edo youths as our administration is open, transparent and competent in all we do. We urge Edo people to trust us, as all the opportunities that we present are real, and life-transforming for Edo people.”

On his part, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, BOI, Mr. Olukayode Pitan, said: “in a quest to grow and develop MSME businesses in the country, the Bank has resolved to continue to collaborate with existing enterprises, as well as reputable local and international partners.

“This MSME fund is aimed at providing business loans to enterprises located within the state, while the second fund is the N165m Edo Production Hub Fund, financed by the Edo State Government. The Edo Production Hub Fund is managed by the BOI and is to support businesses located within the state-owned production hub.”

MARKET INDICATORS

FCMB Partners Mercy Corps to Uplift 500,000 Farmers, Vulnerable in North East First City Monument Bank’s (FCMB) and Mercy Corps, have announced a partnership That will ensure that about 500,000 farmers and vulnerable people in Nigeria’s North-East zone can now access farming friendly and demand-driven financial services.

A bold and landmark intervention, the partnership supported by USAID-funded Feed the Future Nigeria Rural Resilience Activity, will deliver funding and capacity-building support to smallholder farmers and vulnerable people living in the conflict-affected states of Adamawa, Borno, Gombe and Yobe.

The Feed the Future Nigeria Rural Resilience Activity aims to facilitate and promote economic recovery and growth in the vulnerable, conflict-affected areas and sustainably move people out of chronic vulnerability and poverty

through expanded opportunities.

Speaking during the MoU signing ceremony in Lagos, the Managing Director of FCMB, Mrs Yemisi Edun, expressed appreciation to Mercy Corps and other partners for confidence in the Bank’s capability to drive the initiative successfully.

According to her: “We are delighted to play another crucial role in developing our local communities and society at large. This partnership will significantly improve the living standards of farmers and other vulnerable people by boosting food sufficiency and reducing poverty. It will also de-escalate insecurity in the North-East. All of these align with FCMB’s commitment to creating opportunities for individuals and businesses to attain their growth potential.”

Also speaking, the Country Director of Mercy Corps Nigeria, Mr Ndubisi Anyanwu, said:

“We are extremely proud to be supporting initiatives that drive recovery and increase investment in North-East Nigeria.

Mercy Corps has been working in the nexus as an Agency, implementing several programs that aim to sustainably transition people in conflict-affected areas out of humanitarian assistance to recovery through development”.

The Chief of Party, Feed the Future Nigeria Rural Resilience Activity, Mrs Margarita Aswani said, “We are delighted that this partnership will enable FCMB to adapt its loan products and offerings to fit the context in North-East Nigeria. It will empower farmers, small ruminant producers, and microenterprise owners to grow their businesses and increase yields. The Activity, proudly aims to facilitate access to national and international technical expertise to support FCMB’s strategies for expanding

Stakeholders Commend Nigerian Bottling Company’s Waste Management Initiatives Chinedu Eze Leading stakeholders in Nigeria’s manufacturing and waste management sectors have applauded the Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC), for its innovative initiatives aimed at optimising plastic packaging and waste management in the country.

Speaking during the annual NBC Stakeholders Forum themed, “Packaging & Waste Management: Key Drivers, Challenges and Solutions,” they commended the company for leading efforts to ensure the eradication of the menace of plastic waste in the country.

The Keynote speaker and Special Adviser to the Ogun State Government on Environment, Ola Oresanya, applauded NBC for holding the forum, which would go a long way in entrenching the culture of internal self-regulation in the fight against waste.

“I want to congratulate NBC for their consideration for the environment. In putting together this forum for open conversations

around issues affecting the environment, NBC has demonstrated its commitment towards finding a solution to the issue of waste management in Nigeria. This is commendable because not many manufacturers have this kind of forum where the facts can be laid out” he said.

The Special Guest of Honour at the virtual session and Minister of Environment, Mahmood Abubakar, represented by the Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Charles Ikeah, echoed similar sentiments and commended the company for organising the Stakeholders Forum and for being at the forefront of the fight against environmental waste.

Abubakar highlighted the federal government’s commitment to awareness creation, enforcement of relevant regulations, as well as provision of an enabling environment for private sector participation.

President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Ahmed Mansur, urged other organizations, particularly in the

manufacturing sector, to emulate NBC’s ambitious commitment to rid the environment of plastic wastes and prioritize the lifecycle of their packaging materials in their production processes.

In his remark at the virtual, Managing Director of NBC, Matthieu Seguin, said the company would continue to collaborate with key stakeholders in the plastic packaging and waste management value-chain to ensure that challenges in the waste management ecosystem are converted to viable economic opportunities for Nigeria’s teeming population. Seguin, who spoke on the economic significance and reusability of plastic bottles, said: “We believe every package has value and life beyond its initial use and that it should be collected and recycled into a new package”.

He further reiterated the company’s recycling sustainability policy thrust saying that “as manufacturers that use plastic packaging, we want to be part of the solution. The message here is clear: we want all our pet bottles back.

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ͱͮ ͰͮͰͯ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $71.48 a barrel on Friday, compared with $70.75 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

37

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Stock Market Decline by N82.83bn on Profit-taking in Dangote Cement, 17 others Darasimi Adebisi Transactions on the Nigerian equities market yesterday closed the first trading session of the week on a negative note with a decline of N82.83billion as profit-taking dominated all the major sectors.

The overall market capitalisation dropped to N20.490 trillion from N20.57trillion it opened for trading, while Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) All-Share Index

(ASI) reduced by 158.98 basis points, representing a decline of 0.40 per cent to close at 39,326.67 basis points from 39,485.65 basis points.

On sectors, the Industrial Goods (-1.4 per cent), Oil and Gas (-1.2 per cent) and Banking (-0.2 per cent) indices declined, while the Consumer Goods (+1.2 per cent) and Insurance (+0.8 per cent) indices recorded gains.

The market lose was driven by price depreciation in large

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

and medium capitalised stocks amongst which are; Dangote Cement, Eterna, Oando, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), Champion Breweries and Zenith Bank.

As measured by market breadth, market sentiment closed positive, as 21 stocks gained, relative to 18 losers. Honeywell Flour Mills followed with a gain 9.86 per cent to close at N3.90, per share. UACN Property Development Company (UPDC) followed

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

with a gain of 9.84 per cent to close at N2.01 and Associated Bus Company went up 9.09 per cent to close at 36 kobo, per share.

Presco up by 8.90 per cent to close at N79.50, while FTN Cocoa processors appreciated by 8.33 per cent to close at 52 kobo, per share.

On the other hand, Champion Breweries led the losers’ chart by 7.73 per cent to close at N2.03, per share. Eterna followed with a decline of 7.20 per cent to close at

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

N6.96, while Linkage Assurance shed 6.45 per cent to close at 58 kobo, per share.

Oando lost five per cent to close at N4.56, while Caverton Offshore Support Group shed 4.86 per cent to close at N1.76, per share.

The total volume of trades increased by 38.0 per cent to 301.014 million units, valued at N1.535 billion and exchanged in 4,715 deals. Transactions in the shares of Transnational Cor-

O F

poration of Nigeria (Transcorp) topped the activity chart with 51.691 million shares valued at N46.840 million. Honeywell Flour Mills followed with 43.733 million shares worth N167.914 million, while Consolidated Hallmark Insurance traded 17.606 million shares valued at N10.632 million.

Oando traded 16.119 million shares valued at N71.450 million, while UPDC transacted 15.114 million shares worth N29.913 million.

3 0 / 0 8 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

38

TUESDAY, ͻ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

39

TUESDAY AUGUST 31, 2021 • T H I S DAY

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 27Aug-2021, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS

MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS

AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 155.53 156.88 -3.92% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 4.98% Nigeria International Debt Fund 323.48 323.48 16.02% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 110.54 110.54 -1.38% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.47% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.31 3.47 -2.68% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 7.75% Anchoria Equity Fund 139.23 140.91 4.67% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.14 1.14 -14.08% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 19.62 20.21 8.18% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 432.15 445.18 7.94% ARM Ethical Fund 38.17 39.32 13.22% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A ARM Fixed Income Fund 0.97 0.98 -7.24% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.15% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 105.9 105.9 4.12% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,029.21 1,029.21 2.92% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.03 2.03 -8.57% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.13 2.17 -7.34% CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.01 1.01 2.64% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.03% Paramount Equity Fund 16.54 16.84 3.41% Women's Investment Fund 136.73 138.31 2.74% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.74% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 118.56 119.31 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 107.98 107.98 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.88% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.21 1.22 0.57% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.40 1.40 -11.38% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,408.07 1,408.07 11.23% FBN Balanced Fund 191.14 192.46 1.84% FBN Halal Fund 112.16 112.16 8.37% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.89% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

126.93 156.65

126.93 3.54% 159.97 3.62% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com

Bid Price 1.00 3.96 1.59 1.19

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 5.75% 3.96 2.47% 1.62 4.43% 1.19 4.33% coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price N/A N/A N/A

Offer Price N/A N/A N/A

Yield / T-Rtn N/A N/A N/A

GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.83% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.68 2.74 -6.10% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 152.62 152.90 -1.85% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.28 1.32 1.78% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.10 1.10 0.91% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.43 1.45 4.86% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,146.91 1,146.91 5.62% 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 11.47 11.51 9.20% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 9.30% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.67 1.69 7.15% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.55 11.54 -5.06% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 6.10% PACAM Equity Fund 1.65 1.66 4.24% PACAM EuroBond Fund 112.93 114.80 2.81% 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 131.60 134.17 8.84% 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 10.00% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,292.74 3,327.56 2.52% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 232.53 232.53 3.42% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.22 1.23 3.81% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 306.45 306.45 4.00% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 225.25 228.57 3.20% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.74% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,406.03 10,552.59 -0.85% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.27 1.27 3.60% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 115.43 115.43 3.92% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 103.35 103.35 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.30 1.32 1.64% United Capital Bond Fund 1.91 1.91 4.35% United Capital Equity Fund 0.87 0.89 9.18% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.40% United Capital Eurobond Fund 119.95 119.95 4.79% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.06 1.07 3.79% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.06 1.06 6.05% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.87 12.98 8.43% Zenith Ethical Fund 14.24 14.37 16.56% Zenith Income Fund 24.32 24.32 1.39% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.19%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

125.36 51.90

10.94% 2.86%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.35

13.45

0.98%

121.75 97.18 17.45 18.26

124.78 99.30 17.55 18.36

1.25% -2.05%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund

SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.91 5.53 17.49 1.00 19.67 157.22

3.95 5.61 17.59 1.00 19.87 159.22

3.55% -2.86% 7.77% 6.32% -4.14% -28.49%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.40

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

40

TUESDAY, ͻ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

FOURTY C J N M O V E S T O S AV E J U D I C I A RY, S U M M O N S J U S T I C E S O V E R C O N F L I C T I N G C O U RT O R D E R S Imo and Cross River.

A copy of the letter of invitation seen by THISDAY indicated that the affected Chief Judges are to appear before the Chief Justice of Nigeria, as a prelude to the larger one by the NJC to explain what warranted issuance of conflicting orders by courts of coordinate jurisdiction.

While the High Courts of Imo, Jigawa and Anambra need to explain their roles in the Anambra governorship election, the High Courts of Rivers, Kebbi and Cross River on the other hand are involved in the case of the PDP Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.

THISDAY gathered that the CJN complained bitterly on the huge embarrassment caused the Nigerian judiciary by the actions of those who issued the conflicting orders upon ex-parte applications by some politicians.

The summons dated August 30, 2021, read in part: “My attention has been drawn to media reports to the effect that some Courts of coordinate jurisdiction were granting conflicting Exparte Orders on the same subject matter.

"It has become expedient for me to invite you for a detailed briefing on the development.

"This is even more compelling having regard to earlier NJC Warning to judicial officers on the need to be circumspect in granting Exparte applications”.

Similarly, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which shared same position as the CJN, has also condemned the now rife development, saying it would be willing to sanction any member found wanting.

THISDAY, yesterday, had observed and exclusively reported the menace of indiscriminate issuance of injunctions and orders, which it reckoned if not checked could derail the country’s hard-earned democracy as the 2023 general election began to gather momentum.

In the last two months, several orders and counter orders had been issued against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), particularly, as it related to the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State.

On one occasion, the court had ordered the electoral umpire to recognise a particular aspirant as the candidate of a political party and within a short while, another order of court equal jurisdiction had directed INEC to drop that person and, in his stead, fill in another person.

As at today, it’s hard to say between a former Central Bank Governor, Chukwuma Soludo and Chukwuma Umeoji, who would finally be on the ballot for the All

Progressives Grand Alliance or who would finally be governor assuming APGA won the election as both parties will certainly fight to the finish, up to the Supreme Court.

However, worried by the development, the CJN summoned the heads of those courts involved in what is becoming a real threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

Unlike other times that the National Judicial Council (NJC) would wait for a petition from the public before investigating and disciplining any erring judge, the CJN has on his own taken the decision to look into the issue and might wield the big stick on the erring justices.

Although this is not the first time the intervention of the courts have threatened the nation’s democracy, this instance has generated real worries about the future of the country's democracy.

Justice Bassey Ikpeme of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court was the first to attempt to truncate Nigeria’s democracy, when on June 10, 1993, he issued a restraining order on the then electoral umpire from going ahead with the scheduled June 12, 1993 presidential election.

The judge had granted the order despite clear provisions of Decree number 13, which stated that no court of law could interfere with conduct of the election.

The restraining order was sequel to an exparte application by a shadow organisation, the Association of Better Nigeria (ABN), led by a disqualified presidential aspirant in the person of Arthur Nzeribe, now late.

The National Election Commission (NEC) had though defied the order and went ahead to conduct the presidential election as scheduled on June 12, 1993, the commission was however restrained from going ahead to release the results of the election.

But, while the candidate of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Moshood Abiola, was already on the cusp of victory after leading in 15 states where election results were announced, Justice Saleh had in a ruling on an ex-parte application on June 15, 1993 stopped NEC from further announcement of the election results.

And due to the actions of the court, Abiola till his death never became president as the former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, annulled the election, adjudged the freest and fairest at the time in Africa.

In this fourth democracy, the intervention of the court also made somebody, Rotimi Amaechi, who did not contest an election in 2007

to be governor of Rivers State.

The court had hinged its decision on the grounds that it was a political party that contested election and not an individual. Although the court has found a way of correcting itself after it later held in another case that for a candidate to be declared winner, he must participate in all the processes of an election.

Thirty years after the first attempt, some judges are still in the habit of doing the biddings of money bags against the interest of the country, legal profession and even the oath of office they swore to.

According to some public analysts, the development has since put the nation’s judiciary in a big mess.

Before the suspension and return to office orders on the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, by three High Courts in Rivers, Kebbi and Cross River States, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, was also last year before his sack by the APC National Working Committee (NWC) restrained and later ordered back to office by High Courts in FCT, Abuja, Benin and Kano. Court order are now so cheap that they now worth less than the paper they are written on.

Analysts, however, stressed that the judges are not alone in this trade, because according to them, some very senior lawyers share in the blame, by the way and manner they file frivolous applications. "It is the willingness of the judges to entertain these applications and issue consequential orders that has baffled many."

These senior lawyers allegedly go from court to court shopping for interim injunctions. Only last year, the apex court, while delivering ruling in an application for the court to review and vacate its own judgment, slammed a whopping N30 million each on two very senior lawyers.

Justice Amina Augie, who had read the ruling of the Supreme Court with tears in her eyes lamented that, “very senior” lawyers were responsible for filing the suit.

Regrettably however, nothing till date has been done to deter such apart from small fines that

make no dent in the pockets of such lawyers.

This development is fast making people to lose faith in the judicial system and if not checked, lawyers and judges might put the country in bigger problem, because according to the analysts, the situation in Nigeria, "is unbelievably very bad. Black market injunctions are dished out on a daily basis to the highest bidder. The courts no longer dispense justice. They merely dish out orders to whoever can afford them."

Sharing the same position as the CJN, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) also yesterday waded into the development, saying it would punish any member found wanting.

The NBA said it “has observed with dismay the unfortunate and recurring trend of contradictory court decisions and orders, especially, among courts of coordinate jurisdiction, typically arising from exparte applications and almost always in political matters.”

In a statement by its President, Mr. Olumide Akpata, the NBA chided especially, senior lawyers for the malaise, saying, “Astonishingly, that commitment (to the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2007) is now being threatened by the conduct of some of our own members, the majority of whom are senior members of the Bar, who continue to yield themselves to be used as willing tools by politicians to wantonly abuse the judicial process.”

Indicating that it might sanction erring members going forward, the NBA said, “By the issuance of this statement, the NBA confirms unequivocally that it will not stand by and watch a ridiculing of the profession and the justice administration system by a handful of its members and will be considering its deterrence options in this regard.”

While not sparing the judiciary in the debacle, the NBA said, “The Bench, respectfully, is also not blameless. We certainly concur with the Honourable Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme of the Court of Appeal in her condemnation of the indulgence by some judicial officers of politicians, who go round the country shopping for judgments, and who thereby bring the Judiciary

have N10 million and you want to move N2 million out of your N10 million into a digital currency.

"They'll debit your account and move it to your wallet of N2 million digital currency, which you can spend across countries."

Emefiele added, "So we think that this is a noble idea and we are not the first...many other central banks are at advanced stages of revealing their own digital currency.

"Our own digital currency, which is tagged e-Naira, will certainly come into operation, by the special grace of God, by October and we are working very hard for this."

He also said, "We believe that transactions will be cheaper and more efficient, as there will be less to complete.

“The Nigerian economy, just like the rest of the world, is going digital and cash cannot play in that space. Therefore, e-Naira, which will represent the digital equivalent of cash, will be used as the fiat currency to effect transactions.

"And in terms of financial inclusion, we believe that with over 30 per cent of bankable adults still outside the financial system, the ability to have offline payment through our e-Naira initiative will bring most of them into the formal financial sector."

According to him," The use

Also reacting, a former President of Lagos State Court of Arbitration, Mr. Yemi Candide-Johnson (SAN) said the recent wave of conflicting court judgement showed the recklessness of the judiciary.

Speaking on Arise News Channel, Candide-Johnson said the federal system of governance which the country operates is founded on separation of powers and rule of law.

He added that the rule of law is the most important aspect of any constitutional and legal arrangement and therefore identifies how important the judiciary is.

Candide-Johnson was of the opinion that the Judiciary could only maintain its status as the guarantor of rights of individuals and of rights of government if the judiciary is competent, independent and impartial.

He stated: "And decisions like these...which indicates the lack of consistency and very often the recklessness of consequences of decisions to be taken. It seems to me that they have so severely damaged the reputation and credibility of the judiciary that it has become ineffective for the purpose of which it was been established - which is to maintain the stability of our government, our democracy and the safety and conduct of our people.

"If people can't have confidence in the independence and impartiality, the competence being assumed of judges, then the entire system will come into a grounding halt and there would be disorder."

On the summon of the judges, Candide-Johnson noted that the CJN does not have the power to sanction the judges, saying the Chief Judge of respective states should be directly held responsible.

Candide-Johnson stressed that he has no doubt that one of the judges was guilty of judicial misconduct.

He added: "Let me start by correctly characterizing what appears to have gone wrong with these decisions. There is no doubt in my mind that one or more of those judges is guilty of judicial misconduct. And if in a series of high profile cases, inconsistent decisions were given

by Judges across States and judges Continued on page 41

INSECURITY: WE’RE LUCKY TO HAVE BUHARI IN GOVT, SAYS SHEHU OF BORNO "seriously suffered as a result of Boko Haram crisis," but added that they were "lucky" to have the Buhari government, which eventually changed the tide.

According to him, all the local government areas in the state, which were under the control of Boko Haram had been taken

back by the troops, adding that normal business activities had also returned in the state.

He also rejoiced at the news that Boko Haram elements were surrendering, saying, "it’s a welcome development", because "Borno is a home of peace and we are for peace."

DIGITAL CURRENCY GAINS TRACTION AS CBN APPOINTS TECHNICAL PARTNER based on the company’s technical competence, efficiency, platform security, interoperability, and implementation experience.

The statement said, "In choosing Bitt Inc. the CBN will rely on the company’s tested and proven digital currency experience, which is already in circulation in several Eastern Caribbean countries.

"Bitt Inc. was key to the development and successful launch of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) pilot of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) in April 2021."

Emefiele had recently hinted that a national digital currency would be launched in October.

The apex bank had also said the digital currency would be treated as a critical national infrastructure to protect it from operational and cyber-security risks.

Further clarifying the e-Naira project, the CBN governor had said, "You have some naira in your account and you chose to convert part of your naira into a digital wallet by way of a digital currency. We will support that.

"If, for instance, you have N10 million in your account. Of course, when this starts, the CBN will move some of the balances of banks with CBN to those banks in digital currency.

“So you go to your bank, you

to public ridicule.”

Akpata said the NBA would “urgently seek audience with the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria to address this issue holistically,” adding that he would “enlist the support of the Chairman of the NBA Judiciary Committee, Dr. Babatunde Ajibade, SAN as well as the Chairpersons of the NBA Section of Legal Practice (NBA-SLP) and NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), Mr. Oluwaseun Abimbola, SAN and Dr. Monday Ubani for this proposed engagement.”

Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), Dayo Akinlaja and Abdul Mohammed, while reacting to the CJN moves, welcomed the invitation extended to the chief judges by Muhammad Akinlaja said the decision by the CJN to stop judges wading into political issues was ‘a pleasant and heartwarming development.’

According to him, the spate of conflicting orders from the courts of late has been extremely troubling and disquieting.

He said: “For any discerning mind, the idea of giving conflicting orders of injunction does not bode well at all for our justice sector. It is axiomatic that justice is rooted in confidence. A situation, where conflicting orders of injunction is the order of the day, doubtless, fundamentally erodes the confidence the public might otherwise have in the judiciary.”

He stated that as the chairman of NJC, it was not out of place for the CJN to issue the letters of invitation to the various heads of the courts.

“It is my personal wish and desire that all that is needful is done to nip in the bud the new wave of abuse of ex parte injunctions.

Our nation is at crossroads at the moment on all fronts. The judiciary is highly critical if we must make a headway out of the disturbing state of affairs in the country. In light of this, all hands must be on deck to prevent the judiciary from losing the trust and confidence of the public.

“To me, the CJN deserves the felicitations of us all for rising, as it were, to the occasion. It is a case of a stitch in time saves nine,” he said.

of cash is declining everywhere in the world, just as in Nigeria and with the advent of digital commerce, which is booming in the country, more and more people are adopting the use of electronic money to facilitate digital commerce.

"So our e-Naira is a digital representation of cash, which means as a fiat currency, it is a fiat currency that will be just as acceptable as the physical or analogue naira.

“We recognise the need for wide stakeholder engagement and education to be able to create awareness for the use of e-Naira as alternative to cash to further drive towards a cashless society."

Meanwhile, just like the CBN had warned previously, IMF sued for caution by countries seeking to use crypto-assets as their national currency. The multilateral institution reiterated that the demerits of adopting crypto-assets as national currency outweighed its merits.

The Washington-based institution gave the advice in a blog post, titled: "Crypto-assets as National Currency? A Step Too Far." It acknowledged that the new digital forms of money had the potential to provide cheaper and faster payments, enhance financial inclusion, improve resilience and competition among payment

providers, and facilitate crossborder transfers.

However, IMF stated that the potential benefits were not a straightforward process, as it required significant investment as well as difficult policy choices, such as clarifying the role of the public and private sectors in providing and regulating digital forms of money.

It observed that some countries might be tempted by a shortcut -adopting crypto-assets as national currencies, adding, "many are indeed secure, easy to access, and cheap to transact."

The IMF stated, "We believe, however, that in most cases, risks and costs outweigh potential benefits. Crypto-assets are privately issued tokens based on cryptographic techniques and denominated in their own unit of account.

"Their value can be extremely volatile. Bitcoin, for instance, reached a peak of $65,000 in April and crashed to less than half that value two months later.

"And yet, Bitcoin lives on.

For some, it is an opportunity to transact anonymously—for good or bad. For others, it is a means to diversify portfolios and hold a speculative asset that can bring riches but also significant losses."

Recently, there had been reported cases of thousands of Boko Haram insurgents laying down their arms and surrendering to government troops in the North East zone.

Specifically, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State disclosed last week at the State House, Abuja, that 2,600 repentant Boko Haram insurgents were currently being profiled in Maiduguri by the state government in collaboration with the military and other security agencies.

But Lawan, who spoke Monday in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, at the Palace of Shehu of Borno, in company with the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, used the opportunity of the visit to reassure the Borno people that the federal government would continue to work with the state to restore peace and stability in the region.

"I want to take this opportunity to mention that the federal government of Nigeria will continue to work with Borno State government to ensure that there is restoration of peace and stability in this state and in this part of the country," he said.

He stressed that the recent surrender by Boko Haram elements was a good development for the security of the country.

Lawan emphasised that the federal government needed to work with the Borno State government and other states in the North East geo-political zone to ensure that the Boko Haram elements that have been received were appropriately processed.

He said: "Those that have no issues to answer are sanitised and taking back to their communities.

Those that may have issues to answer should be taken through

the legal processes but we must ensure that we encourage Boko Haram elements and those they have taken by force to come out to surrender so that this unnecessary insurgency placed on us comes to an end.

"I believe there is no need for any controversy over what we need to do with people, who surrendered. In any war, in every war, surrender is the ultimate and if we can achieve it, we should do everything and anything possible to encourage more and more to come out so that we are able to come to the end of this unnecessary insurgency that has taken our states back for so many years in terms of development.

"Your Royal Highness, I want to also commend the Governor of Borno State, our brother and friend, who has shown so much commitment, dedication and leadership in ensuring that Borno State, as much as possible, is safe and the people of this state are protected from insurgency.

"The federal government is devoting so much resources for our security agencies to fight and bring insecurity to an end.

Recently, the National Assembly approved over 800 billion naira for our security agencies in a supplementary budget and Mr. President has assured us that he will bring more request for more resources for our security agencies in 2022 appropriation bill, which may be presented at the end of September by the Grace of God. "We pray Almighty God to continue to guide our leaders at all levels, to protect our leaders at all levels and of course, to protect the people of this country," Lawan said.

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NEWS

FARE THEE WELL TO AKPABIO EKPA… L-R: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Amb. Anthonia Akpabio Ekpa; Barr. Akpabio Ekpa; Hon. Justice Theresa Mimi Shija; Dati-Abasi and Dr. Yene Abasi at the funeral service of MfonObong Akpabio Ekpa, son of the Permanent Secretary, in Abuja… recently

Nigeria, Others to Share 10m Doses of AstraZeneca, Pfizer Vaccines As France Partners AU

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

Nigeria and other African Union (AU) member states will receive an additional 10 million doses of AstraZeneca and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines over the next three months through a new partnership between the French government and AU.

The vaccines would be allocated and distributed by the initiative known as the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) and the COVAX global vaccine initiative.

The AVAT initiative was set up as a pooled procurement mechanism for the AU member-states to be able to buy enough vaccines to meet

at least 50 per cent of their needs.

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) explained in a statement yesterday that AVAT worked closely with the COVAX initiative, which sought to provide the other 50 per cent through donations.

AVAT is managed on behalf

of the AU member states by an alliance of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), as well as Afreximbank, which also provides the funding for the acquisition of vaccines.

The statement revealed that

AVAT had already acquired enough vaccines for African countries to vaccinate 400 million people, or one-third of the African population, by September next year, at a cost of $3 billion, supported by an innovative partnership with the World Bank.

The statement said, “Since

Be More Proactive, Creative in Security Management, NGE Tells Govt Dike Onwuamaze The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has described the recent compromise of security at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Afaka, Kaduna State, by gunmen as a worrisome dimension to insecurity challenge in the country.

In a communique announcing the decisions reached by the Standing Committee in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, that was jointly signed by the President, Mustapha Isah and the General Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the NGE called on the government at all levels to be more proactive and creative in tackling insecurity, and also in carrying out their constitutional duty of securing life and property in the country.

The NGE also announced that its 17th All Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC) would hold on October 21st and 22nd, 2021 in Abuja, focusing on the current security challenges in the nation,

with a theme, “Media in Times of Crisis: Resolving Conflict, Achieving Consensus.”

The Guild acknowledged efforts by the government to achieve better results in tackling the nation’s security challenges but said much more need to be done.

It stated: "We acknowledge efforts by the federal government to achieve better results in tackling the nation’s security challenges, but the August 24 compromise of the security of the Nigerian Defence Academy in Afaka, Kaduna State, by gunmen is a worrisome dimension to insecurity.

"We call on the government to be more proactive and creative in the fight against insecurity, and in carrying out its constitutional duty of securing life and property in the country."

The umbrella body of all editors in Nigeria said taking proactive measures was the way

to go in order to push back and arrest the spate of banditry and kidnapping for ransom, which has continued to occur in some parts of the country, in spite of continued onslaught by security forces against the perpetrators.

The NGE also highlighted the constitutional role of the media in holding government officials accountable to the people, while noting that the government has a duty of providing an enabling environment for the media to perform its role devoid of intimidation, with journalists having the responsibility of ensuring they operate in line with the ethics of the profession.

“We restates that a free press remains one of the bedrocks of democracy and nothing must be done to shrink the space.

“We commend the intervention of the Nigeria Press Organisation in protecting the freedom of press in the country,” the Guild stated.

The NGE expressed appreciation to the government and people of Jigawa State for the conducive environment provided during its Standing Committee Meeting in Dutse.

Meanwhile, the editors said this year's All Nigerian Editors Conference (ANAC), the largest gathering of Nigerian editors and owners of newspapers, magazines, radio/television stations and online newspapers in Nigeria would hold at the Nigerian Air Force Conference Centre (NAF) in Abuja between October 21 and 22.

It said the editors conference was aimed at achieving, “consensus and collective agreement," among media owners, managers and senior editors on, "what role to play in helping government resolve the seemingly intractable conflict enveloping the nation today."

The Guild added: "The strong

argument by conflict management experts is that mass media ever so often, plays a key role in conflict.

“Their role may take two different and opposed forms: It is either the media takes an active part in the conflict with obligation for increased violence, or stays independent and out of the conflict, in that way contributing to the resolution of the conflict and mitigation of violence."

The Guild said its annual conference would attract its foreign partners: World Editors Forum (WEF), West African Editors Forum (WAEF), African Editors Forum (AEF), International Press Institute (IPI), World Association of Newspapers (WAN).

Also expected at the two-day conference are top security officers in the country, chief executive officers in the private sector, state governors, lawmakers, academics and others.

the beginning of the pandemic, President Macron of France has been a powerful advocate in support of Africa’s need to have equitable access to vaccines and was the first leader to welcome and acknowledge the efforts of the AU member states to build institutions like AVAT. “He had met several times with AU's leadership and has also travelled to South Africa where the French development agency, Proparco is helping to expand Africa’s largest vaccine manufacturing facility.”

France would also contribute to the World Health Organisation (WHO) supported hub, which would enable mRNA vaccines technology transfer to the African continent.

The French government has been a strong advocate of vaccine sharing in the fight against COVID-19 in order to accelerate global vaccination rates and ensure equitable access to safe and effective immunisation against COVID-19, the statement added.

In April, France became the first country to share doses with COVAX, a global vaccine initiative managed by CEPI, Gavi, WHO, and UNICEF. Through its new partnership with AVAT, the French government will add to these efforts and advance its commitment of sharing at least 60 million doses before the end of 2021.

CJN MOVES TO SAVE JUDICIARY, SUMMONS JUSTICES OVER CONFLICTING COURT ORDERS

Kaduna Shuts Down Weekly Markets in Five Council Areas over Insecurity John Shiklam in Kaduna The Kaduna State government has suspended weekly markets in Birnin Gwari, Chikun, Giwa, Igabi and Kajuru Local Government Areas of the state, over the growing insecurity in the state.

The state government also banned the sell of petrol in jerrycans within and outside the premises of petrol stations in the five LGAs. In a statement on Monday, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the decision was taken following a thorough review of the security situation in the areas.

He added that security personnel have been directed to ensure compliance with the directives.

The statement stated: “After a thorough review of the security situation and recommendations put forward by the security agencies, the Kaduna State Government,wishes to announce the suspension of all

weekly markets in Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Giwa, Chikun and Kajuru local government areas with immediate effect.

“The government has also banned the selling of petrol in jerrycans within and outside premises of petrol stations in the five local government areas listed, with immediate effect.

Security personnel have been directed to ensure compliance with these directives.”

Aruwan, therefore, urged citizens of the areas to cooperate with the government as necessary steps were being taken against banditry and criminality across the state.

He added that the Kaduna State Security Operations Room remained open for receiving useful information on: 09034000060 and 08170189999.

The five LGAs are said to be the worst hit by bandits terrorising the state, with the hoodlums raiding communities, killing and abducting people almost on a daily basis.

of coordinate jurisdiction, I myself will consider that there was warrant for a corruption enquiry.

"That's being said, the CJN, although he has no direct supervisory authority over individual judges, he has the responsibility as the leader of Nigerian Judiciary...in that regard, he has the very least the powers, not coercive power, but we must recognised the fact that judicial discipline is going to come before a committee that he chairs.

"Now, for a judge in a state to give a decision which may well prove to be unfounded and potentially corrupt, the Chief Judge of the state is the person to be held directly responsible. Because the assignment of cases in the state, is a part that belongs to the Chief Judge and if the Chief Judge cannot guarantee that the judges he assigns the cases to or he allows to have cases assigned to them and to conduct themselves in a way that is responsible, that is lawful and that is credible. One needs to wonder about the confidence and the capacity of the Chief judge."

Candide-Johnson noted that there is a mechanism for disciplining judges through the National Judicial Council (NJC) but added that it

has a cumbersome procedure.

He explained that the NJC was primarily concerned with the integrity and the dignity of judges rather than the effectiveness of their functions to the people and accountability to the people who they serve Candide-Johnson said if the people have no confidence in the judges, they have already failed in their function, stressing that the system of accountability needs to be improved to a great degree Mohammed, on his part, said the invitation was a right step in the right direction, wondering why the judges would issue the orders they granted without hearing the other parties.

He said: “The Supreme Court in the case of Onuoha v Okafor (1983) 2 SCNLR has since settled the question of jurisdiction of court to determine issues of membership of political parties.

“The Supreme Court in the recent case of of PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY v. SENATOR ALI MODU SHERRIF & ORS (2017) LPELR-42736(SC) reiterated the point that issues of leadership of political parties are political questions, which the

courts do not exercise jurisdiction over.

“Though facts have their peculiarities, trials courts must be weary of politicians, who use the courts to play political theatrics.”

Also, a legal commentator stated, “Nigerian judge could restrain God Almighty Himself from the very thing that gave us life: creation. You read lawyers asking the court to restraint the president from traveling or restrain the National Assembly from making laws or mandate the National Assembly to support Biafra. The jurisprudence is all over the place. You can literally choose what results you want and find the line of case to get whatever.”

While likening Nigerian law to Nigeria, he said, “No sensible foreign company including those operating in Nigeria today ever agrees to use Nigerian law as applicable law in their contracts with Nigerian entities or Nigeria courts as forum convenience. Even local companies doing business in Nigeria are resorting to foreign laws and foreign jurisdictions for dispute resolution.

“Our legal jurisprudence suffers and local lawyers continue to suffer

in terms of capacity development.

Today, foreign law firms are beginning to encroach into practices that Nigerian law firms should ordinarily be engaged in.

“The big foreign law firms like Dentons, White and Case, Skadden Apps, Ashurst, Norton Rose etc are setting up offices in Nigeria and using their vast experience garnered from practice in multiple jurisdictions to scoop out most of the juicy briefs in telecoms, oil and gas, financing, mergers and acquisitions, trademarks etc. I wonder how many of the known local law firms in Nigeria will still be in existence in the next 15 to 20 years.”

He concluded that Lawyers who aid in the destruction of the nation’s judicial system would one day wake up to realise that the courts have become like motor parks, where rickety injunctions could be obtained by agberos.

Although the CJN has taken a very commendable step, Nigerians would be waiting to see what will come out of it, because “disciplinary process is slow and at times difficult to activate. In the end, no one gets punished,” another lawyer said.

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NEWS

Ondo Gets Anti-Open Grazing Law, Suspends All Activities in Forest Reserves Goddy Egene

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, will today sign the Anti-open Grazing Bill into Law, just as the state government has suspended all activities in the state forest reserves including free areas and flitches with immediate effect.

Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, said the suspension was part of the far-reaching decisions made at the state executive council meeting on Monday.

According to him, the State Security Network codenamed Amotekun has been directed to enforce the council decision, adding that anyone found engaging in any activities at the state forest reserves will be made to face the full extent of the law.

Ojogo explained that the Head of Service had been directed to restructure the Ministry of Natural Resources so as to make it work in tandem with the expectation of the government and serve the interest of the people.

“The council has directed the Head of Service to embark on administrative overall at the Ministry of Natural Resources.

We observed that some interested persons have turned the reserves into their private resources.

Government has suspended all activities in the forest. There are

no more free areas. Amotekun has been mandated to carry out to the fullest the issue of enforcement,” he said.

The spokesman said the state government would soon set up a committee to deal with the issue of the activities in the

forest reserves.

The information commissioner said the council has also decided that all residents of the state must be vaccinated against the Covid-19 pandemic, stressing that the decision was made in view of the ongoing efforts of

the state government to contain the spread of the Delta variant of the virus.

He said the council also approved that residents are giving two weeks ultimatum for vaccination after which evidence of vaccination will be criteria

to access Churches, Mosques, Hospitals and other public places including government offices.

“Aside all existing protocols, all residents in the state must be vaccinated with effect from two weeks from now. After the

expiration of this two weeks, evidence of vaccination will be the condition to access public places, churches, mosques.

The Head of Service has been mandated to drive this process in the public service,” Ojogo stressed.

REGULATOR VISIT MUTUAL BENEFITS…

L - R: Managing Director/CEO, Mutual Benefits Life Assurance Limited, Mr. Ademola Ifagbayi; Commissioner for Insurance/CEO, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr. Sunday Thomas; and MD/CEO, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Femi Asenuga, during the commissioners’ visit to the company in Lagos…yesterday ABIODUN AJALA

Unongo Backs Ortom’s Eight of Igboho’s Associates Finally Regain Freedom Condemnation of Killings in Benue Alex EnumahinAbuja

George Okoh in Makurdi

Elder statesman and former Minister of Steel in the Second Republic, Wantaregh Paul Unongo, has thrown his weight behind Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, insisting that the governor is not inciting sectarian crisis or spreading falsehood in the country.

Unongo, who spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting put together by the state government in Makurdi yesterday, said the message the governor had consistently passed across to the President Muhammadu Buhari and the entire country is that Benue people are being killed like chickens by suspected armed

Fulani herdsmen and that the development was becoming unbearable.

He said Governor Ortom, whom he described as “my son”, is not fighting the President as alluded by the Presidency and some Nigerians in certain quarters but demonstrating his constitutional role.

The former minister, who until recently was a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) expressed disenchantment on the killings, stressing that he was ready to raise two million fighters in 2018 when 73 Benue citizens, who were killed by armed herders were given mass burial in the state.

Eight associates of Yoruba nation agitator, Mr. Sunday Adeyemo, otherwise known as Sunday Igboho, on Monday regained their freedom from the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS).

Their release may not be unconnected to threat by their lawyer, Mr. Pelumi Olajengbesi, to commence committal to prison

process against the Director General of the DSS over his refusal to release them days after a Federal High Court signed the warrant for their release on bail.

The DSS following a mid-night raid on Igboho’s residence in Oyo State on July 1 had arrested 12 persons; 11 males and one female and brought them to Abuja for interrogation.

However, after weeks of

detention with no charges filed against them, the agitators subsequently filed a fundamental human rights enforcement suit against the DSS, asking the court to order for their unconditional release.

In his ruling, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja admitted eight of the applicants to bail in the sum of N5 million each and two sureties

in like sum while the remaining were granted bail in the sum of N10 million because the DSS had opposed their bail.

After perfecting their bail, the court then issued a warrant for their release, but it was alleged that the Director General of the DSS, Mr. Yusuf Bichi blocked lawyers from giving effect to the release warrants since Monday when they were served on him.

Man Bags Six Months’ Jail for Stealing Yam in Kwara Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a 28-year-old man, Abubakar Banni, for stealing yam tubers from people’s farms in Tenebo village, Kaiama Local Government Area of the state.

THISDAY checks revealed that

the suspected thief had formed the habit of stealing tubers of yam from people’s farms in the area on a daily basis in recent time.

In a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the state command of the NSCDC, Mr. Babawale Afolabi, the Corps said: “The suspect was arrested yesterday at about 6 a.m. by one Ismaila Ebbo Mohammed and

his neighbours in Kaiama.

“According to the complainants, the Fulani boy has been stealing their yam tubers in the farm on a daily basis. “The suspect had confessed to have committed the crime, and immediately, the state Commandant of NSCDC, Makinde Iskil Ayinla, gave the directive that he should be charged to court.

“Abubakar Bani has been charged to Kaiama Magistrate Court immediately, just as the suspect pleaded guilty to the crimes.

“He was, therefore, sentenced to six months imprisonment

by Magistrate Yusuf Kide, for criminal trespass and theft at New Bussa Correctional Centre in Niger State.”

NLNG Denies Responsibility Ondo: Residents Seal Akure BEDC Office over High Estimated Billings alleged nonchalant attitude of BEDC’s Business Manager, Mr. Meters;” “BEDC is Cheating Sowole in Akure for Rising Cooking Gas Price James the BEDC, towards improving Andrew from entry.

Us,” “We Are Ready to Pay for It took the intervention of What We Consume,” among The Residents of Graceland their services despite efforts of

Peter Uzoho

As the rise in price of Liquefied Natural Gas (LPG) commonly known as cooking gas continues to escalate and some fingers being pointed towards the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited as part of the cause, the company has denied the allegation.

NLNG said it was erroneous that it contributed to the supply shortfall of cooking gas in Nigeria and consequent hike in the price of the product in Nigeria.

The continuous rise in the price of cooking gas has plunged many users of the product, particularly the low income earners and rural residents into using firewood and charcoal

to cook.

THISDAY’s check revealed that currently, a 12.5 kilogram (kg) of LPG now costs between N6,000 to N7,000 to fill in some locations in the county while it now costs marketers an average of N8 million to import 20 million tons of the product into Nigeria as against between N6.8 to N7.2 million it was a few months ago.

NLNG in a statement issued yesterday and signed by its General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Mrs Eyono Fatayi-Williams, in response to a publication (not in THISDAY) said the price of LPG in the domestic market was dependent on several market factors, including the forces of demand and supply.

Estate, Obaile, in the outskirt of Akure, the Ondo State capital, yesterday sealed off the Akure office of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), over alleged crazy electricity bills.

The residents also decried

the landlords and landladies of the estate.

The card carrying protesters, who occupied the BEDC’s head office in Akure, as early as 8:30 a.m., locked the entrance gate of the company and refused to allow the workers including the

soldiers on duty at the BEDC’s office to allow some staff to go about their duties.

Some of the placards carried by the protesting residents read: “We say no to crazy bills: “We don’t want estimated billings;” “BEDC, Give us Pre-Paid

others.

Speaking with journalists, the Chairman of the Graceland Estate, Mr. Popoola Martins, said they have paid for pre paid metres but the electricity firm refused to provide the metres for them.

Rivers CJ Tasks Staff on Performance Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, has urged staff of the state judiciary to improve on their job performances and services delivering.

Justice Amadi gave the advice on Monday in Port Harcourt,

during a workshop organize for staff of the state judiciary with the theme “Repositioning the staff of the state judiciary for effective service delivery”.

The CJ described the registrars, assistants and other categories of staff of the Judiciary as important and integral part in the judiciary administration, adding that they play a crucial role in the

administration of justice service delivery in the society.

He disclosed that the essence of the workshop was to equip them for the task ahead and improve the standard of their job performances and service delivery in line with the present administration mandate of which centered on effective service delivery.

According the CJ, the duties and responsibilities of the judiciary staff are very important, as no court or courts can function with out the registrars and other categories of the staff.

“You are all aware of your roles, no court can function without registrars, assistant registrars and other support staffs.

TUESDAY AUGUST 31, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS XTRA

NAFDAC Advises Nigerians on Use of Herbal Medicines Onyebuchi Ezigbo inAbuja The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has advised Nigerians to use herbal medicines with utmost care in order to prevent avoidable deaths and complications.

She further advised against simultaneous use of both herbal and conventional medicines by members of the public.

Adeyeye gave the warning in Abuja, in a message to mark the World Herbal Medicine Day holding today.

Adeyeye said: “The general public should use herbal medicine with care. First of all, we don’t know the quantity that you are supposed to take. And the fact that it is natural doesn’t mean it is not toxic.’

Speaking further, she said, “toxicity is not about the volume consumed. It is not about the amount. Something can be in a micro quantity and kill. It just depends on the type of drug or chemical.

“It is extremely important not take it as you see it. Just because you prepare it in your house doesn’t mean you can drink it like water. It may be dangerous,” she added.

She also advised that for safety reasons, no liquid herbal formulation should be ingested

after 14 days of preparation, saying such medication should always be refrigerated.

The NAFDAC DG, in a statement by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola yesterday, further explained that after 14 days of being liquid, it may start to develop bacteria that

could make people sick.

“It’s the measure, quantity and then the stability,” she added.

Adeyeye explained that the problem associated with herbal medicine are many because, “our people don’t understand that it is all supposed to be driven by science.”

“If you prepare herbal medicine in liquid form you don’t know how stable the medicine is going to be in water. If it is not stable and it is degrading to another thing, it may hurt,” she added.

She cited example of those who engage in hawking herbal drugs on the streets under the

scorching sun, saying the heat generated could have a way of causing decomposition of the active ingredients in the medicines being sold, which may pose significant health risks to those buying and consuming these preparations.

“That’s why herbal medicine in Nigeria has to be handled with

care. Some people take herbal medicine as vaccines. No, herbal medicines are derived from plants mostly, sometimes from animals in few cases. Vaccines are different.

Vaccines are from human or animal cells that have been programmed to elicit immunologic effects in the body,” she posited.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY…

L-R: Head, Private Banking Division, Investment One Financial Services Limited, Mr. Akindele Ogundepo; Chief Financial Officer, Sam Enuechusue; Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration, Bassey Ewah; Divisional Police Officer, Ikoyi Police Station, CSP Mustapha Tijani; and Chief Technology Officer, Fisayo Fagbemi, at the inauguration of borehole facility by the company in Falomo Police Barracks in Ikoyi Lagos….recently

Edo Community Protests FG Distributes Cash to Beneficiaries of Poverty Alleviation Programme in Lagos Illegal Activities of Herdsmen Segun James

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city The sleepy town of Ogbona in Etsako Local Government Area of Edo State yesterday in Benin-city, the state capital, protested what they described as “illegal activities of Fulani herdsmen in their community,” demanding they leave their domain immediately.

The agrarian community, located about 200km North-east of Benin-city, is the hometown of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Vice Chairman, South-south, Chief Dan Orbih.

The protesters were armed with different placards with various inscriptions such as ‘Ogbona People of Etsako Central LGA Protest against Cattle Rearers Destroying

our Land’; ‘Ogbona People of Edo North are Farmers.

Government Come to our Aid as our Crops are Being Destroyed

by Herdsmen’, among others.

The protesting community marched through some major streets in Benin-city to register their displeasure.

Spokesman of the community, Chief Vincent Usoh, accused the herdsmen of wanton destruction of their farmlands and crops with their cattle.

Usoh lamented that the cattle rearers allegedly uprooted their cassava to feed their cattle while trampling on other crops in their farms.

He further disclosed that yam tubers were not spared in the destruction spree by the herdsmen and their cattle.

The federal government has commenced the fifth and sixth bimonthly cash payment exercise to support the poor and vulnerable in Lagos State.

The aim of the programme is to improve consumption, reduce poverty and prevent vulnerable households from falling further

down the poverty line.

The state focal person on National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) and Commissioner, Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke, who flagged off the payment in Apapa Local Government Area, said the support would help to build the beneficiaries’ resilience to withstand shocks. She

explained that the major benefit of the programme is capacity building, which are built at all tiers to enhance empowerment of beneficiaries’ household to be self-reliant.

Arobieke further stated that training was carried out at three tiersofficers at the state level and local government level are trained, who in turn cascade the training to the

beneficiaries in their communities.

“Beneficiaries are trained on Life Skill (LS) and Savings Group Mobilisation and Micro Business Development (SGMB) which is targeted at enabling the beneficiaries to save form cooperative groups; make financial plans and engage in viable business activities within their communities in order to strengthen their livelihood activities..”

Ganduje Opposes Legalisation of Cannabis as Marwa Visits Kano Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has opposed any attempt to legalise cannabis sativa in Nigeria, even as he vowed that no lawmaker from the state will support such bid in the National Assembly.

Ganduje made the declaration yesterday when the Chairman/

Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), led top officials of the agency on a courtesy visit to him as part of his ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy visit to the state.

The governor said Marwa is very important to Kano

State and Nigeria because of the significance of his current assignment, which is equally key to winning the battle against insecurity in the country.

While granting the requests for land and accommodation for a zonal command, the governor assured his guest that beside the stand of the state government against

drug abuse and trafficking, the predominant religion in the state, Islam, is against the twin evils of drug abuse and trafficking.

He said Kano State has the highest number of federal lawmakers in the National Assembly, adding that none of them will support any attempt to legalise cannabis.

Relocate from Kogi Now, New CP Warns Criminals Enugu CP Solicites to perpetrate evil in any part Lokoja yesterday, explained Ayuba Ede, stopped in a bid Oyewale in Lokoja Cooperation of Paramilitary Ibrahim of the state, as they will be that the state is a familiar to curb criminality in the state, Kogi State Commissioner of made to face stiff opposition terrain to him, stressing adding that Ede had done Police, Idris Dauda Dabban, from the security operatives that he was formerly the excellently well in the fight for Improved Security Deputy Commissioner of against criminals in the state. has warned criminals in the of the command.

Gideon Arinze in Enugu

The Commissioner of Police for Enugu State, Mr. Lawal Abubakar, has solicited cooperation from paramilitary formations in the state to ensure the sustenance of safety and security in the state.

Abubakar, in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP. Daniel Ndukwe, spoke during his familiarisation visits to paramilitary formations in the state where he sought the consolidation of existing partnerships and support of the paramilitary security agencies

in containing both existing and emerging acts of crime and criminality.

He noted that it was only through collaborative efforts that the goal of providing safety and security could be provided for citizens and residents in the state.

He said: “We must work together to tap and gain from each individual agency’s strength through partnership, joint patrols and brainstorming meetings as well.”

In their separate responses, the paramilitary agencies assured the commissioner of police of their maximum support and cooperation.

state to relocate from the state, as the state Police Command will make the state a hell for criminal elements.

He pledged that no criminals would be allowed

Dabban, who gave the warning while speaking shortly after resuming as the new state police commissioner at the Police Command headquarters in

Police in charge Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) in the state before he went for advanced course.

He vowed to continue from where his predecessor, AIG

Dabban appeal to all rank and file of the command to cooperate with the new management, noting that new strategies will be deployed to combat crimes in the state.

Kwara Gov Meets Fulani Leaders, Seeks Partnership on Security, Devt

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday met with the Fulani community in the state, reassuring them of fair treatment and urging them to work with the government and other stakeholders to prevent

crimes and guarantee peace and security for all.

In a statement issued in Ilorin by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye ,after the meeting, the governor stated that, “The Fulani in Kwara, like other communities in the state, will receive government’s protection and patronage in

terms of infrastructure projects and social security programmes”.

The meeting was attended by Fulani leaders and representatives from across the 16 local government areas of the state.

It came a few weeks after the governor held consultative meetings with traditional rulers and grassroots influencers

focusing on peaceful coexistence and security.

AbdulRazaq said the meeting was to forge a consensus on how to manage herders-farmers’ relationship amid ultimatums on cattle grazing in some southern states and mass movement of herders to the north, especially Kwara.

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NEWS XTRA

Oil Edges Higher as Producers Assess Hurricane Ida Damage Goddy EgenewithAgencyReport Oil edged higher in New York as offshore explorers assess damage from Hurricane Ida and as investors shift focus to an Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)+ meeting that could see more supply added to the market.

Futures in New York were trading just over $69 a barrel after falling as much as 1.6 per cent earlier. While Gulf of Mexico producers had shut in about 1.7 million barrels a day of crude output ahead of the storm, refineries in Louisiana may be slower to bring back operations.

“The market is regarding the impact on crude production as minimal at this point from Ida unlike refining,” said Bart Melek, head of global commodity strategy at TD Securities. “This means less demand for feed as refiners have a reduced capacity, which could see crude scarcity worries go away.”

Gasoline futures spiked more than 4.0 per cent earlier in the session before paring their advance. About 2.11 million barrels a day of refining capacity –about 12 per cent of the U.S. total — was being shut or brought to reduced rates at plants along the Mississippi

River on Sunday.

Both crude oil and gasoline have been hit by volatile trading this month as investors weighed the challenge to consumption posed by the resurgence of the pandemic in parts of Asia, the

U.S. and Europe. Meanwhile, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners will meet later this week and are expected to go ahead with an increase in output.

Hurricane Ida pummeled New Orleans and the Louisiana coast overnight with lashing rain and ferocious gusts, leaving much of the region without electricity and bracing for widespread floods. The

storm drove a wall of water inland when it thundered ashore Sunday as a Category 4 hurricane and reversed the course of part of the Mississippi River.

After Ida passed the Gulf,

a flyover by the U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday afternoon showed Royal Dutch Shell Plc-operated Mars, Olympus and Ursa crude and natural gas platforms remained on location.

REDTV’S NEW OFFERINGS…

L-R: Cast members, RED TV’s Assistant Madams, Dark Hearts, Sharon Onoja; Cynthia Nwadiora; Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu; other cast members, Osas Ighodaro; Dillish Matthews; Enado Odigie; and Producer of Assistant Madams, Mr. Tola Odunsi, at the private screening of RED TV’s Assistant Madams, Dark Hearts in Lagos in Lagos…recently

IPOB: Again, Anambra Shuts Coalition Protests Obaseki’s Compulsory COVID-19 Vaccination The state Governor, Godwin is causing devastating effects through the streets of Benin-city Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city Down as NSCDC Denies Obaseki, at a briefing last week, across the country, hence with placards with various Some members of the civil stated that for residents in the the need to introduce stiffer inscription such as ‘Obaseki Attack on Personnel society organisations in Benin- state to access large gatherings measures to reduce the effect. Can’t Force Us to Take David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

For the fourth Monday in a row, streets, markets, banks, schools, motor parks and other public offices were yesterday shut down in Anambra State in observance of the sit-at-home order already called off by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

IPOB had a month ago called for the shutdown of the Southeast economy every Monday in solidarity with its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is being detained by the federal government, and undergoing trial.

After the first Monday of the exercise, which was adjudged to have been wholly complied

with, the group suspended the exercise following a wide outcry by the people on the danger it portends for the South-east economy.

The group said the exercise would only hold on days Kanu would be taken to court.

But three Mondays since after its suspension, cities in the South-east region, especially in Anambra State, have continued to observe the exercise.

In Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka, Anambra State, yesterday, THISDAY, who went round the towns to monitor the situation, observed that markets, streets and motor parks were all deserted. Banks and other public offices were also shut down.

city, the Edo State capital, yesterday protested against plan by the state government to make it compulsory for residents of the state to take anti-COVID-19 vaccine before accessing large gathering in the state.

like churches, mosques, banks, wedding or burial receptions among others, they must present vaccination certificate from the second week of September.

Obaseki had stated that the third wave of the COVID-19

But yesterday, some civil society groups defiled the early morning downpour in the state to protest against the state government planned compulsory inoculation.

The protesters, who marched

COVID-19 vaccines’; ‘I Have the Right to Go to Mosque’; ‘We Have Right to Decide’, among others, said the plan by the government is tantamount to trampling on the fundamental rights of the citizens.

2023: Group Demands 40% of Elective Positions for Female Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja A women advocacy group, Nigerian Feminist Forum (NFF), has called on the 18 registered political parties in Nigeria to reserve 40 per cent of their executive positions for women.

The group also called on the parties to present female candidates in the 2023 general

election.

It unfolded its position during a press conference on Monday in Abuja where it highlighted the merits and demerits of women exclusion and exploitation by their male counterparts.

This is coming at a time that the advocacy group feels that the women in Nigeria are being subjected to inhuman treatment and not given enough space

to contribute to national development NFF Communications Officer, Angela Nkwo, stated that the group demands for 40 per cent quota in all the 18 registered political parties “The NFF calls for a 40 per cent quota system strictly for women across the 18 accredited political parties for the 2023 general elections.

“We demand female inclusion urgently, and adoption of gender equality across all spheres in Nigeria “We demand that women be fielded as governorship candidates especially the supposed big controlling parties. All political parties make women their national chairpersons, especially the top-rated.

Imo Community in Diaspora Onyeama Appeals to Embassies over Growing Cases of Kidnapping of kidnapping in Nigeria. Human Rights Commission required to buy the needed ICT Condemns Attack on Oil Workers Michael Olugbode inAbuja casesOnyeama, who was (NHRC) and the CLEEN and equipment to check against Peter Uzoho The Ohaji People in Diaspora (OPID) has condemned the recent attack on oil workers affiliated to one of the oil companies operating in Assa, Ohaji in Imo State by unknown gunmen, which led to the death of not less than four men and left several others severely injured.

The OPID said the attack occurred on a bus conveying the Lee Engineering Company (LEC) workers on the Etekeuru-Assa Road in OhajiEgbema Local Government Area of the state.

The group, in a statement that was signed by its President, Mr. Mezie Lawson Treasure, called on relevant authorities to thoroughly

investigate, unmask and prosecute the perpetrators of the unfortunate incident.

It, however, advised law enforcement agencies to be professional in their investigations and ensure that innocent citizens of the area were not made to suffer abuse of their fundamental human rights.

The statement reads; “We, the entire members of OPID, totally and unreservedly condemn the recent attack on the bus conveying LEC’s workers on the Etekwuru-Assa Road in Ohaji /Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.

“The attack led to the death of about four oil workers and several others injured while on their way to their facility in Assa community.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, has appealed to foreign embassies in the country to assist Nigeria in getting their home governments to assist country to procure ICT and other needed equipment it would need to check the growing

represented by the Director, Consular and Legal Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bolaji Akinremi, at the public lecture to mark the “2021 International Day of the Disappeared,” which was organised by the National

Foundation, said that incidences of kidnapping and abduction in the country has become worrisome and required urgent attention.

He said that Nigeria needed assistance from friendly nations to afford the large financial outlay

the upsurge in kidnapping.

The minister lamented that kidnapping affected both Nigerians and foreigners who are being kidnapped on a daily basis in the country, adding that “this has become a thing of worries to the country.

Jos Crisis: NANS Wants Families of Slain Students Compensated Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), has assured Nigerians that the body would press for adequate compensations for the families of killed students and those who lost valuables in the recent Jos crisis.

The NANS bemoaned the upsurge of religious and communal crises in the

country, especially in Plateau State, which culminated in the deaths of students and country’s future leaders, and demanded that these gory incidents must be halted to safeguard the future of the Nigerian nation.

The NANS said it was burdened and overwhelmed by the spate of killings and kidnappings of students in the North-west and North-central

states of the country.

The National President of NANS, Mr. Sunday Asefon, said yesterday these in a statement that was made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti.

Asefon disclosed that the NANS would holds a National Security Summit on October 28 to harness intellectual capacities of various groups in the country to tackle the

ugly trends.

He said: “The NANS under our leadership will vigorously pursue compensations for the families of our slain members and many students who lost valuables to this emergency.

We call on government at all levels, security agencies to ensure that perpetrators of this evil are brought to book and made to face the full weight of the law.

45

TUESDAY, ͻ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

24 Super Eagles in Gym Session as Camp Opens for Liberia in Lagos

PLAYERS IN CAMP Super Eagles Head Coach, Gernot Rohr (third right) addressing the team shortly after their light, gym work out in Lagos...yesterday Duro Ikhazuagbe Super Eagles preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualification match-day 1 clash with the Lone Star of Liberia kicked off yesterday with light gym workout with 24 players present.

As expected, all the usual suspects were at the team’s Eko Hotel & Suites camp with Captain Ahmed Musa leading 23 other players.

Those in camp include; Maduka Okoye, Terem Moffi, Jamilu Collins, Valentine Ozornwafor, Innocent Bonke, Moses Simon, Shehu Abdullahi, Samuel Kalu, Daniel Akpeyi, Adekunle Adeleke, Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Oghenekaro Etebor, Francis Uzoho, Henry Onyekuru, Chidera Ejuke, Kingsley Michael, Wilfred Ndidi and Kenneth Omeruo.

Leon Balogun, Tyronne Ebuehi, Ola Aina and William TroostEkong were the last quartet to arrive Eagles camp last night to swell the list of those in camp to 24 players.

The three-time African champions will tango with the Lone Star of Liberia at the Teslim Balogun Stadium from

5pm on Fridayin one of the Match-day 1 clashes, with the Eagles flying out of Lagos to the island of Mindelo to take on the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde in aMatch-day 2 fixture on Tuesday, 7th September.

Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, confirmed yesterday that only midfielder Joseph Ayodele-Aribo and forward Paul Onuachu are expected to come into town today.

Eagles will have their first training session at the Teslim Balogun Stadium today.

Meanwhile, Media Officer of the Super Eagles, Babafemi Raji, has dismissed online media reports that the team was thrown out of the gym by an official of the hotel.

According to the Media Officer of the Super Eagles, Babafemi Raji who was present at the gym session, it was a minor misunderstanding between an assistant manager at the hotel and his members of staff on the usage of the gym facilities.

"We were scheduled to train just within the hotel with the gym session coming first then the outdoor volley session next.

“However, just as we were wrapping up the gym session,

Oluwafemiayo Strikes Gold, Sets Paralympics Games World Record Team Nigeria increased her medals haul at the ongoing Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan yesterday with a gold and a silver medals in ParaPowerlifting.

Oluwafemiayo Folashade won Team Nigeria's third gold medal of the Games with a world record performance,

lifting 152kg to underline her complete dominance of the event.

Obiji Loveline who lifted 147kg in the +86kg category was only good enough for the silver.

Nigeria now has three gold, one silver and two bronze medals after Day Eight of competition in Tokyo, Japan.

W O R L D C U P 2 0 2 2 Q UA L I F I E R S one of the hotel’s managers came in to inspect and while the team trained at another section of the gym just doing light stretches, he yelled at his members of staff and that caused a distraction to the team's session which, although light, required concentration.

“While the back and forth

between the manager of the hotel, his staff and some officials of the Super Eagles was on, the gym session continued and lasted 45 minutes, which was 15 minutes more than the earlier scheduled 30 minutes,” observed Raji.

He further stressed that it was after the work out in the gym

that Coach Rohr called the entire team together to give instructions on the next agenda which was the volley outdoor session," the Media Officer clarifies.

Friday’s encounter will be the first FIFA World Cup qualifying game in Lagos since the Eagles defeated the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the adjacent National Stadium, Surulere in June 2000.

Tyronne Ebuehi, Leon Balogun, Ola Aina, William Troost-Ekong, Maduka Okoye, Terem Moffi, Jamilu Collins, Valentine Ozornwafor, Innocent Bonke, Moses Simon, Shehu Abdullahi, Ahmed Musa, Samuel Kalu, Daniel Akpeyi, Adekunle Adeleke, Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Oghenekaro Etebor, Francis Uzoho, Henry Onyekuru, Chidera Ejuke, Kingsley Michael, Wilfred Ndidi, Kenneth Omeruo

Amuneke to Miss out of Kano Pillars’ Top Job Interview Femi Solaja The wish of former Super Eagles forward, Emmanuel Amuneke, to start another stint of football management in the country may have suffered a temporary set-back as he will not be available to attend the interview for the vacant post of Technical Adviser of Kano Pillars FC scheduled to hold tomorrow in the ancient city.

The former FC Barcelona player, alongside ex-Super Eagles assistant coach, Salisu Yusuf, are among the six coaches being considered to fill the vacant Technical Adviser position at the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side.

Other intending coaches include; Busari Hakeem Ishola, Erol Akay, Henry Makinwa and former Enyimba manager, Usman Abd’Allah are also in line for the exalted position.

However, Amuneke whose recent stint on the local scene was guiding the Golden Eaglets to win the U-17 World Cup in Chile in 2015. He was previously an assistant coach when Nigeria dominated the cadet World Cup with Coach Manu Garba

Emmanuel Amuneke...not available for Kano Pillars job in charge.

“I applied for the position and would be willing to contribute my quota to the development of the game after my playing career and coaching at the cadet level in the country,” begins Amuneke.

“I will not be able to come down (from his base in Spain) due to the fact that the notice of invitation was rather too short

and the logistics to be at the venue were not enumerated.

“I received an email in my base here in Spain at the weekend stating the date, venue and time of the (Kano Pillars job) interview but no other details were listed. I replied the email, seeking further clarification and up till this moment (Monday), no reply or further communication

has been established with the management whom I still hold in high regards anyway,” Amuneke explained in telephone interview with THISDAY yesterday.

The former African Footballer of the Year recipient has experienced coaching in Nigeria’s top-flight having held the reins at Julius Berger and Ocean Boys.

He has also coached and qualified Taifa Stars of Tanzania to AFCON 2019 finals for their first time since 1980 and lately had a stint at Egyptian top-flight side Misr lel-Makkasa.

Kano Pillars, in a statement released by the club’s Media Officer, Idris Malikawa, said the shortlisted coaches were selected from a list of over 25 coaches who applied for the job.

“The six shortlisted candidates are expected to appear before the technical committee of the club for an interview tomorrow (Wednesday) “ the statement added.

The best of the candidates will replace Ibrahim Musa who won the AITEO Cup with Pillars in 2019 but left the post after failing meet the club’s target of league win, rather the club finished fifth on the log.

46

TUESDAY, ͻ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

SPORTS SUMMER TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY... SUMMER TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY

City, Chelsea, United Lead in £16bn Spent on Transfers in 10 Years Manchester City have spent more money on transfers than any club in the world in the past ten years, aFIFA report has revealed as the shifting dynamics of transfers in modern football is underscored.

The past 10 years has seen the world transfer record shattered three times, with transfer fees entering nine figures for the first time in the sport's history. Now, a new report has laid out the eye-watering numbers behind international transfers.

FIFA’s ‘Ten Years of International Transfer Report’ has detailed the huge sums involved in transfers from 2011-2020, with English clubs unsurprisingly at the heart of the big-money moves.

And City, who have developed into a European powerhouse during this timeframe as a result of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan's ownership, top a list of the 30 top spending clubs in the world.

All 30 clubs are European, with City leading the way ahead of second-placed Chelsea, while Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid make up the remaining places in the top five.

FIFA have not attributed exact figures to each club's spending, but highlight that City have completed 130 incoming transfers, 59.2 per cent of which have been with fees - meaning they have not been free signings or loan deals.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have completed 95 incoming transfers, 80 per cent of which have been with fees.

A global total of $48.5bn (£35.3bn) was spent on international transfer expenditure from 2011-2020, with English clubs accounting for over a quarter of that figure with a staggering $12.4bn (£9bn).

In total, the top 30 spending

SPORTS BUSINESS clubs spent a combined $22.5bn (£16.35bn) on transfers during this time, equating to 47 per cent of the whole sum.

12 of the top 30 clubs hail from England. They include City, Chelsea, Man United, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, Leicester, Southampton, Wolves, Everton, West Ham and Newcastle.

English clubs spent big, but also lost big. The report further outlined that English clubs made a net loss of £5.2bn from 2011-2020.

City were 11th-highest in terms of fees received over the same period, with 44.6 per cent of their 307 outgoing international transfers and loans involving them featuring a fee.

City were involved in 232 outgoing loans or loan extensions, according to the report.

Benfica, the Portuguese club which sold star defender Ruben Dias to City in the 2020 summer window, earned the most from international transfer fees, the report found.

The report said 14 deals were completed which involved a transfer fee of $100m (£72.65m) or more, with Argentinian winger Angel Di Maria featuring in two of them.

The average international transfer fee paid by the top 30 spending clubs peaked at $17.8m (just under £13m) in 2018, dropping to $14.4m (£10.5m) in 2020.

The report also found solidarity contributions from transfers - which are paid to clubs in recognition of their role in the training and development of a player - has sharply declined, with the 2020 figure of $38.5m (£30m) only just above the $38m (£29.6m) recorded in 2011. The

contributions peaked at $67.7m (49.2m) in 2018.

FIFA is working on establishing a Clearing House which it hopes will ensure these payments are fully and quickly distributed to the clubs and academies involved.

The past 10 years has also

seen the influence of agents grow massively, with the term 'superagent' attached to the likes of Jorge Mendes and Mino Raiola.

FIFA says that agents' fees have risen from $131.1m in 2011 to $640.5m in 2019.

In total, $3.5bn has been spent on agents' fees over the decade, with England accounting for £919m of that sum.

Kylian Mbappe...eyes Real Madrid move Ancelotti.

Real Madrid have tried to remain confident of landing Mbappe despite their second bid of €180m (£154m) being knocked back

by Paris Saint-Germain President Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

The improved offer, confirmed by the Spanish club to UK’s Sportsmail, of €170m (£145m) plus €10m (£9m) in add-ons was tabled on Thursday but Al-Khelaifi responded: “Our position is clear.

We will not change it or repeat it.”

PSG had reacted angrily to Madrid's first bid on Tuesday of €160m (£137m).

expensive transfer ever, although they too do not feature in the list for most costly transfers from 2011-2020.

Barcelona are responsible for three of the top six transfers in that timespan, with Antoine Griezmann, Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele costing £346m. The club recently announced a total debt of £1.15bn.

Manchester City’s Manager, Pep Guardiola (right) giving brief to new addition to the Etihad club, Jack Grealish ...recently

PSG, Real Madrid Call off Talks on Mbappe, Third Bid Rejected Kylian Mbappe's stunning transfer to Real Madrid is reportedly off after the Spanish club ended talks with Paris Saint-Germain.

Mbappe has been linked with a £154million move to La Liga and was keen on a new challenge at the Bernabeu.

But with time running out in the transfer window, negotiations between the two European titans have broken down.

Real Madridmade a total of three bids for the World Cup-winning Frenchman, who is out of contract in Paris in 2022.

Real Madrid's first bid of £137million for Mbappe was swiftly rejected by the Ligue 1 giants before Los Blancos returned with an improved offer of £145million.

But once again, Paris SaintGermain rejected Real Madrid's third bid and according to reports from French publication Telefoot, talks between the two clubs have now ended.

French daily newspaper L'Equipe had reported that a third and final offer of £172m could be made to force PSG into cashing in on their star striker but all that is in the cooler for now.

Mbappe, 22, has been Madrid's top priority for some time, with Los Blancos keen to land the Frenchman during Zinedine Zidane's tenure and the objective remains the same under Carlo

Despite leading the way for total spent on transfers, City do not feature in the top ten most expensive transfers for 2011-2020, although this summer's arrival of Jack Grealish, for £100m, is the sixth-most expensive transfer in history.

Chelsea's £97.5m signing of Romelu Lukaku this transfer window is the seventh-most

Sporting Director Leonardo accused the 13 times European cup holders of “illegal and disrespectful behaviour.”

Nonetheless, Real Madrid remain in position with club Director, Emilio Butragueno, speaking at the Champions League draw, saying the Spanish club was 'calm and patient' over its push to sign the 22-year-old forward.

Mbappe started for PSG on Sunday night despite the speculation and performed superbly on what he described as the 'perfect night', scoring twice in a 2-0 win over Reims in which

Lionel Messi made his debut.

That performance will do little to loosen PSG's grip on one of the game's brightest young stars and Real know they face a fight with the window ready to close.

They want Mbappe to make his LaLiga debut on September 11 when Real Madrid return to the Santiago Bernabeu in front of a reduced 40,000 capacity.

Despite the pandemic wiping €300m (£257m) off revenue since the pandemic they say two frugal summers without a major signing have left them in a position to smash their transfer record for the French forward.

Madrid made no signings last summer and have so far signed only David Alaba on a free transfer from Bayern Munich, while selling Martin Odegaard to Arsenal and Raphael Varane to Manchester United.

Real boss Carlo Ancelotti refused to be drawn on his side's pursuit of Mbappe when he spoke to the media on Friday.

PSG have landed Messi, Sergio Ramos and Gianluigi Donnarumma this summer among other big names but Mbappe is said to be desperate to move to the Bernabeu.

He has continued to turn down new contract offers and it is understood to be his 'dream' to play for the Spanish giants.

Cristiano Ronaldo Passes Manchester United Medical Cristiano Ronaldo has passed his medical ahead of his blockbuster return to Manchester United.

The Red Devils confirmed on Friday that they had reached an agreement with Juventus to bring the fan favourite back to Old Trafford, 12 years after he left the club for Real Madrid.

The news came just hours after it emerged that Man United were even in the running for his signature, with cross-town rivals Manchester City having previously been expected to bring the 36-year-old back to the Premier League.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side will pay just £12.9m up front for the club legend, with a further £6.7m in add-ons.

Man United’s announcement confirmed that the deal was subject to personal terms, a medical and a visa, but two of those three issues are now understood to have been resolved.

Sky Sports News reports that Ronaldo has now completed his medical, having undergone it in Lisbon over the weekend.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has also agreed personal terms on a two-year deal which will see him take a £6m pay cut, but still become the highest-paid player in Premier League history.

Gaining a visa is also not expected to be a problem, paving the way for Ronaldo to finalise his vaunted return

to Old Trafford before today’s 11pm transfer deadline.

Ronaldo will join up with his new teammates after the international break, and could be in line to make his second debut for the club against Newcastle United on September 11.

The Portugal international scored 118 goals in 292 games during his first stint at Old Trafford, helping the club to three Premier League titles, one Champions League, two League Cups, an FA Cup, a FIFA Club World Cup and the Community Shield.

Cristiano Ronaldo...back at Old Trafford to pick up from where he stopped 13 years ago in Red Devils colours

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY AUGUST 31, 2021

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Tuesday August 31, 2021

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Price: N250

MISSILE Peterside to NNPC “There is an allegation that Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) dipped their fingers in the Federation Cookie Jar in order to announce bumper 2020 profits; they should come clean and publish details of all dividends received by them and tell us which ones they recently diverted from the Federation to themselves” ––IBTC Stanbic Bank founder, Atedo Peterside, doubting NNPC’s claim that it made N287bn profit, and challenges it to be transparent.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

PDP House of Commotion T

he People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s main opposition party, is currently in the throes of a commotion that threatens to destroy the party’s capability to put up any strong showing in the 2023 general elections. Party stakeholders argue that there are enough strong internal mechanisms that would rescue the party and restore it to good health, but those mechanisms do not seem to be working. It may not be too long before the party finds itself on oxygen support, as it struggles with a self-inflicted ailment that is threatening to become a pandemic.

At the height of its power, the PDP was in charge of Nigeria as the dominant political party for 16 years: the party that produced Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo (1999 -2007), Umaru Musa Yar’Ádua (2007 -2010) and Goodluck Jonathan (2010 -2015). In 1999, with the return to democratic rule, the PDP held 214 seats in the House of Representatives.

This increased to 263 in 2007, but dropped to 208 and later 137 in 2011. As of 2007, the party controlled 28 states, and 87 seats in the Senate, this dropped to 71 seats in 2011. That same year, PDP was left with 23 Governors. Up till 2011, it controlled 23 states of the Federation out of 36, plus the FCT. Today, the PDP is a minority party although it bears the comforting title of Nigeria’s major opposition party. The changing fortunes of the PDP in terms of its scope of control over the legislative and executive arms of government indicated a greater crisis.

The best illustration of this was how the party lost the 2015 general elections to an emergent Special Purpose Vehicle called the All Progressives Congress (APC) – an association of strange political bedfellows whose only ambition was to put an end to the Jonathan administration and the PDP’s continued stay in power. By the time the 2015 elections ended, PDP lost the Presidency. It was down to 13 PDP Governors. It also lost its majority status in the National Assembly. Many of its leaders abandoned the party. They include Alhaji Adamu Muazu, then Chairman of the PDP, former Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr-Fix-It, Chief Anthony Anenih. In 2015, the PDP could not fix anything. Much damage had been done earlier to the party when former President Olusegun Obasanjo who served for eight years as President under the platform of the PDP publicly directed that his party membership should be torn into pieces.

There have been many theories as to why the PDP lost steam and eventually the 2015 General elections. The commonest submission is that after 16 years in office, the party could not manage its success, or that the party had been taken over by those who wanted a Northern President and no-second-term for Jonathan or nothing. But whereas one side of the story does not usually capture the full scope of a manifold experience, it was true that the PDP was sabotaged by the crisis of internal democracy, and the many tendencies within the party pursuing their own narrow interests without a thought for the future. The eventual pain that the party suffered was self-inflicted. The party played into the hands of both fifth columnists and the opposition. It will be recalled that in August 2013, the Convention of the party at the Eagle Square in Abuja witnessed an unusual spectacle.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and the governors of Adamawa, Kwara, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kano, Rivers, and Niger and all their delegates walked out of the Convention in anger. They later reconvened at the Yar’Ádua Centre to address a press conference. The issue at stake was the election of persons into the 17-member National Working Committee of the party. The Convention continued, but the party was already split down the ranks. This was the incident that led to the emergence of a new PDP, which became a partner

Secondus

in the APC Coalition, and it was widely believed that other aggrieved persons that did not walk away on that occasion, chose to remain within the party to wreak havoc. Alhaji Bamanga Tukur who was Chairman of the party at the time, lost his position to the crisis and was replaced by former Governor, Adamu Muazu who was hailed as “the game changer.” Indeed, the game changed for the PDP. But could the party have survived the 2015 election if there was greater cohesion among its ranks?

It was perhaps in sober realization of this and the fact that many PDP candidates who initially won during the 2015 general election eventually lost their positions at the election petition tribunals and the courts, that the party now decided to do an audit of the 2015 general elections. In November 2015, the party held a National Conference in Abuja on “The Sustenance of Democratic Ideals in Nigeria.”

As the party grappled with its post-election crisis, Prince Uche Secondus from Rivers State, emerged as the party’s Acting National Chairman. Still, the party was not yet out of the woods. Secondus was challenged in Court by Hon Ahmed Gulak who asked the court to remove Secondus because the position he occupied had been zoned to the North East. Justice Hussain Baba-Yusuf who presided over the case ruled in Gulak’s favour and sacked Secondus - who along with the PDP appealed the judgment. The party was under heavy pressure on all fronts. It lost the Kogi Gubernatorial election to the APC. It had issues with the Gubernatorial election in Bayelsa state. Key officials of the party and those who served in the Jonathan administration were subjected to heavy harassment, policing and interrogation by the new APC government. The APC accused the PDP and the Jonathan administration of being the cause of Nigeria’s woes. Oil prices had dipped. The country faced both revenue and debt crises. It would soon slip into recession.

Later, in 2016, the PDP held a National Convention at the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt. It was an exercise in chaos as the party was before then divided between supporters of the incumbent Chair of the National Working Committee Ali Modu Sheriff and other members of the party.

Sheriff left Port Harcourt in a huff, brandishing a court injunction that was ignored. It was the same Port Harcourt Convention that produced former Governor Ahmed Makarfi as Chair of a National Caretaker Committee. The party never recovered from the tussle for legitimacy between the Sheriff and Makarfi factions. In December 2017, the

PDP held yet another National Convention which led to the emergence of Prince Uche Secondus as Chairman of the National Working Committee.

But the seeds of discord and division that had been sown within the party had germinated, and grown leafy branches. Each time there had been a conflict within the party, the leaders tend to focus more on the party at the national level. They overlook the damage that had been done down the line, all the way to the wards, states and local councils. Before 2015, PDP was the party of choice for many Nigerians. The crisis at the Eagle Square in 2013, the loss of the 2015 general election, and the inability to pull the party back from the brink merely created greater tension from top to bottom.

In 2019, the PDP practically donated the election to the APC. The APC won in many states, not because it could boast of a better record of performance but because the PDP was yet to wean itself from the politics of ego and personality conflicts.

Less than two years to the 2023 general elections, the party’s leaders have started again. They seem not to have learnt any lessons from the past. At a time the party should be organizing and strategizing to take power from the APC, and provide Nigerians with an alternative that they badly need now more than ever, they are busy promoting the perception that there isn’t much difference between the PDP and the APC. The way the PDP is managing its politics, it will end up donating the 2023 Presidency to the APC. Governors are major stakeholders in every Nigerian political party. They control the constituencies. They are overlords in charge of the wards and organs of the party in their states.

They do and undo. And that is why in the PDP today, the main conflict is between a governor (Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers) and the party Chairman, (Prince Uche Secondus). Once upon a time, they were bosom friends but not anymore.

Party members are taking sides. Some are defecting to other parties for both personal and pragmatic reasons. The future of the party as a dominant vote-winning machine hangs in the balance. The party is back to where it was in 2013 before the 2015 elections, and where it was in 2016 before the 2019 election.

I make these comments as someone who experienced and witnessed first-hand in 2014/15 and again in 2018/2019 how the stubbornness of political gladiators can sabotage a political party’s chances. I was the Deputy Gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in Ogun State in the 2019 elections.

A year to that election, it was widely believed that the State Gubernatorial election would be won by the PDP. The APC in Ogun State was practically in disarray. It had split into factions.

The incumbent Governor did not support the candidate of his own party. The PDP, was also similarly divided, a victim of the Modu Sheriff/ Makarfi factionalisation of the party at the centre.

Both factions were in and out of court till three days to the election. When eventually the court ruled in favour of the Buruji Kashamu faction, it was expected that other stakeholders would respect the agreement that was reached earlier that whoever won in court would be supported and outstanding matters would be resolved after the party had achieved the objective of beating the APC at the polls. Meetings were held. Leaders of the various factions waved the olive branch. But as it happened, within 24 hours after the court judgment that favoured the Kashamu faction, those who swore that the party was more important to them than their own interests had dissolved into either the APC or its break-away faction, the Allied People’s Movement (APM). Their conspiracy cost the party dearly.

The point cannot be overstated that politicians in Nigeria do not believe in anything other than their own ambitions. In our political parties, the Machiavellian ethos reigns supreme. Nigeria’s

political party system is underdeveloped, driven as it is by all the ugly narratives of the Nigerian experience. Today, in the PDP, after the cliché that the party’s internal mechanisms would be used to resolve the crisis, the other thing you hear is that the APC is trying to sabotage the party, and yet no one can say exactly how the APC is responsible for the collapse of amity between the Chairman of the party and the Governor of Rivers State and others. Secondus is a tested fighter. Wike is a man of courage who likes to win wars. Both gladiators know each other too well. All the persons taking sides in their matter are actually the ones who want to destroy the party. Secondus and Wike are allowing themselves to be used by forces that they met in the course of their political journey from the creeks of the Delta to the blinding heights of Abuja. They both owe themselves a duty to resolve whatever differences they may have. They have both helped each at various times in the past.

They can both help the PDP now by burying the hatchet! What does Wike want? Does he want to be a President or Vice-Presidential candidate in 2023 or a Godfather? What does Uche Secondus want?

Does he want to have a say in who becomes the standard bearer of the PDP in 2023? Or does he want to succeed Wike as Governor of Rivers State?

They should not allow their personal ambitions to ruin many years of friendship and brotherhood and should not drag down the party. Enough damage has been done already. Although APC leaders have more serious problems of their own, they must be in one corner laughing with all corners of their mouth. The worst legacy Secondus can leave behind is to hand over the 2023 general elections to the APC on a platter of gold.

The other problem are those lawyers running from Port Harcourt to Kebbi and to Calabar, all in one week, to secure orders ex parte to ensure the removal of Secondus from office. For many Nigerian lawyers, every election season, before, during and after, is the season for them to eat, to make money. They forget the standards and ethics of the profession and transform into ambulance chasers, looking for any desperate politician who needs an injunction from the courts to gain advantage over a rival. Lawyers are trained to be officers in the temple of justice and respect established procedures. It is one of the reasons why since 1985, every Chief Justice of Nigeria and virtually every Chief Judge of the Federal High Court has warned against the abuse of interim orders ex parte, which is a remedy in civil law procedure that is expected to be given under circumstances of a real urgency. But many judges have turned such orders into an opportunity to jump into the ugly arena of dirty, partisan, politics. They promote personal interests in the process and bring the judiciary to ridicule.

In the on-going PDP crisis, judges presiding over the same courts of co-ordinate jurisdiction have been granting injunctions with appellate import which amounts to an abuse of the justice system. It is shameful and reprehensible. I understand, however, that the CJN has now summoned about six Chief Judges whose courts have been involved in this abuse with regard to the PDP case and election matters in Anambra, Jigawa and Imo. Judges must be restrained and lawyers must be called to order.

The judiciary is the last hope of the common man.

If it is turned into the playground of profiteers and desperate politicians, the heavy cost will be borne by the entire society. But while it is good to hear that CJN Ibrahim Tanko Muhammed is making efforts to remind the judges involved of established directives, is it not the case that the CJN himself emerged as a beneficiary of a controversial ex parte order on the basis of which the Federal Government removed Walter Onnoghen, CJN (as he then was) before appointing him in his place?

Nigeria is never in short supply of ironies.

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