WEDNESDAY 21TH SEPTEMBER 2022

At UNGA, Sanwo-Olu Woos Foreign Investors to Lagos, Says State Safest in Nigeria Declares state’s GDP up by $5 billion to about $145,141 billion, budget doubles to about N1.7 trillion Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, currently attending the 77th session of the United Nations

General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, yesterday, told foreign investors to consider his state as

their choice investment destination.

Sanwo-Olu reeled off his administration’s achievements

in the past three years to try to woo investors to the state.

According to a statement, the

governor met a group of would-be investors in New York on the sidelines of the UNGA, at a roundtable

organised by the Business Council Continued on page 10

Oil Companies Seek Govt's Intervention in Payment of $3bn JV Cash-calls Arrears... Page 5 Wednesday 21 September, 2022 Vol 27. No 10025. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Lawan Out, Akpabio, Umahi in, as INEC Releases Final List for National Elections ... Page 11

Jonathan: My 2015 Concession Call Collective Decision to Save Nigeria Says there must first be country before ambition Abdulsalami charges politicians to place country above aspiration Mustapha says lack of ideological politics, major challenge for parties Nigerians may shock political class in 2023, Obaseki warns Chuks Okocha in Abuja Former

President

Goodluck

Jonathan, yesterday, reminisced on his 2015 timeous concession telephone call to his then rival,

Muhammadu Buhari, and said it was a “collective decision to save Nigeria”.

Speaking at the Goodluck Jonathan 2022 Peace Conference themed, "Nation Building: The

Role of Elections in a Multi-ethnic Context", the former president, however, warned current political

actors to tread with caution in the Continued on page 10

Lawmakers Lament as Nigeria’s Debt Reaches an All-time High of N42.84trn 36 states, FCT owe N5.281trn local debt, Lagos tops list with N797.3bn House decries crude oil theft, seeks solution Menace driving economy into coma, Lawan cries out Assures INEC of National Assembly support to achieve transparent, credible polls next year Buhari requests NASS approval of N402bn to settle debts to exporters, states Wants endorsement of promissory notes for Yobe, Kebbi, Taraba roads Ndubuisi Francis, Sunday Aborisade and Udora Orizu in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos The House of Representatives at the

resumption of plenary yesterday joined the growing number of Nigerians that had expressed Continued on page 10

Dogara: APC’s Muslim-Muslim Ticket Antithetical to Nation Building... Page 35

BUHARI, SANUSI UNITE AT UNITED NATIONS...

R-L: Ex-Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II shaking hands with President Muhammadu Buhari; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari. Back row: Nigeria's Permanent Representatives to the UN, Prof. Tijani Muhammad-Bande and Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, during the opening session of the 77th United Nations General Assembly in New York... yesterday

2

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 • T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 • T H I S D AY

3

4

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 • T H I S D AY

5

WEDNESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

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

NEWS

THE OGUN SOLIDARITY...

L-R: Senator for Ogun Central, Ibikunle Amosun; Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu and Ogun West Senator, Senator Tolu Odebiyi, when the senators from Ogun State visited Tinubu at his Abuja home...yesterday

Oil Companies Seek Govt's Intervention in Payment of $3bn JV Cash-calls Arrears Say some firms have not produced for over one year due to oil theft Want kidnapping in mining sector tackled NEITI urges firms to be tax, royalty and rent compliant Peter Uzoho Oil and gas exploration and production companies operating in Nigeria have pleaded with the federal government and relevant authorities to assist them in prevailing on their Joint Venture (JV) partner, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to pay them their $3 billion outstanding JV cash-call arrears.

They also decried the impact of the non-payment of the JV cash-call arrears and the escalating oil theft on their business, saying some companies have not been able to produce oil for the past one year due the two challenges.

The Executive Director of Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) and Chairman, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) - Companies Forum, Mr.

Bunmi Toyobo, made the assertions yesterday in Lagos, while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the NEITI - Companies Sensitisation Workshop on the Extractive Industries Transparent Initiative (EITI) Validation.

This was just as the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, at the event stressed the need for companies to be compliant in their taxes, royalties and rents

obligations as responsible business organizations.

Toyobo equally called the tackling of kidnapping menace in the mining sector, saying the extractive sector was facing three major professional challenges of oil theft, JV Cash-calls debts and kidnaping.

He said while they appreciate the support of government in managing the environmental challenges facing the companies and the country at

Stakeholders Back Bills to Enhance Capital Markets, Investor Protection, Others Proposed law prescribes 10-year jail term for ponzi schemes promoters

Juliet Akoje in Abuja The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers and other stakeholders in the Nigerian capital market have backed a bill to prohibit Ponzi and pyramid schemes as well as other illegal investment platforms in Nigeria.

The key players made their support known at the public hearing on two bills organised by the House of Representatives committee on Capital Market and Institutions in Abuja, yesterday.

The bills were: "A bill for an act to repeal the investment and security act, 2007 and enact the investments and securities bill to establish securities and exchange commission as the apex regulatory authority for the Nigerian capital market as well as regulation of the market to ensure capital formation, the protection of investors, maintain fair, efficient and transparent market and reduction of systematic risk and for related matters" and, "A bill for an act to repeal the chartered Institute of stockbrokers, CAP. C 9 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and provide for establishment of chartered institute of securities and investments and related matters."

The stakeholders supported the proposed legislation for a provision that the investor protection fund set up by SEC would compensate investors who suffer pecuniary losses arising from the revocation or cancellation of the registration of a dealing member firm.

They expressed excitement over the provision in the bill prohibiting Ponzi, pyramid schemes as well as other illegal investment schemes and prescription of 10 years jail term for promoters of such schemes.

The Director General, SEC, Lamido Yuguda during his presentation said Nigeria needs and deserves an internationally competitive and well-functioning capital market to facilitate the ongoing economic diversification and passage ad well as enactment of the investments and securities bill 2022 will be a pivotal step in that direction.

"This bill contains an entirely new part which provides for the regulation of Commodity Exchanges and Warehouse Receipts. These provisions are essential to allow for the development of the entire gamut of the Commodities ecosystem.

"The bill contains provisions which address the existing restrictions in respect of raising of funds from the capital market by

sub-nationals to allow for greater flexibility in this regard."

He further stated that some provisions in the ISA 2007 pertaining to the Composition of the Tribunal, functions of the Minister, Vacancy, constitution of the tribunal, qualification and appointment of the Chief Registrar as well as the jurisdiction of the Tribunal had been amended in the bill to enhance the ability of the tribunal to optimally discharge its mandate.

"It is a well-known fact that efficient capital markets are indispensable to the functioning of a modern economy. No economy can achieve any meaningful advancement without the important role capital markets play in supplying medium to long term finance," he added.

Also speaking, the President of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Olawale Adeosun said, "in view of our various engagements with SEC, with respect to this bill, the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers hereby expresses its utmost confidence in the National Assembly and this Committee to do utmost to facilitate the expeditious passage of the bill."

Representatives of the NGX

Group, Issuing Houses of Nigeria, Association of Security Dealers amongst others in their various presentations supported the proposed legislation.

The speaker of the House of representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila while declaring the hearing open said the legislature would not allow deficiencies in the capital market that cause investors to worry about the safety of their investments.

Gbajabiamila who was represented by the Deputy House leader, Hon. Peter Akpatason, said capital markets provide access to funding for new and existing businesses to innovate, expand, adapt to market changes and thrive.

"The capital markets also allow small and large-scale investors to contribute to the growth of enterprises and, by so doing, increase the values of their assets and create wealth.

“Therefore, it is abundantly evident that the proper and efficient operation of the capital market is essential to sustainable national economic growth," he added.

The Chairman of the Committee, Babangida Ibrahim in his remarks said the House and the panel were determined to ensure SEC delivers on its core mandates.

large, they still contend with issues around crude theft, adding that over 70 to 80 per cent of oil produced in Nigeria was lost to crude theft.

Toyobo said, "The Companies Forum which I chair has a number of members from the extractive industry both from oil and gas and solid minerals. There are a number of professional challenges that we face right now.

"Nigeria is supposed to be an investor friendly environment, and right now, the President is in the United Nations General Assembly trying to bring businesses io the country and we support the government of Nigeria in what they are doing.

"We like their support and their help in managing the environmental challenges we face. We have issues with the crude theft. Arguably, depending on who you talk to, over 70 and 80 per cent of oil being produced in Nigeria is lost to crude theft.

"We don't know why. This affects operations. Some companies have not produced for over one year.

This is a great loss. Not only that companies are losing in productivity but government is also losing revenue."

He said even at this time when the crude oil price was at its peak due to the global energy challenges caused by the Russia-Ukraine War, Nigeria was not benefitting from it because of this crude theft.

According to him, "Number two of the professional challenges we have is the JV cash-call arrears.

Companies are owed over $3 billion by our partners which is impacting on the operation of the business and we need the government support to ensure that JV cash-call arrears are paid promptly to run the business.

Because of this, we are not able to increase production. It's even a struggle to pay our vendors and suppliers and this is impacting the ongoing business."

He noted that the solid minerals sector was also being troubled by the spate of kidnapping in the mining areas, adding that that was also contributing to the revenue

losses to the nation.

"We need government to intervene to help manage all these issues: kidnapping, crude theft, JV cash-call arrears. If government can do this, we will be very happy," he stated.

The OPTS executive director, however, thanked the government for the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which he said was helping businesses in the petroleum sector, saying they need more from government.

Also speaking, Orji said NEITI has passed that stage of reporting what was owed by oil companies in terms of taxes, royalties and rents, explaining that they are now on the stage of recovery of the funds, which he said was over N1 trillion.

He said part of the reason for the engagement with the oil companies in Lagos was to plead with them to do everything possible to offset their taxes, royalty and rents so that government could have enough money to fund the budget.

Orji said, " I'm here to consult with the companies’ forum, leaders of the industry -oil, gas and miming companies, because NEITI reports at the moment is channeled more at helping the government to recover revenues that are owed. And if we have over $2 billion (N1 trillion) that are outstanding, I think it's important that we sensitise those who are owing to pay up. Government needs the money right now.

"So, we have moved from just disclosing what is owed to what needs to be paid and paid on time, so that the government will have some money to fund our budget.

That's the target of NEITI at the moment. It's using our reports to incentivise and hold accountable companies that are owing.

"But we must also acknowledge the fact that the companies are here for business, and we are doing everything also to support them. We are not against the companies. Issue of tax and concessions and royalties are statutory obligations that a good business organisation must be sensitive to those things."

6

WEDNESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

COURTESY VISIT BY THE NCPWD MANAGEMENT TO NCC...

L-R: Head, Media and Publicity, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), JohnMichaels Mbanefo; Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Soji Adewale; Director, Human Capital and Administration, NCC, Usman Malah; Executive Secretary, NCPWD, James Lalu; Head, Human Capital, NCC, Hafsat Lawal, and Director, Accessibility, NCPWD, Mohammed Baba, during a courtesy visit by the NCPWD management to NCC in Abuja...recently

Nigeria Witnessing Rising Cases of Child Labour, Say Aisha Buhari, Ngige Seek more investment in social protection Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Child labour has remained a major threat to development and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) in Nigeria in spite of legislative measures that had been taken by the government at various levels to curb it.

Both the wife of the president, Mrs. Aisha Buhari and Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige disclosed this yesterday, during the commemoration of the National Children Conference held at the Banquet Hall State House Abuja.

In her speech, Mrs. Buhari called for increased investment in social protection systems and schemes to establish solid social protection floors and protect children from child labour.

"Child labour remains a major threat to child development in Nigeria, in spite of legislative measures taken by the government at various levels to curb it," she said.

While highlighting efforts being made by Nigeria to reduce cases of child labour, Mrs. Buhari said there were a lot of activities which had led to considerable difference in the area of awareness creation among parents, children and even schools.

She said as part of efforts to reduce incidence of child labour,

the government was implementing vigorously the National Children School Feeding Programme which is the major plank of the battle to fight Child Labour, increasing children school enrolment and preventing children dropping out of schools.

"Worthy of note too is the adoption of the child rights law and other protective laws by governments at the state level as also playing a critical role in militating against child labour.

"I have to admit that there are a lot of activities in this sector which have led to considerable difference in the area of awareness creation among parents, children and even schools.

"I call on us all to do more because we are getting more victims and also the circumstances leading to child labour still subsist.

"The eradication of child labour however requires a systemic approach and effective policies to strengthen social protection systems, education, and decent work opportunities for parents and caregivers to address the conditions that drive child labour," she said.

The First Lady said yesterday's event was primarily to celebrate the children, adding that it also provided the avenue to call for increased investment in social protection systems and schemes to establish

solid social protection floors and protect children from child labour.

On his part, Ngige expressed concern that cases of child labour had continued to increase in Nigeria.

He said child labour had become a scourge with several children flooding the streets, being forced

to make a living, with others employed in industrial complexes, and hazardous environments.

Ngige said: "Statistics revealed there are about 15 million child workers as at 2020, according to the ILO, with the UN warning that the absence of mitigating strategies

Lagos State University (LASU) yesterday awarded scholarship to 556 first class students who are on a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CPGS) of 4.5 to 5.0 in various faculties of the institution.

For the graduating students, they would have 50 per cent refund of their tuition, while the undergraduates would have 50 per cent rebate on their fees.

The institution also commissioned different projects to commemorate the first year in office of its ninth substantive Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello.

The guest lecturer and the British Deputy High Commissioner based in Lagos, Mr. Ben Llewellyn- Jones who spoke on, 'The Significance of Education to the Growth of a Nation,' expressed concern that in Nigeria and across the world globe, development was being

hindered by the absence of equal opportunity for women and girls to fulfil their potential. He noted that many children, particularly girls were out-of-school.

"Sad to say, but in Nigeria, over 11 million children aged six years old and 15 years old were outof-school in 2020, pre- pandemic.

An overwhelming majority are in the north and the rates are higher among girls in rural areas, and among the poorest,” he added.

He described girls' education as game changer, saying it was one of the smartest investments that could be made to lift people out of poverty, grow economies, save lives, and build back better from COVID-19.

"We would all agree that supporting girls’ education is fundamental to boosting Nigeria's economy and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“It is fundamental to building the Nigerian nation, the United

increase from 152 million to 160 million between 2016 and 2020.

“Sub-Saharan Africa has seen 19.6 per cent of all African children in Child Labour, and a possible nine per cent in hazardous work; this is in contrast to continued progress being made elsewhere in the world."

WHO Commences Investigation into Ebola Outbreak in Uganda Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday said it has commenced investigation into the source of the outbreak Ebola in Uganda.

A statement by WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti disclosed that a joint team comprising its officials and the Ugandan health authorities has started investigation after the East African country declared an outbreak of Ebola.

It stated that Uganda has confirmed a case of the Sudan ebolavirus in Mubende district in the central part of the country.

WHO said the Uganda Virus Research Institute confirmed the case after testing a sample taken from a 24-year-old male.

"The health authorities in Uganda

today declared an outbreak of Ebola after a case of the Sudan ebolavirus was confirmed in Mubende district in the central part of the country.

"The Uganda Virus Research Institute confirmed the case after testing a sample taken from a 24-year-old male. This follows an investigation by the National Rapid Response team of six suspicious deaths that have occurred in the district this month," it said.

The apex health body said are currently eight suspected cases who are receiving care in a health facility.

“This is the first time in more than a decade that Uganda is recording an outbreak of Sudan ebolavirus. We are working closely with the national health authorities to investigate the source of this outbreak while supporting the efforts to quickly roll out effective control measures,” Moeti added.

LASU Awards Scholarship to 556 First Class Students Funmi Ogundare

could see an increase of children engaged in Child Labour by the end of 2022. This of course, will most certainly have massive implications in the near future."

The minister further said that, "Global estimates have shown that child labour is on the rise; with an

Kingdom and any nation for that matter," Llewellyn- Jones stated.

The deputy high commissioner, however, stressed the need for all children to have access to education without fear, adding that children and schools should never be a target for war and conflict for kidnapping According to him, "schools should be places of learning and laughter, not of violence and fear. Recent kidnappings have shown a lot remains to be done in Nigeria to build sustainable peace and security, make schools safe for children to learn, and for communities to be able to protect education from attack."

Earlier in her remarks, Olatunji-Bello said the public lecture affirmed the university's commitment to provide a platform that engenders intellectual debates and proffer workable solutions to the deplorable state of education in Nigeria bearing in mind the

unique place of higher education in the development Nigeria.

"Indeed, given the dire state of higher education in the country today, no other discussion would have been more pressing. In the last seven months, most public universities have been shut following the stalemate in the negotiations between the federal government and the leadership of ASUU. “These perennial strike actions do not augur well for our nation, and undercut the unique role of universities as incubators of innovative ideas and solutions to the society’s pressing needs."

She expressed concern that the development would remain a pipe dream in a situation where research was being trivialised, when the synergy between the university and the industry does not receive the attention it deserves, and when there is a disconnect between the gown and the town.

“Uganda is no stranger to effective Ebola control. Thanks to its expertise, action has been taken to quickly to detect the virus and we can bank on this knowledge to halt the spread of infections,” he added.

Moeti said there had been seven previous outbreaks of the Sudan ebolavirus, with four occurring in Uganda and three in Sudan, adding that Uganda last reported an outbreak of Sudan ebolavirus in 2012.

According to the WHO director, the country experienced an outbreak of Zaire ebolavirus in 2019.

She added that the virus was imported from neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo which was battling a large epidemic in its north-eastern region.

Moeti said WHO was helping Ugandan health authorities with the investigation and was deploying staff to the affected area.

The organisation has dispatched supplies to support the care of

patients and is sending a tent that will be used to isolate patients.

WHO stated that: "While ring vaccination of high-risk people with Ervebo (rVSV-ZEBOV) vaccine has been highly effective in controlling the spread of Ebola in recent outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and elsewhere, this vaccine has only been approved to protect against the Zaire virus. Another vaccine produced by Johnson and Johnson may be effective but has yet to be specifically tested against Ebola Sudan.

"Ebola is a severe, often fatal illness affecting humans and other primates. It has six different species, three of which (Bundibugyo, Sudan and Zaire) have previously caused large outbreaks. Case fatality rates of the Sudan virus have varied from 41 percent to 100 percent in past outbreaks. Early initiation of supportive treatment has been shown to significantly reduce deaths from Ebola".

Buhari Rejoices with Sunny Ade at 76 Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has joined the entertainment industry in celebrating juju music maestro and multi-instrumentalist, Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, better known as King Sunny Ade, as he marks his 76th birthday on September 22, 2022.

The president in a statement issued yesterday by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, rejoiced with the internationally renowned artiste, who was the first Nigerian to be nominated for Grammy in the 80’s, playing a significant role in the huge success of the country’s music industry, with influence across genres, including

Hollywood, where his songs were featured in many movies.

Buhari extolled the talented guitarist, gifted songwriter, producer and visiting professor of music at the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife for taking Nigeria’s local beats to the world, exporting the rich culture and placing instruments like the “talking drum’’ on global spotlight for research and adaption.

He believed the recognitions and awards received by the multi-talented entertainer over the years, including the national award, MFR, are well deserved.

The president prayed for his good health, strength and grace of more creativity.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 • T H I S D AY

7

8

WEDNESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

NIGERIA SPEAKERS’ CONFERENCE IN CANADA...

L-R: Executive Director, University of Ottawa, Serge Blais; Vice President, Queen's University, David Murchison; Chairman Conference Speaker, Abubakar Suleiman; with Executive, Institute of Governance; Mohammed Abdulkareem, at the 2022 Nigeria Speakers’ Conference in Canada… yesterday

Substandard Facilities: Safety Regulatory Agency Begins Nationwide Audit of Discos’ Installations Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Nigeria’s power sector safety regulatory body, Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), yesterday, commenced a nationwide audit of facilities owned

by Distribution Companies (Discos) in the country.

The organisation, which is empowered to enforce technical standards and regulations in the country, stated that the development was part of efforts to identify areas of weakness at connection points between the Discos and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) with a view to ramping up supply nationwide.

The exercise, which took the organisation to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), also marked the take-off of the activities of the taskforce on monitoring and evaluation of existing electricity network that aims to stem the use of substandard electrical materials and equipment in Nigeria.

Speaking at the AEDC headquarters in Abuja, Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation (CEIF) and Managing Director of NEMSA, Mr Aliyu Tahir, explained that the move will help identify the challenges at the interface points between transmission and electricity distribution networks hindering

smooth power supply delivery in the country.

In addition, he noted that the terms of reference of the taskforce, which would work with the internal team set up by the AEDC, included assisting in checking the 33kV “feeder by feeder” capacity to determine their adequacy to support the downstream loads of the various distribution networks.

He added that one of the objectives would also be to examine the 33/11kV injection substation status in terms of safety of operation, delivery of safe and reliable power to the 11kV feeders as well as technical manpower adequacy and capability.

Furthermore, he stated that the audit will assist in identifying vegetation and structures encroachment to right of way of primary distribution feeder lines in Discos' franchise areas.

Tahir explained that substandard electrical materials/equipment in the network will also be pointed out while recommendations for the removal and follow-up will be accomplished.

“Some other objectives of the audit will be to check for any other encumbrances that are hindering smooth power flow from transmission substations to distribution networks,” he said.

According to him, NEMSA is

Tombomieye: Why Nigeria Must Focus on In-country Utilisation of Crude Before Fossil Fuels’ Extinction Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Group Executive Director, Upstream, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Adokiye Tombomieye, yesterday argued that Nigeria must refocus on deploying its crude oil to industrialise the country before the extinction of hydrocarbons.

The top NNPCL chief maintained that rather than the current export orientation in the oil and gas industry, the country could begin the domestication of its resources by processing them and thereby boosting job opportunities.

Tombomieye spoke at the 2022 Annual Conference of the Association of Professional Women Engineers (APWEN), held in Abuja.

The engineer, who is the patron of APWEN spoke on the theme: “Just Energy Transition Strategy: An Enabler for Sustainable Development in Nigeria.”

“Before the window closes on fossil fuels, Nigeria must utilise its huge oil and gas resources to boost our economy and promote sustainable growth and social development for the present and future generations.

“Nigeria must therefore move away from being an energy exporting country to an energy utilisation country, by processing and utilising our crude oil and gas for our domestic energy needs in order to drive industrialisation, create jobs, and provide electricity for over 200 million Nigerians. No

one will do this for us – things must change,” he argued.

But despite the push to dump fossil fuels and embrace renewable sources of energy, the GED stressed that gas will become the transition fuel for Nigeria, adding that financial institutions are still willing to fund the exploration of gas resources.

He stated that the country’s energy transition will create significant investment opportunities such as the establishment and expansion of industries related to solar energy, hydrogen, and electric vehicles.

According to him, the aggressive move towards a zero carbon emission position will boost the ability of Nigerian oil and gas companies to attract funding for gas projects.

“The energy transition will continue to impact the ability of Nigeria and oil and gas companies to attract capital as banks and investors prioritise Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors and are moving away from funding hydrocarbon projects.

“Globally, the transportation sector generates the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions which primarily comes from burning fossil fuels for our cars, trucks, ships, trains, and planes; 90 per cent of the fuel used for transportation is petroleum based, which includes primarily gasoline and diesel,” he added.

According to him, about 60 per cent of the fossil fuel market in

Nigeria is driven by the transportation industry which marks a very significant consumption percentage for fossil fuels.

For Tombomieye, the replacement of Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) with Electric Vehicles (EVs) will automatically affect the market demand for fossil fuel vehicles.

“With about 60 per cent of your fossil fuel (crude oil) demand impacted, it will significantly and negatively impact crude oil production.

“Unfortunately, for us in Nigeria, we produce and sell crude oil, which is an anti-energy transition.

Nigeria is endowed with abundant natural resources,” he added.

He noted that the usage of

renewables, including solar, wind, tidal wave as well as natural gas remains a very important transition fuel for sustainable development, stressing that Nigeria has a healthy balance of gas and oil.

“The good news is that financial institutions will fund gas projects.

Therefore, leveraging upon gas development will be a way for Nigeria to navigate the energy transition mantra.

“Energy transition also comes with the opportunities of carbon credits and because Nigeria produces gas and oil, we can market our carbon which will also be an incentive for us to process funding from financial institutions,” he noted.

aware of several facilities commissioned without its inspection, testing and certification, which it aims to rectify by the nationwide audit.

He urged AEDC to ensure it scrutinised all NEMSA competency certificates or if possible write to NEMSA to authenticate the competency certificates before issuing permit to construct approval.

Tahir said, “AEDC should strengthen the planning and construction department/unit and making sure they carry out inspection of all sites and ensure there is adequate corridor for such electricity project before issuing permit to construct.

“There should be a well-planned, designed and executed electrical installation works that would stand the test of time to reduce electrical accidents, electrocution and electrical fires in AEDC electricity networks.”

At the Kukwaba substation, where the symbolic exercise began, Tahir said some of the issues that the taskforce sought to resolve could have given rise to system disturbances in the last few months.

Describing it as a special assignment, he added that part of the reference was to check the health of the injection substations in terms of safety of operations, delivery of reliable power to the feeders, and adequacy of the technical manpower.

“The taskforce will also check if there are other encumbrances which are hindering reliable power from transmission substations as well as check electrical installations that are energised without the

statutory inspection, testing and certification,” Tahir stated.

By law, he explained that no Disco was expected to install equipment without the statutory inspection, testing and certification by NEMSA, the sole agency empowered to do so.

Tahir added that installations must be carried out by certified personnel, assuring that the regulatory body would work closely with the state governments and the federal capital administration to ensure that illegal structures and the right of way issues are resolved.

He urged AEDC to disconnect power to structures blocking the right of way to drive home the point that where they occupied was illegal.

In his remarks, Managing Director, AEDC, Adeoye Fadeyibi, pledged the cooperation of the Disco, noting that AEDC has done a lot in tackling the challenges raised

by NEMSA. Fadeyibi said, “We will ensure only licensed contractors are allowed to work. In terms of planning and construction. We are also looking strongly at the predictive inspection.”

He added that AEDC also carried out the audit of its installations, stressing that it impacts Discos negatively if the installations are not done properly.

“We will also carry out the disconnection of banned structures, which would be led by the taskforce,” he said.

The NEMSA taskforce, which is expected to tour the 11 Discos, is led by the Assistant General Manager, Technical Inspectorate Services, NEMSA, Usman Momoh.

Audit Report: House Summons Accountant General over MDAs’ 2020 Financial Accounts Udora Orizu in Abuja

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has summoned the Acting Accountant General of the Federation, Okolieaboh Sylva over the failure of his office to lay the 2020 audit reports of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government before the National Assembly.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Wole Oke, who issued the

summon at the resumed hearing on queries raised against MDAs by the office of the Auditor General of the Federation, frowned at the development, saying it was affecting the work of the parliament.

According to Oke, "As the ninth Assembly is winding down, we need to double efforts at looking into all the reports already laid before the House. Right now, we have completed work on those from 2017 and our reports are already in the press after which we will

lay the reports before the whole House for official consideration.

“That is why we are inviting the Accountant General of the Federation to come before this Committee to tell us while he is yet to lay the 2020 audited reports of the MDAs before the parliament.

"We need to listen to him to know where the problem is coming from so that we can wade in to resolve whatever hindrance affecting the presentation.

“The ICPC has confirmed that

the 2022 budget was padded by the Executive arm by several billions of naira, do we wind the country down? No, what we need to do is to redouble our efforts at revenue generations as well check the books of the MDAs." The Committee Chairman, however warned all the heads of the MDAs who had refused to appear before it over audit queries raised against them to retrace their steps and do the needful in their own interest.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 • T H I S D AY

9

10

WEDNESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

TEN LAWMAKERS LAMENT AS NIGERIA’S DEBT REACHES AN ALL-TIME HIGH OF N42.84TRN concern that the country might be approaching a debt trap, as the Debt Management Office (DMO) revealed that Nigeria’s total debt as at June this year stood at N42.84 trillion.

The House also decried the decline in crude oil production due to theft and sabotage. House Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, raised the concerns in his welcome remarks after the long recess.

Similarly, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, yesterday, raised the alarm about the massive crude oil theft in the oil-rich Niger Delta, while welcoming his colleagues back from their two-month annual vacation. Lawan said the problem was gradually pushing the economy into a coma.

The senate president pledged necessary support for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in its effort to deliver a successful poll next year.

The legislative proclamations came on the same day President Muhammadu Buhari, in separate letters, requested the Senate and House of Representatives to approve the issuance of promissory notes totalling over N402 billion for the defrayal of some federal debts.

A breakdown of the debt figures released by the DMO yesterday showed that the bulk of the federal government borrowings were done domestically, with 72.53 per cent being FGN bonds.

A statement posted on the DMO’s website revealed that Nigeria’s total public debt stock, comprising the debt obligations of the federal, state governments, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) rose by N1.24 trillion within three months, from N41.60 trillion ($100.07 billion) as at March 30, 2022 to N42.84 trillion ($103.31billion)

by June 30, 2022.

Latest data released by the DMO also indicated that domestic debt stock for the review period stood at N26.23 trillion ($63.24 billion) due to new borrowings by the federal government to part-finance the deficit in the 2022 Appropriation (Repeal and Enactment) Act,

including fresh borrowings by state governments and the FCT. From the N26.23 domestic debt stock standing during the reference period, the 36 states and FCT owed N5.281 trillion, while the federal government accounted for the balance of N20.949 trillion.

The DMO explained that total public Debt to GDP as of June 30, 2022, was 23.06 per cent, compared to 23.27 per cent as of March 30, 2022, noting that the Debt Serviceto-Revenue Ratio remained high.

It said, "The total public debt stock, representing the domestic and external debt stocks of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the 36 state governments, and the Federal Capital Territory, was N42.84tn ($103.31 billion) as of June 30, 2022. The comparative figures for March 30, 2022 was N41.60tn ($100.07 billion).”

DMO stressed that external debt remained the same at N16.61trillion ($40.06 billion) from the first quarter (Q1) to the second quarter (Q2) 2022, adding that 58 per cent of external debts are concessional and semiconcessional loans from multilateral lenders, such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), AfreximBank, and African Development Bank (AfDB), and bilateral lenders, such Germany, China, Japan, India, and France.

Meanwhile, an analysis of the DMO figures showed that domestic debt service between April 30 and June 30, 2022 gulped N664, 728,501,948.46. This was, however, less than the N668, 685, 710,112.98 committed to debt service in the first three months of 2022 (Q1).

Debt service instruments on which the amount was expended included Nigeria Treasury Bills (NTBs), Federal Government Bonds, and FGN Savings Bonds, among others.

The new DMO debt data also revealed that Lagos State retained its top spot as the state with the highest debt stock. As at June 30, 2022, the total domestic debt stock of the country's economic nerve-centre stood at N797, 305,312,602.53.

Delta State came second with

N378, 878,236,830.75, followed

by Ogun State with N241, 782,021,304.96; Rivers State, N225, 505,011,356.83; and Imo State, N210, 394,836,519.93.

Akwa Ibom was next on the debtors' scale with N203, 951,611,822.07, while Jigawa retained its least-indebted state profile with 45,135,377,621.30, and Ebonyi State trailed with N59, 111,939,636.77.

Lawmakers Lament Rising Debt, Crude Oil Theft, Seek Solutions

The House of Representatives, at resumption of plenary yesterday, expressed concerns over the rising debt profile of the country and crude oil theft. House Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila raised the fears while delivering his welcome remarks.

Gbajabiamila stated that the concerns emerged from interactive sessions of the Senate and House Committees on Finance with the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the government on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP). He said the issues emerged while considering the scope of deficit financing to be proposed in the new budget and the decline in crude oil production due to theft and sabotage.

Gbajabiamila said while the House appreciated that the current fiscal conditions necessitated borrowing to finance budgetary expenditures, there should be worry about the long-term effect of the debt burden on the country and the ability to pay in a responsible and sustainable way.

The concerns, he said, would be central to the consideration of the 2023 Appropriation Bill when presented, adding that appropriations for new projects for MDAs would be influenced by the extent to which existing projects have been funded and their performance in executing these projects as intended.

On crude oil theft, the speaker said perpetrators of the brazen heist threatened the ability to serve the Nigerian people and meet

the demands of governance and nation building. He described their actions as treason against the country, for which they must be held accountable.

Gbajabiamila stated, "Due to theft and various acts of economic sabotage, we are experiencing a massive decline in the volume of crude oil exports. Our crude oil export of 972,394 bpd for August is the lowest we have recorded in the last two decades.

“At a time when we are already experiencing severe financial constraints. There are mechanisms in place to prevent these sorts of bad actors, and the government spends significant amounts of money each year to protect oil and gas resources in the country.

“Evidently, these existing arrangements do not suffice. As such, there is an urgent need to review them and make the necessary improvements. It is also of particular importance that the perpetrators of these crimes against the state are identified, prosecuted and subjected to the stiffest penalties the law allows.

"Those who seek to impoverish our country in this manner have declared war against the Nigerian people.

“The government’s response must be sufficient to convince them of the error of their ways and deter others who might be tempted to join in their treason.

“I met with the finance minister and the Director General of Budget and made it clear to them that enough of crude oil theft. Nigerians don't want to hear that again. What do you intend to do about it? That's the important question."

Speaking on the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Gbajabiamila said the current framework of government-sponsored tertiary education was no longer working. He said the goal of the House was to begin an assessment of the current system and consider all available options for complete reform.

The speaker claimed that

J O N AT H A N : M Y 2 0 1 5 C O N C E S S I O N C A L L C O L L E C T I V E D E C I S I O N TO S AV E N I G E R I A run-up to the 2023 general election, saying there first must be a country before their aspiration.

Also speaking at the event, a former head of state, General Abdulsalami, charged politicians to put Nigeria first before their ambition, as there could not be democracy without the nation.

In like manner, Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has identified the lack of ideological politics as the bane of political parties in the country, which are no more than special purpose vehicle.

At the same time, former president of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Mohammed Ibn Chambas, called on politicians to always reflect and be willing to concede defeat as Jonathan did in 2015, an action, believed to have salvaged the nation’s fledgling democracy.

But on a different scale, the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, yesterday, called on political leaders across the country to step up and assuage the pains of Nigerians on many fronts due to poor governance and inefficiency or expect a surprise from the electorate in the forthcoming elections.

Jonathan, who in his speech, described hate speech and propaganda as threat to democratic, reacted to comments that he saved Nigeria and bloodshed by telephoning now President Buhari to concede defeat, saying, it was a collective decision.

"We saved the country collectively," he said, noting that the era of ballot box snatching was over, because of the introduction of electronic voting as contained in the new electoral act.

He recounted his experience in his home town, where ballot boxes were snatched during the first and second republic, but maintained that, “All these are a thing of the past because of innovations in the electoral act.”

Continuing, the former president explained that, "First and foremost, there must be a country first. If you destroy a country, how can you be the president of Nigeria

or governor.

"Those who want to be president, there must be a country first. So, those who want to be president tell your supporters that there must be a country first."

Specifically to the youths, he said, "We urge you to discourage hate speech. Hate speech and propaganda remain one of the threats to democracy. The young people should embrace good conduct."

On his part, the former head of state, said, "It is pertinent to say there cannot be democracy without elections. Election is an important component of democracy. The forthcoming 2023 general election, therefore, represents an opportunity for Nigeria to consolidate its democratic success.

"While we celebrate the ability of this great nation of ours in its peaceful democratic transitions and all the actors, who play by the rules, it is equally important that, we should not rest on the gains of old. As political actors,

some have the habit of appealing to tribal, religious, ethnic and cultural sentiments.

"Therefore, as we are about to formally commence campaign for the 2023 general election, the ECOWAS calls on Nigerian political actors and their supporters to avoid the weaponisation of ethnic and religious biases that will jeopardise democracy, but to embrace issuebased campaigns that center on good governance and quality representation.

"Let’s always place Nigeria before ambition as elections come and go, but the nation remains.

People predicted the collapse of the nation in the past, but the nation remains and this coming election will not be different. This is time to consolidate our democracy. I call on all security agencies, INEC and others to put the nation first before their ambition," he stated.

The SGF, in his submission, described the political parties as mere special utility vehicles with the basic aim of winning elections

without ideology that is value-driven towards good governance.

This, he said, was unlike the days of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), where Adisa Akinloye and Obafemi Awolowo, were in charge of ideology that could ensure good governance, even as there was political parties’ supremacy.

The SGF, however, said under the present circumstances, there was nothing in the political parties’ good governance but just to win election.

His words: "The political parties’ only desire is to win election. They have no value on how to ensure good governance. We need to address the formation of political parties to ensure that ideology. The parties should have the control of party affairs and governance as were the situations in the second republic.

"The political parties should have the drive to ensure discipline and the force behind the ideology that would enhance value. There Continued on page 35

the country recently recorded significant victories against the purveyors of violence and conflict across the country. He said the explosive growth in the trade and consumption of narcotics contributed to the worsening insecurity in the country, He warned that the country could not afford to be overrun by the cancer of the drug trade and the devastation it brought.

Gbajabiamila lamented that various priority bills were still pending at different stages, despite the limited time available for the ninth House.

Crude Oil Theft Driving Economy into Coma, Lawan Laments

Senate President Ahmad Lawan, yesterday, raised the alarm about the rate of crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, saying it is pushing the economy into a coma. Lawan stated this at the senate plenary while welcoming his colleagues back from their two-month annual recess.

The senate president stressed the need for improvement in the country’s revenue earnings. He warned that unless prompt action was taken to stop crude oil theft, the development might stagnate the economy.

Lawan said, "The economy of our country is still challenged. The Senate, working with the House of Representatives and the executive, needs to continually seek for better responses to the economic situation.

“Generation and collection of revenues have remained major challenges. Also, the massive loss of revenue through oil theft is debilitating and threatening to throw the economy into a coma.

“Revelations about the scale of oil theft shows that until government takes decisive actions, Nigeria could soon lose any revenue from that sector.

“We must, therefore, work to ensure that everything is done to curtail this theft.”

Lawan recalled that the senate had during the recess showed serious concerns about the security situation in the country. He said the red chamber had two engagements with the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs, Inspector General of Police, Director General of Department of State Services, Director General of Nigerian Intelligence Agency, and other heads of security agencies.

“From the assessment of the prevailing situation, our security agencies are recording more successes and the situation seems to be improving,” he stated.

The senate president noted that the upper chamber would continue to engage defence and security agencies through appropriate committees to ensure that the follow-up engagements were sustained.

On the 2023 general election, Lawan expressed the willingness of the National Assembly to ensure transparent and credible elections next year. He noted that the innovative amendment to the Electoral Act by the National Assembly provided the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with

the wherewithal to deliver on a successful general election in 2023.

Lawan said, "The year 2023 is a momentous period for Nigeria, as elections will be held across the country. Nigerians are expected to exercise their franchise.

“Therefore, the senate, indeed the National Assembly, will work with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure very successful, transparent, and credible elections.

“We are ready to support INEC in all possible ways as a legislature.

Already, the timely amendment of the Electoral Act 2022 has provided very important innovations in ensuring better electoral climate.”

Buhari Seeks National Assembly Approval for N402bn to Settle Debts

President Muhammadu Buhari, in separate letters yesterday, requested the Senate and House of Representatives to approve the issuance of promissory notes totalling over N402 billion.

The first request to the Senate, which amounted to N375 billion, was read at plenary by the senate president and it was meant to settle outstanding claims owed various exporters.

Other debt payment requests to the Senate contained in the letter were to be routed through the DMO. They included N6.706 billion for Kebbi State Government for the construction of federal roads in the state and N2.706 billion for Taraba State Government, also for the construction federal roads there.

Buhari, in another request, also read at plenary by Lawan, sought the Senate's approval for the issuance of N18.623 billion promissory note for Kebbi State Government.

The president, in his letter, said the payment of N18.623 billion to Yobe State Government through the DMO would help the state to offset funds expended on the execution of five different federal road projects in the state.

Buhari, in the two letters, appealed to the senators to treat his requests with dispatch.

Meanwhile, Buhari, in another letter of request, asked the Senate to screen for confirmation the appointment of Mohamed Sabo Lamido as Executive Commissioner, Finance and Accounts of the Board of Upstream Regulatory Commission.

Lamido's appointment, as explained by the president, was necessitated by the death of Hassan Gambo, who hitherto served in that capacity before his death.

The president, in a separate letter to the House of Representatives, also sought consideration and approval of the issuance of promissory notes by the DMO for the construction of federal roads in Yobe, Kebbi, and Taraba States.

In the two letters dated September 16 and read by the speaker at the plenary, the president said while Yobe State, as approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) will get N18, 663,843,119.39 for the execution of five road projects, Kebbi will get N6, 706,835,495.12 for the construction of two road projects, and Taraba will get N2, 470,525,729.53 for one road project.

AT UNGA, SANWO-OLU WOOS FOREIGN INVESTORS TO LAGOS, SAYS STATE SAFEST IN NIGERIA for International Understanding (BCIU) at Park Lane Hotel in the heart of the city.

The governor spoke of the major strides Lagos State had made in the past three years, despite COVID-19.

He used the THEMES Agenda – the six-pillar development plan of his administration – as a guide.

According to the governor, the state’s GDP has gone up by $5 billion to about $145,141 billion; and its budget has doubled to about N1.7 trillion.

He added that infrastructural development in the state had been tremendous.

Sanwo-Olu cited landmark developments in transportation, the first pillar of THEMES, saying the Red Line and Blue Line rail projects would be commissioned by the end of the year.

The rolling stocks for the Red Line, which his administration started, he said, were on the way to Lagos and work was going on

as scheduled on the stations and the overpasses that would ensure a good transportation experience.

There are about four other lines to be built for the state to be covered by rail so as to ease the pressure on roads.

“Sanwo-Olu minced no words on the purpose of the meeting – to attract more investors to Lagos, which has 80 per cent of Foreign Direct Investments coming into Nigeria,” the statement added.

The statement said the governor also spoke on opportunities in water transportation, saying from seven ferries, the state’s fleet has risen to 21, besides many others run by private operators.

Investors could double the fleet, Sanwo-Olu said.

He said most of the 15 jetties being built by the state were ready for commissioning, stressing that the aim is to have an integrated urban transportation system.

This would be strengthened by

a strategic road infrastructure, such as the Lekki-Epe Expressway and the Fourth Mainland Bridge, which had attracted many investors, from which one will be chosen before the end of the year, the governor disclosed.

He revealed plans by the state to build an Infectious Diseases Research Centre to tackle health challenges, such as COVID-19.

He said over 1000 school projects had been completed and “we have introduced technology to make teaching and learning an exciting experience.

“We are seeing the results. We used to have about 36 per cent pass in School Certificate Examinations; now we have about 80 per cent.”

The governor added, “We are opening brand new schools and introducing technology by giving teachers tablets to aid their job.”

He spoke on the 6,000-kilometre fibre optic cable being laid around the state, saying the first phase

of 3,000 kilometres was almost completed.

The aim is to aid faster and cheaper Internet connectivity, thereby boosting service in hospitals and schools, besides boosting the impressive activities of the youth in the tech ecosystem, he said.

Sanwo-Olu described Lagos as the, “Entertainment capital of Africa.”

He cited the recent Headies Awards in Atlanta and added that a Film Village was on the way.

He mentioned opportunities in housing and assured wouldbe investors of “the sanctity of contracts”, with the state appointing new judges to aid smooth the operations of the judiciary.

On security, Sanwo-Olu described Lagos as, “The safest state in Nigeria.”

He said small businesses were being supported with grants, and the youth and women were being encouraged.

The governor also spoke about challenges, such as refuse disposal.

He said about 4000 metric tons of refuse were generated in the state daily. This, in his view, should attract investors willing to turn the waste to wealth.

He also talked about challenges in water, power and other sectors.

Responding, Managing Director (Africa) of McLARTY Associates, Amb. (ret.) Terence P. McCulley, praised Sanwo-Olu for an insightful account of his administration’s policies and projects. McCulley said many “people who have returned from Lagos have spoken of how they no longer recognise the state because of the developments taking place there.”

He added, “You can be the ambassador of the private sector to the federal government, providing an enabling environment for manufacturing, agriculture and technology, which are drivers of diversification.”

11

WEDNESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

CONDOLENCES FOR THE QUEEN...

L-R: Vice chairman Eleganza Industry Limited, Mrs. Folashade Okoya; Mr. Subomi Okoya and British Deputy High Commission to Nigeria, Mr. Ben Liewellyn Jones, during the Okoya condolence visit to honour Late Queen Elizabeth ll Lagos, recently.

Lawan Out, Akpabio, Umahi in, as INEC Releases Final List for National Elections APC not represented in Yobe north, Abia central Orbih’s faction in Edo PDP jubilates as INEC displays final list

Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, released the final list of presidential and National Assembly candidates of all the political parties contesting next year’s general election.

Unfortunately, for the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmed Lawan, whose nomination for Yobe North was being challenged by another member of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bashir Sheriff Machina, he did not make the list.

Curiously, the hitherto controversial nominations of the Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi and a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, have been accepted by the electoral commission, although citing court orders.

Thus, while Lawan’s legal battle with Machina, who is challenging him on the grounds that he did not contest the primary election for the senate, might have cost him the ticket, as he was fighting to win the presidential nomination of his party at the time, Akpabio was lucky following a court order a about a week ago, which instructed INEC to include his name, same

as Umahi.

By implication, therefore, while the ruling APC is not represented in Yobe north for legal reasons, same scenario has also affected the party’s representation in Abia Central, where Hon. Sam Onuigbo and Hon Emeka Atuma, were challenging each other in court for the ticket.

In a statement, the INEC national commissioner in charge of publicity and chairman voter education, Festus Okoye, said the commission also approved the final list of candidates for national elections (Presidential, Senatorial and Federal Constituencies) pursuant to section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and item 8 of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election.

He said the publication of the full names and addresses of all nominated candidates followed the political parties’ conduct of primaries and completion of the nomination exercise.

According to Okoye, at end of the process, the personal particulars of all nominated candidates were displayed in their constituencies nationwide as provided by section 29(3) of the Electoral Act. Subsequently, he said validly nominated candidates had the

opportunity to voluntarily withdraw their candidature by notice in writing and personally deliver such notice to the political party that nominated them for the election.

"Thereafter, political parties substituted such candidates under section 31 of the Electoral Act for which the last day was 15th July 2022 for national elections and 12th August 2022 for state elections as clearly provided in item 6 of the Commission's Timetable and Schedule of Activities.

"Thereafter, no withdrawal or substitution of candidates is allowed except in the event of death as provided in section 34(1) of the Electoral Act or pursuant to an order of a Court of competent jurisdiction.

"The list published today contains the names of candidates validly nominated for national elections at the close of party primaries and the period earmarked for withdrawal and substitution of candidates.

"The final list of candidates for state elections (Governorship and State Constituencies) will be published on 4th October 2022 as already indicated on the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election.

"We note the fact that not all the political parties conducted primaries

in all the constituencies, submitted the particulars of candidates that emerged from valid primaries or substituted their candidates after fresh primaries within 14 days as provided in section 33 of the Electoral Act. "This has led to numerous litigations, some of which are ongoing. Where the Commission was served with Court orders by aggrieved aspirants or candidates before the publication of this list, these have been indicated under the remark column.

"In summary, all the 18 political parties have fielded candidates and their running mates for the presidential election.

For legislative elections, 1,101 candidates are vying for 109 senatorial seats and 3,122 candidates for Federal Constituencies i.e. House of Representatives seats, making a total of 4,223 candidates contesting for 469 legislative positions.

"In terms of gender distribution, 3,875 candidates are male, made up of 35 for presidential and vicepresidential, 1,008 for Senate and 2,832 for House of Representatives.

Similarly, 381 females comprising 1 for Presidential, 92 for Senate, and 288 for House of Representatives are contesting. There are also 11 Persons with Disability (PWDs)

Otaru of Auchi Hails Obaseki on Revival of 6000mt Edo Fertilizer Factory The Otaru of Auchi Kingdom, Alhaji Aliru Momoh Ikelebe III has commended the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki over the revamp of the 60,000mt Edo Fertilizer and Chemical Company Limited in Auchi, which he said had boosted economic activity in the state.

The Otaru of Auchi made the submission during a courtesy visit to the Governor at the Government House, Benin City, the Edo State capital.

A statement yesterday explained that the factory was established in the early 2000s, but was abandoned

for years until the Obaseki-led administration revived it through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with WACOT Limited.

The facility was estimated to create about 500 direct jobs and several other indirect jobs in the community.

Hailing the governor for his developmental strides across the state, the Otaru of Auchi Kingdom commended Obaseki for reviving the fertilizer factory in Auchi which he noted has become an employer of labour for the people of the state.

He said, “Obaseki came on board as Governor of Edo State,

and the first thing he did in Auchi was to revive the fertilizer factory that was dead for so many years and he created jobs for the people.

“The fertilizer factory is still working till date and people are working shifts in the company and I am here to thank him for that.”

The governor, on his part, said his government would sustain partnership with the federal government to facilitate the reconstruction of the Benin/Auchi Road to end the sufferings of commuters and open up the area for more economic activities.

He said, “We have assured him that we will continue to work with

the federal government to construct the Benin/Auchi Road because that is the spine of the economy of the state. Once it fails, it will affect our people and the economy of the state significantly.

"The Minister of Works has been very proactive on the issue as I received a letter from him requesting the Edo State Government to pay compensation for lands in some areas where they need to get their alignment through.

“We are going to be working on that for a few weeks to make sure that whatever they need to construct that road is provided for them.”

in the race.

"The list for specific constituencies is published in each state, where they are located while the comprehensive nationwide list has been uploaded to the commission's website.

"We appeal to all political parties to channel any observations on the list of candidates to the Commission and such must be signed by the National Chairman and Secretary of the political party and supported with an affidavit as provided in section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2022," the INEC commissioner stated.

Thus, the presidential candidates of all the parties participating in the next year presidential elections are: All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima.

Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate and his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa.

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) and his running mate, Yusuf Datti BabaAhmed.

Osita Nnadi, presidential candidate of Action Peoples Party (APP) and his running mate, Isa Hamisu.

Abiola Kolawole, presidential candidate of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and his running mate, Ribi Marshal, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party and his running mate, Bishop Isaac Idahosa.

Yabagi Sani, presidential candidate of Action Democratic Party (ADP) and his running mate, Udo Okey -Okoro, Ado-Ibrahim Abdulmalik, presidential candidate, Young Progressives Party (YPP) and his running mate, Enyinna Kasarachi.

Omoyele Sowere, presidential candidate African Action Congress Continued on page 35

Sanwo-Olu Celebrates Senator Tinubu at 62 Today Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated the senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District and former First Lady of the state, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on the occasion of her 62nd birthday.

Sanwo-Olu, in a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said Senator Tinubu over the years, has emblazoned her name as an advocate of social justice, a philanthropist and a voice of the voiceless.

Tinubu, who was Lagos State First Lady between May 29, 1999, and May 29, 2007, and is currently representing Lagos Central Senatorial District since 2011 in the Senate, will clock 62 years today, Wednesday, September 21.

Sanwo-Olu described the wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as a great asset to Lagos

State and Nigeria, noting that she has contributed immeasurably towards nation-building.

Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu said, was a strong supporter, reliable partner and pillar of support to her husband, noting that the former first lady through her pet projects, Spelling Bee and the New Era Foundation, became a reference point in women and youth development in the country.

The governor said the three-term senator, has contributed immensely to humanity, governance and the ruling party’s success, growth and development with her laudable programmes and achievements both as former first lady and now as lawmaker.

"On behalf of my wife, Ibijoke and the good people of Lagos State, I heartily congratulate the distinguished Senator Oluremi Tinubu on the occasion of her 62nd birthday, he said.

12

WEDNESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

WINNING WORKERS' ENDORSEMENT...

Governor of Enugu State and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Enugu North Senatorial District, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (2nd right) with the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah (right), acknowledging cheers from workers when the Heads, Managements and Staff of Boards, Institutions, Parastatals, Agencies and Commissions in Enugu State, paid solidarity visit to Government House, Enugu, to declare their support for the candidates of the PDP in the 2023 general election,... yesterday.

Desist from Acting Like Wike’s Aide, APC Taunts Makinde Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has advised Governor Seyi Makinde to desist from acting like an aide to his Rivers State counterpart, Mr. Nyesom Wike.

Also, with political parties and politicians warming up for the commencement of campaigns ahead of the 2023 general elections, the APC in Oyo state also charged prospective voters to be wary of what it described as, "fake and

deceitful record of achievements which Governor Seyi Makinde and his team have packaged with a view to using it as campaign documents and thus mislead the public including the hapless electorate."

The party in a statement in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, said the quest for another term by the governor was an affront targeted at the good people of the state who he alleged had gained little or nothing from his administration in the last 40 months.

"Interestingly, the song on the

lips of conscious and discerning indigenes and residents of Oyo state is that Governor Makinde should endeavour to stop further desecration of the Pacesetter status of the state. Even if he cannot pick any good thing from Governor Wike who is obviously his godfather, he should desist from acting like an aide to his Rivers state colleague henceforth.

“We would also like to put it on record that Governor Makinde's quest to be relevant at the level of national politics is ill-advised and

a clear indication that he does not have any serious thing to do with governance again in the state.

"The good people of Oyo state are tired of deceit, cronyism and noise making in exchange for creativity, responsibility and responsiveness. It is on this note that we are calling on voters in the state not to be swayed by the packaged media noise and fake record of achievements expected from the camp of Oyo PDP and Governor Makinde in the coming days as we go into electioneering campaigns ahead of the next general

election because once bitten, twice shy."

The statement added, "The governor had left no one in doubt of what his priority would be when he abandoned preparation of governance blueprint for inauguration day rehearsal as well as euphoria of occupying the governor seat.

“He would later nail it with his uninspiring inaugural address which got many people disappointed as he failed to convince the world that he was prepared to raise the bar from the legacies of the Sage- Chief

FG Punishing Lecturers Instead of Addressing Issues, Says ASUU Ministers feeding Nigerians with lies, union declares House leadership to meet Buhari over strike Juliet Akoje in Abuja and Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday accused the federal government of opting for punishment its members, rather than addressing the issues that precipitated the ongoing strike.

The National President of the union, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said this at a meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, in Abuja. He also accused the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu of never attempting to hold any formal meeting with the union since the strike began in February, but was quick to direct the stoppage of lecturers' salaries.

Osodeke said if the effort at coercing the striking lecturers, through a court process back into classes succeeds in any way, "what kind of teaching will they do? It is like forcing a medical doctor to go and treat a patient."

He added that it was erroneous, “to see the strike as the problem, because if the strike is called off without addressing the issues, the universities will become like public primary schools and that instead of solving the problem, we're being punished.”

Gbajabiamila who was at the meeting with his deputy, Idris Wase and several members of the House, said, "we're not here to rehearse the problems. We're not to be asking what happened, or why are we where we are? We all know the issues, and we have to resolve the issues once and for all, for our children to go back to classes."

Gbajabiamila stressed that the

way to resolve the issues was for both parties to shift grounds in the interest of the students, urging ASUU to make known its minimum acceptable conditions.

"My interest of conversation is with the ASUU. Most people are with you. We're with you," the speaker stated, and appealed that emotions be put aside so that the needed solution could be arrived at.

The Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah, who explained that Adamu was outside the country, attending the UN Education Summit in New York, said a good number of measures had been adopted towards addressing the issues without success.

"President Muhammadu Buhari, in about a week ago granted audience to committee of Vice Chancellors, during which it was resolved to make further consultations with a view to coming out with a wider option to be adopted in resolving the crisis," he added.

The speaker, Minister of state for education, ASUU President and some lawmakers thereafter went into a closed door session.

Meanwhile, Gbajabiamila and the leadership of the House are to meet President Muhammadu Buhari over the resolution of the prolonged strike.

Gbajabiamila, while addressing journalists after a 4-hour meeting with the leadership of ASUU and Opiah, said on his return from the 77th session of the United National General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, the House leadership would present the agreement reached with the striking workers.

Gbajabiamila noted that the closed-door meeting made, "good progress and covered good ground" with some resolutions reached.

The Speaker also revealed that the leadership of the House was inviting to a clarification meeting the Accountant General of the Federation, Auditor General of the Federation, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Chairman of the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission on tomorrow.

According to him, the issue of the deployment of the payment platform Universities Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as against the current Integrated Payroll and Personal Information System (IPPIS) calls for clarity before it could be tabled before the president.

Meanwhile, ASUU yesterday said it wrote the Senate and House of Representatives in September and October 2021, but got no fruitful intervention before proceeding on strike.

This was just as it said those speaking for the government had only been feeding Nigerians with lies.

The Chairman of the University of Ibadan chapter of the union, Prof.

Ayoola Akinwole, while speaking in Ibadan, yesterday, said the two Chambers of the National Assembly, also reneged on their promise to the union before it suspended its strike in 2020.

According to him, part of what the

National Assembly promised was to ensure that the 2021 budget accommodates the demands of ASUU, but they failed to do this, noting that the Speaker inviting the union was nothing new as he did not fulfill his promise to add the demands of the union into 2021 budget.

Akinwole who stated that Nigerians should make government responsible, said those in government are not monsters who cannot be challenged, insisting that the claim by the Minister of Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, that the 2009 agreements had been renegotiated with previous administration was total falsehood.

Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Bola Ige, Lam Adesina, Abiola Ajimobi and others.

"Forty months after, the full reality has dawned on the people that the PDP administration of Governor Seyi Makinde has nothing to offer except window dressing, grandstanding and misappropriation of scarce resources. “We now have an administration which has brought governance to a ridiculous level as against the traditional sterling performances which almost all the chief occupants of Agodi Government House have recorded in their respective times.

"Today, we have a government which prefers empowerment of miscreants to creation of enabling environment for investors to engage our teeming unemployed youths.

“We have a government which does not only celebrate cosmetic projects done at inflated cost but also mobilises hirelings and praise-singers for orchestration. As a matter of fact, Governor Makinde's administration would occupy a good space in the history of bad governance and clueless government in the whole world.

"States such as Ebonyi, Borno, Osun, Gombe and Kaduna earn far less in terms of federal allocations and internally generated revenue but the value which their respective governors have added in the last three years is a pointer to the fact that Oyo state has been on a downward slope since June 2019.

2023: Enugu Workers Back Ugwuanyi on Choice of Mbah, Ossai The heads, managements and staff of Boards, Institutions, Parastatals, Agencies and Commissions (BIPAC) working under Enugu State Government yesterday converged on the Government House, Enugu, to appreciate Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his good works in the state in spite of the nation’s challenges bordering on economy, security and health.

The Enugu workers who were led by the Chairman of the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ESUBEB), Chief Ikeje Asogwa, also appreciated Ugwuanyi for the choice and emergence of Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and Ifeanyi Ossai as the governorship candidate and deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state respectively.

They declared their solidarity and support for Ugwuanyi who

is the candidate of the PDP for Enugu North Senatorial District, Mbah, Ossai and other candidates of the PDP in the 2023 elections, promising to work round the clock and mobilise the electorate during the electioneering process to ensure landslide victories for the PDP and its flag-bearers.

Speaking at the event, Asogwa told Ugwuanyi, who was with the PDP governorship candidate, his running mate, and the State Chairman of the Party, Hon. Augustine Nnamani, that the workers came on a solidarity visit, “to applaud you for the good works you have been doing in the state.”

He added that the visit was also, “to thank you for our brothers that emerged from the last PDP governorship primary election in Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, and his running mate, Barr.

Ifeanyi Ossai.”

Asogwa, who is the Director General of Enugu State PDP Campaign Organisation, in a statement, stressed that the workers were poised to ensure that Mbah and Ossai win the governorship election in the state in 2023, “to move the state to greater heights.”

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Local Government Pensions Board, Nana Ogbodo, reiterated the workers’ support for Ugwuanyi, Mbah, Ossai, and other candidates of the PDP in the state.

Ogbodo extolled Ugwuanyi’s sterling leadership qualities, describing him as an unassuming, peace loving and God fearing leader with a lot of accomplishments, stressing that the workers are fortunate to work under his result and peopleoriented administration.

“We have had the fortunes to work with a governor (Ugwuanyi) who has enormous powers yet he is humble. Your Excellency, you are a master of science of human relationship. You have been a perfect source of good and you are a national champion of peace and humility and we are proud to work with you,”he was quoted to have said in a statement.

In their separate speeches, the Chairman of Nike Lake Resort, Enugu, Hon. Mrs. Ugochi Madueke and the Managing Director of Enugu State Waste Management Agency (ESWAMA), Chief Mrs. Amaka Anajemba, expressed gratitude to Ugwuanyi for empowering the women of the state in various capacities, reassuring him that the workers are solidly behind his administration and the candidates of the PDP.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 • T H I S D AY

13

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 • T H I S D AY

14 A

D

V

E

R

T

O

R

I

A

L

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 • T H I S D AY

15

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

16

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com

08033025611 SMS ONLY

Atiku’s Trouble Shooting Mission to South West Kemi Olaitan reports that the trouble shooting trip of the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to the South West geo-political zone may not have ease the crisis in the major opposition party

Atiku

L

eaders, stakeholders and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the six states in the South West region last week stormed the Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, to play host to the presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and other leaders of the party. It was an interactive session with major stakeholders of the party in the region or what many analysts termed as trouble shooting effort by the flag bearer of the party.

There is no doubt so much has happened within the party since the emergence of Atiku as the candidate of the party for the 2023 presidential elections and his choice of the governor of Delta state, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate.

The most strident of the crisis which faced the party was what many political observers regarded as moral challenge posed by some governors of the party led by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, insisting that the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, should step down for a Southerner, in line with pre-primary agreements.

Other governors who have been vociferous in the call that Ayu must go include Seyi Makinde of Oyo state; Ifeanyi Ikpeazu of Abia state and Samuel Ortom of Benue state.

The contention of the Wike camp is that it is not right for the two most powerful positions in the party, to be occupied by people from the same Northern region Both Atiku and Ayu are from the north.

While concerted efforts by well-meaning party chieftains such as the immediate past chairman of the parry’s Board of Trustees (BOT), Senator Walid Jibrin, who resigned during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party and replaced by a former Senate President, Senator Adolphous Wabara, a Southerner, to douse the tension and reunite the warring factions, the Wike’s camp had remain unbending in its position that Ayu must step down.

The coming to Ibadan by Atiku and his entourage that include the vice presidential candidate, Dr. Okowa; Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state; former governors Babangida Aliyu, Niger state and Senator Lyel Imoke, Cross River state; Senators Abdul Ningi and Dino Melaye; and High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, was to put the party on the path of unity with a few days left before the commencement of campaigns.

Speakers at the well attended stakeholders meeting include vice-presidential candidate, Senator Okowa; chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; Osun State governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Iliya Damagun, former governor of Osun state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and former Deputy Governor of Ekiti state, Senator Biodun Olujinmi.

They all spoke on the need for the party to forge ahead as a united front, adding that the PDP has demonstrated the readiness to win the

Ayu

Presidency and liberate Nigerians from the hardship brought upon the country by the APC. Governor Makinde who many analysts believed would shun the meeting being a front member of the Wike’s camp, was to be the chief host as the leader of the party in the region. And former governor of Osun state, Prince Oyinlola, speaking on behalf of other former governors, Ayodele Fayose, Ekiti state and Olusegun Mimiko, Ondo state; said Makinde would present the position of the region on the crisis rocking the party to the presidential candidate. This the Oyo state governor did.

Makinde did not mince words in presenting the position of the South West region, which he divided into two pre-election and post-election demands, noting that for the party to feel reassured that the party is being inclusive, the lopsided sharing of its national positions must be reversed before the elections, attracting wild applause from those present.

The Oyo sate governor while maintaining that truth must be told, said the South West leaders of the party believed that Atiku as a unifier is capable of moving Nigeria out of the doldrums the All Progressives Congress (APC) had plunged it in over seven years, adding that he was confident the party’s presidential candidate has the capacity to reposition the country.

He however told the former Vice President between 1999 and 2007, to look inwards by first supporting the restructuring of the party and uniting its members before the elections.

Makinde, who explained that the insistence of Governors Wike, Ortom, Ifeanyi and himself, that the party must play a politics of inclu-

Makinde

Okowa

sion by allowing the National Chairmanship post to move South, should not be seen as having a problem with the party or the presidential candidate as the governors have left the issue of presidential primaries behind them.

He reiterated that the message of the SouthWest PDP to the presidential candidate is that the National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, must step down and the National Working Committee of the PDP be restructured to reflect national unity.

His words, “I want to thank everyone for coming for this meeting and I think, at this point, we have to tell ourselves nothing but the truth. What we will do here is to speak the truth to ourselves. Yes, others have spoken here about the positive side of things but we do have challenges and issues to address in our party. But one good thing is, we have the capacity to address those issues.

“Of course, I have seen people abuse me on social media, saying this issue is about Wike, Makinde, Ortom and Ugwuanyi, but the truth is we don’t have any issue either with our party or our presidential candidate. If there are challenges, we must bring them on the table so that we can address them to ensure that our journey is smooth and we can get to our destination. So, this is not about individuals.

“I see some people talk about what cropped up during and after the presidential convention when somebody was selected as vicepresidential candidate. Truth is, those are issues that are behind us. They have happened and they have happened but this is where we are.

Are there issues coming out of those that we really need to address so we can be successful at the end of the day? The answer is yes and we will address them. Integrity and honour must be a part of our national psyche.

“We have spoken about the movement; the youth and we have spoken about what they are looking for. Our people are in a state of hopelessness, which the APC brought upon us and it is the reality but we are supposed to give hope to our people. We want them to listen to us, to hear our message to them. For us to be able to do that, we must lay a good example.

“We say we want to rescue Nigeria. Our candidate is a unifier and he will unify Nigeria.

We want to restructure Nigeria. I have listened to our candidate both publicly and privately and we have had several interactions. Our party is talking about a government of national unity because close to eight years of APC has left us badly divided. Well, the issue is, we must practise what we preach.

“If we want to unify Nigeria, we must unify the PDP first. If we want a government of national unity, the faces in the PDP must reflect national unity. If we want to restructure Nigeria, we must have the willingness to do what is right to bring inclusivity into PDP. Do we have the capacity? Do we have a candidate with the capacity? The answer is a resounding yes.”

The Waziri Adamawa who had kept a straight face while Governor Makinde, was presenting his address, in his remarks, said the position of the South West, which has also been echoed in some quarters, is achievable but that the constitution, rules, regulations and procedures of the party must be adhered to.

He however added that the party has all it takes to win the election at all levels as it has ruled the country successfully before, stating that the time has come to return the PDP back to power.

According to him, as a founding member of the party, he is conversant with its laid down rules and regulations which must be followed to the letter, noting that there is nothing wrong in removing the National Chairman but this must be done in accordance with the constitution of the party.

His words, “The most important event facing us today is the election of 2023 and how to win.

From what I have seen in Lagos and Ibadan, I can tell you that we can win the election if we want to and it is possible for us to take over all the Southwestern states.

“More so, the new Electoral Act has improved our electoral processes and has made it difficult for people to write results. They cannot do it anymore and they cannot rig. If they send thugs to snatch ballot boxes, they will not be counted. So, the era is over. The most important thing for you is to make sure you are registered to vote and protect your vote.

“PDP is the oldest political party in Nigeria and since the return of democracy. Over time, the PDP has developed its own constitution, electoral processes, zoning of offices, power sharing and others, which will bring about the unity of the party and that of the country.

I have no problem with wherever any of the members of the party comes from but it must be done in accordance with our constitution, regulations and practices.

“Therefore, what Governor Makinde is calling for is achievable under our constitution, rules, regulations and procedures. So, those institutions must serve as guides to whatever changes we make. That is why we cannot do anything outside the constitution unless it is amended to reflect what we want them to be.

With the outcome of the meeting where two sides have taken different positions, many observers are wary if the main opposition party would be able to go into the presidebtial election campaigns as a united entity. Indeed, to some analysts, the position by Atiku that Ayu can only be removed if the constitution is amended has foreclosed the removal of the National Chairman for now

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

17

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

POLITICS

As Police Distrupt OBI-dient Rally in Ebonyi...

Benjamin Nworie writes that despite the attempt by police to disrupt the peaceful march by the supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, the rally turned out a success

T

he OBI-dient movement for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, had a sad and memorable day in Ebonyi state. It started sadly but ended gloriously. The event took place on Saturday, September 17. The one million man march was earlier scheduled to kickstart at the state township stadium in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital.

The organizers reportedly approachedthe state government for them to use the facility but were charged N4 million. Worried that the charge was exorbitant, or perhaps, as a way to sabotage and scuttle the event, the organizers changed the convergence venue to pastoral centre junction. The Pastoral center is a stonethrow to the township stadium.

As the crowd converged at the Pastoral center, operatives of Police stormed the area and dispersed the crowd with gunshots and teargas. Some of the rallyists were also arrested but later released. Many people including wedding guests that came to the Pastoral Center for marriage ceremony scampered for safety It was a show of shame. Acell phone belonging to one of the supporters was smashed by the overzealous security operatives. The operation was led by a senior police officer and when accosted by some of the leaders of the group told them that the instruction to disrupt the rally was from the “state government”.

The security operatives who came in their large numbers barricaded the ever busy Mile 50 road, causing heavy vehicular and human traffic. When it became tougher and to avoid loss of lives, the Senatorial Candidate of Labour Party for Ebonyi South, Mr Linus Abaa Okorie, advised the supporters to go home in peace.

In his Facebook post, Okorie said: “Dear #OBIdients, please be safe. This Match must eventually hold. As law abiding citizens, please go home and be safe. Power for Peter Obi and all #OBIdients is not worth the blood of any Ebonyian.

“Democracy is a state of mind and your resolve to support Mr. Peter Obi cannot be disrupted or broken by intimidation and subterfuge. To the police authorities, you are a creation of the law and should not have pandered to the whims and

Obi

Umahi

caprices of other subjects of the law.

“For those that think the #OBIdientMovement in Ebonyi can be intimidated out of existence, know ye that today’s disruption shall be an energizer and catalyst to its greater ascendancy.

“To all the youth who stood up to police teargas in front of the pastoral gas, know it that you are the heroes of democracy and shall be fully rewarded with a #ANewNigeria and a tolerant government in Ebonyi”.

However, after some hours, the security operatives opened up the roads following a directive from the Police Headquarters in Abuja. Before then, more supporters had thronged the venue from across the 13 local government areas of the State.

The spokesman of the Police command in the State, SP Chris Anyanwu, exonerated the police, claiming that they acted to forestall illegal gathering and security breach.

Anyanwu said: “Armed with credible intelligence, the State Police Command sensing that if not

checked, the rally will become turbulent and create a state of insecurity in the State decided to nip it at the bud. So in a bid to proactively curb the impending turbulence, police men were despatched to the newly proposed takeoff venue, Pastorial Center, for the purpose of maintaining law and order.

“Unfortunately, while the Police men were properly deployed to ensure that there was no breakdown of the law, the radicals and mischief-makers among the rallyists became violent and started hauling missiles on the police operatives, uttering all manners of unprintable statements on the Police and the Government.

Many of them even went physical to assault and attack the police men.

“So in response, and guided by the Presidential pronouncements/order at the era of the unpopular END-SARS protests, the police personnel on duty rose to the occasion to dislodge the violent and criminally oriented attackers”.

The Police also said it had expected the group to abide by the outcome of the meeting and the requisite conditions given by the State Government which includes payment of a certain amount of money for the use of the Stadium as a take-off point as well as another refundable sum of money as a collateral in case of any damage

to Government property/infrastructures.

It, however, baffled many people who asked if the police have become revenue implementation agents to Ebonyi state government and when has it become a security breach for people to change a location of their program if they can not afford certain financial conditions. As the police struggled to exonerate themselves from the “highly condemnable and dirty job”, the members of the public have called for the immediate sack of the Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Garba.

Like the Police, the State Governor, David Umahi also exonerated himself saying he never ordered the disruption of the rally. The Governor, in a release issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Strategy, Chooks Oko, noted that he was certainly not aware of any disruption of any gathering as he didn’t order any.

Umahi said: “For record purposes, the relevant government agencies had approved the use of Abakaliki township stadium for a rally by the Labour party subject to the payment of some specified fees. Rather than pay the fees, it was gathered, the organizers chose to empty into the streets causing some untold hardships on the hapless citizens going about their daily pursuits. The police, we are told, had to step in to restore law and order.

“The Governor of Ebonyi state is certainly not aware of any disruption of any gathering as he didn’t order any. He is a democrat who believes firmly in the rule of law. He wishes every contending politician the very best and will insist on a level playing ground for all. If it is true that the police dispersed people, the answer will surely rest with the police”.

The Governor therefore appealled to all citizens to always abide by the dictates of the law and decent living so that law and order will always reign supreme.

He further wished all political parties and their candidates well and enjoined all to play the game by the rules.

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

2023: Will History Repeat Itself in Kwara Central?

If the political trajectory of past holders of Turaki title in Ilorin is anything to go by, a former national chairmanship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mallam Saliu Mustapha, may be creating a political dynasty for himself as the country approaches the 2023 elections, writes Adedayo Akinwale

I

f the record of past holders of Turaki title in Ilorin Emirate has proved anything, it is that their advancement in politics begins just after being bestowed with the prestigious traditional honour. So more often than not, it has always been a boom to the politicians who have been fortunate to be conferred with it.

Beginning with the first ever Turaki, Alhaji Sanni Olanrewaju Okin, who was turbaned in 1963 and was already well established as an entrepreneur of note. His rise politically was further boosted by his historic turbaning as the first Turaki by the 9th Emir of Ilorin, Shaykh Sulu Gambari. He became first the representative of Ilorin Native Authority in the Northern House of Assembly on the platform of Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), and a Senator respectively.

So by the time he eventually bagged the Turaki title, Okin had sufficiently displayed the force of character and individual achievements necessary to carry the title.

Similarly, the political evolution of late Dr. Olusola Saraki was fast-tracked by his appointment on April 12, 1974 as the second Turaki of Ilorin. In fact, many believed that his conferment with the title gave his political career a stronger push and transformed him into the enigma he became in his lifetime.

Upon his elevation in 2006 to the rank of Waziri, the late Saraki was succeeded by his son, Dr. Bukola Saraki as the third Turaki of Ilorin. Like his father before him, his political career also got a boost and his national influ-

Mustapha

ence expanded after he bagged the title, becoming the Chairman of the influential Nigeria Governors Forum just a year after, and later elected Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District before being Senate President in 2015.

And from all indications, the current holder of the title, Mallam Saliu Mustapha, with his generosity and large-heartedness, appears to be walking in the shoes of all previous Turakis before him.

Mustapha, a development consultant, business mogul, philanthropist and politician, hails from Ilorin, Kwara State, North-Central Nigeria.

With a portfolio of business cutting across diverse sectors of the Nigerian economy, he is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding and successful business personalities of his generation.

Born in Kaduna, Mustapha attended St. Bartholomew Primary School, Zaria and Command Secondary School, Kaduna before proceeding to Kaduna Polytechnic where he earned a qualification in Mineral Resources Engineering.

A consummate politician of over two decades, he ventured into politics at an early age, becoming the National Publicity Secretary of the Progressive Liberation Party (PLP). He also served as the first National Publicity Secretary of the Progressive Action Congress (PAC).

From 2005 to 2008, Mustapha served as the National Organizing Secretary of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) and in 2011, he was elected as the Deputy National Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Recently, in his quest to ensure that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is well managed to deliver the much needed reforms in Nigeria, he joined the contest for the National Chairmanship of the party.

Beyond politics and business, Mustapha is a passionate humanitarian who caters to the

welfare and wellbeing of his people. Through his NGO, the Saliu Mustapha Foundation, he continues to impact lives and improve the living conditions of young people, the aged, women and children in several communities across Kwara State and beyond.

In 2021, in recognition of his contributions to the development of the state, and especially his interventions against poverty and deprivation, he emerged the new Turaki of Ilorin Emirate, a traditional title conferred on the most eminent sons of the Emirate by the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Sulu Gambari.

In evaluating the political trajectories of all the previous Turakis, it must be observed that there is a shared sentiment that often works in their favour. Having acquired the Turaki title and effectively integrated into the traditional political system of the Emirate, the people often have a special affinity towards them, and this is exactly what is playing out in the instance of Saliu Mustapha via-a-vis his senatorial run in 2023.

The Turaki title, which in traditional politics of Nigeria’s northern Emirate, is usually described as “the face of the kingdom,” has placed bigger responsibilities on Mustapha who must, more than before, feel the pulse of the people and represent them at different levels.

This may therefore inform why, in a bid to effectively discharge the responsibility of his traditional office better, he is currently standing as the APC senatorial candidate for Kwara Central in the 2023 elections.

18

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

19

INSPIREDLIFE

THE TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS OF BUSINESS WUNDERKINDS

with LANRE ALFRED

Tope Shonubi: Nigeria’s Poster Boy for Successful Entrepreneurship, Indefatigable Spirit Nigeria is blessed with successful entrepreneurs, men and women alike, who rose from crass poverty to prosperity; the unrelenting few who fell off a cliff and built a plane on their way down. They are energetic and enthusiastic, uncompromising, yet realistic; impossibility has no space in their lexicon. With the tenacity of purpose and devotion to their dreams, they bestride the gap between creativity and commerce successfully. Welcome to the world of a peerless member of that class, Tope Shonubi, one-third of the Sahara Energy triumvirate, including Tonye Cole and Ade Odunsi, who has had his fair share of trials but is now an avatar of successful entrepreneurship forward, Sahara Group has a vision of investing in gas development for energy, data tech, and monetisation, infrastructural development, and in bringing energy to life in a responsible and smart way wherever energy is consumed.”

In the same vein, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo praised the group for being “a great ambassador for the Nigerian entrepreneurial brand.” Speaking at a virtual event to commemorate Sahara Group’s 25th anniversary, Osinbajo said Sahara embodied the enterprising and transformative spirit that makes Nigeria a remarkable nation.

“Sahara Group has demonstrated bold, innovative, knowledge-driven business models that are designed to seize opportunities in other countries and have done so with remarkable success in many African countries,” Osinbajo said.

GRIND BENEATH THE GLITTER

U

ndaunted aptly captures the story of Tope Shonubi. Despite the odds of yesteryears, Tope Shonubi emerged as a stronger and more successful entrepreneur. The global business terrain is like a wilderness riddled with storms. Despite its inherent dangers, a few daring entrepreneurs navigate its perilous paths with stubborn resolve and unyielding spirit. That relentless spirit often pays off, guiding them through the perils and quagmires of global commerce till they emerge victorious in spirit and resolve, like the champions they set out to become. The most successful businesspeople are always prepared to immerse and withstand the transformations of the business world.

These are the visionary few that are always eager to learn and unlearn; ever ready to pitch their flags in the chaotic terrains and slugfests characteristic of global commerce. In pursuing an enduring vision, they recruit a network of like-minded individuals as co-travellers, driven by the passion and courage to achieve difficult goals and gain matchless credibility.

They have an outstanding reputation for offering lifelines and redefining the frontiers of greatness. Thus, like 21st-century huntsmen, they explore the world and seek to exploit its numerous endowments within local and global contexts of decency and fair play.

This aptly captures the trajectory of Shonubi, one of the founders of the Sahara Group. He is one of the few great men who refused to be daunted by the limits of their struggling days or the lure of get-rich-quick means. Armed with a Master of Business Administration, MBA, from a British university, Shonubi did not give when it appeared his initial efforts at starting a great professional were patchy.

PRESIDENTIAL ACCLAIM FOR STERLING PERSONALITY

Shonubi’s unassuming personality and his standing in the corporate sector have not evaded the presidential eyes nor the international community. He has had the honour of being on Buhari’s economic delegation to the United States of America, alongside Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote. This is a testament to Shonubi’s status as an unassailable economic player with a global impact.

Shonubi was one of the youngest members of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, appointed as special assistant on international affairs in 1999. This was a telling experience he would live to cherish. He has had to rub shoulders with world leaders, many of whom he has cross-fertilised ideas with. This was accentuated in many of his public speaking sessions.

MASTER OF HIS UNIVERSE

FORTUNE’S SEED

Shonubi is a brilliant young man with a clinical business vision and unfussy moral rigours. He was introduced to the oil business and started selling to several companies, including Wale Tinubu’s OANDO. Business was good; before long, he became a looming fixture among the jet set and bourgeoisie, the powerful and popular. Shonubi’s story cannot be told without Sahara Group, and vice versa. In 1996, alongside Tonye and Ade, they started Sahara Group, which incubates companies like the Sahara Energy Field, Sahara Gas, Sahara Farms, Sahara Trade, and Sahara Bulk Storage Facilities, among others, all of which have their core fields of endeavour centred within the oil and gas industry and its associated sub-sectors.

The group’s trading subsidiary, Sahara Energy Resources, based in the British Crown dependency of the Isle of Man, made its first delivery of Libyan oil to the United States a few years after they began operations.

The 461,000 barrels of crude oil from Mellitah went to the Monroe Energy refinery in Trainer, Pennsylvania.

The young men exerted energy and fervour amenable to a personal culture of success peculiar to them, a process by which they laid their primal impulses to rest and let unsullied enterprise and ethics guide their actions through consummate humaneness and balancing acts. The company soon established itself as a credible trading house.

Today, Sahara Energy, which started as an oil and gas company trading in excess fuel oil from the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries as its core business then, is a multi-billion-dollar business and a major employer of labour with a portfolio that includes an upstream business and strong physical presence in Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Senegal; and representative offices in Cameroun, France, and Brazil. They also diversified into vessel ownership - with a fleet of vessels moving products across West Africa - and storage depot, building depots in Lagos, Onne, and Abuja.

Sahara Power Group has also made huge investment interventions in the power sector. Today, SPG is the largest privately owned vertically integrated power company in Sub-Saharan Africa, with plans to expand its generation capacity to exceed 5,000MW by 2023.

With a portfolio that includes Egbin Power Plc. (the largest thermal power plant in Sub Saharan Africa ex.

South Africa), Afam, Eleme, Trans Amadi and Omoku Plants, SPG successfully acquired majority shareholding stakes in two of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) assets under the privatisation initiative of the Nigerian Government, namely Egbin Power Plc

Shonubi and Ikeja Electric Plc (one of the largest power distribution companies in Sub-Saharan Africa). In addition, SPG also acquired a 70 per cent stake in First Independent Power Limited (FIPL). This acquisition reinforced the quest of SPG to enhance its competitive advantage in the sector whilst looking to deliver world-class power solutions through investments across Africa.

“Sahara’s focus is on continuous improvement, operational efficiency, and sustainability. We plan to deploy a best-in-class Terminal Automation System (TAS) for efficient terminal operations in the oil and gas sector, Plant Data Visualisation System (PDVS) for enhanced remote monitoring of plant operations, Customer Energy Management (CEM), and GIS-based Network Monitoring System (GNMS) for customer-centric power distribution & data management services,” said Shonubi.

Sahara’s operational model has shown that creating a sustainable economic, social, and governance impact has remained central to its corporate strategy. No wonder it has grown its operations to achieve annual revenues in excess of $10 billion, with over 4000 employees and operations in over 40 countries.

CELEBRATING 26 YEARS OF IMPACTFUL CONGLOMERATE

In the din of interminable acclaim and deafening applause that welcomed their entrepreneurial exploits and arrival into Nigeria’s elite business class, they did not rest on their laurels. Their unfaltering spirit continually spurred them to seek and attain landmark feats in business and politics.

Media-shy and unobtrusive, Shonubi has sustained his unwavering resolve in business excellence and empowering the African population long plagued by a dearth of infrastructure and, indirectly, poverty. To boost the human capital profile ahead of the projected future growth in the petroleum sector, he once counselled that oil and gas traders in Africa needed to address the

dearth of experienced traders.

“Africa needs to invest more in capacity building in line with global standards. We are spearheading this narrative on the continent through various mentorship and specialised training programmes for our people at Sahara and other beneficiaries at our trading hubs in Geneva and Singapore,” he said.

The world stood still for the group when Sahara marked its silver jubilee of existence and landmarks that have reshaped Africa’s economic landscape. While reflecting on the journey of over two and half decades last year, Shonubi went down memory lane as he shared their journey from dreaming to actualising.

“For us at Sahara, it has been 25 years of instituting a stamp of distinction. Like most start-ups, we were chasers then followers, and today are the dream actualized corporation,” Shonubi further stated. “It is much more expensive and difficult to be a trailblazer, defying the impossible to emerge as an enterprise that creates value innovatively, responsibly, and sustainably. Still, at Sahara, we are focused on remarkable growth and grateful for the opportunity to serve and bring energy to life across global markets.”

It did not come as a surprise to many when President Buhari felicitated the group on its silver jubilee anniversary. The president extolled the diligence and hard work of the founders for growing a modest enterprise, which began as a trader in petroleum products, into a conglomerate at its silver jubilee, adding that such a feat was inspirational to the nation’s teeming youth.

“With operations in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, Nigeria is proud that Sahara Group came from its loins and has in the period of operations, deployed transformational energy initiatives to become a business with proud African heritage,” said Buhari. “I am particularly enthused that you provide 21 per cent of power to Nigerians and distribute 15 per cent, and going

His reticent nature has not shielded the discerning public from having an insight into Shonubi’s mindset.

He is not the type who celebrates success when the work is halfway done. He believes in the paradigm that his job is not done until the job is done, believing that nothing successful is perfect; it is a continuously developing process. Shonubi readily agrees that he is well attuned to directing people because he takes time to study the issues and problems and then looks for people who can deliver the right messages.

He is unapologetically ambidextrous, which is why he has been able to record much at his relatively young age. With ambidexterity, not only has he packed so much into his years in the business world. He also strongly recommends that purposeful leadership entails the capacity to solve current problems and plan for the future at the same time.

A peripatetic human who has travelled the length and breadth of the globe, the 2020 lockdown occasioned by the novel COVID-19 confined him to a place for more than three months, thereby breaking a personal record that he had not broken in the last 20 years. A mentor to not a few youths with burgeoning interests in entrepreneurship, Shonubi is a recurring figure at conferences and seminars impacting the new generation. A keynote speaker at different forums, Shonubi, has spoken on numerous topics, including youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, energy, international trade, and other fields. An ardent patriot with a firm belief in Nigerian youths and their entrepreneurship skills, he once opined that they needed to be disciplined to accomplish greatness. He urged the youths to be consistent and humble and embrace entrepreneurship to add value to human lives.

Despite Shonubi’s apathy to the limelight, he finds time to enjoy the accoutrements of his enviable fortune.

His mouth-watering penthouse mansion in Banana Island leaves passersby gawking in awe and admiration. He is always dressed to the nines, resplendent in bespoke suits. Because of the demands of his job, Shonubi travels at his own pace and pleasure in his private jet. Though in and around Abuja, he is renowned and respected for his deep pocket and decent lifestyle.

He is as powerful and prosperous as they come. His business successes aside, he is a man that loves to live life to the fullest. In his early 50s and with looks that good money and good living have helped to burnish further, you may call him an Adonis for his drop-dead dress sense and expensive taste in designer apparel, especially Saville Row suits.

20 T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

See page 21

THE PDP MAN OF PEACE Udom Emmanuel has set out to douse the fire in his political household, writes FATUNDE B. ADELABI

See page 21

EDITORIAL FOR ENDURING PEACE IN NIGERIA

See page 22

1

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

WHY ‘YAHOO BUSINESS’ THRIVES IN NIGERIA SONNY ARAGBAAKPORE argues that so many people, in or out of government, are fraudsters

Wednesday September 21, 2022 Vol 27. No 10025

Emeka Anyaoku argues the need for a new constitution that reflects the will, aspirations and shared values of the people, writes PAUL EJIME

NIGERIA REQUIRES A NEW CONSTITUTION Many Nigerians and friends of Nigeria are worried, and for good reasons, about the country’s future beyond the make or mar general elections in February/March 2023.

The level of insecurity is troubling, from the North to the South, East to the West of the country. There are almost daily killings and abductions for ransom, of helpless civilians, with farmers chased out of their farms or made to pay taxes to non-state criminal armed gangs.

Bandits and armed religious extremist groups, especially the Boko Haram appear to operate at will. Recently, they displayed their capacity to strike, even at the seat of the Nigerian Government, shooting their way into a prison and freeing inmates during an audacious jail break in the Federal Capital, Abuja.

The dare devil armed groups have also attacked an advance team of the Presidential convoy and the elite Presidential Guard in the Federal Capital. Even more disturbing, is their threat to kidnap the Nigerian President and Commander-in-Chief, while a state governor in the north of the country has raised the alarm over the terrorists’ threat to establish a parallel administration in the state.

Skilled Nigerians are leaving the country in droves, while the non-skilled are making desperate attempts to escape, some using dangerous illegal means.

Government authorities are adamant that they are doing their best, but the perilous state RI DͿDLUV SHUYDGHV HYHU\ IDFHW RI QDWLRQDO OLIH raising fundamental questions, especially, regarding which parts of the country would be safe enough for the 2023 elections.

There is no gainsaying that Africa’s most populous nation with more than 200 million people has never been as divided in its chequered political history - which includes a civil war, and several bouts of religious, social and post-electoral upheavals.

3XEOLF WUXVW DQG FRQÀGHQFH LQ JRYHUQPHQW and its institutions are at an all-time low, with scaringly high youth unemployment and skyhigh cost of living, made worse by the global Covid-19 devastation and most recently, the 5XVVLD 8NUDLQH FRQÁLFW Elder statesman Chief Emeka Anyaoku, an internationally renowned diplomat and former Commonwealth Secretary (1990-2000), is among many well-meaning Nigerians who have continued to express concern over the GLUH VWDWH RI DͿDLUV LQ WKH FRXQWU\ “I am worried, and cannot contemplate Nigeria’s future with equanimity,” Anyaoku told this writer in a recent chat.

As a patriot, with an unwavering commitment and contributions to the entrenchment of multiparty democracy in GLͿHUHQW SDUWV RI WKH ZRUOG IURP %DQJODGHVK to Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa, to say nothing about his home country, Anyaoku has practical recommendations on how to get Nigeria out of the current political quagmire.

“Nigeria requires a new Constitution that UHÁHFWV WKH ZLOO DVSLUDWLRQV DQG VKDUHG YDOXHV of its peoples,” he said, noting that the current 1999 Constitution as amended and the 36-state structure “will lead the country nowhere.”

He said that a governance structure of six federating units should replace the current dysfunctional, unviable and unsustainable arrangement.

The new Constitution would be agreed and drafted by a Constituent Assembly, to which the federating units would send representatives after consultations with various stakeholders, ethnic nationalities, faith and traditional institutions, professional bodies and other interest groups, Anyaoku counselled. His prescription is that the ´&RQVWLWXWLRQ E\ WKH 3HRSOH µ VKRXOG GHÀQH the formula for resource allocation and political power distribution between the Centre and the federating units.

For instance, he says the responsibility for external relations, defence, security and protection of the national sovereignty should rest with the Centre/federal government, while education, healthcare, local/community policing and management of local resources should be the responsibility of the federal units. To promote a sense of belonging in the revenue allocation, Anyaoku said that host communities of vital minerals such DV RLO JDV GLDPRQG DQG JROG GHÀQHG E\ the Constitution), should retain 15% of the national revenue; with the Centre getting 25%, and the six federating units sharing 60% equally.

According to the Elder statesman, Nigeria’s diversity will be better managed under a federation with autonomous units and devolution of powers from the currently powerful centre to the federating units. To actualize his recommendations, Anyaoku said Nigerian electorate must ensure that the presidential candidates for the 2023 elections, commit unequivocally, to the deconstruction of the present political structure and its replacement with an equitable, inclusive and participatory governance system that guarantees all fundamental human rights, with fairness and justice for all citizens in a united nation.

After more than four decades of an illustrious international career, Anyaoku knows a bit about governance systems, especially with regard to managing diversity across the mosaic of cultures that are the 56-nation Commonwealth. He served in top positions at the United Nations and with a stint as Nigerian Foreign Minister before becoming the Secretary General of the Commonwealth from 1990 to 2000.

Many may not be aware that it was Chief Anyaoku who pioneered what morphed into the now famous Abuja Peace Accord of January 2015. This was at a critical juncture when Nigeria was tethering on an existential brink. After the killings and widespread

violence that followed the 2011 presidential contest, Nigerians and the international community were worried that the country might not survive the 2015 elections, not with some foreign think-tanks having predicted that the country would break up.

Anyaoku said he could not stand by to watch Nigeria disintegrate. So, he dug deep into his mediation and preventive diplomacy armoury and with the help of Senator Ben Obi, then political adviser to the President, crafted a one-page watershed document, which later became the Abuja Peace Accord. He enlisted the support of a fellow world leader and pan$IULFDQLVW .RÀ $QQDQ RI *KDQD WKH IRUPHU Secretary General of the United Nations. Both men set out to Abuja, Anyaoku revealed, H[SODLQLQJ WKDW KH ÀUVW VKDUHG WKH GUDIW ZLWK President Goodluck Jonathan, the presidential candidate of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and later, with Gen. 0XKDPPDGX %XKDUL WKH ÁDJ EHDUHU RI WKH opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

Having secured the concurrence of the two presidential frontrunners, Anyaoku said that the other presidential candidates were also brought on board to sign the Abuja Peace Accord, with all the candidate committing to non-violent election, and also, to respect the outcome of the poll.

Anyaoku and his co-peace maker, Annan, now of blessed memory, along with other NH\ ÀJXUHV ZLWQHVVHG WKH ODQGPDUN VLJQLQJ ceremony, and one of the rare occasions that President Jonathan and Gen. Buhari HPEUDFHG HDFK RWKHU 7KLV HͿHFWLYHO\ GRXVHG the political tension and no doubt, contributed to President Jonathan’s graceful concession of defeat.

To sustain the peace initiative, given that elections are triggers and drivers of political crises in Africa, Chief Anyaoku said, he suggested that a mechanism be set up. He went on to recommend two key members of what became the National Peace Committee - former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar as the Chair, and Bishop Matthew Kukah as member, with his Kukah Center, to serve as the Committee’s Secretariat.

Nigeria is again in the throes of another political uncertainty with much hinging on the 2023 elections. So much has been said and written about the resilience of the average Nigerian, and the country’s propensity to pull back from the precipice.

However, a nation with so much potential cannot continue to ride its luck or assume that it is too big to fail. Africa, and indeed, the World, looks up to Nigeria to provide leadership, at the regional and continental levels.

Ejime LV D *OREDO $ͿDLUV $QDO\VW DQG DQ ,QGHSHQGHQW &RQVXOWDQW RQ &RUSRUDWH 6WUDWHJLF &RPPXQLFDWLRQV 0HGLD 'HYHORSPHQW 3HDFH 6HFXULW\ DQG (OHFWLRQV

T H I S D AY

321

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

SONNY ARAGBA-AKPORE argues that so many people, in or out of government, are fraudsters

WHY ‘YAHOO BUSINESS’ THRIVES IN NIGERIA Russian-born Ukrainian writer, Nikolai Gogol’s master piece ‘The Inspector General’ (1836) ordinarily is a satire which lampooned the corruption prevalent in his time. While telling a story which everyone LGHQWLÀHG ZLWK *RJRO HTXDOO\ SDLQWHG a picture of awe and trepidation of the government inspector.

1LJHULDQ SOD\ZULJKW )HPL 2VRÀVDQ brought the story up to date in ‘Who is Afraid of Solarin?’ (1978) a play he adapted from Gogol, bringing the story home as his narrative clearly depicted Tai Solarin who served as Public Complaints Commissioner for Oyo, Ondo and Ogun 6WDWHV 2VRÀVDQ SDLQWV 6RODULQ DV D SXEOLF FRPSODLQW 2΀FHU ZKR ZDV feared and revered for his uprightness in trying to remodel society in line with

high moral values in service to humanity.

While Gogol situated his master piece on the 19th century United Soviet Socialist 5HSXEOLF 8665 2VRÀVDQ DGGUHVVHV today’s Nigeria.

Today’s versions of ‘The Inspector General ‘and ‘Who is Afraid of Solarin?’in Nigeria are captured in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practice Commission (ICPC) mandates.

While the EFCC has made some sizeable inroads in arresting and prosecuting internet fraudsters better known as “Yahoo” and others, the ICPC is also believed to be hitting hard at fraudulent DFWLYLWLHV RI JRYHUQPHQW R΀FLDOV DQG others connected to them.

But will these “Government Inspectors” VX΀FLHQWO\ DGGUHVV WKH JURZLQJ criminalities in the country? The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) alleged the other day that voters registered in one constituency in Imo State grew from six million in 2015 to 29m in 2019 and wondered what kind of wizardry could grow a rural community on that level.

They smelt a rat. This is “yahoo “, they reasoned.

And in Nasarawa State, 349 ghost schools were discovered as part of those EHQHÀWLQJ IURP WKH IHGHUDO JRYHUQPHQW school feeding programme. The ghost schools were being paid from the federal government and the question on the lips of people is “where was the money going to and who was collecting it?”

Again this is another “yahoo”.

The ICPC announced last week that it discovered that several billions of naira were added to the national budgets of 2021 and 2022 as personnel and project costs by some Ministries, Departments and

Agencies (MDAs) a situation commonly referred to as padding. But did the ICPC sound a death knell on such fraudulent activities?

So who is afraid of ICPC and EFCC? 6SHFLÀFDOO\ WKH SHUVRQQHO FRVW IUDXG was put at N49.9 bn according to the antigraft agency, which also explained that the MDAs padded 2021 budget with N300 billion in duplicated projects, and the 2022 budget with N100 billion duplicated projects, adding that the N49.9 billion ghost workers salary covered a period between January and June 2022.

CUPP alleged that some names it uncovered from the INEC register were sourced from countries like Ghana, Cameroon, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Togo, Guinea, Gambia, Jamaica, Brazil and New Zealand.

Other semblances in government include over invoicing of projects executed, contract splitting and related scams that take place within the system.

Sales of contracts that are seldom executed and upward reviews of costs in that regard are rife. Employment scams and alleged sales of job slots are common occurrences in government. Nepotism and ethnicism thrive daily and added to these are issues of witch-hunting and criminal vindictiveness by superiors on juniors.

There are manifest truancies and absenteeism by workers.

And how many of these get the attention of the “Government Inspectors “?

If these are not “yahoo” so what is “yahoo” then?

Remember the Stephen Oronsaye report on how government could streamline its operations by merging and or scrapping duplicated agencies and departments for seamless operations but several years after, WKH EDFN DQG IRUWK LV VWLOO RQ %HQHÀFLDULHV of the porous system have demonized Oronsaye and today he appears to be marked.

Petroleum subsidies are increasing HYHU\GD\ DV RXU UHÀQHULHV UHPDLQ comatose. Some thousand workers earn salaries for doing nothing. Crude oil theft is thriving every day and nobody has been arrested and or prosecuted so far.

7KH RWKHU GD\ 3HQFRP R΀FLDOV FRXOG not defend their wage bills when they met the National Assembly legislators. $FDGHPLF 6WDͿ 8QLRQ RI 8QLYHUVLWLHV (ASUU) has been on strike for seven months now and the government has been unable to address their grievances or come to terms with the realities on ground. And so public universities remain shut down. $OO RI WKHVH LQÁXHQFH DQG HQFRXUDJH the other yahoo for which EFCC is making sizeable arrests, prosecutions and convictions. These are trying times indeed.

At least a few scapegoats are facing the law now but how far can the EFCC run?

The Commission claimed it secured, convicted and sentenced the Director of Logistics of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and student of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti Chapter, to one-year imprisonment for internetrelated fraud.

Aragba-Akpore is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

Udom Emmanuel has set out to douse the fire in his political household, writes FATUNDE B. ADELABI

THE PDP MAN OF PEACE When he was picked recently to chair the presidential campaign council of Atiku Abubakar, it signalled not only a recognition RI D PDMRU ÀJXUH DPRQJ WKH JRYHUQRUV RI this generation, but a stout party stalwart.

Governor Udom Emmanuel’s choice as chairman of the campaign council has brought a cleansing oil to what seems a simmering feud within the party.

As a man who brought peace to his state, KH KDV VHW RXW WR GRXVH WKH ÀUH LQ KLV SROLWLFDO household. He is shaping up to be the PDP man of peace. Before he became the chief executive of Akwa Ibom State, the place was a land of turmoil. It was not only with rhetoric

that people skewered their enemies but also with guns, with machetes, with grenades, with a huge barbaric temper.

Churches turned from house of prayer to funeral homes. Many went to church with the joy of the Lord only to depart with dour faces and wonder at the existence of their maker.

In markets, many were not sure they could buy rather than die. On the streets, on village squares, when they were at home with their families. An otherwise serene people started to look over their shoulders if a Judas was ZLHOGLQJ RYHU WKHP DQ LQVWUXPHQW RI ÀQDOLW\ In the same way some communities dread both dawn and dusk in parts of the north today, certain neighbourhoods of the state also heaved a sigh of relief if a day passed without a tale of blood. But then came a man of peace, and a balm of silence fell on the people. That was the presence of Udom Emmanuel as the chief steward of the people. To be a good OHDGHU WKH ÀUVW GLYLGHQG LV SHDFH He mounted the saddle and gradually the state forgot its terms of disengagement.

The hubris of the violent yielded to the pact of harmony. So where was the rage? Where were the cutlasses and machetes, the vile and tempestuous and incendiary rhetoric? Where was the suspicion? As it is often said, the history of the world is a history of great men.

A big man with a big idea who can look into the soul of the people emerges. The people see him and see their own tranquillity and their progress, and they follow him.

It is that credential that has made him a great presence in the state, even as it is about to mark its 35th birthday. He has become the big, bright light of his state for this era. He set the peace as a template to bring development.

Who does not know of Ibom Air today? Who does not know that it is now the unannounced ÁDJVKLS LQ WKH 1LJHULDQ VN\ SLORWLQJ DV LW were, the other airlines on where to go in the horizon.

Who has not seen the beauty and

architecture of the Dakkada Tower, the tallest in the region and one of the smartest in the sub-region? Who does not know it as a disruptive force in the region for oil companies who have looked to /DJRV DORQH WR ORFDWH WKHLU R΀FHV" It is a man who builds peace and prosperity, and that accounts for why the party hierarchy decided he had to become its chairman. He will be the one to sell its candidate, to bring stability in a time of doubt.

He has not only shown himself as a man of peace, but a great party man. For many minds within the party, Atiku might have chosen him as a running mate. In the primary of the party, his performance was not shabby. He put his imprint with the sway of votes he wielded. He sold his candidature for president in the party. His application form was purchased not by him but by a group of volunteers in the civil society, after a revealing engagement with the Berekete radio. He buzzed online and quite a crowd who had heard less of him began to see him as a great tribute to his era.

The party has been in a sort of tizzy of late. The governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has kicked up a storm of dust over the emergence of the Adamawa Chieftain, Atiku Abubakar, as the presidential candidate of the PDP. He is angry that the Sokoto State governor, a former friend and ally, Aminu Tambuwal, turned against him and made common cause with him to tilt the tally in favour of a fellow northerner. Because of that, he has called for hell and high water. He has called for the chairman of the party. He wants Ayu to go, and he has, by virtue of his leverage with his fellow party leaders, gained momentum in sections of the country.

Atiku has been trying to quench the ÁDPHV EXW LW VHHPV KH KDV QRW PDGH enough headway. While he picked Tambuwal as campaign director general, he has turned for the matter of peace to Udom, a man with such a track record.

He knows it is about making moves for peace, and mapping out a cooperative strategy towards the future. “I also want to say that no one person can do it alone.

It involves everybody in all the units, all the wards and all chapters of our party to come together for the party to move forward.

“I want to use this platform to appeal that if we had made mistakes in the past, we cannot turn back the clock.

“We cannot recall what had passed yesterday. We can move forward in the spirit of oneness, unity, prosperity and progress for our party, and I will appreciate it,” he noted shortly after he was unveiled as the chairman of the campaign council.

He will do his bit, and the nation watches as one of the nation’s best doves perches for peace in is party. It is time for him to bring his acumen into full action.

The man who turned a state into a sea of tranquility has grabbed with both hands the chance to exhibit it on the national stage.

Adelabi writes from Port Harcourt

22 4

T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

FOR ENDURING PEACE IN NIGERIA No one should be discriminated against anywhere in the country

A

LQ D GLͿHUHQW ORFDWLRQ RWKHU WKDQ KLV KHU ´SODFH RI s the world marks the 2022 International ELUWKµ RU ´VWDWH RI RULJLQµ (YHQ ZKHQ VXFK D 1LJHULDQ Day of Peace today, the United Nations PD\ KDYH QR SUREOHP ´VHWWOLQJµ DQG GRLQJ EXVLQHVV General Assembly has declared that anywhere within the country, being accepted as a achieving true peace entails much more ERQD ÀGH UHVLGHQW LQ WKH DGRSWHG VWDWH RU FRPPXQLW\ than laying down arms: “It requires the LV DQRWKHU PDWWHU DOWRJHWKHU :KLOH WKLV ZDV QRW WKH building of societies where all members situation in the past, the recent triumph of ethnic (and IHHO WKDW WKH\ FDQ ÁRXULVK ,W LQYROYHV FUHDWLQJ D ZRUOG sometimes clannish) politics and religious bigotry is in which people are treated equally, regardless of their GHQ\LQJ 1LJHULDQV WKH EHQHÀWV RI UHDSLQJ IURP WKHLU UDFH µ ,Q 1LJHULD GLVFULPLQDWLRQ FRPHV LQ VHYHUDO ZD\V FRQWULEXWLRQV RXWVLGH WKHLU ´VWDWH RI RULJLQµ and to rebuild our society and create an atmosphere The application of the sentiment may be more of peace, we need to deal with them: “We all lose in pronounced in some states than others but almost every a society characterised by discrimination, division, 1LJHULDQ LV WRGD\ D ´VHWWOHUµ RXWVLGH KLV RU KHU VWDWH GLVWUXVW LQWROHUDQFH DQG KDWH µ RI RULJLQ ,Q PDQ\ VWDWHV We recall that in a quest even children are denied for the return of peace, things as basic as admission the Arewa Consultative In an era where Nigerians, Jamaicans and people of other nationalities are to academic institutions Forum (ACF) once getting elected Mayors and parliamentarians in United Kingdom and other EDVHG RQ ´VWDWH RI RULJLQµ asked the 19 governors notwithstanding the fact in the region to abolish countries, no Nigerian should face discrimination anywhere in the only that their parents may not LQGLJHQH VHWWOHU SROLF\ nation he/she knows as home have defaulted in payment The recommendation was of their taxes and in meeting contained in the ACF’s RWKHU REOLJDWLRQV “Roadmap for Peace, T H I S D AY There had been a proposition in the past that anyone 8QLW\ DQG 'HYHORSPHQW RI 1LJHULDµ VXEPLWWHG WR WKH EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU who had been domiciled in a place for between 10 and 1RUWKHUQ *RYHUQRUV )RUXP 6SHFLÀFDOO\ WKH GRFXPHQW DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA \HDUV ZRXOG DXWRPDWLFDOO\ EHFRPH D FLWL]HQ RI WKH said: “Government should take steps to address the MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO VWDWH %XW JLYLQJ SUDFWLFDO HͿHFW WR VXFK HQDFWPHQW LV LQGLJHQH VHWWOHU TXHVWLRQ ,W LV UHFRPPHQGHG WKDW DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU ZKHUH WKH UHDO FKDOOHQJH OLHV )RU WKH SURSRVLWLRQ WR CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI states/LGAs should adopt a common protocol making EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN work, there has to be a change in mindset and a total anyone born in a particular community an indigene of MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI UHRULHQWDWLRQ RI WKH SHRSOH )RU LQVWDQFH KRZ ZRXOG WKDW FRPPXQLW\ $SSURSULDWH OHJLVODWLRQ PXVW EH SXW LQ THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE DQ\RQH FRQYLQFH H[WUHPLVWV RI GLͿHUHQW KXHV WKDW SODFH WR DGGUHVV WKH SUREOHP µ abound all over the country that the persons they are 7KH FKDOOHQJH RI FRXUVH LV QDWLRQDO 7KH JUHDWHVW ´H[SHOOLQJµ IURP WKHLU VWDWHV KDYH LQGHHG EHFRPH impediment to peace in Nigeria is the dichotomy T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D ´FLWL]HQVµ DQG QR ORQJHU ´VHWWOHUVµ E\ YLUWXH RI WKHLU EHWZHHQ DQ ´LQGLJHQHµ GHÀQHG DV D ´SHUVRQ ZKR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA years of residency? belongs, either through birth or ancestry, to a particular GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, To give Nigerians a sense of belonging wherever they FRPPXQLW\ WKDW LV JHRJUDSKLFDOO\ GHWHUPLQHG µ DQG ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI may be domiciled within the territory of the country, a settler, “someone who leaves his original place DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, we align ourselves with the principle: in an era where ANTHONY OGEDENGBE of normal residence or habitation to settle in a new DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI Nigerians, Jamaicans and people of other nationalities ORFDWLRQ µ 7KH PDMRU WHVW LQ DQ\ VHULRXV DWWHPSW WR SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH are getting elected Mayors and parliamentarians in abolish this dichotomy would certainly hinge on the ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI United Kingdom and other countries, no Nigerian IDFW RI GHÀQLWLRQ RU UHGHÀQLWLRQ RI ´FLWL]HQVKLSµ CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI should face discrimination anywhere in the only nation Although we know who a Nigerian is, it is something DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO KH VKH NQRZV DV KRPH TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com HOVH ZKHQ WKDW VDPH FLWL]HQ ÀQGV KLPVHOI RU KHUVHOI

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

LETTERS A COUNTRY STRUGGLING TO FEED ITSELF If the question whether Nigerians live in poverty is posed to the world and answers requested, of course beginning from Nigerians themselves, answers will vary as sharply as opinions ZLOO EH GLYLGHG 6RPH ZRXOG EH RYHUZKHOPLQJO\ SRVLWLYH WKDW SRYHUW\ LV D KDUURZLQJ IHDWXUH RI GDLO\ OLIH LQ WKH FRXQWU\ 2Q another hand will be the international community featuring LQWHUQDWLRQDO RUJDQL]DWLRQV ZKLFK ZRXOG ZLHOG GDWD WR VKRZ WKDW WRR PDQ\ 1LJHULDQV DUH WRR SRRU IRU FRPIRUW %\ WKH :RUOG %DQNCV HVWLPDWHV PLOOLRQ 1LJHULDQV ODQJXLVK EHORZ WKH SRYHUW\ OLQH 1LJHULDCV SRSXODWLRQ LV SURMHFWHG WR KLW PLOOLRQ E\ 1RYHPEHU $ VLPSOH DULWKPHWLF ZRXOG \LHOG ÀJXUHV WR support those who argue that the Giant of Africa shockingly rePDLQV RQH RI WKH ZRUOGCV SRYHUW\ FDSLWDOV %XW WKHUH ZRXOG VWLOO EH WKRVH ZKR DUJXH RQ WKH VLGH RI WKH government that millions of Nigerians have been lifted out of SRYHUW\ LQ WKH ODVW FRXSOH RI \HDUV %XW ZKDW LV WKH UHDOLW\ RQ JURXQG" ,Q $XJXVW LQÁDWLRQ LQ 1LJHULD KLW D UHFRUG \HDU KLJK 7KDW LQYDULDEO\ WUDQVODWHV WR FRXQWOHVV WDEOHV HPSWLHG RI IRRG 7KDW LV FRXQWOHVV IDPLOLHV ZKR FDQ QR ORQJHU DͿRUG IRRG 7KDW LV SRYHUW\ ZDONLQJ LQ ÀJXUHV ,W LV DQ H[WUHPHO\ GL΀FXOW VLWXDWLRQ LQGHHG As the many formidable challenges confronting Nigeria as a

country continue to rear their ugly heads, the standard of living in the country, and the quality of life continues to take decline VWHHSO\ IRUPLQJ WKH VWXͿ RI PDQ\ D 1LJHULDQ QLJKWPDUH The symbiosis between insecurity and poverty in the country KDV OHIW PDQ\ 1LJHULDQV JDVSLQJ IRU EUHDWK +XQJHU KDV PHUJHG DV D KDUURZLQJ UHDOLW\ DV FRQÁLFWV PDQLIHVWLQJ LQ GLͿHUHQW IRUPV FROOXGH WR FRQMXUH XS VRPH RI 1LJHULDCV ZRUVW QLJKWPDUHV 6WDNHKROGHUV LQ WKH DJULFXOWXUDO VHFWRU UHFHQWO\ GLVFORVHG WKDW SHU FHQW RI 1LJHULDQV FDQQRW DͿRUG D KHDOWK\ GLHW RU WKUHH VTXDUH PHDOV D GD\ 7KH VWDNHKROGHUV DWWULEXWHG WKLV WR LQVHFXrity, climate change, micro economic challenges, and the recent 8NUDLQH 5XVVLD ZDU 7KH VWDNHKROGHUV VSRNH DW WKH D FRQIHUHQFH WDJJHG¶6DKHO )RRG 6\VWHPV &KDQJHPDNHUV· ZLWK WKH WKHPH ¶ &XUELQJ WKH 1LJHULDQ )RRG &ULVLV (QVXULQJ UHVLOLHQFH DQG 6XVWDLQDELOLW\ LQ WKH $JULEXVLQHVV /DQGVFDSH · The conference which brought some much-needed attention to the hunger rippling through the Giant of Africa as the country struggles to feed itself harped on the need to address insecurity which has contributed about 30 to 40 percent of the hunger witnessed in the country, and the need to use technology to WUDQVIRUP 1LJHULDCV IRRG ODQGVFDSH 2Q -DQXDU\ WKH :RUOG )RRG 3URJUDPPH DQG WKH

)RRG DQG $JULFXOWXUDO 2UJDQL]DWLRQ KDG LQ D UHSRUW KLJKOLJKWHG DERXW KXQJHU KRWVSRWV DURXQG WKH ZRUOG $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH UHSRUW FRQÁLFW HFRQRPLF VKRFNV QDWXUDO KD]DUGV SROLWLFDO instability, and limited humanitarian access had put millions of OLYHV DW ULVN 7KH VLWXDWLRQ LQ (WKLRSLD 6RXWK 6XGDQ <HPHQ DQG 1LJHULD ZHUH HVSHFLDOO\ PDGH RXW WR EH GLUH 3HUKDSV WKH PRVW WHOOLQJ VLJQ RI 1LJHULDCV GHFOLQH DV D FRXQtry is that there is hardly a grim report across the globe that does QRW LQFOXGH 1LJHULD :KHWKHU LW LV WKH OLVW RI WKH PRVW WHUURUL]HG countries on earth, or in the chronicle of the most dangerous countries for Christians in the world, or in the company of the ZRUOGCV SRRUHVW FRXQWULHV 1LJHULD IHDWXUHV KHDYLO\ Why would Nigerians not struggle to feed themselves? In many communities in the North-east and North-west of the country where farming is the air they breathe, ruthless bandits KDYH UHQGHUHG IDUPV LQDFFHVVLEOH With everything Nigerians have been put through in the last couple of years, the remarkable resilience the country and its FLWL]HQV KDYH VKRZQ UHÁHFWV D TXLHW VWUHQJWK DQG GLJQLW\ WKDW DUH XQLTXHO\ 1LJHULDQ Kene Obiezu, Twitter: @kenobiezu

23

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

French, Iranian Presidents Meet over Nuclear Talks French President Emmanuel Macron held faceto-face talks with his Iranian counterpart President Ebrahim Raisi on Tuesday, with the French leader saying he hoped to be able to “discuss all subjects.”

The meeting is Raisi’s first head-to-head with a major Western leader since he was elected last year.

It comes amid a complete stalemate to revive the 2015 nuclear talks and as protests grow in Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, who fell into a coma and died after her arrest in Tehran last week by the morality police for “unsuitable attire.”

France said on Monday that there would not be a better offer for Iran to revive a nuclear deal with world powers, and it was up to Tehran to make a decision now. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who coordinates the talks, said he saw little chance of progress at the United Nations General Assembly.

UN: Venezuela’s Maduro Using Violence to Crush Opponents UN investigators have accused the Venezuelan government of Nicolas Maduro of a deliberate policy of repression to crush dissent by violent, abusive means to maintain its grip on power.

The government barred the three-member FactFinding Mission on Venezuela from entering the country. So, it has based its latest report on 246 confidential in-person and remote interviews and on reams of case files and legal documents.

The experts say their investigations and analyses show the government relies on its military intelligence service, known as DGCIM (the Directorate General of Military Counterintelligence), to repress dissent in the country. This, it says, is done through grave crimes and human rights violations that could amount to crimes against humanity.

The report documents 122 cases of victims subjected to torture, sexual violence and other inhuman treatment. It says these crimes are carried out in intelligence headquarters in the capital, Caracas, and in a network of covert detention centres across the country.

Mission chair Marta Valinas says Venezuela’s civilian intelligence agency, SEBIN (Bolivarian National Intelligence Service), also has tortured and ill-treated opposition politicians, journalists, human rights defenders and protesters.

New Ebola Virus Outbreak Hits Uganda Officials in Uganda have confirmed an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus. The country’s Ministry of Health says a young man died of the virus in central Uganda Monday, and several of his relatives who died earlier this month are also suspected of having had Ebola. The government has sent a rapid response team to the area to investigate.

Uganda’s Ministry of Health officials say the suspected Ebola case was identified Saturday in a village in the central Mubende district.

The ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr Diana Atwine, says a 24-year-old man was hospitalised for pneumonia and diarrhoea.

But his symptoms also included the deadly virus — a dry cough, high fever, convulsions, blood-stained vomit and bleeding in the eyes.

Speaking at a press conference Tuesday, Atwine said the clinical team and the Uganda Virus Research Institute conducted tests for Ebola.

Atwine said six of the man’s relatives who died earlier this month also might have had Ebola.

Angelina Jolie Makes Surprise Visit to Flood-ravaged Pakistan Hollywood actress and UN humanitarian Angelina Jolie made a surprise visit to one of the worst flood-hit areas in southern Pakistan on Tuesday, officials said, as the death toll from months-long deluges rose to 1,559.

TV footage showed Jolie arriving at an airport in Karachi, the capital of southern Sindh province, where floods since mid-June killed 692 people, damaged hundreds of thousands of homes, and left half a million homeless.

Later, she visited some of the flood-affected areas, according to local media.

According to the IRC, a prominent international aid group, Jolie is visiting Pakistan to support communities affected by the devastating floods.

There was no comment from the government about Jolie’s visit to Dadu, one of the worst-hit districts where waterborne diseases have also caused nearly 300 deaths since July. Currently,

doctors are trying to contain the outbreak of waterborne diseases among flood survivors.

The visit comes as Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is in New York for the 77th session of the UN General Assembly. In his speech, Sharif will highlight the damages caused by climate-change-induced floods in the impoverished country.

Pakistan says the floods have caused $30 billion in damages to the country’s economy.

Somali Military Liberates Strategic Town in Central Region Somalia’s national army said Tuesday it recaptured the small but strategic town of Booco in the country’s central Hiran region from al-Shabab militants.

The military said local militia backed them up in this latest offensive against the Islamist militants, who state TV said have controlled the town for 13 years.

Somalia National Television (SNTV) reported that Army Chief Brigadier General Odawa Yusuf visited the Hiran region village of Yasoman on Tuesday, where troops also drove out militants with local support.

Hiran Governor Hiran Ali Jeyte Osman spoke to VOA by phone. He said Booco was an al-Shabab stronghold that was used as the region’s base for their so-called shadow court and to extort money from locals.

Osman said in the last two days the army took over the villages of Garisiyani, Booco and Nur-Fanah, as well as many other locations.

He said he wanted to tell the Somali people that the al-Shabab fighters were cowards who couldn’t compete with the army.

The offensive came just a day after Somalia’s government said the military forced al-Shabab out of 30 villages in clashes this month that killed more than 200 militants.

Pro-Moscow Separatists in Eastern Ukraine Planning Vote to Join Russia With Ukraine swiftly recapturing territory in its northeast from Russia, the separatist leaders of the Moscow-controlled Luhansk and Donetsk regions said Tuesday they are planning to hold votes starting late this week for the territories to declare themselves as part of Russia.

The announcement of the referendums starting Friday came after Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian leader and a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said that annexing Luhansk and Donetsk into Russia itself would make the redrawn Ukraine-Russia boundary “irreversible” and would give Moscow authority to use “any means” to defend it.

Referendum voting in the region, populated by many Russian-speaking people, would likely favour Moscow.

But any declaration that the territory is part of Russia would not be recognised by either Ukraine or the US and its Western allies, who

have supplied the Kyiv government with billions of dollars in armaments to fend off Moscow’s seven-month invasion.

If Russia were to claim the Luhansk and Donetsk provinces as its own, it could escalate the fighting if Ukrainian forces try to take them back.

Nigeria to Celebrate Independence Day in Beijing Michael Olugbode in Beijing Nigeria’s Ambassador to China, Baba Ahmed Jidda, says there are plans to celebrate the nation’s independence in China.

Nigeria shares the October 1 independence day with China and hopes to give its citizens in China a sense of belonging just as China marks its independence on the same day.

Speaking on activities lined up for the day, Ambassador Jidda recounted that Nigeria’s Embassy in China had a befitting independence day celebration last year and would want to replicate the same this year.

He said, “During independence day last year, we had a befitting celebration despite the COVID-19 pandemic. We are still looking to have a befitting celebration this year in Beijing.”

He added that the COVID-19 restriction and financial constraints would not make it “easy for us to embark on elaborate celebration annually. I am still optimistic that something tangible will still be done by the embassy of Nigeria to celebrate Nigeria’s independence.”

On the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and China, the envoy said, “There are so many things in the area of bilateral relationships, we have been having a diplomatic relationship with China for 51 years now, and we have signed numerous bilateral agreements between Nigeria and China. Nigeria is a very close friend of China, and we have an agreement on the one-China policy.”

Taiwan Seeks Global Support to Participate in ICAO Taiwan’s Minister of Transportation and Communications, Wang Kwo-tsai, has called on members of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to support Taiwan’s participation in ICAO. “We call on ICAO to reconnect with Taiwan in a collective effort to achieve the goal of a seamless sky. Reconnecting the world and facilitating Taiwan’s technical participation in ICAO, an important forum spurring the development of aviation, is where civil aviation authorities discuss issues such as aviation safety, air navigation services, aviation security, environmental protection, and aviation economics,” Wang said in a statement on Tuesday.

ICAO will hold the 41st Assembly session (September 27 to October 7) with the stated goal of “reconnecting the world.”

“Including Taiwan would help the world meet this aim,” Wang stressed.

With a joint effort by civil aviation stakeholders and the government, According to Airports Council International statistics for 2020 and 2021, Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport was the fourth-busiest airport in the world for international air cargo.

The minister said the international community had increasingly recognised Taiwan’s call to be included in ICAO. “As an important stakeholder in the international aviation community, Taiwan takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard aviation safety. Participation in ICAO would allow Taiwan, together with all other countries, to contribute to the further development of global aviation and the well-being of all humankind,” he stressed.

The statement noted that the Taiwan CAA had maintained the highest standards of service and safety for the Taipei FIR for many years.

“Now is the time for ICAO to reconnect with Taiwan,” added Wang. “To further contribute to international civil aviation, the Taiwan CAA aspires to share its professional experiences and to participate in ICAO’s 41st Assembly meaningfully and professionally so as to help the world meet the ICAO goal of a seamless network for aviation safety.”

Australia, EU Resume Free Trade Talks Australia and the European Union have resumed free trade talks in the Australian capital, Canberra.

Negotiations over a trade agreement between Australia and the European Union began in 2017.

Progress has not always been easy. There was dismay over Australia’s shelving of a lucrative submarine deal with France, favouring the AUKUS alliance with the United States and Britain. That anger has subsided. There were, though, also concerns in Europe about Australia’s environmental targets under the previous conservative Canberra government, which strongly supported the fossil fuel industry.

However, the recently elected Labor government plans to cut emissions by 43% by 2030. It is the first time environmental targets have been legislated in Australia, and the new policy has kick-started trade discussions with Europe. The EU sent a senior delegation to Canberra this week, and there are hopes a free trade agreement can be signed by the end of 2023.

The European Union is eager to harness Australian green hydrogen and other critical minerals, such as lithium, used in renewable power. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the subsequent impact on energy supplies, have intensified the EU’s search for reliable suppliers of the minerals needed for energy and digital enterprises.

Bernd Lange, the chair of the European Parliament’s committee on International Trade, believes Australia can play a big part in industrial decarbonisation.

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

24

FEATURES

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

Harnessing the Power of Youths Recently, the Edo State government held a colloquium for selected youths in the state. Adibe Emenyonu writes that it was aimed at harnessing and strengthening youth capacity

Cross section of participants, resources persons and official Edo State Ministry of Youth and Humanitarian Affairs

Resources persons with Edo State Commissioner for Youth and Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Chris Nehikhare (m)

Edo State Commissioner for Youth and Humanitarian Affairs, Chris Nehikhare (r) presenting certificate of participants to one of youths at the event

Participating Youths during the three-day Colloquium/Boot Camp organiser by the Edo State Ministry of Youth and Humanitarian Affairs in Abudu, headquarters of Orhionmwon local government of Edo State

"T

he objective of the Colloquium is to drive and instill key universal values in young people such that the thoughts and actions of the Edo Youths will be realigned to more positive productive ventures in their chosen career paths,", the state Commissioner for Youth and Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Chris Nehikhare declared during the opening ceremony of a three-day, boot camp, held at the state College of Education, Abudu campus, headquarters of Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

He said the boot camp is part of the activities lined up by the state government to commemorate the 2022 International Youth Day, adding that with this, the Obaseki government has directly and indirectly investing on the youths, pointing out that the empowerment of the youth is directly proportional to the growth of any progressive society.

"This is one of the underlining rationales for organising the event and it is our belief that the beneficiaries will imbibe the necessary knowledge garnered that will enable them be positive change agents which will be reflective in both principle as well as character and become the culture among them."

Nehikhare noted that the state government committed resources to the event believing that the expected return on the investment would be the impact to be made by the youths in the paths of life they chose to follow or the paths they chose to create.

"Whatever the case, I urge you to leave indelible footprints that will be a legacy for your generation and a memorial for the generations coming after you.

"It is our hope that leaders will emerge from this event and become

ambassadors of the new narrative that we seek to instil in today's youths", the commissioner said.

Another objective of the colloquium/boot camp, Nehikhare further explained is to drive and instil key universal values on youths and young people of the state so that their actions would be realigned to more positive productive ventures in their chosen career paths.

He added that it is in view of this, the event was structured in a way that resource persons from various field and sectors of the economy were brought in to speak to participants on diverse topics.

The event which featured more than 200 participating youths was structured in a way that attendees can listen and learn during plenary sessions as well as give feedback and interact during the breakout sessions.

During this session, one of Nigeria's most gifted writers and spoken words poet, Philip Asaya, recited an inspirational and motivational poem to put the participants in the mood, while Mrs. Habiba Balogun,

spoke extensively and exhaustively on Emotional Intelligence and Social contract.

The even took a very interesting dimension when Balogun introduced plenary to the BASH game and then a spontaneous eruption into a “Buga” dance round.

In his keynote address, Mr Ayeni Ekundayo, told a story of a youthful entrepreneur that was easily connected which lesson centred on determination, discipline, confidence and competence.

In another sessions, one of the resource groups, Genius Hub, gave a superlative dance drama that conveyed a very strong and powerful message of self-development, peer influence and resolution to contribute one’s quota to societal development.

Thereafter, it was the turn of the cool, calm and collected Mrs Uwa Osa Oboh. Her topic was PrincipledCentered Leadership. Mrs Oboh who is the Head, Corporate Development at Capital Alliance Nigeria and the founder of the Bloom Initiative for Youth Empowerment (Bloomfey) also chaired and coordinated the committee that put the Edo Youth Colloquium together.

By this time, Mrs Ifejola Adeyemi talked to the participants about Personal Vision, Leadership and Organising for Success, and how to fail!

The colloquium also featured the play

The state government committed resources to the event believing that the expected return on the investment would be the impact to be made by the youths in the paths of life they chose to follow or the paths they chose to create

a little Ayoò game, table tennis etc.

Reacting, one of the participating youth, Jasmine Edobor-Osula, a 400 level student of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin (UNIBEB) said she learnt a lot and hope to use same on his own farm and online fast food business known as Jasmine’s Chow Republique.

Similarly, Omoruyi Liberty Omorogieva, a graduate of Economics and Statistics, University of Benin who is into script writing and videography, noted: "The breakout session I had was on Agriculture and I really learnt a whole lot from it of which I hope, work and pray to put to work in my farm."

Nonetheless, Izuogu Diamond Udokamma, currently a 200 level Law student of Igbinedion University Okada, says she runs an organic lip care business called Didi Cares whose products range from lipgloss to lipbalm and lip oils.

According to her, "During the breakout session, I was in the Agriculture section.

It was so educative that I learned who to reach out to when I want to get 100 percent natural oils for my lip care business and I also hope to register a business service with the government and help farms get registered and help educate farmers on how to strive in the current world.

"In other words I hope to be the farmer’s school. I also have also started taking steps to make organic manure for crops as well. I am so glad to be a part of this movement.

Additionally, Gerald Nnadi, a 500 level student from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin had this to say, "I'm a cordwainer and I produce all kind of leather footwear for both gender. In the breakout session, I was engaged with the Information and Technology and it was an intense lecture. I learnt a lot and I'm ready to apply them.

Thanks the the Edo State government."

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

25

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

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

08056356325

S E P T E M B E R

S & P INDEX

2 0 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

10.25%

INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

9.56%

1-DAY

0.16%

YEAR TO DATE

7.64%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10.52%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.44%

Cooking Gas Prices Soar by 119.26%, Higher in Ebonyi, C’River, Delta

James Emejo in Abuja The average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, also known as cooking gas increased by 119.26 per cent, year on year (Y-o-Y) to N9,899.34 in August 2022 compared to N4,514.82 in August 2021, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Ebonyi recorded the highest average retail price for the refilling of a 12.5kg cylinder

N9,899.34 in August.

According to the statistical agency, the average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of LPG also increased by 101.17 per cent year on year to N4,456.56 in August compared to N2,215.33 in August 2021. It also rose by 1.34 per cent month-on-month from N4,397.68 recorded in July.

Taraba recorded the highest average price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of LPG with N4,925.44, Adamawa N4,920.00, and Lagos with N4,782.50.

of cooking gas with N11,225.00, followed by Cross River N10,982.14, and Delta with N10,965.42.

On the other hand, the lowest average price was recorded in Katsina N8,150.00, as well as Yobe and Taraba N8,212.63 and N8,886.30 respectively.

According to the Cooking Gas price Watch for August 2022, which was obtained from the NBS website, the commodity rose 0.77 per cent on a month-on-month basis from N9,824.07 in July to

On the other hand, Katsina recorded the lowest price with N4,020.00, Ogun and Yobe N4,057.14 and N4,078.46 respectively.

According to the report, analysis by zone showed that the North-Central recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of cooking gas with N4,615.95, North-East N4,548.03, while the North-West recorded the lowest with N4,285.51.

Similarly, the average retail

price of Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel) paid by consumers rose by 209.54 per cent to N786.88 per litre in August 2022 compared to N254.21 per litre recorded in the corresponding month of the previous year, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The highest average price of the product in August was recorded in Ebonyi with N861.67, Ondo N850.00, and Abuja N845.00.

On the other hand, the lowest price was recorded in Katsina

with N702.22, Yobe N705.00 and Akwa Ibom N731.82.

According to the Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel) Price Watch (August 2022), which was posted on the NBS website, month-onmonth, this increased by 1.61 per cent from N774.38 per litre reported in July.

Furthermore, analysis by zone showed that the North-Central had the highest price with N813.24, while South-South recorded the lowest price with N762.41.

Nigeria Leads Sub-Saharan Africa in Solar Mini-grid Deployment Esther Oluku In line with the federal government plan to optimize energy generation through stakeholders’ collaboration and achieve zero carbon emission by 2060, the Minister of Power, Mr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, has said that Nigeria presently

has the highest rate of solar rural Mini-grid deployment in sub Saharan Africa.

He made the disclosure at the Nigeria Energy Conference themed: “Affordable, Reliable and Sustainable Energy through Collaboration,” which held in Lagos, yesterday.

This development which,

he said, is in line with the Federal Ministry of Power’s Sustainable Energy for All Action Agenda 30:30:30, will help in bridging the energy deficit in the country.

The Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mr.

Temitope Fasindimi, stated that with the nation’s enormous energy needs, investment in modern energy technology is required to meet the current demands.

He said; “Sustainable Energy for all Action Agenda electricity vision 30:30:30 is targeted at

achieving 30 gigawatts electricity by the year 2030 from multiple sources of energy with at least 30 per cent contribution from renewable energy sources.

“Nigeria Presently has the highest rate of solar rural mini-grid deployments in sub Saharan Africa. Thanks to the implementation of

capital subsidy which is insentivising the private sector to bring significant equity funding for equity development. Development of this project through a public-private-partnership is a clear demonstration of the confidence of the private sector in our policy”

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT T U E S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 2 0 , 2 0 2 2 BILLS

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

Yield

104.23

11.05

101.11

13.00

99.25

12.77

111.56

12.83

103.73

13.00

Change Updated Time (%) -0.01 September 16, 2022 0.00 September 16, 2022 0.00 September 16, 2022 -0.09 September 16, 2022 September 0.00 16, 2022

MATURITY NTB 13-Oct22 NTB 10Nov-22 NTB 26-Jan23 NTB 9-Feb23 NTB 9-Mar23

Discount 9.00

9.06

3.90

3.92

9.80

10.16

10.00

10.42

Change Updated Time (%) 16, 0.00 September 2022 16, 0.00 September 2022 16, 0.00 September 2022 16, 0.00 September 2022

7.82

16, -2.74 September 2022

7.54

Yield

CPS MATURITY NENL CP I 24-OCT-22 FSDH CP VII 27-OCT-22 SIBP CP III 27-OCT-22 DLMG CP IV 11-NOV-22 FDHP CP III 17-MAR-23

Discount Yield 20.68 21.14 14.67 14.92 13.84 14.05 17.20 17.66 11.16 11.81

Change Updated Time (%) 16, 0.03 September 2022 16, 0.02 September 2022 16, 0.01 September 2022 16, -0.01 September 2022 16, -0.07 September 2022

OTC F X F U T U R E S CONTRACT Current TENOR Contract Rate Updated Time ($/₦) (MONTH) NGUS SEP 28 439.60 September 16, 1 2022 2022 September 16, NGUS OCT 26 2 441.81 2022 2022 NGUS NOV 30 444.01 September 16, 3 2022 2022 NGUS DEC 28 446.22 September 16, 4 2022 2022 NGUS JAN 25 448.43 September 16, 5 2023 2022

26

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Ayodele Subair: Whistleblowers are Heroes, their Protection a Priority On August 5, 2022, The Lagos state government, through the Lagos Internal Revenue Service, launched an anonymous whistleblowing initiative, which allows callers to raise concerns regarding incidents of wrongdoing, fraud or unethical behaviour within the workplace. In this regard and, LIRS Executive Chairman, Ayodele Subair in this interview with Sunday Ehigiator, shed more light on the policy, the importance of whistleblowers, while also assuring them of their safety The state government recently launched the whistleblowing policy expected to improve service delivery of your commission, can you take us through this policy, how it started, and what it intends to achieve? histleblowing is all about reporting certain types of inappropriate acts, wrongdoings, and financial crimes that could occur within the system; when I say within the system, I mean both internally and externally, within LIRS, outside LIRS, in various offices of private companies, public establishments, etc.

We expect that anybody who knows of any such inappropriate act can report it to an appropriate authority with the whole aim of sanitizing the system and making things more transparent and accountable.

part of the whistleblowing framework also makes it an obligation of the Whistleblower to keep the information to himself.

He is not supposed to announce that he has gone to whistle blow on anybody you know, because everything is being kept very confidential. Now under confidential reporting, even the whistleblower can select that he is open to having direct testimony in front of everybody.

It depends really if it’s going to be something that could be injurious and you know to him personally, he has to make sure that he reports it to whatever appropriate authorities it might be to management, it might be to Deloitte, it might be to the police, you know it depends on his fear level.

You know once there is fear of life in anything the appropriate authority is the police as you know the police are your friend all the time.

W

Does the LIRS structure support this policy?

Yes, it’s a framework of the Lagos state government and the Lagos state government in its infinite wisdom and wanting to strengthen the code of ethics and high standards decided to adopt this framework as a statewide policy.

LIRS is the major revenue-generating arm for the state and because of our outreach we have a multifaceted interface with the whole of the state, the business side of the state, know where better to start with and the LIRS. Over time it is going to be adopted by all all-other ministries, departments and agencies.

What is the reason why this is coming now?

Better now than never and everybody strives to improve on all forms, all procedures, all processes all the time.

The business world is dynamic and we must be seen to also recognize global practices and global best practices.

It could have come at any time but you know, it needs to come now, the government is trying to create an enabling environment where businesses will thrive without negativity and just make life easy for everybody, it’s just an instrument that is being introduced to help achieve that objective Is there a framework within the policy that also protects the whistleblower?

Yes, protection is enshrined in the framework of the whistleblowing policy. It is expressly stated in the documentation that the whistleblower must be protected from any form of victimization, intimidation or any such action that can be meted out against such whistleblowers and part of how all these is to be achieved is the ways through which the report can be made.

There are three methods of reporting, it can be confidential, it can be partially anonymous and it can be completely anonymous. In all three methods, the sanctity of protection of the whistleblower is well enshrined.

For instance, with the completely anonymous method, no details of the whistleblower are provided, it is completely anonymous, even if it’s not stated whether it’s male or female, the gender is taken out of it completely.

When in the case of partial anonymity the whistleblower provides his name but this is just for recording when the actual investigations are being carried out, the name of that whistleblower will not be forwarded.

Thirdly in the case of the confidential method, the names and particulars and telephone numbers will be provided by the whistleblower but he has the option to give that information and the whole purpose is so that he can be involved also through the provision of all documents.

If they need more documents you know to investigate, he can be reached very easily. In the case of partial anonymity, the only reason why they have the details of the whistleblower is in case they need to find out more information from him, but at no point will they reveal the details of who that whistleblower is.

It’s a very important concept. Nonetheless, LIRS is partnering with Deloitte, Deloitte Tip-off Anonymous and is a globally accredited accounting and consulting firm one of the top four in the world and they are independent accessors.

How does this partnership work?

Deloitte manages the portal, tip-offs.deloitte.com.ng and all the various communication channels that are open to the whistleblowers, so they get the report, they sieve through the report to see how just to ensure that it’s not malicious.

We don’t want a frivolous or malicious report, we sieve through to see if there is really a case to investigate and then they will then also through specific people who have been assigned within this whistle-blowing framework, will pass it on to them.

Depending on the report itself, if it is from a staff of LIRS for instance they will partner with specific personnel,

Subair it is not just open to everybody, so specific people will be contacted to carry out some investigations and advise the independent assessor.

If it’s about the management of LIRS for instance it won’t even come to LIRS it will go to the ministry of finance under the Honorable commissioner of finance for him to carry out his independent investigation and then some of these reports could be escalated, it can be escalated directly to Mr Governor, all to ensure that you know the offenders are not part of the investigative team.

It’s being handled by professionals, by people who are well vast in this act.

What are the avenues for whistleblowers to report their cases?

Okay so there is a web portal tip-offs.deloitte. com.ng, and there is an application that you can download on your phone, there is a whistle-blowing application you can get through android or IOS, you can also phone in, phone open for 24 hours, 365days in a year and the operators are multilingual. They speak English, Pidgin, Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo and any other language, including French.

There is the likelihood that no matter who it is, illiterate or literate there will be an operator at the other end who can handle this matter so well. All the communication channels as explained to you are run and managed by Deloitte directly so all they have to do is call in or write in and make the report.

You emphasized the whistleblower being anonymous, confidential or partially anonymous, in some exceptional cases if the whistleblower’s identity is known to the offender or public, how do you protect them from victimization or threat to life?

As I said it’s expressly stated that by all means any whistleblower must be protected. It’s expected that the person can also report directly to the Deloitte platform; you don’t have to come to management.

The channel is always open. You can go back to the channel, call them or send messages to them that you have been victimized by whoever. On the part of management, you know all those allegations and reports are perceived by these reporters or whistleblowers.

We want to expressly state that their identities definitely will be protected. There will be no leak along the whole chain starting from Deloitte with the management of LIRS, to the ministry of finance; all the necessary measures have been put in place to ensure that there is no leak.

So I will just say that anybody who is being victimized under the suspicion of being the Whistleblower should report it immediately for effective protection.

So, don’t you think the police should come to play in such cases?

It is the whistleblower who still has to determine the nature of the claim. Even if he is a suspect or not,

Talking about the authentication of claims, how could that be possible without hinting to the accused that there is an investigation on him?

Well, the framework does not provide for that.

There is no way we can put the offender on notice without him trying to influence the outcome of the investigation. So clearly the offender is not to be contacted.

If there’s any contact at all at the end of the day, it is after all the investigations have been concluded and an opinion has been made, or the case has been made against them, they must be some form of reprimand.

If you are reprimanding anybody, I mean the laws of justice and equity provide that you put him on notice so that he can defend himself, so that he can get a fair hearing and defend himself.

Some people think this policy is unnecessary because they feel there are existing tax laws that make provisions for enforcing tax payments, how would you react to this?

Well, I think those are two different functions. Law enforcement talks about a liability being established and the taxpayer who must pay doesn’t want to pay.

In other words, he has become recalcitrant so when he becomes recalcitrant then we have to move into the side of enforcement.

Which would either be going to the law court, going to the tax appeal tribunal and if need be obtaining a restraining order to go and enforce the outstanding liability.

This is a different ball game entirely. What we’re trying to do here really is to try and clean up the system and also at the same time increase the level of compliance with the tax laws.

They’re two different things but complement each other of course. At the end of the day, we want a good enabling environment for businesses to thrive; we want to achieve our main objective of generating revenue for the benefit of the state and its residents.

It is this revenue that we generate that helps with all the developmental projects, provision of infrastructure, provision of qualitative social services and so on.

If there are any challenges or constraints in generating that revenue, it affects the ability of the good office of Mr Governor to provide those services that he has been elected to carry out and we know all the lofty agenda of Mr Babajide Sanwoolu the indefatigable governor that there is a need to raise revenue to implement the THEME’s agenda.

Anything that is going to be a constraint to that has to be tackled head-on. So we hope that this whistleblowing initiative will be embraced by all and sundry. It’s not just about LIRS OR LIRS Staff; it is also about other members of the public, not just taxpayers.

Anybody who has information on any wrongdoing is expected to speak up. If you don’t have a speak-up culture, things will continue to deteriorate in society.

So they’re two different things.

Asides from the need to always report on anything you feel is not right, what nature of cases are open to the platform, and are there any criteria that a whistleblower must fulfil before his case can be obtainable?

No, there are no criteria. Any member of the public is entitled to be a whistleblower. He doesn’t have to practice or prepare anything; all he has to do is contact the platform and make his report.

If he wants to submit documents it helps the case further, if you have no documents to submit, the

matter will also be investigated. There’s no restriction.

It could be the case of a taxpayer or an employer deducting taxes from payroll and not remitting to LIRS, it could be under remittance also, it could be a financial crime, any type of financial crime, it could be money laundering, and it could be an item even in another ministry.

As long as it affects taxes, it needs to be reported. It could be over-invoicing or under-invoicing, it could be a forgery, and it could even be that a company can have two different sets of books of accounts, if an employee knows that his company is keeping false accounts, he can also come forward and report his company.

There are all sorts of categories of reports that can be made as long as it’s wrongdoing, inappropriate behaviour, it’s unethical behaviour, and it’s financial crime. And it all falls under the purview of what is to be reported Charity, they say begins at home, are members of Staff of the LIRS also permitted to be a whistleblower?

Yes, members of staff can be a whistleblower. They might want to whistleblow on a taxpayer, or they might want to whistleblow on another member of the public who is involved in wrongdoing. They might also want to whistleblow on some of their colleagues that are probably involved in inappropriate behaviour. So it’s open to everybody with no restrictions.

What is the synergy with the FIRS on this?

Well, you cannot predict the outcome of an investigation.

If there is a need to contact the FIRS to obtain information that will aid instigation, yes of course that channel is there, it’s very open.

Already we have an agreement on the exchange of information and collaboration with a lot of federal agencies including the FIRS, so it’s not unusual or uncommon that when we need information from them, we will request and they will always oblige us.

It works both ways when they need us also, we are always there to provide the necessary information.

Are there any incentives for whistleblowers?

Well, this framework that we are operating right now has no incentives. There’s no financial incentive, maybe letters of commendation to prospective whistleblowers, or some formal recognition because they are heroes.

Whistleblowers are heroes.

They should be regarded as heroes and there must be an acknowledgement of the bravery of their hearts because it means that they generally also are interested in cleansing the system. If you’re talking of financial rewards, presently there are no financial rewards.

Frameworks are very dynamic and constantly reviewed.

If there will be a need for financial rewards, it will be introduced but members of the public should also see it as part of their civic duty.

You know we are all Nigerians; we have to improve our economy. We have to improve our image all the time. Where there is any perceived wrongdoing on the part of anybody you know, if there’s no sound business and financial system in any economy, investors are going to run away.

We’ll have to put our hands together to ensure that we carry out our civic duties and improve on transparency and accountability at all times.

Is there any synergy with banks in terms of them also being a whistleblower?

You are asking if the banks can act as whistleblowers against persons who are not properly registered and who are engaged in business, yes.

Already there are provisions in the law, there is an executive order that compels all banks to ensure that every customer has a Tax Identification Number (TIN) and a Taxpayer ID. That is already in place and so the banks will usually furnish us with the list of all the customers, all new customers that open the account.

They are compelled under the personal income tax act and they comply with this order. There is a whole system of collaboration between us and the banks so we will also expect that they help to whistle blow wherever it is appropriate.

Would there be any other thing you want to put on the records about the policy?

The only thing I would put on the record is to reiterate that all whistleblowers will be protected. There will not be any backlash, intimidation, or harassment against them.

We urge and encourage all members of the public, be it, taxpayers, be it, other public servants, be it, other civil servants, to try and speak up because if we do not speak up, things cannot improve or get better in the business world. Thank you.

27

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Jalo-Waziri: CSCS ISO Certification, Reflection of Our Commitment to Global Best Practice in Data Security The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer Central Securities Clearing System Plc, Jalo-Waziri Haruna in this interview with Kayode Tokede speaks on how Nigeria’s Central Securities Depository’s ISO 27001:2013 certification encapsulates its commitment to global best practice in data security, CSCS role in capital market development, what has changed Post-COVID-19, among other topical issues in the capital market What has been the role of the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc in capital market wealth creation and ensuring settlement of trades done across the capital market? s Central Securities Depository, we provide depository, clearing and settlement for all asset classes in the Nigerian financial market. Our role provides assurance on safety of securities held by investors as well as settlement of secondary market transactions, irrespective of the counterparty. Beyond this conventional role, we provide ancillary services that create wealth for investors and participants in our network. For instance, our Collateral Management offering provides an opportunity for investors to create liquidity and derive extraneous value from their passive investments across all asset classes.

As regards your second part of the question which relates to our responsibility for ensuring settlement of trades done across the capital market, I am pleased to say that we have 100% settlement success across all asset classes and Exchanges, as you may reckon that we are a multi-asset CSD, including equities, fixed income securities as well as commodities, and we serve different Exchanges, including the Nigerian Exchange Limited (previously known as Nigerian Stock Exchange), NASD-OTC Exchange, Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange, FMDQ Exchange and Nigerian Commodity Exchange. Interestingly, throughout the pandemic, we had zero settlement failure, and our agility ensured a seamless transition to virtual/remote operation. You may recall that prior to our establishment, settlement was done manually and flawed various issues, including delays beyond the T+5 settlement window approved at the time. It’s exciting that not only have we worked with other stakeholders in the market to narrow the settlement window to T+3, we are also currently seeking opportunities to leverage advancements in the payment system and enhanced operational efficiency of our esteemed participants to further narrow the settlement gap as a way of creating more value for investors.

It’s being an exciting journey, leveraging new technologies, investments in talents and working with different stakeholders in modernising hitherto traditional process in a way that creates sustainable value for all stakeholders and more importantly seeks new growth opportunities for the capital market ecosystem.

The world has changed dramatically on the heels of COVID-19 pandemic, what has changed in CSCS strategy?

The pandemic redefined business processes and prospects, but just as it caused varying disruptions, it also exposed businesses into a new world of endless possibilities. For us, we stepped on those disruptive nodes to drive innovation and excellence and I am pleased that our diligent response eventually became levers for our earnings and broader corporate growth.

It would interest you to know that we, at CSCS, were one of the first corporates in Nigeria that activated business continuity protocols and switched to a fully remote digital service. Whilst we never anticipated the pandemic, our robust business continuity plan and crisis management framework afforded us a swift transition, without disruption. It’s quite interesting that the pandemic validated our decade-long advisory to private and public institutions to deploy electronic document management systems (EDMS). It was a veritable tool for many of our clients during pandemic, as it provided a foundation for switching to a remote work-from-home protocol. Today, we are working with new clients across different sectors to digitize their electronic management systems to achieve full digitization of process and electronic archiving of operational and strategic records. We live in fast-paced world and with the experience of the pandemic, every institution, private or public, needs to become agile and ready for service anywhere, anytime!

The capital market authority in the United States, working on the recommendations and advocacy of the clearing and settlement house, is making arrangements to shorten capital market settlement cycle to T+1.

What are your perspectives on the T+3 settlement in Nigeria and what are your plans, if any, to enhance settlement of securities in Nigerian capital market?

Globally, markets are evolving and Nigeria would not be an exemption. Having transited from T+5 settlement window to T+3 in 2005, I believe Nigerian market is mature for a shorter settlement cycle and CSCS would be happy to collaborate with other stakeholders in making this transition. Whilst this would require change management across our esteemed participants, I believe new technologies and enhancements in payment systems provide good foundation for shortening the settlement cycle. Albeit execution of such market-

effective in peer markets. So, we are investing in technology, people and infrastructure to take on more responsibilities and fulfill our strategic objective of being the lever for market penetration and growth.

So, the future looks brighter than the past, as we invest resources in process optimization, strategic partnership and product innovation, all geared towards creating value and enhancing investor experience.

A

Jalo-Waziri wide initiative goes beyond the CSCS, it requires the conviction of all stakeholders and the oversight of our regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). There are costs associated to such transition, especially as regards change management but the benefits outweigh the cost. Beyond the time value of money consideration, it is expected to improve market liquidity and mitigate settlement risks. As the clearing and settlement institution for the capital, we are ready for the switch.

Capital market activities are slowing down, what are the reasons for the waning liquidity in the market and how does CSCS plan to change this narrative and more importantly, as a company whose earnings is tied to capital market activities, how do you intend to mitigate the risk on your company’s earnings performance?

I believe there are some fundamental issues undermining liquidity in the Nigerian capital market; some are reflective of broad macro factors, including monetary and fiscal policies whilst others are structural.

For instance, there is need to further liberalise market access, especially to attract the youthful population.

The current structure of the market was best fit for the past decades but perhaps not today. It is exigent to further liberalize market access for all categories of investors to stimulate capital flows. We need to remove frictions by leveraging technologies and centralised utilities. This would not only help to unlock new capital flows from the youthful population but may also reduce service cost across the industry. Indeed, it may help to reduce the growing unclaimed dividends, which again is one of the disincentives for investors.

These initiatives would help to strengthen investor confidence, especially as enhanced oversight of the Securities and Exchange Commission should help in reinforcing market integrity.

As a financial market infrastructure, our earnings performance is vulnerable to the volatilities of the capital market and more importantly the liquidity of the market. Hence, we are at the forefront of executing new initiatives that can potentially stimulate market liquidity. We are collaborating and investing in ideas that are requisite for sustainably growing the capital market by deepening penetration and introducing new offerings that meet changing investor preferences. In addition, we are increasing our offerings to cover more value adding services for different stakeholders. It’s about value creation for the ecosystem and it’s more towards mining latent opportunities in the capital market and unlocking value from idle capital and assets. That being said, we are also diversifying the business, as we expand the scope of our ancillary services. This would further serve as an immunity against the impact of market volatilities on our earnings profile.

The CSCS has had 25years of meritorious service to the market, what do you think the future holds for CSCS? It has been an exciting and rewarding journey, working with different stakeholders to make transformational changes in the market. However, we still have a long way to go, especially as investors’ preferences and technology disruptions are shifting the boundaries of markets and redefining asset classes. Like other CSDs globally, we see increasing responsibility for us in strengthening and sustaining market integrity and investor confidence. Whilst Nigerian market may be unduly fragmented, we expect steady consolidation, especially in leveraging centralized processes, which have proven to be cost

CSCS performs the functions of depository, clearing and settlement of all transactions in the Nigerian Capital Market. How well are you leveraging new technologies and how do you manage the global rise in cyber-attacks.

We are partly seen as a technology company because our operations are mainly digital, which reinforces the big investments we make in technology. More importantly, we reckon our central role in upholding the integrity of the market, especially as regards the safe depository of assets and the security of investor information. Thus, information security is at the heart of our strategy and operations. From design of technology architecture to application and system controls, we make notable investments in cybersecurity and broader information security technologies. More importantly, we invest in people and process controls, which are crucial to the different lines of defense.

We are ISO 27001:2013 certified, a reflection of our commitment and compliance to global best practice in data security and indeed we also play active role in sensitizing our ecosystem and the broader financial market on cyberattacks through our annual conference dedicated to cybersecurity. This year’s edition of our annual cybersecurity conference, themed “Future of Cybersecurity: Emerging Issues and Solutions”, would be held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotels in Abuja on 27 October 2022, with the collaboration of renowned private and public sector institutions. This is one of the ways we have been creating awareness and

facilitating knowledge exchange as well as global best practices and innovation in cybersecurity, especially in the past five years.

Broadly, how accessible is our capital market to both local and foreign investors; how easy is it to buy, and sell stocks within a short period of time, given the improving technologies?

In recent times, different stakeholders have made tremendous efforts and leveraged technology in enhancing market access but I must say there is still a lot to be done to liberalise the market and this is perhaps the stage at which it may be useful to centralise the initiative for better efficiency, both in terms of impact on the market and cost. We need to improve investor accessibility to both the primary and secondary markets. Whilst enhancing secondary market structures and driving liquidity helps to deepen and enhance valuation prospect in the primary market, there is also the need to revisit the structure of the primary market, with the ultimate objective of liberalising market access for greater efficiency. Technology can play a greater role and the MTN electronic IPO is a good start and validation of the potential of technology in breaking barriers to market access. So, it’s important to reform the structure of the market, with focus on both equity and fixed income offerings.

Another important aspect is the time to market.

In today’s world, both the issuer and investors are keen on time value of money and not only are they keen at raising capital or investing their funds timely – both sides of the table want to get value asap, so intermediaries in the form of market participants and regulation should not be hinderance to achieving this objective.

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

28

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

ENL Consortium Win‘Most Outstanding Maritime Company of the Decade’Award Nigeria’s largest indigenous port operator, ENL Consortium has emerged as the Most Outstanding Maritime Company of the Decade at the 2022 Marketing Edge Awards.

ENL Consortium, which is the operator of Terminals C and D at the Lagos Port Complex Apapa, won the prestigious award on Friday night in Lagos.

The award is coming on the heels of a similar honours bestowed on the company when it won the Most Outstanding Maritime Operator of the Year at the 2018 Independent Newspapers Awards in Lagos, and Port and Container Terminal Development Award at the prestigious Seatrade International Award held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The Chief Executive Officer of Marketing Edge, John Ajayi, lauded the impact of ENL Consortium on the Nigerian economy.

“Our resolve to recognize players and gladiators as well as iconic leaders in the business of brand management and the management of brand business was informed by the fact that these are the people that have made the industry tick over the years.

“We have watched and monitored these individuals and agencies very closely in the last 19 years and can confidently attest to their market leadership, resilience, excellence and above all landmark achievements in their various sectors,” Ajayi said.

The Executive Vice Chairman/ CEO of ENL Consortium, Vicky Haastrup, who dedicated the award to “all the hardworking management and staff” of the company, said all hands must be on deck to promote the development of the maritime sector.

Haastrup, who was represented at the award ceremony by the Executive Director of Operations, Mr. Mark Walsh, said ENL Consortium has made substantial

investment in human and material resources at the port.

“We have good people working with us and I am happy to dedicate this award t all of them – the hardworking, committed and patriotic staff of ENL Consortium, who work day and night to ensure that ships are promptly discharged and cargoes are delivered in good time to their owners.

“When we came into the port in 2006, the terminals handed over to us to manage were at ground zero.

Nothing was working. The equipment were not functional, there were endless ship queues even as touts called the shot.

The morale of workers was at its lowest ebb.

“But immediately we resumed duty, we turned the story around. Today, we have dockworkers who are proud to be called dockworkers because they now have good conditions of service”.

L-R: Legal Adviser of ENL Consortium, Barrister Uzamot Boye; Executive Director, ENL Consortium, Mr. Mark Walsh; Managing Director, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), Prince Adedamola Docemo and Public Relations Manager of ENL Consortium, Mrs. Lydia Agbashe when ENL Consortium was honoured as the Most Outstanding Maritime Company of the Decade at the 2022 Marketing Edge Awards held in Lagos...recently

MARKET INDICATORS

Dangote, MTN, Globacom Lead at 2022 ‘Top 50 Brands Nigeria’ Dangote Industries has emerged the Most Valuable Brand in Nigeria for a record 5th year in a row at the outcome of the 2022 corporate brand evaluation, conducted by the leading brand and marketing research firm, TOP 50 BRANDS NIGERIA. Dangote emerged top with an aggregate score of 83.7 Brand Strength Measurement (BSM) Index score. This is followed

by MTN, Globacom and Access Bank in fourth place.

Others among the top 10 are Airtel Nigeria, Coca-Cola, Zenith Bank, GTCO, First Bank and UBA at fifth to tenth positions respectively.

The annual top brands evaluation report which is now like a report card, with which top corporate brands have an independent opinion about their

brand performance, from the consumers’ points of view has also become a sort of ‘bragging’ right and a source of pride for the brands that made the top 50 league table, particularly, those that took the lead.

In a statement after the public presentation, the rating firm said, “The annual top brand evaluation is a qualitative, non-financial estimation of value of top corporate brands in the country. A measure of consumers’ perceptions and how positive or otherwise towards a brand, and how this affects its overall strength, using the Brand Strength Measurement (BSM)index, a model that tests a brand’s ability to deliver on its promise to the consumers from the consumers’ points of view.

“Brands today have become a

necessary part of our everyday’s life, from waking moment to going to bed, even the choice of bedding. This is so much more in the light of emergence of concepts of consumer awareness, differentiation, purchase justification and the new world economy, the brand is playing a quintessential role.”

In his address to the owners and promoters of the top brands, TOP 50 Brands Nigeria CEO, Taiwo Oluboyede said, “Brand has become a critical differentiator that helps consumer’s choice and also separates the top corporate organisations from the others and even much more. It is also consumers’ buying choice justification” He likened the task of building formidable and continuously strong brand to a flower.”

Access Bank’s ‘W’ Initiative Set to Impact 5,000 Women Nume Ekeghe Access Bank ‘W’ Initiative is set to empower over 5000 women in its third edition of its annual women’s Health Month program in October 2022 with an array of healthcare offerings and financing.

The month-long campaign seeks to significantly decrease the mortality rate from preventable diseases, educate women on health-related concerns and elevate the overall quality of healthcare available to women in Nigeria. In a statement, Group Head, ‘W’ Initiative at

Access Bank PLC, Ms. Abiodun Olubitan said: “In the few years we have spearheaded this initiative, the impact we have recorded has been nothing short of awe-inspiring,” commented, “Staying true to our mantra to provide ‘More Than Banking’, our focus will be on providing thousands of women with accessible healthcare across eight pre-selected states of the Federation. One of the objectives of the ‘W’ Initiative is to change the health narrative for many Nigerian women, especially those in underserved communities, and this is what we

will be striving to achieve with the forthcoming Health Month.

We have seen positive results across previous editions and we will deepen the impact this year by offering free cancer checks and educational programs, open fertility clinics, amongst others, ”Olubitan added.

The bank noted that it would leverage its partnership with prominent healthcare outfits Chronicare Diabetes Management Centre, Hephzibah Eye Care, Skipper Eye Q, Evercare Hospital, Grandville Medical and Laser, and the Fibroid Care Centre at Nordica.

Morning Fresh Celebrates 30 Years in Nigeria with N30m Promo Morning Fresh, a member of the PZ family, has kicked off a national consumer promo tagged, the N30 million Gang promo as part of a series of activities to commemorate 30 years of blazing the trail in the dishwashing liquid category in Nigeria. This was revealed at the press conference, which was held on Friday, September 16th at PZ headquarters, Ilupeju.

The promo which will run from now till Wednesday, December 14th with Live Draws beginning Friday, September 23rd is targeted at

rewarding loyal consumers with amazing prizes such as; kitchen makeovers, refrigerators, generators, microwaves, washing machines and to top it all, 30 millionaires will emerge at the end of the promo.

According to Regional Head of Marketing, Africa PZ Cussons, Daniel Gyefour, the 30 Million Naira Gang Promo is aligned with Morning Fresh new brand positioning of caring for those who care by softening the tough job of cleaning, and offering value adds to its loyal consumers.

“The Brand is one that cares for our “Everyday Sheroes” the well-centred woman who makes strong contributions to society through nurturing happy families. The brand exists to serve the hygiene conscious woman, who prides in keeping her kitchen clean, and ultimately taking good care of her family. Morning Fresh brand is definitely the best companion for caregivers in softening tough jobs and caring for those who care, bringing the home and family together with love,” Gyefour said.

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JUNE 2022 Money Supply (M3)

48,865,823.53

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

167,956.2

Money Supply (M2)

48,797,867.32

-- Quasi Money

28,405,330.1

-- Narrow Money (M1)

20,392,537.22

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,722,785.91

---- Demand Deposits

17,669,751.32

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

6,242,394.29

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

42,623,429.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

57,267,178.05

---- Credit to Government (Net)

17,996,690.06

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

39,270,488

--Other Assets Net

5,566,430

Reserve Money (Base Money

11,320,304

--Currency in Circulation

3,259,269.15

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,320,303.72 384,377.56

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

June 2022

Inter-Bank Call Rate

11.10

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

13.00

Treasury Bill Rate

2.45

Savings Deposit Rate

1.38

1 Month Deposit Rate

3.48

3 Months Deposit Rate

4.55

6 Months Deposit Rate

4.97

12 Months Deposit Rate

5.30

Prime Lending rate

12.29

Maximum Lending Rate

27.61

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT THURSDAY, MAY 7

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

29

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

Shareholders Approve Holding Company Structure for Sterling Bank Kayode Tokede Shareholders of Sterling Bank Plc have unanimously voted in favor of the creation of a new non-operating holding company (HoldCo) to hold the shares in its commercial banking operation as well as the shares of a newly incorporated subsidiary, The Alternative Bank Limited, which will operate as a Non-Interest Banking (NIB) business.

At the end of a court-ordered

meeting in Lagos, the shareholders gave the approval for the carveout and transfer of the Bank’s non-interest banking business to The Alternative Bank Limited, under a proposed scheme of arrangement between Sterling Bank and the holders of its fully paid-up ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.

All the shareholders who attended the meeting approved the initiative and commended the foresight of the directors. They also

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

advised the board and management to work hard to nurture new businesses in a bid to enhance the growth of the holding company.

Addressing shareholders at the meeting, Chairman of Sterling Bank, Mr. Asue Ighodalo said under the new arrangement, the assets, liabilities, and undertakings of the non-interest banking business will be carved out of the Bank and transferred to The Alternative Bank Limited.

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Ighodalo said, “Following the implementation of the scheme, shareholders will exchange their shares in the Bank for shares in HoldCo in the same proportion as their current holdings in the Bank, which will be a regulated entity for CBN purposes.”

Under the evolving scenario, the HoldCo will be registered as a public company and Sterling Bank Plc will be delisted from the Daily Official List of the Nigerian

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

Exchange Limited (NGX) and the Holdco will be listed in its stead and the Bank (Sterling Bank) will subsequently be re-registered as a private limited liability company.

The Chairman added that the scheme would provide several benefits to the shareholders of the Bank, some of which include facilitating diversification into other permissible business lines, thereby promoting growth and enhancing shareholder value and

O F

facilitation of a consolidated financial strength of the group, which will improve access and ability to raise capital.

He explained that the proposed restructuring will ensure that the Bank’s retail depositors are not exposed to the risks associated with the other activities of the rest of the group and the HoldCo structure will provide the subsidiaries with access to group-wide expertise of the parent company model.

2 0 / 0 9 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

30

˜ ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

ʬ ʬ

ʬ

7 R S 7 U D G H V E \ 9 R OX P H

7 R S * D LQ H U V T ic k er

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

5.65

7.6%

ST ER LN B A N K

173.8

0.0%

0.31

6.9%

UB A

54.1

3.4%

FCM B

3.50

6.1%

Z EN IT H B A N K

14.0

0.0%

UB A

7.55

3.4%

CHA M S

14.0

6.9%

30.30

3.4%

T R A N SC OR P

6.4

-2.7%

8.85

2.3%

FCM B

5.6

6.1%

WA P C O

24.90

1.8%

GT C O

5.2

-0.5%

ET ER N A

6.30

1.6%

F ID ELIT YB K

4.8

1.4%

C UT IX

2.15

1.4%

OA N D O

4.1

-1.2%

F ID ELIT YB K

3.65

1.4%

FB NH

3.8

0.0%

7 R S 7 U D G H V E \ 9 D OX H

7 R S / R V H U V T ic k er

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

UB A

400.6

3.4%

-8.9%

M TNN

289.5

0.0%

-7.7%

Z EN IT H B A N K

281.4

0.0%

ST ER LN B A N K

252.1

0.0%

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

H ON YF LOUR

2.25

-10.0%

LEA R N A F R C A

2.25

LIN KA SSUR E

0.48

WA P IC

0.38

-7.3%

J A IZ B A N K

0.85

-4.5%

N EST LE

119.2

0.0%

103.8

-0.5%

C OUR T VILLE

0.48

-4.0%

GT C O

UA C N

11.00

-3.5%

WA P C O

63.9

1.8%

40.3

0.0%

A B CTRA NS

0.28

-3.4%

FB NH

J A P A ULGOLD

0.29

-3.3%

GUIN N ESS

34.1

0.0%

-2.7%

P R ESC O

21.1

0.0%

T R A N SC OR P

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

Vo lum e

CHA M S

A C C ESSC OR P

T ic k er

N EM

F LOUR M ILL

P ric e C hg %

1.07

Investment Research

Brokerage

Asset Management

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Damilare Asimiyu | dasimiyu@afrinvest.com

31

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 19Sept-2022, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 188.54 189.69 12.95% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 8.51% Nigeria International Debt Fund 313.61 313.61 9.79% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 105.70 106.85 7.13% 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 N/A N/A N/A AIICO Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 6.56% Anchoria Equity Fund 138.36 139.92 -0.64% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.18 1.18 3.20% info@anchoriaam.com ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 21.10 21.74 4.03% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 509.69 525.06 12.97% ARM Ethical Fund 42.55 43.83 9.22% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.09 1.09 0.36% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.06 1.06 4.42% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.04% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 90.8 90.8 -6.09% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,083.83 1,083.83 8.38% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.10 2.10 3.35% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.33 2.37 9.51% CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.26% Paramount Equity Fund 18.25 18.58 9.86% Women's Investment Fund 145.06 146.80 2.19% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Cordros Milestone Fund N/A N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 9.72% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 9.76% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,121.72 1,142.16 0.94% EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.74% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.04 1.04 8.62% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.03 1.03 3.02% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 103.42 103.42 2.19% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1504.99 1504.99 11.46% FBN Balanced Fund 192.84 194.15 10.03% FBN Halal Fund 123.64 123.64 11.15% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.29% FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) 125.97 125.97 6.01% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 157.63 159.75 5.01% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.34% Legacy Debt Fund 3.57 3.57 -10.83% Legacy Equity Fund 1.88 1.91 7.90% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.24 1.24 2.79% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

4,057.20 3,624.37 100.00

4,111.62 3,624.37 100.00

5.71% 6.25% 11.09%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.12 1.12 4.05% GUARANTY TRUST FUND MANAGERS LIMITED 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 10.30% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.92 2.97 4.96% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 6.00% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 142.88 142.88 5.71% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.23 1.27 3.39% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.06 1.06 3.35% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.62 1.64 13.80% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,170.67 1,170.67 6.60% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: www.meristemwealth.com/funds/; Tel: +2348028496012 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 11.98 12.07 9.79% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 10.71% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 102.67 102.67 9.68% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 11.36% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM EuroBond Fund N/A N/A N/A SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 122.52 125.04 0.05% 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 1.07 1.07 10.05% 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 3,519.46 3,552.96 3.90% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 241.77 241.77 2.63% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.39 1.41 11.11% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 326.27 326.28 4.20% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 257.62 261.28 10.42% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.28% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 11,690.48 11,848.61 7.15% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.34 1.34 3.72% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 119.76 119.76 2.44% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 112.38 112.38 5.64% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 0.95 0.97 7.30% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.34 1.36 2.84% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.13 1.14 9.35% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.08 1.08 7.21% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.92 1.92 6.31% United Capital Eurobond Fund 123.38 123.38 5.80% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.56% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.59 13.70 2.98% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 15.51 15.65 6.05% Zenith Income Fund 23.13 23.13 5.38% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.47% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund 3.70 3.80 -7.62% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 6.02 6.12 3.03% Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund 17.86 18.06 1.00% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.74% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 17.82 18.02 -10.79% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 139.87 141.87 -11.27%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

119.29 52.14

5.15% 2.37%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

14.17 125.38 98.78 16.40 17.10

14.27 128.55 100.93 16.50 17.20

1.30% -1.36% -0.99% -4.18% 14.09%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.59

0.00%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

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

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

32

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

EDUCATION BSU VC: FG’s No Work No Pay Policy against ASUU Justified The Vice Chancellor of Benue State University, Prof Tor Iorapuu, in this interview with George Okoh, speaks on the ongoing ASUU strike and other related matters. Excerpts:

W

hat’s the solution to the impasse between the FG and ASUU? Let the federal and state governments take education seriously because there is no alternative to education as it moulds our behaviour. We shouldn’t be discussing banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, and those vices in this country if the government took education seriously from day one.

What we are passing through is a function of poor planning because the same government that improved primary health care did not see that the product of primary health care would be healthy reproduction and an increase in population. For me, I think the government from day one got it wrong because as the population increases, the schools too should increase and bring them closer to people, though the government has done that by opening more schools in rural areas.

However, the question is, what has been the plan? Also, when they graduate, where will the people go? So, part of what ASUU is saying is to wake the government up. So, a permanent solution lies with the government.

Some state universities didn’t join the ASUU strike while some are backing out. What is happening at Benue State University?

As you know, Benue State University is stateowned. There is a visitor to the university, and there is a council of the university. I am aware that about a month ago, the visitor appealed to ASUU, the BSU chapter to suspend its strike and resume, and that has expired. I want to believe that the visitor is not oblivious to his request and his appeal. I want to believe that the visitor is reflecting on his appeal and that, at the appropriate time, he will like to act.

Let me also submit to you that I am aware that many people have put pressure on the visitor.

The citizens of this state have cried out to the visitor; students and parents have done so, and the chairman of council and management of this university have gone on their knees at different instances, appealing to our executive committee members and members of this community to think deeply in respect to the current strike. As soon as we get an appropriate directive from the council to reopen the school, we will do it immediately.

Do you think the workers will heed the directive?

Whether the lecturers and workers will resume when the school is open is not for me to say, but I want to believe that they are responsible people and adults. The reason I think they will be in a hurry to resume is that even federal universities have not been able to achieve what this state has done as far as the lecturers and workers of this institution are concerned.

For instance, since the strike started, our colleagues here have been receiving their salary, and if there is any salary hitch anywhere, it affects the entire state. I can say very proudly that the visitor to this university has put this university on the first line of charge, so at no time will the government compromise the salary of this institution.

Professor Tor Iorapuu

The FG and ASUU have been talking about salary increments.

If the government accedes to ASUU’s demands, will it be binding on state universities?

Certain things can be said without sounding controversial. People argue that university lecturers are global; we made this argument, but we are not sincere in accepting reality. For instance, in the UK, we visited a university that BSU is partnering with, and in that university, people were on strike, but while the strike was going on, those who didn’t want to go on strike were teaching while others who felt like going on strike were on strike. The vice chancellor of the university told us that those who were teaching would be paid, and those who were on strike would not be paid.

So, when discussing global practice, we should not be selective in our decision-making, or when discussing the principle of global collective bargaining, the truth about how universities function over there is that, yes, the government gives money to institutions, but these institutions also generate money through research and grants.

However, where are the functional industries that can promote research? Where are the institutions that can say, ‘We are putting in this amount of money that we are endowing for XYZ? Do we have them in this country today?’

Most of the companies and industries are leaving for Ghana and other countries. The struggle is very important, but as intellectuals, we need to cultivate and have as

many strategies as possible in order to win the battle. During the military regime, strikes never went this long despite their draconian behaviour, except during Babangida’s, and the reason was because we have two world orders: socialism and capitalism. One was run by communism. The other was discussing Marxism, and so on and so forth. And these were the dominant ideologies in the universities, and for that reason, the intelligentsia held sway, and many young military people loved the intelligentsia and hobnobbed with them, and anytime there was an attempt at economic policy that was going to be detrimental to students and affect the populace, there was an uproar in the ivory tower, and the military did not like that because the moment the young kids went on the street, it was a signal to the young military officers to begin to consider mutiny.

So, they (the military) wouldn’t want that to happen, and quickly, they would want to stop it, but we are discussing democracy where these people (politicians) are not thinking very quickly; they are not thinking of a military coup, especially; they are only thinking of four years after, when there would be an election. So, they take their time, and they have mastered the act of buying even our colleagues.

To be honest with you, things are becoming so challenging that our colleagues do not seem to understand. If the insecurity does not end, how many people in Nigerian universities will go for accreditation and for how much? So, there are so many things that are gradually shooting down education in this country. My candid advice to our colleagues is that the reason we are intellectuals is that we find solutions to those things that seem impossible. Our job in the university is to find solutions to those things that seem impossible.

One of ASUU’s demands is a payment platform. Do you think lecturers should dictate how they are paid?

Coming from a federal university, I was a victim of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System before I joined BSU, but

that has nothing to do with BSU. It has nothing to do with any state university. We are not affected by IPPIS. We are not affected by earned allowance because, in this state, the present administration integrated earned allowance into the salary of academic staff and non-teaching staff of this university.

The only agreement they (BSU) have reached is on the outstanding balance to be paid and from Internally Generated Revenue, and where is IGR when students are not present? Check with all federal universities to see if they have the BSU model. They don’t. In fact, ASUU National is trying to copy the BSU model to advise the government to integrate earned allowance into salary.

For my colleagues here (ASUU), I have been pleading with them: If you go to a federal university, nobody is discussing the backlog of earned allowance. If we compare notes, you will know if some of the demands are justified.

You talk of promotion, and we have done it.

Arrears of promotion, everybody knows that it is payable. The only thing that can make someone not work is if their salary is not paid.

But if your salary is being paid regularly, is a delay in promotion enough justification to say you are going on strike?

As far as Benue State University is concerned, throughout the period of this strike, the government is still paying salaries, including earned allowance, whereas, at federal universities, there is nothing. Is this not enough reason to call off the strike and reciprocate the government’s gesture?

What’s your take on FG’s no-work, no-pay policy for striking lecturers?

You want me to tell you the truth. As intellectuals, there are certain things we do and get away with, and when we do them and get away with them, we think they are norms.

The truth is that it is not necessarily a norm.

But it may be for the sake of parents, students, and the public, and because many people may have cried to the government to do this, it goes ahead and does it (paying for the period on strike). We must recognise that the government’s action is taken not out of weakness or fear, but out of a sense of responsibility to society for children to receive an education. We now think it is because we are superb.

Somebody sent me a text about a court judgement this morning that was very clear and they have cited (the judgement) many times of people who don’t work, don’t get paid. Except if the university has sacked you, it pays your outstanding. But where you have not worked, you are not paid. The point I am trying to make is that by virtue of who we are and the importance of who we are to society, the government succumbs. The government does that, not on account of weakness and not on account of legality but on account of the people it serves. We (lecturers) must accept that when the government gives in for the sake of things like this, we should not consider it legitimate. It is not your right.

That is the reason I said earlier that as intellectuals we must have many plans for our struggle, plan ABCDE, and I want to believe that if we expand conversations and find time to discuss with others, it will pay off.

Greensprings Announces Theme for 2022/2023 School Year, Introduces Value Based Education The management of Greensprings School, Lagos, has announced its theme for the 2022/2023 school year as ‘Future Ready #DrivenByValues’. The CEO, Mrs. Lai Koiki, who announced this in a welcome letter sent to members of the school’s community, said to accelerate the actualization of the theme’s objectives, a new pedagogical approach called Value Based Education (VbE) has been introduced.

Koiki stated that the school’s

focus for the year – and beyond – is to prepare its students for future uncertainties likely to be brought about by advancements in technology and climate crisis.

“The future is so uncertain, primarily because of the ever-changing and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, advanced robotics and machine learning.

“This is in addition to the crisis that may result due to climate change, disease and conflict – and

to be prepared for these uncertainties, students must develop vital skills such as creativity, critical thinking, and resilience.”

She added: “Our commitment is to prepare our students holistically to be future-ready, so we are including coding in the curriculum for all students in Years 1-9. In addition, in-depth learning in music, creative writing and diction will be a focus.”

The letter also highlighted how the school intends to synergize

future readiness with upholding moral values, through the introduction of Value Based Education (VbE), which is an educational approach that promotes positive human values such as respect, compassion, empathy, and honesty in students.

According to the CEO, VbE will be included in the school’s curriculum so as to reinforce the moral values upheld in the school.

Furthermore, as part of the school’s future-readiness plan,

its three main campuses and its special needs school, Anthos House, were designated as Centres of Excellence in different enterprises.

The Lekki campus was pronounced the Centre of Excellence in Sports; Anthony campus – Centre of Excellence for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Ikoyi campus – Centre of Excellence for Design and Technology; and Anthos House – Centre of Excellence for Inclusion.

33

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

EDUCATION

Solidaridad, Partners to Babcock VC Slams ASUU’s President over Deliver Fish Farming Quack Comments Funmi Ogundare of the state universities to call vice-chancellor stressed. policy meeting, Babcock Curriculum at TASCE off the strike and return to He emphasised the Na- was noted to be the most Dike Onwuamaeze

The Solidaridad, a solutionoriented civil society organisation, in partnership with the Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE), Omu, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun and other organisations, has launched the TASCE Aquaculture Development Project Nigeria (ADPN) and its e-platform.

The ADPN is designed to embed the teaching of fish farming as part of the educational curriculum of TASCE to encourage students to acquire vocational skills in fish farming that would help them to own businesses.

The Programme Officer of Solidarid, Mr Emmanuel Fagbure, told THISDAY that the project would equip the students with vocational skills in aquaculture and build the capacity of existing local fish farmers in Ijebu-Ode on modern best aquaculture and fish farm management practices.

Fagbure said: “We realised that the value chain in aquaculture is wide, more than what Nigerian farmers are already tapping into. Up until now, what people believe is that the only thing you can do with catfish is to eat it. But we have discovered other uses.

Catfish are being used for pharmaceuticals; catfish are also being used for textiles.”

The Provost of TASCE, Dr Adeola Kiadese Lukman, said the programme would see the institution hosting a huge enterprise designed to

introduce cutting-edge technologies and best practices to students, farmers, other stakeholders, and interested parties in the area of aquaculture and related practices.

“To the students of TASCE, I believe that there is no greater sacrifice an institution and the society can make than to cater for your educational needs while preparing you for the vocational challenges of tomorrow,” said Lukman.

He added that the programme was designed in such a way as to revolutionise aquaculture from what we have always known and practised to a knowledge-based and goaldriven enterprise that will introduce sustainable and profitable approaches and solutions.

The Solidaridad explained that the online platform arm of the project would incorporate three exclusive features, namely e-learning, e-commerce and farm management software that would enable fish farmers across the country to access and benefit from the project.

The Head of Aquaculture and Livestock for the Ijebu Development Initiative on Poverty Reduction (IDIPR), Mr Akinyelu Blessing Oluwatomisi, told THISDAY that their community is grateful to be part of the ADPN that would provide them with modern farm education, marketing and formalisation and institutionalisation of their farm cooperatives.

Students Urge Sokoto Varsity to Call off Solidarity Strike Onuminya Innocent In Sokoto

Sokoto State University Students have appealed to the Academic Staff Union of the university to consider their plights and end the solidarity strike it embarked on.

The students also appealed to the union’s leadership at the national level to revisit their strategy and weigh the import of their decision on the youth and the country’s future.

Speaking while addressing journalists at the NUJ press centre, Sokoto, the President of the association, Alkasim Isah Garba, also called on the state government to use every means to end this industrial action for the interest of students.

Mr Garba said, “We have been following with keen interest and concern the industrial action embarked upon by ASUU and its impact on education, economy, security and other sectors.“ He added, “We understand that the strike is to push the Federal government to implement the ASUU/FG 2009 renegotiated agreement and other issues thereabouts.

As a student’s centred body, we stand with ASUU for standing up to demand the implementation of the

agreement it entered with the government.”

The students’ forum further emphasized that the state governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has made several pronouncements on why the Sokoto State University Chapter of the Union should see reason and return to class as his government has no dispute with ASUU. He said despite the ongoing strike, the state government approved salaries and allowances for all categories of workers in the state tertiary institutions, including the university.

The forum, however, disclosed that the state chapter of ASUU had no moral justification for continuing with the strike embarked upon by the union’s national body.

Reacting, the ASUU chairman in the university, Dr Sa’aidu Isah, said he could not unilaterally call off the strike except with the permission of other union members in the school.

He maintained that any decision reached with the federal government by the national body would be conveyed to the ASUU chapter for deliberation and necessary action.

The Vice-Chancellor of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun, Prof Ademola Tayo, has condemned the recent comment by the President of the Academic Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, that universities that did not join the union’s months-long strike are irrelevant and quacks.

According to the Babcock VC, the true test of the quality of any institution lies in its products, who are doing creditably well in the world of work and performing well academically in foreign universities.

Osodeke had appeared on Arise Television and was reacting to the resolve of some

lectures.

Tayo, who briefed journalists on activities marking the university’s 63rd/23rd Founders Day, recalled that the founders of Paystack are graduates of Computer Science from Babcock University.

“If private universities are quacks, we will not have a company which the US bid for $200 million or even have our students who are getting first class in foreign universities. If we are quacks, we will not have Davido trending in the musical industry. In 2020, the overall best student at the Nigerian Law School will not graduate from Babcock University if we are quacks,” the Babcock

tional Universities Commission (NUC) ranking, saying that the institution came second and that the commission renewed the university’s programmes for another five years.

The VC added that NUC has come to access its resources and that the institution would get the result of its request for its admission quota for medicine.

“So far, we have 100, and we believe that we are going to have an expanded programme.

For our nursing programme, our quota has been increased from 75 to 150, as a result of improvement in our facilities,” stated Tayo.

Tayo stated that in the last four years, at every JAMB

subscribed among private universities in Nigeria, adding, “the last admission for 2021, we had 3,511 of our students matriculating, and that was the highest among private universities in Nigeria.”

He also mentioned that the university was the second private university to run a dual mode of teaching and learning.

The VC, however, called on the government to create an enabling environment that will support the efforts of private universities in the country, adding that the move will encourage professionals in the field and guide against the problem of brain drain.

L-R: Pro-Chancellor Wellspring University, Ambassador Daniel Isimoya; Chancellor, Wellspring University, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo; First lady of Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; His Royal Majesty, Benjamin Ikenchukwu, The Dein Of Agbor; Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) Wellspring University, General Ephraim Usiade, Rtd; and member, BoT, Deacon Tom Ogboi, during the third convocation ceremony at Wellspring University, recently

Anambra Abolishes Wearing of Short Skirts

By Schoolgirls David-Chyddy Eleke in Akwa

The Anambra government has banned short skirts by female students in public and private schools.

The Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi ChumaUdeh, who met with education

secretaries of public and mission schools at the weekend at the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), described such a mode of dressing as morally wrong.

The commissioner said: “A student should look smart, well-groomed, project positive

vibes and not be indecently dressed for school.”

She said the acceptable length for uniforms in the state remained knee length and not above the knee as was fast becoming the fashion.

The commissioner charged the education secretaries to

ensure schools would comply with the directives and salvage the future of the students of the state.

She charged the participants to infuse the right morals and discipline in students so that they would grow to be of good behaviour and conduct.

LASU: LCCI Asks Students to Take Entrepreneurial Risks Funmi Ogundare

The President of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr Michael Olawale-Cole, has asked Nigerian students to take entrepreneurial risks and called on the National Assembly to fast-track the passing of sponsored pending bills that will enable the business environment in the country to thrive.

Olawale-Cole said this at the first annual entrepreneurship lecture, ‘ Creating an Enabling Environment for Entrepreneurship in an Unstable Economy’, organised by the Directorate of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship, Lagos State University (LASU).

According to him, new legislation has the capacity for enforcement and must be supported.

“Entrepreneurs want to see proof that new laws are applied transparently, consistently – and, wherever possible, on a timely basis,” he said.

“The FG/ASUU agreement signed in 2009 has been the

subject of industrial actions to date. Some foreign airlines threatened to close operations in Nigeria due to the non-release of their trapped foreign exchange earnings,” added Olawale-Cole.

The LCCI president, an alumnus of the university, said legislation, regulations, and business processes must also be simple if they are to support a strong business environment, adding that there must be an improvement in the government’s operations and structure to make the system of governance more efficient, must be put in place as speedily as possible.

Olawale-Cole listed steps to creating the right environment for businesses to grow to include; cutting bureaucracies/red tape, automation of electronic visa on arrival processes for businessmen, strengthening legal framework, automation of company incorporation processes, easy access to required information, strong technology infrastructure, as well as functional websites for government agencies.

He expressed concern that the economy had struggled with many inhibiting burdens like inflation, weak revenue generation, degenerated infrastructure, unsustainable cost profile in debt services and subsidy payments, and the daunting threats of worsening insecurity.

“The chamber is concerned that if we continue in this trajectory, the economy may bleed away into a stagflation which will impact production cost, job losses, worsened forex crisis, and dampened growth in the medium term,” he stressed.

The LCCI president advised the students to take risks in entrepreneurship and what they are doing, saying that the reward is always great.

“It is the dynamic and inclusive potential of the private sector through innovative entrepreneurial ventures that can move the country towards greater self-reliance and exponential growth,” he said.

LASU Vice-Chancellor Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello commended the directorate for

the initiative.

“No economy can survive without a virile entrepreneurship policy and generous incentives that support the growth of small businesses that are the real driver of any economy,” stated Olatunji-Bello. “The grim economic headwinds that are militating against the Nigerian economy arise as much from the need for some well-formulated entrepreneurship policies that map out a strategy to transform the economy through small businesses.”

The VC described entrepreneurship as critical to any nation, saying that it accelerates the growth of any nation by creating new products and services, as well as stimulates new employment, and promotes innovation, social change, and research and development.

The present economic challenges plaguing the business climate in Nigeria, Olatunji-Bello noted, required governments at all levels to promote entrepreneurship as a viable option to rein in unemployment and create wealth.

34

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 • T H I S D AY

35

WEDNESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

COURTESY VISIT BY INEC...

L-R: Administrative Secretary, Independent National Electoral Commission, Mr. Davis Obo Eldred, new Resident Electoral Commissioner to Cross River, Dr. Johnson Alalibo and Governor Ben Ayade when the new REC paid a courtesy visit on the Governor at Government House, Calabar...yesterday

Dogara: APC’s Muslim-Muslim Ticket Antithetical to Nation Building Kuni Tyessi in Abuja Former speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has reiterated that the adoption of same faith presidential ticket by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was antithetical to Nigeria’s quest for nation building.

He spoke yesterday in Abuja at a summit tagged: “Meet the Church”, which was organised by the Nigerian National Christians Coalition (NNCC) with the theme: “The role of the Church in Nation Building”.

The former speaker, therefore, called on Christians to resist the temptation to waste their votes in the 2023 general election as according to him, “Every Christian knows that our God does not tolerate waste. It is unchristian-like for the church to waste anything given to us from above as we own nothing except what is given to us from above.”

He commended the church in today’s Nigeria for “shaking off the beast of complacency of the past into fire by speaking up and resisting measures adopted by some political platforms that will hamper nation building.”

He argued that the APC ignored warnings by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Catholic Secretariate, ECWA church and many other church bodies and adopted the same faith ticket in a manner that negated the fundamentals of nation building, such as shared identity, values and vision saying, “the APC adopted a

same faith ticket in a country that has never attained nationhood.

“These warnings were not only ignored but dismissed in one fell swoop by the APC presidential candidate, who strangely believes that he can build a strong, secure and viable nation-state without first forging a shared identity, vision and values for our people, thereby enabling us transit from

citizens of a country into a nation of people with strong shared identity and values.

“In their convoluted posturing, they have placed state-building ahead of nation building; a task never before achieved in history and we need no seer to tell us that such endeavor is guaranteed to end in spectacular failure. No divided people have ever built any

civilisation.

“To demonstrate that the church is right, it is not alone in condemning the same faith ticket.

Other prominent Islamic clerics and Muslim leaders have also spoken in the same light. It is a good omen that both Christian and Muslim elites are not complacent over this matter. To this end, it will be easy to generate the needed elite consensus that is

on those common issues we agree on. It must be noted that just as Muslims alone cannot built a nation out of Nigeria so also Christians alone cannot. We have to work together on “nation formations”.

He, however, maintained that in 2023, every Christian must cast their votes as talents given to them by God to trade with as seeds that must not be wasted.

67 Nigerians Killed in Six Days over Insecurity Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Some 67 Nigerians, including security agents, were killed between September 10 and 16, 2022, Nigerian Security Tracker, a weekly publication and chronicle of violence and killings in Nigeria, has said.

Security Tracker is published by a former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, who is also a member of the US Council on Foreign Relations.

The publication disclosed that on September 10, an Agip surveillance team killed two in Ahoada West, Rivers State while a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) killed nine bandits in Batsari, Katsina State.

It said gunmen killed three police officers and seven civilians in Njikoka in Anambra State on September 11, while police killed

one kidnapper in Etsako West, Edo State even as gunmen killed one in Nkanu East in Enugu State on the same day.

Communal violence led to the death of three people in Ipokia, Ogun State on September 12,just as police officers killed two kidnappers in Moro, Kwara State.

On September 13, police of-

ficers killed three kidnappers in Uhunmwonde, Edo State, while suspected herders killed three in Keana, Nassarawa State just as troops killed "several" bandits in Chikun, Kaduna State.

The publication, which generated its casualty figures from Nigerian media reports, said, bandits killed one and

moment were leaders that could be trusted, adding: "We are looking for politicians and leaders we can trust. The real challenge is to rebuild Nigeria. We appeal to political to help us to trust them."

Obaseki: Nigerians may shock political class, parties in 2023

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has called on political leaders across the country to step up and assuage the pains of Nigerians on many fronts due to poor governance and inefficiency or expect a surprise from the electorate in the 2023 general election.

Speaking to journalists in Benin City, the state capital, Obaseki noted that Nigerians were fed up with the inefficiencies and failures of government officials and other representatives and might reject them if nothing was done to change the narrative.

He said the people were closely

abducted ten in Lapai, Niger State on September 14, while police killed one kidnapper in Sabuwa, Katsina State.

On September 15, it said, gunmen killed two police officers in Ezza North, Ebonyi State while 29 insurgents were killed during a clash between Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP) and Boko Haram

militants in Bama, Borno State even as bandits killed one and abducted "several" in Batagarawa, Katsina State the same day.

Security Tracker said September communal violence led to two deaths in Warri South-West, Delta, while gunmen killed one Ebubeagu security officer in Izzi, Ebonyi State on September 16.

LAWAN OUT, AKPABIO, UMAHI IN, AS INEC RELEASES FINAL LIST FOR NATIONAL ELECTIONS (AAC ) and his running mate, Garba Magashi, Mamman Dantalle, presidential candidate of Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and his running mate Ojei Princess, Chukwudi Umeadi presidential candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and his running mate Koli Mohammed.

Oluwafemi Adenuga, presidential candidate of Boot Party (BP) and the running mate Turaku Mustapha, Daberechukwu Nwanyanwu,

presidential candidate of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and the running mate, Ramalan Abubakar, Dumebi Kachikwu presidential candidate, African Democratic Congress (ADC) and his running mate, Ahmed Mani.

Hamsa Almustafa, presidential candidate, Action Alliance (AA) and his running mate Chukwuka Johnson, among others.

J O N AT H A N : M Y 2 0 1 5 C O N C E S S I O N C A L L C O L L E C T I V E D E C I S I O N TO S AV E N I G E R I A is the need for a re-engineering of the political parties and not just instruments to win elections," he explained.

Chambas, spoke of Jonathan’s decision to concede in 2015, saying, "That single act saved shedding of innocent blood and this credibility that Jonathan is enjoying today."

He 2023 matters a lot to Africa and the West Africa in particular, because "If the 2023 was successful without violence, and was credible, it will stabilise democracy in Nigeria and Africa, but if the contrary is the case, it will become a huge set back to the growth and democracy in Africa.”

He explained that a failed election would erode the leadership position of Nigeria in Africa, while a failed 2023 general election would intensify the Boko Haram and security challenges as well as an increase in the farmers/herders’ crisis.

The Bishop of Sokoto Dioceses, Bishop Matthew Kukah, on his part, said what Nigeria needed at the

key to nation building. All nations are built by elite consensus while all countries that failed at nation building were destroyed by elite complacency.

“Granted that the Christians and Muslims will always disagree on some issues, there are however, many things over which we are agreeable.

It is enough to forge ahead with the task of nation building based

watching the political situation in the country and were ready to shock political parties with their new political orientation.

“I am sure that we are all watching the development in the country very closely, particularly,the evolving political development.

It's clear now that Nigerians are getting fed up with the government and those that represent them in government. We can see that in their reactions in social media and where their actions and emotions are headed.

"For us, as a government and representatives of our people, we would be hurting ourselves if we ignore the changes that are coming and believe that things are still the same. We will all be shocked as we are beginning to see.

“People are now beginning to realise that they need to demand more from people in government and those managing their resources and commonwealth; people will go out to vote their choice or interests.

No political party today can beat its chest and say they will win or have a clear victory in the next election in the country.

“People are watching and the only reason why people will leave their houses to polling units is because there is a reason to either vote for or against something. If they have not benefited, they are not likely to come out on Election Day. People will ask questions saying,‘you have not done what you promised us; you have not delivered. People will react.

“Nobody will be spared. The new group will come in and will not spare the civil servants; they will put pressure on them and politicians will be kicked out of office. We are lucky in Edo State, because we saw it coming and have laid down the roadmap and anticipated it coming but our challenge is that many people don't believe it, thinking we have time and things will still happen the way they usually do,” Obaseki stated.

Zamfara: Lukman Wants INEC to Delist PDP's Guber Candidate

National Vice Chairman, North-west of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Salihu Lukman, has called on INEC to immediately delete the PDP candidate for the March 11, 2023 Zamfara State governorship election.

Justice Aminu Aliyu of Federal High Court, Gusau, had Friday ruled that the PDP governorship primary election in Zamfara State conducted on 25th May, 2022 was conducted in flagrant violation of Section 50(2) (b) & (3) of the Constitution of the PDP 2017 (as amended).

The APC chieftain, in a statement, yesterday, said with the judgement, PDP had no candidate for the March 11, 2023 governorship election in the State.

"INEC should therefore immediately delete the PDP and its claimed candidate for Zamfara State March 11, 2023 Governorship Election from the list of candidates," adding that the order of the Federal High was that the PDP should conduct a valid primary election under the supervision of INEC for enlistment as PDP’s candidate for 2023 General Election.

"PDP and any considered candidate for the party for 2023 governorship election should only be enlisted if provisions of the PDP 2017 Constitution as amended and provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 are met as directed by Honourable Justice Aminu B. Aliyu."

Lukman alleged that by its conduct, PDP was only working to win the 2023 elections through rigging, noting that PDP, which as a party, managed its internal contests in breach of its own rules could only win elections by unfair and illegal means.

Orbih’s Faction in Edo PDP Jubilates as INEC Displays Final List

There were mixed reactions in the PDP in Edo State, yesterday, as INEC released the list of candidates for the Senate and House of Representatives election in the state, consisting names of candidates from the Orbih-led faction.

For the All Progressives Congress (APC), all its candidates, who emerged at the primary elections including former National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole for Edo North Senatorial District and Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives for AkokoEdo Federal Constituency, Peter Akpatason were also displayed.

The PDP held its primaries nationwide in May this year, but in Edo State both factions held parallel primaries and consequently produced candidates for different elective positions at both ends.

The parallel primaries held in the state and the consequent emergence of winners at both ends for different elective positions resulted in litigations and judgments from different courts.

The issues are currently before the Supreme Court.

36

WEDNESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

ASIWAJU SUPER WOMEN VISIT APC...

All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Leader of Asiwaju Super Women, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, when members of the group paid a courtesy visit to the APC candidate at Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Office in Abuja... Monday

NACCIMA Tasks Govt on Stemming Escalating Inflation Says Nigerian economy has shifted to walking inflation Dike Onwuamaeze The National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has tasked the government to initiate measures that would increase the supply of food items in order to stem the escalating inflation in the economy.

NACCIMA also we urged

governments at all levels to use all available resources to fill the gap in wheat imports into the country.

It expressed these views yesterday in a statement titled “NACCIMA’s View on the Current Inflation Rate,” which showed that the country’s inflation rate increased to 20.52 per cent in August 2022 from 19.64 per cent that was recorded in July as reported by National Bureau of

Statistics (NBS).

It also pointed out that the newly recorded inflation rate was the highest figure recorded in the country since September 2005, adding that. “according to the year-over-year percentage change in inflation in the country, the Nigerian economy has shifted significantly into a walking inflation. That is, the country's economy is too swift

for individuals and businesses to sustain.”

It identified the persistent depreciation of the naira, high cost of raw materials, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the impact of heightening insecurity in the country on small holder farmers that could not go to farm and escalating price of crude oil as the major causes of inflation in Nigeria.

Lawmakers Summon Malami, Nami, Oil Firms CEOs over NNPCL JV, PSCs Contracts Demand details of accounts from CBN Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, the Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mohammed Nami and CEOs of oil companies to appear before it on Friday.

They are to come with necessary documents as well offer explanations on the structure and accountability of Joint Venture (JV) businesses and Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) from 1990 to date.

The Chairman of the ad-hoc committee investigating the issue, Hon. Hassan Fulata issued the summon at the inauguration of the hearing following the absence of the Heads of MDAs. The lawmakers had on July 21, while adopting a motion sponsored

by Hon. Sada Soli, Hon. Mark Gbillah and four others inaugurated the Committee and had tasked them to ascertain whether or not the capital expenditure, operations, financials and related frameworks were within the ambit of law and report back to the House within eight weeks for further legislative action.

At the hearing, Heads of MDAs of the federal government and

oil companies, namely, ministry of industry, Justice, Account General of the Federation office, Total, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, Aiteo, NNPCL, were expected to appear, all sent representatives.

While some brought the needed documents, others were incomplete and sought for extension of time to compile the necessary documents.

Frowning at the development, the Committee Chairman, Fulata said ordinarily the parliament doesn’t deal with anybody other than the CEO, hence they must appear unfailingly on September 23.

Fulata however said, the NNPCL GMD, Mele Kyari wrote to the House to inform them that he's in New York with Buhari.

The lawmaker said they would give the GMD time to allow for his arrival back to Nigeria.

Addressing the lawmakers, the representative of the Account General of the Federation, Onochie Peter said all items on the JVC proceeds are not yet available because they are still waiting for response from CBN and NNPCL. Peter, who's the Director Audit Monitoring, also said the office is not involved in the payments of JVCs transactions, but only receive proceeds.

Surprised at his statement, the Committee Chairman, Fulata said, "The documents we are asking must

pass through you. The account general even for record keeping doesn’t have something like this?

“No wonder we are experiencing these leakages in our revenues, our investment is not tracked. We are looking for money left right and center. You should able to get these documents. You should have these kind of records in your system."

A member of the Committee, Hon. Mark Gbillah asked if the accountant general office have anything to do cash calls disbursement, or if they are handled by

NNPCL? Responding, the representative of the Accountant General said, "these accounts are operated by NNPCL. Yes, it’s not run by accountant general office. The accounts are domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria; we are not the owners.

The proceeds of agreements come to the federation accounts. But we will endeavor to get the necessary documents."

Reacting to his disclosure, Gbillah accused the NNPCL of operating as a quasi-government on its own.

The NACCIMA, therefore, stated that, “the government must develop and implement policies targeted at increasing food supply and decreasing enterprises' production costs while encouraging local production and ensuring that adequate infrastructures are put in place to meet the country's needs and strengthen the food supply chain.

“This will also encourage the private sector and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), thereby positively impact the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Nigeria can increase its output if the nation's production problems are addressed in the interest of inclusive economic growth and development.”

The NACCIMA, which is also a leading member of the organised private sector, urged, “governments at all levels to promptly utilise all available resources to fill the gap in wheat imports, as well as to make a longer-term commitment to minimise imports by providing both financial and technical supports for the wheat production value chain.

“For the development of wheat production in the country, it is essential to involve the appropriate agricultural industry stakeholders, including research institutes.

“Also, the country must address the insecurity that has impeded

agricultural production. As we approach the wheat planting season (November and December), we expect the government to give local wheat production the deserved priority.”

It urged the government to set in motion actions that would revitalise the Nigerian electricity assets in order to reduce industries’ heavy reliance on diesel for production.

It said: “As the leading member of the organised private sector, NACCIMA recommends that government should review its current policies to help mitigate the present economic crisis, thereby putting an end to the struggle of most Nigerian businesses and the rising poverty rate among the population.

“The persistent insecurity in the nation has continued to impede agricultural activities and deter investments in agriculture in the nation's food-producing regions, resulting in a decline in agricultural output.

“As a result of the war between Russia and Ukraine, the worldwide inflation rate has increased, which has led to an increase in the price of oil and food. This made it difficult for not only those with low incomes but for those with middle incomes to afford necessities.”

Power Minister, Others Harp on Collaboration as Pathway to Meet Nigeria’s Growing Energy Needs Peter Uzoho The Minister of Power, Mr. Abubakar Aliyu, and other stakeholders in Nigeria and international electricity sector have emphasised the need for efficient and positive collaboration among key players to enable the country meet its growing energy demand.

Speaking in Lagos yesterday, at the 2022 edition of the Nigeria Energy Exhibition and Conference, Aliyu said Nigeria's economic development aspiration demands a

higher energy capacity than what is presently available.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Mr. Temitope Fashedemi, the minister explained that the current unmet energy needs of the country were huge and bound to increase due to urbanisation and population expansion.

Stating that this makes it clear that access to energy was critical in advancing the country's development agenda, he stressed that an enabling policy and investments in modern

energy technologies was required.

“I believe that collaboration is critical to achieving our energy goals. The much-needed finance required for provision of energy access resides with the private sector.

"And the task of liberating the finance through the right policies, incentives, and establishment of the investment friendly environment is what the government is committed to achieving.

"As such, collaborations with the private sector and our development partners are essential in accelerating

our efforts towards sustainable energy supply,” Aliyu said.

While commending the organisers of the conference for conceiving the idea from inception, he said the yearly event has become a veritable platform that brings together all stakeholders in the energy sector.

Aliyu observed that energy was conceptually one of the most important infrastructure requirements for human existence, because of its position as one of the most important components of economic development.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

37

NEWS

THE LAGOS RESILIENCE FORUM…

L-R: Representative of Slums/Informal Settlement Federations, Mrs. Bimbo Osobe; Co -Founder and Business Development Manager, Eweko Concept, Mr. Saheed Adams; Lagos State Chief Resilience Officer, Dr. Folayinka Dania; Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Lagos, Prof. Taibat Lawanson, and Director, Special Duties and Innovations Department, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr. Adeyemi Adebayo, at the inaugural Lagos Resilience Forum organised by the Lagos State Resilience Office in Ikeja, Lagos…recently ETOP UKUTT

ICPC Chairman Tasks Monarchs, Clerics on Fight against Corruption Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission

(ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owosanoye, yesterday tasked traditional rulers, religious leaders and Civil Society Organisations to support government in fighting

‘Tinubu ‘ll Hire the Best Hands to Run Nigerian Economy’ Emameh Gabriel in Abuja The National Women Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Dr. Betta Edu, has called on Nigerian youths not to be deceived by social media optics, saying what they really need in the current circumstance was to make smart decisions in their best interest and rally round Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the APC presidential standard-bearer.

She also urged them to use the strength of their number to return the APC to power next year to consolidate on the party’s achievements.

Betta, who spoke at the just concluded APC National

Youths Summit, in a statement said Tinubu was the only one who will give the youths opportunities to showcase their leadership qualities in governance when elected president next year.

Her words: “Nigerian youths, don’t be deceived. Asiwaju Tinubu is the only one who can give us many seats at the core of government. He has done it before, he will do it again.

“There is a leader who specializes in building the next generation for Governance and leadership. He is not afraid to hire the best of hands to support his deep vision and wealth of experience to fix Nigeria.

Ondo Conducts Mass Burial for 496 Unclaimed Corpses FidelisDavidinAkure

Ondo State Government has carried out a mass burial for 496 unclaimed corpses in the state.

The Special Adviser to the state Governor on Health, Prof. Dayo Faduyile, who made the disclosure while briefing journalists in Akure yesterday, said the move was part of efforts geared towards decongesting the morgues in theAkure and Ondo complexes of the state University of Medical Science Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH).

Faduyile noted that he and some other government officials had recently embarked on an

assessment tour of the morgues in the two health facilities and observed with dismay their gory state, having been jam-packed with unclaimed bodies spanning a year and above.

The Special Adviser said the development prompted him to put up a strong memo to the state Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), on the urgent need to decongest and rehabilitate the morgues, which had literally turned an eye-sore.

He said: “The governor did not hesitate to approve the memo to carry out the proposed mass burial, so as to avoid an imminent outbreak of epidemic in the state.”

Nasarawa APC Denies Defection Allegation IgbawaseUkumbainLafia The Keana Local Government Area chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State yesterday refuted reports claiming mass defection of its members from the party to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the council area.

There were recent reports in the social media claiming mass defection of APC members in Keana Local Government Area of the state to the opposition PDPat Kadarko town, the country home of the state chairman of the opposition PDP, Hon Francis Orogu.

But, in a statement by the Keana Local Government Area secretary of

the APC, Isyaka Abawa, yesterday, the party said the purported mass defection of theAPC members in the council area was a mere speculation on social media.

According toAbawa, “the news is false and unfounded. The information followed a rally organised by the opposition party in the home town of its state chairman, Hon Francis Orogu earlier in Kadarko.

“The purported news of the defection is mischievous and fictitious aimed at popularising the opposition party in the council. It is a mere mischief from PDP and its few supporters who are bent on making the party popular in Keana LGC irrespective of the lingering internal crises the party is facing at all levels.”

corruption in Nigeria.

Owosanoye, who gave the task a sensitisation dialogue with traditional rulers, religious leaders and civil society organisations in Bauchi, also urged them to stand as a voice to the voiceless by calling the

attention of relevant authorities to the plight and conditions of ordinary people of rural communities.

Traditional rulers, religious leaders and community based CSOs were in Bauchi to brainstorm on behavioural

change, National Ethics and Integrity Policy(NEIP) and constituency projects tracking in the fight against corruption in the state and the country in general.

Owasanoye, represented by a member of ICPC board,

Dr. Solomon Louis Mandama, said that the design and implementation of NEIP identified and recognised monarchs, religious leaders and civil society organisations as critical stakeholders in its promotion.

Makinde Gifts 10 Vehicles to Police, Approves N12.5bn Road Project Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan As part of efforts to further strengthen the security architecture of Oyo State, Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, yesterday presented 10 operational vehicles to 10 Police Area Commands in the state.

The governor, while presenting the JAC Pick-up vehicles to the State Police Command in

Ibadan, said the vehicles were meant to assist the activities of the command and to boost the morale of the security men in the state.

The security challenges facing the nation were mega and multifarious, while the resources to tackle the problem are meager. Makinde charged the state Police Command to engage

more in intelligence-gathering and community policing rather than running after the perpetrators after the crime has been committed.

While appreciating the officers and men of the Command for keeping the state safe, Makinde promised to rebuild the Ojoo Police Station destroyed by hoodlums during the EndSARS protests, as soon as the state

police command releases the new modern police building plan.

The state Commissioner of Police (CP) Adebowale Williams, appreciated the support, which the Police Command has continued to enjoy from the state government, including the provision of various security devices, gadgets and other logistics.

Niger Hopeful of overcoming Security Challenges as Kumuyi Visits Laleye Dipo inMinna General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry Dr Pastor Williams Folorunsho Kumuyi arrived Minna Niger state capital yesterday to begin a seven-day Global Crusade on Thursday themed: “God of All Possibilities.”

Kumuyi was received on

behalf of Governor Sani Bello by the deputy Governor Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso, who said the clergy’s visit will signal the end of banditry in the state.

“In Niger state we are blessed so much but we have challenges some of our challenges by the time I was told you have arrived here they have gone. We believe that with your coming at least half of

our problems particularly insecurity will be solved,” he said.

The governor expressed gratitude to Kumuyi for picking Niger state as venue for the crusade out of all the states in the North Central Geo political zone of the country.

In his remarks made against the background of the theme for the crusade, Kumuyi said: “Whatever challenge we have in our personal

lives, families and communities, the Lord has the power and the possibilities are there to get our problems solved.”

He said the Global Rrusade with Kumuyi, which is starting from Niger state will open up to other states and the whole nation, adding that “we will carry the message and power of God to other nations of the world.”

Mother Abandons a Month-old Baby in Vehicle in Anambra David-Chyddy ElekeinAwka A yet-to-be identified woman has allegedly abandoned her one-month old baby boy on a bus in Anambra State.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) disclosed this yesterday, saying the baby was abandoned since September 6, and

that the baby is still in their custody.

Sharing the picture of the baby with journalists, the Corps called on the public to assist in locating the mother of the child.

The Anambra State Public Relations Officer of NSCDC, Edwin Okadigbo, in a statement said: “We request the assistance of the public in locating the relatives, parents or

mother of a baby boy estimated to be about a month old who was recovered by a staff of the Corps after being abandoned seemingly by his mother on a bus.

“The baby was handed over to a member of the Corps on September 6, 2022, at about 0900hrs after the mother, who she boarded same bus with, alighted at a bus stop

in a bid to ease herself along Zik Avenue by Amawbia Correctional Service in Awka.

“Anyone who knows any woman or parent who recently gave birth but is suddenly without the child, or knows relatives of the infant, is urged to contact Intelligence and Investigation Department of the Corps.”

Okowa Inaugurates 8.4Km Flood Control Project in A’Ibom Okon Bassey in Uyo

As part of activities to mark the Akwa Ibom State creation 35 years ago, the Governor of Delta State and vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday inaugurated a 8.4km $34 million

flood control project in Akwa Ibom State.

The flood control scheme was initiated by the Akwa Ibom State Government in partnership with World Bank through the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).

The project transverses 18 communities in three local council

areas of the state designed to carry more than half of the flood water generated in Uyo and environs.

While unveiling the IBB flood control project in Uyo, Okowa applauded the state Governor, Udom Emmanuel, for his courage to undertake a project that may not score much political points,

as billions of naira have been buried underground.

He said it takes a leader who sees beyond the presence to commit huge resources to arrest a problem that may negatively hunt the future, but without the visibility to leave much trace for recognition and applause in the near future.

2023: Ogoni Group Declares Support for Rivers PDP’s Guber Candidate Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt An ethnic political pressure group, Ogoni Sim Vanguard, has declared their support for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Mr. Sim Fubara.

The group made its position known yesterday after critically analysing the capacity of all the gubernatorial candidates from the different political parties in the state.

Speaking with journalists immediately after their meeting in Port Harcourt, Mr. Marvin Yobana

said Fubara has shown capacity and proven quality to govern the state for the next four years.

The PDP chieftain and former Vice President, National Youths Council, Nigeria, dismissed the assertion that an Ogoni man is more eligible for the position of governorship than any other

ethnic group in the state He insisted that Fubara, a young and energetic Opobo man has served the state diligently in his capacity, expressing confidence that as an indigene from the Rivers South-east Senatorial District, would attract more development to the area.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

38

NEWSXTRA

STERLING BANK’S COURT-ORDERED MEETING…

L-R: Non-Executive Director, Sterling Bank Plc,TairatTijnai; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Abubakar Suleiman; Chairman, Asue Ighodalo, and Company Secretary,Temitayo Adegoke, at a Court-ordered Meeting of the bank in Lagos…recently

Ekweremadu: Court to Decide Release of Ukpo’s Bio-data Dec. 5 Alex Enumah in Abuja

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has adjourned till December 5, to decide whether or not to reverse its earlier order directing the release of the bio-data of an alleged organ harvesting victim,

David Ukpo, to a London Court.

Justice Ekwo made the announcement, yesterday, shortly after lawyers to the detained former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and Ukpo concluded their arguments on the merit and demerit of stopping the release.

Insecurity: Benue to Recruit 10,000 Volunteer Guards George Okoh InMakurdi

The Benue State Government has set a target to recruit 10,000 persons into the State Community Volunteer Guards.

Governor Samuel Ortom disclosed this yesterday while speaking at the funeral of his foster father, Elder Joseph Vanger Iyorhon held at St. Athanasius Parish, Gbajimba, the headquarters of Guma Local Government Area.

The governor assured the people that his administration remained ever committed to the protection of lives and property.

He explained that the recruitment of 10,000 persons as community volunteer guards is intended to complement the

efforts of conventional agencies in providing security to the state.

Ortom said already, 500 personnel have been recruited and kitted, while 1,000 are undergoing training and will be formally inaugurated in the next few weeks at their passing out parade in Makurdi.

He then encouraged youths in the state to be ready to join the security outfit so that together, they will join hands with the conventional security agencies and defeat the terrorists who have invaded the state.

He said time has come for everyone to be part of the security in the state because as he puts it, the security agencies are overwhelmed.

Residents Protest High Bills

by Abuja Disco in Kogi Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja Residents in Lokoja are planning to stage a mass protest against the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) over astronomical increase in electricity bills are being distributed to customers who live in residential areas.

Investigations further revealed that electricity bills had been hiked on monthly basis by at least 30 per cent for the past three months.

Sources hinted that occupants

of “face me, I face you” one room apartment had their bill increased from N5,700 to N12,700 from the initial while users of two bedroom flat also paid N12,700 as bill each month.

To make matters worse, our investigations revealed that the AEDC has devised what some called a “dubious means” to get more revenue by separating customers in a building and giving them separate bills of N12,700 each, which ordinarily should be shared among the occupants of the building.

Oyo Road Transport Workers Union Warned against Fomenting Trouble

Kemi Olaitan inIbadan

The Chairman, Disciplinary Committee of the Park Management System (PMS) in Oyo State, Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi (aka Auxiliary), yesterday called on the state Police Command and other security operatives to apprehend and penalise members of the proscribed National Union National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) allegedly planning to cause trouble at motor parks and disrupt the peace in the state.

Lamidi in a statement titled: ‘Planned Resumption to Motor Parks by the Banned NURTW’,

signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the agency, Hon. Jelili Emiola, alleged that members of the proscribed NURTW are making plans to resume operations and return to parks and garages in the state, stating that the union recently conducted an election leading to the emergence of new executives.

According to him, the PMS was legitimately constituted by the state Governor, Seyi Makinde, after the proscription of the NURTW, and remains the only body saddled with the responsibility of running the management of the park system till date.

Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice, are currently being tried by a London Court for allegedly trafficking a minor, Ukpo to the United Kingdom for the purpose of organ harvesting.

They, however, pleaded guilty to the offence and had approached the Federal High for an order directing relevant

authorities to release documents containing the bio-data of the alleged victim to prove that he was not a minor as claimed.

But, while Mrs Ekweremadu, had since being admitted to bail by the London Court trying the matter, the former Deputy Senate President is still being kept in custody due to the gravity of the alleged offence.

Following the application, the court had on July 1 and 6, directed that the necessary documents be released to the authorities in the UK. But, Ukpo had through his counsel, Bamidele Igbinedion prayed the court to set aside the July 1 order of the court, which permitted the release of his personal information

and bio-data to the Uxbridge Magistrate Court and the Central Criminal Court of the United Kingdom without his consent.

He said the entire proceedings that led to the order of the court were made in his absence and added that the documents so released to the UK Court were false.

Ekiti Varsity Pensioners Suffer over Unpaid N1.5bn Gratuities

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The Nigerian Universities’ Pensioners Association (NUPA), Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti chapter, has raised the alarm over sufferings being experienced by members over unpaid 15 years gratuity arrears totalling N1.5 billion.

The retirees, however, appealed to Governor Kayode Fayemi and EKSU management to persuade the Academic Staff Union of University, EKSU chapter, to suspend its industrial action for swift payment of their five months pension arrears.

Addressing newsmen in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, the Chairman,

NUPA EKSU, Chief Samuel Bamidele Akinwale, said it was disturbing for the university to withhold their pensions since May 2022 due to ASUU’s strike.

They regretted that many of their members had gone into their early graves in the last 15 years due to undue sufferings and neglect occasioned by inability

of the university to defray their gratuities as and when due.

The pensioners appealed to Fayemi to increase monthly subvention to the university, while urging the Vice Chancellor, Prof Eddy Olanipekun, to embark on aggressive internally generated revenue drives to fund the institution.

Zamfara: Lukman Wants INEC to Delist PDP’s Guber Candidate National Vice Chairman, Northwest of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Salihu Lukman, has called on INEC to immediately delete the PDP candidate for the March 11, 2023 Zamfara State governorship election.

Justice Aminu Aliyu of Federal High Court, Gusau, had Friday ruled that the PDP governorship

primary election in Zamfara State conducted on 25th May, 2022 was conducted in flagrant violation of Section 50(2) (b) & (3) of the Constitution of the PDP 2017 (as amended).

The APC chieftain, in a statement, yesterday, said with the judgement, PDP had no candidate for the March 11, 2023 governorship election in

the State.

“INEC should therefore immediately delete the PDP and its claimed candidate for Zamfara State March 11, 2023 Governorship Election from the list of candidates,” adding that the order of the Federal High was that the PDP should conduct a valid primary election under the supervision of INEC for

enlistment as PDP’s candidate for 2023 General Election.

“PDP and any considered candidate for the party for 2023 governorship election should only be enlisted if provisions of the PDP 2017 Constitution as amended and provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 are met as directed by Honourable Justice Aminu B. Aliyu.”

Attainment of 2030 SDGs under Threat, Group Raises the Alarm Hammed Shittu in Ilorin A non-governmental organisation, the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI), has raised alarm that the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda by 2030 is under threat.

The BBYDI also called for collaborative efforts among the world economies to ensure the

attainment of the goals.

Speaking in Ilorin yesterday on the sideline of this year’s United Nations General Assembly and Global Week of Action, the Executive Director of the BBDYI, Mr. Abidden Olasupo, explained that the attainment of the SDGs is under threat due to the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Olasupo said: “Although the pandemic was also a test of our resolve, it showed how much work still needed to be done.

“Today, there is still a myriad of issues facing the global community. The recent floods in Pakistan; the war in Ukraine, the growing number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, and many others, are sufficient reasons to strive for a sustainable world.

“We need all hands-on deck to achieve a more peaceful and just society where every life is protected and our planet cared for.

“The COVID-19 pandemic pushed humanity’s resilience to the limit and continues to have vast impacts on the lives of people and the wider social, economic and environmental fabric of our world.

Bill for Electronic Administration of Oaths Passes Second Reading at House Udora Orizu in Abuja

The House of Representatives at plenary yesterday passed through second reading a bill seeking to repeal the Oaths Act of 2004 and enact the Oath Bill to make provisions for digital and electronic means of administering Oaths and affirmation in Nigeria.

The proposed legislation

titled, “A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Oaths Act, Cap. O1, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Enact the Oaths Bill to take cognizance of Technological Advancements and make Provisions for Digital and Electronic means of Administering Oaths and Affirmations in Nigeria; and for Related Matters,” was sponsored

by Hon. Chudy Momah and Hon. Ugonna Ozurigbo.

In his debate, one of the sponsors Momah said the proposed legislation seeks a move away from mundane way of doing things and bring swearing of oaths in tandem with the 24th century technological advancements.

Shortly after the sponsor

led the debate on its general principles, the Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Toby Okechukwu in his contribution sought to know the reason why they want to repeal the Oaths Act. Okechukwu said, “It is very apparent for me opposing this bill. The old act needs to be brought to speed to contemporary issues.”

House Urges FG to Include Igbo-Ora Town on UNESCO World Heritage Centres List Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives has urged the federal government of Nigeria to include Igbo-Ora town in Oyo state on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Centres.

The House also urged the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to accord Igbo Ora town being the world twins capital the status of World Heritage Centre.

The resolutions followed

the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Muraina Ajibola at plenary yesterday.

Moving the motion, Ajibola said the House was aware that Igbo-Ora, a town in Ibarapa axis of Oyo State in the southwest has the highest annual twinning rates in the world,

with an annual twinning rate of 50 twins per 1000 births.

He lamented that though the world had informally acknowledged Igbo-Ora as the World’s capital of twins, it failed to accord the town the status of World Heritage Centre.

39

WEDNESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Tobi Amusan’s 12.12secs World Record Now Official

Duro Ikhazuagbe

The women’s world 100m hurdles record of 12.12seconds set by Oluwatobiloba Amusan at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, USA on July 24, 2022 has been ratified.

The World Athletics announced in a statement yesterday that the world record, along with two others

by Mondo Duplantis (6.21m in men’s pole vault) and Sydney McLaughlin’s 50.68 (in the women’s 400m hurdles) are all now officially in the record books.

Amusan who along with Ese Brume were last week conferred with the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) National Honour by President Muhammadu Buhari, scorched to the new record in the women’s 100m hurdles semifinals at Oregon 2022.

After clocking an African record of 12.40secs in the 100m hurdles heats, the world was put on notice that 25-year-old Amusan was capable of something special.

That she did in style in the semis with the world record.

Although Amusan further lowered the record to 12.06secs in the final, she was unfortunately denied the new time as it was achieved above the legal wind recorded at +2.5.

The Nigerian sprint hurdler now affectionately called ‘Tobi Express’ obliterated USA’s Kendra Harrison’s 12.20secs world record set in 2016.

World famous Jamaica’s Britany Anderson (12.23) and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (12.23) of Puerto Rico who were favorites for the gold played second fiddle to the Nigerian to settle for the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Amusan became the first Nigerian athlete to win a world outdoor title and set a world record.

Speaking shortly after setting the world record, Amusan stressed the time was not her priority but the gold medal.

“The goal was to come out and to win this gold,” she said.

“Honestly, I believe in my abilities, but I was not expecting a world record at these championships.”

She also claimed the Diamond League title to further extend her reign over her sprint hurdles rivals.

Amusan repeated her gold medal feat at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last month with another Games record of 12.30 secs that was no where near the world record.

Only the Olympic Games gold medal is left for Amusan to complete everything that is there to win in her chosen sport.

Dominant Abuja Boys Coming for Lagos Tennis Cup Five Abuja-based players will be competing for the 2022 Lagos Tennis Cup title when the tournament starts from September 27 to October 02 at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

This leaves just three slots in the men’s category to players outside the Federal Capital Territory.

Leading the Abuja contingent will be defending champion Uche Oparaoji, currently ranked No.6, and top seed and Nigeria No.1, Henry Atseye. Others are Nonso Madueke, ranked No.4, Lawal Peter, ranked No.5 and the 7th ranked Thomas Otu. The Abuja boys have dominated recent national tennis events, but they will however be facing stiff opposition from the explosive

teen star Wilson Igbinovia who leads a two-man Lagos cast that includes Phillip Abayomi.

The 19-year-old, whose family has a history of producing top tennis talents, including his uncle and former Nigeria No.1 Jonathan Igbinovia, will also have the advantage of playing on home turf as he grew up on the courts of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club where his father is a member.

Arguably the most exciting men’s talent in the country today, Wilson is currently ranked No.2.

Completing the men’s draw will be Owerri-based Chima Michael who is ranked No.9 but makes the draw as third ranked Imeh Joseph is suspended.

Monarch Unveils New Logo for Jan 5 Opobo Marathon The Amayanabo of Opobo in Rivers State, His Majesty, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Jeki V has said that the 5th edition of the annual Opobo Marathon has come to stay in the calendar of events in the Kingdom.

He stated this when he was presented with the new logo of Opobo Marathon by the Team Lead, Iyowuna Cookey at the Secretariat of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt.

The Treaty King said he was impressed with the organisation of previous marathons and particularly, the presence of athletes from all over the country.

According to him, "the marathon is a well thought event aimed at showcasing Opobo to the world as it will attract many people. It will also give visibility to the Kingdom and identity to the people.

"It will help to arouse the consciousness of our people in exercising as everybody need to

exercise. Marathon will test your strength and spirit of sportsmanship,” he noted.

King Jaja promised to offer all necessary support to ensure the success of the marathon, Speaking earlier, the Team Lead, Iyowuna Cookey informed the King that since its first edition, the Opobo Marathon has continued to grow in leaps and bounds.

He noted that next year's edition will attract even more participants as athletes across Nigeria have made the Opobo Marathon part of their annual calendar.

He thanked the monarch for his consistent support to the marathon and assured that they would continue to project Opobo Kingdom as one of the major destinations in Nigeria during the festive period Cookey used the opportunity to call on well meaning Individuals and brands to sponsor or partner the organisers in delivering a top notch event.

Tobi Amusan’s world record of 12.12secs set at the World Championships in Oregon, USA has been ratified.

Osimhen ‘Programmed’ to Return against Dessers’ Cremonese Femi Solaja with agency report Strong indications emerged last night that Super Eagles’ in-form striker, Victor Osimhen, could return to action much earlier than expected.

According to report monitored on Italian famous website, TuttoNapoli.net, the Napoli forward could be in coach Luciano Spalletti’s starting XI when they take on Cremonese on October 9.

Osimhen was taken off in the 41st minute after he sustained a hamstring injury in Napoli’s 4-1 mauling of Liverpool on September 7.

The injury effectively ruled him out of Napoli’s last three games before the international break. It also put him out of contention for a place in Jose Peseiro’s squad for the Super Eagles’ international friendly game against Algeria next week Tuesday in Oran.

The web reported that, the masked Super Eagles marksman could be available for Napoli’s Champions League clash against Ajax, albeit he could get just a few minutes.

However, he would be

ready for full action when the Partenopeans travel to Cremonese on the 9th of

October.

It would be an interesting game because Osimhen would

be up against compatriots Cyriel Dessers, David Okereke, and Emmanuel Aiwu.

Super Eagles players in camp in Constantine had their first training session yesterday ahead of the International friendly with Algeria

Chess: Gulder, Maltina Lift Africa Individual Chess Championships Flagship Nigerian Breweries brands, Gulder and Maltina, have jointly added an enormous boost to the ongoing Africa Individual Chess Championships (male and female) in Lagos.

The Africa Individual Chess Championships, which started last weekend in Lagos and will run to Wednesday, September 28, is one of the top events on the African chess calendar.

The Championship, which is being hosted by the Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF), has over

10 countries in attendance.

Apart from Nigeria, the other participating countries include Cameroon, Togo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Madagascar, among others.

Though with a strong presence in top sports like football and athletics, Nigerian Breweries in the past years have established a culture of supporting the ‘lesser sports’ which they have demonstrated yet again with the double support from Gulder and

Maltina for the Africa Individual Chess Championships.

Senior Brand Manager for Gulder, Olufunmilayo Ogunbodede reckoned that the game of chess is for ultimate minds, hence it was a plausible move for the ultimate beer to be involved.

He said: “We don’t even regard chess as a lesser sport; it is for the ultimate minds that is why the ultimate beer is giving its full support as Lagos welcomes the best chess players from across the continent.”

On her part, the Senior Brand Manager Maltina, Onyebuchi Allanah described chess as a game which needs nourished minds and brains to excel, which Maltina guarantees for both the old and the young.

“If there is one game that tasks the brain, really it is chess and Maltina with its different flavours, guarantee nourishment. We are glad to be part of this and we sincerely wish all the visiting players from across Africa the very best.”

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

TR

UT H

& RE A SO

N

Price: N250

MISSILE Obaseki to Politicians, Private Sector “We need to build more schools. We are saying people should go to school, yet we are not finding them classes. We have people who are ready to train these children, we just have to upgrade their skills and motivate them. We should look for ways to make the investment and make education and schooling more attractive... If we don’t, we would have a crisis.” – Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State challenging politicians, private organisations and individuals on the funding of education

KAYODEKOMOLAFE THE HORIZON

kayode.komolafe@thisdaylive.com

0805 500 1974

Nkrumah in the News Again I

t is good news for progressive Africa that Ghana has declared today a public holiday to celebrate the country’s first president, Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah.

Ghana’s Interior Minister Ambrose Dery said in a statement that September 21, Nkrumah’s birthday, “is a Statutory Public Holiday.”

The idea of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day” is indubitably another reaffirmation of the place of that great Pan-Africanist in history.

This act of the government of President Nana Akufo-Addo Ghana is instructive in many respects.

The father of the president, Edward AkufoAddo, was on the opposite side of the political divide to Nkrumah. The senior Akufo-Addo was of one the leading six nationalists who fought Ghana’s independence. Ghanaians call them the “Big Six.” The senior Akufo-Addo became the Chief Justice when the military overthrew the government of Nkrumah in 1966. He later became a ceremonial president between 1970-1972.

Yet the Ghanaian nation has forged a national consensus to recognise the towering role of Nkrumah in history while Akufo-Addo’s son is in power more than 60 years later. The verdict of history is that Nkrumah was a national figure accepted by all sections of the Ghanian nation. The disagreements between him and other politicians were ideological. The differences were not based on ethnicity, regionalism or religion.

Born in Nkroful in the western region of Ghana, Nkrumah emerged as a rallying point for the Ghanaian nation. By this act, Ghana has amply demonstrated that it is a nation fully conscious of its history.

President Akufo-Addo has demonstrated a deep sense of national purpose in honouring the memory of Nkrumah despite his conservative political background and outlook. His political tradition in Ghana is clearly opposed to the progressive (some even say revolutionary) politics of Nkrumah.

It is ironic that President Jerry Rawlings, who emerged on the Ghanaian political firmament as a revolutionary somewhat avoided the Nkrumahist legacy. Rawlings was consciously a non-Nkrumahist in all his days in power.

Perhaps the development trajectory of Nigeria could have been different in terms of national integration if history had thrown up a figure like Nkrumah among the leaders who emerged at independence. That is a leader who could not be perceived as a champion of one section of the country. It would, for instance, be interesting to see how the debate would be conducted at the National Assembly if a bill is proposed to make November 16 statutorily the Nnamdi Azikiwe Memorial Day given the indisputable leading role of Dr. Azikiwe in the nationalist struggle. Azikiwe, the first president of Nigeria, was born in Zungeru , Niger state, on November 16, 1904. By the way, Nkrumah himself acknowledged Azikiwe as his “mentor’ in the nationalist struggles.

But the significance of Nkrumah transcends the shores of Ghana. There is a universal acclaim of his historical stature as the foremost Pan-Africanist in the last century. In December 1999, listeners of the British Broadcasting Corporation BBC radio service in Africa voted Nkrumah as the “Man of the Millennium.”

This Pan-African acknowledgment of Nkrumah’s

Nkrumah role in history should not be a surprise. On the occasion of Ghana’s independence at the midnight of March 5, 1957, Nkrumah rendered the following unforgettable words: “We are going to see that we create our own African personality and identity. We again rededicate ourselves in the struggle to emancipate other countries in Africa; for our independence is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of the African continent.”

No less a personality than Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the first premier of the old western region underlined the Pan-African essence of Nkrumah on another occasion. Awolowo had the honour of delivering the first series of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lectures by the University of Cape Coast in Ghana in November 1976. The lecture was entitled “The Problems of Africa: The Need for Ideological Reappraisal.”

In the lecture which has been published as a book, Awolowo said this of Nkrumah: “Among all African nationalists - dead or alive -Kwame Nkrumah laboured more consistently and more tirelessly than others for the liberation of Africa from colonial bondage and for the enhancement of the dignity of the black man in Africa and elsewhere in the world. In particular, he strove relentlessly, and staked everything, including his personal freedom, for the ultimate independence of Ghana in 1957, thus earning himself the unsurpassed glory of leading the first black African country after Liberia completely out of foreign rule and domination. Furthermore, he, more than anyone else, master-minded the birthing and the initial dynamics of the Organisation of African Unity” (the precursor of African Union).

There is no tendency here to romanticise the symbolism of Nkrumah as a leader. Neither is this an exercise in literary excavation of historical figures. Nkrumah should be celebrated for the lessons that could be learnt from his remarkable life by contemporary African leaders grappling with challenges of development.

It has been well established that the essential Nkrumah could be distilled from the three concentric circles of his achievements. The inner most concentric circle was that of Ghana. At that level, Nkrumah proved that governance could be executed for the purpose of people-centred

development. In the world of Nkrumah, the pursuit of the common good was the raison d’etre of government. He mobilised the people with his philosophy of “positive action.”

At the level of the second concentric circle, Nkrumah was an avowed Pan-Africanist. He promoted black consciousness and Ghana under his leadership supported liberation struggles in African countries towards national independence.

He wrote books about the problems in the Congo and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) among others.

And at the outermost concentric circle, Nkrumah fought for the dignity of the black man everywhere. Nkrumah’s Ghana was declared home to all black people on the continent, the Americas and elsewhere. Progressive Nigerians found refuge in Ghana when they had to flee Nigeria during the political crisis of the First Republic in Nigeria. Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti had to go to Ghana under Nkrumah to obtain travel documents for a political trip to China. The government of Nigeria put obstacles on her way. In fact, Mazi Sam Ikoku was the director of the Ideological Institute in Winneba where he taught cadres socialism and Pan-Africanism.

Indeed, the story of Africa could have been different today if Nkrumah’s vision for Africa had been realised. Unfortunately aberrant soldiers inspired and supported by imperialism truncated the Nkrumah mission with the tragic coup of 1966. The Ghanaian president was on a state visit to North Vietnam and China.

Ironically, Nkrumah himself was conscious of the fact that imperialism was not comfortable with the progressive advance he was making in the realm of governance. This was evident in his many books especially Neo-Colonialism; The Highest State of Imperialism, which was published at the eve of the coup.

Nkrumah’s enemies accused him of undemocratic acts only to inaugurate a long period of military rule in Ghana which was followed by a succession of military regimes until Rawlings restored civil rule 30 years ago.

For the purpose of today’s reflection, the fact that the Nkrumahist vision still remains relevant to Africa could be illustrated at least in two areas.

First, Nkrumah’s Ghana was a model of a developmental state. The government of Nkrumah was a government “thinking big.” The government was expansive in its ambition of a development having the people as the object and object of the process. The government invested massively in the social sector especially health and education. Public education was adequately

Nkrumah should be celebrated for the lessons that could be learnt from his remarkable life by contemporary African leaders grappling with challenges of development.

funded to ensure quality. Today quality public education has become an exorbitant commodity available only to the rich in Ghana, Nigeria and other African countries in a complete negation of Nkrumah’s vision. The construction of the Akosombo Dam was a landmark water project that won applause globally. More than 60 years after, African politicians now spend time and money to “commission” boreholes and culverts.

To be sure, Nkrumah’s preferred path to development had a central role for the state.

He knew that after the ruins of World War II, western powers did nor leave the well-being of their people to market forces. Instead the welfare state was built in Europe. The British National Health Service (NHS) is a product of the era of the supremacy of the welfare state. Healthcare delivery was not a profit-making game.

So for Ghana, a country emerging from colonial exploitation and was “underdeveloped” (as Walter Rodney would put it), Nkrumah knew that the state definitely had a role to play in sectors such as education, health, social housing , electricity, water supply, physical infrastructure etc.

Nkrumah saw development as a process that should be planned for the purpose of people’s welfare. In today’s Africa, absence of of planning in economic management has been elevated to the level of a virtue in policy-making by experts in many African countries.

The second aspect of Nkrumah’s vision that still remains relevant is Pan-Africanism. Nkrumah dreamt of an all-African government as he put in his highly polemical work Africa Must Unite.

Today there is an upsurge of separatist forces on the continent. Politics has been reduced to ethnic arithmetic on the African continent with all the bitter consequences.

The matter is even more complicated in a place like South Africa, a country that was once a beneficiary of continental solidarity in its quest for freedom. Black South Africans routinely unleash violence on other Africans especially Nigerians. The generation involved in this xenophobic upsurge surely has no memory of the enormous sacrifices other African made to extend solidarity to black South Africans.

These other African countries had their own developmental problems at that period. Former president Thabo Mbeki of South Africa was more conscious of this recent history and the nexus between South Africa and the rest of Africa. He advocated “African renaissance.” In contrast, some officials of the government of President Cyril Ramaphosa even rationalised the attacks on fellow African by South African blacks. Those South Africans probably have never heard about the Pan-Africanist vision of Nkrumah.

It’s distressing to imagine the degree of the retrogression in African politics 50 years after Nkrumah!

The progressive members of the Nkrumah generation saw the whole of Africa as their constituency. It was not for nothing that Dr. Azikiwe was called Zik of Africa and not Zik of Onitsha. However, ethnicity has become what the Africanist Basil Davidson called the “the black man’s burden,” In the light of the foregoing, the government of President Akufo-Addo has done Ghana and Africa a lot of good by keeping the memory of Osafyefo Nkrumah alive as the proponent of “positive force.”

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3085 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com