WEDNESDAY 7TH OCTOBER 2020

NBS: States, FCT’s Half-year IGR Slumps by N81bn Lagos, Rivers lead in revenue generation James Emejo in Abuja The total value of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by the 36 States of the federation and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) declined to N612.87

billion in the first half of the year (H1 2020) compared to N693.91 billion recorded in H1, 2019, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

This indicated a decline of 11.7 per cent or N81.04 billion

year-on-year.

According to the ‘IGR at State Level for Half Year 2020’ report, which was released by the NBS yesterday, revenues for Q2 2020 also contracted by 26.5 per cent to N259.73

Jigawa ranks lowest

billion compared to N353.14 billion in Q1.

Lagos State had the highest IGR of N204.51 billion or 33.37 per cent of total revenue and closely trailed by Rivers, which recorded N64.59 billion or

10.54 per cent of total revenue while Jigawa posted the least revenue performance of N3.01 billion at half-year.

FCT recorded N35.20 billion or 5.74 per cent of total IGR; Delta, N30.84 billion or 5.03

per cent; Ogun, N23.68 billion or 3.86 per cent; Oyo, N17.77 billion or 2.90 per cent and Kano N17.50 billion or 2.86 per cent.

Continued on page 9

CBN Warns Shipping Companies over Non-compliance with Export Procedures... Page 8 Wednesday 7 October, 2020 Vol 25. No 9312. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

INEC Expresses Concern over Violence in Ondo Akeredolu, Jegede, Ajayi commit to peaceful poll Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and James Sowole in Akure Ahead of the Saturday's governorship election in

Ondo State, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has raised the alarm over the tensions threatening the

Saturday poll.

However, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Rotimi Akeredolu; candidate of the Peoples

US demands transparent election

Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Eyitayo Jegede; and their Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) counterpart, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, yesterday signed a peace accord superintended

by the National Peace Committee (NPC) headed by a former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd).

Meanwhile, the United States has urged all

stakeholders in the democratic process, including the INEC, political parties, and the security services to take Continued on page 9

Northern Elders Join Clamour for Restructuring, Say Nigeria Failing Ejiofor Alike Despite the claim by the presidency that those calling for restructuring are threatening the corporate existence of the country, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has thrown its weight behind other regional socio-political groups and prominent Nigerians, calling for restructuring following what it described as the failure of the country.

There have been renewed agitations for the country to be restructured to avoid its break-up with the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, joining the fray at the weekend.

Adeboye spoke at a symposium alongside the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke; and a former Minister of Continued on page 9

GLO BEREKETE… L-R: Globacom’s new brand ambassador, Mr. Michael Ajereh (Don Jazzy); Globacom Enterprise Business Group’s Ms. Adeboye Adeniji; Regional Manager, Primary, Lagos 2, Mr. Abdulrazaq Ande; and another new brand ambassador, Ms. Teniola Apata (Teni The Entertainer), at the launch of a new tariff plan called Glo Berekete in Lagos…yesterday

Police Can’t Scrap SARS, Says Force HQ...Page 5

2

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2020 •T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2020 • T H I S D AY

3

4

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2020 •T H I S D AY

5

WEDNESDAY, Ϳ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS Police Can’t Scrap SARS, Says Force HQ Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike

Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Peter Uzoho The Force Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, Mr. Frank Mba, a deputy commissioner of police (DCP), has said the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a special arm of the Force, cannot be scrapped because of the ongoing fight against crimes in the country.

He, however, said the Force is currently reforming the operations of SARS officers nationwide to curtail their excesses.

Mba, who spoke yesterday during an Instagram Live Chat with Nigerian artiste, Mr. Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, encouraged Nigerians to take video recordings of SARS operatives who abuse their fundamental human rights “as long as it is safe to do so.”

Marley had made a U-turn on his decision to

organise a peaceful protest against police brutality in the country.

The singer had stated yesterday via his verified Twitter account that he cancelled the planned protest because “a lot of changes are being made right now.”

“We won’t be protesting anymore because there are a lot of changes being made right now. As a Marlian, we will give them a week to see the changes and if there are no changes, we will start a mass protest. #togetherwecan,” he tweeted.

There has been renewed outrage across the country over the harassment, extortion and extra-judicial killings of innocent Nigerians

by SARS operatives.

The Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, had in a swift reaction banned SARS personnel from engaging

in routine patrols, stopand-search, mounting of roadblocks and traffic checks with immediate effect.

But the #EndSARSNotBanSARS hashtag continues to trend on social media.

The Nigeria Police Force had also in their Twitter account announced yesterday that the spokesperson of the Force, Mba, would have an Instagram Live interview with Marley to answer questions and discuss

the concerns of young Nigerians on the issue of SARS operations.

Reacting to the questions, Mba said the IG and the Force were committed to reforming SARS. He said: “What we need to do is to reform SARS and make them responsive, responsible and make them work in accordance with laid down procedures. We need them to continue to respond to violent crimes. We need them to continue to respond

to armed robberies. We need them to continue to respond to kidnappings.

Marley had also agreed that the police unit should not be scrapped but reformed.

“You talk about #EndSARS, you cannot end SARS but let us ask for reform. Why do you want to end SARS? Are you an armed robber?”

Marley told his followers.

The singer, however, stressed on the need to get SARS operatives off

the roads. According to him, “SARS is a special arm that should only come out during robbery incidents.”

He advised those exhuming old videos of SARS harassment to desist from such act as it heats up the society.

The singer also urged the police to give an update on SARS operatives that have been arrested and what has been done to compensate the families of the victims killed by SARS officers.

Osinbajo: Strict Separation of Powers Will Impede Development, Governance Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja ice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday warned that any strict separation of powers among the three arms of government will impede development, governance, and short-change people.

According to a statement issued yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, the vice president said procedural nicety is a luxury the government cannot afford, stressing that as leaders of the executive and legislative arms of government discuss how to interact better as coequal arms of government, collaborating to serve the people at all times must be put above procedural niceties.

Making reference to practices in other climes to which Nigeria’s system is often compared to, Osinbajo stressed that there is no pure practice of the doctrine of separation of powers.

He said: “The AngloAmerican traditions that we hold on to in support of the separation of powers are not pure. For example, the US vice president serves as the president of the Senate and presides over the Senate's daily proceedings.

In the absence of the vice president, the Senate's president pro tempore (and others designated by him) presides. As one of the Senate's constitutional officers, only the vice president has the authority to cast a tiebreaking vote.

According to him, “So, even in the country that has the most advanced jurisprudence on the separation of powers, they are wise enough to provide for a concrete bridge between the executive and the legislature.

“In the UK, the convention is that every minister must be a member of the House of Commons or the House of Lords, and every minister must be a legislator.

“So, if that were in Nigeria, all the ministers would be either senators or members of the House of Representatives.

“So, these countries we look up to, recognize that any strict separation of powers will impede development, impede governance, and short-change the people.”

Osinbajo emphasised: "An effective system is one where the good legislator or good minister is not the one who is waving the law, the procedure, and doctrines but it is the one who says the spirit of the constitution is that maximum welfare, freedom, and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity is secured."

The vice president pointed out that the good legislator and minister is the one who will do all in his or her power to serve the needs of the people, even if it means walking the fine lines between the law and reality.

He said: "Every generation of leadership must understand the context. Law itself must be interpreted and implemented in context. What is the reality of the context that we operate in today? We all know, our nation has millions of extremely poor people, the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened unemployment and poverty.

“We have huge deficits in infrastructure, many children are out of school. If that is our context, we will be callous and irresponsible if we don't come together, work together to sort out these grave lifethreatening problems our people have to confront every day. The dogmatic emphasis on procedural niceties is a luxury we cannot afford,” he said.

Osinbajo said the law and practice between parliament and executive is a means to an end and not an end to itself, stressing that the means must not jeopardize the end.

WELCOME TO THE VILLA… President Muhammadu Buhari (left) and Anambra State Governor, Chief Willy Obiano, during the governor’s visit to the president in Abuja…yesterday

ASUU Demands Resignation of Education Minister

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), yesterday came hard on the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, urging him to resign as minister and engage in farming.

The union described the statement credited to the minister that striking lecturers should consider farming as an alternative profession as a reflection of his shallow understanding of the academic profession and the low premium that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration placed on education.

The minister while participating in a programme on ARISE NEWS Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspaper, had suggested farming to the lecturers, who are currently on strike, insisting that they cannot dictate how they should be paid by their employers.

But ASUU Chairman, University of Ibadan chapter, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, in a statement issued yesterday, said the minister has displayed his naivety on educational matters.

He said the scarcity of farmers in the country is a reflection of the failure of the federal government he is part of to make farming secured for legitimate farmers, calling on Nwajiuba to resign his appointment and take to farming as a worthy national service.

The ASUU boss said the union is unlike the minister who pursues selfish agenda, maintaining that the union remained resolute not to pursue only the welfare of its members while downplaying the infrastructure collapse and underfunding of public universities but decided to continue to fight ‘parasites’ like Nwajiuba who preside over a ministry where no Nigerian university is in the top 100 in the world.

Akinwole stated that if

the government of Buhari is not paying lip service to education, it would not have consistently reduced budgetary allocation and funding to education since the assumption of office.

He disclosed that public varsity lecturers are owed earned academic allowances from 2013 to date, challenging the minister to declare if he has been owed allowances and how much since he assumed office.

He further maintained that available statistics showed that salaries of university lecturers are below what is paid to academics in Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.

According to him, "As scientists, experts in agriculture faculties continue to conduct research mainly with external funding or personal monies. But the Nigerian government who failed to protect farmers and exposed Nigerians to excruciating poverty

is not making use of the research findings. If the Minister of State for Education is interested in farming, he should resign his appointment and stop displaying his cluelessness of the problems in the education sector. We are on a just fight to ensure that those in public offices become responsive and responsible to the masses they swore to serve. They must fund public education.

"We have been on the same salary since 2009. That is no longer sustainable.

The universities are being run with personal sweats of lecturers while politicians siphon monies for personal aggrandisement. We cannot accept IPPIS that is against the laws of the land and which fails to recognise the uniqueness of the academic profession and culture. We have brought an alternative using our members' money.

People like this Minister of State mirrors the disdain of ruling class for the workers and people of the country."

6

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2020 •T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2020 • T H I S D AY

7

8

WEDNESDAY, Ϳ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

CBN Warns Shipping Companies over Non-compliance with Export Procedures Obinna Chima The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday threatened to sanction shipping and airline companies that continue to flout its stipulated guidelines on exports.

It warned that going forward, severe sanctions shall be meted for such breach, listing such sanctions to include the refund of the forex for the value of goods illegally exported as well as post-no-debit on all bank accounts nationwide of any company caught in the act.

The central bank stated this in a circular titled: “Compliance with Export Procedures in Nigeria,” signed by its Director, Trade and Exchange Department, Dr. Ozoemena Nnaji, a copy of which was posted on its website.

It stated: “The CBN has observed with dismay the non-compliance by Shipping and Airline companies to the

provisions of the Circular referenced TED/FEM/FPC/ GEN/01/009 dated June 06, 2017, requiring that Bills of Lading/Airway Bill in respect of exports from Nigeria carry the Form NXP number in respect of the underlying cargos.

“Furthermore, the Circular referenced TED/FEM/FPC/ GEN/01/003 dated October 28, 2019, which mandated electronic processing of Form NXP on the Trade Monitoring System (TRMS) and accessible at www.tradesystem.gov.ns has not been complied with.”

In line with the provisions of the circulars, it directed shipping and airline companies to access the TRMS platform to generate ‘Form NXP’ numbers for capture on the Bill of Lading for export cargoes.

Consequently, it stated that all shipment or export cargoes from Nigeria would with effect from October 6, 2020, be in accordance with

the aforementioned procedures.

“For the avoidance of doubt, it shall be a breach of extant regulations for any shipping company or airline company to take on-board any cargo for which Form NXP is not duly completed and approved on the TRMS platform, failing which severe sanctions shall be meted

for such breach, such sanctions shall include the refund of the forex value of goods illegally exported as well as post-no-debit on all bank accounts nationwide.

Please ensure strict compliance.”

The central bank recently directed banks and other authorised dealers to desist from opening Forms ‘M’ whose

payment are routed through a buying company, agent, or other third parties.

In addition, the central bank had announced the introduction of a product price verification mechanism, which is to help prevent overpricing or mispricing of imported goods and services.

It had stated that the move was part of its continued efforts to ensure the prudent use of the scarce foreign exchange resources and eliminate incidences of over-invoicing, transfer pricing, double handling charges, and avoidable costs that are ultimately passed to the average Nigerian consumers.

FG Probes N2.67bn School Feeding Fund Scandal Kuni Tyessi in Abuja Following the embarrassment caused the federal government by the allegations made by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), that N2.

67billion meant for school feeding programme was traced to bank accounts of some public officials, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has directed that a full investigation be carried out to unravel more facts about the alleged fraud.

The minister’s directive is a sequel to queries issued by the Federal Ministry of Education to officials handling the school feeding programme on behalf of the 104 Unity Colleges.

However, the queries got some principals of the Colleges explaining that payments on meal subsidies to Unity Colleges on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) platform is designed to accommodate individual officers of those colleges who are officially recognised to receive such payments and disburse the same to food vendors.

They said such payments were made into individual accounts because of difficulties encountered by farmers, local food vendors and market women who do not have Tax Identification Numbers (TIN), PENCOM and other requirements to access the payment platform themselves.

Some of the principals also explained that payments made during the lockdown period had to do with debts owed food vendors even before COVID-19, some of which are still pending, adding that these debts arose from irregular and inadequate budgetary allocations and releases over the years.

But Adamu who issued the directive yesterday in Abuja, noted that further investigation will establish the veracity of the claims to ensure that there is no diversion of public funds or misappropriation of the same.

In line with the minister’s directive, the ministry will collaborate effectively with officials of the ICPC to unearth the facts as well as find a lasting solution to the payment system for meal subsidies that

will ensure accountability and transparency.

The Director, Press and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Ben Goong, confirmed the minister’s directive in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, titled: ‘ICPC, Education Ministry to collaborate on Unity Schools Investigation.’

The statement said: “Following the report of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission that the sum of N2.67 billion released to the 104 Unity Colleges during the COVID – 19 lockdown for meal subsidies found its way into individual accounts, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the matter.

“In response to queries issued by the Federal Ministry of Education, the principals explained that payments on meal subsidies to Unity Colleges on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, platform is designed to accommodate individual officers of those colleges who are officially recognized to receive such payments and disburse the same to food vendors.

“This followed the difficulties encountered by farmers, local food vendors, and market women who do not have Tax Identification Numbers, PENCOM, and other requirements to access the payment platform.

“The principals also explained that payments made during the lockdown period had to do with debts owed food vendors even before COVID – 19, some of which are still pending, adding that these debts arose from irregular and inadequate budgetary allocations and releases over the years.

“The investigation is to establish the veracity of the claims to ensure that there is no diversion of public funds or misappropriation of the same.

“To this end, the ministry in line with the minister’s directive is to collaborate effectively with officials of the ICPC to unearth the facts as well as find a lasting solution to the payment system for meal subsidies that will ensure accountability and transparency.”

CONDOLENCES IN UPPER CHAMBER...

President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmed Lawan, signs the condolence register of Senator Rose Okoh after a valedictory session in her honour in Abuja…yesterday julius atoi

NNPC Ends Crude Oil Swap Deal in 2023 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has revealed a plan to end the country’s oil-for-fuel swaps system as soon as local refining capacity improves by 2023.

The Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, who made the revelation yesterday said with all the government refineries, the Dangote refinery as well as the modular facilities expected to be fully functional latest by 2023, the corporation will end the swap deal, which has been in operation since 2016.

NNPC had a few weeks ago extended its 2019-2020 crude-for-products swap programme, which uses a direct sale-direct purchase (DSDP) mechanism to secure Nigeria's fuel requirements in exchange for crude, by about six months.

The previous agreement, which expired at the end of September involved 15 trading companies and refiners including BP, Total, Vitol, Gunvor, Trafigura, Mercuria, and Mocoh, along with domestic companies such as Sahara Energy and NNPC's trading venture Duke Oil. Speaking during a virtual panel at the African Refiners and Distributors Association annual conference held in Abidjan, with the theme: “Towards Cleaner Fuels for Cleaner Air,” Kyari said he expected NNPC’s refineries to be fully revamped and running again by 2023.

According to him, the corporation was partnering

private companies to upgrade the refineries and then run them as part of a drive to process its own oil and cut reliance on imported fuels.

“I don’t see an extension of that process in the near future as we progress and transit into more production locally. Our plan is to deliver all of them by 2023.

“Our banking partners are on top of this. It is a schedule we have agreed with our partners and we believe we can deliver on this,” Kyari said.

On the recent liberalisation of the sector, Kyari maintained that the deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria will increase investment in the refining business and facilitate exponential growth in the nation’s refining capacity.

He also advocated deeper collaboration among downstream players across the African continent to provide solutions to challenges of substandard fuels.

He said though the idea of price stabilisation which led to the introduction of fuel subsidy in the 1970s was noble, it had grown into a huge financial burden on the nation’s treasury over the years, necessitating its removal in March 2020.

The NNPC boss stressed that the move will not only free up much-needed cash to fund infrastructural development, but will also eliminate market distortion, foster competition between operators, get more private sector players to build refineries in the country and promote efficiency across the entire value chain.

He said increasing Africa’s refining capacity as well as the quality of fuel required respective refineries to implement sustainable, coordinated pan-African solutions that would meet the target fuel specifications and thus protect the health and wellbeing of African nations and their citizenry.

Kyari said: “It is important to note at this point that the future of our continent does not just lie in our ability to unlock value from our vast natural resources or powering an industrial and economic revolution, but also in our ability to implement proven refining solutions that consider the broader public health implications of our business decisions.”

He said NNPC was making concerted efforts to carry out holistic rehabilitation of its refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna, noting that it was also collaborating with relevant stakeholders to establish modular and condensate refineries as well as supporting private sector establishment of refineries.

“These projects will be in line with the AFRI standards of AFRI-4 specifications of 50 particles per million for diesel and 150 particles per million for gasoline by 2020, and AFRI-5 specification of 50 particles per million of sulphur in gasoline and diesel by 2030 respectively.

“Considering that revamp of petroleum products storage depots and associated pipelines is key to optimal operations of the refineries, the corporation has decided to use a Build,

Operate and Transfer (BOT) strategy to restore these facilities using private sector financing,” he said.

According to him, this process has progressed significantly as the process of partner selection was ongoing to ensure sustainability of the refineries post-rehabilitation.

He noted that Nigeria was intensifying the use of natural gas to ensure lower emissions, adding that natural gas has been identified as the fuel of choice for the future as it has the full credentials to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The NNPC helmsman also disclosed that the outlook for the downstream sector both in Nigeria and across the African continent looks bright with attractive market conditions.

Kyari listed the presence of a large market, significant crude distillation capacity additions from various refinery projects, improvement of the distribution network and the use of natural gas as other factors that will boost the sector.

He called on the refining professionals across the continent to utilise the abundant opportunities for strategic collaboration across the entire downstream value chain towards delivering value for the continent.

The Executive Secretary of ARA, Mr. Anibor Kragha, in his remarks, applauded the NNPC for its efforts to bolster the continents’ refining capacity, assuring that the association, along with other stakeholders would support the corporation to achieve its objectives.

WEDNESDAY, Ϳ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

9

PAGE NINE NORTHERN ELDERS JOIN CLAMOUR FOR RESTRUCTURING, SAY NIGERIA FAILING Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili.

The respected cleric had warned that it was either the country restructured as soon as possible or it broke up.

But the presidency in two separate statements said Buhari would not be pressured to make any decision that would not be in the interest of the nation, describing the calls as “recurring threats to the corporate existence of the country with factions giving specific timelines for the president to do one thing or another or else, in their language, ‘the nation will break up.”

Following what they described as the presidency’s “very uncouth and rude warning,” an elder statesman and chieftain of the apex

Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; South and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF); and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) had on Monday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to purge himself of dictatorial tendencies and be more tolerant of dissenting public opinion.

However, NEF yesterday joined these regional groups and advised Nigerians not to be tired of demanding the restructuring of the country.

The forum argued that the Nigerian state has failed in the management of security, insisting on the need to revisit the way the country is structured to provide security for citizens.

Speaking on a live television programme monitored in Lagos, NEF spokesperson, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, insisted that the country must be restructured to address fundamental issues that ought to have been addressed since Nigeria gained independence.

He said: “The two basic functions of the state are to secure citizens and provide for their welfare. Now, the Nigerian state is failing in both camps. So, restructuring for us means addressing those failures and identifying ideas, suggestions, and changes that can actually fit into the process of improving them.

“Policing is a fundamental issue. Here in the north where I come from, you could spend three days

with bandits ravaging communities and you will not see a single policeman.

Something is wrong with the way the country is structured to provide security for citizens.

So, we need to revisit some of these issues.”

The NEF spokesperson stressed that the Nigerian constitution must be revised to “deal with issues that divide Nigerians rather than unite them.”

He explained: “We need to look at our constitution, look at the way it provides for the Nigerian state, the federating units, allocate responsibilities in power, the works of vital institutions, or the failure of vital institutions to work and how we can improve them.

“When we make demands for the restructuring of the country, we are not necessarily saying that the government is deliberately causing the problems – they are cumulative issues, matters that should have been addressed a long time ago but they were not addressed. Nations must accept to revisit how they live.

“Nigerians have a right to ask for changes, for amendment, for improvement in the manner in which we live. There is nothing wrong with that. What is wrong is for the government to specifically say we don’t want to hear anything about restructuring.

“Right now, no one will dispute that the federal government carries too many responsibilities most of which

it doesn’t discharge, has too many resources and is not well run. It has become a focus of intense competition - the type of competition that makes the political system unstable. Everybody wants the presidency. Everybody wants to go to Abuja. Abuja is everything. This is wrong.”

He added: “Many conferences whose recommendations have not been implemented need to be implemented.”

“We believe that Nigerians should never (be) tired about demanding that their country must be made to work. If the government is not going to do it on its own, it needs assistance. If it needs some pressure, we believe we can provide that pressure.

firm commitment on behalf of the PDP, which I have the privilege and the honour to represent in the election coming up on the 10 of October to say that we are convinced on the need for peace not only in Ondo State but in the entire country.

"Let me also say that for me as a person, I am absolutely committed to a peaceful election, before the election and even after the election, when the results have been announced. I say that there is no option for us other than to follow a peaceful process.

“I implore our security agencies, especially the Police to ensure that they comply with the rules, it is not enough to say that you want to be neutral, neutrality may mean staying aloof and not interfering.

"I urge you as security agencies to ensure that you comply with all the provisions of the law, including making arrests of those who have cultivated the habit of the destruction of other people's property and those who are engineering violence, in the cases we have in Ondo State.”

Also speaking, the state governor and candidate of the APC, Akeredolu, pledged to abide by the provisions of the peace accord.

He said: “What we have done this morning is to sign peace accord; the content that was read out to the hearing of everybody and not only for us. Let me again solemnly make my pledge that I will abide by what was signed.

"I want to thank the National Peace Committee.

This won't be our first election, at least for me this will be the third and last time that I will contest election in Ondo State. In the last two occasions, all of us were operating as brothers and I

cannot recollect any violence in those two elections but if we have one or two issues here and there, it is not to say that Ondo State people are violent.

"I can assure you that Saturday's election will be peaceful, as long as the Police are there. For me as the governor of the state, I will still address the people on the need for peace."

Win for Akeredolu

INEC EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER VIOLENCE IN ONDO concrete steps to ensure a free, fair, transparent, and peaceful election in Ondo State.

Speaking yesterday in Akure, the Ondo State capital, during the signing of the peace accord, the INEC chairman stated that by their continuous and consistent engagement for peace in Nigeria, members of the NPC have, once again, demonstrated that moral suasion is as important as statutory authority in promoting peaceful coexistence and nation-building.

The event was witnessed by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III; His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; Bishop Matthew Kukah and other eminent members of the NPC. Yakubu declared that the charged atmosphere threatening Saturday’s election in the state demands that political parties and candidates should affirm, respect, support, promote and commit to peaceful elections.

"Unfortunately, the Ondo State governorship election holding this Saturday is generating its own tensions,” Yakubu said, explaining: "The charged atmosphere demands that political parties and candidates should affirm, respect, support, promote and commit to peaceful elections which, I understand, are the five cardinal pillars on which the Peace Accord rests.

He added: "Without peace, our deployment plans, new innovations in result management, the safety of personnel, security of materials and, above all, the credibility of elections will be undermined.

"Even worse, public health will be jeopardised as the observance of safety protocols in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic will be impossible to achieve in

an atmosphere of disruption, violence and disorder.

"It is, therefore, important for everyone to maintain peace. I wish to assure the Peace Committee of INEC’s commitment to transparent and credible elections.

"The votes will count. I call on all political parties and candidates to abide by the letter and spirit of the Peace Accord by appealing to your supporters to maintain the peace before, during and after the elections.”

In his virtual message, the Chairman of the NPC, Abdulsalami urged the stakeholders to ensure a peaceful and credible election in the state, stressing that there would be no meaningful development without a peaceful and credible election.

"Citizens should know that nothing could be achieved without peace. So, during this election citizens are urged to abide by the COVID-19 regulations and keep the process safe," he said.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar, urged the candidates to abide by the peace accord.

"I will like to call on you not to see the signing of this Peace Accord as just a mere ceremony formality but as a commitment by all of you, in fact, a covenant by which you will be held responsible for the outcome at the end of the day,” he said, urging: “I want to call on you once more to obey the rules of the game. I call it a game because I see the election as a game where there must be a winner. There must be one winner who has already been ordained by the Almighty God before the casting of the first ballot and we do not know the person.”

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, represented by the

Deputy Inspector General in charge of Research, Mr. Adeleye Oyegbade, assured the people that the Police will improve on the achievements they recorded in the Edo State election by protecting the process.

“We are asking that the electorate should come out; we have enough personnel on [the] ground, [and] we have enough facility on [the] ground to ensure a hitch-free election. We are going to improve on what we did in Edo State," he said.

Speaking after signing the peace accord, the candidate of the ZLP, Ajayi, said: "Let me join everybody to appreciate our leaders; let me use our former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, as a point of contact to appreciate all members of the Peace Accord.

"Having said that, I want to let all of us know that our party, the Zenith Labour Party, has always, and will continue, to conduct ourselves in a most peaceful and democratic manner into this exercise; we have started and the whole world is watching all of us, you have never one day noticed our campaign train attacked and we never attacked anybody.

“We will continue to appeal to those attacking themselves to see the election as a democratic programme that is set out with an agenda that is guided by rules and democratic guidelines. We are praying that on the October 10 that our votes will count.

“Once again, let me say that nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any citizen."

Jegede of the PDP commended the committee for the commitment to peaceful elections in the country He said: “Let me give a

US Calls for Peaceful Poll Meanwhile, the United States has called on all the stakeholders in the democratic process, including the INEC, political parties and security services to take concrete steps to ensure a peaceful election that reflects the will of the people of Ondo State on Saturday.

The US Mission in Abuja in a statement issued yesterday said: "The United States urges all stakeholders to continue to work towards free, fair, transparent, and peaceful elections in Ondo State.

"We reiterate our hope that all participants in the democratic process, including the INEC, political parties, and the security services will take concrete steps to ensure a peaceful election that reflects the will of the people of Ondo.

"The United States remains committed to the U.S.Nigeria partnership as we work together to achieve our mutual goals of peace and prosperity for the citizens of both our countries."

It would be recalled that when the Edo State governorship election was approaching, the US had threatened visa ban on election riggers.

APC Predicts 55%

NBS: STATES, FCT'S HALF-YEAR IGR SLUMPS BY N81BN Others include: Akwa Ibom, N16.21 billion or 2.65 per cent; Kaduna, N14.54 billion or 2.37 per cent; Edo, N14.01 billion or 2.29 per cent; Ondo, N13.58 billion or 2.22 per cent; Enugu, N12.26 billion or two per cent; Anambra, N9.54 billion or 1.56 per cent; Plateau, N9.40 billion or 1.53 per cent; Kwara, N9.36 billion or 1.53 per cent; and Osun, N8.95 billion or 1.46 per cent.

Other states include: Cross River, N8.05 billion or 1.31 per cent; Imo, N7.73 billion or 1.26 per cent; Kogi, N7.43 billion or 1.21 per cent;

Zamfara, N7.08 billion or 1.16 per cent; Ebonyi, N6.33 billion or 1.03 per cent; Abia, N6.18 billion or 1.01 per cent and Nasarawa, N5.90 billion or 0.96 per cent and Bauchi, N5.75 billion or 0.94 per cent.

Others are Katsina, N5.53 billion or 0.90 per cent; Bayelsa, N5.38 billion or 0.88 per cent; Borno, N5.37 billion or 0.88 per cent; Benue, N5.34 billion or 0.87 per cent; Sokoto, N4.59 billion or 0.75 per cent; Kebbi, N4.38 billion or 0.72 per cent; and Taraba, N4.06 billion or 0.66 per cent; and Niger, N4.01 billion or 0.66 per cent.

Others include: Yobe, N3.92 billion or 0.64 per cent; Gombe, N3.78 billion or 0.62 per cent; Adamawa, N3.75 billion or 0.61 per cent and Ekiti N3.20 billion or 0.52 per cent.

According to the statistical agency, a total sum of N1.73 trillion was, however, was realised by states in H1 2020 including N1.12 trillion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and the N612.86 billion IGR. FAAC contribution to total revenue was 64.66 per cent while IGR accounted for

35.34 per cent in the period.

Furthermore, at half-year, FAAC contribution accounted for N50.03 billion or 19.66 per cent of total revenue accruals for Lagos while IGR represented 80.34 per cent.

For the FCT, revenues from FAAC stood at N33.05 billion or 64.66 per cent of total revenues while IGR represented 35.34 per cent.

Rivers received N75.07 billion from FAAC allocation or 53.76 per cent of its total revenue while IGR accounted for 46.24 per cent.

The 2020 edition of the BudgIT’s annual state of

states report titled “Fiscal Sustainability and Epidemic Preparedness Financing at the State Level,” had revealed that with a total debt burden of N5.39 trillion as at the end of December 2019, the 36 states of the federation are no longer eligible to borrow from the capital market.

The report added that the states are no longer qualified to borrow from the capital market as a result of the regulation put in place by Debt Management Office (DMO) to forestall debt crisis on sub-national public borrowings.

In a related development, an assessment team sent by the APC National Campaign Committee on the Ondo State gubernatorial election has projected a 55-58 per cent margin of victory in favour of incumbent governor, Akeredolu.

A member of the team, who is also the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, disclosed this yesterday at a media briefing in Abuja.

The team also dismissed fears that the alliance of 11 political parties will stop the victory of Akeredolu.

The VON DG said: “The APC National Campaign Committee sent some of us to Ondo State for onthe-spot assessment of our chances. We spent seven days mingling with people of all classes and cadre. To be frank, without being immodest, Aketi’s chances of winning the election hover between 55-58 per cent.

“Take this to the bank and please permit me to name some projects to be executed and the ongoing ones.

“Infrastructure-wise, he has performed creditably well in Akure, building roads, schools, and hospitals amongst others.

In road construction, he has completed 125 kilometres of roads and work is ongoing on 279 kilometres, to be completed in his second tenure.”

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN % CORNERSTONE 0.06 0.66 10 INTERBREW 0.39 4.29 10 PRESCO 5.50 60.50 10 FBNHOLDINGS 0.55 6.10 9.9 NNFM 0.40 4.45 9.8 TOP LOSERS NGN % NPFMFB 0.12 1.25 8.7 WAPIC 0.03 0.36 7.6 ACADEMY 0.02 0.27 6.9 BERGPAINTS 0.40 6.10 6.1 NEIMETH 0.10 1.85 5.1 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦1,175.00 Volume: 749.468 million shares Value: N9.495 billion Deals: 8,075 As at yesterday 6/10/2020 See details on Page 39

10

WEDNESDAY 0CT0BER 7, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Ondo Prophet, Five Others Get Life Imprisonment over Missing Child James Sowole in Akure An Akure High Court, yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment a Prophet and Founder of Sottitobire Praising Chapel, Babatunde Alfa and five workers of the church, for

the disappearance of a 13-monthold boy, Gold Kolawole, from the church.

The other convicted church workers are: Omodara Olayinka, Margaret Oyebola, Grace Ogunjobi, Egunjobi Motunrayo and Esther

Nigeria’s COVID-19 Cases Rise By 118 to 59,583 Martins Ifijeh Nigeria has recorded 118 new cases of COVID-19, bringing to 59,583 the number of confirmed cases in the country.

Announcing this yesterday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said Lagos recorded 41 new cases; Rivers, 19;

Nasarawa, 13; Anambra and Kaduna, five each; Edo, Ogun, Kwara and Ondo, three each; Katsina and Niger, two each; Plateau and Akwa Ibom, is each.

It said: “So far, Nigeria has recorded 59,583 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

51,308 patients have been discharged while 1,113 persons have died.”

Kayode.

Kolawole got missing from the Church, located at Oshinle area of Akure, the state capital in November last year.

The incident led to the arrest and prosecution of the convicts.

The convicts were sentenced

by Justice Olusegun Odusola, on a two-count charge of conspiracy as well as aiding and abetting kidnapping.

According to the trial judge, the accused persons were convicted

based on the circumstantial evidence presented by the prosecution.

However, the court discharged and acquitted the 7th defendant, Peter Anjorin, for lack of substantial evidence by the prosecution.

Anjorin was accused of destroying evidence contrary to and punishable under Section 123 of the Criminal Code law of Ondo State 2006.

Reading the judgment, Odusola who condemned in strong terms

the complicity, connivance and compromise of the Ondo State Police Command in the whole saga, stated that the lackadaisical attitude of Alfa was a pointer to his involvement in the disappearance of the missing child, Gold Kolawole from his church in November last year.

On the first-count charge, the Prophet and the five church workers were sentenced to seven years imprisonment over conspiracy to commit felony to with aiding

and abetting kidnapping while life imprisonment were handed over to them on the second count charge for aiding and abetting kidnapping contrary to and punishable under the Section 5 of the Ondo State Antikidnapping and Anti-Abduction law 2010.

Kolawole got missing from the church on November 4, 2019 during a Sunday service, which later led to the burning of the church by angry mob on Wednesday, December 18, 2019.

Glo Launches Berekete Tariff Plan with Bumper Bonus Dike Onwuamaeze The Globacom has launched a new revolutionary tariff plan called Berekete that would enable its subscribers to enjoy voice and data services at reduced tariffs and bumper bonus.

The telecom giant said that the Glo Berekete plan would accommodate customers’ data and talking needs from the same recharge and is open to existing and new customers.

The new tariff plan was formally unveiled to journalists and other stakeholders yesterday at the corporate headquarters of the Globacom in Lagos.

Berekete, according to Globacom, promised every new subscriber of the Glo network one-off welcome bonus of N600 at the ratio of N400 for voice and N200 for data services upon successful activation of his/ her lines with N100.

“Aside from this welcome bonus, a customer on the Berekete plan will also receive a whopping 700 per cent bonus on every recharge to call all networks and to browse the internet. Customers can get as much as N20,000 voice bonus and 5GB data bonus from a single recharge, depending on the recharge denomination,” Globacom said.

It also said the voice and data bonuses that Berekete customers get could be used over seven days

from the day the line is credited.

In addition to the above benefits, new customers will enjoy up to 100 per cent extra data volumes on all data plan purchases between N50 and N10,000.

“This offer is available for the first four months of joining the network.

“While new customers get Berekete by default, existing prepaid customers can subscribe by dialing *230#. They will instantly be able to enjoy the 700 percent bonus on all recharges but will not be entitled to the one-off welcome bonus as well as the bonus on data plan purchases,” it said.

Globacom also used the event to unveil its new set of brand ambassadors, which include a singing sensation, Mr. Michael Collins Ajereh, popularly known as “Don Jazzy” and Ms. Teniola Apata, also known as Teni The Entertainer.

Mrs. Simisola Kosoko who is better known by her stage name, “Simi” and Africa’s highest scorer at the last Nations Cup and Manchester United Attacker, Mr. Odion Ighalo, have equally made the rare list of Glo Ambassadors.

Similarly, the telecoms company announced an extension of its endorsement deal with the World HeavyweightChampion,Mr.Anthony Olaseni Joshua, who currently holds four boxing titles.

L-R: Ogun State Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo; winner of the Big Brother Naija Lockdown, Lekan Agbelese, aka Laycon; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; his deputy, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele; and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Salisu Shuaib, while receiving Laycon, at the governor’s office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta...yesterday

Military Kills Four Bandits, Rescues Captives in Katsina Dislodges militant camps, frees three Russians, Ukranian, others Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Nigerian Army yesterday said that its troops of Operation Sahel Sanity have killed four bandits in Unguwar Doka village of Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, as part of its clearance operations to ward off bandits in the North-west region.

The troops also rescued four kidnapped victims at Giruwa village of Dandume Local

air transport agreement between Nigeria and the United States at its virtual meeting.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed, told State House correspondents at the end of the meeting that with the ratification, Nigeria will take advantage of the agreement to strengthen economic, social and cultural ties with the US. A BASA is an air transport agreement between two countries and it liberalises commercial civil aviation services between the concerned nations by allowing designated airlines to operate commercial flights, covering transportation of passengers and cargoes.

Government Area of the state in their ongoing onslaughts against the marauding hoodlums terrorising the state.

Military authorities also said yesterday that the Nigerian Navy Ship, Pathfinder and troops of 146 Battalion rescued five expatriates kidnapped by sea pirates in Bonny, Rivers State.

It said the kidnap victims include; three Russians, one Ukrainian and another person from Equatorial Guinea.

The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig.General Benard Onyeuko, revealed the Katsina operation in a statement issued to journalists at the Special Army Super Camp IV Faskari, Katsina State.

Onyeuko, in the statement, added that the troops smashed other notorious criminals in Kurfi Local Government Area of the state and recovered 43 cows, six goats, eight sheep and two locally made guns

from the hoodlums.

He said: “On October 2, 2020, gallant troops of Operation Sahel Sanity deployed at Sabon Layi rescued four kidnapped victims from Giruwa village of Dandume LGA of Katsina State following Artillery bombardments on suspected bandits’ location at UnguwanDoka village which resulted in neutralising four of the bandits while others escaped into the forest”.

Again, Herdsmen Kill Monarch, Five Others in Plateau Community Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Buhari Signs Air Service Agreements with USA, Others President Muhammadu Buhari has signed bilateral air service agreements with United States of America, India, Morocco, Rwanda.

This was announced yesterday by the Minister for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.

Copies of the agreements uploaded by the minister showed that Buhari signed the instruments of ratification on September 30.

“I am glad to announce that Mr. President, on behalf of Nigeria, has signed the instruments of ratification of the bilateral air service agreement between Nigeria and USA, India, Morocco as well as Rwanda,” the minister tweeted.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had on July 29 ratified the

PROUD SON OF GATEWAY STATE...

At least six persons, including a traditional ruler, Da Chung Gyang Mwadkwon were on Monday night killed by unknown gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen in Wereng community of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

A lawmaker representing Riyom Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Timothy

Dantong confirmed the attacks and killing of the traditional ruler.

He said the attack took place on Monday night by suspected Fulani herdsmen while the villagers were asleep.

He added that three persons, who were injured during the attack, were receiving treatment at Vom Christian Hospital.

The lawmaker condemned the attack, describing it as barbaric, and

urged the security agencies to arrest the criminals.

Also, the Chairman of Riyom LGA, Mr. Mafeng Gwalson who spoke on the sad incident, described it as ugly and barbaric and called on the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators.

Mwadkwon, who was the acting Village Head of Wereng, was awaiting coronation before he was killed by the assailants.

The immediate past chairman of Riyom LGA, Hon. Emmanuel Jugul also condemned the attack on the villagers.

He said, three other seriously wounded people were immediately rushed to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) where they were receiving treatment, while the corpses of the six victims had been deposited at the same JUTH mortuary.

WTO: TUC Rallies Support for Okonjo- Iweala Onyebuchi EzigboinAbuja The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has urged the federal government to make every move necessary to ensure Nigeria’s candidate for the position of Director General of World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, gets the exalted office.

In statement issued yesterday by

the TUC’s President, Comrade Quadri Olaleye and Secretary General, Mr. Musa-Lawal Ozigi, the union said the emergence of Okonjo-Iweala would reaffirm to the world that Nigerians, nay Africans are great people, a feat the world can confirm by Nigerians’ exploits.

“Okonjo-Iweala needs no introduction both within and

outside Nigeria. She spent a 25year career at the World Bank as a Development Economist, rose to become the number two position of Managing Director, Operations (2007–2011) after which she served two terms as Finance Minister of Nigeria (2003–2006, 2011–2015).

“The question now is not whether she is qualified or capable

of handling the task. This contest is an aspect of international politics and we all must go all out to play it. Okonjo-Iweala is a renowned global finance expert, an economist and international development professional with decades of experience, having worked in about five continents. Her exposure is incontrovertible,” it said.

WEDNESDAY 0CT0BER 7, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

11

NEWS

Abaribe Wants NIDCOM Headquarters Named after Senator Oko Lawan, other senators mourn colleague

Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Senate Minority Leader, Eyinnaya Abaribe, yesterday called on the federal government to name the headquarters of the Nigeria Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) after the late ranking Senator Rose Oko, who died in the United Kingdom on March 23, 2020.

This is just as the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan; principal officers and other senators mourn their late colleague, who was from Cross River North.

Abaribe, who spoke at the valedictory session held by the Senate for Oko, canvassed for the naming of the headquarters of the Nigeria Disapora Commission after her, “because of her

contributions to nation building as chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations in the eighth Senate.”

He lamented that the late Oko was the fourth senator to have died since the inauguration of the ninth Senate in June 2019.

The senator said Oko’s demise was an opportunity for the legislators to reflect on their

mortality.

Abaribe described her as a gentle speaker that made great point in her presentations, adding that she was a mother that would be missed by all.

Senate Leader, Abdullahi Yahaya, had earlier in a motion moved for the suspension of Order 17 of the Senate rules to allow the family, dignitaries and other close relations of the deceased

into the Red Chamber for the valedictory service.

Yahaya said the Senate could not hold the session earlier because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the annual vacation of the National Assembly.

He described the late chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment as a highly accomplished educationist, given her pedigree in the education

sector.

“Senator Rose Oko as very knowledgeable lawmaker, and she was a dependable ally to me in our committee responsibility,” the senator added.

In her tribute, Senator Oluremi Tinubu said Oko lived a very significant and robust life, describing her as the pride of women, and a brave woman who came, saw and conquered.

Peace Accord: Drama as Akeredolu Rejects Handshake with Deputy There was a mild drama at the conclusion of the peace accord signing ceremony held in Akure, Ondo State capital yesterday as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu refused to shake hands with the deputy governor of the state and candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Mr. Agboola Ajayi.

The candidates of political parties participating in the election, including Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) signed a peace accord as part of the efforts to ensure the exercise is violence-free.

The peace pact was organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC) led by a former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

However, there was a mild drama at the conclusion of the event as Akeredolu refused to shake hands with the deputy governor.

The Master of Ceremony had

asked the three major candidates to embrace, shake hands or bump elbows with one another as a sign that they had embraced peace.

Akeredolu greeted PDP’s candidate, Jegede, by bumping elbow with him as requested by MC but when it was the turn of his deputy, the governor refused to shake hands with or embrace him.

Akeredolu merely waved at Ajayi.

Ajayi has been at loggerheads with the governor before and after he left the APC and joined the PDP, then ZLP later.

Ajayi’s defection had generated reactions from both parties with some saying that he should resign.

But Ajayi and his supporters regarded those making the calls as “mischief-makers and political ignoramus”.

Ajayi maintained that he remained the deputy governor of the state, inasmuch as his people who elected him into office had not asked him to resign.

Housing: FG to ‘Unlock’ Unused Buildings in Nigeria’s Urban Centres Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government is exploring ways to ‘unlock’ the millions of unoccupied buildings in urban centres across the country, Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has said.

Although affordable and accessible housing remains a major challenge in major cities, especially in Abuja, many of the buildings are not occupied, prompting recent reports that the federal government was planning to lease them.

However, Fashola debunked the news that the houses will be forcibly sold or leased, saying the government was only trying to encourage big house owners to break them into small units to enable people rent or buy them so that the owners can make income from them.

Speaking during the virtual commemoration of the 2020 World Habitat Day (WHD) celebration with the theme: ”Housing for all: A better Urban Future”, the minister assured of the government’s commitment to deliver on its housing promises despite the prevailing challenges within the sector.

He acknowledged the adverse effect the COVID-19 pandemic was having on an

already difficult situation in the housing sector, but said the government will improve access to affordable housing, mobility, sanitation, jobs and socio economic opportunities despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.

“The approach for implementing this is multifaceted. This ranges from house refurbishment loans to mortgages with reduced service conditions, direct housing construction, improved speed of titling and issuance of documents.

“There are also plans underway to unlock unused properties as well as accelerate advocacy for reduced rent demands.

“The federal government is committed to delivering housing that is obtainable, healthy, inclusive and adequate, safe and affordable.

This is the key to sustainable and transformation of societies and communities,” Fashola said.

He further disclosed that to relieve citizens, President Muhammadu Buhari had recently initiated the development of an Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) of N2.3 trillion to improve payroll support, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) collateral fund, loan re-strengthening for businesses, industries support and agricultural support.

WE COMMIT TO PEACEFUL POLL...

Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Ondo State Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (left), and the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, during the signing of the peace accord by political parties and their governorship candidates in Akure, Ondo State...yesterday JAMES SOWOLE

NSA: FG Reviewing Cybersecurity Policy to Tackle Terrorism, Others The federal government yesterday said that it was reviewing the cybersecurity law in order to address some of the major developmental challenges currently confronting the nation, including the emergence of new forms of criminality and terrorism perpetrated through cyberspace.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd), stated this while inaugurating a multi-stakeholder committee to review the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy, NCPS, 2014, in Abuja.

He lamented the inherent threats and risks associated with the evolving nature of cyberspace.

The policy is reviewed every

five years and is due for its first review after it was implemented in 2014.

Monguno said the review was part of efforts to reposition the country to better exploit the benefits of the internet and cyber domain to enhance national peace, security and socio-economic wellbeing.

The NSA noted that recent advancements in the digital era have transformed the cyber domain to a centre stage for new businesses, innovations, government functionalities and social interactions.

He, however, highlighted that despite the benefits of the cyber domain, there are inherent threats

and risks associated with the evolving nature of cyberspace.

The NSA, therefore, stressed that it is crucial for the Nigerian cyberspace and entire cyber ecosystem to undergo major periodic reforms to set new clear directions for progressive use of the country’s cyberspace.

In view of this, he noted that the review of the NCPS would provide an opportunity for Nigeria to redefine its national objectives and address some of the major developmental challenges currently confronting the nation, including the emergence of new forms of criminality and terrorism perpetrated through cyberspace.

He said. “This Committee was

constituted to identify the current gaps in the National Cybersecurity Strategy and Policy 2014, articulate the various inputs of stakeholders and develop necessary frameworks to effectively mitigate evolving cyber threats and enhance Nigeria’s productive engagements in cyberspace.”

The NSA also noted that the review of the NCPS was in line with the provisions of Section 41(1b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015, which mandates the Office of the National Security Adviser to coordinate the formulation and effective implementation of a comprehensive cybersecurity framework for Nigeria.

NEITI: Nigeria Must Protect People Involved in Mining, Oil Production Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mr. Waziri Adio, yesterday called for more focus on people and the environment rather than the unbridled search for profits in the country’s mining and crude oil production activities.

Speaking during the launch two publications titled the ‘Impact of Mining on Women, Youth and Others in Selected Communities in Nigeria’ and ‘Perception of the Impact of 13 per cent Oil Derivation Allocation’, the NEITI boss argued that taxes and royalties must not be elevated at the expense of vulnerable groups in areas where extractive activities

take place.

The study leading to the publications spanned six communities across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, including Enyigba/Ameka in Ebonyi State (South-east), Okpella in Edo State (South-south), Ilesa in Osun State (South-west), Maiganga in Gombe State (North-east), Mai-Adudu in Nasarawa State (North-central) and Bagega in Zamfara State (North-central).

The second book dealt with the issue of the impact of the 13 per cent derivation, also covered Delta, Imo and Ondo states.

He said: “When we talk about resource extraction and governance, we concentrate too much on profits to companies and payments to government. While

these are important, we do not focus enough on the people and the planet. Our resource extraction has both positive and negative impact on people and planet.

“For example, there’s a lot of benefits that come from mining, but it can also pose a lot of costs on immediate communities.

“We need to maximise the opportunities and minimise the harm to the environment and to the people. These are issues that people do not focus enough on”.

Adio noted that beyond the quarterly release of audited reports on the extractive industries in the country, there should be policy engagements, arguing that the problem in the sector was not lack of reports,

but systematic engagement of stakeholders for wholesome implementation.

“The audit reports are very important and come with many recommendations and to make progress on those recommendations, we believe that we should take a different approach.

“We need to generate evidence, focus attention on particular issues and that’s why since 2016 we have published 18 quarterly reviews.

“The problem of this sector is not lack of reports or lack of analysis. We are doing this because we need to generate fresh ideas and insight but we also need to bring people together to deliberate on these issues”.

12

WEDNESDAY 0CT0BER 7, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Falana-led Coalition Accuses IG of Insincerity on SARS Reform The Alliance for Survival of COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) has accused the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Adamu of insincerity in his latest ban of certain activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The leading civil rights movement in a statement signed by its Chairman and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana, (SAN), said it was not the first time the police high command had issued such orders banning certain activities of the squad.

Falana noted that despite the

previous pronouncements by the police high command, the repressive operatives still returned to the streets to torment the people.

ASCAB said gross violations of human rights were linked to SARS, adding that a change of structure without fundamental change of the operatives of the structure will soon make the problems to reoccur.

“The police high command has banned SARS several times.

It has become a ritual. But SARS continues to operative under different names or structure.

What we see is like removing

sour wine and putting it in the same old, rusty bottles. Nothing remarkable has changed in the police command structure that aids all forms of repression and extra-judicial killings,” ASCAB said.

The group recalled that following public outcry in 2018 against indiscriminate arrests

and detention, extortion and extrajudicial killings as well as other horrendous human rights abuses perpetrated by the operatives of the SARS, the federal government responded by setting up the Presidential Panel of Enquiry to investigate all complaints of human rights abuse.

The Falana-led coalition noted that many Nigerians submitted reports and memorandum and gave clear evidence of police abuse.

The group noted that the recommendations were yet to be implemented in 2020.

ASCAB said some of the recommendations made included

the dismissal of 37 police officers from the force and the prosecution of 24 others, investigation of 22 officers involved in the violation of human rights of innocent citizens, payment of compensation of various sums in 45 complaints and tender of public apologies in five complaints and compliance with court orders in five matters.

FG Begins FreshVerification of N-Power Beneficiaries The federal government has directed Batches A and B beneficiaries of the N-Power Programme who were earlier omitted from the payment of their stipends to report to their various state focal persons for verification and revalidation.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, gave the directive in Abuja yesterday.

She said the deadline for verification would be October 13, 2020.

The minister said beneficiaries who fail to attend the verification exercise would forfeit their stipends.

She stated that efforts to resolve unpaid stipends withheld due to discrepancies in records of the beneficiaries were almost being concluded.

She said investigations conducted by the Office of the Accountant-

General of the Federation following the omission of some N-Power beneficiaries from payment of stipends indicated that some of the affected persons were also drawing salaries from other Federal Government agencies.

The minister, however, directed that opportunity has been given to the affected beneficiaries to verify and revalidate their eligibility so that qualified beneficiaries could be paid for their participation in the N-Power Programme.

“Beneficiaries are hereby directed to report to their State Focal Persons immediately with their bank account details, including bank statements from March 2020 to date, NYSC Discharge Certificates, birth certificates and other related screening documents,” Umar-Farouq added.

NFF Asks 21 States to Pass Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act Tobi Soniyi The Nigerian Feminist Forum (NFF), has urged states that are yet to domesticate the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act to do so.

Rising from a two-day workshop on the VAPP Act in Abuja yesterday, NFF’s Focal Person, Chinonso Okechukwu, said the domestication of the law had become imperative in view of the endemic cases of gender and sexual-based violence that took place as COVID-19 ravaged the country.

In a communiqué issued yesterday, the NFF in conjunction with other feminist groups: CARA Development Foundation, Women and Girlchild capabilities, Gombe VAPP Alliance, Dofoundation International and State of Emergency GBV, among others, urged state governors across the country to domesticate and create awareness of the law, as a way of preventing Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in the society.

The group recalled that the federal government had passed the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act on May 25, 2015 to eliminate violence in private and public life as well as prohibit all forms of violence against persons; provide maximum protection, effective remedies for victims, punishment for offenders

and for related matters.

However, the NFF expressed concerns that despite the significance of this Act in the development of the country as a whole, 21 states were yet to domesticate the Act as at October 6, 2020.

It listed the states to include: Imo, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Nasarawa, Cross River, Kogi, Borno, Yobe, Kebbi, Taraba, Gombe, Niger, Jigawa, Ondo, Kwara, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kano, katsina, Delta, Rivers.

The communiqué read, “We (the NFF) demand that states that are yet to domesticate the VAPP Act should do so immediately, in addition, commit resources in its annual budget for the effective implementation and enforcement; “To develop state road maps for the implementation of the VAPP Act; “Adopt a multi-sectoral approach to implement, monitor and evaluate implementation of the law by aligning the linkages between gender equality and each sector of government and ensuring the necessary budgetary allocations.

“Take all necessary actions to ensure that the provisions of the VAPP Act are mainstreamed in all national and state policy decisions, legislation, development plans, programs and activities in all spheres of life and meet the reporting requirements as agreed upon;

MOBILISING GRASSROOTS SUPPORT...

L-R: Chairman of Ijede LCDA of Lagos State, Mr. Salisu Jimoh; senatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for Lagos East byelection, Mr. Tokunbo Abiru; husband of Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mr. Bode Oyedele; and the Chairman of the APC Senatorial Campaign Council, Mr. Kaoli Olusanya, during a street march in Ijede LCDA...yesterday

PENCOM DG: Igbo Lawyers Ask Buhari to Withdraw Nomination Peter Uzoho Igbo lawyers under the aegis of Otu Oka Iwu (Law Society) have warned President Muhammadu Buhari against breaching the 1999 Constitution and the Pension Reform Act 2014, asking him to “immediately withdraw” the nomination of Hajia Aisha Dahir-Umar to replace disengaged Director General of the Pension Commission (PENCOM), Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu.

In a statement issued yesterday by its President, Joy

Nzube-Uzoeghelu, the lawyers expressed “shock and dismay” at the “flagrant disregard of the enabling law setting up the commission,” warning that “The propensity of the Buhari administration to ride roughshod over Nigeria’s Constitution and extant laws is a grave threat to the rule of law and to Nigeria’s unity.”

The group said: “It is deeply troubling that while the president was preaching unity as a hallmark of Nigeria’s 60th anniversary celebration, he has exhibited an

unparalleled level of cronyism never witnessed in the history of our country,” said the Igbo lawyers’ union.

“In practical terms, President Buhari has done more to foster centrifugal forces in the country than to promote unity, even as he preaches ‘togetherness’ in commemoration of Nigeria’s 60th anniversary. The latest nomination is yet another infamous example in a landscape littered with consistent lopsided appointments.”

The law society stated

that “save for mischief or unbridled self-interest, there is unquestionable clarity from Section 21(2) of the Pension Reform Act (PRA), 2014 that ‘In the event of a vacancy, the President shall appoint a replacement from the geopolitical zone of the immediate past member that vacated office to complete the remaining tenure.’

Clearly, the nominee should come from the South-east geopolitical zone as the former Director General who was ousted by the federal government under hazy circumstances.”

Oyetola Releases another N 708m for Pension Arrears The Governor of Osun State, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has approved the release of the sum of N708 million to offset pension arrears of retired officers of the state civil service.

In a statement signed by the Head of Service, Mr. Festus Olowogboyega Oyebade, the sum of N508 million of the total

sum was approved to pay the pensions of retired civil servants while an additional sum of N150 million was approved to pay retirees under the contributory pensions scheme based on merit.

He added that additional N50 million was approved for the part payment of the gratuities of retired officers under the old

pensions scheme.

According to the release, the list of beneficiaries selected on merit has been pasted on the notice boards of the Ministry of Information and Civic Orientation, the State’s Pension Bureau, and the Office of the Head of Service.

It was also stated that payment

of the approved funds will commence of Thursday, October 8, 2020.

“Governor Adegboyega Oyetola assures all workers, both serving and retired that all efforts will be mustered to always give their welfare the pride of place it deserves,” the statement added.

CJN Praises Judicial Workers for Justice Delivery during Pandemic Alex EnumahinAbuja The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, yesterday commended workers in the judiciary sector for keeping the wheel of justice rolling during the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

Muhammad made the commendation while giving a goodwill message at a lecture

marking the 2020/2l legal year of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).

While describing the topic for the lecture titled: ‘Dignity of labour and labour justice’, as apt, considering the present circumstances, he noted that the justice sector has enhanced access to justice despite the enormous risk posed by COVID-l9.

According to him, “Let me use this opportunity to commend

everyone in the justice sector for acting promptly to ensure that access to justice and justice delivery were not hindered despite the enormous risk posed by the pandemic.

“In the same vein, I thank the NJC Committee on COVID-l9 and everyone in the justice sector for their tireless efforts to make our courts and access to justice possible.”

The CJN, who was represented

by Justice Musa Abba-Aji, enjoined all stakeholders to join hands in the quest to do justice to all people without fear or favour.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, President of NICN, Justice Bakwaph Kanyip, described the twin concepts of dignity of labour and labour justice, in terms of the right to work as not just about the right to be employed, but to be given work when one is employed.

Ogun Donates House, N5m to Big Brother Naija Winner, Laycon The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has appointed the winner of the just concluded Big Brother Naija, Olamilekan Moshood Agbelesebioba, popularly known as Laycon, as the Youth Ambassador of the state.

Abiodun, who made the announcement when he played

host to Laycon in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, also gave him a three-bedroom bungalow and N5 million.

The governor expressed the hope that his good character, excellence, good virtues, calmness, and integrity, would serve as a model to youths in the state.

“It is hoped that you will help inspire our teeming youths to channel their energies towards positive engagements, and shun vices such as robbery, drug abuse, cultism, advanced fee fraud, cybercrimes and kidnapping among other negative tendencies,” Abiodun said.

He described Laycon’s conduct in the House as a demonstration of “the Omoluabi component, the primary ingredient of an Ogun State-born Nigerian,” observing that despite all the odds, temptations and provocations, he was able to come out unscathed and uninvolved in any scandal or immoral act.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2020 • T H I S D AY

13

14

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍľËœ 2020

COMMENT

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

NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER

Sonnie Ekwowusi urges all to soldier on, in spite of the contradictions and difficulties

I

don’t have a job anymore since this COVID thing started.

And I am ashamed to beg. My wife is the one supporting me now. But you know women; she now treats me with utter contempt. She talks to me anyhow. The most regrettable aspect is that my children will soon be going back to school and I don’t have any money to give to them. My house rent will be due in January. On top of these calamities, they sent me a message yesterday that my mother in the village is seriously sick. They said I should come home next week to take her to the hospital. I am the first son of my parents. I don’t want my mother to die. She is a diabetic patient. Three months ago she suffered a second stroke. Even nowadays to feed is a big problem for me, unless through the efforts of my wife. My life is miserable.

I understand. Weep no more. Wipe away the tears from your eyes. Don’t give up. You can still make it. Hold your head high, stick out your chest. I understand. You no longer have a good name. People look down on you. All who see you shake their head in derision. They sneer at you. They laugh at you and say, “This is the man who started to build but could not finish�. Don’t mind them. Don’t surrender to melancholy. It is untrue that the world is about to collapse on top of you. Take another look around you. Look up. Those birds you see flying and chirping do not store. Yet divine Providence provides for all their food and needs. I agree, it gets dark sometimes, but the morning does not delay in coming. Besides, nothing here below lasts forever. Yesterday has passed. Tomorrow will soon come and pass. After the rain comes sunshine. Suffering breeds endurance. Endurance breeds hope. And hope does not disappoint. Don’t surrender.

My friend, don’t surrender to drugs. We cannot lose you to drugs. Don’t surrender to violence, cynicism, and pessimism.

Deploy hope and imagination as weapons of survival and progress. Dream dreams. Remember the name which your parents gave you as an infant. Remember the land of your birth. Remember your home. I am often told, “Some of us take drugs as anesthesia to quench our pain and suffering. We take drugs to escape the burdens of the day which oftentimes seem unbearable�. I have heard you. I know it is tough sometimes but you are wrong. If you go on living like this you will be enslaved by drugs. You could even commit suicide. And if you commit suicide, your children and your grand-children will rain curses on you for having been a big failure in life. Don’t lose focus. You might have mastered the air, conquered the sea, annihilated distance but you have not mastered the vicissitudes of life. You have to live on this earth with your share of difficulties.

Try to excel within your own little space. And let’s come together to the public space to build together for the common good. Ask yourself the following questions: Why is there something rather than nothing? What is the purpose of human existence? What is reason? What is faith? If faith and reason are the two wings with which to fly to the truth, why fly only on the wing of reason or only on the wing of faith? Fly on both wings.

We stand today at a crossroads. We stand at the end of a long night of uncertainty. The good of our country is at stake. Instead of making giant strides on the path to progress our country is drifting backwards towards its precipice. At independence

AFTER THE RAIN COMES SUNSHINE. SUFFERING BREEDS ENDURANCE. ENDURANCE BREEDS HOPE. AND HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT. DON’T SURRENDER

in 1960 there was only one national flag in Nigeria - the green-white-green flag. But how many Nigerian adults (not to talk of children) can still tell the colour of the national flag let alone recite the national anthem or the pledge? Very few.

Why? Because there are many flags of different colours being hoisted and flown across Nigeria- there is the Biafra flag, Niger Delta flag, Oduduwa Republic flag, Mid-West flag, Arewa flag, Middle Belt flag and so forth. Instead of listening to President Buhari’s independence anniversary speech, most Nigerians prefer to listen to yesteryears’ speeches of Tafawa Balewa, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, H.O. Davies, Anthony Enahoro, K.O. Mbadiwe, Mbonu Ojike (Boycott the boycottables) and other heroes and heroines of Nigerian independence.

Governance? What is that? Forget it. Governance is virtually non-existent. Insecurity (of lives and property) is our first name.

Bloodbath is our middle name. Death is our surname. So, our full name is Mr. Insecurity Bloodbath Death (IBD for acronym).

The names of the visitors who regularly visit us to kill us or torment us are terrorists, kidnappers, bandits, night marauders, murderous cattle breeders and murderous Fulani herdsmen and land grabbers. What haven’t they done to us? A person who has consumed the stomach of a dog has gone half way into eating human faeces. Everywhere you go you will discover that their hands are stained with the blood of the innocent; blood which no water on this earth can wash away. On top of all these woes, the blame game goes on unabated. We blame the constitution for our woes. We blame the government. We blame corruption.

We blame the judiciary. We blame APC. We blame PDP. We blame ourselves. We blame the day we were born. We blame our children. We blame our neighbours. We even blame God for creating us and making us citizens of Nigeria.

I understand. But don’t surrender to hopelessness. Look, don’t remain in the same place. You can still go forward. Nothing is gained by constantly sitting down and complaining about those things that do not work. Get up and move. Stop brooding over failed democracy. In case you don’t know, democracy alone cannot save us. One of the wrong assumptions about democracy is that the political office holders possess enough wisdom and virtue to pursue the end of democracy-promotion of the welfare of the people. But viewed against the backdrop of history, political leaders do not have enough wisdom and virtue to pursue the end of democracy. Besides, democracy is challenged from within by sheer ignorance and pursuit of personal interests at the expense of the common good and welfare of the people.

We must begin to move away from the mentality that once we establish democratic institutions, bureaucracies and enact laws all our human problems will be solved. In principle, functional bureaucracies, democratic institutions and laws are good, but not every obligation that augurs well for proper ordering of society can be democratized, bureaucratized let alone legislated upon or codified in positive law.

Most important, democracy is not the first thing: the first thing is culture and at the heart of culture are those communally-binding ideals which make society tick. In fact, for society to function effectively there ought to be a fine convergence between public life, culture and authentic religion.

WIKE, OSHIOMHOLE AND THE EDO ELECTION Elections need not become theatres of war, writes Awassam Bassey

T

he recently concluded Edo State Governorship election has come and gone. Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) retained his seat while Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) lost out.

Everything has gone quiet, again! The threats and the hullabaloo have faded thus giving us the opportunity to sit back and review some interesting highlights of that period.

The winner in the Edo Governorship is, without a doubt, democracy. However, many saw that election as if it was between two individuals who, coincidentally, were not actually on the ballot – Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State, of the PDP, and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, of the APC. Both men have similar experiences that have shaped them and made them to believe that any manner of victory comes through a struggle and that there are no freebies, especially in politics. As the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Oshiomhole had to lead organised labour to fight to get the federal government to accede to its demands of better wages and conditions of service among others. Even when he thought he had won his election as candidate of the APC in the 2007 Edo State Governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor of the PDP as winner. Oshiomhole had to take the battle to the Election Tribunal to get his victory in 2018.

Wike’s experience in politics is not completely dissimilar. He has become an interesting part of Nigeria’s democracy and this was evident when he was called to lead the party to an electoral battle against Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the APC in Edo State! Wike’s brand of politics, like that of Oshiomhole, involves a lot of tough talk; some may even go as far as describing it as combative! While Oshiomhole’s combative brand of politics could be traced to his involvement in organised labour, that of Wike could be said

to be home-brewed as his past experiences all centre on Rivers State politics.

Take the case, for instance, where his party, the PDP, did everything at its disposal to deny his then friend and ally, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the party’s gubernatorial ticket which he won in the primary election but which was given to Celestine Omehia in the events leading to the 2007 governorship election. PDP won that election and Omehia was sworn in as Governor. Wike reportedly led that battle all the way up to the Supreme Court where Amaechi’s victory was restored and Amaechi was eventually sworn in as Governor of the State in October, 2007. That was a battle!

Another interesting incident of note happened in 2013 when Amaechi, still the sitting Governor of Rivers State on the platform of the PDP, and Chairman of the Governors Forum, led five of seven serving PDP Governors under the aegis of the G-7 to defect to the opposition APC in November, 2013.

This defection preceded the period President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan started traversing the length and breadth of Nigeria soliciting, begging, and pleading with Nigerians for a second term of office in presidential elections originally scheduled for February 14, 2015.

When a sitting governor defects from a political party in these parts, it is expected that those that are part and parcel of that government would tag along. That was not exactly the case in Rivers State, a resource-rich state in the heart of the Niger Delta as that departure in 2013, less than two years before presidential and general elections, gave birth to the Grassroots Development Initiative which Nyesom Wike formed as a coalition for those who were still loyal to the PDP and Goodluck Jonathan in Rivers State.

The GDI coalesced into a powerful group in Rivers State spearheaded by Wike, who was at that time the Minister of State for Education.

He would be elevated to acting Minister of Education following the sack of the minister, Ruqqayatu Ahmed Rufa’I, by President

Goodluck Jonathan, in September 2013. As would be expected, the GDI faced strong opposition and, some would say, persecution from the Governor Rotimi Amaechi-led APC government.

There was no love lost between the two gentlemen (Wike and Amaechi) and their groups/political parties as they deployed everything at their disposal to score the advantage. Each was aware, from their mutual first –hand experiences, that power does not come easy and that election in this clime is war by another name!

With Rotimi Amaechi taking the structures of his government to the opposition APC, Wike’s Grassroots Development Initiative waxed stronger and Wike presented himself as the PDP candidate. He survived a very violent electioneering campaign and won what would be a bloody governorship election on April 11, 2015, defeating his closest rivals, Dakuku Peterside, of Amaechi’s APC who came second and Tonye Princewill of the Labour Party.

The Rivers State Election Tribunal nullified Wike’s victory on October 24, 2015 and ordered a rerun within 90 days. His journey to the Court of Appeal did not bring any succour to him as the appellate court upheld the judgment of the tribunal. Wike could only breathe easy after the Supreme Court upturned the decision of the tribunal and Court of Appeal.

With these similar backgrounds and experiences, many Nigerians already knew what to expect when the PDP announced Wike as the Chairman of the Edo State Governorship Election National Campaign Council with Oshiomhole making himself campaign leader for Ize-Iyamu and the APC. Some APC faithful expressed the fear that Wike’s appointment in Edo meant that PDP was spoiling for war. On the other hand, the PDP members rather saw the appointment as the one that would make the opposition discard any plan to rig in the event that such tactics were afoot. They saw Wike as

the single individual that could neutralize Oshiomhole. But it was not as smooth as that.

Wike exhibited a fit of anger at some point in the events leading to Governor Obaseki’s admission into the PDP. Most APC faithful blame Oshiomhole for the party’s loss in the Edo governorship election accusing him of personalising the campaign to the exclusion of National Working Committee members and other stakeholders just so he could teach his former ally, Obaseki, the lesson of his political life.

On the other hand, the PDP believes Wike won the election for Obaseki and their party though the Rivers State Governor has said in a recent interview that it was the Edo people themselves that gave Obaseki his second term to send a clear message to Oshiomhole that they will not accept godfatherism anymore.

With Edo State remaining calm after the September 19, 2020 election and with the PDP candidate coming out victorious, Wike may be right to feel he won this battle against Oshiomhole. That can be seen in the number of visits and return visits between Governors Obaseki and Wike in the past few weeks.

At the end, we may have to agree with the Greek physician, Hippocrates, who postulated in his book, “On Airs, Waters, and Places�, that ‘man is the product of his environment’, as well as the American poet and writer, C. J. Heck, who captured it more succinctly that “We are all products of our environment; every person we meet, every new experience or adventure, every book we read, touches and changes us, making us the unique being we are�.

Elections in our country need not become theatres of war or battle grounds for bloodshed. Where the electoral process is transparently clear for all to see, no one would be on the streets protesting and the loser would appreciate that they were not robbed. This would become the case once things are done rightly and the masses are not short-changed! rBassey wrote from Abuja

15

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍľËœ 2020

EDITORIAL

THE RAIL LINE TO MARADI It is not a wise economic decision

A

pparently downplaying the struggling economy choked with debt crisis, the federal government last week approved the construction of a rail line from Kano to Maradi in Niger State. As usual, the Chinese construction behemoth, China Civil Engineering Construction Corp, is handling the details at the cost of $1.96 billion. And to underscore the premium placed on it, the project would commence almost immediately.

However, in difficult times as we are in, the new contract is making many Nigerians worried. The economics and politics of building an expensive rail line, 55 kilometres deep into Niger Republic, indeed raises many questions: What is the economic benefit of a rail WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC line to the poorest BENEFIT OF A RAIL LINE TO country in the world, and with THE POOREST COUNTRY borrowed funds?

IN THE WORLD, AND WITH What is the BORROWED FUNDS? volume of trade between Nigeria and Niger? What is it about Niger Republic that is more vital than our national needs? It is little wonder the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dubbed the project a “misplaced priority.�

In response to the barrage of criticisms, the federal government said the rail line would strengthen the nation’s economy. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said the rail extension was intended to take economic advantages of Niger Republic and other neighbouring countries like Chad and Burkina Faso which are all landlocked, by taking over their imports and exports with the rail linkage.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi similarly argued that the rail line would make it easier to attract cargoes from Niger and transport it efficiently to Tin-Can or Apapa seaport in Lagos for movement onward or outside the country.

Letters to the Editor

T H I S DAY EDITOR

DEPUTY EDITOR

˜

˜ MANAGING DIRECTOR

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR

CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD

EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL

MANAGING EDITOR

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN

GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ˜

˜

˜ ˜

DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS

˜ ˜

DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR

SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS

˜ CONTROLLERS

˜

˜

DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION

HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT

Ě“

TO SEND EMAIL: ďŹ rst name.surname@thisdaylive.com

“We decided to join the market and compete so that we can make the Lagos seaport very viable,� he said “since they cannot use our roads due to crime as well as customs and police checkpoints.

So it is about economics and development and not politics.�

Tried as they did, not many Nigerians are convinced. This is particularly so because many of the railway lines being developed by the administration as well as other infrastructural facilities are still crying for attention. The LagosIbadan rail line, for instance, has been in the works for years, just as the Lagos-Kano route. The Lagos-Calabar rail line was first approved in 2014.

It is more or less abandoned. Many other critical infrastructure projects are in various stages of abandonment. Can the government quantify, for instance, the impact of a Lagos intra-city rail services on the national economy? Are we not going into business to make profit? Why must we throw out billions of naira into an investment with shaky outcomes in times of critical needs?

Even if the essence is to attract goods and cargoes to the Apapa ports, as the minister argued, won’t the government first ensure that order is restored in and around the Lagos ports?

The Apapa ports have for years been a national embarrassment, a serious of threat to national security, the economy, health and the environment. The impossible traffic conditions saw to the crippling of commercial and industrial activities in the area and beyond, while the cost of goods from the ports are astronomical as a result of the difficulties in getting them out. Indeed, Cotonou has remained the haven for most importers.

Huge trade cargoes are also lost to Togo and other neighbouring countries from where they are offloaded and transshipped to Nigeria due to poor shipping connectivity, shallow draft of the port channels, and general infrastructural inadequacies. Has the administration addressed these stifling issues to commerce?

There is so much to do with money by a country on the verge of a second recession. Borrowing billions of dollars to build a rail line to Maradi is, to put it mildly, very dubious!

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to speciďŹ c publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-200 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 (9501000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY, MY FATHERLAND!

A

s we celebrate 60 years, Nigerians have been in the vanguard of great things and the spirit of a Nigerian is all conquering. At the same time, however, the bad name Nigeria is given is as a result of some bad eggs amongst us. I remember the glorious days of Nigeria when the norm was taking road trips and enjoying the scenery. Those days are gone today because of the bad roads, crime or the excesses of the authorities.

I was bereaved recently and I needed to travel to Benin, so I decided to do a road trip to see the beauty of Nigeria again. But it saddened my heart the deplorable state of the roads. The stretch connecting Lagos Island to Epe was a nightmare! This experience continued until we linked the Shagamu-Benin express road. The road only got better as we got to Ondo State.

Bad roads and the terrible stress that come with it are prevalent in this country. I wonder how tourism is going to thrive with these roads‌ Many checkpoints with police officers openly collecting bribe. It is shocking that bribe collection has become a culture. What I noticed is that the policemen at the checkpoints, once you declined to give, they let you go but the Customs officers‌ those ones are the cesspit of highway corruption, especially as you get into Benin.

I was stopped and asked for my car’s customs paper, which was presented to them. But the

Customs officer said it was fake. I asked him what makes it fake, he said the font size!!! He then went ahead to seize my paper and started the corruption dance. He said he was going to take my car away. At that point, my driver was confused and perplexed.

I reminded the officer that there were verification numbers by the customs on the paper through which they could verify. I had in the past called Customs to verify. It’s shocking that the Customs does not have a website to verify the authenticity of the paper!

An average Customs officer becomes the judge and jury in any case on the highway.

The officer’s insistence was malicious; his eyes were ready for attack like the constrictor boar.

After he heard me speak, and perhaps because of my accent which he thought sounded foreign, he said I must pay N300,000! Prior to this time, the first officer that talked to me had begged for N20,000 for the weekend.

This back and forth continued for over an hour. I asked him: was the customs receipt on the customs paper bearing the customs logo forged? He had no answer but insisted I must give him N300,000!

I walked away, and while I did, my driver came to tell me how jubilant they were that they had caught a big fish. At this time, I made some calls‌ it is so sad you have to do that in Nigeria; it shows how people have to suffer if they do not know anyone who could

help them‌ Anyway, I told my contact to help me reach the verification number; he did; and after he made further calls‌ thereafter, the Customs officer (the boss, perhaps) came to me and instructed them to return my car to me.

So, this is what the Customs do. They make a false claim that your papers are fake once they stop you‌ they normally target SUVs; then they ask you for bribe. If you do not comply, they take your car to their yard and auction it to themselves.

It is a cultural ring of corruption and many Nigerians have been cheated that way. Many people have told me that the Customs officers stationed as you enter Benin are notorious. When the officer gave me my key his colleagues looked deflated. They had planned to share my money.

I have a few questions: What if I had a foreigner with me that wanted to explore Nigeria? Why can’t the Customs have a working, verifiable portal to check custom papers on the website? Why do they have checking points on the roads? On a road trip to Benin you have customs, police and army on the road. Is Nigeria a police state? Why is the road from Lagos to Epe so bad yet there are regular adverts for ‘weekend getaway in Epe’?

As we celebrate 60 years, a few bad eggs in our institutions make the diamond not to shine bright as it should. rRufai Oseni, rufaioseni@gmail.com

COMPARE AND CONTRAST

A

ustralia and America are friends with many characteristics in common although with a few contrasts too. In Australia, an elderly COVID patient is isolated in a hospital room and cannot have visitors even as they pass on. In America, an elderly COVID patient can leave hospital to go for a drive and wave to his fans. In Australia one in 1000 have got COVID, in America one in 50 have got COVID. In Australia one in 3000 have died from it, in America one in 1500 have died from it. We might be smaller and isolated, but we are GREAT! Come and visit us, once it is safe. r%FOOJT 'JU[HFSBME .FMCPVSOF "VTUSBMJB

16

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2020 •T H I S D AY

17

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2020 •T H I S D AY

18

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2020

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

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

The DSS Recruitment that Further Divides the Country Amby Uneze focuses on the recent revelation that the Director General of the Directorate of State Services presided over a recruitement exercise into the organisation that further emphasizes nepotism, tribalism and corruption

Buhari

T

he amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorates on 1 January 1914, by Sir Donald Fredrick Lugard climaxed the British policy of unification of Nigeria by ‘uniting’ the two halves of the country - Northern and Southern Protectorates - in what has since been known as the amalgamation. In an abstract written by Emmanuel Oladipo Ojo published in Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria, he described Nigeria as ‘a British creation fashioned out between 1861 and 1914’.

He went on to state that the 1861 annexation of Lagos gave Britain a firm foothold in Nigeria; and, between that year and 1903, virtually every Nigerian nation capitulated to British imperial rule. The British thereafter administered the country they took five decades to create until Nigeria obtained flag independence on 1 October I960. This implies that Nigeria is one century old as a geographical entity and six decades old as an independent sovereign state.

The author contended that while the British may have created Nigeria; quite a large number of Nigerian leaders cremated it. Today, apart from the existence of legally constituted governments and the absence of pervasive internecine wars, Nigeria manifests virtually all the traits of a failed state. A country of inexplicable trajectories, despite enormous national wealth, intractable corruption has sentenced an overwhelming percentage of Nigerians to grinding poverty; health institutions are near total collapse resulting in high maternal deaths, preventable ailments and morbidity; social services such as potable water, power supply, good roads and a functional and dynamic educational system are either altogether non-existent or hopelessly inadequate and erratic thereby turning Nigerians into infrahumans.

He concluded that while Nigeria, as a politico-geographical entity, is neither disintegrating nor dismembering, pervasive corruption, intractable unemployment, endemic poverty and infrastructural deficit had ensured that millions of her citizens are socially muzzled and economically cremated.

Then, one may ask what are the reasons for amalgamation of Nigeria? If the unification was done for economic reasons rather than political, because the Northern Nigeria Protectorate had a budget deficit; and the colonial administration sought to use the budget surpluses in Southern Nigeria to offset this deficit, then, the reason may actually not be for unity purposes but for the interest of the colonial masters who wanted to reap bountifully from the rich Southern protectorate. To this end, the purpose of amalgamation became unnecessary when it was not to bring harmony, economic emancipation, progress and development of the country.

What the colonial administration achieved to a discerning mind was to ‘rob Paul and pay Peter’ and while Peter continued to live in abundance; Paul (who happens to be the

Aregbesola main source of the wealth) wallows in penury and abject poverty.

No wonder, Protectorate is defined as the relationship of a strong state toward a weaker state or territory that it protects and partly controls. Nigerians have not enjoyed their coming together as a nation.

Instead of the amalgamation ushering in development and unity, peace and love as enshrined in the Coat of Arm as our motto; what the country experiences today in her 60th independent anniversary is nothing but anguish, maladministration, disunity, insecurity, killings, bad leadership, corruption and lack of development.

The present economical and socio-political situation in Nigeria today is a big departure from what the founding fathers of the country had anticipated. From the era of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alhaji Tafawa Belewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo to the present leadership, they are miles apart in terms of concept and believe in the country. While the era of our founding fathers was hinged on progress and development in which peace, love and unity of the regions were the order of the day, what we see today is selfishness among the leaders, corruption, insecurity, and infrastructural decay. The country has become a shadow of itself.

Echoing their displeasure on how appointments have been going on in the Nigeria of today, Southern and Middle Belt leaders recently tackled President Muhammadu Buhari over lopsided recruitment by Department of Security Services (DSS) and accuse the agency of recruiting 535 Northerners and paltry 93 Southerners in a country every section has equal right.

The leaders condemned the latest recruitment exercise carried out by the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Yusuf Bichi where 535 northerners and 93 southerners were allegedly employed.

Citing the People’s Gazette report based on official documents and contributions of senior

intelligence officials, the leaders alleged that Bichi allegedly activated lopsided hiring process that flooded the DSS with personnel from the Northern part of Nigeria.

The leaders in a statement jointly issued

by Mr. Yinka Odumakin (South-west); Chief Guy Ikokwu (South-east); Senator Bassey Henshaw, (South-south) and Dr. Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt), lamented that barely 24 hours after both Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha warned separately that cracks on the Nigerian wall could lead to its break-up, a scandalous report came out in the Peoples Gazette showing how the DG of DSS has put a sharp knife to the rope holding what is left of Nigeria together through an insensitive and impunitous lopsided recruitment into the agency. They noted that this fits perfectly into the ethno-agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari, which has manifested in running the country as if he heads only a section of it. The leaders said Bichi’s regional recruitment agenda came three years after his predecessor implemented a similar hiring process that failed to reflect Nigeria’s diversity.

The statement, which quoted copiously, a report on People’s Gazette, read in part: ‘’The Gazette’s findings obtained over a period of two weeks showed that the North has a massive share of the roughly 1,300 Nigerians currently undergoing cadet training at two different camps of the secret police in Lagos and Bauchi. Of the total 628 cadet trainees who had resumed at the Bauchi facility as of September 23, 2020, 535 trainees joined the service from either the North-east or the North-west. Only 93 were from either the South-east, South-south, South-west or North-central. ‘’The Gazette’s findings also show that at least 71 of those currently undergoing cadet training hail from Bichi Local Government Area of Kano State — the director-general’s home local government area. Officials said the

The present economical and socio-political situation in Nigeria today is a big departure from what the founding fathers of the country had anticipated.

From the era of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alhaji Tafawa Belewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo to the present leadership, they are miles apart in terms of concept and believe in the country. While the era of our founding fathers was hinged on progress and development in which peace, love and unity of the regions were the order of the day, what we see today is selfishness among the leaders, corruption,

number was more, but the Gazette could not independently confirm the higher figures — as well as a slew of other disturbing allegations of bigotry against, Mr. Bichi — prior to its publication.

“The list of candidates was not compiled by the state, but officials believe a state-by-state breakdown would exist at the headquarters in Abuja. In Lagos, the Gazette was unable to obtain official attendance records of trainees at the camp in Ojo, but multiple participants, including senior officials, said Mr. Bichi disregarded the federal character concept and skewed the process for Nigerians from the North.

“Some of us are worried less about the audacity of focusing on one part of the country to bring in new cadets than we are about its long-term implications,” a senior DSS official told the Gazette.

In the same vein, President Buhari’s eight new Supreme Court nominees are Nasir Isa Kwarra (Nasarawa) Chairman; Ali Silas Agara (Nasarawa); Mohammed Chiso A. Dottoji (Sokoto); Gidado Razak Folorunso (Kwara); Ibrahim Mohammed (Bauchi); Hon. Joseph Kwali Shazin (FCT); Ajayi Ayodeji Sunday (Ekiti); Garba A. G. Zakar (Jigawa); Mai Aliyu Muhammad (Yobe); Muhammad Muttaka Rini (Zamfara); Hon. Engr. Bala Almu Banya (Katsina); and Mrs. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin (Lagos). The composition of these nominees indicates that six are Northerners, while only two are Southerners. There was emphatically, no nominee from South-east and South-south.

Under the present circumstance, some prominent Nigerians have been expressing their feeling on the need to reposition the country. About two weeks ago, former President, Olusegun Obasanjo let loose a slinger to the government. In the wake of the diversity problem and socio-economic troubles Nigeria is currently undergoing, Obasanjo argues that Nigeria is “fast drifting (in)to a failed and badly divided state.” For him, Nigeria has not only become the poverty capital of the world (a position formerly belonging to India), it has become terribly insecure.

All these are a function of the trouble with integrating ethnic differences.

Professor Wole Soyinka corroborated this cogent assessment of the Nigeria situation. For him, “Nigeria is divided like never before.”

It is precisely in the agreement of these two observers of the Nigerian condition that the anxiety that underlies this piece is founded.

The reaction of the government to these criticisms has become almost mechanical in its recurrence. The point in strategic communication however, is to take any criticism serious no matter where it is coming from, and more so if they are backed by objective indices. The most significant index in this case is the worsening quality of life of Nigerians.

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

19

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2020

POLITICS

How Sanwo-Olu is Charting a New Course with Igbos in Lagos Emma Chidi Ofoegbu commends the fence-mending style of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State in his novel approach to the welfare of Igbos in the state

Sanwo-Olu

O

hanaeze as a socio-cultural organization of the Igbos worldwide, stands as the biggest umbrella right from its inception as Igbo State Union, that protects the Igbo interests in diverse contexts.

In 1935, when Sir Francis AkanuIbiam, the first Igbo medical doctor, returned from Europe after his studies, He and a few energetic Igbo leaders initiated the effort to form a union that could bring all Igbos together, through the representative of villages and clans in the city of Lagos. A Pan-Igbo movement with the aim of advancing the cause of the people, especially in the field of education. The Igbo union was doing very well, giving scholarships to indigent students and helping members in their business interests.

At the inaugural meeting of the Igbo union in 1936, the leader of the movement stated: “Brethren, this is the day and the hour when the Igbo of Nigeria should come together and sink all differences – geographical, lingual, intellectual, moral and religious – and unite under the banner of our great objectives, which are unity, cooperation and progress of all Igbos”.

When Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene indicated interest to lead the Igbos in Lagos State under the platform of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, some of us who are close to him, and have done one or two things with him in business and educational circles, came out convincingly to campaign for him. At one of the meetings we held at the time, one “Onye Eze” in one of the local governments in Lagos State told me he thought I was Solomon Ogbonna’s Campaign Manager. I was not, but was so strategic in my campaign activities that will make one to think I was even the one contesting the leadership position, based on my experience as a former Ohanaeze Alimosho Local Government Area Chairman; and Lagos State Ohanaeze Chairmen Forum Secretary, among other responsibilities as a member and secretary of executive in Ohanaeze Lagos state.

I was doing that because having

Nwodo

known him and had contacts and interactions with him, I saw in him a man that is humble, peaceful, considerate, has a lot of love in his heart, and willing to assist anyone he came in contact with, to move out of despondency into a better life. I saw in him natural intelligence, I observed in him ability to critically analyse issues in contexts that demonstrate he knew what he is talking about; bringing into perspectives his experiences- native , local and international, and vision of the future, and how to get there. I saw in him a good natured man, an interesting personality and one, somebody can joyfully work with; yes, a man that is willing to listen to advice and ready to correct himself. A man that is so appreciative and thankful for anything you do for him. A man anyone who understands what leadership is, can easily identify as a great leader and astute manager of men and their psychologies. A man of peace and love. Let it not, when his history will be read by generations and after his tenure, be mentioned or said that an Igbo

man or woman was expelled from Ohanaeze during his time as President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State. His disagreement with Chief John Uche, Ohanaeze Lagos State first President, is an issue that does not require much time to settle and this article serves to announce that the issue has been resolved peacefully. We had a similar case after the election that threw up Barrister Fabian Onwughalu. At the chairmen forum, I was the one who initiated the idea of post election conflict resolution committee to look into all the grievances that wanted to tear Ohanaeze Lagos State apart.

The chairmen accepted my proposal and appointed me secretary of the committee. We did a great work and all court cases were withdrawn. We did not recommend that anybody should be expelled. That statement is not the voice of Chief Solomon Ogbonna Aguene and will forever not be.

His relationship with the Lagos State Government under the leadership of Babajide Sanwo-Olu is not a mistake in every consideration.

The current Lagos State Governor,

The current Lagos State Governor, in the person of His Excellency Babajide, Sanwo-Olu seems to have undergone a tutorial on Igbo psychology, to understand that the Igbos in Lagos State should be respected and treated like stakeholders not strollers. A clear departure from the era of political blackmail, intimidation, arrogance and false claims in South-west ,particularly by members of APC in Lagos state; who thought they can intimidate the Igbos through sponsoring attacks against them, their shops, their properties, and propaganda that creates a situations where Igbos see them as continuing the Nigeria- Biafra war in Lagos State during elections

in the person of His Excellency Babajide, Sanwo-Olu seems to have undergone a tutorial on Igbo psychology, to understand that the Igbos in Lagos State should be respected and treated like stakeholders not strollers. A clear departure from the era of political blackmail, intimidation, arrogance and false claims in South-west ,particularly by members of APC in Lagos state; who thought they can intimidate the Igbos through sponsoring attacks against them, their shops, their properties, and propaganda that creates a situations where Igbos see them as continuing the Nigeria- Biafra war in Lagos State during elections, and as such do not have any other choice than to oppose them and defeat them at their various polling units, and be ready to fight back in the markets, at the bus stops and at polling units during elections. And hiring one or two Igbo sons, who Igbos do not recognize as leaders, to abuse us.

Because of this approach by the Governor and his relationship with the Ohanaeze president, his concern for the welfare of the Igbos particularly the widows in Lagos State, and his listening ear, those of us who worked in the past and have the ability to deliver our polling units, wards, and constituencies to PDP, will now transfer this political power, to support Babajide Sanwo-Olu APC platform ;and support everything he is doing in Lagos State – politically, socially and economically. We shall go back to tell those our members, that recognized us as their leaders, to vote for APC government under Babajide Sanwo-Olu. We will tell them we have found another friend in him ‘ and have accepted him as one of us.

We will tell them the Governor has worked to become “Nwanne di na Mba” (A brother in Diaspora). We will tell them we have seen a man who has demonstrated through his numerous supports for the Igbos in Lagos state, that, he is respectful ,reliable, have high regards and consideration for the Igbos; and treat Igbos as friends and good neighbours not weeds.

T H I S D AY Ëž OCTOBER 7, 2020

20

FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, 08038901925

An Estate in Crisis Sunday Ehigiator writes that the Lagos State House of Assembly has waded into the crisis currently rocking the 1004 Estate in Victoria Island, between the Community Development Association and Home Owners and Residents Association

I

n what could be likened to management crises in the 1004 Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos, which had degenerated to heated confrontations and allegations between the executives of 1004 Home Owners and Residents Association (1004HORA), and the Community Development Association (CDA) Chairman of the Estate, Matthew Ibadin, it was necessary that the state government took drastic actions towards assessing the true situation of the estate.

Hence the fact-finding visitation of the Chairman, House Committee on Housing, Hon. Adebisi Yusuf, in company of the Chairman, House Committee on Agric, Hon. Kehinde Joseph, and Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Housing, Toke-Benson Awoyinka.

Earlier, the acting Chairperson, 1004HORA, Lara Ademola, in a press statement titled “Bar-Beach Police DPO Empowers Electricity Thieves in 1004 Estate’ as made available to THISDAY, had accused the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Bar Beach, CSP Isa Lawal of shielding and encouraging Ibadin to continue stealing power in the estate.

According to her, “in recent times, 1004HORA’s ability to provide 24hours electricity in the estate has been threatened by activities of residents engaged in power theft, which is not just a breach of the estate’s bylaws but also a criminal act under the law of Nigeria. “To stem this tide of power theft and avoid infrastructural collapse, 1004HORA deployed agreed community sanctions against the thieves. These measures have brought the association on collision with those engaged in electricity theft. “The chief amongst whom is one Mathew Ibadin, a tenant who has used his position as the Chairman of the Victoria Island Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) to cause mayhem in the estate. “Brazenly steal power, aid and abet others to steal power and promote general lawlessness in the estate with the active support and connivance of the DPO, Bar Beach police station, CSP Isa Lawal. “One would expect the Nigerian police to support 1004HORA and apprehend thieves and criminals in the estate; however, what we observe is that the Bar Beach police DPO is always in aid of the power thieves in 1004 estate, while punishing those trying to uphold the law.�

Aside power theft, Ademola also accused Ibadin, against the estate bylaws, of bringing petrol generator to power his apartment on August 9, “thereby exposing the block of 127 apartments on 14 floors and indeed the entire estate to the risk of fire outbreak akin only to the Grenfell Tower fire disaster in London. “With the support of the DPO, Matthew Ibadin continues to threaten and harass 1004HORA EXCO members and staff as well as other residents, while also engineering their arrest, and detention both at Bar Beach police station and Police Zone 2 Command Headquarters, Onikan over his continues use of generator in the estate.�

Reacting to the allegations in a recently held press conference, Ibadin described the allegation as “spurious and a warped attempt to stand truth on its head by a group desperate to evade accountability and the consequences of corrupt enrichment�.

According to him, “it all started when I observed that water was dripping on the electricity meter in my apartment in the estate.

This reportedly went on for several weeks before I contacted the Estate's Operations Manager; Christopher Amako who in turn informed Alphamead, cluster D1 Manager, Mr. Bassey Samuel. “Thereafter, a plumber and an electrician were sent to cover the meter with a polythene bag but the problem persisted thereby leading to damage of the meter.�

Arising from this, Ibadin said he had to pay for electricity severely, totaling the sum of N66, 000, as the meter could not be loaded with credits any more.

He said, “For failing to solve my problem

by HORA, I had to report to Amako who in turn, came to my apartment with an electrician to remove the meter for repairs. Following the removal of my meter, a bypass was installed by the same electrician contracted by Amako.�

Ibadin also highlighted that prior to the meter issue; the 1004 Estate CDA had written a petition to the Lagos State Governor and the honourable speaker, house of assembly concerning HORA's misappropriation of

Workers weeding the estate's power station upon arrival of the delegates to the station

Delegates from the Lagos State House of Assembly led by the Chairman, House Committee on Housing, Hon. Adebisi Yusuf, during a fact ďŹ nding visit to 1004 Estate, Victoria Island

A part of the 1004 estate residents' funds and lack of accountability.

In response to the petition, “the governor had directed the Ministry of Justice to take action; consequently upon which the CDA and HORA leaders were invited by the ministry. “Obviously feeling embarrassed after the meeting which was presided over by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Toke-Benson Awoyinka, leaders of HORA threatened to deal with CDA members. “On that same day, light to my apartment was disconnected by HORA agents after a period of fluctuation. During the light fluctuation, my home appliances namely, television sets, refrigerator, deep freezer, air conditioning units, UPS, laptops and so on were damaged.�

According to him, it was this incident that prompted him to officially report to the Bar Beach Police Station, a case of threat to life, damage to his appliances, stealing and burglary which are all criminal in nature.

Reacting to the allegation that the DPO of Bar Beach Police was taking sides with him, Mr. Ibadin described the allegation as “infantile�, adding that the DPO is well known for his zero tolerance for criminality. “He is a gallant officer who has fought criminals in the area and brought crime to the barest minimum in Victoria Island�.

In a twisted response, he alleged that “Ademola and her group chose to blackmail the DPO because he refused to collect bribes to possibly do their bidding. The DPO wanted them to respond to the case of criminality leveled against them, but they have refused to show up.�

Ibadin further accused Ademola to have surreptitiously assumed the position of a one-man leader over the affairs of the estate.

He said it was “constitutionally illegal for her to arrogate powers of managing the estate including financial matters to herself, whereby she signs checks, awards contracts,

interviews contractors, brings the contractors herself, pays the contractor of her choice all by herself. “There is no room for check and balances, ably supported by a Board of Trustee whose members lack eligibility to act in that capacity.�

According to Ibadin, “the eight selfappointed life BoT members namely Tayo Soetan, Yomi Ishola, Alfred Eyimife, Tony Ezeukwu, Bar. Lotana Okoli, Theresa Okpokpor Okenabirhe, Kingsley Akinroye and Lohi Ifidon-Ola are currently breaching the constitution of the Home Owners and Residents Association which in its original version did not make room for life membership of the board.�

Upon arrival to the estate last Wednesday, the state’s delegation in its bid to assess the true state of the estate went round the nooks and crannies of the estate which consists of 1,074 flats, and occupied by over 4,000 residents, including expatriates.

In the company of journalists from various media houses, including THISDAY, the delegates assessed the situation of buildings, drainages, water supply station, power station, sports facilities, amongst other facilities in the estate.

They also looked through record books, interviewed operation managers and residents, independently of the either estate executives nor CDA members.

From THISDAY observations, all the buildings visited which consists of not less than 150 flats and occupied by no fewer than 800 residents in the 14 stories building, had only one working elevator out of the two available in each of them.

At the entrance of each elevator is a notice to residents, dated March 23, 2020, signed by the then 1004HORA General Secretary, now acting Chairperson, Lara Ademola, on behalf of 1004HORA Executives, which reads: “The lift situation 1004 estate has become extremely precarious. So therefore, it has

become pertinent to preserve the singular operational lifts available to residents, homeowners, and visitors. “In moving forward, the singular operational passenger lifts should not be used to convey goods or cargo of any kind. The reason for this is that the use of this passenger lift to freight cargo, will affect the lifts to malfunction and cause downtime. All users are hereby implored to kindly cooperate.�

Also, there were cracks to some of the buildings which obviously look very old and not renovated in a long while. The swimming pools were empty, and looked unutilised for a significant period of time.

Upon arrival at the power station of the estate, the environment appears untidy as few workers were sited just weeding and trying to clean up the station.

The delegate however expressed some concerns over the inexplicit record of operators of the station. The record was faulted by the delegate for not explicitly stating the litres of diesels the power station is supplied whenever they are supplied. Instead, the record only showed the litres of diesel it has before a supply is made, and the total litres of diesel it has after a new supply must have been done.

Speaking with THISDAY on condition of anonymity, residents and homeowners of the estate decried the heavy annual service charge they are always forced to pay, even when they don’t see any significant work they do with it.

They said each flat in the estate pays a minimum of N650, 000 and maximum of N700, 000 as service charge annually. And they are also made to pay as high as N70, 000 for power monthly.

They said failure to pay up the service charge after the first quarter of the year, attracts a penalty of 20 per cent increase and if it extends to another quarter, it attracts additional 10 per cent increase, which they must pay, else their flat is disconnected from power supply.

They also confirmed to THISDAY that they buy power for N63.75 per kilowatts instead of the official N23.75 per kilowatts as is sold to other Nigerians outside the estate.

Addressing journalists after the exercise, Honourable Yusuf said the state house of assembly, being one that is above the common standard with a very proactive speaker, “received a petition concerning the management of 1004 estate, that the residents were paying a lot of money, but not getting commesorate services. “They called on the assembly’s intervention so that the management can begin to have the welfare of the people at heart. And for us to give a fair judgement, we need to see things for ourselves, and that is why I am also here with the representative of the governor. “We have assessed the whole estate. We have seen the records, and from there to the physical appearance and the management of the whole place. We have done on the-spotassessment of the whole place and we will come up with our report. We will submit our reports to the house to discuss, analyse, and come out with a concrete resolution. “This place is a multibillion investment; it is to be kept right, because it adds value to the economy of the state, and Nigeria as a whole. And as a result of this, the governor and Mr. Speaker will not close their eyes to this kind of investment to rot away.�

21

T H I S D AY Ëž OCTOBER 7, 2020

FEATURES

Dividends of Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme in Abia Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia writes that the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme launched in Abia State last year has started yielding dividends as the youths have found gainful employment in poultry farming

Abia's poultry cluster at Umuosu Nsulu

Governor Ikpeazu inspecting the poultry cluster

A

hen the government of Abia State commenced the implementation of the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (AADS) in November last year it was received with the scepticism that usually attended government programmes. It was intended as an empowerment tool for youths to make a living from poultry farming.

But even the target beneficiaries were unsure it would be a success. "To be sincere, when the project started, we thought it was the usual government thing, said Ifeanyi Ukpai, a youth from Ohafia. “But to my greatest surprise, we were empowered with about 300 birds for the first cycle and along the line after about six to eight weeks, the birds were off taken and we received what was due to us�.

Like so many other beneficiaries of the AADS, Ukpai is now singing a song of success and is now fully convinced that the programme is for real. The young man is now running the second cycle of the programme and the birds would be off taken any moment from now and more money would flow into his bank account. “It a great empowerment and job creation project for Abia youths," he enthused.

Ms Mercy Robert from Bende Local Government has similar experience. She considers herself as a privileged beneficiary of the AADS programme.

Recounting her journey into poultry business, Ms Robert said that she was practically jobless until she was introduced into the project by the desk officer, Mr. Johnson Udensi.

The aspect of the programme that specially thrilled her was that “after the training, funds will be given to us to start on our own�. Her enthusiasm was so infectious that immediately she told her people about the venture they quickly made a pen available and eagerly awaited her to start her poultry business. “Since I came here I have nothing to regret," she said.

These success stories of Abia youths newly engaged in poultry business was made possible following the decision of the state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu to offload as many Abia youths as possible from the unemployment market through the agricultural sector.

He had recognised the enormous employment opportunities inherent in the agricultural sector hence when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) came up with the AADS he was the first governor to key into it and promptly commenced its implementation in his state. Without any delay Ikpeazu built an ultra modern poultry cluster at Umuosu Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government to serve as training ground for the would be poultry farmers drawn from the youth population. The idea was that before venturing into the business of poultry farming they must be made to understand its rudiments in order to make huge success of it.

During the inauguration of the poultry cluster in November 2019, Ikpeazu disclosed that the 55, 500 capacity poultry cluster sitting on 3.5 hectare of land has a modern administrative building with offices, classrooms and living

Some of the AADS beneďŹ ciaries quarters for the trainees. He mandated the AADS implementation team to train 1,000 Abia youths drawn from across the 17 local governments of the state to become poultry farmers.

The plan was that at least 50 young poultry farmers would emerge from each of the 17 local governments. The Abia chief executive noted that the cluster has virtually everything needed by poultry farmer to excel in the business - training, poultry production, feed production and provision of market for the farmers to sell their products. He had stated that the feeds would be subsidised at N2,000 per bag to further drive down the cost of production to the poultry farmers thereby enhancing their profit margins.

The governor therefore made a clarion call for youths to embrace the AADS as a good means of livelihood. To make it more attractive and ensure seamless take-off for the new poultry farmers, the governor directed local government chairmen to provide pens for the poultry farmers from their respective domains.

According to the consultant to the project, Igwe Nonso Ogbunamiri, over 500 Abia youths have so far been trained and empowered to engage in poultry farming since the programme commenced at the tail end of 2019. He assured that the AADS was on course to achieve the mandate of training 1,000 youths by April next year as government “has done so well in supporting us� adding that there is no interference whatsoever even from the ministry of agriculture, the supervising ministry.

The poultry expert explained that the job creation opportunities in the AADS comprised both the poultry farmers and the employees of the poultry cluster. He said: “There are two sides to this; the first is the ones we are training on how to rear their own birds and also empower them to set up their pens. The other one are the ones we have given job opportunities and paying their salaries, so these are the two sets we have here and that was the directive from the state government and CBN. We're doing it perfectly well here�.

The first set of trainees, according to the consultant, comprised 225 youths and the cluster is taking in more youth in batches for the training programme. He pointed out that though the main training services are provided at the government-owned poultry cluster at Umuosu Nsulu, some privately owned farms have been selected as training centres.

For instance the UPS Farm at Mbawsi is also serving as training ground while another farm has been acquired to serve the same purpose.

The UPS Farm, which employs 65 workers, including administrative staff, is highly rated in the business of poultry farming.

And in consonance with the promise made by Governor Ikpeazu to establish poultry clusters in all the three senatorial zones of the state, Ogbunamiri disclosed that government has already released funds for the building of a poultry cluster at Obingwa local government in Abia South Zone. It’s expected that the third cluster would be sited at Abia North Zone to complete the circle.

With the pace the training programme has been going, the consultant who is also the chief executive officer of UPS Farms, expressed strong optimism that Governor Ikpeazu’s intention to train and equip 1,000 young poultry farmers in Abia would be fulfilled within the set period. “I can authoritatively tell you that within two weeks we should be talking about 500 youths that this programme has taken care of presently,� he said. And having achieved 50 per cent of the target set by the governor, “I'm sure that very soon we'll get there" and Abia would be sufficiently engaged in churning out poultry products from so many bird farms at various locations across the state.

Ogbunamiri said that he was aware of negative comments concerning the AADS programme posted on some social media platforms. He fended off such misconceptions, saying that the nay Sayers only need to come to Nsulu and see things for themselves instead of holding on to the ill-conceived belief that every programme

of government was bound to fail in the course of implementation.

The consultant noted that the AADS project has become a huge success in Abia, adding that credit should go to Governor Ikpeazu for his efforts in agricultural development.

Ogbunamiri explained that the success of the programme stemmed from the fact that both Governor Ikpeazu and the CBN partners have been strictly committed to giving support for the smooth implementation of the programme without interfering in any form.

"The Government of Abia State has done so well in support and we're so proud that we have not had any interference even from the Ministry of Agriculture, but he (Governor Ikpeazu) gives us a listening ear at any point in time we call on him. We have been getting so much support from him at any point in time I run to him," he said.

The consultant and other members of the implementation team of the AADS project have been kept on their toes by the state governor who has never taken his eyes off the project.

Ogbunamiri further disclosed that any time he went to present progress report the governor always insisted that the youths must not only be trained in poultry farming but must also be provided with the wherewithal to stand firm and make huge success of the venture. The beneficiaries of the AADS programme have already started testifying to the positive effect it has made in their lives.

After receiving the first payments of the profits made from the sales of their birds many of the AADS beneficiaries went to social media platforms to celebrate their "financial breakthroughs". They jubilated and profusely thanked Governor Ikpeazu for creating the opportunity for them to be gainfully employed in the agricultural sector instead of milling around in search of the elusive white collar jobs.

The consultant said that Governor Ikpeazu was very much impressed by the enthusiasm displayed by the beneficiaries and the manner they went online to celebrate their first earnings from poultry business. This show of gratitude was said to have impressed the governor so much that he gave the consultant further directive to ensure that the young poultry farmers were assisted to stand very firm on their feet.

He urged the upcoming youths to take the programme very seriously so as to enjoy the benefits therein.

All the beneficiaries that spoke with our correspondent testified to the ample benefits of the AADS programme. Among them were Mr. Paul Owunna, Ejike Ejike and Glory Okiyi all from Ikwuano as well as Patrick Ikemba and Great Ifeanyi Ukpai from Obingwa and Ohafia LGs, respectively, were all in agreement that the AADS programme represents a great empowerment and job creation project for Abia youths, for the state governor has offered them a lifetime job opportunity which each of them has grabbed with both hands and would eternally remain grateful to him for coming up with such youth-friendly project of such magnitude.

22

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2020 •T H I S D AY

23

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍľËœ 2020

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

A S

REPO 2.25 1.63

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

3.67 5.08 6.17

A T

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

S E P T E M B E R

S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

588.78% -0.35% -0.01%

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

4 , 4.61% 22.37%

2 0 2 0 EXCHANGE RATE N379/1US DOLLAR* ĚŠ

Quick Takes NSIA, CDC Group Seal Deal

PROMOTING ICT RESEARCH

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Mansfield Energy Services Limited, Dapo Oshinisi; Non-Executive Director, Greenwich Merchant Bank Ltd, Anslem Orazulike; Non-Executive Directors, Segun Oloketuyi; Olutoyin Okeowo, and Dr. Umar Faruk, at an event to celebrate Greenwich Merchant Bank’s official commencementofoperationsheld inLagos...recently ETOPUKUTT

‘Only Nine States are Prosperous’ Stories by Dike Onwuamaeze The Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC), Mr. Bismarck Rewane, has stated that only nine states in the country could be classified as fairly prosperous. These states, according to him, are Kwara, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Ed, Lagos and Anambra Rewane made this statement in a paper titled “NIGERIA: Resource Rich & Cash Poor; Plenty Potential ‌Little Actual,â€? which he presented to mark the 60th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria.

He also said 12 states fell within the category of highly miserable in the country. These states are Yobe, Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Adamawa, Taraba, Sokoto, Zamfara and Niger.

The remaining 15 states, namely Katsina, Kebbi, Kaduna, FCT, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Enugu, Delta, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers and Ebonyi, were

ECONOMY classified as fairly miserable.

Anambra State, according to him, has the least incidence of poverty in the country with 14.2 per cent while Taraba State scored the highest on the misery index with 39.1 per cent.

The prosperity/misery index, as presented by Rewane, showed the level of prosperity or poverty in the country. Hundred per cent on the index represented perfect or total miseries while zero per cent represents perfect prosperity. Above 40 per cent stand for acute misery or poverty while Nigeria’s average scores of 26.3 per cent fell within the fairly miserable category.

Rewane recommended the emergence of dynamic leadership and strong institutions in order for the country to achieve positive economic outcomes, adding that “Nigeria needs a big-push that could awaken the sleeping giant “to break out of the vicious cycle of poverty.�

The CEO said the big push would provide economic stimulus, eliminate constraint and structural bottlenecks and build robust fiscal and external buffers through fiscal discipline, prudency and diversification of the country’s revenue base Rewane, however, said that the country is currently faced with a binary choice, which is either to “do nothing� or pursue “revolutionary change� in the management of the economy.

He said the choice to, “do nothing� would mean a guaranteed failure or that the country would remain in the same state while a choice for revolutionary change have 45 per cent probability to succeed.�

Rewane pointed out further that the choice to do nothing would mean that the power sector reform would be partly implemented with modest new investments in power sector while some rail projects with limited linkages would be commissioned .It would also mean “partial exchange rate

convergence, continued rationing of foreign exchange while intending international investors to remain tentative.�

He stated that the possible outcome of the choice would be to stymie the country’s opportunity to launch its economic take-off.

On the other hand, Rewane argued that a pitch for the revolutionary change in the management of the Nigeria’s economy would deliver the needful big-push for sustained economic take-off, increase total factor productivity by 2,5 per cent and encourage massive investments that could enhance gross fixed capital formation to 35 per cent of the GDP. He noted that this would entail the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, the sale of failed refineries as scrap, the commercialisation of NNPC and the launching of the reform of the oil and gas sector.

This would also, according to Continued on page 24

Report Calls for Synergy Between CBN, NESG The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Economic Society Group (NESG) have been advised to sit together and work out ways of uniting their strengths in order to fashion out policies to stabilise the economy.

This view was expressed in the September edition of the, “Memo to the Market,� a publication by Proshare titled, the “NESG vs CBN: Beyond the BattlegroundThe Need for Facts, Perspective and Resolution.� It referenced the recent altercation between the NESG and the CBN on the country’s economic policies.

The NESG had in a statement last month faulted some of the CBN’s policies, which got the response of the central bank.

Proshare in its report stated that, “both parties need to demonstrate restraint, openmindedness, and preparedness to find a common ground. Analysts note that in disagreement, civility

ECONOMY is usually the better part of a dialogue. But more importantly, they observe that conflict adds value to the decision-making process and opens public policy debate to wider perspectives and concerns (right or wrong) of the private sector.�

According the media outfit, the conflict between the NESG and CBN was avoidable but necessary and meant to establish clarity and policy coherence as well as promoting enlightenment and stronger corporate governance.

It said: “After battles, the troops are called in and the generals sit at the negotiating table with politicians to determine the terms of the truce. The same should be true after the NESG and the CBN have torpedoed each other over macroeconomic policies and the interventionist role of the monetary regulator.

“The dying embers of spent arsenal and scorched earth should leave both parties tired, reflective and more amenable to action that comes from reason rather than emotion. “From the ruins of a battered relationship, both the NESG and the CBN need to allow flared tempers to cool off and begin a re-engagement that restores peace in pursuit of prosperity.�

Proshare recommended that the NESG and the CBN should arrange for a meeting to reconcile their differences and build a framework for future interactions that would be devoid of public drama. It also urged both institutions to release a joint statement stating the resolution of their differences and their agreement to work together.

The report added: “A comprehensive technical Nigeria economic model must we worked out with officers of both institutions collaborating

to dimension the parameters of the model, design immediate and preemptive fiscal and monetary policy frameworks that will serve as guidance tools for scenario analysis and policy execution imperatives. “Both parties need to schedule semi-annual meetings for economic reviews and outlooks to harmonise understanding between public and private sector economic actors. “These meetings are not public forums and must abide by Chatham House rules of disclosure.

The meetings would also serve as a platform to discuss the jointly designed macroeconomic model of the country and the policy implications of key data outcomes.�

The publication noted that collaboration between both institutions would not mean the absence of policy shocks (as Continued on page 24

The CDC Group, UK’s publicly-owned impact investor has signed a memorandumofunderstandingwiththeNigeriaSovereignInvestment Authority(NSIA).Thestrategicinvestmentpartnershipwasdesigned tofacilitatelong-terminclusivegrowthandencourageprivatecapital to scale up their participation in high-impact sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Theagreementincludesinformationsharingonprospectiveprojects in Nigeria and Africa at large with the ambition to co-invest in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure and climate-resilience.

The partnership is expected to foster collaboration on areas of knowledge sharing with an explicit objective of creating jobs and generating impact in Nigeria and across Africa. “This strengthened partnership builds on the relationship CDC and NSIA have developed since NSIA’s inception, having both invested in Africa-focused private equity funds managed by CardinalStone, Helios and Sahel Capital. “The announcement builds on CDC’s January 2020 commitment to investanadditionalÂŁ2billioninAfricancompaniesbetween2020and 2022, building on CDC’s 70-year track record of making successful impact-led investments in Africa. “In line with CDC’s capital partnerships approach, the partnership representsCDC’sbroaderambitiontoacceleratecapitalmobilisation and accelerate the ow of capital into high-impact sectors in Nigeria. “NSIA’s $685 million Future Generations Fund invests in a diversiďŹ ed portfolioofassetclasses,includingprivateequityandventurecapital, in order to provide future generations of Nigerians a savings base in the context of declining domestic oil reserves, mirroring CDC’s longterm commitment to sustainably investing in Nigeria,â€? a statement explained.

FBNHoldings Releases CR&S Report

FBN Holdings Plc has announced the release of its 2019 Corporate Responsibility&Sustainability(CR&S)Report. TheCR&Sreportisan annualreportthatillustratestheGroup’sstakeholderengagementand commitment to nation-building in line with its CR&S goals across the various strategic platforms of sustainable ďŹ nance and investments, people empowerment, community support and environmental sustainability.

FBNHoldings explained in a statement that over the years, it has demonstratedcommitmenttointegratingcorporateresponsibilityand sustainabilityintoitsbusinessstrategiesandmanagementprocesses.

It stated that the report was based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)Guidelines,NigerianSustainableBankingPrinciples(NSBPs),and UnitedNationsGlobalCompact(UNGC)andSustainableDevelopment Goals (SDGs) guidelines. “The2019CR&SreporthighlightsFBNHoldings’continuousdeepening ofitscontributionsinresponsiblelendingandinvestments;community support and environmental sustainability through initiatives such as Environmental Social and Governance Management System (ESGMS) and SPARK (Start Performing Acts of Random Kindness).

ESGMS is a framework consisting of a policy and procedures for screening transactions while SPARK – one of the key initiatives of the Group; is a values-based initiative that encourages stakeholders to be kind and empathic and gets everyone truly busy during the CR&S Week.

HeritageMarksCustomerServiceWeek

Heritage Bank Plc said it has joined the rest of the world to celebrate the annual Customer Service Week themed, “Dream Team.�

As part of the actions to extol the patronage and loyalty virtues of their esteemed customers, Heritage Bank lined up several activities to appreciate the customers.

Some of the activities to be implemented during the period include ‘TimelessWealth Journey Challenge’ for sta which displays a typical customer’sjourneywiththebankatdierentstagesoftheirrelationship, through a video reel. Others, according to a statement from the bank include, “Fastest Finger Trivia: Be the ďŹ rst to answer our daily trivia correctly and win a gift; Special Customer ServiceWeek Dress code; and Sta Face Mask Swag: Show us how you’re accessorising your look in the ‘new normal’, with your colourful face masks.â€?

“Given that financial institutions are at the epicenter of financial development that is required for growth to be inclusive�

MD, FirstBank,

Dr. Adesola Adeduntan

24

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍľËœ 2020

BUSINESSWORLD ‘ONLY NINE STATES ARE PROSPEROUS’ him, imply the removal of subsidies, the deregulation of petroleum products’ prices and the unification of the foreign exchange market by the CBN under flexible exchange rate regime.

He also postulated that the revolutionary change might encourage the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the African Development Bank to, “provide additional support of $3billion to $5billion� and the restructuring of the Eurobond while the foreign direct investment into the country might surge to $5billion and $7billion in 2021/2022.�

He identified the transformational steps to the country’s economic “take-off� as the removal of constraints, exchange rate unification, power reforms, the elimination of petrol subsidies, etc.

REPORT CALLS FOR SYNERGY BETWEEN CBN, NESG

may be deemed necessary by the CBN) or counter positions (as may be seen as necessary by the NESG).

It advised that these actions should be taken without prejudice to the confidentiality of information shared at meetings of both institutions, adding that such a level of collective confidence would build a nexus for controlled conflict that provides insight rather than in fight. “Independence within collaboration is crucial to both the CBN and the NESG. The two organisations must find common grounds for cooperation without losing their objectivity and independence.

Appreciating this subtle point avoids the unfortunate situation where institutions dig into each other with avoidable class labels.

Disagreements are tools for clarity, not weapons of discord,� it said.

Proshare also highlighted the need for the CBN to rethink its monetary policy by unlearning conventional paradigms and relearning new ones in order to fashion broad and perhaps unchartered approaches to monetary strategy that are clear, coherent, and clever.

Group Business Editor

NEWS

Takor Backs Dahiru-Umar, Says Future of Pension Sector Depends on Formidable Board Stories by Ebere Nwoji A former board member of the National Pension Commission(PenCom ) and executive Director Centre for Human Rights Advocacy, Ivor Takor, has said the growth and future of the pension sector which presently has over N11.08 trillion fund assets is largely dependent on entrenchment of a formidable board, Takor, also described as relief, the recently announcement by President Muhammadu Buhari of the appointment of a Chairman, Director General and four Commissioners for the PenCom, subject to the confirmation of the Senate.

He stated that the appointment of Mrs. Aisha Dahiru-Umar as the Director-General of the PenCom pending Senate confirmation was a welcome development.

He noted that the 2014 Pension Act provides that, “the Chairman, Director-General and the Commissioners shall be appointed by the President subject to the confirmation by the Senate.� “The Board of PenCom was dissolved in 2015 or thereabout and for almost five years, the commission has been without a board. It has become a convention in Nigeria that once a new

administration is sworn in at the federal level, all governing boards of federal government agencies are dissolved and reconstituted at the pleasure of the president. “In the absence of the board, PenCom has been managed by a Director-General and currently by an Acting Director-Director General,� he said.

He maintained that it was to the credit of Dahiru-Umar and members of the management

Team that PenCom has been able to move the pension industry forward through effective regulation and supervision of the industry; ensuring increased level of compliance by private sector employers, among others.

Responding to the submission of the name of Acting Director General of PenCom, DahirUmar, among other board members for confirmation by the National Assembly (NASS),

Takor, stated that the step by the President was in accordance with the provision of the Pension Reforms Act(PRA) 2014 and the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.

At the Senate sitting last Tuesday, the development generated a debate in which some of Senators argued that the former Director-General, PenCom, Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, did not fully serve her term and that her

replacement should have come from her region to conclude her tenure as stipulated by the law.

However, the Head, corporate communications, PenCom, Mr. Peter Aghahowa, in a statement noted that the President acted in accordance with the law by submitting the Acting DG’s name to the Senate for confirmation, adding that Dahir-Umar was qualified to be confirmed according to the PRA 2014.

COURTESYVISIT

LL-R: Executive Council Member, Advertiser Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), Gerald Osugo; Registrar/CEO, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON),DrOlalekanFadolapo; ActingPresident ADVAN,BunmiAdeniba; DeputyDirector,Regulations,APCON,MrsIjediIyoha;andExecutiveSecretary, ADVAN, MrsEdiriOse-Ediale,duringacourtesyvisitbyADVANexecutivecounciltothemanagementofAPCONinLagos...recently ETOPUKUTT

NAICOM Outlines Strategises to Achieve 40% Insurance Penetration Target The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has said it is strategising towards achieving its 40 per cent insurance penetration target.

The commission listed some of the these activities it has undertaken towards achieving the target to include providing enabling environment and framework for the excluded and low income population to participate and benefit from insurances; the development of legal and regulatory frameworks

on takaful and it micro-insurance policy whose guidelines were issued in 2013.

NAICOM’s Deputy Director, Financial Inclusion Hajia Halima Gajiram, stated this while presenting a paper titled: Insurance Industry Growth in Nigeria: The Financial Inclusion Option,� at a recent media retreat organised by the commission in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

She said as part of the strategy, the commission would also promote referral agencies and

new insurance agents. She said it would also define and implement insurance literacy programmes, ensure the enforcement of quick settlement of claims and sanctions for infractions, ensure establishment of a dedicated department complaints bureau in the commission as well as incentivise insurance companies to develop micro-insurance products.

According to her, poor public awareness and lack of skilled manpower are some of the challenges the sector was facing. She

said against this backdrop, the commission has projected positive outlook for both Takaful and micro-insurance going forward. “A number of stakeholder engagements workshops and sensitisation programs are lined up for the year 2021.

The market development and enforcement of compulsory insurance drive embarked by the commission is expected to improve the uptake of Takaful and micro-insurance as well,� she added.

The federal government, through the CBN had launched the National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2012 with the Strategic Objectives of ensuring that a clear agenda was set to significantly increase both access to and use of financial services by the year 2020; ensuring that the concerns and inputs of all stakeholders are considered and roles and responsibilities defined before regulations and policies are set for financial inclusion.

Group Promotes Diversity, Inclusion in Insurance Sector The recently held second edition of the Dive-in-Festival in Nigeria 2020 was to point way forward on gender diversity and its impact on global and local economic growth.

According to a statement, equal opportunities, equal pay, female empowerment, advocacy and commitment from leadership in firms to develop and nurture females as they rise to leadership and more were part of the solutions discussed at forum.

As a build-up to this event, the Dive In team conducted a survey to understand the issues female in the insurance sectors were facing, the possible limitations on their rise to leadership and how they are navigating these challenges.

The survey showed that despite the ambition to attain a top-level in career; young female professionals in the Insurance sector are largely constrained by inadequate opportunities relative to gender bias, unequal pay and

harassment.

The survey further highlighted that females are willing and ready to take up more challenging roles within the sector and have to resort to professional bodies for support and guidance in their careers. Some leading females in the industry also lent their voice to the younger female professionals in insurance and finance in a campaign titled: “Letters to my younger self.�

They shared lessons which

would help the younger generation develop a mindset and character required for success within the sector.

Speakers at the event included Adetola Adegbayi, Executive Director, General Insurance Business Division, Leadway Assurance Company Ltd; Nike Anani, Co-Founder African Family Firms; Founder, The Funmi Omo Initiative and Former Managing Director in African Alliance Insurance Plc, Funmi

Omo; Dr Corneille Karekezi, Group MD/CEO, African Re Group; and Ibitunde Balogun, Executive Director Tangerine Life Insurance Limited.

Adegbayi, when asked about her thoughts on revitalising diversity and inclusion initiatives and drive engagement going forward said: “We need to look at not just women but also men who are disadvantaged, physically challenged people when addressing diversity and inclusion.

ĂŒĂ“Ă˜Ă˜Ă‹ Ă’Ă“Ă—Ă‹ Capital Market Editor

Total Nigeria Appoints Bandele Deputy Managing Director

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Ă—Ă—Ă‹ Ă•Ă™Ă˜Ă”Ă“ Senior Correspondent

Ă‹Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă— Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ĂŒĂ™Ă–Ă&#x; (Advertising) Correspondents

Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x; äĂ? (Aviation) ĂœĂ™Ă—Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă? ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ (Maritime) Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă?ÔÙ (Finance) ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ? åÙÔÓ (Insurance) Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă—Ă? Ă•Ă‹Ă?Ă™Ăœ (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters

Ă&#x;Ă—Ă? Ă•Ă?Ă‘Ă’Ă? (Money Market) Ă™Ă?Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă•Ă’Ă&#x;ÙÑÓĂ? (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy)

Peter Uzoho The Board of Total E&P Nigeria Limited has approved the appointment of Mr. Victor Bandele as the Deputy Managing Director in charge of the company’s Deepwater District.

Total E&P Nigeria announced this in a statement signed by its Country Communications Manager, Mr. Charles Ebereonwu.

Before his current position, Bandele was the Executive Director in charge of the company’s

Port Harcourt/JV District where he oversaw activities of three main technical divisions and two support entities within the district.

Bandele joined the company as a Trainee Reservoir Engineer in 1993. He was involved in many subsurface field management and development activities – onshore and offshore, including some non-operated assets of the company until 2004 when he became the Geosciences and Reservoir engineering (GSR)

team leader for the offshore OML 99 Assets.

Bamdele has held important positions in operations, projects, and management within Nigeria and overseas including serving as GSR Manager for Akpo Field which was the first Deepwater development project executed

by Total in Nigeria.

He was Executive General Manager, GSR & Assets management within the JV District and worked as Petroleum Architect in the Development Studies

entity at Total’s headquarters in Paris.

He returned to the Nigerian subsidiary as Executive General Manager, Special Duties, JV District in 2015, and was later appointed to the Board of Directors of Total E&P Nigeria Ltd as Executive Director, JV District. During his tenure in this position, Total E&P Nigeria Ltd made several landmark achievements including but not limited to the completion of the OFON Phase 2 devel-

opment, commencement of domestic gas supply through the Obite, Ubeta, Rumuji/ Northern Option Pipeline(OUR/ NOPL) infrastructure as well as the launch of the Ikike field development project.

Bandele, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, takes over from Mr. AhmaduKida Musa, who has retired from the company after a successful 35-year career. Bandele’s appointment took effect from September 23, 2020.

25

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍľËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

Advancing Financial Inclusion for Women Narrowing the gender gap fosters greater stability in the system, enhances economic growth and being financially included can have transformative effects for women, writes Obinna Chima

T

he current global ďŹ ght against the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for social distancing has demonstrated that access to ďŹ nancial services digitally has become critical, especially for women.

As of June this year, the World Bank data indicated that 195 countries have planned, introduced or adapted 1024 safety net payments and other social protection measures for the most vulnerable populations in response to Covid-19, and an increasing number are working to shift these payments from cash to digital options.

To the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion, women are among the traditionally excluded groups in the financial system. The organisation in its latest report stressed that women and girls globally, are among the most marginalised, earning less, saving less, and facing insecure or disappearing livelihoods in the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the report, due to the virus, women are also facing reduced access to health care, with incidence of gender-based violence increasing exponentially.

It noted that as governments respond to and recover from COVID-19, addressing the needs of women and girls should be central to their response, even as it urged governments across the world to take steps to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on women, including specific challenges and hardships they face in the workplace, school and home, and design policy responses based on that data and related insights. “Where women are found to be disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, this should be reflected in prioritisation for women in policy and programmatic responses. “This includes efforts to support women’s financial resilience as they are impacted by and recover from COVID-19 and the associated economic challenges. “Governments providing financial support to businesses impacted by COVID-19 should monitor the gender of owners to ensure that women-owned businesses have fair access to these funds,� it added.

CBN’s Framework for Women’s Financial Inclusion In response to the challenges posed by the Covid-19, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently unveiled its Framework for Advancing Women’s Financial Inclusion in the country.

The document was the outcome of the gender sub-committee’s work and follow-up work by the CBN and the Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA). It builds upon the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (Revised) (October 2018), and integrates valuable insights from the Assessment of Women’s Financial Inclusion in Nigeria (December 2019). In addition, the framework takes as an additional reference point Nigeria’s Sustainable Banking Principles, which promotes women’s economic empowerment through a gender inclusive workplace culture in business operations and seek to provide products and services designed specifically for women.

It noted that women as a critically important and distinct customer group are vulnerable and recognises the need for targeted support for women-owned MSMEs and people living in the most excluded regions (north-east and north-west).

The framework carves out the barriers of particular importance to women, laying out eight strategic imperatives for addressing barriers to financial inclusion for women.

In addition, the framework focuses on issues within the boundaries of the financial sector space, while recognising the high importance of broader economic and societal issues. “In the short term, the focus is on women’s account ownership, with an eye on the ambitious targets for inclusion required to reduce the gender gap; in the medium- (to longer-) term, building a culture of usage of financial services by women across Nigeria in a sustainable way required to deepen financial inclusion. “This financial-sector “perimeter� does not minimise the importance of the critically needed responses to deep-seated cultural barriers (for example, social norms, security, and safety barriers) and barriers such as low levels of education and income and other drivers of exclusion such as marital status, land rights, and location,� it stated.

Furthermore, the framework makes reference to experiences in other countries of specific relevance for Nigeria. It recognises however, that the offer of

financial products and services and the status of enabling environments are in constant evolution.

It stressed that there is widespread evidence of the economic and societal benefits of women’s financial inclusion, saying that it can create greater economic stability and prosperity for women, their families, and their communities, by building assets, enabling the ability to respond to family needs, and mitigating risk. “When a woman has access and, just as importantly, control of formal financial products she not only contributes to her own well- being, but also to the well-being of her family. When a woman saves in a safe place, she saves for her children’s education, her family’s health and their better housing –building both security and prosperity. “With greater security and prosperity, she gains greater economic empowerment. Growing evidence from International Monetary Fund (IMF) research suggeststhat increasing women’s access to and use of financial services can have both economic and societal benefits. “For example, in Kenya, women merchants who opened a basic bank account invested more in their businesses. Female-headed households in Nepal spent more on education after opening a savings account,� it revealed.

Bridging the Gap The starting point for the framework was the recognition that Nigerian women are less financially included than Nigerian men and significantly so.

The gap is particularly acute in rural areas where 24 per cent of women in rural areas register ownership of formal accounts, as opposed to 54 per cent of men.

The unserved and underserved women are concentrated in the lower income segments of the population (monthly income under N40,000).

There are also significant variations among Nigerians, with the gender gap differing significantly among regions of Nigeria.

The gender differences in financial inclusion are also apparent in the types of financial services or products available in the market, with the gender gap playing out across the board.

The report showed that few Nigerians borrow from banks (1.6% of men and 1of women).

It also showed that Nigerian men are considerably more likely to save in a bank (25.8% of men; 16.3% of women), adding that women are more likely to save with informal mechanisms as only (21.9% of women, 15.1% of men).

In addition, it estimated that about twice as many men as women are likely to have a pension product (10.6% of men, 5.4% of women).

The gap continued in the realms of remittances: 26.1 per cent of men versus 18.6 per cent of women use bank services to receive remittances.

The lack of insurance products is striking across genders: only 2.4 per cent of men and one per cent of women have one or more insurance product. “These reference points are important ways and opportunities to close specific financial inclusion gaps,� it stated.

It stressed that among other things, the focus on the framework is to be a globally recognised, increasingly inclusive financial sector that has closed the gender gap by end 2024, adding that this is to be achieved in a two-step process. “The first milestone on this path is the reduction of the gender gap by one half by end 2021; this is the target set by members of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (including Nigeria) under the Denarau ActionPlan5 “The second milestone is to eliminate the gender gap by end 2024.�

The Denarau Action Plan targets to accelerate the progress of women’s financial inclusion by halving the financial inclusion gender gap across AFI member jurisdictions by 2021. The plan outlines ten steps to support the commitment of AFI members to close the gender gap in financial inclusion.

The closure of the gender gap is important not only because it is part of the achievement of Nigeria’s overall financial inclusion target, but also because of the potent value proposition of women’s financial inclusion in the context of Nigeria’s economic and social development. “The full impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic is unknown, but it will certainly affect financial systems, real economies, and entire societies. “While it is too early to make adjustments here, the timeframe for achieving the targets may need to be re-examined in function of the impact of the pandemic over time,� it added.

Strategic Imperatives The central bank listed some of the policies it intends to aggressively implement for greater women’s financial inclusion to include expanding the issuance of National Identity Numbers (NIN) to reach all Nigerian women, erasing the current gender gap in NIN issuance; determine less cumbersome (and safer, in the post pandemic context) processes of capturing biometrics in the field and here there is relatively greater ease of issuance of BVNs, follow this as an alternative path.

In addition, the report recommended a review of the National Financial Literacy Framework (2015) with a gender lens and to incorporate gender considerations in the rationale, vision/ mission/ objectives, strategic focus, targeted segments, and implementation plan, in order to incorporate gender considerations across the framework.

Also, it recommended the development of capabilities and programs that are tied to actual, real-time transactions (offer of specific financial products and services intended to serve women), so that both clients and FSPs can see tangible benefits and results; push for FSPs to take on the responsibility for delivering these programs.

It also called for an adjustment of the regulatory framework for agent networks to ensure that women are better served by agents, via channels closer to home, review the pricing structure to strike the right balance between reducing costs for customers and providing an incentive structure that encourages the expansion of agent networks.

Some others include to promote the collection of gender disaggregated supply-side data, to underpin

women’s financial inclusion efforts; complete and issue fintech guidelines taking into consideration the imperative of women’s financial inclusion; ensure approval and implement KYC tiering of payment service providers to reduce entry barriers for innovators and to facilitate the development of solutions that can benefit the underserved, especially women.

It noted that women who are financially literate have the ability to make informed financial choices regarding saving, investing, borrowing, and other financial transactions, adding that experience had shown that low-income women can manage finances capably and can take advantage of product offerings.

However, the rapid development of digital financial services (DFS) brings new challenges. “Financial knowledge is especially important in times where increasingly digital and increasingly complex financial products are offered across all income segments of the population, and at an early age. “Linking financial and digital literacy training to the actual offer of products and studies is an effective approach to addressing customer needs. “In Nigeria, women are currently behind men in accessing DFS. This development is a factor in slowing the closing of the gender gap, or even widening it; it is an important reason to address financial and digital literacy in ways that contribute substantially to the uptake and usage of DFS by Nigerian women. “Gender-disaggregated data is key in bridging the financial inclusion gender gap. This requires ensuring that the financial services ‘community’ (suppliers, government, regulators and supervisors, as well as research institutions) report effectively on women’s financial activity through the establishment of gender disaggregated data. “There are still challenges to collecting and using gender data on financial services, particularly in supply-side data from FSPs. Demand-side data from survey conducted by EFInA remains the most widely accepted data source on financial inclusion and on women’s financial inclusion more specifically,� it further recommended.

It urged stakeholders to designate ‘champions’ under the National Financial Inclusion Steering Committee, Technical Committee, and Working Group to promote and represent the Framework and to take on responsibility for implementation under each strategic imperative.

Conclusion Indeed, when women actively participate in the financial system, they can better manage risk, smooth consumption in the face of shocks, or fund household expenditures like education.

Providing low income women with the right financial tools to save and borrow money, make and receive payments, and manage risk is important for women’s empowerment, but also for poverty reduction.

While both men and women benefit from financial inclusion, there is evidence that economic inequality falls more when women have greater access to finance than when men have greater access.

26

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍľËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

Redstar Express Positions for Growth Goddy Egene writes that Redstar Express Plc is making investment and expanding its service offerings to take advantage of business opportunities in the industry and deliver better returns

R

ed Star Express Plc is one of Nigeria’s foremost logistics solutions providers, operating through four divisions and business units. The firm specialises in areas such as express delivery, logistics, freight, outsourcing services, supply chain management, ecommerce facilitation, printing and packaging, e-archiving, as well as agro trade logistics.

The company has been doing well over the years, reporting improved results and rewarding investors with good dividends. For instance, Redstar Express posted a revenue of N10.459 billion for the year ended March 31, 2020, up from N10.067 billion in 2019.

Cost of sale stood at N7.864 billion compared with N7.290 billion in 2019. Administrative expenses increased from N2.131 billion to N2.164 billion.

Other income got a boost rising from N119 million to N272 million, making the company to end the year with an operating profit of N792.791 million, up from N764.581 million.

Finance cost jumped by 60 per cent to N60.496 million as against N33.906 million in 2019.

As a result, profit after tax recorded a marginal growth from N743.469 million to N750.080 million, while profit after tax (PAT) printed at N468.989 million, up from N466.248 million.

Based on the performance, the directors recommended a dividend of N324 million, which translated to 35 kobo per share.

Redstar Express Plc grew its balance sheet size by N1.8 billion with total assets and shareholders’ funds closing at N7.3 billion from N5.5 billion.

Commenting on the results, Group Managing Director/CEO of Redstar Express Plc, Dr. Sola Obabori, despite the odds within the year, that performance came out of determination, continuous partnership with the industrial sector, launching of new service offerings, extensive retail outlets to cater to the needs of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and continuous digitisation of its operations and customer-facing platforms. “We are assured that as these efforts continue to mature, more visible impact on revenue and profits will be recorded,� he said.

Obabori explained that the industry witnessed the entrance of new players across the various service offerings of their company in the year under review. “FinTech, as they are called, also played significant roles in disrupting and reshaping the direction of competition as ride hailing companies with sophisticated applications veered into delivery business in order to salvage their businesses and create new revenue streams in the face of stiffer regulations,� he said.

The GMD/CEO disclosed that the overall industry performance was hampered in the last quarter of the financial year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic which saw the total closure of airports to passenger traffic except for humanitarian and essential services where our industry is categorized and therefore given some level of exemption.

According to him, the most hit industries being Aviation, Hospitality, Travels, Tourism and Entertainment whilst Agriculture, Food Supply Chain, Telecommunications, Internet Service Providers, e-Commerce, Medicals, Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostic industries are well positioned to be at the forefront of harnessing the opportunities.

He said the courier, express and parcel industry, being a support structure for these industries to reach the markets will also benefit immensely from these opportunities.

Obabori assured that in line with its people-service-profit (PSP) philosophy, the company has remained focused on maintaining its leadership position in Nigeria and in building capacity for the African market.

This, he said, is being done by hiring skilled workforce who are trained and re-trained in order to continually deliver superior financial performance and wider social impact. “In addition, we are committed to strengthening our first-to-last-mile capabilities by

Obabori

expanding our investments in distribution centres and vehicular assets across the country of Nigeria and in our branches within West Africa that will support new business units focused on e-commerce, agro cold chain distribution and partnership with airlines for Cargo consolidation operations, among others. “These have no doubt helped to further diversify the revenue profile of our company in the concluded year and will remain strong growth platforms for the future,� he added.

Speaking on the future prospects, Chairman of Redstar Express Plc, Suleiman Barau, said that although the battle against COVID-19 is still uncertain, their top priority remains the health and safety of their employees, customers and the communities they serve. “As we journey through the new financial year, we acknowledge the challenges that may be posed by the ravaging pandemic which will continuously be changing the socio-economic dynamics. “However, the board and management have

We are mindful of how customers’ shopping habits have changed since the pandemic became widespread. Nowadays, most customers are purchasing products online and having these products delivered to them in their homes. To avoid the risks involved in staying in crowded places, less people will be going to the markets to buy food stuffs for their homes

a solid commitment to continuously explore new opportunities for revenue generation and expansion by investing strategically in the appropriate resources while also providing a conducive and friendly working environment to keep the entire staff motivated to deliver their best,� he said.

According to the chairman, they plan to continuously deliver a strong and sustainable performance that enhances maximum returns to our shareholders, as they march forward in the year with confidence and optimism, knowing full well that their businesses have been repositioned to take advantage of key opportunities as we stay on course in the execution of our growth strategy. “Further to the notable success of the Right Issue concluded in March 2020, the company is well positioned to execute its next phase of growth strategy which will see the expansion of new product offerings across the company and its subsidiaries whilst also investing on strategic assets that will shape the future as we seek to also lead in the digital revolution within our industry,�

Barau said.

As part of efforts to boost its bottomline, Redstar Express Plc recently commenced delivery of fresh groceries for its customers in major cities across Nigeria. Customers will now be able to send and receive fresh organic products ranging from fresh vegetables/ crops to frozen foods (chicken, beef).

According to Obabori, the service was created in response to changing consumer behavior following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are mindful of how customers’ shopping habits have changed since the pandemic became widespread. Nowadays, most customers are purchasing products online and having these products delivered to them in their homes. To avoid the risks involved in staying in crowded places, less people will be going to the markets to buy food stuffs for their homes. The need to have these items brought to their homes has become vital; making it a challenge that we are looking to provide a solution for

with this new service,� he stated.

He explained that with the Express Groceries service, deliveries are made using vehicles that are equipped with temperature-controlled storage units that ensure that groceries are preserved until they are delivered.

Similarly, in another move that will increase its revenue and profitability,Red Star Express Plc, commenced its general sales agent (GSA) services with Azman Air Services Limited. Under this partnership, the company is connecting passenger goods and packages from one airport to another using the airline’s carriers. Cargo goods can now be transported, in a short space of time, to various destinations within Nigeria, including Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Kano, and Abuja.

The company had commenced a similar arrangement with AERO Contractors in June while talks are said to be ongoing with other reputable airlines in the country and abroad.

Obabori said the new development is in line with the company’s expansion drive, especially in the cargo transport and consolidation business. “We have identified cargo consolidation as a key area to extend our business into. We commenced the partnership with Aero Contractors in June and now we have Azman Air on board as well. Discussions are ongoing with other airlines, especially the international airlines, to achieve similar outcomes. It is our ambition to become the leading provider, especially in this aspect of the logistics industry,� he said.

Redstar Express is also in the forefront of advocacy for the federal government to simply the process of exporting agricultural produce.

The company’s GMD/CEO explained that while the country stands to benefit from a simplified process of export such produce, the company has made significant investments so as the also benefit. “I am aware that there are various efforts going on right now to address this situation.

Red Star Express Plc belongs to a number of reputable business associations that hold regular dialogues with the government to reduce the complexities at the ports. I am optimistic that these efforts will soon become fruitful.�

Obabori explained that Kenya, for example, is experiencing growth in its agricultural sector, exporting fresh flowers and many other fresh agricultural products into the European markets and that has helped their economy tremendously. “In terms of production, Nigeria has a bigger capacity than Kenya. However, with the complications experienced at the airports, our export capabilities are shackled.�

He said, however, the company have made efforts towards providing logistics services to support importers and exporters through the acquisition of new assets. “We have massively invested in new trucks and motorcycles as well as other essential assets.

In spite of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have retooled successfully. We have cold-chain trucks that can move fresh produce from the farms to retail stores across the country.

For example, if you run a poultry shop and you are producing your poultry products, we can support your company by using our Cold-Chain trucks to move those products from where they are produced to the retail stores where they can be sold to the final consumers,� he said.

The company successfully raised N1.347 billion from existing shareholders through the rights issue early in the year, which has positioned the company to execute its expansion and diversification plans.

Obabori had said the additional capital was to accentuate the growth potential already put in place by the company’s management. “This move underlines our ambition to maintain the expansion activities undertaken in the last few years. After opening international offices in Niger Republic, Burkina Faso and Benin Republic, we have established new business lines in the Agricultural and Technological sectors of the economy. This right issue represents the next logical step in this regard,� he said.

27

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍľËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

Sharma: Organisations Need New Strategies to Move their Businesses Forward Rajiv Sharma, who is a Neuro Linguistic Programming Global Guru and creator of ‘MARK Model,’ in this interview shares the framework for effectiveness and success. Sharma, who in the last 30 years has trained over 500,000 people in many countries, also shares his thoughts on how people and companies can evolve after the disruption caused by the pandemic. Maduabuchi Ubani brings the excerpts What impact has COVID-19 created on the lives of individuals and the business environment? How can we recover from this impact?

A lot has already been written and said about what has happened during the pandemic. It has created a massive disruption in the way we live and has affected everyone, right from school-going children to the leaders of the companies and countries.

We can’t change the past, what has already happened, but the best way to respond to these post-pandemic situations is by being mindful.

Conduct for the wellbeing and safety of yourself as well as others. What we can do about it is within our control, and this choice will make the difference. Everything begins in our mind, so the first step is to create encouraging thoughts about your health and fitness. Your body is the number one asset of your life. So the first responsibility is towards yourself.

Imagine abundance in all aspects of your life, be it physical and emotional health. Business leaders need to work with a new mindset to create value for their clients and society at large.

The responsibility lies with the leadership and management team to develop their people to address challenges and see it as an opportunity.

Organizations need new strategies to move their business forward. But nothing happens if we just keep thinking. Ideas, how powerful they may be, don’t take us anywhere if we don’t act on it. You need to be aware of how to translate your Mindsets into Actions. Failure to turn your ideas into action is the primary problem people face. So all individuals and business organizations have to work on converting their mindsets into actions. Turn your strategies into actionable items, and then make sure you do it.

Taking actions (consistent actions) is the most challenging part of your journey to effectiveness and success. To organise your journey of life and make it more systematic, you can use the ‘MARK Model.’ What is MARK Model, and how does it solve the problem created by disruption?

MARK stands for Mindset, Action, Repetition, and Knowledge. ‘MARK Model’ is a performance framework that gives you a map to create a New Mindset, translate Your Mindset to Actions, Repeat Your Actions to create New Habits. These habits lead you to Mastery Level, and you innovate new knowledge. Now think of everything happening in your organization and your life.

Isn’t it based on how you think, the actions you take, habits you form, and the knowledge you apply and evolve? You will find that your success in your personal or professional life all moves around MARK. Whether you like it or not, you are using all these four components (Mindset, Action, Reception, and Knowledge) in an isolated manner. A lot of studies have been done on these aspects disjointly. It’s like having an old-style standalone phone, a different camera, and a sperate internet device. MARK Model is like a smart device, where you have all the components of success and effectiveness in one place.

The power of the MARK Model framework lies in the process that connects your mindsets to actions and enables you to turn your actions into habits by NLP tools and techniques. There are steps to follow, and you will get excellent results. Organisations build high-performance individuals and teams. Teams learn to execute more promptly, make better decisions, resolve more complicated problems, and MARK helps to enhance creativity and innovation. Using MARK Model, it’s practical to achieve your goals, whether you are an individual, a company, or a country.

Why most people ďŹ nd it very difďŹ cult to achieve their goals and desires?

going to be difficult when you program your subconscious mind to achieve your goals. With Mark Model, you get techniques to reprogram your subconscious mind.

Sharma Good point. To answer your question, let’s understand how the conscious mind and the subconscious mind function. Our conscious mind is the ‘aware mind’ and lives in the present.

When I ask you to make a list of your goals or craft the strategy for your organization, you plan it with your conscious mind. You are writing all your goals and objectives with the ‘aware mind’ what you want to achieve in the years to come. When you are done writing goals and strategies, you return to your daily schedule. You live 80 per cent to 90 per cent of the day (I mean your schedule) on autopilot mode with the stored programs in your mind.

These programs are stored in your subconscious mind. And you picked these programs from your family and your environment. You got programmed, and the foundational programming was done when you were growing from the age of 0 to seven. I have seen people find it very difficult to achieve their goals if the programs stored in the subconscious mind are not designed for their desires and goals stored in your conscious mind. You can achieve your goals when your subconscious mind is aligned with your conscious mind. No target is

How can corporates make use of this MARK methodology?

It’s precisely the way you apply MARK for individuals. The responsibility of transforming a company begins with the leadership and management team. And the success of every organization lies in developing their people and teams. It’s more critical after this pandemic because the business environment has changed, and people need a new mindset, new actions to create new habits. Both time and space have changed for business operations, and organisations need to align their people to meet sales and business targets. Companies can incorporate the ‘MARK Model’ framework in all learning interventions so that whatever you train your people on translates into actions and becomes their behavior. We are already consulting for many organizations across the world. Thousands of people in various companies have been trained on MARK Model, and they have consistently been getting results. If these people can achieve their targets, so can you by using MARK Model in your learning and development programs. There are six to eight steps under each category (Mindset, Action, Repetition, and Knowledge). These steps enable people to evolve Growth Mindset, Tranlstae Mindset into Actions, Create Habits to achieve Departmental Targets. Teams will help in innovating the organization’s products and services by contributing the customer knowledge and experience.

How does MARK Work for an individual or corporates? Can you give us an example?

To understand the MARK Model, simply think about reaching a goal. There are always things to do and a time frame within which it has to be done. Let’s try this, think of a goal or a target you may have, no matter which sphere of life, now let’s apply the Mark Model.

Here’s what you need to do: MINDSET: Let’s start with the right thought.

Are there people who have already achieved what your goal is? Then it’s time to adapt their mindset; what did they do, how did

they go about it. And if it is a goal not many have achieved, think it through, see the goal to fruition, map it out before you begin.The second step is the most important one. It is also where most people fail.

ACTION: Converting a mindset into simple steps and taking action is what this is all about.

Where most people stop and give up is when the action does not generate the desired results.

What most forget is, a single action does not bear a result, various action steps in cohesion chart the path to success. Failure, course corrections, and restarting are all a part of this journey; each of them is keeping you in action.Here’s the third step, repeating successful action into a pattern and a pattern into a habit.

REPETITION: Look at it this way, when someone asks you to drive your car, write, eat, or anything in the realm of your regular everyday routines, you would do it in a jiffy, without really thinking and almost always accurate.

That is what repetition does; it makes specific actions second nature; it adds to your efficiency and effectiveness without really troubling your mind. And when you have repeated an action enough times, an amateur can become an artist, and self-mastery is attained - provided the right action is repeated over and over.

Most will want to stop at self-mastery, but beyond this is where the real treasure sits.

KNOWLEDGE: At this level, we innovate, create new cognitive skills, and become what a few have attained so far. Knowledge is wealth.

In this information age, our earnings depend on what we know and how we apply it. The more you know and apply, the more the probability of your creating wealth multiplies.

So what do you think should be done to overcome the current challenges?

As I said earlier, change your mindset. What worked before will not get the results you want to achieve. Translate your mindset into actions and consistently keep taking actions towards your desired goal until it becomes your second nature and an automatic reflex. Take your craft to a mastery level. Invent new Knowledge, new products, and services. MARK methodology doesn’t apply only during challenging times.

Your success is guaranteed once you make it your lifestyle. The world is your playground.

If you need any help, reach me out.

28

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍľËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

A Troubled Pension Commission

Succour for Small Business Owners amid Pandemic

Kunle Aderinokun A sustainable retirement pension system is regarded as a key enabler of national development. It is an indication of how foresighted a society is and its preparedness to take care of its older population, without burdening the active, working generation.

Supposedly, that was what Nigeria set out to achieve through her Contributory Pension System that is regulated by the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

Unfortunately, the governing board of PenCom was summarily dissolved in April 2017, and the regulatory Agency has since that point been left without any clear leadership and direction.

After months of speculation and weeks after a list had been circulating across all social media platforms that the Presidency forwarded the following names to the Senate for confirmation as members of the Governing Board of PenCom: Dr. Oyindamola Oluremi Ore (NC) - Chairman, Aisha Dahiru-Umar (NE) - DG/CEO, Hannatu Hanney Musa Musawa (NW) - Executive Commissioner (Administration), Clement Oyedele Akintola (SW) - Executive Commissioner (Inspectorate), Ayim C. Nyerere (SE), Executive Commissioner (Technical), and Charles Efe Sylvester Emikowhate (SS) - Executive Commissioner (Finance). The list has generally been condemned and has been described as a clear expression of blatant nepotism and apparent incompetence.

Instructively, the South-east Caucus of the Senate, led by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Eyinaya Abaribe, has denounced the composition of the new board, arguing that it is in breach of the Federal Character Principle.

Indeed, for most stakeholders, the composition of the new board is most odious because the government has jettisoned competence in favour of ethnic sentiments.

Since the sudden dissolution of the board of the commission in 2017 and the subsequent appointment of Dahiru-Umar in acting capacity in April 2017, industry watchers and stakeholders have understandably become divided fiercely along the lines of ethnicity, competence, and the overall security of the pension industry. No less fierce is the babel growing outside the industry.

While a few are driven by genuine concern for the long-term sustainability of pension funds, a good many others, it must be recognised, are interlopers barely able to conceal dark motives that are either pecuniary or hegemonic.

Those angling for the confirmation of DahiruUmar, for instance, conveniently do not recall that she hails from the same North-east Geo-Political Zone that produced the pioneer Director-General/ CEO of the Commission, Mr. Muhammed.K. Ahmad, who spent eight years in the saddle.

When one considers that Dahiru-Umar has spent over three years in acting capacity and would spend another five years, in the event that she is confirmed by the Senate, it means that the North-east would have, in clear violation of the Federal Character Principle, superintended over the commission for 16 out of its 20 year existence.

Beyond the issue of federal character and its contingent breach, as aforementioned, is the more profound issue of competence, regulatory craft and the threat to the security of pension fund assets that the nomination of Dahiru -Umar poses for the existential survival of the pension industry.

Had she demonstrated the requisite regulatory pedigree while serving in acting capacity, it would have been easy to downplay the geo-political and ethnic imbalance that her nomination throws up.

Unfortunately, her antecedents over the last three years call for caution and rethink of her nomination for confirmation, as the nation must put the safety of an N11trillion pension industry over and above primordial sentiments.

It is simply impossible for one to stay neutral in the face of a brewing crisis in the industry, lest one shirks his civic and professional duty.

Consequently, mindful of Nigeria’s chequered past in the administration of pension funds and retirement benefits, conversant with the promises made by forebears at the start of the pension reform journey in 2004, consistent with one’s progressive values and desirous of a secure pension industry, one wishes to sound a note of warning to the current administration about the dangers posed by the nomination of Aisha Dahiru-Umar, as director general of the National Pension Commission.

Her activities, actions and inactions over the last three years as acting director -general has

Nume Ekeghe writes on the N75 billion set aside by the federal government to help small businesses ravaged by the Covid-19

T Dahiru-Umar been a source of concern for stakeholders, as she has demonstrated a lack of understanding of the basic tenets of prudential regulation and the imperative of preserving the sanctity of pension fund assets.

From failure to implement the cutting-edge Pension Administration System (PAS) that had been approved by the Federal Executive Council prior to her assumption of office, to her sub-par launch of the now moribund micro pension scheme, to her inability to effectively engage with the Pension Fund Administrators and Custodians, she has clearly failed to rise to the occasion, a situation that has caused grave apprehension within and outside the industry.

Unfortunately for Dahiru-Umar, whereas a convincing argument can be made by stakeholders who are clamouring for the appointment of a consummate professional to run the affairs of the Commission, no defence can be sustained for her, as the incumbent, as the past three years offered a platform to interrogate her ideas, measure her strength and test her character.

The general consensus amongst stakeholders - even within her caucus of advisers - is that she had been an unmitigated disaster. Otherwise, Dahiru-Umar can be challenged to point to her achievements and defend them.

While it is true that vision is key to transformational leadership, no less critical is the latitude to share the vision, and the sagacity to agglomerate a critical mass of stakeholders with a view to making the sustainable. In the context of regulatory craft, especially for an N11 trillion pension industry where fiduciary responsibility is paramount, persuasion is certainly more potent and profitable than brute force and quasi-dictatorship. Increasingly, Dahiru-Umar has created the impression that the Africa’s foremost pension industry is currently at the mercy of an ill-prepared, functionally inexperienced and essentially doltish regulator.

With the gale of appointments being made by the current administration, most industry watchers have hoped that a more qualified professional would be appointed to run the commission.

In sum, the current attempt to extend DahiruUmar’s reign at PenCom, while simultaneously violating the principles of federal character is a direct affront on the sensibilities of pension fund contributors and an assault of the sanctity of the industry.

One hopes that the executive quickly withdraws the current nomination and in the event that they don’t, the National Assembly must as a matter of national imperative reject the nomination.

All things considered, if there is anything the generality of Nigerians are now agreed on, it is aversion to the culture of nepotism and institutionalising of incompetence in public service.

Unlike Dahiru-Umar, part of the challenge before a new commission that would respect federal character and prioritise competence will, therefore, be drawing up a comprehensive regulatory agenda that would, among other things, ensure that pension fund assets are strategically unlocked to finance critical, high-yield pro-development infrastructure projects in the country. Indeed, in order to promote shared prosperity and engender inclusive growth, Nigeria needs to effectively regulate the pension industry and as such, a competent and trustworthy director-general and governing board must be put in place by the executive arm of government.

he Covid-19 pandemic has ravaged economies across the world with many countries, including ďŹ nancial heavyweights like the United Kingdom, spiraling into a recession.

Nigeria also hasn’t been spared. The country depends on crude oil exports as a main source of income and the pandemic has reduced the global demand for energy, crashing international oil prices.

The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed had predicted that the country is set for a recession. “For the government, it has been a particularly trying time,� President Muhammadu Buhari had said earlier this month, at a Ministerial review summit. “As a result of the poor fortunes of the oil sector, our revenues and foreign exchange earnings have fallen drastically; our revenues have fallen by almost 60 per cent.�

To deal with the pandemic shocks to the economy, the Buhari administration has decided to look inwards, resolving to strengthen local businesses.

Through the Central Bank of Nigeria, the administration has provided financing for several schemes that cut through agriculture, health and industry.

In line with this, the administration is also now helping MSMEs stay in business through a N75 billion National MSME Survival Fund and the Guaranteed Off-take Stimulus schemes.

According to the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mariam Katagum, the schemes are a cluster of grants intended to support vulnerable small businesses in meeting their payroll obligations and safeguards jobs.

In a speech delivered at a media briefing last month, Katagum noted that the scheme has four main objectives: to stimulate direct local production in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT; to augment the payroll obligations of businesses in the health, production, education, hospitality, and food production sectors; to provide N50,000 grants each to an additional eligible 100,000 MSMEs; and the program is expected to save over 1.7 million jobs.

Lifting small businesses The Survival Fund is the larger component of the two schemes with about N60 billion budgeted, according to the Director-General (DG) of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda. “The MSME Survival Fund is a conditional grant to support vulnerable micro and small enterprises in meeting their payroll obligations and safeguard jobs in the MSME sector,� Radda, who is also the scheme’s publicity chief, said. “The scheme is estimated to save not less than 1.3 million jobs across the country, and specifically impact on over 35,000 individuals per state,� he added.

The federal government has said special focus would be given to female-owned businesses. At least 45 per cent of the businesses funded must be run by a woman. Business run by people with special needs would also take at least five per cent of the available slots.

The scheme is expected to impact on service providers like bus drivers, taxi drivers, ride-share drivers and artisans such as electricians and plumbers.

In one component of the scheme, businesses with three to 50 people on their payroll will be eligible for payroll support for between three to 10 staff for three months.

These staff members would be paid between N30,000 and N50,000. At least, N500,000 workers would benefit from this pay roll intervention which targets small businesses in the hospitality industry, private schools, factory owners, law firms and hospitals.

Another component of the Survival Fund is the award of N50,000 grants to 100,000 small businesses.

According to Katagum, “this group of

Katagum beneficiaries is encouraged to take advantage of registration through MSME Associations, registered Business Clusters, Trade Associations and Unions.�

The Survival Fund has also been designed to help 250,000 small businesses register with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for free.

The Federal Government will pay CAC for each registration; all small businesses that require formalisation are eligible for this component.

Also, the fund provides a one-off payment of N30,000 as transport grants to selected artisans such as mechanics, taxi drivers, hairdressers, Keke Napep riders, Okada riders, plumbers, electricians, etc.

Guaranteeing sales According to Radda, the main objective of the Guaranteed Off-Take scheme is to “boost production capabilities of small businesses with the view to ensuring that they remain in business.�

He also added that the duration of implementation would be same as the Survival Fund and target beneficiaries remain, “micro and small businesses registered in Nigeria.�

According to Katagum, under the scheme, the federal government will be guaranteeing the off-take of products such as face masks, hand sanitizer, liquid soap, disinfectant and processed foods.

Beware of fraud On September 21, the federal government opened the online registration portal for the Survival Fund. According to Katagum, within the first 24 hours, approximately 138,000 individuals had logged on, created profiles and completed the first stage of registration with Kano, Kaduna and Lagos as the lead states.

She also noted that all successful applicants received SMS and email verification with a list of requirements for the second stage of the application, which commenced on October 1. “Applicants will be required to upload details supporting their applications which will be verified and if successful, approved for disbursements,� she said.

She also addressed reports that the online portal for the registration had been under a series of cyber-attacks. “We would like to assure the public that the application system is secure with multiple levels of encryption and any information loaded on the official application page is safe from cyber-attacks of any kind,� she stressed.

However, she warned the public to avoid falling prey to scammers who seek fees to help with the application. “The Survival Fund will not at any time or for any reason request payment or facilitation fees to access the Grants,� Katagum said. “The public is encouraged to report any such nefarious activities to the nearest security agents and follow up with a report to the PDO (Project Delivering Office) via the mediums provided on the website.�

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2020 • T H I S D AY

29

30

IMAGES

T H I S D AY Ëž Íľ, 2020

Photo Editor ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ ÔËÖË Email Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜Ë›Ă‹Ă”Ă‹Ă–Ă‹ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ù×

L-R: Secretary, The Nation Newspaper Chapel, Mr. Gboyega Alaka., Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, Dr. Qasim Olalere Akinreti and Editor, Our Moment Newspaper, David Olanrewaju, during the presentation of an award of excellence to Akinreti, in Lagos recently

Guest speaker, Prof. Danny McCain (left),and Governor. Simon Lalong of Plateau State, during a lecture to mark Nigerian 60th Independence Anniversary in Jos...recently

L-R: Managing Director, Outori Limited and Lead Aviator, Fly Africa, Mr. Wole Olagundoye; Honorable Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf; Wife of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat; SA to the Commissioner of Tourism, Mr. Solomon Bonu; and Group President, RedSlate Limited, Mr. Obinna Anichie at the oďŹƒcial launch of the largest anniversary logo made with cupcakes in commemoration of Nigeria’s 60th independence at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos...recently PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R: Secretary to Cross River State Government, Mrs Tina Agbor; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Jonas Williams; Deputy Governorr, Prof. Ivara Esu; and Minister of Environment, Dr Mohammed Abubakar, during the Minister’s visit to Cross River State Government House in Calabar...recently

Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu ( right) addressing some INEC oďŹƒcial ahead of the Ondo 2020 Governorship election at Ifedore Local Government Area , Ondo State...recently

L-R: Director, Personal Income Tax, Borno State Internal Revenue Service, Mallam Abdu Aliyu; Executive Chairman of the agency, Alhaji Ali Manga Bulama and Chairman, Alford Conferences, Mr. Frederick Apeji during the presentation of award of Excellence in IGR 2019/2020 to Borno State Internal Revenue Service by Alford Conferences Limited in Maiduguri...recently

L-R: Ekiti Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi and Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr. (Mrs.) Olabimpe Aderiye, during the 2020 World Teachers’ Day celebration in Ado-Ekiti... recently

L-R: Senate President, Ahmed Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep Femi Gbajabiamila and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at a two-day dialogue session for senior members of the executive and legislative branches of government in Abuja...recently

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍľËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

31

L-R: The Director Overseeing OďŹƒce of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Aairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Alhaji Grema Ali and New Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, during the handover of oďŹƒce to the permanent Secretary in Abuja...recently PHOTO: ENOCK REUBEN

L–R: President, National Council, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Otunba Abimbola Ogunbanjo; Governor, Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu and his Deputy, Rt.Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu,during a courtesy visit to the Abia State Government House by Ogunbanjo...recently

L-R: Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Communication, Senator Basiru Ajibola; Senator Smart Adeyemi, representing Kogi West and Senator Yakubu Oseni, representing Kogi Central at the Senate Press Corps retreat 2020 in Lokoja Kogi State...recently PHOTO: JULIUS ATOI

L-R: NCC Board Chairman, Prof Adeolu Akande; Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma; Alhaji Abdulaziz Salman and Engr Masks Ubele, during the opening session of a 5-day Executive Capacity Building for Governing Board of the NCC in Owerri, Imo State...recently

Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Gas, Mr. Ed Ubong (left), and Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, exchanging copies of the signed documents of Memorandum of Understanding in lbadan‌recently

L-R: Controller, Zonal Operations, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) Mr Bassey Nkanga; Member House of Representatives, Ad-hoc Committee on need to relocate Tank farms in Residential area, Rep KabiruIdris; another committee member, Rep Sam Onuigbo and Chairman House of Representatives, Ad-hoc Committee, Rep Sargius Ogun brieďŹ ng news men after the visit to Tank farms in residential area of Ijegun and Kirikiri area of Port Harcourt...recently

L-R: Principal, Abuja School for the Deaf, Mr Abdulrazzaq Ademola; President, Rotary Club of Apo, Miss Annmarie Adamu; District Governor, Rotary International, District 9125 Nigeria, Jumoke Bamgboye; Project Chairman of the club, Matthew Ossai; Director, Primary Schools Services, FCT UBEC, Mrs Helen Ibezim and former Assistant Governor, District 9125, Mr Moses Anekwe, during the inauguration of a block of hostel and a borehole at the Abuja School for the Deaf, Kuje...recently

L-R: Treasurer of Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Mushin Branch, Comrade Ezekiel Olawole; Social Secretary, Olufunke Ayangunna; Chairman, Comrade Ganiyu Alawiye; and Secretary, Comrade Sarafadeen Oyekan, at the 2020 World Teachers Day celebration, in Mushin, Lagos State...recently

32

T H I S D AY Ëž Íľ, 2020

EDUCATION Alawiye-King: EkoExcel Was Set up to Correct Moral Decadence in the Sector Mr. Wahab Alawiye-King is the Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board. In this interview with Funmi Ogundare, he explained why EkoExcel was introduced to correct the moral decadence in the education sector through inculcating the right values in the children.

He said the board is currently embarking on an aggressive sensitisation campaign to ensure that children from less priviledged backgrounds are registered in the state’s public schools, among other issues. Excerpts:

I

we must provide that. It must be all inclusive, which means that regardless of your background, you must be carried along. Our mission here is to make sure that every child’s potential is amassed and ensuring that they are able to reach their goals through education. In order to ensure that we penetrate the rural areas, all we needed to do, was to continue with our aggressive sensitisation campaign and ensure that they come to school to register. As we speak now, registration is ongoing. Our education secretaries are the ones in charge of our Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), they are the ones going to the hard-to-reach communities and riverine areas; they have embarked on massive campaign to make sure that we mobilise people to register in our schools. We are getting reports on a daily basis that people are registering. We also have the homegrown feeding programme. The idea is to promote an enhanced enrolment, retention and completion in our schools. The homegrown feeding programme is an incentive for pupils to come to the public schools.

t is believed that teachers are poorly motivated in terms of participating in the management of schools, do you share in this view?

I am not going to subcribe to that because the wellbeing and welfare of our teachers is one of the key objectives of this administration. We have realised that a motivated workforce will bring about higher productivity, that is why we see it as one of the key objectives of this administration.

With the new normal, what effort has your administration since coming on board last year, made to strengthen the capacity of teachers to deliver quality basic education?

We realise that manpower development and capacity building are some of the factors needed in improving the quality of teaching and learning in our classrooms. That is why the government embarked on aggressive and vigorous approach to upscaling and upskilling the capacity of our teachers. In Lagos, for you to be a teacher, you must be a professional and certified by a professional body. Professional in the sense that you must possess the right educational background that is related to the field of teaching.

So they are to be in charge. We looked at their background, professionalism and character to hire them. Right now, recruitment is ongoing.

One of our determination is to have teachers who are not only academically qualified, but are also professionally qualified. That is the way to go. If your teachers are not professionals, there is no way you can get to the set objectives and goals of improving the quality of education in our classrooms.

Lagos State has made efforts to improve technological infrastructure, especially with the installation of ďŹ bre optics all around the metropolis and enhance technology penetration in schools, when will this start impacting on teaching and learning of the Lagos child?

Technology is part of the infrastructure needed for the state to be part of the global approach, by integrating it into our system, thereby becoming digitally equipped. For us as an administration, we have introduced EkoExcel which means Excellence in Child Education and Learning. It is an approach introduced by the state government which is aimed at ensuring that we infuse technology into our classrooms. We have started impacting the pupils by training our teachers. We have trained 5,000 teachers during the first phase, the second phase has been concluded, while the third phase is ongoing. Our target is to train all the teachers to be compatible with the EkoExcel methodology, which is using technology in our classrooms and digitising the system and the way we function in the sector. EkoExcel is an attempt to correct the wrongs in the education sector. We are looking at the moral decadence, character deficiency and value reorientation. These are some of the things we are trying to correct in our classrooms by inculcating the right sense of value in our pupils. We are trying to have pupils who are well rounded and complete.

Are you saying there is a deďŹ cency somewhere along the line?

It is a general thing in the society; it is not peculiar to the education sector alone and as such, we must try to correct that. That is why we have introduced EkoExcel to make sure we inculcate the right set of values in our pupils.

With the counterpart funding made available for basic education in the state, has there been noticeable changes in the

In terms of enrolment of children at the right age, what is the board doing about this, especially for the girl-child?

To us in Lagos State, we see everybody as one; be it a girl or boy, we see you as a potential leader in our society. So we provide a level playing ground for everybody.

Alawiye-King educational outcomes for pupils since you came on board?

I must commend the federal government through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for introducing the intervention programme. On a yearly basis, we usually have the counterpart funding; 50 per cent is coming from the federal government and it is going to be matched by the state government. Right now, we are embarking on the 2018 project. We have completed over 75 per cent of the project. Infrastructure is one of the challenges in the sector and for intervention to come from the federal government to assist in this regard, is commendable. It is done on a yearly basis and it is being monitored through a

multi-layered approach. Almost all the agencies of the government are monitoring the project to make sure that we deliver in terms of infrastructure, pupils enhanced and improved outcomes, teachers improvement and capacity bulding according to specification and in record time.

How have you been able to create an enabling environment for children of the poor to access basic education in the state?

Creating an enabling environment for children of the poor is being guided by our mandate.

The mandate of the board is to provide free, compulsory, qualitative, inclusive and relevant education. When you look at that, it is the law,

The Lagos State school rehabilitation work is commendable, however it is observed that there are idle and dilapidated facilities in some of the public primary school in the state, what is your view on this?

We want to make sure that learning continues in a very conducive environment. We have a project department that goes out to evaluate and access those infrastructure. We have invited the Lagos State Material Testing laboratory to assess some of those infrastructure. Once the facilities is identified to be dilapidated or to be a potential risk, we will put them aside for renovation. We are currently doing an audit of all our infrastructure and those in a very bad shape for the possibility of renovating and reinvigorating them.

Osun Pledges Holistic Education for Youths Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola has described education as a harmonious training of physical, mental and social capabilities of individuals and pledged to see that every individual in the state is given a holistic education that will make him productive in the immediate environment.

Also, the Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Olalekan Badmus urged youths to embrace academic excellence for the development of the state and the nation.

The governor said this in Osogbo at the presentation of prizes to winners of the 60th Independence Day Essay Competition, organised by the Ministry of Regional Integration and Special Duties titled ‘Moving Ahead Post Corona Virus Pandemic- Impacts and Prospects of COVID-19 on Economy’.

He charged governments at all levels to invest in education as

pivot to sustainable growth and development in the society.

Oyetola, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Benedict Alabi, said the state is ready to initiate programmes and policies that will showcase its potential while adding value to the citizenry.

In his remarks, Badmus lauded the commitment of the participants to the programme targeted at rewarding academic excellence.

He said 20 finalists were shortlisted from the 756 entries, from 40 participating institutions, adding that the competition is geared towards fulfilling Oyetola’s mandate of making the education sector the toast of others in the country. “The ministry was created for innovation. We are glad that these set of participants have distinguished themselves in academics. We want the world to know that those who excel in their academics deserve to be honoured too. We want to make this a platform where students will excel and win big to encourage

others to face their studies He said the Ministry of Regional Integration and Special Duties received 756 entries from 40 participating institutions, both private and public schools.

The essay contest according to the commissioner, was open for two weeks, which kicked-off on September 11 and ended September 25, 2020, with 265 females and 414 males, including 74 other entries without traceable information.

He said the topic was carefully chosen in a way to rejuvenate the fallen art and skill in reading and writing culture, which is dwindling in various higher institutions, thus stimulating healthy and intellectual discussion.

Badmus commended the governor for allowing the ministry to execute the laudable programme.

Also, the Editor of Saturday Tribune, Dr. Lasisi Olagunju charged youths in the country to always be focussed in their various engagements to be able to influence

their immediate environments.

The editor, who was one of the panelists at the prize presentation, added that being focussed would equip them and get them prepared for the reality of life.

Olagunju who pointed out that the ability to speak or write alone could not determine the progress of one in life, charged youths to be determined and optimistic to be able to define their scopes in life and face their challenges squarely.

He commended those who participated in the exercise and charged them to maintain the tempo, saying that they should also try their best to add value to their fellow human beings.

While appealing to local government chairmen present at the occasion to emulate the state government on the essay competition by organising such in their respective areas, Olagunju said by so doing, the youths would be motivated towards pacesetting achievements in life.

33

T H I S D AY Ëž OCTOBER 7, 2020

EDUCATION

World Teachers’ Day: COVID-19 Uncovered Teachers’ Resourcefulness, Says PQC Uchechukwu Nnaike The Principal, Queen’s College Lagos, Dr. Tokunbo YakubuOyinloye has stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought out the ingenuity, hidden talents, initiatives and resourcefulness in many of her teachers, despite the lockdown and social distancing.

She noted that exposing the teachers more to ICT through constant trainings, would further assist them in reaching their peak and becoming globally competitive.

Yakubu-Oyinloye disclosed this at the 2020 World Teachers’ Day celebration at the college on Monday with the theme ‘Teachers: Leading in Crisis, Reimagining the Future’.

She said teachers are always leading, whether there is crisis or not, adding that this year’s theme is very apt, considering the current pandemic.

She stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has put teachers on their toes and made them exploit more ways to impart knowledge in students, which eventually yielded positive results. “Innovation was the name of the game during the lockdown period. I am proud to state that Queen’s College teachers rose to the occasion and provided e-learning for students, both through video recordings and through teaching on telegram which I came up with. ‘’These teachers indeed won my respect and that of the parents as I can say that they blazed the trail in telegram teaching as other schools learnt from us and replicated same in their schools,’’ she stated.

She noted that in furtherance of the e-learning, the teachers took out time to

deploy their brains, energy and resources to come up with lessons that were taught in front of the camera and then uploaded on the school portal for students to watch at their convenience in the comfort of their homes.

The principal said currently, the college has over 300 teaching videos that students could play and listen to, adding that technology was also deployed in getting materials from the internet to spice up the teachings.

She added that lessons on telegram were taught through various methods using voice notes, word documents, posting of pictures and others.

According to her, a number of the teachers learnt new skills during the period in a bid to engage their students more effectively. ‘’I commend you all for your diligence and willingness to try new things. I must also mention that quite a number of students enjoyed the telegram classes because they were interactive and some teachers made it even more interesting. ‘’Today, while we are celebrating all Queen’s College noble teachers, we will specially recognise those who excelled in video recording and in teaching on the telegram. ‘’’I want to encourage all teachers not to be afraid of trying or learning new things, new methods, new technologies. We are in a world where things are moving and changing at a fast pace. We need to be able to adapt to the times and ensure that we do not be one obsolete or redundant. ‘’Wherever there is crisis, we teachers must be at the forefront in proffering and providing solutions.

We have to take our place

in reimagining the future because definitely, the future is going to be different from what it was in the past. We must look ahead at all times and be prepared,’’ she said.

Yakubu-Oyinloye also commended the federal government for being supportive all through the period of the lockdown, especially by providing access to facilities that enhanced the e-learning.

An IT expert, Prof. Moses Akanbi, who was the guest speaker, urged the teachers to remain upbeat and always develop and motivate themselves.

According to Akanbi, a Professor of Mathematics, Lagos State University (LASU), one of the major ways for the teachers to do things differently and remain

relevant in their chosen career is to imbibe the culture of critical thinking. ‘’Being also a teacher, my major part is to encourage them about the profession or chosen career because we found out that several of our teachers are not selfmotivated. ‘’They are not motivated about the profession, they look forward to other professions because of the welfare package, monetary value and the prestige in the society and all the rest, but I was able to talk to them about some of the personal experiences I have had over the years as a teacher. ‘’One of my students who was not doing well, as she got connected with me and I began to mentor her, she was

able to improve her academic performance, went for service where she was posted to a school where there were no classrooms and she took it upon herself raised the money to build classrooms by talking to the villagers. ‘’That made her to earn a state award and eventually a national award. That translates to automatic employment by the FG and scholarship for her master’s and PhD in any university of her choice anywhere in the world. ‘’My message therefore to the teachers is for them to be self- motivated and prepare for what lies ahead. Such things as character development, citizenship and critical thinking. Critical thinking on its part is very crucial, as it is through it that one will

be able to simplify, that is, break the concept you want to teach the students down to the end and this of course will make them comprehend better thereby contribute in building the nation,’’ he said.

The Chairman of the Parent Teacher Association of the college, Mr. Adewuyi lauded the teachers for their resilience and resourcefulness, especially during the pandemic, adding that as a result, the association has sponsored four awards for teachers.

He added that aside the awards, all the teachers would be rewarded with some token.

The high point of the event was the distribution of various categories of gifts to teachers, ranging from bedside lamps, rechargeable fans and dining sets, among others.

The team from XHS Nigeria Limited in a group photograph with the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, during a courtesy visit... recently

Ex-VC Tasks FG on 26% Budgetary Allocation World Teachers’ Day: TESCOM Boss Advises to Education Teachers on Hard Work Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Funmi Ogundare As teachers in Nigeria joined their counterparts around the world to commemorate the 2020 World Teachers’ Day with the theme ‘Teachers: Leading in Crisis, Reimagining The future’, the Chairman, Lagos State Teaching Service Commission, (TESCOM), Mrs. Olabisi Ariyo has called on teachers not to rest on their oars, but to continue to put in their best in the profession.

Ariyo in a statement, described this year’s celebration as apt, amid the global health concerns, particularly, the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to academic disruptions across the country.

She said the future of any nation lies in the fact that teachers lay the foundation for success as nation builders, adding that the job of actively moulding and shaping the lives of children as future leaders, is germane to the

development of Nigeria. “Great teachers make memories, they assist students to achieve their goals, they inspire and build relationships.

They are dependable, reliable, trustworthy, flexible, honest and dedicated. “Teachers are providers of opportunities and advocate for their students. They encourage and support learning and above all, they remain life-long learners.�

Ariyo emphasised the importance of teachers in Lagos State, as they have been instrumental to the success of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration’s THEMES agenda in the area of education and technology.

She advised them to keep soaring while putting their best in the service to the state. “Teachers are regarded as the bedrock of development, hence the world has no option but to celebrate great teachers.�

A former Vice-Chancellor, Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State, Professor Bashiru Raji has called on the federal government to accede to the call by stakeholders in the education sector by allocating 26 per cent of the national budget to the sector.

He said such a step would go a long way to address the decay and decadence in the quality of education in the country.

Raji, who teaches at the University of Ilorin, said this in Ilorin, while speaking on Nigeria @60 and the state of education in the country.

According to him, “I think we have made some gains and there are other areas that will need to improve upon. If we look into the area of access to education, we say we have made some gains, starting from University of Ibadan in the 1940s, the only one in the country, to the current over 100 universities in the country,

spread across all local government areas, states and in all the senatorial districts of the country.�

He said: “In terms of quality, the answer is yes or no, there has been a shift from what people considered, lets say quality in the 60s, the ability to speak good English, the ability to memorise Latin, all these are considered as quality of education, but in the 21st century, I will say there is a lot of improvement in terms of ESTEEM. “So when we look at education in last 60 years, we have grown, but can we say we have developed, yes, to some extent, but there is a lot to be done.

In the 60s, in the 70s when I was in school, the facilities we had in Ahmadu Bello University were the facilities in the University of London, but can we say it is the same in the 1920, definitely no, the resources spent by the government has actually declined a lot, so there is decay in the infrastructures. “Although the manpower has

increased, student enrolment has increased, but it is not matched by the number of infrastructures to go by, how many students, how many microscopes we have in the laboratory is it one to one, is it 60, no. So in some areas, we have gains, in other areas, there is need for improvement, especially in the infrastructure, laboratory, and library, but in terms of access, in terms of manpower development, yes.

Raji, who is the President of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria, added: “The government are politicians, in most cases, they establish university without due process, without recourse to the resources available. University is not like secondary schools, you have to think of students teacher ratio. “The NUC which is the government regulating body of establishing universities in the country, stipulated you have 1-10, 1-15, but what we have in some universities is 1-50, 1-100, and when you have one

lecturer who is in charge of 100 students, I want to say that the quality will not be the same, like Harvard University that has a ratio of 1-6, Harvard has a ratio of 1-8, and for us to reach that level, government must actually put a lot of investment in education. “ASUU and other stakeholders always canvassed that our education budget must be 26 per cent of the national budget, once we don’t do that I think we will continue to have a decay and decadence in the quality of education in the country, but other people of the country are trying with the entablement of private universities, I think things are getting better, but because of high tuition, access is not as high as planned in the national education policy.�

He therefore called on the government to look into the budgetary allocation to the education sector so as to address the decay and decadence in the quality of education in the country.

34

T H I S D AY Ëž OCTOBER 7, 2020

EDUCATION

Sexual Violence: LSUBEB Empowers School Counsellors, Rolls out Helplines Funmi Ogundare The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB) has trained a total of 60 Local Government Education Area (LGEA) staff and counsellors in the effective prevention of incidence of domestic and sexual violence during and post COVID-19 era.

The Chairman of the board, Wahab Alawiye-King, who declared the training held at Agidingbi Primary School, Ikeja open, regretted that COVID-19 pandemic had occasioned the restriction of movements, thereby reducing incomes, induced mental stress and idleness. He noted that these, among other factors increased the likehood of children who experienced domestic and sexual violence at home. “Since the majority of those who perpetrate these dastardly act against children are known to the children and live close

to them, the lockdown has made it nearly impossible for those innocent kids to avoid the abusers.�

He rolled out the board’s helplines: 08150865664, 08150865696 and 08029173595, while calling on stakeholders in the state to act as their guardians and protectors, saying that it is only then that the bright and rewarding future parents crave for their children can be realised. “We should encourage friendly discussions and monitor behavioural changes in our pupils. Our responsibility transcends ensuring the provision of quality pedagogy.

It is part of our duties to act as parent substitutes and confidants to our pupils,�

Alawiye-King said, while appealing to the counsellors to see the training as a useful tool to prevent and end the scourge of domestic and sexual violence.

The Permanent Board Mem-

ber in charge of co-curricular at the board, Mrs. Sherifat Abiodun Adedoyin described the issue as unfortunate in the country, saying that it calls for concerted efforts from parents. “During the lockdown, when most parents were supposed to be at home monitoring their children, the issue of domestic and sexual violence got on the rise during that time. It shows that most parents have failed in their responsibilities. We expect so many negative reactions when pupils resume, and that is why we want to build the capacity of counsellors so that they can know how to tackle each problem as they come.�

For fathers who violate their children, she said: “This is extremely wrong and that is why we are trying to create an awareness to stamp out the scourge.�

The Coordinator, Spotlight Initiative, UNICEF, Mrs. Foluke Omoworare decribed the issue of domestic and sexual

violence as very disturbing in the society perpetrated mostly from the homes, adding that children who have been violated no longer see their homes as a safe haven. “Some of these children run away from home not because they don’t want to be obedient, but because something is chasing them away from their homes.�

She regretted that the society is quick to condemn them, rather than looking at why they are running away from the home, adding that mothers try to shield the men who had violated their children. “Mostly this is rooted in poverty, economic situation of the woman as she is afraid of what may happen to her in the future. The man most times intimidates the woman and that is why we usually encourage the woman to try and get something doing as this would give her a level of economic freedom.�

L-R: Publicity Secretary, Association of Professional Women in Engineering (APWEN), Mrs.Bose Oyekunle; Treasurer, Slyvia Kelechi; Vice-President, Elizabeth Eterigho; Chairman, Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) Victoria Island branch, John Audu; President, APWEN, Mrs. Funmilola Ojelade; General Secretary, Chinyere Igbwegbe; Technical Secretary, Mrs. Imhade Okokpujie; and National Cordinator, APWEN Young Engineers, Ummulkhair Tajo, during the association’s national conference... recently

APWEN Builds Capacity of Young Engineers through Mentorship Funmi Ogundare The Association of Professional Women in Engineering (APWEN) recently held its town and gown mentoring/career fair, themed ‘Industry-focused Capacity Building’, for young engineers, as part of efforts to bridge the gap between the academia and the industry.

During a virtual programme, undergraduate engineering students were linked to mentors from the oil and gas, manufacturing, energy, telecoms, construction companies, among others, according to their field of interest.

The town and gown mentoring programme, sponsored by Worley Foundation, Australia, featured the mentoring of students on how to build a career and be equipped with the required skills to function effectively.

In her remarks, the President of the association, Mrs. Funmilola Ojelade expressed delight about bringing the

young engineers together to meet with mentors that will enlighten them on what it takes to be employed and the skills required of them. “They are expected to ask questions and seek clarifications. This, we believe will place them at a vantage position to be employed,� she said.

The Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, who declared the programme open, commended APWEN for its laudable initiative, while appealing to the young engineers to make the best use of the opportunity.

He expressed delight that more women are now being given the opportunity to practice the profession, unlike in the past when it was male dominated.

He urged the association to establish a partnership with Dangote Academy so as to further boost skills training.

The Director, Public Affairs, Worley Foundation, Ms. Sue

Brown described engineering as that which has the possibility of improving the economy and creating prosperity, adding that the foundation has over the years, been supporting STEM education and improving careers for women. “We are excited about the programme and how it can help promote female engineers in Nigeria,� she said.

She advised young female engineers to be confident in themselves, take calculated risk, be flexible and adaptable.

The Managing Director, Delta Afrik, Mr. Akin Odumakin, who was represented by the Head of Strategy of the organisation, Mr. Bimbo Onaolapo, said it is passionate about developing local capacity, while pledging its support towards helping young engineers to build their career.

According to him, “we are here to support you. You need to plan yourselves and look for mentors that can help you in the industry. You should

not give up.�

He encouraged them to put what they learnt into practice, saying that though women are bound to face challenges in the industry, giving up should not be an option.

In his keynote address, the General Manager, Worley Academy, Mr. Miles O’Connor said young engineers should be more concerned about networking with people, adding that aside enhancing their work performance, it will help in growing their businesses and improve their personal success. “You need to deliberately choose like-minded and successful people, think long term, follow up and meet again,� he said.

He said companies usually hire people who are proactive, optimistic, have attitudes to learn, can motivate and are loyal, adding that they need to demonstrate these and be motivated to learn by reading books.

KEHINDE OMORU www.kayomoru.com

TRANSACTED PLACES It is amazing how indeed things do happen cyclically. History, great and small does repeat itself. I wrote the article below in Thisday Newspaper Nigeria, in 2017. Then persistent coughing, breathing difficulty and general malaise were novel in the country. Tuberculosis was the respiratory illness at this time and was given wide attention in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.

Not so today, persistent coughing, breathing difficulty and general malaise have adorned another identity in the entity of COVID-19. Indeed coughing is the more visible sign and symptom of novel coronavirus; the others being fever and breathing difficulty. Additionally, loss of the senses of taste and smell are being added to the symptoms of coronavirus as being increasingly seen in younger people.

With COVID-19, come new themes and modes of operation.

An entirely new repertoire of words is currently in use around the world. We are now enacting words which include: the following: remote/remote access; virtual; locked-in; stay-at-home; furlough; ‘covidiot’; quarantine; isolation; social-distance; social-responsibility and pandemic.

Today, history has cycled around and tweaked ‘socialdistancing’ to currently mean the avoidance of close contact with other people during this ongoing outbreak of contagious coronavirus disease. In practice, we are maintaining a greater than usual physical distance from other people. The essence of this is to minimize exposure and reduce the transmission of the infection.

Social distance has been in use since the early 19th century.

It originally meant the degree of acceptance or rejection of social interaction between individuals and especially those belonging to different social groups based on race, religion, gender and class.

Today’s style of social distancing will take a while to get used to especially with our ingrained communal mentality in Nigeria. So please don’t rush too quickly to throw Funke Akindele away with her bath water. Line have had to be conspicuously drawn on the floor of our offices, shops, all high-traffic areas to keep us two meters away from each other.

Funke (and all Funkes’ at home must now signage the floors of their studios, offices and other public buildings to effect this life saving 2m demarcating lines. Parties, celebrations, and all ‘owambes’, which are our way of life, must hold-off until this pandemic abates.

It is tough as well here but we are generally keeping apart to save lives. Nonetheless, naughtiness cannot be completely ruled out! Yesterday, as I waited at a bus top, a lady who stood about 2metres quite alright away from me coughed. Don’t get me wrong; it isn’t wrong to cough!

The issue with this lady was that she coughed repeatedly right into the air making no effort to cough into a tissue or into the crock of her sleeve!

I couldn’t believe my eyes; this woman just kept on coughing unconcernedly into the air – mouth uncovered! I thought, What with all the media, social media, tabloids, leaflets and word of mouth hyping passing on advice on maintaining coughing etiquettes in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The problem with coughing today, is that COVID-19 has now killed more than 50,000 lives worldwide’ Coughing can indicate that you have caught the coronavirus and are expressing a symptom of it. Therefore and it behooves you (and anyone coughing) to cough responsibly and seek immediate medical advice on it.

The other problem with coughing today is that the presence of tuberculosis (and other respiratory conditions) is fading to the rear and in danger of being given less attention. So to my 2017 article in Thisday Newspaper Nigeria, I wrote: “Current World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) fact sheets online, informs that last year, 1.8 million people worldwide died of Tuberculosis. It states that 95% of these deaths occurred in low income and middle income countries.

Interestingly, it further informs that, only six countries accounted for 60% of the deaths amongst these two types of countries. Sadly, Nigeria is fourth of these six worst-hit countries.

In Nigeria this year, there have been a number of clarion calls aimed at addressing the scourge of the Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for the menace of tuberculosis. An online article by Femi Ajasa, April 5, 2016, correctly identifies Nigeria as the second African nation with the burden of TB. It suggests that this case persists given the problem of “low case detection “and “low coverage of vulnerable peopleâ€?‌â€?

Omoru is a freelance writer, education, health and social care advocate

35

T H I S D AY Ëž Íľ, 2020

Uwatt: A Teacher, Thespian and Nigeria’s Moral Burden of Literature Paul Obi “It is in literature that the concrete outlook of humanity receives expression.�

- Alfred North Whitehead

Over the last two decades, there has been a global debate about the importance of liberal education, humanities, civics and social sciences. Given the world’s dire and precarious situation; ravaged by pandemics, climate change horrors and natural disasters, many have argued that there’s an urgency to reduce the concentration in the study of humanities and focus more on STEM courses- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Leading the pack of opposition against such neoliberal ideologies in education has been no other than the American-Indian Harvard trained journalist and host of CNN’s the Global Public Sphere (GPS), Fareed Zakaria. In his globally acclaimed book, ‘In Defence of a Liberal Education’, Zakaria argued passionately about the paradox of a scientifically driven education and a

liberal one. He compared a President Donald Trump boasting about bankruptcy and a German scientist going underneath over a slight failure in entrepreneurship or start-up.

These two variables are all products of the quality and the fundamental character of education in a society.

From the foregoing, and within the last two decades, Prof. Efiok Bassey Uwatt of the University of Abuja, in defence of liberal arts has painstakingly created a niche for liberal arts particularly literature that many have come to cherish.

For those who have had to study English, Linguistics, Law, Political Science and Sociology at the University of Abuja, Prof. Uwatt is not a stranger or lone ranger in grooming students and preparing them for the future. As a lecturer of Nigerian Literature; Literature and Society and Short Story, Uwatt’s lectures and classes are a projection of Nigeria’s society in various ramifications. Beyond being a Thespian in the classroom, his ability to dramatically deploy literary texts and situate them to Nigeria’s present socio-

Olashore International School Foundation Canvasses Improvement in Mental Health Service Funmi Ogundare The Chairperson, Olashore International School (OIS) Foundation, Princess Olapeju Sowofora has called on all stakeholders in Nigeria to make concerted efforts aimed at improving mental health service delivery in the country.

Sowofora, who made this known during a Zoom press conference to announce the third edition of its mental wellness summit themed, ‘Mental Wellness: A Central Pillar of Adolescent Wellbeing’, expressed concern about depression and the increasing cases of suicide among school age children and youths, especially during this period of COVID-19 pandemic.

She said there is need for schools to to have a standardisation of mental health protocols to address such issues if they arise. “We found out that there has been an incessant increase in suicide and depression among youths. Why will a child harm himself/herself or somebody else? What should we do as an institution? How do parents and caregivers identify that their children are going through depression? How will they feel losing a child to depression or drug abuse? We need to work at it rather than wishing it away. A problem identified is half solved.�

She disclosed that the foundation has commissioned

a survey to find out from secondary school students within the southwest states their understanding of mental health, adding that the survey is still ongoing. “We don’t want such issues to manifest before taking action; our youths are the leaders of tomorrow. We must begin to address the issues before they blow up.�

On expectations from government at the state and national levels, Sowofora said the foundation would mobilise stakeholders and ensure that the issue of mental wellness is at the front burner.

The mental wellness summit will hold on October 10 on Zoom. The Executive Director, the Partnership for Maternal Newborn and Child Health, World Health Organisation (WHO), Ms. Helga Fogstad, will deliver the keynote address, while the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo and the Managing Director of Sterling Bank, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, are expected as special guests.

Other speakers are: the Head of Department, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Dr. Tulips BellaAwusah; MD/CEO, Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Dr. Oluwayemi Ogun; and psychiatrist and founder, Mental Status Quo, OIS Class of 2006, Dr. Tobi Odunsi.

Uwatt political quagmire makes him a prophetic teacher.

Uwatt is not merely an ordinary teacher; his grasp of the Nigerian literary world within the last four decades has compelled him in many ways to project literature as a source of our collective power. His ability to unearth hidden histrionics, historical artifacts and political implications of a text sits top among his many qualities. In many instances, Uwatt will navigate from being a teacher, to a mentor, a strict disciplinarian and end it all with being a dramatic persona in class. Ending with some comic relief, some of his students will be thrown into a hysterical moment.

In his classes, often filled to the brim, Uwatt will serenade his students with the various layers of society as unveiled by literature.

From the Greek tragedies and their fatality of life as captured by Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex; Aeschylus’ Oresteia and Euripides’ Bacchae to the Shakespearean Titus Andronicus to Christopher Okigbo’s blend of ecumenical and the Ro-

man Classics in his epocal collection, Labyrinths, Uwatt brings the world of abstract to reality.

More so, Uwatt’s understanding of the Nigerian society comes to life in Literature and Society, where he often re-enacts the Civil War Literature to Nigeria’s Wild Wild West Crisis in the first republic.

From the first republic politics to Soyinka’s Poems from Prison (1969), Uwatt is able to vividly capture Nigeria’s history leaving his students with the full grasp of the political and historical trajectory the country has traversed. It was in Uwatt class, that some of us born in the 1980s got to know about Penkelemesi a.k.a Peculiar Mess - Adegoke Adelabu, the powerful and radical Ibadan politician in the first republic. When Uwatt goes further to give us another melodious rendition of the political anthem of that era: Demo oh; demo oh I belong to demo If you see my hand You cannot see my heart I belong to demo.

The whole class will end in a thunderous admiration

of the Thespian in Uwatt.

Today, that song ‘demo’ echoes the politics of the first republic and a re-enactment with the recent Edo State governorship election where the people stood their ground in defence of liberal democracy.

Beyond teaching, Uwatt has also taken time to ensure that Nigerian literature survives the growing cases of attack on scholarship and intellectualism. In that regards, Uwatt’s publication of The Epilogue: The Unpublished Works of Ola Rotimi can be seen as a rigorous effort to save Nigerian literature for posterity.

In ‘Man Talk, Woman Talk’, Uwatt’s publication brings to bear endless gender wars and feud between men and women. In today’s digital and supersonic world, gender squabbles have quadrupled without any headway. It is in this role that Uwatt’s contribution beside teaching will remain a timeless intervention in the annals of history.

In the re-enactment of society, literature locates the very essence of humanity; the human foibles, greed and fallibility of man. These variables are often in contention with benevolent principles inherent in humans. As Uwatt would often posit, literature breathes life by enacting reality through texts, imagery and drama.

In that context, the burden of literature on the Nigerian society is the inability of the nation’s leaders to write-off the illiberal and debased predictions of Nigeria by its indigenous literature.

From Achebe’s ‘A Man of the People’ and its portrayal of corruption, to Zaynab Alkali’s ‘The Virtuous Woman’ and the theme of feminism to Ben Okri’s ‘The Famished Road’ and its animist realism, Nigeria’s nationhood challenges have continued unabated.

The burden is not just the ill-fated predictions, but the

inordinate and deliberate efforts that have perpetually stagnated the country. It’s in this regard that the call for restructuring of the country has become even more indispensable.

Further, as academics like Uwatt continue to interrogate Nigeria’s perennial crisis as captured by literature, our memories are situated within the realm of a waiting game. A long wait for redemption - for Nigeria to live up to its calling and billing of greatness.

Such anticipated greatness could come through leadership, education and the quality of teachers in the mold of Uwatt. For Uwatt, who celebrated his birthday on October 3, 2020, we can only hope for more elevation.

The Professor of Literature attended the Universities of Calabar, Ibadan and Benin, where he bagged BA, MA and PhD in English and Literary Stuudies.

Uwatt has also served as the Head of Department, English Department, Deputy Dean and Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Abuja. In an era where Nigerian government’s dilly-dally approach to education and care for teachers has continued to impair our collective growth, recognising great teachers like Uwatt remains a lofty idea. To this writer, if Mr. Bernard Odu introduced me to literature in Secondary Commercial School, Kakwagom, Boki, Cross River State, Uwatt inflamed my passion and moulded me towards appreciating the influence of literature on society.

As encomiums continue to pour for Uwatt across board for his mentorship, we can only wish him the very best. And may the stars be with him.

-Obi is a journalist and political communication expert, based in Abuja

ICPC Essay Winner Seeks More Security in Schools to Curb Exam Malpractice Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The winner of the essay contest, organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Crimes Commission (ICPC), Chiekezie Favour of Mountain Crest High School, Abuja, has called on the government and proprietors of schools to increase the presence of security personnel during exams to curb exam malpractice.

Chiekezie, who won in the junior category with her essay titled ‘A Good Name is Better Than Gold’, advised that students should study hard and put their minds towards their books, rather than just joining friends or just hanging around.

Chiekezie, who spoke shortly after she was honoured by

President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in commemoration of 20 years after the establishment of the anti- graft agency, said security agents do not do up to half of the work they are expected to do, hence the need to be properly engaged. “A good name is not about what people give you, but about what you earn through your character and behavioural traits. People can see you and like you because of what you’ve done even if they don’t know you. A good name can earn you fold and many other things. “There should be enough security in schools during exams. I will advise that security personnel should be encouraged to do more.

Security agents are not doing

up to half of the work they are expected to do. “I felt very excited. I don’t know how to explain it. I was very happy to see my president.

I couldn’t believe that I was standing in the presence of the president of my country,� she said.

Also, Matilda Daniels of Top Grace Secondary School won the competition in the senior category with two essays ‘The Role of Youth in the Fight against Corruption’ and ‘My Dream of a Corruption- free Nigeria’.

Encouraging the youths to develop good work ethics and values such as accountability and integrity, she said youths look up to the wrong people and imitate them and this has led to the moral bankruptcy

being witnessed in the society.

According to her, “youths can avoid bad influence from some public figures. Many people today look up to the wrong people and they imitate what they see which is wrong. This is why many youths are the way they are today. “They can also develop good work ethics. They should learn values such as accountability, responsibility in every little thing they do. Nothing is too small. “Relying on values they have learnt as children so that they can be able to overcome negative peer pressure from peers. Youths must know their value and why they need to fight corruption. They need to learn values such as integrity and honesty.�

36

T H I S D AY Ëž Íľ, 2020

CITYSTRINGS

ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ăš Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ™ĂœË? Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă–Ă“Ă? äĂ?Ă™ĂŒĂ“ Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă– Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă–Ă“Ă?Ë›Ă?äĂ?Ă™ĂŒĂ“ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ă™Ă—Ëœ ͙͖͓͓͖͓͔͓͖͑͒

Tanker Accidents as a Recurring Decimal on Kogi Highway Ibrahim Oyewale writes that the recent tanker explosion tragedy in Felele area along the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja Highway, which claimed 23 lives and burnt 10 vehicles, has again brought to the front burner, the incessant fatal crashes along that axis

The scene of explosion

The carcass of burnt vehicles

W

ednesday, September 23, 2020 was not an ordinary day of horror, but also a day of carnage and tragedy in which many lives of both young and old persons were cut short unexpectedly.

It happened just like a Nollywood film. In the early hours of the day, the hustling and bustling of road users within the community was as usual, nothing out of the ordinary. All those on that stretch Okene -Lokoja -Abuja Highway, had no inkling the evil that lurked as everyone went about their daily routine. On that stretch, students, civil servants, parents and guardians mingled as they went to their various destinations.

Suddenly, tragedy struck. The driver of a petrol tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) lost control following a brake failure and all efforts to communicate with other road users to stop the inherent danger proved abortive as the articulated tanker rammed into a car conveying a family of five and three other cars before it fell down, exploded and burst into flames.

Within a tinkle of an eye, scores of people waiting along the road were roasted to death in a horrific manner. At the scene of the crash, after the fire was put under control, gory sight of chared bodies of the victims, particularly the primary school pupils and secondary school students, as well as their parents and guardians littered the road.

Passers-by, smypathisers and journalists who rushed to scene of the ugly incident could not hold back tears because of the inexplicable situation that led to the untimely deaths that Wednesday morning.

At the end, the casualty according to the Kogi State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corp, Idris Fika Ali, was a total of 23 persons while one child escaped with injuries, adding that 10 vechiles where involved, five cars, one tanker, three tricycles and two motorcycles.

Fatal Blow It was indeed a day that dealt a cruel blow on several families, leaving them devastated and yet to come to terms with the reality that befell them, particularly when they remember how their loved ones woke up hale and hearty to go about their normal businesses and various schools, especially students walking by to receive lectures at the nearby Kogi State Polytechnic, without having any premonition of the inferno that would silence them for good.

For the family of a sewing machine dealer, Mr. Samsom Ajala, who died in his newly acquired Toyota Highlander jeep along with his wife and three children on the fateful day, it was like total eclipse signalling darkness.

The deceased was said to be full of life and

Burnt vehicles was set to drop his children at their various schools and to return to his shop with his wife, who would cross to her shop opposite, for the business of the day. But that was not to be as the petrol tanker rammed into his car and they all went ablaze immediately after the explosion.

THISDAY investigation revealed that Ajala had lived all his life in Lokoja as a tailor who later became sewing machines repairer and subsequently a dealer in the same business.

It was a success story of a kind, but the cold hands of death caught up with him and members of his immediate family, except the first daughter who is a student at Federal Goveenment College, Ogbomosho, where she was preparing to write her SSCE examinations as at the time of this incident.

Some of the friends and neighbours of the late businessman, Ajala, described him as easy going and God fearing, but lamented that the demise was too shocking , sad and tragic as he was burnt to death with his wife and three children in his newly acquired jeep.

They posited that that he would be missed for his embodiment of humility.

Similarly, the family of Abdullahi Salihu were already counting their losses as he was said to have watched six children burn to death on the black Wednesday. Salihu who could not believe his eyes seeing the children from the same family dying in an inferno almost ran into the burning fire in a bid to rescue the victims. But Aisha, Aisha Junior, Wasila , Faiza, Ibrahim and Abdul-mutalib were burnt beyond recognition.

Abdullahi Salihu and Idris Yusuf are cousins who live in the same area at Felele community. While Salihu lost four children in the inferno- Aisha, Wasilat, Abdulmutalib and Faiza, his cousin Yusuf lost two of his four children namely Aisha Junior, and Ibrahim.

Aisha Salihu was an SSS3 students of Army Day Secondary School Lokoja while her siblings attended Lokongoma Secondary School in Lokoja as Aisha Junior and Ibrahim attended a private school inside the town.

The bereaved parents were said to have been placed on sediative and intensive care of their family members as the cry of “where do I start from� rent the air.

Recounting his ordeal, the Assistant Registrar of Kogi State Polytechnic, Mr Musa Raji, who escaped with other five staff of the Kogi Poly, said he was so lucky and escaped being burnt to death by whiskers. He explained that the tanker, which hit his car at the back, pushed him away completely from the roadside and when the tanker fell and exploded, it was easier for him to run for cover.

Like Aisha and siblings, many students of Kogi State Polytechic also got burnt which led to student demonstration before it was brought under control by the government top functionaries. Subsequently the management of the institution declared three lecture free days in honour of the departed souls.

Reoccurring Decimal Like others before now, the tragic incident will forever remain fresh in the memory of the residents of Lokoja, particularly those living around Felele area on Okene -Lokoja -Abuja Highway who witnessed how scores of lives were roasted to death in the early hours of Wednesday by a tanker explosion, occasioned by brake failure and alleged carelessness on the part of the driver.

The smypathisers had argued that considering the topgraphy of Felele area which was prone to motor accidents being on a federal highway, such fatal auto crashes have been a reoccurring decimal, which has inadvertenty claimed the lives of several people in the the

area. They urged government to do something to prevent the perennial carnages at Felele axis of the state capital.

Checks also revealed that between 2007 till date no fewer than 25 fatal auto crashes had occurred particularly in the ember months claiming hundreds of lives of people between the NNPC fuel station and Nataco Junction in Lokoja. These, it was learnt, were caused by articulated vechicles which either lost control or ignorance of some road users.

In 2009, before the international market was relocated to its present site, at least 70 persons were crushed to death by an articulated vehicle loaded with cement. Many affected families have not forgotten in a hurry how their loved ones went to market and never returned back.

On Friday, July 28, 2017, it was reported that about 10 people were burnt beyond recognition while six others sustained serious injuries in an auto crash involving a fuel tanker and a commercial bus in Felele area of Lokoja, Kogi State. The fuel tanker burst into flames after colliding with the 18-seater commercial bus.

The death toll was put at 13.

Barely two years after, eight people perished on November 18, 2019 while seven others sustained various degree of injuries as a petrol laden tanker experienced brake failure and rammed into other vehicles on its descent around the Felele axis of the Abuja-Lokoja highway.

The ghastly crash involving three cars, four tricycles, two motorcycles and a bus, resulted in angry youths taken over the expressway in protest around 8.45am. The driver of the trailer which was coming from the Lagos end of the highway lost control as a result of brake failure, leading to the death of innocent citizens.

The persistent calls for rehabilitation of bad portions of this road and appeal for fire service stations along the route were not heeded and once again, on Wednesday, September 23, 2020, the fatal accident involving a fuel tanker occurred again, claiming scores.

Commiseration Meanwhile, Presisent Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the Kogi State government, the people and family of those who lost theirs lives in the unfortunate incident, praying God to grant the departed souls eternal rest and give the families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

In the same vein, the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello expressed shock and sorrow over the fatal tanker explosion. This was contained in a statement issued immediately after the incident,by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onogwu Mohammed.

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

37

T H I S D AY Ëž OCTOBER 7, 2020

CRIME&SECURITY

Nigerian Navy Inspects Ships to Ascertain State of Readiness

Ships in Composite Manoeuver during the sea inspection exercise

L-R: The FOC Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Oladele Daji; the Chief Operations OďŹƒcer (COO), Commodore Livingstone Izu and the FOO, Commodore ZS Muhammad

Gunnex during the sea exercise Rebecca Ejifoma

A

s part of the Nigerian Navy (NN) Schedule of event for this year, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Oladele Daji, recently inspected ships in Lagos to ascertain it’s state of readiness, and level of training of personnel in conducting various operations.

The FOC, in company of Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) from the command and Western Fleet, embarked on a one-day ‘Return to Harbour on Completion’ (RHOC) to ascertain the overall operational preparedness, efficiency and state of ships, units and establishments in the command.

Speaking after the 10 hours inspection at sea, Rear Admiral Daji told newsmen in Lagos that, “the inspection of the fleet at sea

achieved the desired objective, which is to assess the state of equipment as well as the level of training of personnel in conducting various operations in different operational scenarios that were simulated at sea to prepare for the real time operations as they come.�

Hence, he expressed, “I'm very satisfied with the conduct of the exercise.�

The inspection tour, which started in Lagos area from September 7, 2020, began with the inspection of the NNS BEECROFT, and the inspection of ships under the Western Fleet to mark the conclusion of the FOC WEST second bi-annual inspection tour for the forthcoming Chief of the Naval Staff Sea Inspection.

For the sea inspection exercise, the participating ships include: NNS Ekun, NNS Prosperity, NNS Nguru, NNS Ekulu, NNS Ose, TUG Ugwu & TUG Rima, Detachment of Special Boat Service (SBS) and Nigerian

Navy Helicopters.

The FC Western Fleet, Rear Admiral Danjuma Moses; the Fleet Operations Officer, Rear Admiral Danjuma Moses; Command FSG WEST, Commodore EE Ebe and the Chief Operations Officer (COO), Commodore Livingstone Izu, joined the FOC during the inspection of ships at harbour.

The FOC proceeded to Mobil Road Naval Barracks where he inspected the Obisesan Naval Medical Centre, Nigerian Navy Ship WEY, Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Ojo, Nigerian Navy Primary School, Ojo, Naval Airbase Station, Ojo and conclusively for Lagos area. The FOC WEST further inspected the Naval Barracks, Okokomaiko and Forward Operating Base Badagry.

On Thursday 10 September, 2020, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command departed Lagos area for further inspection of Units, Bases and Establishments

under the command.

Rear Admiral Daji proceeded to Abeokuta where he inspected the Nigerian Navy Secondary School Abeokuta, thereafter proceeded to Ogbomoso where he inspected the Nigerian Navy Secondary School Ogbomoso.

The FOC WEST upon arriving Akure paid a courtesy call to the Commander Headquarters 32 Artillery Brigade Nigerian Army and thereafter proceeded to Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Imeri where he inspected the Nigerian Navy Secondary School there. The FOC WEST thereafter departed Imeri for Lagos on Thursday 24 September, 2020.

During the exercise, manoeuver and evolutions were conducted which included; Vessel Boarding Search and Seizure (VBSS), launching and recovering of boats, high speed fleet manoeuver, gunnery exercise, and action station drills among others.

Gender Rights Advocates Call for Effective Justice Delivery to End Violence against Women Oluwabunmi Fache At the virtual discussion with a theme "Making Change: Ending Violence against Women and Girls" held on September 17, national and international gender rights advocate and activists were of the position that effective justice delivery, sex education, violence education and stakeholders’ dialogue are important to ending violence against woman and girls in the society.

Organised by Director and Chief Communications Officer of Red Eyes Development Initiative

(REDi), Ekaete George, the webinar conversation was designed to encourage all stakeholders in Th judiciary to ensure that the Nigerian society is rid of perpetrators of violence, as well of dominant characters and perceptions of women and girls that make them vulnerable to violence.

Development Consultant, Prince Idiong, mentioned that to end violence against women and girls, there must be accurate fact resulting from announcement and reports of cases and violence against women and girls, access to justice, eradication of the culture

of impunity, clear grievance response system, and education of communities against condoning violence while re-victimizing victims of violence.

Human Rights Lawyer and Co-Founder of Pad2go in Nepal, Jesselina Rana, pointed out that men and women must see themselves as equal supporters in justice to eradicating structural view that promote inequality.

She further noted that it is crucial that men are included in the conversations about gender violence. In addition, she said that sex education should begin

at the primary level of education, inclusive of the violence education to instill the social implications of intimate partner violence at an early age.

In the same vein, Founder, Amazing Woman in Nigeria, Buchi Nduka, recommended that government and all supporters in the society must fashion ways to tackle sexual and gender based violence.

She further proposed that a study of the Rwandan is very effective in model of recovery after the genocide, and learn from it to eliminate sexual and gender based

violence in Nigeria.

Summarily, George remarked that violence against women and girls negatively have a bad effect on sustainable development.

Thus, individual’s institution and all stakeholders in the society must work to eliminate violence against women; government and legal systems should strengthen their capacity to legislate and implement laws to end SGBV. REDi further pledged to build on the VAW conversation as a basis for further advocacy to eliminate violence against women and girls.

38

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍľËœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

IMF Forecasts ‘Less Dire’ Global GDP Contraction in 2020 Nume Ekeghe As the world slowly recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected a “less dire� global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contraction in 2020, as against the severe global GDP contraction for the year it had predicted in June.

The Managing Director of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva said this in her presentation ahead of the 2020 Virtual Annual Meetings of the World Bank/ IMF in Washington yesterday. “We now estimate that developments in the second and third quarters were somewhat better than expected, allowing for a small upward revision to our global forecast for 2020. And we continue to project a partial and uneven recovery in 2021,�

she said. The fund predicted that global debt to GDP would reach 100 per cent by the end of this year as countries, adding that the recovery process would be a difficult climb. She said that risks remained high, including from rising bankruptcies and stretched valuations in financial markets, and many countries have become more vulnerable.

She said: “Emerging markets and low-income and fragile states continue to face a precarious situation. They have weaker health systems. They are highly exposed to the most affected sectors, such as tourism and commodity exports. “And they are highly dependent on external financing.

Abundant liquidity and low interest rates helped many emerging markets to regain access to borrowing but not a

single country in Sub-Saharan Africa has issued external debt since March. “The global economy is coming back from the depths of the crisis.

But this calamity is far from over.

All countries are now facing what I would call The Long Ascent a difficult climb that will be long, uneven, and uncertain. And prone to setbacks. “As we embark on this ascent, we are all joined by a single rope and we are only as strong as the weakest climbers. They will need help on the way up. “The path ahead is clouded with extraordinary uncertainty.

Faster progress on health measures, such as vaccines and therapies, could speed up the “ascent.� But it could also get worse, especially if there is a significant increase in severe outbreaks.�

Georgieva

WTO Revises Global Trade Projection, Foresees 9.2% Drop Obinna Chima Despite the fact that global trade has shown signs of bouncing back from a deep, COVID-19 induced slump, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has cautioned that any recovery could be disrupted by the ongoing pandemic effects.

Also, the global trade body has predicted a 9.2 per cent decline in the volume of world merchandise trade for 2020, followed by a 7.2 per cent rise next year. This was a more optimistic outlook, compared with the 12.9 per cent drop it had anticipated in its April trade forecast. Addressing a media briefing in Geneva yesterday, the WTO Deputy Director General, Yi Xiaozhun, stressed that the estimates were subject to an unusually high degree of uncertainty since they depend on the evolution of the pandemic and government responses to it. “Strong trade performance in

June and July have brought some signs of optimism for overall trade growth in 2020. Trade growth in COVID-19 related products was particularly strong in these months, showing trade’s ability to help governments obtain needed supplies. “Conversely, the forecast for next year is more pessimistic than the previous estimate of 21.3 per cent growth, leaving merchandise trade well below its pre-pandemic trend in 2021. “The performance of trade for the year to date exceeded expectations due to a surge in June and July as lockdowns were eased and economic activity accelerated. The pace of expansion could slow sharply once pent up demand is exhausted and business inventories have been replenished. More negative outcomes are possible if there is a resurgence of COVID 19 in the fourth quarter,� he explained.

In contrast to trade, the revised trade forecast showed that global GDP fell more than expected in the first half of 2020, causing forecasts for the year to be downgraded.

It revealed that consensus estimates now put the decline in world market-weighted GDP in 2020 at - 4.8 per cent compared to 2.5 per cent under the more optimistic scenario outlined in its April forecast. It, however, anticipated that GDP growth would pick up to 4.9 per cent in 2021, adding that, “this is highly dependent on policy measures and on the severity of the disease.� “The incidence of COVID-19 worldwide has fallen from its peak in the spring, but it remains stubbornly high in many areas.

Trade has played a critical role in responding to the pandemic, allowing countries to secure access to vital food and medical supplies.

Excellent Service Delivery Key to Customer Satisfaction, Says Uzoka The Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Kennedy Uzoka, has said excellent service delivery is a key ingredient towards ensuring customer satisfaction.

The GMD said this in a message to mark the commemoration of the 2020 edition of the Customer Service Week, in which he took time out to appreciate the staff who have worked tirelessly towards satisfying their customers, and urged them not to rest on their oars.

The Customer Service Week,

which is celebrated annually all over the world, recognises the importance of customer service and seeks to show appreciation to the staff who serve and support customers with the highest degree of care and professionalism.

While emphasising the need for continuous excellent service delivery to customers, specifically appreciated the staff who have worked tirelessly to impress customers and urged them not to rest on their oars. “Now more than ever, we have discovered things that truly mat-

ter, and it has taken the utmost dedication and commitment of all of us to stay resilient even when it seemed like everything was falling apart. “From colleagues who had to show up at work to make sure our services continued to run, to staff who worked remotely, delivering excellent service to the best of their ability, it has taken great grit to get us here today. It is commendable to see the power of people committed to succeeding.

Fitch Revises BOI’s Outlook to Stable Fitch Ratings has revised the Bank of Industry’s (BOI) outlook to stable, from negative, while affirming the bank’s Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘B’.

According to the rating agency, “The affirmation of BoI’s ‘B’ Longand Short-Term IDRs, ‘B’ Support Rating Floor (SRF) and Support Rating of ‘4’ reflects Fitch’s view of potential support the bank could receive from the Nigerian authorities in case of need. The revision of the Outlook on BOI’s

Long-Term IDR to Stable mirrors the Outlook on the sovereign. “Fitch has equalised BOI’s Long-Term IDR and SRF with the Long-Term IDR of the sovereign as it believes that the Nigerian authorities have a high propensity to support BOI. Our assessment primarily reflects the bank’s important and clearly defined policy role in funding economic growth in Nigeria; its 99.9 per cent state ownership, split between the Ministry of Finance

(94.8%) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN; 5.1%); and the entirety of the bank’s wholesale funding being either provided or guaranteed by the Nigerian state.

However, Fitch also viewed the ability of the authorities to support BOI as limited as indicated by Nigeria’s ‘B’ Long-Term IDR. “BOI is Nigeria’s primary development bank, with the sole mandate of financing the country’s emerging industrial sector.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JULY 2020 Money Supply (M3)

36,822,751.47

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

3,476,121.25

Money Supply (M2)

33,346,630.22

-- Quasi Money

120,764,479.02

-- Narrow Money (M1)

12,582,151.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,002,026.89

---- Demand Deposits

10,580,124.31

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,637,137.23

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

29,185,614.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

39,711,115.95

---- Credit to Government (Net)

19,521,851.08

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-130,189,264.87

--Other Assets Net

3,472,017.70

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,421,827.07

--Currency in Circulation

2,395,917.03

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,025,910.04 317,234.17

Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ Íł Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $39.08 a barrel on Monday, compared with $38.09 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), ZaďŹ ro (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).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

39

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍľËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

NSE Restates Commitment to Promoting Financial Literacy in Market Goddy Egene The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema, has said the exchange remains committed to promoting financial literacy in the capital market.

Onyema stated this in his message to commemorate the World Investor Week (WIW) 2020. The exchange joined the International Organisation of Securities Commission (IOSCO)

to celebrate WIW 2020 from Monday and will end Friday, 9. WIW is a week-long global campaign organised by IOSCO to raise awareness of the importance of investor education and protection, and highlight the various initiatives of securities regulators in these two critical areas.

Speaking on the importance of WIW, the NSE CEO said: “Financial inclusion is a priority for stakeholders in the capital market and the exchange makes

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

it a primary concern to contribute towards the achievement of Nigeria’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy of reducing the proportion of adult Nigerians that are financially excluded to 20 percent in the year 2020. “We recognise that the ability to make well-informed financial decisions plays an important part in the ability of individuals to properly manage their financial affairs, a factor that can have either a negative or positive ripple

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

effect on the economy. At the NSE, we are, therefore, excited to once again be a part of WIW 2020 and remain committed to promoting financial literacy in the capital market.�

According to him, as a member of IOSCO, the NSE continues to implement and support initiatives that encourage the wider investing public to develop sustainable investment habits. “These efforts include the introduction of innovative

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

products and services, execution of product-specific trainings and workshops, commemoration of Global Money Week, excursions to The Exchange under the X-Tours programme, and the annual national NSE Essay Competition,� he added.

Onyema explained that the exchange will embark on a fully virtual campaign to further promote smart investing and amplify the opportunities for retail investor participation in

O F

Nigeria’s capital market. “Activities lined up include an awareness programme across its social media platforms on NSE’s retail-focused products and services; trivia contests to reward winners with investments in available products; and virtual engagements with leading financial experts to drive the conversation about financial literacy. These activities will culminate in a virtual ‘Ring the bell for financial literacy,� he said.

2 9 / 0 9 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

40

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Berger Paints Nigeria Appoints Chief Financial Officer Goddy Egene

Nigeria Plc(BPN),has appointed furtherance of plan to strategically value creation. company said Obi is coming Mrs. Pheobe Onyinye Obi as the position the company for In a notification to the Nigerian with almost 15 years of extensive The Board of Berger Paints chief financial officer (CFO) in increased efficiency and enhanced Stock Exchange (NSE), the local and international experience A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an ETF are bought by investors.

Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. investment vehicle that allows both small and Bid Price: The price at which Investors Investors with similar objectives buy units of the large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total that willl generate their desired return. investments. The assets are divided into shares that return an investor would have earned on An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. his investment. Money Market Funds report of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, Yield while others report Year- to-date Total bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, GUIDE TO DATA: Return. etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 05- NAV: Is value per share of the real estate shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the Oct-2020, unless otherwise stated. assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

in leading strategic planning, budgeting, and corporate finance for high-growth organisations.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.95 0.96 5.51% ACAP Income Funds 0.78 0.78 9.93% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.10% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.17 3.27 29.47% 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 1.32% Anchoria Equity Fund 109.63 110.01 7.02% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.33 1.33 14.29% 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 15.49 15.95 1.09% ARM Discovery Fund 357.77 368.56 3.57% ARM Ethical Fund 31.36 32.30 7.83% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.13 1.14 13.54% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.09 1.10 9.54% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.96% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 105.44 106.18 9.74% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.27% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.22 2.22 19.56% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 1.94 1.97 20.63% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.92% Paramount Equity Fund 12.63 12.86 0.91% Women's Investment Fund 117.51 118.65 6.47% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.34% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 113.14 113.64 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 127.86 128.81 Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 103.05 103.05 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.28% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.02 1.03 9.43% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.61 1.61 21.04% 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 3.72% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 2.56% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,192.76 1,206.77 7.55% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,433.56 1,435.28 17.31% FBN Balanced Fund 159.56 160.76 8.68% FBN Halal Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.92% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 119.66 120.09 3.56% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 119.69 120.12 3.07% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 121.93 123.83 -6.30% 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 2.85% Legacy Debt Fund 3.83 3.83 4.84% Legacy Equity Fund 1.21 1.23 6.85% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.12 1.12 3.82% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,262.58 3,303.54 7.36% Coral Income Fund 3,205.53 3,205.53 4.22% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 4.19% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.03% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 121.72 121.26 12.59%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.44% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.39 2.44 9.19% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 8.13% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 152.12 152.90 6.14% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.34 1.37 10.30% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.86 11.82 4.91% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 3.21% PACAM Equity Fund 1.08 1.09 PACAM EuroBond Fund 108.43 111.05 SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 120.67 123.32 -0.51% 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 1.02 1.02 6.62% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 11.05% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 5.47% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 7.22% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 6.30% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 9.96% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.26% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 3.69% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.21 1.21 4.24% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 109.79 109.79 5.35% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.22 1.24 1.87% United Capital Bond Fund 1.86 1.86 7.54% United Capital Equity Fund 0.69 0.72 -1.34% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.55% United Capital Eurobond Fund 115.09 115.09 5.32% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.02 1.02 -2.69% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 10.89 11.02 5.98% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.98 12.09 3.10% Zenith Income Fund 24.46 24.46 7.68% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.25%

REITS NAV Per Share

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

117.93

5.15%

53.40

2.59%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

9.18 93.99 72.32

9.28 96.02 73.64

9.97% -0.50% -3.75%

Union Homes REIT

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.38 4.53 12.97 1.00 11.94 193.76

3.42 4.61 13.07 1.00 12.14 195.76

-4.77% -23.20% 6.72% N/A 14.75% 2.59%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.03

15.02%

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.

WEDNESDAY 0CT0BER 7, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

41

INTERNATIONAL

COVID-19 Can Spread More Than Six Feet, Says CDC Coronavirus can be spread by tiny particles suspended in the air, sometimes for hours, the United States Centres for Disease Control said yesterday.

Its updated guidance said this airborne route of transmission is still uncommon - bigger droplets from coughs, sneezes and talking are still the main source.

People are at higher risk of catching it the longer and closer they are to someone who has the virus.

Poorly ventilated enclosed crowded spaces are are riskier than outdoors.

Last month, the CDC published - and then took down - a draft version of the guidance

ECOWAS Lifts Sanctions on Mali Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) has lifted the sanction placed on Mali following the overthrow of government by the military in the country.

The regional bloc had imposed wide-ranging sanctions imposed on the country following the 18th August military coup, which toppled the government of former President, Ibrahim Keita.

The Chairman of ECOWAS and Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo, announced the lifting of the sanctions following the announcement of Mali’s 25-member Transition Government on Monday.

The 18-month transition government is headed Col. Bah Ndaw (rtd), 70, with military junta leader, Col. Assimi Goita as vice President and former Foreign Minister Moctar Ouane as Prime Minister.

The position of National security, defence, National Reconciliation and Regional Administration in the new government are all headed by military officers Akufo-Addo, however, called on the Mali government to comply with other demands by the regional body, including the dissolution of the ruling military Council and release detainees.

He stated: “The political transition will last 18 months starting from 15 September, 2020.

Once a civilian led transition is put in place, ECOWAS will support the Republic of Mali towards the restoration of constitutional order, in line with its relevant Protocol.

“Sanctions will be lifted when the Transition President and the Prime Minister are effectively designated. The Heads of States and Government took note of the recent nomination and swearinging of Mr. Bah N’daw as a civilian President of the transition. They congratulate the President of the Transition and express ECOWAS Support for the implementation of his mission.

“The Heads of State and Government also took note of the nomination of Mr. Moctar Ouane, a civilian, as Prime Minister of the Transition. The nomination of the President and the Prime Minister of the Transition should lead to the formation of the government.

“Taking into consideration these important decisions for the normalization of constitutional order in Mali and in view of the need to support this process, the Heads of State and Government decide to lift the sanctions imposed on Mali. They call on all bilateral and multilateral partner to also support Mali,” Akufo-Addo added.

Hopes Rise for Release of French Hostage in Mali There are hopes that charity worker, Sophie Pétronin, abducted in Mali in December 2016, will be released soon.

Pétronin, 75, who was abducted in Mali in December 2016 and after almost four years in detention is known as the last French hostage in the world.

Now, there are reports of her imminent release, alongside a veteran Malian politician, as part of a prisoner swap for more than 100 jihadists.

Charity worker Ms Pétronin had already evaded abduction once in disguise.

Meanwhile, ex-opposition leader and former presidential candidate Soumaïla Cissé, 70, was kidnapped in March.

Mali militant group JNIM, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda, is believed to be behind their abductions.

Authorities have been working on their release for months and are reportedly wary of any last-minute hitches.

In August, Malian president Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta was overthrown by a military junta and little is known of what happened to the talks after the coup.

“It’s too soon to celebrate,” Ms Pétronin’s son Sébastien Chadaud warned. “We’ve already lived through moments like this for four years.”

Mr Chadaud was on his way to the Malian capital, Bamako, a relative said on Tuesday. “It’s really good news,” Lionel Granouillac told RTL radio.

Malian reports say about 100 jihadists detained by the military in recent operations were freed in recent days as part of a negotiated prisoner swap.

They later appeared in the northern Mali town of Tessalit, and local reports suggested both Sophie Pétronin and Soumaïla Cissé had been held in that area.

Militant group JNIM claimed 206 of its prisoners had been released, Mali news website Nouvel Horizon reports.

warning about possible airborne transmission, saying it had been posted in error.

At the time, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it knew of no new evidence to suggest this was how the virus was spreading, although it agreed that aerosol transmission was possible in some circumstances.

There are some examples where people with COVID have infected

others who were more than 6ft or 2m away. Others have caught the virus in an air space that an infectious person was present in minutes or hours earlier.

The CDC said these are rare, and existing advice on protective behaviours - washing hands, wearing face coverings and social distancing - remains the same.

“People can protect themselves from the virus that causes Covid-19

by staying at least 6ft away from others, wearing a mask that covers their nose and mouth, washing their hands frequently, cleaning touched surfaces often and staying home when sick,” said the CDC. It added that the general public do not need to take the added precautions that healthcare professionals do to protect against airborne transmission, such as wearing medical grade masks

and other personal protective equipment.

Guidance from the UK government said clinicians carrying out tasks that could generate airborne droplets of saliva loaded with the virus should use the higher standard of protection, including disposable gowns, filtering respirators and face-shielding visors.

L-R: Gambian Minister of Defence, Sheik Omar Faye; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mamadou Tangara; and Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffery Onyeama, addressing the media during the visit of the Gambian ministers to Abuja...yesterday

Biden Criticises Trump for Downplaying Severity of COVID-19 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has criticised US President Donald Trump for downplaying the severity of coronavirus, saying there is “a lot to be concerned about”.

He said the president should be communicating the “right lesson” on masks and social distancing.

It came after Trump told Americans not to fear Covid-19.

He has returned to the White House to continue his treatment for coronavirus after a three-night hospital stay.

The president, who is still contagious, removed his mask

on the balcony of the White House while posing for pictures.

While he is no longer in hospital, his doctor has said he “may not entirely be out of the woods yet”.

Speaking at an NBC television town hall event in Miami, Florida, on Monday night, Biden said he was “glad” that the president seemed to be recovering well.

But, he said, “I would hope that the president, having gone through what he went through... would communicate the right lesson to the American people.

Masks matter.”

“The only thing I heard was one of the tweets saying that, you know, don’t be so concerned about all this, essentially.

“There’s a lot to be concerned about. Two hundred and ten thousand people have died,” he added.

The US has recorded more coronavirus cases and deaths than any other country in the world.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama also criticised the president’s response to the virus in a video released on Tuesday in which she urged people to vote for Biden “like your lives

depend on it”.

“Seven months later, he (Mr. Trump) still doesn’t have a plan for this virus. Seven months later, he still won’t wear a mask consistently and encourage others to do the same - even when those simple actions could save countless lives.

Instead, he continues to gaslight the American people by acting like this pandemic is not a real threat,” she said.

Trump’s diagnosis has upended his campaign for a second term in office, less than a month before the November 3 presidential election.

...Top US Military Leaders Quarantine after Official Tests Positive Top US General Mark Milley and other military leaders are self-quarantining after a senior Coast Guard official tested positive for coronavirus.

Admiral Charles Ray, vice

commandment of the US Coast Guard, tested positive after experiencing mild symptoms.

Other officials were quarantining “out of an abundance of caution” after

attending meetings with Adm Ray last week, the Pentagon said.

None of the other officials have tested positive for coronavirus.

Gen Milley is the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - a body of senior military officials who advise the president.

It is not known how Adm Ray contracted the virus.

Turkey Tells Germany Chance for Libya Peace Should Not Be Wasted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday said the peace drive to end the conflict in Libya since 2011 should not be wasted, in a video conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

There has been increased hope since the two main warring factions separately announced in August that they would cease hostilities, which was followed

by a series of UN-backed talks.

The two main factions are based around the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli and a parliament in the eastern city of Tobruk.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Monday voiced “cautious optimism” over efforts to end the conflict in Libya,

after co-chairing talks with the United Nations that involved the warring Libyan sides.

Erdogan told Merkel that “the opportunity that emerged thanks to the calm sustained on the field in Libya should not be wasted,” the Turkish presidency said.

Turkey strongly backs the Tripoli government providing

military support following an April 2019 offensive by rival strongman Khalifa Haftar, who is backed by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Russia.

Erdogan on Sunday expressed “full solidarity” with the GNA after a meeting in Istanbul with its head Fayez al-Sarraj.

42

WEDNESDAY 0CT0BER 7, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

LCCI Accuses Customs of Weak Commitment to Ease of Doing Business Policy Dike Onwuamaeze The President of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mrs. Toki Mabogunje, has decried the ‘weak’ commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ policy of the federal government.

Mabogunje specifically pointed out the resolution of disputes with the NCS on import valuation and classification matters as a serious drawback on the ease of doing business in the country.

The LCCI president, who addressed a press briefing yesterday in Lagos on the

‘State of the Economy’, stated unequivocally that dealing with the NCS is becoming increasingly challenging for the business community, because of the too much discretionary powers conferred on the NCS. She said: “There are too much discretionary powers in the process. In the bid by customs service to achieve its revenue target, importers, including manufacturers, are subjected to arbitrary valuation and classification that resulted in increases in the cost of imports, including raw materials.

“Regrettably, there is no credible

dispute resolution framework to ensure fairness and equity in the resolution of such disputes. When importers have such complaints, the only window for appeal is still the NCS. Importers are thus faced with a scenario where the accuser is also the judge.

“We, therefore, seek a dispute resolution framework that will be fair, just and equitable; perhaps an equivalent of the tax tribunal that resolves tax

disputes between the taxpayers and tax authorities.”

The president said she was worried that cargoes that had been officially released by the personnel of the NCS at the ports are also intercepted at several locations outside the ports by officers of the NCS. “We request the federal government to undertake an urgent review and reform of the customs processes to

bring it in alignment with the government policy on ease of doing business,” she said.

Mabogunje emphasised that it is the collective responsibility of every stakeholder to ensure a better investment environment for the advancement of the Nigerian economy and the good of all investors and economic players.

She, however, noted that

this could not be achieved without having in place the right fiscal, monetary, and regulatory framework in the country.

“There is the need for our policymakers to formulate and implement policies that facilitate business continuity, particularly this time that business operators are grappling with the devastating impact of the pandemic.

Polytechnics’ Non-teaching Workers Threaten to Quit IPPIS over Flaws Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) has stated that its members may be forced to review their registration with the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) if after 21 days, the federal government failed to address issues raised over its implementation.

They also expressed their displeasure at the way and manner the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has handled the scheme of service so far.It condemned the decision of the Board to review the scheme of service without due consultation with relevant stakeholders The association said an attempt to foist a scheme of service document on SSANIP without their input is unacceptable, and therefore, would be an invitation to an atmosphere of industrial disharmony.

In a communique issued at the end of an emergency meeting held yesterday, the association observed that there has been disjointed implementation of salary in the polytechnic since Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) commenced the payment of salaries for staff since February 2020.

The National President of SSANIP, Phillip Ogunsipe, who read the communiqué, listed some of the issues associated with IPPIS to include “nonrelease of new minimum wage arrears; inconsistencies in the release of third party deductions; non-payment of

COVID-19 hazard allowance for health workers; high draconian tax regime on consolidated salary; delay in the release of 2018 and 2019 promotion arrears, among others.”

According to him, the association “wishes to call on the relevant agencies of government to expedite actions toward resolving these highlighted challenges.

“Equally, the council wish to frankly state that failure of the IPPIS to address these highlighted challenges within 21 days from the date of this communique would leave the union with no other option than to review its stance on IPPIS.” On the re-negotiation of 2010 agreement, the association noted with dismay what it described as the nonchalant attitude of the government to continue with the renegotiation of the 2010 agreement which is long overdue.

It called on the federal government to expedite action on the re-constitution of Governing Councils for the Federal Polytechnics.

The union further frowned at the inadequacy and delay in the release of over-head costs to Federal Polytechnics by the federal government. In similar vein, the council observed that the short-coming has the potential of impairing the day-to-day running of the institutions. The council, therefore, wishes to impress it upon the relevant agencies of the government to ensure that the running costs are adequate and promptly released to the institutions.

Buhari Writes N’Assembly, to Present 2021 Appropriation Bill Thursday Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has written formally to the leadership of the National Assembly of his intention to present the 2021 budget proposals to the federal lawmakers tomorrow.

President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, made this known at the resumption of Senate plenary yesterday when he read a letter to that effect from the President.

The letter read in part: “May I crave the kind indulgence of the Distinguished Senate to grant me the slot of 11:00hours on Thursday, 8th October, 2020, to formally present the 2021 Appropriation bill to the Joint Session of the National Assembly.

“While I look forward to addressing the joint session, please, accept Mr. Senate President, the assurances of my highest regard.”

PEACEMAKERS...

L-R: Member of the Bayelsa State All Progressives Congress (APC) Reconciliation Committee, Senator Abdullahi Sabi; Gombe State Governor and Chairman of APC Reconciliation/Election Committee for Bayelsa, Mr. Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya; and the Secretary of APC Caretaker Extra-Ordinary National\Convention Planning Committee, Senator John James Akpan Udoedehe, during the inauguration of the reconciliation committee at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja ... yesterday ENOCK REUBEN

El-Rufai Presents N237.52bn Budget Proposal to Kaduna Assembly John Shiklam in Kaduna The Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has presented a budget proposal of N237 billion for the 2021 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly.

Making the presentation yesterday, the governor said the budget proposal is made up of a capital expenditure of N157.56 billion, and N79.96billion as recurrent expenses.

The budget tagged: ‘Budget of Recovery’, according to the governor, reflects the government’s commitment to promote equal opportunity, accelerate human capital development and attain fiscal viability.

A Government House

statement issued after the budget presentation said El-Rufai, in making the proposal, took into account the economic uncertainty unleashed by COVID-19, adding that its based on fiscal realism.

The statement quoted the governor as saying: “Despite the subsisting dangers from the COVID-19 pandemic, life must continue, and we must strive to manage the situation as best we can as well as make progress wherever possible.

“In 2021, we propose to spend N59.59billion on education (about 25 percent of the budget); N35.78billion or 15 percent on health, and N55.1billion or 23 percent on infrastructure. These

three sectors are taking 63 percent of the total proposed budget “A sum of N124billion, almost 79 percent of the capital budget of N157.56billion is allocated to the economic and social sectors.

“This preserves the ability to maintain investment levels in education and health, while still continuing projects in the urban renewal programmes.’’

According to him, since 2015, the government has attracted “record levels of capital investment into the state.”

El-rufai said the state 2019 budget achieved 97.5 percent budget performance for capital expenditure spending of N148.57billion out of the N152.33billion budgeted, noting

that it is twice more than previous record of capital spending of over N62billion in 2016.

The governor commended the lawmakers for the partnership that has enabled the government to anchor many of its reform measures in new laws.

He said: “The close to 100 new laws enacted since 2015 included legislation to institutionalise reforms in public finances, procurement, taxation, child welfare and protection, investment promotion, scholarships, youth capacity building and residency, among others.

“The new laws also created a geographic information service and an Internal Revenue Service (IRS).”

Court Remands Woman for Allegedly Defrauding Company in Ekiti Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti A 25-year-old woman, Olofin Adenike, was yesterday arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates Court, Ekiti State, for alleged fraud.

The police prosecutor in the case, Inspector Caleb Leramo, told the court that the defendant committed the offence between January and August 2020 in Ado-Ekiti.

He alleged that the defendant, a staff of Glorious Grace Multi Dynamic Investment Limited, fraudulently converted the sum of N384,000 for personal use.

Leramo said the offence

contravened Section 383, and punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

The prosecutor urged the court to adjourn the case to enable him study the file and assemble his witnesses.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty.

Counsel to the defendant, Mr. Adedeji Emmanuel, urged the court to grant his client bail, and promised that the defendant would not jump bail.

The Chief Magistrate, Abdulhamid Lawal, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in

like sum, and adjourned the case to November 5, 2020, for hearing.

Meanwhile, the court has ordered the remand of a 27-yearold man, Quadri Temitope, in the Correctional Centre in Ado-Ekiti over alleged involvement in cultism.

The defendant, whose address was not provided, is being tried for alleged involvement in cultism.

The prosecutor in the matter, Inspector Caleb Leramo, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on September 19 in Emure-Ekiti.

Leramo alleged that the defendant had confessed that he was a member of Eiye

confraternity.

He said the offence contravened Section 4 (i) of Secret Cult Abolition Law, 2017.

The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendant in the correctional centre pending legal advice from the office of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The plea of the defendant was, however, not taken.

The Chief Magistrate, Lawal, ordered the remand of the defendant in the correctional centre, pending issuance of legal advice from DPP, and adjourned the case to October 15, 2020, for mention.

43

WEDNESDAY 0CT0BER 7, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Take Control of APC Members in N’Assembly, Lawan, Gbajabiamila Urged Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, have been urged to take control of the lawmakers elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to enable them resolve crises that may arise.

This was part of the 10-point recommendation contained in a

communique read by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello, at the end of the executive/legislative leadership retreat held at the Banquet Hall of the presidential villa, Abuja The parley also recommended the creation of an effective conflict management and resolution mechanism in resolving areas of disagreement between the executive and the legislature in the overall national interest.

It called for a concrete understanding and working knowledge between both the executive and legislature just as it noted that an effective confidence building measure should be put in place in the governance process to ensure mutual respect and cordial relationship between the executive and Legislature.

It stated: “The ruling political party should be encouraged to take ownership of its members to

Ondo 2020: Aketi Movement Rallies Support for Akeredolu An Independent Campaign Group, Aketi Movement has rallied the support of over 100 groups with 200,000 members across the three senatorial districts of Ondo State for the re-election of the state Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

Presenting the chairmen and the secretaries of the groups to the governor at the All Progressives Congress (APC) state secretariat on Friday, the Coordinator of the Aketi Movement, Hon. Omofunmilewa Ade-Jombo said members of the group have been brought together to work assiduously for the

re-election of the governor.

The groups include; artisans, farmers, NUT, NURTW, Not too young to rule, Niger delta elders coalition movement, Coalition for Good Governance, Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria, among several others.

The state APC Vice Chairman (South), Dr. Ayodeji Oyedele who received the lists of the members of the groups said the Saturday’s election has been won already with the massive number of members of the group.

On his part, Akeredolu appreciated the Aketi

Movement for its efforts in harvesting people for his re-election.

The governor declared that it is only an APC government that can complete the various developmental projects ongoing in the state.

Akeredolu particularly said the progress recorded so far on the deep sea port was due to the fact that his government is in the same party with the federal government.

He warned the people to reject a party that has no structure anywhere in the state, stressing that there is need for a collaborative development

be able to reconcile them whenever conflict arises, and, members in both arms of government should show regard for the party and its leadership.”

“There should be regular pre-budget consultations between the Executive and Legislature particularly between the MDAs and National Assembly committees, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and the appropriate Committee

in the National Assembly.

“There is need for an effective communication and collaborative engagement to enhance and strengthen the relationship between the arms of government for the benefit of Nigerians.

“The relationship should not be adversarial but complementary, thus, more interpersonal and informal relationship between heads of MDAs and National Assembly members should be

encouraged.”

It further recommended that there should be modalities for better access, interfacing and engagement between the leaderships of both arms of government, the National Assembly Committees and Ministries Departments and Agencies should be worked out by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and National Assembly Executive Liaison.

ExxonMobil Appeals Ruling on Territorial Jurisdiction ExxonMobil Corporation has appealed the ruling of Justice O A. Obaseki-Osaghae of the National Industrial Court in Lagos which held that the corporation can be sued in Nigeria.

Ruling in the application filed to stop joining of Exxon Mobil Corporation in a suit challenging alleged unlawful retirement of Mr. Paul Arinze from Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Justice Obaseki-Osaghae held that the corporation is a necessary party to the suit and must be properly joined by the claimant.

But dissatisfied, ExxonMobil Corporation has approached the Court of Appeal in Lagos, seeking leave to appeal against

the decision.

The corporation said it has strong grounds to believe that the Court of Appeal would upturn the decision of the lower court.

It contended amongst others that the lower court erred when it held that a co-employment relationship existed between ExxonMobil and Arinze (the 1st respondent) without recourse or reference to any extant contract of employment between the parties.

It added that it is only the State High Court that has the exclusive jurisdiction to hear matters arising out of the interpretation and enforcement of a simple contract.

The case started when Arinze, a staff of Mobil Producing Nigeria

Unlimited (MPN) challenged his retirement from the oil company.

In a suit he filed, he joined MPN and Exxon Mobil Corporation as the first and second defendants respectively.

ExxonMobil Corporation is an American oil giant and parent company of MPN. But ExxonMobil sought an order of the court order to strike out the corporation’s name from the suit.

Its counsel, Professor Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), argued that the reliefs sought by the claimant against Exxon Mobil could not be granted since the company was neither incorporated in Nigeria nor carried out its business in the country.

44

WEDNESDAY 0CT0BER 7, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

Internet Fraudster Bags Four Months Jail Term over $5,700 Gift Card Fraud Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan yesterday convicted and sentenced one Damilare Tolu Ogunleke to four months in prison for internet fraud.

The convict was prosecuted by the Ibadan Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) on amended three-count charge for obtaining gift cards worth $5,700 by fraud, contrary to Section 419 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38,

Laws of Oyo 2000, a statement by the anti-graft agency said.

One of the charges read: “That you Damilare Tolu Ogunleke (‘m’) sometime in the year 2019, at Ogbomosho, Oyo State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, obtained gift cards worth $5,000 from one Porter Pattern by falsely representing to him that you are a female and other pretences, which you knew to be false.”

He pleaded guilty to all the charges upon which prosecution counsel, Lanre

Abdulrasheed, prayed the court to convict and sentence him accordingly, while his counsel, Tunde Olupona,

informed the court that his client had made full restitution to his victim and urged the court to temper justice with

mercy.

Apart from the prison term, Ogunleke was ordered to restitute his victim the sum

of $1, 042 and would also forfeit his Lexus IS350, a phone and an iPad to the federal government.

Lagos CP Promises Justice for Family of RapeVictim Sunday Ehigiator

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has paid a visit to the family of late Favour Ikechukwu, who was gang-raped to death by four guys on September 30, 2020, at Olanrewaju Street in Ejigbo area of the state, and assured the family of justice.

Also, the state police boss inaugurated a new police station in the area during the visit.

In a statement issued by the state police Spokesperson, SP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, yesterday, Odumosu, who delivered the condolence message to the parent of the deceased, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police (IG) Muhammed Adamu, assured the family that the Nigeria Police would do the needful to apprehend every culprit involved in the barbaric act and get justice for Favour.

“The Police Commissioner, Odumosu, while promising the bereaved family of police’s constant support, directed the state Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, Yetunde

Longe, who accompanied him on the visit, to deploy additional detectives from her office to go after the fleeing culprits and subject them to prosecution as soon as possible,” the statement said.

In another development, Odumosu seized the opportunity to address the residents of Ejigbo Local Council Development Authority, and unveiled the refurbished and newly constructed office complex at the Divisional Headquarters in Ejigbo.

“The refurbished complex and some new offices were built by the Chief Executive Officer of Grooming International Centre, Ejigbo, Dr. Godwin Nwabunka, who described his gesture as a reflection of the Community Policing agenda of the IG, with a view to achieving effective policing of the state and Nigeria at large,” he stated.

Similarly, the Chairman of Ejigbo LCDA, Hon Oloyede Monsuru Obe, donated two Toyota Siena vans to the Ejigbo Police Division to boost its operational engagements and provide adequate security for all residents in the area.

Zulum Inaugurates Committees on Resettlement in Six Borno Towns Michael OlugbodeinMaiduguri Despite incessant attacks on his convoy by Boko Haram terrorists during his resettlement exercise recently, the Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, is still going ahead with his resettlement plan in six towns of the state, which were deserted by residents at the peak of the ongoing security crisis in the state.

A statement issued by the spokesman of the governor, Mallam Isa Gusau, yesterday, said the governor has inaugurated two committees to complete ongoing reconstruction works and facilitate the full restoration of civil authority comprising policemen, Civilian JTF, local government officials, and magistrate courts in six towns located in Marte and Gwoza Local Government Areas of the state.

The statement said the two committees, which have security officials among the members, are to undertake resettlement at Marte in Borno North as well as Ngoshe, Kirawa, Hambagda, Ashigashiya and Warabe in Gwoza LGA of Borno South, but after all safety

measures and essential public services are put in place.

The committee on Marte is chaired by the state Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR), Mustapha Gubio, while the committee on Gwoza is chaired by the Commissioner for Housing and Energy, Saleh Vungas. Members of the two committees also include representatives of communities and humanitarian actors.

According to the statement, Zulum stated at the Government House, venue of the inauguration, that “the committees are to continue with the rehabilitation and reconstruction works in Marte and Kirawa/Ngoshe to undertake palliative repairs of Marte and Ngoshe/Kirawa roads in collaboration with the soldiers of the Nigerian Army, in order to put in place all requirements that will ensure safety of lives and property of returnees; facilitate the establishment of civil authorities on ground; identify IDPs willing to return home, and address any other matter that is incidental to the smooth return and safety of lives and property of the returnees.”

TEN HEARTY CHEERS...

L-R: Managing Director of Sweet Apples Services Limited, Mr. Dennis Okwu; Customs Area Comptroller (CAC), Onne, Rivers State, Comptroller Auwal Mohammed; and the Publisher of Global Rays Media, Mr. Tony Nzekwe, at the 10th year anniversary of the media group in Port Harcourt, Rivers State...recently.

Four of Anambra’s 21 LGs Submerged in Flood, Obiano Cries Out

The Anambra State Governor, Mr. Willie Obiano, yesterday raised the alarm that four out of the 21 local government areas in the state were under water due to the flood ravaging the state.

Obiano disclosed this in an interview with State House correspondents after a meeting he had with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The governor said, “Four of my

local governments, that is four out of 21, are under water now as we speak because of this flood and it affected a lot of things, which include farm produce and what have you.

“So, I called on Mr. President to assist us at this very crucial time being a COVID-19 time. The flood we are experiencing this time is like 2012, which is terrible.

“So, he promised to do something immediately.”

When asked about the extent of damage caused by flood in the affected councils, Obiano said, “We have over 5,000 people displaced and we already prepared some receptacles where we received the displaced people.

“I believe Mr. President will be able to assist us to be able to support these families that have been displaced in this manner.”

Obiano said he also briefed

the President on the progress of work on the second Niger Bridge.

He said, “You will see that almost half of that bridge has been done. But because the water level is very high, the contractor working in that bridge requires some equipment which they have already purchased long ago sitting in Germany and requiressomesupport from the central bank to be able to bring in the equipment.”

Sirika: Anambra Cargo Airport to Serve Trading Population, Others Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, yesterday expressed belief that the ongoing Anambra State cargo airport project would be successful in serving the interests of the trading population of the state and its environs.

Sirika stated that airports

could be viable if they are built with specific objectives in mind, and therefore, advised the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, to sustain the ongoing collaboration with the regulatory authorities to ensure that all regulations and guidelines for the construction and operation of airports are met.

The Aviation Minister made the

appeal when he received the state governor in his office in Abuja.

Sirika, in a statement made available to journalists by the Director of Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu, commended the Anambra State Government for embarking on a cargo airport project that would positively impact on

the economic development of the state and the South-east region at large.

According to him, “the Federal Ministry of Aviation and its agencies will always give the necessary guide and cooperation to states embarking on such projects in order to ensure that all internationally set standards are met.”

FG: Registered Transport Unions will Benefit from N10bn Palliative Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The federal government yesterday hinted that only duly registered road transport unions will be considered in its N10 billion intervention fund for transport workers and operators.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Transportation, Senator Saraki, gave

the hint when the National President of National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association (NACTOMORAS), Alhaji Muhammed Sani Hassan, led its members on a courtesy call to her office in Abuja.

Saraki, while appreciating the association for the visit, called for synergy among transport

stakeholders, even as she assured them of government’s commitment to assisting the associations/unions and instill sanity in the sector through a regulatory framework which the ministry is coming up with.

The minister in a statement issued to journalists by the Director of Press, Public Relations of the ministry,

Mr. Eric Ojiekwe, stated that the pandemic has necessitated the need for contact tracing of passengers, as normalcy is gradually being restored in the country.

She also tasked the executive council to ensure that their members are duly registered, as only properly registered road transporters will be considered for the palliative.

Customs Agent Bemoans Nigeria’s Poor Performance in Last 60 Years Sunday Okobi A former National President of the umbrella body of licenced Customs agents in Nigeria, the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), and a stakeholder in the maritime industry, Mr. Ernest Elochukwu, has lamented that Nigeria has underperformed in almost all aspects of the economy in the last 60 years.

In an interview with journalists in Lagos recently, Elochukwu, noted that a lot of

good intentions had been brought to the public domain by various administrations, which had seen innumerable committees set up and resources poured in, yet nothing substantial had come out.

“At various times, lofty ideas have been put forward on how to make the maritime sector efficient and effective as a vibrant arm of the economy, but such always end up as recommendations filed away in some archives.

“You will recollect that during the very first stakeholders’ meeting convened by the current Minister

of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, in his first tenure, one of the resolutions was that he should retrieve various reports from the archives, review and implement the recommendations, because the way, things have been does not suggest that we have a headway in any aspect in this country.

Elochukwu, who is also the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nestello Gateways Group, expressed dismay that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)

has been on a rollercoaster with regards to the various projects and measures it has been coming out in discharging its mandate.

Criticising the manner the NCS has delivere its mandate over the years, he said: “The modernisation project which involves deployment of information communication technology (ICT) in its various functions, especially in the cargo clearing has been unduly skewed to cause misery and hardship to stakeholders’ especially the importers and licenced customs agents.

WEDNESDAY 0CT0BER 7, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

45

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

Boko Haram: Zulum Urges Nigerian Army to Change War Narratives Borno State Governor, Prof.

Babagana Zulum yesterday urged the military to change the war narratives by attacking the terrorists first instead of defending itself against attacks.

The governor who was a special guest of honour at the 2020 joint Chief of Army Staff Conference held in Maiduguri, Borno State, said the Nigeria Army being the flagship of the nation’s military, has all it takes to win the war, only if it can review its fighting strategy.

While commending the military for what he said was the recent improvement in troops’ fighting spirit against the insurgents, the governor said the war could be ended in no time if the military especially the Nigeria Army can “change the war narratives.”

He said it is appropriate to commend the army when it has done well “and we must also have

the courage to tell each other the common truth and be critical of the troops’ operations when things go wrong.”

He said his administration would not relent in giving the soldiers all the needed support to win the war.

“As part of the ten-point agenda of this administration …, the Borno State government shall sustain its role as a stakeholder in supporting the activities of the Nigerian army, through the provision of all the needed support and morale-boosting mechanism to all the security agencies to end the fight against Boko Haram crisis.”

“In this direction, I wish to ask the Nigeria army to change the war narratives all together in order to end the crisis.

“Attack, they say, is the best form of defence. The Nigerian Army must have to take the war to all the hideouts of the Boko

Haram.

“You should not wait and give the terrorists an opportunity for the first attack. You should as a matter of policy, embark on critical clearance operation after successful execution of attacks.”

He added that the army is finding it difficult to get the buy-in of the local populace, as partners in the counterinsurgency, because it has failed in the area of confidence-building.

“The Nigerian Army must also embark on confidence-building and confidence sharing mechanism with the communities and civil authorities they found themselves, so as to expose the terrorists, their collaborates and sponsors,” he said.

Governor Zulum also called on the chief of army staff to look at the issue of competence while deploying officers to command

strategic military units, an area he said was not well explored.

He said the army authority should not emphasise loyalty of soldiers as criteria for postings to military commands.

“Sir, in appraising the performance of the Nigerian Army, there is a need to look at the critical issues of competence, dedication and doggedness of officers and men of the Nigerian armed forces.

“Let me re-emphasise the need for having competent and dedicated officers to head the military commands; because from my little observation, it is noted that all the locations headed by competent and dedicated officers hardly fall into the hands of the insurgents. Therefore we have to weigh the importance of loyalty and competence, which is very

important.”

The governor also mourned the death of Colonel Dahiru Bako, who died two weeks ago in an ambush by Boko Haram in Borno State.

He said the death of such gallant officers and soldiers was “a setback” in the fight against the insurgency.

Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, commended Nigerian troops for their sacrifices in the service of the nation.

The army chief had also commended the president and commander in chief, Muhammadu Buhari, for the support being given to the army.

He equally thanked the government of Borno State for partnering with the army in most of its operations.

He said though the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the Nigerian army’s focus of events for 2020, the army has been able to secure a new allowance.

He said the army has been able to procure and deploy PPEs to various formations to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the army has taken delivery of newly procured war equipment which officers and soldiers are being trained on how to handle.

He said the army had also been able to locally fabricate some of the military equipment that has been deployed in the front lines, even as he called on all commands to ensure judicious use of all the equipment in a manner that justifies the investment of the federal government.

Police File Fraud Charges against Ohakim The Nigeria Police Force has filed a three-count criminal charge against former Governor of Imo State, Mr. Ikedi Ohakim, for fraud.

Ohakim was governor of the state from 2007 to 2011.

In the charge marked CR/993/2020 and dated September 23, 2020, which was filed before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, Ohakim was accused of using the name of the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, to defraud unsuspecting victims.

He was also alleged to have given false information against one Chinyere Lilian Amuchienwa.

The charge reads: “That you Ikedi Ohakim, on or about the 23rd day of May 2019 at Asokoro, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did unlawfully gave false information against one Chinyere Amuchienwa, that she threatened you with gun knowing it to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 140

of the Penal Code Law of the Northern Nigeria, 1968.

“That you Ikedi Ohakim, on or about the 23rd day of May, 2019, at Asokoro, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did unlawfully gave false information against one Chinyere Amuchienwa, that you have a plot of land for sale at Lagos State, knowing it to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 140 of the Penal Code Law of the Northern Nigeria, 1968.

“That you Ikedi Ohakim on or about the 23rd day of May 2019 at Asokoro, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did unlawfully used derogatory the name of Raji Fashola as the owner of the purported land situated at Ikeja, Lagos State and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 140 of the Penal Code Law of the Northern Nigeria, 1968.”

No date has been fixed for the arraignment of the former governor.

The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, last Monday presented seven executive bills to the state House of Assembly for consideration and subsequent passage to fast-track development in the state.

Speaker of the Assembly, Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, announced this after Majority Leader of the Assembly, Tanko Tunga, presented the seven bills on behalf of the governor during its proceedings.

Consequently, the Speaker scaled the bills through first reading and slated October 12, 2020, for second reading of a bill for a Law for the Establishment of the Nasarawa State Hospitals Management Board, Law 2020, and for other matters connected thereto.

Also, the bill for a law to Repeal and Re-Establish the Nasarawa

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma (left), and the Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province of the Anglican Communion, Most Rev. David Onuoha, when the cleric handed over a copy of the Joy Bible to the governor, during a courtesy visit of the body of Anglican Bishops of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province to Sam Mbakwe Exco Chambers, Owerri, Imo State capital... yesterday

Buni: APC Has Resolved Life-threatening Challenges in 11 States Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Caretaker/extraordinary National Convention Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has revealed that the committee had in the last three months reconciled life-threatening challenges for the party in 11 states across the country.

The Chairman of the committee and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, disclosed this yesterday during the inauguration of reconciliation and election committee State Primary Health Care Board for Bayelsa Central and West and other matters related thereto, senatorial districts. scaled through first reading.

Buni did not name the 11 The Speaker also slated October 13 for second reading of a bill for a Law to Establish the Nasarawa State Drugs and Supplies Management Agency and for other matters connected Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole to it, as well as a bill for a Law to in Abuja Establish Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, and for other The Action Democracy Party matters related thereto.

(ADP) has restated its commitment He equally slated October 14 to pursue its pre-election case for second reading of a bill for a against the Edo State Governor, Law to Establish the Nasarawa Godwin Obaseki, to a logical State College of Nursing and conclusion.

Midwifery in Lafia, and other The party said it won’t relent matters related thereto; a bill for until it gets justice for the Edo a Law to establish the Nasarawa people.

State Contributory Health Scheme Speaking at a press briefing at 2020 and other related matters as the party’s national headquarters well as a bill for a Law to Provide in Abuja, yesterday, the National for the Compulsory Medical Chairman of the ADP, Mr. Yabagi Treatment and Care for Child Sani, also cleared the air on the Victim of Sexual Violence and purported withdrawal of its for related matters in the state. candidate in the Ondo State

Nasarawa Gov Presents Seven Bills to State Assembly Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia

RECEIVING GOD’S WORDS...

states where APC has reconciled its members.

He stated:“You will all recall the ugly and unfortunate incidences that bedeviled our party which threatened its existence and resulted in the dissolution of the National Working Committee and, the emergence of the Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Committee which I am opportune to chair. I am glad to state that, the committee upon assumption of office engaged in genuine reconciliation to rebuild people’s confidence, trust and hope in the party.

“Let me say with all sense of

appreciation and fulfillment that the committee had in the last three months reconciled life threatening challenges for the party in 11 states across the country.”

Buni said due to the work of the committee, the party proudly parades political heavy weights like the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon.Yakubu Dogara; former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Barnabas Gemade; several members of the National Assembly; Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim; former Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi; Senator Isa Hamma Misau;

Alhaji Salisu Takai, among others.

He stressed that the mandate of the committee headed by Gombe DState Governor, Alhaji Mohammad InuwaYahaya, is to provide genuine reconciliation to give every party member in Bayelsa State, a true sense of belonging.

He urged the committee to b be just, fair, transparent and objective in executing its assignment.

Buni added that the committee was equally mandated to mobilise, strategise and deliver Bayelsa Central and West senatorial districts to the party, adding that the party’s success in the election is very crucial and

Edo 2020: ADP to Pursue Pre-election Case against Obaseki governorship election, and blamed it on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who he alleged, wanted to score a cheap political goal.

According to him, “We wish to place on record that our legal team have since commenced consultations with relevant stakeholders, with a view to exploring possible litigation over the brazen violation of the electoral process by both the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just concluded election.

“Let me also remind you that our party, the ADP, has a pending pre-election matter against the PDP in Edo State. I want to assure you that we are ready to prosecute

this matter to a logical conclusion until justice is done to the great people of Edo State.”

The party is in court challenging the illegibility of Obaseki over his certificate issue, and purchasing of nomination forms of two different political parties.

Sani in a the statement said the rumours that ADP was among some political parties that withdrew from the Ondo State governorship race and declared their support for the PDP candidate is the handiwork of political jobbers.

He said: “I wish to draw your attention to a malicious statement sponsored by some self-seeking

political jobbers in an online publication, the Daily Post, of October 5, 2020, who purportedly reported that the ADP along with nine other participating political parties have withdrawn from the governorship race in Ondo State to support the PDP candidate.

“The ADP considers this statement as a ploy, malicious and untrue. We condemn this falsehood in its strongest term and warn these visionless hungry politicians and their sponsors to issue a rebuttal or face litigation.”

He said the party is solidly behind its candidate, Mr. Iboyi Emmanuel, who came third in the just concluded Edo State

46

Ëœ ͸ ͸ ÍżËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAYSPORTS Ahmed Musa, Onuachu Last Eagles to Arrive Austrian Camp

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

All 26 players now in camp.Train twice on Tuesday in new NIKE kits Duro Ikhazuagbe Al Nassr winger and Nigeria Captain, Ahmed Musa and KRC Genk’s forward, Paul Onuachu were the last two players to arrive Super Eagles’ Hotel Die Ziet camp in Austria yesterday as the 26-man squad begin training ahead the international friendly with African champions Algeria on Friday.

Both players missed the morning training but were part of the afternoon session.

Musa has not seen action in his Saudi Arabian club since returning after the Covid-19 lockdown to spark off speculations he could be on his way out of the team.

Onuachu on the other hand was a late call up for Victor Osimhen who is on 14-day isolation with the rest of his Napoli teammates in Italy.

Media Officer of the team, Toyin Ibitoye confirmed to THISDAY last night that all the expected 26 players were now in camp ahead of the friendlies with Algeria and Tunisia on Friday and Tuesday next week respectively. “Both Ahmed Musa and Paul Onuachu were the last two players to arrive camp yesterday as Super Eagles begin training ahead of the international friendlies with Algeria and Tunisia,� stressed the spokesman of the team.

He confirmed that the team under the watch of German Gernot Rohr trained

twice on Tuesday and will repeat the same regime today.

Ibitoye admitted the mood in the Eagles camp was really good as both old and new players bonded like one family.

According to other camp sources, former Germany U20 Captain, Kevin Akpoguma who FIFA gave nod to his switch to play for Nigeria at the weekend, is likely to make his debut against Algeria on Friday. “We are also excited by the youthful four goalkeepers in camp here in Austria. This has created room for competition for who to claim the number one jersey as we build towards the AFCON 2022 qualifier next month,� observed top official in Austria.

The four players in camp include; 20-year Old Tobias Lawal who plays for LASK (Austria), 21-year Old Matthew Yakubu of SKF Sered (Slovakia), 21-year Old, Maduka Okoye of Sparta Rotterdam (The Netherlands and 23-year Old Dele Alampasu of FK Ventspils (Latvia). The keepers are been put through their paces by former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Alloy Agu. Some of the players took to the social media to express their happiness at the new NIKE kits shipped into Austria for their use in the two friendlies.

They looked radiant and cool in the new designed training gear both in the morning and at the afternoon training sessions.

CD Legane defender in the

Siasia Restates Confidence in CAS to Free Him from FIFA Ban Duro Ikhazuagbe Former Super Eagles Head Coach, Samson Siasia whose hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) was shifted from yesterday till February 3, next year, has restated his confidence in getting fair hearing at the apex arbiter on sports disputes.

Siasia’s appeal against the life ban slammed on him by FIFA was listed for hearing yesterday but was again moved forward due to the Coronavirus pandemic that has taken an upward swing in Europe in the last couple of weeks.

Although Siasia did not leave his Abuja home for the hearing in Lausanne, Switzerland after he was informed of the new date, he however restated confidence of getting the FIFA ban upturned. “ I believe I will get fair hearing at CAS. I was not given fair hearing nor allowed to defend myself against the allegations leveled against me that were not true,� observed Siasia in a chat with THISDAY. CAS officially informed Siasia that the hearing listed for Tuesday October 6, 2020 will not proceed due to the recent spike in the Covid-19 pandemic in Europe. “This hearing was shifted

again to February 3, next year. They (CAS) told me the postponement is as a result of the Covid-19 that has taken another upward swing in Europe,� Siasia told THISDAY from his base in Abuja.

The new February 3, 2020 date is the third time the case will be listed for hearing since the former Nigerian Manager challenged the life ban slammed on him last year by FIFA for purportedly accepting to fix a match.

The case was earlier scheduled for March 19, 2020 but was postponed to October 6, 2020 due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

With the lull in the spread of the virus, most Nigerian football fans were already looking forward to the hearing of the case and the final decision that may determine the fate of Siasia as a football coach.

But CAS in the message to Siasia, cited the fresh upswing in Covid-19 cases in Europe that is threatening to cause another lockdowns in some cities as reason why the hearing cannot go ahead as planned.

All things been equal, the new hearing will now hold on February 3, next year at the CAS Court Office, Avenue de Beaumont 2, 1012, Lausanne, Switzerland.

second tier Spanish league, Kenneth Omeruo said on Twitter yesterday: “A light one‌ good to link up with the boys.. Loving this new kits from @nikefootball #Nike #omeruo #rainbow #supereagles @ Blumenhalle St. Veit,â€? Omeruo tweeted with his photo in the new NIKE kit.

The Super Eagles will take

on reigning African champions Algeria on Friday night, before they take on second-ranked Tunisia on Tuesday next week.

ALL THE PLAYERS IN CAMP YESTERDAY 1. Chidera Ejuke 2. Kenneth Omeruo 3. Samuel Kalu 4. Simon Moses

5. Samson Tijani 6. Leon Balogun 7. Mathew Yakubu 8. William Troost-Ekong 9. Semi Ajayi 10. Ola Aina 11. Alex Iwobi 12. Dele Alampasu 13. Frank Onyeka 14. Kelechi Iheanacho 15. Jamilu Collins

16. Dessers Cyril 17. Kevin Akpoguma 18. Tobias Lawal 19. Maduka Okoye 20. Tyronne Ebuehi 21. Chidozie Awaziem 22. Zaidu Sanusi 23. Samuel Chukwueze 24. Mikel Agu 25. Paul Onuachu 26. Ahmed Musa (Captain)

Super Eagles players receiving pep talk from Head Coach, Gernot Rohr (at the centre) shortly after the morning training session in Austria... yesterday

Board Member Deny Electing Gusau, Adeleye Trustees of AFN Majority members of the board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) have disassociated themselves from the failed attempt by President of the federation, Mr Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, to register the apex athletics body in the country as a Limited Liability Company at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Against a backdrop of allegations of orchestrated plans

by Gusau to register the AFN as a limited liability company under the Allied Matters Act C20, LFN 2004 at the Corporate Affairs Commission, majority of the board members of the federation denied knowledge of ever participating in such move.

It was learnt that the move however backfired as the Federal

Ministry of Youth and Sports Development refused to give its consent when approached by the CAC on the AFN registration.

Documents received from the Commission alleged Gusau and the recalled Athletes Representative on the board of AFN, Sunday Adeleye were named trustees of the federation. “There was never a time the issue of registering the AFN founded by the federal government in 1944 was discussed at any of our board meetings since we were inaugurated in 2017 and up to the time the attempt to register the federation with the CAC was made,� said former Nigeria international and Olympian, Gabriel Okon who represents the South-south zone on the

board of the AFN “We have asked the Secretary General who by law (the AFN constitution) must be privy to all decisions made by the board if there was any document supporting the decision and he told us nothing in the files of AFN supported the decision,� added Rosa Collins, a former Nigeria and Africa triple jump champion and record holder who is also a member of the AFN board. “We have gone through the documents submitted to the CAC that purportedly came from the federation and we discovered they were all cooked up. The CAC requires that the trustees must be elected by the association (federation)

and that copies of the minutes of meeting(s) where the trustees were elected must be submitted with the proposal for registration. “The board didn’t discuss the registration and couldn’t then have elected Gusau and Adeleye as contained in the documents submitted to the CAC by Gusau,� observed Olamide George, acting president of the federation.

George further stressed that it was based on the above inappropriate conduct that the federation has reported the case to the World Athletics Intergrity Unit for action. “We have already petitioned the Athletics Integrity Unit on this infraction and a few others,�

George confirmed.

HiFL, Stanbic IBTC Celebrate Varsity Sports Day PACE Sports & Entertainment Marketing and Stanbic IBTC in a partnership bid towards driving youth sports development have commemorated a maiden edition of the International Day of University Sports (IDUS)in Nigeria.

The International Day of University Sport (IDUS), an annual celebration of collegiate sports on September 20 is powered by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and officially endorsed by the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organisation (UNESCO).

According the organisers of the Higher Institution Football League (HiFL), this year’s commemoration is first–of-its-kind in Nigeria as

part of efforts to enliven and continue to drive development of university sports.

The commemoration with an official campaign theme aptly tagged #PlaySafe is also as part of efforts to spread the word on the essence of prioritizing and maintaining health and safety guidelines in the Covid-19 pandemic era.

In a recent statement to commemorate this year’s celebration, Director, PACE Sports, and Entertainment Marketing, Sola Fijabi, upheld that the significance of the commemoration and its importance in promoting the growth of varsity sports all over the world cannot be overstated.

“Our commitment to growing and developing the collegiate game in Nigeria is unflagging and in collaboration with our partners, we are proud to deliver Nigeria’s first-ever International Day of University Sport celebration, recognizing the uniqueness of the present clime as we entreat everyone to continue to #PlaySafe as we mark #IDUS2020.

Fijabi noted that as organizers of the prestigious varsity football league, the team is committed to continue to provide a platform for Nigerian student-athletes to enliven their dreams. “Since establishment of the HiFL initiative in 2018, one of its aims was to create more awareness of University sports

in Nigeria and we are glad to see that collegiate sports is indeed alive and thriving like never before, Fijabi concluded.

Head of Global Markets at Stanbic IBTC, Sam Ocheho, said: “It gladdens our heart at Stanbic to be part of celebrating the International Day of University Sport in Nigeria.

This commemoration is not the usual celebrations so as a key forerunner in the development of University sports in Nigeria especially football, we have taken it upon ourselves to spread the message of hope for the actualisation of our dreams for of youth development as well as University sports in the country�,

47

Ëœ ÍżËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Premier League Summer Spending Far Above Other Top Leagues The English Premier League summer spending was only slightly down from recent years but it was much higher than Europe’s other top leagues, as the transfer window closed on Monday night.

Clubs spent £1.218bn, £158m down on last year’s £1.376bn, says investment company Carteret Analytics.

There were 12 deadlineday Premier League signings on Monday, 5 October - the fewest total in recent years.

Arsenal signed Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey for ÂŁ45.3m in the biggest deal of the day.

The deadline was later than usual as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the season starting later. The previous two Premier League windows had closed before the more traditional start to the season in August. “Total expenditure on player acquisitions is significantly down across all the top five European leagues against the five year average - ranging from -7% in the Premier League to -46% in La Liga,� said London-based investment company Carteret Analytics. “It is a fair assumption that Covid-19 has caused this significant contraction in the player transfer market in this window.�

Everton brought in Norwich defender Ben Godfrey for ÂŁ25m in the second most lucrative transfer of the day.

Manchester United recruited Porto left-back Alex Telles for ÂŁ13.6m, former Paris St-Germain striker Edinson Cavani on a free transfer and teenage wingers Amad Diallo and Facundo Pellistri for a combined ÂŁ28m.

However they did not sign long-term target Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.

Leeds bought Rennes winger Raphinha for an initial ÂŁ17m. Everton signed Roma goalkeeper Robin Olsen on loan and

loaned winger Theo Walcott to Southampton.

Fulham landed Manchester City defender Tosin Adarabioyo on a three-year deal, while Chelsea winger Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Lyon defender Joachim Andersen joined the Cottagers on loan.

Arsenal midfielders Lucas Torreira (Atletico Madrid) and Matteo Guendouzi (Hertha Berlin) and Manchester United defender Chris Smalling (Roma) were among the players to leave the Premier League.

In Scotland, Celtic signed AC Milan defender Diego Laxalt and Rangers signed Amiens midfielder Bongani Zungu - both on loan deals.

Championship club QPR signed former Nottingham Forest winger Albert Adomah and Benfica forward Chris Willock.

Premier League spending was more than three times as high as in La Liga, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 and double that in Serie A, said Carteret.

The group advises three Premier League clubs, and another 12 leading sides from around Europe and the rest of the world, on potential new signings and transfer finances.

Notably Premier League clubs spent ÂŁ820.2m more on bringing players to the division than they recouped for selling players to other leagues - higher than the five-year average. By contrast La Liga (ÂŁ58.6m) and Bundesliga (ÂŁ8.9m) received more transfer fees than they spent this summer.

For the past two seasons the Premier League transfer deadline was before the season started but this season clubs voted to revert back to 31 August. However, the deadline across Europe was moved again because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The transfer deadline passed across Europe on Monday, 5 October - with a 23:00 BST deadline in England and at 00:00 in Scotland.

Ozil Offers to Pay Gunnersaurus Salary Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has offered to pay the salary of Jerry Quy, the man who plays the role of club mascot Gunnersaurus.

On Monday, the Gunners announced that Quy, who has been part of the matchday experience at Arsenal for 27 years, was one of 55 redundancies. “I was so sad that Jerry Quy, aka our famous and loyal mascot Gunnersaurus and integral part of our club, was being made redundant after 27 years,� said the 31-year-old German in a post on Twitter. “As such, I’m offering to reimburse Arsenal with the full salary of our big green guy as long as I will be an Arsenal player so Jerry can continue his job that he loves so much.�

Arsenal said they had to make staff redundantbecause

of the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Gunners’ first-team players and head coach Mikel Arteta agreed a 12.5% pay cut in April. The club’s executive team also agreed to waive more than a third of their salaries over the next 12 months.

Arsenal signed midfielder Thomas Partey for £45m from Atletico Madrid on Monday’s transfer deadline day.

Ex-Germany international Ozil has been with the Gunners since 2013, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season.

He is paid a reported ÂŁ350,000 a week, although he has not played so far in 2020-21.

As a result of the pandemic, no fans have been able to attend a Premier League game since March.

Cavani

Partey

Thiago Alcantara

Raphinha

A domestic-only window in England will continue to run until 17:00 BST on 16 October. Premier League teams can still buy EFL players until then, but cannot sign anyone from another Premier League club.

However it will be too late to register any of those players for European competition.

EFL clubs can also sign domestic players in that time.

Manchester City’s capture of Dias and Chelsea’s £71m signing of Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz were the only Premier League transfers of £50m or more this summer.

By contrast last summer 11 Premier League clubs broke their transfer records

(with Sheffield United breaking theirs four times) and there were six ÂŁ50m+ signings.

Chelsea were the big spenders this summer, shelling out ÂŁ222m on players including Havertz, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Hakim Ziyech and Edouard Mendy, according to Carteret. Manchester City (ÂŁ141m) and Barcelona (ÂŁ112m) were the only other major European sides to spend more than ÂŁ100m.

Last season at least 10 teams spent more than ÂŁ100m.

Former Manchester City and England defender Micah Richards has picked his three signings of the summer - all of them happening for ÂŁ20m or below.

Liverpool signed Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara for ÂŁ20m, Everton brought in Real Madrid playmaker James Rodriguez for a fee the BBC reported as ÂŁ12m but it has been claimed in other places it was a free transfer and Tottenham re-signed Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale on loan. “James has just been a revelation. What a player he is. I knew he was quality and would perform, he just needed some loving and Carlo Ancelotti has certainly given him that. He is my number one, definitely,â€?

Richards told BBC Sport. “I know we have not seen him in action yet but I still think the Gareth Bale deal is amazing. Even if he is just 75% of the player he

was, defenders, look out for Gareth Bale. “Thiago won the Champions League last year, so for Liverpool to get that calibre of player for the price they did, he has got to be one of my top three signings of the window.�

Six clubs broke their transfer records in this window: Ruben Dias (Benfica Manchester City] ÂŁ65m Fabio Silva (Porto Wolves] ÂŁ35.6m Ollie Watkins (Brentford - Aston Villa] ÂŁ28m Rodrigo (Valencia - Leeds] ÂŁ26m Rhian Brewster [Liverpool - Sheffield United] ÂŁ23.5m Grady Diangana [West Ham - West Brom] ÂŁ18m

Match-fixing Scandal Hits French Open Women’s Double An investigation has begun into alleged match-fixing in a French Open women’s doubles first-round match, the Paris prosecutor’s office has confirmed.

Officials began investigating on 1 October after suspicions of “organised fraud� and “corruption in sports�.

A source close to the

investigation told the BBC the inquiry focuses on Andreea Mitu and Patricia Maria Tig v Yana Sizikova and Madison Brengle.

Russian Sizikova and American Brengle lost 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 to the Romanians.

Alexei Selivanenko, vicepresident of the Russian tennis federation, had told the

Championat news website on Sunday in response to local reports on the matter: “As long as there are no official documents, it is too early to comment on anything. Tennis has a zero-tolerance policy for cases of this kind.�

The Russian Tennis Federation had no additional comment

on Tuesday. Brengle and the Romanian pair, and their respective tennis federations, could not immediately be reached for comment.

The investigation is likely to take several weeks.

The Tennis Integrity Unit and International Tennis Federation declined to comment.

Wednesday October 7, 2020

TR

UT H

& RE A SO

N

Price: N250

MISSILE

Falana to IG

“The police high command has banned SARS several times. It has become a ritual.

But SARS continues to operative under different names or structure. What we see is like removing sour wine and putting it in the same old, rusty bottles. Nothing remarkable has changed in the police command structure that aids all forms of repression and extra-judicial killings” – Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, accusing the Inspector General of Police of insincerity in his latest ban of SARS.

KAYODEKOMOLAFE THE HORIZON

kayode.komolafe@thisdaylive.com

0805 500 1974

A Moment for Buhari to Seize A

nambra State Governor Willie Obiano made a statement in Aso Rock yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari should ponder beyond the surface.

While informing the President about the ȱ ȱśǰŖŖŖȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱĚ ȱ ȱ four local government areas in his state, Obiano gave a report on the federal government projects in Anambra including the famous 2nd Niger Bridge and road projects.

Responding to those who say Buhari is not popular in Anambra state, Obiano said: “That’s not true. In Anambra , we love the President very much. The President has been doing well.

He is building the 2nd Niger Bridge. You think it’s very easy to build 2nd Niger Bridge? And I just told you that he was the fellow that did Enugu-Onitsha Expressway when he was ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱę¡ ȱ the road. Then he built the Zik Mausoleum.

You know you can’t talk about Nigeria without mentioning Zik (Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe)...”

By the way, the inaccurate correspondence of personalities in the historical periods by Obiano should be excused. The governor ¢ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱȱ ȱ the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway to Buhari. In 30 years from today, that is how the story of the road would be narrated.

ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ the building of the same road in the 1990s to Buhari just as it would be wrong to give the credit of the present construction to Works Minister Babatunde Fashola. ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ construction of the road should go to General Sani Abacha, who was the military Head of State during that dark period of Nigeria’s history.

Buhari was only the head of an agency in the Abacha government as the Chairman of the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) just like Fashola is only a minister in Buhari’s administration today.

In other words, history would allocate the responsibility for whatever happens or fails happen in the development of Nigeria today to Buhari just as the verdict of history would be passed on those in power before the President.

How does the Obiano complimentary remark about Buhari speak to the moment now waiting for the President to seize?

It might come as a surprise to a 30-year old Nigerian that something positive was mentioned about the Abacha era by Obiano: the construction of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway. Perhaps Obiano was being politically correct by not mentioning Abacha. He cleverly praised an Abacha appointee at the time for the project.

Yes, during the Abacha regime projects were executed : roads, bridges, water works, schools and health facilities. In fact, the politicians of the ę ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ the sole presidential candidate for the election that never was in 1998, trumpeted these projects as achievements of Abacha.

The absurdity of the period was captured by the inimitable political orator, Bola Ige, who ȱȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱȃę ȱę ȱ of a leprous hand.”

Before the adoption, Abacha had even staged ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ a lot of eminent and credible Nigerians who assumed he was sincere about the transition ȱ ¢ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ the idea of applying the six-zone structure ȱ ȱ ȱ ě ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ę ȱ formally proposed by Vice President Alex Ekwueme at the Abacha conference.

It was during the Abacha administration that

Buhari technocrats, businessmen and other serious minded men and women crafted the Vision 2010 for Nigeria.

In the last 21 years some of the Abacha politicians have become governors, senators, ministers and heads of agencies.

None of them talks about the projects executed by the Abacha brutal administration anymore.

Instead, the Abacha era is now remembered as a reign of the maximum ruler, a period when the freedom of the Nigerian people was arrogantly denied by an oppressive state. ȱ ȱ ȱ ę ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ authoritarian and repressive politics. Rather than point to roads and bridges, the Abacha rule is painfully remembered for those killed, jailed or forced into exile.

President Ibrahim Babangida stamped his signature indelibly on the political economy of Nigeria. From his own outlook, the military President deliberately embarked upon elaborate political and socio-economic reforms to recast the path to Nigeria’s future. Projects were also executed with a streak of authoritative governance. Prominent among these projects were those executed in Abuja. Babangida was ȱę ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ moved to the nation’s capital in December of 1991.

Unlike the fate of Abacha, Babangida is luckier because not a few neo-liberal elements still defend the imperative of his Structural Adjustment Programme(SAP) despite its socially destructive consequences.

ǰȱȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ę ȱ ȱ Babangida regime was the mismanagement of the politics of his transition programme.

Even by the admission of Babangida’s admirers, the anti-climax was the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election won by Bashorun Moshood Abiola. The inauguration of a new president was to be the culmination of the long-winding transition programme.

Perhaps no president in the history of Nigeria has been so conscious of the verdict of history as Babangida while power.

The president should be more sensitive to the burgeoning anger in the land

Yet, future historians would have a lot of interpretation to do on why Babangida seemed not to learn the elementary lesson of history that power is, after all, transient.

Although the contexts in the two periods referred to in the foregoing were markedly ě ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ǰȱ there is the same tendency of failing to learn from history on the part of the actors in the present civil dispensation.

For instance, the debate on the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo will linger ȱ ȱ ȱ ě ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ But the enormous political errors of Obasanjo loom large in many reviews of his leadership. ȱ ȱ ȱȱ ȱ ȱǰȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ to have a third term has remained a big dent ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ę ǯȱ ȱȃ ȱ ȱ agenda” is more readily remembered than any project executed by the Obasanjo’s administration.

Essentially, there is nothing new about those in power arrogating to themselves the monopoly of telling the gospel truths and being imbued with values of patriotism.

The statements from Aso Rock in recent times do not suggest that President Muhammadu Buhari is about to seize the moment to learn the requite lessons of history.

To start with, Buhari doesn’t have eternity to make his mark in history. He has 32 months more in which he should studiously avoid irredeemable errors of omission or commission.

That’s why it is strange when a statement is issued in the name of the President asking the people not to “rush” him into taking what is obviously an urgent decision. Such statements fail to take into account the obvious fact that ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱȱ ȱ ę ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ with those performing their civic duties by being critical of the government should rather be devoted to rethinking policies so as that improve the Nigerian condition.

Aso Rock does not have to reply every criticism with insults.

The other day, the President chastised “irresponsible activists” against whom he called on ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ě ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ě ȱ should be on the inexplicable dysfunction in his government. The culture of agencies and functionaries of the same government openly ę ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ competent governance.

Among other worrisome statements in the October 1 statement of the President, he made this claim: “An underlying cause of most of the problems we faced as a nation is our consistent ȱ ȱ ę ¢ȱ ȱ Ȭ ȱ ȱ we have harboured and allowed unnecessarily to fester.”

Reading this statement as Buhari’s response to the heat generated by his own mismanagement of identity politics should spur a lot of foreboding.

The statement reeks of arrogance of power, undue impatience and a notion of omniscience.

Some Nigerians have described it as a tendency towards authoritarianism. There is a good a ȱ ȱ ę ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȃ ę ¢ȱ ȱȱ fault-line” when Buhari is accused of nepotism in making government appointments and violating the federal character provision in the constitution?

As a follow-up to the National Day broadcast, a most unhelpful statement from the Presidency, referred to above, warned advocates of ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ under pressure and rushing him to take decisions.

Restructuring the polity was prominent in the manifesto of Buhari’s political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), during the ŘŖŗśȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱȱę ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ step was taken on this central political question.

In fact, in the build-up to the 2019 election a Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ headed by Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, who, incidentally, was part the process ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢Ȃ ȱ ȱ towards the 2015 election. So how come the issues which are derivatives of the distortion of ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱȱȃ ę ¢ȱ contrived fault - lines” in the political dictionary of the Buhari administration?

Worse still, the administration has ignored the patriotic voices urging Buhari to have a look at the report of the 2014 conference organised by President Goodluck Jonathan as a response to the same calls for restructuring the federation.

Now, this could be called a political project of Jonathan which he failed to complete. Yet, the Buhari administration is working to complete some infrastructural projects begun by preceding administrations including that of Jonathan.

Why is the Buhari administration shy of completing the political project of Jonathan which is the realistic to answer the troubling question of the separatists and irredentists? ȱ ȱ ȱ ę ¢ȱȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ projects being executed by his administrations. He has urged his ministers to blow the government’s trumpets. It’s remarkable that the administration is thinking of lifting 100 million people out of poverty in the next ten years. It will be great ȱ ȱ ę ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ě ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ to craft a development plan should also be supported by all classes and groups regardless ȱȱ ě ȱ ǯȱ Despite all these, the socio-economic condition compounded by the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic will task the competence of the best economic managers. The Buhari administration would deserve an applause if it could improve things in the social sector (especially health and education) and also prevent a collapse of the economy. But it would be illusory to expect the completion of all the infrastructural projects in the next 32 months given the economic circumstance.

Above all, it is now clear that whoever desires a united Nigeria cannot ignore the calls to re-make it a federation rooted on social justice, equality, inclusion and a more Ĝ ȱ ǯ So, the Buhari administration may be ultimately ę ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ politics.

That’s why the President should be patient and tolerant in dealing with complex issues of national unity.

He should be more sensitive to the burgeoning anger in the land.

Indeed, there are legitimate political grievances which require a more adroit management than what is ominously on display on the national horizon.

Looking back to about 40 years ago when Buhari became Head of State, the era has been ę ȱ ¢ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ under the jackboot of the military rulers.

It is safe to speculate that in 40 years from now the Buhari administration would be remembered by what happened to national unity under his leadership more than any project.

The President should, therefore, approach the question of national integration in a programmatic manner.

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