THURSDAY 8TH OCTOBER 2020

US Arbitration Tribunal Frees Nigeria of $1.5bn Liability Awards $660,000 arbitration cost in country’s favour Alex Enumah in Abuja Nigeria has again won another international legal battle as the United Statesbased International Centre for Settlement of Investment

Dispute ordered Inter Ocean Oil Company to pay the federal government $660,129.87 as reimbursement of its share of the arbitration costs incurred in the proceedings.

The latest victory is coming

barely a week after Nigeria recorded another victory in its ongoing legal tussle with the Process & Industrial Development (P&ID) Limited as a London Commercial Court ordered the release of the $200

million guarantee for the stay of execution granted the country pending the appeal filed against the judgment of Justice Christopher Butcher for the execution of the Arbitral award of $10 billion to the

company.

The tribunal, headed by Professor William Park, also freed Nigeria of $1.5 billion liability, maintaining that Nigeria did not breach any of its obligations in the contract

agreement with Interocean Development Company and Interocean Oil Exploration Company.

In a statement issued Continued on page 9

Senate Approves 2021-2023 MTEF/FSP Report... Page 6 Thursday 8 October, 2020 Vol 25. No 9313. Price: N250

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Okonjo-Iweala Gets to Final Stage in Race for WTO DG... Page 9

Ondo Election will Be Free, Fair, Credible, Buhari Assures Nigerians President, APC govs rally support for Akeredolu Ondo gov jittery of Jegede’s popularity, says Secondus IG warns politicians against violence Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and James Sowole in Akure President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday gave assurances that next Saturday's governorship election in Ondo State would be free, fair and credible.

Buhari spoke virtually yesterday at the grand finale of

the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship election campaign held at the Akure Township Stadium in Ondo State.

He promised that security agents shall perform their duties creditably to forestall the breakdown of law and order Continued on page 8

Citing Security Concern, FEC Approves Spectrum Monitoring in South-east Okays $3bn for PH-Maiduguri rail rehabilitation, reconstruction Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Citing the need not to compromise national security, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the sum of N653,886,584 to procure and deploy hybrid spectrum monitoring system to track down illegal frequencies in the South-east.

FEC has also approved the award of contracts for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Port Harcourt - Maiduguri eastern narrow gauge railway at the cost of $3,020,279,549, and additional N4.78 billion for Abeokuta-Ibadan road.

Continued on page 8

COVID-19 COMPLIANT...

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (left), and Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Malam Mohammed Bello, during the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja…yesterday

El-Rufai Names Bamalli Emir of Zazzau...Page 5

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

El-Rufai Names Bamalli Emir of Zazzau Buhari, Atiku, Lawan, Tinubu, Makarfi hail new monarch

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna The Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has appointed Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli as the 19th Emir of Zazzau.

President Muhammadu Buhari; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan; National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, and a former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, have expressed delight in the appointment of the new emir, who succeeded the late Emir Shehu Idris.

Bamalli succeeded Idris, the 18th emir, who died on Sunday, September 20, 2020, after being on the throne for 45 years.

Bamalli’s appointment was announced in a statement issued yesterday by the state Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Alhaji Ja'afaru Sani.

According to the statement, “Bamalli is the first emir from the Mallawa Ruling House in 100 years, following the demise in 1920 of his grandfather, Emir Dan Sidi.”

Until his appointment as Emir, Bamalli held the traditional title of Magajin Garin Zazzau.

He also served as Nigeria's ambassador to Thailand, with concurrent accreditation to Myanmar.

The statement partly reads: “He has been a commissioner in the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission since 2015.

“He has worked in banking and as Executive Director and later acting Managing Director of the Nigerian

Security Printing and Minting Corporation.

“He was a staff of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Agency before a stint as head of Human Resources at Mtel, the mobile communications arm of the old Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL).

“Born in 1966, Bamalli studied Law at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He holds a master's degree in International Relations and Diplomacy and a diploma in Organisational Leadership from Oxford University.

“He is also a fellow on Conflict Resolution of the University of York, United Kingdom (UK).

“On behalf of the Kaduna State Government, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has congratulated HRH Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli on his appointment and wished him a successful and peaceful reign as Emir of Zazzau.”

At the commencement of the process for selection of the new emir, Bamalli was not among the three princes who were shortlisted by the five kingmakers for selection by El-Rufai.

Those shortlisted in the earlier process, which was eventually cancelled by the state government, include Alhaji Bashir Aminu, (Iyan Zazzau), Muhammed Munnir Jafaru (Yariman Zazzau) and Aminu Shehu Idris (son of the late emir)Turakin Karamin.

However, the state government cancelled the process and ordered for fresh nominations on the grounds that two ruling houses, including Bamalli’s were not included. Meanwhile, Buhari has urged the new emir to be the leader of all while congratulating him on his appointment.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday.

Shehu quoted the president as saying that Bamalli deserves the appointment, expressing confidence that the new traditional ruler will justify the confidence reposed in him.

Atiku has also expressed delight in the appointment of Bamalli.

In a statement issued yesterday by his spokesman, Mr. Paul Ibe, the former vice president noted that the emir-elect is one of the youngest traditional rulers in

recent years and a well-travelled diplomat of ambassadorial pedigree.

According to Atiku, "Although the shoes of the late Emir are big, I am still confident that Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli is up to the task and responsibilities expected of him."

President of the Senate, Lawan, in a statement issued yesterday described the appointment of Bamalli as well deserved and expressed hope that he will meet the high expectations of the revered office and justify the trust and confidence that his people have expressed in his character and ability through

his selection and appointment.

In a statement last night by his spokesman, Mr. Tunde Rahman, Tinubu, who is also, a former Lagos State governor commended El- Rufai for making a good choice in Bamalli.

“Ambassador Nuhu Bamalli is a prominent diplomat, tested administrator and a firstclass traditional title-holder.

I congratulate him on his appointment as the 19th Emir of Zazzau. My congratulations also go to Governor Nasir el-Rufai for making a prudent appointment,” the statement explained.

Makarfi has also congratulated Bamalli on his appointment.

In a statement he issued yesterday, the former Kaduna State governor urged the emir to deploy his wealth of experience to provide a purposeful leadership to both the Zazzau Emirate and the Kaduna State Council of Chiefs at this challenging time.

"I heartily congratulate Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli on his appointment as the new Emir of Zazzau. I believe that the new Emir will deploy his wealth of experience to provide purposeful leadership to both the Zazzau Emirate and the State Council of Chiefs at this challenging time,” he said.

HOME STRETCH...

Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Prof. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) (left), and the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, during the grand finale of the party’s campaign for the Ondo State governorship election in Ondo…yesterday chucks okocha

Concerns Mount over Plot to Extend APC Caretaker’s Tenure Party plans membership registration exercise

Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja An alleged plot by an influential group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) to extend the mandate of the current interim National Working Committee (NWC), coupled with the preparation to carry out new membership registration exercise nationwide has created sharp division and tension within the ruling party, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.

Confronted with serious interminable squabbles within the party under the leadership of Mr. Adams Oshiomhole-led NWC, the party in the emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the Presidential Villa on June 25,

dissolved the NWC and set up a Caretaker/ Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee to manage the affairs of the party in the interim.

The 13-member caretaker committee headed by Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, was given six months by the NEC presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari to complete its assignment.

Within the six months, the committee was mandated to organise a national convention for new leaders to emerge.

However, less than three months to the expiration of the tenure of the interim organ of the ruling party, THISDAY’s findings revealed that there are no plans to call for a national convention

of APC this year.

A member of the caretaker committee told THISDAY that a plot by a powerful group within the party to extend the tenure of the current leadership has created sharp division and tension within the party.

He said: ‘’In line with the resolution of the National Executive Committee of our party on June 25 this year, we ought to have fixed a date for the national convention of our party by now; because we have about seven weeks or so to put new leadership in place.

“But, as I speak with you a powerful group within our party, which claims to have the ears of President Muhammadu Buhari is working to extend our

mandate.

“More so, this group is also planning to carry out new membership registration exercise that will last several months before a national convention is called. Many of us don’t know what they are up to.”

The insider explained that the same group, which forced Oshiomhole out of office is ‘’ desperate’’ to take full control of the party, “in line with its 2023 calculation.’’

However, the Director-General, Press and Media to the caretaker chairman, Mr. Mamman Mohammed, described the said plot to extend the mandate of the committee as a mere speculation.

“The National Executive Committee (NEC) of APC

has not taken any decision to extend the mandate of the caretaker committee being led

by His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni.

“The committee is still working within its time given to it. The governor is currently preoccupied in delivering Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State in next Saturday’s governorship election.

As I speak with you, we are in Ondo State. Within that context, consider the insinuation as mere speculation,’’ the spokesman to the governor told THISDAY. At the emergency NEC that created the current caretaker committee, Buhari had expressed serious concern about the fortunes of the party, which he said needed urgent intervention to

immediately arrest further drifts and internal wrangling which may lead to total disintegration of the ruling party. ‘’Party is faced with internal wrangling; there are on-going litigations amongst some Party members and we cannot clearly ascertain the status of certain National Working Committee members.

“There are also other associated disputes as to the legitimacy or otherwise of holders of certain national offices of the party. The party is also contending with judicial claims and counter-claims, orders and counter-orders and indeed judgments and counterjudgments that are predominantly at cross-purposes,’’ the president had stated.

Transporters to Hike Fares By 500% over Multiple Taxation Peter Uzoho Private commercial buses operators under the aegis of Association of Private Transport Company Owners of Nigeria (APTCON), have advised commuters to brace up for difficult times ahead as transport fares could increase by up to 500 per cent in the coming weeks.

The announcement was made yesterday at the general meeting of the association where they cited multiple taxations as a major challenge facing their businesses.

At the meeting, the transporters

who mostly operate interstate buses unanimously agreed that increasing fare prices across the country may be their only chance of survival.

They specifically accused the government of worsening the situation through multiple and unlawful taxation, and levies among others.

Speaking to journalists, one of the members of APTCON, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the government simply does not care about the masses.

The member, who did not want his name mentioned in print, said: “Passenger transport

companies are always being exploited by the government especially at the state and local government levels. In just two months, I have paid close to N10 million in taxes for just three of the locations I operate from.

“How much are we making from this business especially with this new law about social distancing in buses, which requires us to carry a maximum of seven passengers in a 14-seater bus and 28 passengers in a 50-seater bus?”

The transporter accused the governments of always quick to charge and enforce taxes

when they do not give them any support whatsoever.

He said: “Government is quick to charge and enforce unlawful taxes and do not give us any support whatsoever. How do we survive?"

In the same vein, the association’s spokesperson, Mr. Audu Gaddo, stated that the government is making it impossible for transporters to operate profitably.

Gaddo said while numerous issues plague the sector such as high exchange rates, high interests on bank loans and others, one of their toughest challenges remains

multiple taxation.

He disclosed that one of their member organisations just received a demand notice of close to N7million from one local government area in the country.

He argued that the high, unsubstantiated and unlawful charges, which are predominant across the country particularly in places like Lagos, Abia, Rivers, Imo, Enugu, Kaduna, Delta states, as well as the Abuja Municipal Area Council, affect transporters’ ability to remain in business, pointing out that they have no option than to consider fare increase.

Audu called on the government at all levels to put the interest of the citizens first by addressing some of the other issues plaguing the Nigerian transport industry.

He identified the challenges to include; bad roads, unwarranted harassment of passengers by law enforcement officers and insecurity instead of focusing purely on financial gains.

He called on the government to take strategic steps to end the shameful exploitation of transporters to avoid making innocent commuters suffer needlessly.

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Senate Approves 2021-2023 MTEF/FSP Report Postpones PIB debate by two weeks Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Senate yesterday laid the foundation for the consideration of the 2021 budget as it approved the 2021-2023 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) submitted to it by President Muhammadu Buhari.

While approving the sum of N4.28 trillion to fund the N13.08 trillion 2021 budget deficit of N5.19 trillion, the upper legislative chamber suggested to the executive alternative means of funding infrastructural development which include build, operate and transfer (BOT) and publicprivate partnerships.

The upper legislative chamber has also postponed its debate of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) earlier scheduled for this week by two weeks.

President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, said at plenary that the bill, which was transmitted to the National Assembly by Buhari last week for approval would now be considered for second reading during plenary in two weeks’ time.

The postponement, he said, was to allow copies of the bill to be circulated among the senators by the Sergeant-atArms so that the lawmakers would have enough time to peruse the document.

The approval of the MTEF/ FSP by the Senate followed the debate of the report of joint Committee on Finance and National Planning and Economic Affairs on the 2021-2023 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).

The Senate also approved N7.89 trillion as revenue for the federal government in the 2021 fiscal year, while aggregate expenditure of N13.08 trillion approved, is made up of total Recurrent (Non-debt) of N5.66 trillion; Personnel Costs (MDAs) of N3.05 trillion; Capital expenditure (exclusive of

Transfers) N3.58 trillion; Special Intervention (Recurrent) amounting to N350 billion; and Special intervention (Capital) of N20billion.

The budget is also predicated on key assumptions, which includes, 1.86 mbpd daily crude oil production and the Benchmark oil price of $40 per barrel.

An exchange rate of N379/$ was equally approved while the projected GDP growth rate of three per cent was adopted and the projected Inflation rate of 11.95 per cent was also approved.

Some senators in their debate of the report expressed concern over the budget proposals, pointing out that the upper chamber ought to have reviewed the performance of the 2020 budget before approving the 2021-2023 MTEF. In her contribution, ranking Senator Betty Apiafi said: "We all know that the 2020 budget had its own challenges because of the pandemic but the question we should ask ourselves, is how has the budget implementation been, how have the releases been?

Most of the projects we have in the budget have not been implemented. So we need to have an idea about those issues before we proceed".

She also questioned the rationale behind borrowing about N4 trillion while loan repayment or debt servicing is N3.2 trillion.

However, in approving the MTEF/FSP, the Senate resolved to commence immediate legislative actions to amend the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA, 2007) to improve revenue-generating and remittance capacity of agencies of the federal government, with particular attention to Section 21 (1) and Section 22(1)(2).

It directed relevant Standing Committees to take immediate steps to examine the laws guiding the operations of all revenue-generating agencies under their oversight to determine specific sections/ clauses requiring amendment with a view to plugging

wastages and boosting revenue generation capacity of government.

The Senate also urged the federal government to streamline all stamp duty collection activities by the MDAs and domicile with FIRS, to eliminate loss and to deploy the use of ICT in the collection of these stamp duties.

It equally asked the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, as well as the Budget Office of the Federation to re-examine the assumptions underlying the revenue targets of all the Federal Government agencies, to ensure the credibility of such assumptions, and the figures arising therefrom.

The upper legislative chamber also charged the Federal Government to constantly consider carefully the qualifications and suitability of heads of agencies to ensure that the overall revenue objective of the government in the MTEF/ FSP and the annual budgets

are always achieved.

In his speech, the President of the Senate, Lawan insisted on proper monitoring of revenue agencies and tasked the Senate Committee on Finance to closely monitor the meeting of revenue targets by revenue-generating agencies of government.

He stressed the need for a review of the performances of these agencies with a view to checking that they are actually meeting their targets.

Lawan also emphasised the importance of ensuring that revenue agencies of government are efficient in the discharge of their functions.

He condemned indiscriminate borrowing for capital projects by government agencies, adding that "there are some projects I think we shouldn't borrow. We should explore other opportunities and sources of funding as a way to minimize borrowing."

According to him, borrowing should be mixed with the diversification of funding capital projects in

view of a growing deficit in the national budget.

"We should explore the other alternatives in the sourcing of funding - the build, operate and transfer, public-private partnerships and so many other options.

I think we should explore those options. There are a lot of businesses that have an interest in our infrastructural development. Then again, we cannot eliminate borrowing; that is the sad part of it.

"In the past, I think we deluded ourselves thinking that Nigeria is the greatest country in the world meanwhile we were not developing our infrastructure because if we had applied the resources we had before, especially in good days and good years, we would have found out that we didn’t have anything to spare by calmly ourselves free.

"There were much more challenges on the side of developing infrastructure than what we were getting.

But we squandered those very

good days that we realised that all our contemporaries then are now somewhere far away from us in terms of development. So we have to mix borrowing with diversification in going about meeting our development needs. The deficit, of course, is high and this is telling us the story of the history of our economic journey. " Commenting on the high cost of governance, Lawan stressed the need to merge revenue regenerating agencies of government with a view to streamlining the cost of government.

He explained that contrary to public sentiment that the legislature should be collapsed to ensure effective governance, the National Assembly is not responsible for the bloated cost of governing the country.

Advocating a holistic approach to addressing governance in the country, hé maintained that the deficit in the budget is high, indicating a lack of savings on the part of government.

FINAL PUSH...

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu (left), and Ondo State Governor, Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), during the final rally of Akeredolu’s campaign for next Saturday’s governorship election in Akure…yesterday

W’Bank: COVID-19 to Increase Number of Poor Persons to 150m

Obinna Chima

The World Bank has estimated that global extreme poverty is expected to rise in 2020 for the first time in over 20 years due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Specifically, the Washingtonbased institution estimated that the pandemic would push an additional 88 million to 115 million people into extreme poverty this year, with the total rising to as many as 150 million by 2021, depending on the severity of the economic contraction.

It stated this in its biennial ‘Poverty and Shared Prosperity Report,’ released ahead of the 2020 virtual Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

It defined extreme poverty as living on less than $1.90 a day, adding that it was likely to affect between 9.1 per cent and 9.4 per cent of the world’s

population in 2020.

This would represent a regression to the rate of 9.2 per cent in 2017. Had the pandemic not convulsed the globe, the poverty rate was expected to drop to 7.9 per cent in 2020.

The Bank had in June, predicted that there would be 95.7 million Nigerians living below the poverty line by 2022, due to the impact of the virus.

But in the latest report, the President, World Bank Group, David Malpass said: “The pandemic and global recession may cause over 1.4 per cent of the world’s population to fall into extreme poverty.

“In order to reverse this serious setback to development progress and poverty reduction, countries will need to prepare for a different economy postCOVID, by allowing capital, labour, skills, and innovation to move into new businesses

and sectors. World Bank Group support—across IBRD, IDA, IFC and MIGA—will help developing countries resume growth and respond to the health, social, and economic impacts of COVID-19 as they work toward a sustainable and inclusive recovery.”

The report also estimated that many of the new poor would be in countries that already have high poverty rates.

A number of middle-income countries would see significant numbers of people slip below the extreme poverty line.

About 82 per cent of the total will be in middle-income countries, the report predicted.

The convergence of the COVID-19 pandemic with the pressures of conflict and climate change will put the goal of ending poverty by 2030 beyond reach without swift, significant and substantial policy action, the World Bank said.

By 2030, the global poverty rate could be about seven per cent.

“Increasing numbers of urban dwellers are expected to fall into extreme poverty, which has traditionally affected people in rural areas.

“Progress was slowing even before the COVID-19 crisis.

New global poverty data for 2017 shows that 52 million people rose out of poverty between 2015 and 2017. Yet despite this progress, the rate of reduction slowed to less than half a percentage point per year between 2015 and 2017. Global poverty had dropped at the rate of around one percentage point per year between 1990 and 2015,” it added.

In addition to the $1.90-perday international poverty line, the World Bank measures poverty lines of $3.20 and $5.50, reflecting national poverty lines in lower-middleincome and upper-middle-

income countries.

The report further measured poverty across a multidimensional spectrum that included access to education and basic infrastructure.

“While less than a tenth of the world’s population lives on less than $1.90 a day, close to a quarter of the world’s population lives below the $3.20 line and more than 40 per cent of the world’s population – almost 3.3 billion people – live below the $5.50 line.

“The COVID-19 crisis has also diminished shared prosperity – defined as the growth in the income of the poorest 40 per cent of a country’s population. Average global shared prosperity is estimated to stagnate or even contract over 2019-2021 due to the reduced growth in average incomes.

“The deceleration in economic activity intensified

by the pandemic is likely to hit the poorest people especially hard, and this could lead to even lower shared prosperity indicators in the coming years.

“The prospect of less inclusive growth is a clear reversal from previous trends.

Shared prosperity increased in 74 of 91 economies for which data was available in the period 2012-2017, meaning that growth was inclusive and the incomes of the poorest 40 per cent of the population grew. In 53 of those countries, growth benefited the poorest more than the entire population. Average global shared prosperity (growth in the incomes of the bottom 40 per cent) was 2.3 per cent for 2012-2017. This suggests that without policy actions, the COVID-19 crisis may trigger cycles of higher income inequality, lower social mobility among the vulnerable, and lower resilience to future shocks,” it added.

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PAGE EIGHT ONDO ELECTION WILL BE FREE, FAIR, CREDIBLE, BUHARI ASSURES NIGERIANS by unscrupulous elements.

Ahead of Saturday's governorship election in the state, Buhari; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Chairman of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) National Caretaker and Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni; Chairman, APC National Campaign Council for Ondo State Governorship election and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and several leaders of the party used the opportunity to rally support for the re-election of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

A few kilometres away, in Ondo city, the National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, at the final lap of the party’s campaign, said the APC and its candidate, Akeredolu, were jittery of the popularity of the PDP's candidate, Prof. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN).

However, the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, has again warned politicians against actions and utterances that could be inimical to a free, fair and credible election, and also cautioned the security operatives, including policemen on election duty to be professional.

APC governors from Kebbi, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, and Kogi States also attended the campaign rally.

Buhari, whose recorded remark was relayed via video, expressed his support for the APC’s governorship candidate, Akeredolu, saying that the incumbent governor deserves to be re-elected so that he can consolidate on his achievements in office.

The president urged the

electorate to turn out en masse to vote on Saturday without fear of molestation.

He said: ''I have no doubt that our candidate is a good brand for the APC to market.

I am particularly delighted by his ingenious approach to governance. ''His performance within the limits of available resources is endearing, just as he has taken the state to an enviable level and on the path of prosperity. ''Having had the privilege of commissioning some of his projects, which I consider enduring legacies, I join you here today to declare that Governor Akeredolu deserves to be re-elected to consolidate the good work he commenced in his first term. ''I am not just proud of his achievements; I am confident he will enjoy the mandate of the good people of Ondo State for the second term.''

The president said he had taken a special interest not necessarily because his party is involved but because his focus and attention have been to ensure that the nation maximises every given opportunity to raise the bar in its desire to deepen democracy.

Buhari expressed delight in the internal democracy in the party, particularly on the conduct of the party primary that produced Akeredolu.

The president commended the resolve of other aspirants, who contested the primary with Akeredolu but are now supporting him for re-election.

Also addressing the crowd via a recorded message, Osinbajo said Akeredoluled APC administration's achievements are visible in all the nooks and crannies of the state.

According to him, "I do not claim to know more than you about the development

in the state, you know best.

But I will like to mention a few things you know about the achievements of the administration, not my friend, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

"I want to call on traditional rulers, chiefs, elderly, market leaders, traders, teachers, students, civil servants and artisans to vote for a politician with integrity, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, for continuity of good governance and provision of infrastructure, development and growth of Ondo State. Vote for APC on Saturday."

The Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee and Governor of Yobe State, Buni, said the people of the state need not start from the beginning but to consolidate.

He enjoined all the people to come out to vote and ensure the continuity of good work.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said the governors and other leaders of the party are in the state to reassure the people that they were all in support of Akeredolu.

"APC is here not to cause violence but to win the election. We are all here to express our total support for Akeredolu’s re-election and by the Grace of God, we shall win,” he said.

Fayemi said the support of all other aspirants who are now with Akeredolu, was a boost to his re-election because they are united.

"All I want to tell you is that this is the end of discussion," Fayemi said.

Addressing the rally, the Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello, said what the people wanted was continuity.

Bello, who also addressed

the people of Kogi State in Ebira language, urged the people not to allow themselves to be intimidated on the day of the election.

He assured the governor that the Kogi State people in Ondo State that constituted more than 30 per cent of the residents of the state shall vote en masse for him.

The Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, who addressed the people of the South-east in Igbo language, urged them to vote for Akeredolu, who is special to them.

Ondo Gov, APC Jittery of Jegede’s Popularity, Says Secondus Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the PDP, Secondus, yesterday said that the APC and its candidate, Akeredolu, were jittery of the popularity of the PDP's candidate, Jegede.

Secondus said this at the grand finale of the campaign of the PDP held in Ondo City, the headquarters of Ondo West Local Government Area of the state.

The PDP chairman blamed the APC and its supporters for the recurring violence in the state, and accused the party of doing all things at all cost to remain in the office.

He, therefore, urged the people of the state to vote out the ruling APC, adding that the party had failed Nigerians woefully at all levels.

Speaking on how to curtail the pockets of crisis threatening the Saturday election, he advised that INEC and security agencies should be allowed to do their duties professionally without interference.

Secondus appealed to the people to protect their votes and resist any attempt by the ruling party to rig the election.

The Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council for Ondo Election and Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, reaffirmed the panicky situation of the ruling party, saying the ruling party was planning to rig the election.

Makinde assured the people that the PDP candidate would win the election and bring the dividends of democracy for the benefit of all.

The Chairman of PDP Governors' Forum and Governor of Sokoto State, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, urged the people to reject the APC with their votes, lamenting that the party has inflicted unbearable hardship on Nigerians.

Tambuwal implored the people to join other PDP states, which have departed from listless chains of poverty, unemployment, economic crunch and diabolical policies of the APC to repress the poor.

Other PDP governors present were: Chief Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Senator Douye Diri (Bayelsa); Senator Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Alhaji Bello Matawalle (Zamfara).

Also at the rally, were former governors of Niger, Ekiti and Osun states: Dr. Babaginda Aliyu, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, respectively, as well as other dignitaries like Senator Abiodun Olujimi, Chief Oyewole Fasawe.

IG Warns Politicians against Violence The IG, Adamu, cautioned security operatives, including policemen on election duty to be professional.

The force spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, in a statement titled: ‘Ondo Poll: IG Cautions Politicians against Violence,’ stated that Adamu warned politicians against actions and utterances that could be inimical to a free, fair and credible election.

Adamu warned that the full weight of the law would be meted out to anyone who engaged in any electoral fraud, including violence, vote-buying, ballot box snatching, hate speeches and other unwholesome practices capable of undermining the peace and stability of the electoral process.

Mba said the IG also assured the people of Ondo State of adequate security measures during the exercise.

He reiterated that adequate deployments in terms of manpower, marine and aerial surveillance and other assets of the force had been made to ensure effective security coverage.

He enjoined all eligible voters to come out en mass to freely and peacefully exercise their franchise in line with their civic obligation, “without any fear of intimidation on the day of the election.”

The statement further said, “The IG has charged all police officers and other law enforcement agents deployed for the election to act in accordance with the Electoral Act and other extant laws guiding their overall conduct before, during and after the elections.

“He warns that police officers and officers of other law enforcement agencies found acting contrary to their oaths of office or in aid of illicit electoral practices will be strictly and personally held liable with dire legal consequences.”

CITING SECURITY CONCERN, FEC APPROVES SPECTRUM MONITORING IN SOUTH-EAST The FEC gave the approvals yesterday during the 18th virtual meeting presided over

by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The decision of FEC was a sequel to the discovery of illegal spectrum frequencies in the South-east, which the federal government said would compromise the security and safety in the country.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He explained that the investigation carried out in the five geo-political zones, including North-east, Northwest, North-central, South-west and South-south, revealed that out of the 320 frequencies discovered 106 were illegal.

Pantami stated: “The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, sought the approval of the council for deploying hybrid spectrum monitoring system, most importantly to focus on the south-eastern zone of the country.

“From January to August 2020, within the period of eight months, we discovered 320 frequencies being used all over the country and of this 320,106 were illegal. This is very worrisome because the usage of this illegal spectrum or frequencies will compromise our security and safety in the country."

The minister explained that it was because of the agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari

on promoting security that the initiative of monitoring the usage of frequencies and uncover the legal and the illegal ones was berthed.

Pantami added that for the legal ones, the monitoring would ensure that they renew their licenses annually, while for the illegal ones, necessary actions are being taken according to the gravity of the offence.

He added, “We discovered that our monitoring did not cover South-east part of the country. It covered five zones - North-east, North-west, North-central, South-west and South-south; however, Southeast has not been covered.

“It is because of this that we presented our memo, seeking for council’s approval of N653,886,584 to procure and deploy hybrid spectrum monitoring system that will cover the southern part of the country, most importantly the South-east. "So, the council approved for the deployment and this project will go a long way in promoting safety and security and secondly, identify the usage of illegal spectrum and thirdly, enhance revenue for the federal government and fourthly, in the long run it will create many jobs for the citizens.”

The Minister stressed that based on the advice of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, operators of the illegal frequencies would be prosecuted.

Pantami described the use of illegal frequencies in the country which has become

very rampant as worrisome.

Speaking on what the law says about the illegal frequencies and what will be the punishment, Pantami said, “Like I said it will go a long way in promoting safety and security. In the National Frequencies Management Council of which I am the chair, it has been established by law under NCA 2003 Section 31, security institutions are presented in that council in addition to other institutions that deploy spectrum like ministries of transportation and aviation (they use frequency in the aircraft), Office of the National Security Adviser, and Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC), as a regulator of broadcasting are also a member of the council.

“It is in the council that each sector that feels that the council will add value to its activities, they will come up with measures on how to use the council to promote what they need. So, it is because of this that we deploy this and security institutions are represented and whatever we do is in agreement with the law.

“So, if there is any question with regards to security, it is important to reach out to the security institutions. For your information, they have never requested anything from us that will promote security through intelligence that we have not provided. But I am not in the position to answer the question on security particularly outside the mandate given to me."

"Those we have investigated so far, there is a process. When we discover the usage of illegal frequency, a letter will be written to that institution to draw their attention to it.

When they admit, if it is a government institution, there is a process of investigation, there is also a process if it is a private one. Sometimes, it will take up to litigation and we are in the process right now.

“I had a meeting with the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice on how to facilitate the process, so we are in the process of doing that.”

FEC Approves $3bn for PH-Maiduguri Rail Rehabilitation, Reconstruction Meanwhile, FEC has also approved the award of contracts for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Port Harcourt - Maiduguri eastern narrow gauge railway at the cost of $3,020,279,549.

The Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, disclosed this yesterday, while briefing State House journalists at the end of the virtual FEC meeting.

He said: "The railway line will be at the cost of $3,020,279,549. The industrial park, which is under PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) at no cost to the federal government, will cost $241,154,389.31.

They've also approved the construction of a new deep seaport in Bonny, under

PPP and the construction of a railway industrial park in Port Harcourt. The Bonny deep seaport will cost $461,924,369, at no cost to the federal government.

"The Port Harcourt to Maiduguri narrow gauge railway will have new branch lines: from Port Harcourt to Bonny and from Port Harcourt to Owerri are new lines.

There's another connecting to narrow gauge to standard gauge at Kafanchan. There is a branch line from Gombe or before Maiduguri to Damaturu and Gashua. That's what has been approved."

Also briefing journalists, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the memo for the completion of the rehabilitation of 72 kilometres Abeokuta-Ibadan road submitted by the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, was approved.

According to him, "It was a memo asking for augmentation

by N788 million to bring the project cost to N4.78 billion plus six months extension of time for construction. So, we hope that by 2021, this road will be completed. You need to note also that this was a contract that was awarded in 2010 but due to the paucity of funds and other constraints, we have to take it over."

Mohammed said further that the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, also presented a memo seeking approval for the rehabilitation of the various screening

machines nationwide at the cost of N654 million.

He said this was a new protocol sanctioned by IATA and other Aviation authorities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mohammed said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, also presented a memo on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari seeking council's approval for the purchase of 21 operational vehicles for the Federal Road Continued on page 9

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THURSDAY, ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

Okonjo-Iweala Gets to Final Stage in Race for WTO DG FG lauds European Union support Obinna Chima with agency report Nigeria’s candidate for the position of the DirectorGeneral of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been selected as one of the two female candidates to proceed to the final stage in the race to lead the Geneva-based global trade body.

Bloomberg quoted sources at Geneva that are familiar with the matter to have named the second candidate is South Korea’s Ms. Yoo Myung-hee.

With this development, history is set to be made as WTO is expected to have its first female director-general in its 25-year history.

WTO’s General Council Chairman, Mr. David Walker, is expected to formally announce the results to the institution’s delegates in Geneva this morning.

The United Kingdom’s Liam Fox, Kenya’s Amina Chawahir Mohamed Jibril, and Saudi Arabia’s Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri did not secure enough support in the

second round of consultations; Bloomberg quoted insiders familiar with the matter as saying.

The third and final phase of the consultation process would begin later this month and run until November 6, after which the WTO would name a consensus winner of the race.

Clouding the outlook for the selection process is the United States’ presidential election holding on November 3.

The WTO makes decisions on a consensus basis, and a lack of American support for any of the finalists could mean delays in picking the new director-general.

If WTO members are unable to select a leader by consensus, a vote requiring a qualified majority could be held as a last resort, which would be an unprecedented development in the organisation.

The campaign to lead the WTO during the most turbulent period of its 25year existence is playing out against the backdrop of the pandemic, a worldwide recession, the US-China battle

for trade supremacy and the American election.

President Donald Trump had blasted the WTO as the worst trade deal in US history and had pledged to overhaul it to better suit the country’s interests.

The vacancy for the top WTO job arose when Brazil’s Roberto Azevedo decided to step down at the end of August, a year before his term was due to end.

WTO members view the race as an opportunity to reshape the organisation, whose mission of economic integration is under threat from protectionist policies around the globe. Without reform, it risks being sidelined during the biggest economic crisis in a century.

According to analysts, Okonjo-Iweala’s high professional/personal qualities, international contacts and impeccable records as Nigeria’s former Finance minister/ Foreign Affairs minister and as former managing director of the World Bank, stand her high above the other contestant.

She is a renowned global finance expert, an economist and international development professional with over 30 years of experience, having worked in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America.

She is presently the Chair of the Board of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance. Since its creation in 2000, GAVI has immunised over 760 million children across the globe.

She also sits on the boards of Standard Chartered Plc and Twitter Inc. She was recently appointed African Union Special Envoy to mobilise international financial support in the fight against COVID-19, as well as Envoy for the World Health Organisation’s access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator.

The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, recently appointed Okonjo-Iweala to serve as a member of her newlyestablished External Advisory Group.

In addition, Okonjo-Iweala served twice as Nigeria’s Finance minister, from 20032006 and 2011-2015 and briefly

as Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs minister in 2006, the first woman to hold both positions.

She had a 25-year career at the World Bank as a development economist, rising to the number two position of Managing Director (Operations).

As Finance minister, Okonjo-Iweala steered Nigeria through the varying degree of reforms, particularly on macroeconomic, trade, financial and real sector issues.

As Managing Director (Operations) of the World Bank, her several portfolios included oversight responsibility for the World Bank’s $81 billion operational portfolio in Africa, South Asia, Europe, and Central Asia.

Okonjo-Iweala spearheaded several World Bank initiatives to assist low-income countries during the 2008-2009 food crises and later in the trying period of the global financial crisis.

On the other hand, Yoo is South Korea’s trade minister.

During her 25-year career in government, she helped expand her country’s trade

network through bilateral accords with the US, China and the UK.

FG Lauds European Union Support Meanwhile, the federal government has expressed its optimism that Okonjo-Iweala will emerge winner of the race.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Adeniyi Adebayo, while reacting to the European Union (EU) support for the candidature of Okonjo-Iweala affirmed that the former finance minister remains the most qualified candidate for the WTO role.

He welcomed the EU support for Okonjo-Iweala and said it signifies a high probability of her clinching the coveted position of directorgeneral of the WTO. With the latest support from EU, Adebayo said the federal government will do all that will be required to ensure Okonjo-Iweala, the candidate of choice of Africa, emerges as the next director-general of the WTO.

PDP Loses Two House Members to APC

Udora Orizu in Abuja

Two members of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ephraim Nwuzi from Rivers State and Hon. David Abel from Taraba State yesterday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmakers announced their defection on the floor of the House at resumed plenary in separate letters addressed to the Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

In the letters read by Gbajabiamila, the lawmakers said their decision to join the ruling party was informed by the charismatic and purposeful leadership of the Speaker.

However, the Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Toby Okechukwu, raised a point of order, saying that the defection should be based on law and due process and not simply quoting the charisma of the Speaker. ''We ask Mr. Speaker to observe with respect to the

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, abide by the rules of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,'' he said Corroborating Okechukwu's statement, the Leader of the PDP caucus in the House, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, tasked the Speaker to do what is right to advance the course of democracy in Nigeria.

He said that the Speaker swore to protect the Constitution, adding that the Speaker as a lawyer should prove that he respects the law.

Chinda recalled that in 2007, the Supreme Court had ruled that any members who defect for any reason, outside division in the party should vacate his seat.

He added that this is an opportunity for the Speaker to do the right thing, stressing that failure to do so is either cowardice or incompetence.

Responding, Gbajabiamila recalled that he was once a minority leader in the House and many of his members defected to the PDP, which

was then the ruling party.

He said that he cited all the relevant laws and called on House to declare their seats vacant until he lost his voice.

Gbajabiamila further pointed out that there are some members of the PDP who had not attended any sitting since the commencement of the 9th Assembly.

He said that Section 68, Sub-section (1f) of Constitution states that the seat of such members should be declared vacant and asked the PDP

lawmakers if he should go on to declare their seats vacant.

Gbajabiamila noted that the PDP failed to lay the foundation of sanctioning illegal defections while in power.

He said: “Like you used to tell me, your points are noted.

Any more defections?”

Reacting, the Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu said that the Clerk of the House should be directed to provide the register to confirm the position of the Speaker on the absent PDP lawmakers.

Correctional Service Shoe, Garment, and Leather Processing Factory located in Aba, Abia State as well as Janguza, Kano State under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

He said: "This full business skills certificate and the investment that will come therefrom amount to N5 billion, N100 million (N5,100,000,000). Invariably,

when the partnership comes into effect, the benefit is enormous. About 1,330 people will have direct employment, while about 3,000 people will have indirect employment."

Also speaking, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Adeniyi Adebayo, said FEC approved contract for the procurement and installation of automotive electronic equipment, for the

automatic mechatronic center facilities in six geo-political zones of the country and the FCT. Adebayo stressed that the three pilot workshop automotive service shops for the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) at the cost for maintenance of vehicles.

N1.8 billion has also been approved.

recorded another victory in its ongoing legal tussle with the P&ID Limited as a London Commercial Court ordered the release of the $200 million guarantee for the stay of execution granted the country pending the appeal filed against the judgment of Justice Christopher Butcher for the execution of the Arbitral award of $10 billion to the company.

Malami had hailed the court’s ruling even as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, had also hailed the

court’s decision, saying the $200 million will enhance Nigeria’s management of the exchange rate of its domestic currency, the naira, while ensuring monetary and price stability.

P&ID had sought to increase the security to $400 million, but the court presided over

by Sir Ross Cranston rejected the request and ordered cost of £70,000 against P&ID. The $200million ruling came about three weeks after the court had granted another cost of £1.5million against P&ID. The London Court had on

September 10, 2020, directed P&ID to make an interim payment of more than £1.5 million within 21 days to cover legal costs Nigeria had incurred in getting the court to allow the nation file court processes outside the time provided by law.

The ruling had come about a week after the court granted Nigeria’s application seeking permission to challenge the $9.6 billion arbitration award obtained by the firm based in the British Virgin Islands, well outside the normal time limits.

CITING SECURITY CONCERN, FEC APPROVES SPECTRUM MONITORING IN SOUTH-EAST Safety Corps (FRSC).

He added that the contract has been awarded to Messrs Pan Nigeria Limited in the total sum of N292,615 million, adding that the purpose of the memo was to enhance the operational capability and capacity of the corps.

The minister noted that these vehicles are being sourced from local assembly plants, Peugeot Nigeria

Limited in Kaduna.

Mohammed also stressed that the memo submitted by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCT), Malam Muhammed Bello, for the award of contract for the final design of engineering infrastructure and production of tendered documents for Kabusa District phase three Abuja was approved for the

sum of N183,709,480,50.00 to Messrs Techno Engineering and Consult Limited.

The Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, said the council has approved the full business skills compliance certificate issued

by Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), for the design, finance, upgrade, operate, and transfer of the Nigeria

US ARBITRATION TRIBUNAL FREES NIGERIA OF $1.5BN LIABILITY yesterday by Dr. Umar Gwandu, media aide to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, the oil companies through their legal team, led by Mr. Obi Nsugbe (SAN), had requested relief from the tribunal.

The company specifically asked the tribunal to direct the Federal Government of Nigeria, its relevant privies and instrumentalities to pay aggravated damages in an amount to be proven during the arbitral proceedings which the claimants estimate at being

in excess of $ 1.5 billion.

According to the statement, the tribunal in its judgment delivered on Tuesday held that the federal government has not breached its obligations toward claimants under Nigerian law or under international law.

“The Tribunal finds no liability on the part of the respondent in connection with claimants’ loss of control over their investment in Pan Ocean,” the judgment reads in part.

Malami, in a remark, described the judgment as

an addition to the multiple success stories recorded in international litigations by the Federal Ministry of Justice.

"Malami, who renewed commitment to patriotically and relentlessly discharge his constitutional mandates in the best interest of the nation and the general public, said gone was such an era of connivance to deprive the nation of its resources for gratifying ulterior motives of vested interest at the expense of the Nigeria populace," the statement added.

Barely a week ago, Nigeria

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COMMENT

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

WOMEN’S HUMANITY AND COVID-ELECTIONS 2020 It will be a positive echo for women with ambition if Okonjo-Iweala wins the World Trade Organisation’s job, writes Okello Oculi

N

aomi Osaka is a growing sensation. She walked onto the tennis court with a soft playfulness that seemed unfit for her impending war against an older and taller opponent fresh from terminating Serena William’s momentum. When she lost the opening set by the brutal gap of six losses to her lonesome single victory, her supporters hoped for a miracle. She attributed her defeat in Australia to her interest ebbing away. Having watched Serena lose a lifelong record, she was likely to react like a Masai warrior enraged by seeing a brother bleed from an enemy spear.

In the last exchange of strokes of the last and winning set she sent the ball to the edge of the court on the right of her opponent. Her killer shot was to the opposite edge of the court. It recalled Arthur Ashe making Stan Smith slide from one end of a clay court to the other. Osaka did not hit but WHIPPED the winning stroke.

The speed with which a ball flew was in inverse relation to her small and playful size. Professor Robert Scalappino liked to tell the fable that a Japanese Samurai warrior sliced off your neck with his sword without you knowing it. That is one gene in Osaka. The other is the stubborn courage of African-American civil rights campaigner, Rosa Parks.

On 19th September,2020, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg died. She was an anchor in American judicial struggles inside and outside the country’s Supreme Court for women’s rights, equality, right to abortion, and justice in the ‘’Black Lives Matter’’ movement. Her death came three days after Naomi Osaka had broadcast names of seven African-Americans murdered by the American Police written on masks she wore for the seven games she played. For her the sedate game of tennis had to see blood of victims of racial injustice splashed on strings of rackets used by players in America’s top ranked tournament.

One day before Justice Ginsberg’s death, the powers behind the global game of tennis announced a change of ‘’The Federation Cup’’ to the ‘’Billy Jean King Cup’’ in recognition of her successful struggle to promote the inclusion of more women in the game; equal status with male players and pay to women players on international circuits. She got high publicity for a tennis match on September 9th, 1973 tagged the ‘’Battle of the Sexes’’ in which she defeated male chauvinist Bobby Riggs. She was thrilled by Osaka’s victory because it affirmed the historic

AT THE LEVEL ELECTORAL POLITICS, NIGERIA HAS NOT MATCHED UGANDA AND RWANDA THAT PASSED LAWS OPENING DOORS TO WOMEN INTO LEGISLATURES AT LOCAL AND NATIONAL LEVELS

mission of female youths in the game.

Inside the labyrinthine corridors of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), a Nigerian woman veteran in international economic diplomacy, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, and Amina Mohammed, a former Foreign Affairs Minister of Kenya, are competing for the job of Director General of the organisation. Two African men, Egyptian Professor Boutros-Boutros Ghali, and Ghana’s Kofi Annan, succeeded each other (in heading the apex of global diplomacy and governance), as Secretary General of the United Nations. It would be fitting if an African woman won the WTO crown.

It would be a positive echo for women with ambition for the presidency of Nigeria if Okonjo-Iweala won.

Support for social, economic and political status of Nigeria’s female population has crawled. In the Caliphate North, Mallam Aminu Kano’s radical advocacy for the progress of women suffered from his party getting rigged by British colonial officials from winning seats in regional and national legislatures. This blocked him from matching Tunisia’s Bourguiba in using political power to open skies for women’s education, professional jobs and social freedoms. It allowed conservative rulers to use the domination of women as a bribe for Talakawa to be ‘’suffering and smiling’’.

In other regions of Nigeria, the claim is that women get married and migrate with their motherhood capacities to populate other communities, to deny girls access to education, inheritance and ownership of land. Among the Igbo, for example, horrendous dislocation of society and moral values by the 1967-1970 Civil War may have infused a pandemic of violence against women; with male overvaluing of commercial power, thereby, paradoxically, giving female age mates the monopoly of attending schools that may be translated into political achievements.

At the level electoral politics, Nigeria has not matched Uganda and Rwanda that passed laws opening doors to women into legislatures at local and national levels.

Senegal’s 2012 law requiring all political parties contesting elections to have 50 percent of candidates to be female should recommend itself to Nigeria. With a 90 per cent Muslim population, Senegal silences those hiding behind ‘’culture’’ and religion to ‘’Lock Down’’ women with political COVID-19.

Locking out productive talents of 55 per cent of predominantly females into unemployment is a crime which creative injection of financial capital should light up.

ONDO 2020: SANS AT ‘WAR’ AGAIN

Michael West argues that the Ondo governorship election is a straight fight between Akeredolu and Jegede

T

he next governor of Ondo State will be a lawyer, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

He’s married, a Christian, not a first timer in the race, bespectacled and with no particular godfather. A resident of Akure, the state capital, with large following across the Sunshine State.

As the people of Ondo State cast their votes on October 10, a decision for a new dawn is in process. Ondo State has a reputation for volatility and resistance to electoral fraud. The people vehemently dislike imposition of any “unwanted” candidate upon them by subterfuge to superintendent their affairs. The 1983 political crisis in which notable indigenes of the state were killed and burnt in the orgy of violence that erupted in the aftermath of Chiefs Adekunle Ajasin/Akin Omoboriowo’s governorship contest was partly attributed as a factor that brought in the Muhammadu Buhari-led military coup that toppled the Second Republic.

Four years ago, Ondo people elected the incumbent Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on the platform of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC). It is argued that the ruling party does not enjoy popularity at the grassroots like the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This line of thought might not be unconnected with the fact that since 2003 when the then PDP-led federal government rigged out the entire Alliance for Democracy’s (AD), government in the South West region except Lagos, Ondo State has been governed by the PDP. A situation that still largely reflects the political configuration of the state. In 2019 presidential election, Ondo State voted the PDP. As at today, the PDP has two out of the three senators with almost equal number of the House of Representatives members with the APC. Some pundits are predicting the possible outcome of the gubernatorial election in Ondo State without factoring

the fact that the people act according to their principles, convictions and beliefs. The confusion that characterised the PDP’s candidature in 2016 made it difficult for the people to clearly define their choice and pattern of voting. There were no clear-cut major contenders as courts’ discordant pronouncements at the peak of campaigns apparently threw spanner in the works of the PDP and its candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN. The APC’s candidate automatically had a smooth run without much opposition. It is therefore surprising to hear the Secretary to the State Government claiming that the incumbent was “rigged” into office. I have my doubt about that statement but it is possible that the manipulation actually widened the margin substantially. There was voters’ apathy towards the poll as soon as they knew that one of the major contenders was already “defeated” even before the election day.

Another opportunity is here for the people of Ondo State to speak loud and clear through their votes. I dread our electoral system because election results are brazenly manipulated by supposed umpires. Security agents, the Independent National Electoral Commission’s officials, the political gladiators and the judiciary have turned many elections to charades and mere formalities. Hence the loss of confidence and trust in the system.

However, the Edo State experience and experiment seem to give a glimmer of hope that Ondo people’s votes may likely count if the promises made by those concerned are anything to go by.

The contest is a straight fight between the two senior advocates of Nigeria.

The third force, Agboola Ajayi of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), will play a spoiler role than be a force to reckon with. The ZLP’s standard bearer is no pushover but his platform cannot take him far.

The ZLP’s candidate, Ajayi, being the sitting Deputy Governor, may win and

become governor but after 2020. His desperation to dislodge his principal by moving from one political party to another like a rolling stone added no credit to him. In politics, party platforms are as important as the personalities being presented. It was easier for Governor Godwin Obaseki in Edo State because the PDP is even a stronger platform than the APC in his state. It would have been very difficult for him if he had run on a less popular platform. The quality of a candidate and his platform are the prerequisites to winning a competitive election.

Dr. Olusegun Mimiko’s image and whittled political influence would not help his party’s candidate. Both the PDP and APC candidates do not want to deal with Mimiko due to his alleged slyness in politicking. Despite his rejection as running mate in PDP, Ajayi should have stayed put in the party to project his image and build a strong base in preparatory for the next four years while he goes to the Senate in the meantime.

APC’s Akeredolu is no less a strong contender. Incumbency is no small factor in political contests though it does not translate to automatic victory especially where transparent and credible elections are conducted. The incumbent has some hurdles to surmount if he must retain his Alagbaka House tenancy for another four years.

First, toeing the line of his predecessor in the area of nepotism and populating his government with his kinsmen and family members may work against him at the poll. Mimiko, at some point, had eight members of his cabinet from Ondo town alone! He corrupted the synergy of purpose and bond of unity in the state during his time as governor. For Akeredolu to fall into the same error is regrettable.

Second, levies imposed on people who are used to free education and free healthcare services won’t be allowed to go unpunished. Even when it is apparently

difficult to sustain some of those highly subsidised facilities and services, the percentage of the levy is too burdensome to bear.

Lastly, his poor human relations with his party members, cabinet members, alleged snubbish and arrogant disposition to some of those who are strategic to his election and reelection may be visited at the poll. The fact remains that his estranged deputy and ZLP’s candidate will weaken Akeredolu’s chances more than he can possibly imagine. Both of them will share the bulk of APC’s votes. While his deputy will buoy his own chances with votes from the ZLP camp, the incumbent can only hope to garner some votes here and there by his non-partisan supporters across the state. It should be noted that loyalists have been switching allegiances between the two camps. Those who left Akeredolu went to Ajayi while a few that “repented” found their way back to Aketi’s camp. Therefore, it is obvious that if the incumbent fails, his ambitious deputy is largely responsible.

PDP’s candidate, Jegede, has never have it so bright like now in his political career. All odds seem to favour him this time around. While his two main challengers will slug it out in the same camp, he would harness the bulk of his party’s teeming supporters’ votes alone. In addition, the structures of 11 other political parties collapsed into his camp would further boost his chances.

In conclusion, if the INEC and security agents conduct the poll dispassionately, fairly and transparently as promised, Ondo governorship may not be too close to call between Akeredolu and Jegede.

To avoid a riotous contest and bloodletting, people’s votes must count. Ondo State is the home of “no nonsense, no cheating” voters.

West wrote via mikeawe@yahoo. co.uk

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T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍśËœ 2020

EDITORIAL

TINKERING WITH CORRUPTION We don’t need a new body to manage the proceeds of corruption

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peculations that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) could be scrapped or weakened and the plan to establish a proceeds of corruption warehouse agency fall within the same slot. First, the aims and objectives of the EFCC remain laudable even if its methods and uses by politicians remain reprehensible. Despite the misgivings many may have had over the modus operandi of those who have held the helms, it is difficult to argue against the fact that efforts by EFCC have led to the recovery of substantial public funds and assets illegally converted to private ends. So, whatever may be its challenges, reforming the institution rather than killing it remains the best option in the circumstance.

We concede that the EFCC is dispensable if the aim is to reduce overlaps in government machinery. We also concede that there is nothing the EFCC is doing that could not CREATING A SEPARATE have been done by AGENCY WITH ITS a synergy of the BUREAUCRATIC police fraud squad, APPURTENANCES AT THIS the intelligence services and the TIME DOES NOT APPEAR prosecutorial arm A STEP IN THE RIGHT of the ministry of DIRECTION, EXCEPT THE justice. But what is UNDERLINING OBJECTIVE happening today does not fit into IS TO SERVE INDIVIDUAL the pattern of any WHIM attempt to restructure the agency. It appears there is a deliberate plot to castrate the EFCC by those who have disdain for transparency and accountability. Worse still, to contemplate a new outfit just to inventory the proceeds of corruption is clearly wrong-headed.

It beggars belief that in a country awash with agencies, many of which (with parallel functions) have either been recommended for merger or outright liquidation by the Oronsaye panel, the federal government would be approving the establishment of a new agency. To mull the setting up of such an agency at a time the government

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AKEREDOLU AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY

CONTINUED FROM BACK PAGE

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ith the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu and his deputy, Agboola Ajayi, slug it out in the media and on the campaign field ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial poll, we are hearing a lot of tales. Apparently riled by the political harlotry of Ajayi who first moved to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he failed at the primaries before jumping to pick the ticket of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Akeredolu said last week: “No deputy governor has collected what he was collecting in the history of the state. I gave him N13 million monthly. His predecessors did not collect as much as that. No deputy governor collects as much as that in Nigeria. I gave him enough room to operate, yet he betrayed me.�

Before we examine that statement, it is important to note that the deputy governor has responded that what he receives monthly is not N13 million but N12 million. He also counterattacked that “Akeredolu and members of his family skim off the purse of our state with reckless abandon.� Ajayi,

says it wants to implement the Oronsaye report which recommended scrapping/merging of many parastatals, rankles even more. That such a venture is being contemplated at a period the country is in dire financial straits is unconscionable. Creating a separate agency with its bureaucratic appurtenances at this time does not appear a step in the right direction, except the underlining objective is to serve individual whim. Indeed, many contend that the proposed assets recovery body, the brainchild of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is designed to castrate the EFCC. If there is anything that the current ordeal of Ibrahim Magu, the suspended EFCC acting chairman has revealed, it is that the entrenched government reflex of creating new agencies to deal with systemic challenges has only led to the relocation of the various seats of abuse, rather than the elimination of corruption. Assuming there was good faith, they could ensure the engagement of reputable audit firms to annually audit the EFCC’s inventory of recovered funds and assets. Such audited inventories could then be made public just as disposal of assets should be by open and transparent public bids. We don’t need to establish new potential corruption cesspools to manage the proceeds of corruption.

On the whole, the sordid drama and the needless showmanship that Nigerians have over the years witnessed in the name of fighting graft will worsen corruption in the future. We have at different times challenged the current administration that fighting corruption requires some underlying doctrines that will inform the battle plans with the overall objective of carrying the people along and strengthening critical institutions. Since the fight against corruption that consistently focuses on the symptoms may not go far, it is important for the federal government to distinguish between all the variants of the pervading malaise, so that appropriate strategies for tackling each can be designed and implemented.

Creating a new agency to handle proceeds of corruption is ill-motivated. The idea should be jettisoned.

in a statement by his media adviser, Allen Sowore, gave a breakdown: “The governor gets a security vote of N750 million every month. He, Akeredolu, also gets an imprest of about N150 million. His wife, though occupies no constitutionally recognised position, takes an imprest of N15 million per month. Apart from this, she collects an additional sum of N11 million from the Ministry of Women Affairs, which she runs like a potentate. Babajide, Akeredolu’s son, is also not left out in the pillage that Akeredolu and his family is visiting on Ondo State.

He too takes a whopping N5 million monthly and rips off the state by taking unbelievable commissions as a consultant to the State on almost every imaginable area. All these are apart from millions and millions they get from inflated contracts awarded to family members and lackeys.�

While the game of allegations and counter-allegations continues in Ondo State, let us examine two key admissions in Akeredolu’s statement. One, ‘I gave him N13 million monthly’. Here, the governor is talking about public funds. Aside exercising the powers of

the purse which ordinarily belongs to the Ondo State House of Assembly, there is an obvious lack of accountability in that statement which he failed to see. And then this: “I gave him enough room to operate, yet he betrayed me.�

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Akeredolu makes no pretense that everything in Ondo State revolves around his person. But what exactly does ‘enough room to operate’ mean?

On the whole, both the allegations of financial impropriety in Ondo State and the nagging criminality of SARS operatives can be located in the lack of accountability that defines public conduct in our country today. When you run a system where officials permit themselves the indulgence of giving others ‘enough room to operate’, it goes without saying that there can be no accountability. Under that situation, it is also easy for public officers to become outlaws. That is a challenge we need to collectively deal with.

Olusegun Adeniyi, Abuja

IN PRAISE OF ABDULLAHI CANDIDO

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Whatever is used as measurement of success would see the Executive Chairman of AMAC Area Council, Abuja, Alhaji Abdullahi Candido, coming out triumphant. His concrete achievements have been observed and analyzed with statistical data.

Candido has performed beyond the expectation and imagination of the masses. He has managed the little resources effectively by providing the basic necessity of life to the people of AMAC Area Council.

He has also given hope to the hopeless by donating text books, exercise books, mathematical sets and other essential items to students of the council.

Many roads in the AMAC Area Council were not motorable before Candido assumed office as executive chairman, but he put smiles on the faces of the road users by constructing roads, building schools equipped with computer in

furtherance of the reality that the world is a global village.

He also built health care centres for the masses, recreation centres and free uniforms for students in the area.

He did not leave any stone unturned in the area of security, providing the people with a new lease of life after years of living in fear. He also provided jobs for the youth in the area, purchased both GCE and NECO forms for the students, built modern markets at affordable prices for market women and men in the council.

Candido has proven a capability to do everything humanly possible to help the needy and the destitute, even at his own detriment.

His vision and mission could be compared to the best in the land, from south to north. It will be difficult for any chairman to surpass Candido’s achievements and performances in the AMAC Area Council. Without doubt, he deserves to contest for a bigger office in 2023.

Anjorin Adeolu, Abuja

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY OCTOBER 8, 2020

POLITICS

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

‘Allowing Every Candidate to Contest is the Greatest Peacemaker’

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun tells journalists including Adibe Emenyonu that impunity in the choice of candidates by political parties is a major hindrance in the advancement of democratic processes

Buhari

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hy my party, APC, lost in the Edo governorship election First, I would like to commend President Muhammadu Buhari for not interfering in the process but allowed the people’s will to prevail. I will also laud HRM Ewuare II, Oba of Benin for his timely intervention at brokering peace between the major actors and stakeholders of the APC and the PDP and the efforts of National Peace Committee (NPC) headed by former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Bishop Matthew Kukah of Sokoto Diocese as Secretary of the body and Arch Bishop John Onayeikan, the media and international community among others for their role at ensuring that peace prevailed before, during and after the poll.

Secondly, there was this threat on visa ban, seizure of passport and the rest of them. So the elite among those who were fanning problems had to sit back and reconsider so we had a beautiful and peaceful election.

Nevertheless, within there was impunity within the party (APC), attempts at imposition within the party; these are the issues, and the inability to just let things flow.

I was a former National Chairman and in most cases we didn’t have court cases after any election because things were done to the letter. If 10 people come and say they want to contest for an office, why not. Normally, people come to me to say they are too many, they will cause divisions within the party, they will cause this within the party so let us talk to them so that some will withdraw and I said why? If the 10 people feel each of them is capable of discharging the duties of that office let them contest.

It is when you start talking to them that problem comes in because the ego is already there. You will began to owe them because you persuaded them. And when you do so, you have to find some carrots to drop on the table.

Allowing all of them to contest is the greatest peacemaker but if you start persuading them, problems start; you start creating permanent issues within the party and that was my stand.

Rating of election conduct by INEC I think this is the most peaceful election in this nation since the June 12 Abiola election and one will have to say that this is a precursor of the future, that in future, all concerned be allowed to have their say. The greatest problem we have in this country has been

Odigie-Oyegun lack of due process, impunity, lack of respect for our own constitution within the various parties or outside that.

To my mind, we have regressed as far as party politics is concerned because we have departed from due process, allowing free and fair selection processes within parties and if parties don’t practice democracy, I don’t see how they can preach democracy to the people of this nation.

Fortunately Edo state is Heart Beat of the Nigerian nation, so this election has proved one more time that we are truly the Heart Beat of the Nigerian nation and we hope it is something that we copied for future elections in this nation.

You will find that when that happens court cases will be much less because there will be much less grounds for such, however aggrieved a candidate is inside him, he will know these elections have been done well whether within the party or national or state

levels, he will know that these elections have been relatively free and relatively fair to the extent that he is ready to go trying his luck in the legal system will be much less. we hope that all of us the practitioners, politicians in government, outside government, party officials have learnt a very serious lesson; that impunity does not pay. Let the people speak at all times.

On issues of election petition tribunal and allegation of compromises due to violence, activities of security agencies and INEC officials.

It is the constitutional right of anybody, candidate or no candidate to approach the judicial system for redress if they feel aggrieved. So, anybody who wants to go to court is only exercising his constitutional right and he is to provide evidence to show that things happened which could have altered the ultimate results.

I think this is the most peaceful election in this nation since the June 12 Abiola election and one will have to say that this is a precursor of the future, that in future, all concerned be allowed to have their say. The greatest problem we have in this country has been lack of due process, impunity, lack of respect for our own constitution within the various parties or outside that. To my mind, we have regressed as far as party politics is concerned because we have departed from due process, allowing free and fair selection processes within parties and if parties don’t practice democracy, I don’t see how they can preach democracy to the people of this nation.

Fortunately Edo state is Heart Beat of the Nigerian nation, so this election has proved one more time that we are truly the Heart Beat of the Nigerian nation and we hope it is something that we copied for future elections in this nation

On Nigeria at 60.

Things have been tough, things have been rough what I can say confidently is that the basic foundation of future growth have been laid but the administration hasn’t been lucky at all, the administration has had a period of dwindling resources right from the beginning and I think but for careful management we probably wouldn’t have gotten as far as we have gone today but there is no question at all that we are moving.

Yes there is hunger in the land, the economy is not growing as it should. Unemployment is very high, terrorism has raised its ugly head again after an initial success at controlling it. Cost of crude oil is almost equating the cost of production so the resources are not just there. I just say that I am sad that things have gotten to this kind of situation totally outside the control of government.

What Should be Done The only missing link I will think is that we are not sufficiently giving the people hope or explaining things to the people and giving the people hope that tomorrow will be better so there is despondency in the land. That critical ingredient to tell the people that okay things are bad today but it will be better tomorrow, that is missing so in addition to economic difficulties, economic deprivations, we have not successfully conveyed to them the picture of a better tomorrow.

There is COVID19 that has created a lot of economic problems, massive diversion of resources to protecting the lives of the people.

It has been tough for Nigeria at 60 years but if we contain the difficulties that are confronting us particularly insecurity, this country still has a bright future.”

About Insecurity I am very worried about insecurity because it is beginning to sound to me as if somebody outside this nation, interests outside this nation, groups outside this nation have interests in our country that are outside the public good.

So these things happening otherwise doesn’t make sense and there are a lot of foreigners involved, a lot of arms, AK 47 which are coming in through the Sahara. Although I am a layman in terms of security but it is something that needs very deep investigation. I suspect the Nigerian nation is being sabotaged by other countries.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY OCTOBER 8, 2020

POLITICS

‘Ayo Adebanjo is a Divisive Figure and Dictator’ Segun James was with a group of journalists who tasked the former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba to comment on a myriad of controversial statements made by elder statesman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo on a number of Yoruba regional and national issues

Osoba

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our reaction to the allegation

by Chief Ayo Adebanjo that you have sold out?

I want to seize this opportunity to give a strong notice to Chief Ayo Adebanjo that from now onward I will return fire-for-fire. I have over time tried hard to give him the respect of a little difference in our age as a senior brother. But his recent utterances on many fora, particularly in an age that the YouTube is all over the world, I will now come out forcefully to reply every punch of Chief Adebanjo any time he speaks.

We were together on the programme about one month ago where he accused me of being a sell-out. And I challenged him that he knows, my character and he knows me long enough that I have an impeccable character in terms of integrity and honour. And he agreed there saying that he didn’t say I was corrupt or that I am not reliable but that I sold-out on the issue of restructuring. And I want to challenge him that I have consistently preached that this country needs genuine and true federalism.

I have over the years campaigned that what we need is a Canadian model or Australian model in all my interviews. His attitude is that you must agree with his own definition and that you must not have a contrary opinion.

I have over time told him that his behaviour is inconsistent with Chief Awolowo’s behaviour. Awolowo tolerated dissenting views, he listened to second, third opinions as against Adebanjo’s attitude of rigidity. That is the difference between the two of us.

It appears that you and Adebanjo have been having altercations, is there anything that is personal?

Very much so, over time, he has never wished me well. In 1984, shortly after the coup of 1983, the military offered the position of Managing Director of Daily Times to me. I went to our leader Papa Obefemi Awolowo to clear the appointment with him. He was very, very opposed to my moving from Daily Sketch to Daily Times on the ground that, as usual the word sell-out has always been with him.

He said it will be a sell out to the military. But Papa Awolowo took the very objective opinion and said, this is a professional appointment, it had nothing to do with politics and that Osoba moving to Daily Sketch will be a big plus to the progressives. Of course, Awolowo’s view manifested when I moved to Daily Times because the then conservative and oligarchic family tagged us the Lagos-Ibadan press axis.

Meaning Daily Times, Professor Oshonaike in Tribune, and Peter Ajayi in Sketch because we were taking progressive positions. I will give you an example, along the line, we met at Lagos University Teaching Hospital where the former governor of Ogun State Onabanjo was hospitalised when he was in detention.

He now requested me to please help to use Daily Times to run a campaign to help the road to his house in Agboye constructed because that time the road to his house was always

Adebanjo waterlogged. And I challenged him that you were opposed to my going to Daily Times, why do you want me to use Daily Times?

Onabanjo said yes, I was correct. If you said I was going to sell-out, are you now part of the sell-out? Gboyega Onabanjo, the son of Onabanjo is alive to testify. Along the line, in 1990, when I offered to contest for the governorship of Ogun State, he went all out to abort my ambition and took many practical steps. He adopted Professor Afolabi Olabiyitan as his candidate. He got the Awujale of Ijebuland to call a meeting of Ijebus where a resolution was passed that no Ijebu man should vote for Osoba. Thank God it was the era of open ballot, we went into the primary, and open ballot then is that people queue behind your picture. Even in his home town, Isanyaigbo, I defeated him there. My main campaigner was his Number One man, late CP Odunsi.

After my first coming I still invited him and others to form elders consultative forum to me as governor. I invited Papa Adesanya, Papa Ajayi, Papa Osoba of Ijebu Ode, and that was how I ran my government.

In my second coming, he again was opposed to me, he supported my opponent and consistently he has always been after me. Why? Because I always respond to his claim that he is the interpreter of Awolowo’s philosophy. I have had occasions to challenge him and I said where did Awolowo appoint him as his Peter and gave him the key to his philosophy? Because I have always argued that my relationship with Awolowo was independent of any of them. I met Awolowo when he came out of prison in 1966, I covered his tour of the South-west and since then I became close to Papa Awolowo even when he was Minister of Finance. He has never been happy that I always tell him that

I am as deep with Awolowo as he was when Awolowo was alive. And we, myself, Peter Adenaike and Peter Ajayi, we were nicknamed three musketeers of Awolowo. We were one of the few people who Awolowo told to see him in any emergency without any appointment.

And we were among those who were free with Awolowo throughout his life time. We used to dine with Awolowo every other week. He has never been comfortable that I have my own strong credential of being an Awoist as he is.

He said you and Bola Tinubu pulled out of Afenifere to destroy the platform that brought you to power?

As I said earlier, Afenifere was opposed to my governorship in 1990. I am not one of those Afenifere or Adebanjo-made governor. Papa Adesanya, Papa Onasanya, Papa Olaniwun Ajayi, Chief Ayo Adebanjo were all opposed to my candidature in 1990 on the ground that they have zoned the governorship to Yewa.

And I went on to win the primary on my own, I went forth to win the governorship without any input from any of them. I will say that loudly. But Papa Adesanya was one of the first to quickly call me and said well, I won the election, he is totally with me. He has never reconciled himself to that. He must never again, say that he made me governor.

I was governor against the Afenifere in 1990 and my record in 1990 was what brought me back in 1999 because my performance is clear. In Ijebu Ode I was the one who drove away the tanker drivers who held Ijebu Ode to ransom. I did water scheme in all the major towns in Ogun State during my first coming.

I implemented free education and I electrified so many villages and gave the Yewa people paramount rulership. I have records of what I

Here is a man who when we were rigged out, was the first to jump on the PDP vehicle of Gbenga Daniel in Ogun State. Till tomorrow he is the godfather Gbenga Daniel and that is consistency to him. He moved from Gbenga Daniel to Mimiko in Ondo under Labour. And he went to Ondo to pronounce Mimiko as the greatest among those who are executing Awolowo’s philosophy, that free education is the best. He moved from there to PDP’s Osun under Oyinlola and praised him. Today, he is in PDP with Seyi Makinde of Oyo. That is his own interpretation of consistency. He said we sold out to Fulani, when he campaigned for Atiku, he forgot that Atiku is a Fulani man too. When he hobnobs with Jonathan that is consistency

did, so he must never say that Afenifere made me governor. Afenifere never contributed a kobo in 1999, I was the one who funded the elections in Ogun State. Not one kobo was sent to the state Alliance for Democracy (AD).

I will always challenge him on that.

He said you are never consistent?

He said we pulled out of Afenifere, they caused it. After we were rigged out, they were gloating and happy to see us kicked out. There is no statement I will make that will not be backed up with example. Papa Adesanya called a meeting after we were rigged out in 2003 at Jibowu to try and see how we can patch up and reconstruct the AD family. Again, at the private meeting, they went after Otunba Niyi Adebayo and he walked out on them on the ground that they made an uncomplimentary remark about his father. He said he was not a bastard, that he values his father much more than he values them, and he walked out on them. That was how they destroyed even their attempt to reconcile the AD governors with the elders. They now went ahead to recognise the AD sponsored by Obasanjo because at that time Akinfeyinwa through Ogunlewe who was co-senator with Akinfeyinwa was the one they suspected was promoted by Obasanjo.

They went to Akure and recognised the Akinfeyinwa wing of AD against Akande and that was what caused the split. You cannot recognise Akinfeyinwa and expect us to recognise a man that we do not recognise as our chairman. And that was the beginning of the split in Afenifere. Since then his utterances, his attitude to people has caused other people to move away from Afenifere.

Can you shed more light on his remark on your inconsistency?

His own interpretation of inconsistency is his own way. Here is a man who when we were rigged out, was the first to jump on the PDP vehicle of Gbenga Daniel in Ogun State. Till tomorrow he is the godfather Gbenga Daniel and that is consistency to him. He moved from Gbenga Daniel to Mimiko in Ondo under Labour. And he went to Ondo to pronounce Mimiko as the greatest among those who are executing Awolowo’s philosophy, that free education is the best. He moved from there to PDP’s Osun under Oyinlola and praised him. Today, he is in PDP with Seyi Makinde of Oyo. That is his own interpretation of consistency. He said we sold out to Fulani, when he campaigned for Atiku, he forgot that Atiku is a Fulani man too. When he hobnobs with Jonathan that is consistency. His own interpretation of consistency is consistency which I don’t agree with him. Awolowo will never jump from one party to the other and Awolowo if he was alive will never hobnob with PDP. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͷ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

FEATURES

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

Akuluounu: A Call to Think Home The Akuluouno ~ Think Home Forum is calling on Igbos worldwide to remember home with their investments in order to transform Igbo land into a mega region and tourism destination by 2025. Rebecca Ejifoma writes

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dventurous. Brave. Daring.

Dedicated. Energetic. Industrious. Productive. Resilient.

Wealthy. Zealous. A people of massive development transforming nothing into something. These are some of the appealing reflections the Igbos have exuded since the very beginning.

Indeed, the Igbos have continued to express their active presence, creativity and agility wherever they pitch their tent across the globe.

It is to channel these attributes for the development of the eastern part of the country that the Akuluouno ~ Think Home Forum came to play. The forum is harping on developing the east with all the God-given endowment for a change and better life for easterners in the country.

Although the Igbos comprise the five South-east states of Nigeria including Delta Igbos, Rivers Igbos, Akwa-Ibom, Kogi and Benue-speaking Igbos, Akuluonuno beckons on the South-east and Delta Igbos while leaving its arms open to others.

Chairman and Founder of the forum, Mr. Okwudili Ijezie enthused, “Igbos are majorly in the Diaspora, outside South-east – in Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt and many more and also outside the country.”

“What we are saying is that Igbos need a reverse movement. We want them to move back to the South-east to redevelop it. The moving back we are talking about is not the physical movement. We are saying the investments of Ndi-Igbo should come down to Igbo land,” he emphasised.

He described Akuluouno as a blend of three words. He says Aku means wealth. Luo means to reach. Uno means home. Thus, Akuluouno means let your wealth migrate to your home.

How Forum was Formed He recounted his stay in Lagos since 1983 when he took an appointment with Price Waterhouse (Chartered Accountants), now PricewaterhouseCoopers.

“I came into Lagos because there was no available job for me in Onitsha, Anambra State, where my parents lived. After my career in Price Waterhouse about 30 years ago, I joined Allstates Trust Bank plc in 1990 as the Chief Inspector,” he narrated.

After two years and some months, the chairman went on, “I heard that a branch was being developed for me to go and head. An opportunity arose that Zenith bank was equally building a branch in Onitsha and I was appointed to become the first branch manager.

"A year later, I returned to Lagos, joined a mortgage bank. I relocated to Lagos because South-east then was still under developed, even till date, which is why we are launching the Akuluouno ~ Think Home Forum.”

Ijezie, who is also the Founder of Okwudili Ijezie & Co. (Chartered Accountants) said Akuluouno was formed to get the Ndi-Igbos from all over the world to invest at least 80 per cent of their new investments in South-east.

He further clarified possible misconceptions, “We are not saying you should not invest outside Igbo land, we are saying, leave your current investment, but going forward, take it gradually.”

According to the chairman, investments has to start with the tithe 10 per cent. “Have 10 per cent investment in your village, and before you know it, by the time we get to 2025 – the minimum expected of any Igbo person is 80 per cent of your investment in Igbo land so that it becomes the Japan of Nigeria.”

As a leader of the forum, Ijezie's 100 per cent investments are already in the South-east. “The Igbos have to develop Igbo land themselves. If you have been forgotten, you can't forget yourself.”

Mr Ijezie

Turning South-east into Tourism Destination On how the development of Igbo land will become a tourist attraction, Ijezie expounded that even right now it's already a tourist site.

“I'm a traditionalist. What I mean is that I organised Ozoebunu masquerade crusade in my kindred hall on January 1, 2016. This year, on January 1, I sponsored the same masquerade crusade of 30 pairs. I did all those for tourism. Our children that are coming back home from Lagos for Christmas will see our culture amongst other things.”

In the words of the Akuluouno boss, “People like us will relocate physically by December,

What we are saying is that Igbos need a reverse movement. We want them to move back to the Southeast to redevelop it. The moving back we are talking about is not the physical movement. We are saying the investments of NdiIgboshould come down to Igbo land

because I can't be championing it from here.

It would be ironical. Then, everything will come into play; entertainment will be it. Igbo’s now entertain every December/January and during new yam festival in August/September.

It will become 365 days when we relocate.”

While chorusing the words of people who describe him as minister of enjoyment since he checked out of active service in 2014, he says the Igbos will relish every moment of enjoyment. Akuluouno ~ Think Home Forum has a timeline for its set goals. Its ultimate quest is to transform South-east into a haven in the next five years. His words, “although our target to develop our land is five years from now, between 24 and 30 months, it will be achievable.”

Job Creation With the investments in the South-east, there will be employment and more jobs in the east for youths, men and women.

“Agriculture. Employment. Igbos will become motivated. We want to start with agriculture - agricultural revolution to produce food for the country. Everyone will begin to come to Igbo land to get food. We will also have a food chain. It will be great,” he predicts.

He listed some members of the forum.

They are: Engineer Chris Okoye; Professor Anthony Ejiofor is the Chairman of World Igbo Congress (WIC); Prof. Chinedu Nebo, former Vice Chancellor of University of Nigeria, as well as former Minister of Power; Prof.

Barth Nnaji, former Minister of Power, now managing his power station (Geometrics Power

Station) in Aba, Abia State.

Others are: the immediate past president of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Jacobs; the immediate past Deputy Managing Director of Diamond Bank plc, Mrs. Carol Anyanwu is also a foundation member. There are so many of them.

While Ijezie is the Chairman, his deputy is Barrister Obiora Nzewi, a High Chief from Awka Etiti , Anambra State; Dr. Jude Akubuilo is a barrister and resides in the United States; Chairman of the investment committee is, Mazi Chiana K. Kanu, based in South Africa; Prof. Friday Ndubuisi is the Vice Chancellor Christopher University in Mowe.

Other trustees are Dr. Nnamdi Okeke, Chairman of Healthcare /Healthcare Insurance, based in United States; Madukwe Obinnaya, in charge of Implementation Advisory Committee, based in United Kingdom; Mazi Onyewuchi Okpolo, Ethics and Value Orientation Committee, based in United States.

For Ijezie, Akuluouno will afford them the opportunity to educate and enlighten the Igbos that they can have their businesses and get quoted on the stock exchange market and there are tremendous advantages in it.

They have more plans. “The benefits are immense. We will reorient the minds of our people.” Hence, the launching of Akuluouno ~ Think Home Forum is billed for December 30 in Owerri, Imo State.

With the passion of the founder alongside the weight its members have thrown behind the forum, Akuluouno launch promises to be a carnival while hoping that the COVID-19 pandemic would have been history.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͷ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

#THISISNIGERIA ken adejumoh

BANNING FSARS, AN OPERATION PROBLEM WHILE THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM LINGERS!

I

n a democratic government, masses’ agitations are usually orchestrated through peaceful protest to get the attention of the government. This used to be a physical exercise with volunteers on a march to a notable government facility where they would be heard and seen. But the advent of the new media and with the new world order, the protest has taken a fresh dimension over the years on social media platforms with dedicated hashtags. Some of these social protests have yielded result while others have fallen on fallow grounds.

Just recently one of the all-time social protests with the high and low on the thread eventually got recognition from the concerned authority.

It is no news that the very popular #EndSARS, #SayNoToPoliceBritality, #EndPoliceBrutality among others gained widespread traction on social platforms. Alas, the announcement by the Inspector General of Police, M. A. Adamu on the ban of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and other Tactical Squads of the Force including the Special Tactical Squad (STS), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), AntiCultism Squad operating at the Federal, Zonal and Command levels is a welcome development.

While this remains commendable, it is only a solution to and operation problem while the bulk of the problem on the Nigeria Police Force remains fundamental. However, the ban became necessary as they drifted swiftly from their core job description, which is to confront violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping and other related crimes. They metamorphosed into carrying out illicit acts in an unprofessional manner that they became like the ‘licensed criminals’ responsible to no authority. Oppression and molestation of Nigerians became an order at will.

The fundamental problem of the Nigerian Police outweighs mere ban of the FSARS operations and their illicit activities. Many a time have I wondered if they go through proper tutelage at the Police College and orientation camps.

I have been whisked away in my car in 2017 for stopping at a known bus stop on Ikorodu road when I stopped to detect a screeching noise on the wheel. Before I knew it, hefty looking men reeking of alcohol and hemp surrounded me. They drove me through Anthony, Oshodi at gunpoint asking for N50,000 for no offence.

In tears, I begged and finally landed at Ilupeju by-pass when I was escorted to withdraw N20,000 from the nearby ATM. This lasted for hours, I did not mention to anyone because I was irritated and never wanted to remember the occurrence.

Talking about the fundamental, as a child I was told that it is an offence for the uniform and shoes of a Police officer to look tattered.

I grew up with the knowledge that they are cultured to be neat and disciplined. Now as an adult, all that is become cliche and gone into extinction as we see the opposite of the men poorly dressed and looking unkempt. A peep at the barrack at Alaka in Surulere, Ije Barrack at Obalende and the famous Police College in Ikeja, I nod my head in pity as a function of a failed state. Let me not delve into their welfare packages for space would not allow me.

The poor state of living and welfare is making them disgruntled and ready to exploit anyone at the slightest opportunity.

How about incessant movements in mufti and unbranded vehicles bridling around recklessly with guns to harass innocent civilians. Reports of crime are taken with levity and they show up only after the party. Reporting a criminal case is easily twisted over the reporter in situations where the criminal lobbies his way out. This has happened many times to people. These are fundamental issues.

Another aspect that has watered down the police force is how they are being manipulated easily by the rich/politicians and others in the business circle. When people in busy want to jump payment of duty on goods, the police come to the rescue on illegal assignment posing at the front of the truck or van paving access through points of duty payment. How about the times’ men of the Nigeria police bully road users in heavy traffic with unauthorized sirens just to get the big man out of the traffic? They have brutalized the innocent citizens on their right of

way while the demi-god seats in a tinted SUV and watch as they terrorize the people. These are fundamental issues that need drastic actions.

While these and more fundamental problems beg for a deep strategic review by the leaders, the recent pronouncement of the IGP should be duly implemented by the X-Squad and the Monitoring Unit as ordered. They should as a matter of necessity make it a point of duty to become the Police of the Force checkmating unprofessional conducts across boards.

There is no better time to restore dignity

and integrity back to the force. Every act of unprofessionalism, abuse of human rights and others by some men of the force should be meted with the highest disciplinary actions/sanctions.

With the popular ugly actions of the men of the force, no millennial would ever dream of pitching a career in the force. The time to erase the wrong is now.

- Kenneth Adejumoh Is the Head of Corporate Communications at Nosak Group in Lagos. Tweet @kenadejumoh

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THURSDAY OCTOBER 8, 2020 •T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY Ëž Íś, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

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

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͹;͡˚ͯ ̊ ̊

Quick Takes Youverify Gets ISO CertiďŹ cations

Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă?Ě‹ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ&#x;ĂšËœ Ă™Ă&#x;Ă Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?ĂŁËœ Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ͱ;͎ͯ͜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ͱ;͎͎ͯ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂŒĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ě™ ̚˛ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă?ÙÖÖÙåĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ù×ÚÖĂ?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă“ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂŒĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŁË› Ă’Ă? Ͱ;͎͎ͯ Ă“Ă? Ă‹ Ă‘Ă–Ă™ĂŒĂ‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă‘Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂœĂŽ ÞÒËÞ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă‹ Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă?Ù×ÚÖÓĂ?Ă? åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ăž ĂšĂœĂ‹Ă?ÞÓĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂœĂ?Ă’Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ™Ă–Ă?Ë› Ă“Ă—Ă“Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ–ĂŁËœ ÞÒĂ? Ͱ;͎ͯ͜ Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂœĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă?ĂŁĂ?ĂžĂ?Ă—Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ™Ă–Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ó×ÚÖĂ?Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă—Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? ÞÙ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂžĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă˜Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ě™

Ěš Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? åÓÞÒ ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ ĂšĂœĂ“Ă Ă‹Ă?ĂŁ ĂšĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă?ÓÚÖĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă™Ă&#x;ĂŽ Ă?Ù×ÚĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă˜Ă Ă“ĂœĂ™Ă˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ë› ĂšĂ?Ă‹Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ëœ Ă™Ă&#x;Ă Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?ĂŁËœ ĂŒĂ?Ă˜Ă‘Ă‹ ĂŽĂ?Ă‘ĂŒĂ‹Ă—Ă“Ëœ Ă?Ă˘ĂšĂ–Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă“ĂœĂ—Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă&#x;Ă Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?ĂŁËŞĂ? Ă?Ù××ÓÞ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă›Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁËœ ÎËÞË Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ÞÙ×Ă?ĂœĂ?ËŞ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă‹Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁË› Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ Ă’Ă“Ă—Ëœ ˍÞÒĂ? Ͱ;͎ͯ͜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ͱ;͎͎ͯ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă‹ Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ě‹Ă™Ă?Ă? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽË› Ă’Ă?ĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă‹ Ă?Ù××ÓÞ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜Ă‘Ă™Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă“Ă—ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë› ËŤ Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă‘Ă–Ă‹ĂŽ ĂĄĂ? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ÑÙÞÞĂ?Ă˜ ÞÙ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă?ÞËÑĂ?Ë› Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă“Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁËœ ĂĄĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă—Ă—Ă“ĂžĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ĂœĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ Ă?ĂŁĂ?ĂžĂ?Ă— ÞÒËÞ Ă“Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Ă‹ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă—ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ ĂœĂ?Ă Ă“Ă?ĂĄËœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? ÞÙ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ? ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ?Ă?ĂžĚ‹Ă“Ă˜Ě‹ĂžĂ™ĂĄĂ˜ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă? ÞÙ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ÞÙ×Ă?ĂœĂ?˛ˏ Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă’Ă?ĂŽ ÞåÙ ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ëœ Ă™Ă&#x;Ă Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?ĂŁ Ă’Ă?Ă–ĂšĂ? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă&#x;ÞÙ×ËÞĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÎÓÑÓÞËÖÓĂ?Ă? ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă? ĂŽĂ“Ă–Ă“Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ–Ă“Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă Ă“Ă‹ Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂŒ Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë› Ù×Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ? Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă‹ĂŽĂŽĂœĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“ĂžĂŁËœ ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ Ă‹ĂŽĂŽĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă–ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ“Ăž Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ë›

Western Digital Unveils New Solutions

COURTESY VISIT

Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano (left) and Aviation Minister, Senator Hadi Sirika, during the visit of Obiano to the minister in Abuja...recently

‘Tech Innovation Will Spur Digital Transformation’ Emma Okonji The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Abdullahi Kashifu Inuwa has challenged technology innovators to do the unexpected in the midst of challenges in order to achieve Nigeria’s dream of digital transformation.

He said the new normal occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the call for action.

Inuwa gave the challenge, while representing the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, at the 2020 virtual edition of the Nigeria Innovation Summit (NIS), organised recently

by InnovationHub Africa.

TELECOM “Today, it is obvious we are in a critical time. We are confronted with a crisis like no other, a triple crisis that you and I have not seen in living memory. It is the worst health and economic situation of our generation. It is also a learning crisis because of two reasons.

Firstly, by the end of March this year, over 180 countries closed schools, forcing over 1.5 billion students to stay home. Secondly, we are forced to unlearn and relearn how we live and work to navigate our way out of the pandemic,� Inuwa said.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar

Garba Danbatta, who presented a paper at the innovation summit, said the tech forum was another avenue for NCC to intimate the general public and tech ecosystem about the Commission’s plans for rebooting the economy following disruptions occasioned by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Danbatta who was represented at the summit by the Director of Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, said: “I consider the theme of the 2020 Nigeria Innovation Week: “Innovating in Critical Times�, very relevant in view of the numerous challenges that the pandemic has thrown at national governments, the ICT community and the health sector in particular.

“The COVID-19 global pandemic ripped through world economies like a wild bush fire, incapacitating local businesses, upsetting the workforce and rendering governments numb in the face of the outbreak. It is a well-known fact that nations that plan to succeed must have well-articulated policies in place to ensure the safety and security of its citizens, however, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the frailties of even the most advanced nations. “At the Nigerian Communications Commission, we are driven by the vision to build a telecommunications market defined by universal access to affordable and equitable Continued on page 22

NBC, APCON Collaborate to Resolve N8bn Media Industry Debt Raheem Akingbolu The Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the two government agencies regulating advertising practice and the broadcast media have agreed to collaborate in ensuring the resolution of the age-long industry debt, adherence to advertising code among other critical industry issues.

This was part of the agreement reached during the courtesy visit of APCON management to the leadership of NBC, recently.

Following the recent visit by the APCON Registrar/Chief Executive, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo to the Acting Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Prof. Armstrong

MEDIA Idachaba to seek collaboration and promote policies that will improve the advertising industry and strengthen inter-sectoral relationship, the APCON boss hinted on the plan by APCON to develop a new business framework and Standard Operating Procedure for the advertising industry.

He stated that the business framework would be comprehensive and would address critical industry concerns which include industry debt, payment policy, inter and intra sectoral relationships among other issues.

The APCON Registrar stated that NBC was expected to make substantial input and adequately participate in the formulation of

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the industry.

While the SOP will require stakeholders’ participation, the APCON Registrar sought the mutual collaboration of NBC as a government regulatory agency to support and ensure compliance. He also solicited the support of NBC in ensuring that all broadcast media organisations comply and enforce the advertising code.

The APCON Registrar noted that the visit was in line with the directive of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, requesting that all agencies regulating the advertising and media industry should collaborate and seek solution to the age-long media debt.

Idachaba, expressed delight at the call for collaboration by APCON. He reaffirmed the commitment of NBC to partner with APCON in every area of interest that will improve the long-standing relationship and the respective mandate of the two government agencies.

He assured the APCON Registrar on the support and participation of NBC in the formulation and implementation of the SOP. He further sought the support of the APCON Registrar on Zero Debt Tolerance policy of the broadcast media and the revised broadcast code.

The two regulatory agencies agreed to sign a MOU and work together to promote a healthier Continued on page 22

Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜ ÓÑÓÞËÖ Ă™ĂœĂš Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÞåÙ Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă?Ă•Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ăœ Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?ĂŽ Ùà Ă?Ăœ ĂšĂœĂ?Ă Ă“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă?Ă• Ă˘ĂžĂœĂ?Ă—Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă?Ă• Ă˘ĂžĂœĂ?Ă—Ă? ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă? ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ? ĂšĂ&#x;ĂœĂšĂ™Ă?Ă?Ě‹ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă“Ă–Ăž ÞÙ Ă•Ă?Ă?Ăš Ă&#x;Ăš åÓÞÒ ÞÙÎËã˪Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ě‹Ă›Ă&#x;ËÖÓÞã Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ăž ĂŽĂ?Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ë› ĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ĂšĂ’Ă™ĂžĂ™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹ĂšĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹ĂšĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ’Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă?ËÚÞĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă•Ă?Ă?Ăš Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă?ËŞĂ? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ăž ×Ù×Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁ ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă?ÙÖĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ÞÒËÞ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ— Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ×Ùà Ă? Ă‹Ăž Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ™Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?ĂŽĂ?Ë› ÓÞÒ Ă?ËÚËĂ?ÓÞÓĂ?Ă? Ă&#x;Ăš ÞÙ Í° Ëœ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ Ă? ĂŽĂœĂ“Ă Ă?Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă—Ă‹Ă¤Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ăœ Ă?ËÚÞĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă—Ă™Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ“ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ͳ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Íś Ă?ÙÙÞËÑĂ? åÓÞÒ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă?Ă• Ă˘ĂžĂœĂ?Ă—Ă? ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă‹ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă–Ă&#x;Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă— Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă? Ă—Ă‹ĂŽĂ? ÞÙ Ă?ÞËã Ă?ÙÙÖ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ăœ ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă‹ Ă’Ă?Ă‹Ă ĂŁ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ă–Ă™Ă‹ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ ĂŽĂ&#x;Ě‹ ĂœĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă?Ă“Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă˜ ÞÙ åÓÞÒĂ?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ“Ă‘Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ë› Ă’Ă? ĂŽĂœĂ“Ă Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă’Ă?Ă–Ăš Ă•Ă?Ă?Ăš Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă? åÓÞÒ ÚËĂ?Ă?ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂŽ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂžĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă&#x;ĂšĂ‘ĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ? ÞÙ Í°ÍłÍ´Ě‹ĂŒĂ“Ăž Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂŽĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂŁĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ÍŻË› Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă?Ă• Ă˘ĂžĂœĂ?Ă—Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă— Ă—Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?ĂœËœ ĂŁĂ–Ă?Ăœ ĂžĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽËœ Ă?Ă˘ĂšĂ–Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜ Ă?Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ëœ ĂšĂ?ÙÚÖĂ? Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÚÙåĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă&#x;Ă– Ă?ÙÖĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ÞÒËÞ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ• Ă‹Ă? Ă›Ă&#x;Ă“Ă?Ă•Ă–ĂŁ Ă‹Ă? ÚÙĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă–ĂŁĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă?Ă• Ă? ÞÙ Ă•Ă?Ă?Ăš Ă&#x;Ăš åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă?ĂœĂ?ËÞÓà ÓÞÓĂ?Ă?Ë› Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ĂŁĂ–Ă?ĂœËœ ËŤ Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?ĂžËœ Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?ĂŽ Ă“Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă—ĂŁ Ă‘ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă?ĂžĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă‘ĂžĂ’Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ

Ă•Ă˜Ă™ĂĄ åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă?Ă• Ă˘ĂžĂœĂ?Ă—Ă? Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‘Ă?Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă”Ă™ĂŒ ĂŽĂ™Ă˜Ă? åÓÞÒ Ă‘ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ËÚËĂ?Ă“ĂžĂŁËœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă˜Ă?Ă Ă?Ăœ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ÞÙ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂœĂŁ Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ĂœĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă—Ă?Ă—Ă™ĂœĂŁ ĂĄĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă Ă?Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă”Ă™ĂŒ ÞËÕĂ?Ă? Ă—Ă?˛ˏ Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ åÓÞÒ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă–Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă—Ă“Ă˜ĂŽËœ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă?Ă• ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă? ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă“Ă–Ăž ÞÙ ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă‹ĂŒĂ–ĂŁ Ă’Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ–Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? ĚŽ ĂĄĂ’Ă?ÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ăž ÒÙ×Ă?Ëœ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă™Ăœ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă™Ă˜ Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ë›

Ogunsanya Wins Award

Ă’Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă? âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ÞÓà Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ă™Ă? Ă“ĂœĂžĂ?Ă– Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ëœ ĂœË› Ă?Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă˜ Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁĂ‹Ëœ Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă˜Ă‹Ă—Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ËŠ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹ Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹ĂœËŞ ĂŒĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă– ĂŒĂ™Ă‹ĂœĂŽ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ă¤Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ëœ Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă¤Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ? Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽË› Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁĂ‹Ëœ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽ ĂŽĂ&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ Ă Ă“ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂŁ Ă’Ă?Ă–ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ËÞÞĂ?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă–Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă?Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžËœ Ă?ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă?ĂœĂœĂ‹ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ëœ ĂœĂ˜Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă“ Ă™ĂœĂ™Ă—Ă‹Ëž Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă™ĂœËœ Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă‹Ă˜Ă• Ă™Ă? ĂĄĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹Ëœ Ă™Ă’Ă˜ ĂĄĂ‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă™Ă—ĂŒĂĄĂ‹Ëž Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă™ĂšĂ“Ă‹Ëœ Ă’Ă—Ă?ĂŽ Ă’Ă“ĂŽĂ? Ă‹Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă‘ ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ ĂŽĂ“Ă‘Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ă¤Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ëœ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ăœ Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă‘Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă– ĂĄĂ’Ă™Ă?Ă? Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ù×Ă? ĂŽĂœĂ“Ă Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă‘ĂœĂ™ĂĄĂžĂ’ Ă“Ă˜ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹Ăœ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ—Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ Ó×ÚËĂ?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ Ă™Ă? ĂŽĂ™Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒËÞ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹Ăœ Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœË› Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁĂ‹ Ă?Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ‘Ă?ĂŽ ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă‹ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă?Ě‹Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăš ĂšĂ™Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ě‹ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă˜Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëž Ă‹ Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă™Ă˜Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă? Ă Ă™ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂœĂžĂ–Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă˜Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?Ëž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă– ĂŒĂ™Ă‹ĂœĂŽËŞĂ? Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ĂœĂ?Ă Ă“Ă?ĂĄ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă Ă™ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂŒĂ—Ă“Ă?Ě‹ Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă? Ă Ă™ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă“ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?ÓâÞã̋Ă?Ă“Ă Ă? ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ‹Ă‘Ă? ĂšĂ™Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă“ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ͹ͳ ĂšĂ?Ăœ Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ë› Ù××Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă‘Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁĂ‹ Ă?Ă˘ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹ĂšĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ÞÙ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă?ÙÖÖĂ?Ă‹Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă? Ă’Ă? ĂŽĂ?ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽ ÞÙ Ă“ĂœĂžĂ?Ă– Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ÞÙ×Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă? ĂĄĂ?Ă–Ă– Ă‹Ă? ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ÞËÕĂ?ÒÙÖÎĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă?Ă˜ĂžË›

“Africa has become a home to over a billion people. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector is essential for Africa’s development and adequate ICT service deployment and digital connectivity will play a crucial role in the continent achieving economic sustainability�

Head, Project Management, Ericsson West Africa,

Mr. Anthony Okenwa

T H I S D AY Ëž Íś, 2020

22

BUSINESSWORLD ‘TECH INNOVATION WILL SPUR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION’ service.�

Danbatta said the 8-Point Agenda of NCC, which he introduced, was meant to prepare the industry for the uncertainties and challenges that lay ahead, considering the disruptions caused by evolving technologies. “This is to ensure that the sector continues to play its veritable role as the enabler of the nation’s economic growth.

The Commission, in continuing with its long-standing tradition of being a proactive regulatory approach, introduced policies and initiatives aimed at promoting the provision of efficient, available, affordable and easily accessible communications services throughout Nigeria,�

Danbatta said.

According to Inuwa, the minister had directed NITDA to set a 10-man committee from the innovation ecosystem to achieve three objectives: Firstly, to identify innovative solutions to address the pandemic; secondly, to propose enabling policies and incentives to cushion the impact of the pandemic; thirdly to build massive digital skills to re-skill and prepare Nigerian citizens for the future work in post COVID-19.

NBC, APCON COLLABORATE TO RESOLVE N8BN MEDIA INDUSTRY DEBT business environment for all stakeholders.

The advertising industry has over the years enmeshed in controversy over N8 billion debt owed by advertisers and media buying agencies, which stakeholders blame on weak regulatory environment.

Advertising agencies believed the huge media debt profile of client companies have been creating some operational challenges, especially those in the out–of–home advertising, electronic and the print media.

Two months ago, operators in Nigeria’s outdoor advertising industry who are burdened by the challenging economic environment worsened by the effect of COVID-19, had passionately appealed to the government for debt cancellation incurred on vacant bill boards as palliative extended to other industries within this period.

Group Business Editor

NEWS

NCC Counts Gains of MTN Listing on Capital Market Stories by Emma Okonji The regulatory action taken by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to facilitate the listing of MTN Nigeria on the country’s stock exchange market has continued to bring economic gains to Nigeria and Nigerians in terms of boosting market capitalisation and yielding dividends to shareholders, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Commission, Prof.

Umar Garba Danbatta, has said.

Market analysts report that MTN investors have raked in approximately N1 trillion in price appreciation and dividend since April 2020.

Danbatta in a statement, signed by the Director of Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, said the listing of MTN was as a result of NCC’s effective regulatory action taken during the mobile network operator’s fine settlement agreement in 2016, which compelled the telco to, among other things, list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

According to the statement, the listing was one of the outcomes of the NCC’s stringent regulatory posture, which served as tonic for other telcos such as Airtel to follow the same direction.

As the country’s independent

telecoms regulatory authority, the NCC, working with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), facilitated the landmark listing of the country’s largest telecommunications operator on the bourse. “This is in line with its mandate to promote investment, create a level-playing field for all licensees, ensure compliance to existing telecoms laws and

facilitate delivery of top-notch quality of service to consumers,�

Danbatta said.

According to him, through this proactive regulation and timely intervention by the NCC, which lead to the listing of MTN on the NSE, a new vista of opportunity has been created in the history of telecommunications industry in Nigeria.

“That important regulatory action enabled Nigerians, consistent with the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, to partly, own, manage and control MTN. This bold and courageous regulatory action is now transforming lives and boosting the economy,� the NCC boss stated.

Danbatta also stated that the listing helped to translate into

action, an important objective of the commission, which is to promote local investment and ownership in the telecom sector. “With MTN shares available in the capital market, it is expected that Nigerians will buy shares and by purchasing the shares of MTN, they will be financially empowered and be socially transformed, Danbatta said.

HANDING OVER CEREMONY

L–R: Commissioner of Culture & Tourism, Akwa Ibom State, Orman Esin; Chief of Sta, Akwa Ibom State Government, Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-eyen, and Chairman, Icon Hotel Group Africa, Fred Maina, during the oďŹƒcial handing over ceremony of Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort to the management of Icon Hotels and Resorts Nigeria, held in Uyo...recently

Firm to Empower 2500 Nigerian Graduates Nationwide In support of Nigeria’s 60th anniversary celebration, HiiT Plc, Nigeria’s information and communications technology (ICT) Training firm, has concluded arrangements to empower about 2,500 Nigerian graduates in the 36 states of the federation as well as the federal capital territory, Abuja.

Not less than 60 residents each from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT would be shortlisted for this exercise.

HiiT has therefore advised that interested persons to visit the

programme website to confirm qualification for the opportunity, adding that a Nigerian graduate, who is not older than 35 years, is qualified to apply. It will, however, be on first come, first served basis, as the company would not exceed the number of slots it has prepared to cater for under this offer, which entry closes in two weeks’ time.

This development, is part of the company’s resolve and activities to mark Nigeria’s 60th Independent anniversary as a

corporate citizen that believes in the future of the Nigerian youths. HiiT has excelled in IT Training/Education, Publishing, IT Consultancy and IT Solutions Development and Services in the country over the last 25 years.

The Chief Executive Officer of HiiT, Mr. Kayode Shobajo, said about 60 per cent discount would be offered under the exercise on 30 globally trending ICT courses via HiiT Online Training Portal, an instructor led training portal.

“To qualify for a discount voucher, all a graduate needs do is to visit the website or scan a QR code that is visibly displayed on the website. The discount voucher offer will close on October 10 and will be valid for a period of one year, October 1, 2021,� Shobajo said.

Some of the courses that will be on offer on the programme include Certificate in Digital Literacy, Digital Marketing, Certified Ethical Hacker, Graphic Design, Python Programming, Web Design, Java Programming,

Data Analysis, Microsoft Excel (Advanced) and CompTIA N+. Others include JavaScript Programming, Python for Data Science, Cloud Computing and PHP Programming, among others.

Shobajo highlighted the huge success that the company’s recent scholarship programme for Nigerian universities students recorded as its contribution to COVID-19 pandemic. About N20 million worth of scholarships were offered to students in Nigerian universities.

FG to Harness Technology in Health Sector As part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government has revealed plans to deploy information and communications technology (ICT) in the country’s health sector.

This is part of the plans to achieve transparency and accountability in health care delivery across the country.

The Director, Special Projects, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Ngozi Azodoh, who represented

the Minister of Health, Osagie Emmanuel Ehanire, revealed this while speaking at a recent session of MTN Nigeria’s Revv Programme masterclass.

The virtual session with the theme: ‘Bridging the healthcare divide through technology and partnerships, had in attendance, health sector experts including Chief Executive Officer, Hygeia HMO Limited, Obinnia Abajue; Chief Operations Officer and

Co-Founder, Afya Care, Kola Oni; Managing Director, Ingress Health Partners, Dr. Orode Doherty and Chief Executive Officer, Tremendoc Limited, Ugochukwu Chikezie. The session was moderated by the General Manager, Business Development, MTN Nigeria, Omotayo Ojulatayo.

According to Azodoh, the federal government had put structures in place to utilise ICT

as part of efforts to standardise the healthcare system. “The government is working hand in hand with state governments across the country to maintain transparency and accountability,� adding that “ICT and other forms of electronic platforms are currently being improved and expanded following the federal government’s COVID intervention,� Azodoh said.

She also explained that the

ministry was willing to support small businesses in the sector imploring the participating SMEs to seize the opportunities provided by The Revv Programme. “I want to ask everyone who is listening to write to the MTN Revv team and say this is one thing I want the Federal Ministry of Health to do to help my business then we can engage on how to proceed,�

Azodoh said.

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

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) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) Ă—Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă?Ă– ĂŽĂŽĂ?Ă’ (Energy) Reporters

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

IBM Restates Commitment to Mitigate Climate Change IBM, in its recent report has restated its commitment to capture and transform atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) in order to further mitigate climate change.

The report unveiled IBM’s annual ‘5 in 5’ predictions about five significant changes driven by innovation in science and technology that will take place in the next five years.

This year’s ‘5 in 5’ predictions focused on five core areas of research that the company will tackle to enable a more sustainable future, coinciding with the first ever virtual UN General Assembly.

According to the report, “from a global pandemic to global warming, 2020 has illuminated the essential role of science, to combat some of

the greatest challenges of our time. The need to rethink how the world creates, consumes and disposes of materials has never been clearer, from storing energy more efficiently, to removing CO2 from the atmosphere to growing food more sustainably. As part of the company’s renewed focus on the urgency of science, IBM is committed to dedicating its technology,

talent, and resources towards advancing research and the discovery of new materials.

It will do this by advancing technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum, high performance computing and hybrid cloud to turbocharge science and address the discovery process in a fundamentally new way, including these five core areas in the next five years.�

The report further said: “In the next five years, we will be able to capture CO2 from the air and transform it from the scourge of the environment into something useful. The goal is to make CO2 capture and reuse efficient enough to scale globally so we can significantly reduce the level of the harmful CO2 in the atmosphere and, ultimately, slow climate change.�

T H I S D AY ˾ OCTOBER 8, 2020

23

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Abu: Adequate Telecoms Towers Will Bridge Infrastructure Gap The Chief Executive Officer of Pan African Towers Limited, an indigenous infrastructure company, Mr. Wole Abu, speaks about the need for government to support additional deployment of telecoms masts and towers, to bridge Nigeria’s infrastructure gap and enhance access to telecoms services in underserved communities. Emma Okonji presents the excerpts:

W

into more efficient work streams. People who are focused on infrastructure are there; we have the ones who are focusing on customer service qualities, and many other divisions that are also there. So, that is how it should be. Infrastructure sharing is a welcome development and we hope to see more in that area.

hat’s your general assessment of the infrastructure segment of the African telecoms market, where you currently operate?

The infrastructure segment of the African telecoms market has actually seen a lot of growth since the entrance of major players at the global level into Africa around 2012. From then, infrastructure and tower deals have grown year on year. Also, it is beginning to see cloud and fibre deployment at an increasing rate in Africa. So, infrastructure for telecommunication is growing and this is being driven by demand.

In terms of adequacy, off course, there is still a demand-supply gap. Infrastructure is still not adequate. We still have a huge gap in that space. In Nigeria, filling the gap will demand an estimated investment worth $136 billion, according to the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) .

Over the years, and even before the coming of Pan-African Towers, deploying infrastructure has been faced with some bottlenecks. What are those challenges you have identified since you commenced operation?

Truly, many challenges are bedeviling the sector.

There are social challenges like theft, vandalism, community issues and so on. And also, there are the business environment issues like multiple taxation, unfavourable or harsh government policies, forex scarcity and lack of long-term capital for investment in infrastructure in local currency. All these are the issues. Then of course, you also look at failure in power supply. Availability of power is important since all telecoms infrastructure, which are distributed across the country, rely on energy.

So, we have to make additional investments in providing energy for our customers. This actually drives up the cost and it makes us susceptible to all the shocks in the energy market and that, sometimes, makes our business difficult. If you look at it, the environment of doing business, capital inadequacy, and poor power infrastructure, those are the things that are really affecting the growth of our sector.

Focusing on the power challenge as you have just mentioned, how much of the cost of operation do you expend on providing power to run telecoms infrastructure?

Let me say that power is both a challenge and an opportunity. It is a challenge in the sense that we are currently relying on a grid that is epileptic and non-available in certain areas; and on diesel generators which make us susceptible to volatility of diesel supply and off course, all the issues around constant maintenance of generators, noise pollution, environmental pollution and everything that is associated with running the generator for 24 hours. It is a challenge. In terms of capital expenditure (CAPEX), we are talking about putting in probably 50 per cent of your CAPEX into power equipment, which you would otherwise have saved. On the other hand, even in operating expenditure (OPEX), you will also see that you are spending a lot of money, say another 50 per cent on your OPEX. The cost is a significant part of our operations, both CAPEX and OPEX, which is the challenging part.

However, the opportunity is that with the rise in and reliability on renewable energy, you can provide that power service at a lower rate than using diesel generators. The opportunity there is to save cost.

In the face of the current accelerated migration of businesses to the online space, experts have observed that there will be increasing pressure on available telecoms infrastructure. What can be done to avoid service breakdown in this situation?

The mobile network operators (MNOs), who are the people that deliver the last-mile service to customers, are experts and they always know how to handle the situation. Remember, we just serve them and they are the ones that serve the customers. The MNOs are global experts and

Abu

they know how to plan demand and uptime very easily. They have tools for all that. So, the uptake in data traffic, for example, is not unanticipated. You know that people are going to use more data. It has been rising for a long time. What has just happened is a shift in usage. For instance, people working more from home means that residential areas during the day will see more data traffic than they would have normally seen. Those people ideally would have been in the office. So that capacity is there, it is just that it is in a different place. An example is that if you shut down the markets in some areas, what you are going to see is that because the businesses are not working there, the traffic will reduce there. But the people are still doing something and they are working from home. The tendency is that you now see the traffic go up in areas where people live. But it is still the same Internet and everything will still aggregate. For the MNOs, they have a way of shifting capacity.

The challenge now lies on us that provides the infrastructure.

Infrastructure cannot be shifted over the internet. Infrastructure is hard and you must dig up something. If it is fibre, you must put the physical duct, put the cable inside and terminate it somewhere. It is not something you can do overnight. It is not software-driven. If you are going to build a tower, the process is the same thing. You have to secure a location, construct the mast and get the work done.

So for me as an infrastructure provider, the solution is to deal with what is slowing us down to deploy infrastructure more speedily. It boils down to key government policy implementation like government’s permit to a right of Way (RoW), attitude of landlord, and attitude of estate agents.

Another challenge to quick deployment of telecoms infrastructure, is the government angle. We can work quickly and fast but you have government offices that do not work at the same pace.

How is the non-approval of RoW permit by some state governments, affecting the growth of the sector?

The issue of RoW permit has been an issue to deal with, but early this year, the federal government reminded state governors of the agreement they earlier had to reduce RoW charges to a flat rate of N145/per linear metre, and this has been a very welcome development. I think six states or so have aligned with the charges recommended by the federal government. At least, prima facie, addressing the RoW charges brings down the cost. But as I told you, there is a plan. If you are going to run fibre from the landing point in Lagos to Abuja, you will

probably pass through eight to ten states. Along that road, maybe it is just only one state that has reduced RoW charges to the N145 per linear metre stipulated by the federal government. But you cannot fly to avoid other states that have not aligned with the price. You still have to deal with other people that have not done it. That is one thing about the fibre infrastructure. Fibre is a point to point connection. If I am running from Lagos through Ogun State, through Oyo State, to Osun and to Ekiti; even if Ekiti has done the needful, what about these other ones?

If I am running, let say, a 300 kilometre fibre, it is over the 50 kilometres inside Ekiti that I will enjoy reduced charges; the remaining 250 kilometres will still be at high rates. In this kind of arrangement, Ekiti State may still not reap that reward internally. That is why all the state governors have to align with the agreed charges.

That is the challenge.

However, there are other hidden charges; the RoW is just one charge. If you really look at what goes into it, there are many other hidden charges that are not spoken about. It came up at the last meeting and we need to consider that. When you say the charges is N145, then it should be N145, without any hidden charges.

The NCC introduced infrastructure sharing as a policy to help in broadening deployment of telecoms infrastructure. What opportunity has this created for operators such as the Pan African Towers?

Infrastructure sharing is a global trend and the NCC has done very well by bringing it to the country so that people can be served better.

First, it is good for the environment and it is also good for the business because with it, one tower can now serve various operators. You do not need four or five towers again. To build about four towers in Nigeria is money but with the policy, the amount of forex we use to get tower equipment would be diligently utilised.

What the policy also means is that most of the services have significantly improved because of the efficiency around infrastructure sharing. It has also created an industry for some operators, which is widening the telecoms value chain. So, instead of just having the MNOs, we now have the tower companies (Towercos) and also the infrastructure companies (Infracos). And if you look at the collective investment that each of them has done in these areas, it is very significant. This will also make our telecoms industry more resilient from shocks, unlike if you have concentrated all the investments, resources and risks in one leg, the way it used to be when the MNOs were the telcos, the infracos and they have to do everything. Now, it has been broken down

The 5G network is not yet available in Nigeria but obviously, efforts are being made towards its deployment in the country. What new demands does this put on you as an infrastructure company?

Like every other technology, 5G is going to come. It has already been deployed in some part of the world and even in some African countries.

If you look at it, Nigeria is the largest market in Africa, and definitely, 5G is going to take off here. If it can work in South Africa, it can work here. What we need to start looking at is that 5G is not just a technology, 5G is a complete disruptive technology because the reason why you are having 5G is because of Internet of Things (IoT); it is being driven by the shared amount of devices that are internet enabled that are coming into the market. You have street lights that are Intelligent and smart. You do not just have passive street cameras that are just there anymore, they are connected to the internet. Also, you have autonomous vehicle that is coming.

The mobile industry is changing. 5G is actually all about smart cities. I know that Lagos state even has a smart city plan, what this means is that you will have to restructure your entire community and regulatory systems for 5G to take its root. It is not just for us building stuff using the current model. We are going to look at the entire ecosystem. During the initial stage of Coronavirus pandemic, out of fear and mischief, certain people started spreading rumours that the virus was being caused by communications equipment. This is not the first time they have said it. In the past, they have linked communications to cancer. There are people who believe that anything technology is to be suspected. Although, there are legitimate concerns about a disruptive technology but the truth is that artificial intelligence did not just start today. Machine learning has started about 40 years ago; it is just getting better. You now have robots that can do different tasks. As a country, we must compete with people who are using technology to fight our industry because that is our job and we are supposed to make it available. So, 5G must be done. For me, it is a golden opportunity for Nigeria. In fact, I am an apostle of 5G because I believe that technology, especially this technology that have evolved in the past 10 years – blockchain, fibre, security, artificial intelligence, cloud and co – they are all sitting on top of this 5G. Things are being able to talk to each other. We have seen Towercos in China, laying their fibres and towers along expressways in anticipation of autonomous vehicles, driverless cars. You can now imagine Nigeria, if we really want to have a smart city and you have Ikorodu road with all these vehicles that are usually on the road. It will be a serious work for use and we have to really think ahead.

So, it is not me or the infrastructure company alone that will do it, it is a collaborative effort.

Where the government should come in is that they should not see 5G as another opportunity for them to rake in money. 5G is much more than that.

Pan African Towers entered the Nigerian market in 2018, how has the journey been?

Well, the journey has been challenging and rewarding at the same time. We have tried to prove that Nigerian companies can also compete in the space and we have been able to win the confidence of the market. We have been able to put together a team that can deliver world class services in this area. The journey has really been interesting for us, we just celebrated two years of business operations in Africa and we have been able to make some strides in the industry Continued on page 24

24

T H I S D AY Ëž Íś, 2020

Assessing Nigeria’s Data Protection Regulation Emma Okonji writes on efforts by the National Information Technology Development Agency to implement the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation

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iding on the back of Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), established by his predecessor, the current Director General of NITDA, Mallam Abdullahi Inuwa has in one year in office created more than 2,700 jobs and grew the data security industry to surpass the N2.5 billion mark.

He has also not lost focus in implementing the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).

The NDPR was drawn from the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which is a law on data protection and privacy in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA). The EU’s GDPR also addresses the transfer of personal data outside the EU and EEA areas.

With the objectives to safeguard the rights of persons to data privacy; foster safe conduct of transactions involving the exchange of personal data; prevent manipulation of personal data and ensure that Nigerian businesses remain competitive in international trade, the agency ensured strict compliance of the implementation process.

Data protection NITDA introduced the NDPR rule and enforced its compliance from January 2019 as the new requirement on collection and processing of personal data and requires such activities to be in accordance with a lawful purpose consent by the data subject. Based on the enforcement, NITDA mandated data organisations to put compliance measures in place within the first year of the regulation.

The NDPR applies to all storage and processing of personal data conducted in respect of Nigerian citizens and residents and it covers transactions intended for the processing of personal data and to the actual processing of personal data and person(s) residing in Nigeria or residing outside Nigeria but of Nigeria nationality. Unlike the EU’s GDPR, NDPR is not enforced on persons and organisations outside Nigeria that collect, store, or process data of Nigerians.

The Managing Director, ESET Nigeria and Ghana, one of the licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisations, Mr. Olufemi Ake, who commended NITDA for its commitment to data protection enforcement and implementation, said: “Compliance with the regulation has impacted data protection governance, information systems and security configuration, as well as documented policies and processes.�

Speaking on the successes recorded with the implementation of data protection, Inuwa said: “NITDA under my watch, issued supplementary regulation in line with the National Digital Economy Policy to strengthen the NDPR, and enhance data security and safety for all Nigerians. “We have also inaugurated the Data Breach

product (GDP), and we are targeting at least five per cent quarterly increase on every achievement in the years ahead. “NITDA’s projection is to drive Nigeria towards a digital world. We are currently exploring the use and adoption of Blockchain Technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data exploration framework and strategy for adoption into the digital economy vision of President Muhammadu Buhari,� Inuwa said.

Inuwa

Investigation Team in collaboration with the office of the Inspector General of Police (IG). This has allowed us to track and report data infraction cases to Police. So far this year, we have resolved over 790 data regulation issues.�

He also said NITDA’s innovative way of implementing the data protection regulation under him, resulted in the creation of more than 2,700 jobs and data security industry worth more than N2.5 billion within a year.

Digital technology Commending Nigerian youths, especially technology start-ups in the financial technology sector, Inuwa said young technology start-ups have made Nigeria proud through the adoption and use of technologies in developing solutions that are driving the financial sector, telecommunications sector and other sectors of the Nigerian economy.

He said such commitment was already paving and assisting government in achieving the country’s digital transformation agenda, which was designed to make Nigerian cities smart and also centres for African technology hubs.

Inuwa said NITDA had always tracked and maintained a good relationship with young tech entrepreneurs. “So far we have supported 246 start-ups.

Similarly, 125 Information Technology (IT) hubs and ecosystems builders have received support through Nigeria ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Vision (NIIEV),� he said.

He said NITDA’s programmes over the past 12 months have resulted in the employment of about 30,000 youths, while raising hopes that NITDA will continue to liaise with all partners in creating opportunities for Nigerians, especially now that the pandemic has disrupted global economy.

According to him, the ICT sector accounted for 17.83 per cent of Nigeria’s gross domestic

NITDA’s interventions As a technology development agency, NITDA has initiated various information technology (IT) projects and has intervened in several developmental projects that are driving technology development in the country.

According to Inuwa, NITDA was able to set up 80 digital capacity training centres across all geopolitical zones within the last one year. “NITDA also set up three IT hubs, four innovation and incubation parks, six IT community centres and three IT capacity-building centres in higher institutions of learning as well as in unserved and underserved communities across the country,� the NITDA DG stated.

He further said that NITDA also held capacity building programmes for over 650 artisans across four geo-political zones, and 200 IT centre managers across the country to be in tune with the digital economy policy and strategy of the government.

He said NITDA also held periodic innovation contests such as Future-Hack, where participants receive funding and mentorship to develop marketable products and services. “Since assuming office as NITDA’s DG in the last one year, I have given prize money to many winners and hand-hold them to turn their ideas into products and services. We have conducted entrepreneurship training on ICT for 200 women, at different times, where they were provided with laptops pre-installed with the requisite e-resources as support for their start-ups. This has created more than 500 jobs,� NITDA’s DG said.

Regulation Allaying fears that regulation may stifle emerging technologies like cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Internet of Things (IoTs), the DG of NITDA said: “Our regulation is built around governmental regulation that is not designed to stifle technology growth and innovation, but rather to globally unlock opportunities and to achieve our mission of building a country of digital innovation and entrepreneurship that will be used to create economic prosperity. Our regulation is an enabler to help industry players to scale up their businesses.�

NITDA’s vision in post-pandemic Following the outbreak of COVID-19, which

devastated global economies, resulting in the closure of schools globally including Nigeria, the agency, in response to the effect of the pandemic, launched the NITDA Academy, designed to proffer solutions for post-COVID-19 era.

The aim of the initiative, according to Inuwa, was to ensure the massive training of Nigerian citizens who were prevented by the pandemic from their normal daily activities. “Our rescue effort in growing Nigerian digital economy post-pandemic is a strategic plan developed by our Tech4COVID-19 Committee to support about 100,000 ICT jobs and create an additional 30,000 jobs through the course of time, and the implementation is currently in progress,� he said.

NITDA, he added, had also set up a Virtual Startup Clinic, mostly for young people to meet with mentors, successful entrepreneurs, investors, industry specialists, business consultants and hub operators, to solve problems and challenges that they faced during the pandemic.

Tech in agriculture and education In the areas of agriculture and education, Inuwa said the agency was able to use technology to empower the agricultural and educational sectors of the Nigerian economy.

According to NITDA’s DG, government was able to put in place the National Adopted Village for Smart Agriculture (NAVSA) initiative, which has resulted in the empowerment of 145 farmers to utilise digital, smart and precision technology to improve farm yield.

The NAVSA initiative was designed by the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy to take small scale farmers to commercial level using a performance-based approach. The beneficiary farmers under NAVSA programme are expected to build sustainable and digital business models that should create not less than six million jobs in the next 10 years.

In the area of technology application in education, NITDA embarked on the Massive Online Open Courses (MOOC) initiative for Nigerian tertiary institutions, which is expected to address the challenges of education brought about by COVID-19, with the aim to prioritize e-learning in the country. “We have capacity building outreach programmes extended to private and public institutions for lecturers, librarians, researchers, students at our tertiary institutions, officers of the Nigeria Police Force, journalists, NYSC members, and undergraduate on SIWES. “So far we have delivered digital skills and literacy to over 25,000 Nigerians this year, despite the pandemic. We distributed over 2,000 laptops in driving this computer literacy initiative, and we have tracked 6,386 new jobs and roles created through our interventions,’’ Inuwa said.

Abu: Adequate Telecoms Towers Will Bridge Infrastructure Gap despite the challenges we face. There are also huge opportunities as we move and we have come this far because of our mission to provide broadband penetration and other telecom services across Africa especially to remote areas. There are people who do not have the network to make a phone call and so they do not have GSM phones.

They have no access to quality education, healthcare services, and other critical infrastructural services that foster their livelihoods. Imagine these people being completely cut off from the global world.

This is why we do what we do. We need to build more towers in these remote areas so these people can access life-enhancing services and get connected to the global community. Technology makes the world better and erecting towers in these areas, could be a life-changing moment for a whole community. So, the journey has been really interesting for us at Pan African Towers.

What informed your decision to go into telecoms masts and towers installation and not other categories of telecoms business?

Well, there are opportunities everywhere in the industry and its various segments. However, based on the vision of the founders, this is an area that needed the most attention and it is a good sustainable asset class. So, it is not something

that you do and go away. It requires long term planning and it has long term rewards. If you look at the environment of business, people who build infrastructure have long term vision. As I said earlier, in Africa and Nigeria, there is huge infrastructure gap and this makes this segment as an area that has not really been tapped and it is an underserved area. There are many areas where you still do not have telecoms service coverage today and there are areas where you have capacity deficit that someone has to build up. For us, it is a good business opportunity and it also resonates with us as citizens where we do not just do short end trading type of activities, which most people try and do because they do not have long term fate in the country. We are just like Dangote and other indigenous companies, once they put a factory down, you know they are not going anywhere. But when you see someone who is just importing containers, the moment they see there is a problem, they stop and ship their containers to the next city. But this is infrastructure and we are building it in every part of the country. So, we all have to join our hands and build the country together. We have both nationalistic and African business orientation.

It is a good business and our vision is to help fill that $136 billion telecommunication infrastructure

gap that already exists in Nigeria For indigenous companies like you, what do you think the government can do to further strengthen you in the face of competition with foreign counterparts?

Well, it is expected that foreign companies will have an advantage because if you look at the kind of company that come to Nigeria, they have access to long term funds. They have access to expertise. They probably are also coming in as a global partnership with companies they want to serve in Nigeria. So, when they buy a portfolio, Nigeria just happens to be one of the places they are coming to. That is welcomed frankly because most Nigerian companies do not have what it takes here to cease the whole opportunities in Nigeria. So, we would always need them. And if you look at our particular sector, the technology sector has no colour, it has no country; it just has to do with the resource.

Regardless, where the government should look at, first and foremost, is helping with the right policies for the Nigerian companies who want to do this to grow. For instance, we have got funds earmarked for certain sectors of the economy to cushion Coronavirus pandemic effects. Government should earmark for infrastructure companies as well.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is intervening in almost everywhere but in a key sector like this, they expect us to go and be looking for dollars.

One of the risks that have happened here is that long term funding at dollar rate is a problem but the CBN, I think based on what they have been doing recently, is trying to drive the interest rate down in local currency. Hopefully, a lot of local long term lending will start happening and that is a good thing. But the other issue is around cohesion around government agencies, so that the issue of taxation, stoppage of works, should be eliminated so that people can actually deploy this infrastructure quickly. That is for everybody though, not just for Nigerian companies. And there should be some incentives for people who are willing to deploy their time and capital into this area to grow. For example, government should increase resources for the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) to increase funding so that the rural connectivity target can be met. People in the rural areas also need access to the internet, and access to telephone. But what is earmarked for them is just too small.

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

T H I S D AY Ëž Íś, 2020

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Unbranded Vegetable Oil and Clamour for Healthy Living Despite warning from food standard controlled agencies and health experts, that consumers should be wary of unbranded cooking oil, its influx into various Nigerian markets continues.

Raheem Akingbolu writes on the ugly development, describing it as a danger to the economy and human health

F

rom Lagos to Onitsha, Kano to Port Harcourt, different types of unbranded vegetable oil litter the markets. Mostly in yellow, blue and white kegs, this brand of oil has neither manufacturers’ address nor any inscription on its formulation.

To nip the problem in the bud, regulatory agencies, especially the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has warned that consumers should avoid such product like a plague in their own interest because of its health hazard.

Perhaps because of the country’s harsh economic situation or ignorance, patronage of this poorly produced cooking oil has continued unabated, not minding its negative health implications.

Two months ago, NAFDAC wielded the big stick and closed two vegetable oil packaging retail outlets in Ilorin. The agency classified the outlet as unregistered, highlighting that they have sold more than 2.2 million litres of what it called unverified vegetable oil to the public.

The Kwara State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Roselyn Ajayi, said the closure was preceded by a tip-off that led to the discovery of the outlets which are located at Adabata and Stadium Road, Ilorin. “We were tipped off by some concerned citizens and we investigated and found out that the individuals were engaged in packaging and selling vegetable oil whose sources are unverifiable. “Investigation revealed that one of the marketers acquired more than 2.2 million litres of unverified vegetable oil and selling it to the public; those involved were caught packaging and placing labels of unregistered brands on the product,� she said Over the years, Nigeria has groaned under the yoke of fake and substandard products in terms of human and material losses. In the food, drink and drug categories, countless lives have been lost while adverse effects have led to financial loss. The national economy has also directly suffered in terms of lost revenues through taxes.

It is believed that Nigeria is ranked among the world’s highest market for fake and substandard

NAFDAC DG, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye

products and equipment as evidenced by the wanton display of all manner of poor quality goods and products littering the open markets, shops, supermarkets, chemist and other retail shops. Conservatively, about N15 billion is said to be annually lost to fake and substandard products in Nigeria.

Health hazards of unbranded products Overtime, experts have warned that the harm and risks from counterfeit goods, especially unbranded ones are profound. Through enlighten campaigns and words of mouth, regulators and professional bodies have consistently called the attention of consumers to the fact that fake goods are often bad quality and in most cases unsafe. For instance, unbranded cooking oil is believed not to have been subjected to the same health and safety procedures as legal items and so the damage can potentially be fatal.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF) and NAFDAC have announced that contaminated vegetable oil is the kind that has been diluted with other forms of oil, including animal fat, adding that once it gets congealed at room temperature, or packaged in unhealthy containers. The regulators have also labelled it unfit for consumption.

Winner Emerges in TYLgames’ Reward Scheme Stories by Raheem Akingbolu A Lagos-based entrepreneur, Emmanuel Umoga, has emerged the first N1 million grand prize winner at the inaugural draw and cheque presentation ceremony of the lottery platform, TYLgames in Lagos.

The TYLgames grand launch and cheque presentation that took place in Lagos recently, saw another 29 gamers being presented with their winning cheques ranging from N10, 000 to N500, 000.

TYLgames, a gaming (Lottery) platform is designed to positively touch gamers’ lives one game at a time. The focus is on gamers rather than on the gaming platform; placing in their hands the power to transform their lives with each game they play hence the acronym “TYL�.

TYL is an Instant Play, Instant Win, instant cash out game played on SMS, USSD, and Mobile Web platforms with the short code 33088. There are currently two games available to choose from, an instant numbers

game tagged “SHOKI� and “SHAFFLE� which is a daily raffle game.

According to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Humber Group, owners of TYLgames, Mr. Andrew Humber-Osofisan, “TYLgames is an innovative luxury product that is designed to positively touch gamers’ lives in real time. “You can change your life with N100�, Humber-Osofisan said. “Currently, there are two games available to choose from, SHOKI and SHAFFLE. SHOKI is an instant number game while SHAFFLE is a daily raffle game.

Every time you dial *33088#, you win a SHAFFLE ticket that qualifies you for a draw that will be done every night, making you stand to win up to N1 million.�

On transparency, he said, the regulatory authorities and Lagos State government are fully involved hence the platform desire to be credible and transparent The Managing Partner of Cognitio Communications,

Mr. Sam Osunsoko, referred to TYLgames as a vision of empowerment due to the fact that it came at a time when the economy has suffered at the hand of COVID 19 pandemic. “TYLgames gives you the opportunity to win different range of prizes that can help you cushion the effect of the current economic hardship� he said.

Former Special Adviser to the Lagos State Government on Revenue and Taxation, Mr. Bola Shodipo, who encouraged and mandated the managers of TYLgames to make sure the platform is fair to the gamers added: “TYLgames is an economic activity that can grow the GDP of Lagos State and by extension the federal government.�

The Deputy Director/ Coordinator National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Lagos Zonal Office, Mrs. Onuzulu Priscilla Nkiru, ascertained that TYLgames is approved and that Humber Group has been doing the right thing from day one.

With increase in the number of Africans having heart related diseases, the abnormal situation is being linked to consumption of unbranded and other contaminated cooking oil, with possibly high cholesterol.

In a recent statement, the Executive Director, NHF, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye, was quoted as stating that vegetable oil becomes contaminated by interference with any additive that ought not to be part of the vegetable oil or even content injurious to health that ought to have been removed in the course of oil extraction.

According to the expert, vegetable oil produced through unhygienic process may contain high cholesterol and work against the normal flow of the body, thereby blocking heart vessels and leading to sluggishness of blood movement.

In the same manner, NAFDAC has identified safe vegetable oil as one that is sourced from plant, cholesterol free and then produced, packaged and distributed in hygienic situation. The government agency went further in its ‘Fat and Oil Regulations 2018’, that vegetable oils shall be derived from the botanical source after which they are named and indicated under the regulations for individual oils�.

Though the channel of communication may be different, the message is the same. Concerned stakeholders, including manufacturers are of the opinion that unbranded vegetable cooking oil poses lots of health hazards to Nigerians and that its frequent consumption could cause Cancer and many other heart-related diseases.

Category & Brand Manager, PZ Wilmar, Toyin Popoola-dania said, “We are living in a time when now more than ever we are more conscious of our health, the Covid-19 Pandemic has clearly reiterated the need for healthy eating and importance of a strong immune system. “Therefore while we are taking all the necessary precautions to avoid contacting and spreading the virus, it is equally important that we pay close attention to what we consume. “According to NAFDAC, unbranded vegetable oil is unsuitable for consumption and could have negative health implications.

The agency says heart diseases are one of such problems due to high cholesterol content and other fattening agents that have been added

in them,� she said. “Study has shown us that many people are unaware of these dangers, while many simply consider these unbranded oil more affordable.

Also, Nigerians need to be more aware of the fact that quantity is not always quality as this is one of the major reasons majority patronise unbranded oil – more volume and cheaper; unfortunately this is not correct as they unknowingly spend more in the long-run,� she stated.

How to avoid substandard cooking oil As part of the measures consumers should deploy to avoid contaminated cooking oil, experts in the health sector, have recommended cooking oil that meet heart-friendly standards of Nigeria Heart Foundation, NHF; National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC; World Health Organisation, WHO and other regulatory bodies.

According to them, these institutions have standards for acceptable cooking oil because of the health implications of unbranded or adulterated ones. Besides, the health regulatory bodies have consistently dished out warnings to consumers on the danger of consuming low standard cooking oils as well as making effort to seize illegal products to rid the market of adulteration.

Consumers have also been advised to deal with reputable sellers or ones that have been recommended to them. It is also believed that if consumers trust their instincts, they might not fall prey to dubious manufacturers.

For instance, if an offer looks too good to be true, then it probably measures below standard.

It is believed that legitimate branded cooking oil are rarely discounted, more reason consumers should not rush and be fooled into believing they are getting a good deal when they are buying unbranded product.

When asked to comment on the recent development in the vegetable oil market, especially as it concerns the influx of unbranded vegetable into the market, the Director, Public Affairs at NAFDAC, Dr. Abubakar Jimoh simply said the agency is looking at the development and would get across to this reporter at a later date.

P&G Partners Women Affairs Ministry Procter & Gamble (P&G) has gone into a partnership with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development’s program to promote child health, improve child nutrition and increase immunisation rates in rural and peri-urban communities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Through the partnership, P&G donated over 250,000 Pampers diapers which would serve as incentives for mothers to bring their children to the health centers.

The initiative which was announced at the official handover to the Minister of Women Affairs in Abuja, recently, would extend its impact through partnerships with other stakeholders in the coming weeks.

P&G had launched the Pampers Rigakafi program to promote child health in Nigeria through immunization During the first phase

of this program, the company donated over two million diapers to federal government and state governments including the Integrated Medical Outreach Program (I-MOP) of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

Since the takeoff of this program, P&G has impacted over 100,000 infants and increased immunisation rates in the participating communities.

Speaking about the launch of the second phase of the program and the partnership with Ministry of Women Affairs, the P&G Senior Director for Africa, Global Government Relations & Public Policy, Dr. Mrs. Temitope Iluyemi said, “At P&G, we are a force for good and we are committed to improving the lives of people in the communities where we live and work. We have continued to deliver this promise for over 27 years in Nigeria.

“This is the first of our many partnerships in the second phase of the Pampers Rigakafi program.

We are honored to support the child health programs of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development with the donation of 250,000 Pampers diapers which will be used to promote infant health through increased immunization and antenatal and post-natal care within the rural and peri-urban communities of the Federal Capital Territory.�

In her remarks, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dame Pauline Tallen, said: “The obligations of child health and immunization cannot be overemphasised.

This is why we are grateful to P&G for supporting our drive to meet the health needs of the Nigerian child from inception to infant stage which requires immense attention to enhance their overall growth and wellbeing.�

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IMAGES

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͷ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

Photo Editor ÌÓÙÎßØ ÔËÖË Email ËÌÓÙÎßØ˛ËÔËÖË̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×

L-R: Vice Chairman, Ikoyi Club 1938, Mr Tafa Zibiri Aliu; Chairman, Mr. Abayomi Orenuga; the Secretary Mr. Abiodun Olaleru; and the former Chairman Rear Admiral Adetoye Sode at the 82nd Anniversary of Ikoyi Club 1938 held in Lagos,,,,, recently

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Mr Ahmed Dangiwa (left) presenting a souvenir to the Member representing Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency in Ebonyi State, Rep. Chinedu Ogah, during the latter’s visit to Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, in Abuja...recently

Winner of BB Naija Lockdown Edition, Olamilekan Agbelesebioba, aka LAYCON(left) being presented his appointment letter as Ogun State Youth Ambassador by Governor Abiodun (right) at the Governor’s office, Oke Mosan Abeokuta...recently

L-R: Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Lagos and West, Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd, Jerome Oyebanji; Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Lagos State, Dr Olusegun Ogboye; and Brand Training Adviser, Nigeria Red Cross Society, Lagos State, Segun Akande, during the donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the ministry by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Lagos…recently SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R: The outgoing High Commissioner of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to Nigeria, His Excellency, Mr. Md. Shameen Ahsan and Director-General of National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, during a farewell ceremony orgsnised for Mr. Md. Ahsan by Otunba Runsewe and NCAC management in Abuja...yesterday

Managing Director/CEO, Linkage Assurance Plc, Daniel Braie and Former Captain of Super Eagles of Nigeria, Ambassador. Kanu Nwankwo , during the 2020 Customer Service Week of Linkage Assurance Plc’s held at the Company’s head office in Lagos...recently

L-R; Founder/CEO of Zinox Technologies Limited, Mr Stanley Ekeh; Minister of Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat and others, during the inauguration of Zinox’s Technology Experience Centre in Lagos...recently

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T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

L-R;: Director-General, National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), Dr Olusegun Ojo; National President, Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA), Pastor Segun Adewumi; and Representatives of the Director General, IITA, Dr Gbassey Tarawali, during the signing of MoU between IITA BASIC-II Cassava Seed Entrepreneurs and NCGA, at NASC OďŹƒce in Gwagwalada, Abuja...recently

President, United Church of Christ in Nations (HEKAN) Rev. Amos Kiri (M) OďŹƒcials and newly ordained Reverends of the church after Pastoral Ordination at the Church Headquarters in Kaduna...recently

L - R , Deputy Speaker, House of Representative, Ahmed Wase ; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Deputy Chairman House Committee on Women Aairs and Board Development, Mr. Vincent Ofunyelu during the closing ceremony of A2 Day Executive and Legislative Leadership Retreat at the Conference Hall of Presidential Villa Abuja....recently.

GODWIN OMOIGUI

Former Governor of Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje (left) and his wife, Aminat during their wedding in Abuja...recently

L-R: Special Assistant to the President on Small and medium Enterprise, Tola Johnson, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Maryam Yalwaji Katagun and Director General, Small and Medium Enterprise development agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda during the Launch of Artisans Support scheme for MSME held in Abuja...recently

A cross-section of Kaduna State Council of Chiefs during their meeting with Gov. Nasir El-Rufai, and other state government oďŹƒcials on the aair of the State in Kaduna...recently

Zonal Operations Controller of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr Bassey Nkanga (right), addressing member of House Committee on Ad-hoc on the need to relocate Tank farms in Residential Areas of Ijegun-Kirikiri, during their visit to DPR in Port Harcourt... recently

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T H I S D AY ˾ , OCTOBER 8, 2020

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

ÜÙßÚ ÏËÞßÜÏÝ ÎÓÞÙÜ˝ ÒÓÏ×ÏÖÓÏ äÏÙÌÓ ×ËÓÖ chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

Providing UHC during a Pandemic; The Delta Model No doubt COVID-19 pandemic has affected most state and federal governments’ drive towards providing health, education, infrastructural and other forms of dividends to the people. But against all odds, Delta State has managed to sustain universal health coverage for its residents despite the pandemic. Martins Ifijeh writes

I

f there is one event that has altered government programmes around the world, it is the COVID-19 pandemic.

From its depletion of economies, to the devastation it has caused on education, health systems, human capital development and the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the best of countries have had their fair share of the consequences it carries along.

For Nigeria, not only that it is gradually sliding the country into recession, it has slowed down several government programmes and policies, especially on healthcare delivery where many people have had hitches accessing services other than that provided for the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many have even lost their lives because healthcare resources have shrinked since the pandemic started.

But if there is one state that did not let the pandemic alter its healthcare service delivery to its residents, it is Delta State. It had built an information technology platform for the delivery of basic health coverage many months before the pandemic started, making it seamless to provide services to the almost one million persons registered under the Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC) even during the total lockdown instituted in the heat of the outbreak.

The sharing of this model was part of the highlights at the 40th annual general meeting of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) held in Delta State last week, tagged: ‘Accelerating Progress towards Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria: Opportunities and Challenges in the Era of a Pandemic: The Delta State Perspective.”

The key note speaker and the Director General, DSCHC, Dr. Ben Nkechika told the audience that the state knew beforehand that healthcare was a vital part of living, hence its decision to ensure it is provided irrespective of the national situation occasioned by COVID-19.

He said: “During the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, the DSCHC was able to continue full operations leveraging on its integrated ICT platform. Enrollees of the scheme continued to have access to health services. We provided logistics support to facilities, doctors and nurses to enable them be at their work places.

An online healthcare support service was provided to enrollees through dedicated phone lines and those that needed physical medical support were provided transportation as much as possible. The electronic clinic software system comprising e-medical records, e-treatment protocol, e-referral process, e-billing system, and e-payment portal were all active during the period, including the commission’s 24 call centres.

“Following the high COVID-19 infection rate amongst doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers, especially with the death of one of our notable medical consultants from the COVID-19, the state embarked on an Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Advocacy and Sensitisation campaign at all accredited healthcare facilities.

“High quality facemask most suitable for frontline healthcare providers and infrared thermometers for early patient triage were handed over to each of the facility. The commission also used the opportunity to review the status of quality service delivery from accredited healthcare facility with guidance for a “patient centered” healthcare service delivery to enrollees of the scheme.”

He said the state was providing UHC to residents, and that the pandemic has reawakened consciousness on the need for a vibrant, viable, purposeful and resilient healthcare system designed to deliver quality services to all residents of the country at

Nkechika

best cost, all year round. He added that UHC has been identified globally as the mechanism to achieving quality “Health for All” in which no one is left behind.

According to him, a well-designed, structured and strategically implemented health insurance programme was the special purpose vehicles that will enable the country achieve UHC, adding that this was what Delta State was using.

He mentioned that the state was able to provide health coverage outside COVID-19

During the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, the DSCHC continued full operations, leveraging on its integrated ICT platform to provide basic healthcare services to residents. Enrollees of the contributory scheme continued to have access to health services. We provided logistics support to facilities, doctors and nurses to enable them be at their work places

management because the Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa understood the best working models for the sector; an understanding, which he said, also saw him champion the National Health Act (NHA) at the 7th National Assembly.

He said: “The NHA has today become the fulcrum for an efficient and effective healthcare service system in Nigeria.

The Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), a component of the NHA has also become a significant catalyst for achieving UHC in Nigeria especially in a post pandemic era.

“The BHCPF is the healthcare financing program under the NHA with a mandate to provide quality healthcare service to all Nigerians especially the poor and vulnerable in the society.

Nkechika mentioned that the Delta State health scheme was now operational in 405 accredited healthcare facilities spread across 268 primary healthcare centers, 66 secondary healthcare facilities, 65 private healthcare facilities, Federal Medical Center (FMC), three Abuja healthcare facilities and two Lagos healthcare facilities).

He said: “At close of business yesterday, DSCHC has in its database, 788,740 enrollees comprising 171,123 (principal and dependents) members of the formal sector groups whose premium are paid based on deduction from the worker salary from payroll and employers counterpart contribution on behalf of the worker as stipulated in the DSCHC operational guideline, 11,456 members of the informal sector groups whose premium are paid

based on N7,000 per enrollee per year as stipulated in the DSCHC operational guideline and 606,161 (225,717 pregnant women and 380,444 children under five years) members of the Equity Health Plan Group whose premium are paid for by the Delta State government. Current effort is to continue to enhance the informal sector enrollee population especially in rural communities leveraging on the BHCPF programme.”

On his part, the Special Guest of Honour, Governor Okowa said the NARD AGM offered the country the opportunity to review ongoing national efforts to combat the COVID-19 epidemic as well as assess readiness to respond appropriately to future public health emergencies.

He said Nigeria has the capacity to turn the crisis into an opportunity to bolster health infrastructure, expand capacity and upgrade manpower in the health sector in such a way that the country’s healthcare system will be better poised to deal with future outbreaks.

He said: “There are two major takeaways for me from the COVID-19 pandemic as it relates to Nigeria. The first is the necessity of having in places a national policy document on responding and managing unforeseen public health crisis. The absence of such a framework as well as the novel nature of COVID-19 posed a major drawback in articulating a coordinated response at the initial stage of the pandemic in the country.

“Testing was a huge problem because of the shortage of human resources, testing kits, laboratories, and case definition for testing that prioritises symptomatic cases and their contacts. The country only attained a daily testing capacity of 2,500 samples late in July, which is a far cry from what it should be for a country our size. Testing was not only extremely low; it took days before the results could be known.

“Confronted with a fast spreading disease like COVID-19, the delay meant the virus could spread unchecked as it hindered early contact tracing. Here in Delta, samples had to be taken to the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Edo State, which served the entire South-south geo-political region. The wait was excruciating and exerted immense physical and mental toll on critical health personnel who had to be making frequent trips to Irrua in Edo State.

“Subsequently, we were able to enter an arrangement with Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in partnership with Pan African Network for Disease Outbreak Research and Rapid Response (PANDORA) to establish a molecular mobile laboratory in Delta. Since then we have conducted over 9,000 tests while confirmed cases are 1,799 as of Friday, September 18. More importantly, as result of the improved testing and transmission of results, we have been able to achieve 99 per cent contact tracing. “ He mentioned that his second takeaway was for post COVID-19, there should be a compelling need to adopt and implement viable and sustainable healthcare financing programme for all states in the country.

He said each state was primarily responsible for the financing and implementation of their health system, adding that a health financing programme focused on up-scaling primary healthcare services, enhancement of human-resource-for-health capacity, deployment of a technology enhanced healthcare services delivery process and improved access to measurable quality healthcare services outcome for all, was an imperative.

He stressed that the country must start to consciously measure outcomes as part of healthcare delivery process since that was the surest way to revamp a floundering healthcare system.

T H I S D AY ˾ , OCTOBER 8, 2020

29

INTERVIEW

Shonibare: Nigeria Should Harness Tech to Increase Access to Quality Healthcare In this interview with Rebecca Ejifoma, the Chief Medical Officer at Evercare Hospital Lekki, Dr. Ayo Shonibare, who is a Consultant Urologist and Kidney Transplant Surgeon, spoke on the benefits of telemedicine to Nigerians, and reasons for establishing a state-of-the-art hospital in Nigeria. Excerpts:

A

nephrology, neonatology, pediatrics, urology, obstetrics and gynecology, radiology, neurosurgery, cardiology, orthopedics, pediatric surgery, and general surgery.

Essentially, a patient can receive multidisciplinary care, less than one platform.

s the newly appointed Chief Medical Officer of Evercare Hospital Lekki, tell us more about the hospital?

Evercare Group (‘Evercare’) is an integrated healthcare delivery platform operating in emerging markets across Africa and South Asia, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Nigeria. Evercare’s goal is to help communities thrive by improving healthcare and leveraging technology and integration to increase the quality of care.

Our portfolio includes 30 hospitals, 16 clinics, over 50 diagnostics centres, and two brownfield assets. Evercare is wholly owned by the Evercare Health Fund, a US$ 1 billion emerging markets healthcare fund managed

by The Rise Fund -the impact investment platform of global alternative asset manager, TPG Capital. With a team of over 10,500 employees including over 1,000 doctors, over 3,200 nurses and 5,300 paramedical and support personnel. Evercare is building a foundation of continuous quality improvement and standardised care to improve clinical outcomes and patient safety.

Nigerians have a desire for quality healthcare services with excellent clinical outcomes that they deserve. The intention is to create a patient-centric culture, with strict adherence to protocols, patient safety, high standards of nursing care and all quality indicator measures.

As the CMO, my aim is to provide the clinical leadership and meet those aspirations while ensuring a collaborative approach to care.

With ongoing operations in other African countries, what informed the decision to introduce your expertise to the Nigerian market?

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the sixth in the world – counting over 200 million occupants. Whilst we have made headway over the last few years, there is still a need for significant advancement in Nigeria’s healthcare system to enable adequate provision of services required to serve the needs of its population. This has led to a rise in the percentage of medical tourism done by Nigerians i.e. people seeking healthcare and treatment overseas. It is estimated that Nigeria loses about $1.3 billion to medical tourism yearly and experts say that this could be invested in the development of the country’s healthcare system and the nation as a whole.

Following Kenya, Nigeria is the second healthcare investment destination, for the Evercare Global Health Fund as our objective at Evercare is to provide the required integrated healthcare services to markets that it is essential to. Evercare Hospital Lekki is an illustration of that strategy put into practice, bringing a vital suite of services to patients across the region thereby elevating the standard of healthcare.

With plans in place to officially unveil Evercare Hospital in Nigeria, there are reports stating that you have launched a Telemedicine platform, “Ecare”. Tell us more about this service.

What are your thoughts on the benefits of telemedicine?

Telemedicine presents numerous advantages to both patients and health providers. A unique element about the practice of telemedicine is that it greatly increases access to healthcare. The increased accessibility afforded by telemedicine helps to level the playing field, allowing a greater number of people to have access to frequent and expansive healthcare. More importantly in Nigeria, telemedicine has the potential to boost access to quality healthcare delivery across each region so that everyone, regardless of their location, can be provided parallel quality healthcare services.

Shonibare

With the emergence of new technologies in recent years, telemedicine has become more prevalent and essential in healthcare service delivery. Telemedicine is the practice of remote consultation and treatment of patients using telecommunications technology. Our Ecare is a telemedicine platform offering tele and video consultations with our general practitioners and Specialist Doctors within several Medical fields.

Being a first-of-its kind in Nigeria, this innovative platform brings about a transformation in the Outpatient consultation model as Clinicians are able to reach out to their patients remotely, via a video conferencing tool to address their healthcare needs efficiently.

Patients are able to book appointments and access their doctors easily from the comfort of their homes.

What was Evercare’s motivation for offering Ecare to Nigerians?

Telemedicine has become one of the dominant forces redefining the healthcare and wellness industries globally – both for patients and healthcare providers. Our increasing population in Nigeria and the desire for accessible quality care have created a high demand for

healthcare services and huge market prospects for telemedicine to thrive.

Evercare Hospital Lekki recently launched this telemedicine initiative, out of the need to guarantee access to premium healthcare services for Nigerians irrespective of their physical location. Although, the current realities placed by the global COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for telemedicine intervention as patients have become more reluctant to visit hospitals due to the fear of exposure to the virus; Ecare is a strategic long term initiative with goals to serve the market beyond the pandemic.

At Evercare Hospital Lekki, it is our mission to relentlessly innovate to ensure delivery of best-in-class standards of patient safety, clinical excellence, and outstanding clinical outcomes. The introduction of our Ecare is a testament to this.

What areas of medical consultancy are featured on the Ecare platform?

As I pointed out earlier, our goal is for patients to have access to specialists across needs. The Ecare enables reach to several consultants in different areas of medicine such as general and family medicine, neurology,

Evercare is set to unveil its new multispecialist hospital in Nigeria. When are you fully operational and what standard of healthcare services should be expected?

Evercare Hospital Lekki is a first of its kind in Nigeria – a 165-bed state-of-the-art multispecialty, tertiary care hospital, that will deliver high quality, and accessible healthcare to communities in Lagos and Nigeria at large.

Evercare Hospital Lekki will offer care across a range of specialty medical and surgical services. Our priority is to build Centers of Excellence in the following fields including Neurosciences, Cardiac Sciences, Orthopedics, Mother & Child Care and Emergency & Trauma.

The hospital is set to be fully operational in Lekki Lagos in Q4 2020 and will deliver medical excellence and global standard of quality service by providing exceptional patient care through outstanding medical outcomes and high-quality nursing care that Nigerians seek.

How can the health industry leverage technology to improve the quality service delivery?

The global health landscape is changing radically as breakthrough technologies are driving fundamental change in healthcare delivery. There is the need for a massive shift in the delivery of health services underpinned by the right levels of investment in technology while ensuring the patients are at the center of the delivery model.

Leveraging technology through telemedicine, all Nigerians, wherever they are located, now have access to premium care as access to good quality healthcare services should not be limited by location and availability within certain geographical areas. Technology allows patients, doctors and stakeholders in the healthcare industry reap the immense benefits of telemedicine.

Technology also has a role to play in maternal and infant health. Patients who normally may not have access to antenatal care can also be monitored remotely to ensure better results for both mother and child.

WHD: Speedy Enforcement of Tobacco Control Laws Will Save Lives, Says CAPPA Sunday Ehigiator As the global community marks the World Heart Day 2020, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has re-echoed the need for the Nigerian government to be wary of tobacco industry antics.

They also called for a speedy enforcement of the National Tobacco Control

(NTC) Act 2015 and the National Tobacco Control Regulations 2019.

CAPPA in a signed statement by its Director of Programmes, Philip Jakpor recently, also wants the government to establish the Tobacco Control Fund as recommended in the NTC Act 2015 to ensure the sustainability of tobacco control policies in the country.

Jakpor said: “The World

Heart Day was first launched in 2000 by the World Heart Federation. It is celebrated on September 29 of every year to draw global attention to heart illnesses and a range of associated health issues.

“The day is commemorated to promote different preventive steps and changes in lifestyle to avoid any cardiovascular diseases, like heart attack, stroke, heart failure and any other condition related to the

same. An estimated 17 million people die from heart-related illnesses every year.”

CAPPA said the commemoration reminds governments across the globe that they must be deliberate and strategic in regulating products that negatively affect the cardiovascular health of their citizens.

CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi added that this year’s commemoration of the World

Heart Day reinforces the need for the Nigerian government to prioritize the heart health of Nigerian citizens.

According to him, “For this to happen, it has to be at alert to tobacco industry manipulations and recommendations such as the so-called Draft Policy on Conventional Tobacco and Non-Combusted Alternatives to Cigarette Smoke which will only expose more people

to heart diseases, among a host of other debilitating consequences.”

Oluwafemi explained that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has shown the way by drawing global attention to the fact that just a few cigarettes a day, occasional smoking, exposure to second-hand smoke or E-cigarette use increase the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.

30

T H I S D AY ˾ , OCTOBER 8, 2020

FEATURES

Untiring Effort to Reach the Needy As the impact of COVID-19 pandemic is still being felt across Nigeria despite the opening of the economy, Emmanuel Chapel, one organisation that has been in the forefront of alleviating the suffering of the masses, is simply unrelenting, Chiamaka Ozulumba writes

W

ith the effects of COVID-19 still being felt across Nigeria, one organisation that has been in the forefront of alleviating the suffering of the people, Emmanuel Chapel, has continued to maintain its momentum in reaching out to people mostly affected by the pandemic.

The church, with its parish in Banana Island, Lagos has been unrelenting in its efforts to reach thousands worst affected by the pandemic, since according to it, government alone cannot do it.

Penultimate weekend in Lagos, the church donated food items that would last weeks for over 32,000 homes and families in Southern Kaduna, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Makurdi, the people of Makoko in Lagos and Umuahia in Abia State and widows and teachers in Lagos. The gesture which brings to about 125,000, the number of people so far reached by the church in its COVID-19 response, to many observers, is simply commendable.

For many who have been following the kindheartedness of the church, this is not the first time it would reach out to thousands of Nigerians.

In June, the church donated 105 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the Armed Forces. The items, which included face-hood, surgical masks, pairs of gloves, pairs of head covers, two pairs of shoe covers, among others, were meant to augment the collective efforts in the country against the pandemic Handing the supplies to the Commander, Central Medical Stores, Nigerian Army, Col. Sylvester Anyogo, the Chaplain of the church, Prof. Konyin Ajayi SAN, said the church chose the Armed Forces because they are important in the affairs of the country from the creation, and served the citizens in very many ways. He added that the military consists of people who have sacrificed all they have to keep Nigerians safe, secure and to ensure that the economy remains prosperous.

Ajayi, who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), noted that not only have men of the Armed Forces helped in no small measure to ensure that the country is united, they have also contributed immensely to the tackling of unseen war caused by the pandemic by rising to do what they do best because they are the ones fighting all the wars.

At the presentation of the 105 PPE to the Armed Forces, the church gave out packs of food items that could feed over 6,000 homes to Kano, Edo, Ekiti, Ogun, and Lagos states for distribution to ease their suffering. While each of the states got 1,000 packs, Lagos got 2,000 packs. Each pack of food can feed a family of six for five to seven days.

At the beginning of the pandemic in March when Lagos had only three respirators, the church gave the state six respirators. Other items which were received by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu himself included four beds, gloves and masks.

The neighbouring Ogun State was not left out as many hospital equipment and PPE were donated for their use to tackle the pandemic.

For those who were on ground to witness the presentation of thousands of food items to representatives of the various organisations and people who in need of the items, they were shocked to see the heaps and how many

Officials of the church handing over palliatives to representative of IDP Camp Makurdi, Benue State, Mr. Wisdom Ichull

the foodstuffs were.

One of the representatives, who expressed appreciation to Emmanuel Chapel, told THISDAY that he was overwhelmed by the gesture.

Particularly touching were the people of Southern Kaduna and the IDPs in Makurdi. These are people who have practically lost everything they have worked and lived for due to frequent attacks by bandits and herdsmen. Not only have lost their houses, monies, foods, clothes, farms, furniture, cars, motorcycles, many have also lost their breadwinners including their fathers, mothers, spouses and children. With nowhere to sleep, they are forced to stay in IDP camps with little or no assistance from the government, well-meaning individuals and organisations.

Their representatives specially thanked Emmanuel Chapel, a faraway church in Lagos, for remembering them when churches in safer towns and states around them are unconcerned over their plights.

Prof. Ajayi said his church was basically doing what the Christian faith was all about, which is ensuring that people love their neighbours as themselves. Ajayi prayed for the pandemic to end quickly, while also advising Nigerians

to always ensure they stay safe. He also asked the governments to come up with urgent plans that would alleviate poverty.

A member of the Relief Committee of the church, Olu Verheijen, said the idea for the palliatives was to be of service to other people in this trying time. She said the church was sure of what the health impact of COVID-19 would be in Nigeria and what economic impact would be for the masses, hence the intervene.

“So this is the last batch; and we are spreading it across the country. We started out in the South-west –Ekiti, Lagos and Ogun States, and as you saw today, this is going mostly to the North and the East –Benue, Kaduna, places in the East –Imo, Umuahia and few other places like that.”

Verheijen said: “The point of distribution and accountability was very well considered when we were designing this programme and we chose partners that have a track record in delivering to the last mile; who have been organising and reaching out to these very vulnerable communities for years and have a good track record around accountability and transparency. So those are the channels that we

use as partners. If you check for most of the places like Ekiti State and a few other places like that, the packages did get to the communities that were intended to get to.”

The various groups which benefited from the palliatives, thanked the church for the kind gesture. They noted that why the gesture was particularly appreciated was because it came from the body of Christ.

For instance, receiving the items on behalf of the Southern Kaduna people, their representative in Lagos, Rev. Andrew Duyo Abu, said he was happy, adding the donations show that people have sympathy and empathy over their plight. He promised to ensure that items would be judiciously distributed. He also expressed gratitude to the church for its kind gesture.

“We are really delighted and happy that Emmanuel Chapel under the leadership of Prof.

Ajayi, deemed it fit to give this contribution to us. And I am particularly happy being a donation that is coming from church to the people. I’m so happy that the church is giving this palliative for the purpose of alleviating the suffering of the people dealing with COVID-19,” he said.

Ajinomoto Thrills HETAN to Cooking Competition As parts of efforts to promote an understanding of Ajinomoto Monosodium Glutamate and its benefits in meals, the West African Seasoning Company Limited (WASCO), makers of Ajinomoto, engaged members of the Home Economics Teachers Association of Nigeria (HETAN), Lagos State chapter to a cooking competition.

Speaking at the event held recently in Lagos recently, the Head of Marketing,

WASCO, Mr. Isah Hassan Shallangwa gave reasons Nigerians should not entertain any fear consuming its products. “The benefits of the seasoning include enhancing and promoting the deliciousness of our meals; it reduces salt intake and it is rich in glutamate one of the free amino acids. Almost all seasoning contains MSG,” Shallangwa said.

Going head to head in a fun competition which had

four females and two males representing the six districts of HETAN in Lagos State saw the contestant from District three, Mr. Adeyemo Ademola emerge winner, as his threecourse meal of Ogbonor soup, Oat meal, banana pudding and zobo drink was adjudged the best. At the second position is Mr. Ezekiel Ogundele of district Six and Miss Ibojo Mercy Bukola of district five came third.

The winners were awarded

prizes, and consolation prizes were given to the other contestants. “The audience who participated actively also went home with various gift items from WASCO including Ajinomoto and other food seasonings produced by the Japanese company. I commend WASCO management for enhancing their culinary knowledge,” Ademola added.

Corporate Communication Manager, WASCO, Mrs.

Francisca Ikediashi commended the HETAN members for the engagement and active participation. She urged them to continue to dispel any myth and misconception while reminding the people of the emotional and nutritional benefits Ajinomoto gives to food.

Ikediashi said: “WASCO is committed to working with HETAN in making Ajinomoto a household name in food seasoning.”

On her part, HETAN Lagos State President, Mrs. Olorunfunmi Janet Olabisi noted “today we are particularly delighted with the added knowledge that Ajinomoto helps with salt reduction in our food without any loss to the deliciousness. Now that WASCO has demonstrated this in the cooking competition, we are happy. It is now our duty to take this information to our students and the general public,” she adds.

31

T H I S D AY Ëž , OCTOBER 8, 2020

HEALTH

Ajayi: Our Response to COVID-19 on Assisted Reproduction With the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries, including Nigeria have begun to look inward for solutions. In this interview with Nigerian Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, he spoke on the concepts his organisation is embarking on as response to the effect of coronavirus on assisted reproduction, which include the recent launch of two new interventions to encourage more couples to access fertility treatment. Mary Nnah writes Nordica just launched a couple of products during this pandemic to aid fertility treatment.

Can you share light on this?

We just launched two new products, known as Nordica Flex Plan and Nordica Xclusive, as our response to COVID-19 pandemic on assisted reproduction. These are innovations developed amidst the pandemic, where the lockdowns have affected local and international travels, hospitality industry, entertainment industry, and most importantly, it has put a huge strain on the healthcare sector.

COVID-19 is the latest topic in town and because of that fertility treatment was suspended all over the world. We know what COVID-19 did and it has been around in Nigeria for over eight months. It affected the economy of the world and we know that Nigeria is not an exception.

So we have to respond to these people who probably would find it difficult to pay for In vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments because of the contraction in the economy. Nordica Flex Plan is an installment payment plan which allows couples to save towards having babies of their own. With very easy payment options, couples who qualify for the plan, stay focused on achieving their goal of childbirth. The Flex Pay Plan will allow couples to set a target for themselves. While they are on the plan, they will have access to some of our premium services leading up to the final treatment required. I implore couples to take advantage of the plan to complete their families.

In other words, the Flex Pay is for people who are probably on salary and want to do IVF but cannot raise the whole money at once. So you

the aim of giving them extremely personalised service. Couples who desire this level of world-class service can apply for Nordica Xclusive.

So, the products that we launched are for those two extremes. So we launched one for people who would normally find it difficult to pay, so that they can pay in instalments and then another launched for people who normally would want to go abroad and we know the reason why they are going abroad, principally because of confidentiality. With the launch of the Nordica Xclusive, we are trying to save the foreign exchange for Nigeria by encouraging people who would normally want to travel out of the country to stay back and get world-class treatment here in Nigeria.

Ajayi

can now decide if you want to save N100, 000 every month. You can then come to us and we would agree on the mode of payment. You can decide to finish making your payment within one year. The second set of people is those who normally will want to travel to do their treatment abroad. These are those the Nordica Xclusive Service is meant for. Nordica Xclusive is designed for the extremely confidentiality focused clients who may have opted for their treatment abroad.

In the face of travel restrictions and the hazards of COVID-19, they have a premium local alternative that offers flexible appointment-only services with

Are there conditions that may prevent couples from taking up any of these plans?

Maybe we should not take the two together because one, the Flex Pay has some agreements we have to enter into before we sign on the dotted lines because it is a contract. For the second one, Nordica Xclusive, what we are offering is more of the exclusivity.

So, the condition might be modified depending on who we are talking to, so that would be on the case basis and the kind of services we can offer but the most important thing we offer is that we can fix your appointment where you wouldn’t have to meet with other people.

What happens to a couple, especially those on the Xclusive Plan, who must have paid so much and at the end of a speciďŹ c period

they didn’t get good results? Would they be allowed to go for another cycle on the same initial payment?

Nobody who does IVF gives you a guarantee that you would get pregnant within an IVF cycle.

So we cannot guarantee pregnancy to anybody but what we guarantee is to give them the best.

No matter where you go in the world, nobody can guarantee you pregnancy in one cycle. So what we are guaranteeing them is the exclusivity.

What makes a cycle fail most times is because people make wrong decisions. So, even when you are making the wrong decision with the Xclusive plan, we are going to tell you the implications of your decision but we are not going to stop you.

What we are offering you, which is different from the others, is the exclusivity and that is all.

Now for the Flex Plan, how much is the least amount a couple can deposit before they can be part of this plan?

The total amount of money they would pay is what determines what they deposit with the clinic. You can pay the total within three months to one year but must not exceed a year. After one year, the contract is terminated. And if a couple deposits a certain amount and along the line they say they cannot continue again, of course they can collect back their money except for the administrative fee. Why we cannot do more than one year is because the naira rate keeps changing every day, so we can’t take that risk because the moment you have entered into the contract, no matter what happens to the naira, you cannot increase the amount. That’s a contract too.

Developing a Protein-centred Nutrition Policy for Nigeria Dr Adepeju Adeniran A woman my age, had she lived in Nigeria 500 B.C, might have been nearly a half a foot shorter. She might have had children, but being in the reproductive age, might still be expected to have some more. She would have had nutritional requirements that covered her need to function with the right energy levels, but also to possibly have a few more children, continuously retain skin and muscle repair, and avoid bone loss and de-mineralization as she moves into her post-menopausal stage.

Just like me, she would have been challenged to provide adequate nourishment, not just for herself, but for the rest of her family.

Had she been knowledgeable about protein as a food type, she might have undervalued its place in her nutrition, as it might not have given her the immediate energy source as other starchy foods might, but this would have been an essential mistake. Balancing the nutritional requirements needed in the domestic home is a challenge that is thousands of years old. Even today when humans have more knowledge about how food, calories, growth and development works, the quest to balance this knowledge with food production, access and security, remains a never-ending task.

Carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats and minerals all have their place in what should be the healthy diet composition of human beings. Some food classes have been prioritised over others in many homes. Globally, protein malnutrition is an insidious aspect of under-nourishment because to the consumer, this class of food does not provide the quick energy that Carbohydrates do. Protein foods are considered as “second best�, or only an accompaniment to the main meal, often of a starch class.

How have nutrition policies solved problems in the past?

Today’s human is better off than that woman.

As human societies grew and technology improved, food production and access became less of an individual matter. Governments became more empowered to be able to pull collective efforts together, improve the individual’s chances at food access, and therefore improvements in food security, for their citizens.

So much so, that to achieve globally determined

goals on nutrition, health and well-being as an end to poverty, national food planning is an essential part of what many governments all around the world do. National nutritional policies arise from the need to target measured problems like household food security, under-five malnutrition, maternal and child health, infectious disease prevention, amongst other national indicators. Global health is essentially the health of its individual nations. The overall desire to improve the nutritional health of the citizen has meant targeting the base problems that exist in a country with its specific solutions.

Nutritional policies respond to identified problems in different ways: A nutritional policy could target the public’s access to information about a nutrition-related health condition; e.g.

WHO multi-country collaboration on protein-energy malnutrition in children. It could be about the benefits of consuming certain foods e.g: the United States public-private collaboration to influence the increase in public dairy consumption: “got milk?�

Nutrition policies have also targeted fortification of foods with minerals, to increase the public’s consumption of such nutrients through eating foods rich in them, and many examples of these exist in global health.

Wheat flour fortification program in Jordan was implemented from 2002. The staple flour was fortified with iron and folic acid. From 2006, other micronutrients such as zinc, niacin and vitamins A and B were also added to the wheat fortification. Today, the fortified wheat, through the government program,constitutes 92.5 per cent of wheat flour products in Jordan, ensuring its availability nationwide. To ensure also that the fortification program succeeds, the wheat is also subsidized to make sure that as many households as possible can afford it.

In the ’90s in Nigeria, iodine deficiency was also combated by increasing the public’s education of the benefits of iodine in the diet, improving the knowledge of iodine deficiency conditions and finally by fortifying domestic table salt with iodine, to increase the consumption of iodine in the home.

In Vietnam, iron-deficiency anaemia was targeted by delivering iron supplements, especially to women of childbearing age as a response to national surveys which identified anaemia as a prevalent national problem in that country. The supplements were delivered through the village

health worker directly to the women, alongside de-worming medication.

The Protein Problem: A Look at the Nigerian Food Plate The most recent DHS survey involved Nigerian adults from the age of 15 – 49, asked about household diet. The report indicates that 31.25 per cent consumed nuts and seeds, 20.38 per cent consumed a dairy product; cheese, yoghurt or milk, 70.68 per cent consumed meat/ fish/ poultry, 16.15 per cent consumed eggs, 72.9 per cent consumed dark green vegetables, and 7.47 per cent consumed insects or other small sources of protein. Protein malnutrition and under-nourishment in Nigeria can be demonstrated from the successive national surveys done in both the adult and children population. Many argue that both stunting and protein-energy malnutrition figures in children and underdevelopment chronic anaemia in adult females, can be attributed to the poor diet of Nigerians, which includes poor inclusion of protein sources. Body growth stunting can be measured across height for age, weight for height age and weight for age.

In the most recent survey of 1587 Nigerian children between 6 months and 5 years, stunting is demonstrated in the height for age as 19.2 per cent being -3 points in standard deviation from the mean, and 33.63 per cent being -2 points from the standard deviation from the square of the mean.

Similarly, weight for height stunting figures shows 9.45 per cent of the same children were -3 points standard deviation from the mean and 20.46 per cent -2 points from the square of standard deviation from the mean. In the last category of weight for age, 7.81 per cent were -3 point standard deviation from the mean and 21.45 per cent were -2 points standard deviation from the square of the mean. (data extracted from the Nigeria DHS 2018).

Data also extracted from the Nigeria Protein Deficiency Report 2019 also states that about 51 per cent of the survey respondents did not have access to protein-rich foods because of the costs.

Furthermore, this survey also highlighted the factors that influence the choice of meals in the home: availability of the food source, affordability of the food, taste of the food, knowledge of the nutritional value and personal

choice or preference of the buyer.

How to effectively target the surveyed points: To design an effective nutritional protein policy, the following watershed barriers should be targeted in a multi-pronged approach: Education/ information: public knowledge and education about the benefits of protein should not be limited to school education and theory only. Re-learning and a lifelong familiarity about proteins’ benefits to the home-maker should be continued in public spaces like hospitals, primary health care centres, community centres and even in religious centres. Human education can be carried out by nurses, community health workers and community leaders.

Availability/ supply chain: Supply chain support can be entrenched by import/export policies that prioritise protein-rich foods.

Agricultural and food production policies can also support farmers by way of fertiliser and farm-to-market transport subsidies or government-initiated protein produce purchase.

This will encourage farmers to produce proteinrich plants and animal farmers to be able to produce proteins at a cheap-enough rate for the public to purchase and consume.

Affordability/ price/subsidy: Product availability will, through market forces, drive down the protein product cost and address price. However, to further ensure household affordability, subsidies can be used to further cheapen the price of the protein foods to a price point that can easily be afforded by household planners and providers.

Lessons learnt in global health, especially from developing nutritional policies in lower to middle-income countries, show that applying a multi-pronged approach to guide implementation gives the most lasting and sustainable results.

This means that to tackle stunting, malnutrition and protein deficiency through household food improvement, the policy must aim to tackle protein information, protein availability, protein affordability and protein price. t%S "EFOJSBO JT B DMJOJDBM BOE QVCMJD IFBMUI QIZTJDJBO XJUI B DBSFFS JO HMPCBM IFBMUI QPMJDZ EFWFMPQNFOU GPS -.*$ 4IF JT UIF /JHFSJBO /BUJPOBM DP $IBJS PG 8PNFO JO (MPCBM )FBMUI

32

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍśËœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

DPR Vows to Enforce Safety in Tank Farms Ernest Chinwo iĂ˜ Ă™ĂœĂž Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂž The Department of Petroleum Resource (DPR) has said it would not allow tank farms operating in the country to compromise its safety regulations.

The Operations Controller, Port Harcourt Zone of DPR, Mr Bassey Nkanga, made the declaration in Port Harcourt, after a tour of tank farms by the ad hoc committee of the DPR on relocation of tank farms from residential areas. “DPR would continue to improve, we talk safety and safety is our watchword, the oil and gas industry knows that our vision on safety cannot be compromised. “But in event of lapses, we allow room for correction until required compliance level is

met in terms of minimal safety requirements,� he said.

The DPR boss also revealed that none of the tank farm operators within his jurisdiction was completely adamant to the safety regulations of the establishment. “So far, what we saw today is quite commendable. The few lapses detected could be improved upon and I believe that affected companies would make necessary improvements soon,� he said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Sergius Age, has said there was need for collaboration amongst relevant agencies. “When we started this task some months back, the various agencies were actually at each other’s throats but today, there’s a better cooperation amongst them. “And I believe that by the

time we shall be presenting our reports, they will all be working in synergy,� he added.

He said, “Our emphasis has always been on safety compliance.

We look forward to collaboration amongst relevant agencies such as the federal fire service, Nigeria Ports Authority, federal Ministry of Environment, NIMASA and others. “We are determined to ensuring that operating tank farms conform to operational guidelines of the DPR. “From our findings today, one of the facilities we inspected, we saw about 24 storage tanks sited at close range, we observed issues with their offset, that’s too close. “This simply means that all storage tanks are exposed to possible danger if there’s an incident of fire outbreak.

MARKET INDICATORS

UBA Pledges Superior Customer Experience, Innovation The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc yesterday assured its customers superior banking experience.

The bank said it has adopted strategies in its transformation journey to satisfy its customers across all its banking channels.

Speaking during a virtual media briefing yesterday, to mark this year’s Customer Service Week, UBA’s Head of Operations, Alex Alozie, said the bank has intensified its focus on putting the customer first.

Alozie explained: “In the last one year we have embarked on an intensive drive to transform our services to customers, not only in our banking halls in Nigeria but also across Africa and beyond to all the regions where we operate, we have ensured that our customers enjoy self-service, where they can make use of their devices to

carry out any form of transaction seamlessly, without having to go to the banking hall. We have seen a lot of improvement in this area, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. “In fact I will say that the pandemic brought out the best of us. With newly improved products like UBA Connect – where our customers can carry out transactions from anywhere in the world - and our recently improved mobile App, our uptime has improved significantly, and our branches have also recorded considerable improvement. All these are a result of the transformation journey which we embarked upon.�

Also speaking at the media briefing, the Group Head, Marketing and Customer Experience, UBA, Michelle Nwoga, said the

bank was determined to provide something more and exceptional to its customers. “It is interesting to note that UBA has been paying attention to the little things; we have been focused on innovating for our customers, optimising our processes, upgrading our technology all in our effort to improve on our customer service delivery and we have seen that these have yielded good results. “In fact, in recent times, there have been spurts of issues with some of our platforms, but that has been because we are working endlessly to use technology to support the growth of our platforms. “Apart from this, we have also embarked on thoroughly equipping our people to deliver exceptional service as UBA is now a data driven institution.

Credit Warehouse Launches New Product Credit Warehouse, a data company has launched its latest flagship product known as ‘The Contract Manager.’ The firm in a statement explained that it intends to demystify the challenges around informal loans with the new product. It described the Contract Manager as a platform where friends, family and even small business owners can sign virtual, yet legally binding contracts of any amount as evidence that the transactions took place.

With this, Credit Warehouse would act as a witness and custodian of such information.

In addition, once the loans are due, Credit Warehouse would send reminders to the borrower, hence reducing the follow-up responsibility for the lender, all this at no cost.

According to the Co-founder of the firm, Mr. ‘Segun Maleghemi, “the product is the third in a suite of products and services launched into the market.�

He stated that they had previously launched both the Agent Verification platform and Connector Services, adding that those were B2B services meant for their enterprise customers. “With the Contract Manager

launch, it means they now have their first B2C products in the market and was proof that they were edging closer to their target beneficiary, the common man. “In our research, we observed that people behave properly when a third party is involved in credit transaction; hence we built a platform that acts as such to people’ informal transactions. “A lot of thoughts were put into this, and yes, we asked ourselves again and again if this was needed. But when you look at research reports, you would see that over 61 per cent of all loans come from friends

Devon King’s Sensitises Consumers Femi Solaja Devon King’s, a PZ Wilmar Brand recently launched a campaign which it tagged, “Less is More,� aimed at sensitising Nigerians on the inherent dangers in the consumption of unbranded cooking oil. This was disclosed in a statement by the Category & Brand Manager, PZ Wilmar, Toyin Popoola-Dania.

Speaking on the campaign, Popoola-Dania said: “We are living in a time when now more than

ever we are more conscious of our health, the Covid19 Pandemic has clearly reiterated the need for healthy eating and importance of a strong immune system.

Therefore, while we are taking all the necessary precautions to avoid contacting and spreading the virus, it is equally important that we pay close attention to what we consume. “According to NAFDAC, unbranded vegetable oil is unsuitable for consumption and could have negative health implications.

The agency says heart diseases are one of such problems due to high cholesterol content and other fattening agents that have been added in them.�

The Executive Director, NHF, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye also said vegetable oil found to be contaminated by interference with any additive may contain high cholesterol and work against the normal flow of the body, thereby blocking heart vessels and leading to sluggishness of blood movement.

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 ˜ ʹ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $40.33 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $39.07 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), 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

33

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

Profit Taking Halts 12-day Price Rally at Stock Market Goddy Egene The rally at the stock market was halted yesterday after 12 days as investors moved in to lock in profit accumulated during the bull run. As a result, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) fell 0.95 per cent to close at 28,634.35, while market capitalisation shed N143.7 billion to close at N14.967 trillion.

The stock had witnessed an unprecedented surge following flow of liquidity from the fixed income market as investors searched for investments with higher returns. The 12-day rally saw equities market capitalisation cross the N15 trillion mark and catapulted the year-to-date gain of the ASI to 7.7 per cent on Tuesday. However, the bears set in following profit take by investors which led to 31 stocks

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

depreciated compared with 21 stocks that appreciated. But analysts had envisaged the return of the bears after 12 days of dominance by the bulls.

Unilever Nigeria Plc led the price losers with 9.8 per cent, trailed by Cornerstone Insurance Plc with 9.0 per cent.

UACN Property Development Company Plc shed 8.1 per cent, just as Custodian Investment Plc went down by 7.2 per cent.

On the positive side, Berger

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Paints Nigeria Plc led the price gainers with 9.8 per cent, trailed

by Linkage Assurance Plc with 9.7 per cent. NASCON Allied Industries Plc and Mutual Benefit Assurance Plc appreciated by 9.5 per cent apiece, while CAP Plc chalked up 9.3 per cent among others. Despite the negative close, volume and value of trading rose by 11.1 per cent and 0.4 per cent to 832.9 million shares and N9.5 billion respectively. The most traded stocks by volume

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

were FBN Holdings Plc (128.8 million shares), Zenith Bank Plc (120.6 million shares) and UBA (84.0 million shares) while Zenith Bank Plc (N2.4 billion), Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (N2.4 billion) and FBN Holdings Plc (N789.8 million) led by value.

Analysts at Investdata Consulting had said they expected uptrend and buying interest to continue, even as profit taking is under way amidst positioning ahead of third quarter (Q3) corporate

O F

earnings season, despite the negative macroeconomic indices. “This is given the further crash in money market rates, while inflation peaked at 13.22 per cent, worsening the negative returns on many investment windows.

The mixed intraday movement is likely to persist this October in the midst of an expected profit booking, as well as the mismatch of economic policies and negative macroeconomic indices,� they said.

2 9 / 0 9 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

34

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

C & I Leasing to Convert $10m Neoma African Fund’s Loan to Shares Goddy Egene Shareholders of C & I Leasing Plc will hold an

extra-ordinary general meeting (EGM) in Lagos on November 3, to approve the conversion Neoma Africa Fund, L.L.C (formerly Aureos

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

Africa Fund L.L.C.) $10 million Loan Stock to 987.500 million ordinary shares of the company.

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 06Oct-2020, unless otherwise stated.

The shareholders will also authorise the Board of Directors to issue and allot 987,500 million shares to Neoma Africa Fund, L.L.C. The Board

of Directors would also be authorised to take all such steps and provide and execute all such documents, within its power, as may

be required to facilitate the conversion, the allotment and the obtain regulatory approvals required for the conversion and the allotment.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 1.01 1.03 12.67% 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 5.09% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.15 3.25 28.60% 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 115.10 115.51 11.44% 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 16.09 16.58 5.06% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 367.24 378.31 6.31% ARM Ethical Fund 31.75 32.71 9.17% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.14 1.15 14.35% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.09 1.10 9.68% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.96% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 110.30 111.08 14.80% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.27% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.21 2.21 20.28% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 1.96 1.99 29.79% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.92% Paramount Equity Fund 13.41 13.66 7.17% Women's Investment Fund 118.00 119.05 6.88% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.37% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 114.99 115.52 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 131.33 132.34 Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 103.06 103.06 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 1.05 1.07 13.44% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.61 1.61 21.44% 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 3.70% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 2.56% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,193.10 1,207.18 7.58% 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 1,439.58 1,441.31 17.77% FBN Balanced Fund 163.41 164.66 11.30% FBN Halal Fund 108.88 108.89 8.88% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.88% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 119.99 120.42 3.83% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 120.02 120.45 3.35% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 126.75 128.72 -2.60% 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 2.84% Legacy Debt Fund 3.83 3.83 4.90% Legacy Equity Fund 1.29 1.32 14.09% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.12 1.12 3.87% 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 3,295.61 3,337.63 8.45% Coral Income Fund 3,206.42 3,206.42 4.25% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 4.13% 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 122.96 123.49 12.67%

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 1.26 1.28 12.18% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,145.35 1,145.35 8.11% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.35 1.38 11.18% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.86 11.83 4.97% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 3.20% PACAM Equity Fund 1.11 1.12 PACAM EuroBond Fund 108.48 111.11 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 14.00% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 5.48% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 16.11% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 6.32% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 13.91% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.26% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 7.82% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.21 1.21 4.26% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 109.81 109.81 5.37% 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 1.25 1.28 5.04% United Capital Bond Fund 1.86 1.86 7.57% United Capital Equity Fund 0.73 0.75 3.55% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.44% United Capital Eurobond Fund 115.10 115.10 5.33% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.02 1.02 -2.26% 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 11.27 11.41 9.70% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.44 12.56 7.08% Zenith Income Fund 24.48 24.48 7.74% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.26%

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

9.71 99.81 76.28

9.81 101.96 77.68

15.99% 5.66% 1.53%

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

3.62 4.66 13.64 1.00 12.62 195.39

3.66 4.74 13.74 1.00 12.82 197.39

5.97% -20.93% 12.09% N/A 21.22% 3.40%

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.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 8, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

35

NEWS

Killings: Senate Asks IG to Arrest, Prosecute SARS Personnel House, NBA, CSOs collaborate on new legislation for police reform

Deji Elumoye and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The recent extra judicial killings across the country by operatives of the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) received the attention of the Senate yrsterday as it asked the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Adamu, to effect the immediate arrest and prosecution of all SARS personnel involved in the killing of innocent Nigerians.

The Senate also resolved to probe all human rights abuses by the various security agencies in the country.

Also following the alarming spate of police brutality, extrajudicial killings and misconduct, the House of Representatives has resolved to work with the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), and civil society organisations (CSOs) to draft new legislation within 30 days as part of efforts to reform the police.

President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, while commenting on the recent activities and extrajudicial killings by men of the SARS, called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of those involved.

According to him, any security

personnel involved in the killing of innocent Nigerians must be made to face the full weight of the law.

“I think that this is a situation that should be properly investigated. The recent incident should not be swept under the carpet.

“Those involved in the recent incident should be arrested and prosecuted. There are good people in all the security agencies just as there are bad people.

“Scrapping of agencies might not be the right thing to do. Rule of law should be the guiding principle. If anyone does the wrong thing, they must be prepared to face the consequences.

“Like some of us indicated, there are good elements in SARS, and they have been doing a wonderful job. “If you scrap SARS for example, you lose the chance of getting those that are doing well to continue to do so.

“Anybody in SARS or any security agency that commits excesses should be prosecuted.

The law should take its full course. It is not enough to dismiss them from service, what does the law say if he kills someone?

This is not acceptable. In fact, it makes Nigeria like some of

Nigeria’s COVID-19 Cases Rise By 155 to 59,738 Martins Ifijeh Nigeria has recorded 155 new cases of COVID-19, bringing to 59,738 the number of confirmed cases in the country.

Announcing this yesterday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said Lagos recorded 84 new cases; Rivers,

31; Kaduna, 12; Osun, 10; Federal Capital Territory (FCT), seven; Oyo, six; Ogun three, while Kwara recorded two.

It said: “Nigeria has so far recorded 59,738 cases of COVID-19. 51,403 patients have been discharged, while 1,113 have died.”

FG Announces Two-day Total Shutdown of Third Mainland Bridge Bennett Oghifo The Federal Ministry of Works has said there would be total closure of the section of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos between Adekunle and Adeniji Adele from the midnight on Friday to midnight of Sunday, October 11, 2020 to allow the contractor complete the first stage of casting works.

A statement issued yesterday by the Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mr. Olukayode Popoola said, “the contractor, Messrs Borini Prono & Co. (Nig.) Ltd is nearing completion of works on the closed section of Third Mainland Bridge and requires the total closure of both bounds of the bridge between Adeniji Adele and Adekunle (that is, in addition to the closed bound of the bridge, the other bound from Adekunle to Adeniji Adele will also be closed) to complete work.”

According to the statement, the total closure of this section of the bridge is to ensure that there is no vibration on the bridge during the casting in-

place of the newly installed expansion joints.

“This is to allow for setting of the special concrete, which allows the concrete to achieve its required compressive strength,” he said.

The statement added that due to the number of expansion joints to be cast on the closed section of the bridge and the traffic situation in Lagos State, especially during the week days; the casting of the expansion joints would be in two stages to ensure that “the total closure is only at the weekends, when there is less traffic plying the route.

“The first total closure of the section of the bridge between Adekunle and Adeniji Adele will be from midnight of Friday, October 9, 2020 to midnight of Sunday, October 11, 2020 to allow the contractor complete the first stage of casting works.

“The second total closure of the section of the bridge between Adekunle and Adeniji Adele will be communicated at a later date.

our colleagues have said, a laughing stock.

“We have the jurisdiction and constitutional mandate to

review the laws governing the operations or establishment of these agencies,” Lawan said.

Lawan made these

submissions against the backdrop of a motion entitled “need to check the culture of arbitrariness and brutality of Security

Operatives to Nigerians”, moved via point of Orders 42 and 52 of the Senate Rules by Chairman of Senate committee

CONGRATULATIONS...

L-R: Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) in charge of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Zone A Headquarters, Ikeja, ACG Doris Braimah; newly decorated Chief Superintendent of Immigration (CSI)/ SA to ACG, CSI Sunday Soyombo; and the Comptroller of Immigration (CI) in charge of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, CI Abdullahi M. Usmam, during the decoration of the newly promoted officer at KOLAWOLE ALLI the command headquarters, Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday

PSC Vows to Sanction Erring SARS, Others in IG’s Units Alleges lack of supervision by relevant officers From Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Police Service Commission (PSC) yesterday vowed to impose stiffer sanctions against erring personnel of the Federal Special Anti-robbery Squads (FSARS) and other officers in police units under the office of the Inspector-General of Police.

It blamed lack of supervision of SARS by those saddled with the responsibility for the excesses of the police units.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, had weekend announced a ban on some of the activities of the notorious FSARS following

their involvement in extra-judicial executions, extortion and general human rights abuse.

Force Spokesman and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Frank Mba, said Tuesday that Force Headquarters had no plan of scrapping SARS but was focused on reforming the police units.

But the PSC, in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, said it would henceforth sanction officers, who operate outside approved laws guiding their units. “The Police Service Commission has followed the recent public outcry on the brazen abuse of office by personnel of both the federal and state armed robbery squads and

other special units attached to the office of the Inspector General of Police and the seeming lack or absence of supervision by relevant supervisory authorities.

“The commission has also noted recent efforts by the Inspector General of Police and other government agencies to stem this ugly trend and wishes to warn that henceforth it will sanction any officer, whether of the federal, state or unit of the IG, including other departments of the police in the country who operates outside approved laws and regulations guiding their present engagements”, it said.

The statement signed by the Spokesman of the Commission,

Mr Ikechukwu Ani, said the “commission will henceforth closely monitor the activities of these officers and will not hesitate to punish deviants who may want to continue in their old habits. “The commission will not allow these few outlaws to tarnish the image of the Nigeria Police Force”.

The commission said it retained the constitutional mandate to discipline, dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over officers in the Nigeria Police Force except the Inspector-General of Police and maintained that “this mandate, it will discharge without fear or favour”.

Protests as Navy Retires 178 Personnel, Rejects Requests for Service Years Extension

The Nigerian Navy has retired 178 ratings some of whom still have some unexhausted years of service.

PRNigeria gathered that some of the affected officers mostly Warrant Officers and Master Warrant Officers had sought for extensions of their service years but were rejected by the Navy’s High Command.

In one of the letters titled “Notification of Retirement/ Discharge,” with a referenced No NHQ 03/143/16/AB/

Vol. 11/, the naval authority disapproved extension of service by the affected ratings. The letter, dated September 7, 2020, and signed on behalf of the Chief of Naval Staff by EE Aneke, a Rear Admiral, reads: “Sequel to the disapproval of your request for extension of service of your voluntary retirement/discharge from the NN after a period of 34 years and 187 days.

“The NN appreciates your contributions and sacrifices in the defence of the nation,

accordingly. Please note that your retirement/discharge from active service takes effects from December 31, 2020. Consequently, you are to proceed on terminal leave with effect from October 1, 2020.”

It further added: “The NN wishes you fair wind and Smooth sailing in all your future endeavours. Please accept the esteemed regards and assurances of the Chief of the Naval Staff. Onward together.”

Meanwhile, some of the ratings who spoke to PRNigeria said that they still have more years before the retirement notification was sent to them.

An affected Warrant Officer, who pleaded anonymity said: “Some of us still have about a year if not more to retire but we are being denied this privilege. Even at a critical period like this, an extension of one year is usually granted but the authority just rejected this.”

Okowa Signs Violence against Persons, Local Content Bills Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday signed the Bill to eliminate violence in private and public life 2020 and the Delta State Local Content Agency Law 2020, into law, with a charge to the legislature to continue to protect its integrity.

The governor said that both laws would ensure the prevalence of atmosphere for peaceful co-existence in the state.

He commended the state House of Assembly for being

resourceful and enterprising, saying that it had continued to pass Bills in spite of the tough times the members had had to carry out their functions during the pandemic.

Okowa noted that one of the new laws sought to eliminate violence in private and public life and to prohibit all forms of violence against persons and provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment against

offenders.

He said that the law was very important to all families and to the government because it would ensure the protection of women, girls, children and men.

“We realise that to have a decent society such laws must be in place and I believe that this will ensure greater peace and harmony in the home and in the public place.

“Beyond this, it will enable us to live in peace and live like

human beings we were created to be, because many times the instincts in man tend to go against the laws of peace.

“By the grace of God, this law will provide enough punishment for all offenders. I read through it and I am quite pleased with the punishments that have been spelt out in the law for people who will be offenders and I urge all Deltans to find time to go through it so that they will be guided accordingly.

36

THURSDAY OCTOBER 8, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Fireworks as Akeredolu, Jegede Engage in Governorship Debate Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie The governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Rotimi

Akeredolu and that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, yesterday engaged in live TV debate where both promised the people of Ondo State, of good

Senate to Investigate Banks over Excessive Charges To summon CBN, NNPC, DPR, others

Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Senate has beamed its searchlight on the bogus charges allegedly paid by bank customers as it resolved yesterday to investigate commercial banks over their collection of what it termed excessive and illegal charges.

The lawmakers have also resolved to investigate the activities of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Department of Petroleum Resources over Nigeria’s crude oil exports account.

It has therefore mandated its Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions to cause an investigation into illicit and excessive bank charges by

commercial banks operating in the country.

The upper legislative chamber also urged the CBN to look into the complaints of Nigerians in this regard with a view to reviewing downward all charges on their bank accounts.

These resolutions were sequel to the adoption of a motion entitled “Urgent need to investigate and review illicit and excessive charges by Nigerian banks on customers’ accounts”, sponsored by Senator Abba Moro.

Moro had noted that such charges and deductions range from bank SMS charges, intrabank transfer charges in the sum of N52.50, Automated Teller Machine Card renewal charges, and account maintenance charges in the sum of N93.13.

governance if declared winner in the Saturday governorship election in the state.

The two candidates also promised to boost the education sector, health sector and create jobs for the people, while putting security at the front burner of the their administration.

Akeredolu who is seeking a second term in office, assured the people of Ondo State that he would sustain the existing

infrastructure development, which he has achieved in the last four years and also do more in the area of job creation, education, health, security and revenue generation for the state.

“I believe in continuity and I intend to complete some of the projects I have already started, if given the opportunity to govern the state again. We have clear direction of where we are going and we want the good people of Ondo State

to vote APC for continuity,” Akeredolu said.

But Jegede accused Akeredolu of under developing some parts of the state like the Illaje area, and also inflicting high cost of education on the people of the state.

He promised the people of Illaje community of better development if voted into power.

Jegede said education, health and infrastructure would be

his key focus area, and that he would ensure quality education that would be pocket-friendly.

While Akeredolu promised he would raise the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state beyond its present N2 billion per month without over taxing the people, Jegede promised the people of speedy development by coming up with initiatives that will not dwell so much on taxing the people of the state.

CELEBRATING ANOTHER MEGA DEAL..

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu; Executive Vice Chairman, ENL Consortium, Princess Vicky Haastrup; Ojora of Ojora Land; Oba Fatai Oyeyinka; Group Managing Director, Sifax Group, Mr. Adekunle Oyinloye; Managing Director, Instarmac Nigeria, Mr. Wale Afolab; and the Executive Director, Marine Operations, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr. Onari Brown, during the official inauguration SUNDAYADIGUN of Ijora Causeway Sifax Terminal in Lagos…yesterday

COVID-19: We Saved over 800 Bank Workers from Osinbajo: FG Nearing Completion of Afam Dismissal, Says NLC effecting massive layoffs, Power, Yola Disco Privatisation Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja retrenchment and retirement.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has disclosed that its intervention saved over 800 bank workers from being sacked during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said this yesterday while addressing journalists on the occasion of the 2020 World Decent Work Day. Wabba explained that COVID-19 was “brutally felt in the world of work”.

He lamented that more than 400 million jobs have been lost to the pandemic globally.

The labour leader said, “Many employers of labour have latched on this economic slow-down to vent their venom on poor workers with many workplaces

“We would recall upon the first phase of the easing of the lockdown, a bank fired 800 of its staff. The bank was only testing the waters as other banks were already primed to follow suit.

It took the intervention of the Nigeria Labour Congress to halt the anti-workers purge.

“Through the instrumentality of the Labour Civil Society Situation Room on COVID-19 which we set up both at the national level and in all our state councils, Congress wrote strongly worded letters to the Federal Government, the Central Bank of Nigeria and other regulatory agencies warning of the dire consequences of offering workers as the sacrificial lamb during the pandemic.

Gunmen Abduct Former Nasarawa Commissioner

Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia

The immediate past Commissioner for Higher Education in Nasarawa State, Mr. Clement Uhembe, was abducted in the late hours of Tuesday at his Lafia residence by gunmen who are demanding N30million ransom for his release.

The incident was confirmed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Nasarawa State Command, ASP. Ramhan Nansel, who added that the command has mobilised personnel for his rescue.

The gunmen, who were reportedly armed with sophisticated weapons, invaded the residence of Uhembe, who is also a senior lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Federal University, Lafia, at about

8:30p.m.

The wife of the former commissioner, Mrs. Amarya Uhembe, told THISDAY that the abductors, who numbered up to ten, broke into one of their apartments where her husband was resting after the day’s work at the university and whisked him away to an unknown destination.

She said: “The gunmen came at about 8:30p.m. and started knocking forcefully at the door while my husband was in the inner room. I moved close to the door to see who was knocking only to discover that they were heavily armed men.

“When I noticed they were armed men, I quickly tried to close the door, shouting for help before my husband came to join me and we succeeded in closing it.”

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday said that the federal government was concluding the process of privatising the Afam Power Station and the Afam Three Fast Power as well as the re-privatisation of the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) to boost the current efforts aimed at providing reliable power supply in the country.

Speaking yesterday during a virtual launch and presentation of the maiden edition of the

Electricity Law Reports in the country, the vice president stated that with all the activities embarked upon by the government, including the deal with Siemens AG and expected funding from the World Bank and the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), Nigeria’s power problems will soon be over.

The law reports contain an exact reproduction of the judgments of various courts and panels; detailed analysis of facts, issues, subject matter, and findings on all known judgments as

well as landmark decisions of the industry regulator, Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC), relating to the electricity sector from 1900 to date and is spearheaded by Mr. Wale Irokosu, the Editorin-Chief.

Osinbajo explained that postprivatisation, the energy sector had experienced challenges, stemming from the technical and commercial misalignment which has led to high technical and commercial losses by operators and resulting in suboptimal market performance.

“Notwithstanding the forgoing, this administration is committed to resolving the challenges and delivering the president’s objective to deliver efficient, stable and reliable power to the generality of Nigerians and put Nigeria on the path of recovery.

“In view of this, the federal government has initiated a series of intervention programmes to address the challenges in the power sector into two broad categories, namely commercial viability and technical and infrastructure capacity.

N’ Assembly Bars Ministers, Aides from Buhari’s Budget Presentation The Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, has stated that COVID-19 protocols would be fully observed during the presentation of the 2021 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly today by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said many most of the president’s aides, who are not directly involved in the budget process, would not be admitted into the chambers.

He said that those who would

not be admitted may however join the session virtually.

Lawan made these remarks following a motion by the Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, on the floor of the Senate titled: “That the Senate and House of Representatives do sit in a joint session to receive an address by Mr. President Commander-In-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, 8th October, 2020 at 11a.m on the 2021 Appropriation

Bill.”

The Senate President said that the presentation will last for roughly one hour.

According to him: “The joint session normally takes place in the chamber of the House of Representatives.

“It is going to be the same.

It will take place there but by this time around because of the situation of COVID-19, we have made arrangements to observe social distancing in the Chamber.

“We also have to wear out face masks mandatorily. We are going to also abridge the entire event because we will be many there.

“So the entire event will last just about an hour. From the entry of the President into the chamber and addresses and the presentation and laying will be just an hour event so that we are able to comply with the requirements of the COvID-19 protocol.

Ondo Poll: I’m Confident of Winning, Says Ajayi James Sowole in Akure

The Deputy Governor of Ondo State and the candidate of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Hon Agboola Ajayi, yesterday said he would defeat other candidates contesting in the next Saturday election to emerge the next governor of the state.

Ajayi made the boast at Owo, headquarters of Owo

Local Government Area of the state during his campaign tour, adding that he has all it takes to defeat other candidates in the election.

He told the residents of the area not to panic during the election but should go out and cast their votes.

Ajayi said the threat of violence before, during and after the election is an empty

one as security agencies would be on ground to protect lives and property.

The deputy governor regretted the violence that he said had claimed many lives during the clashes among rival political parties.

He advised his supporters not to take up arms against anybody, but should go out, vote and make sure their votes

count.

Ajayi said: “We are here to campaign. We are not here to fight anybody. Please, don’t allow anybody to provoke you.

Vote and protect your votes.”

In his remark, former Governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, said many people were scared to attend political rallies because of the violence of the past.

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Ortom Urges FG Not to Dismiss Clamour for Restructuring George Okoh in Makurdi Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, yesterday joined other prominent Nigerians to call on the federal government to urgently restructure the country to save it from collapse.

Ortom stressed that the government must “listen to the views of the people and evolve acceptable ways of addressing the problems confronting the

country.”

This was contained in a statement titled, ‘FG Needs Not Dismiss Views of Nigerians on National Issues,’ signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase.

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, had on Saturday called on the President to restructure the country “as soon as possible”.

Adeboye, who 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 Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, warned that it was either the country restructured as soon as possible or it broke up. “You don’t have to be a prophet to know that one,” he added.

The Presidency, in a reaction,

had described the calls as “recurring threats to the corporate existence of the country” and an “unpatriotic outbursts”.

But Ortom in the statement berated the Presidency for its inability to listen to the views of concerned Nigerians.

The statement partly read, “Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom urges the federal government not to dismiss calls for the restructuring of the country

and other views expressed by the people as ‘unpatriotic outbursts’.

“Nigeria is practising democracy which guarantees the freedom of speech to all citizens and not military regime which suppresses the right of the people to voice their opinions about challenges facing their country.

“It is incumbent on the federal government to listen to the views of the people and evolve acceptable ways of addressing

the problems confronting the country instead of engaging in a combative style, anyone who dares to suggest alternative approaches to tackling the challenges.

“Great nations of the world got to their enviable status by harnessing and utilising ideas of their citizens, not by discouraging those who made bold submissions on the development of their countries.”

Protesters in Lagos, Oyo, Edo Reject IG’s Reform, Want SARS Scrapped Chiemelie Ezeobi Some youths yesterday took to the streets of Lagos, Oyo and Edo States to insist on the scrapping of Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).

The protesters, who rejected the reforms announced by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, lamented the the incessant acts of brutality, extortion and even extra-judicial killing, perpetuated by the police unit.

In Ibadan, Oyo State, the protests were organised by youths under the aegis of the Concerned Nigerian Youths.

The angry youths also took the streets in Benin, Edo State capital, where they marched around the King’s Square, Sapele Road and visited the palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II to register their grievances.

Tagged “Three Days Protest Calling for the Outright Disbandment of SARS”, the protesters listed the Lagos State Police Command and the State House of Assembly as focal points.

With placards bearing inscriptions like “Am I the next to die,” “Stop Police Brutality,” “Why shoot bullets at us”, “I am not a criminal #EndSARS,” “Our lives matter,” “Stop criminalising innocent citizens,” and “Stop extorting and killing us,” the protesters took to the streets of Lagos.

From Ikeja Under Bridge opposite Computer Village, they took their peaceful protests to the Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja, where they highlighted the incessant and unfair harassment they are being subjected to daily

by SARS operatives.

The protesters also got participants to sign a register outlining their pains in the hands of SARS, which they afterwards took to the command headquarters.

On getting to the command, their demands to meet the Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command, CP Hakeem Odumosu, proved abortive, but the protesters did not give up.

Rather than give up, they all sat on the ground of the inroad leading into the command headquarters.

Their resilience later paid off as the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, DCP Ali Muhammed was directed to address them.

He appealed for peace just as he reiterated ongoing measures by the Police Force Headquarters and the Lagos Command to stop the anomaly.

In their demands as articulated

by Citizens Gavel Foundation against Social Justice, they lamented that despite several reforms announced by the IG, cases of abuse of citizens by SARS have increased without any steps taken by the police hierarchy to address the fundamental problem of impunity of the operatives.

They further stated that SARS operatives promote extortion for self-enrichment and lawlessness, of which their non-adherence to the prescription of the law poses greater consequences for citizens.

In their demands, the protesters first called for the total disbandment of SARS as a unit, just as they called for a list of all officers that have been found culpable in the past and transparent prosecution of such officers.

GIVING BACK TO ALMA MATER...

Representative of Osun State governor, Dr. Charles Akinola (left), and the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, during the inauguration of N50 million projects of old students of St. John’s Grammar School, Ile-Ife, Osun State... weekend

UAE Begins Issuance of Visa to Nigerians Today Chinedu Eze in LagosandKasim Sumaina in Abuja

At last, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will start issuing visa to Nigerians from today while the country’s mega airline carrier, Emirates Airlines, would start flight operations to the country from tomorrow.

The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika gave the hint yesterday while expressing the readiness of

the UAE to begin the issuance of visas to Nigerians to enable them access to the UAE, which was the ‘Condition Precedent’ by the Federal Government of Nigeria to Emirates Airline before it would recommence flights to the country.

Sirika wrote via his twitter handle: @hadisirika, that: “UAE confirmed that they will begin the issuance of visas from October 8, 2020.”

The minister spelt out the conditions given by the UAE authorities to travellers to be able to travel to the Gulf country.

According to Sirika, “Travelers will have a return ticket, hotel booking, negative PCR result and a health insurance (similar to Schengen requirement). Health insurance can be paid through travel agents/airline.”

Emirates flights into the Murtala Muhammed International Airport,

Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, were suspended on March 21, 2020.

Sirika in his twitter further wrote: “Similar to Schengen requirement, this tone might mean that there is a likelihood that the European airlines, such as Air France, Lufthansa, and KLM, are looking forward to restarting operations soon, having mentioned the phrase ‘similar to Schengen requirement’.”

Saraki Demands Free, Fair Poll in Ondo, Rallies Support for Jegede Chuks Okocha in Abuja The immediate-past Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security officials and the electorate in next Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State to ensure that the peaceful, credible, free and fair process witnessed in the Edo State recent election is not only sustained, but improved upon.

Saraki in a statement issued by his media office in Abuja yesterday advised INEC and security officials to quickly do a comprehensive review of how it achieved the commendable process in Edo State, and ensure that nothing less than that is repeated in Ondo State.

According to him, “These isolated polls as we have in Ondo State next Saturday and recently in Edo State have given us the opportunity to perfect

our electoral system. We must continue to improve on the system with every one of these out-of-season elections so that the next general election will perhaps be the best the country has witnessed in the last 60 years.

“It is a good omen that the election is coming a few days after the 60th Independence anniversary of Nigeria. INEC, security officials and all individuals involved in the October 10 election in Ondo

State must present a credible poll to all Nigerians as part of the Independence anniversary gifts.

“From the Edo State experience, we have seen that when the process is free and fair, the post-election contestation and the tension they usually generate are easily eliminated. The sides that do not win will be graceful in defeat while the victorious one will be magnanimous in victory.”

Parents have been advised against promoting trafficking of their children abroad for financial gains.

The Executive Director of a group, Pathfinders Justice Initiative (PJI), Evon BensonIdahosa, gave the advice in Benin-city, Edo State, at a forum where a research findings on recruiters of sex trafficking in Oredo Local Government Area

of the state was unveiled to stakeholders in partnership with CLEEN Foundation.

The ‘Pathway to Prevention’ research project was conducted over a period of one year (September 2019 to September 2020) in Oredo LGA, and is the first to focus solely on recruiters (promoters) of sex trafficking from one of the most endemic hot-spots in Africa.

She said the research published in 2020 shows that 98.7 per cent of the people interviewed agreed that parents in Oredo LGA mount pressure on their children (potential victims) to travel aboard for prostitution.

Benson-Idahosa said: “The survey revealed that potential victims’ families mount pressure on their

own children by regularly making comparisons with the potential victim’s peers, who had travelled abroad and appeared to be successful.

“It also revealed that although both parents of potential victims may mount pressure on them to consent to being trafficked abroad, mothers are more often implicated in these situations.”

Ondo Election: ADC NGO Cautions Parents against Promoting Sex Trade Candidate Denies Withdrawing from Race James Sowole in Akure The African Democratic Congress (ADC) yesterday declared that its candidate, Mr. Dapo Adelegan, was still in the race for the Ondo State governorship seat, contrary to the rumours that the party has formed coalition with a candidate of another party in the next Saturday gubernatorial election in the state.

The National Chairman of the party, Chief Ralphs Nwosu, made the declaration in Akure at a news conference that preceded the grand finale rally of its governorship candidate.

Nwosu, who was represented

by ADC National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Ibrahim Suleiman, said the party’s

candidate for the state election is the most credible politician in the state.

He said the party is committed to the transformation of Ondo State economy as well as serve the people efficiently.

The party, with less than 48 hours to the election, suspended some of its state executives for anti-party activities.

ADC announced that Mr. Ibrahim Rasheed is the new acting chairman of the party in the state while Timothy Akinola is the acting secretary.

This is just as some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) announced their defection to the ADC.

FG, Ondo Govt to Empower 1,200 Youths Annually Over 1, 200 youth will be empowered with life-skills annually in Ondo State as the federal government strives to halt and reverse to worrisome rate of unemployment in the country.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAPSDGs), Princess Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire stated this at the

weekend at the commissioning of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Skill Acquisition Centre in Ile-Oluji, Ondo State.

The presidential aide noted that the Skill Acquisition Centre which was constructed and equipped by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals is designed to be a

strategic tool for the economic empowerment and cater for various life-skills trainings for young men and women in the areas of Sewing, Fashion & Dressmaking Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Photography, Hair styling & Cosmetology, Barbing, Catering, Tiling & Interlocking, Automobile, Aluminium Fabrication &

Welding, Plumbing etc.

“There is also provision for short term training on Bead making, Soap making, Makeup Artistry, Event Planning, Painting, Drawing, Weaving, and Shoemaking.” Princess OrelopeAdefulire stated, adding that the Centre is one of numerous centres constructed and equipped across the country.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 8, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Senate Raises the Alarm over Poor Pay of Judges Disagrees over screening of S’Court justices

Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Senate yesterday decried the poor remuneration of judges in the country, saying their poor pay could make them to compromise or become vulnerable to corruption in the course of their justice dispensation.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary , Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, stated this during the screening of the eight justices recently nominated by President Muhamnadu Buhari, from the Court of Appeal as justices of Supreme Court .

The lawmakers however disagreed on methods that should be adopted in screening the justices.

Bamidele condemned the poor welfare packages given judicial officers and justices in the country .

Bamidele said the pay of each of the justices of the Supreme Court per annum as far as basic salary was concerned was N2.477million, while those of the Court of Appeal was N1.995million each and judges

of the high court , N1.804million each.

He said on a monthly basis , the total pay of a justice of the Supreme Court is N753,000 while his counterpart in the Court of Appeal was paid N608,000 and the High Court judges got N556,000.00 each .

He said, “The enumerated poor take home packages for judges and justices, clearly show that they are not being fortified in anyway against temptation on the line of duty.”

However, there was a mild drama among members of the committee on methods that should be adopted in screening the justices.

Senator Chukwuka Utazi raised an observation that it would be better for the screening of the Supreme Court justices to be held behind closed doors.

However, Senator James Manager kicked against Utazi’s observation and noted that there was no time that Supreme Court judges nominees were screened behind closed doors since he had been in the Senate, He insisted that Utazi’s observation lacked precedent and should be discarded since

there were interested members of the public, especially civil society organisations and the Nigerian Bar Association and media.

Senators Peter Nwaoboshi, Bala Na’Allah and Abdullahi

Adamu agreed with Manager.

Senator Ike Ekweremadu backed Utazi, but said that members of the judiciary committee could go into a closed door session without the

nominees so that modalities for the screening would be perfected and adopted.

Efforts by the chairman to subject the observations to a vote so that the issue would be

resolved also hit a wall.

Immediately he asked that the issue be put to vote, some senators said it would be better if the committee’s voting decision was taken behind closed doors.

FIGHTING PANDEMIC...

L-R: PR specialist, Multichoice Nigeria, Mr. Timothy Okwu; Managing Director, Sickle Cell Foundation, Dr. Annette Akinsete; Executive Head, Corporate Affairs, MultiChoice Nigeria, Caroline Oghuma; and CSI Specialist, MultiChoice Nigeria, Akaoma Onyeonoru, during the presentation of protective gear and face masks to sickle cell foundations in Lagos...yesterday

Customs Hands over Suspect with 5,342 ATM NEPZA Targets $12bn Cards to EFCC in Kano Annually from Solid Minerals Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

James Emejo and Folalumi Alaran in Abuja The Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA), Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, yesterday stressed the need for the government to shift its attention towards the immediate development of the solid minerals sector.

He added that the gemstones/jewelry subsector alone has the potential to generate about $12 billion annually for the country.

Adesugba said Nigeria must strive to benefit from the global jewelry market which is currently worth about $500 billion.

Speaking when he received members of the Nigeria Chambers of Mines (NCOM) led by its President, Alhaji Sani Shehu, who paid him a courtesy

visit, he also disclosed plans to establish a special economic zone for the sector.

He said the development of the sector would support President Muhammadu Buhari’s renewed vigour towards a holistic and coordinated exploration of mineral deposits for maximum contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The NEPZA boss said: “Nigeria should be the gem capital for Africa, because we have all kinds of gemstones-the most expensive in the worldand I doubt if 10 per cent of Nigerians realise that they are living on top of enormous wealth, therefore, we must make use of it. We are aware of quite a lot of foreigners that come because of it, and a high percentage of the gemstones used in Thailand, India, and Sri Lanka are from Nigeria.”

Igede Ekiti Progressive Association Congratulates Nigeria’s Best Teacher The Igede-Ekiti Progressive Association Worldwide has congratulated the newly crowned National Best Teacher in Nigeria; Mr. Henry Olaoluwa Asubiojo.

Asubiojo who was also the Ekiti State Best Teacher (Secondary School Category) in 2019 was announced National Best Teacher in Abuja on October 5 as part of activities marking the 2020 World Teachers Day. High Chief (AIG rtd) Henry Adebayo Fadairo; President of Igede-Ekiti Progressive Association Worldwide in a statement signed by Yeye Bolanle Olatunde; the National

Publicity Secretary described Asubiojo’s feat as highly commendable, heartwarming and worthy of emulation. He rejoiced with Dr John Kayode Fayemi; the Ekiti State Governor, HRM Oba James Adelusi Aladesuru II, the Onigede of Igede-Ekiti, the Asubiojo family as well as every indigene of the town famed as the source of Osun River on this rare achievement.

“Here’s wishing more ink to the pen of this worthy ambassador of our town even as I pray more successes for him now and in the years ahead” he said.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Area Command in Kano State yesterday handed over one Sanusi Abdullahi Labaran, who was arrested while attempting to smuggle 5,342 Automated Teller Machine Cards (ATM) out of the country, to the Kano zonal office of the Economic and

Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.

The NCS Area Comptroller, Kano and Jigawa State Command, Nasiru Ahmed, who handed over the suspect to the EFCC in Kano, disclosed that the suspect was apprehended at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport by Customs officers

as he attempted to board an Ethiopian Airline to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

He further disclosed that a search conducted on the suspect yielded 5,342 ATM cards bearing different names which he concealed in a bag of beans.

Also found on him were seven pieces of memory cards

and one SD card.

The suspect was handed over along with the items recovered from him, including his travel documents and Dubai resident permit.

The zonal head of the EFCC, Aliyu Mohammed, while lauding the partnership between the two agencies, commended NCS for the arrest.

FG Pledges Mitigation Measures against Flooding in N’Delta Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The federal government has expressed commitment to implement the recommendations of the Inter-Agency Committee to tackle flood disaster in the Niger Delta region.

It assured Nigerians that proactive measures would be taken to avert such disasters while necessary efforts would be evolved to mitigate the situation

where they occur.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, stated this in Abuja yesterday at the official presentation of the committee’s report on the assessment of potential impact of flooding and the level of preparedness in the region for the 2020 seasonal rainfall.

He said: “Over the years, the Niger Delta region has

witnessed varying degrees of environmental challenges that have had tremendous negative impact on not only the people of the region but also on the country at large.

“One of these environmental challenges that has assumed annual occurrence is the seasonal flooding of the area with its catastrophic consequences, hence the inauguration of the Inter-Agency Committee.”

At statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Patricia Deworitshe, said the minister assured Nigerians that the report of the committee would be forwarded to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) as well as all the state governors, local government areas in the region and the international oil companies located in the region.

Fayemi Gives Kingmakers Ultimatum to Select New Monarch Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has given the kingmakers of Ipao Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area a 14-day ultimatum to fill the royal stool of Obanla, which has been vacant for four years.

Fayemi, who was represented by the Deputy Governor,

Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, gave the directive at a meeting with the kingmakers in his office, and expressed dismay that the town had been without a traditional ruler since 2016.

The immediate-past Obanla of Ipao Ekiti, Oba Joseph Bolaji Aina, who ascended the throne in 1962, died in 2016 after reigning for 54 years.

The deputy governor stressed that the state government would abide by the 1982 Ipao Ekiti chieftaincy gazette which stipulated that it was the turn of the Adesogan Ruling House to produce the next Obanla.

Speaking at the meeting with the kingmakers, he explained that the development and progress of any town without

a traditional ruler would be adversely affected, hence the need to fill the stool as early as possible.

Egbeyemi said the Governor Fayemi administration was desirous of promptly filling vacant stools to ensure smooth running of communities and the need to give them direction at all times.

Buhari Approves Reappointment of Okhiria as MD of NRC Kasim Sumaina in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday approved the reappointment of Mr. Fidet Okhiria as the Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC).

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene

Ajani, in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja by the Director of Press of the ministry, Eric Ejiekwe, disclosed that Buhari, through a letter with the reference No: SH/COS/17/A/1698 dated October 5, 2020, approved the renewal of the appointment of Freeborn Edetanlaen Okhiria as the managing director and

CEO of the NRC. Ajani noted that the reappointment is in accordance with the relevant section of the Nigerian Railway Corporation Act. Cap 129, LFN, 2004.

Confirming the reappointment in a statement issued yesterday to journalists, the Deputy Director, Public

Relations of the corporation, Mr. Yakub Mamood, added that recently, the management under the leadership of Okhiria, was saddled with the responsibility of managing the newly inaugurated WarriItakpe standard gauge railway line for movement and freight of passengers to and from the two destinations.

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THURSDAYSPORTS

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

I N T E R N AT I O N A L F R I E N D L I E S

Rohr Puts Super Eagles Under Strict Covid-19 Rules in Austrian Camp Femi Solaja Ahead of Nigeria’s first international match tomorrow in Austria since the Covid-19 pandemic era, Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Gernot Rohr, has put all his players under strict Covid-19 rules.

Nigeria will play reigning African champions, Fennec of Algeria in Austria with no fans allowed in the stands. It is in the bid to keep players and non playing personnel from contracting the virus that team handlers are also playing strictly by the rules on keeping safe.

According to the team’s Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye, “everything is going well in the camp and we are looking forward to a good game with all the players staying safe since arrival in camp.”

Ibitoye confirmed to THISDAY that since the players arrival at Hotel die Zeit an der Glan in Austria, all the preparations toward the two friendly matches have been going according to plans with all the conventional and health rules been applied on all the players.

“So far, there is no injury worry for the coach and we have been training twice daily (Tuesday and Wednesday) with same thing expected today.

“We are looking forward to a good game against Algeria and the players have put the semi final loss to them at AFCON 2019 behind them, meaning It’s not a question about revenge but preparation towards forth coming major qualifying tournaments.

“All the players are acquainted with the global health challenge and because of this the coach has placed all of them under strict protocol rules with nose mask compulsory within the hotel, social distancing and regular sanitising after every outing outside of the hotel and training ground essential too.

“Ahead of the match, all the players will undergo mandatory Covid-19 test Thursday (today) which is aimed at erasing all health doubt from both teams,” stressed the team’s spokesman.

He also confirmed that the players have positive

Nigeria Ready for Big Games with Algeria, Tunisia The camp of the Super Eagles at the Hotel die Zeit an der Glan in Austria is brimming with excitement following the arrival of all invited players, and stout confidence that the the mixture of old boys and new acts are capable of turning back African champions Algeria and the continent’s second-ranked team Tunisia in two friendlies between Friday and Tuesday.

Heartwarming news came on Monday eveningwhen former Germany U20 captain Kevin Akpoguma, who arrived camp only to bond with Nigeria’s international train ahead of his switch to fatherland, was cleared by FIFA’s single judge to dorn the green-white-green henceforth.

His clearance solidifies a dependable backline of Kenneth Omeruo, Leon Balogun, Chidozie Awaziem, William Ekong, Olaoluwa Aina, Jamilu Collins, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi and first-time invitee Zaidu Sanusi.

Algeria, who have a second game against Mexico in The Netherlands on Tuesday, come into Friday’s game not only as the champions of Africa, but also on the back of an 18-match unbeaten run.

They have not lost on the pitch since they were bumped by the odd goal in an AFCON 2019 qualifier away in Benin Republic in October 2018.

Two years earlier, they

were bounced 3-1 by the Super Eagles in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Uyo. Both teams ended the return leg in Constantine 1-1, though the Eagles had already picked the only World Cup ticket from the group ahead of that final encounter.

Tunisia, who play the Super Eagles on Tuesday at the same venue, will host Sudan’s Falcons at the Stade Olympique in Rades on Friday at the same time the Eagles are taking to the pitch against the Fennecs in Austria.

Djamel Belmadi, the former Algerian international who coached his country to a second continental title in Egypt last year, has included standout names Riyad Mahrez, Yassine Brahimi, Sofiane Feghouli and Baghdad Bounedjah in his 24-man squad to confront the threetime African champions.

Coach Gernot Rohr also has in his team Captain Ahmed Musa, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze and Kenneth Omeruo, but he has to do without electrifying forward Victor Osimhen and midfield lynchpin Wilfred Ndidi.

New birds Frank Onyeka and Chidera Ejuke, and former U17 captain Samson Tijani have the opportunity to impress.

Friday’s game, like Tuesday’s, will kick off at 8.30pmAustria time (7.30pmNigeria time).

mindsets ahead of the clash with Algeria. “The players are positive about the match and are looking forward to a favourable result that will gladden the hearts of

Nigerians back home and worldwide.”

Three –time African champions Nigeria will file out against the in-form Fennecs at the Jacques

Lemans Arena on Friday before taking on 2004 African champions Tunisia at the same venue on Tuesday next week.

Match organisers, Eurodata

Sport have clarified that no fan will be allowed inside the stadium for any of the two matches, in conformity with extant protocols on the coronavirus pandemic.

Super Eagles players in buoyant mood ahead of tomorrow’s international friendly with Algeria in Austria

Ajax Refuse Travel to African Internationals Ajax Amsterdam have refused to allow four of their African internationals to travel and join up with their national teams this week because they would have to quarantine on their return to the Netherlands, the club confirmed yesterday.

Ghana’s Mohammed Kudus, Moroccan pair Zakaria Labyad and Noussair Mazraoui, and Lassina Traore from Burkina Faso have not

been released as Ajax have made use of a FIFA ruling that allows clubs to refuse to release their players this month if they face a period of quarantine or self-isolation on their return.

Usually players must be released if called up for international duty during the FIFA window but world football’s governing body announced a relaxation last week amid a spike in

Covid-19 infections in recent weeks.

Ajax confirmed the players would remain in Amsterdam in a reply to a Reuters’ query.

Morocco and Ghana’s football associations also confirmed the absences.

Kudus, who Ajax recently signed from Nordsjaelland in Denmark, was to join up with Ghana for two internationals against Mali and Iran, to be played in Turkey.

Morocco have home friendlies against Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Burkina Faso play the Congolese tomorrow and Madagascar next week, also in Morocco.

Ajax’s Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana has joined up with his national side, as they are playing against Japan in Utrecht tomorrow.

Friendlies, Euro Qualifier, Nations League Live on DStv, GOtv Football lovers can look forward to more international football action on DStv and GOtv, as the group stage matches of the 2020/21 International Friendlies, UEFA Nations League and UEFA Euro Qualifiers 2020 air live on SuperSport.

Starting from today October 8 through Wednesday, September 14, 2020, SuperSport will provide coverage on no less than 10 international friendlies and no less than 32 UEFA Nations League (UNL) and Euro 2020 matches in the space of seven days.

The International Friendlies are headlined by a British derby between England and Wales. For the ‘Three Lions’, Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be hoping to make a major impact on his first call-up to Gareth Southgate’s team, having enjoyed a goal-laden start to the campaign with the Toffees.

Thursday also sees Belgium and

New Zealand kick-off at 7:45pm on SuperSport Premier League.

Earlier in the day Russia and Sweden battle it out at 5:30pm on SuperSport Premier League.

Euro 2020 qualification has reached the playoff semifinal stage and Thursday 8 October sees Georgia host Belarus at 5pm on SS Premiere League.

In the early kick-off, before three evening games: Scotland will look to pick up their form for the visit of Israel airing at 7:45pm on SS Football, Slovakia will tackle the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland head to Bosnia and Herzegovina, both at 7:45pm on SS Variety 3 and SS La Liga respectively.

The UNL action gets underway on Saturday 10 October, with the pick of the games seeing Spain host Switzerland at 7:45pm on SS Premier League, with La Furia Roja looking to maintain their place at the top of Group 4 in

League A, ahead of Ukraine and Germany, who will meet in a concurrent match also at 7:45pm on SS Football. Luxembourg will meet Cyprus at 2pm on

TODAY World Cup Qualifier Uruguay

v

Bulgaria Iceland Bosnia&H Norway Scotland

v v v v v

Togo Russia S’Africa England

v v v v

Chile Nations League (Play-off) Hungary Romania N’Ireland Serbia Israel Friendlies Libya Sweden Namibia Wales

SS Football, Montenegro vs Azerbaijan at 2pm on SS Premier League and Faroe Island vs Latvia at 5pm on SS Premier League.

FRIENDLIES Cyprus

1-2 Czech

Denmark 4-2 Faroe Island Zambia

1-0 Malawi

Austria

2-1 Greece

Germany 3-3 Turkey Italy

6-0 Moldova

Holland

0-1 Mexico

Poland

5-1 Finland

Portugal

0-0 Spain

Switzerland 1-2 Croatia France

7-1 Ukraine

Thursday, October 8, 2020

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

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Price: N250

MISSILE Emeka Nwajiuba to ASUU “Government is actually not holding anyone to ransom. It says ‘this is how I want to pay and it has to be through IPPIS’. You can opt out of it and say ‘I no longer want to teach’. You can find other professions. What we need now are probably more farmers.” – Minister of State, Education, Emeka Nwajuiba, saying ASUU is opposed to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System to avoid accountability.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Dealing with the SARS Menace A

nyone who has followed testimonies (backed mostly by video evidence) from victims of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) knows it would take more than feeble press statements to change the orientation of those who have been conditioned to believe they are above the law. For years, members of this notorious police unit have operated solely by their own code. So I see no reason why they would give any regard to the current directive by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu to desist from carrying out stop and search duties and setting up roadblocks. Indeed, available reports indicate that these operatives are still very much in business across the country.

This is not a new challenge. Several of my columns, including ‘Beyond the Brutalities of Police SARS’ (December 2017), ‘The Assassins in Police Uniform’ (April 2019) and ‘Let Me Talk to My Father before I Die’ (August 2019) recount how our policemen routinely violate the rights of citizens they are paid to protect. And while I have extraordinary sympathy for the men and women in uniform whose welfare we too often neglect, the matter may finally be reaching a denouement.

With celebrities and government officials joining the campaign against the excesses of SARS, something must give.

In a 2018 piece, I highlighted the growing allegations that SARS operatives are neck deep in criminal activities and prefaced that intervention with the fact that such defiant behaviour is not peculiar to Nigeria.

I particularly referenced the report in the United States of a study released in June 2016 which revealed that on an annual basis, as many as 1,100 police officers are charged with committing crimes. In the course of the study, said to be the first in US history, researchers compiled 6,724 cases involving 674 officers who were arrested more than once. According to the lead researcher, Philip M. Stinson, “Police crimes are not uncommon…Our data directly contradicts some of the prevailing assumptions and the proposition that only a small group of rotten apples perpetrate the vast majority of police crime.”

The essence of spotlighting the US report was not to excuse criminal behaviour by SARS but rather to provide a background that rogue police officers are not peculiar to Nigeria. What is peculiar to our country is the lack of accountability that has encouraged those who should protect citizens to abuse their powers without consequences. That was the point underscored in a chilling Amnesty International report released on 26th June 2020 (just about four months ago) titled, ‘Time to end impunity: Torture and other human rights violations by Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS)’. In the report, Amnesty International documented cases of extrajudicial executions, sexual violence, torture, extortion and other forms of brutality that reveal “a pattern of abuse of power by SARS officers and the consistent failure by the Nigerian authorities to bring perpetrators to justice.”

According to Amnesty International,

IGP...Mohammed Adamu “financial gain - rather than curbing armed robbery and other forms of criminal activity - appears to be one of the motivating factors of the SARS, as they constantly raid public places frequented by young people, in order to extort money from them. Evidence collected indicates that SARS officers regularly demand bribes, steal and extort money from criminal suspects and their families. Additionally, SARS officers act outside of their legal ambit by investigating civil matters and in some cases torturing detainees involved in contractual, business and even noncriminal disputes.” The damning report which critical stakeholders in the justice sector should read added: “Most victims of ill-treatment by the SARS are usually poor. Many are arrested by the SARS officers during large dragnet operations involving mass arrests, including raids on bars and television viewing centres, and ordered to pay a bribe to be released.

Those who are unable to pay are often tortured, either as punishment or to coerce them to find the money. The alternative is to risk being labelled as an armed robber.

In most cases, this occurs with the full knowledge and acquiescence of superior police officers.”

As weighty as that allegation may be, most of those who have encountered SARS believe it to be true. Besides, so emboldened are these criminal elements within the unit that they, sometimes at gunpoint, order their hapless victims to transfer money from their mobile handsets. Yet, despite those easy-to-trace trails and the many social media posts about their atrocities, none have been brought to justice. That’s why many believe nothing will change. In any case, we have been down this road before. Following a similar public outcry two years ago, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on 14th August 2018 ordered an immediate reform of SARS which led to the cynical addition of letter F (for Federal) to the name by former IGP Ibrahim Idris. At the time, Osinbajo also directed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to

set up a judicial panel to investigate their activities. Nothing has been heard about that report.

For years, ill-clad (F)SARS operatives would stop citizens on street corners and subject them to ‘stop and search’ which is usually extended to telephones, laptops and iPads without any court order as required by the Cybercrimes Act. These supposed officers of the law—who dress like armed robbers, according to former IGP Mike Okiro—violate the dignity and liberty of citizens, as well as the privacy of their homes and correspondence. If you wear dreadlocks or sport tattoos on your body, you are automatically a prime target for shakedown. To secure your freedom, you or your family members must pay ransom.

Unfortunately, at a time we most need a solution to this problem, the disposition of some presidency officials is unhelpful.

And because the challenge preceded the Buhari administration, there is no reason for anybody to be defensive. Besides, they fail to see the bigger picture: When, for whatever reasons, we choose to look the other way when the rights of citizens are grossly violated, the net result is a collective descent into a Hobbesian jungle where life is nasty, brutish and short.

That precisely was the point Segun Sega Awosanya was making regarding the #EndSARS #ReformPoliceNG movement when the madness started years ago. And if the authorities had paid attention and done the right thing, we would probably not be where we are today.

A 2010 report by the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN), in collaboration with New York-based Open Society Justice Initiative, concluded that many men and officers of Nigeria Police are more likely to commit crimes than prevent them. Titled, ‘Criminal Force: Torture, Abuse and Extrajudicial Killings by the Nigeria police force’, the report I previously cited on this page was based on a two-year investigation at more than 400 police stations in 14 states across the country.

“Sex workers report being rounded up by NPF personnel for the express purpose of rape. Acknowledging the routine nature of rape by police, one police officer referred to it simply as a ‘fringe benefit’ of certain patrols,” the report claimed.

However, as prevalent as the barbarism

by SARS may be, there is a method to their madness. Most of their victims, as Amnesty International has clearly stated, are poor people. There is also a global ring to this. A report by the International Justice Mission (IJM), an NGO focused on human rights and law enforcement, documented how “millions of the poorest people in the developing world are abused by corrupt police who extort bribes and brutalize innocent citizens” and for that reason, “poor people regard the police as agents of oppression, not protection.”

The list of atrocities committed by these rogue elements in the Nigeria Police is long but what rankles is the impunity with which they act because they are certain they would never be held to account.

For instance, on 7th June 2005, six young

Nigerians (a woman and five men) were extra-judicially executed in the Apo area of Abuja. Both the police probe panel, chaired by former IGP Okiro (then a DIG) and the federal government judicial panel of inquiry, chaired by Justice Olasumbo Goodluck, found all six policemen cul¬pable for the pre-meditated murder. Not only was the principal actor acquitted, he is now an Assistant Inspector General of Police!

Meanwhile, despite the negative reports about SARS that assail us every day in the social media, the majority of our policemen are honest professionals.

And I have encountered many of them.

Police as an institution also has its own peculiar challenges. Nothing exemplifies this more than the bitter power struggle that has pitched the IGP against the Police Service Commission (PSC) on the 2019 recruitment of 10,000 constables. The battle for supremacy which is now at the Supreme Court is already affecting the careers of no fewer than 112 senior police officers. It is a crying shame that for more than one year, the PSC and IGP have engaged in a public brawl over who has the power to recruit and discipline police personnel. Yet President Muhammadu Buhari as chairman of the Police Council has not deemed it fit to intervene in the interest of our national security. To worsen matters, in-fighting in almost all the critical security institutions continues.

In dealing with the issue of SARS, the police authorities must understand what is at stake. When on 6th August last year three officers from the police intelligence response unit were brutally assassinated by soldiers while ferrying Wadume (suspected kidnap kingpin) to Jalingo, Taraba State, the police waged a social media war to seek justice for their slain officers. But most of the comments that followed their posts were unsympathetic. Those who responded countered that the murdered officers only received a dose of what many Nigerians have had to suffer at the hands of SARS operatives. As much as I admire IGP Adamu, who I believe always wants to do right, regaining public trust under the prevailing environment will require more than issuing press statements.

All said, whatever may be our misgivings about SARS, the job that policemen do is a dangerous (and thankless) one, especially in a society like ours. Remuneration is also very poor. Since there is a strategic relationship between the well-being of police and the security of citizens, the total neglect of the rank and file may have resulted in a situation in which they practically have to fend for themselves and their families with guns in their hands.

The temptation to go rogue is so huge that some of their personnel may have fallen into it. That is a growing challenge the authorities will have to deal with.

What we therefore need is a root and branch reform of the police. And there is no better time for that than now!

NOTE: Please see ‘Akeredolu and Public Accountability’ on page 15.

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