FRIDAY 23TH OCTOBER 2020

Civil Unrest Hurting Nigeria’s Outlook, IMF Warns Seeks prompt resolution, reforms to curb social disobedience Nume Ekeghe The International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday expressed concern about the civil unrest in Lagos and

some other parts of Nigeria, following the shooting of some #EndSARS protesters Lekki Tollgate on Tuesday night.

Responding to a THISDAY question during a media

briefing on the ‘Africa Regional Economic Outlook,’ at the ongoing Annual Meetings of the IMF/World Bank in Washington DC, the Director of IMF’s African Department,

Mr. Abebe Aemro Selassie, said the civil unrest in Lagos, which contributes significantly to Nigeria’s overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP), could have a negative consequence

on the economy.

He called for timely resolution of the crisis to prevent the economy, which is still reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,

from slipping further into a tailspin.

Selassie said: “Are we concerned? We are always Continued on page 8

European Parliament Backs Okonjo-Iweala WTO Job Bid... Page 7 Friday 23 October, 2020 Vol 25. No 9328. Price: N250

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Sanwo-Olu Calls for Healing, Reconciliation asViolence Slows Down Hoodlums hold Lagos, Anambra, Delta, Akwa Ibom, others Our Correspondents After the wanton destruction of private and public assets across Lagos State following the shooting of unarmed protesters at the Lekki tollgate on Tuesday, Governor Babajide

Sanwo-Olu has appealed to the restive youths to end the carnage to allow for healing and reconciliation.

Despite the governor’s appeal, hoodlums yesterday continued to unleash mayhem in parts of the state, an

experience shared by the Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Delta and Oyo States as well as Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

To curb the spread of violence in their states, Governors Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Udom Emmanuel

Okowa, Emmanuel, Obiano impose curfew

of Akwa Ibom State and Willie Obiano of Anambra State declared a curfew.

Sanwo-Olu who spoke while responding to a question yesterday on The Morning Show of ARISE NEWS Channel, the broadcast arm

of THISDAY, said the state would come out of the crisis stronger, bigger and better and explained that the resilience of Lagos will help rebuild the property that has been destroyed.

He said he had not been

able to reach President Muhammadu Buhari on phone since the incident occurred.

Sanwo-Olu said: “I want to appeal to all of us that we Continued on page 9

Buhari in Deafening Silence over Lekki Shootings, Urges End to Protests Tells youths: ‘I have heard you loud and clear’ We're probing incident, says NSA Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja PPresident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday finally spoke on angry youths’ protest of police brutality, urging them to end the demonstrations, which went violent after Tuesday’s crackdown by the army at Lekki Tollgate, Lagos.

Incidentally, the president was spectacularly silent on the tollgate shooting incident that brought his government worldwide condemnation.

He had come under severe criticism for his silence on the #EndSARS protests, which had raged for 14 days, spreading from Lagos State to over a dozen others with attendant disruption of essential economic activities.

But Buhari eventually broke his silence in a nationwide broadcast that was preceded by a National Security Council meeting in Abuja.

Pleading with the youths to leave the streets, he assured them that he had heard their cry and that his administration would address their concerns.

He urged the protesters to resist the temptation of being used by "subversive elements" to cause chaos with the aim of truncating the country's democracy.

However, the president’s silence on the Lekki Tollgate clampdown by soldiers was made up for by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), who said the federal government was looking Continued on page 8

Eminent Nigerians Urge President to Restore Confidence in Govt...Page 5

TALKING NATIONAL SECURITY...

L-R: Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Mr. Ahmed Rufai; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha; and Director-General, State Security Services, Mr. Yusuf Bichi, after the National Security Council meeting in Abuja... yesterday godwin omoigui

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NEWS

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

Eminent Nigerians Urge President to Restore Confidence in Govt

Kukah, Jega, Agbakoba, Falana, Jibrin, others seek probe into Lekki shooting

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Forty-one prominent Nigerians, including human rights activists, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) and Mr. Femi Falana (SAN); Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, as well as former National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.

Attahiru Jega, yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to restore the hope Nigerians in his government.

In a joint statement titled, “Our Youth and the Unfolding National Crisis: Need for Urgent Intervention,” the 41 personalities also urged the president to bridge the increasing disconnect between him and the citizenry.

They noted that the first step in the process of winning Nigerians’ confidence in the government is to bring those who ordered the Lekki Tollgate shooting to book and release those detained for their involvement in the protests.

The signatories, drawn from various fields of endeavours, also urged the president to respond positively to the consensus that the heads of the security agencies had performed poorly and should be replaced.

They said: “We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to take immediate urgent steps to address the widening trust deficit between the government and the president on the one hand, and the Nigerian youth and its people on the other.

“To move forward, the president must take decisive action to close the trust deficit

by: Identifying and arresting immediately the persons that gave instruction for soldiers to shoot protesting youths at the Lekki toll gate on 20th October 2020.

“Instituting an urgent independent inquiry on the events at Lekki Tollgate leading to the use of live ammunition on the protesters and the apparent use of sponsored thugs or hoodlums by security operatives to infiltrate and break the peaceful protests.

“All those identified to be responsible for this must be held to account and prosecuted.”

They urged the president to take immediate remedial action as spelt out in the youths' charter of demands (5for5), including the immediate release of all arrested protesters, justice and compensation for the families of the victims and an independent body to oversee the prosecution of indicted officers.

They called on Buhari to marshal a concrete plan of implementation of the modalities and timelines for police reform and announce steps to address perennial insecurity and killings in the country, particularly in the North-east and North-west.

In addition, they asked the president to develop a clear work plan for the implementation of governance reform programmes for which well-meaning Nigerians have been demanding.

They said: “We urge the protesters to remain law-abiding and patriotic and not to engage in any intimidation or harassment of ordinary citizens or engage in any form of violence. We appeal

to parties and stakeholders to work for speedy resolution of the crisis.

“We strongly condemn the wanton destruction of property, killings and maiming of innocent citizens and ‘ethnicisation’ by rioters and hoodlums trying to ignite a religious or ethnic conflict and call on all Nigerians to remain calm and avoid retaliation or taking the law into their hands.”

Describing themselves as nonpartisan actors, the concerned Nigerians reaffirmed the freedom

of all Nigerians to exercise their rights as guaranteed in the constitution.

The group traced the root of the protests by the youth to bad governance and lack of accountability, saying that currently, 65 per cent of Nigerians are young persons under 35 years of age who do not feel that Nigeria works for them.

Others who signed the statement included Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim, Mrs. Funke Adekoya ( SAN), Prof. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo

(SAN), Prof. Konyinsola Ajayi (SAN), Prof. Auwalu Yadudu, Mallam Yusuf Ali (SAN), Dr. Chris Kwaja and Mr. Edmund Obiagwu (SAN).

Others are Father George Ehusani, Mr. John Odah, Prof.

Mohammed Tabiu (SAN), Mallam Kabiru Yusuf, Mr. Salisu Mohammed, Mr. Ledum Mitee, Ms. Ngozi Iwere, Ms.Ene Obi, Ms. Amina Salisu, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Mr. Dayo Olayide and Mr. Danlami Nmodu.

Also among those who

approved the statement are Mallam Hamza Ibrahim, Prof.

Ukachukwu Awuzie, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, Dr. Dipo Fashina, Dr. Udo Jude, Ms. Idayat Hassan, Mr. Abubakar Mohammed, Prof.

Godwin Darah, Prof. Adele Jinadu, Prof. Rufai Alkali, Hon. Rima Shawulu and Dr. Innocent Chukwuma.

Also on the list are Dr. Kole Shettima, Mr. Adeyemi CandideJohnson (SAN), Mallam Y.Z. Yau, Prof. Pat Utomi and Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN).

CASE FOR MORE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND...

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) (left), and Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ernest Umakhihe, during the defence of the ministry’s estimates at National Assembly in Abuja…recently

South-west Govs Charge Security Agencies to Defend Nigeria Ohanaeze condemns arson, vandalism in Lagos Christopher Isiguzo, Gideon Arinze in Enugu and James Sowole in Akure Governors of the South-west states have tasked security agencies to defend the country as the #EndSARS protests and activities of hoodlums escalated nationwide.

This is coming as the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has condemned the vandalism, looting and arson unleashed on Lagos State by hoodlums who took over the EndSARS protests after the imposition of curfew in the state.

The governors expressed solidarity with their Lagos State counterpart, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, over the violence in the state, which they said has impacted negatively on the region.

They noted that a protest, widely acclaimed as peaceful and purpose-driven, has been hijacked by some people to execute a destructive design.

The Chairman of the Southwest Governor’s Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), in a statement yesterday in Akure, said President Muhammadu Buhari and the state governors responded positively to the demands of the protesters.

Akeredolu said the decision reached at the National Economic Council (NEC) that all state governors should set up judicial

panels of inquiry, had been complied with.

Akeredolu noted that recent developments showed other reasons for the continued protests.

He said the spread of fake news and videos, which followed an allegation of shooting by some soldiers with a claimed heavy casualty figure at the Lekki Tollgate was responsible for the subsequent loss of lives and property.

He commiserated with the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, on what he described as the sacrilege committed at his palace and condemned the vile destruction of businesses where a former Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, has interests.

He said: “This regression into savagery exposes our land as not only vulnerable but susceptible to vile manipulations by elements keenly anxious to annihilate the South-west and destroy our common heritage.

“We are deeply concerned with the ease with which public buildings, utilities, police stations and investments of our people have been burnt despite the proximity of security agencies in those areas. We call on the heads of all security agencies to be alive to their obligations to defend the country. We charge the relevant security agencies to investigate all cases of violence with a view to identifying the culprits.

“We are particularly

worried that, 48 hours, after the unfortunate incident at the Lekki tollgate by persons adorning military fatigue, there has been no definitive statement from the military authorities on the incident. Our anxiety becomes heightened by the categorical denial of the governor of Lagos State concerning the deployment.

No governor has the power to authorise the deployment of military personnel in Nigeria.

“We note, with great relief, the confirmation by the governor that no fatality was recorded at the Lekki Tollgate incident based on visits to hospitals, mortuaries, both private and public. There were no doubt different levels of injury to persons arising from the incident at the Lekki Tollgate.

“Consequently, we insist that full investigation be conducted to ascertain the veracity of the news items liberally circulated by some local media.

“It is becoming very clear that the conflagration may have been caused by deliberate deployment ‘a weapon of mass confusion,’ apology to Dr. Ope Banwo. The attendant damage was extensive and massive.

“The selective application of jungle justice raises suspicion as regards the real motive of the arsonists and vandals. We use this medium to appeal to the youth, especially those of South-west extraction, to be circumspect lest they lend themselves to the evil schemes of those who want to

destroy our land.

“The protests started off as genuine, demanding reforms and restitution. The current happenings across the Southwest, especially Lagos State, have exposed dubiousness and complicity evidencing malice afore-thought.

“We enjoin our youth to rise up to defend our land and people against the diabolical incursions ravaging our space. What do we stand to gain destroying ourselves? We cannot continue to fold our hands and watch our heritage destroyed and our people suffer. We must engage, constructively, all those whose dubious solution to a social problem is the descent to anarchy.

We appeal to them to calm down."

The governors commended Sanwo-Olu for his administrative acumen.

"We note his patience and understanding in the face of unwarranted provocation by agents of darkness. We stand, resolutely, with him at this trying period. We should not allow brigandage and wanton destruction of lives and property within our walls in the Southwest.

“As we await reports from relevant agencies and action of government, we appeal to the young ones again to suspend the protest, remain calm and vigilant,” he said.

Ohanaeze Condemns

Arson, Vandalism in Lagos The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has condemned the vandalism and arson in Lagos by hoodlums who have hijacked the #EndSARS protests.

It condemned attempts to spark off a war between the Igbo and Yoruba following the ethnic colouration that has been given to the ongoing protests by youths.

Ohanaeze condemned the destruction of property belonging to the Yoruba, particularly in Lagos State, amid the protest against police brutality.

In a statement made available to journalists yesterday, the President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief Nnia Nwodo, expressed dissatisfaction with the statement by a Yoruba group, the Apapo O’Odua Koya (AOKOYA), alleging that Igbo youth were involved in the Lagos protest as part of plans to destroy the economy of the Yoruba.

He said Ohanaeze believes that the press statement is craftily drafted showing a skilful use of underhand tactics to set the Yoruba against Ndigbo.

Nwodo said the organisation was ready to resist all disagreements, knowing the historical affinity of the two great ethnic groups dating back to the days of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe through to the famous

handshake across the Niger propagated by Ndigbo’s iconic leader, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu- Ojukwu.

He said: “This spontaneous relationship built by our forefathers over the years has been strengthened in the last three years by the political emancipation movement, being propelled by the Southern and Middle Belt leadership Forum (SMBLF) made up of four ethno- political bodies of Ndigbo, in the South-east, Afenifere in the South-west, PANDEF in the South-south and the Middle Belt Forum in the North Central Nigeria.

“Ohanaeze feels based on the intelligence available to it that the motive of this disturbing statement is not only to overtake the mileage covered by this group in setting their people free from the hegemonic bondage but to ensure its destruction.

“Ndigbo are focused and unequivocal about what they want in a contemporary Nigeria as already articulated in the terms of engagement of this group, which is to restructure Nigeria for a true federal system where justice and equity will reign.

“We, therefore, wish to refute any position being ascribed to Ndigbo even if such position is being adduced by an Igbo that is not within the realm of the struggle to free Nigeria as encapsulated in the terms of agreement of these ethnic nationalities."

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European Parliament Backs Okonjo-Iweala WTO Job Bid Ejiofor Alike with agency reports The European Parliament (EP) has endorsed Nigeria’s candidate for the position of the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The parliament said it screened the two remaining candidates in the WTO DG race, Okonjo-Iweala and Ms. Yoo Myung-hee of South Korea, and is convinced that the Nigerian candidate has the ‘energy’ and is ‘well-equipped’ for the job.

So far, 79 out of the 164 states that comprise the WTO have endorsed Nigeria’s first female finance and foreign minister for the job.

The EP, in a letter on Wednesday signed by the Co-chairs of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO Steering Group, Mr. Bernd Lange and Mr. Sven Simon, said the European Parliament was satisfied with Okonjo-Iweala’s level of requirements and skills.

They urged the European Union (EU) to express support for the candidacy of the former World Bank director.

The letter titled, ‘EP Exchanges of Views with WTO Director-General candidates,’ partly read, “On 19 October,

the EP’s Steering Group of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organisation organised exchanges of views with the two remaining candidates for the role of Director-General of the WTO. “On this occasion, both candidates gave us an extensive account of their plans for the future of the organisation and the approach they would choose in order to deal with the crises that are currently threatening the multilateral trading system.

“Both candidates are extremely experienced, well qualified and knowledgeable, and have their own clear visions for the WTO’s future and priorities, and the DirectorGeneral’s role in shaping it, as well concerning the important role for parliamentarians in that future.

“During the discussions, we appreciated, in particular, the vision that Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala presented for tackling the substantial challenges the organisation is facing.

“Her assessment of the existing problems of the organisation revealed a deep understanding of the fault lines dividing the WTO’s membership.

“The points she set out for her first steps after being appointed to the position

reveal a clear-eyed agenda, tackling head-on key topics such as special and differential treatment, industrial subsidies and dispute settlement reform while recognising the need for positive momentum through the conclusion of agreements on issues such as fisheries, e-commerce, and health.

“We also appreciated the energy with which she is likely to approach her new role. It appears to us that her personal approach is what is needed now to resolve the key questions at the organisation.

“Dr Okonjo-Iweala appears to be well-equipped for being the fair broker who could bring key players together and help them find the compromises that will be needed to resolve the WTO’s complex set of challenges and the deep disagreements between its members.

“We, therefore, very much hope that the EU will be able to support Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s candidacy during the last round."

The global trade body is set to be led by a woman for

the first time, irrespective of whichever of the two candidates is successful in their bid to succeed Mr. Roberto Azevedo, who stepped down as WTO director-general in August, a year ahead of schedule.

The initial pool of eight candidates for the WTO’s top post, which has been whittled down over two rounds of consultations, had included three Africans, and the AU had until now refrained from offering an official endorsement.

The third and final round of consultations seeking to establish consensus around one candidate is due to begin next week and end on October 27, with the announcement due in early November.

Okonjo-Iweala, 66, served as Nigeria's first female finance and foreign minister, and has a 25-year career behind her as a development economist at the World Bank, eventually becoming its number two.

She is also on Twitter’s board of directors and is a special envoy for the World Health Organisation’s COVID-19 fight.

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 OkonjoIweala to serve as a member of her newly-established 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.

As finance minister, OkonjoIweala 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 crisis and later in the trying period of the global financial crisis.

Northern Govs Rally Support for Buhari, Allege Regime Change Agenda John Shiklam in Kaduna Northern governors have accused those they labelled as “diabolical influencers" of cashing in on the #EndSARS protests to push for a regime change.

The governors also wondered why the protests have persisted despite efforts by the federal and state governments to pacify the protesters.

In a communiqué issued yesterday at the end of their emergency meeting in Kaduna, under the auspices of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), the governors urged Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari, the federal government and democracy.

The communiqué, which was signed by the Chairman of the forum and Governor of Plateau State, Hon. Simon Lalong, said the forum discussed issues bordering on national security, particularly the nationwide EndSARS protest, which led to the destruction of lives and property in some parts of the country.

“Concerned by these developments, the Northern States Governors' Forum met and deliberated on the matter.

“The forum, however, expressed concern on why the protests have persisted despite the magnanimity exhibited by the federal government and

various state governments, and calls from well-meaning Nigerians to put an end to the protest,” the communiqué said.

While acknowledging the constitutional rights of all citizens to protest, the governors, however, condemned the attendant incessant destruction of lives and property during the protests.

It commiserated with those who lost their lives, the wounded and those whose property were destroyed.

According to it, “The forum strongly sues for unity and peaceful co-existence of all citizens and groups of people in Nigeria.

“Urge all Nigerians to see themselves as equal citizens of the country as the unity of Nigeria cannot be compromised.

“The forum regrets the diabolical influencers in form of hooliganism, ethno-religious bigots and even political marauders who are bent on pulling the nation down its knees and pushing for regime change.”

The forum called on all Nigerians to resist the people it called enemies of the nation by supporting the president, the federal government and democracy at large.

It appealed to all citizens for restraint from sentiments, harassment and intimidation of other citizens resident in their home states.

ON THE PEOPLE’S SIDE...

Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, addresses #EndSARS protesters in Ibadan…yesterday

PDP Demands State of Emergency Declaration on National Security Chuks Okocha in Abuja The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, yesterday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency on the country’s security.

He also described the federal government's handling of the #EndSARS protests as a threat to national unity and cohesion.

He related the shooting at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos by soldiers to Tiananmen Square shooting in China in 1989.

Secondus appealed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) not to politicise the pains that Nigerians are passing through, saying that the killing of the #EndSARS protesters has nothing to do with politics.

The PDP chairman, in a press conference in Abuja, said, members of the armed forces meant to protect the people,

have turned against the youths.

He said: "As the main opposition party, which has carefully watched this development, PDP views the dimension the federal government is directing the protest as unfortunate and dangerous to national cohesion and peace.

"As the needless bloodletting rages, our President, the Commander-in-Chief, Muhammadu Buhari, has continued to keep mum behaving exactly like Nero who played the fiddle while Rome was burning.

"The calls by reasonable heads in our land, including from the nation's Senate, for the president to respond appropriately has fallen on deaf ears.

"This is not time to play politics. No one plays politics with insecurities as one does not know who it will consume.

PDP secretariat in Ondo was

consumed. This is not time to play politics "When you kill your youths, the leaders of tomorrow, who will take over tomorrow?”

He said the PDP found the glaring snobbish silence of the president and the injection of violence into the peaceful protest unacceptable, contending that it paved the way for the deployment of the military to murder innocent harmless Nigeria youths.

"PDP stands shoulder-toshoulder with all the victims of this brutal attitude and condemns in the strongest term, the mindless and the inhuman shooting of citizens, an action that runs afoul of every national and international laws. We also urge the protesting youths to ensure that they continue to be peaceful even in the face of provocations," he stated.

Secondus said the federal government preferred the

ignominious option of the 1989 Tiananmen Square in China that ended with a military crackdown that became known in history as the Tiananmen Square massacre than a peaceful resolution of the crisis.

He lamented that the government that should be concerned about national security was allegedly encouraging violence by deploying troops against protesting citizens.

"We, therefore, wish to state unequivocally that the president has an honourable option in the face of the glaring incompetence in governance to declare a national emergency in the nation's security architecture.

"We also request for the immediate setting up of an independent judicial panel to look into the handling of this peaceful protest especially as it relates the role of security agencies,” he said.

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PAGE EIGHT BUHARI IN DEAFENING SILENCE OVER LEKKI SHOOTINGS, URGES END TO PROTESTS into the incident.

The president said if the protesters failed to heed his call to leave the streets, they would be undermining national security and law and order, warning that his administration will under no circumstances tolerate any situation that could jeopardise national security.

He called on the international 1community, many of which had expressed concern about the ongoing development in Nigeria, to get their facts right before making hasty pronouncements.

The president promised to respect the democratic rights of all Nigerians, but warned that he would not fold his arms and allow some Nigerians impinge on the rights of others.

The president, who said he was pained by the losses in the course of the street agitations, noted that he had enjoined security agencies to protect the lives and property of all law-abiding citizens without doing harm to those they are meant to protect.

Buhari listed his efforts to alleviate poverty and asked Nigerian youths to key into the programmes.

He stated that apart from schemes to reduce unemployment and rescue 100 million Nigerians from lack in the next 10 years, he had directed the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission to expedite action on finalising of the new salary structure of members of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

He said: “In the circumstances, I would like to appeal to protesters to note and take advantage of the various well-thought-out initiatives of this administration designed to make their lives better and more meaningful and resist the temptation of being used by some subversive elements to cause chaos with the aim of truncating our nascent democracy.

"For you to do otherwise will amount to undermining national security and the law and order situation. Under no circumstances will this be tolerated.

“I, therefore, call on our youths to discontinue the street protests and constructively engage the government in finding solutions.

Your voice has been heard loud and clear and we are responding.”

While paying tribute to police officers and men killed in the line of duty, he called on all Nigerians to go about their normal businesses and enjoined security agencies to protect them and their and property.

The president stated that the government had put in

place measures and initiatives principally targeted at youths, women and the most vulnerable groups in the society.

“These included our broad plan to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years; the creation of N75 billion National Youth Investment Fund to provide opportunities for the youths, and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Survival Fund,” he said.

He reiterated that the federal government was paying three months salaries of the staff of 100,000 micro, small - and medium – enterprises; paying for the registration of 250,000 businesses at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC); giving a grant of N30,000 to N100,000 artisans; and guaranteeing market for the products of traders.

“These are in addition to many other initiatives such as Farmermoni, Tradermoni, Marketmoni, N-Power, N-Tech and N-Agro. No Nigerian government in the past has methodically and seriously approached poverty-alleviation like we have done,” the president said.

Buhari warned those who he said have hijacked and misdirected the “initial, genuine and well-intended protest” of the youths against the excesses of some members of the nowdisbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), to desist from their actions.

He recalled that on October 12, he had acknowledged the genuine concerns and agitations of members of the public on the excessive use of force by some members of SARS, stressing that the acceptance of the demands of the protesters must not be misconstrued as weakness.

He said: “The choice to demonstrate peacefully is a fundamental right of citizens as enshrined in section 40 of our constitution and other enactments; but this right to protest also imposes on the demonstrators the responsibility to respect the rights of other citizens, and the necessity to operate within the law.

“As a democratic government, we listened to, and carefully evaluated the five-point demands of the protesters. And, having accepted them, we immediately scrapped SARS, and put measures in place to address the other demands of our youth.

“On approving the termination of SARS, I already made it clear that it was in line with our commitment to the

implementation of extensive police reforms.

“Sadly, the promptness with which we have acted seemed to have been misconstrued as a sign of weakness and twisted by some for their selfish unpatriotic interest,” Buhari said.

He added that this has led to the loss of human lives, acts of sexual violence, invasion of two major correctional facilities and freeing of convicts as well as the destruction of public and private property.

The president lamented the vandalism of the palace of the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, while the “so-called protesters” had further invaded an international airport and disrupted the travel plans of fellow Nigerians and visitors.

“I am indeed deeply pained that innocent lives have been lost.

These tragedies are uncalled for and unnecessary. Certainly, there is no way whatsoever to connect these bad acts to legitimate expression of grievance of the youth of our country.

"The spreading of deliberate falsehood and misinformation through the social media in particular, that this government is oblivious to the pains and plight of its citizens is a ploy to mislead the unwary within and outside Nigeria into unfair judgment and disruptive behaviour,” he stated.

According to him, both his deeds and words have shown how committed his administration has been to the wellbeing and the welfare of citizens, even with the steadily dwindling revenues, and the added responsibilities and restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On the welfare of police personnel, he stated that the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission has been directed to expedite action on the finalisation of the new salary structure of members of the police as well as the review of the emoluments of other paramilitary services.

In addition, Buhari explained that in order to underscore the importance of education in preparing youths for the future, his administration has also come up with a new salary structure and other incentives for teachers.

He reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to preserving the unity of the country, saying that he will continue to improve good governance and the democratic process through sustained engagement.

Buhari said: “We shall continue

to ensure that liberty and freedom, as well as the fundamental rights of all citizens are protected. But remember that the government also has the obligation to protect lives and properties, as well as the right of citizens to go about their daily businesses freely and protected from acts of violence.”

He advised the international community to intimate themselves with the happenings in the country before taking positions and rushing to judgment.

“To our neighbours in particular, and members of the international community, many of whom have expressed concern about the ongoing development in Nigeria, we thank you and urge you all to seek to know all the facts available before taking a position or rushing to judgment and making hasty pronouncements,” he stated.

The president thanked state governors, traditional and religious leaders, who have appealed for calm and restraint, as well as youth leaders who have restrained their followers from taking the law into their hands.

“This government respects and will continue to respect all the democratic rights and civil liberties of the people, but it will not allow anybody or groups to disrupt the peace of our nation,” he warned.

He added that the federal government is taking its time to ensure that the right thing is done.

He said: “The government is looking at the incident that happened about 48 hours ago. We can’t deal or act on conjectures, suppositions and so on.

“We need to verify things first. But the government is not oblivious of the fact that certain things had happened and also the possibility that actual facts could be distorted by either party."

Monguno assured the people that the matter will not be swept under the carpet as the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration will take necessary action.

“So, the government is going to look at that before coming up with something, but definitely, the government is not treating this issue lightly,” he said.

PDP: Broadcast Lacking Empathy Test, Portrays Disconnected President

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Monguno, said yesterday that the federal government has begun an investigation into the incident at Lekki Tollgate, where soldiers fired live bullets to disperse protesters.

According to him, the government has not taken any action on the incident because it needs to have all the facts.

He spoke against the backdrop of criticisms that have trailed the shooting and the clarification

by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, that he knew nothing about the deployment of soldiers to disperse the protesters.

Monguno, who was fielding questions from journalists, explained that the security agencies will need to have concrete evidence about what happened.

Although details are sketchy on who ordered the attack and how many persons were killed, Monguno said the security agencies were not taking the issue lightly.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the presidential address on the protests rocking the nation, as disappointing and completely disconnected from the realities of the tragic occurrences in the country in the last two weeks.

The party, however, appealed to Nigerians, particularly the youth, to remain calm and allow a return to normal life in the collective quest for peaceful co-existence.

The PDP, in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said: "Mr. President’s address, in the face of the turmoil witnessed, the unrests as well as the killing of young Nigerians, is to say the least, depressing and failing in empathy test.

"Our party and, indeed, all lovers of peace in our country, were shocked that Mr. President glossed over the immediate trigger of violent protests - the widely condemned killing at the Lekki Tollgate by security operatives, a situation which created a global concern and drew the attention of the world to the abuse of human rights going on in our country under his watch.

"Painfully too, Mr. President, as the Commander-in-Chief, was silent on the demand by Nigerians for enquires into the involvement of the military in the gruesome killing.

commodity-exporting countries have also been hit hard. Growth in more diversified economies will slow significantly, but in many cases will still be positive in 2020.

“Looking forward, regional growth is forecast at 3.1 per cent in 2021. This is a smaller expansion than expected in much of the rest of the world, partly reflecting Sub-Saharan Africa’s relatively limited policy space within which to sustain a fiscal expansion. Key drivers of next year’s growth will include an improvement in exports and commodity prices as the world economy recovers, along with a recovery in both private consumption and investment.

“The current outlook is subject to greater-than-usual uncertainty with regard to the persistence of the COVID-19 shock, the availability of external financial support, and the development of an effective, affordable, and trusted vaccine.”

He added that Sub-Saharan Africa could face a financing gap that could necessitate an additional fiscal adjustment in the continent.

“If private financial inflows remain below their pre-crisis levels and even taking into account existing commitments

from international financial institutions and official bilateral creditors Sub-Saharan Africa could face a gap in the order of $290 billion over 2020 to 2023.

“This is important, as a higher financing gap could force countries to adopt a more abrupt fiscal adjustment, which in turn would result in a weaker recovery.

“Countries must also play their part, governance reforms will not only improve trust in the rule of law and improve business conditions, but also encourage external support.

“Despite the lingering effects of the crisis, the potential of the region and the resourcefulness of its people remain intact, and tapping this potential will be vital if the region is to find its way back to a path of sustainable and inclusive development.

In this context, the need for transformative reforms to promote resilience, lift medium-term growth and create the millions of jobs needed to absorb new entrants into labour markets is more urgent than ever. Priority reforms are in the areas of revenue mobilisation, digitalisation, trade integration, competition, transparency and governance, and climate change mitigation,” he stated.

FG Can’t Act on Conjectures on Lekki Incident, Says NSA

CIVIL UNREST HURTING NIGERIA'S OUTLOOK, IMF WARNS concerned when we see protests, particularly ones that are difficult like the one in Nigeria at the moment, but also anywhere in the world, and we hope that there would be a satisfactory resolution there.”

Speaking on the support the multilateral institution granted the West African country earlier this year, he said it was to cushion the effects of the pandemic and the economic crisis that has unfolded due to COVID-19.

According to him, the pandemic led to a massive decline in tax revenues in Nigeria, even when there was a compelling need for governments to spend resources on health, education and other critical sectors of the economy.

“And I think the government has committed to both providing us with an explanation of what the resources have been used for and audits of how it has been used in due course and we look forward to that in the coming months.

“Economic conditions in Nigeria for the last four years have been very difficult and the decline in oil prices in 2015/2016 and growth has been anaemic and there has been a lot of pressure on standards of living so there

has been dislocation and as always when you have this kind of economic difficulty social protests are not uncommon,” he added.

He called for reforms as a lasting solution to averting future unrests.

He said: “That is why it is on the record we have been saying how critical it is to get all of the policies to facilitate stronger economic growth in Nigeria and for the government to do more to raise revenues from non-oil resources to be able to invest in health and education which will allow people to be more successful and getting jobs but also improve the economy’s potential.

“So, the development agenda of Nigeria has to be more vigorous so that millions of jobs that the country needs can be created and I think that agenda remains very pressing.

“On growth projections in Nigeria, these protests happened just after the period we accumulated the data for making the growth projections of this economic outlook, and much would depend really on how these protests evolve because Lagos is, of course, a very important economic hub

and contributes quite a bit of economic activities to overall Nigeria activities. So, if this persists and are showing a significant effect on economic data, we would internalise them in due course."

He urged Nigeria and other African countries to ensure judicious utilisation of loans in order to avert plunging into a debt crisis.

“Overall, the debt issue, in terms of the money we have been providing this year, the core function of IMF is that when countries no longer have access to the usual form of financing that they have, development financing or private market financing, the IMF steps forward.

“That is why the IMF exists to help countries and sovereigns in distress while they are correcting their economies to go back to normal forms of financing. So, financing we have been providing is critical and an important lifeline.

What we are asking countries to do is show that these resources are being used to save lives and livelihoods.

“Overall, the region is projected to contract by three per cent in 2020, the worst outlook on record.

Tourism-dependent economies faced the largest impact, while

"It failed to address the trepidations, the pervading hopelessness, the drifting towards anarchy and provided no concrete steps on how to arrest the situation and rein in bandits, hoodlums and vandals that were let loose to unleash violence on peaceful protesters and innocent Nigerians."

The party said Nigerians had expected that the president would provide the leadership for overhauling the security architecture to meet the demands of professionalism and respect for rules of engagement.

The party said Buhari failed to use the opportunity to further heal wounds and inspire hope by outlining a roadmap to open up the economy in a manner that would enable the youths to pursue their productive goals as well as address the issue of pervading hunger in the land.

However, the PDP directed that its flag in all party offices across the nation be flown at half-mast for a period of one week, beginning from today in honour of the Lekki Tollgate victims.

Buhari's Speech Not Presidential, Says Afenifere The pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has described Buhari's speech as not presidential, and expressed concern about the threat in his national broadcast.

Its spokesman, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, told THISDAY that it was surprising that the president never mentioned of the reported military killings on Tuesday night at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos.

The group said: "The speech was full of sound and fury. For the president to be issuing warnings and threats at this period is the height of wickedness. For him not to say a word, on Lekki massacre, is the height of hardheartedness. He didn't show any sign of a democratic president but a military dictator."

US Seeks Probe of Alleged Excessive Use of Force Meanwhile, the United States has condemned the use of excessive force by the military against unarmed demonstrators in the ongoing EndSARS protests.

The US Secretary of State, Mr. Michael Pompeo, in a statement issued yesterday, asked the federal government to hold those responsible accountable.

The International Criminal Court (ICC), also confirmed receiving reports of crimes during the protests in Nigeria, Continued on page 9

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FRIDAY, ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

9

NEWS SANWO-OLU CALLS FOR HEALING, RECONCILIATION AS VIOLENCE SLOWS DOWN will come out of this stronger bigger and better, it is a time in which we need to hold ourselves, we need to stop the bloodshed, we need to stop the bleeding. Together we will come out stronger.

“Yes, there might have been assets that have been destroyed, but the resilience of Lagos will bring it back.

“Lagos is the centre for all of us, Lagos is the place where you are nobody but by hard work you become somebody and it will continue to remain a place where all of us that are doing genuine business will call home irrespective of where we come from or believe.”

He said he was talking to traditional and religious leaders as well as various ethnic nationalities to see how the youths could be taken out of the streets, explaining that he needed the cooperation of everyone to achieve peace.

“We all need to come together and heal the pains that we are all going through, to be able to put this behind us and solve this problem together,” he said, adding: “I can take the lead from the front but I need all of you to rally round this time and be able to solve this problem.”

He added: “I call on leaders in the state across all communities to please talk to everybody under their own sphere of influence to bring about restraint and take the youths off the street so that we can very quickly begin to see normalcy come back.”

He denied ordering the removal of CCTV camera at the Lekki Tollgate and switching off of the LED lights, stressing that security cameras at the facility are still there and will be used for investigation into the incident.

On the switching off of the LED lights, he said there is a concessionaire that manages the place and that they said they pulled off the lights because of the curfew that was announced by the state government.

The governor also revealed that investigations into the Lekki Tollgate shooting will commence on Monday and stressed that there may be more to the #EndSARS protest than was initially thought.

While calling for state police, he said the state was unable to nip the destruction in the bud because of the lack of adequate police personnel.

“Yes we have the formations on paper but I also did not realize that some of them have actually been transferred to some other parts of the country to restore law and order in some other parts of the country that were in distress before we got to where we are now in Lagos.

“So it was a case of how do we get to pull back our men that are in other parts of the country to come back to their main posts, that is a logistics thing that we are still working on, “he explained.

He called for responsible use of social media, stressing that misinformation mostly

fuelled the wanton destruction witnessed in Lagos in the last three days.

The governor said: “I will be honest with you, up until about six to eight months ago I did not appreciate the extent of what social media is in our community. During COVID-19 era, I realise that it was a very strong tool that can be used for communication.

“As good as social media is, there are so many sour points like false news, because if you say fake news, people will think the government just wants to sweep away issues. False news is one of the major downsides of social media. As free as social media has made us, there is an element of restraint that we need to have,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu, who looked disturbed, said the event of Tuesday does not define his person or what he stands for.

He said: “This is me, this is who I am. I am your governor that you all truly elected last year and I want to continue to thank you for that. The unfortunate event of Tuesday is not what I believe in. I was the first governor that joined the protest, I held the flag in solidarity, I was petted with water, pulled down and I did shake. I was with them. The following day, I was with the protesters at Alausa, which were the two prominent locations.

“I collected their letter stating their demands and promised that relevant authorities at the highest level will get the letters.

I went to Abuja and there are footages to show that I made those communications. I was the first to set up a fund to compensate protesters, who were victims of police brutality; I was the first that set up a judicial panel of enquiry and we have inaugurated them.

We did everything within our means. Sanwo-Olu disclosed that once the looting and burning were taking place across the state on Wednesday, he got a call from the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Buratai who offered to deploy soldiers to quell the protest.

He denied ordering the Army to the state, saying such powers is beyond any state governor.

He pleaded that moving forward: "We need to come together to engage ourselves, have a genuine reconciliation and plan a better and stronger Lagos State."

On his efforts to contact the president, he said: “I made phone calls to the president; I made calls to want to speak to the president twice yesterday.

The first time, he hadn’t come to the office, and the second time he was at the FEC meeting. So indeed, I haven’t spoken to him directly, but I actually did call to want to speak with him.

“Like I said, he was at FEC meeting and probably had this briefing. He was actually the one that asked the Chief of Defence Staff to call me and I think it was when he got my message, because when

the Chief of Staff called me, he said to me that it was the president that asked him to call. But I haven’t spoken to him directly, may be later today that might happen.

“I don’t have the report to say this was what he said because we haven’t spoken.”

Violence Persists in Lagos, Abuja, Delta, Akwa Ibom Meanwhile, the curfew imposed

by Sanwo-Olu to restore order, seemed to have restricted everybody except hoodlums, who had a field day looting and burning different parts of the state.

In Ojodu Berger, the hoodlums vandalised the police division and made away with the weapons, before they set the station ablaze.

Also vandalised were different malls on Lagos Island and Mainland with some set ablaze after the looting.

On the island, the hoodlums ravaged the Circle Mall, Shoprite and Spar and carted away valuables worth millions of naira.

Others set targeted Shoprite in Surulere and Amuwo Odofin Estate and unleashed mayhem after looting different stalls occupying the mall.

In Fagba, in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area, there was a large scale destruction, including the burning of a branch of an old generation bank that razed two empty fuel tankers, over 40 vehicles, shops and stalls at Fagba Market.

Also looted and burnt down were the spare parts market, two churches, events centre, bar, and pharmacy, while an eatery, hotel, supermarket, residential buildings and shops were looted.

As at press time, the casualties and fatalities recorded in the melee were yet to be fully accounted for.

The hoodlums also looted COVID-19 palliatives in a warehouse at Mazamaza area of the state.

However, the Lagos State acting Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, yesterday clarified that the palliatives were received by the state government from CACOVID only on September 22, stressing that the distribution was halted due to the protests.

In a viral video, the looters stormed the warehouse at Benster Crescent, popularly called Monkey Village and carted away hundreds of bags containing rice, spaghetti, salt, and beans among others, per pack.

With the local touts on guard, they protected residents who went in to loot as many bags as they could carry.

Meanwhile, police and the military foiled attempted jailbreak at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre in Lagos.

Part of the facility was, however, set ablaze.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, said the

cause of the fire could not yet be ascertained.

He confirmed that policemen had been deployed to the facility.

“We don’t know the cause of the fire but we are there on the ground. We have mobilised to the place. We will give details later,” he said.

At Mile 2 axis of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, hoodlums mounted a blockade along the Oshodi-Apapa road, robbing passersby of their phones and money.

THISDAY gathered that the hoodlums were said to have been attacked by a rival group believed to have come from the Ajegunle axis leading to the death of one of the boys as well as burning of one trailer.

Residents of the Jakande Estate, Mile 2 woke up to behold thick smoke on Mile 2 Bridge.

Abuja In Abuja, one person was confirmed dead when Gudu market in the precinct of Apo, came under attack from suspected hoodlums, who allegedly jumped the fence to attack the traders.

Eye witnesses said one of the victims was attacked with a dagger and was rushed to the hospital by the police who are in charge of the market.

He later died in the hospital from gunshot injuries.

However, the Public Relations Officer of Abuja Market Management Limited, Mr. Innocent Amaechina, said the attack resulted from market quarrel, which was being fully handled.

The FCT police spokesperson, ASP Mariam Yusuf, also confirmed the incident.

She said operatives had been deployed in to provide security at the facility.

Uyo The protest also turned bloody in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, yesterday.

It was gathered that while two persons were killed along Ebong Street, another person was allegedly shot by a prison official.

In the ensuing confusion, a-four storey building belonging to an insurance company along Barracks road was set ablaze.

Ibadan In Oyo State, two police officers were allegedly burnt to death at Iwo road area of Ibadan, the state capital.

Hoodlums also set ablaze a police vehicle attached to the Gbagi police station and some other vans.

The hoodlums, who moved round the city, also set on fire a police station located at Alabebe area, Iyana Church while attempts were made on other stations in Akobo, Testing Ground and Agugu.

Efforts made to get reaction from the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Olugbenga Fadeyi, proved

abortive as he did not take his calls or reply messages sent to him.

However, as the time of filling this report, normalcy had been restored to most of the areas by men of the state security outfit, 'Operation Burst.'

Governor Seyi Makinde, yesterday visited hot spots of the protests in Ibadan, declaring that his government would continue to do what is necessary to secure the lives and property of the residents of the state.

Following the violence in Uyo, Governor Emmanuel imposed a curfew from 9 p.m yesterday to 12 noon today.

The State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Ini Obong in a statement linked the curfew to the protest in the state capital.

Delta State governor, Okowa, also declared a 48-hour curfew across the state to contain ongoing violent protests.

The governor, who had earlier supported the protest, said the peaceful protest had been hijacked by hoodlums.

Okowa, who addressed journalists at the Government House, Asaba said the curfew would begin 6 pm yesterday.

The presentation of the 2021 budget estimates by Okowa to the House of Assembly, earlier slated for yesterday was also postponed.

Hoodlums were alleged to have destroyed property around the Koka area of BeninAsaba-Onitsha expressway.

It was further alleged that the operational office of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the multi-million naira beautification garden of the state government were also razed by the hoodlums.

Heavily armed soldiers also yesterday foiled attempts by

suspected hoodlums to break into Warri Correctional Centre also known as Okere Prisons in Warri, Warri South Local Government Area of the state.

The hoodlums, THISDAY learnt, stormed the prison facility about 11 am and forcefully entered the entrance but were resisted by the armed guard unit of the centre, who called for reinforcement from the military to ward off the intruders.

Soldiers, on arrival, engaged the hoodlums in exchange of gunshots before they fled the facility.

Soldiers from 3 Battalion, Effurun and operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship Delta (NNS Delta) in Warri have barricaded all the routes to the facility.

However, one of the warden officers was allegedly shot dead by the inmates in an attempt to force the gates of the facility open.

It was also reported that one of the inmates died while others sustained injuries.

Efforts to confirm the development from the Comptroller in charge of Warri Correctional Centre, Mr. Friday Movie proved abortive as he refused to respond to calls and text message at the time of filing this report.

The Nigeria Army also repelled angry youths who attempted to raze down Ebrumede Police Station in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.

The soldiers were drafted in when the hoodlums invaded the station but were forced to retreat after the police fired teargas and gunshots to scare them.

Violence also spread in Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi in Anambra State yesterday.

A police officer was beheaded and burnt to ashes by suspected hoodlums in Nnewi.

The state police spokesperson, Mr. Haruna Mohammed, who confirmed this in a statement, said three others sustained various degrees of injuries.

He said five persons were attacked in Onitsha and taken to the hospital for medical attention where three have been confirmed dead while two others were receiving treatment.

He further disclosed the protesters attacked Nnewi Police Station, set it ablaze and vandalised patrol vehicles and other exhibits.

Mohammed listed other police formations attacked to include Nnewi Area Command, 3-3 Division, Ogbunike/ Isiuwulu, Nnobi, and Itchy Divisions as well as peoples club police post.

Reacting to the developments, the state governor, Obiano, declared 24-hour curfew starting from 8 pm yesterday.

The governor also announced that the sum of N200 million had been mapped out for compensation of families and victims of disbanded SARS/police brutality, upon recommendation by the Judicial Panel of Inquiry.

ICC Prosecutor, Ms. Fatou Bensouda, made this known in a statement posted on the Twitter handle of the organisation.

She stated that the court is monitoring developments from the protests in Nigeria.

“My office has been closely following the events around the current protests in Nigeria and the reaction of Nigeria’s

law enforcement and security agencies.

“Any loss of life and injury is concerning. We have received information alleging crimes and are keeping a close eye on developments, in case violence escalates and any indications arise that Rome Statute crimes may have been committed.

“I call for calm and restraint,” she tweeted.

Akure In Ondo State, burning of more houses by protesters continued in several towns.

The targets of the hoodlums were political parties’ offices, campaign offices, private residences of politicians and public institutions.

In Akure, the Akeredolu' Campaign Office, located near the Akure South Local Government Secretariat was affected and there was a report that the Ala Police Station in the state capital, was also set ablaze.

In Okitipupa, the house of the Executive Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Mr. Ife Oyedele, was set ablaze.

It was also gathered that the Divisional Police Headquarters, Okitipupa, the office of Benin Electricity Distribution Company, the Prison and LG Secretariat were destroyed.

The residences of the Police Area Commander and that of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) were also affected.

Okowa, Emmanuel, Obiano Impose Curfew

BUHARI IN DEAFENING SILENCE OVER LEKKI SHOOTINGS, URGES END TO PROTESTS adding that it is monitoring developments in the country.

He said the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are essential human rights and core democratic principle.

Pompeo, therefore, admonished the security services to show maximum restraint and respect fundamental rights.

He also urged the

demonstrators to remain peaceful.

The statement titled, ‘Ongoing protests in Nigeria’, read in part, “we welcome an immediate investigation into any use of excessive force by members of the security forces. Those involved should be held to account in accordance with Nigerian law.

“The right to peaceful

assembly and freedom of expression are essential human rights and core democratic principles.

“We call on the security services to show maximum restraint and respect fundamental rights and for demonstrators to remain peaceful. We extend our condolences to the victims of the violence and their families.”

We're Monitoring Events in Nigeria, Says ICC The International Criminal Court (ICC), has said it has received reports of crimes during the protests in Nigeria, adding that it is monitoring events in the country.

10

FRIDAY 0CT0BER 23, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Provide Security for Journalists, IPI Tells FG Ejiofor Alike The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, yesterday urged the Nigerian government to ensure the security

of media outlets and journalists following attacks on offices of five media houses in Lagos.

In a statement issued by IPI’s Director of Advocacy, Ravi R. Prasad, and the Chairman of Nigeria National Committee, Mr. Kabiru Yusuf, the group noted

INEC Postpones October 31 By-Elections in Six Senatorial Zones Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the postponement of all the bye-elections scheduled to hold on October 31 in six senatorial districts till further notice.

The INEC arrived at the decision to postpone the byelections after reviewing the current security issues in the country with its Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC).

The postponement also affected elections for nine state constituencies.

It, however, said that it would review the decision in two weeks time.

A statement that was issued by the National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Mr. Festus Okoye, said that the postponement complied with Section 26 (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

Okoye said: “The commission has decided to postpone the bye-elections in the six senatorial districts and nine state constituencies.

“This decision is in compliance

with Section 26 (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), which gives the commission the power to postpone an election if there is reason to believe that a serious breach of the peace is likely to occur if the election is proceeded with on that date, or that it is impossible to conduct the elections as a result of natural disasters or other emergencies”.

Okoye did not give any new date for the conduct of the elections but explained that the INEC would continue to monitor the situation in all the states and constituencies, consult with relevant stakeholders and meet again in two weeks to review the situation and decide on a feasible date for the elections.

The INEC also appealed for calm and understanding of the stakeholders and voters in the states where elections were scheduled to take place, adding that safety of the voters, election officials and other stakeholders is paramount to the commission.

“We are convinced that the country will emerge from the current challenges stronger while our electoral process will continue to improve,” Okoye said.

Sultan Appeals for Calm, Prayers in Nigeria As the #EndSARS protests snowballed into arson and crisis across the country, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has appealed for calm, while urging Imams to pray for and preach peace today.

The Sultan urged the protesters to stay action and allow government deal decisively with the hoodlums believed to have hijacked the protests to cause chaos for their own parochial interest.

Speaking in a statement signed by the JNI Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, the Sultan said, “Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has followed keenly the sequence of events right from the beginning of the #EndSars protest up to now that it degenerated into chaos leading to the loss of lives and destruction of properties both public and private.

“The agitation for the #EndSars borne out of concern for the lives of Nigerians against the excesses of some of the members of the special police unit has since been hijacked by miscreants who have been looking for such opportunities to settle scores with their adversaries within the police and/or politicians.

“These miscreants are now the driving force of the #EndSars protest. Hence, the attacks on lives and properties as well as looting and arsons thereby creating serious pandemonium which

is completely at variance with the objectives of the #EndSars conveners.

“The JNI thereby appeal for calm both from the protesters and the military to prevent plunging the country into the State of Anarchy as we are now on the precipice. We should not by our actions give ‘conflict preneurs’ the opportunity to further escalate the situation to full blown violence that will lead us to a despicable condition.

“We hereby appeal to the genuine protesters to kindly withdraw from the streets for now to give the government the chance to deal decisively with the hoodlums. Government on its part should also continue to apply restraint and maturity in handling the situation as the atmosphere is so tensed that any misstep by the government will spell doom for the country.

“The military should conduct themselves professionally applying all standards of rule of engagements in the discharge of their duties. JNI further appeals to parents and guardians to with all urgency rein in their children/wards to see reasons and stay off the street for now so as to douse the tension that’s threatening the fragile fabric of peace holding us together as a people and a nation.

that the offices of The Nation, TVC; Radio Lagos, Eko FM and Traffic FM were attacked by demonstrators who have been protesting against police brutality for over two weeks now.

“We condemn in the strongest terms possible the wanton destruction of media assets by protesters,” Yusuf said.

“While we recognise the right of any aggrieved Nigerian to seek redress through lawful means,

including peaceful protests, assault on media houses is dangerous and unacceptable.”

According to the statement, protestors set fire to the office of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation, on Wednesday evening after invading the premises.

“Some of the vehicles parked in the premises were also set afire and the intruders looted computers and other office

equipment, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh said in a statement. Similarly, attackers set ablaze the office of TVC Network in another part of Lagos. The offices of Radio Lagos, Eko FM and Traffic FM were also attacked. Meanwhile, another prominent TV network, Channels TV, briefly went off air fearing attack by protestors,” the statement explained.

It called on the government

to immediately provide security to all media organisations and ensure the safety of journalists in Lagos and in other parts of the country where protests are taking place.

“It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that journalists and media outlets can do their job in reporting on events of public interest without fear,” Prasad added.

VIOLENT PROTESTS ON THEIR MINDS…

L - R : Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin; and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral IbokEte Ibas, after the National Security Council meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja...yesterday GODWIN OMOIGUI

Jonathan Sues for Peace, Kicks against Use of Deadly Force on Protesters Peter Uzoho Former President Goodluck Jonathan, has added his voice to the growing call for restraint in the handling of the protests against the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), urging security authorities in the country to avoid the use of deadly force against fellow Nigerians.

The former president who stated this in a statement yesterday titled “A call for Peace,” also comforted the families of those who had died in the course of the protests, adding that the development “has been a difficult time to me as well.”

Jonathan, who has just been nominated by the African Union to lead its election observation mission to the October 28 Tanzania’s election, also urged aggrieved Nigerians to sheath their sword, embrace peace, and

give a chance to the efforts being made in some states to investigate cases of impunity against security personnel.

He noted that nation building is a collective task and urged everyone to continue to have faith in Nigeria, and to be circumspect in their actions and peaceful in their engagements.

He said: “My heart goes out to the families of young Nigerians who have lost their lives in the past days as a result of #EndSARS protests. May God grant them the fortitude they need at this difficult time. It has been a difficult time to me as well.

“Nation-building is a collective task that involves the genuine efforts of all patriotic citizens; old or young. Our country cannot afford to lose the lives of our youth who we look up to take over leadership and continue our nation’s journey to greatness.

“As leaders, we must understand that a nation can never win a battle against its own people. Thus, the use of deadly force against citizens only aggravates tense situations rather than assuage it.

“We must therefore move away from battlegrounds to middle grounds in our individual and national life. This, I believe, epitomises the essence of democracy.

“I condemn any unnecessary loss of life and urge efforts to be stepped up to ensure that there is no such reoccurrence. We all must accept that we are all brothers and sisters of one Nigeria, and always act towards each other accordingly.

I urge protesters to do so with caution.

“I further call on our security forces to avoid the use of deadly force against non-combatant

citizens and ensure maximum restraint is applied in carrying out their constitutional responsibilities of preserving and protecting the territorial integrity of our dear country; in particular, the lives and property of all Nigerians.”

Jonathan however, urged all citizens to continue to have faith in Nigeria and to be circumspect in our actions, law-abiding, and peaceful in our engagements.

He reiterated his stand that “nobody’s interest is worth the blood of any Nigerian citizen, or indeed any citizen of the world.

Human life is sacrosanct”.

He also urged all young Nigerians, to give peace a chance, especially now that different stakeholders have demonstrated the willingness to investigate the various allegations of excessive use of force on citizens and address the culture of impunity by security personnel.

DHQ: Why We Can’t Speak on Soldiers’ Involvement in Lekki Shootings Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has asked Nigerians to wait for the outcome of an ongoing investigation into the Tuesday shooting of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at Lekki, Lagos.

Footage showed the soldiers firing at the demonstration ground where protesters had gathered to demand police reforms.

But responding to questions on the troops’ involvement in the incident during a briefing in Abuja yesterday, the Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, said his

statement may prejudice the findings of the Commission of Inquiry set up by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu. He described reports on the killing of the protesters by the soldiers as mere allegations, noting that some military analysts had dismissed as untrue, claims that the troops were responsible for the killings.

The media coordinator explained that the military was involved in internal security operations codenamed, ‘Operation MESA,’ in nine states, but declined to disclose further details on the joint security task force.

He stated: “The issue is not an

operation that I can respond to, but I can tell you that it is an allegation, for now; so, let us not set the cart before the horse.

“If the matter was still openended, I would have had a response for you but it is no longer open-ended, because immediately, not even up to five hours before midnight, the governor of Lagos set up an inquiry. So, whatever we say now will not be fair to the commission.”

Enenche disclosed that the Operation MESA under the control of the state governments, comprised the Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Defence and police personnel.

“So these operations are still standing and running and I am aware that the state governments are using them in all these capacities, that is, internal security.

“The level we are now is internal security and that is why the police proactively came out and then deployed their forces necessary to handle that (violence),” he noted.

Responding to a question about the absence of security operatives on the streets during the violence and widespread looting in Lagos by hoodlums, Enenche said, “they were on the grounds; maybe, they were not visible in all places.”

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Tinubu Distances Self from Killing of Lagos Protesters Says he was reported to Buhari for allegedly backing marchers Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja A former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, has refuted allegations that he ordered the attack on peaceful demonstrators at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos.

The politician, who has been under fire, especially from Nigeria’s social media community for his alleged complicity in the incident maintained that as a serial protester, who opposed military rule, it could have been callous

of him to sanction any planned harm to innocent youths who were exhibiting their constitutional rights.

Speaking with a television station, Tinubu revealed that some persons had reported him to President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing him of being the sponsor of the protests because of his position that every Nigerian has a right to free speech and association.

While expressing shock over the carnage, Tinubu stated that the first step for the government

now is to get those behind the shootings arrested and tried, while there should be compensation for the victims of the attack.

The APC stalwart argued that a commission of enquiry should be quickly set up to look at the cause of the carnage, noting that it will unravel whether those who attacked the protesters were fake soldiers or got a legitimate order to do what they did.

He said: “I was shocked and I was amazed. I have a history

of being an activist and an unrepentant protester in the past and I have released a statement appealing to the conscience of all Nigerians, the protesters as well and have sided with them that what they are doing is right.

“They have a right to free speech, freedom of association, because I have done it before.

But that they should call off the protest. Suddenly, I had a call that Nigerian soldiers had attacked the protesters.

“I was shocked. In the process of making enquiries, when the lives of people are involved, you hear suddenly that people are being attacked with live bullets.

It’s sad. I am extremely sad and I am ready to complain to the highest level.

“I strongly condemn these acts. There are other ways of dispersing crowds and protests.

Why will they use live bullets?

I condemn this act.”

He also denied owning or

running the business at the tollgate, saying that he has never collected any money from the operators.

Tinubu further stated that although he hadn’t spoken with the president at the time of the interview, he was sure Buhari couldn’t have ordered the use of live ammunition on unarmed protesters. He, however, added that whoever made the order must be brought to book.

South-west Senators Condemn Shooting of Lekki Protesters Deji Elumoye in Abuja The South-west Senate caucus has condemned the use of “brute force against peaceful protesters in the country.”

The senators, in a communique issued yesterday in Abuja, also condemned the wanton destruction of public and private property by hoodlums who have hijacked the #EndSARS protests in some states of the federation.

They said: “We, the 17 elected senators from the six South-west states after our meeting state as follow: “We recognise the right of citizens to ventilate their grievances by way of peaceful protests.

“We have received the fivepoint demands of the genuine #EndSARS protesters and we identity with the demands.

“With our colleagues in the Senate, we have passed these demands to the federal executive for implementation.

“We deprecate unequivocally the use of brute force against peaceful protesters in the country.

“In view of the massive infrastructure deficit and precarious financial situation of the country, we condemn wanton destruction of public property and those of private

individuals by hoodlums as this constitute bastardisation of the cause of genuine #EndSARS peaceful protesters.

“We enjoin the President and all security agencies to ensure security of lives and property in all parts of the country.

“We urge the #EndSARS protesters to exercise restraints to enable the government implement their demands.”

The communiqués was signed by the Chairman of the Southwest Senate Caucus, Senator Robert Borofice (Ondo North); Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central); Senator Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun Central); Senator Solomon Adeola (Lagos West); Senator Ade Fadahunsi (Osun East), Senator Olalekan Mustapha (Ogun East) and Senator Nicholas Tofowomo (Ondo South).

Others were Senator Tolulope Odebiyi (Ogun West); Senator Aderele Oriolowo (Osun West); Senator Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South); Senator Kola Balogun (Oyo South); Senator Buhari Abdulfatai (Oyo North); Senator Ajibola Basiru (Osun Central), Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi (Ekiti Central), Senator Teslim Folarin (Oyo South) and Senator Ayo Akinyelure (Ondo Central).

Ogun to Begin Trial of Police Officers Involved in Brutality The Ogun State Government has released the dates for the trial of police officers allegedly involved in human rights violations.

The government, in a series of tweets yesterday, listed the names of four police officers involved in cases ranging from alleged manslaughter to murder and invited citizens to monitor the proceedings.

Governor Dapo Abiodun had earlier set up a judicial panel of investigation to probe alleged cases of police brutality against citizens of the state.

“We invite the public to monitor the following criminal cases against defendant police officers in Ogun State: 1. The State v. Inspector Wasiu Lawal – murder trial coming up for hearing on 10 November 2020 at

the Ipokia Division of the High Court of Ogun State,” it said.

“The State v. Okoi Obi – manslaughter trial coming up for hearing on 2 December 2020 at the Ijebu-Ode Division of the High Court of Ogun State; the State v. Inspector Niyi Ogunsoro – murder trial at the Abeokuta Division of the High Court of Ogun State. Date of hearing to be communicated.

The next case is the “State v.

Inspector Ahmed Mohammed – murder charge ready to be filed at the Ilaro Division of the High Court of Ogun State. Date of hearing to be communicated after filing.”

The state government said additional cases will be added as soon as charges to be filed against defendants are concluded.

MEDIA PARLEY…

Permanent Secretary, Special Service, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Aliyu Mohammed (left), and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), briefing State House Correspondents on the outcome of the National Security Council Meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja...yesterday GODWIN OMOIGUI

Lagos Chiefs, Eko Princes, Others Decry Desecration of Oba’s Palace Funmi Ogundare The Forum of Eko Princes and Princesses, and the Association of Lagos Titled Chiefs, a non-political association of honorary chiefs and prominent members of the Lagos community who have served the state and the nation meritoriously, have condemned the recent attack of the palace of Oba of Lagos by miscreants and hoodlums protesting #ENDSARS. The chiefs, particularly expressed disdain over the desecration of the traditional institution of Lagos.

The General Secretary of the

association, Chief Olawumi Gasper in a statement made available to THISDAY, said the development no doubt posed grave dangers to the culture and traditions of the good people of Lagos.

According to him, “The action was unacceptable as the highly revered and age-long traditional institution of Lagos will not be compromised and must be preserved. “The tradition and culture of the people of Lagos has been with its people for centuries and therefore a taboo for instruments of office (traditional staff) or any of its replica to be carted away from the palace. No

less important are other traditional artifacts taken away by these miscreants.”

He explained that in the tradition and culture of Lagos and indeed the Yoruba people, the Oba is not only a King but the spiritual head of the people.

The statement reads in part, “The traditional authority also has an aristocratic flare commanding respect and obedience. The King is the custodian of the history, traditions and culture whose words and actions are sacred and therefore the invasion and lootings of the palace by miscreants and hoodlums, carting away of the

staff of office and other items of value, desecration of the age-long customs of the people of Lagos is highly condemned by the association.

“The association therefore re–affirmed that it would guard against this despicable act creeping into the traditional institution of Lagos, as it is an aberration which must not be allowed to repeat itself.”

“The titled chiefs condemned the effrontery of the invaders and pledged its unwavering commitment to the sanctity of the Lagos Monarchy, its traditions and culture.”

Fayemi Extends Curfew, Inaugurates Panel on Police Brutality Tenders apology to victims of protests

The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has extended the 24-hour curfew that was imposed in all parts of the state earlier in the week till Monday, October 26 to enable security agencies restore law and order in the state as well as guarantee the security of lives and properties of the people.

This, he said became necessary in order to forestall unwholesome conduct of some miscreants who capitalised on the ENDSARS protests to perpetrate criminal acts including robbing, killing and destruction of public and

private properties.

Fayemi disclosed this yesterday while inaugurating members of Ekiti State Judicial Panel of Enquiry into Allegations of Human Rights Violations Against Police Officers, Including SARS Operatives at the Governor’s Office, Ado Ekiti.

The governor also announced the establishment of a Victims Compensation Fund to enable speedy payment of monetary compensation to deserving victims.

This, according to him would enable the panel respond appropriately to the urgent needs

of victims of rights violations.

Fayemi, at the brief event, also apologised to victims of the ENDSARS protests in the state and assured the people of the state that his government would continue to take deliberate measures to protect lives and properties.

He said his administration would not tolerate criminalisation of young people in the state, adding that thorough investigation into cases of brutalisation of innocent citizens during the course of the protests would also be carried out and promptly

acted upon.

He said: “In the meantime the existing curfew announced by the state government on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 is further extended until Monday October 26, 2020.

“It is important that I emphasised that this curfew is not aimed at abusing the rights of our citizens or make life difficult for the people but to enable government carry out its main responsibility of guaranteeing the security of lives and properties of our citizens.”

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Stop Protests, Abdulsalami Tells Nigerian Youths Laleye Dipo in Minna Former Military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) has told Nigerian youths to stop their #ENDSARS protests taking place across the country and embrace dialogue.

Abdulsalami also asked the federal government to address the grievances of the youths.

Addressing some journalists yesterday in Minna, Niger State, capital, the former military leader charged both the protesters and the government to give peace a chance in the overall interest of the country.

He noted that these “unfortunate incidents (protests) are causing serious concern to many Nigerians

and if care is not taken it might take the country to point of no return”.

According to him, the youths have “strongly and clearly made their points” and should “withdraw from the streets and prepare for dialogue”.

“All Nigerians have grievances, whatever the matter is, I appeal to our youth who have strongly and clearly made their points to withdraw from the streets and prepare for dialogue” Abdulsalami, who is also the National Chairman of the Nigeria Peace Committee, advised President Muhammadu Buhari to “continue addressing the grievances expressed by those youths and lay out programmes

that meet and address the objective of the protesters” He lamented the hijack of the protests by “criminals resulting to violence, destruction of government critical infrastructure and private properties as well as criminal release of prisoners by the hoodlums,” saying the action was responsible for the government “sending out security agencies to restore law and order which unfortunately further led to loss of more innocent lives”.

Abdulsalami however expressed dismay at “the shooting of those unarmed youths,” added that “the shooting has left all of us dumbfounded.

It’s unfortunate”.

CAN Seeks Justice for Victims of Lekki Incident Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has demanded justice for the young Nigerian #EndSARS protesters shot and killed by security operatives last Tuesday at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos.

The CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayo Ayokunle, who addressed journalists at a press conference yesterday, said the action of the security agents is totally reprehensible.

He said though the military has denied responsibility for the shooting, their presence at the scene of the dastardly incident did not help matter.

According to him, “The federal government should bring the trigger-happy security men to book to serve as justice for the bereaved. Also, they should ensure that the families of the victims

are consoled and compensated.

“The Christian Association of Nigeria is deeply shocked and saddened by the unfortunate wastage of lives of fellow young Nigerians who were protesting unarmed against the brutal treatment and killings of Nigerians by the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force on October 20, 2020, at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos State.”

Ayokunle said though the military has denied being responsible despite the video and eye witness accounts, their presence at the scene of the incident did not help their matter.

“Whoever ordered the shooting of unarmed citizens on legitimate protest in a democracy for whatever reason had crossed the red line and had caused more pains for this country and many parents of these young, promising

Nigerians who would have been Nigeria’s future glory. In very strong terms, CAN condemns the dastardly and callous act. It was a minus for our democracy and a scar to be remembered forever,” he stated.

On the other hand, Ayokunle appealed to all Nigerians to avoid arson and wanton destruction of property, infrastructural facilities that have followed the killings.

The CAN leader added: “Though one understands that they came out of the provocative killings, the destruction should stop because it would further inflict pains on fellow Nigerians who are either working in those facilities or deprive them the benefits which those facilities are providing on daily basis, especially to mention just but one, the BRT buses, which are providing ease of movement to Lagos workers on daily basis.

Don’t Reject Victims of Protests, Ehanire Tells Hospitals Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Lagos The federal government has directed federal government hospitals not to reject victims and casualties of #EndSARS protests across the country over their inability to pay for service.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, gave the directive in a statement issued yesterday by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour, Mr Abdulaziz

Abdullahi.

He asked all the Chief Executive Officers of all federal tertiary hospitals to ensure that victims are treated immediately they arrive at the hospital.

The statement read: “The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, has considered the probability of the need for emergency medical services as a result of civic unrest in some parts of the country and directed

that casualties arriving federal tertiary hospitals with evocative injuries should not be rejected on account of inability to pay for service.

“All such persons are to receive treatment without delay. This administration places a priority on the health and wellbeing of citizens and residents and is committed to assuring that lives are not lost needlessly.

Plateau Relaxes Curfew as Normalcy Returns Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Plateau State Government has relaxed the 24-hour curfew earlier imposed on Jos, the state capital.

It is now from 6a.m. to 8p.m. with effect from October 23, 2020.

In a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Danladi Atu, the state government said: “This decision was reached after painstaking deliberations with critical stakeholders and careful assessment of the security

situation that led to the skirmishes in some parts of the affected local government areas last Tuesday.”

The statement reiterated that the state government was not unmindful of citizens’ constitutional rights to hold lawful assembly or stage peaceful protests as long as there are carried out within the extant laws of Nigeria.

“As a government, we also appreciate the fact that these are the variables that further deepen our democracy.

“However, as a deliberate

approach to prevent a repeat of last Tuesday’s ugly incident where precious human lives and property were lost, the government has for now also resolved to ban forthwith any processions and protests under whatever guise in order to safeguard the lives of all citizens of the state. This is to enable the government isolate and deal with those who are bent on disrupting the peace of the state,” the statement added.

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Kwara Police Dismiss Six Officers Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The Kwara State Police Command yesterday said that in the last four months, it has dismissed six police officers for alleged misconduct.

The state Police Commissioner,

Mr. Kayode Egbetokun said this in Ilorin, the state capital at a stakeholders meeting with leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria

Police, Army Arrest 13 Suspects for Looting, Arson in Edo, Ondo Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city and James Sowole in Akure The police in Edo State and the military authorities in Ondo State have arrested 13 suspects for alleged looting and arson in the ongoing nationwide #EndSARS protests.

The Edo State Police Command yesterday announced the arrest of nine persons in connection with bugling of a rice warehouse in Benin-city, even as the 24-hour curfew imposed on the state in the wake of last Monday orgy of violence that accompanied the #EndSARS protest in the state subsisted.

According to the information on the Edo State Police Command official Facebook page, the NPF Edo Command, the police authorities said the Command received the intelligence report of the burglary and acted promptly.

“Today, October 22, 2020, information received by the Command is that some suspected criminals/hoodlums bugled Omoregie Rice Warehouse located at Upper Sakponba Road in Benin-city. Operatives swung into action and arrested the suspects,” the post stated.

The arrested suspects, as

released by the police, are: “Favour Etimumore, 19, female; Chinyere Uyi, 35, female; Desmond Ugiagbe, 24, male; Daniel Duruji, 22, male; Iyoha Godstime, 14 male; Godstime Omosuzi, 15 male; Nelly Monday, 19, female; Philip Ewere, 63, male, and Osas Guobadia, 30, male.

“Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the number of bags of rice that was carted away.”

Meanwhile, the army authorities at the 323 Artillery Brigade in Akure, the Ondo State capital, yesterday confirmed the arrest of four suspected arsonists in connection with the burnt campaign office of the state Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, in Akure.

Reports had it that they have made useful statements to the military.

Prior to the confirmation of the arrest of the suspects by the army, sources told journalists in Akure last night that “some politicians have gone underground as the suspects made useful and confessional statements to the security agency.

“The suspects were taken to a military formation rather than the police station for obvious reasons.

Oyetola Inaugurates Judicial Panel on Police Brutality Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, yesterday inaugurated the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality to look into cases of assault, illegal arrest, killings, brutality and other forms of rights abuse by the officers and men of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigerian Police as well as the death of two persons at two different locations last Saturday.

Similarly, he appealed to the youths, who he noted were the genuine protesters, to give the government a chance to work on their demands by suspending their street protests.

The governor noted that the suspension would aid the security operatives to rid the state of miscreants, who have hijacked the protest for other pecuniary gains.

This was even as the governor tasked the panel on fairness, equity and justice.

The setting up of the panel is in keeping with Section 2:1 of the Commission of Inquiry Law Cap 29, Laws of Osun State 2002, and in line with the directive of the federal government to all the 36 state governors and the minister of the Federal Capital

Territory (FCT).

The 12-man newly-inaugurated panel is chaired by a retired Judge of the High Court, Hon. Justice Akinola Oladimeji.

Members of the panel are Prof.

Wasiu Oyedokun representing the Civil Society Organisation; Chairman of Osun State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Ismail Abdul-Aziz, and Prof. Grace Akinola representing the academia.

Others are Biodun Layonu (SAN); retired DIG of Police, Mr. Jide Akano; Social Activist, Jumoke Ogunkeyede; President, National Association of Osun State Students (NAOS), Teslim Salaudeen; Oluwasegun Idowu representing the Civil Society Organisation; Chairman, NBA Osogbo branch, Abdulrahman Okunade; Mrs. Kemi Bello representing the Ministry of Justice, Osun State (secretary to the panel).

Inaugurating the panel at the Government House in Osogbo, Oyetola said the decision was to further validate one key attribute in “keeping faith with promises made” to which his administration has been known for since it came on board about two years ago.

(RTEAN), Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN), hotel owners association, Okada riders association, students’ union leaders, and human rights activists in the state.

Egbetokun added that he approved the dismissal of another police officer on Wednesday this week also for alleged professional misconduct.

The police boss, who said that his command did not condone indiscipline among its officers, added that many police officers had been served various forms of punishment.

The commissioner said that,

though, the SARS had been disbanded, the command recorded 15 armed robbery cases between May and October with arrest of 27 suspects and recovery of 15 AK-47 rifles.

He said that the state had not witnessed cases of police extra judicial killing, brutality and harassment, adding that cases of police extortion had reduced drastically.

Egbetokun, who appealed to the stakeholders to talk with their members on the need to maintain existing peace and harmony in the state, said he was proud of peaceful conduct

exhibited so far by the youth in the state during #EndSARS protest.

“Please, talk with your men not to copy what’s happening elsewhere in the country, particularly, as it concerned current spate of insecurity in many parts of the country.

You can see that it is no longer#EndSARS protest again with the level of destruction and looting going on in some places in the country. It looks like a new agenda by the criminal elements. They loot armoury to get gun in order to commit atrocities after this time. We

should discourage that and be careful with kind of information we access on social media. Fake reports that can cause disunity and chaos are being circulated.

We have to be careful,” he said.

Other speakers at the meeting called for open prosecution of erring officers and public announcement on dismissed ones.

Others also advised that desk officer for youth and students should be established in the police command for cordial relationship, as well as youth/ police relations committee and regular stakeholders meeting.

COURTESY VISIT…

National President of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Innocent Ujah (left); and Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Mrs. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, during a visit of the NMA president to the Deputy Governor’s Office in Port Harcourt...recently

Muslim Lawyers Condemn Violence, Attacks on Peaceful Protesters Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Lagos State chapter of the Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN) has endorsed the call for an end to police brutality in all its ramifications and also joined all well-meaning persons and institutions in the clarion call for wholesome reforms in the training and welfare of nation’s Police officers and men.

In a statement issued yesterday, the group also condemned in

unmistaken terms the attack on peaceful protesters at the Lekki toll gate.

It called for a full inquiry to unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident.

“We decry the avoidable loss of lives and properties occasioned by the unfortunate involvement of criminal elements who capitalised on the protests to wreak untold havoc and chaos in Lagos metropolis in the last

couple of days.

“We condemn the unwarranted attacks on both private and government properties especially the High Court of Lagos and the Court of Appeal. As Lawyers, we are highly pained by the wanton destruction of judicial facilities and records.

“We call on the government to fish out the perpetrators of these dastardly acts and bring them to justice in earnest.

“We commend the Lagos State

government for promptly setting up a Judicial Panel of Inquiry to receive and investigate complaints of police brutality in Lagos State in order to ensure that the culprits of same are duly punished while the victims are justifiably compensated. “We implore the concerned youths and other victims of the pervading abuse of Police powers and authority to use the platform to seek and get the necessary legal redress”.

Onyibe Publishes Book on Isma’ila Isa Funtua PeterUzoho Author and public affairs expert, Mr. Magnus Onyibe, has published a book on the late charismatic political activist, construction entrepreneur and media investor, Mallam Isma’ila lsa Funtua, who passed away in July 2020, The book titled “Ismaila Isa Funtua: A Bridge Builder, Chronicles of a Political Activist, And the Jostle for The Presidency of Nigeria In 2023”, is structured in four chapters.

A statement issued yesterday and signed by the Coordinator, Mr. John Bankisa, said the book is in part focused on the elder statesman and his bridge buildinglegacy,bothintermsofphysical and human relationships.

It said Onyibe also leveraged the critical role that Funtua played in Nigerian politics since the 2nd Republic when he served as a minister, to his last position as a member of the inner circle of the President of the Federal

Republic of Nigeria during the Ninth Republic, to dig up and bring to the threshing floor issues surrounding the presidential power sharing calculus between the north and south.

It said the late Funtua’s comment on ARISE TV on January 3, 2020, “Presidency is not turn-by-turn Nigeria Limited,” set off a political firestorm that’s now raging in the political space.

According to the author, the book whichisasortofanthologycomprisesof four chapters, saying the first two dwell on the late Funtua’s political odyssey andfeaturescommentsfromhisfriends and associates.

He said both chapters reveal critical facts about Nigeria from the eyes of Nigerians who have been in and around the corridors of political power in nearly four decades.

The views also included are those of his former colleagues in the media, who upon his passage renamed NIJ (Nigerian Institute of

Journalism) House after him, and thus triggered another controversy as the gesture and mark of honour became another lightening rod .

Theothertwochapters,heexplained, highlight some hidden hindrances to therealisticandpracticalimplementation of the presidential power shift between the north and south equation, and amplify the historical facts to be contended with by those contending for the presidency of Nigeria from 2023 should be ceded to someone of lgbo extraction.

The author of the book posited that the nebulous nature of the gentleman agreement between northern and southern politicians entered into during the 1994/5 national conference to periodically swing the presidency between both sides has major shortcomings in the sharing formula.

Onyibe noted that the flaws in the gentleman agreement are evidenced by the fact that it did not take into

consideration how power would rotate within the sub-regions.

Thus, the presidential power rotation calculus, according to him, is not only inequitably distributed between the north and south, but also faulty because it does not define how it would rotate between the states on the northern or southern sides of the equation that are now hobbled or excluded from enjoying the good feeling of their son or daughter being president.

Onyibe argued that a clear evidence of the weakness of the power sharing calculus is that presidential power in the north is currently residing in Katsina State where the late President Umaru Yar’dua who served as president from 2007 to 2010, and president Muhammadu Buhari, the incumbent president from 2015 till date, with a mandate to serve till 2023, hail from the same Katsina State.

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COMMENT

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

TEARS OF MOTHERLAND

Ifunanya Brown-Okoroafor urges government to do more to ensure peace in the land

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he lashing rain had died down with a chilly weather when I regained my sense of calm. It was a weather I would have relished any other day, but today is not that day. If anything I am still shocked to the core from watching, through various media platforms, the brutal killings of young, unarmed Nigerians in their noble protest against Police brutality on 20th October, 2020. As I watched the rain settle into a drizzle, I could not help but imagine the rain as tears of the motherland, weeping over the blood of her young spilled on the Lagos Toll Plaza and across the nation. As I cast my mind back to the night of 31st December, 2019, when we were all so eager to dance away the year and welcome the new year, it would have been far better if we were allowed a sneak preview of the year 2020.

Perhaps we would have been better prepared for what was to unfold. The first quarter of the year started with a global unleashing of the Coronavirus, a pandemic, which was first dismissed as an epidemic before it steadily swept across the globe like a tidal wave snuffing out lives in its wake. As the virus crippled nations and economies, scientists scrambled to compete for a space in the discovery of a vaccine(s) to stave off the pandemic. Nigeria, though not as badly affected as Europe, United States, and Brazil, to mention a few, it has had its fair share of casualties. While the erstwhile lockdown had since been lifted for businesses and indeed the economy to thrive, Nigeria still grapples with the pandemic. As if that stark reality was not bad enough, another festering disease suddenly reared its ugly head, in the guise of police brutality, when a young man was killed in cold blood by SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad) officials on 3rd October, 2020.The Special Anti-Robbery Squad was established in 1992 following the notorious spate of armed robberies in Lagos. They were combatants and with their special training, rose to the occasion in swiftly clamping down on armed robbers in Lagos State and its environs. However, as time progressed, the men of SARS prowled for a new target and began to prey on young Nigerians. In a country lacking the basic necessities to cater to the needs of its teeming population, the people made up largely of a young demographics, must hustle in order to provide for themselves and their families. While some may have deployed unsavoury means to make ends meet, in the eyes of the men of SARS, everyone is a suspect. This is especially true for the Nigerian youth, whom the police would brutalize, main, and kill without hesitation, especially if they carried a laptop or rode a flashy car. Unfortunately, attempts since 2017 to introduce needed reforms to the Nigeria Police Force, following calls by concerned Nigerians and civic organizations, have only been met with short term solutions, which failed to bring any sustainable change to the force. As a result, the men of SARS were further emboldened to unleash terror on

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD, WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY, CALL FOR CALM AND ENTER INTO A DIALOGUE WITH A VIEW TO BRINGING LASTING SOLUTIONS TO POLICE BRUTALITY AND REFORMS ACROSS BOARD

Nigerians. Sadly, the proverbial chickens finally came to roost when on 3rd October, two days after the country’s Independence anniversary, a young man was gunned downed in Delta State by SARS officers, who later fled with his Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle. Nigerians immediately called for the scrapping of SARS, when video clips of the incident surfaced on social media platforms, notably Twitter, leading to the break out of protests by youths across the country with the hashtag, #EndSARS. On 11th October, the Inspector-General of Police, quickly announced the scrapping of SARS to be replaced with SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics Team), a move which further reinforced the youths who regarded the change as premature.

Incidentally, the protest took a turn for the worse, when on 20th October, the Nigerian military unleashed brute force by firing at the unarmed protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza, which, reportedly, resulted in the maiming and killing of 12 people. This singular act triggered the breakdown of law and order across the nation. The extra-judicial killings and human rights violations drew the condemnation of the international community, including the UN Secretary-General, Anthonio Guterres; the former President of the United States of America, Bill Clinton; and former Secretary of State of the United States of America, Hillary Clinton, among others. Two days after the senseless killings of those brave, young Nigerians, the father of the nation and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria failed to address the nation and comfort the families of those who lost their loved ones. He more or less grudging did late on the 23rd without attempt to mitigate the pains.

While a handful of states have gone ahead to set up judicial panels of inquiry into the abuses and violations by the Nigeria Police Force, it is instructive to note that under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, policing falls under the exclusive list and therefore requires a national, holistic approach and direction.

In order to forestall further tragedy, the government should, with a sense of urgency, call for calm and enter into a dialogue with a view to bringing lasting solutions to police brutality and reforms across board. Such dialogue should be all inclusive, with youth and civil society participation, as young people today are considered to be effective in decision-making over matters concerning them.

More so, the government should also provide restitution to families who have lost their loved ones. As the world watches, we are reminded by the words of Chinua Achebe that, “He who fetched an ant-infested firewood has invited lizards for a feast.” It is hoped that the Nigerian government would quickly do the needful in rewriting its wrongs by bringing about a better Nigeria for its peoples.

Brown-Okoroafor is of Let’s Help Humanitarian Foundation

UNDERSTANDING THE PROTESTERS

Accountability is the new normal. The era of ‘promise them anything to keep them quiet’ is over, writes Franca Ovadje

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was at one of the protest venues in Lagos on Saturday and interviewed several protesters. I aim to facilitate a meaningful dialogue between the protesters and the government.

They were very passionate about the protests and explained what will make them stop the march. The reasons for the demonstration are well known, and even children can tell you what 5for5 stands for. It seems that the government needs to understand the Protesters if they are to come up with a lasting solution to this crisis.

Two things emerged from the interviews: one was that the Nigeria that the protesters know and have experienced is different from what the older generation experienced. Significant experiences shape a generation in early adulthood.

These experiences result in a generational identity with a distinctive set of values, beliefs, expectations and behaviours (Egri & Ralson, 2004).

I grew up in Benin in the 1970s, a time when ECN would advertise in The Observer newspaper the day and time of day they would not provide electricity and would apologize for it. I attended public schools. In fact, in my day, most of those who went abroad for A-levels did not make it to university in Nigeria. We received a bursary from the government during our university days, and during the long vacation, the Bendel State government employed us. None of my friends was jobless after graduation.

The protesters are Millennials and Gen Z. They grew up in a democratically elected government, they experienced the telecommunications and Internet

revolution. They have smartphones; they comment on international issues on social media with their friends. Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, YouTube, and others became available in their formative years.

The educational system had collapsed when they went to school. A number of the protesters went to private schools and did not feel that they have received anything from Nigeria. Without leaving the country, they are fully aware of what is happening in the world, how other countries practise democracy.

One of the protesters said: “Since I was born, I have never heard anything good about Nigeria. Never. What we have been hearing is: ‘Nigeria used to be good’ ‘Nigeria was good back in the day.’ But we never experienced it. So, we grew up in a system that was broken and was deteriorating by the day. The roads, electricity, water, security only became worse. The only difference is that it became more sophisticated and people have learnt to live independent of government, especially the youth.”

While the older generations still see authority figures as people that should be respected, even revered, the Millennials and Gen Z do not see the President nor any elected official as a father figure but as servants of the people. They are the ‘why’ generation. They have been asking their parents and teachers ‘why’ since they were born. A number of them studied abroad and have come back and cannot understand why democracy is the way it is in Nigeria. They are confident and ready to take on the world if needed.

Perhaps more importantly, they do not see hope for themselves and their children

in Nigeria today. One interviewee said more than half of his colleagues have run to Canada in the past year. He has chosen to stay, and he intends to fix the system.

He cannot contemplate having children and bringing them up in Nigeria today.

A few of the interviewees went on to say that they are ready to give their lives for this struggle. According to one of them: “I grew up in this country. I do not want my children to grow up in a country like this.

I will give my life.”

The second thing that emerged from the interview is this: there is no trust between the government and the protesters. Trust is the disposition to be vulnerable to the actions of another based on the expectation of the intentions and behaviour of that other. The protesters do not see any reason to make themselves vulnerable to the government.

My study on trust in the boss-subordinate relationship suggests that behaviours lead to trust; the manager’s trusting behaviours (his or her actions) leads to subordinate confidence in the manager.

The protesters have been asking for an end to SARS for days. The government announced the disbandment of SARS. Yet the protests continue. One would think that the announcement would be enough to bring the #ENDSARS protest to an end.

Instead, it has become a movement with more than 5for5 demands!

We asked the protesters what must happen to stop the #ENDSARS or #ENDSWAT protest. Several protesters responded: “We are no fools. If I were five or 10 years old, you could tell me this, and I will believe you. When you say you will look into it, you are managing the

situation, not solving it.” He added, “We listed the names of officers who committed crimes. When we see that government is prosecuting them; that they are in Court (I will know because I am a lawyer), then we can stop the #ENDSWAT protest.”

“Promises made in the past were not kept.

We want concrete actions, actual reform not just saying Ok, we have disbanded SARS. “When the government stops sending dogs and police to intimidate us.”

Trust is broken obviously. If the government is to build trust, we must see that they are listening. There is much pain among the protesters. One of them told me she has nightmares because SARS shot her friend in her presence on their way to a party one Saturday night. Citizens must see the government as fair. If their children suffered this much what would they do? Finally, keeping commitments, keeping promises is critical to building trust. Such faithfulness will require a rethink of governance. They must keep promises. The protesters are holding the government to account. Accountability is the new normal; the era of ‘promise them anything to keep them quiet’ is over.

One protester summed up the protest: “We are not asking for electricity, we are not asking for education, we just want to be alive. Let us live so that when we are in office, we can change this country.

We don’t want to be out in the rain protesting. People have lost loved ones, and there is no form of accountability.

Unfortunately, it has to come to this just for something as basic as the right to life!”

Professor Ovadje is the Founder of Danne Institute for Research

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T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍąËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

EDITORIAL

LOPSIDED RECRUITMENT IN DSS There is need to challenge the impunity in the state security services

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Not a few Nigerians feel scandalised by a recent report of lopsided recruitment exercise in the Department of State Service (DSS). Given the impunity by the current administration that has consistently shown scant regard for our diversity, many believe the report that is yet to be denied. The distribution of opportunities has not only been abused in several sectors, it has increasingly become a tool of controversy, divisions and tensions across all strata of our national life. The DSS must speak up on the issue that impinges on our national unity.

The framers of the Nigeria’s constitution were mindful of the diversity of Nigeria as a federal entity. The Federal Character Commission (FCC) was established in 1996 essentially to implement and THERE SHOULD BE A LEGAL enforce the prinCHALLENGE TO THE ACTION ciple of fairness and equity in the OF THE DSS VIS-A-VIS THE distribution of LETTERS OF THE FEDERAL public posts and CHARACTER ACT. NIGERIA socio-economic infrastructure IS NOT A JUNGLE. IT IS A among the variCOUNTRY GOVERNED BY ous federating LAWS. units of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Unfortunately, the FCC itself has been rendered comatose by this administration with the appointments of its members done without regard to the principle the commission was supposed to be enforcing.

Going by media reports of the DSS recruitment, Katsina, the home state of the President alone has 51 cadets as against 44 cadets for the entire five states in the South-east. A breakdown of the newly commissioned cadet officers on geopolitical basis revealed that 165 are from the North-west, four times those picked from the South-south which has 42. The figures for the other zones are: North-east (100), North-

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central, (66) and South-west, (57). To make matters worse, an unsigned statement from the presidency claimed that these recruitments were made to ensure balancing in the DSS. We condemn such underhand attempt to justify impunity.

The first two functions of the Federal Character Act state that the commission is to work out an equitable formula, subject to the approval of the president, for the distribution of all cadres of posts in the civil and public service of the federation and of the state, the armed forces, the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies among others. Secondly, the act is to function to promote, monitor and enforce compliance with the principles of proportional sharing of all bureaucratic, economic, media and political posts at all levels of government.

These are the ideals that have been cynically subverted by the recruitments into several agencies. Given its national security role, the DSS should not succumb to such arbitrariness.

That this administration has shown in words and deeds its contempt for our diversity is no longer in doubt. From all major appointments in the military and security agencies, there is glaring nepotism. The dominance of a section of the country is overbearing. And this is one of the factors that have necessitated the renewed clamour for restructuring in the country. Even then, that the DSS Director General, Mogaji Bichi, reportedly recruited 71 cadets from Bichi local government in Kano State (from where he hails) is very provocative.

We must condemn flagrant disregard for provisions of the constitution that has elevated ethnicity, religion and geography as major routes to appointments and career advancement. We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene by asking the DSS to respond to the issue and if true, cancel the exercise. And in case the president will not act, this is where the civil society should come in. There should be a legal challenge to the action of the DSS vis-a-vis the letters of the Federal Character Act. Nigeria is not a jungle. It is a country governed by laws.

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to speciďŹ c publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-200 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (9501000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer.

MODEL FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN BUSINESS AND SOCIETY

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ihe hand-me-down capitalism models Africa inherited from her colonial masters have failed to yield a prosperous continent despite its vast resources.

Therefore, Africa is in desperate need of something different that takes into consideration its unique history, qualities, and context.

Experts have mostly seen the interdependence of businesses and society as transactional, with the society needing business for products and services, for jobs, for government taxes revenues. In turn, business needs the society for the market, sales and profits and public infrastructure, security and the rule of law! According to Amaeshi (2019) businesses, though sympathetic to societal challenges, are reluctant to act positively through their companies as they sometimes see such requests as irrelevant to their objectives.

However, due to the interdependency and interconnectedness of business and society, companies must work collaboratively with the government for a common purpose. That purpose

is to build local resources.

There have been calls for western economies to rethink their capitalism model (Jacobs & Mazzucato, 2016).

There have also been calls for Africa to develop its model of capitalism, with theorists and entrepreneurs exploring ideas like Africapitalism (Amaeshi, 2015). Africapitalism, coined by Nigerian entrepreneur Tony Elumelu, focuses on the role of business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs on the continent’s development to create economic prosperity and social wealth.

It rests on the following four pillars: a sense of progress and prosperity; the sense of parity and inclusion; a sense of peace and harmony; and a sense of place and belongingness.

Africa does need its model. However, I would argue that this model should be spearheaded by the state in collaboration with willing stakeholders in the private sector and third sector, unlike Africapitalism. A governmentled push is especially relevant now that a few 21st-century economists are reassessing and rethinking capitalism in its present form. One of such critics is UCL’s Mazzucato (2018) The En-

trepreneurial State: Debunking Public vs Private Sector Myths who debunks the mainstream neo-classical narrative that the private sector alone drives innovation but takes the position that the state is the driver of innovation.

Mission-Oriented Innovation Approach (MOIA) could help address some of the identified gaps to ensure state and business work jointly to solve grand challenges, to co-create public value and co-shape a robust and sustainable society that it can bequeath to future generations.

There is, therefore, a need for an alternative model of collaboration for business, society and government. A suggested way forward for Nigeria, and indeed Africa, is to embrace a mission-oriented innovation approach.

The concept of the mission-oriented approach that involves government co-creating and co-shaping the market with the private and third sectors has enormous potential for Africa. The four pillars of ROAR, developed by Mariana Mazzucato (2016), is a useful toolset to anchor MOIA in Africa: Routes and directions- Government and Public institutions and agencies

to set missions. Also, private sector leaders can nudge government agencies to agree to work collaboratively on national priority areas. Organisational Capacity- Building of dynamic Capabilities within the Public sector through advocacy, capacity building, conferences and training. Assessment and evaluation- Agencies, academia and organisations to determine new dynamic tools to assess public policies to create new models and markets.

Risks and rewards- Government and private organisations need to engage on the best risks and rewards sharing formats from initiatives to ensure smart, inclusive and sustainable growth.

In conclusion, as western economies are reviewing and rethinking capitalism and their operating models, Africa must ensure she does the same. The reason is that the future of the development of the continent depends on the economic model that it chooses to adopt, in the future, especially with the growing youthful population.

Nonny Ugboma is the Executive Secretary of the MTN Foundation

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2020

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POLITICS

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

As the Nation Bleeds, North Also Wants Justice Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, Businessman, Politician, veteran Civil Right Leader; who was also a presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections catalogues instances of support for a united country from Northern Nigeria

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he heroic Nigeria youths in the two weeks long #ENDSARS protest which erupted like a hurricane in most Nigerian cities, have started a healing process, in a way. The first been the breaking of a 25-year-old silence to myriad of injustices in the land. The second was breaking the cycle of ethno-religious narratives encouraged by unscrupulous politicians, as if Nigerians from Northern and Southern Nigeria are divided on the question of justice and good governance.

The youths from most of the Northern States disappointed some politicians when they launched #EndInsecurity protests in Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Plateau, Adamawa, Katsina, Niger, Abuja, etc. The Northern youths have creatively, adapted the protest to the realities of Northern Nigeria.

Before the redemptive action of the now resurgent Nigerian youths, the polity has been toxic and corrosive, centered mainly on various propositions on the structure of Nigerian State and the louder voices being the call for Restructuring of the Federation while some fringe voices agitate for the dissolution of the union.

On October 12, a group of Northern intellectuals and political activists under the aegis of Friends of Democracy sent a memo to the Constitution Review Panel of the National Assembly echoing what several opinion leaders, largely from the south and middle belt have been agitating for. The group even went further by advocating 100% resource control by the State, as it was under the independence constitution of Nigeria and a return to the 1967 state structure in Nigeria. Amongst the signatories were Alhaji Othman Tofa, Ambassador Fatimah Ballah, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, Prof.

Jibrin Ibrahim, Dr. Usman Bugaje, etc.

When the story broke in the media, the dominant reportage in a section of the press ,was that “some southern leaders suspected the Friends of Democracy’s intention, given the fact that several authors of this new memo are probably from the same ethnic group from President Buhari whose clannish and lopsided appointments have been generally perceived as a corporate Fulanization agenda. Perhaps, if the polity has not been broken along North versus South as the major gladiators have tried to make it particularly in the past seven years, no one should have expressed suspicion at the genuine intentions of the Friends of Democracy.

Historically, the political leaders of Northern Nigeria were federalists who believed in resource control and a Police Force controlled by the regions, at least that is what the archives say for those of us who were not around at the Lancaster Conference of 1958.

According to the extract of an editorial of Times Magazine dated 10th November 1958, “Awolowo suggested creating three new states. The North’s Sardauna not wishing to relinquish any of his territory refused the idea, nor did he like the idea for a centralized police force under the Federal Government .

At the conference, Northern delegates insisted each region should have its police, the acceptance of the existence of the Federal Police side by side with the Regional Police was only an act of compromise conceded to accommodate the Southern delegates who were routing for a Federal Police, (This is history, not politics). Ironically too, the overthrow of the Independent constitution which is seen by the restructuring advocates as the model for Nigeria’s federalism was caused by a military coup led by officers ,predominantly from the South, East and not Northern Nigeria.

It will take Yakubu Gowon (a Northern officer) after the countercoup of July 1966 to begin a slow process of decentralization with the creation of 12 States. Gowon also

used a lot of the political leaders of the First Republic and civil servants who tempered the command structure of the military government.

The 1975 Murtala Mohammed coup steered the country away from the moderate approach of Gowon, through a purge of the civil service, judiciary and other vital institutions of state that provided balance.

The new Nigeria rulers, the1975 coupists, used the same mantra of anti-corruption that the coupists of January 1966 used. These 1975 coupists reinforced over centralization, fueled by cheap oil revenue. An ideology of state management totalitarian in texture was instituted. The actors in this era regardless of their ethnic origin were committed to a

centralized federalism. It was an ideological thing, not a South or North thing. But for many people who admired overcentralization of power in the North, so also were many genuine patriots who advocated the opposite.

Like federalism, there are many Northerners committed to the ideals of national unity and inclusiveness as much as their southern counterparts, the body language, actions and clannish innuendoes of Buhari notwithstanding, that is who Buhari is; that is not what the North is. In the 1980s, when yours truly was a student and youth leader, our anti-military actions got enthusiastic support from all Nigerian universities and citizens anytime we called out the people

My Stand on the Attack of Peaceful Protesters at Lekki Tollgate Onofiok Luke, member of the House of Representatives, representing Etinan Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State posits that security agents in Nigeria should be more professional in their engagement with youths when they express their dissenting opinions

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he event of Tuesday, October 20, 2020 in Lekki has left millions of citizens shocked and distraught for the obvious reason. The needless unleashing of live ammunition on peaceful protesters yesterday leaves a sad dent on our nation, one that must be condemned by all.

As an activist and one who has led peaceful protests in the past, both in my capacity as student leader and as Speaker of the Nigeria Youth Parliament, I am familiar with the rules of engagements regarding the advancement of group interest through protests.

Where protesters peacefully sit-in as we saw last night in Lekki, security officials deployed to such protest grounds should never go overboard to shoot at the protesters. The resorting to live ammunition to subdue the protesters was needless, callous and condemnable.

Such force as was seen last Tuesday should have best been deployed in areas where hoodlums had reportedly broken into prisons, freed prisoners, and burnt down properties. The force in Lekki would have been suitable in dealing with hijackers of the protest who armed themselves to some of the

protest arenas. The casualty recorded would have been avoided if security officials stuck to the rules of engagement by simply not unleashing those live ammunition. The reports and the images on social media are a sad narrative that must never repeat.

I remain in support of a peaceful protest while calling on our youths to not completely shut the door to meaningful dialogue with government.

Our security agents can be more professional and this protest is a test of that professionalism.

While I totally condemn this development as are other Nigerians, let me register my sincere condolences to the families of the brave young men and women who have lost their lives or limbs in Lekki and across the country.

I urge the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr Muhammadu Buhari to hearken to the call of Nigerians and address the nation at this solemn moment. This I believe will assuage grievances expressed by not just Nigerians but the global community. As the father of the nation, there can be no better time to speak than now.

there.There was no south or north; Kano answered our call, at the same time Lagos did, Maiduguri, Nsukka, Ibadan, Jos etc., poured to the street simultaneously.

At every stage of the struggle against military rule, there were northern political actors, playing a central role. We had Ajibade (Westerner, a Journalist), incarcerated in the anti-Abacha struggle. There was a Bagauda Kaltho (Northerner) blown up by a bomb.

For every bold Chima Ubani, Femi Falana and Odion Akhaine in the Campaign for Democracy, there were and still a Chom Bagu (from Plateau), Tony Akika (Nasarawa), a Lukman Salihu (Kaduna) etc., etc.

In the chronicles of the role of the media in the struggle for democracy, particularly in the mid-1990’s, it is now practically known that two titles–The News and Tempo Magazines played prominent roles. What is scant knowledge is that the son of the Seriki Hausawa of Lagos, Kabir- a prominent cadre of the Movement for Progressive Nigeria (MPN), ABU Zaria was one of the earliest major investors in those titles.

In the last days of the Abacha dictatorship, the political initiatives from the North was crucial. The first salvo was from G-12 in a letter signed by 12 Northern eminent persons, including Alhaji Abubakar Rimi from Kano, where Abacha came from. Others were Sule Lamido, Iyorchia Ayu, Jerry Gana, Dr. Sule Kumo, Chief Solomon Lar, etc. The letter which asked Abacha not to succeed himself was hand-delivered to the Aso Rock Villa by the indomitable emancipator, former governor of old Plateau State, Chief Solomon Daushep Lar (Wali Langtang). When some people were drinking cognac in the struggle for democracy in some western capital, Alhaji Rimi was in Ilorin prison for his opposition against Abacha. Other unsung Northerners, such as Air Commodore Dan Suleiman and Jonah Jang, were detained and later put on trial for treason.

The night Abacha died, the fate of the nation was at a balance. Armed with a memo drafted to be hand-delivered to the military High Command at Fort IBB on the way forward for the country were three of us, of which two were Northerners. We were not just couriers but signatories to the memo which was drafted at Professor Jerry Gana’s house, another northerner. The third signatory was a patriotic Nigerian, Dan Nwuanyanwu (a southerner). Not that where we came from mattered. Thankfully, our mission succeeded. 80% of what we wanted in the new transition programme sailed through. We delivered the memo to General Ishaya Bamaiyi, the then Chief of Army Staff, amid heavy troop movement and military assets.

In the memo we submitted, we asked from the Military High Command for a brief, inclusive political transition programme. We suggested that they allow for the formation of new independent political parties away from the five parties registered by Abacha to facilitate his self-transmutation programme to a civilian president. We requested for immediate release of Chief MKO Abiola from detention and other political detainees which included Beko Ransome Kuti, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, Femi Falana, Odion Akhaine, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, etc. etc. We suggested that the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) now be called Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

We wanted it to be independent, like the South African electoral body. On this point, the Military High Command took the name only and in their own wisdom made some other provisions which they believe will be enough to guarantee the independence of the electoral body.

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2020

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PERSPECTIVE

Count Igbos Out of the Arson, Destruction in Lagos Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, Founder: Igbo Youth Movement and Secretary, Eastern Consultative Assembly denies the insinuations that Igbo youths may be behind the arson and destruction in Lagos Chido Nwangwu, Publisher, USAfricaonline. trailing the EndSARS campaigns com calls out America’s first African-American he very distasteful strategy President, Barack Obama, for not condemning by certain heartless spin doctors, to manipulate the the violence against Nigerian youths minds of Nigerians with a

Obama’s Silence on Nigeria is deafening

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n July 20, 2015, as the President of the United States of America Barack Obama welcomed very warmly then elected President of Nigeria, retired General Muhammadu Buhari to the White House, in Washington DC. Almost 10 months earlier, Obama’s key political strategist David Axelrod had worked as a consultant for Nigeria’s Buhari with the effective knowledge of Obama and his White House National security senior staff. And of course the United States state department.

For some reasons especially regarding corruption in the government of the Nigeria’s previous president Goodluck Jonathan, Obama and particularly his Secretary of State John Kerry were determined to escalate pressure on Jonathan in order to have Nigeria’s former military dictator return as a civilian president. They succeeded.

On that beautiful summer day of July, Obama said Buhari had “a very clear agenda in defeating Boko Haram and extremists of all sorts inside of his country.

And he has a very clear agenda in terms of rooting out the corruption that too often has held back the economic growth and prosperity of his country.”

The fact is that neither of those goals have been met. In many parts of Nigeria’s north eastern section, the terrorist Islamists group is still in business and a menace.

In some ways, there are sections of this country Nigeria that can be characterized as the federal republic of insecurity!

The issue and evidence of corrupt activities are all over country especially among the members of the ruling political party.

Obama added an important point, that the US hoped to partner with the African nation “so that Nigeria ends up being not only an anchor of prosperity and stability in the eastern part of the continent, but can also be an outstanding role model for developing countries around the world.”

It is this issue of being a role model for developing countries and rising to the global standards of respect for human rights, respect for peaceful protests and respect for human lives that the Buhari government in Nigeria failed to live up to, again.

It failed on October 20, 2020 when its soldiers and armed forces in the blanket of night shot and killed peaceful demonstrators — especially at the Lekki toll-gate!

Remarkably, most of the friends and political associates of former president of Obama have spoken to condemn the violence Nigerian youths. For some curious and inexplicable reasons, he has not spoke one word about these grave developments .

Where is he this critical time specifically within the fierce urgency of now?

Where is he, the global evangelist of yes we can?

The other major point to note is that millions of young persons entered into public policy advocacy and politics by being inspired by Obama….

Without any doubts, most of those are Nigerians across the African continent and here in the United States. However Nigerians generally believe that the former president that’s not giving them the proper sense of effective engagement or adequate respect fit for the so-called Giant of Africa.

Let’s go back briefly into history for some additional context.

Obama arrived the mainly Frenchspeaking west African country of Senegal on Wednesday evening June 26, 2013, specifically the capital city of Dakar.

He was accompanied by his wife Michelle Obama, their two daughters Malia and Sasha, and Michelle’s mother Mrs. Robinson. There was a delegation of business and policy leaders as part of the week-long, three-country visit which will include South Africa and Tanzania.

The prominently excluded were his father’s home country of Kenya, a few miles from Tanzania. Many Kenyans considered the decision a regrettable snub.

I was informed by a senior official in the U.S State Department in Washington DC that the schedulers of the trip did not want to “insert President Obama into the unfolding drama” and image politics involving the new president of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta. Uhuru, son of the country’s founding President Jomo Kenyatta, was facing charges of crimes against humanity from the ICC. Nigeria, Africa’s most populated country was snubbed, again, by Obama.

The highly-placed U.S diplomat told USAfrica that Nigeria’s leaders need to be serious on the issue of fighting corruption.

President Jonathan and his ruling PDP were protecting and granting amnesty to those who looted the country’s economy. The later is a reference to former Bayelsa State governor (1999-2005), Diepreye Alamieyeseigha whose $700,000 home in Rockville (Maryland) was taken over by the United States government following this June 2013 order by U.S district judge Roger W. Titus.

Nigeria’s President, in consultation with other leaders in Nigeria, took the decision to “pardon” the ex-fugitive Governor.

Nigerians were unhappy that Obama was a few hours away but ignored their important country in 2009. From July 10 to 11, 2009, President Barack Obama chose instead to be in the west African country of Ghana, assessed by the U.S government as “one of our most trusted partners in subSaharan Africa.” The additional goals of the visit, according to the Obama White House, will be “to highlight the critical role that sound governance and civil society play in promoting lasting development.”

Obama became America’s third president to visit Ghana since 1998, and at the time, his second official trip to the African continent. The geo-demographic fact is that his first trip was to Egypt on June 4, 2009, where he spoke about Islam and democracy, rights of women in Islam and modern society, extremist variants of Islamic theologies and the challenge of peaceful co-existence.

When will Obama speak on Nigeria and about Nigeria and inside Nigeria?

lie from the pit of hell, that Igbo youths are responsible for the youth Day of Rage on Wednesday in Lagos is shameful and scary.

This type of mind bending might have worked before the advent of this insensitive and directionless government, but not today.

Nobody will ever believe their cheap but vicious false narrative.

Their usual agelong blackmail of Ndigbo has expired.

Even the blind understands clearly, that the rage against the gory massacre of unarmed defenceless young folks at Lekki toll gate Tuesday, unleashed bottled up anger against certain overlords, who have hitherto held Lagos hostage for over two decades now.

Survivors of the Lekki massacre know who turned of the light at the toll gates, they know who ordered the removal of the CCTV cameras, they also know who was struggling to convince Aso Villa,

That they believe that the only way to save their sinking master is to cleverly heap the blame on innocent and peace loving Igbo, actually confirm their ruthlessness in holding the future and destiny of Lagosians hostage forever. Well, the youths think 21 years of bondage is enough. This spin doctors who are suggesting that Igbo youths inspired the ‘operation wetie’ of late 1965 and early 1966, burnt down Akin Omoboriowo’s house in 1983, burnt Alao Arisekola’s car inside the university campus in the 1990s, while Yoruba youths watched, should be ashamed of themselves

that he was not behind the youth protests abinitio.

The spontaneous reaction of Nigerian youths to the Lekki massacre, represents their rejection of the continued endless oppression in the land. The hopelessness in the land, where life has become so cheap, spurred the anger in the land. The bad governance, nepotism and mediocrity are all part of it. The younger generation are clearly frustrated.

They revolted in rejection of endless killings in the land, and the insensitivity of the leadership to their plight.

Those plotting to turn it into an ethnic affair, have failed this time. Nobody is stupid enough to believe such idiotic narrative.

That they are working on dividing the protesters along ethnic lines, is childish, scheming to grow anti Igbo emotions in Lagos is reprehensible.

Alleging that Igbo youths carried out the rage in Lagos Wednesday, is wicked, ruthless, but clearly unbelievable. Every one knows it’s a cheap, but horrible lie.

The spinners ought to know that nobody will believe that Igbo boys know Sanwo-Olu’s family home, and and entrance to the palace of the Oba of Lagos.

No normal human being will believe that Yoruba youths were folding their hands, watching Igbo youths burn down Yoruba property. The evil spin doctors behind the spin to heap the blame on Ndigbo, should cover their heads in shame.

They should stop pretending that they do not know that Lagosians want to breathe from the ruthless dominance of a heartless landlord.

That they believe that the only way to save their sinking master is to cleverly heap the blame on innocent and peace loving Igbo, actually confirm their ruthlessness in holding the future and destiny of Lagosians hostage forever. Well, the youths think 21 years of bondage is enough.

This spin doctors who are suggesting that Igbo youths inspired the ‘operation wetie’ of late 1965 and early 1966, burnt down Akin Omoboriowo’s house in 1983, burnt Alao Arisekola’s car inside the university campus in the 1990s, while Yoruba youths watched, should be ashamed of themselves.

Their vicious lies anchored on Igbo hating and Igbo baiting, cannot fly.

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FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2020 •T H I S D AY

19

T H I S D AY ˾ OCTOBER 23, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

A T

REPO 1.17 % 2%

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

0.75 % 1.63 % 2.38 %

O C T O B E R S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

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

1 6 , 2 0 2 0

679.98 % 2.96 % 8.50 %

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE 8.50 % YEAR TO DATE 41.32 %

EXCHANGE RATE N379/1US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes Ethiopian Improves Lagos-NY Connectivity

STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIP

R-L: Minister of States for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo; Regional Executive, Abuja & North, Heritage Bank, George Oko-Oboh, and DG, NDE, Dr Ladan Mohammed, during the issuance of federal government’s letter of engagement to Heritage Bank and five other banks to open 774, 000 SPW beneficiaries’ accounts, held in Abuja…recently

Freight Forwarders Tackle NCS over Valuation of Imported Goods Eromosele Abiodun Customs agents in the country have called on the federal government to put an end to the arbitrary imposition of valuation on imported goods by the Nigeria Customs service (NCS), which they said contravenes the Customs Excise Act. President, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), the umbrella body to customs agents in the country, Lucky Amiwero, stated this in a petition addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari According to him, “We hereby bring to the attention of the federal government of the breach by the NCS on the arbitrary imposition and the uplifting of valuation of imported goods in contravention of the

MARITIME Customs and excise management (amendment) Act 20 of 2003.

“We appeal to the federal government to institute a committee to address the imposition and uplifting of value that contravenes the Act and creates bottleneck in the port system, in the quest for revenue drive, which is to address the shortfall that is affecting the trading concerned.”

The proposal of the Act, the agents added, was initiated to meet up with international trading partner agreements as a member of Freight Advisory Committee (FAC), which was domesticated under Customs and Excise Management (amendment) Act 20 of 2003, based on price actually paid or payable for imported goods that complies

with commercial realities in line with the provision of the Act .

He added: “The Act clearly states, in paragraph 2-(1): ‘If the Customs value of any goods imported into Nigeria cannot be determine under the provisions of paragraph 1 of this schedule, the Customs value of imported goods shall be transaction value of identical goods already accepted under paragraph 1 of this Schedule sold for export to Nigeria and exported at or about the same time, at the same commercial level and substantially the same quantity, as the goods being valued, adjustment having been made under paragraph 10(1 and (2) of this Schedule to take account of significant in cost and charges between the imported goods and the identical goods arising from difference in

distance and mode of transport.”

He added: “The provision of paragraph 8-(1) specifically states: The valuation methods enumerated in paragraph 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 of this schedule shall be followed sequentially, so whoever that buyer of the goods being valued shall have the right.

“On a request in writing to the board made within three days of the valuation, to demand that the sequential order as enumeration in paragraphs 4 and 5 of this Schedule be changed, stating in the request the reason for the demand under the sequential order the importer has the right to switch 4 and 5 valuation method be used in line with the provision of the Act and not the Nigeria Customs Service,” Amiwero said.

Continued on page 20

IATA Predicts 45 Million Passengers for Africa in 2020 Chinedu Eze The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reduced its traffic forecast for Africa for 2020 to reflect a weaker-thanexpected recovery.

Precisely, it projected that the continent will record only 45 million passengers this year, as against the 155 million it had predicted last year.

In downgrading earlier projection, the global body said it expected full-year 2020 passenger numbers in Africa to reach only 30 per cent of 2019 levels.

The body explained that forward bookings for air travel in the fourth quarter of 2020 showed that recovery continues to falter.

While domestic travel is picking up across Africa as countries re-open their borders, international travel

AVIATION remains heavily constrained as major markets including the EU remain closed to citizens of African nations and currently, residents from only two African countries– Rwanda and Tunisia - are permitted to enter EU borders.

“The further fall in passenger traffic in 2020 is more bad news for the aviation industry in Africa. A few months ago, we thought that demand reaching 45 per cent across the continent in 2020 compared to 2019 was as grim as it could get.

“But with international travel remaining virtually non-existent and a slower than expected pick up in domestic travel, we have revised our expectations downward to 30 per cent,” said IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East,

Muhammad Albakri.

IATA also said four airlines across Africa have ceased operations due to the impact of COVID-19 and two are in voluntary administration, with many more in serious financial distress, noting that without urgent financial relief more carriers and their employees are at risk, as is the wider African air transport industry, which supports 7.7 million jobs on the continent.

The world body noted that the governments of Rwanda, Senegal, Côte D’Ivoire and Burkina Faso had pledged a total of $311 million in direct financial support to air transport.

A further $30 billion has been promised by some governments, international finance bodies and other institutions including the African Development Bank, African Export Import

Bank, African Union and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for air transport and tourism. However, most of this relief is yet reach those in need.

“Hundreds of thousands of airline jobs are at risk if there is a systemic failure in African aviation. And this is not just in aviation but across industries that depend on efficient global connectivity.

“Much needed financial relief has been pledged, but little has materialised. The situation is critical. Governments and donor organisations need to act fast or the challenge will move from supporting an industry in severe distress to resurrection from bankruptcy,” said Albakri.

Meanwhile, IATA has reiterated the urgent need to re-open borders with COVID-19 Continued on page 20

Africa’sbiggestandMostSuccessfulAirlinehasimprovedconnectionbetween New York JFK Airport in America and Lagos by moving the Flight to Lome, beginningfromOctober17th.

AlreadyanotherAmericanAirportNewarkEWRisservedthroughtheHub inLomeLFW,Togowhichis30MinutestoLagosbyair.

Beforenow,theconnectionusedtobethroughAbidjan,CoteD’ivoire.

Itassuredpassengersofsamequalityserviceandmodernaircraft.Meanwhile, EthiopianAirlineshassignedanagreementwithUSAID. TheUSAID-Ethiopianairlinepartnershipistosourcefoodfromlocalfarmers forin-flightmeals.

EthiopianAirlinesandtheUnitedStatesannouncedthatthenewagreement wouldenablethenation’sflagshipcarriertosourcelocallygrownproduceand ingredientsforpreparingin-flightmealsforglobalpassengers.Theagreement wassignedinAddisAbaba.

EthiopianAirlinesGroupCEOMr.TewoldeGebreMariamandU.S.Ambassador MichaelRaynorsignedthememorandumofunderstandinginwhichtheU.S. AgencyforInternationalDevelopment(USAID)wouldprovideEthiopianfarmers andfoodproducerstechnicalassistanceandaccesstofinancinginorderto ensure they are able to meet the airlines’ standards of quality and volume to serve its customers. These new business linkages would help farmers and local agribusinesses reach a prominent new market and increase their revenue streams – with annual sales as high as $10 million in total – while providing Ethiopian Airlines farm-fresh ingredients sourced directly from Ethiopia, reducing the need for foreign suppliers’ processed foods for their cateringservices.

USAIDsupportwillhelpEthiopianAirlinesidentifylocalsuppliersforthelist ofcateringmaterialstheairlinemightpotentiallyrequire,aswellasprovide supporttofarmercooperativeunions,youthgroups,womengroupsandother localagriculturebusinessestoenablethemtomeetproductionrequirements.

Immigration Decorates 89 Officers

About 89 of the 8,999 men promoted to senior officers by the Nigerian ImmigrationService(NIS),MurtalaMuhammedInternationalAirport(MMIA), Lagos,havebeendecorated.Inaceremony,theComptroller,AbdulahiUsman saiditwasaprivilegetopromotesuchextraordinaryofficerssomeofwhom he trained as cadets, admonishing them not to rest on their oars, saying the promotionwasanaddedresponsibilitymeanttospurthemtogreaterheights.

According to him, responsibilities such as this gives people a change of perspective enjoining the officers to understand the true value of their functions which include airport facilitation, trade facilitation as well as the easeofdoingbusiness.

He said: “I am privileged that I am decorating my former cadets and this is my day as far as I am concerned.This elevation comes with responsibility; it willspuryoutodomore.

“Itcomeswithamessagethatwehavetodomoreinallareasofourresponsibility especiallyseamlesspassengerfacilitationwehavenoreasonnottodeliver.

Hefurtherurgedtheofficerstothinkoutsidetheboxandavailthemselvesof opportunitiesthatwouldaidthempost-serviceastheControllerGeneralof Immigration,MohammedBabandedehascontinuedtoreiteratethatplanning forretirementisakeysteptowardsahappyretirement.

SouthWestRegionalManager,FederalAirportsAuthorityofNigeria(FAAN), Mrs.VictoriaShinabainhergoodwillmessagecongratulatedtheofficersalso harpedontheirpromotionasaneededincentivetodomore.

United Makes Financial Projections

TheUnitedAirlines(UAL)hasannounceditsthirdquarter2020financialresults.

Sincethebeginningofthecrisis,thecompanyhasbeenattheforefrontofthe industryindeliveringonitsthree-pillarstrategyofbuildingandmaintaining liquidity;minimisingcashburnandvariabilisingitscoststructure.Achieving theseobjectiveshassupportedtheairline’sabilitytomanagethecrisisaswell as or better than its competitors and positions United to lead the industry when demand for air travel returns. In addition, United expects that thirdquarter revenue performance will be the best, even in a historically difficult environment, among our large network competitors - once they have all reportedtheirquarterlyresults.

“Byalmostanyrevenuemeasure,thecompanyexpectsonayear-over-year basis,withourtotalunitrevenueofdown26percent,passengerunitrevenue of down 47 percent, cargo revenue of up 50 percent and loyalty revenue of down 45 percent to be stronger results than those that will be achieved by eachofourlegacycompetitors.

“Having successfully executed our initial crisis strategy, we’re ready to turn the page on seven months that have been dedicated to developing and implementing extraordinary and often painful measures, like furloughing 13,000teammembers,tosurvivetheworstfinancialcrisisinaviationhistory,” saidUnitedCEO,ScottKirby.

“Like every sector of the economy, COVID-19 has had a telling effect on the aviation industry which casts a sober effect on the World Air Traffic Controllers’ Day year 2020” President Nigeria Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA),

Agoro Yomi

20

T H I S D AY Ëž OCTOBER 23, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD FREIGHT FORWARDERS TACKLE NCS OVER VALUATION OF IMPORTED GOODS The burden of proof, he added, was shifted to the importer, which is aimed at verifying that the element of valuation declared presented to customs is complete and correct. “By the provision of paragraph 12, shift the onus of proof on the importer to provide information, evidence, explanation and can switch paragraph 4 and 5 of deductive method or computed method of valuation and not the right of Nigeria Customs Service but that of the importers by the provision of the Act. The Nigeria Customs Service has no right to uplift or impose value after the establishing the TEST value, which has been accepted in line with paragraph 1, 2,3,4,5 and 6 of the Act,� he explained.

He stressed that the present trend on uplifting and imposing value by Nigeria Customs on Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) and other valuation treatment contravenes the Customs and Excise Management Act 20 of 2003, “that clearly out lines legal procedures to be followed, which conferred right to the Importer and shift the burden of proof on the importer and not the Nigeria Customs Service.�

IATA PREDICTS 45 MILLION PASSENGERS FOR AFRICA IN 2020 testing and for further financial support for aviation as the COVID-19 shutdown of air transport continues.

It said that border restrictions, especially quarantine measures, have undermined one of the cornerstones of European development, the free movement of people.

As a result, passenger demand has plummeted and 2020 is expected to see passenger numbers down at least 70 per cent compared to 2019 for travel to/from/ within Europe, adding that only 340 million travellers in the region are expected to fly in 2020 compared to close to 1.2 billion that flew in 2019.

IATA also explained that the collapse in air traffic has had a devastating impact globally on aviation and the millions of workers in the industry.

It noted that research from the Air Transport Action Group estimated about 4.8 million jobs directly connected with air transport are at risk.

NEWS

IMB: Pirates’ Attack in Gulf of Guinea Up 40% Eromosele Abiodun Despite the relentless war against piracy and maritime crimes by Nigeria and countries in the Gulf of Guinea, a report by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has revealed a 40 per cent increase in the number of kidnappings reported in the Gulf of Guinea in the first nine months of 2020, compared with the same period in 2019.

Last week, the DirectorGeneral, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Bashir Jamoh, had disclosed that the agency’s investigation had revealed that Somali pirates were now active in Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea.

The latest report by the IMB showed that the pirates armed with guns and knives had abducted bigger groups of seafarers off the West African coast.

The IMB said there have been 132 attacks reported since the beginning of 2020, up from 119 incidents in the same period last year.

It added: “Of the 85 seafarers kidnapped from their vessels and held for ransom, 80 were taken in the Gulf of Guinea, in 14 attacks reported off Nigeria, Benin, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and Ghana. By the end of the third quarter (Q3), seafarers reported 134 cases of assault, injury, and threats, including 85 crewmembers being kidnapped, and 31 held hostage onboard their ships. A total of 112 vessels were boarded, and six were fired upon, while 12 reported attempted attacks.�

IMB warned that pirate gangs in the area are well

organised and targeting all vessel types over a wide range.

It added that the furthest attack from shore also involved the most crew kidnapped from a single vessel in 2020. “On 17 July 2020, eight pirates armed with machine guns boarded a product tanker underway around 196 nautical miles southwest of Bayelsa, Nigeria. They held all 19 crewmembers hostage, stole the ship’s documents and valuable items, and escaped with 13-kidnapped crew. The tanker was left drifting with limited and unqualified navigational and engine crew onboard.

A nearby merchant vessel later helped the tanker to

sail to a safe port. The 13 kidnapped crew members were released safely one month after, “IMB said.

Meanwhile, the NIMASA boss had expressed worry over the activities of the Somali pirates on Nigerian waters, while reiterating the determination to curb criminal attacks in the nation’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea.

He said the pirates often navigated through Nigeria’s maritime boundaries, and sometimes came through the land borders, adding that the recently-established, Maritime Intelligence Unit, to help nip sea crimes in the bud through the identification of early warning signs, had revealed a relationship between crimes in the Nigerian maritime domain

and the Somali pirates.

He said: “We discovered a correlation between crimes in our waters and the activities of the Somali pirates. They have a means of navigating from the coast of Somalia to Nigeria, through the waters of our West African neighbours.

In some cases, they enter through the land borders and commission boats to carry out their activities.�

He said Nigeria had developed an action plan to monitor the progress of its National Maritime Security Strategy, saying, “Our goal is to achieve a sustainable end to criminal attacks in our territorial waters.�

Jamoh said the Nigerian government placed a high premium on the safety and

security of shipping on its waters and the Gulf of Guinea.

To confront the menace of maritime criminality head-on, he said: “Nigeria has made huge investments in the establishment of a comprehensive maritime security infrastructure. The Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure also called the Deep Blue Project, is designed to secure our waters, up to the Gulf of Guinea. “The project is nearing completion, with more than 80 per cent of the assets, comprising special mission vessels, fast intervention boats, unmanned aerial vehicles, and armoured vehicles, already in the country.�

Ships

Heritage Commences Account Opening for Special Work Applicants Oluchi Chibuzor Heritage Bank Plc has revealed it preparedness to commence account opening with Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) for the earmarked 774,000 participants for the federal government’s SPW Programme throughout the 774 Local Government Areas.

The participants are to be paid an allowance of N20, 000 only, monthly and the programme is to kick off from 1st November 2020. A total of 129 LGAs have been assigned to Heritage Bank Plc. The SPW is a post-COVID-19

poverty alleviation initiative approved by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Ministry of State for Labour and Employment.

As part of the modalities of the programme, the six participating banks, Heritage Bank inclusive have been mandated to open accounts for all the beneficiaries and capture BVN. Also, a special feature form has been provided by the Federal Government to capture participant’s Bio-data for this exercise.

The Divisional Head, Corporate Communications,

Fela Ibidapo disclosed that Heritage bank has prepared seamless process flow for the commencement of the BVN enrolment/ account opening documentation of the assigned shortlisted beneficiaries.

He explained: “For locations that the bank does not have physical presence, the agency banking team has engaged super agents to cover these areas and ensure smooth on boarding in such locations.�

He stated that Heritage Bank would adhere strictly to the beneficiary list forwarded to the bank from the federal govern-

ment to avoid any infraction.

Ibidapo reiterated the bank’s success stories and legacies in similar exercises sustained through various entrepreneur schemes in the support for economic growth, which had always focused on dependable job-creating sectors, such as agricultural value chain (fish farming, poultry, snail farming), cottage industry, mining and solid minerals, creative industry (tourism, arts and crafts), and Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

The Minister of State for Labour and Productivity,

Festus Kenyamo had allayed the fears of missing out from the registration by the beneficiaries, stating that it has gotten assurance from the banks that even in places where they have no physical presence or branch, registration centers would be provided; hence participants don’t need to travel far.

The minister said, ‘‘The banks assured us that even in LGAs where they don’t have branches, temporary registration centers would be opened in such LGAs so that the participants would not have to travel far to open their accounts�.

Lasaco Assurance Appoints Philips Chairman Ebere Nwoji Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Ogene

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 Okafor (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)

Lasaco Assurance Plc has announced the appointment of Mrs. Maria Olateju Phillips as its Chairman, board of directors.

The company said the appointment is with immediate effect.

Phillips, takes over from Mrs. Aderinola Disu, who stepped down from the board, having completed her term as chairman.

A statement from Lasaco Assurance, said Phillips, a successful chartered accountant who

holds an ACCA from England and Wales, has professional training in Executive Development Programmes in Harvard (USA), Columbia & Wharton Business Schools and has attended various management training courses both locally and internationally.

According to the statement, she worked as an accountant in the globally renowned firm of Peat Marwick Cassleton Elliot & Co. (Firm of Accountants Ani, Ogunde & Co. KPMG).

She was a Director in Keystone Bank; former Director, Lagos State Lottery Board;

Commissioner for Special Duties & Inter-Governmental Relations in Lagos State. She was also the Managing Director of Alma Beach Estate Limited (a subsidiary of Rims Merchant Bank Limited); Managing Director, Maridot Ventures Limited.

She is a renowned Management/Financial Consultant to many companies and was at a time, the Divisional Commercial Manager of Kingsway Stores, a division of the United African Company (UAC) of Nigeria Plc, among others.

Commenting on the appointment, Disu, who thanked

God for the grace of taking the company to an enviable position, was happy at the choice of Phillips as her successor, saying the new chairman has a distinguished track record.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of Lasaco Assurance Plc, Mr. Segun Balogun, expressed confidence in the ability of the new chairman to take the company forward, saying, “the board is confident that Mrs. Teju Phillips, with her proven track record of accomplishments, will bring a wealth of knowledge and valuable experience to the

position.�

The Deputy Managing Director, (Corporate Services) Mr Rilwan Oshinusi said, “Mrs Phillips’ professional track record of excellence in both the public and private sectors and a strong commitment to corporate governance principles, make her a natural fit for the role. She brings on board, her integrity, the wealth of experience, and good leadership style that have made her one of the most respected business leaders in Nigeria today. We are delighted to have her as our new Chairman.�

21

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍąËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

‘Passenger TrafďŹ c will Record Steady Growth’ Stories by Chinedu Eze The President of the Nigeria Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), Abayomi Agoro has said there will continue to be steady passenger growth despite traffic volume hitting an all-time low because of the COVID- 19 pandemic.

Agoro made this known in a statement to commemorate World Air Traffic Controllers’ Day tagged: “Rising above Our Challenges,� using the day as an avenue to mourn lost colleagues and members during and in the wake of the pandemic.

According to him, despite the status quo, there is opportunity to be had once the industry takes time to analyse the situation. “Like every sector of the economy, COVID-19 has had a telling effect on aviation industry which casts a sober effect on the World Air Traffic Controllers’ Day year 2020. “Even in the pall of low-key celebration, we remember and mourn the

demise of our members within the year and therefore extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of departed colleagues and indeed other Nigerians, in the spirit of celebration of this year ’s event. “In the face of the novel challenge of COVID-19, which brought everything to a standstill; air traffic volumes hitting an all-time low resulting in strains in the aviation sector, we commend the commitment of NATCA members as they rose to the challenges of the pandemic period,�

Agoro said.

He expressed appreciation to everyone in the aviation sector for their understanding, while also reassuring them of NATCA’s maximum cooperation and support that will make all us wade through the challenges ahead “There is always an opportunity in every crisis once we take a moment in time to analyse the true situation unfolding around us. “In counting ourselves lucky to witness yet

another World Air Traffic Controllers’ Day, we should see this as a unique opportunity to forge ahead in our journey onto higher grounds with our collective resolve as a body to rise above our challenges and a clear vision to expand the frontiers of our association within the framework of government policy in the aviation industry.�

The World Air Traffic Controllers’ Day is an event observed annually in commemoration of the historic day of 20th of October 1961 when the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (IFATCA) which was founded.

According to Agoro, beyond serving as a reminder about the vision of the founding members, the annual ritual also celebrates the men and women who 24/7 help make air travel the safest possible mode of transport by keeping an eye on each and every aircraft movement and safety of passengers in their bowels at take-off, enroute and landing, across the aerodrome and airfield.

Dana Air Partners Nigerian Economic Summit Dana Air has said it will be supporting the 26th Nigerian Economic Summit (NES#26) scheduled to hold from October 26th to 27th, 2020, at Abuja and Lagos.

With the theme: ‘’Building Partnerships for Resilience,’’ the 26th Nigerian Economic Summit, which is jointly organised by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning (FMFBNP) and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, will convene national and

global policy makers, business leaders, development partners and subnational governments, businesses and civil society, to not only chart a path to recovery, but also build resilience for our country’s economy, households and businesses in the new world order. “As you may be aware, airlines are the worst hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, but this has not diminished our commitment towards the growth and positioning of

the Nigerian economy, and as partner airline, we are offering complimentary and discounted tickets to delegates and officials among other support towards the success of the summit. “Dana Air is one Nigeria’s leading airline with a fleet size of nine aircraft and over 27 daily flights to major cities in Nigeria. The airline is reputed for its innovative online products and services, unrivalled in-flight service and on-time departures.�

Mendis Exits AWA after Contract Expiration The Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Africa World Airlines, Sean Mendis is set to leave the airline after two years of service to the airline.

Mendis, who led the airline in the aviation industry in Ghana and across West Africa, since he assumed the role of Chief Operations Officer in August 2018, said he would be leaving the carrier at the end of October, when his contract expires.

The outgoing COO in a message to stakeholders stated that Capt. Kwasi Oteng, would be functioning in that capacity after his exit from the company.

He said, “When I returned to AWA as Chief Operations Officer in August 2018, I signed up for a 2 year commitment. Back then; nobody could have foreseen

any of the chaos that we would encounter during this period. “Yet today, I can confidently say that the worst is behind us (at least in West Africa) and we are firmly on the road to recovery. After consultation with the Board and the Executives over the past weeks, we have agreed that the time is right for me to head back home to Malawi next month. “An old Asian proverb claims, ‘it is better to be a dog in times of peace than to be a human in times of chaos.’ For the last few months, I have been the human in times of chaos.

Now is the time to be a dog in times of peace. “From a practical standpoint, not much will change when I exit the organisation.

We will transition executive oversight of the depart-

ments under me to Capt.

Kwasi Oteng, but the HODs will continue to operate as before. I will continue to operate as normal until the end of October. “I do not intend to take up a formal role elsewhere for the immediate future, but I am open to consulting or short-medium term project roles while I am based out of Malawi. I will continue to be active on social media, and without the need to choose my words carefully for diplomatic reasons, I’m sure I will ruffle a few feathers.�

Mendis masterminded the “Great Operations� and rise of AWA to prominence in West Africa. AWA became the most on time Airline in West Africa. It won the Award of the best Airline in West Africa at Accra Weizo event last Year.

Rising against Smear Campaign Chinedu Eze The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc has risen to expose and denounce the efforts to damage its reputation by ex-officials of the organisation.

The company recently replied the erstwhile managing director of its subsidiary, NAHCO Free Trade Zone (FTZ), Mr. Baba Yusuf, who accused the company of using its facility to conceal illegal weapons and not paying him due severance package when he parted with the company and described the allegation as baseless and malicious.

The company explained that it could not conceal anything cargo in its warehouse because both Nigerian Customs Service and its officials have equal access to the warehouse and insisted that it does not owe Yusuf any reverence payment.

Group Managing Director of NAHCO, Mrs. Olatokunbo Fagbemi, who led other top managers of the company to brief journalists at the NFTZ, said throughout his stay in the company, Yusuf did not at any time, raise any of the allegations as issues of concern or requiring Board or management attention.

She said he resigned his appointment in 2018 after spending seven months as Managing Director of NAHCO FTZ, adding that, “he was responsible for setting up the NAHCO FZ business development process, warehouse farcicalities and controls as well as having full operational accountability for it and oversaw everything he is now making malicious and false claims about.�

Fagbemi said Yusuf attempted and failed to force NFZ to pay him an underserved severance package of N125, 900, 000 as his performance bonus for seven months of non-performance as the MD of NFZ. “He then through his lawyer threatened reputational damage to NAHCO by petitioning different investigative bodies to review his tenure and file an action in court for recovery of his perceived claim, warning that his action would materially damage the corporate reputation and operations of NFZ. “Rather than pursue his claim in court as he wrote, he has resorted to several act of blackmail, arm twisting and extortion by writing various petitions with baseless allegations to several agencies and arms of government. These allegations have material implications for national security. We state categorically that we have nothing to hide but we are not in the habit of paying for work not done or value not derived. “We have opened our books and facilities to several investigative agencies and regulators inclusive of NEPZA following the petition and these agencies have written reports on their findings

We have opened our books and facilities to several investigative agencies and regulators inclusive of NEPZA

Fagbemi which should aid the House of Representatives committee on Public petitions’ enquiry, rather than the ongoing false and misleading media reportage. “Our operations are properly regulated by the relevant regulatory and governmental agencies, such as Corporate Affairs Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigerian Customs Service, Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Police Explosive Units, amongst others. “NAHCO operates in highly controlled environment under Nigeria Customs Service, NDLEA, DSS, FAAN AVSEC and NCAA. Keys to our warehouses are held jointly by us and the NCS. The Video shown on the media broadcast is of no consequence and it shows empty containers parked at designated locations in the open bay. As a responsible corporate organization, NAHCO will not succumb to extortion by Mr. Yusuf. “We would like state that NAHCO’S silenced on the matter is in no way an acceptance of guilt, rather, we are guided by the advice of our solicitors not discuss the details of a matter which is already before a court of law, where in due course, Baba Yusuf must provide facts on the allegations levelled. We also have it in good authority that the fulcrum of the attacks by Mr. Yusuf are all tied to an attempt for a hostile takeover of the operations of NAHCO and NFZ by a faceless group using him as their front.�

On the claim of severance package of N125, 900, 000 by Yusuf, the company Secretary, NAHCO FTZ, Mrs. Olaitan Ashipa, explained that he (Yusuf), was paid N5 million upfront as housing allowance when he assumed office, adding that after an evaluation of his performance, it was discovered that he was not entitled to the amount he claimed.

She also disclosed that Yusuf would refund N250, 000 apart from the company’s Laptop in his possession.

Also speaking, the Legal Adviser to NAHCO, Norison Quakers, said the allegations cannot be substantiated, noting that NAHCO has gone to court and will not be deterred by the campaign to smear the image of the company. “The facts and matter before the National Assembly are already before the court. We went the National Assembly in March notifying them that the matter is in court, they have responded, but it appears that the National Assembly is going ahead with the hearing, this is a brazing regard for the sanctity of law�, he said.

22

T H I S D AY ˾ OCTOBER 23, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

Why Labour is against Airport Concession Recently labour unions representing the workers at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria reiterated their rejection of plan by the federal government to concession major airports in the country, insisting that there will be lack of transparency in the process, Chinedu Eze writes

A

lthough when transparently conducted and subjected to the right legal and administrative framework with effective supervision from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), airport concession would be the true solution to inadequate and obsolete airport facilities, as government does not have the resources to fund the modernisation of airports.

Industry experts believe that if given to core investors that have experience in airport management, Nigeria’s major airports would be upgraded to compete with the best in the world. That was the objective hammered by the federal government as the reason why the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika insisted that the airport facilities must be given out in concession.

The first phase of the plan would see to the concession of the terminals in four major airports located in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt. The federal government wants to concession them for about 35 years and after the concession they would revert to government.

Funding Sirika in the explanation he gave recently in Abuja on why government has insisted the airport facilities be concessioned, noted that with limited resources at the behest of government, it only makes sense to bring in the private sector in the areas they can be allowed to participate in the development of the airports and that is the modernization of airport terminal and ancillary services.

Sirika said every agency in the aviation industry is very important; so when government has ceded the development of airport terminals to the concessionaire, government would now concentrate in providing other critical facilities like airfield lighting, radar coverage, radio coverage and security.

“Every single agency in civil aviation is so critical that we need to fund it and because we understand the nature of this business, that was why we have now introduced the concession of our airports. We have now done the outline business case; we are now going ahead for the procurement to concession the airports.

“The reason is simple and that is because this government, the APC administration, is social democratic in nature, it does not want to sell national assets. It wants to keep the assets with the people but we can concession them and improve them to make them better. We are very sure that when we do that we will improve the revenue of the nation,” Sirika said.

COVID-19 Sirika explained that the coronavirus pandemic exacerbated the fiscal challenges in the aviation industry and has made the decision to concession the airport facilities critical.

“Take for example the COVID-19 pandemic, we are the greatest hit sector. At the time when we came and in order to implement our agenda, which is called aviation road map, when we began to implement it, we slowly became the second fastest growing sector. Within the three years of implementation of that roadmap, we became in 2018, the second fastest growing sector of the Nigerian economy and just before COVID-19, we became the fastest growing sector in the Nigerian economy.

“But unfortunately, COVID-19 came and we shut down. We are not in the business of selling phones that we can still sell and get the required revenue. The revenue for yesterday is lost.

“Therefore, we were hugely impacted by the COVID-19 and with this COVID-19, I think until fourth quarter of 2021 and perhaps quarter one of 2022, we will continue to see sharp decline in passengers and that is directly proportional to the revenue that we collect, because people’s confidence has to be raised.

“They have to begin to want to fly again and certain factors that encourage propensity

MMIA

to fly are also being eroded during this period.

So, we are in difficult and challenging times and we do not have solutions to it even as advanced countries are spending huge amounts of money to support civil aviation businesses.

“The government, because of the challenge of funding has not been able to respond to civil aviation requests and civil aviation funding like other countries have done.”

Opposition to Concession Secretary General of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Ocheme Abba alleged that it is not only that the federal government is not following any due process, but it is not even concessioning the airport to genuine investors. He insisted that top government officials are giving the airports to themselves.

Speaking to hundreds of FAAN workers in a rally with the Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN), at the Freedom Square of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos recently, Abba said that there was no protection of workers’ interest in the concession plan and reiterated that labour and workers do not support the concession plan.

Abba said the concession programme was done in a way to cripple and finally destroy FAAN and explained that already the federal government owes China about $1 billion as the cost of the four new terminals built at the aforementioned airports, which would be paid

by FAAN; so monies accruable to the agency would be used for debt servicing, maintenance of other 18 airports and other expenses leaving nothing for FAAN to survive with. ”The new Chinese terminals are going to be concessioned where the concessionaire will receive 60 per cent of the sharing formula while FAAN will retain 40 per cent and what will happen to the 40 per cent that FAAN will retain?

From that 40 per cent, FAAN will pay the Chinese loan; FAAN will return 25 per cent to the federal government, according to the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Also from that 40 per cent FAAN will maintain the other 18 airports including all of you who are workers of FAAN. Lack of Sincerity Abba alleged that the concession programme was done in a way to cripple and finally destroy FAAN and explained that already the federal government owes China about $1 billion as the cost of the four terminal built at the aforementioned airports, which would be paid

by FAAN; so monies accruable to the agency would be used for debt servicing, maintenance of other 18 airports and other expenses leaving nothing for FAAN to survive with.

“The new Chinese terminals are going to be

concessioned where the concessionaire will receive 60 per cent of the sharing formula while FAAN will retain 40 per cent and what will happen to the 40 per cent that FAAN will retain? From that 40 per cent, FAAN will pay the Chinese loan; FAAN will return 25 per cent to the federal government, according to the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Also from that 40 per cent FAAN will maintain the other 18 airports including all of you who are workers of FAAN. “So the point is, these new terminals have already been concessioned and what is happening is that the federal government is seeking to concession a concession. Now, this concessionaire will take 60 per cent; I’m sure you’d want to ask me what is his contribution what is he going to do? According to the plan, which is based on study according to the traffic flow, there will be no need for any expansion in this terminal until the year 2045,” Abba said.

Labour insisted that the federal government is not sincere about the concession. Abba alleged that what the Minister wanted to do is for FAAN and labour to recognise what government wished to do. With that recognition, it would just foist already arranged concession contraption on the country.

“So the whole programme about concession is that some people want to give this thing to themselves, and that is why they went and got Transaction Adviser who did not go through any process of selection, there was no bidding to select and who does not have a name anywhere in the world.

“As we speak, we will be doing this thing peacefully without fighting, we will be doing meetings when they will announce that the airports have been concessioned and they will tell you the news.

“And the news will be all over the world.

But they are not the ones who own the airports and they will not invest one penny but they will take the patrimony you and I that our fathers and our father’s fathers have worked to build. A few of them will inherit it and the rest of us will go and beg,” Abba said.

Speaking recently in the same vein, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) condemned the ongoing plans by the federal government to concession the, “most four viable airports,” across the country.

In the letter sent during the protest, the NLC, President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, had warned the federal government to desist from further contemplation, discussions and arrangements to concession the international airports and called for dialogue between government and labour.

“It is with great alarm that we learnt of the renewed efforts by the federal government to

concession Nigeria’s major airports, namely: the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport – Abuja, the Murtala Mohammed International Airport – Lagos and the Port Harcourt International Airport, to private sector interests.

“Nigerians may recall that the current concession drive of the present government did not start today. It has been part of the neo-liberal predilection of successive governments stretching from the days of military rule up till the current democratic dispensation to privatise, deregulate, and concession critical national assets to their cronies and friends.

Organised Labour has identified this approach to governance as reactionary, predatory and self-serving. We rejected the concession of our core national assets yesterday. We are rejecting it today.

“The unwholesome and unpatriotic attitude of giving away our prized national property to private sector operatives is not only unjust and immoral but also in ultra-violation of Chapter 2, Section 16 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the Fundamental Objectives and the Directive Principles of State Policy which states that the Nigerian government must manage and operate the major sectors of the economy and ensure that that our economy is not operated to permit the concentration of wealth or the means of production and exchange in the hands of few individuals or of a group,” he said.

Severance Pay NUATE Secretary-General who spoke on behalf of the aviation unions, told the workers during the rally that the federal government did not have any provision to protect their interest in the concession and might not be disposed to severance package for the workers who might be disengaged. He insisted that the concession would not take place because it is against the interest of the Nigerian people and that of the FAAN workers.

“If they take over the place, where will FAAN send its workers? We are taking our time to explain to the public that those midwifing the programme will be the beneficiaries of this crooked arrangement. And why we speak about it is that we need to be well understood that we are not fighting for our own personal interest.

We are fighting because of this continued pillage by a few privileged people taking our common patrimony and sharing among themselves.

“That cycle must be broken and Providence has placed upon the shoulders of FAAN workers the responsibility to break this cycle of thieving.

And I charge you not to fail Nigerians on this responsibility. As far as we know, this concession is already dead,” Abba said.

23

T H I S D AY ˾ OCTOBER 23, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

How NPA Generated N1.02trn Revenue Eromosele Abiodun highlights the operational efficiency that led to improved revenue generation by the Nigerian Ports Authority

L

ast week the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) announced that it generated a revenue of N1.02 trillion in the space of three years under the tenure of its current managing director, Hadiza Bala-Usman.

A breakdown of the revenue showed that in 2016, the authority’s revenue hit N182.42 billion against the N173.447 billion generated in 2015.

The positive revenue surge continued in 2017 when the authority generated a total of N259.99 billion, marking about 42 per cent increase compared to 2016.

In 2018, the revenue generation hit N282.42 billion while 2019 peaked at around N300 billion, making it the highest in the authority’s history.

The authority noted that its contribution to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) Account had progressively increased since the current management took over in 2016.

In 2014, the NPA contributed N18.5 billion to the CRF, compared to 2013 when it contributed N13.1 billion. The authority contributed N23.8 billion in 2016, compared to N18 billion it contributed to the CRF in 2015.

The above efforts manifested in the agency’s 2017 results as it declared a total revenue of N299.56 billion for the 2017 fiscal year. The 2017 revenue, which exceeded the previous year ’s by 84.65 per cent, was the highest generated by the agency in five years.

The NPA had explained that the 2017 figure was made up of revenues from traffic, harbours, administrative and other sources in the sums of N136.04 billion, N66.80 billion, N86.06 billion and N10.75 billion, respectively.

Last year, NPA announced arevenue of N67.19 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2019, representing 24.8 per cent of the N270.56 billion earned in 12 months ending December 31, 2018.

The agency’s financial profile (unaudited) showing revenue and remittances to the CRF obtained by THISDAY revealed that the NPA raked in the amount via operating revenue while other revenue and investment income, which forms a bulk of its revenue are yet to be available for the period under review.

Also, analysis of the agency’s six years’ revenue and remittances to CRF between 2013 and 2018 showed quantum leap in revenue and remittances despite the downturn in ship and cargo traffic as a result of certain federal government policies that are discouraging importation.

The financial results showed that the NPA recorded consistent growth in revenue and remittances in the last three years compared to what was obtainable in the past.

A breakdown of the six years’ revenue and remittances showed that the NPA recorded a revenue of N157.31 billion in 2013. Of the 2013 revenue, it made N137.9 billion through operating revenue and N15.08 billion, N1.24 billion from other revenue and investment income respectively. However, it remitted N13.17 billion.

In 2014, the agency recorded a total revenue of N172.8 billion, N149.7 from operating revenue and N22.4 billion and N636.5 million from other revenue and investment income respectively.

However, its remittance for the year, improved by a little over N4 billion to N18.56 billion.

In the year 2015 the agency’s revenue improved by N4.4 billion as it recorded revenue of N177.2 billion compared to N172.8 billion the previous year. However, its remittance for

Bala-Usman

2015 declined by N130 million as it remitted N18.43 billion as against N18.56 billion in 2014.

In 2016, the NPA’s revenue jumped by N5.1 billion as it recorded a revenue of N182.42 billion compared with N177.26 billion in 2015. The agency’s remittance for the year 2016 also jumped by N5.4 billion as it remitted a total of N23.87 billion as against N18.43 billion the previous year.

In 2017, the authority’s revenue went up by a massive N83.2 billion as it raked in N265.6 billion for the year ended December 31, 2017 as against N182.4 billion in 2016. The NPA recorded the highest remittance in its history in 2017, remitting N30.31 billion. This showed a N6.44 billion increase over the N23.87 it remitted in 2016.

The revenue growth trajectory continued in 2018 with historic revenue of N270.56 billion almost twice it 2013 revenue and N4.9 billion increase over its 2017 revenue. However, its remittance to the CRF declined by N5.6 billion as it remitted a total of N24.65 billion compared with N30.3 billion remitted in 2017.

Promise Kept The achievement did not happen by accident. In her maiden press briefing as the MD of the NPA, in July 2016, Bala-Usman had promised that the new management would strive for enhanced operational efficiency for improved revenue generation and inflows into national treasury.

The ports, she stated, are the critical arteries of the economy and it is their duty to ensure that the operators deliver ports services in line with the standards deserved in the 21st century.

She said that the new management would support President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda of economic diversity.

“We will listen to our customers, importers and exporters and other agencies working in the ports to improve on our service delivery to the nation. Anything less than the world class services are simply not acceptable.

“Attaining such height is the mission to which we can all subscribe to. As a team leader, I have come to add my best efforts to yours so that we

can collectively achieve result for our industry,” she said.

She added that the new management would prioritise investments in primary equipment and infrastructure and services with commitment to fulfilling NPA’s concession agreement to hasten clearance of imports and exports from the ports.

She noted that collectively, the hard work of staff members could position NPA as a modern agency, “to function as regulator, all of us at NPA must be committed to the highest standards of performance. Let us uphold the most diligent work ethics in our individual beats as well as collective undertaking to achieve result.

“Everyone at the NPA has a role in promoting best practices in upholding good governance, standards and delivering quality services. We would jointly work hard with integrity and zero-tolerance for corruption. As the new management settles, we would be listening to your concerns and suggestions as we navigate the best options for effectively discharging the NPA’s mandate.”

Introduction of RIMS Few days after she made the promise, she announced the immediate implementation of Revenue and Invoice Management System (RIMS), an effort meant to improve both revenue generation and ports operations using real time modern methods and techniques.

Speaking, at the Go-live and launching of the RIMS, Bala-Usman said that the platform was a fully convergence system which helps to integrate business in the ports industry through the use of internet based devices.

As part of the effort to improve revenue generation, the NPA also collaborated with the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS). Both agencies reiterated their resolve to work together to enhance revenue generation strategies of the federal government at the nation’s seaports by creating conducive working environment that will be of mutual benefit to both agencies.

Looking ahead Meanwhile, THISDAY findings revealed that the NPA may not be able to continue to generate increased

revenue in the years ahead owing to government policies that discourages importation.

Also, the federal government automotive policy that saw a massive increase in used car tariff in the last two years has impacted negatively on importation.

During her budget defense before the House of Representatives Committee on Ports, Harbours and Waterways last year, Bala-Usman admitted that government policies are affecting the revenue of the authority.

She said: “We have noted a reduction in traffic coming into our ports. We attribute this to the fact that Nigeria has been advocating for self-sustenance in terms of manufacturing and consuming what it produces.

“And so, this attendant reduction in cargo, in our understanding, is attributable to that because some of the items that constitute this drop include for example, the automobile policy, which had increased the cost of importation of automobiles from 30 to 70 per cent in order to stimulate manufacturing in Nigeria. So, there is steep decline in the importation of vehicles.”

“We also have an additional list of items that have been banned from importation. This is to try to stimulate production of certain items in the country and also ensuring that most agric produce are produced and consumed in Nigeria.

“So you can see the number of ocean going vessels reducing. The agencies that work around revenue generation for importation of cargo will be seen not to have performed,” she said.

Bala-Usman added that the nation’s seaports are losing ship and cargo traffic because of certain government policies that are discouraging importation.

“And so, this attendant reduction in cargo, in our understanding, is attributable to that because some of the items that constitute this drop include for example, the automobile policy, which had increased the cost of importation of automobiles from 30 to 70 percent in order to stimulate manufacturing in Nigeria. So, there is steep decline in the importation of vehicles.

“We also have an additional list of items that have been banned from importation. This is to try to stimulate production of certain items in the country and also ensuring that most agric produce are produced and consumed in Nigeria,” she said.

Bala-Usman disclosed that the projected internally generated revenue of NPA for 2019 was N276.75 billion while net revenue from oil source is N255.69 billion. The organisation’s total expenditure for the year, she further disclosed, is estimated at N229.91billion.

This was made up of N110.71 billion for operating expenses; N52.13 billion for overhead costs; N58.8 billion for pension cost and N119.21 billion for capital expenditure.

Chairman of the House Committee on Ports, Harbours and Waterways, Pat Asadu, had while responding said poor cargo clearing processes at the port may have contributed to the drop in cargo volumes.

He said: “I don’t want us to just dismiss this. You may want to look to see what other things are going on. I think maybe we should look at things like efficiency of cargo clearance.

We know what is going on with the congestions at the ports. I have no doubt in my mind that there are a lot of other factors.”

THIS WEEKEND WEEKLY MAGAZINE

NEWS METRO THISLIFE ART WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com 08038901925

Champions of EndSARS Protest

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͱ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

25

COVER

Champions of EndSARS Protest Vanessa Obioha highlights the yeoman’s work by many young Nigerians in the creative industry in support of the #EndSARS campaign

Omoni Oboli and Chioma Akpotha at the protests

Burna Boy

T

here was a time when Nigerian creatives, particularly musicians were pilloried for not lending their voices to social and political issues in the country.

But the past few days have seen creatives banding together to call for a better Nigeria. Whether offline or online, these creatives initiate, join and support the #EndSARS protests that have rocked the country for over two weeks.

Leveraging on their popularity, they led young Nigerians to fight for their rights and kick against police brutality and bad governance.

DJ Switch: On Tuesday, October 20, Obianuju Catherine Udeh, popularly known as DJ Switch was crowned a hero after her bravery in capturing the killings at the Lekki Tollgate. Streaming live from the grounds of the protests, the female DJ told the world about the unjust shooting at the Lekki protesters, revealing the name of the soldier in charge of the operation, Brigadier General Francis Omata.

She didn’t stop there. While many feared for her life, the musician helped convey the wounded to hospitals capturing their situation in videos.

On her official Twitter account, DJ Switch wrote: “We can never left (sic) the blood of our fallen go to waste! This change must & will happen! Hit us with ur

Falz

DJ Switch

best shot! We are standing together now!

No division by the government & “nonleaders” shall prosper #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigera.”

Falz: Credited to have initiated the recent #EndSARS campaign against police brutality, Folarinde Falana better known as Falz, has been at the forefront of the campaign. Not only did he encourage protesters to tweet about the campaign aggressively on the microblogging site Twitter, but he also educated them on the legal system and their fundamental rights.

Son of the renowned human rights lawyer and activist, Femi Falana, Falz’s activism side has been on display since he released the song ‘This Is Nigeria’ in 2018.

The music video captured the political and social ills of the society in three minutes and 43 seconds garnering over 19 million views on YouTube. In that video, he also highlighted the harassment of individuals by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The special police unit triggered the new wave of protests that have left scores dead and many injured.

Falz followed the song up with his fourth studio album ‘Moral Instruction’, where he delved more into the social issues. In a 2019 interview with THISDAY, the young lawyer and musician said that Nigeria is worth dying for.

“Yes, I think Nigeria is worth dying for. I think it is unpatriotic for anyone to say Nigeria is not worth dying for. I understand

Davido.

what reason may be because of precedents and how things have been,” He also noted in that interview that he will continue to use his voice to address social and political issues in the country.

Burna Boy: Not one to keep silent over social and political injustices, afro-fusion star Burna Boy has been supportive of the EndSARS protest. After scores of casualties were reported on Tuesday evening following the shooting of valiant and unarmed protesters by security operatives, the ‘Monster You Made’ crooner took to Twitter to reach out to the United Nations. “@UN @AminaJMohammed @UNWatch the situation in Lagos is now out of control!!! You guys need to intervene even though I know there’s a protocol. This is SERIOUS!! #EndSARS.” He also promoted the online petition against the Nigerian government.

“Implement sanctions against the Nigerian Government and officials - Petitions! We Need 100k signatures from UK Citizens for this to be tabled by parliament.

Please Help is (sic) make our Killers pay.”

As at the time of filing this report, the petition had exceeded its target with 129,448 signatures.

Davido: The ‘FEM’ singer is among entertainers who vigorously campaigned for the EndSARS campaign both online and offline while stressing that the protest was a peaceful one. Mainly on his Twitter page, the singer voiced his concerns and

condemned actions of the government against the people. He tweeted on Monday, October 19, that “After seeing all that’s gone on today I just want to say that from the beginning we have preached that the protest must remain peaceful and Law Abiding and as far as I know we have kept to that! And we will continue to keep to that so the narrative can NOT be switched up on us!”

By Tuesday, October 20, a day that will remain indelible in the hearts of many Nigerians, Davido screamed hell at the shooting of protesters at Lekki Tollgate where the protest has been peaceful. He also volunteered to help those who have been badly injured from the incident.

“Please where is the hospital that most of the patients have been taken too?? Have they been treated for free? Is there a bill that needs to be paid? I need answers,” he tweeted.

Wives on Strike Female Stars: Since the peaceful protests began, the female lead characters on the 2016 film ‘Wives on Strike’, Omoni Oboli, Chioma Akpotha, Uche Jumbo-Rodriguez, Ufuoma McDermott joined forces and raised funds to provide food for the protesters, particularly in Lekki. They encouraged the young protesters not to give up on their fight and ensured that they had the required energy to carry on. Their dedication is equally seen on social media platforms where they amplified their voices for a better Nigeria.

Í°Í´

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍąËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

CleanAce BossTasks Government on SMEs Support, Enabling Environment Stories by Mary Nnah In light of the current situation in Nigeria, the Chief Executive Officer of CleanAce Limited, Mr. Eniibukun Adebayo, has re-emphasised the need for brands to align with global standards, if only the government will provide an enabling environment.

Adebayo who said there were incredible and enormous potentials in the country, noted that there was the need to give people the space to live out their dreams and ideas, while stressing that the government has not been facilitating the business process but militating against it. “There are immense opportunities to be tapped when the Government impacts the citizens positively.

The case of Nigeria is like a parent who does not nurture the children appropriately. The country should see the benefits of properly engaging and guiding the citizens. It is unfortunate that as a nation, we only focus on the short run gains. Nigeria is greatly endowed with several potentials which are not adequately harnessed for growth and development�, Adebayo said.

He said therefore that it was important the government is run like a business enterprise with clear objectives, adding, “there should be fairness and justice. Nigeria should be fair to her citizens in all ramifications. The ripple effect of negative action by the government goes farther than we imagine. The environment should be conducive for business. There should be rewards as well as discipline in the country.� “There is the basic need for the government to rethink the strategy for technical education.

There must be a shift of focus from desiring collar jobs to embracing proper education.

It is important for education to be tailored to meet people’s passion. The government should encourage SMEs and the entire citizenly to look more at Technical Education. “ The minds of the people should be disabused from

CEO of CleanAce, Mr. Enibukun Adebayo

the negative perception about Technical Education. The minds of the people should be more technically oriented as a nation.

The government should also establish more Technical Institutions to support the growth of SMEs, the CleanAce boss noted.

Speaking further he said, “This is incumbent upon the government to provide clear direction to enhance growth.

We also need data to sustain growth. When there is data of information, SME’s can adequately grow their business operations. “The government should create platforms in terms of structure to drive growth for SMEs. However, education should play a paramount role.�

He also stressed that it was important for government agencies to do their job effectively in order to support local production. “In a case like NAFDAC, it supports both the SME’s as well as protects the citizens from fake products. This should be the focus of the agencies of government. The onus is on the government to put structures in place to develop local contents production. “Made-in Nigeria products should be supported through patronage by government officials. Our government must be real in terms of sustaining and keeping business organisations alive. “China is boosting its economy already and we continue to impact goods of lesser quality. Nigeria as a nation needs to wake up and determine its

objectives. “There is a bigger framework that must govern all of us. In essence, there should be an end to impunity and lawlessness.�

For business owners, Adebayo advised that they should endeavour to assess finance options for their businesses. “The banks play a critical role as they have a structure in place. Business owners should embrace the strenuous conditions as they are beneficial on a long term. “ I experienced this and it is one of the success factors of our organisation. Integrity pays a crucial role for business owners. The person who gave me money for my business never documented anything.

There are millions of people who want to provide assistance.

People should learn to do the right thing to attract help.� “It is important for upcoming entrepreneurs to start with personal savings and be more disciplined. It has also become imperative for business owners in Nigeria to focus on creativity and quality service as key parameters to become reference points�, he said.

For the way forward in the industry, Adebayo who has in the last 15 years worked to create harmony amongst drycleaners, revealed there was a vacuum in the industry. “There is unhealthy competition which is very unnecessary.

People import all kinds of chemicals into the country. It has reached the level of anything that goes and comes into the industry. “There is corruption as people bribe their way to commit all kinds of unethical practices. There is the need to have a formidable association in the industry. “For instance, during COVID-19, drycleaners were not recognised as essential service providers. Some other countries recognised them and allowed them to be opened for business. “ Dry Cleaners were the ones cleaning and washing clothing materials used during the treatment of COVID-19 patients. The biggest threat in the fabricare industry in Nigeria is the lack of an association. “There is no recognition by the government. It is also pertinent to slate that the abuse

in the drycleaning industry must stop. The importation of chemicals dangerous to the health of staff in the industry should stop�, he added.

Speaking further on the unique selling proposition of the CleanAce brand, a prominent laundry and dry cleaning firm in Nigeria and the first ISO 9001: 2015 certified drycleaning firm in Africa, which clocked 15 years recently, the CEO said, “Our USP is threefold – Quality, speed and Price. “We are poised to deliver professional services as the only ISO certified dry-cleaning firm in Africa. We are professionally structured to work within the framework of global standards to deliver ultimate superior service delivery. “Our ISO 9001-2015 focuses on quality management systems. We strategise the dimension we want to participate as a notable player in the industry. “We raise the bar of service delivery through our competent, pre-active and well trained workforce. We have exposed our staff to global training in Italy, USA and Dubai.�

Adebayo, who is a consummate professional and business strategist, said further that, “CleanAce as a brand does not see itself competing locally. We benchmark our services in line with global standards. It is pertinent to state that we align our operations and delivery in line with the quality of the fabric our clients bring to us. “We are constantly raising the bar of creativity and excellent service delivery to sustain a strong brand pedigree. We also import all our materials to ensure adequate care and delivery.� “One of our core values is integrity which has rubbed off positively on our corporate image. Our staff has demonstrated high level honesty and integrity to the admiration of our esteemed clients. “Our company has a strong focus on high quality and very affordable pricing. Our internal processes are flexible in order to quickly determine bottlenecks in our operations.

Our brand goal is the delivery of exceptional customer experience. In actual fact, for the year 2020, it is quality or nothing else for us�, he noted.

Access Bank’s ‘W’ Initiative Launches Awareness Campaign, Screening for Breast Cancer in Three States In celebration of Women’s Health Month, Access Bank’s ‘W’ Initiative, a flagship women empowerment programme from Access Bank Plc, has announced a breast cancer awareness campaign and screening for women in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt beginning from October 21-31, 2020.

The W Health Month, aimed at improving community awareness on health issues that affect women and their families by bridging knowledge gaps, providing access to health checks and encouraging healthy lifestyle habits, will be kicking off with the Breast Cancer Awareness Sensitisation Campaign from October 21, 2020.

Subsequently, women across the three states will have access

to free breast screening from October 26 to 31 2020.

Speaking on the campaign, Group Head, W Initiative Access Bank Plc, Ayona Trimnell said, “Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women therefore, the need for awareness cannot be overemphasised in the effort to fight and prevent the devastating and long-lasting impact of

the illness on affected women and their families.� “While there has been considerable global conversations about this subject matter over the past few decades, many Nigerian women are still unaware of the importance and procedure for regular breast screening, which is a major reason Nigeria has one of the highest breast cancer mortality

rates in the world. “During this Women’s Health Month, and even beyond, Access Bank is committed to raising awareness, and providing medical support for women across the country.�

Established in 2014, the W Initiative has become home to everything Access Bank has to offer women, ranging from financial to lifestyle needs.

Under the initiative, women and their families have gained access to a wide array of services including access to credit facilities to not only fund women-owned businesses but also healthcare needs.

The ‘W’ community has also provided insights on family matters, health, career, lifestyle and finance, thereby enlightening women for a better tomorrow.

FUOYE Vice Chancellorship Race GetsTougher

FUOYE Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode Soremekun

The race towards appointing the next Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) is becoming tougher as investigations revealed that over 60 professors, said to be eminently qualified to succeed out-going Professor Kayode Soremekun come February, 2021, have already put in their applications.

This is just as the University Council has announced the appointment of Mr. Olatunbosun Odunsanya and Dr. I. O Busayo as new substantive Registrar and Librarian, respectively.

Findings equally showed that the Prof. Soremekun-led Management team has performed admirably well; leaving a record that would really be hard to beat by succeeding the management team.

Against a recent allegation from some members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU, FUOYE local branch and Akure zone) that the management of the school had shut the door against qualified academics from private and state universities, it was further revealed that the management had received applications from private, public, federal and state universities across the country.

One of the applicants, who pleaded anonymity said he was number 62 on the applicants’ list, saying that he could confirm that the applications for the juicy position was received from all who brought them, adding that the applicants did not only come from private, public, state and federal universities, but also from virtually all the six geo-political zones of the country. “I am afraid this race will be a very tight and tough one. I am really amazed that I turned out to be number 62 on the list of applicants for the position of Vice-chancellor of FUOYE despite the fact that l put in my application three days after the advertisement in the papers. “It looked as if the university has been in existence for donkey years because it has now become a hot cake for erudite scholars, academics and prospective students. “Almost every qualified professor from virtually all universities in both public and private universities are eager to join FUOYE to become the next VC. And if you asked me why?, I will simply reply by saying, this university has been very well managed by the current VC, Professor Soremekun and l salute him greatly,� he said.

Further findings revealed that out of the over 60 applicants, about nine equally qualified professors who have held principal positions in managing the university since its 10 years of existence, have also applied. These internal aspirants included five professors from the Faculty of Agriculture, who include Professor Adebimtan, Prof. Adeniji Aganga; former DVC, Academics, Prof. Ajayi Omolehin; Prof. Sunday Abayomi, current DVC, Administration. From the Faculty of Engineering, the applicants are Prof. Olugbenga Amu and Prof. Alabadan.

While Prof. Olayide Lawal, Dean, Faculty of Sciences, also applie d, Prof. Olajide Oladele, Dean of Management Sciences, has also put in his application who have all served the university meritoriously in their different capacities.

The source added: “The Council and the VC are already at crossroads and need prayers now so they would sail through this huge task. Although, we are confident that they are up to the task and would do the job judiciously and patriotically.�

It was also discovered that applications from other eminently qualified professors have come from virtually all the first generation universities in Nigeria which includes the University of Lagos (UNILAG), University of Ibadan (U.l), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Federal University of Technology (FUTO), and Federal University of Abuja (FUNAB) among others. The development simply showed that FUOYE has already carved a niche for herself among the well-recognised Nigerian Universities.

FUOYE has witnessed remarkable progress during the almost five years of the current Prof. Soremekun-led Management team which comprises other principal officers as DVC Administration, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, DVC, Academics, Prof.

Sola Ojo, Bursar, Mrs. Bolatito Akande, Acting Registrar, Mr. Mufutau Ibrahim and of course, the VC’s former Director of Administration and Special Duties, now appointed substantive Registrar, Mr. Olatunbosun Odunsanya and other directors in various capacities. However, the VCship race has created heated controversy among the current Management of FUOYE. Investigations revealed that the influential people who are principal officials of the university have been divided over their individual choices of who becomes the next VC and that development has strained their relationship.

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T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͱ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

Pastor Nathaniel Perfects Ground Breaking of Luxury Estate in Lagos

Idjerhe Kingmakers Affirm Installation of Journalist as Ovie-elect

˾ Ý ãÏÎÏ×Ó ÎÓÝÍßÝÝÏÝ ÜÏÑßÖËÞÓÙØ ÙÐ ÜÏËÖ ÏÝÞËÞÏ Oluwabunmi Fache On Saturday, October 3, Nigeria’s gospel music icon, Pastor Nathaniel Bassey, led three other ministers of the gospel to perfect the ground breaking of Cedarwood Luxury Apartments and Terraces powered by PWAN Plus and Business Concerns.

For the Managing Director of the leading estate real estate outfit, Dr. Julius Oyedemi and his hardworking staff, the day was a mixture of spirituality and an occasion for showers of accolades as Pastor Nathaniel released some sounds of jubilee and pronounced aggressive anointing on the PWAN Plus squad.

Perfecting the ground breaking, the gospel artiste also praised Dr Oyedemi, describing him as a Christian brother who takes special interest and care of other people’s business with a high sense of responsibility.

Speaking with THISDAY during an interview, Dr Oyedemi said that until Lagos State regulates its flourishing real estate sector, the state government would continue to loose huge income that should accrue to it from the sector.

He expressed the view in support of Lagos State government’s recent expression of intention to regulate the real estate sector in the state.

He said: “It’s a dream come true, a good one. You cannot overlook the real estate industry in Nigeria, especially in a place like Lagos where we have over 20 million people occupying the land space.

“There are housing deficits, I learn from a reliable source that real estate is contributing a little to the GDP of Lagos State.”

Oyedemi, however, added that if there is a proper regulation of what he described as “the robust activities of estate developers in the state”, real estate contribution to the

state’s GDP would definitely increase far and above what it’s currently doing.

He believes that the current showing is infinitesimal; and attributable to poor data collation regarding real estate activities and players in the state.

His words: “What this (regulation) will do is that the state government can collate the data of all players in the state; data will also be available and it can also improve the state’s revenue generation from the real estate sector.

“For me, it’s a welcome idea; because it will stimulate a rapport between the government and the stakeholders, who are the private developers. If both parties are not coming together things may not go in the proper direction.”

The real estate whizkid also expressed some worries saying, “our own expectation is that government should do it without being biased. They should do it well and give the

necessary support because we also have our own complaints.

“We have our itches, we have our disturbance, we have the taxes, omo oniles, title issues and all of that. So collaborating with private developers is a welcome idea because this will help in the smooth running of real estate affairs of Lagos State.”

He added that his own concern is primarily getting the industry right. “If we can’t develop Lagos in the right way then what ever the certificate issue is, it’s all irrelevant,” he stressed.

Oyedemi said the ground breaking event was a special day to PWAN Plus Business Concern.

“Cedarwoods LuxuryApartments Terraces is located at kilometer 35 Ajayi Apata Town in Sangotedo area of Lagos State.

As you can see there are a lot of people; buyers and realtor are here to witness the ground breaking.

L-R: Managing Director of PWAN Plus, Dr. Julius Oyedemi; Fred Okpaje, Pastor Okey Nwachukwu, Pastor Nathaniel Bassey and Managing Director PWAN Homes, Mr. Afam Okonkwo, at the ground breaking ceremony in Lagos, recently

Meristem Securities Partner SNA to Honour Nike Okundaye Meristem Securities Limited (MSL) recently partnered the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), Lagos State Chapter to honour a veteran artist, Mrs. Nike Okundaye.

The event, which took place in Lagos during its 22ndAnnual Juried Arts Exhibition October Rain 2020 tagged: Resilience, held at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos.

In his address, the Group Business Development, MSL, Mr. Saheed Bashir said Meristem has always stayed true to her brand promise, hence the award.

According to him; “we will continue to put our clients at the heart of our product and service offerings. We have identified gaps within the ecosystem.

“We are currently finalising plans to launch some innovative products that will help clients and prospects access various financial services regardless of the point they are in the their wealth journey.”

Bashir also noted that in order to create impact for all

stakeholders, the company has leveraged the unique platform of the ‘Resilience’ art exhibition to meet and understand the needs of participants and players within the art and craft segment.

“We are definitely convinced that we can bridge the financial services gap that exists within the industry,” Bashir said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, SNA, Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Idowu Sonaya in his welcome address, hinted the award was a unique one towards showing their resilience against COVID-19 pandemic, corruption, tariff increase and a lot of anomalies in Nigeria.

He added the award is a statement to show productivity, professionalism and integrity.

“We’re celebrating Okundaye for her contributions to us. She’s an icon. She’s worth being celebrated,” Sonaya said.

The special guest of honor, His Royal Majesty, Oba Aderemi Adeniyi-Adedapo, Alaiyemore of Ido Osun, Osun State noted the award says it all

as a self-made woman, who has come a long way and whose artworks says it all.

“Look at these painting of hers. I remember my 25 years in the USA, she was always bringing colourful arts of hers.

She’s a person who believes in teaching on how to fish and not being given fish.

“I have known her for over 50 years. we grew up together and she’s just amazing. I thank SNA for honouring her today. She has gone places but no where like home.

“Honouring her today again by the Nigerian SNA and MSL is an added advantage and it will make her more stronger and positive in whatever she’s doing. We are saying kudos to her.”

He eulogised the organisers, stating that art rules the world whether anyone likes it or not.

According to him; “it’s a new normal we are waiting now and people are rejigging and reinventing themselves.

They’re thinking out of the box.

The stocks are crashing and

many things are happening.

“It’s a new normal now and we just have to flow with the wind but I know things are going to bounce back. It’s a test of humanity and we have to stay strong and stay safe and keep social distance”.

Moreover, Mr. Dapo Adeniyi, who represented Okundaye during a chat with newsmen, said: “We have to realise that the art industry needs encouragement and there’s no one that can do it like artists themselves.

“We have to always look inwards for those you want to describe as avatars. People, who are iconic and had breast the tape of success one way or the other and succeeded in doing what many of us are still trying to do.

“I think SMA has taken the right step by honouring her.

She’s a great artist and most of her works are in the biggest museums around the world like the United Kingdom, United State of America amongst other countries.

New Ovie-elect of Idjerhe kingdom, HRM Monday Whiskey being crowned at Jesse town, Delta State, recently

Sylvester Idowu in Warri The Kingmakers and Council-of-Chiefs in Idjerhe Kingdom in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, have reaffirmed the installation of a journalist, HRM Monday Obukowho Ovie Whiskey, Udurhie l as Ovie-elect in the Kingdom.

They warned impostors still parading themselves as king in the kingdom to desist or be prepared to face the wrath of the law.

The council of chief and kingmakers spoke at the first meeting with the Ovie-elect at his palace.

This development is coming following report making the round that oneAugus Omasoro who was earlier controversially crown at night by some dissident groups in the Kingdom was still parading himself as Ovie-elect in the ancient Kingdom.

HRM Ovie Whiskey, a veteran Journalist, was installed by the kingmakers on Monday, September 28, after month-long tussle for the stool following the demise of former monarch, His Royal Majesty, Edward Igho Otadaferua, Erhiekevwe 1, who joined his ancestors in 2018, having reigned for 12 years.

The said Omasoro was among some chiefs of the Kingdom who were stripped of their titles after they were discovered to be allegedly involved in a secret moves to install him as new King without the knowledge of the then regent of Idjerhe Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Agoda Emeje, and the kingmakers.

Omasoro was said to have allegedly invaded the Oguedion around 3: am and was clandestinely crowned King in alleged connivance with some army and policemen drafted to the ‘Oguedion’, a sacred kingmaker’s palace where a new king is usually crown.

However, meeting to reaffirm the installation of HRM Monday Obukowho Ovie Whiskey, Udurhie l, the Kingmakers, said the processes of installing the new monarch was traditionally followed and accepted by all members of the royal families.

Chief Godwin Ofighe, (second Onugbrogodo, Kingmaker) who is from Boboroku sub-clan, however debunked

claims that he was not part of the installation, saying that he was fully on ground and have given his unflinching support to the Ovie-elect.

Also, the most senior Unugbrogodo of Onyobru sub-clan, Chief William Atiti, noted that Omasoro and his group are no longer chiefs in Idjerhe kingdom having been stripped of their chieftaincy titles some months ago, adding that the purported midnight action to unlawfully install Omasoro as a king in Idjerhe was both unlawful and alien to the customs and traditions of the kingdom.

Atiti debunked claims by Omasoro that he was unqualified to crown a new king, insisting that it was clearly within his prerogative, as the most senior Unugbrogodo (kingmaker) of Idjerhe kingdom, to crown a new king following the demise of the reigning one.

The Unugbrogodo of Onyobru sub-clan also cautioned Omasoro over his alleged unguarded statements aimed at tarnishing the public image of prominent people in Idjerhe kingdom, noting that an appropriate petition has been forwarded to the Delta State government on the issue.

“Idjerhe is one. We have Idjerhe Central, Oyobru and Boboroku have been working together. To my surprise, two days ago, Omasoro and his agents went to the press to spoil our leaders and chiefs’ names. This is very wrong. We have disrobed them and they are no more chiefs.

“We went to Oghara, the chairman told him to go pull anything in his leg, that he is not a chief. Up till now, they have not taken them off. They are still wearing our Iru (beads) on the neck.

The normal thing is, when a chief is suspended, he removes the bead. Upon all the instruction the chairman gave to them, Omasoro and his agents still parade themselves as king and chiefs of Idjerhe kingdom.

“What we did Monday, everybody was there. All the chiefs from Central, Boboroku and Oyobru were there when we did the installation. It wasn’t hidden. Our respected politicians were there”, he added.

Contacted, Mr. August Omasoro refused to comment on the incident.

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ART WEEKEND

…For pure art enthusiasts

Nigeria’s Opium in a Compendium “The Danfo Driver in all of us” written by Niran Adedokun, a lawyer, writer and journalist progress nerve-racking insights into the frail framework of Nigeria’s democracy, writes YINKA OLATUNBOSUN

T

he power of insight in Niran Adedokun’s second book is a pointer to the fact that he, like some other conscientious Nigerians is no passive passenger in the vehicle of nation building. Carefully, he had articulated his views on a wide variety of social and national issues from his mental notes over a period of five years as a columnist at Punch Newspapers.

After his stint as a special assistant to the wife of the former Kwara State governor, Mrs Toyin Saraki, the author had a panoramic view of power, governance and more importantly, the place of followership that he couldn’t help but share albeit in vignettes. In this collection of opinion articles titled, “The Danfo Driver in all of us and other essays,” he breaks down the complex concerns about Nigeria and how those perennial issues have become a norm in the absence of the rule of law.

The raw materials for the five-part book started at a crucial period in Nigeria’s political history.

The former President, Dr. Good luck Ebele Jonathan had the rare opportunity to organise a credible election in the face of widespread criticisms against the government and a morbid fear of electoral violence. The peaceful handover to President Muhammadu Buhari did not necessarily guarantee a seemless transition from one ruling party to another nor did it change the general living conditions of the people remarkably.

In choosing this unconventional title for the book, Adedokun relied on everyday experience that his readers can easily relate with.

“The Danfo Driver in all of us” is a title of one of the essays in the book,” the author explained in an exclusive interview with Art Weekend. “There is something in almost every Nigerian that sets the country back: their attitude, behaviours and tendencies that if reconsidered, would do the country well. The unifying idea is most of my writings is that the

Chinenye

Chinenye’s ‘Lessons From Twenty Somethings’ Charts Path for Millenials Yinka Olatunbosun

Book Cover for The Danfo Driver in all of us

citizen has a huge role to play in the development of their country.

“In one of the essays, I write that I was done worrying with the politicians.

They would not change and they are essentially the same no matter what party they belong. It is the citizens of the country that could change the country.

I wanted to sell the idea of citizenship to the readers of the book. That’s how the idea of Danfo Driver came.”

For him, Danfo Driver has a symbolic meaning of being selfish. He would further freshen up the story behind his new collection by recounting the temperament of the average commercial bus driver otherwise known

as the “Danfo Driver.”

“The Danfo Driver” thinks about himself alone.

Look at the traffic for example , I have observed the Danfo driver for some time and I know that he thinks of himself a lot. He doesn’t care whether any person is able to use the road or not. He is very self-centred. I see that as an intrinsic characteristic of a lot of Nigerians.

“The people who steal all the money in Nigeria are thinking of only themselves alone. If you have a budget that is supposed to take care of all Nigerians and you just appropriate for yourself and your family members, it shows how selfish you are. Another thing about Danfo Drivers is that they are mostly

unruly. They beat traffic lights, they overspeed and carry excess passengers.

A lot of them do not obey the laws of the land. They are inconsiderate and lack compassion,” he argued.

In addition to his strong political views, the author wrote on marriages and family life, discrimination against single parents and other domestic matters that have significant impact on the larger society.

Meanwhile, he had travelled around with the self-published book and generated conversations around the themes of corruption, abuse of power, accountability, ethnic bigotry, nepotism, poor infrastructure, development amongst others.

His first book, “Ladies

Writer, entrepreneur, and winner of WawaBook Literary Fellowship 2018, Veralyn Chinenye, has announced the publication of her mini-autobiography, Lessons From Twenty Somethings. The book, set to be released on October 10, 2020, is a deeply personal account of her learning, quest, curiosity, experiences and travels in her twenties and offers hands-on advice and lessons for young people at every stage of their twenties.

‘Lessons From Twenty Somethings’ chronicles Veralyn’s life, her purpose, failures and successes and how young people can shorten their learning curve by leaning on her story to navigate their journey, create their own path and make quality decisions that will make their twenties great. The author engages her audience with real-life stories and relatable experiences, with a sprinkling of sparking poetry that intersperses it.

The title is practical, highly educative, inspiring and entertaining. Some of the lessons covered in the book include leadership, breaking stereotypes, taking risks, the art of gratitude, the science of questions and answers, God, and the value of family.

The book comes with a peg of resources to help millennials take full charge of

their twenties into thirties and includes a gratitude journal, a productivity worksheet and an exclusive 30 days mentoring hangout with over 10 of the author ’s best mentors like Grace Ihejiamaizu, Emeka Nobis, Esther Eshiet, Dunsin Fatuase and fourteen other great mentors.

‘Lessons From Twenty Somethings’ is a guide every young person must read. People in their twenties will glean numerous lessons from her life experiences since most young persons in Nigeria rarely share their stories in a candid and vulnerable manner, but prefer to wait till they get older. This is a campass that helps young people avoid some of the pitfalls of those vulnerable years of growing up.

Chinenye’s life choices and her ability to transcend society’s playbook of how a young person should live serve as a bridge for young people who are both afraid and not afraid to chart their own course. From her gut and her constant refusal to settle for stereotypes, her personal life and journey, Chinenye shows that a young person’s worth is not predicated on society’s demands and norms. Her blunt refusal to be seen, as just another usual young person is rare in her generation, and in her book lies vital lessons young people can draw from.

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FERTILITY

W

with DR. KEMI AILOJE Info@lifelinkfertility.com; Website: lifelinkfertility.com 08033083580

DIMINISHED OVARIAN RESERVE (PART 1)

hile some couple goes through rigors attempting pregnancy, some other couple gets pregnant almost as often as they desire.

There are several factors that can reduce or prevent pregnancy, some of which includes for the female: uterine (womb), tubal, ovarian, age, medical condition. For the male: Semen quality and quantity.

Let’s recap from our previous publications that we reiterated the fact that every woman is born with two ovaries on either sides of the uterus (womb).

HOW LONG SHOULD I ATTEMPT PREGNANCY BEFORE SEEING A DOCTOR FOR EVALUATION? For women less than 35years, the recommendation is usually to try to get pregnant for at least a year before you see a doctor with concerns about fertility evaluation while women above 35years may attempt for about 6 months.

Women though under 35years but have a history of certain health issues as irregular menses, painful menses, repeated miscarriages and endometriosis need to see a physician as soon as possible while attempting pregnancy.

WHERE DID ALL THE EGGS GO? In utero the eggs begin to develop at about 6-8 weeks of fetal life. By the time the female fetus is about 16-20 weeks, she has reached a peak of six to seven million eggs. This number however declines to approximately one to two million eggs are reserved in the ovaries at birth, declining even further to between 250,000 to 500,000 eggs at puberty.

At 37 years a woman will only have about 25,000 eggs and at menopause less than 1000.

A woman’s ovarian reserve depreciates in quality and quantity with age, this simply means that the younger a woman is, the more her ovarian reserve and the higher her chance of achieving pregnancy. It can be used to estimate a woman’s fertility potential.

Reproductive science has evolved to the point where there’s a wide range of investigations to test fertility, some of which can give indication about the status of your ovaries. If, after testing, your doctor reaches out with the news that you have a diminished ovarian reserve, you might feel confused and worried about how it could change your odds of conceiving.

HOW CAN WE MEASURE A WOMAN’S OVARIAN RESERVE? r .FEJDBM )JTUPSZ FNQIBTJ[FT JT usually based on factors like age, time spent trying to conceive, gynecological history and past medical history. r 5SBOTWBHJOBM 6MUSBTPVOE 5IJT JOvolves your doctor or a sonographer inserting a device into your vagina to get a better look at your ovaries and other reproductive organs. This is usually uncomfortable but not painful. It can help a doctor examine your ovarian antral follicle count, which tells them how many follicles you have on each ovary. At the beginning of your menstrual cycle, these follicles, each of which contains an egg, begin to mature in preparation for ovulation. The ovarian antral follicle count (AFC) can add information about ovarian reserve and can even help predict how many eggs a woman will produce if she undergoes IVF or egg freezing process. r #MPPE 5FTU :PVS EPDUPS NBZ PSEFS a test on day 2-5 of your menses to assess the level of FSH (Follicle stimulating Hormone) in your blood. At the start of your menstrual cycle, the pituitary gland in your brain produces this hormone to make your ovaries to create those egg-containing follicles for ovulation

WHAT IS DIMINISHED OVARIAN RESERVE This means that your eggs are lower in

number or quality than expected for your age. Evidence based studies have proven that women’s prime reproductive years are typically between her late teens and late 20s. As you move past that window, the number of eggs you have in your reserve naturally goes down. So does their quality since the eggs you have left are more likely to have abnormal chromosomes that make conception harder, As a result, your ability to get pregnant will start to decrease steadily after age 30, declining more by the time you reach your mid-30s. (This is a steady decline, not a fertility “cliff� that suddenly changes your chances of conceiving drastically. By age 45, it’s unlikely that most women will get pregnant without some form of medical intervention like IVF. Putting all of this into context, having a diminished ovarian reserve can mean that at age 30, the quality and quantity of your eggs is more typical of someone who is 45 years.

WHAT CAUSES DIMINISHED

OVARIAN RESERVE (DOR) DOR is a premature decrease in the number of eggs and can be caused by the following: r$ISPNPTPNBM BCOPSNBMJUJFT r%FTUSVDUJPO PG PWBSJBO UJTTVF CZ UPSTJPO r3BEJBUJPO r0WBSJBO TVSHFSZ GPS BO PWBSJBO DZTU PS ovarian cancer, for instance), r.VUBUJPOT JO HFOFT UIBU BSF SFMBUFE UP ovarian function, r&OEPNFUSJPNBT PS DZTUT UIBU GPSN EVF UP the health condition endometriosis. r1FMWJD BEIFTJPOT r*NNVOPMPHJDBM DPOEJUJPOT r #FOJHO PS NBMJHOBOU PWBSJBO tumour r 1FMWJD JOĂĄBNNBUPSZ EJTFBTF XIFSF bacteria from an untreated sexually transmitted infection spread to the reproductive organs. r )JHI #PEZ .BTT *OEFY #.*

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‌‌to be continued next week

The Challenge of Aordable Petroleum Products in Nigeria: Artisanal (Modular) ReďŹ nery to The Rescue Edet Ekpenyong The recent increase in the price of petroleum products by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is seen by many Nigerians as a recurring decimal which like a molten magma, may erupt like active volcano if not holistically managed.

It is glaring that reactions and the socioeconomic impact of the recent zincrease of Petroleum Pump Price by the Petroleum Pricing Marketing (PPMC) from ex-deport price of N138 to N151.56 per liter, triggering marketers to increase pump price from N148 to N162 per liter ishitting the nation as a hurricane, increasing the existing burdens on Nigerians.

However, the unfortunate report by Nigeria Natural Resource Charter (NNRC) indicates that the sum of N276.87bn was spent between 2015 and 2018 to carry out repair works under TAM scheme on three of the refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna. The report further indicated that At least $396.33 million (about N152.4bn) had earlier been spen between 2013 and 2017 on TAM schemes on the refineries, It is obvious that Nigeria has all the potentials required to refine all the petroleum products required in the country if the right political will is adopted, it is high time Nigeria began to look inward and embrace local contents in scheme of its economic reckoning especially in refining of crude petroleum.

Over the years’ activities of artisanal refineries in Nigeria have been considered illegal mainly because they source their raw materials (crude oil) through unofficial sources: which means they do not obtain their raw materials through the NNPC, the governmentAgency that oversees the oil and gas sector.

The current move by the Federal Government through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Niger Delta Affairs to integrates the artisanal refinery operators into the mainstream of refinery activities is timely and commendable in view of the deregulation of petroleum products in the country.

The decision of key stakeholders at the meeting coordinated by the Office of the Senior SpecialAssistant to the President on Niger Delta operators by encouraging them to form cooperatives and set up modular refineries to create sustainable production chain in the crude oil production sector is a welcome development and needs to be given backing.

Some of the background reports from resolution meeting by key stakeholders in the industry which include Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Extractives Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), National Oil Spill Detection Response Agency (NOSDRA), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and artisanal refinery operators coordinated by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs was expository and revealing.

At the meeting it as admitted that large quantum of petroleum products consumed in Nigeria are produced or refined and circulated by the operators of local or “illegal or artisanal or modular or “puu fire� refineries operators in the Niger Delta states with camps in Anambra ,Kogi, Lagos, and indeed most states where the crude oil pipeline on NNPC traverse.

This is not a political issue and the government should not let anybody politicize it so the government must review the situation and make sure that they potentials of artisanal refinery operators are explore because they have the capacity to refine petroleum products needed

in the country if given the necessary backing.

The integration of artisanal refinery operators or modular refineries to produce or refine petroleum products for local consumption in Nigeria should be the given the necessary backing and harmonies for sustainable and affordable fuel supply in the country and also made to be part of the post COVID-19 economic recovery blueprint.

It is high time government develops Local Content Policies (LCPs) to increase jobs and open business opportunities for the nation, especially in the oil sector. Stakeholders in the oil and gas policy development strategies should include in-depth consultation to maximize the decision makers’ knowledge-pool. They should also be able to manage people’s expectations and uphold transparency.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang in one of his engagement meeting with the Domestic Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria (DROAN) urged Nigerians to work hard to ensure citizens buy fuel at the rate of N100 per litre.

Enang said the aim of the engagement meetings is to harness and integrate locally refined products into the petroleum market to help crash the price of petroleum product in the country.

He added that the reason why petroleum products prices went up was due to the process of extracting, exporting, refining and retuning it back to the country has made it expensive and cumbersome. Speaking at the interactive session where they DROAN solicited for the federal government legalization of their operation in the creeks Domestic Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria, DROAN, professed that crude oil products refined

in the creeks of Niger Delta are much cleaner and safer than the one allegedly imported from outside the country.

In view of this, the approval an implementation of modular refineries by encouraging artisanal refineries operators to form cooperative and set up modular refineries will not only aid economic growth in the Nige Delta region and Nigeria in general but also create a sustainable and alternative sources livelihood to tackled poverty, unemployment and self-sufficiency especially in the supply of petroleum products.

Policy formulators and drivers are requested to adopt the resolutions arrived at the meeting coordinated by the Senior Special Assistant to the president, Niger Delta, Senator Ita Enang with key stakeholders in the oil and gas sector. The model of the recently approved and inaugurated Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative should be approved for the Artisanal Local Refineries Operators and incorporated into the mainstream refinery process and the Post Covid-19 economic recoveryprogramme.

This will streamline the entire value chain of the local refinery operations towards its integration into the main oil and gas sector for the purpose of regulation, allocation of crude and land, taxation, local content development and financing.

Ekpenyong is the Media Aide to the Senior Special Assistant to the President Niger Delta Affairs NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͱ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

Kalabari Sends Her Son Home in a Blaze of Glory Nseobong Okon-Ekong writes that the planners of the obsequies for the departed Justice Godwin Karibi-Whyte were able to strike a balance to reflect the many sides of his life as a strong Christian, a legal icon and an enthusiastic promoter of his culture

T

he waters of the Sombriero River in Abonnema, Rivers State was calm that morning. A few persons were carrying on with their normal activities of fishing or dredging sand on the river. They paid little or no attention to the boisterous ceremonies on the foreshore, particularly the entire stretch of over 800 metres, part of which is home to St. Augustine’s Anglican Church.

The narrow road between the river and the built-up area was packed with all kinds of vehicles and human beings from all walks of life who came to honour the memory of the departed distinguished Kalabari son, Justice Godwin Karibi-Whyte, a former Justice of the Supreme Court and Judge of the International Court of Jistice at the Hague, Netherlands.

There were as many people milling around the church courtyard and its adjoining neighbourhood, not quite taking part in the religious rites. Perhaps, they were oblivious of the spacious overflow hall at the back of the main church building which was fitted out with a huge television screen, showing proceedings in the main church.

St. Augustine is an important landmark in Abonnema. A good part of the heritage of the people is tied to the church. Sir (Chief) David Briggs, Knight of the Order of St. Christopher disclosed that the church was established in 1882. However, a plaque on the wall announces that the foundation of the present main church was laid by His Lordship the Rt. Rev. E. T. Dimieari CBE, Lord Bishop of the Niger Delta Diocese on Monday 16th January, 1961.

The departed Judge was a member of the St. Augustine parish and a Knight of St. Christopher. He was baptised in church, possibly in the river across the road.

Sharing the same premises with St. Augustine is the Biship Crowther Memorial State School, Abonnema. Samuel Ajayi Crowther was the freed slave boy who became the first African Anglican Bishop in Nigeria.

Briggs was the first elected Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area. A former member of the Rivers State Executive Council, he served as Commissioner of Works and Commissioner for Water Resoirces. He was dressed in the colourful gear of a knight. There were others like him. They were all adorned in thesame distinct apparel. Incidentally, the body of Justice Karibi-Whyte was clothed like that.

The knights of St. Christopher are defenders of the faith. And part of the courtesies to their departed colleagues includes the Sword Crossing ceremony. Justice KaribiWhyte deserved no less an honour. For over one decade he was the immediate past Chancellor of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion.

Justice Karibi-Whyte had many strong affiliations. He was an Anglican, an icon in the legal profession and a promoter of his culture. In honouring his memory, the planners of his obsequies were able to strike a good balance to reflect the many sides of his life. The funeral ceremonies which held at different times and dates in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abonnema aptly captured all the colours and parts of his life. The Evening of Tributes in Lagos took place at the Church of Nativity at Parkview Estate in Ikoyi-Lagos.

The Evening of Tributes witnessed a large gathering at the Church of Nativity. Jurists, politicians turned up to celebrate the legacy of the late Karibi-Whyte Cars lined up the tarred streets of the quiet neighbourhood while bodyguards and security personnel manned the area to ensure safety and orderliness.

Inside the church, family, friends and relatives extolled the deeds of the dead in a melancholic ambience.

His wife described him as a loving and

L-R: Abiye, Sodigi and Tokini Karibi-Whyte

L-R: Buki Karibi-Whyte (Abiye Karibi-Whyte’s Wife); Nengi Oshoma-Brai (last sister ); Renee Karibi-Whyte (Sodigi Karibi-Whyte’s wife); and Ifueko Karibi-Whyte (Dagogo Karibi-Whyte’s wife)

honourable father and husband. She noted that though his demise was unexpected and shocking, that he passed peacefully.

Former Group Executive Director of the energy conglomerate Sahara Group Tonye Cole whose message was streamed described the deceased as a man of integrity.

“He taught us about integrity, eschewed intelligence in every way, not tribalistic. He showed us how to be a legal professional.

He taught us what it meant to take a name and go international. He gave us such a high pedestal to stand on, to defend our name and family. There was no distinction in the family because of how he embraced us all.

He stood and gave me advice on everything.

I’m certain he lived an exemplary life. We would not be where we are if not for what he gave us. He has left us to do more. And we are carrying the baton.”

The immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Paul Usoro told the high-heeled audience that he was honoured to share unique similarities with the revered Justice.

“I’m honoured to share two things with him. First, I’m a lawyer, the second we come from the same Niger Delta region. And for those of us who come from there, one thing stands for us, you must be exceptional before you are recognised by the Nigerian nation.

That is what the deceased stands for us. He was exceptional as a judge. Testimonies about his works and how he changed the course of justice. That was exceptional, and it requires someone exceptional to do that. He represented all of us and made us proud that he was our father. We must also strive to get into the shoes of the late, to follow his example. We will miss him, he laid the example and showed the way to attain greater heights.”

The Commendation Service in Port Harcourt was held at St. Cyprian’s Church.

The Port Harcourt and Abonnema leg of the ceremonies were secured by a sizeable number of soldiers and Mobile Policemen to keep mischief makers at bay and ensure the safe passage of a teeming number of eminent personalities who came to honour the late judge.

One prominent public figure who made it to all the events and spoke glowimgly about his relationship with the late Judge was Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State and currently, Minister of Transportation.

Justice Karibi-Whyte was a double chief of the Whyte family and the Iju-Jack group of houses in Nyemoni community, Abonnema in Akoku Toru local government area of Rivers State. Apart from Abonnema, there

are other major Kalabari towns including Bakana, Degema and Buguma, headquarters of the kingdom, where the late Highlife music maestro, Cardinal Rex Lawson hailed from.

Tonye Krukrubo, a first cousin of KaribiWhyte who works with the law firm of Aluko and Oyebode explained that owing to the high reverence for the departed Judge, the natural ruler of the Abonnemas, King Disrael Gbobo Bob-Manuel, who seldom attends such events in person, led the Abonnema Council of Chief to the church to be part of the burial ceremony.

Karibi-Whyye was a prominent member of the Abonnema Council of Chiefs. As a chief, his primary duty was to resolve disputes.

Abonnema boasts of a long line of prominent Nigerians including the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo and Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs who were in the church service, Alabo T. O. Graham-Douglas, Dr. Bekinbo GrahamDouglas (SAN), Chief T. J. Krukrubo (MON).

Cultural display of different hues depicting Kalabari culture were on parade to the amazement and enjoyment of guests.

One of such prominent exhibition were the exciting outfits worn by the children of the deceased led by his first son, Dagogo.

His other children are Askiya Ige, Tonye Uwensuyi-Edosomwan, Abiye KaribiWhyte, Tokini Karibi-Whyte, Sodogi Karibi-Whyte and Nengi Karibi-Whyte.

The grandiose apparel for the men included a headgear covered with bright feathers, while the ladies topped it up with a beaded crown. This contrasted with the all-white clothing worn by their aged mother and widow of Justice Karibi-Whyte.

Conforming to tradition, members of the Bar and Bench turned up in their numbers to honour their distinguished member, who was a philosopher judge and a legal colossus. The lawyers came from different bars fully and formally dressed and they were led by Mr. Olu Akpata, President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA). Akpata extolled the stellar qualities of the late Karibi-Whyte noting that he belonged to a cadre of distinguished jurists that was fast becoming extinct.

The NBA President said, “I consider it a great honour and privilege to pay tribute to this great man on behalf of the Nigerian Bar Association. Justice Karibi-Whyte was held in the highest of esteem by members of the NBA and indeed the entire legal profession.

He was one of our heroes, one of the greats, a member of that distinguished cadre of Jurists that is fast becoming extinct. His many judgements bear eloquent testimony to his intellect and profundity and remain indelible in our body of case-law.”

Playing a prominent role in the entire funeral arrangements were Dagogo’s partners, Anire Kanyi and Segun Adeyemi at the law Lagos-based firm of KanyiKaribiWhyte&Hastrup, known as KKH. Until his death, Justice Karibi-Whyte was a consultant to KKH. But Dagogo’s friends are not limited to lawyers. They cut across all professionals.

Therefore, the likes of Irene Din, Neil Egbor, Lekan Olanrewaju, Francis Ikeneku, Broderick Arogbodi, Dan Akpovwa, ,the late Dolapo Bamgboye, Abiye Mebere Former GED Exploration and Production NNPC, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ibiye Don Braide, Adokiye Ikpoki Obelema Isokrari, Prince Joe Okojie, Iboroma Akpana and Omubo Frank-Briggs were at the different events. They put a pause on everything else they were doing to support their friend. A good number of them were clad in the white Niger Delta outfit for men known as Etibo, with a bowler hat to match.

After his body was lowered on the expansive grounds of his country home, guests were treated to a large, lively party with music, choice three-course meal and assorted drinks.

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T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍąËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

POLSCOPE

åÓÞÒ ĂŽĂŽĂŁ ĂŽĂ“Ă ĂĄĂœĂ“ Ă?ĂŽĂŽĂŁË›Ă™ĂŽĂ“Ă ĂĄĂœĂ“ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ă™Ă—Ëœ ͸΀͸ͽ ͝͸͞ Π͝ͽ͞

#EndSARS Killings: We Are All Casualties

M

y wife’s loud sob woke me from the light sleep I had fallen into because of the sedative effect of the malaria drugs I took. Her eyes were glued to the TV screen. I did not need to ask too many questions. Lagos, nay the country, was having a Black Tuesday. Innocent and unarmed protesters were being shot and killed by soldiers deployed to the Lekki toll gate by yet to be known “order from above�.

We had watched how things have gradually but steadily degenerated from the most organized peaceful protests ever, to a dangerous and chaotic one, leading to the declaration of 24-hour curfew

by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. First, the notice for the curfew was less than four hours, as it was to start at 4pm that fateful Tuesday.

But later shifted till 9pm, ostensibly to allow Lagosians get home from their workplaces.

The chaos this caused in an already-charged atmosphere is better imagined than experienced.

But more than an hour before the nine o�clock hour deadline, the killer soldiers had come.

They came with their tools of trade: guns and hot leads. They wasted no time for protocol.

When the protesters saw the invading soldiers, they knew, they did not come as friends. They all broke into singing the Nigerian Anthem, as they raised their small flags, believing that would be a patriotic code enough to save them.

But not from this killer squad. The chant of the Nigerian anthem sounded like seditious martial music to them. They cocked their guns. A video recording showed one of the soldiers ordering the protesters to “just leave now in your own interest�, in a response to a female protester asking why they came. He had not repeated that statement up to three times, before the guns start blasting bullets, first into the skies, and then right into the midst of the protesters. Like flakes of Christmas light, the fire from the bullets lit up the dark skies. The protesters scampered.

Some had fallen and bleeding. Many had been mowed down. Many had been murdered. And the Nigerian flags were soaked with blood. A martial sacrilege! It was pogrom at dusk. A needless murder.

The youths had nothing but placards and Nigerian flags. But they were mowed down by bullets that were never available to kill the Boko Haram terrorists. And fair-minded Nigerians got broken. They wept. They wailed. They cursed all the cursables.

Till as I write this on Wednesday evening, we still do not know the casualty figures. Some have said over 17 bodies were counted. Some say even more.

But I chose to believe and declare, like late J.P Clark that we are all casualties. Yes, we are.

Those felled by the soldiers’ bullets are sons and daughter of a father like me. We are all casualties‌..

Why the Protest Lingered Many had thought that after the Lagos State government and the federal government listened to the demands of the #EndSARS protesters and promised to deal with their 5-point demand, so that the protesters will quit the streets. But it lingered for some reasons: one, there was the history of distrust. The people don’t trust government. They wanted immediate action to some of the demands before they can vacate the streets. Here was the same SARS that had been proscribed four times in three years. So how can the people trust government? The other reason to stay put on the streets was the annoying refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to address the nation on the issue. Progovernment publicists have argued that since Mr President had acceded to the demands of the protesters, what else is the point of addressing the nation? But hey, the people who elected you as the father of a nation say, address us, and you refuse? Indeed, did the President need to be nudged to address the nation in the face of the growing tension across the land? We have not forgotten how long it took him to address the nation when the Corona virus pandemic broke out early this year.

This address does not take anything away from the president. He’s got plenty of speechwriters. He’s got the medium, the recording of the address will be in the comfort of his room, it is free of charge, etc. So we do not understand the raw intransigence of Mr President. The entire senate and House of Reps passed a resolution asking him to address the nation. But it cut no ice. The people—the very givers/owners of your mandate say address us, and you say No. If only the president had addressed the nation on this matter, perhaps all these tragic consequences could have been averted. Now,

drew the ire of the headlines. Many cursed and swore. About four hours later, the governor tweeted to say he’s been informed of one death.

Really? Many believe the deaths were far more than one and reducing it to a hesitant one figure was rather callous and insensitive.

Destruction and Violence Rent the Air After the shootings and killings of Tuesday night, the floodgate of violence was opened.

Protests have spread to London, and many other foreign countries.

As at Wednesday evening so many public and private properties have been razed down, Men suspected to be hoodlums unleashed themselves on Lagos and wreaked immense havoc. Not even the royal awe of the Oba of Lagos Oba could deter the miscreants. Over a dozen police stations had been burnt, not forgetting toll gates at Lekki and Ikoyi entry points, NPA, TVC, VIO Yard, Nation Newspaper, High court Igbosere, Oriental Hotel, BRT Buses etc etc. Violence and destruction have continued to spread to other parts of Nigeria. No one knows how and when all these would end. Robbers seem to have been given a free ticket into town, with the police still in hiding? Sad!

Buhari

we have cut off our nose to spite our face.

Haba Mr President. What kind of unfatherly stubborness is that? Those who work closely with him explain that he reacts negatively to public clamour. In other words, he will never address the nation if that is what the whole world is clamouring for , just to prove that he is not weak, but has a mind of his own: very uncharacteristic of a politician. The President missed the moment to write his name in gold.

He chose to be an object of public opprobrium and international ridicule. Already Mrs Hillary Clintoof USA, UK parliament is about debating sanctions against the Buhari administrations.

Others include Rihanna, plus, the United Nations of the USA, have made scathing statements against the Buhari administration. NBA has vowed to sue the military. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Bishop Matthew, Professor Wole Soyinka, Hassan Kukah and many others have condemned the killings and called on Mr President to “act now before it is too late� No doubt, the condemnation is global. The dimension of the growing anger and destruction is not predictable. More are sure to follow. .

The Entry of Miscreants Politicians are curious set of people. They have been fingered in the infiltration of the ranks of the protesters by hoodlums. Here was a protest that had gone so peaceful for nearly two weeks with the youths singing and dancing all day, all night. Many of the musicians and other celebrities joined in the protests. They made no trouble. They ate and drank peacefully. They cleaned the streets where they protested. They donated their own monies to fete themselves.

They did not allow any �bigman� to hijack the movement. They stayed put chanting songs and waving their flags, banners and placards that was in demand of a better Nigeria. Who does not want a better Nigeria?

Then politicians reasoned that in other to discredit the peaceful and learned protesters, they should introduce miscreants into their midst who will wreak havoc and mayhem. We saw video clips of how big open trucks loaded with armed thugs from somewhere, got into Abuja .

They began to attack the protesters and damage private properties. Who mobilized them? Where did the mobilisation fees come from?

In Lagos. the miscreants had attacked and burnt Orile-Iganmu police station, killed a policeman and burnt another Police Station in Ajegunle which was the immediate precursor to the 24-hour curfew declared by Gov Sanwo-Olu. Earlier on Monday, there had been two jail breaks in Benin releasing nearly 2,000 inmates. It is instructive that the police and other security agencies for whom the protesters have also fought for, looked away while the hoodlums attacked the protesters. In some cases, the police protected the hoodlums,

not the protesters. It tells the story!

It was said each of the hoodlums was given N1,500, to cause the mayhem they unleashed.

Those were the evidences the bileful government needed, to justify the rolling in of the tanks.

And the killer soldiers were unleashed on the defenceless protesters.

Already, over 23 states have declared 24-hour curfew till further notice. Will it get to declaring National state of emergency? Time will tell in the next few days.

So, Who Deployed the Soldiers?

As at Wednesday evening the denial by the Nigerian Army that they were behind the killings at Lekki still subsisted. The soldiers were clearly in Nigerian army uniform. And an hour before they came, people believed to be security agents had come to demobilize the CCTV cameras at the tollgate, just as they also switched off the light, so they could be shielded by enough darkness when they start the killing spree. But we still could see them, including their faces. So how can the Nigerian Army say the soldiers were not their men? How? Who are those ‘zombie’ soldiers? Who gave them the order to kill innocent protesters?

Yet, in his Wednesday broadcast, Gov SanwoOlu admitted that the soldiers were behind the shootings. Hear him: “for clarity, it is imperative to explain that no sitting governor controls the rules of engagement of the military. I have nonetheless ordered an investigation into the rules of engagement adopted by the men of the Nigerian army that were deployed to the Lekki tollgate last night‌â€? So who is lying? Is it the Nigerian Army or Gov Sanwo-Olu? How is it that the Nigerian Army had the audacity to send soldiers against innocent children , but lack the courage to admit same? If it is not “a country of anything goesâ€?, heads ought to start rolling by now. But nay, it won’t happen! Sad! Was Gov Sanwo-Olu Economical with the Truth_?

Until that Wednesday broadcast, Gov SanwaoOlu had been the knight with shining armour among the protesters. He had been very cooperative, walking his talks. He had seemingly met all the demands of the protesters, :releasing names of police officers who brutalized protesters and ordered their trial, released N200million as compensation to victims of SARS brutality, visited families of killed victims, took the 5-point demand to meet Mr President; etc etc‌. He had rolled well with them all along, including even matching with them too. But last Wednesday broadcast became a spoiler.

He had claimed that there were no casualties contrary to social media reports. He only admitted that there were 13 injured persons whom he had visited in the various hospitals. It was a sore point. Many were enraged as that “lie�

The Way Forward There is no gainsaying that the Nigerian people are very placid and long-suffering. Government after government have been taking them for granted. That is why we have remained undeveloped and corruption-ridden. How can it be explained that in Nigeria of today, many university graduates are either riding Okada (commercial motor bikes) or driving commercial buses aka danfo all to eke a living? But this government promised three million jobs a year, in 2015. Where are the jobs? Ask them today, they will log on to drabby excuses that beg the question.

How do we explain that after the fisty fight to raise the minimum wage to N30,000, that same amount can no longer buy a bag of rice. Common bag of rice! Inflation is at unprecedented above 16 %. Living and surviving has become many times tougher than what it was five years ago. Five years of Buhari administration is now looking like 15 years in purgatory. That is why there is much hunger and anger in the land. How can a responsible government not know this and do something about it? Is that not why we all say the #EndSARS protest is just a metaphor to condemn the many ills in government? How can it be explained that we who are a beggarly nation , borrowing huge sums from other countries are the same people whose lawmakers earn the highest salaries in the world? What is the rationale for a Nigerian Senator earning more than President Donald Trump of America? Yet we still expect grants and aids from these countries! Are we not a funny people?

So what I think the government should immediately do is to one: * announce paycuts, especially of the lawmakers, because it is as ungodly as it is unreasonable. *Arrest and arraign all indicted brutal SARS members, especially that notorious Anambra OC SARS, James Nwafor . There have been too many evidences against some of these tyrants such that the trial should not enjoy the shenanigans of judicial race course. r "T TBJE FBSMJFS .S 1SFTJEFOU TIPVME TIBLF PGG his unhelpful policy and address his children.

He is the father of the nation. That would douse much tension in quick pace. r .POJFT CF NBEF BWBJMBCMF UP DPNQFOTBUF families of all the victims of SARS and police brutalities. Thankfully, House of Reps Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila has vowed not to “sign off� on the 2021 budgets, if it doesn’t contain compensation packages for victims of SARS brutalities. * Government and its officials must begin to treat the governed with respect and not continue in the flagrance and what-can-you-do mien, which they presently operate on. Only such a mindset would make a minister claim that the sum of N523,273,800 million was spent to feed school children during the lockdown. Such smelly lies!

Finally, President Mohammadu Buhari, if he is a true patriot and a good party man, he must put the interest of Nigeria first before any primordial sentiments that have largely defined his government. What he does or fails to do will determine the future and fate of his All Progressive Congress (APC) in the future. 2023 is not really far away.

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T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍąËœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

FG Urged to Tackle Youth Unemployment Obinna Chima The federal government has been advised to implement policies that would address the high level of youth unemployment in the country.

Nigeria’s unemployment rate as at the second quarter of 2020 was 27.1 per cent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

This meant that about 21.7 million Nigerians are presently unemployed.

As of the second quarter 2020, unemployment rate among young people (15-34years) was 34.9 per cent, higher than the 29.7 per cent it was as of the third quarter of 2018. Speaking in a chat with THISDAY, the Founder, Foundation for Economic Research and Training, Prof. Akpan Ekpo, said the social unrest in Lagos State and some other parts of the country was fuelled by the high level of youth unemployment. “I have been saying for years that our massive youth

unemployment is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.

When you have such a national crisis of unemployment, it is the government that can address it and not the private sector. “But the government has over the years been paying lip service to it. Now, it has exploded.

Destruction in one or two weeks can take more than a year to recover. It all goes to show bad governance,� Ekpo, who is a former Director General, West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), said.

The former member of the Monetary Policy Committee noted that if such social unrest was prolonged, it could hurt the inflow of foreign investment. “If this continues, foreign investors would not take us serious and this may discourage them from coming in. We carried on for days as if there is no leadership because the president of the country decided not to say anything,� he said.

On his part, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Economics, Pan-Atlantic University, Dr. Olalekan Aworinde, said the shooting of protesters was not a good indicator for potential foreign direct investors as well as foreign portfolio investors.

According to him, nobody wants to invest in an environment that is volatile. “This is about confidence. When people do not have confidence in country, it goes a long way to affect the level of investment and has negative impact on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country as time goes on,� Aworinde said.

He advised the government to, “make use of expansionary fiscal and monetary policy to address the rising unemployment.� “Government should increase its expenditure. The expenditure we are talking about here is not for white elephant projects, but expenditure to productive sectors and those that can bring about the desired returns.�

FG to Commence Compensation for Mambilla Power Host Communities Emmanuel Addeh Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The federal government is set to commence the payment of compensation to host communities in Taraba state, where the take-off of the long-awaited Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project is be located.

Speaking during the official kick-off of the sensitisation of the host communities on government’s payment plan, the Minister of Power, Mr. Sale Mamman, conveyed government apologies and said the compensation for landowners was delayed by the covid-19 pandemic.

Mamman stressed that part of reasons for the meeting was to disseminate the desired information and galvanise their support as the federal government moves to the project implementation stage.

According to him, the next step

would encompass the survey and enumeration for compensation after the constitution of the InterMinisterial Steering Committee (IMSC) and the Project Delivery Committee (PDC) on the project

by President Muhammadu Buhari, in January this year.

He said the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Taraba state government, before now, was to enhance project coordination and to facilitate acquiring land titles for the project sites.

Mamman added that the land and aerial surveys of the project site, development of a comprehensive project implementation manual (PIM), a comprehensive local content promotion strategy and gathering of 50-year hydrological data of the Mambilla Plateau, had also been carried out.

The minister also stated that the government had identified new ways of resolving the lingering arbitration on the project and reviewing of the project to ensure its bankability as required by the lenders to ensure that the project will offer the cheapest electricity tariffs to the market.

Apart from the developments on the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, Mamman assured that the Regional National Power Training Centre in Gembu will be in full swing very soon as modalities for its take-off is completed. “This is a strategic manpower development initiative to adequately prepare the people of Mambilla Plateau in particular and the state in general to drive maximum benefits on the hydropower project by getting the professional skills required in different components of the project.

Buhari

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS 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)

To mark the International Day of the Girl, The Healthy African Girl (THAG) Foundation recently organised its premier awards ceremony for its flagship advocacy project called, Give the Girl a Voice Advocacy Competition.

The advocacy programme was designed to amplify the voices of adolescent girls as they advocate for girl empowerment as a tool to help young girls make better choices and ultimately lead healthier lives. According to a statement from the organisers, adolescent girls between the ages of 10 to 17 years, sent creative advocacy pitches to show that the girl child empowerment was

critical towards sustainable development. “The top ten submissions were from Princewill, Owakamare; Ogunleye, Tiwaloluwa; Ugwunze, Kenechukwu; Chidebelu, Chinechelum; Adama, Beulah; Abara, Grace; Okewulonu, Nkechinyere; Abdlabul, Gabriella; Orakwe, Chizitelu and Abiri, Toluwalase. “These top ten were from Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja, Chrisland High School Abuja, Notre Dame Girls Academy, Kuje and British Nigerian Academy Abuja. “Kenechukwu Ugwunze, a student of Chrisland High School Abuja emerged as the third best; Ogunleye, Tiwaloluwa from Loyola

Jesuit College clinched the second position and Princewill, Owakamare from Loyola Jesuit College emerged as the overall winner in the competition. “The girls submitted creative pieces that highlighted the challenges young girls in Sub-Saharan Africa face and recommended possible solutions. In her poem, Ugwunze, who clinched the third position, extolled the virtues of the girl-child and implored that the Girl-Child Right Act be enforced,� it explained.

The winners were said to have received plaques and a 12-week internship opportunity with THAG Foundation on advocacy with focus on gender equity and adolescent health.

CIBN Postpones Investiture Programme The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has suspended its 2020 fellowship investiture ceremony earlier scheduled to hold in Lagos tomorrow.

According to a statement

signed by its Head, Corporate Communication and External Relations, Mr. Nelson Olagundoye, the Investiture ceremony and other activities of the institute were suspended due to the recent developments in the country.

The statement also indicated that new dates would be announced as soon as the situation is auspicious, “while the institute regrets any inconvenience the postponement might cause its numerous stakeholders.�

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

Foundation Organises ‘Give the Girl a Voice’Awards Oluchi Chibuzor

(MILLION NAIRA)

JULY 2020

Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month Inter-Bank Call Rate

March 2018 15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ Í°ÍŻ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $40.88 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $41.04 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 Í°ÍąËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

Guinness Nigeria Assures Shareholders of Return to Profitability Goddy Egene The Chairman of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Babatunde Savage, has assured shareholders and other stakeholders that efforts are being made to ensure the company returns to profitability after Covid19-induced disruptions caused an adverse decline in revenue for the year ended June 30, 2020. The brewer had recorded a loss of N12.9 billion in 2020 as against a profit of

N5.5 billion in 2019.

Speaking at the 70th AGM, Savage said year 2020 was a very challenging year not only for the company but for the manufacturing sector at large. “But as a forward-looking company, we were still able to minimize our risk exposures and maintain a sustainable performance on all our alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages portfolio. Guinness Nigeria has always remained

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

resolute with our comprehensive and robust strategy by making rightful investments of shareholders’ funds but our profit was impacted by a number of one-off accounting adjustments totaling N17.2b, as well as volume declines due to the prevailing economic and COVID-19 impacted conditions,� he said.

According to him, the task before the company in the new financial year is to

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

drive its strategic objectives to bring the company back into profitability.

Savage affirmed that despite predictions that the coming year is forecast to be challenging globally due to the new normal, “we believe we have experienced our full share of the impact and are now geared to go back to profitability.�

Also speaking, the Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Baker Magunda

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

expressed his confidence in the company’s outlook for 2021 emphasising that some key strategic decisions of the company during the Covid-19 pandemic assures of a real and forward-driven return to stabilized operations.

Despite the fact that demand was also gravely impacted by reduced consumer income, unemployment concerns due to the shutdown of a large number of businesses, and

O F

increases of value added tax (VAT) and excise throughout the year, Magunda assured that the company’s reaction to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 lockdown in fourth quarter (Q4) was centered around reducing risk to the business by focusing on cash delivery, reducing distributor inventories, and fast-tracking the ongoing distribution transformation project for efficient sales operations.

2 2 / 1 0 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

34

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Sovereign Trust Insurance Postpones AGM Goddy Egene Sovereign Trust Insurance

Plc has postponed its annual general meeting (AGM) earlier scheduled to

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

have held yesterday. The underwriting firm said the postponement of the AGM

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 21Oct-2020, unless otherwise stated.

became inevitable due to the curfew imposed by the Lagos State Government in response

to the prevailing security situation in the state. It said a new date would be announced,

while apologising for any inconveniences arising from this postponement.

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 N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.22% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.65 3.77 49.08% 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 1.08% Anchoria Equity Fund 112.74 113.14 9.59% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.42 1.42 19.72% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 15.99 16.47 4.40% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 366.72 377.78 6.16% ARM Ethical Fund 31.69 32.65 8.97% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.16 1.17 16.37% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.12 1.13 12.56% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.80% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 108.29 109.06 12.71% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.22% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.81% Paramount Equity Fund 13.45 13.71 7.52% Women's Investment Fund 121.13 122.34 9.77% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 N/A N/A Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) N/A N/A 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 2.67% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.07 1.08 15.05% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.72 1.72 29.32% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Halal Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.42% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional N/A N/A N/A FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail N/A N/A N/A FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 127.71 129.70 -1.86% 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 2.59% Legacy Debt Fund 3.84 3.84 5.09% Legacy Equity Fund 1.30 1.32 14.59% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.13 1.13 4.08% 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 3,352.79 3,388.49 10.21% Coral Income Fund 3,210.34 3,210.34 4.37% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 3.46% 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 2.96% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 122.77 123.30 14.70%

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 2.50% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.37 2.42 8.28% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 5.97% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 152.64 153.45 6.51% 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 1,126.87 1,126.87 8.46% 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 1.47 1.50 19.91% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.76 11.84 4.60% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 3.16% PACAM Equity Fund 1.14 1.15 PACAM EuroBond Fund 107.84 110.51 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 123.08 125.00 0.54% 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 14.50% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 5.71% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 11.67% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 6.59% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 15.12% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.79% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 4.98% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.21 1.21 4.49% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 110.06 110.06 5.61% 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 N/A N/A N/A United Capital Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Wealth for Women Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 11.08 11.21 7.79% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.31 12.42 5.89% Zenith Income Fund 24.87 24.87 9.48% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.04%

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

9.45 98.34 74.74

9.55 100.46 76.11

13.11% 4.11% -0.52%

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

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

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.

35

FRIDAY 0CT0BER 23, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Northern Christians Condemn Killing of Protesters John Shiklam in Kaduna The Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) has condemned the killings of peaceful protesters at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos State, and some parts of the country.

The forum, therefore, asked President Muhammadu Buhari

to, as a father of the nation, tender a public apology to the Nigerian youths.

In a statement issued yesterday in Kaduna, Chairman of NOSCEF, Mr. Ejoga Inalegwu, urged the president to ensure that those behind the killings are brought to justice.

NOSCEF further condemned

Hoodlums Harassing Doctors in Ekiti, NMA Cries out Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ekiti State chapter, has raised the concern over alleged harassment of its members by hoodlums who have hijacked the #EndSARS protest in the state.

The NMA said the harassment has been preventing the doctors from getting to health facilities to perform their duties under the tension-soaked period.

The NMA in a statement issued by its Chairman, Dr. Ebenezer Ariyibi, yesterday condemned the unwarranted and senseless use of force and live ammunition on unarmed and peaceful #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos last Tuesday, which resulted in casualties.

“It should be noted that doctors and other healthcare workers in Ekiti State were prevented from getting to their place of work to cater for those on admission, in critical state and even injured victims, during the protests in the state. This is a condemnable act by all those responsible for such despite showing proper identification documents “We are ready to care for all

injured victims either related or unrelated to the protests. We hereby call for easy passage of our members and other essential workers as they go about their businesses of caring for the sick and injured,” he said.

NMA further added: “We would like to put on record that the governments at all levels need to engage responsibly on the issues, and address the plights of the protesters other than the use of force and life ammunition.

This is contrary to our constitution and international human rights law. The primary purpose of the government is the protection of lives and property of the citizens.

“We recognise and are in total support of the inalienable rights of citizens to embark on peaceful protests to demand for an end to police brutality, corruption, massive unemployment, restiveness and all forms of insecurity.

“We join in the call for better governance, healthcare and reform in all facets of our national life and economy. We call on the government to protect the rights of the citizens, while protesters should also remain nonviolent.”

South-east Journalists Condemn Attacks on Media Houses in Lagos IZUNWANNE, a body of senior journalists of South-east origin, yesterday condemned in the strongest terms the Wednesday’s attacks on media houses - The Nation newspaper, Television Continental (TVC), and Channels Television in Lagos on Wednesday.

The group also condemned the destruction of lives across the nation, since the beginning of the #EndSARS protest.

It expressed worry that the attacks could lead to heavy loss of jobs and financial investments at a time of severe economic headwinds in the country.

The journalists said in a statement that the incidents would also constrict the media space and freedom of expression.

“We stand in firm solidarity with our colleagues in the media houses that have suffered these attacks, while calling for immediate stop of such evil acts.

“IZUNWANNE expresses the suspicion that such evil attacks could be an attempt to muzzle the media, attack the freedom of the press and diminish the right of individuals and groups to freedom of association and the right to establish organs for free expression.

“The 1999 Nigerian constitution provides the legal cover for the functioning of the press in Nigeria.

It charges the press to play a watchdog role in the society.

“Section 11, chapter 2, subsection 22 stipulates that “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people.”

“Divergence of views and perspectives on politics or social issues does not give anyone the right or freedom to destroy media organs or public and private properties.

“The Constitution again protects the rights to own media.

“Beyond the media, IZUNWANNE is visibly disturbed by the attacks on cities in southern Nigeria.

The group noted that from Lagos, the attacks have spread to Aba, Abakaliki, Enugu, Owerri, Calabar, Benin, Asaba, Port Harcourt, Orlu.

“It has included setting fire to public infrastructure, such as police stations, Local government council buildings, government commercial enterprises, roads, as well as privately owned establishments such as banks, hotels, and breaking of prisons and other public facilities”.

what it described as “the obvious act of sponsoring armed thugs” to attack peaceful protesters in order to trigger violence.

Inalegwu said as the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Buhari must openly deal with the perpetrators of the killings without any cover up.

He appealed to the youths to be calm as Nigerians await the response of the president to deal with everyone that participated directly or is remotely connected

with the genocidal and brutal killings.

The statement read: “Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) condemns the killing of innocent, unarmed youths on a peaceful protest at the Lekki area of Lagos State by the Nigerian army, after switching off the lights and CCTV cameras in the killing scene, as well as other killings across the country.

“We also condemn the obvious act of sponsoring armed thugs to attack the peaceful youth protesters in order to trigger violence and

thereby justify a violent crackdown on protesters.

“NOSCEF calls on the President Buhari to be humble and patriotic, and openly apologise to the Nigerian youths.

“In addition, as CommanderIn-Chief of The Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, under whom the military and police personnel involved in the massacre of these innocent youths carrying the national flag and singing the national anthem, the president must openly deal with the perpetuators of the killings across the country,

without any cover up.

“NOSCEF notes that the demands of the youths for an end to brutality by the police and other government security forces as well as ensure good governance are legitimate and express the heartbeat of all patriotic Nigerians.

“The now violent reaction of the youths are the expression of their pains, anguish and frustration after helplessly watching their innocent colleagues murdered and their blood shed on the streets by agents of the government who are paid to protect them.”

ACTION TIME…

Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, declaring curfew to curb the spread of violence in Asaba...yesterday

Presidential Aide: Media Support Crucial for Success of SDGs Iyobosa UwugiareninAbuja The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope- Adefulire, has solicited the support of the media for the success of the 2030 Agenda in Nigeria, especially with the outset of the ‘Decade of Global Goals’.

The presidential aide, who stated this at a strategic retreat for journalists and media organisation in Abuja yesterday, said the support of the media is pertinent because by their training, journalists have the capacity to engage actively with the public and private sectors towards the achievement of the SDGs in Nigeria.

While noting that the SDGs-17 are a universal call to end poverty, safeguard the planet and ensure

that all the people enjoy peace and prosperity by the year 2030, Orelope-Adefulire argued that SDGs-16, which aimed to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels, succinctly captures the strategic roles of journalists.

She noted that specifically, Target-10 provides that countries should ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.

The presidential aide, therefore, urged journalists to see themselves as part of a larger team committed to the transformative promise of SDGs to lift humanity and ‘leave

no one behind’.

She added that journalists, despite the challenges confronting the country, have made progress since President Muhammadu Buhari joined other World Leaders during the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2015 to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The presidential aide noted that the federal government, the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory have established institutional mechanisms for the implementation of the 2030Agenda, which she noted envision the present and future that is economically sustainable, social inclusive and environmentally resilient.

She also said working with the subnational governments, other stakeholders as well as its local and

foreign partners, OSSAP-SDGs has established framework, processes and strategic initiatives designed to aid the success of the 2030 Agenda in Nigeria.

The aide informed journalists that OSSAP-SDGs has started the design and implementation of the Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs) for the SDGs and presented Nigeria’s second Voluntary National Review (VNR) to the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development in July 2020.

While reiterating her commitment to the successful implementation of the SDGs Nigeria, the ‘Decade of Action’ for the Global Goals, she noted that though there are challenges, they are not insurmountable if all Nigerians work together.

Kogi Inter-Religious Council Condemns Attacks on Worship Centres Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja The Kogi State Inter-Religious Council (KOSIREC) yesterday condemned attacks on worship centres and people embarking on prayer walks or exercises for peace in the state and the country at large.

The condemnation came on the heel of the attack by suspected hoodlums on the peaceful prayer walk last Monday in Anyigba, Dekina Local Government Area of the state.

The prayer walk was led by Bishop David Sanda of Love Oasis

Church in Anyigba, Pastor Silas Edogbo, and other clerics.

The Christians on prayer walk were accosted by policemen and political thugs, who demanded that they confine their prayers to the church.

In a statement jointly signed by the state Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. John Ibenu, a co-chairman of KOSIREC; and the Chairman of Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI), also a Co-Chairman KOSIREC, Usman Bello, and read at a press conference in Lokoja, the group also supported the position of the

Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) on the unfortunate current situations in Nigeria.

The Kogi State Inter-Religious group also expressed their support for the legitimate agitations of the Nigerian youths especially with #EndSARS protesters. ‘’KOSIREC supports, identifies with and stands with all the legitimate agitations of the youths of the country, especially with #EndSARS protesters. ‘’KOSIREC also identifies endemic and systemic problems of unemployment, injustice, corruption and closure of schools

as aggravators of the protests across the country. ‘’We condemn the use of force and live ammunition to suppress protests in any part of the country. ‘’KOSIREC condemns any and every attack on worship centres or people embarking on prayer walks or exercises for peace in the state and nation. ‘’We condemn all forms of destruction of public or private properties by hoodlums who hijacked the #ENDSARS protest. ‘’We cannot afford to destroy infrastructures as it is a collective loss to all,” the statement read.

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Protests: Hold Users of Excessive Force Accountable, US Tells FG Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The United States has strongly condemned the use of excessive force by the military authorities against unarmed demonstrators in the ongoing EndSARS protests.

The US Secretary of State, Mr. Michael Pompeo, in a statement issued yesterday, asked the federal government to hold those responsible accountable.

He said the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are essential human rights and core democratic principle.

Pompeo, therefore, admonished the security services to show maximum restraint and respect fundamental rights.

He also enjoined the demonstrators to remain peaceful.

The statement titled, ‘Ongoing protests in Nigeria’, read in part, “we welcome an immediate investigation into any use of excessive force by members of the security forces. Those involved

should be held to account in accordance with Nigerian law.

“The right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are essential human rights and core democratic principles.

“We call on the security services to show maximum restraint and respect fundamental rights and for demonstrators to remain peaceful. We extend our condolences to the victims of the violence and their families.”

Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC), said it has received reports of crimes during the protests in Nigeria.

ICC Prosecutor, Ms. Fatou Bensouda, made this known in a statement posted on the Twitter handle of the organisation.

She noted that the court is monitoring developments from the protests in Nigeria.

“My office has been closely following the events around the current protests in Nigeria and the reaction of Nigeria’s

Doguwa: Legislature Receives Only 1% of National Budget * Asks CSOs, media to correct narrative Udora Orizu in Abuja The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, has stated that not more than one percent of the Nigeria’s annual budget goes to the National Assembly and all its agencies.

Doguwa, who disclosed this while addressing the board of Civil Society and Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), which paid him a working visit in his office yesterday, said the erroneous narrative about the salaries and allowances of members of the legislature is worrisome, and should be corrected.

He said out of the N128 billion allocated to the National Assembly

in the 2021 budget, just a little of it goes into salaries and allowances of the lawmakers, as there are other agencies and bureaucracies within the National Assembly.

According to him, “Out of this N128 billion allocated to the National Assembly, you have the central management, the House and Senate managements, the National Assembly Service Commission, the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), and the National Assembly Budget and Research Office (NABRO), which all take from this money. Just as we need you to supervise and check what we do, also try to help us correct this negative and wrong narrative to the public.’’

Ondo PDP Accuses APC of Destroying Party’s Secretariat James Sowole in Akure The Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the state All Progressives Congress (APC) incited the burning of its (PDP) secretariat in order to destroy documents that the party may use at the tribunal to challenge the declaration of the ruling party candidate as the winner of the October 10 governorship election.

The state Chairman of the PDP, Hon Fatai Adams, alleged this yesterday at a news conference over the burning of the party secretariat last Tuesday.

Adams alleged that the APC incited those who burnt the PDP Secretariat, “when it (APC) wrongly accused the opposition party of burning the secretariat of the ruling party.”

The state secretariats of the two main political parties were allegedly razed last Tuesday by #EndSARS protesters, who also attacked the private residence

of the APC state Chairman, Mr. Ade Adetimehin.

However, Adams said the PDP was wrongly accused by the APC, which he accused of politicising every issue, including the ongoing protests.

According to him, “You all know that our youths are currently protesting against police brutality and other inadequacies of the APC-led government in Nigeria for the past 14 days or more.

“These youths have hitherto conducted themselves in peaceful manner. But in a dramatic turn of events, hoodlums took undue advantage of the protests.

“This perhaps triggered their resolve to enter into the APC party secretariat on Oyemekun Road in Akure, packed out and set ablaze all the COVID-19 palliatives meant to cushion the effect of the pandemic on the masses but which were not shared for the targeted people as at the time of need.

law enforcement and security agencies,” she said.

“Any loss of life and injury

is concerning. We have received information alleging crimes and are keeping a close eye on

developments, in case violence escalates and any indications arise that Rome Statute crimes

may have been committed.

“I call for calm and restraint.”

DEFYING THE CURFEW…

Commercial motorcyclists waiting for passengers at Abule-Egba junction along Agege road in Lagos… yesterday

Christian, Muslim Youths Sue for Dialogue, Peace Sharia council seek justice for victims Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Christian and Muslim youths in Nigeria under the umbrella of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) has urged aggrieved Nigerian youths to end their protest and embrace dialogue as a means to resolve the current crisis in the country.

They equally urged the federal government to be fair and transparent in dealing with the

demands made by the youths and hasten responses to their demands in order to assuage and calm frayed nerves.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, the president of the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisation, Sani Suleiman, said they are saddened by the avoidable violence that led to injuries, loss of lives and property.

“We, therefore, urge the government to investigate all

allegations of brutality and injustice in Nigeria and ensure that those found guilty are brought to justice and their victims adequately compensated,” he said.

Suleiman, who was flanked by his Christian counterpart, President of the Youth Wing of CAN, Apostle Andy Nyeneime, said the violence could have been averted if the peaceful protest was not allowed to degenerate and hijacked by hoodlums to disrupt

the process that was otherwise peaceful across some states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In the same vein, the Supreme Council for Sharia (SCSN), which said it had been following the protest since it began, urged all state governments to take measures on the ongoing protest and ensure that justice is done in respect of those behind the attacks on innocent citizens.

FCTA to Compensate Victims of Protests Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Federal Capital Territory Administration(FCTA) has offered to compensate traders and locals whose property and means of livelihood were affected by the violence that escalated during the #EndSARS protests in Abuja.

The FCT Minister, Mohammed Musa Bello, made the offer yesterday when he visited some of the affected communities at Apo-Kabusa, Apo-Mechanic, Pigba, Dutse Alhaji and Dutse Makaranta to commiserate with them and access the scale of destruction triggered by demonstration

against police brutality and violation of human rights.

He said a committee has also been set up to assess the damages, and that they would work towards ensuring compensation for the victims.

The minister added that the leadership of the affected communities would be invited

to be part of the committee to enable an audit of what was destroyed and how it can be replaced.

Bello appealed to the victims of the protest to eschew disharmony and agree that no matter the scale of provocation, they would not allow outsiders to cause provocation.

DFID, Katsina Sponsor 3,735 Vulnerable Girls for NCE Programmes Francis Sardauna in Katsina The United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) in collaboration with the Katsina State Government has sponsored 3,735 vulnerable girls to acquire the National Certificate of Education (NCE) programme with N188 million

in the state.

The Special Adviser to the state Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, on Girl-child Education and Child Development, Mrs. Amina Dauda, revealed this to journalists yesterday while unveiling the state government’s scorecard under her department.

She explained that the rural

girls were sponsored under the Female Teacher Trainee Scholarship Scheme (FTTSS) programme, the component of Girls Education Project (GEP), driven by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Dauda reiterated that the beneficiaries of the programme were drawn from the 34 local government areas of the state, saying each qualified

beneficiary received the sum of N50,000 annually to boost their education.

According to her, “The programme enrolled 3,735 young girls from rural poor families to pursue NCE programme at Isah Kaita College of Education, Dutsinma, and on graduation, to return to their respective communities.

Youth Group Demands Justice for Victims of Lekki Shootings Following Tuesday’s shootings of protesters by security operatives at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos State, Stakeholders of Nigerian Youths (SONY) has called on the federal government to show leadership and good faith by fishing out those responsible for the shooting of peaceful protesters which left many people injured and a yet-

to-be confirmed number of deaths The group also called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu to immediately investigate the activities of hoodlums and their sponsors, to ensure they are brought to book.

Convener of the group, Mr. Ikechukwu Obinna, who made the call at a press conference in

Abuja yesterday, lamented that the huge economic investments are up in smoke which the common masses bear all the brunt.

Obinna who appealed to protesters to use dialogue approach with the government by giving them ultimatum and timelines to meet the five-point demands, said the group would consult widely with traditional

institutions, religious leaders and youth leaders to ensure that the youths are never again neglected.

“Let’s avoid more deaths from the hoodlums and enemies of our future, let’s avoid the destruction of properties and unnecessary loss of life and valuables, because evil people abound and will like to see us go the way of Libya and Syria.

FRIDAY 0CT0BER 23, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

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WORLD OF ISLAM World Bank Projects Oil Price 24 HOURS...

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Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

Humanity, Religion, & Peace: of $44 in 2021 Finding Common Ground -2 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Mufti Shuaibullah Khan/ilmgate (continued from last week) Terrorism is violence committed against non-military targets to attain certain political objectives. For this reason, terrorism means making innocent people victims of acts of violence without any provocation or moral justification. Among the victims, there could be those people who do not approve and condone the acts of injustice done by their respective governments, and making them the targets of any act of violence goes against all norms of civilized behavior. The criminals who carry out these acts are guilty of spreading mischief and violence on this earth irrespective of their religious labels. The Holy Qur’an, which is a universal book revealed to all of mankind acts as a guide for human beings, leading them to the true path that leads a person to win the pleasure and approval of Allah by our good deeds. In His book, Allah commands all human beings and Muslims to adopt good morals. This morality should be based upon positive concepts such as love, compassion, tolerance, harmony, and mercy to those from other religions. Islam is a religion revealed to mankind with the purpose of constructing a peaceful and harmonious life.

The values set by the Holy Qur’an hold a Muslim responsible for the way he treats all people whether they are Muslim or nonMuslim. Additionally the Qur’an absolutely forbids every Muslim from committing any act of mischief and misconduct, which comprises all forms of anarchy, chaos, and terror that threaten the security, comfort, and peace of their surroundings. The Holy Qur’an clearly states, “Allah does not love corruption.”

(Qur’an 2:205) Wickedness in all forms has been plainly condemned in unambiguous terms, and Allah has commanded all human beings and Muslims to avoid committing all kinds of evils: murder, bloodshed, oppression, and cruelty amongst themselves and upon others.

In the present age when acts of terrorism, genocide, and massacres occur all over the world and where innocent people are being savagely killed; and countries which are unsafe, ought to be made secure and safe by upholding the morality preached by the Holy Qur’an. For a Muslim who fears Allah, believes in the Last Day, and has grasped the true morality of Islam, it is impossible to support violence or terror or to take part in such actions in a direct or an indirect manner. And that is why the religion of Islam is the true solution against the acts of terrorism that are practiced by people on one another.

When the magnificent morality of the Qur’an is explained to people in its precise form – in the language in which the Holy Qur’an was revealed along with its translations – then it will be impossible for people to connect the message of true Islam with those who support or join extremist groups that aim at spreading hatred amongst people and aim for chaos to reign in the place of peace and harmony on those people co-existing together in a society.

The first thing that needs to be done to rid the world of the present day insecurity that exists among people and root out terrorism in all its forms, wherever it is practiced on this earth, is to educate people on the teachings in the Holy Qur’an in order to do away with deviant beliefs that are put forward in the name of religion and to teach people the true Qur’anic morality that should be practiced by all believing Muslims, and acquaint them with the basic Islamic principles.

Every Muslim should strive to bring good to their surroundings for a Muslim is he who abides by the commands of Allah, tries scrupulously to live by Qur’anic morality, peace, and harmony which makes the world a more beautiful place than what it was before and leads it on the path to betterment and progress, and not to work towards destructive

ends. His aim should be to lead people to beauty, goodness, and well-being based upon the principles which are taught in the Holy Qur’an and he should strive to do his utmost to reach out to those members of the non-Muslim community and acquaint them with the basic tenets of Islam and its lofty teachings. The following steps should be taken to establish peace in the world: The world community must take the opportunity to [lessen] the widening gap – increasing by the day between Muslims and non-Muslims – and find common grounds where there can be a free exchange of thoughts between the members of different communities and attempt to bridge the gulf by trying to find common grounds between the followers of different religions. They should attempt to study the religious books and history of other nations to find out the best examples from them through which people can learn to live with one another setting aside their differences and peacefully interchange with each other their views, learning from one another the fears and apprehensions that divide them, and shed away all prejudices once it becomes clear that there is a lot of room left in the world for people to happily co-exist with one another while respecting all those beliefs found in the various religious doctrines of the world by gathering the word of God – His Universal Message – that is still extant among the other religious doctrines of the world.

The presentation of true Islamic faith must become widespread among Muslims who should consider themselves duty-bound to present to the non-Muslims the message of Islam in a positive light in order to get rid of the myths, the age-old beliefs, prejudices, and hatred that is nursed in the hearts of people by pseudo-intellectuals and the selfstyled experts of the Holy Qur’an. The basic Qur’anic teachings should be preached in such a way that they should see them as a lasting solution to many of the problems plaguing the world community in areas of human rights, high morality, spirituality, and social justice.

Every Muslim should strive to lead his life in action on the teachings preached by the Holy Qur’an, and as it was demonstrated to them during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBOH) – the last Messenger of Allah and the Benefactor of the entire humanity – and painstakingly documented by other Muslims to the last detail in the numerous books of Hadith and the S rah (biographies) written on his life by leading Islamic scholars of the past and the present days.

Islamic education should be made a part of every school curriculum and efforts must be made towards educating the world community at large about the basic tenets of the religion of Islam.

Bigotry and prejudice must be removed from the minds of all communities after attempting to find common grounds which the final religion of Allah – Islam – shares with other religious doctrines and it should be taught that peace and stability among different civilizations may be attained only through living by the good values that Islam shares with the other religions of the world.

It should be attempted to convey the beautiful teachings of Islamic religion to the whole mankind. Every Muslim should try to disseminate the true teachings of Islam to all non-Muslim friends and colleagues and present before them the true face of Islam, and they will be surprised to find that they [share many common grounds…].

All these solutions [are in hopes] that people will grasp Islamic values and be able to rid themselves of any prejudices they hold against Islam. Thus people will truly acknowledge that the dissemination of Islamic values is an excellent way of attaining the much sought-after world peace.

Concluded

The World Bank has said that oil prices won’t be rising much next year either, but would average $44 per barrel, saying that prices will not recover to pre-pandemic levels at least until 2022.

In its semi-annual Commodity Markets Outlook report released yesterday, the bank said it expects oil to average $44 per barrel next year, slightly up from an expected average of $41 a barrel this year.

The Federal Executive Council in Nigeria recently approved a $40 oil benchmark for the 2021 budget, and also FX target of N379/$ for the budget which has been presented before the national assembly.

It added that the projected 2021 average will still be significantly lower than the 2019 average oil price level of $61 a barrel.

“Oil prices are expected to average $44bbl in 2021, a slight increase from a projected $41bbl in 2020,but still significantly lower than their 2019 level of $61bbl.

“The forecast is slightly above the April projections , primarily reflecting a somewhat improved global growth outlook as well as stronger than expected supply response,” the World Bank stated.

“Notwithstanding steep production cuts, the recovery in oil prices has stalled recently amid concerns about renewed Covid-19 infections and their impact on oil consumption,” the bank added in the report.

According to the World Bank, next year, oil demand in almost all countries will still be lower than in 2019, except in China, and as a result, oil prices will

not move much higher than today’s levels in the low $40s.

“High levels of inventories are expected to continue to unwind over the forecast, and will keep oil prices below $50 until 2022,” the World Bank said.

In addition, it stated that OPEC+ countries have significant levels of spare production capacity, which further reduces the likelihood of sharply higher prices in the near term.

Natural gas prices, however, are seen rising in 2021 as consumption recovers in line with the global economy, according to the bank.

Like many other forecasters, the World Bank sees the risks for oil skewed to the downside.

For demand, the pandemic is the biggest risk, while the return of Libyan production is a risk to oil prices on the supply side.

Overhaul Govt Machinery, PGF DG Tells Buhari Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Director General of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), Dr. Salihu Lukeman has urged the President Muhammadu Buhari to overhaul the machinery of his administration to restore peace in the country.

Lukeman said this in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, which was titled “Save Nigeria for APC to Command Moral and Electoral Credibility, a Wakeup Call to all our Leaders”.

According to him, a period of crisis is always the test of leadership, stressing that the fact that Nigeria is in a crisis was not in dispute because it was already consuming precious lives of Nigerians.

He also noted that property and

assets of citizens and government were being destroyed.

Lukeman however, said, “unfortunately, responses from our political leaders especially at federal level are below public expectation..”

He said “If all the agencies of government and political appointees managing these agencies have handled their responsibilities as is expected, this crisis would have been averted.

“In fact, the pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari’s direct intervention will not have been the case. The crisis produced by the #EndSARS protest highlight the need for the President to urgently take steps to overhaul the machinery of government if our democracy and our government is to be able

to meet the expectation of citizens.

“It is the constitutional prerogative of the President to determine the best strategy and the details of governmental reforms aimed at overhauling the machinery of government to make them more effective in responding to the democratic needs of Nigerians.“ The PGF DG also said it was important for the Buhari and Nigerian leaders especially those in the All Progressives Congress (APC) to set aside their differences and rise up to the occasion and hasten intervention through appropriate civic engagement across every part of the country to ensure restoration of peace in the country.

Real Estate Firm Decries Attacks on Facilities in Lagos, Abuja A real estate firm, Novare Real Estate Africa Limited, has lamented the level of attacks on its facilities at Novare Lekki Mall, Lagos, Gateway Mall, Abuja, Apo Mall, Abuja, and Novare Central, Wuse, Abuja during the #EndSARS protests across the country.

It said devastations have enormous economic impacts

CHANGE OF NAME I, Formally known and Addressed as EYO JOHN SYLVESTER, Now wish to be known and addressed as JOHN SYLVESTER OKON. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formally known and addressed as WILLIAM OWEN, now wish to be known and addressed as WILLIAM OWEN OJOKO. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should take note.

I, formally known and addressed as OBIDINMA IFEYINWA MARY, now wish to be known and addressed as NWALUNOR IFEYINWA MARY. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

on private Nigerian citizens, the tenants, the Nigerian staff working in the various shops, the pensioners whose monthly pension contribution was used to build the mall and other stakeholders. In a statement last night, the company noted that the attacks on the malls devastated Nigerian businesses and livelihoods as the shops themselves were owned and run by Nigerians.

The organisation called for all forms of restraints as all attacks on the mall are counterproductive.

It equally sympathised with all who have lost loved ones and properties, adding that the loss of lives calls for sober reflections on the broader issues Nigeria faces as a nation.

“Novare employs well over 5,000 Nigerians through direct and indirect employment with the intention of supporting and expanding Nigerian retail businesses while enhancing the livelihood of the local communities and small businesses and shop owners.

“In line with this sublime intention, Novare has remained in the forefront of supporting Nigerian businesses and during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic

was the only retail mall to grant the tenants four months’ rent-free period to support their business and ensure they do not sink under the pandemic, and that jobs are preserved. It also made significant donations of food and personal protective equipment during these trying times.

“The recent attack on our facility has an enormous economic impact on private Nigerian citizens, the tenants, the Nigerian staff working in the various shops, the pensioners whose monthly pension contribution was used to build the mall and other stakeholders.

“An attack on the mall devastates Nigerian businesses and livelihoods as the shops themselves are owned and run by Nigerians.

We sincerely plead for all forms of restraint as all attacks on the mall are counterproductive.

“Novare sympathises with all who have lost loved ones and properties. The loss of lives calls for sober reflections on the broader issues we face as a nation.

“Our hearts remain with the bereaved families over their loss while we continue to pray for a peaceful resolution of the various problems while observing the rule of law,” the firm concluded.

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FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Super Eagles Drop Three Steps in Latest FIFA Ranking Duro Ikhazuagbe Super Eagles’ lacklustre performances in the two international friendly games with African champions Algeria and Tunisia have resulted in the Nigerian senior national team tumbling down three

steps to the 32nd position in the October ranking released

by FIFA yesterday. Eagles were 29th last month.

The three-time AFCON winners also dropped from the third spot in the September ranking to fourth in the continental grading.

Interestingly, the Riyadh Mahrez led Algerians who

NFF Inducts Newly Appointed National Team Coaches The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has inducted recently appointed coaches of the various National Teams.

The event, which held at the Sunday Dankaro House headquarters of the football –ruling body, saw the coaches taken through important sessions that will aid them during their time on the job.

In his remark, the NFF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, charged the newly appointed coaches to be of good behaviour and give their best whilst serving the nation. He also enjoined them to ensure they maintain a good working relationship with the secretariat.

“Each and everyone here was appointed on merit and the Federation will ensure you get maximum support to succeed in your jobs. There is the need to prepare hard and in quick time for the different competitions lined up, and we believe you have what it takes to assemble good teams and do well at the different competitions you will be participating in.

“Ensure you maintain good relationship with the secretariat and be good ambassadors of our great country.”

First Vice President of the NFF, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi also advised the coaches to concentrate fully on the task of winning international matches and championships and avoid unseemly controversies that are of no good to the Nigeria football brand. He charged that discipline, diligence and professionalism should be

their watchwords.

Present at the occasion were; President of the NFF, Pinnick, who was represented by the Chairman of Chairmen of the NFF Congress Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau; NFF Executive Committee Members, Ahmed Yusuf ‘Fresh’, Ganiyu Majekodunmi and Emmanuel Ibah, as well as the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, Director of Competitions Bola Oyeyode and other members of NFF management.

Akinwunmi joined via video call.

The General Secretary, Dr. Sanusi spoke on the topic, Responsibility of a National Team Coach, while NFF Head of Legal, Barrister Okey Obi talked on Ethics and Integrity and the Special Assistant to the GS, Mr. Ameenu Mohammed refreshed the minds of the coaches with Amended Laws of the Game.

Chairman of the Technical and Development Committee, Ahmed Yusuf ‘Fresh’ pledged that the committee will give every support to the teams and encouraged the coaches to put in great effort to write their names in gold.

Coaches present at the induction included the Head Coach of the U20 Boys team, Isah Ladan Bosso; Head Coach of the U17 Boys, Fatai Amoo; Head Coach of the U15 Boys, Haruna Ilerika Usman; Head Coach of the U17 Girls, Bankole Olowookere and Head Coach of the U13 Boys, Abdullahi Tyabo Umar. Their assistants were also present.

CAF Champions League S’final Postponed Due to Covid-19 The second leg of the African Champions League semifinal between Egypt’s Zamalek and Raja Casablanca has been postponed by a week after eight players in the Moroccan club’s squad tested positive for Covid-19, the Confederation of African Football said on Thursday.

The club has been placed into quarantine for a week by Moroccan health authorities and denied permission to travel to Cairo for the second leg, which had been scheduled to take place on Saturday.

Raja have been told to

isolate their entire squad for a week and will only be authorised to leave Morocco after another series of tests.

“Faced with this situation, in order to protect the integrity of the competition and promote a spirit of solidarity, Caf agreed to postpone the return match to Nov. 1,” a statement said.

The other semifinal between Raja’s neighbours Wydad Casablanca and Al Ahly will be held as scheduled in Cairo on Friday.

The final will still be played on 6 November.

defeated Nigeria 1-0 in the first game of the FIFA window, the first since football returned from Covid-19 lockdown, moved five steps up the ladder to be joint 30th with Serbia.

Apart from beating Nigeria 1-0, Algeria went ahead to draw with Mexico in the second game four days later to maintain a 20-match unbeaten streak.

Tunisia that drew 1-1 with Nigeria in the battle of the Eagles maintained their 26th spot in the FIFA ranking and second position in Africa behind Senegal who

are 21st in the global ranking.

Despite the slip down the ladder, most pundits were certain that Gernot Rohr and his wards will climb back in the next ranking after playing Sierra Leone in the AFCON 2022 qualifying double header next month. Sierra Leone were ranked 120th yesterday.

Senegal’s Teranga Lions remain Africa’s highest ranked team at 21st and number one on the continent. Tunisia, Algeria, Nigeria and Morocco occupy the top five spots in Africa.

Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, Mali and Burkina Faso complete the Top Ten of African football.

At the global stage, there were no changes in the top five ranked countries in the world as Belgium, France, Brazil, England and Portugal remained first, second, third, fourth and fifth respectively.

At number six is Spain, number seven spot has Uruguay, two-time World Cup champions Argentina are eight, at number nine is Croatia and Colombia are number 10.

The next FIFA World Ranking will be published on 26 November, 2020.

EUROPA (MATCH-DAY 1) S’Braga 3-0 AEK Athens Leicester 3-0 Luhansk S’Prague 1-4 Lille Celtic 1-3 AC Milan Maccabi 1-0 Qaraba Villarreal 5-3 Sivasspor Tottenham 3-0 LASK Ludogorets 1-2 Antwerp Di’Zagreb 0-0 Feyenoord Wolfsberger 1-1 CSKA M’ Hoffenheim 2-0 Crvena zvezda FC Slovan 1-0 Gent

Super Eagles have dropped three steps in the October ranking released by FIFA ...yesterday

US-based Former Hurdler, Okorie, Offers Scholarships to Nigerian Athletes US-based former Nigerian hurdler, Victor Okorie, is offering scholarships to Nigerian track and field athletes through his pet project, the South East Sports Foundation.

Okorie was one of the country’s athletes who rose through the school sports system and knows what pains he went through to get to where he is today.

Before offering this lifeline to young Nigerian athletes, Okorie who won a silver medal at the 2003 African Games hosted by Nigeria in Abuja, is also bankrolling the training of some Nigerian coaches at the National Institute for Sports (NIS) in

Lagos.

A board member of the South East Sports Foundation, former 400m star, John Chidiebere Kpechi, told reporters that the aim of the foundation is to rescue the athletic career of many Nigerians athletes who are currently going through hardship.

“The Foundation has observed that so many Nigerian athletes can no longer cope with the present situation, and have decided to go for menial jobs.

“For instance, a sprinter, Olisakwe Chukwudi from Anambra State, out of frustration, decided to quit sports to pick up a carwash job in Enugu.

“This, he did, to put food on his table and also further his education. Our Foundation located him, and took him back to track and field, placed him on a monthly allowances.

“That our gesture is now paying off as he qualified to represent Nigeria in 2015 alongside Divine Oduduru and won medals for the country. He has a Personal Best of 10.41 in 100m and 21.03 in 200m.

“Another athlete, Jude Nnajiofor from Anambra State, is also on the verge of leaving athletics due to hardship. We were able to secure his school at Nsukka, bought him training kits, and also paid his JAMB fee to

enable him to proceed with his studies. There are several others like that that we have helped reposition their track and field careers.

According to Kpechi, the Foundation set various targets before picking the athletes for the scholarship programmes in the United States.

“In the 100m men, we picked athletes who are running 10.03seconds or 10.04 seconds. For the female, the target was 11.08 seconds and downwards. Men’s 400m, the target was 47.00 seconds downwards, while the female must run 54 seconds.

In the throws, the men must throw 67 meters in javelin,” he concluded.

Europa: Aubameyang Wins for Arsenal at Rapid Vienna Substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the winner as Arsenal came from behind to win at Rapid Vienna in their Europa League Group B opener.

The hosts had taken the lead early in the second half when they capitalised on a Bernd Leno error, as the goalkeeper’s attempted pass was intercepted by

Taxiarchis Founta, who then fired home from a tight angle.

Another error by Leno almost gifted the Austrians a second when he hit a clearance straight at Fountas but he was able to recover and parry the striker’s effort.

Arsenal, who gave a full debut to £45m summer signing Thomas Partey,

lacked quality in the final third as they struggled to open up the hosts but found their bite when Aubameyang came off the bench.

David Luiz put Arsenal level when he headed in Nicolas Pepe’s free-kick and Aubameyang secured the win when he tapped in from Mohamed Elneny’s excellent assist.

Leno still looked nervous dealing with passes back to him and another poor clearance hit Luiz and deflected to Fountas, but this time Rapid Vienna’s top scorer could not capitalise.

But that was the only scare in the closing stages as Arsenal closed out the game to kick off their European campaign with an away win.

˜ ͺͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

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FRIDAYSPORTS

Everton Apologise to Liverpool over Van Dijk Injury Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti has apologised for the injury suffered by Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk during Saturday’s Merseyside derby.

Van Dijk, 29, sustained cruciate ligament damage after a challenge by Toffees goalkeeper

Jordan Pickford.

Ancelotti said Pickford is “really sad” that the Dutchman is injured, but denied the tackle was premeditated.

“To be clear, we are really sorry for the injury of Virgil van Dijk,” Ancelotti said.

Juventus Confirm Ronald’s Fresh Covid-19 Positive Result

“Every one of us hopes he can recover soon and well.”

Pickford will face no further action for the challenge as the Football Association determined the incident was seen at the time having consulted with the match officials, including the video assistant referee.

Van Dijk’s Liverpool and Netherlands team-mate Georginio Wijnaldum labelled the tackle “completely stupid”,though

Everton manager Ancelotti said it was mistimed rather than malicious.

“There was this contact with Jordan Pickford: it was mistimed contact,” added the Italian. “But the fact the Premier League is so fast, it is not so difficult to arrive a little bit later.

“Jordan arrived a little bit later but his intention was to try to reach the ball. It was not to hurt Virgil van Dijk.

“To say it was premeditated, and this and that, in my opinion, is too much. Virgil van Dijk knows this.

“Jordan is really sad, really disappointed (that Van Dijk is injured). It was a strong contact, maybe mistimed, but sometimes in football it can happen.”

Ancelotti also said that Everton’s Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez will miss Sunday’s trip to Southampton

with an injury sustained in a challenge with Van Dijk in the opening stages of Saturday’s game at Goodison Park.

Captain Seamus Coleman will also miss out after being forced off with a hamstring injury during the first half, while forward Richarlison is suspended following his red card for a late tackle on Reds midfielder Thiago Alcantara.

To miss reunion with former LaLiga rival Messi Cristiano Ronaldo will miss the chance to go head to head with Lionel Messi next week after returning another positive coronavirus test.

The Juventus superstar picked up the virus last week while away with Portugal.

Ronaldo’s Juve host Messi’s Barcelona in the Champions League group stage next Wednesday but, according to Spanish outlet Marca, he will play no part after testing positive again.

A report from Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha claims Ronaldo’s test gave a very low viral load despite returning positive, with Juventus not giving up hope completely of their talisman featuring in the game.

It claims that the club will ask UEFA for permission to test Ronaldo 48 hours before the game on October 28. It will be up to the European football body to decide whether or not to allow such a request to go ahead.

According to UEFA protocol, a player must test negative at least one week before a match to be considered for selection.

Ronaldo and Messi, who have battled for the honour of world’s best player for over a decade, have not faced each other in the Champions League since the semi-final between Real Madrid and Barcelona in the 2011-12 season.

Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo will be desperate to have his star man back in the team as soon as possible as he bids to win the Serie A title in his first season in charge, with Ronaldo still having a huge influence on the dressing room.

The news of a second test on Thursday didn’t appear to phase the five-time Ballon D’or winner, as he posted a selfie on Instagram sitting at his dinner table with the caption: ‘Thursday style!’

The former Real Madrid and

Manchester United star has been showing off pictures of himself keeping fit at home as he battles to fight off the virus after his initial test on international duty.

He tested positive days after playing for Portugal against France and Spain and posing for a team photo at dinner.

Ronaldo had to go into quarantine despite showing no symptoms.

Unable to feature at all for Juventus, or use the club’s facilities at their training ground, Ronaldo has been keeping busy in his home gym to ensure he stays fit for their upcoming games, but he will have to stay away for a while longer after his latest setback.

He appeared in high spirits as he shared a clip on his Instagram page where he is seen dancing and singing while cycling on the gym bike, sporting an eye-catching new buzzcut.

Ronaldo will be keeping himself separated from his family members during his time at home in quarantine, with the rest of his loved ones on a different floor, and the forward is able to maintain his fitness levels by using an outdoor gym.

There had been claims from Italy’s Sports Minister, Vincenzo Spadafora, that Ronaldo may have broken coronavirus protocols by flying back to Italy from Portugal.

However, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner quickly quashed that claim after taking to Instagram Live, claiming he complied with all necessary procedures.

The35-year-oldsaidonInstagram: ‘I’m always at home, now I’m sunbathing, also to let the days pass.

I’m respecting the protocol, I did not break it, as has been said: It’s a lie.

‘I returned from Portugal because my team and I made sure to comply with all the procedures. I returned to Italy by air ambulance and I have had no contact with anyone, even in Turin.’

Cristiano Ronaldo tested positive for Covid-19 again yesterday and is to miss Juventus’ UEFA Champions League clash with Barcelona next week

Arsenal players celebrating Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang’s winner for the Gunners ...yesterday in Vienna

Madrid ‘Eye’ Pochettino to Replace Zidane after El clasico Real Madrid will consider appointing Mauricio Pochettino and former star Raul as their next manager if they decide to sack underpressure Zinedine Zidane, according to reports.

Real suffered a shock 3-2 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk in their Champions League opener on Wednesday after being 3-0 down at half-time and they were also beaten by LaLiga new boys Cadiz last weekend.

Zidane took over an hour to arrive for his post-match press conference on Wednesday and is under pressure going into El Clasico with Barcelona on

Saturday.

According to AS, Real President Florentino Perez could consider Pochettino and Raul as possible replacements if they part company with the Frenchman.

The report states Raul, who won 16 trophies in 16 years at the Bernabeu, is the ‘ideal option’ for Perez.

He insisted the Real legend returned to the club to take over as manager of their reserve team Real Madrid Castilla after spending time as a LaLiga ambassador in the United States.

Raul has been impressive since taking over the youth

team but AS say there are doubts as to whether he is ready to make the step up.

Another option is former Tottenham boss Pochettino who has previously been linked with the job.

Pochettino has been without a club since he was sacked

by Spurs last November and would be a ready-made replacement for Zidane.

He guided Tottenham to the Champions League final in 2019 where they were defeated

by Liverpool before suffering an awful start to the following season.

The financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic

meant Zidane was not able to strengthen his squad during the summer but this has not spared him any criticism.

The Spanish press did not hold back after Real’s defeat

by Shakhtar. Even Marca, the loyal Madrid-based sports paper, said the club are ‘on a freefall’ and claimed the mood in the dressing room was somber when Perez visited the team after the game.

While Barca also lost in LaLiga last weekend, Lionel Messi and co thrashed Hungarian side Ferencvaros 5-1 on Tuesday and go into El Clasico in a more confident mood.

Goal scoring was his habit, as he became the most successful league goal-scorer in the world, scoring 1281 goals in 1363 games, which included unofficial friendly matches and tour games.

According to Nigeria’s football historian and statisticians, Kunle Solaja, among those goals were the two he scored against Nigeria’s Green Eagles during his first visit to Nigeria.

“The match ended 2-2 as the then 28-year old Pele scored both goals in the match played on 26 January 1969 at the then Lagos City Stadium. Muyiwa Oshode and Baba Alli scored the goals for Nigeria.

“Eight days later at the then Ogbe Stadium in Benin, Pele’s Santos beat the Midwest selected side 2-1. At the 4 February 1969 duel, Pele did not score. Santos goals came from Edu and Negreiros,” observed Mr Solaja in his Sports Village Square.

During his playing days, Pelé was for a period the best-paid athlete in the world. He began his playing career for Santos Club of Brazil at age 15 and the national team at 16.

He has visited Nigeria many times, the last being in 2000 shortly after the Sydney Olympics.

One of his most traumatic experiences was in February 1976 when he, along with some international tennis players was in Nigeria during the abortive coup against the regime of General Murtala Muhammed.

The sportsmen had to seek diplomatic channels to sneak out of Nigeria as all borders were closed.

Even with the advent of modern day strikers, Pelé with 77 goals in 92 games, is still the all-time leading for Brazil.

In spite of the athleticism in him, Pelé has health challenges.

He attended the draw for the Russia 2018 on wheelchair to which he is still confined. He also for long has just one kidney as in 1977 the Brazilian media reported that he had his right kidney removed.

In November 2012, Pelé underwent a successful hip operation. Early this year, Pelé collapsed from exhaustion and was taken to hospital.

Pele Clocks 80 Years Brazil’s gift to football, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known around the world by his moniker, Pelé will be 80 years old today, Friday October 23,2020.

Pele remains the face of the Beautiful Game became the youngest player ever to play at the World Cup in 1958 against Wales aged just 17 years and 239 days in Sweden.

Five days later he added another record as the youngest player to score a World Cup hat trick in the Brazil versus France encounter.

He went on to become the first player with three World Cup winning medals after successes with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970.

He is so popular that he is well known and had met with several heads of states.

On one instance, he was meeting with the US President, Ronald Reagan who introduced self thus: “My name is Ronald Reagan, I’m the President of the United States of America. But you don’t need to introduce yourself,

Pele, the world’s greatest footballer of all time clocks 80years today

because everyone knows who Pelé is.”

In 1999, he was voted World player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics and along with Argentina’s Diego Maradona, he won the FIFA Player of the Century Award.

Till in 1999, the International Olympic Committee elected Pelé as Athlete of the Century.

Friday October 23, 2020

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UT H

& RE A SO

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Fayose to Buhari “The sad reality we must face now is that the current situation in our nation is as a result of allowing a clearly incompetent man to ascend to the highest office in the land. I saw all these coming and I warned Nigerians. You can’t wear a white robe on a pig” – Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, criticising President Buhari for his poor handling of the #EndSARS protests.

OKEYIKECHUKWU

EDIFYING ELUCIDATIONS

okey.ikechukwu@thisdaylive.com

Nigeria: Ejindu Cometh!

“A

time comes in the life of a people when a conspiracy of circumstances heralds a new era. This usually happens when no one is expecting it; and also when all principal actors are occupied with their private schemes. So did it happen in Obodo Mmehie, after decades of suffering and failed promises by various factions of the confiscators of the commonwealth. The suffering of the people and the total disregard for the principles of natural justice, equity and good conscience led to the coming of Ejindu, the Young Man of Valour.

Until Ejindu’s emergence, the people looked up to the self-recycling leadership elite for a radical transformation of their lives. They did not know that conflicts between the various factions of the consumption-driven leaders were always about power and privileges, rather than service. Watch them fight over portfolio allocation after electoral victories and you will be reminded of vampires scrambling over which of them would get the juicier bodies to suck blood from.”

The above are the opening paragraphs of an article of the same title, which appeared on this page on the 5th day of March, 2019.

Intimations of what we are now seeing as #EndSARS, as well as the possibility of an ultimate conflagration are there. The deafness of our leaders may yet cost them everything.

Yes, everything!

“Ejindu will come upon any land where genuine morality has left and where the supposed custodians of the law are making cheerful displays of unlawful plunder. It is natural that an Ejindu visitation should dawn on any land that routinely condoned aggravated misconduct and undermined the people’s sense of the sacred. It is natural that there should be a comprehensive redemptive intervention when the high priests, leaders and titled men who are supposed to be the guardians of all sublime values of the community put their imprimatur on profanity everywhere – and with impunity.

The dawn of the new era in Obodo Mmehie began one day with an innocuous incident in the Village Square during a New Yam Festival.

A gangling old man who had witnessed the decay in the land muttered to himself in disgust: “Should decent people always step back just because the depraved are without compunction? Apparently there is no young man in this village who can say ‘Eji ndu eme gini’ and put an end to this nonsense.”

Beside him was a tall young man, named Eji Ndu Eme Gini, who turned to stare at the old man in surprise. But the latter took no notice of him at all, as he got up and found his way out of the Village Square. Perplexed, the young man later narrated his strange encounter in the Village Square to his grandfather and asked the old man the meaning and implication of his name.

His grandfather replied: “The words in your name cannot be easily explained, translated or interpreted, my son. Your name actually asks the question: ‘Of what value is one’s life if it is not spent in the service of what is good?

This name is for people who easily act out of conviction and concern for truth and justice, because they want what is right. Such people will always find it difficult to live for nothing,

President Muhammadu Buhari or keep quiet while the land rots.

“How could things be made right again in this village?” was the only thought in Ejindu’s head afterwards.He recalled how the elders used to be the living symbols of the tradition, law, values and pristine wisdom of the land. But he could now see that these Standard Bearers of right and wrong for the community had embraced the profane. The women and the maidens who once embodied flawless grace and womanly dignity had become something for which he could not yet find a name. The young men and the children who were once very diligent and industrious had become the victims of an older generation that glorified distribution and consumption. Neighbouring villages no longer admired and respected their village. The fertile lands and lush vegetation were still there, but the human beings in Obodo Mmehie had made the community bad.

Now that the APC is back in power under controversial circumstance and the PDP is battling with a misfortune it brought upon itself, the various power blocs are quarrelling. But their unmitigated myopia and selfishness may soon be their undoing

But no one seemed to know, or was willing to admit, the source of the problem plaguing the now-sick land. The young ones blamed the elders, while the elders blamed the titled men.

The titled men, in turn, said it was the fault of the kingmakers who made a wrong choice. Not to be outdone, the kingmakers declared that it was the fault of the King, who would not listen to anyone. So misery, despondency and weariness of the spirit soaked the land through and through. It was horrible, because people who could not lead, advise, nor admonish, anyone were in charge everywhere.

Desire for cheap and immediate material rewards was the focus. The few good ones among them lost their voice after repeated unsuccessful attempts to show the way. Others had their voices strangulated by the favours they had received, and continued to receive, from various quarters. Thus did the leaders cease to be the Standard Bearers for right and wrong for the people in Obodo Nmehie.

Ejindu was angry at first. Then his anger changed into the desire to eliminate everything that stood in the way to a better society. That led him to develop a plan by means of which he would disrupt the alliance of a questionable elite that was the root of all the problems. So he sought out other like-minded people. Behold the Handmade of Providence had come!

Ejindu planned, held meetings, consulted and created a small team with a strong moral backbone. All the while he was also sharpening his Obejili, with calm dignity. Finally he decided that it was time to strike. The precipitating circumstance was the selection of new members for the Council of Elders, shortly before a New Yam Festival. Ejindu came to the Village Square with his Obejili and struck one telling blow.

And what a blow it was! There was a mythical story in the village about Ejindu’s Obejili: that if he struck the air with his machete, the air on both sides of the dreaded Obejili would stand still for minutes before coming together again! What a machete! What a swordsman!

Many false priests, servants of fake oracles, elders without pedigree, reprobate leaders and their collaborators were sort out wherever they were and struck. Obodo Mmehie witnessed a great cleansing, after which Ejindu summoned the people. As he stood before them, he remembered a story his father once told him about a great seer who once warned a new king of their village thus: “Your new position was given to you so that you would grow into it with the help of many gifted people in this village. You are not to be guided by only your own ideas, because the people are to learn and grow with you to a new form of responsible leadership that uses diversity to strengthen itself. That is why you are their King today.” The same seer also said to the people: “The gods have given all heads of households the duty to protect legacies and guide the unwary. Responsible farmers and householders do not eat, or ruin, the seed yams meant for the next planting season. Elders and leaders who mislead the people are like householders who are eating the seed yams of the next planting season. They are like springs bringing out dirty water and progressively poisoning the entire community.

The gods would want such leaders to change – or be visited with their wrath.”

With this at the back of his mind, Ejindu began to address every segment of the community.

First he spoke to the women and pointed out how they could have been more effective as custodians of value. He asked them whether any man would continuously bring home stolen goods, if his wife constantly raised the necessary queries. He even blamed them for allowing their husbands to travel so far on the wrong road that turning back became difficult, and even impossible, for many of them. He then turned to the men and showed them how most of them had become incapable of clear thinking, because they only kept bad company; and had become too stiff-necked to take the genuine concerns of some of the women seriously.

He did not spare the elders, leaders and priest of various shrines and proprietors of oracular pronouncements who survived the cleansing. To them he said: “Most of you now look cheap and ridiculous because your kind betrayed the people entrusted to them and wrongly humoured evil. You failed to stand up for truth, natural justice, equity and good conscience. Look at you today. Would anyone in your position have died of hunger or thirst if you did not get any of the gifts and favours that cheapened and scandalized you before the people? The misfortunes of many of you are only just beginning, because you are primarily responsible for the evil in the land today.

Not quite done with them, Ejindu thundered further: “Have you asked yourselves why many people can now look the elders, leaders, priests and titled men in the face and say: “Do not push us around, after all several of you were drunk yesterday and the day before.” Can you still guide, control, frighten or rebuke anyone by asking, ‘Do you want the custodians of value to hear about your behaviour?’

Then Ejindu paused. Looking into the far distance, but at nothing in particular, he continued: “Should I be the one to tell you that it takes maturity, a broad and free spirit to lead others? Should a sensible cassava farmer not know that a cassava tuber that was harvested prematurely and left in the village stream to ferment would lose its sap in the water and become a tasteless pulp, after losing its essence? Chaff would be left of the cassava and those waiting to eat from it would go hungry; making the cassava and the people joint losers. Do we not all know that the Ijele, that great embodiment of the highest of all that is noble and royal, doe not dance for money; or lend itself to cheap approbation in narrow and recondite neighbourhoods? Should leadership be defined by reprobate self-presentation? Should ignorance be granted a faculty building and declared a School of Thought in a citadel of learning? Mbanu! No! Now that the APC is back in power under controversial circumstance and the PDP is battling with a misfortune it brought upon itself, the various power blocs are quarrelling.

But their unmitigated myopia and selfishness may soon be their undoing. There are wrongs to be reversed by the religious, traditional and political leaders. The question is whether they still have enough time – before Ejindu comes.”

I will only add this, for today: “#EndSARS is progressively making people aware of many things that mud be summarily brought to an end, if the current political elite is not to be wiped out and if people are not to perish altogether.” Enough said.

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