THURSDAY 27TH OCTOBER 2022

FG is Tackling Growing Inflationary Pressure, Says Finance Minister Says crude oil theft, subsidy deductions responsible for poor 2022 budget performance Laments effects of rising diesel cost on food prices Highlights measures to make ports attractive Udora Orizu in Abuja The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed,

yesterday said that mechanisms have been put in place to tackle the growing inflation in Nigeria.

Ahmed who made the disclosure

while appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Finance for the 2023 budget defence, pointed out that rising price of diesel

was affecting food prices. in response to the rising inflation, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had last month raised the Monetary

Policy Rate (MPR), otherwise known as interest rate, by 150 basis points, to 15.5 per cent from 14 per cent.

The CBN had also raised banks’

Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) by 750 basis points to a minimum Continued on page 47

Obajana: Court Halts Move to Shut Down Dangote Cement by Kogi Govt ... Page 47 Thursday 27 October, 2022 Vol 27. No 10061. Price: N250

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Atiku Takes Presidential Campaign to United States... Page 50

FG: Nigeria Won’t Be Stampeded By US, UK Travel Advisories Says despite terrorists' attacks, Nigeria still safe US authorises departure to citizens, encourages personal exit plan Deji Elumoye, Kingsley Nwezeh and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Nigerian government, yesterday,

reacted, yet again, to the updated travel advisory by the United States Department of State and the United Kingdom for their

citizens to reconsider travelling to Nigeria due to terrorism and general crime, saying it would not be stampeded by whatever any

foreign government tells its citizens.

Minister of Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this while fielding questions

from State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided

by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Mohammed said despite attempts by terrorists to embarrass the governContinued on page 47

In Ambush of Vote Buyers, Ransom Takers, CBN Voids Naira Notes by End of January Redesigns N200, N500, N1,000 notes, says 80% currency in circulation outside banks’ vault Emefiele: new bills out December 15, existing banknotes expire January 31 Halts charges for cash deposits to encourage transition EFCC hails, stands ready in banking halls for money launderers Analysts urge financial intelligence unit to monitor illegitimate transactions Nume Ekeghe in Lagos, James Emejo and Kasim Sumaina in Abuja In an apparent move to tackle votebuying and control the amount of money in circulation, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday announced a redesign of the currency in the variation of N200, N500 and N1,000.

But beyond the reasons adduced are the far-reaching implications of the effects of the dramatic move that took the business community and the entire nation by surprise.

Campaign financing, money laundering, terror financing, payment of huge sums of monies to kidnappers as ransom are going to be adversely affected by the change.

For once, those who have starched huge cash ahead of the 2023 elections for vote-buying and prosecution of Continued on page 47

REDESIGNING THE NAIRA...

L-R: Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability (FSS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs. Aisha Ahmad and Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, while briefing the press on redesigning of the naira banknotes at the CBN head office in Abuja...yesterday

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

NEWS

COURTESY VISIT OF THE SOUTH AFRICA CONSUL GENERAL TO ACCESS CORPORATION HEAD OFFICE...

L-R: Chief Communications Officer, Access Corporation, Amaechi Okobi; Head, Travels and Protocol, Access Bank, Adaeze Okonkwo; Consul General, Consulate General of the Republic of South Africa, Lagos, Dr. Bobby Moroe; GMD/CEO, Access Corporation, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, and Consul Political, Consulate General of the Republic of South Africa, Lagos, Ms. Sebo Lenyai, during the courtesy visit of the South Africa Consul General to Access Corporation’s head office in Lagos…yesterday

W’Bank: Currency Depreciations Risk Intensifying Food, Energy Crisis in Nigeria, Other Developing Economies Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The shrinking value of the currencies of most developing economies like Nigeria, is driving up food and fuel prices in ways that could deepen the food and energy crises that many of them already face, the World Bank said yesterday.

In its latest Commodity Markets Outlook report, the World Bank noted that in US dollar terms, the prices of most commodities have declined from their recent peaks amid concerns of an impending global recession.

In Nigeria, from N580/$ at the end of December 2021, the naira depreciated to N707/$ by the beginning of October 2022, about 22.4 per cent in the parallel market within a period of nine months.

In the official window, within the same period, naira devalued from N414/$ to N425-N430/$ in the official market.

Food inflation in Nigeria quickened for the seventh straight month to 23.34 per cent in September of 2022 from 23.12 per cent in the previous month. It was the highest reading since October 2005, partly due to supply disruptions caused by recent widespread flooding and as a weaker currency continued to boost costs of imported food.

Higher prices were mainly observed for staples including bread and cereals, potatoes, yam, and other tubers, oils and fats, a release by the National Bureau of

Statistics (NBS), said.

But according to the World Bank, from the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 through the end of last month, the price of Brent crude oil in US dollars fell nearly 6 per cent, but has not reflected in energy prices due to currency devaluation.

“Yet, because of currency depreciations, almost 60 per cent of oil-importing emerging-market and developing economies saw an increase in domestic-currency oil prices during this period. Nearly 90 per cent of these economies also saw a larger increase in wheat prices in local-currency terms compared to the rise in US dollars.

“Elevated prices of energy commodities that serve as inputs to agricultural production have been driving up food prices,” the global bank stated.

For instance, it said that during the first three quarters of 2022, food-price inflation in Sub-Saharan Africa averaged between 12 and 15 per cent.

“Although many commodity prices have retreated from their peaks, they are still high compared to their average level over the past five years,” said Pablo Saavedra, the World Bank’s Vice President for Equitable Growth, Finance, and Institutions.

“A further spike in world food prices could prolong the challenges of food insecurity across developing countries. An array of policies is

needed to foster supply, facilitate distribution, and support real incomes,” he added.

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, energy prices have been quite volatile but are now expected to decline. After surging by about 60 percent in 2022, energy prices are projected to decline 11 percent in 2023. Despite this moderation, energy prices next year will still be 75 per cent above their average over the past five years, it said.

The price of Brent, Nigeria’s

crude oil benchmark, is expected to average $92 a barrel in 2023—well above the five-year average of $60 a barrel, the report added.

“The combination of elevated commodity prices and persistent currency depreciations translates into higher inflation in many countries,” said Ayhan Kose, Director of the World Bank’s Prospects Group and EFI Chief Economist, which produces the Outlook report.

“Policymakers in emerging market and developing economies

Anambra State Governor, Prof.

Chukwuma Soludo has tasked the National Population Commission (NPC) on the need to conduct a very credible census in 2023.

Soludo harped on the need for the commission to provide the country with reliable, acceptable and credible data that could aid effective and efficient planning.

The governor made the call during a Stakeholders' Summit on the 2023 Population and Housing Census, which held in Awka on Tuesday, with the theme: "Getting the People involved."

The governor said: "You can't plan without statistics. If you can't measure it, you can't change it. I

want our people to take this census seriously because going forward, it will aid in national development.

"We have to know how many people we are planning for. Each community should have an accurate data of its residents.

"I should be able to call on traditional rulers and PresidentGenerals to tell me how many residents are in their communities.

The purpose of government is for the greatest good for the greatest number.

"We focus on communities that have the greater numbers because we are serving the people. The NPC has lots of work to do. Your promise to offer a digital, reliable, credible and acceptable data is a good thing."

Soludo said the figures that

as worries about the availability of energy during the upcoming winter will intensify in Europe.

“The forecast of a decline in agricultural prices is subject to an array of risks. First, export disruptions by Ukraine or Russia could again interrupt global grain supplies. Second, additional increases in energy prices could exert upward pressure on grain and edible oil prices. Third, adverse weather patterns can reduce yields,” it noted.

Barth Nnaji: Why I Located $600m Geometric Power Plant in Aba

Dike Onwuamaeze

The Chairman of Geometric Power Group, Professor Barth Nnaji, has explained that his passion to contribute to industrial development in Igbo land in a manner that would accelerate rapid development of Nigeria was the major influence behind the decision to locate the Geometric Power Plant in Aba. Nnaji, who was Nigeria’s former Minister of Power, disclosed this at the leadership colloquium on, “Igbo Leadership and Development,” that was convened recently to mark the 58th birthday of the Abia State

Governor, Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu.

He said: “I am passionate about the rapid development of Nigeria, starting with Ala Igbo because of the structural problems it has faced since the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970 and also because of its enormous technological and economic potential.

“Geometric Power Limited is making its contribution to help reclaim the old economic days of the Great Zik of Africa, Dr. M.I. Okpara and many others. Once Geometric Power addresses the electricity challenge in nine out of 17 local government areas in

SoludoTasks NPC on Credible Census in 2023

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

have limited room to manage the most pronounced global inflation cycle in decades. They need to carefully calibrate monetary and fiscal policies, clearly communicate their plans, and get ready for a period of even higher volatility in global financial and commodity markets,” the World Bank report added.

The outlook for commodity prices is subject to many risks, it said, stressing that energy markets face significant supply concerns

would be gotten from the census would help government to plan, while also knowing the nationalities, state of origin and even religion of people resident in a geographical location.

He added, "We are itinerant people, our people live everywhere, but during the festive season, we have more people returning back home. I need to plan and know the number of people I'm planning for because from time to time, they must come home.

"For some unknown reasons, we have been afraid to confront the truth. People throw numbers and extrapolate. The truth is we don't know the number of people we are planning for.

"The 2023 census must not be

another opportunity missed. I'm glad it will employ full digital means. Those who disrupted the last census and said our people shouldn't be counted should cease from such act because it cost our people dearly. Population is one of the criteria for sharing national resources."

The Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, Mr. Chidi Ezeoke who spoke during the event said through digital mapping, the commission hopes that every area in the country will be captured.

He harped on the need for people to avoid movement during the census exercise, saying that security agencies would restrict movement during the exercise.

Abia State fully, not even the sky will be the limit of the attainments of the people and government of Abia State. Abia can set the stage of development miracle which has been waiting to happen.”

The professor of Manufacturing Engineering, further disclosed that the 188-megawatt Geometric Power Plant in Aba and the Aba Power distribution firm in Osisioma Industrial Layout would have been more profitable venture if they had been located in Ikeja or in the Ilupeju the Industrial Estate in Lagos State or in the Agbara Industrial Layout in Ogun State or in or around the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja.

Nnaji said: “The return of investment would have been quicker and bigger (in these locations). But the strategic reason for locating both the generation and distribution arms of Geometric Power Group would have been missed. Only the investors and promoters of Geometric Power would have benefitted directly, but the people and governments of Ala-Igbo would be the losers.”

He also said locating the project in any of the aforementioned locations would have saved the Geometric Group the experience of a tortious nine-year tussle over the right ownership of the Aba-Ringed Fence Area, which took a toll on the financiers of the $600 million project, the investors, the host community, suppliers, contractors, the Aba business community and the people and government of Abia State.

Nnaji traced the history of the

Aba power plant to when former Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, invited a former President of the World Bank, late Dr. James Wolfohnson, to Aba to see, firsthand, Aba’s tremendous economic and technological potential.

“After the visit in 2004, I was asked by the duo to consider building a 50 megawatt power plant in Abia for manufacturers, both big ones like the Star Paper Mill and small ones like the hundreds of excellent shoemakers and clothiers at the famous Ariaria Market.

“They approached me obviously because I had led a small team of dedicated Nigerian engineers and entrepreneurs to build a 22megawatt Emergency Plant in Abuja in 2001 for the supply of electricity to State House, the NNPC headquarters, the Abuja Business District and other places.

“I acceded to the request by Dr. Okonjo-Iweala and Dr. Wolfohnson.

What the two did not realise is that my enthusiastic acceptance was because the plant would be located in Aba. This city has a special place in the heart and mind of every person interested in our country’s rapid progress: It is the home of indigenous manufacturing, innovation and entrepreneurship.

“There is another reason why I accepted to build the plant in Aba. I had experienced, firsthand, what industrialists in Igbo land were going through.

Continues online

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NEWS

LAUNCHING OF KASI FOUNDRY...

L-R: Head, Corporate Affairs, Kasi Data Centres, Mr.Ibrahim Dikko; Secretary to Governing Council, Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, Mr. Uduak Ukpeh; Kasi International Partner /Chairman & Founder, Infrastructure Masons, Mr. Deen Nelson; Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Innovations & Technology, Mr. Tokunbo Alake; and Founder/CEO, Kasi Data Centres, Mr. Johnson Agogbua, PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA during the launching of Kasi Foundry in Lagos....Tuesday

Buhari Canvasses Enhanced Security Cooperation Between Nigeria, S'Korea Wants expanded trade relations beyond gas exports Calls for increased Korean investment in Nigeria Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has canvassed for a robust security cooperation between Nigeria and South Korea.

Speaking during a bilateral meeting with his Korean counterpart, Mr. Yoon Suk-Yeol, at the presidential palace in Seoul on the sidelines of the First World Bio Summit, the president said he looked forward to enhanced defence and security cooperation with the Republic of Korea.

Commenting on piracy in the Gulf of Guinea to which Korean ships had fallen victim, Buhari noted that the level of attacks had

decreased considerably over the last one year due to the provision of equipment to the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) by the Nigerian government, while also commending the Korean government for the supply of a vessel to the Navy.

Buhari expressed Nigeria’s desire to widen the scope of trade relations with the Republic of Korea beyond gas exports.

He called for expansion from the long-term gas contract to other areas.

The president, who thanked his Korean counterpart for inviting him to address the World Bio Summit, also appreciated him for expressing

sympathy with Nigerians on the flood disaster.

Earlier, Suk-Yeol had sympathised with Buhari over the massive havoc and human losses caused by flood in his country.

He described Nigeria as Africa’s largest economy and cultural powerhouse that produces huge number of films, expressing confidence that Nigeria’s economic and cultural capabilities would contribute significantly to exchanges and cooperation between both countries.

Both leaders also discussed the need for cooperation at the multilateral level, particularly at the United Nations with South Korea indicating interest to vie for a seat

on the Security Council in 2024 and seeking Nigeria’s support.

Similarly, the Korean leader sought Nigeria’s support for her country’s plan to host the 2030 EXPO. The issue of peace on the Korean Peninsula, demilitarisation and denuclearisation of the region also featured in the bilateral talks.

Also on Wednesday, Buhari had charged top Korean business executives to increase their investments in Nigeria, while his Administration would continue to make determined efforts to improve the enabling domestic environment for businesses to flourish.

Addressing representatives of

Tambuwal: NESG Helped Nigeria from Economic Drift Chuks Okocha in Abuja The National Economic Summit Group (NESG) has assisted the Nigerian economy in stemming its further drift into economic doldrums, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Sokoto State, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has said.

He spoke at the NGF’s secretariat in Abuja, where a delegation of the NESG led by its Director General, Laoye Jaiyeola paid him a courtesy visit yesterday.

Addressing the delegation on the planned 2022 edition of the summit, which would be its 28th edition, Tambuwal praised the previous editions and encouraged the NESG to continue to hold such conversations to excite awareness, productivity and accountability among Nigerians.

He said as the country approaches a transition such conversations was necessary to set an agenda that would influence decisions on the future of the country.

The NGF Chairman reiterated the importance of the collaboration between the NGF and the NESG saying they both play very strong roles that add value in helping heal the economy.

Tambuwal pledged his total

support to the Group and promised to deploy his position as Chairman of the NGF to galvanise the rest of the governors into supporting the Summit.

The NESG invited Tambuwal to provide his perspective on the resource constraints in the delivery of primary healthcare across states and challenges faced with the acquisition and management of funds for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) at the subnational level.

The summit comes up on 14th to 15th of November 2022, in Abuja.

Four other governors were invited to sit as panelists at various stages of the summit. They include Kaduna State’s Nasir El Rufai, Gombe’s Inuwa Yahaya, Edo’s Godwin Obaseki and Governor Chukuma Soludo of Anambra State.

To the NESG, domestic resource mobilisation remains one of the key drivers of fiscal viability and stability. Owing to this, it explained that it was inviting Soludo as a Professor of Economics and with his experience as a former Central Bank Governor, to share his perspectives on strategies for mobilising capital from within and outside Nigeria.

The Edo State governor would share his perspectives on the importance of human capital

development and its multiplier effect on the economy and Gombe state governor would speak about sharing innovative approaches to improving business environments, particularly for MSMEs. He would also speak to how this achievement could be leveraged to drive capital formation/importation from within and outside.

El-Rufai would speak on how the federal government could continue to play the important role

of protecting the basic rights of all citizens in the country especially those beyond the capacity of states and how state governments could best take on the problems that are truly local while sitting on the table of national discourse.

The NESG briefed the NGF Chairman through Dr Tayo Aduloju, its Chief Operating Officer, who disclosed that the Group was looking forward to having a national conversation

strategic Korean companies and industries on the sidelines of the World Bio Summit 2022 in the Republic of Korea capital, the president declared that Nigeria remains committed to creating a stable and enabling business environment for foreign investors through the formulation of sound economic policies and improved governance.

He added that security forces have been working assiduously with local communities to ensure the security of lives and properties of Nigerians and foreign investors.

According to him, “our administration, has prioritized Power infrastructure under the Presidential Power Initiative.

"In this regard, Nigeria has procured modern power equipment which was inaugurated in September 2022 as part of the phased project to generate 25,000 megawatts of electricity by 2025.

Furthermore, to ensure ease in clearing of cargo, giant strides have been digitalised of the processes in our Sea-Ports as well as airports.”

Making a case for the country as investment friendly and choice destination, Buhari further highlighted that, with a nominal GDP of $431.97 billion, Nigeria's economy remains the largest in Africa with vast human capital

and natural resources.

"The steady improvement from the global economic downturn of 2020 indicates that the Nigerian economy is on firm path of recovery.

I implore you therefore, to take advantage of the many investment opportunities in Nigeria, especially in the areas of oil and gas, trade, manufacturing, ICT, creative industry and culture exchange. It is worthy of emphasis to underscore that the business environment in Nigeria offers low corporate tax regime/ VAT rates, flexible labour market conditions and simple procedures for establishing businesses.”

Acknowledging some significant investments by Korean companies in Nigeria in the fields of construction or heavy duty industries, ICT and electronics as well as chemical production estimated as at 2021 at no fewer than 20 registered companies in Nigeria, among which are the Samsung, Deawoo and Hyundai Heavy Duty Industries as well as the LG and Samsung electronics and the Lotte Chemical industry, the Nigerian president expressed delight that these companies have continued to contribute immensely to the growth of the Nigerian GDP and have created job opportunities in the country.

No Fund to Meet N67bn Housing Loans Request By Civil Servants, Says Board Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Federal Government Staff Loan Board said yesterday that the agency does not have sufficient funds in the 2023 budget to meet the huge pile of requests before it.

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Ibrahim Mairiga stated this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Establishment to defend the budget of the Board for 2023.

Mairiga told the federal lawmakers that the Board is currently depending on N2.5 billion in the Service Wide Votes (SWV).

He said the board's share of the

SWV could only cater for 200 civil servants against a total of 35,000 applications valued at roughly N67 billion.

He said, "The Board is currently depending on its own share of the N2.5 billion in the SWVs. "The fund we got from the SWV could only cater for 200 civil servants and we have 35,000 applications valued at roughly N67 billion."

The Executive Secretary also expressed similar concerns over the N65 million allocated as overheads to the Board which he said was not going to be sufficient to fund the monitoring activities of the

Loan board.

He said the housing loans was on first come, first served bases even though applicants are not expected to be more than 50 years old and must have been confirmed in the Civil Service to qualify for the facility.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, Ibrahim Shekarau noted that the matter needed an urgent attention.

He said his Committee would look for ways to increase the purse for the Board even though he admitted that it might be extremely difficult to achieve.

The National Salaries and Wages Commission raised similar concern over paucity of funds which it said has rendered it "incapacitated" to effectively carry out its mandate.

The Commissioner for Compensation, Moji Yahaya Kolade said there was no way the Salaries and Wages commission with less than N1 billion appropriation could effectively monitor the disbursement of a N4.99 trillion wage bill.

She lamented further on how the lack of funds has made it impossible for the Commission to carry out routine salary inspections.

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FLOOD

We are Yet to Receive Flood Victims’ Relief Materials from FG, Says Bayelsa Governor State receives N100m donation from Akwa Ibom Bayelsa APC sympathises with victims Kwara YPP guber candidate tasks FG, states to plan ahead to avert future occurrence Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa, Okon Bassey in Uyo and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Despite the level of deaths and devastation caused by the massive floods recorded in Bayelsa State, the Governor of the State, Senator Douye Diri, yesterday revealed that Bayelsa was yet to receive any relief items from the federal government in spite of the clarion call he made to the Buhari-led administration and other international agencies.

The governor explained that although the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management said the federal government had sent relief items to 21 states affected by flooding, Bayelsa was yet to receive any of such items.

He however thanked the Nigeria Air Force on behalf of the state for assisting the relief effort by airlifting of food items that were procured by the state government.

The Governor spoke when he hosted the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, who visited to sympathise with the state Government and the people over the flood situation in the state, describing it as very pathetic.

Emmanuel, who led a delegation of members of his cabinet to Government House, Yenagoa yesterday, said it was his cabinet’s decision to visit Bayelsa based on the magnitude of the flood that hit the state He applauded the relentless efforts of Diri in standing by his people in their moment of despair, describing his gesture as a mark of true leadership.

His words: “With what I saw on television, l just could not stay. I did not know the extent of the damage the flood had caused the people of the state. My people played the whole video clip in our Executive Council Chambers and we were moved to tears. We decided at the meeting to be here to sympathise with you and your people.”

Emmanuel said whatever affects Bayelsa also impacts on the people of his state since they share a common affinity in the Niger Delta.

"The destinies of millions of our people are tied to your own. You have tried to show that you care and restore hope.

That show of care strengthens your people in spite of the dire situation the flood had put them.”

The Akwa Ibom governor, who presented a cheque of N100 millon to

Diri, also announced that a truck-load of relief materials courtesy of his wife's Family Empowerment Programme Foundation was on its way to support flood victims in the state.

Responding, Diri expressed gratitude to Emmanuel for his show of love and brotherhood, describing the impact of the flood as immeasurable.

He said the only means of communication was by air and through the maritime domain as the roads into the state have been cut off as well as power supply with electricity transformers submerged in water.

According to the governor, the level of destruction was unimaginable as 99 per cent of people of the state had been displaced.

“We see you not only as a friend, but also a brother. It is a trying time for us.

This is the time we need leaders not politicians. And you have proved to be a true leader. The cheque of N100 million will be judiciously used and accounted for. You have done what a brother should do."

In a related development, the Bayeelsa State chapter of the All Progressives

Congress (APC) has commiserated with the people of the state over the loss of lives and extensive destruction wrought by the recent floods in the state.

In a statement yesterday, the party sympathised with victims of the floods, which it said reached almost every part of the state and caused large-scale damage to livelihoods.

The party in the statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, said it was confident, “that the strength and resilience of our people would carry us through this difficult time.”

The party, however, gave the state government a slap on the wrist for not being pro-active on the issue.

The statement added: “We condole with the families of the victims, the injured, and, indeed, all the people of the state. It is our collective pain, and we will overcome together.

“Our party is, nonetheless, pained to note that the effect of the flood would have been drastically reduced if the Government of Bayelsa State made adequate preparations considering the early warnings from experts.

“Floods can wash away everything, but they cannot wash away the resilience of the people, and the hope in our survival, and our land. They cannot wash away the confidence in ourselves, our ability to stand together, and our faith in God to supply us strength to ride out this storm.

“We have no control over natural disasters, but we have control over our minds. We cannot fight against these natural calamities, but we can fight against the circumstances and activities that tend to aggravate them.

“Let us do the best we can in these difficult times and remain strong and positive. Let us never give up to these disastrous spells. For surely, this one, too, shall pass!”

In a related development, the governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Yakubu Gobir yesterday called on the federal and the 36 state government to sit up and plan ahead in order to avert future floods disaster in the country.

Gobir made the call in Ilorin, yesterday, while speaking with journalists on the state of the nation and on the sideline of

the handing over of yet-to-be completed Juma'at Mosque to him for construction by the Emir of Ilorin Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.

The Emir was represented at the event by the Chief Imam of Ilorin Sheikh Muhammed Bashir.

He said, "The root cause of the current flooding in the country is global warming.

"It is an issue that is beyond what we can control. The impact of global warming has caught up with us faster than we thought.

"I don't think I will be too harsh on the federal government in terms of apportioning blames. Now that the trajectory is very clear, global warming is here to stay and it will continue to impact on our environment.

"It is time for government at all levels to sit up and plan ahead."

On the mosque project, the pharmacistturned politician, said he had resolved to complete the project.

He enjoined the well-heeled in the society especially Ilorin indigenes to contribute generously to the construction of the mosque.

Flood in some communities in Bayelsa State

FG: 30 Years of Consistent Investment Required to Control Flood Menace Says it's states, LGs’ task to provide temporary shelter Deji Elumoye in Abuja The federal government has declared that it would take 30 years of consistent investment for the flood menace to be controlled in Nigeria.

Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, who made the this known yesterday, while briefing newsmen after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House, Abuja.

He emphasised that nobody would be able to stop the phenomenon in the country, saying the government would only be able to minimise the impact of the occurrence.

Adamu said it was not something that could be achieved under one administration, adding that the present government was already working on a flood management masterplan that would take at least three years to complete.

While noting that flood victims ignored warnings to evacuate, Adamu also blamed tree felling and degraded soil for the massive impact of this year's floods in the country.

On criticism about government's preparedness to handle flood emergency, the Minister said: "There is no technology on earth, none that can tell you the extent

of the floods, none whatsoever. You work on the basis of data that you have before.

Now that the rains have come that is what hydrology is all about, this is a record and now we're resetting the clock.

"So that our future plans will now consider that this is the historical catastrophic level that we will not account for. That is what engineering does. This has never happened before."

Also speaking in the same vein, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Mrs. Sadiya Farouk, noted that it was not correct to say the federal government was not prepared.

According to her: "To say that the ministries were not prepared for this emergency or this disaster that was about to happen, it's not correct. Because we have repositioned our warehouses to take stock of deployment as approved by His Excellency, Mr. President to be handed over to the ministry and we have deployed this grains to the respective states that we expect this flood is going to happen.

"So, to say that we were not prepared is really not correct. We did our best and we are still doing what we're supposed to do."

On his part, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, urged

Nigerians to keep an open mind on the way government has handled the flood disaster in the country.

His words: "You see, I think we should be very broad- minded and open minded about this issue. I watched and I'm sure many of you watched on television, how two thirds of Pakistan was underwater because of this flood. If you watched like I did, how Florida was unable to handle this matter.

"You see, it is not a Humanitarian Affairs (ministry) or an APC affair, it is a human affair, and an environmental disaster. And I did not see any country that can prepare adequately, especially when citizens refuse to cooperate.

"As far back as February, NIMET warned everybody. People have built across channels. They've built on villages, they violated at will the planning regulations.

"You see, let's face it, what is happening today is happening all over the world. Let's join hands together with all government at every level, with all NGOs and private sector. This is a human affair, it is a disaster, which does not make a difference between one party or the other, or one part of the country or the other.

"As we speak today, about five local governments out of seven in Bayelsa is under the water. And like the Minister

has said, we are receiving four times the amount of rain that we have ever received in the history of this nation.”

Also speaking, Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Fashola, absolved federal government from blame for not providing temporary shelters for citizens in vulnerable flood plains who said they had nowhere to go.

According to him, it was the responsibility of states and local governments to do that.

He said from initial assessment, his ministry has identified 154 places where transport infrastructure worth N80 billion is impaired or damaged by the recent floods in parts of the country.

Fashola stated: "You see, first of all, let us be clear, this is not in Nigerian, unique problem. We see this all over the world. It's a human issue. At least let us dimension that whether it was in Pakistan, Florida, these early warnings were issued. Some people left, some people didn't leave. There are human issues.

"So, let's just understand, first of all, is a human issue and let us not situate it as a Nigerian problem. Now, also realise that there are levels of government involved here. There is a federal government, there is a state government, there are 36 of them.

And there are 774, local governments,

those places relating to who builds where, who sets up the house, of course are local planning issues that are not the responsibility of the federal government.

"As my colleague in Water Resources has said, one of the things his ministry has done is to share the Flood Warning System. It is a big, pro marker that shows that when water reaches this level, you're safe, if it gets to the yellow level is a warning to run.

"Those are some of the things government does. And it doesn't mean everybody will relocate.

"But as we speak here, some people didn't not relocate, some might have. But the job we have to do now is to bring relief to those who are impacted. That's our job now.

"So, recriminating about what happened yesterday, doesn't solve the problem. And what we have come to brief you about the steps being taken to make life livable, easy for the survivors, to commiserate with those who have lost people and property and to plan a way to make life better for tomorrow.

"What we have lost yesterday is gone.

Let's stop recriminating about it. And let's focus on how we can ensure that we're in a better position today and tomorrow and beyond."

18

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY OCTOBER 27, 2022

POLITICS

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com (08033025611 SMS ONLY)

Ezenwa: Plot to Undermine 2023 Poll is Real In this interview with reporters, Chairman of Partners for Electoral Reform and board member of YIAGA, Nwagwu Ezenwa, calls on Buhari to investigate reports of alleged plot to undermine the 2023 general elections. Emameh Gabriel brings excerpts:

H

ow would you rate the level of INEC’s preparation ahead of the 2023 polls?

Well, the challenge for 2023 is what I actually will talk about. I think that the current INEC leadership has, for me, put in place, a legacy that you can’t erase, in the sense that it has played itself completely out of any relevance in determining who wins elections. It has successfully restored power back to the people. Power to elect has returned back to the polling units.

But that has triggered a lot of reaction from politicians who are completely absent in any conversation about reforms. What that means is that there seems to be a spotlight on electronic transmission of results. There seems to be a lot of interests around the BVAS and these are the game changers for 2023. Politicians are in collusion with even some elements within INEC and the security agents.

If the citizens are not careful. Our investment in consolidating this democracy can be reversed. And that for me is the big challenge for 2023. The threats of reversal of all the gains, incremental gains that we have made to restore power back to the citizens of the country, through the polling units.

Few days ago, the CUPP addressed a press conference, and it is the reaction of that press conference that is of interest to me. It doesn’t look as if a lot of people are taking that press conference seriously. The allegations that were made there deserve investigation.

If you can have a Congress or Coalition of political parties coming to say that the 2023 election is threatened and that there are people who are working to even remove the INEC Chairman, and citizens are just like “okay, it is one of those press conferences”. What is the issue? If power has been restored back to the citizens of this country in a way that they can determine their leaders, I think that the media and civil society, must amplify, must continue to amplify those threats. And if possible, you know, put bigger search lights in ensuring that the people that have been pinpointed do not play roles that can truly make that bad dream come true.

First is, you have seen the interventions in the way that the resident electoral commissioners were appointed. We did address the press, calling attention to the fact that a lot of people with tainted pasts - about five people with tainted past have been cleared by the National Assembly as resident electoral commissioners. And the National Assembly is putting up very lame excuses that there were no affidavit, nobody swore to an affidavit. But you saw somebody who contested election in 2014 to be governor of a state, in a particular political party. That man is sitting pretty today as an INEC Commissioner. And we said there is nothing wrong with it. “Oh, nobody swore affidavit, the man said he was a party member five years ago.”

So if he was a party member five years ago, it is not enough to get him out of that place?

Election is about perception. So we are interested in ensuring that Nigerians are alerted to the threats that certain people within the security apparatus are working with some governors to undermine this democracy.

And the way to do that is to begin to put up trumped-up charges against the leadership of INEC and they’ve been doing that. If you remember, Professor Ogban, was hounded out of that place before his term expired. Several invitations to the security agencies, his cars were burgled and the rest of them.

Highly performing resident electoral commissioners who should have been returned as national commissioners were actually jettisoned.

And right now, we are bringing people who we cannot vouch for their integrity. That for me, and for us, is the biggest threat to this 2023 elections.

So when you call for investigation, this investigations should come in what form?

First and foremost, the President of this coun-

again is that if you follow the conversation, you will see that the narrative has remained the same in these seven election cycles. Is either they are attacking each other and then lieing about who did the attack. If you do a media content analysis, you will find that the trend has remained the same. But what is lacking is consequence management, the consequences of their actions, nobody manages it. And once that continues, we are not going to have the kind of outcome that you’re looking for.

So, what is the way out of this?

It is calling on the President to rein in the security agencies. To align them with his vision of a legacy of electoral integrity. He, himself being a beneficiary of that. He was a beneficiary of that. From 2007 when President Musa Yar’adua said the election that brought him to power was flawed, we started making an awkward journey of progress in our electoral cycle.

We are seeing real manifests, vicious attack on those progress that we have made and we cannot keep quiet. And we can point the places where this is happening and the President, the security agencies are aware, they know.

The kind of breathing on INEC has never happened before. This is the INEC chairman that has been taken to the code of conduct, that has been invited to this. All of that is meant to harass them. In Imo state, INEC officials are being harassed, detained, sent to jail.

Nwagwu try has already said he is going to leave a legacy of electoral integrity. If a congress of political parties make an allegation, I expect that the President should commission an investigation into those allegations. And make the outcome public.

With all these allegations, has your group engaged INEC on why all of these are happening?

These are government officials.

They speak in hush-hush tones.

But if you are perceptive, you can understand that they are currently under threats. Are you in doubt that the BVAS and the electronic transmission of results has changed the narrative of election administration in Nigeria? Is it contestable, that there are people who are angry with the fact that we are not going back to the 2007 era, where you will be voting and they are announcing results.

These current crop of politicians, across party lines, and that is why you are not hearing very strong voices even among the dominant political parties around these issues. So the challenge is for the President who has promised in the international stage, not even in Nigeria, he went to the United Nations and said he’s going to leave a legacy of electoral integrity. And that, that is one thing he’s going to bequeath to Nigerians.

But the current activities of people who want to undermine this election, this 2023 election, is not giving any impetus to that international promise

that the President made and I think he should be concerned and worried about that.

Nigerian security reports is predicting an increase of violence due to the upcoming elections due to political activities. Should Nigerians be worried of the activities of politicians ahead of 2023?

I think we have seen them. We’ve seen this happen all the time. We have done perhaps five election cycles - 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 should be the seventh election cycle. What has been the narrative? That is coming to the point that I’ve been making.

The challenge of breaking the rules, breaking the law for elections is that those who have responsibility to sanction, look the other way.

It is as simple as that.

The Electoral Act 2022 is very clear about violence, it is very clear about intemperate language, it is very clear about use of abusive language. There are penalties for these.

So, INEC will warn, the security agencies will pretend that it’s something that happens. So that has made politicians to come to that point where they think that they cannot be brought to book. We are overrating them, we are over respecting them. And I think that when it is clear that somebody uses intemperate language and that person can be arraigned in court under this Electoral Act 2022, it will send a strong deterrent to politicians and they will understand that we mean business.

But the attitude of both the security agencies and even sometimes the EMB is to pretend and warm. “INEC warns politicians not to use abusive language”. When they use abusive language, what do you do? That is the challenge.

The challenge is not that they use or they won’t use abusive language. But to turn it around

INEC will warn, the security agencies will pretend that it’s something that happens. So that has made politicians to come to that point where they think that they cannot be brought to book. We are overrating them, we are over respecting them. And I think that when it is clear that somebody uses intemperate language and that person can be arraigned in court under this Electoral Act 2022, it will send a strong deterrent to politicians and they will understand that we mean business

All these allegations, National Assembly has a role to play because BVAS, is already in the Electoral Act. What is your message for National Assembly?

You’re journalists, do you know somebody called Justice ikpeme? Can you find out what she did? Somebody can go to court and invalidate the progress that you have made. The conspiracy can include the judiciary and so that threat is real. It is the national assembly that cleared these people with tainted past, and provided lame excuses.

So, in many ways, you cannot even place a lot of hope on that same national assembly.

Nigerians, the active citizens of this country need to raise their voices now. Not after the election when the deed has been done and we start complaining. Election rigging does not start on election day. Election rigging starts with active connivance of security agencies, judiciary and an attack on the process. Once the process that brings credible election is attacked, the outcome is going to be different and that is the challenge.

Do you have any message aside what you’ve said to Nigerians?

Let’s make 2023 election, a people centred election. In the last 40 years of our life as a country all we have been doing, we have not been building houses for the poor. We have reduced spending on public education. We have not been providing public transportation.

We have not been managing our agriculture in a way that it benefits the majority of the people. We have privatised everything. We have deregulated everything. We have devalued the naira, according to the dictates of the IMF and the World Bank.

It is time for the people to be the one setting the agenda. We should take our eyes off the glossy manifestos that are going to be printed and lifted from Google and served to the people we should be the ones generating the narrative.

And we should protect the institutions that have shown that they have capacity to guarantee free, fair and credible elections.

And that is why I started by the fact that we have a responsibility to understand that the Mahmoud’s Commission has given Nigerians power and it is our responsibility to protect that power that has been given to us. That is the message.

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

19

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY OCTOBER 27, 2022

POLITICS

Ugwu: I Will Reclaim My Senatorial Ticket in Court In this interview monitored on Arise TV, candidate of the Labour Party Enugu North senatorial ticket, Ernest Ugwu, accuses Okey Ezea, who was published

by INEC as the party’s candidate in the district and others of forging his withdrawal document and affidavit and vows to fight on in court to recover his stolen mandate. is centred on what you have done. Check my records in the private school sector. This is the first time that Enugu State is coming first in WAEC. I am not the Commissioner for Education. But go and verify from the Commissioner my contribution. I have been retraining and training teachers since 2019, which formed the training I had in March, which Peter Obi was the keynote speaker.

Ugwu

W

hy are you being accused of being a placeholder?

That when it was time for you to step down for those, who claimed to be the rightful owners of the ticket, you refused?

Honestly, it beats my imagination. I think I need to tell you a little story on how my journey in Labour Party started. It started back in 2011. I have a relationship with Mr. Peter Obi. I worked for him to reform education in Anambra State while he was governor and that’s what got me into educational business.

I opened school in 2016 and I have been following Obi. So, I am not in Labour Party just because it’s Labour Party, but because of the human being who is driving the change.

To your question, it’s just like what Chimamanda Adichie said in Germany.

According to her, they should return what they have stolen from us because you can’t go to someone’s house and take his car by force and say he can’t take care of the car he bought by himself. So, that’s what this matter looks like to me.

I was the person, who conveyed from Enugu all the delegates for Peter Obi’s primary election to Asaba. I conveyed them in my car. I wasn’t a delegate, but when Peter saw me he said, “Thank God you are here, come in; you are not a delegate, but you are going to sit with me”. I was sitting right before him, not far.

So, after all these things, I rallied round to mobilise an Enugu North senatorial candidate for Peter, but nobody wanted to take this position. I first of all went for House of Representatives, but at the long run, when I didn’t see anyone to challenge the governor (Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi) because they were all running away, I contested the primary and I won, unopposed. It’s not like I had someone, who came second. No. So, of course, I begin to wonder because I kept on hearing rumours that someone is the candidate ( Okey Ezea).

They say that you don’t have the capacity to defeat a Governor Ugwuanyi and as a result of that, they think you should be able to stay aside and get people, who have the capacity in terms of finance, political knowledge to be able to fly the flag of the Labour Party, which is becoming the beautiful bride because of the entrance of Peter Obi. Tell us about that.

I will answer it in two ways. Number one, when somebody says I don’t have the capacity, I begin to imagine. Is it my capacity to win the election with money? Must we now win election with money? Are elections for the highest bidder? Our mantra in Labour Party

Yes, you are the chairman of all the private schools in Enugu State. Do you think that’s enough to give you the political clout when you are facing a sitting governor?

What is Peter Obi facing the incumbent government with? He is facing a ruling party with credibility and track record; and that’s the mantra of the labour party.

You think that’s enough in the local politics that goes on in Enugu State?

If it’s enough for Peter Obi, why is it not enough for me? And I want to ask you, is it not the masses that will choose who will lead them? The other segment of the questions you asked me is about, if I look for everybody to come and contest election and they refused and I contested and won and nobody came to me and asked me, give me this ticket, you went ahead and forged my withdrawal letter without my consent.

Yes, tell us about that because they are accusing you, that you actually withdrew from this seat, that’s why Okey Ezea had to come and take the ticket.

This is where they signed a signature (Displaying a document). This is not my signature.

I will show you my correct signature. And this particular signature they signed here for my withdrawal, I got this thing from Court because they never approached me.

Are you saying they forged a signature?

Yes. This particular signature is the signature that purportedly received the letter for Labour Party as the Admin Secretary.

You can see it.

So, I am Ugwu Ernest. I am also the Admin Secretary for the Labour Party. If you come to the affidavit, you will still see that it is the same signature that signed the affidavit. To make the matter worse, if you look at this thing, it’s a letter written to me by FCT High Court. What did they write? I asked them: I didn’t know when I came here (to the FCT High Court) to do any affidavit. Give me a certified true copy of my affidavit, let me know whether I did this thing in the dream. And they wrote to me. See their reply (displaying court’s letter). We didn’t see you and there’s no record like that.

So, that was also a forged document?

Are you asking me? Isn’t it obvious to you by now? Let me even ask you, if, for instance, that I don’t even have capacity to run, as they claim, are we now going to allow someone, who has the capacity to forge my purported withdrawal documents without my consent? Someone, who forged court documents? Is that what the Labour Party and Peter Obi represent?

The first time I met with this man, Okey Ezea was when he came to my father’s burial on 23rd of July 2022. But this forged document is bearing 15th July. Which means that they had already finished forging the documents and my signature before I even set my eyes on him for the first time.

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

20

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022

FEATURES

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

Championing Advocacy for Cleaner Air in Lagos Communities The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency in collaboration with the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority recently kicked off a clean air advocacy campaign tagged “Sanwo Switch to Gas” project in Ikorodu area of the state. Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that the initiative was also targeted at empowering women and youths

Oba Bashiru Sotonwa (Sekunmande of Ipakodo); GM LASEPA, Dr Dolapo Fasawe; Oba GM LASEPA, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe displaying one of the pre- filled gases distributed to community Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali ( Adeboruwa of Igbogbo kingdom); CEO Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Mr Bashir Are; Baale Igbe Igbogbo Laare, Alh. Abdul-Radar Banjoko memorial

Display of pre- filled gases to champion Advocacy for Cleaner Air

Some community members with their "treasured" plastics which they exchanged for cash, food

Chief Imam ,Oriwu Central Mosque, Ikorodu, His Eminence, Sheikh Yahya Oshoala As-samadaani flanked on the left by the Director Noise & Emission, Mrs Bisi Sonibare; Ikorodu Zonal Head, Femi Oyedele and the GM LASEPA, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe and others on the right

Presentation of cooking gas to Aunty Ramota by the LASEPA team ...L-R : Afeez Alliu, ( Agency camera man); Bola Ajao,( (Chief Public Affairs); Mrs Bisi Sonibare (/Director Noise & Emission); Funmi Salami (/Director Public Affairs Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority); Funke Tinde ( Clerical Officer); others are Faderera Koko (/Director Land & Water Pollution) and Hammed Muib Alade (Director Hydrocarbon and Gas Storage)

T

he Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, (LASEPA) in collaboration with Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) recently kicked off a clean air advocacy campaign tagged “Sanwo Switch to Gas” project in Ikorodu area of the state.

The event which took place at the Ikorodu Town Hall, had in attendance, hundreds of residents who were given pre-filled gas cylinders and other eco-friendly materials in exchange for single-use plastic wastes.

According to the General Manager of LASEPA, Dr Dolapo Faswe, the "Sanwo Switch to Gas" initiative also presents an opportunity to further raise awareness on plastic recycling for a better and sustainable

environment.

She further stated that the agency is pushing for a circular economy especially when it comes to proper disposal of all forms of waste using the "Trash for Cash" method.

She stated that the campaign is to advocate and sensitize the residents on the need to phase out the abuse of the environment from the use of burning of charcoal, firewood usage and also encourage residents to appropriately dispose various domestic and industrial wastes.

Fasawe also noted that there is need to enlighten the residents about the EKO Clean Air, adding that Governor Sanwoolu is particularly concerned about the health and environment of Lagosian, thus the

need for collective action against unfriendly lifestyles, single use plastics and burning of fossil fuels so as to protect the environment for generations yet unborn.

She said: "We have to stop burning fossil fuels and start cooking with gas, the truth is that we have done research and we have seen that a lot of people do not even understand the benefits of using gas in terms of cost, health, and efficiency.

"This advocacy is meant to promote friendly attitudinal change, our plan is to go around the 20 Local government area and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the State. We would continuously educate the people,

communicate with them and pass across information through entertainment."

"We want to encourage recycling and urge you to bring plastic bottles, the more plastic bottles you bring, the more cash or gas cookers you will receive.

“We considered it necessary at LASEPA to bring this message of Eko Clean Air to the residents of lkorodu. We want the people of Lagos to know that there is nothing called waste because what is considered waste is someone else’s treasured raw materials."

The General Manager further disclosed that the most important key performance indicator of the State Environmental Protection Agency is to keep the environment and air clean, in-line with Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu’s THEMES Agenda on Health and Environment.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022

FEATURES

As Furious Floods Buffet the Food Basket

The devastating impact of flooding on houses Tunde Olusunle

Y

our eyes are instantly arrested by the unusual volume of the Benue River as you drive into Makurdi from the Daudu/Agan abutments of the capital of Benue State, this quiet afternoon. You glide past the approach bridge, and glimpse to your left, the "Makurdi Golf Course," hitherto seated by the scenic lips of the river. It is soaked, sadly now, swamped and submerged by the overabundance of liquid blessings.

Ahead of you is the attention-commanding artwork of a huge basket bearing a variety of farm produce, an attestation to the pride of place of Benue State as the epicentre of food production in the country. The image sits strategically at the intersection which leads to the nation's South East and South South stretches. The scourge of the floods, you come to understand, is the reason that your host, Samuel Ioraer Ortom, governor of the state, could barely savour the nation's 62nd Independence Anniversary, two days later.

He began his day that Saturday Oct 1, 2022, by attending the interdenominational church service commemorating the national landmark. The event was held at the All Nations Evangelism Ministries in Makurdi, the state capital and Ortom had taken the first Bible reading. He was also invited to make some remarks, before the closing prayers and benediction. Those who expected him to return to Government House, Makurdi to fete guests in the spirit of the occasion, however, were disappointed. He virtually commandeered officials of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, (BESEMA), to take him on a tour of sections of the state capital which were affected by the water overflow. The development had precipitated the dislodgement of his people in parts and the destruction of their farmlands and by extension their livelihoods.

Ortom was dressed in white and green blazers and trousers, in the spirit of the independence. The kind of impromptu tour he had just elected to undertake would have been better suited to jeans trousers and rain boots. The imperative for him to appraise the situation himself as the pragmatist that he is, however, had no time for sartorial correctness.

Ortom toured *Wadata Market,* *Rice Mill,* *Awe Street (Wurukum),* the designated park and headquarters of *Benue Links* transport

Credit; Google company, all the way to *Kucha Utebe.* He inspected the environs of *Benue State University Teaching Hospital,* all in the state capital. Makurdi was effectively under water. Besides Makurdi local government area, Guma, Gwer West, Katsina-Ala and Agatu, are other provinces held by the throat, by flooding.

Ortom was accompanied by officials of his administration and federal parliamentarians. Bem Mzondo and John Dyegh, representing Makurdi/Guma, and Gboko Tarka federal constituencies; Ortom's Chief of Staff, Tivlumun Nyitse and the Director of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, (BESEMA), Emmanuel Shior, were on the governor's delegation. Felix Atume, a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, (FA Eng), was also on the tour. They were briefed that River Benue, Nigeria's second largest water body, was one of those negatively impacted by the release of excess water from *Lagdo Dam* in neighbouring Cameroun. The Lagdo burst also afflicted River Katsina-Ala, the second largest in Benue State, precipitating developments similar to the Makurdi experience.

An estimated 126,000 people from 24,000 households have been unsettled by the floods. The state government has temporarily relocated them into a camp for Internally Displaced Persons, (IDPs) in Makurdi. This expectedly, compounds the IDP situation in the state, hitherto precipitated by Fulani herdsmen's untoward activities in the state, with makeshift structures housing them, dotted around the state. Ortom estimates his constituents numbering over a million, as having been long uprooted from their homelands. In addition to this reality, no less than 5000 hectares of cultivated rice and other crops have been destroyed by the recent water burst. The macroeconomics of this will impact on food sufficiency and security, in the coming weeks and months.

Benue State is also renowned for massive cultivation of yams, sorghum, sesame seeds, groundnuts, oranges and mangoes, among others.

Governor Ortom alluded to the earlier pledge of the federal government to dredge River Benue, a promise which remains unkept till date. Former Transportation Minister under President Muhammadu Buhari regime, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi while defending his ministry's budget

before the national parliament in 2017, said matter-of-factly that the river will be dredged. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on a visit to Benue State later in 2017, re-echoed Amaechi, adding that drainage channels will be created for effective mitigation of water fluxes. A contract worth N34 Billion was thereafter reportedly awarded for the dredging, which has remained unexecuted five years on.

Whether this was stalled by superior professional guidance about the challenges of levelling the preponderance of rock outcrops in the bed of the river, or by feasibility studies on the economic viability of the exercise, has not been established. Ortom believes, however, that the apathy towards the project is consistent with the *laissez faire* disposition to everything about Benue State in the eyes of the federal government. He challenged the legislators representing the state in the national assembly to dig into the issue to ascertain the actual status of the said contract which has remained a ding-dong affair for five long years.

He observed that a similar disaster occurred in 2012, exactly 10 years ago, and faulted the government's capacity in disaster anticipation and planning for its amelioration.

Offering his perspectives as an expert in engineering, Atume noted that the ferocity of the floods were heightened by blocked channels which ordinarily are the natural pathways for water.

He observed that in certain instances, flood plains had been abused and converted to residential estates. In many such instances, water he noted was an eventual nemesis, which came back to haunt its abusers. Atume alluded to the massive silting and sedimentation of the river bed, and the irresponsible practice of pollution by way of indiscriminate dumping of non-biodegradable material, especially plastics.

Also a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, (FNSE), Atume noted: "Water moves with intense force and serious velocity. It is very heavy, very powerful. It must be allowed to flow or it will create its own outlets." According to him, government must

muster the political will to do the right thing in addressing the situation, because it will have to take tough decisions in some cases. "Government has to address itself to outright demolition of structures where natural courses have been obstructed," he said. "Channels will then have to be designed taking into consideration existing geophysical peculiarities, to allow water free movement."

Atume also expressed concern about a critical mass of the Lekki span of Lagos State. He's worried that much of the primordial water body was momentarily suppressed in the name of reclamation, for purposes of physical development. Water, he noted, will someday, always find its level.

The Benue State governor called on emergency and relief ministries, departments and agencies, (MDAs), to come to the immediate aid of the state in assuaging the plight of his people, as he addressed the media at *Kucha Utebe:* "Having physically gone round the various locations affected by the most recent floods, it is clear to me that we need help from everywhere. From the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management; the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) and other such bodies, we need all the help we can get at this trying period.

Support from donor agencies will be much appreciated as well." According to Ortom, the present experience cannot be solely managed by the state government, in a milieu where dwindling resources are impacting the seamless functioning of the state.

A delegation of the Nigeria Governors' Forum, (NGF) on Friday October 7, met with Buhari in the State House, Abuja. Led by the outgoing chairman of the body, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, they drew the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari to the flood challenge across the country and requested the prompt and decisive intervention of the federal government. Buhari advised the forum to engage with the Water Resources Minister, Suleiman Hussein Adamu, articulate an action plan and revert accordingly, so that the federal government "will see what can be done." How this suggestion will ameliorate the urgent, present, pressing predicament of the people of Benue State, given the snail pace of bureaucracy in our governance superstructure, is yet to be seen. t5VOEF 0MVTVOMF 1I% QPFU KPVSOBMJTU TDIPMBS BOE BVUIPS JT B .FNCFS PG UIF /JHFSJBO (VJME PG &EJUPST /(&

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THURSDAY OCTOBER 27, 2022 •T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022

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Ahead of UN Climate Change Conference, Experts Call for Collaboration on Climate Adaptation Across Africa

Emma Okonji Ahead of the 2022 United Nations’ Climate Change Conference (COP27), with the theme: ‘Adaptation Dialogue: Implementing the Vision’, which is scheduled to hold in Egypt next month, the African Development Bank and the Global Center on Adaptation, held series of events during the Africa Climate Week to build consensus among African countries and stakeholders on climate adoption and implementation policies.

During the meetings, experts on

climate change stressed the need for Africa to further strengthen collaboration on climate adaptation, and to come up with a position paper at the United Nation’s Climate Change conference.

COP27 is described as Africa’s COP that would significantly shape the future of Africa on climate change, hence the need to deliver on transformative adaptation agenda, ahead of the United Nation’s conference.

The experts highlighted the progress made by the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program

(AAAP) so far, notably its contribution to narrowing the adaptation gap and accelerating the implementation of the Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI). The AAI represents Africa’s bold and innovative step to galvanize the support needed to significantly scale up adaptation across the continent.

Speaking on behalf of the Vice President, Power, Energy, Climate Change and Green Growth, Dr. Kevin Kariuki, the Acting Director of Climate Change and Green Growth Department at the African Development Bank, Al-Hamndou

Dorsouma, underscored the urgent need for accelerated adaptation action.

Dorsouma called for accelerated action against climate change while making rapid, deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to avoid a mounting loss of life, biodiversity, and infrastructure. He noted that progress on adaptation has been uneven so far, with increasing gaps between action taken and what is needed to deal with the increasing risks.

Senior Director and Africa Regional Director at the Global Center

on Adaptation (GCA), Prof. Anthony Nyong, highlighted the need to improve climate resilience and adaptation in Africa. He estimated the cost of climate change at $579 billion by 2030, with global finance skewed towards mitigation, but only 7.2 per cent of global finance goes to climate adaptation.

Special Advisor to the President of the Gabonese Republic and the Permanent Secretary of the National Climate Council, Tanguy GahoumaBekale, endorsed the AAAP as a primary vehicle for implementing the Africa Adaptation Initiative’s

mandate. The program seeks to mobilize $25 billion to accelerate climate change adaptation actions across Africa.

The AAAP is an Africa-owned and Africa-led response to the continent’s expressed needs and priorities to reduce its vulnerabilities to climate change and harness the opportunities that result from climate change. Since its launch in April 2021, the AAAP upstream financing facility, managed by GCA, has enabled mainstreaming adaptation into investments worth over $3 billion.

NSIA, LASG Assure Kasi DataCentres of Optimal Support for Market Expansion Emma Okonji The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and the Lagos State government have reiterated their support for Kasi DataCentres, in order to enable it attain its full expansion plan in Lagos and other states of the county.

Kasi DataCentres, when fully operational in 2023, is expected to create digital jobs and enhance the economies of the state and the country at large.

Both NSIA and the Lagos State government gave the assurances in Lagos on Tuesday, while unveiling the Kasi Foundry and the Kasi Academy, which graduated 13 students in its first cohort, designed to develop digital skills among Nigerian youths.

Chief Executive Officer of NSIA, Mr. Uche Orji, who was represented by the Secretary to Governing Council of NSIA, Uduak Ukpeh, said as partner, NSIA would continue to support Kasi DataCentres in all its

operations, since it is centred around digital job creation.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Innovation and Technology, Mr. Tubosun Alake, said development in the technology space had shown that hybrid Data Centres being championed by Kasi DataCentres, come with a lot of potential to drive skills development, adding that the state government will be willing to support companies like Kasi

DataCentres to enable it achieve full market expansion that will benefit the people of Lagos and the Lagos State government.

According to Alake, Lagos State government will be supporting in areas of rapid infrastructure development and making sure that there is efficient structure on ground. “The support is necessary because government is in the business of serving people and creating economic values as quick as possible. Government will also

provide the right incentives for Kasi DataCentres to ensure its growth and development,” Alake said.

Speaking about the potential of existing data centres, Kasi International Partner, and Chairman of Infrastructure Masons, a global professional association of individuals motivated to make a better connected world for everyone, Mr. Dean Nelson, said: “There are seven million data centres in the world, and 105 Gigawatts of capacity around the

world, which represent 2.4 per cent of the global energy drive. This is all about digital infrastructure because the billions of devices that are currently on the globe are consuming infrastructure. India alone, in 2019, had 400 Megawatts capacity globally. In Africa, there are about 300 Megawatts capacity, which is underdevelopment, compare to the huge population of Africans. So the Kasi DataCentres, Continued on page 25

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT T U E S D AY, O C T O B E R 2 5 , 2 0 2 2 BILLS

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MATURITY FSDH CP VII 27-OCT-22 SIBP CP III 27-OCT-22 DLMG CP IV 11-NOV-22 FDHP CP III 17-MAR-23 VHPL CP III 1-APR-23

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OTC F X F U T U R E S CONTRACT Current Updated Time TENOR Contract Rate ($/₦) (MONTH) October 21, NGUS OCT 26 1 449.69 2022 2022 October 21, NGUS NOV 30 451.43 2 2022 2022 NGUS DEC 28 453.18 October 21, 3 2022 2022 NGUS JAN 25 454.92 October 21, 4 2023 2022 NGUS FEB 22 456.67 October 21, 5 2023 2022

24

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Jarmakani: Nigeria Needs Sustainable Plan to Compete Globally Managing Director of Aramex, Mr. Faysal Jarmakani speaks on the performance of Team Nigeria at this year’s Global Robotic Challenge in Switzerland, and the need for a sustainable plan that will enable Nigerian youths compete in globally. Emma Okonji presents the excerpts: You have been consistent in sponsoring Nigerian students to the annual First Global Robotic Challenge. What has been the motivating factor, and what is the benefit for your company and the Nigerian economy? or six consecutive years, Aramex and I have been consistent in sponsoring Nigerian students to the First Global Robotic Challenge, and I sincerely thank the Nigerian media for recognising that. I will start by saying that it is the responsibility of every leader to be involved in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and I have chosen to sponsor Nigerian students yearly for the global competition, as my own contribution to the growth of Nigerian students. The students should be able to learn how to use the most powerful tool in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in solving challenges. I strongly believe in Nigerian youths because they are highly talented and I believe they will do better if given the international exposure to participate in First Global Robotic Challenge, and that is the motivating factor that is driving my passion to invest in Nigerian students.

More than 50 per cent of the Nigerian population is youth and I strongly believe that if we improve the youths, we will also improve the economy. Although I have a white skin, but I am a Nigerian, my father was a Nigerian, I grew up in Nigeria, my children are in Nigeria and I am a Nigerian investor. So I take pleasure in investing in Nigerian students.

The impact it will create on the Nigerian economy is great, because we are driving our Logistics business with modern technology and we are passionate about robotic technology and that is the area we are exposing Nigerian students to. Technology has enabled us to solve challenges and it has enabled us to accelerate growth rapidly. If Nigeria as a country digitizes its economy, the country will become more efficient, and it all begins with the education system. So if Nigerian students are given the right education and exposed to the right technology, it will impact on the economy.

will excel exceedingly.

Lack of sufficient technology infrastructure across Africa, is affecting African development. What can Nigeria do to address the situation?

It is about commitment and will-power of the African government to support technology growth. In Nigeria for instance, the annual budget is huge, but the allocation for Science and Technology is still low. Every development starts with the budget. If enough money is channeled to infrastructural development like roads, electricity, education, and it is well utilised, the challenge of infrastructure will be addressed. So we need good policies to address the infrastructural challenges of the country. Nigeria has great leaders, but I think the challenge is that our leaders are trying to fix too many challenges at the same time.

Nigeria needs to fix technology infrastructure right and ensure interconnectivity of all its databases. Power and roads need to be fixed, and if these few infrastructures are fully addressed, government could move to others areas of development, and gradually the infrastructure challenges of the country will be addressed.

F

Being consistent with the sponsorship for six years, will you want to get government support or private sector support to cushion the financial burden, or is it an investment you are comfortable with?

The more government and the private sector are involved in the sponsorship, the better for us as a company. But from experience, we have learnt that if government is involved, things might slowdown because government is slow to driving business.

Our intention is to engage the parents of the beneficiaries, as well as alumni members that have benefitted from the initiative. We will structure it in such a way that the alumni could be part of the sponsors by way of giving back to the society. Our plan is to continue doing what we are doing in sponsoring Nigerian students to global robotic competition and as time goes by, we may involve the government and the private sector, if they are interested and willing. One thing I would want government to do is to infuse this our initiative into the school system, where students are thought robotics from school. Both the public and private sectors should see it as an opportunity to introduce robotics education in the school system.

Can you tell us about this year’s sponsorship of Nigerian students to the First Global Challenge in Geneva, Switzerland?

The Nigeria team that participated in this year’s First Global Robotic Challenge in Geneva, Switzerland, from October 13th16th, has showcased Nigeria as a country of talented people with digital skills that could be improved upon, if given the enabling environment.

Team Nigeria, made up of students from selected secondary schools, participated in

Jarmakani the global robotic competition with other students from over 165 countries.

As a philanthropist associated with multiple corporate social responsibility initiative, focused on advancing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in Nigerian youth, I have been involved with the sponsorship of Nigerian students to the yearly competition, with support from Aramex, a delivery service company and joint venture partner of Aramex International LLC in Nigeria.

This year, five students represented Nigeria, which include: Tofunmi Olusodo of Supreme Education Foundation schools; Abdul-Qoyyum Oyadeyi of Oxbridge Tutorial College; Samuel Olaiya of Igbobi College Yaba; Famidah Yussuf, and Taimiyyah Abdullahi-Aliyu, both of Heritage Home Schools.

The theme for this year’s competition was ‘Carbon Capture’, designed to reaffirm the common goal of capturing and reducing carbon from the environment through simulation method.

For exemplifying the values of the First Global Community, demonstrating professionalism and building bridges with fellow teams from various countries, Team Nigeria came third place out of 40 other countries that participated in that category, and was awarded a bronze medal for the Dr. Mae Jemison Award for International Unity.

The world is changing rapidly and we cannot afford to play back stage. Great economies that are emerging are driven

by AI, Robotics, Machine Learning and others. For Nigeria to compete on the global stage, we need a deliberate and sustainable plan that will offer our youth such opportunities.

Do you have plans to sell the idea of robotic education to government and ensure that government builds it into the secondary school curriculum?

It is a laudable initiative that I think the government will like, but we must be careful in the way and manner we push it to government because if we scale it too quickly, it might get out of hand. I am in Lagos State, and I will like to first involve the state government, and work on the proof of concept, and test run it,

before we can move to other sates of the federation. We have the foundation to scale it, but we will need the support and collaboration of government, because government has to support in order to provide incentives to the private sector that is ready to invest in the initiative.

Most schools teach technology courses but do not have the basic infrastructure, like computers, laptops and internet access.

So the participation of the public and private sector, will give room for expansion and growth.

What is your view about the willingness of Nigerian students adapting to digital and emerging technologies?

I always say that although Nigeria is not ranked as a technology country, but that Nigeria is a technology-enabled country. I usually say this because I have observed over the years that Nigerians are open and willing to learn. They are intelligent, and if given the enabling environment and the right tools, they will perform creditably. Global technology companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are hiring Nigerians in their organisations and these Nigerians are the ones that have been opportune to travel outside of the country to study technology related courses. When Nigerian students are exposed to global technology and are given the right technology tools to study, they excel in their studies, because they are resilient and willing to learn.

So the few Nigeriens that have travelled and exposed globally, always excel. We have some of them hired in our establishment in Aramex, handling data collection and building our startup company. Nigerians are skilled and good in their studies, but the challenge is that the Nigerian government has not been able to develop the Nigerian tech ecosystem that will make Nigerians excel better. Silicon Valley for instance, has grown its tech ecosystem and has raised a community of coders who are busy researching on new technology development that will better the economy and the rest of the world. We do not have such in Nigeria. I think if the Nigerian government is able to establish good technology hubs in Nigeria, Nigerians

What have been your challenges in contributing to the growth of digital transformation in Nigeria?

The challenges are obvious, but we will continue to promote digital transformation across Nigeria. The situation can be likened to someone with a fast moving car on a bad road. The car cannot achieve maximum speed at any point in time when in motion, because of the bad road. So Nigeria has the right people that are resilience and willing to learn digital skills, but do not have the enabling environment. The leadership needs to identify the challenges and address them squarely.

Are you thinking of collaboration with other private sector organisations to enhance technology innovation in Nigeria?

Technology innovation is key to economic development of any nation, but the challenge I see is that most startup companies raise capital too quickly, even before they get their proof of concept ready. We need to instill confidence in our startups and encourage them not to be too much in a hurry to go to market with their products. They need to understand the market and get their proof of concept ready before they hit the road running in order not to make mistakes that will return them back to the planning stage.

The next frontier of technology development is in Africa, and all eyes of investors are in Africa, to see what kind of innovative products will come out of Africa. So, African governments need policies that will drive technology development across Africa, being the next frontier of technology development.

How do you see Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies creating digital jobs, while cutting down on traditional jobs?

Robotics technology, driven by AI technology, is not meant to replace humans and to take away traditional jobs, but I see it as an accelerator of digital jobs. AI will accelerate the amount of information needed at any point in time. However, robots do not have emotions, so we still need the role of the humans to handle some aspect of the jobs that the robot cannot effectively handle. If for example we have effective robotics in car manufacturing, it means there will be more cars produced and sold, which will reduce importation of such cars and that will create more jobs.

Robotics is a mixture of Technology, Science, Engineering and Mathematics, where people in these areas come together to produce robots. The Nigerian government needs to digitize the Nigerian economy and get it connected through automation, digitization and robotics.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022

25

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

SDGs: Understanding the Place of Corporate Organisations Ugo Aliogo examines the efforts of private companies to key into the Sustainable Development Goals to boost education

T

he Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

The 17 SDGs are integrated and they recognise that action in one area will affect outcomes in others, and that development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability.

Countries have committed to prioritize progress for those who are the furthest behind. The SDGs are designed to end poverty, hunger, AIDS, and discrimination against women and girls.

The creativity, knowhow, technology and financial resources from all of society is necessary to achieve the SDGs in every context.

Since the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2015, Nigeria has continued to demonstrate its commitment to achieving the global goals through leadership and ownership of the implementation process.

The UN in Nigeria is strengthening its support through provision of technical support to the Office of the Senior Special Advisor to the President on SDGs (OSSAP-SDGs) and line Ministries in an effort to ensure that planning and budgeting for development activities in the country are within the framework of the SDGs. The UN is working closely with the Government of Nigeria and other partners in ensuring that the SDGs are efficiently and effectively implemented and that resources are allocated to sectors of the economy that will yield highest dividend for the poor and the vulnerable Nigerians.

Quality education is goal number four of the SDGs. Under the goal four, it was discovered that since 2000, there has been enormous progress in achieving the target of universal primary education. The total enrolment rate in developing regions reached 91 per cent in 2015, and the worldwide number of children out of school has dropped by almost half. There has also been a dramatic increase in literacy rates, and many more girls are in school than ever before.

Progress has also been tough in some developing regions due to high levels of poverty, armed conflicts and other emergencies. In Western Asia and North Africa, on-going armed conflicts have seen an increase in the number of out-of-School children. This is a worrying trend. While sub-Saharan has Africa made the greatest progress in primary school enrolment among developing regions from 52 per cent in 1990, up to 78 per cent in 2012, large disparities still remain. Children from poorest households are up to four times more likely to be out of school than those of the richest households. Disparities between rural and urban areas also remain high. However, the task of education ensuring that the disparities in education are addressed doesn’t rest with government alone. The private sector has a role to play in the equation, especially from the angle of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to support the growth of education. Private organisations such as banks have taken education related CSR very

serious and one of their core activities. One of such private companies is First Bank.

One of the mantras of banks as financial institutions is that it is woven into the fabrics of the society. This implies that every of its initiatives are geared towards societal good, impacting lives and contributing its quota to national development and growth. The bank has built an enviable track record in CSR activities, the National Company of the Year (NCOY) is one of the several projects that the bank has been supporting for years and continues to show renewed commitment and focus.

The bank’s sponsorship of the National Company of the Year competition aligns with its FutureFirst initiative, which is aimed at promoting financial literacy, entrepreneurship and innovative development and career counselling of school children at an early age.

FIRST BANK COMMITMENT TO CSR

The winners at the 2022 Nigeria National Competition were International School, University of Lagos; Queen’s School, Ibadan; Top Faith International Secondary School, Akwa-Ibom; and Special Education School, Tudun Maliki.

Speaking at the event, the Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, Folake Ani-Mumuney, emphasised that the initiative aims at empowering secondary school students to build fulfilling careers and be financially conscious from a young age.

This she pointed out would help young people gain the tools and knowledge to make effective, informed financial management decisions and achieve long term financial independence.

She said through the initiative and FirstBank’s partnership with JAN, over one million young Nigerians have been impacted as they have continued to strategically drive sustainability practises through the innovation and participation of students in the JA Company programme.

Ani-Mumuney further explained that the bank remains committed to engendering an entrepreneurial mindset in children and young adults thereby fostering their creativity, wealth creation and management skills and ultimately, nurturing the kindness culture and corporate responsibility and sustainability involvements.

She remarked that the overarching goal of the Junior Achievement’s NCOY programme is to empower young people to own their economic success by enhancing the relevance of education which is in tandem with FirstBank’s FutureFirst Initiative, “and which is the bank’s financial literacy, entrepreneurship and career counselling programme, established to promote financial inclusion amongst the youth.”

According to her, “As the flagship event and culminating point for the JA Company Program and accompanying regional competitions across Nigeria, NCOY brings together outstanding student business

teams across Nigeria to compete for the opportunity to represent Nigeria at the JA Africa Company of the Year competition. This annual celebration of success has allowed young people to demonstrate their business acumen and spirit of entrepreneurship in a competitive environment.

“FirstBank has been involved with Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) for over twenty-two years as one of the many ‘fronts’ in the bank’s engagements with the next generation of Nigerians to collaboratively create the bright, innovative future that Nigerians dream of.

“FirstBank’s partnership with JAN on the National Company of the Year competition has meant over a decade of impact and innovation illustrated by the very nature of innovative products and services created by young minds to solve real problems facing society and the business systems they put in place in form of student companies to successfully produce and market the products and services sustainably and to impact their local communities.

“We remain committed to engendering an entrepreneurial mindset in children and young adults thereby fostering their creativity, wealth creation and management skills and ultimately, nurturing the kindness culture and corporate responsibility and sustainability involvements.”

Addressing the theme for this year’s event which is: ‘Fuelling Change Makers’, she said it would to intensify the already burning passion of these young minds by encouraging them every step of the way as they have differentiated themselves as change makers.

She further said: “We are here to witness a display of ingenuity birthed through the pure commitment and dedication to rigorous trainings and several hours of work by these young ones. They deserve a loud ovation for these achievements. I congratulate all the 12 student companies participating in this year’s competition.

“I must however specially recognise and mention the students of Special Education School (for the Blind and Deaf) from Tundun, Maliki dubbed as The Straw Recyclers company. These students have demonstrated in its entirety that human limitation is just an illusion, it only becomes a reality if you allow it. Well-done guys.

“Every participant has done excellently well to have come this far, and I have no doubt that regardless of which student company emerges winner today, you all qualify to represent Nigeria at the Junior Achievement Africa Company of the Year competition to be hosted by Nigeria in December 2022.

“Beyond the amazing achievements of projects and inventions by the participants, I am delighted to announce that in partnership with JAN we have now integrated SPARK (Start Performing Acts of Random Kindness) initiative into the Company Programme. This is FirstBank’s way of strategically institutionalising the kindness culture into the Nigerian

educational system.”

THE SPARK INITIATIVE

According to Ani-Mumuney, “The SPARK initiative is designed to raise consciousness that we can choose to be kind. It further seeks to promote small acts of kindness aimed at reigniting values that appear to be eroding in our society. As I prepare to round up, we must admit that our roles in Fuelling (these) Change Makers are crystal clear, and I will highlight a few of them: funding, mentoring, Sponsorship/Partnership/ Collaboration, and others.

“We at FirstBank unequivocally reiterate our commitment to this strategic partnership and sponsorship aimed at nation building and showcasing the creative ability of students.

“We commit to also continue to uphold our brand promise of keeping You First by providing the gold standards of services through all the bespoke financial solutions for our children and youth ranging from the KidsFirst account to the Xplore First account which have been designed to make savings fun for our children and wards. As we teach them enterprise and wealth creation, we encourage parents and guardians to secure their future by opening a FirstBank savings account in any of the relevant age categories.”

THE ROLE OF JAN

In her remarks, the Executive Director, Junior Achievement Nigeria, Foluso Gbadamosi, stated: “Our mission towards inspiring and transforming young people with the skill sets and mindsets needed to help them thrive in a global economy has been both challenging and exhilarating. We are extremely grateful to everyone who has made today possible. We are proud of these young leaders and their growing capacity for innovation which we believe will take Nigeria to the next level.”

Meanwhile, the overall winner of the competition was the Green Apex student company from the International School, University of Lagos, they produced a biodegradable sanitary pad for women.

While the first runner up was the Nexus Queen’s Creation student company from Queen’s School, Ibadan, that developed a decorative led lamp structured with 80 percent carton.

The second runner up is KRi8 student company from Top Faith International Secondary School, Akwa-Ibom, for developing a vacuum cleaner.

The CEO of the Year, went to the straw recyclers student company from Special Education School, Tudun Maliki (School for the blind and deaf).

They used abandoned straws and takeaway plastic spoons from the garbage and recycled them into home accessories such as bags, doormats, home decorations, tissue paper containers, coin purses, and more and Most Innovative went also to Champion Squad student company of Taidob College, Asero, Ogun State for producing wearable totes from a revamping process of used clothes with creative and fashionable local fabrics called ‘adire.’

NSIA, LASG ASSURE KASI DATACENTRES OF OPTIMAL SUPPORT FOR MARKET EXPANSION when operational in 2023, will generate a lot of capacities through its data centre operations. Data centre operation in Africa is going to experience exponential growth in the next few years.”

Speaking about the Kasi

Foundry, the Founder and CEO of Kasi DataCentres, Mr. Johnson Agogbua, said the Foundry received over 250 applications, but only 14 scaled through the selection process and 13 were trained in the first cohort and certificates

were issued to them during the unveiling of the Kasi Foundry on Tuesday in Lagos.

“We decided to train the students on digital skills in order to bridge the exiting human capital gap in the country. The Kasi Foundry is

a place where entrepreneurs and developers will have a place and space to turn their ideas into products and create businesses and then scale such businesses to reach the entire Nigeria and the Nigerian people. Kasi teamed up

with industry partners to create the Kasi Foundry, which is an ecosystem development and operations centre to launch today and tomorrow’s ideas. Our partners and customers can leverage the Kasi Foundry to prepare and

launch their products and further scale-out their businesses at the Kasi Hyperscale DataCentre. We will be hosting hackarthons at the Kasi Foundry, beginning from December this year,” Agogbua further said.

26

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Telecom Professionals Optimistic Startups Act Will Boost ICT, Fintech Growth Emma Okonji Telecom professionals under the aegis of the Association of Telecommunications Professionals of Nigeria (ATPN) have expressed happiness over the Startups bill that was recently signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, saying it will enhance growth in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, where players in the Fintech space currently operate.

The National President of

ATPN, Comrade Adede John Williams, who expressed the concern of his group, commended President Buhari for the foresight in signing the Nigeria Startups bill into law, now an Act, which according to him, has been long expected by the tech community.

Giving the socio-economic benefits of the Act, Williams said it would harmonise the opportunity in coordinating the activities of the ICT and Fintech subsector of the Nigerian economy.

“With the signing of the Startups bill into law, all ICT and Financial Technology (Fintech) related operations in Nigeria will be promoted and inspired to aid the techpreneurship and entrepreneurship spirit and growing investment portfolio as one of the cardinal objectives of this administration. It will promote self-reliance, job creation, and raise men and women who will become employers of labour. In my view, and in the views of our members, the development will be

seen as a very big departure from the current trend in the country where everyone is busy looking for white collar jobs that do not exist,” Williams said.

Williams, who is a seasoned ICT Technocrat, has equally commended the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, for his insightful contributions in ensuring that the Startups bill was passed into law. He also commended the Chief of Staff to President Buhari, Professor

Agboola Ibrahim Gambari and the National Assembly members for their support in the passage of the bill.

Williams said with the enactment of the Act, it would empower a pool of ICT skills and competent manpower that could be successfully deployed beyond the shores of Nigeria, which will attract foreign direct investments from the already established national and international ICT companies in the country.

“Now that we have gotten

the Nigeria Startups Act fully backed by law, government can create the enabling environment for the growth of the Startups in the country. I therefore challenge the 36 state governors in Nigeria and the FCT Minister to key into the national technology ecosystem initiative to establish ICT Development Agency through their various States Houses of Assembly, to further strengthen the Startups Act and position it to boost economic development in Nigeria,” Williams said.

L-R: Head, Liquefied petroleum gas Unit, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Nigeria, Ibrahim Musa; Coordinator Women in LPG, Joy Shaiyen; President, Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association, Felix Ekundayo; Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria LNG Limited, Dr Philip Mshelbila; and Expansion Coordinator, Nigeria LNG Limited, Chinasa Ego-Osuala; during the NLPGA–NLNG 15TH Domestic LPG Supply Scheme Anniversary in Lagos… on Tuesday

M e t a Sel ec t s A d D y n a m o a s NIEEE Insists on Professional Authorised Sales Partner in Nigeria Autonomy from Nigeria Nosa Alekhuogie Ad Dynamo and Meta have announced that the two companies would collaborate in Nigeria under the Meta Authorised Sales Partner (MASP) Program.

Meta Authorised Sales Partners are extensions of Meta’s sales teams across the globe. They support advertisers and agencies to achieve their business goals by providing local assistance, strategic direction and expertise across the family of Meta products. A thorough selection and approval process ensures that Meta’s Authorized Sales

Partners meet the highest level of business needs of advertisers and agencies.

Aleph, the holding company of Ad Dynamo, has been part of the MASP program since 2018 and supports not only the growth of Meta, but also the local advertising ecosystem, that is helping agencies, advertisers and SMBs to succeed in digital marketing. Aleph has a record of excellence in digital marketing and is active with local, dedicated teams in numerous regions around the world, including Africa, Central East Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

Through Ad Dynamo’s comprehensive understanding of Meta’s solutions, the company serves as a direct point of contact across all products, apps and services enabling advertisers to make the most of what Meta has to offer.

As a Meta Authorised Sales Partner, Ad Dynamo equips agencies and advertisers with in-market training opportunities and offers free access to programs including courses and a certification through Meta Blueprint, to help teams learn new and essential skills to maximize the value of their digital advertising investments.

Regional Director for Africa at Meta, Enitan Denloye, said: “Nigeria is an important country for Meta and it is a priority for us to invest in the market and to be closer to the people and businesses here. As such, we are happy to bring in Ad Dynamo as Meta’s Authorised Sales Partner in Nigeria and believe that with their robust local market insights and expertise, we can provide better support for businesses and agencies locally, helping them unlock their potential growth. Through Ad Dynamo presence in the market, Nigerians now have access to local currency billing.”

Tom X Holdings Joins Forces with 2022 Ibadan Startups Festival Nosa Alekhuogie Tom X Holdings, a key player in the Ibadan technology ecosystem with multiple products in the fintech industry, is collaborating with Zeeh Africa on one of the largest tech events set to take place in Ibadan on November 5, 2022.

Proudly sponsored by the Oyo

State Authorities, Channels TV, and BusinessDay, the Ibadan Startups Fest 2022 is aimed at bringing industry stakeholders together to discuss and brainstorm on the growth of the internet and the formation of startups and governance in Ibadan, Nigeria, and Africa as a whole.

The one-day event, which will take place at Manhattan Hall

Jericho in Ibadan, will focus on the parameters surrounding startups and government policies, as well as how both parties can complement each other for the betterment of society, With high-level industry experts, policymakers, and key decision makers from both the public and private sectors in attendance; solutions will be birthed that will

shape the future of startups and businesses in Nigeria.

With a lineup of over 20 professional speakers, including Tom X Holdings Founder and CEO, Tomilayo Akano, 15 startups and exhibitors, and over 1000 attendees and media personnel, the event promises to be educative and interactive.

MTN to Invest over N65m in Nigerian Startups Through Grants Emma Okonji MTN is set to invest in Nigerian owned businesses through a campaign tagged: ‘MTN Pulse BlowMyHustle’, which aims to economically empower Nigerian youths involved in scalable businesses.

The investment is sequel to the ‘side hustles’ by Nigerian youths, which ranks highest among other

African countries.

‘Side hustles’ amongst Nigerian youths have become prevalent compared to previous generations.

According to a 2019 Geo Poll, side hustles have become fast-rising, with Nigeria leading the pack at 44.4 per cent, followed by Kenya at 40.8 per cent. The report sampled youths from Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Tanzania, and found some of the major side

hustles to include agriculture, entertainment, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), online business, logistics, and food and beverage sectors, among others.

Speaking at the MTN Pulse launch event 2022 in Lagos last week, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria, Adia Sowho, said: “The ‘hustle spirit’ amongst Nigeria’s young people is truly

inspiring as they are innovative and entrepreneurial. MTN is here to support that ‘hustle’ so that their dreams can become reality. Young business owners have told us what they need, and with MTN Pulse Blow My Hustle, we will share business skills from experts in relevant fields and create access to financial grants. We look forward to the transformation that this initiative will propel.”

Society of Engineers Emma Okonji The Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, (NIEEE), has stressed the need for an autonomous professional body from the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), insisting that its independence from the Nigerian Society of Nigeria is long overdue.

NIEE, in its 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, recently, reiterated the need for an autonomous body, following a motion moved by a former National Chairman of the Institute, Mr. Akinsola Cole, and seconded by Mr. Adedoyin Salami.

According to the motion, NIEEE is a professional engineering body that is statutorily registered and legally recognised by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as enshrined in the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 as an independent corporate legal entity that is mandated to carry out the professional business of organising, training, admitting, registering and qualifying Electrical and Electronic Engineering activities in Nigeria.

In a communiqué issued

by NIEEE, shortly after its AGM, signed by its National Chairman, Mr. Akan Michael, and made available to THISDAY, the body said: “Therefore and deriving from the above and the aforementioned aims, objectives and legal registration status conferred on the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and

Electronic Engineers (NIEEE) by the Nigerian State vide the provisions of CAMA 2020, it is clear that NIEEE as registered by law, is not a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

“And having taken into cognisance, the purported disclaimer that was said to have been issued by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in September this year is not binding on NIEEE. It is therefore to be noted that the word: “institute” or “institution” refers to the same body by virtue of public notice issued on 26 November, 2018 in a national Newspaper and there is no dispute with respect to the legal standing of the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.”

The communiqué further said: “I, Akinsola Cole, a former National Chairman of the Institute hereby move the motion that the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE) as it is a legally registered Institute by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in line with requisite provisions of CAMA 2020 or any other existing provisions of the law, applicable at the time of registration of the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE)

by CAC, and that the Institute is NOT a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) as stated in the purported disclaimer made and that this motion is now made in good faith to put the record straight.”

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022

27

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

At TIA Awards, Danbatta Commits to Enhancing Digital Economy

R-L: Management Team of FrieslandCampina WAMCO ably led by the Managing Director, Ben Langat; Corperate Affairs Director, Oreoluwa Famurewa; Sales Director, Adedeji Adeshoga; and Marketing Director, Chris Wulff-Caeser at a reception for the Peak Unstoppables Para Power-lifting Team organised by Peak - Official Milk of the Nigerian Para Power-lifting Federation at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos… recently

Lagos Startup, ZuriTeam Empowers over 120,000 People in 24 Months Emma Okonji In a bid to bridge the digital skills gap in Africa and prepare the next generation of young Africans to play actively in the burgeoning digital economy, a Lagos-based startup, Zuri Team has leveraged a unique training model that has seen it empowering over 120,000 people in different aspects of software development over the past 24 months.

Co-founded in 2020 by Seyi Onifade, a Nigerian entrepreneur and software developer, Zuri Team offers highly subsidised technical training in software development and design by

collaborating with companies and non-profits.

Over the past two years, it has collaborated with organisations such as Ingressive for Good, founded by Maya Horgan, Sean Burrowes, and Blessing Abeng and Yele Bademosi’s Nestcoin to train participants on web2 and web3 technologies by offering highly subsidized technical training to individuals who would otherwise not be able to afford such training.

“Our goal is to give everyone a chance at a better life. We do this by collaborating with organisations, NGOs and individuals whose interests align with ours.

These organisations sponsor participants to take part in the training. We train in both web2 and web3 spaces.

“This year alone, we have trained 60,739 people across 100+ countries. Most of our participants are from Africa.

However, we have had participants from other parts of the world,” Onifade said, explaining the unique model that has seen the startup record tremendous impact over the past two years.

Speaking about the uniqueness of Zuri Team, Onifade said: “We allow everyone to try tech out and let them decide if it’s for them or not. The training allows a

degree of flexibility that is also uncommon with other training programmes, such as allowing participants to come back for another round of training.”

According to Onifade, many return to engage in another track (or course) in training to continue to improve to the level that prepares them for the job market.

Zuri Team training is also one of the few programmes that are 100% remote, removing the need for participants to go to a specific location.

Participants can access their content, class, assignment, and tutors from anywhere, including on their mobile devices.

As Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently won double awards at the 2022 Tech Innovation Awards (TIA), the telecom regulator has promised to ensure it brings full benefits of the digital economy to Nigerians for the overall development of the country.

At the 6th edition of the annual awards, which took place in Lagos, the Commission was named The Innovative Telecom Regulator of the Year Award while its Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, was honoured with the Telecom Industry Leader Award.

Speaking after receiving the awards on behalf of the Commission and the EVC, NCC’s Director, Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, said, the Prof. Danbatta’s leadership has committed to the implementation of progressive policies, plans, strategies, and regulatory initiatives to ensure continuous development of the Nigerian digital economy for the benefits of Nigerians.

He said among several government policies and strategies on the digital economy which the NCC has continued to vigorously drive, include the implementation of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP), 2020-2025, through which Broadband penetration has hit 44.5 per cent; and the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), 2020-2030, both of which have been streamlined in the NCC’s Strategic Management Plan (SMP)

2020-2024, and the Strategic Vision Plan 2021-2025.

He dedicated the awards to the staff of the Commission who are working tirelessly to ensure that the internal processes for effective regulation run smoothly.

He promised even deeper commitment to advancing the frontier of digital connectivity in all nooks and crannies of the country.

“Great leadership usually starts with a willing team, a positive attitude, and a desire to make a difference, and our team at NCC has been relentless to see that the Commission’s strategic objectives, as enshrined in the SMP 2020-2024, and other extant policies bring the benefits of a digitised economy to the citizens of Nigeria.

“These wonderful staff, who are my foot soldiers, are tirelessly working to improve stakeholder collaboration, promote innovative regulatory services, and improve communication’s resource and project management. These awards prove that our efforts are visible and appreciated,” he said.

Earlier, Chief Executive Officer of InstinctWave, organisers of the annual awards, Akin Naphtal, said the two awards went the way of the Commission owing to the recognition of its leadership finesse which has helped in innovatively fulfilling its brand promise to promote a connected environment of endless opportunities.

He said the annual awards,

28 T H I S D AY THURSDAY OCTOBER 27 2022 TR

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& RE A S O

Thursday October 27, 2022 Vol 27. No 10061

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

2022 FLOOD: A TRAGEDY FORETOLD WEALTH DICKSON OMINABO argues that this year’s flood exposes the country’s fragility

See page 29

I STAND WITH DAVID EDEVBIE David did not lose, the society lost, reckons ANDREW EDEVBIE

See page 29 EDITORIAL THE CAMPUSES AFTER THE ASUU STRIKE

See page 30

1

MONDAY PHILIPS EKPE writes that Nigerians must react pragmatically and appropriately to the floods

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T H I S D AY

3 29

THURSDAY OCTOBER 27 2022

WEALTH DICKSON OMINABO argues that this year’s flood exposes the country’s fragility

2022 FLOOD: A TRAGEDY FORETOLD 7KH ÁRRG WHOOV D VDG VWRU\ LW LV D tragedy with a complex plot with themes of displacement, hunger, and scarcity. In it are sub-themes of death, negligence, and fecklessness—every victim with his own story, and every community their tales and narratives detailing their SOLJKW &LWL]HQV LQ DͿHFWHG DUHDV OLYH LQ uncertainty, despair, and fear, while a few struggle to hope and display love and compassion amid adversity.

According to reports, about 603 people have died, and more than 1.3 million have been displaced, while over 108,393 hectares of farmlands have been destroyed across the country.

6RPH ÁRRG DͿHFWHG VWDWHV LQFOXGH

Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Edo, Lagos, Kano, Adamawa, Jigawa, Benue, and Borno.

7KLV \HDU·V ÁRRG LV EHOLHYHG WR EH WKH worst that Nigeria has experienced in decades, as it has created humanitarian crises and compounded economic FKDOOHQJHV LQ WKH DͿHFWHG DUHDV 6RPH FRPPXQLWLHV DUH LQDFFHVVLEOH DQG FXW RͿ from goods and services. In September, Rann and Damasak local government areas in Borno State, host areas of many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), could only be accessed by helicopter, and commuters along Lokoja-Abuja road ZHUH OHIW VWUDQGHG EHFDXVH RI WKH ÁRRG 7KH ÁRRG DOVR UHVXOWHG LQ D PDMRU WUDJHG\ in Anambra State, where people had to rely on boats as major roads had been destroyed.

Bayelsa appears to be one of the worst DͿHFWHG VWDWHV LQ WKH \HDU·V ÁRRG DV DERXW seven out of the eight local government areas in the state are submerged in water, 300 communities and villages have been totally or partially submerged in water, 700,000 persons have been displaced RU DͿHFWHG 7KH WZR PDMRU HQWU\ SRLQWV into the state by road from Delta and Rivers States are impassable as water KDV ZDVKHG RͿ PRVW SDUWV RI WKH URDG Essential goods and services cannot come into the state, creating economic and human security crises. Prices of goods and services have skyrocketed. Fuel price ranges from 550 to 750 naira in Yenagoa, the state capital, and even higher in the hinterlands.

Footages of the lived experiences of people across the state are pathetic. We have seen people cooking and living on the water; some sleep on the road for lack of shelter, and others surrender to fate DQG LQVLVW RQ OLYLQJ LQ ÁRRGHG KRXVHV despite the danger. When I visited some impacted areas some days ago, I saw misery robed in human souls. I saw

a people weaned of joy and peace as they lamented their ordeal and current predicament. Every visitor is seen as an emissary of hope who must carry their messages to the government and other development stakeholders. Their voices are a refrain of monotonous groans of hope.

Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen. Douye 'LUL UHDFWLQJ WR WKH LPSDFW RI WKH ÁRRG last week, noted that the state was in a security and humanitarian emergency and appealed for multi-stakeholder intervention. +H VDLG ´7KLV \HDU·V ÁRRGLQJ KDV surpassed that of 2012, which is the highest we have witnessed so far. It has become a security emergency. Bayelsa LV EHORZ VHD OHYHO DQG ZKHQ WKH ÁRRG FRPHV YLUWXDOO\ HYHU\ZKHUH LV ÁRRGHG Even the Government House is being threatened.”

“On Thursday, we saw the road leading to Sagbama from Ekeremor had been EDGO\ GDPDJHG E\ WKH ÁRRG 1RZ WKH road from Yenagoa to Amassoma, where you have the Niger Delta University has collapsed in three areas.

“It will cost the state billions of naira before those roads would be repaired.

Also, there is individual losses in terms of houses that have collapsed as a result RI WKH ÁRRG DQG WKH GHDWKV ZH KDYH witnessed.

Many reasons have been given as the FDXVHV IRU WKLV \HDU·V ÁRRG WKH UHOHDVH RI water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, climate change, and other environmental factors. No matter what we believe as the remote and immediate causes of this present tragedy, one thing that this year’s ÁRRG KLJKOLJKWV LV WKH QH[XV EHWZHHQ climate change, human security, and national stability. Climate change is referred to as a threat multiplier because of “its potential to exacerbate many of the current challenges and threats already being faced in some countries, such as LQIHFWLRXV GLVHDVH WHUURULVP DQG FRQÁLFW over scarce resources.”

7KLV \HDU·V ÁRRG DQG WKH WUDJHG\ witnessed across the nation again exposes our country’s fragility. If the release of water from a single dam in a neigbouring country could impact so gravely on our stability, it shows that as a nation, we can no longer treat environmental issues and other human security concerns with kid gloves. This national tragedy was long foretold, but state actors sat idle and made no commitment to preventing the national disaster beyond giving weather predictions and warnings about rainfalls.

It defeats every form of logic why governments have demonstrated apathy WR WKH LVVXH RI ÁRRGLQJ ,W LV VDGGHQLQJ that a decade after the devastating impact RI WKH ÁRRG WKH JRYHUQPHQW LV VWLOO lethargic in the search for a sustainable solution to a national and security crisis of this dimension. This ongoing tragedy dramatizes the sustained culture of misgovernance in Nigeria and our leaders’ fecklessness in addressing national challenges.

Ominabo LV WKH &RPPXQLFDWLRQV 2΀FHU DW WKH Goodluck Jonathan Foundation

David did not lose, the society lost, reckons ANDREW EDEVBIE

I STAND WITH DAVID EDEVBIE I have seen many of the comments on the race for the governorship in the Delta State of Nigeria since the Nigerian Supreme Court ruling on Friday, October 21, 2022. Many felt betrayed and for good reasons. David for me did not lose the contest. The people of Nigeria especially those of Delta State of Nigeria and Urhobo land in particular are the losers. The system of governance has become so corrupt that it is near impossible to grow good leaders. After all, maggots do grow when WKHUH LV ÀOWK PRUH VR ZKHQ SHRSOH UHIXVH WR clean around their homes and environment.

I laugh when people blame Buhari and the Northern Establishment for the problems of Nigeria. And I always ask those who disagree with me: If a southerner or an Urhobo man, for that matter is corrupt, why does one think the northerner should not be? Is Buhari and his kinsmen expected to be angels simply by virtue of their residence in a certain region of Nigeria? Many of our people, truth be told, do not accept any responsibility for what they do but prefer to blame others in order to justify their action. Everyone seems only to want to grab what he or she can get from the system and damn the consequences.

A number of powerful people in Nigeria including politicians and those in the judiciary, for example, do not appear concerned about the interest of society that they were elected or appointed to serve.

Politicians over pay themselves and break their own laws whenever it suits them. It has also become standard practice for some -XGJHV WR ORRN IRU ORRSKROHV LQ FDVH ÀOLQJV to undermine critical facts and shamelessly justify sidetracking the interest of the people for personal gains. The courts are supposed to be the last hope for the common man but a number of judges have instead constituted themselves into cults that work only for the privileged, the highest bidders for their service, thus emboldening criminal elements to depress society, the more. As a result, the combined unethical activities of politicians and judges have, for example, obstructed the ULVH RI WKH PRVW TXDOLÀHG DQG H[SHULHQFHG candidate in a race, leaving the contest to FRQ DUWLVWV WR ÀJKW LW RXW :K\" %HFDXVH VRPH judges as well as politicians like to raise money they need to send their children to school overseas, travel with their families to Europe and America for vacation and medical check-up, and build huge homes, all for personal comfort, at the expense of society. Many of my Urhobo friends, just as I feel, are embarrassed and humiliated to note that the gladiators still standing in the race are now the face of Urhobo people known for producing many well-educated individuals and high achievers. It is indeed sad that many

of these good people have been forced out of the state for lack of security and other reasons.

But how does one go about solving the problem of bad governance that confronts all of us? The short answer is the need to grow good leaders who will submerge their personal interests to that of the general public. Most importantly, everyone in the system has to take some measure of personal responsibility for his or her action, and stop blaming others for it. Without such requirements, no good leader can emerge, let alone lead. It is a well-known axiom that a leader will emerge only when the people are ready. It is therefore important that we all become more responsible. So clean up your home and beginning from there, attack corruption and injustice whenever you notice them. Charity begins at home. It is foolhardy to expect a corrupt government wherever to come to your aid.

And here I come to my nephew, David, the eldest son of my late older brother.

David and I do not see eye to eye on a number of issues but on this issue of good governance that will bring security, stability and progress for our people, I stand with him. He has conducted a brilliant campaign that can serve as the gold standard for future politicians for years to come. He was always polite, issue-oriented and has circulated a clear message of goodwill, so widely for many to know, understand and appreciate.

Among the people I have talked to, and there are many, I know of no one who questioned David’s credentials and his ability to lead. He is a true statesman.

His message touches on the life of the people and will live on, even though the combined actions of politician and judges have created some bumps on the way to implementation. Although the enemies of the people, those invested interests who are afraid of change that will reduce WKHLU FDSDFLW\ WR VWHDO IURP SXEOLF FRͿHUV denude themselves into thinking that they have blocked the message, the message cannot be blocked and will not die. The battle for the soul of Urhobo people and others in Delta State has just begun. There will be more Davids, each with the ability to chip away at the obstacles that obscure access to good life for all. They will be bolder to challenge the system more vigorously and shake it to its very foundation. The issue was never about David himself but about the interest of people who are seething with anger and reeling in pain. The enemies of WKH SHRSOH ZLOO ÀQG QR SODFH WR KLGH 7KH\ ZLOO HYHQWXDOO\ EH GHIHDWHG DQG WDNHQ RͿ the road to victory for the people. This is the 21st century and not the 12th century when barbarism and lawlessness once reigned. David has set the stage, at least for Urhobo people and many applaud him for his initiative and the courage to confront the obnoxious and debilitating political system that robs the people of their life. David is my hero and I call on peace-loving people of the world to help thank him for his courage and show of brinksmanship.

Professor Edevbie is a Chemical Engineer at City of Detroit, Michigan, United States

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T H I S D AY

THURSDAY OCTOBER 27, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

THE CAMPUSES AFTER THE ASUU STRIKE The authorities should ensure the learning environment is decent and inviting

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ANTHONY OGEDENGBE and parks and gardens’ units.

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

LETTERS

200 BILLION CUBIC METRES OF DISASTER Continued from the backpage 2ͿRGLOH VXJJHVWHG FRQWLQXRXV VWXG\ RI WKH GUDLQDJH QHWZRUN RI WKH YDULRXV K\GURORJLFDO EDVLQV WR GHWHUPLQH WKHLU FKDUDFWHULVWLFV DQG WKH YROXPH RI GLVFKDUJH LQWR WKH PDMRU %HQXH DQG 1LJHU FKDQQHOV +H DOVR UHFRPPHQGV GHVLOWLQJ DQG UHKDELOLWDWLQJ DOO H[LVWLQJ GDPV UHVHUYRLUV ´8QOHVV 1LJHULD HPEDUNV RQ WKHVH PDMRU VWUXFWXUDO GHYHO RSPHQWV DOO HͿRUWV DW RXU DQQXDO ULWXDOV DW ULYHU JDXJH PHDVXUHPHQWV DQG IRUHFDVWV ZLOO EH SRVWSRQLQJ WKH HYLO GD\ DQG LQ YDLQ µ WKH RFWRJHQDULDQ WROG PH 0HDQZKLOH LW LV LPSRUWDQW WR VWUHVV WKDW EH\RQG WKH UDJH RI QDWXUH FDUHOHVV KDELWV FRQWULEXWH WR WKH ÁRRGLQJ WKDW ZH ZLWQHVV DQQXDOO\ LQ PRVW FLWLHV DFURVV WKH FRXQWU\ ,Q PDQ\ VWDWHV EXLOGLQJV KDYH EHHQ HUHFWHG RQ GUDLQDJH FKDQQHOV DQG XQWLO WKH\ DUH SXOOHG GRZQ WKHUH ZLOO EH QR IUHH ÁRZ RI ZDWHU LQWR WKH FDQDOV %XW WKLV LV D GLͿHUHQW LVVXH DOWRJHWKHU DQG DW VRPH SRLQW ZH PXVW DGGUHVV WKH FULWLFDO FKDOOHQJH RI HQYLURQPHQW DQG XUEDQ SODQQLQJ 2Q D SRVLWLYH QRWH WKH ÁRRGV WKDW FDXVH KDYRF DQG PLVHU\ HYHU\ \HDU FDQ EH GHSOR\HG IRU WKH DJULFXOWXUDO

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KXVN ZKLFK LV SHUFHQW RI WKH ULFH WR SURGXFH HOHFWULFL W\ 7KH ULFH EUDQ ZKLFK FRPHV DIWHU \RX EUXVK DQG FOHDQ KDV SHUFHQW RLO FRQWHQW « VR ZH DUH SXWWLQJ XS D SODQW WR H[WUDFW RLO IURP WKH EUDQ 7KLV LV WKH ZKROH FKDLQ QRZ DERXW ULFH /DWHU ZH ZLOO EH SURGXFLQJ VLOLFD IURP WKH DVK $IWHU \RX EXUQ WKH ULFH KXVN WKH DVK ZLOO JLYH \RX VLOLFD µ Maifata said. $OO VDLG , KRSH WKRVH ZKR VHHN RXU PDQGDWH LQ ZLOO EHJLQ WR UXPLQDWH RQ KRZ WKH\ FDQ FRQYHUW WKH ÁRRG LQJ GLVDVWHU LQWR GLYLGHQGV IRU WKH FRXQWU\ :LWK FRUSVHV EHLQJ H[KXPHG IURP FHPHWHULHV GXH WR WKH ÁRRG LQ VWDWHV OLNH %D\HOVD ZKLOH IDUPODQGV VFKRROV DQG KRVSLWDOV DUH EHLQJ VXEPHUJHG LQ VHYHUDO RWKHUV LW LV WURXEOLQJ WKDW PRUH DQG PRUH 1LJHULDQV DUH MRLQLQJ WKH JURZLQJ SRS XODWLRQ RI LQWHUQDOO\ GLVSODFHG SHUVRQV ,'3V 7RGD\ ZH DUH LQ D VLWXDWLRQ RI QDWLRQDO HPHUJHQF\ 6DGO\ WKHUH LV QRWKLQJ WR VXJJHVW WKDW DXWKRULWLHV LQ 1LJHULD DW DQ\ OHY HO DSSUHFLDWH WKDW Olusegun Adeniyi, Abuja

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Binance Charity, Utiva to Enhance 50,000 Youths with Tech Skills, Scholarships

Emma Okonji

Binance Charity, the philanthropic arm of Binance, the world’s leading cryptocurrency and blockchain infrastructure provider, has partnered Utiva, a technology education company in Africa that helps young people learn tech skills.

The new partnership is set to educate 50,000 young people in technology and provide scholarships for 1,000 Africans in a one year intensive skill training program.

The education program is aimed at young people between 18 – 35 years from over 19 countries across Africa. It consists of virtual workshops, which will run every weekend over the next 12 months, where students will learn tech skills

and access virtual mentoring as a part of the project design.

Additionally, students who partake in the training will have access to fully funded year-long scholarships, which will provide access to Utiva’s top technology skill training for free. The collaboration aims to build a path for economic prosperity for the continent through skill training and access to vast job opportunities in the technology and Web3 sectors.

Head of Binance Charity, Helen Hai, said: “We believe the benefits and vast opportunities of Web3 must be accessible to all. Advancing tech education and professional training are critical to making this happen.

We are proud to be partnering with Utiva, to engage the youth

across Africa as we support the continent’s next generation of industry shapers.”

Launched at the Utiva office in Lagos recently, the workshop hosted about 50 young people, who will be a part of the first cohort of people that will access the fully-funded training and sponsorship.

CEO of Utiva, Eyitayo Ogunmola, said: “Africans are talented and hardworking but most times, the constraints of resources can be a major limiting factor when pursuing a laudable aspiration like moving into technology. We are super excited that Binance Charity understands the African pain point and has partnered with us at Utiva to help thousands of Africans and break the barrier to entry for many.”

Cellulant, Mastercard Partner to Empower Africans on Digital Commerce Emma Okonji Cellulant and Mastercard have partnered to allow millions of Cellulant customers across Africa to shop and pay online with global merchants wherever Mastercard is accepted.

The Mastercard virtual payment solution, linked to Cellulant’s payment gateway - Tingg, can unlock a host of opportunities for consumers, whether they have a bank account or not.

Consumers will be able to shop from well-known global digital commerce brands, paying quickly and securely for leisure shopping, travel, accommodation, entertainment, streaming services and more, while in their home countries or travelling abroad.

According to Cellulant, for these businesses, virtual cards offer a

compelling path to digitization with added benefits such as tracking, reconciliation and quick settlement of day-to-day payments, better management of customer and supplier relationships and minimised fraud risk all without sacrificing operational speed.

Chief Revenue Officer, Cellulant Group, David Waithaka, said: “We believe seamless payment experiences are the backbone for accelerating economic growth across Africa. MSMEs are the driving force for Africa’s economy and our work in digitising payments for businesses and their consumers enables the requisite foundation for innovation, economic development and financial inclusion. By partnering with Mastercard, we are looking to further open up pathways that effectively position our customers

for the growth they need.”

Executive Vice President, Market Development, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mastercard, Amnah Ajmal, said: “Mastercard’s technology enables our digital partners to redefine their consumer’s digital commerce interactions and experiences. By focusing on the provision of multi-use, omnichannel digital payment solutions, Mastercard is enabling its partners, such as Cellulant, to improve their operational efficiency, diversify their revenue, and transition seamlessly into digital commerce. We see the increasing proliferation of fintechs as a strategic opportunity to add value by creating more connections, better user experiences and greater choice for consumers.”

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THURSDAY OCTOBER 27, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Growing Ecosystemwith Local MilkSourcing in Nigeria With a milestone of 2,500 litres of fresh milk recorded per day through its Nigeria Livestock Development Project, NLDP, in Abuja, Rebecca Ejifoma underscores the drive of Nestlé Nigeria and its partners -- CBIL and 2SCALE -- to help grow the ecosystem, produce more milk locally, engender hygienic collection and handling practices through empowering over 625 milk farmers in Abuja

R

ecognising the value of milk globally cannot be overemphasised. Many households arguably depend on it for their staple diets like cheese, beverages, baking foods of all kinds and more with delight. Hence, the need to meet the nation’s milk production and uptake both for industries and local consumption.

And because Nestlé Nigeria, Africa’s largest food and beverage company, understands this assignment, it is forging ahead with its mandate to create shared value, enhance the quality of life, and contribute to a healthier future. While this is driven by its purpose to help shape a better world and inspire people to live healthier lives as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it aims to grow the ecosystem rapidly.

Therefore, in line with the theme of World Milk Day 2022, “Dairy Net Zero”, on June 1 this year, Nestlé’s Nigeria Livestock Development Project (NLDP) recorded a milestone of 2,500 litres of fresh milk per day from only 200 litres collected on the first day of milk collection on 1st of June last year.

This is courtesy of Nestlé Nigeria and its partners, Convention for Business Integrity Ltd (CBIL) and 2SCALE. While the NLDP delivers 1,500 litres per day at Paikon Kore Grazing Reserve, it achieves 1,000 litres per day at Kachia Grazing Reserve.

This was possible after Nestlé Nigeria empowered more than 625 local farmers. “The collection of 2,500 litres of milk per day was made possible by the 25 cooperatives, which comprise over 625 households. They milk between 4,000 and 6,000 cows every day.”

According to the Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager for Nestlé Nigeria, says Victoria Uwadoka, these cooperatives were trained and nurtured for over 18 months to achieve the good quality fresh milk now produced through the project.

On what propelled local milk production, Uwadoka conceded that there is a huge gap between the nation’s milk needs and the milk produced locally. Uwadoka admitted, “Yes, we have cattle, but because of the way we rear (nomadic) them, they don’t produce enough milk that we need.”

Citing data, she divulged that “the demand for fresh milk production in Nigeria – for industry and local consumption – is about 1.7m tonnes a year. We are only producing between 560,000 and 570,000 tonnes of milk. That gives us a gap of 1 million tonnes. So we want to grow the ecosystem. If it grows, then we can integrate fresh milk into our production.”

“If you look at the food and beverages industry”, she chipped in, “milk is one of the ingredients.

Even though we aren’t selling milk anymore – we don’t sell Nido in the market anymore – we do MSK, which is a by-product of milk we use in our MSK. We need to help grow the ecosystem.

We have done it in the grain value chain. We have also done it in the cassava value chain. We want to do it in the dairy value chain. But it is a long journey because dairy is cost-intensive and very perishable”.

However, Uwadoka told THISDAY that the volume of milk production has to be much higher than what they have today to justify an investment in a milk processing plant. While expressing that some milk manufacturers get milk supply now and turn it into yoghurts, Nestlé Nigeria doesn’t just do Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), rather it likes to create shared value. “There has to be something in it for those who are producing, the community, the environment, and for us at Nestlé,” she highlighted.

Currently, “We are already producing milk from the project,” says the communications manager. “The pastoralists who are within our programme – about 50,000 farmers who are supplying milk – have uptakers who have processing plants where they turn the milk into yoghurt. So we are working with them for now while we grow the volume and ensure consistency in the quality of the milk”.

THE COOPERATIVES Thanks to the NLDP, milk production in Nigeria is gradually having a facelift. The 25 cooperatives were trained and nurtured for over 18 months to achieve the good quality fresh milk now produced through the project.”

According to Uwadoka, Nestlé continues to leverage its expertise in dairy to help build a sustainable dairy ecosystem through the NLDP to achieve its objective of Creating Shared Value

Checking the health status of the cows with Nigerian dairy value chain stakeholders.

The programme contributes to the local economy by providing the training and empowerment of the locals and then purchasing services from them.”

EMPOWERMENT Today, the NLDP has proudly trained over 1,400 producers in modern milk handling and milking hygiene techniques to help them produce to industry standards, thereby opening more routes to market. According to Uwadoka, Nestlé pays a premium above the market rates in addition to helping families increase production and improve the quality of their products.

DEWORMING, VACCINATING OVER 6,000 CATTLE With the knowledge that Nigeria practises an omadic rearing of cows, a practice that stunts the health of the cows, Nestlé Nigeria saw the need to improve cattle health within the NLDP for more milk production.

First, it dewormed and vaccinated over 6,000 cattle against Foot and Mouth Disease.

Then it went further to treat the cattle against Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS). The 6,000 cattle also received vitamin and mineral blocks (salt licks).

While the NLDP is built on three pillars – Better Fodder, Better Quality, and Better Products – Nestlé believes this will be achieved by improving cooperative dynamics, promoting better herd health, and engendering hygienic milk collection and handling practices.

To maintain milk quality from milking to the processing centre, “Milk must be handled carefully and kept at a temperature of about two degrees Celsius”, Uwadoka cautioned.

“Each of the 23 aggregators employed under the NLDP project is trained to maintain these quality standards. They test for spoilage and adulteration at the collection point. A motorbike, milk churns, and lactometers are also provided to facilitate their work.”

TRAINING MILK HANDLERS, LOGISTICS FOR BETTER QUALITY “We are training them on milk handling hygiene, setting up infrastructure like milk collection centres, and milk aggregation centres and training the aggregators.

We are training those who manage the logistics – those who go and pick up the milk and deliver it.

“We need to build the ecosystem; that’s very important. And we are working with CBIL and 2SCALE. Those are the partners we are working with to build the ecosystem.”

Accordingly, Nestlé is proud that the aggregators get the milk to the Milk Collection and Cooling Centres (MCCC) in the shortest possible time for cooling and bulking at the requisite temperature after a four-step quality check. This comes as Nestlé equipped the centres with modern laboratory equipment to ensure food safety is maintained at industry standards while the staff are trained and issued the right gear to conform to the set safety standards.

GOVERNMENT’S REACTION Following swiftly on the heels of its track record of 2,500 litres per day, the Permanent Secretary, FCT, Mr Olusade Adesola, expressed, “It is glad to note that milk production has steadily increased from 150 to 1,500 litres daily within the

The demand for fresh milk production in Nigeria – for industry and local consumption – is about 1.7m tonnes a year. We are only producing between 560,000 and 570,000 tonnes of milk.

That gives us a gap of 1 million tonnes. So we want to grow the ecosystem. If it grows, then we can integrate fresh milk into our production

past two years of this partnership. I have been made to understand the products from this centre are being sold in markets within and outside the Federal Capital Territory.”

Chorusing the words of Adesola, the Mandate Secretary, ARDS, Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim, admitted that since the reactivation of the MCCCs in 2021 in partnership with Nestlé Nigeria PLC, daily milk production has remarkably risen from about 300 to 1,500 litres.

“This is a result of continuous training and improvement initiatives by both partners and support from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,” says Ibrahim. “If plans by the NLDP partnership to introduce new cattle breeds and a demonstration farm are anything to go by, milk production in the FCT will receive a boost.”

STATISTICS OF MILK PRODUCTION IN ABUJA Abuja has never had it so good in the last couple of years. According to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), domestic milk production increased by 6 per cent between 2014 and 2018, to reach a total output of 641,000 tonnes in 2018.

However, it says this rise is not enough to keep pace with consumption, which grew by approximately 8 per cent from 943,000 tonnes in 2014 to about 1 million tonnes in 2018.

The CBN also noted that the country spends between $1.2 billion and $1.5 billion annually on milk and dairy imports to make up for the shortfall in local output. Today, milk production in Abuja is significantly increasing from 150 to 1,500 litres daily, according to the Permanent Secretary of the FCT. Undoubtedly, another significant investment by the NLDP is the provision of Better Fodder which includes sufficient clean water, balanced pasture, silage and hay. Uwadoka also listed that over 250 hectares of Napier Grass and Bracheria have been cultivated and five industrial boreholes built and commissioned. To augment milk production, Nestlé is providing cotton seed cakes which have the potential to intensify milk productivity by up to two litres per cow.

Interestingly, as part of Nestlé’s unflinching commitment to protect the planet for future generations, the NLDP has adopted climatefriendly practices. First, it installed a 30KVA solar power system to shrink the fossil fuels used at the MCCC in Paikon Kore. Then it ensured that the industrial boreholes are also solar-powered.

Ultimately, Nestlé Nigeria is on the course to help grow the nation’s ecosystem for a better and healthier nation and the future generation.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022

NEWS

FERTILITY

With Dr. Kemi AILOJE drkemi@lifelinkfertility.com www.lifelinkfertility.com +2348033083580

ExpertsAdvocateWasteRecycling Implantation Bleeding Part (2) for Healthier Environment Esther Akinsola At the Dawn Project Giving Prize, experts have encouraged Nigerians on waste recycling for a safer and healthier environment as part of efforts to promote a sustainable world.

The event which was themed, “Recycle for Sustainability: Making a Difference in Our Climate and Our Lives”, was powered by the Dawn Project and held in Lagos.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health said that the initiative for aligning with the ‘One House Agenda’ of the State Government speaks to a holistic approach to human health juxtaposed with nature.

He emphasised: “We believe that as human beings we cannot be healthy when the environment and the food we eat are not healthy.

If the environment is messed up, then we become stressed in a toxic environment.”

The commissioner further applauded The Dawn Project for its resolve to nurture a healthy environment which in turn nurtures the avenue for healthy Lagosians.

While highlighting the state government’s commitment to the cause, he urged the private sector and civil societies to key into the government’s vision

and mission for a healthier environment, a healthier lifestyle for citizens and, ultimately, a healthier Lagos.

Speaking also, a Director at Bridge Clinic, Dr Pamela Ajayi the Dawn Project is focused on arousing Nigerians to a new consciousness about the environment by presenting issues of climate change interestingly through the creative arts.

She, however, bemoaned the rise in cases of cancer in the country even among young people. Adding, she blamed emissions from vehicles and power-generating sets, and plastic waste as major causes of environmental pollution.

She, therefore, charged: The time has come to deal with these challenges decisively.

Plastics do not decay or go anywhere beyond the earth.

“The plastics are broken down into pieces and swallowed by the fishes in the sea. People take this back from the fish they consume.”

For the Environmental Activist and Founder, LUFASI Park, Desmond Majekodunmi, addressing the climate challenge should be everybody’s business.

This is as he tasked the youth to challenge the elders to address the climate situation that is slowly killing people.

In the words of an environmentalist and collaborator of The Dawn Project, Stanley Evans MBE, the population of Lagos and Nigeria has experienced an upheave over the past few years.

“The lack of knowledge on how to interact with nature has made us vulnerable”, hence, educating and assisting the youth become a necessity. “The earth has suffered abuse from the previous generation,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, participants across Nigeria ages seven and above sent in their entries for the competition.

The cash prizes range from N50,000 to N200,000 coupled with consolation prizes for the finalists and winners respectively.

The Dawn Project is an environmental conservation organisation dedicated to addressing the consequences of climate change through artistic expression to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for the benefit of all.

Its unique approach to the climate crisis, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13, is through the adoption of art – spoken, written, musical, visual and/or movement – as a means of expressing the issues and seeking creative solutions.

L

ast week, we started a topic on implantation bleeding. We defined what implantation bleeding is; signs and symptoms; difference between implantation bleeding and menstrual bleeding; and how long implantation bleeding last. This week, we would conclude with complications of implantation bleeding, treatment, other causes of bleeding during pregnancy and when to visit a doctor.

COMPLICATIONS OF IMPLANTATION BLEEDING Implantation bleeding shouldnot be a cause for worry and shouldnot pose a risk to the baby. It is unlikely to haveimplantation bleeding if you suffer bleeding or spotting more than three days after your missing period. Although this mild bleeding after implantation during pregnancy is not regarded as normal, these are a few causes of implantation bleed: 1. Sex - small tears or irritation after sexual contact may result in bleeding when pregnant. This could also be as a result of hormonal or physical changes.

2. Infection ofthe vagina - sexually transmitted diseases like trichomoniasis can cause light bleeding as well as more serious problems. Starting treatment as soon as possible will keep your baby healthy.

L-R: Mr. Stanley Evans, Collaborator, The Dawn Project; Dr. Pamela Ajayi, Collaborator, The Dawn Project; Mr. Simon Wrafter, Principal, Priory Preparatory School; Fadil Bakare, Creative Consolation Prize winner; Mrs. Wendy Tabansi, fashion designer, and Mr. Tosin Odunfa, TV host & producer, at The Dawn Project prize-giving event, in Lagos

iFitness Promotes Bike AHeart-Shape Campaign In a bid to help Nigerians live happier and healthier lives, a leading fitness and wellness platform in Africa, iFitness, recently carried out a campaign tagged, ‘Bikea-Heart-Shape-Route.

The ride event which was held in Abuja and Lagos respectively, witnessed cyclers from cycling clubs ride a mapped-out heart-shaped route, carrying banners with healthy heart messages and having predetermined publicity stops to educate and enlighten people.

Held in conjunction with Heart Foundation (NHF), the Chief Executive Officer, iFitness, Mr. Folusho Ogunwale, considered the exercise a worthy cause to pursue as this would be beneficial to millions of people.

“This reminds us that at least one day in a year, we all press the brakes and remember

that there is something very important. The heart is perhaps the only organ in the body that you can feel and hear. “ It is the first and last sign of life. If that is the case, that suggests to us that this is not a joke”, Ogunwale noted.

He noted further that the biggest cause of cardiovascular disease was physical inactivity and harmful lifestyle, adding, “As we get busier, we also get lazier, the urban pressure creeps in and what is even alarming is that unlike when we were growing up, it was the older ones that got heart attacks and heart diseases but these days, people in their 20s and 30s are getting the heart attacks and heart diseases.

“That brings us to why we are being mindful and trying to spread the word as far as it can get. Maybe a few people will get this

message today and because of that alone, they just pay a little more attention.

“You cannot tell how many people that will reexamine their life choices just because they heard this message and if it is just one person, I think we have done a good job”, he added.

One of the highlights of the press conference was the presentation of a Spinning Bike by the CEO of iFitness, to the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu who was represented by Mrs. Patience Olamide Ogunbiyi, Member, of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State officials.

As the founder of iFitness, Ogunwale has successfully led the brand to become Africa’s fastest-growing fitness brand.

He founded iFitness in 2015 with the vision of helping people live happier and healthier lives.

3. Discomfort in the cervix following an obstetric gynecology exam.

4. Severe or heavy lifting, exercise, or exertion.

5. Cervical problems - conditions like growths on the cervix can also cause bleeding.

6. Presence of polyps and fibroid in the uterus could also result to bleeding during pregnancy.

7. Ectopic pregnancy - when an embryo implants outside of your uterus, there is a higher probability that it could result in ectopic pregnancy. You may experience cramps, soreness, and bleeding. Ectopic pregnancy is very dangerous and requires urgent emergency care.

8. Miscarriage – about 15% of confirmed pregnancies may end in the first few months.

Afterward, most women bleed and cramp.

If you have these symptoms and you are aware that you are pregnant, inform your gynecologist immediately.

A normal, healthy pregnancy will occur in at least 50% of women who suffer spotting or bleeding other than implantation bleeding.

Extended bleeding, especially later in the pregnancy, may indicate a more serious issue.

When visiting a gynecologist, it is important to let them know about any current or recent bleeding particularly if it is severe, as well as any other symptoms that may occur. This is because molar pregnancy or miscarriage

are two grievous concerns. Make sure to inform your healthcare practitioner of any spotting throughout your first trimester.

However, if at any point during your pregnancy (second and third trimester) you experience heavy bleeding which should be rare,get in touch with your doctor right away, or seek an emergency help.

Inform your healthcare practitioner once if you experience dizziness, nausea/ vomiting or one-sided abdominal pain, as these symptoms could indicate an ectopic pregnancy. Although cramping is common throughout pregnancy, it is advisable to see anobstetric gynecologist if the pain becomes more intense.

IMPLANTATION BLEEDING TREATMENT Implantation bleeding ends naturally without the need for medical intervention.

However, visit a clinic if you are concerned that you have bled a lot. The clinician may inquire about the quantity and color of the blood you witnessed. While pregnancy is frequently accompanied by implantation bleeding, which is typically not harmful.

Heavy bleeding could indicate menstruation or a pregnancy-related problem. It is advisable to not use tampons during this period.

WHEN TO VISIT A DOCTOR It is advisable to wait for three days after the bleeding or spotting ends before taking a pregnancy test if you are unsure of the type of bleeding you are experiencing.

Taking a pregnancy test before the missed period or during implantation bleeding may be too earlyto get conclusive results.

Waiting a week after the missing period or spotting is ideal as this may provide more accurate findings.

CONCLUSION An indication of a prospective pregnancy is implantation bleeding. There is a strong likelihood that you are not pregnant if you took a pregnancy test after your period was scheduled to arrive and it came back negative. While attempting to conceive, it is advisable to always observe for implantation bleeding, although many women do not experience or even notice implantation spotting when it does.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone that rises after implantation, is used as the basis for pregnancy testing.HCG levels around implantation may still be too low to confirm a pregnancy, though this varies from person to person. A pregnancy test will typically show positive results once hCG reaches a particular level, usually 1-2 weeks after implantation.

The clinician may advise blood testing to find out your blood type and Rhesus (Rh) factor. Those who are Rh-negative may be administered with Rho(D) immune globulininjection regularly between 27 and 28 weeks into pregnancy and usually again 72 hours after delivery to avoid bleeding.

Even though not every bleeding needs-

36

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022

HEALTH

Water Remains One Natural Remedy for Wellness, Beauty, Preservation, Says Beautician Kuni Tyessi in Abuja An Indian citizen and proprietress of Spaholic, Mrs. Vandana Kaushal has reiterated the benefits of water in and out side the body, saying that it is unarguably one natural remedy for wellness, beauty and preservation.

Kaushal who spoke in Abuja during the unveiling of a branch of Spaholic, a beauty parlour that takes care of the physical, social and mental well-being of both men and women, said spa which means health trough water is not only a need but a necessity for healthy living which should be the concern

of everyone.

Emphasising that beauty is about women empowerment, said women must take care of themselves first in order to be dit to take care of their spouses and children.

She said with the services available, women especially can gain more confidence with well cultured nails, beautiful exfoliated skin, brushed and proper groomed hair, as well as other body pamperings which is needed to boost both mental and psychological health.

She added that the future is female and even as a foreigner, she lives Nigeria more than her home country and is in

the business of employing as many youths as the opportunity presents itself.

“Health benefits are many in spa treatment, particularly when it relates to hygiene.

Clients are taught how to take care of themselves and how to bathe professionally. There are many beauty treatments available and many don’t take care of their hair and skin and so we treat that and make them feel good.

“You can take care of your family, but never forget to take care of yourself. If you live yourself, then you can take care of your family better. No one will want to see a woman who

is not properly put together around the house.

“I want women to look beautiful and gorgeous and become more empowered. The future is female and women are going to work it and rule it as well. It cannot be done when you are not confident.

“What makes you confident is looking good and living yourself. Your beauty is what makes you more confident.

So confidence needed to be generated and we take care of everyone. “ So women, look good for yourself, your husband and children. Take care of yourself, skin and hair” she said.

FUTA Varsity Student Seeks N12.5m for Kidney Transplant

Esther Akinsola

An undergraduate at the Federal University of Technology, Akure in Ondo State, Mojeed Adegoke, has been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and needs N12.5m to undergo a kidney transplant.

The 23-year-old was said to be in his final year when he was diagnosed with the medical condition.

Adegoke said his condition started with Mojeed Adegoke headaches early last year. “I started having severe headaches one day but it did not stop. I could not continue my final year project because of this.

“I later went to my school clinic. After my complaint, my school referred me to the Federal Medical Centre, where I was examined and diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.”

The victim’s sister, Aminat Oladejo, said her family members had been paying N40,000 to the hospital for dialysis every four days.

“Our parents are also trying, but we need help. It is God that has been seeing us through,” she added.

Meanwhile, family members and friends among others had assisted in raising the sum of N2.7m as part payment for his kidney transplant.

A consultant physician at the Afe Babalola University MultiSystem Hospital, Ekiti State, Dr Stephen Oguntola, said the student was admitted to the hospital after being refereed from the FMC. He added that Adegoke’s condition was critical.

In a medical report signed by Oguntola, it shows that Adegoke’s dialysis for six months and his kidney transplant would cost N14,464,000.

Donations may be sent to: Mojeed Olanrewaju Adegoke, Account number: 2264680303 United Bank of Africa.

AlphaMorganProvidesMedical InterventionforBonnyCampResidents Proprietor of Spaholic, Mrs. Vandana Kaushall; Senior Special Assistant to the President, Office of the first lady Dr. Mairo Almakura; Chairperson, Senators Wifes forum, 9th Senate, Mrs Halima Kabir Gaya; Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shri Balasuibamaman; Deputy controller General of Immigration, Haliru Abdulmumini; during the grand opening ceremony of Spaholic Wellness Centre in Abuja, recently

Dettol, FG Commemorate 2022 Global Handwashing Day Mary Nnah Leveraging its position as a foremost advocate of hand hygiene habits and regular handwashing, Dettol Nigeria has once again partnered with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to commemorate the 2022 Global Handwashing Day. The event, which served as a further emphasis on Dettol’s dedication to advancing the cause of enhanced hand hygiene as a tool to decrease hygiene-related diseases held on October 17 in Abuja.

Expressing his belief in the theme, “Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene”, the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Sulaimon Hussein Adamu, represented by one of his Directors, Mrs. Elizabeth Ugoh, while commending the stakeholders for their support, said, “Through this celebration, we are further raising awareness on the importance of handwashing with soap as a fundamental action of hygiene for our well-being — in line with the objectives of the United Nations General Assembly.”

“Though hygiene is a critical element of an integrated approach to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) service delivery, an estimated 2.3billion people globally and 171 million Nigerians do not have access to hygiene services. In Nigeria, only 13% of the rural population has access as against 25% of the urban population, while the wealthiest households are

about four times more likely to have basic handwashing services compared to the poorest households.”

“The theme for this year’s celebration, ‘Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene’, is, therefore, a call to action to build on the progress made from previous years by uniting to ensure hand hygiene access and practice for everyone, everywhere. On the part of the government, there has been increased prioritization of hygiene programming and deployment of needed resources.

I would also like to particularly appreciate the contribution of our partners for their financial and technical support, in the promotion of sanitation and hygiene, through programmes and activities aimed towards the attainment of SDG Goal 6 for water and sanitation.”

Commenting on Dettol’s commitment to the importance of the international advocacy day, the Marketing Director, Reckitt Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Tanzim Rezwan, stated, “The purpose of the annual Global Handwashing Day, which promotes handwashing with soap as an essential step in illness prevention, is to raise public awareness of the necessity of hand hygiene across the globe. With Dettol, we have made this vision more than a one-day activity and are devoted to seeing Nigerians inculcate a handwashing lifestyle as reports have stated that diarrhea prevention focused on safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation is not only possible but cost-effective.

He further asserted that “With our veritable cache of

initiatives such as the Dettol Clean Naija Initiative, the introduction of the Hygiene Quest Curriculum, and recent partnership with Wellbeing Foundation Africa, we are well on our way to fulfilling our vision of impacting 6 million children with healthy hygiene and handwashing habits by 2025.”

Over the past 8 years, Reckitt Nigeria has, through the Dettol brand, become a hub of inspirational public health campaigns aimed at revolutionizing the hygiene habits of Nigerians of all ages and gender. Through the School Hygiene Quest Program and New Mum’s Program, Dettol has furthermore begun to build new hygiene habits in children of all ages at various educational levels.

Coalition Calls for Passage of National Mental Health Bill Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) organising under the aegis of Nigerian Mental Health has called for passage of the National Mental Health Bill 2020 The coalition also urged the government to take proactive measures to adopt suicide prevention strategies within its strategic framework.

The coalition numbering about 30 made the call yesterday during an awareness

walk in Abuja to mark World Mental Health Day. The Founder of Nigerian Mental Health, Chime Asonye explained that the awareness walk was organized to advance discussion around mental health and the importance of the National Health Bill.

He said the goal was to ensure the speedy passage of the bill and more attention to mental health issues in the country.

According to him, “Mental health affects everyone, so it is

great that hundreds of people came out to advocate for the government to improve the policy environment for those dealing with psychological conditions and challenges. Their voices will help advance the conversation and this importan Bill,” Asonye said.

Also, Head Media and Communication, Mental Health for Youth Initiative (MHYI), Jakpo Ukuekwu decried that one in eight Nigerians suffers from mental health, hence, the need to pass the Bill into law.

Rebecca Ejifoma Alpha Morgan Capital in partnership with Leadway Health has given free medical check-ups and medications to residents of Bonny Camp Cantonment in the Victoria Island area of Lagos.

Beneficiaries were medications for ulcers, and malaria, antibiotics for infections, pain reliefs, multivitamins, vitamin C, antifungal, antimalarial and worm expeller among others.

The medical outreach aimed to enhance access to health in rural communities and a way to give back to Alpha Morgan Capital.

According to the Head of the Private Banking Unit of Alpha Morgan Capital, Yimika Ogunlaja, this is part of their corporate social responsibility. “We are here to give back to the community so that they can know their medical status and how to address it.”

While acknowledging that health is wealth, the Ogunjala decried that people carry on with their daily activities without paying attention to their health. Hence, “For us, medical outreach is making sure every citizen in Nigeria is doing well and healthy,” she added. To help the dwellers, the outreach checked participants for blood pressure, blood sugar level, weight, height, eyesight and pulse with the distribution of appropriate medication, counselling and recommendations from the team of medical doctors and nurses on ground.

“We target 100 people initially. But we have more than that.

So we have decided to do this in phases to reach as many people as we can annually,” says Ogunjala.

Dr Taiwo Oyinkansola, a general physician from Leadway Health, revealed that the team of health personnel detected malaria the most among the residents. She emphasised: “Malaria is the highest we have seen so far, and it’s endemic here in our environment.” Other conditions she listed are upper respiratory infections like cold and catarrh and optical issues.

“However, there has been a high rise in diabetes and hypertension. The majority of people we have screened here have 140/ 150 blood pressure.

“We’ve seen a woman here with 180/190, which is over normal. This is a problem we need to spend our time tackling,” Oyinkansola explained. Therefore, to reduce the rate of hypertension, she insisted that it’s an effort between the community and their lifestyles. “Awareness is key, letting them know that hypertension is not a life sentence. It can be managed.

“They should know that once they start using their medication for hypertension that’s not the end. We see that most people start, then they stop.”

The general physician recommended a reduction of salt in the diet. “Reduce caffeine and energy drinks because they can increase blood pressure. Cut down on your weight and it will reduce your blood pressure. Exercise too,” she cautioned.

On how to know you are hypertensive, she outlined that 130 of 80 or 90 is prehypertension. However, “Anything above 140/90 is considered hypertension”.

37

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022

NEWS

2023 Health Budget: Group Commends FG, Requests Improved Funding of BHCPF Rebecca Ejifoma Civil Society Groups in Nigeria, under the Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health At Scale (PACFaH@Scale), commend the federal government for the over N1trn allocated to the health sector in the proposed 2023 budget and requested that the amount be maintained by the National Assembly during their appropriation debates.

In a statement signed by the

group’s National Coordinator, who is also the National President, of the Society for Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, Dr Habib Sadauki said maintaining the January to December fiscal budgeting cycle is commendable and challenges incoming governments to adhere to the principle.

“We commend the federal government for appropriating the highest percentage (5.75 per cent) to the health sector in the 2023 budget since

2015 and for reintroducing a dedicated line and code to support the maternal health of Nigerian women scale-up of implementation of the national family planning program, services, and procurement of family planning commodities through counterpart -funding for 2023,” he said Sadauki also described the allocation of N70 million for routine immunisation as a welcome investment, adding that a 41 per cent increase for

immunisation, over the 2022 budget allocation from N50 million in 2022 to N70 million in 2023.

According to Sadauki, “As the NASS reviews and debates the health sector estimates for 2023, PAS CSOs are concerned that 5.75 per cent is still 9.25 per cent away from the 15 per cent promised in the Abuja Declaration signed by the Nigerian government.

“It is therefore our col-

Paelon Memorial Hospital Opens Pediatric Wing Mary Nnah Paelon Memorial Hospital, a leading private hospital in Nigeria, a two-time level 5 SafeCare rating received from PharmAccess and was newly awarded most compliant hospital as recognised by Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), recently launched its pediatrics wing in Lagos.

The Pediatric Wing, named, The Pink Butterfly Wing, was officially launched by Dr. Ngozi Onyia, the founder and managing director of Paelon Memorial Hospital to provide better facilities to deliver quality healthcare to children.

The 12-year-old hospital celebrated the launch by hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its headquarters.

Managing Partner Of Sim-

mons Cooper Partners, Mr. Dapo Akinosun (SAN), was on the ground to offer prayers and inaugurate the new wing by cutting the ribbon and unveiling the plaque.

The ceremony wrapped up a week full of colorful celebrations tailored to Customer Service Week. Consulting and admitted patients received gift items and were encouraged to preserve their memory by taking photos at the hospital’s photo booth.

The Head of Pediatrics, Dr. Nkeiruka Asumah kicked off the new addition to the hospital’s headquarters with the vaccination clinic which administers the series of vaccinations required for new babies.

According to her, “Paelon Memorial Hospital started as a children’s clinic, and is in memory of our Founder’s

daughter, Patricia ELozie Onyia, so children’s health care has always been a priority for us. We are grateful to be fulfilling our obligation in this way. We look forward to catering to many more parents and children through this pediatric wing.”

The Pediatric wing offers surgical services amongst other services and can invite specialists as required. Paelon Memorial Hospital continues to work towards the global standard of health practice and as such implements technology to its system and processes which also applies to this new facility.

According to the founder, Dr. Ngozi Onyia, the practice ensures error is minimised.

As she stated, “We have internal and external quality control systems in place and our practice is evidence and

value-based, and guidelines and protocols are driven.

Patient safety, especially for children, is of paramount importance to us.”

As part of its core vision, Paelon Memorial Hospital is expanding with hopes of more branches and new facilities.

Paleon Memorial Hospital is a multi-specialist hospital established in April 2010. The name “Paelon ‘’ was coined from the name of the late last child of the founder, Dr. Ngozi Onyia. Her name was Patricia ELozie Onyia. The hospital was set up in her memory and began with one branch in Musa Yaradua, Victoria Island which moved to Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Over the years, the hospital has expanded and now has four other branches Ikeja, Lagos, Victoria Island and Amai, Delta State.

L-R: Founder, Paelon Memorial Hospital, Dr Ngozi Onyia; Pediatrician,Dr Nkeiruka Asumah and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Dapo Akinosun at the event

UNICEFUrgesGovtonOnePHCPerWardagainstInfantMortality r -BHPT SFDPSET UIF MPXFTU SBUF PG DIJME NPSUBMJUZ r0HVO SFDPSET IJHIFTU DIJME EFBUIT Rebecca Ejifoma The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has charged governments at all levels to set up one functional primary healthcare centre (PHC) per ward to reduce the high rate of infant and child mortality across the country.

This comes after a recent survey shows that Ogun State recorded the highest number of children’s deaths in the southwestern part of the country.

In the survey conducted by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in collaboration with UNICEF among others, Ogun State has the highest figures in neonatal mortality, infant mortality, and postnatal care for

newborns among others in the region.

According to the NBS, the survey estimated that 56 out of 1,000 children between the ages of zero and 11 months died after birth in Ogun State.

This was highlighted at the ongoing two-day media dialogue on the 2022 Multiple Indicator Clusters (MICs) organised by UNICEF in partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) tagged, “2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS-6) for Journalists in Southwest Zone”.

Citing the survey, the Social Policy Specialist of UNICEF, Mohammed Okorie explained that the estimations were part of

the MICS 6 results released by the NBS on 16 August 2022.

“68 out of 1,000 children between the ages of zero and less than one year died after their birth in Ogun State,” he hinted.

Sadly, he noted that Ogun State has also ranked the highest in the deaths of children between ages zero and five years with 85 deaths out of 1,000 children.

The UNICEF Social Policy Specialist continued that Ogun State also recorded the lowest in the care for children after birth with an estimation of 77 per cent.

While the survey also shows that Ekiti State is in the second position in neonatal mortality with a record of 53 out of 1,000

children, Oyo State follows quickly with 31 deaths of 1,000 children.

Okorie added: “Ondo State witnessed 18 deaths out of 1000 children while Osun state recorded 12 deaths out of 1,000 children.”

He outlined further that Ekiti State emerged second on the infant mortality chart with 67 deaths out of 1,000 children.

Again, Oyo state followed with a record of 40 deaths out of 1,000 children. Okorie also pointed out that Ondo State witnessed 31 deaths out of 1,000 children.

Osun State had 17 deaths out of 1,000 children and Lagos State recorded 15 deaths out of 1,000 children delivered.

lective prayer to the NASS that the 5.75 per cent allocation to the health sector in the 2023 proposed budget must not be reduced, downsized, cut, or trimmed; if anything, it should be increased to approximate the 15 per cent Abuja Declaration.”

The coalition, however, described the provision of N47.7 million to the basic healthcare provision fund as inadequate.

The group added: “The 7 per cent increase in allocation to the Basic Health Care Provi-

sion Fund (BHCPF) in 2023 of N47,649,312 over the 2022 allocation of N44,564,737,089 is inadequate if the goal of UHC is to be achieved and should be increased.”

The coalition, therefore, called on the national assembly to ensure that adequate provisions are made for human resources for health to redress the health sector brain drain.

We shall never know the good a simple smile can do

Edo Healthcare Back on Course, Says Commissioner Rebecca Ejifoma The Edo State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Obehi Akoria has said the milestones established by Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration for improving people’s health in the State are on course, expressing satisfaction with the progress made in the state’s health sector.

In an interview with journalists during her one year in office as commissioner, Akoria disclosed that the government has recorded phenomenal growth in the sector, especially in the last 12 months.

She noted that it succeeded in providing access to health care for the indigenes through the government’s novel programmes now being implemented by the ministry.

The commissioner admitted that the state suffered significant setbacks following the advent of COVID-19 between 2020 and 2022. She, however, added that the health sector had since bounced back on track and the Edo Health Improvement programme is now being vigorously driven by the ministry.

“As we speak, in Edo State, two gateways are already active: The Primary Health Care gateway and the Health Insurance gateway,” she highlighted.

According to her, Primary Health Care in Edo state is no longer restricted to the old system of focusing only on immunisation, health talk, and ante-natal care for a few women who may choose to have their babies in PHC centres.

She said: “We are driving a revolution in which we are rebranding, resourcing our primary health care system, and training our workforce to understand that primary health care is not health care for the poor.”

Akoria cited some unique features of PHC in Edo state which include the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) – which provides free care to people under the age of five years, pregnant women, older adults and the indigents – and the novel telemedicine programme which offers health services virtually through the use of video conferencing.

She says the state is looking to scale (telemedicine) to Edo-central and Edo-North for the rural areas in the coming year with a laser focus to keep the service in the PHCs to strengthen the paradigm shift

Prof. Obehi Akoria and reset its mentality that ‘quality service is not meant for only tertiary centres’.

In the first quarter of next year, “We will have activated another facility in another senatorial zone to serve the less privileged. We focus on underserved people, people who cannot pay for themselves, and those living with comorbidities, hypertension, diabetes, osteoarthritis and chronic obstructive airway disease.

“Quite a number of our patients come from outside the Benin metropolis”, says the commissioner.

Akoria further revealed that the goal of the Government is to bridge what the people can provide for themselves with the provisions of health insurance.

The Prof. insisted that achieving universal health coverage is a non-negotiable goal for us in Edo State. “For us, a situation where people have to spend out-of-pocket for every healthcare encounter causes much concern.

“So we have a health insurance commission working to improve and increase enrolment from not just the formal but also the informal sector. There are also provisions for specialised packages for those who may have health care needs that go beyond what we call the basic health care package,” she emphasised.

According to Akoria, they are also providing true oversight for all the health agencies in the state.

These agencies are the hospital management boards (that oversee its 33 hospitals), the Edo health insurance commission, and the Edo Primary Health care and Development Agencies which have been her focus in the last 12 months.

“We have made much progress in human capacity development, targeted oversight, data-driven policy implementation, transparency, and accountability. The dividends are already springing out. One big thing I am glad about in these last twelve months is the focus we now have on regulation in Edo State.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022

38

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Fidelity Bank Supports Pinnacle to Ease Petroleum Products Distribution Nationwide Kayode Tokede As part of its efforts towards facilitating the distribution of petroleum products across the country and in support of the federal government’s reforms in the nation’s oil industry, leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, recently joined President Muhammadu Buhari and a host of dignitaries to commission the Pinnacle Oil and Gas in Lagos.

Situated in the Lekki free trade zone in Lagos, the intake, offtake and storage facility is designed to enable the efficient distribution of imported petroleum products, trigger significant savings in the costs of products at the pump and ultimately improve energy security in the country.

The newly commissioned terminal, which is valued at over $1billion, was financed by a consortium of Nigerian banks led by Fidelity Bank.

Commenting on Fidelity Bank’s support for the project, its Managing Director/CEO, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, said, “Energy security and reduction

of business operating costs are two challenges we take seriously in Fidelity Bank as we seek ways of helping businesses run profitably.

“With the commissioning of this facility, there would be a marked improvement in the downstream sector of the Nigerian economy around petroleum products distribution and reduction in energy costs for businesses across the country.

“The Board and Management of Fidelity Bank congratulate Mr. President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Pinnacle Oil and Gas Ltd and our amiable customer, Mr. Peter Mbah; and indeed, all Nigerians on this epoch-making event.”

In his remarks, the chief host at the event and Group Chief Executive Officer of Pinnacle Oil and Gas Ltd, Mr Peter Mbah explained that the company was already in talks with the Dangote Group as regards partnerships that can complement the operations of the nearby Dangote Refinery which

would soon resume operations with a view of pioneering what he termed “Africa’s largest energy logistics hub”.

“Vessels arriving at this facility would have the opportunity to anchor at either of our two offshore berths. They can berth at our Conventional Buoy Mooring, which is in 17 metres of water depth and can handle vessels of up to 120 million litres.

“They can also berth at our Single Point Mooring, which is in about 23 metres of water depth and can handle vessel sizes of up to 200 million litres.

These moorings are connected to our storage facilities by four networked pipelines of 40km total length.

“These pipe networks are designed to empty the vessels in a maximum of two days, a significant improvement on the previous duration of up to 30 days. The facility is designed to permit rapid discharge into trucks for evacuation at a rate of up to 20 million litres per day,” divulged Mbah.

N’Assembly Urges More Awareness on Startup Act Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole ÓØ ÌßÔË The National Assembly has urged the federal government to create more awareness on the recently-enacted Startup Act, to enable Nigerian youth to know the benefits and opportunities derivable from with the legislation.

The Chairman, Senate committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Senator, Oseni Yakubu gave the admonition at the opening ceremony of Digital Nigeria Conference 2022, organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said although he had been doing it in his own capacity, there was the need for the the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to do more.

Yakubu said: “The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy should

create more awareness of the Startup Act for Nigerian youths to know the benefits and opportunities that abound with it.

“We are going to collaborate with the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy to create this awareness and I’ve been doin my little bit to create awareness of the potentials of the bills.

“I trust Nigerian Youths the are very intelligent and talented and I am sure they will key into it .And also contribute their qouta to the GDP and placing Nigeria in the ICT world map.”

He also spoke on the government’s memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Microsoft to train five million Nigerians, adding that, “the five million young people that we are talking about are going to be trained (by Microsoft).

The jobs are already there, awaiting the youth to key in.”

“When Mr. President signed

the bill into law. The government decided that a total of five billion naira will be used as starting grant. It means that there are other funds we are expecting in the sector from other sources so that we can have something to fall back to.

This Microsoft training is key because the chain effect will be enormous and very impactful on the Nigerian economy.

“The question is are we aware? Are we ready to tap into this opportunities?” He said In his remarks, the Minister of Communication Isa Pantami said: “We have shown that the digital economy can greatly support the traditional economy. The contribution of the digital economy to the gross domestic product (GDP) of Nigeria and in its role in making the economy resilient to adverse events like the COVID-19 pandemic are two good examples of the impact of the digital economy on the traditional economy.”

L-R Chief Financial Officer, Tranzfar, Dr. Olusiji Sanya, Chairman, Tranzfar, Mr. Bankole Eniola and Chief Executive Officer, Tranzfar, Ryan Romeo during the launch of Freedom Account by Tranzfar in

Lagos...yesterday

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS Money Supply (M3)

48,865,823.53

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

167,956.2

Money Supply (M2)

48,797,867.32

-- Quasi Money

28,405,330.1

-- Narrow Money (M1)

20,392,537.22

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,722,785.91

---- Demand Deposits

17,669,751.32

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

6,242,394.29

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

42,623,429.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

57,267,178.05

---- Credit to Government (Net)

17,996,690.06

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

39,270,488

--Other Assets Net

5,566,430

Reserve Money (Base Money

11,320,304

--Currency in Circulation

3,259,269.15

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,320,303.72 384,377.56

Sunday Ehigiator A tricycle, deep-freezers, generators, and blenders were some of the items won by clients, as LAPO Microfinance bank restated its commitment toward its mandate of social and economic empowerment of members of low-income households through its responsive products and financial services, at the promo launch of the ‘My Pikin & I (MPI) savings account recently held in Lagos.

In a signed statement by the bank, it revealed that the product was carefully researched and designed to provide a simple savings platform with very low entry requirements to help inculcate a savings culture and greater financial inclusion for members of low-income households, small business owners, parents and guardians.

“Savers can open the account with as low as N200 and stand the chance of enjoying huge

benefits such as one-year free insurance cover, scholarship and interest earnings on savings.”

Also speaking to the media at the ‘My Pikin & I’ promo raffle event, which was held in Lagos, LAPO’s Head of Communications, Oluremi Akande, said, the objective of the promo was to encourage better savings culture/discipline among low-income earners, build sustainable wealth and to increase financial inclusion.

RIF Unveils Mikel Obi as New Ambassador Sunday Ehigiator

Leading International residency and citizenship investment advisory firm, RIF Trust recently unveiled newly retired Nigerian footballer, Mikel Obi as its first mega Brand Ambassador.

The announcement was officially made by the company at Deseo - Opus in Business

Bay, Dubai.

The unveiling of Mikel Obi as RIF Trust’s first mega-brand ambassador comes after their successful global expansion into Africa, including Nigeria and Egypt, as well as across the Middle East over the past decade.

Mikel Obi, one of Africa’s most decorated

international footballers, began his career with a local club Plateau United, before joining Norwegian club Lyn at the age of 17 in 2004. In 2006, he made a transfer to the English club Chelsea where he played for 11 years, before moving to China to play for Tianjin TEDA in 2017.

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

Savers Win Big, as LAPO Launches ‘My Pikin & I Promo’

(MILLION NAIRA)

JUNE 2022

June 2022

Inter-Bank Call Rate

11.10

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

13.00

Treasury Bill Rate

2.45

Savings Deposit Rate

1.38

1 Month Deposit Rate

3.48

3 Months Deposit Rate

4.55

6 Months Deposit Rate

4.97

12 Months Deposit Rate

5.30

Prime Lending rate

12.29

Maximum Lending Rate

27.61

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 27 SEPTEMBER 2022

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $89.50 a barrel on Monday, compared with $92.67 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

39

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022

MARKET NEWS

NGX Builds Capital Market Capacity on Finance Act KayodeTokede As part of its commitment to building the capacity of stakeholders in the capital market, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) has organised a webinar on the impact of the 2021 Finance Act on the operating environment.

The event, themed, “Capital Market Advancement and the Implications of the 2021 Finance Act,” organised in conjunction with the Association of

Securities Dealing Houses (ASHON), Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) focused on helping stakeholders garner expert insight into amendments such as the Capital Gains Tax (CGTA); Companies Income TaxAct (CITA); Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act [FIRSEA]; Personal Income Tax Act (PITA); Stamp Duties Act (SDA); Tertiary Education Trust Fund Act (TETFEA) and Value Added Tax Act

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

(VATA). Giving his opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, NGX, Mr Temi Popoola underscored the importance of the event, “as the Exchange plays a leading role in driving capacity building, fostering effective collaboration, deepening and enhancing the liquidity of the Nigerian capital market.”

He said, “The amendments made by the Act are part of the expansion of the federal government’s fiscal policy and harmonization

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

with international best practices for the taxation of new areas of the modern global economy and existing economic areas that have not been fully maximized. These changes impact not just the capital market, but commercial companies such as telecommunications, ICT, and oil & gas among others.

This webinar is an initiative put forward to sensitize stakeholders and intermediaries in the Nigerian capital market under a common

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

forum to understand the provisions in the Finance Act 2021.”

The keynote speaker and Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader, PwC Nigeria, Mr Taiwo Oyedele during his lecture noted that the capital market is still at its seed stage and needs nurturing to ensure effective growth. For this reason, he said that the government had to approach taxation with the aim of unlocking prosperity, which will enable the generation of increased taxes, rather

O F

than unintentionally hampering growth with its tax policies.

Noting the implications on the market, Oyedele said the tax framework had to be adjusted in specific areas like the imposition of capital gains that had significant impact on investor sentiment but limited tax yield. “Nigeria needs a capital market that can finance growth and development and position the country for global and regional relevance.”

2 6 / 1 0 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

40

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 25Oct-2022, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 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 Afrinvest Dollar Fund 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 11.20% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.51 3.56 3.45% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 7.49% Anchoria Equity Fund 135.50 136.99 -2.70% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.16 1.16 0.99% info@anchoriaam.com ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 480.96 495.46 6.60% ARM Ethical Fund 41.10 42.34 5.50% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.09 1.09 0.82% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.06 1.06 4.87% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.25% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 85.74 85.74 -10.48% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,083.67 1,083.67 8.37% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.10 2.10 2.65% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.24 2.28 2.52% CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.03 1.03 6.90% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 11.88% Paramount Equity Fund 17.43 17.74 4.42% Women's Investment Fund 142.81 144.48 0.59% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.11% Cordros Milestone Fund 129.72 130.58 4.31% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 111.80 111.80 5.03% CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 9.94% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 10.67% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,135.56 1,144.35 1.62% EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.06% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.05 1.05 8.68% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.01 1.01 0.44% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 103.89 103.89 2.47% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 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 N/A N/A N/A FBN Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 9.88% Legacy Debt Fund 3.59 3.59 -10.34% Legacy Equity Fund 1.81 1.84 3.91% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.25 1.25 3.61% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn

Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

N/A N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A

FSDH Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A GUARANTY TRUST FUND MANAGERS LIMITED enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A 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 1.63 1.66 15.00% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,161.50 1,161.50 7.70% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: www.meristemwealth.com/funds/; Tel: +2348028496012 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 100.78 100.78 8.67% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 10.72% 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 1.61 1.64 2.11% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.46 11.53 2.72% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 8.57% PACAM Equity Fund 1.33 1.35 -6.42% PACAM EuroBond Fund 117.32 120.36 3.10% 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 121.53 123.97 0.05% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.07 1.07 10.04% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,474.08 3,507.42 2.56% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 243.22 243.22 3.25% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.35 1.37 7.94% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 328.10 328.10 4.78% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 251.47 254.84 7.74% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.85% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 11,529.69 11,685.32 5.67% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.35 1.35 4.37% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 120.16 120.16 2.78% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 113.44 113.44 6.64% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 0.90 0.92 1.74% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.32 1.33 1.21% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.14 1.15 10.26% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.09 1.09 7.23% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.93 1.93 6.31% United Capital Eurobond Fund 124.14 124.14 5.84% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.39% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.40 13.52 1.60% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 15.29 15.43 4.54% Zenith Income Fund 23.24 23.24 5.87% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.43% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund 3.73 3.83 -6.85% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 5.65 5.75 -3.29% Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund 16.41 16.61 -7.15% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.06% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 19.52 19.72 -2.31% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 135.04 137.04 -14.32%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

119.29 52.14

5.27% 2.50%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

14.33 120.84 91.74 17.10 16.40

14.43 123.88 93.74 17.20 16.50

2.45% -4.94% -8.04% 9.38% -2.79%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.59

0.00%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

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Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com

L-R: Deputy Managing Director, Afrinvest West Africa, Mr. Victor Ndukauba; Group Managing Director, Afrinvest West Africa, Mr. Ike Chioke; and Managing Director, Optimus by Afrinvest, Mr. Ayodeji Ebo, during a press conference on the evolution of Afrinvest into a capital market holding company and digital investment bank in Lagos…recently

L-R: Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Chairman, Lagos State chapter, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu; LASUTH Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Adetokunbo Fabanwo; and former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, at the opening ceremony of the Lagos NMA Physicians’ Week in Ikeja Lagos…recently

L-R: Chief Photographer, The Cable, Mansur Ibrahim; Senior Programme Officer, World Learning, Ms. Meghan Simpson; Photo Editor, THISDAYlive, Mr. Kunle Ogunfuyi; and multiple award-winning Investigative Journalist, Mike Deeson, during the closing ceremony of the International Visitor’s Leadership Programme (IVLP) with the theme: ‘A Global Moment in Time: Photojournalist Document Challenges and Opportunity in the COVID-19 Era’, facilitated by the United States Department of State in Florida, USA ...recently

Founder/Chief Executive Officer of SecureID Group, Mrs. Kofo Akinkugbe (left), receiving her award of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) from President Muhammadu Buhari at the 2022 National Honours Awards Investiture in Abuja…recently

L-R: General Manager, Mutual Benefits Assurance, Joseph Oladokun; Chief Executive Officer, Spectranet, Ajay Awasthi; and Managing Director, Purebond Insurance Brokers, Simon Okeke, during the unveiling of the Spectralife Policy at Spectranet Corporate Head Office, Lagos...recently

L-R: Corporate Affairs Manager, International Breweries Plc (IBPLC) Onitsha, Anambra State, Mr. Damian Igwe; Flood Committee Chairman, Ogbaru Local Government Area (LGA), Anambra State, Mr. Ben Nwasike; Plant Manager, IBPLC Onitsha, Mr. Fidelis Igwe; Member representing Ogbaru 1 constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon Noble Igwe; and Member representing Ogbaru 2 constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon Somto Udeze, during the donation of relief products by IBPLC to Ogbaru LGA in the state… recently

L-R: Deputy Director, Pollution Control Environment of Health, Mr. Mohammed Maleh; Marketing Director, Reckitt Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Tanzim Rezwan; Head of ‘Wash Action Against Hunger’, Mr. Raugaiya Karagarathan; representative of Country Director, Waterside Nigeria, Emmanuel Forkunbur; representative of Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Elizabeth Ugoh; during the 2022 Global Hand-washing Day commemoration in Abuja... recently

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THURSDAY, ͺͿ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

NIGERIA-KOREA MEETING...

President Muhammadu Buhari (left) and President Yoon Suk-Yeol of Korea, during a Bilateral Meeting at the Presidential Villa Seoul ... yesterday

Experts Laud CBN's N250bn Gas Intervention Fund, Seek Supply Boost Want overly stringent access conditions relaxed Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Various stakeholders in the oil and gas sector have urged operators to take advantage of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) recent N250 billion intervention to boost the much-needed infrastructure in the sector.

With 208 trillion standard cubic feet of gas reserves, Nigeria, which should ordinarily be a leader in the gas supply business worldwide, has been struggling to even meet domestic needs due to the paucity of the needed infrastructure for production and transportation.

The CBN had introduced the N250 billion facility to help stimulate investment in the gas value chain, to improve private financing access, boost investment and develop gas-based industries.

In his comments on the matter, President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry said while the N250 billion funding made available by the CBN remains key, the conditions for accessing the facility were overly stringent.

He urged the apex bank to take into cognisance the dynamics of the situation in which most of the small scale indigenous companies in the petroleum marketing sector operate and review the rules.

He added that unless the conditions were lowered to accommodate the marketers, the projected objectives of the intervention could remain unachieved.

According to him, there was need for more investment in

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), adding that huge gap exists in gas infrastructure in the country.

Gillis-Harry maintained that the CBN would need to work with associations in the sector to drive the agenda of domestic gas utilisation, stressing that the country has everything it takes to stop the importation of LPG. He added: “Nigeria has huge gas resources and should not be importing gas. I think the intervention by the CBN is commendable but more is needed. The infrastructure needed to unlock gas is huge.”

Given growing gas demand in Nigeria, Gillis-Harry said it did not make any sense if the current LNG production in the country is focused on the export market when Nigeria is attempting to increase domestic LPG consumption to 5 million metric tonnes (mmt).

Also in his intervention, PricewaterhouseCoopers’s Associate Director, Energy, Utilities, and Resources, Habeeb Jaiyeola, stated that it was high time the government stopped the importation of LPG, stressing that the CBN's N250 billion intervention was critical to realising the government’s objectives.

He explained that if complemented with existing gas infrastructure investment like the AKK pipeline, the provisions in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and other initiatives, the country stands a chance to meet its LPG demand.

Jaiyeola urged industry players to take advantage of the N250 billion CBN intervention facility to address the bottlenecks in the domestic gas

market, while urging sustainable finance into the gas sector.

He noted: “The move by the CBN is laudable and the intent of the fund is also quite comprehensive and seeks to ease funding challenges for all players within the LPG value chain.”

Also speaking on how operators could access the fund, the Programme Manager, National LPG Expansion Implementation Plan, Dayo Adeshina, said there was the need to tweak the plan to ensure that players in the sector seamlessly access the loan.

He noted that the objectives of the intervention would be achieved if commercial banks stop treating the loan as commercial loans.

“To access the loan, it is your commercial banks that will approach the CBN but unfortunately the banks were treating it as commercial loans. Typically, they would ask for the same things they ask when you ask for normal loans; equity contribution, security and all.

“All these slowed down the amount of people whose balance sheets can allow them access the loan. That is being looked at to see how associated bottlenecks can be resolved to make it easier for people to access,” Adeshina said.

Also, Chief Executive Officer, Selai Gas Station Ltd., Damilola Owolabi said a lot could happen in the LPG if the funding of critical infrastructure was easily accessible.

In continuation of its ongoing restructuring and consolidation, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has changed the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), an arm of the company to the 'NNPC Upstream Investment Services (NUIS).'

The General Manager, Nigerian Petroleum Exchange (NIPEX), a division of NAPIMS, Mr. Andrew Grant, who represented the Group General Manager,

NAPIMS, Mr. Bala Wunti, at the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists' (NAPE) 40th Pre-conference workshop held in Lagos, yesterday, announced the name change to industry stakeholders present.

The theme of the preconference workshop was, "Energy Security and Transition Strategies: Opportunities and Challenges in Nigeria."

Since NNPC's conversion to a limited liability company operating under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), in

needed returns on investment.

As it is, Nigeria imports roughly 55 per cent of LPG as the demand continues to increase in the country and could even worsen with the recent disruption in NLNG’s operations.

Nigeria’s inability to meet local and global demand, has been linked to lack of investment which compelled the CBN to inject the financing facility to ramp up the domestic gas expansion programme.

Among others, the CBN said the facility would help fast-track the adoption of CNG as the fuel of choice for transportation and power generation, while LPG will serve as the fuel of choice for domestic cooking and transportation.

FEC Approves N17.4bn for Communication Infrastructure, N660m for 21 Operational Vehicles from Innoson for FRSC Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N660.422 million for the procurement of operational vehicles for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

The contract awarded to Innoson Motors is for the supply of 20 pick-ups and one City Bus. This was made known yesterday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, while speaking with newsmen at the end of the council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House,

Abuja.

He said N17.4 billion was approved for the provision of Broadband infrastructure for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and tertiary and higher learning institutions across the six geo-political zones with the supply of IT Communications Equipment and furniture for Communication Centres in the nation's six geo-political zones by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

The minister added that N3.992 billion was also approved by the Council for the augmentation of

Restructuring: NNPC Changes NAPIMS to NUIS Peter Uzoho

She noted that her company has had to limit operations due to lack of infrastructure to lift products adequately from the port.

An industry operator who pleaded anonymity, stated that although members had been able to access the funding, a lot had to be done to make LPG competitive.

Accordingly, the stakeholder stated that while the financial support would improve domestic gas utilisation, subsidies on electricity and petrol remain a disincentive to investment in gas space.

He argued that as long as people have cheaper option of cooking with biomass, electricity or power their vehicles with cheap petrol, investors in the gas space would not have

line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, the company had been on a restructuring mode to reflect its new status and achieve its goals.

Just a few days ago, the state oil company had named five executive vice presidents in its efforts to consolidate its postcommercialisation drive, with the Group Executive Director, Upstream, Adokiye Tombomieye made the Executive Vice President (Upstream) while the Group Executive Director, Downstream, Mr. Adeyemi Adetunji took the

role of Executive Vice President (Downstream).

In addition, the Executive Director, Gas and Power, Abdulkabir Ahmed became the Executive Vice President, Gas, Power and New Energies, while Inuwa Danladi was named the Executive Vice President, Business Services.

Furthermore, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan took the role of Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Sustainability; while Chidi Momah became the General Counsel for the National Oil Company (NOC).

road projects in Kwara and Niger states.

Mohammed also disclosed that the Council ratified the International Labour Organisation Migrant Workers Supplementary Provision and approved the Draft National Policy on Welding.

He briefed reporters on the memoranda presented by different ministers, saying: "The first was a memo for them procurement of vehicles for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and that contract was in favour of Messrs Innoson Manufacturing Company at the total sum of N660,422,220 and it's made up of 20 pick-up vehicles and 1 City Bus and it's in the spirit of encouraging our local industries that the contract was awarded to Innosons Motors.

"The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy presented a memo which was approved for the provision of broadband infrastructure for micro-small medium enterprises and also tertiary and higher learning institutions across the six geo-political zones.

"The administration is passionate about deepening the broad band infrastructure and that contract was awarded to various companies for N16, 709, 853,000.

"There is another memo for the Minister of Communications

seeking approval for the supply, installations and upgrading for new set of new IT communications equipment and furniture for emergency communication centres all over the country and that was awarded for the sum of N668 million.

"There was also the ratification of international Labour Organisation Migrant Workers Supplementary Provision with Nigeria ratifying the 1975 Convention. That was the memo from the Minister of Labour and Employment.

"There is also the memo from the Minister of Science and Technology for the approval of the Draft National Policy on Welding.

This is again to ensure that small and medium scale industries get necessary skilled labour.

"As it is today, most of our welders come from the neighbouring countries and that is the national policy to bridge that gap.

"There is a memo presented by the Minister of works and Housing seeking for the approval of revised estimated total cost of contract for the construction of Patigi-Ada Road in Kwara state and the contractor is for augmentation to the total sum of N1.192 billion which will jerk the original contract from N4.3 billion to N5.5 billion.

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FORTY-SEVEN

Obajana: Court Halts Move to Shut Down Dangote Cement by Kogi Government Alex Enumah in Abuja Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court yesterday halted the move by the Kogi State government to nullify an agreement it entered with Dangote Cement Plc over the company’s purchase of Obajana Cement.

The court's intervention followed an application to that effect brought

by Dangote Coal Mines Ltd and Dangote Industries Ltd. Both the Kogi State Government and Dangote Group are currently battling for the soul of the cement factory located in Obajana in Kogi State.

Dangote Cement, originally Obajana Cement Company was established in 1992 and was sole owned by the Kogi State Government.

However, the state entered into agreement with Dangote Industries

Limited in 2002 and 2003 "for the purpose of producing cement for the economic benefit of the people of Kogi State.”

In the agreements, the state had transferred 90 percent of its shareholding to Dangote Industries Limited thereby retaining 10 per cent.

However, citing lack of consideration (which is an essential ingredient of a valid contract) in the two agreements, the state last week approached a High Court of Kogi State, Lokoja, to seek nullification of the two agreements.

Before filing the suit on October 18, 2022, the Kogi State Government had on October 13, issued a 48 hours ultimatum to the company to shut down production in compliance with the order of the Kogi State House of Assembly.

The lawmakers had directed that the conglomerates halt production activities until it furnishes them with

the requisite documents demanded by them.

Responding, Dangote group had commenced a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1876/22, at the Federal High Court, Abuja with the Kogi State House of Assembly, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and Mining Cadastre Office as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

The Dangote group had also filed another suit marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/1877/22, with all the defendants in the first suit, except Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), were listed as defendants.

Pending the hearing and determination of their suit, the plaintiffs further filed an ex parte motion seeking the court's order restraining the defendants from interfering with their activities at the cement factory.

The two applications, dated October 13 and filed October 14, were filed by Rickey Tarfa.

Among reliefs sought by the applicants is, “an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants/respondents or any person purporting to act on their behalf from extending the exercise of the defendants’ oversight functions outside the concurrent and residual legislative list and unto the executive legislative list of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

They also prayed for another order of interim injunction restraining the defendants or any person purporting to act on their behalf from making any resolution or order, disrupting, suspending or shutting down the facilities or activities of the applicants anywhere in the state in contravention of the provisions

of Section 4(2) and item 32 of part 1 second Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

In addition, the applicants sought an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants from further giving effect to any resolution, declaration or decision purporting to suspend the activities of the applicants in the state in contravention of the 1999 Constitution.

At the hearing of the motions yesterday, applicants' counsel submitted that the crux of the matter was the restriction of the operations of the applicants, the invasion and disruption of their business by the defendants.

She argued that the closure of the cement factory by the defendants would affect the production of cements in Nigeria and put thousands of jobs at risk.

Okotie-Eboh alleged that the Kogi State House of Assembly

and its commissioner for justice disrupted cement production despite the fact that they did not have the power to do so, adding that the commissioner also threatened to invade the company again.

She, therefore, sought an order of the court preserving the res (subject matter) pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

In a short ruling, Justice Nyako granted the reliefs sought and ordered the applicants to serve the defendants with the motions on notice within 14 days and adjourned the matter until Nov 21 for hearing.

The judge also stopped the state government from disrupting or suspending the activities of Dangote Coal Mines Ltd and Dangote Industries Ltd in Okaba, Ankpa Local Government Area and in Olamaboro Local Government Area respectively.

IN AMBUSH OF VOTE BUYERS, RANSOM TAKERS, CBN VOIDS NAIRA NOTES BY END OF JANUARY their campaigns would be forced to bring those cash out and many of them would be forced to explain how they came about the monies to security operatives. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has already signalled its intention to move against currency hoarders who maybe forced to bring out their huge stash of cash into the banks.

CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, who disclosed the resolve by the apex bank to redesign the banknotes at a media briefing in Abuja, said the redesigning of the notes would affect the N200, N500, and N1, 000 denominations.

This was just as the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, applauded the move by the CBN, describing it as “a well-considered and timely response” to the challenge of currency management, which had negatively impacted the country’s monetary policy and security imperatives.

Emefiele, who pointed out that

the change was sequel to the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari, said circulation of the new banknotes would commence on December 15, 2022. He said the development was also aimed at checking the increasing ease and risk of currency counterfeiting evidenced by several security reports, and the increased risk to financial stability as well as the worsening shortage of clean and fit currency, with the attendant negative perception of the central bank.

Emefiele said there was significant hoarding of naira notes by members of the public, with statistics showing that over 80 per cent of the currency in circulation were outside the vaults of the commercial banks. He said as of September 2022, a total of N3.2 trillion was in circulation, of which N2.73 trillion was outside the vaults of the banks, describing the development as unacceptable.

Although, to maintain healthy currency regime, central banks are required to redesign, produce, and circulate new local legal tender every five to eight years, the naira has not

been redesigned in the last 20 years.

On February 28, 2007, as part of economic reforms, N20 was issued for the first time in polymer substrate, while the N50, N10 and N5 banknotes; as well as N1 and 50 kobo coins were reissued in new designs, and the N2 coin was introduced. Also, on September 30, 2009, the redesigned N50, N10 and N5 banknotes were converted to polymer substrate following the successful performance of the N20 (polymer) banknote. Finally, the CBN, as part of its contribution towards the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence and 100 years of its existence as a nation, had issued the N50 Commemorative polymer banknote on September 29, 2010; and the N100 Commemorative banknote on December 19, 2014.

Emefiele explained that the new and existing notes would remain legal tender and circulate together until January 31, 2023, when the existing currencies shall seize to be legal tender.

As a result, he said all banks

FG IS TACKLING GROWING INFLATIONARY PRESSURE, SAYS FINANCE MINISTER of 32.5 per cent, from 27.5 per cent, in order to mop up liquidity from banks’ vaults and discourage currency speculation. Inflation in Nigeria rose to 20.77 per cent in September, up from 20.52 per cent in August.

Responding to the question by the chairman of the committee, Hon. James Faleke on efforts to arrest the growing inflation in the country, Ahmed said the ongoing Russian and Ukraine war and the decision of some central banks in advanced countries affected fiscal activities in Nigeria.

Ahmed, however said President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the National Food Security Council to brainstorm and make recommendations on the way forward.

She said: "On inflation, it’s a very serious situation where Nigeria’s inflation is now 20.77 per cent. The inflation in Nigeria has a number of components: One of them is imported inflation, occurrences in other countries also affects Nigeria.

For example, the war in Ukraine and Russia has an impact on Nigeria in the sense that some of the inputs for food production are affected.

“Also the decisions taken by the central banks in USA, Europe on monetary tightening also has an impact on their own level of inflation that also affects our country.

But in Nigeria, we also have food inflation, and because of the high cost of diesel we find this showing up in food prices.

“So when farmers produce their goods and they have to transport them to market the increasing cost of transportation is impacting the food. What the central bank is doing is continuing to monitor inflation by money tightening and mopping up liquidity.

"On the side of the government, the president has authorised the National Food Security Council and

we have held a meeting on how some support will be provided.

The committee will be meeting again in the next couple of days to provide recommendations to Mr. President."

Speaking on the measures to make the nation's port attractive to importers, the minister said the ministry and the Nigerian Ports Authority were jointly working towards decongesting the ports through the installation of scanners in the ports as well as the extension of Lagos to Abuja rail line.

According to Ahmed, all government’s independent revenue had been deployed to the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

Ahmed explained: "On why our ports are not attractive, it’s a very big problem. The ports congestion and the unfortunate reality is a lot of importers prefer to go to our neighbors.

“On the measures we are taking, the Ministry of Finance has provided and bought some very large scanners. Our assessment is that it will help to fasten the clearing process and decongest the ports.

“The ports authority on their own is trying to re-organise ports to attain better efficiency including control of entry and exit to the ports. On independent revenue and deployment of single treasury account, it has been deployed to all government agencies, there’s no agency of government that’s having their accounts outside of the treasury.

“The accountant general will provide more information on that," she said.

Earlier, giving a review of the 2022 budget performance, the minister said N3.52 trillion was for debt service in the N17.32 budget.

According to her, in the 2022 budget, the government had a proposal of N6.1 trillion new

borrowings, N3.5 trillion from domestic sources.

She added that as of August, the federal government had borrowed N4.06 trillion from local sources, including from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Ahmed however revealed that crude oil theft and subsidy deductions on petrol by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) were factors responsible for the poor performance of the overall budget.

She assured that the government was mindful of the development and was working on the safety nets to cushion the effects on the economy.

"The aggregate expenditure for 2022 is estimated at N17.32 trillion, with a pro-rata spending target of N11.55 trillion at the end of August.

The actual spending as of August 31 was N9.56 trillion.

“Of this amount, N3.52 trillion was for debt service, and N2.89 trillion for personnel costs, including pensions and N1.78 billion was released for capital expenditure.

"The fiscal deficit for 2022 is estimated at N7.35 trillion. The N5.33 trillion deficit as at August is N430.82 billion above the pro-rata level. The level of borrowing is N1.26 trillion ahead of July target.

“Full implementation of the 2022 budget is challenged particularly by oil revenues trailing at 27.1 per cent performance as at August 2022.

“Crude oil production challenges and PMS subsidy deductions by NNPC constitute significant threat to the achievement of our revenue growth targets, as seen in the 2022 performance up to August.

“Revenue generation remains the major fiscal constraint of the federation. The systemic resource mobilisation problem has been compounded by recent economic recessions," Ahmed said.

currently holding the existing denominations of the currency might begin returning the notes to the CBN immediately, adding that the newly designed currency would be released to the banks on a first come, first served basis.

Emefiele also urged bank customers to begin paying into their bank accounts the existing currency notes to enable them to withdraw the new banknotes once circulation begins mid-December 2022. He said all banks were expected to keep open their currency processing centres from Monday to Saturday so as to accommodate all cash that would be returned by their customers.

The CBN governor also said that for the purpose of the transition from existing to new notes, bank charges for cash deposits had been suspended with immediate effect.

He added that no bank customer should bear any charges for cash returned/paid into their accounts.

Emefiele emphasised that in the meantime, the present notes remained legal tender and should not be rejected as a means of exchange for the purchase of goods and services. He reassured the public that the CBN would continue to monitor both the financial system,

in particular, and the economy, in general, and always act in good faith for the achievement of the bank’s objectives and the betterment of the country.

Further providing the rationale for the apex bank’s decision, Emefiele said there had been concerns about the management of the current series of banknotes as well as currency in circulation, particularly those outside the banking system in the country.

He said currency management remained a key function of the CBN, as enshrined in Section 2 (b) of the CBN Act 2007.

He stressed that the integrity of a local legal tender, the efficiency of its supply, as well as its efficacy in the conduct of monetary policy were some of the hallmarks of a great central bank.

Emefiele pointed out that in recent times, currency management had faced several daunting challenges that had continued to grow in scale and sophistication with attendant and unintended consequences for the integrity of both the CBN and the country. He said recent developments in photographic technology and advancements in printing devices had also made counterfeiting relatively easier, stress-

ing that in recent years, the CBN has recorded significantly higher rates of counterfeiting, especially at the denominations of N500 and N1, 000 banknotes.

Emefiele explained, “On the basis of these trends, problems, and facts, and in line with Sections 19, Subsections a and b of the CBN Act 2007, the Management of the CBN sought and obtained the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari to redesign, produce, and circulate new series of banknotes at N200, N500, and N1,000 levels.”

He added, “So first of all, what we want to do is mop up the N3.2 trillion back into the CBN so we can take control of the money supply. Again, this would help to rein inflation and it would have a positive impact on inflation.”

On the concerns for people in rural areas following the currency redesign, Emefiele said, “It would impact on the people in the rural areas, particularly those who do not have bank accounts and that is the reason I said in a session on Tuesday on the anniversary of our eNaira, that we would be introducing a number of tokens where people Continued on page 51

FG: NIGERIA WON’T BE STAMPEDED BY US, UK TRAVEL ADVISORIES ment, the security agencies were in charge of the situation and Nigeria remained safe.

But the United States government, taking a step further on the terror alert it issued days back, granted authorised departure status to US citizens in Abuja, and urged Americans to consider personal emergency action plans.

However, Nigeria’s intelligence community began to push back against the updated alert on alleged terror threat in Abuja by the United States Embassy.

The minister, who spoke against the backdrop of previous assurances he had given, said, "Now, of course, this so-called travel advisory, as far as we are concerned, as a government, we have in the last few months taken a firm handle of security.

“What I said is that click baiting, which is, you find a story which is not verified and you immediately share it, always cause panic. But I want to reassure both citizens, non-Nigerians, Nigerians living in this country, that security agencies are on top of this matter.

"Of course, the terrorists would not stop to try to embarrass or intimidate government but what I'm saying is that this country is safe. And there's no cause for alarm.

No cause to panic.

"Unfortunately, because of that travel advisory on Sunday, many schools were closed, shops were closed, travel plans were disrupted, we don't need it. The security – our soldiers, our police – are working round the clock to contain any terrorist attack. This is where we stand."

Reminded that the travel advisory specifically mentioned vulnerable states that Americans must not travel

to, Mohammed affirmed that it was not strange as even the Nigeria mission in the US could advise Nigerians on their movement in that country.

According to the minister, "I read it that it said non-emergency should leave Nigeria. You see, just like if Nigeria mission in the US also sends a travel advisory and warning in Houston and says, look, don't go, don't take your children to school, because there could be mass shooting tomorrow. I mean, it is within their rights to say that their people should go home if they want to.

"But we, as a country, have a responsibility to keep our country safe, and we're not going to be stampeded, at all, by whatever any government decides to tell its people."

Asked if government was worried by the perception the advisory could create among investors and the steps that might be taken to prevent it, the minister advised citizens to desist from spreading unverified news.

He stated, "The concrete step is that people should stop spreading unverified news. That is what we are saying. You see, look, how many school shootings happen in the US? How many senseless killings happened in the US? “So have they been able to predict what's going to happen next? Which school is going to be a victim next? Do Nigerians in the US also feel safe? I think you should stop de-marketing your home country. Every country has its security challenges. We have ours and we are facing them. Which side are you, American side?"

But the United States government, which granted authorised departure

status to its citizens in Abuja, said the authorised departure permitted the voluntary departure of family members and certain employees of its embassy in Abuja due to the heightened risk of terrorists’ attacks.

The US consulate and embassy, which made this known in a new security notice issued yesterday, said it followed a security alert issued recently about an impending terror attack in the country, especially, the nation's capital, by the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram terror group.

It stated, "The U.S. Department of State granted authorised departure status to Embassy Abuja, which permits the voluntary departure of family members and certain employees due to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks.

"The U.S. Embassy in Abuja continues to have limited ability to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens in Nigeria. The U.S Consulate in Lagos continues to provide routine and emergency services to U.S. citizens in Nigeria."

The US government further urged its citizens to have personal emergency action plans that did not rely on U.S. government assistance.

It told Americans in Nigeria, "Take advantage of commercial transportation options, if you wish to depart Nigeria. Monitor local media for breaking news on the security situation. Be aware of your surroundings. Keep a low profile."

Similarly, the United States government alerted South Africa that terrorists might be planning an attack aimed at large gatherings, and then warned American citizens to avoid large crowds Continued on page 50

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NEWS

AKWA IBOM'S N100MILLION TO BAYELSA FLOOD VICTIMS... A GESTURE OF BROTHERHOOD...

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri (left) and his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, during the presentation of a cheque for N100million to Bayelsa flood victims on behalf of the Akwa Ibom State government at Government House, Yenagoa, yesterday

2023: You Have Our Backing On Electronic Voting, IPAC Tells INEC CUPP lauds commission for deleting 2.7m double registrants, identifying culprits Gender Equity: Enforceable legislation will close gaps, says Yakubu Tinubu, Obi, Al Mustapha pledge to work with women Kuni Tyessi, Udora Orizu and Emameh Gabriel in Abuja The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), especially on the use of the bimodal voter registration system (BVAS) and electronic transmission of results in the 2023 elections.

The Council also condemned what it described as the emerging antics and smear campaign by certain shadowy and, "cowardly figures who are clearly embarked on the treacherous and unpatriotic conspiracy of reversing the outstanding landmarks, the INEC has recorded

in recent years in the annals of the nation's electoral history."

IPAC’s National Chairmen, Engr.

Yabagi Yusuf Sani stated this during the council's meeting with INEC management in Abuja yesterday.

He said INEC has been well on track, saying those desperate to compromise the elections would fail.

"On the basis of our evaluation that INEC has been well on track, the leadership of IPAC additionally, wishes to use this occasion to condemn the emerging antics and smear campaign by certain shadowy and cowardly figures who are clearly embarked on the treacherous and unpatriotic conspiracy of reversing the outstanding landmarks, the INEC has recorded

in recent years in the annals of the nation's electoral history.

"To us in IPAC, the real object of the darts of venom being directed at the person of the Chairman and the institution of the INEC are merely a decoy. The real target of the machinations is the circumvention of the deployment of the BVAS, the electronic transfer of results and the other security devices.

“INEC has deftly and painstakingly put in place to enhance the integrity of the electoral process.

"The spurious allegations they are orchestrating especially in the online platforms are part of the strategies to prepare the grounds for their planned onslaught to achieve

their nefarious goal within legal frameworks,” he explained.

According to him, “the use of technology in the conduct of elections in Nigeria has become sacrosanct and fait accompli. Every player in the country’s power game must come to terms with the new reality that, they can no longer rig elections brazenly and with impunity.

"Mr. Chairman Sir, you can count on the usual support of IPAC, and as it is, the goodwill and backing of most citizens of the country in the present circumstance.

“We urge you to remain steadfast and strong in the consciousness that, you have your hard-earned reputation to protect; that the eyes

INEC: Voter Register is Now 93,522,272 Chuks Okocha in Abuja Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday, said the number of Nigerians that would vote at next year’s general election was 93,522,272 Speaking at its third quarterly meeting with political parties, the INEC boss said, "The 9,518,188 new voters have been added to the existing register of 84,004,084 voters. The preliminary register of voters in Nigeria now stands

at 93,522,272.

"It is preliminary, because Section 19(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act 2022 requires the Commission to display the hard copies of the register of voters for each Registration Area (Ward) and Local Government Area (and simultaneously publish the entire register on the Commission’s website) for a period of two weeks for scrutiny, claims and objections by citizens not later than 90 days to a general election."

The INEC chairman said, for emphasis, "There is no going back

on the transmission of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in real-time on Election Day. There will be no Incident Form that enables ineligible persons to vote using other people’s Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) during elections. We are committed to ensuring that the 2023 general election is transparent and credible, reflecting the will of the Nigerian people."

Giving further details on how the commission arrived at the number of eligible voters, the INEC chairman said, "At the

end of the exercise, 12,298,944 Nigerians successfully completed the registration as new voters. All along, we have repeatedly assured Nigerians that our process of cleaning up the register is robust.

"After a rigorous cleaning-up of the data using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), a total of 2,780,756 (22.6%) were identified as ineligible registrants and invalidated from the record, among them double/multiple registrants, underaged persons and outrightly fake registrations that fail to meet our business rules.

of the entire nation and indeed, the wider global community are keenly focused on you.”

Also, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) hailed INEC for uncovering and deleting over 2.7 million fake registrations and identifying 23 staff who carried out the fake voter registrations.

CUPP in a statement by its spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere said INEC confirmation vindicated the opposition parties who had uncovered the plot last month.

The opposition parties therefore called on the Inspector-General of Police to do the needful by arresting those behind the act.

CUPP said: “As INEC has done the needful by deleting these fake registrations. We at the opposition will not rest, we will continue to do the needful, and ensure that Nigerians get the free and fair election they deserve.”

In a related development, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, has stated that in achieving gender equity and balance, an enforceable legislation needed to be put in place.

Yakubu who stated this at the Voice of Women (VOW) 2022 conference and awards, said until such legislation was deliberate with the aim of closing on the gender gaps, the issue of gender equality would continue to be a rolling stone that gathers no moss.

Represented by a National Commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu, while delivering the keynote speech with the theme, "Towards rebuilding

Nigeria: An agenda setting for an inclusive and accountable Nigeria," Yakubu explained why achieving success in encouraging gender equity and balance within the political parties had become a difficult task to surmount.

The INEC boss added that another reason for the long time inequality could be attributed to political parties’ limitations to just sustaining engagements, advocacies, moral persuasions and capacity building programmes for female aspirants and candidates.

According to him, "Achieving gender equity has been difficult for all the political parties and this can be attributed to a lack of implementable legislation.

"Until there's an enforceable legislation that is gender responsive in terms of their leadership structure as well as policies and practices, the political parties may be limited to just sustaining engagements, advocacies, moral persuasions and capacity building programmes for female aspirants and candidates," he added.

In his speech, standard bearer of the All Progressive Party (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said his presidency would ensure good percentage of women inclusiveness in its government.

Represented by his running mate Kashim Shettima, Tinubu maintained that women are the ultimate in accessing any society, adding that it was always easy to talk but not easy to work the talk.

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A DINNER FOR MISS MULTIVERSE...

L-R: Former Director-General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, Mrs. Omotayo Omotosho; Former Governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke; Miss Multiverse Nigeria, Mowunmi Agunbiade; Miss Multiverse National Director, Anthonia Ahannor; Former Managing Director of Daily Times, Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, and Miss Africa Nigeria, Precious Okoye, at a dinner organised in honour of Miss Multiverse in Lagos...recently

FG Announces Preferred, Reserved Bidders for Three Airports Says Port Harcourt airport did not receive proposals as of RFP deadline Aviation minister says no going back on Nigerian Air Sunday Aborisade and Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The federal government through the Ministry of Aviation yesterday said the Request for Proposals (RFP) phase of the Nigeria Airports Concession Programme (NACP) which came to a close on September 19, 2022, saw the emergence of preferred and reserve bidders for three out of four airports and cargo terminals as approved for concession under the programme.

The government, through the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika said while briefing the media in Abuja yesterday, that in line with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission Act, 2005 and global best practice, ''The Federal Ministry of Aviation is in consultation with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission and other stakeholders as regards the way forward for the fourth airport asset which did not receive bids as at the time of the RFP deadline."

According to him, the outcomes of the RFP evaluation phase were as follows: "The preferred bidder for the Nnamdi Azikiwe Internationa! Airport (NAIA), Abuja, is Corporacion America Airports Consortium. ENL Consortium has also been selected as the reserve bidder for NAIA. "The preferred bidder for Murtala Mohammed Interna-

tional Airport (MMIA), Lagos, is TAV/NAHCO/Project Planet Limited(PPL) consortium. Sifax/ Changi Consortium has also been selected as the reserve bidder for MMIA. "The preferred bidder for Maliam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, is Corporacion America Airports Consortium.

There are no reserve bidders for MAKIA as at the time of this announcement."

He further said the Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA), Port Harcourt, did not receive any proposal as of the RFP deadline.

He said: "The Federal Ministry of Aviation reminds all stakeholders that this is a multistage process and as such this is not the final outcome of the NACP programme.

"The next stage of the programme is the negotiations and due diligence stage, during which the federal government will invite preferred bidders to enter detailed negotiations with its representatives, with a view to developing a Full Business Case (FBC) before onward transmission to ICRC for review and approval.

"Only after successful conclusion of the negotiation and due diligence stage will the FBC and all other approvals be presented before the Federal Executive Council for final approval by the Federal Government of Nigeria."

Meanwhile, Sirika, has said Nigeria would go ahead with its partnership with the Ethiopian Airlines to establish the Nigeria Airlines Limited.

Sirika stated this during an engagement with the Senate Committee on Aviation, the industry regulators and the Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON).

He wondered why members of the AON were vehemently opposed to the idea of a national carrier when they were adequately carried along when the plan started seven years ago.

The minister insisted that the essence of having a national carrier was to improve services and make the industry affordable to all and sundry.

He said, "We have met severally with the airlines operators and

pleaded with them to invest in the project. This is because the federal government would have a minimum shareholding in it.

"Nobody is shut out. Everyone is allowed to come and be part owner. As to what is the status of Nigeria Air? Nigeria Air is a company that is registered and known to the laws of Nigeria which will become by the God’s grace the much awaited airline.

"It is going to happen by the grace of God between now and December of this year. It will fly and also compete fairly with all of those existing airline.

"The intent is not to kill any business. The intent is to help to promote all businesses to be able to provide the needed service and employ our people. This is the intent and the more the merrier.

Eventful Limited has pledged to entrench professionalism in the Nigerian event planning and management industry.

The pledge was made yesterday by the Managing Director of Eventful Limited, Mr. Fisayo Beecroft, during a press conference to mark the company’s 20th anniversary as one of the pioneers of corporate event management business in the country.

Beecroft also said Eventful was founded in 2002 by its Founding Managing Director, Mrs. Yewande Zaccheaus, to serve the needs of

corporate and individual clients in event management.

He said Eventful would use its 20th anniversary to appreciate the patronage and support of its key stakeholders over the years.

Beecroft said: “Over the course of its 20-year history, Eventful has consistently delivered excellent professional services while demonstrating creativity with a vision to become the leading player in the organised events planning industry in Africa.”

He also spoke on how the company has maintained its position as an innovative leader in the event industry over the years.

British Airways, Lufthansa and Emirates airlines of this world that are coming to take the money of Nigeria away.”

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Biodun Olujimi, said the essence of the parley was for the minister to clear the air on the concerns raised by members of the AON. According to her, the AON wanted to know the implications of the Ethiopian Airlines partnership with the Nigeria Airlines Limited, especially how it would hamper the businesses of patriotic Nigerians who had invested massively in the sector.

The Vice President, AON, who is also the Chairman/CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, spoke on behalf of his other colleagues on the occasion.

LP Increases PCC List from 1,234 to 1,453, Retains Okupe as DG Emameh Gabriel in Abuja Labour Party, yesterday, released additional names to its Presidential Campaign Council list, and increased it from the initial 1,234 to 1,453 to accommodate more names to effectively prosecute its presidential campaigns scheduled to kick off on Saturday in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

The party has also jettisoned

calls to remove former presidential spokesperson, Doyin Okupe, a southerner, as the Director General of its presidential campaign, when its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is also a southerner.

National chairman of LP, Julius Abure, also a southerner, made the announcement at a press briefing at the party's national secretariat in Abuja, where he appealed to those who couldn't make the list

Firm Pledges to Entrench Professionalism in Nigeria’s Event Management Industry Dike Onwuamaeze

"The more that you have people doing businesses, then the ones that does it better take the advantage and they give more service and the people get served better.

"Also, if every one of them is doing very well without any favouritism, then it means that the competition will be healthy and will bring down the price of tickets and increase the propensity to fly and make more people to fly and then make more money for the airlines and give more service to the country Nigeria.

"The fact that it is going to be a robust airline that is going to be established, that is going to have connections all over the world, it only means that the market of Nigeria which is 200 million people will begin to be the benefit of Nigerians not to the benefit of

He said: “We pride ourselves in our ability to think through and curate well-crafted experiences end to end; from design and theme to hiring of the right providers and vendors, to venue set up, and developing the appropriate budgets in accordance with clients’ desires, professionalism is our watchword.”

Beecroft also added that Eventful utilises the services of reputable providers who have a track record of success in their respective fields of endeavour and who have demonstrated integrity.

“We uphold the highest standards; excellence is one of our core values and we believe

that is the minimum expected of a professional,” he said.

The company’s Head of Events, Ms. Omolola Owo, used the media briefing to speak on the Eventful’s growth, achievements, transition, and legacy of the organisation.

Owo said: “As an event company, we keep evolving all the time, trying to make sure that we are the first in the game; the smooth leadership transition in 2021 for us as a company is an achievement considering we have maintained an upward growth trajectory for this two-decade old institution even after the retirement of our founder, Mrs. Yewande Zaccheaus.”

to continue to work for the interest of its presidential candidate.

Those to lead the campaign train include Doyin Okupe as DG of the Presidential Campaign Council while retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Zarewa, would serve as its chairman.

Mr Oseloka Obaze, would serve as Deputy Director-General and Campaign Manager, while Alhaji Yusuf Maitama is the Deputy Director-General (North). Also on the council were Mr Yunusa Tanko, as spokesperson and Mr Clement Ojukwu, Secretary.

Mr Denzel Ketenbe is Deputy Director-General (South); Mr Isaac Balami, Deputy Campaign Manager 1, and Mrs Eyitemi Taire, Deputy Campaign Manager 2, among others.

The Zonal Officers were, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, Coordinator South East; Favour Rueben, Coordinator South-south; Mr Balogun Oshuntokun, Coordinator South West; Mr Joseph Ndira, Coordinator North-Central; Mr. Alhassan Fawu, Coordinator North-East and Alhaji Audie Mohammed, Coordinator North-West.

Abure, disclosed that there were errors made in the list released on 12th of October, but that, “Obviously there were some errors and there were some replacements.

There were general complaints about the lists. As a party that is democratic and listening, we decided to take all these grievances to accounts.

"We then promised that we were going to review the lists and update it to accommodate all interested parties. We have been working on the list, and I am highly elated today to announce to you that we have reviewed the list and that is the list.

"It is also pertinent to put on record that it is not possible to accommodate every interest.

But I want to appeal to all our supporters, I want to appeal to all those who have been working for us and who we were unable to accommodate on this list, that they should continue to do their work.

"They should continue to support the party. What is most important is for us to focus on the election and be able to deliver all candidates of the party, including the presidential candidates. We want to appreciate all our supporters, who have worked tirelessly to continue to support us.

"We also put it next to announce here that the Campaign Committee will be inaugurated on Friday.

Then our campaigns will kick off in Lafia, Nasarawa State on Saturday.”

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INAUGURATION OF THE UPGRADED LAGOS STATE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE HEADQUARTERS...

L-R: Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Engr Tayo Bamgbose Martins; Fire Chief at Prince George’s County Maryland, America, Tiffany Green; Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Director Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs Margaret Adeseye and Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat during the inauguration of the Upgraded Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service headquarters at Alausa Fire Station, Ikeja .... yesterday

Tinubu: Northern Business Leaders, Kano Academics, CAN, Others Have Endorsed Me Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday, said he had been endorsed by the northern business leaders, Kano academic community, Tijjaniyyah, Ahlus Sunnah, Kadirriyyah Movement, Kano League of Imams, Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, Zone A, and the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state ahead of the election to choose the next president of the country.

A statement by Tinubu’s media office, signed by Tunde Rahman, said the APC candidate arrived in Kano State on Saturday and left on Monday.

The statement disclosed that Tinubu was accompanied, among others, by National Chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; APC vice presidential candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima; DirectorGeneral of the campaign and Plateau State governor, Hon. Simon Lalong; members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC); and at least seven governors of the party.

Others were Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum and Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu; Jigawa State Governor Abubakar Badaru; Governor Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), Governor Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos).

The statement added, "It was

endorsement galore for the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in the commercial city of Kano last weekend, as Tinubu and his entourage visited the state on campaign tour.

"Among the critical stakeholders in the state who endorsed the presidential aspiration of the APC candidate were the northern business leaders, Kano academic community, Tijjaniyyah, Ahlus Sunnah, Kadirriyyah Movement, Kano League of Imams, Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, Zone A, and the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the state.

"Endorsing Asiwaju Tinubu at the dinner with the business leaders and captains of industry, Chairman,

Kano Business Community Council, Alhaji Rabiu Bako, said the APC candidate stood out among the presidential contenders, because of his deep understanding of the economy, private sector background, and track record as Lagos governor.

He said Tinubu is better placed to rebuild the economy and place it on a pedestal for steady growth."

Endorsing Tinubu, also, Sheikh Bashir Bareebah, who spoke on behalf of the Tijjaniyyah sect, urged Tinubu to prioritise security and safety of the people, increase megawatt of electricity to power the economy, reposition agriculture, and give due attention to education.

In separate sessions with the APC candidate at the African Hall of Kano State Government

Sanwo-Olu Expands Lagos Fire Rescue Capability, Hands over Three New Stations Segun James Lagos State government has expanded its emergency response services with the inauguration of three newly built fire stations in the State.

The Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, physically inaugurated the new fire station at Ebute Elefun, while he virtually unveiled the other two fire stations built in Oniru and Ajegunle.

The projects were initiated to enhance the response time to disasters associated with fire and to bolster the capability of the State’s emergency management system.

The governor, on the same day, commissioned the upgraded Fire Department headquarters in Alausa.

With the three additional assets, Lagos now has 21 fully equipped fire stations across the State.

The facility expansion programme was part of the recommendations that followed the 2020 comprehensive assessment carried out by the Lagos State Government in the emergency response department aimed at enhancing performance.

Sanwo-Olu said one of the challenges identified was the inadequate fire stations to efficiently manage fire outbreaks at a scale that would allow quicker response time and speed.

His administration’s response to the identified gaps in emergency services, the governor said, was proactive and strategic for the

development of a practical road map to address limitations and reposition the emergency agencies for optimum performance.

He said: “Today’s handing over of three newly constructed fire stations at Ebute Elefun, Oniru, Ajegunle and the newly upgraded Fire Service Headquarters in Alausa to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service Agency is the fulfillment of our administration’s commitment to the protection of lives and property of our citizens.

“We believe response time to fire disasters is critical as it can make a lot of difference between life and death. The earlier the fire is attacked, the lesser the damage it will have on people and property.

“To enable fire responders to reduce the distance and overcome other unplanned encumbrances on the way to fire scenes, the idea of having at least one fire station in each of the 20 Local Government Areas of the state was conceived.

“Lagos requires protection through deliberate disaster mitigation and emergency management strategies that are realistic and comprehensive. We are convinced that the construction of new fire stations will allow quicker response to the scene of emergencies within their specific area of coverage, as we believe the proximity of fire stations to incident locations is crucial to rescue and safety operations. With the new facilities, firemen will get to the theatre of operations at record time.”

Sanwo-Olu said the new stations

were part of the state’s investments in the safety and well-being of residents and businesses. The assets, he said, would help limit the discomfort suffered by residents and considerably reduce losses associated with fire outbreaks.

Before the end of the second quarter of next year, the governor said his administration would add another three fire stations in Ijede, Kosofe and Ijegun.

He said the upgrade and rehabilitation of existing fire stations had been done to further consolidate the position of the Lagos Fire and Rescue Service Agency as a leading

fire-fighting outfit in the country.

Sanwo-Olu enjoined residents living around the new fire stations to take ownership of the assets and protect the facilities from vandalism.

“Our efforts have enthroned an operational environment that provides the necessary ambiance, comfort and support that will ensure optimal performance of our firemen. These interventions will further consolidate the position of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service Agency as a leading firefighting outfit in Nigeria,” the governor said.

House, other associations, which endorsed Tinubu, included Ahlus Sunnah, Kadirriyyah Movement, Kano League of Imams, Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, Zone A, and the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Tinubu thanked them for the endorsement and said he had noted their words of encouragement and demands, and promised to do all in his capacity to justify the confidence reposed in him and move the country to greater heights.

FG: NIGERIA WON’T BE STAMPEDED BY US, UK TRAVEL ADVISORIES and gatherings, especially, around Sandton in Johannesburg between the 29 and 30, October 2022. The US made this known on its embassy website yesterday, stressing that it got information about possible attacks by terrorists in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Saturday.

The American government said in the alert, “The US government has received information that terrorists may be planning to conduct an attack targeting large gatherings of people at an unspecified location in the greater Sandton area of Johannesburg, South Africa, on 29 October 2022.

“There is no further information regarding the timing, method, or target of the potential attack. The US embassy has advised staff to avoid crowds of people and other large public gatherings in the greater Sandton area of Johannesburg during the weekend of October 29-30 2022.”

But Nigeria’s intelligence community sources told THISDAY last night that the initial alert and the update were in bad taste and designed to diminish joint intelligence operations between Nigeria and both countries.

A highly placed security source, who spoke anonymously, said regarding the US and UK terror alerts, "This is in bad taste, because we share intelligence with the these countries (US and UK). We share

intelligence on counterterrorism operations and other areas of security concerns.

"Issuing these alerts and the updated one undermines our sovereignty and creates problems for government and security agencies.

Why not share this intelligence if you have one?"

THISDAY gathered that while the security forces had intensified security measures around Abuja, the update by the US embassy on the directive to evacuate embassy staff was more worrisome.

A senior security source said, "Within the last six months, there has been a lull in the area of insurgency and banditry and many terror leaders were taken out and things were gradually getting better. There are mass shootings in US virtually on a daily basis. The insecurity in US is worse, going by what we see daily there.

“Since the Kuje incident, security agencies have worked round the clock and so if US and UK, whom we see as partners, could not share intelligence of what they have seen with government, then, there is something else going on.

“Remember, Nigeria and South Africa are the largest economies in Africa."

Continues online

Atiku Takes Presidential Campaign to United States Chuks Okocha in Abuja The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar yesterday left Nigeria for political campaigns in the United States of America.

In 2018, amidst talks that he cannot visit the US, Atiku had in company of the former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and others visited the US. The visit to the US was significant as it would dismiss all doubts that Atiku cannot travel to the US, a source said.

According to sources, Atiku is commencing a weeklong electioneering campaign in the US, where he would be meeting Nigerians and business community during

the visit.

As part of his programmes and engagements while in the US, he would be meeting with Nigerians in Diaspora as well as with PDP members in North America.

He would also meet with top Nigerian business leaders based in the US and later meet with young Nigerian professionals in the Diaspora, among other meeting with some business community.

All efforts to speak with his media advisor, Paul Ibe was abortive as his phone was not reachable.

Atiku had three week ago flagged off his electioneering campaign in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

It was followed with the Kaduna

campaign and last Saturday had another campaign in Benin, Edo state.

All Atiku's presidential campaigns witnessed a huge turnout of party supporters.

That notwithstanding, the governor of Rivers state. Nyesom Wike and his loyalists comprising the governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom, Governor of Abia state, Okezie Ikpeazu, Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde and Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi have continued to boycott his campaigns.

In a tentative presidential campaign timetable, Atiku is expected back to the country on Monday and by Tuesday, November 1, 2022, it would be the turn of Ekiti State, while the campaign rally in Ondo

State would hold on Wednesday November 2.

The campaign train would move to Katsina State on Saturday, November 5, while Borno State would play host to the party on Wednesday, November 9 with Gombe hosting the party on Thursday, November 10.

Kebbi State edition of the campaign rally is scheduled to hold on Saturday November 12, while Atiku Abubakar and his team would head for Zamfara State on Sunday, November 13.

It would be the turn of Kwara State on Monday, November 14, while the team would be in Lagos State for Lagos Business School Lecture on Tuesday, November 15, among other arrangements.

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INEC QUARTERLY CONSULTATIVE MEETINGS WITH STAKEHOLDERS...

L-R: INEC National Commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu; Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; Commissioners, Prof Kunle Ajayi and Gen A. B. Akali at the Quarterly Consultative meetings with PHOTO: JUIUS ATOI stakeholders on the forth coming elections held in Abuja... yesterday

Keyamo: Dele Momodu Worming His Way into Atiku's Pocket I’m different from a busybody lawyer, says Ovation publisher Your boat is sinking, PDP tells APC Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Laleye Dipo in Minna One of the spokespersons of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Festus Keyamo, has accused his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Bashorun Dele Momodu, of worming his way into the pockets of the presidential candidate of PDP, Atiku Abubakar.

Keyamo alleged that Momodu was making himself available to execute dirty jobs against his long-standing benefactor and APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

But Momodu, in a short reply, called Keyamo a meddler, saying he is not like the lawyer and APC spokesman. He accused Keyamo of constantly desperate for attention, and described him as a cheap media creation.

In another development, PDP in Niger State told APC that its ship was already sinking as a result of large number of defections of prominent people from the ruling party to the main opposition party.

However, Keyamo, in a statement yesterday, described as laughable Momodu's emotional outburst in response to salient points he had

raised in another statement issued

by APC, asking him to point out specific areas of plagiarism in Tinubu’s action plan.

Keyamo described Momodu as a clown, "worming his way into the pockets of Atiku Abubakar and making himself available to execute dirty jobs against his long-standing benefactor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu."

Keyamo said Momodu, having previously overrated himself, crashed down like a wingless bird from a futile presidential ambition for which he got zero votes at the PDP presidential primaries, and ended up as an hyperactive hireling and attack-dog of, perhaps, the worst serial loser in Nigeria’s electoral history.

He stated, "Mr. Momodu’s epistle of lamentations is again a re-affirmation of his manifest lack of rigour. In his latest rambling piece, he failed again to redeem himself on the gross theoretical deficiency identified in his earlier writing.

“One would have thought he would seize this ‘second chance’ to copiously point out portions or areas plagiarised by the Tinubu/ Shettima Campaign Council from MKO’s 1993 campaign manifesto named ‘Hope 1993’.”

Responding, Momodu, who said he was compelled to respond to Keyamo’s diatribe, said, “You and I never interacted much other than on occasions when you needed free publicity as always and would do anything for attention.

“You will recall that you practically photo-bombed yourself into

our picture the day I walked into Major General Muhammadu Buhari's apartment in London, because it was an opportunity for you to trend.

You're a media creation and we supplied you the oxygen regularly.

“Let me note that unlike you, I was not desperate for any appointment and so did not join

APC, when I humbly supported Buhari. There was never a time I discussed APC with you, when I had direct access to your bosses. I discovered the rudderlessness of APC government early enough and promptly, and publicly, apologised to Nigerians for my past support.

“History would forever record

my modest contribution to that blistering campaign for which my impact was considered significant.

Ovation International has remained consistent with this great tradition.

Our job is too serious and very different from that of a busybody lawyer, who jumps into every case just for hype.

September Revenue Rises by N27.098bn as FG, Sates, LGs Share N700.235bn Excess Crude Account balance now $472,513 Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) yesterday shared a total sum of N700.235 billion among the three tiers of government as federation allocation for September 2022.

The amount shared was N27.098 billion higher than the sum of N673.137 billion allocated in the preceding month of August.

Citing a communique issued by FAAC at the end of its meeting

in Abuja, the Director (Information/Press), Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Phil Abiamuwe-Mowete said the N700.235 billion comprised Gross Statutory Revenue, Value Added Tax (VAT), and Electonic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) of N502.135 billion, N189.928 billion and N8.172 billion respectively.

The federal government's share of the amount was N262.636 billion, the states received N217.191 billion, the local government councils got

N160.416 billion, while the oil producing states received N59.992 billion as 13 per cent Mineral Revenue under the Derivation Principle.

Gross Revenue available from the VAT for September was N189.928 billion, representing a decrease when compared with the preceding month.

The statement read: "Accordingly, the Gross Statutory Revenue of N502.135 billion distributed was higher than the sum received in the previous month, from which

the Federal Government was allocated the sum of N232.921 billion, States got N118.141billion, LGCs got N91.081billion, and Oil Derivation (13% Mineral Revenue) got N59.992 billion.

"Also, N8.172 billion of Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) distributable revenue was shared to the three (3) tiers of government as follows; the federal government received N1.226 billion, States got N4.086 billion, local government councils received N2.860 billion."

IN AMBUSH OF VOTE BUYERS, RANSOM TAKERS, CBN VOIDS NAIRA NOTES BY END OF JANUARY in the rural areas who don’t have a bank account should be able to conduct banking services without having a bank account.

“However, if you are carrying cash, you can go to the nearest bank branch near you, they will take your cash and open an account for you for the purpose of returning the old naira into the banks' vaults and then collecting the new naira.”

The CBN governor also said, “We are going to continue fine-tuning this programme to see to it that it is in the interest of more Nigerians, we don’t want to make life more difficult for Nigerians.

“But you all must agree that the trend of lots of money in circulation out of the bank vaults is unacceptable, you can imagine, doubling the size of naira in circulation from N1.46 trillion in 2015 to N3.23 trillion in September 2022 is unacceptable and it takes the control of money supply out of the hands of the central bank.”

EFCC Hails CBN, Moves to Clampdown On Currency Hoarders

Reacting to the CBN decision

to change banknotes, Bawa, in a statement yesterday said, “The EFCC, the CBN and some other regulators in the financial sector have worked closely in the recent past to determine how best to stabilise the country’s monetary policy environment.

“It is heart-warming that the CBN has demonstrated courage in taking this bold decision, which I believe will bring sanity to the currency management situation in Nigeria.”

The EFCC chairman called on operators in the Nigerian financial services sector, especially deposit money banks and bureau de change operators, to work within the guidelines provided by the CBN to ensure seamless withdrawal of the old currency.

He warned that EFCC would monitor the process to ensure that unscrupulous players and currency speculators and their cohorts among the BDCs do not undermine the exercise. He also charged banks to be alive to their reporting obligations and not assist unscrupulous customers in laundering suspected proceeds of crimes through their system.

The EFCC boss further pointed out that the objectives, which the CBN sought to achieve with the redesign and reissue of the higher denomination Naira notes, were in tandem with the objectives of the Money Laundering Prevention Prohibition Act 2022, which criminalises the conduct of cash transactions above a certain threshold.

According to Section 2 (1) of the Money Laundering Act 2022, “No person or body corporate shall, except in a transaction through a financial institution, make or accept cash payment of a sum exceeding— (a) N5, 000,000 or its equivalent, in the case of an individual; or (b) N10, 000,000 or its equivalent, in the case of a body corporate.”

Optimistic that the new currency measure would further boost Nigerians’ embrace of banking culture and encourage the acceptance of cashless transactions, the EFCC chairman recalled that the commission had recently taken operational action against currency hoarders in major commercial cities of Nigeria.

Bawa said, “It is, therefore, pertinent to issue this stern warning to bureau de change operators

to be wary of currency hoarders who would attempt to seize this opportunity to offload the currencies they had illegally stashed away.”

Noting that currency hoarders readily made their hoard available to criminal enterprise, the EFCC boss stated that the commission will spare no effort to bring to book any financial services operator which ran afoul of extant laws and regulations.

Analysts Urge Financial Intelligence Unit to Monitor Illegitimate Transactions

Commenting on the currency change by the central bank, in an interview with THISDAY, Chairman, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Abuja Branch, Professor Uche Uwaleke, said the decision to replace some naira denominations with new ones would positively impact the economy in the medium to long term.

Uwaleke said though the measure did not amount to de-monetisation of the big currency notes, often carried out by central banks to curb black money and corruption, it would, nonetheless, “go a long

way in ensuring that a lot of naira notes circulating outside the banks are crowded in.”

He added, “If it leads to large deposits in banks, it means the banks will have more money to lend, which may reduce interest rates. I also think it may have the effect of reducing speculative attacks on the naira in the parallel market.

“I expect that the Financial Intelligence Unit will be on the watch out for huge deposits as a way of monitoring illegitimate transactions.

“Despite the huge cost involved in changing currency notes, I think it's time to sanitise the system, especially now that electioneering activities have kicked off. “However, I think the deadline of January 31, 2023 is short in view of the number of naira denominations involved, from 100 to 1000. The CBN may consider extending it with time.”

In his contribution, Wealth Management and Business Development Consultant, Mr. Ibrahim Shelleng, said redesigning of the currency was typically carried out as a security measure against counterfeit notes and to get a grip on currency in circulation.

Shelleng said while this exercise might be beneficial in terms of the measure earlier mentioned, it would also come at a huge cost due to consultancy, design, and printing fees.

On his part, Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Dignity Finance and Investment Limited, Dr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, said, “If CBN plans to redesign the naira, they shouldn't have made it common knowledge until fully done and implemented, then, they would give a period of time for everybody to bank the old design or use the same.

“The benefit of changing the design is that monies starched out in homes and containers will start coming out and heading to the banks. There will be so much money for credit facilities and funding of projects and other attendant benefits.

“The danger of announcing it far before implementation is that individuals stocking this Naira cash will start buying foreign currency to stock instead of depositing the monies in the banks. This may spike the exchange rate to an uncontrollable level.”

Continues online

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IMPROVING HEALTHCARE DELIVERY SERVICES…

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, ECHOLAB Radiology and Laboratory Services, Dr. Alok Bhatia; General Manager forWest Africa, GE Healthcare, Dr. George Uduku; Clinical Leader for Interventional Radiology, GE Healthcare,Tessica Chetty; Group Chief Business Development and Medical Informatics Officer, Integrated Diagnostics Holding (IDH), Professor Mohamed Aggag, and Chief Financial Officer, ECHOLAB, Emad Shawky, at the ECHOLAB-GE Distinguished Doctors’ Forum held in Lagos… recently

Court Orders FG to Halt Kanu’s Trial, Return Him to Kenya, Pay N500m Damages IPOB leader drags govt to court over refusal to comply with order

Alex Enumah in Abuja and Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia The Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia State, yesterday

ordered the federal government to halt the ongoing prosecution of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and return him to Kenya, where he was illegally arrested

Pantami: Digitalisation ‘ll Increase Efficiency of Economy The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, said digitalisation increases the economy of any country, noting that a digital economy can be resilient to adverse events like COVID-19.

According to him, digitalisation has enabled Nigeria to develop a sustainable economy.

Pantami stated this yesterday spoke during the unveiling of a book as part of the ongoing Digital Nigeria Conference in Abuja, which was organized by Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) , Hadiza Umar.

The book, “Isa Ali Ibrahim

Pantami: Advancing Nigeria’s Drive Towards a Digital Economy” was written by Obiora Nzekwu.

A statement quoted the minister as saying: “Digitalisation increases efficiency, reduces waste, enhances productivity, increases transparency, and supports datafication, amongst other things.”

“We have shown that the digital economy can greatly support the traditional economy. The contribution of the digital economy to the gross domestic product (GDP) of Nigeria and its role in making the economy resilient to adverse events like the COVID-19 pandemic are two good examples of the impact of the digital economy on the traditional economy,” he added.

Complete Badagry Road, Deep Seaport, Gani Adams Urges FG Segun James The federal government(FG) has been called upon to urgently complete the economically strategic Lagos-Badagry Expressway and the Badagry Deep Seaport.

The call was made by the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams at the grand finale of the 2022 edition of Olokun Festival at the Suntan Beach in Badagry.

Adams said the Lagos Badagry road should have been completed

earlier as it is strategic for transregional economy in West Africa, even as he added that it is one of the major facilities that can bring the needed development to the ancient town.

The Yoruba generalissimo urged the FG to make the Badagry deep seaport project a reality stating further that the deep seaport is a multi-billion dollar project that can create employment opportunities for the host community and also attract huge foreign direct investment (FDI).

Eha-Alumona People Restates Confidence in Enugu Gov The people of Eha-Alumona in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State have reiterated their confidence and sincere gratitude to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his commitment to their wellbeing especially his administration’s intervention in their roads that were hitherto abandoned for over 50 years by successive governments.

In a communiqué signed by the stakeholders of Eha-Alumona including the youths, the people of the community commended Ugwuanyi for his intervention in the construction of Eha-Ndiagu

road “after many years of dilapidation and abandonment by successive governments.”

The people of Eha-Alumona, comprising their elders, stakeholders, youths and six traditional rulers had paid a thank-you visit to Gov. Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu, in recognition of the infrastructural projects his administration has executed in their community, stressing that no past administration did what the governor has done for them, in the last five decades.

and brought to Nigeria.

The court, which gave the verdict also ordered the federal government to pay the embattled Biafra activist N500 million in damages following the violation of his rights, the torture and humiliations he was subjected to in the course of the extraordinary rendition.

But Kanu has dragged the federal government to court over its refusal to comply with

the judgment of the Court of Appeal that discharged him from terrorism allegations.

Justice Evelyn Anyadike, gave the order while delivering judgement in a case of abduction and extraordinary rendition brought against the federal government by Kanu through his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor.

The judge held that the federal government and its agents acted illegally in the operation that

resulted to the abduction and forceful return of Kanu to Nigeria on June 19, 2021.

The IPOB leader’s counsel had in the suit averred that his abduction and extraordinary rendition without due process was illegal and a gross violation of his fundamental human rights.

To redress the myriads of violations that came with the extraordinary rendition, Kanu demanded N25 billion as

damages and an order on the federal government to take him back to Kenya or Britain, where he resides.

In its defence, the government through its counsel, Idris raised preliminary objections, and argued that the matter had already been disposed of by an Abia High, adding that the Federal High Court Umuahia lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.

Delta Monarch Seeks Probe of Sacked NDDC Sole Administrator Sylvester Idowu inWarri The traditional ruler of Idjerhe kingdom in Delta State, His Royal Majesty, Monday Whiskey has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently initiate the probe of finances under the sacked Sole Administrator of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Effiong Okon Akwa.

The monarch, while commending the President for his decisive step in removing Akwa, however sought for immediate inauguration of the screened and confirmed statutory board under the chairmanship of Dr. Pius Obudu and Managing Directorship of Olorogun Bernard Okumagba.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Ovie of Idjerhe kingdom

said he was pleased with the sack of the sole administrator of NDDC but said that the federal government should immediately inaugurate the screened and confirmed statutory board of the intervention agency.

“The sacking of the NDDC sole administrator is a welcome development that should be followed with immediate inauguration of the screened and

confirmed statutory board of the NDDC under the Chairmanship of Dr. Pius Odubu and Managing Directorship of Olorogun Bernard Okumagba.

“The federal government should proceed further to probe the huge financial irregularities that bedeviled the interventionist agency while the sacked sole administrator was in charge”, he said.

Declare Emergency on Ekiti Federal Roads, Oyebanji Tells FERMA Victor Ogunje inAdoEkiti

Considering the deplorable conditions of federal roads in Ekiti State, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, has called on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), to urgently designate the roads as emergency situation and fix them to avert carnages and reduce the burdens being faced by motorists.

Oyebanji made the plea when he interfaced with the Director General of FERMA, Nurudeen

Rafindadi yesterday.

He said Ekiti people are eager to see the federal roads become motorable just as the Yuletide season approaches.

The Governor stated that Ekiti roads were among the best in the country until early this year when an unprecedented huge number of heavy trucks started plying the roads as alternative routes to Abuja, South-east and parts of the North.

He said the huge number of articulated vehicles caused untold

damage to Ekiti roads, making it difficult to access the state.

Stressing the importance of good roads to safety and economic development, Governor Oyebanji urged the agency to priotise Ekiti roads, as the state is already cut out of other parts of the country.

“I urge you to classify Ekiti roads under “ emergency category”. “ We need access so that investors will come. Please come to our aid.

As it is now, we are cut off,” the governor said.

Responding, the FEEMA boss, Rafindadi said the agency had no excuse for not fixing Ekiti roads in view of its economic advantage to the country as well as the fact it would constitute an embarrassment to the agency.

Although he cited finance as a major issue affecting its operation, he, however, said Ekiti roads would be accorded top priority so as to enhance safety and economic growth as demanded by the governor.

A’Ibom North-west Senatorial District Vows to Deliver Block Votes for PDP OkonBasseyinUyo The people of Akwa Ibom Northwest (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District have vowed to vote for all candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the state to national levels.

At a political rally at the Ikot Ekpene township stadium the district pledged to vote for the

PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Governorship candidate, Pastor Umo Eno, Senatorial candidate, Barr.

Emmanuel Enoidem as well as House of Representatives and State Assembly candidates of the party.

Ikot-Ekpene Senatorial district comprises 10 local government areas including, Ikot Ekpene, Essien Udim, Obot Akara, Abak, Etim-

Ekpo, Ika, Oruk-Anam, Ukanafun, Ikono and Ini local government areas with 108 wards.The leaders of the district including, a PDP chieftain and former Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Emmanuel Ibok-Essien, Deputy Governor, Moses Ekpo, Senator Aloysios Etok, State PDP Chairman, and Chairman of the campaign Council, ElderAniekanAkpan among others

spoke at a rally yesterday.

Senator Ibok-Essien said: “The most stable Senatorial District in this country is Akwa Ibom North-west Senatorial District.

Since 1960, Ikot-Ekpene district is always delivering the winning party. Each of the candidates we vote for has always emerged victorious. Azikiwe, Shagari have been to this stadium.

Soludo Abolishes Taxes for Hawkers, Vulcanizers, Others

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

Following outcry from members of the public over his tax policies in the state, Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has banned taxes for certain categories of poor people.

The category of people exempted from tax payment include: wheelbarrow pushers,

vulcanizers and other petty hawkers.

The governor stated this when he hosted a public bid auction for revenue agents at the Anambra State government house, Awka.

He said: “This message must go to all markets in Anambra.

Wheelbarrow pushers must not pay any fee in the state.

Vulcanizers operating along the road should also cease from paying any fee to anyone.

Hawkers shouldn’t pay any fees. These poor people should stop being harassed.

“We must build a liveable and prosperous homeland.

Everyone has something to contribute towards this vision.

“We are trying to build a

connection between the citizens and the Government. We have been employed as an agent to work for you.

“Every penny in our hands, we will show the value to ndi Anambra. As revenue comes in, we keep awarding contracts for more road construction because we have a road crisis which we are solving.”

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ARTIFACTS RECOVERED…

Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States of America (US), Dr. Uzoma Elizabeth Emenike (left) handing over 23 artifacts just repatriated from the US to the Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, in Abuja...recently

Ortom Laments Influx of Refugees from Cameroon to Benue George Okoh in Makurdi Benue State Governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom has decried the rising number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the high influx of refugees from Cameroon to his state.

According to him, Benue is now an endangered state.

He maintained that it was not an easy task for the state to manage the refugees and IDPs and urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social

Development to intervene to cushion the burden.

Ortom stated this yesterday when he received an InterAgency Technical Committee delegation from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development that who paid him

a courtesy call at Makurdi.

He said, “We remain an endangered state as far as issues of refugees and IDPs are concerned in our country Nigeria” saying that since 2017, “the state has continued to witness influx of IDPs in the various official and unofficial established camps.”

According to the governor, “On record, we have over two million IDPs in Benue State that have been profiled,” noting that the state currently hosts over 10,000 Cameroonian refugees who are taking refuge in Benue as a result of the crises in southern Cameroon.

Ortom said “We have taken it as a responsibility of the government to provide minimum comfort for the Cameroonian refugees,” adding that the state government has continued to prevail on the host communities to allow the refugees to settle down.

Edo PDP Denies Banning Varsity Suggests Ways to End Incessant ASUU Strikes APC from Erecting Billboards Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

AdibeEmenyonuinBeninCity The Deputy Director, Media and Publicity, Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), State Campaign Management Council (SCMC), Chris Nehikhare yesterday denied that Edo Government banned opposition APC from erecting billboards for the 2023 general election in Edo. Nekhikhare, who was reacting to the allegation that the state government banned other political parties in the state from erecting campaign billboards across the state, said that the PDP paid for it billboards long ago ahead of the campaigns ànd not the state government.

Nehikhare who also doubles as Edo State Commissioner for Information, said the government did not sponsor or pay for billboards used for political rally.

He noted that the campaign billboards were sponsored and solely paid for a long time ago by the party’s campaign council in the state. He explained that state government was not the owner of billboards adding that government only make policies to regulate and control billboards locations in the state. “In the last 24 hours, we have received several calls from those working in the national dailies talking about the billboard issues especially in Benin City.

As part of efforts to put an end to incessant strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), a University don and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Federal University ,Lokoja ,Professor Mohammed Suleiman Audu, has urged the federal government to look into

all the critical grey areas causing the dispute between the ASUU and government.

Professor Audu gave this advice while speaking as guest speaker at the 50th birthday celebration of the Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic,Lokoja Dr. Salisu Ogbo Usman in Lokoja yesterday.

In a paper titled “The Federal

Government of Nigeria and ASUU Imbroglio: Interogating the issues and the way forward,” he observed that it is apparent that university education in Nigeria is heading towards doldrums as a result of financial predicament.

“I wish therefore, to proffer a way forward from this bleak future of our education system.

Financing university education in Nigeria is being matched with other competing sectors of the economy.

The concurrence status of education and its financing modes as contained in the constitution of Nigeria, 1999 as amended are being threatened by the nation’s financial precariousness.

‘Defecation, Human Activities Causes of Water Pollution, Illnesses in Imo’ Amby Uneze inOwerri

The Imo State Water and Sewerage Corporation (ISWSC) has raised the alarm over the rate of human activities and defecation around the source of its water treatment plant at the Otammiri river in Owerri, the state capital city.

This huge menace has

contributed in no small measure to the pollution of the water sources as well as the major causes of Illnesses suffered by the population of the municipality, in spite of the huge amount of resources being committed by the Imo State Government to revive the system in the state as well as its treatment for safe human consumption.

The Managing Director of the Imo State Water and Sewerage Corporation, Celestine Ugoanyanwu, who disclosed the effort of the state Governor, Hope Uzodimma, in rehabilitating the water scheme, which had remained moribund since 2013, to journalists, condemned the activities of those who dumb refuse and defecate

in the gutters and water sources.

Ugoanyanwu, while conducting journalists round the location of the water plant in Owerri, lamented that the facility, which cost the state government huge amount of money to serve the residents, is now surrounded by lots of residential houses polluting its water source.

two communities and other areas of the state.

The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Paul Odama, stated this in Ilorin yesterday while speaking with the journalists shortly after he paid an assessment visit to the two communities in Ilorin West Local Government Area of the state.

He said: “The men of the state police command and other security

agencies in the state have been working round the clock to curb the incessant attacks by kidnappers in the state “I have paid spot-assessment visit to Alagbado and Gaa Osibi area in Ilorin West LGA in a bid to assessing the security situation and strategy to be emplaced to rebuild the confidence of the residents.

“I also explained to the residents

what the police have done and still doing to stop the alleged incursions of criminal elements into the fast developing communities.”

He added: “The first step taken by the CP immediately he got wind of the complaints by the residents was the deployment of three patrol teams comprising conventional and men of the tactical teams of the Command.”

New CP Declares War on Criminal Activities in Rivers Police Deploy Patrol Teams to Curb Kidnapping in Kwara

Blessing Ibunge inPort Harcourt

The newly deployed Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Mr. Okon Effiong, has declared war on crime and all social vices in the state.

This is as the 43rd commissioner of Police in Rivers, has vowed to deal with human rights violators, stressing that anyone found guilty of the offence would be made to face the wrath of the law.

He, therefore, warned any person intending to cost the state of its relative peace to desist from

such action, threatened to take battle to the hideouts of suspected the suspected criminals in the state.

Effiong gave the charge yesterday, during his median briefing with journalists at the Police headquarters on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.

He said: “No society wants to be at the same point for too long. Rivers state has paid its dues and deserved peace. From this moment it shall be more of proactive policing than reactive policing.

Adamawa South PDP Inaugurates Campaign Council Daji Sani in Yola The Adamawa Southern Senatorial Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has inaugurated its campaign council ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The members of the campaign council were drawn from the nine Local Government Areas which made up the zone and have been saddled with the mandate to ensure a resounding victory for the party in the next year’s general election.

While addressing members of the campaign council, Senator, representing Adamawa South senatorial zone, Mr. Binos Dauda Yaroe, charged them to be focus, resilience and work effectively for the victory of the party.

Yaroe, who is running for Senate in his second term, enumerated some of his achievements at the Senate and encouraged the people of the zone to work hard to deliver all PDP candidates in the forthcoming election.

Hammed ShittuinIlorin

Piqued by the constant invasion of Alagbado and Gaa Osibi axis of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, by kidnappers, the state Police Command has deployed three patrol teams, comprising conventional and men of the tactical teams of the Command, to curb incessant attacks on the

Set Agenda for Nigerian Politicians, Journalists Told Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

The Chancellor of Federal University, Kashere, in Gombe State, Professor Umar Pate, has advised journalists to rise to their agenda setting professional responsibility by not allowing politicians to set agenda for them.

Delivering a keynote address at the 3rd Kano Social Influencers Summit that was held yesterday, Professor Umar lamented the violation of ethics of the profession by the gatekeepers of the media houses who serve as consultants for big time politicians.

He spoke on the topic

“Social Media and Conflicts in Elections” and also highlighted the dangers of fake news, misinformation and disinformation as well as the inability of the media personnel to engage in fact checking.

Pate, who is also a panelist at the event, advised media

practitioners to partner with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in sourcing for facts when conducting investigative journalism. The event is annually organised by the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support by the MacArthur Foundation.

Retired Lagos Judge, Businessman in Legal Tussle over Property Wale Igbintade

A retired Judge, Justice Grace Onyeabo, alongside a cleric, Reverend Mrs. Nwakife Onuzo, has dragged a businessman, Isaac Oghale Ikede, before a Lagos High Court at Osborne

in Ikoyi, Lagos, over alleged trespass on their property at Unit C6 and Unit C7 Amber Court/Mews, Osapa London, off Lekki Epe expressway, Lagos State.

The claimants had in their suit marked LD/7735GCM/2021,

listed Joseph Umunna and an unknown person as respondents.

The claimants are seeking an Order of Interlocutory Injunction, restraining the defendants, their servants, agents, and or privies, from trespassing on their property

at Unit C6, Amber Court/Mews and Unit C7 Amber Court/ Mews, Osapa London, off Lekki Epe expressway, Lagos State, pending compliance with Pre-Action Protocols and the hearing and determination of the main suit.

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TOWARDS DIGITISATION OF NIGERIA…

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami(fifth left) and other participants during the unveiling of a book as part of the ongoing Digital Nigeria Conference in Abuja…yesterday

PDP Crisis: Count Me Out of Atiku’s Campaign, Says Mimiko Metuh resigns from PDP, quits partisan politics

Chuks OkochainAbujaand FidelisDavid inAkure Former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has debunked

rumours of his alleged switch of allegiance from the caucus of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, which was requesting for a southern national chairman of the

Tinubu: I’ve Forgiven Osinbajo Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said he has forgiven Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Tinubu was said to have stated this in Kano while addressing some political support groups loyal to Osinbajo during the APC presidential primaries.

He said a man who asks for forgiveness from God must be willing to forgive others.

Tinubu said he has nothing against the vice president, stressing that he will work with everybody.

According to Tinubu, he visited Osinbajo at his house after the primaries, and also interacted with him during the ministerial retreat.

He said: “I have nothing against him. I have been to his House after the primaries.

I have seen him on the day of the goodwill message to the retreat organised by the president.

“And a man who forgives, man who asks for forgiveness from Allah fully deserves forgiveness. If you cannot give forgiveness, how are you asking from Allah? To me, it is over.”

During a meeting, Coordinator of the Drone Marshall Support Group, Alwan Hassan had urged Tinubu to work with Osinbajo and other presidential aspirants who ran against him at the primary election on 8 June.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the camp of the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

This is just as a former National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, has resigned his membership of the party and also quit partisan politics.

Mimiko, in a statement in Akure, Ondo State, by his media aide, Mr. John Paul Akinduro, also said he was neither consulted by anyone

nor consented to his inclusion in the Ondo State PDP Presidential Campaign Council list, saying he was unwavering in his commitment to the principle of equity, fairness and justice through which he believed a credible push for a PDP victory was possible.

“Dr Olusegun Mimiko has been inundated with calls and messages from the general public, and his political friends and concerned

individuals around the nation; and in particular, his teeming supporters across the length and breadth of Ondo State, seeking clarity on a fake news making the rounds since yesterday that he had ditched Governors Nyesom Wike, Seyi Makinde and their colleagues governors, and abandoned the agitation for regional equity within the PDP; and in particular, making a party

member of southern extraction its the national chairman before the 2023 election.

“The report and the list that triggered it are fake and a deliberate attempt to muddle things up and smear Dr. Olusegun Mimiko. It must be stated with emphasis that Dr. Mimiko was neither consulted by anyone nor consented to his inclusion in any Ondo State PDP Presidential Campaign Council list.

Factors Undermining Nigeria’s Productivity Identified Okon Bassey in Uyo Lack of detribalised and patriotic leadership, weak democratic institutions, personalisation of state power and wide spread insecurity have been identified as factors that are undermining Nigeria’s productivity.

Those factors were contained in a communique issued at the end of the 2022 National Conference of Former Deputy

Governors Forum of Nigeria that ended in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, yesterday.

The communique listed other factors like rapid population growth and high infant mortality, rising debt profile, poor administration of elections, polarisation of the Nigerian polity which has undermined National cohesion and unstable foreign policy.

The communique outlined

strategies for overcoming the challenges to include, promotion of consciousness about core National values such as discipline, integrity, dignity of labour, social justice, religious tolerance and diversity.

Others were the promotion of culture of good governance, accountability and politics of development, appointing security chiefs and administrators based on competence and capacity,

adequate funding of education and health for human capital development.

More strategies were sensitisation of the citizenry to cherish diversity, pursue and install a merit-based system for appointment and privileges, encourage massive youth employment, and restructuring the polity by devolving more power to the lower tier of government, among others.

Following the resumption of academic activities in public universities across Nigeria, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has offered an advisory to parents to interface with various institution’s management regarding the status of their wards academic programmes.The JAMB gave this advice against the

of Universities (ASUU), recently, a phenomenon that might have generated confusion on how to go about existing or halted academic programmes while the industrial action lasted.

JAMB insisted that it has no control on admission processes by universities, but at the same time, has not mandated the cancellation

of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed this shortly before he declared open the National Executive Council (NEC), meeting of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, in Abuja, yesterday.

He said that the affected universities, polytechnics or Colleges

programmes prior to the strike, which the ASUU had embarked on but called off recently.

Oloyede said students’ admission lied in the individual universities administrations, noting that about three different sessions are being run by various universities concurrently and must be concluded within their own stipulated timeframe.

NBTE Accredits 17 Courses Post ASUU Strike: JAMB Warns Varsities not to Jump Any Academic Session backdrop of the suspension of or deference of any admission. of Education must find a way to KuniTyessi inAbuja for Fed Poly Ekiti strike by the Academic Staff Union The Registrar/Chief Executive streamline all the existing academic

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has granted approval to the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti (Fedpoly) for the running of seven new courses with effect from the 2022/2023 academic session to broaden the horizons for admission seekers.

In the same fashion, the federal government’s regulatory agency also granted accreditation to the polytechnic for eight other courses to improve learning in the institution.

The Rector of the institution, Dr. Hephzibah Oladebeye, in a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations, Ade Adeyemi-Adejolu, yesterday, said the approval was the outcome of a recent Quality Assurance Visitation exercise by the NBTE to the polytechnic.

The rector added that NBTE approval of the new programmes was contained in a correspondence to the polytechnic by the Executive Secretary of the Board, Prof. Idris Bugage, and signed by the Director, Polytechnic Programme, Ngbede Ogoh.

23,991 N-Skills Beneficiaries to Commence Training on New Trades

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

About 23,991 N-Skills beneficiaries are to commence training on additional 11 trades, including auto-mechanic, leatherworks and Shoe-making, smart devices, and welding and fabrication, courtesy of the federal government intervention.

Others are aluminum assembly and fabrication, plumbing and piping, electrical installations, agency banking, tailoring and embroidery, baking and cosmetology, fish farming and jewelry-making and wire works.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Intervention, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Faruk, who stated this at the closing ceremony of the training of Master Craft Persons (MCPs) and flagging-off of the N-Skills (Pilot 2) programme held yesterday at the Professor Iya Abubakar Computer Centre, Bauchi, said in order to complete the training of the beneficiaries, the ministry has selected 1,830 MCPs from the 36 States and FCT for the six-months apprenticeship who were carefully selected using NBTE-guided criteria.

Insecurity: FCTA Demolishes Shanties, Brothels in Karasana District Ikharo Attah, who led the team, said joint and a brothel supporting investigate this. I was reliably OlawaleAjimotokaninAbuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration, (FCTA), in continuation of it city cleanup, Wyesterday removed shanties, brothels and illegal drinking joints in Karasana district in Abuja.

The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Mr.

they cleaned the area because of the security challenges it constituted was becoming worrisome and unacceptable.

Attah noted that residents in the area had at various times complained both to the security agencies and the administration.

He said that the team was surprised to discover a hard drug

illegalities in the district. “What is really disturbing and very worrisome is that we discovered the identity card, ATM cards of a particular staff of AEDC. I am sure she does not live here in the forest with them.

“Criminals must have likely robbed her of all her ATM and identity cards. The police will

informed that when they raided here about a year ago they recovered three short guns. This place is a den of criminals,” Attah said.

He warned that any owner of cashew plantation, who rents it out to those who erect shanties and illegal shops would face the consequence as those structures would be demolished.

Women Group on Mobilisation Drive for Peter Obi Kate Ejisu

The Women’s Wing of Nigeria Anew Movement (NAMO), a political support group, has vowed to mobilise all Nigerian women across the country to vote for the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi in the February 2023 presidential election.

Addressing a media parley on the side line of its maiden

National Dialogue in Lagos, the National Women Leader of NAMO, Princess Dominica Onugu ,said her group was poised to mobilising every eligible woman voter particularly in the rural areas to vote right in the coming election by voting for Obi whom many Nigerians consider as being more credible in many aspects than other major presidential contenders.

According to Onugu, who was joined at the media parley by some other executive committee members of NAMO’s Women’s Wing, the group has had its maiden national dialogue for women with the main theme:” Mobolising the Nigerian women to mobilise every woman voter to vote right in the February 2023 presidential election.”

The women leader declared

that the only way Nigerians will get things right in the country is by voting for Obi of LP as the next president of Nigeria since he has shown by every stretch of imagination that he possesses the outstanding qualities a 21st Century Nigerian president needs.

In her words: “We are tired of those who have presented manifestoes that will end up maintaining the status quo.”

55

THURSDAY, ͺͿ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Inter Win Knocks out Barcelona from Champions League RESULTS Ajax Napoli C’Brugge Atletico Inter Barcelona E’Frankfurt Tottenham

0-3 Liverpool 3-0 Rangers 0- 4 Porto 2-2 Leverkusen 4-0 V’Plzen 0-3 B’Munich 2-1 Marseille 1-1 Sporting

EUROPA LEAGUE Man Utd FC Zurich PSV Larnaca Fenerbahce Ludogorets Helsinki Malmo Omonia Lazio S’Graz Freiburg Nantes Ferencvaros C’Zvezda

v Sheriff v Bodo/Glimt v Arsenal v D’Kyiv v Rennes v Betis v Roma v Braga v Sociedad v Midtjylland v Feyenoord v Olympiacos v Qarabag v Monaco v Trabzonspor

Robert Lewandowski could not save Barcelona from dropping out of the Champions League to second tier Europa League after they were drubbed 3-0 and Inter Milan hammered Viktoria Plzen 4-0...last night

C H A M P I O N S L E AG U E Inter Milan secured their place in the UEFA Champions League knockout stage on Wednesday night and send Barcelona into the Europa League with 4-0 victory against Viktoria Plzen.

Substitute Romelu Lukaku marked his return from injury with a late goal as Inter comfortably secured the win they needed to reach the last 16.

Edin Dzeko scored twice after Henrikh Mkhitaryan's opener.

Inter's final opponents Bayern Munich secured top spot in

Group C on 15 maximum points after defeating Barcelona late last night.

Barcelona finished third in the group on just four points from a possible 15 and are to now compete in Europe's second-tier competition for the second successive season.

Simone Inzaghi's Inter, who kept their fate in their own hands with a 3-3 draw at Barcelonaa fortnight ago, are five points behind Bayern after taking 10 points from five games.

Qatar Scrap Pre-arrival COVID Test Before World Cup Qatar is to drop pre-arrival Covid-19 tests for visitors in the run-up to the World Cup, which starts 20 November, the health ministry said yesterday.

"Visitors are no longer required to present a negative Covid-19 PCR or Rapid Antigen test result before travelling to Qatar," a statement said.

The relaxed measures, effective from 1 November, were announced after Qatar last month said Covid vaccinations were not mandatory for the expected million-plus fans.

The 29-day tournament will

be the first major global sporting event with fans since the Covid pandemic erupted in December 2019, killing more than six million people.

Qatari citizens and residents will also no longer need to take a PCR or rapid antigen test within 24 hours of returning from abroad, the health ministry added.

The new measures cover all visitors arriving from 1 November, when Qatar will be closed to anyone without a Hayya card – the mandatory document given to ticket holders and their guests, players, media, staff and officials.

Former Edo State FA Chairman, Hon. Frank Ilaboya, has been appointed a member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) adhoc committee on the league.

The appointment letter dated October 26th, 2022 and signed by the NFF General Secretary, Dr Muhammed Sanusi, stated that the veteran journalist cum administrator is being appointed due to the high confidence the NFF President reposes on his person.

The letter reads in part...”your appointment for this sensitive assignment is as a result of the high confidence the NFF President reposes in your person and I believe you will work diligently to take decisions that are in the best interest of Nigerian football.”

The Committee's mandate, according to Dr Sanusi is to "sit down with the League Management Company (LMC), to look into the

License Agreement between the NFF and the LMC." In his response, Hon Ilaboya, an Executive Director of Edo State Sports Commission and immediate past Chairman of Owan West Local Govt Area of Edo State, promised to join hands with other Committee members to deliver on this onerous task.

According to Ilaboya, “I am a part of the football family and a strong believer of the Nigerian league. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute my quota to the development of the NPFL. “As always, I will apply myself diligently to the task at hand, working with other committee members to deliver on the mandate given to us. Those who know me know I apply myself 100% to any cause I believe in, and this assignment is one of such.”

Against Colombia, Flamingos Ilaboya Gets NFF Committee Job Succumb to Sudden Death!

To meet Germany again in the bronze medal match on Sunday Duro Ikhazuagbe Nigeria U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos on Wednesday afternoon in Goa, India crashed out of the FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup after falling in a sudden death penalty shootouts.

After regulation time deadlocked goalless, the game dragged into shootouts with Nigeria losing 6-5 in a nervy atmosphere in the Indian city famous for that classic, hilarious 'Bombay to Goa' movie.

Nigeria was just a kick away from victory after Yesica Munoz saw her spot kick saved by Flamingos’ goalkeeper Linda Jiwuaku whilst Gabriela Rodriguez, Stefania Perlaza, Mary Espitaleta and Linda Caicedo scored for Colombia. Immaculata Offiong, Etim Edidiong, Miracle Usani and Taiwo Afolabi scored for Nigeria.

Omamuzo Edafe who was the heroine of the quarter final match with US last week, was the one that missed the decisive kick that would have given Nigeria her first ever final berth, thereby further dragging the game into sudden death. with results at 4-4 in the shootouts.

Like Edafe, defender Comfort Folorunsho also missed her kick in the sudden death as the ball flew into the body of Colombia's goalkeeper Luisa Agudelo to send the South Americans into the final of the 7th FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in India.

Meanwhile, the Flamingos are to play Germany in Sunday’s

U 1 7 W O M E N ’S W O R L D C U P third-place match.

Germany who beat the Nigerian side, 2-1 in the opening

game of Group B lost 0-1 to Spain in the other semi final duel played after that of Nigeria

and Colombia.

Spain who had also beaten Colombia 2-1 in the second match of Group C are the only unbeaten team in the competition at the moment.

Nigeria’s Flamingos downcast shortly after crashing out 6-5 in shootouts at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in India...yesterday

NSF 2022: Aliyu Receives Torch of Unity, Preaches Peace Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has on behalf of the FCT Administration received the 2022 torch for the National Sports Festival slated for Asaba, Delta State.

She said the torch is a symbol of unity peace, friendship and tolerance as it brings together sports men and women from all walks of life and across the 36 states of the federation and

FCT, to compete for medals in the biennual sporting event.

"It showcases the light of spirit, knowledge and life; and by passing it from state to state or from person to person, it expresses the handing down of the fire of unity, sportsmanship, fair play and friendship from one generation to the next," she said.

She charged all participants to use the sports festival to promote peace, unity as the nation approaches another

general elections.

Aliyu said; "Let this day, therefore, send forth the same message to all citizens of this great nation that; in all our common endeavors and in all fronts of our national life, peace, friendship, unity, tolerance, equity, accommodation, hope and fair play are all what we require to achieve meaningful progress, cohesion and advancement. We must carry this same message into our electioneering campaigns

as well.

"We must pass it from our generation to the next generation after us. We must remain united, tolerate one another despite our differences, make friends across all divides, create room for the survival of the next citizen across the street. That is the essence of this day’s event".

She also expressed the confidence that the FCT contingent would excel at the Games praying that the various athletes would

gain global recognition.

Earlier, the representative of the Minister of Sports, and Zonal Coordinator, North Central, Mrs Deborah Pitmang, said the torch represents unity through sports among states.

Recall that the Torch Relay started in 1936 Summer Olympic Games of Berlin, Germany, a modern invention inspired by the practices from ancient Greece that announced the beginning of competitive sporting games.

Thursday, October 27, 2022

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MISSILE

Bayo Onanuga to Godwin Obaseki For a man who swore an oath of allegiance to the sovereignty and unity of Nigeria to be a purveyor of ill-will towards the same country because of partisan politics smirks of total irresponsibility and recklessness unbecoming of a governor who has a constitutionally sanctioned duty to preserve the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria—Director of Media, Tinubu Campaign, responding to Edo State Governor’s statement that Nigeria will break up should the ruling APC win the 2023 presidential election.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI 200 Billion Cubic Metres of Disaster THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

W

e do not seem to be paying much attention, but nothing has taken more lives or wrecked as much havoc in the last four months as flooding. This may be because the victims in most instances are the poor and vulnerable of our society. But across the country, thousands of families have become refugees due to the rains. In Jos, Mrs Indo Abdulmumini narrated her tragic experience: “I was asleep when my husband woke me up and I saw water flowing into our compound. We went into the room to carry the young boys, but we couldn’t because the wall had already collapsed. When my husband tried to enter, he discovered that the flood had taken the children. I have lost six of my children, four girls and two boys, the oldest being 13 and the smallest being 90 days old. I am now left with only two surviving children, a girl of 17 and a boy of two years.”

The story of Hussaini who lost seven children to the flood is also as pathetic as the account rendered by a 15-year-old boy named Faisal. “We tried to rush home with my father; we couldn’t pass because all roads were flooded,” he lamented.

“My mother who was at home then called me on phone. I heard the voices of my younger ones screaming and crying. Suddenly, the line went dead. That was all: Our house was destroyed, and my mother Hajiya with my four younger ones have not been seen up till now.” ================================== I wrote the foregoing in ‘Death and the Waters Between’ on 17th July 2012, following an unprecedented flooding that left the country with heartrending stories. Sadly, the deluge of recent weeks and resulting human tragedies have surpassed that of 2012. And this time, both the rich and poor are counting the cost. As of Monday, according to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, approximately 3,219,780 persons had been affected by current floods with no fewer than 1,427,370 persons internally displaced. 612 lives have also been lost with 2,776 persons injured and 305,407 houses destroyed. In addition, 392,399 hectares of farmland have been decimated with an additional 176,852 hectares partially damaged. Yet, despite the specialised teams on ground across the country, several communities are still not accessible to ascertain the level of devastation or how to render assistance, according to the Minister.

Going by the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) ‘aggregated 2022 flood data’ made available to me, as of last Friday (21st October), all 36 states in the country have been affected by the floods, though in varying degrees. For instance, with 91 deaths, more lives have been lost in Jigawa (where 68,883 are displaced and 166,076 affected) than in any other state. But that is just one side of the story. Although Anambra recorded fewer deaths (77) by last Friday, it remains the worst-hit state with 526,215 residents displaced and another 729,046 people impacted. 2,765 houses and 15634 hectares of farmland have also been damaged in Anambra State.

It will take a long time for Bayelsa to recover from the flood. With all eight local governments practically under water, 58 deaths had been recorded in the state by last Friday with 81 injured, 219,471 displaced and another 257,913 persons affected.

Meanwhile, 27,213 houses have been damaged and 46,143 hectares of farmland totally destroyed.

The four deaths recorded in Imo State as of last Friday can be considered minimal, but with 105,811 hectares of farmland destroyed, the economic loss is enormous. In Rivers where 23 deaths were recorded, 66,572 hectares of farmland have been

totally destroyed in the flooding that has affected 121,276 residents of the state.

In Yobe where 59 deaths were recorded by last Friday, 42,710 persons had been displaced and 24,321 others affected. With 142,755 residents of the state affected, Taraba has witnessed 57 fatalities.

No death is recorded in Kogi—though one must be wary of statistics in a state where the governor controls the narrative. But the flood which at one point rendered the state capital, Lokoja impassable, has affected 471,991 persons, according to NEMA data. While Cross River State may have recorded only two deaths, 99,083 hectares of farmland have been totally destroyed with 91,276 persons displaced and another 101,391 affected. The flood has also claimed 57 lives in Borno State, displacing 30,516 people and affecting another 50,986 after destroying 15,345 hectares of farmland. In Benue where 34 deaths were recorded, 32,633 have been displaced and another 83,016 people affected.

I can go on and on with details from every state, but I believe the point is already made about the enormity of the crisis at hand. Despite their best efforts, officials of both NEMA and the federal ministry of humanitarian affairs are overwhelmed.

In some states, evacuation officials are awaiting support from the military that is also overstretched by the security challenges facing the nation. Yet, from what I have gathered in recent days, this tragedy could easily be converted to opportunity if we are serious.

In ‘Echoes of Clinton’s Abuja Visit’ last week, I referenced a conversation with Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State who forwarded me the speech I excerpted for the short piece. One of the issues we discussed was the challenge of perennial flooding which Bagudu said is not beyond our capacity as a nation to handle. “Please, go and talk to Engineer Clement Nze, the Director General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), and you will be amazed by the opportunity we are wasting.” He gave me Nze’s number and I met the NIHSA Director

General at his office last Friday.

Nigeria, Nze told me, has one of the best natural drainage systems in the world due to our topography, land and location within the Niger Basin that traverses nine countries in West and Central Africa. The other Niger Basin nations are Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali and Niger Republic.

The total landmass of these nine countries is about 1.5 million square kilometres with over 130 million people living within the basin. Nigeria, according to Nze, occupies approximately 30 percent of the landmass but in human population, our country accounts for as much as 80 percent. On an annual basis, Nze says that a total volume of over 200 billion cubic metres of fresh water drain into the Atlantic Ocean. He believes, and I agree with him, that this is a huge resource from nature that we could tap into. Not only would it mitigate the flooding that has become an annual problem, but it would also be a catalyst for the much-touted diversification into agriculture, help resolve some of our security challenges and aid power generation.

For a country of 200 million people, and despite our abundant water resources, it says so much about our lack of seriousness that in Nigeria we have just a little over 400 dams and reservoirs for irrigation, water supply and hydro-electric power generation. Only seven are either partially or fully dedicated to irrigation. They include the Tiga Dam in Kano, Zauro Polder project in Kebbi State, Oyan River dam in Ogun State, Kiri dam in Adamawa, Kafin Zaki dam in Bauchi, Bakolori dam in Zamfara and Goronyo dam in Sokoto.

Owing to the effects of Climate Change, what we witness in recent years is a situation in which the amount of rainfall normally received in four months comes within a few days or weeks, causing extraordinary havoc because of the challenge of retention. And, according to Nze, the water that flows through our country every year can be harnessed.

What Nze suggests is the construction of Detention

Basins in states like Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Nasarawa and Edo. These are artificial reservoirs in which we can collect and keep water from the flood during rainy season for use during dry season.

He cited the example of Jabi Lake in Abuja, a man-made earth dam with a total surface area of about 1,300 hectares constructed by Julius Berger which now provides boat rides, fishing and tourism for Abuja residents. Most significantly, according to Nze, because of the water body, boreholes around Jabi, Gwarimpa, Life Camp and Kado have improved their yield owing to continuous recharge of the aquifers from Jabi Lake.

However, the biggest opportunity comes from the Chad basin that has for decades presented a problem. Surrounded by transboundary basins such as the Nile basin to the east, Congo basin to the south, Niger basin to the west and Nubian basin to the north, the surface area of Lake Chad has shrunk to a tenth of its initial size—from about 25,000 square kilometers in 1960 to about 1500 square kilometres today. And this has contributed significantly to the insecurity that started with insurgency in the Northeast before dovetailing into banditry in the Northwest. As a hub for fishing, farming and animal husbandry, as many as 40 million people directly rely on Lake Chad for survival. And experts believe we can deploy the annual flood to recharge it. From available reports, we may not even spend up to the equivalent of what we expend annually on fuel subsidy to actualize this idea.

The volume of water that enters our country from the Ladgo Dam in Cameroon is huge, but so are the opportunities. One of the people I spoke to is Dr Matthew E. Offodile, a consultant exploration hydrogeologist and Managing Director of Mecon Geology and Engineering Services, Jos who graduated from University of Ibadan in 1964 and is regarded as one of the foremost experts on the issue of flooding in Nigeria. At 86, Offodile having traversed the entire country, understands the terrain and the opportunities that abound if only the authorities would do the right thing.

To Offodile, the Cameroonian authorities are doing what they are supposed to do in order to avoid an even greater catastrophe. “But on our part, we do nothing to mitigate the downriver effect. We have suggested that a practical solution would be to create a dam on the upper arm of the Benue River around Yola (Adamawa State capital) to divert part of the surplus water northwards into the large area of the Chad Basin through River Yedsaram”, he said. “The large excess volume of water would serve the dual purpose of not only irrigating the large expanse of the Chad basin land but possibly refill the Lake Alo and may be extend to Lake Chad itself. This will be a purely Nigerian project which unlike the transfer from the Congo basin being suggested in some quarters, is devoid of all international encumbrances of the neighboring countries.”

Continued on page 30

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