TUESDAY 1ST NOVEMBER 2022

China Harbour Completes Construction of $1.5bn Lekki Deep Sea Port Sanwo-Olu vows to provide transport infrastructure Gilbert Ekugbe The China Habour Engineering LFTZ Enterprise (CHELE), a subsidiary of China Habour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC), that is the engineering,

procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Sea Port, has announced the completion of the construction of the port.

The Lekki Port is one of the biggest deep-sea ports in West

Africa expected to generate $361 billion revenue for the Nigerian government while also providing close to 200,000 job opportunities for the nation's teeming unemployed youths.

The Vice President of CHEC,

Mr. Wu Di, who also doubles as a Director of Lekki port at the construction completion ceremony, disclosed that the construction of the port officially started on June 15, 2020, and was completed on Monday, October 24, 2022.

This was as the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, assured that his government was working hard to provide ample ambience for transportation infrastructure, saying that works are ongoing to develop a six lane

road network in the Ibeju-Lekki port axis to avoid traffic congestion Di revealed that the total contract value of the EPC for the project's first phase was $581 million.

Continued on page 10

Kwankwaso: I Sold My Properties to Sponsor 3,000 Students, Local, Overseas... Page 44 Tuesday 1 November, 2022 Vol 27. No 10066. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

FG Tightens Measures against Ebola Outbreak... Page 10

Buhari: Police Must Remain Apolitical, Ensure Peaceful 2023 Polls Recommits to free, fair elections, wants Nigerians to elect their choice Chiemelie Ezeobi in Lagos, Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Amby Uneze in Owerri President Muhammadu Buhari has charged officers and men of

the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to chart a viable operational plans that would guarantee a credible outcome of the 2023 general election in the country.

Buhari, who seized the occasion

to recommit to free and fair elections next year, also emphasised the need for the rank and file of the Police Force to remain apolitical, firm, and loyal to the nation's democratic values, because it was then that

Nigerians could elect their choice leaders.

Speaking while declaring open a three-day Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers in Owerri, the Imo State capital, yesterday,

the president directed the Police to review the current and evolving internal security threats, which might impact on peaceful and successful elections.

He said, ''As I have often

observed, elections are local, and it is only when the votes truly count that the faith of the citizens in the democratic process can be Continued on page 10

NSA: Nigeria Not Under Any Heightened Sense of Insecurity I want to dispel any illusion about any heightened sense of insecurity. It is false; it is irresponsible for anybody to give that signal. We're working with our foreign partners in a responsible way and Nigerians should go about their normal daily undertakings without being put in a situation of fear.

Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja In the wake of the controversy surrounding a recent travel advisory issued by the United States government and some other countries asking their citizens to steer clear of Abuja, the Nigerian government has again allayed fears over the safety of people living in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The FCT Executive Committee (EXCO) also reassured Abuja residents of their safety, saying adequate security arrangements have been made to sustain the state of law and order in the nation’s capital.

Security personnel at the National Assembly complex yesterday commenced thorough search of all vehicles coming into the compound.

The US recently warned its citizens against traveling to some states in Nigeria, specifically warning about terror threats in the FCT. The travel advisory set off panic Continued on page 10

LEKKI SEA PORT CONSTRUCTION COMPLETION...

L-R; Director-General, Debt Management Office, Ms. Patience Oniha; Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Cui Jianchun; General Manager of China Harbour Engineering LFTZ Enterprise (CHELE), Mr. Xie Xianju; Chairman, Board of Directors, Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited (Lekki Port); Mr. Biodun Dabiri; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and Chief Finance Officer, Lekki Port, Cai Pingzhen, during the Port Construction Completion Ceremony held at the Port, Itoke Village, Ibeju Lekki in Lagos….yesterday PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN

2

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • T H I S D AY

3

4

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • T H I S D AY

5

TUESDAY, N ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

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

NEWS

PARTNERING TOWARDS ELECTION SECURITY...

L-R: Managing Director, Amarante Nigeria, Michael Vetro; Chairman of Board, Ecobank Nigeria, Mrs. Bola Adesola; Chief Executive Officer, Towntalk Solutions; Folake Edun, and Analyst, Amarante International, Coleen Essengue, at the announcement of Towntalk partnership with Amarante Nigeria on data intelligence and security measures to mitigate social-political events during the 2023 elections…recently

Ex-Ministers, Diplomats Ask Buhari to Institute Judicial Inquiry into Oil Theft Reject pipeline surveillance contract with Tompolo’s firm Fault FG’s proposal to reduce diplomatic missions Gboyega Akinsanmi A forum of former foreign affairs ministers and diplomats under the aegis of the Academy of International Affairs has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to set up a judicial board of inquiry to address the root cause of crude oil theft and fuel subsidy scandal.

The academy, purely established for open and private debate on the emerging new world order, also described as a big shame, the federal government's decision to award pipeline surveillance contract to Tantita Security Services Limited, a private company owned by former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Government Ekpemupolo (a.k.a Tompolo).

In a statement by its President and former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi yesterday, the academy observed that it was an exercise in futility, “to ask some of those suspects involved in this scandal to go round in search of illegal pipelines and oil criminals.”

It also observed that the opaque subsidy regime on oil imports and the volume of daily consumption of the same had equally become yet another scandal in Nigeria, which even the Controller General of Customs, had called attention to.

Given the antecedents of such private interests in insurgency and militancy in the Niger Delta, the academy claimed that Tantita Security Services Limited would only present a wishy-washy report that would absolve them from any blame.

On these grounds, the academy implored the Minister of Petroleum Resources, who is also the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to appreciate the urgent need for collective global action on this unwholesome trend which has gone on for too long.

It specifically challenged the president, “to institute a Judicial Board of Inquiry oil theft in Nigeria, covering crude oil and petroleum products, the unending turn around maintenance of refineries and other petroleum.”

It justified the institution of

judicial commission of inquiry on the need, “to unearth the causes of oil thefts, prosecute the culprits and put an end to the scandals to rekindle Nigeria’s enviable position in the world oil market and provide substantial revenues for the country.

“It is also disheartening to learn that illegal oil bunkering has been going on for a long time under the watch of government officials including many of the security personnel that are charged with guarding the most vital source of revenue earnings of this country.”

The academy alleged that some foreign oil companies whose pipelines had been tapped and vandalised between their production fields to their export terminals, had also been involved in the oil scandals.

It also claimed that such oil multinationals often connived with the criminals by keeping mute as the Nigerian oil, “is being illegally bunkered and shipped away for sale in the international market: the proceeds of which are laundered in international financial institutions and banks

particularly in tax free havens.”

The academy cited investigations carried out by reputable organisations including the past Report of Justice Ayo Irikefe Tribunal of Inquiry of 1978/79 on loss of billions of oil revenues to support its claims.

Due to oil thefts by terrible cartels, it observed that Nigeria, which had been enjoying comfortable OPEC quotas of about two million barrels per day of crude oil supplies to the world market, had now been reduced to less than one million barrels per day, quite below its current OPEC quota.

It further observed that the most troubling aspect of the situation was that despite the presence of armed security personnel, including the army, navy, police, security and civil defense, customs and others, apart from the NNPC, oil thefts had been going on with reckless abandon.

It rhetorically asked: “Is it not a big shame that a private company, Tanita Security Services Limited, owned by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (a.k.a Tompolo) had to be employed

where Nigerian security failed, and Tompolo’s company discovered and unfolded hidden though an open secret, export pipelines being utilised by oil thieves to illegally bunker our vital resources.

“Certainly this sophisticated 4-kilometre pipeline discovered

by Tompolo and other pipelines around the oil producing areas in the Niger Delta and the creeks could not have been constructed and installed by the natives without being found out by the Nigerian security.

“Is it not nerve-racking that the Ministers of Petroleum Resources for many years have been the presidents of this country and under their watch, so much oil revenues have been stolen resulting in large amounts of our revenues going in to dangerous cartels and private hands rather than government coffers? This is totally unacceptable,” the academy rhetorically asked in its statement.

It explained how late President Umaru Yar’Adua exhibited strong political will to address the vicious trend of crude oil theft and fuel subsidy scandal, to which

Standard Bank Targets Acquisitions in Nigeria, Kenya Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report Standard Bank, Africa’s biggest lender by assets, has disclosed that it is open to acquisitions in Nigeria and Kenya as it expands its presence in key markets on the continent.

The lender is also keen to bolster its businesses in Ethiopia — where it has a representative office — and its home-market South Africa, Standard Bank Chief Executive Officer, Sim Tshabalala, said.

“If there was an appropriate priced asset with acceptable risk, we would definitely look at acquiring,” the CEO of the bank which paid $400 million to take control of its Nigerian unit in 2007, said.

Expanding in the continent’s biggest economies is part of a strategy to ward off intensifying competition and tap African

companies growing within the region, Bloomberg report said.

There’s also potential for enhanced business as the African Continental Free-Trade Area (AfCFTA), the world’s largest regional trade arrangement by membership and population, slowly takes root.

“Unlike five to 10 years ago, there are a number of African multinationals, who have got regional strategies, as well as international multinationals who are operating in countries where we don’t operate in,” Tshabalala stressed.

“They want us to provide them a service, which forces us to think outside the existing network,” such as in Ivory Coast, Morocco, and Egypt, he added.

In Nigeria, its unit, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, which runs a corporate and investment bank, posted a 38 per cent jump in profit

in the six months to June 30, the biggest increase since 2018.

Standard Bank wants the unit, which has 140 branches, to expand in Africa’s most-populous nation without hurting its “strong returns” in the country, Tshabalala said.

For similar reasons, Ethiopia, the continent’s second-largest country by population, offers a big opportunity, he said.

Standard Bank is also planning to bolster its mid-sized business in the very competitive Kenyan market, according to the CEO. Standard Bank’s earnings outlook has improved, and that “stronger backdrop allows the lender to focus on building exposure in higher-growth panAfrican regions,” said Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Philip Richards.

It has “excess capital, which can be put to use for acquisitions or investments to grow in external

markets across Africa,” he added.

Still, companies have struggled with supply-chain disruptions and repatriating funds from Nigeria, which rations foreign exchange, Bloomberg wrote.

Shoprite, Africa’s largest food retailer, sold its operation in the West African nation last year, joining other South African firms including Woolworths, Truworths and Mr. Price to quit the country.

Nigeria’s economy has also recorded two recessions in the last six years, and has been hit with soaring inflation that is at a 17-year high. Meanwhile, Ethiopia is dealing with ongoing unrest and fighting in its Tigray region.

In its home market, the lender is concerned about South Africa being added to the global illicitfinance watch-list, which would increase the cost of capital. The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force has asked Africa’s

most-industrialized economy to demonstrate that it has a credible plan to address its deficiencies.

The required measures included tightening legislation and ensuring financial crimes are investigated and prosecuted.

Standard Bank’s South Africa goals include to boost market share for deposits, increase unsecured lending, grow mass-market life insurance business and bolster its vehicle finance unit.

The Business Leadership South Africa, a lobby group, estimates an 85 per cent probability of the nation being added to the so-called ‘gray’ list in February, though Tshabalala said the odds are better now.

“Given the effort that has gone into it, the probabilities are now balanced,” Tshabalala said. “It’s still touch-and-go, but I think 85 per cent probability is high,” he added.

he devoted his address in the 2009 Nations General Assembly.

It further reflected on how the late president termed the illegal oil proceeds, “blood money” at the assembly of global leaders while he called for concerted international support and action against this criminal conspiracy and fraud against Nigeria.

Likewise, the academy lamented the impact of the oil theft on the country’s diplomatic and foreign relations, which it claimed, had culminated in the closure of diplomatic missions abroad, especially at the time Nigeria’s foreign reserves dwindled.

It said the country’s diplomatic missions, “abroad are being financed in foreign currencies.

Unfortunately, each time our foreign reserves dwindled, there is always the misguided tendency of shutting down some of our diplomatic missions.

“This is exemplified by the recent actions of the federal government, which has just set up another committee to consider reducing among other things the number for diplomatic missions abroad.

“Such actions are counterproductive to promoting and projecting our national interest, impede our voice from being effectively heard globally, and hamper our quest to being a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

“There are many sources of leakages in the economy such as financial frauds by certain government officials, in addition to oil thefts and illegal bunkering that should be tackled frontally instead of focusing on reducing, instead of strengthening, our diplomatic missions abroad,” the academy suggested.”

With former Director General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Bola Akinterinwa as its Secretary, the academy comprises Lt. General Agwai Martin Luther; Prof. Joy Ogwu; Mr. Odein Ajumogobia (SAN); Prof. Jide Osuntokun; Prof.

Alaba Ogunsanwo; Prof. Akin Oyebode, and Director General of NIIA, Prof. Eghosa Osagie, among others

6

TUESDAY, N ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

25TH ANNIVERSARY OF CSCS CONFERENCE...

L-R: Chief Information Officer MTN Nigeria, Shoyinka Shodunke; Information Security Officer, UBA Plc, Romaric Sai; Chief Information Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Oluwaseun Solanke; Managing Director, CyberDome, Chioma Iwuagwu; during the 25th anniversary of Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) conference with the theme, The future of Cyber Security, Emerging Issues and Solution in Abuja...recently

Nigeria’s Domestic Gas Supply Grew by 14% in 12 Months, Says NMDPRA NUPRC assures of 12.2 billion scf per day by 2030 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) yesterday said that the performance of Nigeria’s domestic gas supply obligation reached 64.8 per cent between September 2021 and the same period in 2022 compared to 50.66 per cent achieved in 2020, a 14 per cent increment.

The Authority’s Chief Executive, Mr Farouk Ahmed, who spoke in Abuja at the 2023 Domestic Gas Demand Requirements (DGDR) workshop, explained that the 2022 gas demand requirement also marginally increased by 5.9 per cent per day over the determined 2021 national gas requirement.

However, he noted that despite the improved performance of 2021, the domestic gas market continues to experience significant challenges around infrastructural capacity constraints, payment assurance issues and long outstanding legacy debts of gas supplied to the power sector.

He listed other constraints as the poor performance of sanctity of contracts, constraints on the evacuation of generated power and low investment flows into the sector.

Ahmed assured that necessary preparations had been made to ensure that this year's domestic gas demand requirements is coordinated in a productive and efficient manner.

“As at end of September 2021,

the estimated performance of the domestic gas supply obligation was 64.8 per cent compared to 50.66 per cent achieved in 2020 (comparing annual total domestic supply obligation allocation to actual daily supply met). “ The increased performance of 14 per cent in the preceding domestic gas year can be majorly attributed to the concerted efforts implemented by the regulator and all our stakeholders towards enhancing the performance of the market,” he stated.

He explained that in determining a realistic gas demand requirement for the establishment of the domestic gas supply obligation, the regulator had always conducted an industry-wide domestic gas market review workshop.

According to him, this offers stakeholders in the sector an opportunity to review the demand levels of natural gas in the domestic market; establish the critical enablers required for enhancing the performance of the market and ensuring the collaboration of all the key players in the critical segment of Nigeria’s economy.

Ahmed expressed the NMDPRA’s committment to ensuring that regulation is optimised across the gas value chain to enhance the market environment that accommodates all the players in the sector.

In his comments, the Manager, Gas Production and Flare Monitoring at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commis-

sion (NUPRC), Jennis Anyanwu, expressed optimism that Nigeria can meet the 12.2 billion SCF of gas per day as outlined in the Nigerian ‘Decade of Gas'.

“Certainly, Nigeria can meet the deadlines set for the decade of gas.

There is a high-powered political commitment to ensure that happens. The Nigerian government’s commitment to international treaties and organisations such as the Paris Accord, net zero commitments and flare-out by 2030 make the decade of gas aspirations and goals achievable.

"A notable one is the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP) re-launched in September 2022, that would see currently flared gas converted to useful products, thus making more gas available for local utilisation.

“There are many other upstream projects that are aimed at increasing the current gas supply and the PIA is a gas-friendly legislation is a huge enabler in this regard.

“Currently, Nigeria produces around between 7 and 8 billion SCF per day but with capacity to increase that production to 12.2 billion, which is the target of the decade of gas if the current momentum by the government continues in the next few years,” he explained He also attributed the growth of gas supply by 14 per cent to regulatory efforts in driving compliance with allocation and periodic monitoring of gas producers’ performances.

He added: “We do not wait until the end of the year. Even though these reports are received daily to determine compliance level. The companies themselves are aware that gas is the transition fuel for Nigeria. So, it makes sense even for their corporate image to comply with initiatives like this.”

Anyanwu noted that gas flaring

Ahead of the proposed 2023 census, the National Population Commission (NPC), yesterday, officially launched its e-Recruitment portal to recruit ad-hoc staff for the exercise.

The commission has also disclosed that it was expecting no less than 25 million applications from Nigerians for available jobs.

Census Manager, Inunwa Jalingo, who stated this in Abuja while addressing journalists, added that there was a need for the process to be competitive, reliable and transparent.

“The adoption of e-Recruitment approach is to ensure widespread applications from all over the localities in the country, minimise bias and ascertain that all qualified Nigerians are given equal opportunity to apply and be recruited and ensuring that no one is left behind.

“The Commission adopts e-Recruitment portal to recruit ad-hoc staff for the 2023 Population and Housing Census. This portal has been tested during Pretest and Trial Census and has been greatly improved to serve different category of ad-hoc staff,” Jalingo explained.

According to him, the categories

of staff to be recruited included facilitators, training centre administrators, monitoring & evaluation officers, data quality managers, data quality assistants, supervisors, enumerators and special work force.

He further explained that the basic requirements for the application, were, National Identification Number Valid and Functional Gmail Account, Valid and Functional Phone Number, Valid and Functional /Operational Commercial Bank Account (No student/NYSC Account) Valid Educational Qualifications, referees “access to and knowledge on the use

companies have completed their flare-out projects within the past two years under review.

“The Nigerian gas flare commercialisation programme 2022 which was re-launched on September 30th this year has been a major push as well. This programme ensures an increase in the supply of gas to the domestic market.,” he said.

OPEC: Global Oil Demand to Peak at 110m bpd by 2045 Sees surplus supply in Q4 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has said that global oil demand will grow by 13 million bpd by 2045 compared to the 97 million bpd demand in 2021, to reach 110 million bpd.

According to the just-released long-term forecast of the OPEC World Oil Outlook (WOO), the overall growth will occur until 2025, while its plateau is predicted to begin from 2035.

"Overall growth will slow over the projected period, with virtually no increase after 2035, hinting to a relatively long period of plateauing oil demand at the global level," the report said.

The report noted that some

NPC Launches e-Recruitment Portal for 2023 Census, Expects 25m Applications Emameh Gabriel in Abuja

has been a challenge but finding use for flared gas has become imperative as the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has made some provisions for punitive measures for gas glaring.

“Most of the gas that was being flared now comes to the domestic market and that is part of what is driving the numbers. Many

of computers, tablets & smartphones is an added advantage."

Chairman, National Population Commission, Nasir Isa-Kwarra, who also spoke at the briefing, noted that, most of the personnel for the exercise would be drawn from the communities where they were resident.

“This will remove the huge logistics of moving personnel across the country. Consequently, every community will have the opportunity of contributing to the census workforce thereby ensuring that the people are adequately counted," he said.

countries will increase their energy demand by 69 million bpd by 2045, with India alone accounting for 28 per cent of this growth.

It noted that by 2045, renewable energy sources , mostly wind and solar, will become the fastest growing types of energy resources in terms of demand.

Based on the outlook, OPEC said global primary energy demand was forecast to continue growing in the medium- and long-term, increasing by a significant 23 per cent in the period to 2045.

“The world needs to annually add on average 2.7 million barrels of oil equivalent a day to 2045, while all forms of energy will be needed to address future energy needs.

“Oil is expected to retain the largest share in the energy mix throughout the outlook period, accounting for almost a 29 per cent share in 2045.

“Other renewables – combining mainly solar, wind and geothermal energy – expand by 7.1 per cent p.a. on average, significantly faster than any other source of energy.

“All major fuel types will witness growth, with the exception of coal.

Globally, oil demand is projected to increase from almost 97 million barrels a day (mb/d) in 2021 to around 110 mb/d in 2045,” OPEC revealed.

OPEC said the outlook indicated that India was set to be the largest contributor to incremental demand, adding around 6.3 mb/d to 2045.

The organisation added that global refining capacity additions were projected at 15.5 mb/d between 2022 and 2045 while global oil sector would need cumulative investment of $12.1

trillion in the upstream, midstream and downstream through to 2045, equating to over $500 billion each year.

Meanwhile, the cartel has said that excess supply in the oil market was the main reason for OPEC+ opting to cut production earlier this month, stating that there will be some surplus in the current quarter.

OPEC Secretary General, Haitham al Ghais told reporters at the Adipec energy conference in Abu Dhabi that the need to balance the oil market has always been the driving force behind its decisions. “ We see a surplus in the fourth quarter. We also see a surplus in early parts of 2023 because of the great uncertainties surrounding the economic growth forecasts. That was the main reason we took the decision to be proactive,” he said.

On October 5, the OPEC and its partners — a 23-nation alliance led by Saudi Arabia and Russia — angered the US by announcing they would lower their output targets from November by 2 million barrels a day.

US President Joe Biden said there would be “consequences” for the Saudis. His top energy diplomat, Amos Hochstein, who also attended Adipec on Monday, has said there was no economic rationale for the cut.

Al Ghais said it was possible the global economy was already shrinking.

“Whether it will be severe or not is another issue. Europe is definitely in a recession; the US is potentially heading toward recession. These economic things will have impact on oil demand,” he noted.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • T H I S D AY

7

8

TUESDAY, N ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

UNITED FOR ELECTORAL VICTORY...

L-R: Former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba; Governor Dapo Abiodun; his deputy, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, and Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Olalemilekan Adeola, during a meeting held with the candidates of the All Progressives Congress in the State at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta…recently

IG: Police Weapon Holding Enriched with 631 APCs, 895 Firearms, 3,000 Grenades, 75 GPMGs 10,518 bullet proof vests, 10,904 ballistic, anti-riot helmets Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, said yesterday that the federal government had significantly boosted the arsenal of the Nigeria Police.

He listed the procurements made to enrich the weapon holding of the police to include 631 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), 895 firearms, 3,000 grenades and 75 General Purpose Machine Guns (GRPGs).

Other weapons procured to boost the arsenal of the police include 10,518 bullet proof vests, 10,904 ballistic, anti-riot helmets, 106,000 long, short range tear gas, and 1000

stun guns, among others.

Speaking at a retreat for senior police officers in Owerri, Imo State capital, the IG commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his prompt approval for procurements that upscaled its logistics and operational capacity.

"Your Excellency, Sir, my leadership inherited a police force in which the police mobile force and all other special operational units and state commands were confronted with critical operational assets challenges occasioned by the lack of operational vehicles to undertake their functions.

"Representations were made to your excellency, who promptly enhanced budgetary provision

and granted special interventions to address this major challenge", he said.

"In consequence, we have today, upscaled our logistics and operational capacity by the procurement and deployment of six hundred (600) purpose-built operational vehicles while the delivery of an additional 31 of such operational vehicles is being expected.

"The delivered vehicles include Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), patrol vans and water cannons among others. We have also enriched our weaponry holdings in dealing with the threats of banditry and other major internal security threats with the acquisition of a total of 890 firearms including

106,000 long, short range tear gas, 1000 stun guns

75 GPMGs. "Other operational assets procured with presidential intervention include 10,518 bullet-proof vests with armoured plates, 10,904 ballistic and anti-riot helmets, about 106,000 long and short-range teargas for civil disorder management, 3,000 high velocity hand grenades, and one thousand 1,000 stun guns to address concerns on misapplication of lethal firearms", he said.

The police chief noted that "all these assets have been distributed to police commands/formations and their deployment have remained the game changer in our efforts to stabilise the security order across the country.

She added that enforcement of regulatory compliance with approved associated gas development solution in all applicable gas well development was ongoing.

Assuring that these discussions would be ongoing, Ndong told the audience that the doors of the commission and that of its downstream counterpart, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) were open to receive complaints and inputs from the operators on the way forward.

surveillance functions across the country", he said.

The IG said the personnel to man the unit were exposed to technical and professional training in South Africa.

He affirmed that under the 2021 Capital Project Budgetary Sub-Head and other special presidential interventions, the force completed and commissioned not less than 198 capital projects across the country.

"These comprises of model police station, barrack accommodations, tertiary police hospitals and other operational facilities", he said.

On the 2023 polls, Baba said the focus of third edition of the Nigeria Police Conference and Retreat was twofold.

"The primary agenda has to do with election security governance, while the secondary focus is on internal security management and our policing mandate. From all intents and purposes, therefore, this event is particularly significant to the force and critical to the nation.

"The importance of the gathering to the nation lies in the fact that the outcome will be critical to peace and security of our democratic process.

This is to the extent that we will engage in a detailed evaluation of all issues relating to the security dynamics of the 2023 general elections", he said.

"The importance of this agenda underscores our choice of the theme of the Conference which is - "The Imperative of a Nigeria Police Strategic Plan for Peaceful Elections".

Continues online

Continues online

He further disclosed that with the presidential intervention, "our almost moribund marine unit that is being revived and repositioned to ensure security along our internal waterways which was becoming a major crime route.

"Consequently, we have acquired and deployed five state-of-the-art marine gun boats in furtherance to this goal. In addition, 10 have also been acquired as part of the Nigeria Police modernisation and internal security operational plans and we have within the budgetary provisions of the force established an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Unit under the Airwing Section of the force to deepen our specialised drone operations and

NUPRC Parleys IOCs in Quest to Raise Gas Production by 20% Independent producers harp on using gas to tackle Nigeria's energy poverty, underdevelopment Peter Uzoho In a bid to realise its mandate of creating an enabling environment that would lead to increasing Nigeria's gas production by 20 per cent within this decade and by 50 per cent next decade, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) said it had started engaging international oil companies (IOCs).

Relatedly, Nigerian indigenous independent oil and gas producers have stressed the need for the country to use its abundant gas resources to tackle its perennial energy poverty and underdevelopment.

The trio of NUPRC's Commissioner, Exploration and Acreage Management, Ms. Rose Ndong; Director, New Energies, Seplat Energy; Mr. Effiong Okon; and Managing Director of First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company, Mr. Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, made the assertions at the Pre-conference workshop hosted in Lagos by the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE).

Ndong observed that Nigeria has proven gas reserves of about 208 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas with over 600tcf of unproven reserves, adding that currently, the nation produces about eight billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.

"Currently, Nigeria produces about eight billion standard cubic feet of gas per day, out of which approximately about 20 per cent is delivered to domestic markets.

One of the speakers actually said 40 per cent is exported to international markets and about 30 per cent utilised for producers’ internal consumption.

"We are currently on track to increase our gas reserves by 20 per cent within the decade and by 50 per cent next decade. Based on the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the commission has issued the annual domestic gas delivery obligation to operators.

"This allows the commission to drive gas production costs as operators are made to balance export appetite with the increasing domestic supply of gas," she said.

She explained that the commission was implementing a number of initiatives to increase gas production and utilisation, saying one of them was the commencement of mandatory conduct of gas well deliverability test for all gas producers to establish operating limits.

This, Ndong stressed, enables the commission to determine production potential and to guide the industry towards its optimal capacity.

The NUPRC commissioner stated that the agency was in constant engagement with operators on the need to drill below the conventional oil to target the gas reach zones for production and to increase the nation’s gas reserves.

"Also, we’re staring operators with saturated reservoirs to ensure their well placements drive optimal exploitation of oil and gas resources.

"We in the commission are actually currently engaging with most of the IOCs. We target to speak to all of them to just interact and know what the problems are, how can the regulator help them to increase their production in terms of gas, especially since we're looking at gas as a transition fuel.

"So these interactions are ongoing. If we don't know what the problems are, what the operators are facing, as regulators, we might not be able to know what to do towards helping to make things work for them," Ndong stated.

She further said NUPRC was

also implementing the provisions of PIA 2021 on gas flare elimination and commercialisation as a means of unlocking more gas availability to the market.

She pointed out that under that provision, companies were made to commit to the robust plan that eliminates gas flaring by bringing them to the market.

She said the commission was also helping at storage facilities development projects as a tool to incentivising gas production projects from the upstream sector to meet midstream and downstream demands.

Ajene Appointed Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria CEO Dalu Ajene has been appointed the Chief Executive Officer of Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria (RMBN).

The appointment which becomes effective today, according to a statement yesterday, aims to facilitate greater foreign capital flows, while working to deliver constructive solutions to leading businesses across critical sectors in Nigeria.

Commenting on the appointment, RMB’s CEO, Emrie Brown said: “We are excited to mark 10 years of doing business in Nigeria by welcoming Dalu Ajene to his new role. He brings exceptional local and international investment banking expertise to our clients. Dalu Ajene’s appointment also underlines our growth ambitions in Nigeria and across the continent.”

RMBN opened its first office in Lagos in 2012, and has just opened its second office in Abuja for which it is actively hiring, the statement disclosed.

On his part, Ajene said: “I’m humbled by the opportunity to take up this role at such a critical time for Nigeria. Like other countries, Nigeria is facing higher import costs, higher inflation, rising interest rates and dynamic macroeconomic conditions.

“But it’s in these times that opportunities always present themselves. We are seeing clients position themselves to take advantage of the volatility and we are working with these clients to proffer solutions to navigate them through the challenges they face.”

Ajene added that RMBN, “is well positioned to fund and advise Nigerian companies, but also help drive foreign direct investment into the country.

“Attracting capital is fundamental to the success of any economy.

RMBN is very well placed to work with investors to demystifying doing business in Nigeria and also to facilitate capital flows.”

Ajene also said he would continue to invest in people and the community which RMBN serves.

“We are fulfilled and energised by our partnerships with those in need and will continue to prioritise all stakeholders. We are committed to clients and providing sustainable contributions that benefit the communities in which we all serve for

the long term,” he added.

Prior to his new role, Ajene served as the head of Client Coverage at RMB in South Africa responsible for client origination teams in South Africa, Broader Africa and the UK. He also served as Deputy CEO and Head of Investment Banking at RMBN, where he previously headed up the Corporate Finance business.

Over his 21 years of experience, he has executed over $15 billion worth of advisory, capital markets and financing transactions in several continents including North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Ajene holds an MBA in Finance and Strategy from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Dartmouth College.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • T H I S D AY

9

10

TUESDAY, N ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

TEN

FG Tightens Measures against Ebola Outbreak Passengers from Uganda placed on 21-day watchlist Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Nigeria has rolled out further measures aimed at forestalling and containing any outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus disease in the country.

Owing to this, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the lead agency on infectious disease control has issued a health advisory urging Nigerian citizens and residents to avoid all but essential travel to Uganda for now until the outbreak on Ebola in the country is contained.

It advised that in a situation where travel to Uganda is unavoidable, travellers should avoid contact with obviously sick persons or suspected cases of Ebola during their stay.

A statement issued yesterday and

signed by the Director General of NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, stated that the Port Health Services of the Federal Ministry of Health has scaled up the screening of passengers returning from Uganda at point of entries.

The statement added: "Travellers to Nigeria with recent travel history to Uganda and persons already in Nigeria but with recent travel history to or transit through Uganda within the past 21 days who experience symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhoea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising should promptly call 6232 or state ministry of health hotlines for assessment and testing."

Nigeria had earlier issued health advisory following declaration of Ebola Virus outbreak on September

20.

As of October 29, 2022, the Uganda Ministry of Health had reported 128 confirmed cases and 34 deaths.

The NCDC stated that based on available data and risk assessment conducted, Nigeria was at high risk of importing the virus.

"This risk is due to the large volume of air travel between Nigeria and Uganda and the mixing of passengers, especially at the regional travel hubs of Nairobi, Addis Ababa, and Kigali airports and the additional risk from other neighbouring countries that share a direct border with Uganda should cases arise in other countries in the region.

“The outputs from this risk assessment are being used to initiate preparedness activities in

country," it said.

The NCDC DG stated that several measures had been put in place to prevent and mitigate the impact of a potential EVD outbreak in Nigeria.

According to the NCDC boss, the Incident Coordination Centre (ICC) was now in alert mode, while the development of an incident action plan for the first few cases of Ebola has commenced.

He also said surveillance has been heightened using the passenger pre-boarding health declaration and screening form in the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP) platform.

He added that passengers arriving from Uganda and persons who transited in Uganda were being followed up for 21 days after they arrived in Nigeria for their health status.

In addition, Adetifa disclosed that trained Rapid Response Teams are on standby to be deployed in the event of an outbreak.

"All state Public Health Emergency Operations Centres (PHEOCs) are in alert mode. A medical countermeasures plan is available.

Amplification of risk communication and engagement with states and partners to strengthen preparedness activities which include– a review of risk communication protocols, plans, and messages in the event of an outbreak," he said.

Ebola virus can be transmitted via direct contact with bodily fluids of a person who is sick or died from EVD. The virus can enter the body stream through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth.

This could also be spread through

contact with objects contaminated by infected persons as well as direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected fruit bats, monkeys, or chimpanzees.

Just like other types of Ebola virus, people infected with the Sudan strain cannot spread the disease until the development of symptoms.

Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to the virus but are typically 8 to 10 days on average.

Symptoms include: Fever, Fatigue, Muscle pain, Headache, Sore throat, Vomiting, Diarrhoea, Rash, Impaired kidney and liver function To prevent the spread of Ebola, the NCDC advised members of the public to adhere to endure hand washing using soap and water or use hand sanitisers.

of a new and befitting salary and welfare regime that aligned the remuneration of police personnel to the dictates of their critical functions, adding that funds had been released to support the recruitment of 10,000 police constables annually, to address the wide manpower gap in the force.

According to him, “In addition, I approved the adoption of the Community Policing Model as the internal security strategy of the country with requisite funds released to implement the initiative. ''Special Intervention Funds to address critical operational and capacity development initiatives of the force were also approved.

As part of the re-engineering project of the Force, the federal government is currently working with some development partners towards strengthening the police reform agenda.''

President Buhari, however, commended Governor Hope

Uzodinma for the exemplary support to the federal government on security governance, further exemplified by hosting the police event themed: ''The Imperative of a Nigeria Police Strategic Plan For Peaceful Elections.''

Earlier in his speech, Uzodinma called on the Police to ensure that the strategic plan for the 2023 general elections should make it mandatory for all candidates to undertake an oath denouncing electoral violence, noting that candidates should also be made to sign an undertaking that all disputes over election results can only be challenged peacefully through the court processes ''and parties to the dispute must be bound by the outcome of that process.''

The governor, who extolled President Buhari for his commitment to peace and stability in the country as well as credible elections, noted that Imo State, has emerged as the preferred destination for high-level security events, having hosted the 2022 Nigerian Army Day Celebration and now the Senior Police Officers Summit. ''Imo State is safe again for business and tourism, all thanks to President Buhari,'' he said.

Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba, assured the President and Nigerians that the Force would draw on the outcome of the conference to perfect its Election Security Strategy and Action Plans towards stabilising the security and political landscape in the county.

He promised that the strategy would strengthen citizens’ confidence in the electoral process and produce a credible electoral outcome in the 2023 general elections.

His words: ''In aid of this process, I can assure Your Excellency that the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) has undertaken a comprehensive 2023 General Elections Threat Analysis, which highlights and geolocates possible threats across all 774 Local Government Areas of the Federation. ''This Report will be utilised to guide our appreciation of the security space as we finetune our Election Security Action Plan.

Encouraged by Your Excellency’s motivation and support, however, I can assure that under my watch, the Nigeria Police will not disappoint Your Excellency neither will we fail the nation. ''We are fully committed to giving practical effect to the vision of Your Excellency in bequeathing to the nation a democratic legacy in which our electoral process truly reflects the wishes of the citizens.”

Lauding the president for leading the reforms in the Nigeria Police Force, the IGP said, “Indeed, history will, undoubtedly, remember Your Excellency as the President with the most impactful agenda for the reform, re-equipment, re-orientation, and modernisation of the Nigeria Police Force.”

He said the Police had taken delivery of thousands of operational assets procured with Presidential intervention.

BUHARI: POLICE MUST REMAIN APOLITICAL, ENSURE PEACEFUL 2023 POLLS demonstrated and government legitimacy assured. This can best be guaranteed through a well-policed election and security operations that are impartial, firm and professional. ''This is what, on this day and occasion, I charge the Nigeria Police Force to deliver to the nation during the 2023 general elections. I, therefore, task the Inspector General of Police to sustain his leadership standards that will guarantee a level playing field, and secure public space for the citizens to freely exercise their franchise, and for the outcome of the elections to be a true reflection of the peoples’ choices,'' he said.

Assuring the police force of his administration's total support and encouragement in the build-up to the 2023 polls, the president expressed delight that the reforms undertaken under his watch were paying off with members of the force demonstrating high professional, ethical and operational

standards, reflected in performances in internal security operations.

Citing the conduct of the Police during the recent off-season electoral outings in some states, President Buhari said, ''My desire is to restore the primacy of the Police towards rebuilding public trust and professionalism. ''My vision is also to bequeath to the nation a Police Force that is not only modernised, but well-funded, suitably equipped, and appropriately re-oriented to effectively police our democracy and guarantee a stable internal security order under a citizenled, technology-driven, rule of law guided by intelligence-based policing Models. ''I am inspired that by our reform initiatives, we have laid a solid foundation towards the restoration of the operational competence and professional efficiency of the police. ''I am also pleased to note that our Police, in conformity to my

democratic visions, and in manifestation of the positive impact of these reforms, have in recent times been demonstrating high professional, ethical and operational standards as reflected in their performances in internal security operations and during the recent off-season electoral outings in Edo, Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun States.''

The president, therefore, commended the force leadership and all officers, emphasising the need to replicate the same feat in the forthcoming elections. He also noted that it was only by so doing that ''the Police can truly be defined as not just the true friends of the citizens, but as dependable and trustworthy partners in the drive to advance our democratic journey.''

President Buhari also reiterated his commitment to entrench a process of free, fair, transparent and credible elections through which Nigerians elect leaders of their choice.

He declared that his administration has prioritised critical reforms in the Nigeria Police Force in order to reposition it to effectively fulfil its internal security and democratic governance mandates in conjunction with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other strategic agencies in the electoral process.

Listing some achievements recorded towards entrenching an effective policing system and credible electoral process, the president recalled that he had assented to the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Bill to provide legal framework for an enhanced funding regime for the Force.

Similarly, he said the Nigeria Police Academy Bill, had been signed into law, granting statutory recognition to the institution and positioning it effectively to attain its young and futuristic manpower development programmes.

Buhari also listed the approval

N S A : N I G E R I A N OT U N D E R A N Y H E I G H T E N E D S E N S E O F I N S E C U R I T Y in the city, forcing businesses and other activities to shut down for fear of attack.

The US alarm was followed by similar warnings and actions by the United Kingdom and some other European countries in the last few days.

However, speaking with newsmen yesterday in Abuja, at the end of an emergency meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd.) punctured the security alerts, which had generated fear about Nigeria, especially Abuja, saying citizens are in no danger.

Monguno stressed that the panic that followed the US terror alert, addressed to its citizens in Nigeria, was needless, as the hype and sense of insecurity it created were unfounded. He urged Nigerians and other residents to go about their businesses without fear of any security breach.

According to him, the armed forces and other security and intel-

ligence agencies are not relenting in their efforts to ensure that all Nigerians in every part of the country are safe.

The NSA stated, “I will like to, first and foremost, assure all the citizens of this country that any exaggerated sense of insecurity, any hype about a disintegration of our security forces, intelligence agencies, is unfounded. I want to assure Nigerians that so far, the situation has been under control, the intelligence and security agencies have made a lot of arrests.

“They're evaluating; they’re exploiting all the materials in their possession. We're not in the habit of disclosing whatever has been done, but the most important thing is that from the time this story started emerging, until now, about a week to 10 days, you can see that so far the situation has been brought under control.

“The issue of Nigerians being made to panic is unnecessary. The situation in various areas of the Federal Capital Territory has been brought under control and we're trying as much as possible to work

with our neighbours and within the domestic situation, to work with our foreign partners in a responsible way, without giving the impression that Nigeria is skating on thin ice and we're about to implode.

“I want to dispel any illusion about any heightened sense of insecurity. It is false; it is irresponsible for anybody to give that signal.

“We're working with our foreign partners in a responsible way and Nigerians should go about their normal daily undertakings without being put in a situation of fear.”

Monguno explained the target of the security alert and how it had negatively affected the public psyche in the country. He said, “The alert was targeted at the citizens of the United States residing in Nigeria, in Abuja, not at the larger Nigerian society. Now, if that thing has cascaded to give a different impression, colouration, there's nothing anybody can do.

“The damage, whether it is intended or unintended, has been done. People's minds have been tuned to a state of insecurity, which is quite bad, there's nothing

we can do if the US Embassy has gone out to give an advisory to its citizens and it has also affected other people.

“But what I want you to know is that the advisory was issued to their citizens. As far as we are concerned, our own citizens are not in peril.

“We've been sharing intelligence with not just the US, but with other partners and we've been acting on the intelligence, we've been working.

Has anything happened so far? No, nothing has happened; but they went ahead to issue this advisory to their people and, of course, the connotations are there. They could have various reasons for doing that.”

Monguno added, “I don't have that crystal ball to know the workings of their minds, but the truth is that the alert was for their own citizens. Probably, the way in which it was released became complicated at the end of the day.

“These are conjectures. There's nothing that is specific. You are right; there will be a lot of interpretations of this alert. It is an unnecessary distraction. As far as we are

CHINA HARBOUR COMPLETES CONSTRUCTION OF $1.5BN LEKKI DEEP SEA PORT He added that the completion of the construction would pave the way for the container terminal operator, the Lekki Free Port Terminal (a subsidiary of CMA/ CGM group), to take over the Port in readiness for the start of port operations.

Sanwo-Olu expressed delight with the completion of the construction of the port.

Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed Lagos State Government’s commitment to the timely delivery of the road infrastructure network around the Ibeju Lekki axis to ensure the seamless evacuation of cargo from the port.

He also called on both local and foreign investors to invest in the state, adding that the zone was specifically designed for encouraging investments into

the State.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Board of Directors, of Lekki Port, Mr. Biodun Dabiri, expressed appreciation to the promoters of the project, CHEC and Tolaram, for the bold decision to invest in maritime infrastructure which would help in Nigeria's journey to economic prosperity.

Dabiri acknowledged the critical role played by Sanwo-Olu in resolving the various challenges encountered in the construction of the port, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and attendant lockdown.

“We are pleased to celebrate the completion of construction of the port and the effective handover of the facilities by Lekki Port from the EPC Contractor, CHELE), a subsidiary of CHEC,” he said.

Also speaking, the General Project Manager of CHELE, Mr. Xie Xianju, expressed delight that the construction was now completed.

He noted that the port would be the destination of choice because it is the first deep sea port with a capacity to take large vessels. He commended the team, partners and suppliers for their contribution to the successful completion of the construction.

Delivering the goodwill message on behalf of Tolaram (promoter and shareholder), the Managing Director of Lagos Free Zone, Mr. Dinesh Rathi, expressed delight at the timely completion of the construction of the port. He noted that the port would further position LFZ as the next frontier for investment in Nigeria and increase foreign direct investment to Lagos

State and Nigeria.

The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Cui Jianchun commended CHEC for displaying excellence in their project skills and promoting China’s commitment to Africa’s infrastructure development drive. He noted that the project was a good example of what can be achieved when Nigeria and China cooperate and he looked forward to more of such projects.

Lekki Port has been described severally, as a game changer that would boost the growth of the Nigerian economy, creating about 170,000 direct and indirect jobs, generating approximately $361 billion during the period of the concession, and generating over $201 billion in revenue for both Lagos State and the federal government.

concerned, the safety, the security of Nigerians is paramount and as far as we know, there's nothing untoward so far.

“Nigerians should be allowed to go about their legitimate undertakings without being put in a tight spot. The country is safe, Abuja is safe, the security elements are doing the best they can. That is the most important thing.

“We just want you to understand that there is no need to aggravate a situation that is not that dire.

Nigerians should, please, not allow themselves, because at the end of the day, it will disrupt everything, economic, whatever, people going to school, and so on and so forth.

The important thing is for you to realise that that alert had a different purpose.”

Commenting on the US approach at the diplomatic level before the threat alert, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said the Americans claimed it was a piece of information meant for only their citizens in Nigeria. Though Onyeama acknowledged the negative effect of the action.

According to the minister, “We engaged the US on this and their response was that they are obliged to put out those kinds of statements, normally travel advisories, but in this case it was an alert. But they said that they are obliged to, for their citizens and that the alert was really for their citizens, that they do it around the world. As you know, they did it also in South Africa in this particular case.

“But, of course, we are used to US travel advisories, as the DG NIA made that distinction between the two, and so they said for them, it's a constitutional obligation. So, that is their position.

“On our side, coming to the next question about coordination, ordinarily, we would have liked to be able to coordinate with them because, as you can see, a lot of panic has been spread.

Continued on page 44

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • T H I S D AY

11

12

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • T H I S D AY

13

14

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • T H I S D AY

15

16

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • T H I S D AY

17

18

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • T H I S D AY

19

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022

POLITICS

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

House Budget Defence Shrouded in Secrecy Udora Orizu writes that the on-going 2023 budget defence sessions with Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Federal Government, at the House of Representatives appears to be shrouded in secrecy as some Committees are restricting coverage by the media

Buhari

T

he 2023 budget defence exercise at the House of Representatives commenced on a quiet note as the media has been excluded from the coverage.

President Muhammadu Buhari, had on October 7, 2022 presented the 2023 budget estimates tagged, “Budget of Fiscal Sustainability and Transition” before the joint session of the National Assembly.

The Budget which is his administration’s last, is totalled at N20.51 trillion, an increase of N750 billion as against the N19.76 trillion projected in the 2023-2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, already passed by both chambers of the National Assembly.

Based on the fiscal assumptions and parameters, total federally-collectible revenue is estimated at N16.87 trillion, oil price benchmark was pegged at 70 US Dollars per barrel; with a daily oil production estimate of 1.69 million barrels (inclusive of Condensates of 300,000 to 400,000 barrels per day), exchange rate was pegged at 435.57 Naira per US Dollar; with projected GDP growth rate of 3.75 percent and 17.16 percent inflation rate.

The expenditure comprises of a statutory transfers of N744.11 billion, non-debt recurrent costs of N8.27 trillion, personnel costs of N4.99 trillion, pensions, gratuities and retirees benefits of N854.8 billion; overheads of N1.11 trillion; capital expenditure of N5.35 trillion, including the capital component of statutory transfers; debt service of N6.31 trillion; and sinking fund of N247.73 billion to retire certain maturing bonds.

National Assembly and Issue of Budget Defence Secrecy The issue of budget defence secrecy by the National Assembly has been a source of concern to Nigerians. Over the years, the alleged “secret” tagged with the budget defence had thrown up so many issues, questioning what the lawmakers stand to gain when journalists are prevented from covering a particular Ministry, Agency, Department of the federal government’s Budget defence session. The development detracts from the credibility of the arm of government expected to set high standards of transparency, accountability, and democratic ethos.

In the previous and current 9th National Assembly, it was only the security Committees, like Defence, Army, Navy, Air Force and others that will ask journalists to excuse them after the opening ceremonies. This is understandable because

Lawan

military budget is not subjected to public scrutiny for security reasons.

For the Ninth Assembly, President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, while reacting to the allegation in 2019, had said it was sheer misrepresentation of fact to say that journalists were not allowed to cover the budget defence sessions going on at the National Assembly.

Lawan, in a statement then by his Special Adviser on Media, Ola Awoniyi, said it should be expected that journalists, at some points, may be excused from such meetings when sensitive issues that bother on national security are being discussed.

He had said, “There is no shut out of the press from what we do. We need the press to tell Nigerians what we are doing. You (journalists) are our friends. That was a misunderstanding (of what happened). I want to assure Nigerians that whatever we do in this Senate and indeed in this National Assembly is in the best interest of Nigeria.

We will not compromise on anything as far as the national interest is concerned”.

Also, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Barau Jibrin, distanced the leadership of the upper chamber from the closeddoor budget sessions some committees are having with ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) over the 2020 Appropriation Bill.

Gbajabiamila

Jibrin, who spoke with newsmen on the issue, had stated then that at no time was such decision taken by the leadership of the upper chamber.

According to him, budget defence sessions are to be conducted in the open and not secret or closed door session as widely reported in the media.

Jibrin, however, assured that the trend will be reversed when the public will be allowed to have unfettered access to the budget defence through the media.

He said, “Neither the Senate as a body nor the Appropriation committee, coordinating the entire process, gave such a directive to any committee to hold budget defence session in secret with officials from the executive arm of government.

I saw the story in the paper today and I’m not happy about it if actually the method was carried out by the affected committees. I know that such a trend will not continue from next week because Nigerians have right (to information) from the budget defence sessions supposed to know what and what the parliament and the executive are preparing or planning for them.

“The budgets being discussed or defended by the affected agencies, are more or less, for Nigerians, the very reason why such assignment should be carried out in the open with attendance of journalists who are to report the details of what transpired at each of the sessions”.

But on his part, the former Chairman of Senate committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, told reporters then that the media would constitute a distraction during the budget defence by the MDAs. According to him, “the budget defence will not be done in the direct presence of the media. It will constitute a distraction when sensitive issues are being discussed.

Serious issues can not be discussed

Thereafter, the House adjourned plenary to November 15, 2022 to enable all the standing committees engage with the MDAs for the budget defence exercise.However, since the commencement of the appropriation bill defence last week, it appears as if the House standing committees are shielding ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) as the meetings by some Committees are being held behind closed doors

openly like that. Like the nitty gritty of the budget cannot be discussed in the open.

“When President Buhari was preparing the budget, the media was not involved. It was after the budget was ready that he read it at the joint session of the National Assembly. So, it is when the budget defence is concluded that the media can be briefed on the account. The chairmen and members of the various committees can brief the media after deliberations and the media would be told what was discussed. The budget defence should not be done in the full glare of the media. No, I don’t think so.

This is like playing to the gallery”, he stated.

2023 Budget Defence Recently, after President Buhari laid the 2023 budget estimates before a joint session of the National Assembly, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila assured that both chambers of the National Assembly will ensure timely passage of the budget.

Gbajabiamila who gave the assurance while delivering his vote of thanks at the budget presentation, however said they won’t in the quest for timely passage fail to do due diligence to the consideration of the Bill.

He warned all Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that the lawmakers expect accountability of their previous expenditure, adding that they will demand for it, if it’s not provided.

Thereafter, the House adjourned plenary to November 15, 2022 to enable all the standing committees engage with the MDAs for the budget defence exercise.

However, since the commencement of the appropriation bill defence last week, it appears as if the House standing committees are shielding ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) as the meetings by some Committees are being held behind closed doors.

Journalists had earlier, before the commencement of the exercise asked the House Spokesman, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, on how open the exercise will be, and he assured that the Committees numbering over 100 will ensure that the media are invited the defence sessions.

But since its commencement, only the House Committee on Finance, chaired

by Hon. James Faleke (APC, Lagos) has opened its door to the media while the House Committee on Defence, chaired by Hon. Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos), has said his Committee will hold its budget defence sessions with the MDAs this week.

20

TUESDAY, N ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

2023 CAMPAIGN WATCH SAMUEL AJAYI

E-mail: yemielegance@gmail.com

Mobile: 08033083367

Atiku, Tinubu Kick-Start Political Mud-Wrestling

Atiku (right) and Tinubu

B

etween the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his counterpart in the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP, the fireworks have started in full force and supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, are having a very good laugh.

Just last week, Tinubu mocked Atiku that he would not be governing the country from faraway Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, UAE. While speaking with the members of the popular Tijjaniyyah sect in Kano, Tinubu said he would give one hundred per cent of his time to running Nigeria.

“I will give Nigerians 100 per cent of my time, not 50 per cent in Dubai and 50 per cent in Nigeria. I would concentrate attention and energy on confronting and surmounting Nigeria’s pressing challenges.”

The thinking in political circles is that Atiku has a lot of business concerns in Dubai and that is why he shuttles between the Middle East country and Nigeria.

But the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Council won’t allow such salvo to go without a response. Kola Ologbondiyan, former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP and one of the spokespersons of the campaign

council, said Tinubu has a record of not keeping promises, hence the people of Kano should not take him seriously.

“The people of Kano have not forgotten all the fake promises made to Nigerians by the APC, where Asiwaju is the national leader, including bringing the naira to the same value with the US dollar, building one refinery each for the first four years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, giving loans to undergraduate students and paying N5000 to aged men and women,” Ologbondiyan said.

He added that the Atiku campaign team was surprised that Tinubu is only making token promises without detailing how they would be achieved.

“He wants to boost agriculture and link international markets with commodities without addressing the troubling issue of insecurity, which is primal on Atiku Abubakar’s

list. Nigerians must be cautious of beguilers and rent-seekers that are now showboating as managerial experts. The question which Tinubu needs to answer is why did he not make his sweet-coated solutions to our national challenges to President Muhammadu Buhari in the last seven years? Is Tinubu saying he deliberately railroaded President Buhari to failure for his personal interest?” He asked rhetorically.

For Tinubu, the battle ahead is enormous. After the furore that greeted the composition of his campaign council, Tinubu has been trying frantically to get his campaign back on track. Last week, he launched his manifesto which he tagged ‘Renewed Hope’. Some of his critics have claimed that it was nothing more than a dusted version of the late business magnate, MKO Abiola, ‘Hope 93’ campaign, but his team has insisted that the document captures what Tinubu plans to do to lift the nation out

“He wants to boost agriculture and link international markets with commodities without addressing the troubling issue of insecurity, which is primal on Atiku Abubakar’s list. Nigerians must be cautious of beguilers and rent-seekers that are now showboating as managerial experts.”

of the doldrums if elected President.

Beyond this however, Tinubu’s greatest albatross is the dismal performance of the current government which he himself has repeatedly claimed he helped to power. How will he be able to convince Nigerians to give another APC government a chance to run the affairs of the country for another possible eight years, with growing insecurity, an economy in comatose, a frighteningly fragile union? The challenge is how the Tinubu campaign team would be able to run a successful campaign and at the same time distance itself from the disaster the Buhari regime has been.

For instance, the economic situation is worsening every day and many Nigerians are leaving the country in droves. It will be a herculean task.

Even within the party, there is a silent discontent over the composition of the campaign team; with some party leaders, including the National Chairman of the Party and former Nasarawa State governor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, saying the list was practically unacceptable.

Though Tinubu has made some concessions, the problem created by the list necessitated the postponement of the launching of the campaign twice.

So, while more salvos between Tinubu and Atiku are expected during the campaigns, such seem to be the least headache of the Tinubu team.

TUESDAY, N ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

21

Staying Close With 2023

2023 CAMPAIGN WATCH

Okowa, Oborevwori Facing Battles on Two Fronts

T

he current governor of Delta State and vice-presidential candidate of the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Ifeanyi Okowa, surely has two major tasks ahead of the 2023 general election. He would want his party to return to power at the centre for the first time since 2015 and also would want his anointed candidate for the governorship seat of the state and current Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori, to win the governorship election next year.

From the time Oborevwori emerged the candidate, it was a great battle to retain the ticket. Just two weeks ago, the Supreme Court caused him a huge sigh of relief when it affirmed that he was the duly nominated candidate of the party for the election. The aspirant that contested the ticket with Oborevwori, David Edevbie, had approached the courts that the embattled Speaker was not qualified to contest the ticket going by discrepancies in the documents he tendered concerning his date of birth and educational qualifications.

Edevbie had claimed that whereas Oborevwori had, in an affidavit he deposed to, claimed that he was born in 1963; he however tendered a West African Examinations Council, WAEC, certificate that was issued to someone that was born in 1979.

However, the apex court said that in in view of “sundry allegations of fraud, false representation and forgery of documents” raised against Oborevwori by Edevbie, the appellant ought to have commenced his action through a Writ of Summons that would have allowed the trial court to adjudge the matter through oral and documentary evidence. The Supreme Court then opined that Edevbie’s allegations against Oborevwori could not be resolved through affidavit evidence or Originating Summons.

If Oborevwori thought that final relief had come, he was wrong. Just as he and his supporters were celebrating the verdict of the Supreme Court, another stalwart of the party in the state, Aghwarianovwe Ikie, filed another suit before a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to nullify the nomination of

Okowa

Oborevwori

Oborevwori.

Ikie in a writ of summons marked FHC/ ABJ/CS/1857/2022 and filed on October 13, 2022 with the PDP, Oborevwori and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as first, second and third defendants respectively, asked the court to among other things declare that some portions of the information filed by Oborevwori for the PDP primary election were false. Same grounds upon which Edevbie wanted the courts to throw out Oborevwori’s nomination as the PDP governorship candidate for Delta State.

Now, how this latest case will pan out remains to be seen. Even if Oborevwori survives the latest legal onslaught, waiting

for him at the March 11, 2023 governorship election is current Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, who is not also a political pushover in the state.

A political analyst in the state, who did not want his name in print told THISDAY that Omo-Agege is going to win the election and said this is the position of most people in the state.

“The dynamics of the state as of now, the state has been a PDP stronghold but things have changed because of the way the governor has managed the PDP in the state. A lot of big-wigs like Goddey Orubebe, a former Minister of Niger Delta and founding member of the party in the state have left and those remaining might

actually work against the party. Even the former governor, James Ibori, is not really happy. David Edevbie is Ibori’s candidate.

The bulk of votes usually come from Ijaw which is Delta South. Their leaders too are not happy. Even the Urhobo area too is grousing about the governor.

The above could be taken as sentiments of a partisan watcher of events from the state and might actually not fully reflect political realities in the state. But even at that, it is obvious that Okowa has a battle in his hands to install Oborevwori as his successor while the greater battle is emerging as the country’s next Vice President.

He seems to have his job cut out.

Jandor: Victim of Wike’s Politics of Spite and Pettiness ecently, the fiery governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, took his open anti-party activities to a ridiculous level when he announced his endorsement of the re-election bid of the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Wike was in Lagos to attend the National Women’s conference organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, COWOLSO. “If Sanwo-Olu is not doing well, even if he belongs to my party, I won’t come.

For me, if you are in my party and you are not doing well, you won’t see me. If you are not in my party and you are doing well, you will see me. I will not regret to say I am in support of you (Sanwo-Olu).” Wike said.

He also announced a donation of N300m to the group when he said: “On behalf of the women in Rivers State, my wife, who has extended her greetings, I support this with a sum of N300 million so that you can continue this laudable project.”

As expected, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, expressed displeasure over Wike’s open anti-party activities. The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Hakeem Amode, in a statement, said it would have been surprised if Wike had attended any event with a speaking role without his “usual rant of a drowning man who will clutch to a straw.”

“I only wonder how Governor Wike, who didn’t support Jandor and at the same time, couldn’t stop him from picking the party’s ticket in Lagos, despite his supposed might within the PDP, would apportion to himself the decision of generality of Lagosians in the forthcoming election.

Speaking further, Amode acknowledged Wike’s giant strides in Rivers State and the developmental projects he undertook. But added that Wike should have asked how

R

Jandor

many times Sanwo-Olu has invited anyone to come and commission projects in Lagos the way Wike invited him to Rivers State to commission projects.

Amode added that the PDP would render Sanwo-Olu jobless by May 29 next year adding that “only God, who has seen Jandor and Lagos PDP this far, and the generality of Lagosians, can determine his fate at the polls in 2023, not your endorsement.”

It is strange that Wike has extended his battle against PDP and its presidential candidate, Vice-President Atiku Abubakar,

to the governorship candidate of the party in Lagos State, Abdulazeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor. Ironically, Wike led a couple of other PDP governors to Lagos earlier in the year to welcome Jandor to the party in an elaborate ceremony at the Tafawa Balewa Square. Jandor, who was formerly a member of the ruling APC in the state, had fallen out with the leadership of the party in the state and decamped from the party to the PDP. He was to later pick the governorship ticket of the party.

Wike’s attendance of an event organised

by opposition political figures and his utterances would not be the first time he would indirectly dare his party to charge him with anti-party activities. It would be recalled that the same Wike had, at one time, invited Sanwo-Olu to commission projects in his state, Rivers. He has also invited other opposition figures to the state like current Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

He also hosted opposition governors like Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and immediate-past governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi.

22

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • T H I S D AY

23

24 T H I S D AY TUESDAYNOVEMBER 1, 2022 TR

UT H

& RE A S O

Tuesday November 1, 2022 Vol 27. No 10066

N

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

A SUPREME COURT OF CRISES? CHIDI ANSELM ODINKALU argues the need to examine the issues that afflict Nigeria’s apex court

See page 25

FEC, NPC AND THE IMPERATIVE OF LOCAL CONTENT Adherence to the local content policy is good for the economy, writes CHIKE OGBECHIE

See page 25 EDITORIAL ON CBN AND NAIRA REDESIGN

See page 26

1

TUNDE OLUSUNLE evaluates the President’s performance in office

WHO ENDORSED PRESIDENT BUHARI’S ‘APER’ FORMS? (1) Emotions were mixed as we hurled our bags and boxes on our shoulders, shook hands, hugged one another and headed for the various motor parks, en route our various destinations. We had gotten so close knit with new friends we made within the preceding, mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC). In instances, some of these relationships had made virtual siblings of friendships. Our set produced notable personalities like Oby Ezekwesili, (former Education Minister); Sunny Togo Echono, (Executive Secretary of the Education Trust Fund, ETF) and Armstrong Idachaba, (former Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission, NBC). We also had Amaechi Elumelu, Assistant Inspector General of Police, (AIG); Tony Olofu, (Police Commissioner incharge of Eastern Ports, Port Harcourt) and Dede Mabiaku, (protege of Fela AnikulapoKuti, and established *afrobeat* artist himself).

Dennis Eboreime, (who rose to the topmost rungs of leadership in the United Bank for Africa, (UBA); Kingsley Jatto, a USbased realtor; Ibrahim Dikko, (a top shot in telecommunications) and Mathew Aligbe, (former Registrar, Federal Polytechnic, Owerri) were also in that NYSC batch. Dateline was July RQH PRQWK VKRUW RI WKH ÀUVW DQQLYHUVDU\ of the military regime of Ibrahim Babangida, which advent we heard on the airwaves of the Imo State Broadcasting Corporation, (IBC) August 27, 1985. We were on the playground of Alvan Ikoku College of Education, (AICE), Owerri which had been adapted into a “parade ground” for the purposes of paramilitary drills, a key component of the orientation regimen.

Babangida and Company had just kicked out the 20-month old regime of Muhammadu Buhari, yes, this democratically-reincarnated Buhari, which was rapidly sliding into fascism.

Our minds were respectively burdened by the grim and gloomy realities waiting out there for us as young graduates. Prospects of white-collar jobs were already thinning, before we graduated. My mind indeed went straight back to Bode Sowande’s 1979 play, *The Night Before,* in which I previously acted, which highlighted the apprehensions and concerns of young university graduates on the eve of their convocation. We had schoolmates and friends who graduated before us, whose EOLVWHUHG IHHW ZHUH VWLOO SRXQGLQJ WKH LQÁDPHG tar and humid earth of un-smiling streets, in vain quest of engagement in whatever form.

Here we were, poised to confront the same grim reality, the same wrenching gloom, like our earlier compatriots.

Some of us were going to get lucky as we returned to our home state, the erstwhile Kwara State. An unusually proactive bureaucracy at the time, had advised the military leadership in the state to mitigate a palpable unemployment crisis, by thinking outside the box. In a rare demonstration of pragmatism and political will, the government of the day terminated the contract appointments of all non-Nigerian instructors in its employ. Indians and Pakistanis variously taught mathematics and science

subjects; Ghanaians, English, while Togolese and Beninoise, taught French languages.

This opened a window for me to get a job as DQ ´(GXFDWLRQ 2΀FHU µ , ZDV VSRQWDQHRXVO\ deployed to *Ponyan* a community in modern day Yagba East local government area, (LGA), in contemporary Kogi State, to teach English language and literature in English.

It turned out that Ponyan was the very ÀUVW SODFH , ZRXOG VLJKW D GRFXPHQW ZKLFK is abbreviated as, and famously called the *APER* form, very popular in the lexicon of the civil service. The full meaning of the acronym is: “Annual Performance Evaluation Report.” The private sector indeed has a similar appraisal template used for the assessment of its employees. The APER form has all manner of columns and boxes on a broad spectrum of indices, relating to personnel performance.

These include: “Key performance areas, self appraisal, performance analysis, performance ratings and counselling.”

There are also provisions for comments and endorsements by the Head of Department, +2' RI WKH R΀FHU EHLQJ DVVHVVHG DQG WKH central supervising authority and the overall head of that institution or organisation, among RWKHUV &RQÀUPDWLRQ RI DSSRLQWPHQWV VDODU\ adjustments, promotions, deployments to higher responsibilities and recommendation IRU WUDLQLQJ DUH DOO LQÁXHQFHG E\ KRZ JORVV\ RU grimy your APER form is. I’m told it has worn a new name, the ‘Personnel Management System,’ (PMS, sounds like Premium Motor Spirit), since November 2020. All extant parameters of assessment remain valid in the new form, notwithstanding. I should also note, that even at the milieu under discussion, Nigerians from other parts of the country, ZHUH RQ WKH VWDͿ RI RWKHU VWDWHV 7KH 3ULQFLSDO of Oke-Oyi Secondary School to which I was posted, Basil Ikenazor, was from Anambra State!

At a retreat for members of the Federal Executive Council, (FEC), about a week ago, Buhari, Nigeria’s President, awarded his seven-and-half-year-old administration, multisectoral pass mark! I wish he had been more restrained in this vain-glorious acclamation, for a man whose more perceptive

wife, Aisha, has repeatedly pleaded with Nigerians to excuse his failings and foibles.

She was so very frank on one occasion, that VKH DGPLWWHG WR WKH D΁LFWLRQ RI KHU KXVEDQG with “post traumatic stress disorder, (PTSD) as at when she got wedded to him. The condition she volunteered, has been her lifetime cross, ever since. Let’s hope Buhari was not a victim of an overzealous speechwriter.

Buhari applauded the endeavours of his dispensation in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture, economy, security, education, healthcare and anti-corruption, among others. He gleefully surmised that with the nationwide spread of infrastructural projects by his government, he had met the yearnings of Nigerians. His self-adulation was powered by perceived successes in the completion of some projects initiated by previous governments, and the initiation of new ones. The “Second Niger Bridge;” “Port Harcourt-Bonny Road;” “Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road” and “Lagos-Ibadan Expressway,” collectively dubbed “Legacy Projects,” principally inform the chest-thumping by the President.

Immediate past Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta was guest of honour at the retreat.

Buhari didn’t speak about some patently relegated, albeit all-important road projects, deserving of the same attention, as the “legacy” souvenirs. The very critical 338 kilometre East:HVW URDG WUDYHUVLQJ ÀYH RLO EXR\DQW VWDWHV LQ WKH 1LJHU 'HOWD UHJLRQ ÁDJJHG RͿ E\ WKH administration of Olusegun Obasanjo in 2006, remains uncompleted. Same is the story of the crucial North-South artery, the 270 kilometre Okene-Lokoja-Abuja road, also begun in 2006, amongst many others. Buhari’s administration also rejuvenated the moribund rail sector, availing Nigerians another travel option, GLͿHUHQW IURP WKH PRUH SRSXODU URDG WUDYHO The March 2022 terrorist attack on an AbujaKaduna shuttle train which culminated in the killing and abduction of travellers, however, has since dampened national enthusiasm for rail travel ever since.

Without any equivocation whatsoever, it is very obvious that infrastructural development is the sole strong point of the Buhari government. However, it is not the sole index for the holistic appraisal of his period LQ R΀FH )DFW LV WKDW KLV JRYHUQRUVKLS KDV failed in grand style, in other sectors of our national life and aggregate wellbeing. And this is the gospel truth. Where do we begin from? Against the backdrop of his antecedents as an uncompromising battle-tested general, expectations were high about the decisive resolution of festering security challenges, on KLV DVVXPSWLRQ RI R΀FH 7KH PRVW GLVWXUELQJ scourge inherited from its predecessor, was the Boko Haram insurgency, in the North East of the country. Under the Buhari milieu, however, virtually every geopolitical zone is contending with one security hydra or the other.

Olusunle, PhD, poet, journalist, scholar and author is a Member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors

T H I S D AY

3 25

TUESDAYNOVEMBER 1, 2022

Adherence to the local content policy is good for the economy, writes CHIKE OGBECHIE CHIDI ANSELM ODINKALU argues the need to examine the issues that afflict Nigeria’s apex court

A SUPREME COURT OF CRISES? In March 2017, columnist, Eric Teniola, began his article tracing the history of appointments to the Nigerian Supreme Court with the following lines: “[c]risis is not new to the Supreme Court in Nigeria.

From inception, there has always been one crisis or the other in that court.”

That crisis of appointment has often been accompanied by a crisis of retention DQG PRUWDOLW\ :KHQ 6WDͿRUG )RVWHU 6XWWRQ retired as the last foreign Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), the government appointed an Egba prince, Adetokunbo Ademola, WR VXFFHHG KLP RQ $SULO 6RPH PRQWKV ODWHU 2OXPX\LZD -LERZX WKH ÀUVW Nigerian on the then Federal Supreme Court, whose supersession by Ademola

LQWR WKH R΀FH RI WKH &-1 ZDV IDFLOLWDWHG E\ a suspiciously well-timed complaint about partisanship (which supposedly made him XQÀW IRU WKH R΀FH GLHG VXGGHQO\ DW Since then, the Supreme Court has lived with triple crises of attrition, retention, and appointments.

Twenty years ago, Nigeria’s Supreme Court was in a very bad way. On 3 October 2002, Vanguard newspaper in Lagos led with the caption “Severe ailments ravage three Supreme Court Justices.” One of the Justices named in the story was Okay Godfrey Achike, whose judicial trajectory followed the academic route.

Obi Nwabueze, distinguished law professor and currently Nigeria’s seniormost Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), QR OHVV GHVFULEHG $FKLNH DV ´D ÀUVW UDWH DFDGHPLF DQG D ÀQH WHDFKHUµ $ distinguished academic career had taken Okay Achike through the faculties of law in the University of Nigeria, the Ahmadu Bello University, and Nnamdi Azikiwe University as well as the universities of %HQLQ -RV DQG /DJRV ,Q 0D\ 2ND\ Achike became a judge of the High Court RI $QDPEUD 6WDWH 6RPH PRQWKV ODWHU LQ 6HSWHPEHU $FKLNH MRLQHG WKH &RXUW RI Appeal Bench. ,Q 1RYHPEHU 2ND\ $FKLNH EHFDPH WKH WK DSSRLQWPHQW WR WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW EHQFK +H ZDV MXVW XQGHU \HDUV old and due to retire on 23 December 2002.

However, early in 2002, Justice Achike VXͿHUHG D VWURNH IRUFLQJ KLP XOWLPDWHO\ to take early retirement from the Supreme &RXUW DW WKH DJH RI LQ $XJXVW RI WKH VDPH year. He was too ill to even attend his own valedictory session the following month.

One year later, in August 2003, he died.

The early retirement of Justice Okay Achike happened at the beginning of a bad season for Nigeria’s Supreme Court.

Over the next three years, seven Justices

left the Supreme Court. These were Justices Emmanuel Ayoola, Dennis Edozie, Anthony Iguh, Ekundayo Ogundare, 2ELRPD 2JZXHJEX &KXNZXGLQND 3DWV Acholonu, and Samson Uwaifo.

Of these, Ekundayo Ogundare died in London in December 2003 from causes associated with colon cancer while &KXNZXGLQND 3DWV $FKRORQX GLHG VXGGHQO\ RQ 0D\ RI VXVSHFWHG cardio-vascular incident. Two others Anthony Iguh and Obioma Ogwuegbu – survived hospitalisation for critical illness shortly before retirement. Indeed, Justice Ogwuegbu described his own survival as “a medical miracle.”

In comparison to the three serving Justices who died or were incapacitated RYHU WKUHH \HDUV EHWZHHQ DQG WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW VXͿHUHG WKH GHDWK RI WKUHH RI LWV VHUYLQJ -XVWLFHV RYHU WKH \HDUV IURP WR 2QXRUDK 'DQ ,EHNZH LQ DW WKH DJH RI &KXNZXQZHLNH ,GLJEH LQ DW WKH DJH RI DQG $XJXVWLQH 1QDPDQL DW LQ 1R -XVWLFH RI WKH Supreme Court died in service in the 12 years to 2002 since the untimely passing of Augustine Nnamani.

Before the untimely death of Dan ,EHNZH LQ WKH GHDWK RI D VHUYLQJ Supreme Court Justice was almost XQKHDUG RI :KHQ KH GLHG RQ -XQH Olumuyiwa Jibowu was a Justice of the then Federal Supreme Court, which was the equivalent of today’s Court of Appeal.

The apex court for the country then was the -XGLFLDO &RPPLWWHH RI WKH 3ULY\ &RXQFLO LQ London. John Idowu Conrad Taylor who GLHG DW DV WKH &KLHI -XGJH RI /DJRV LQ KDG VHUYHG IRU WKUHH \HDUV DV -XVWLFH RI WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW IURP XQWLO KH accepted appointment as the Chief Judge of /DJRV 6WDWH LQ 6LPLODUO\ %XED $UGR ZKR GLHG DW LQ DV &KLHI -XGJH RI Gongola State had stepped down from the Supreme Court into that role.

Two weeks after the death of Justice 3DWV $FKRORQX RQ 0D\ WKLV ZULWHU complained in an article about “the stresses our judges go through”, which argued WKDW ´PRUWDOLW\ ÀJXUHV RI WKH 6XSUHPH Court also tell a story about the working conditions of the Supreme Court.” Even worse, they tell a story about how those working conditions have evolved over time in the wrong direction. This matter of increasing attrition and mortality of -XVWLFHV LV DOVR D UHÁHFWLRQ WKH PDQDJHPHQW of work streams, occupational health, and wellbeing in the Supreme Court and, therefore, of a deterioration in deliberative assets that go into the court’s decision making.

6RPH \HDUV DIWHU WKDW FRPSODLQW LQ DERXW WKH VWUHVVHV WKDW 1LJHULDQ judges have to endure, memories appear to have faded and the recent complaint by the current Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, about the triple crises of attrition, retention, and replacement at the Supreme Court appears WR KDYH LQVSLUHG D UHÁH[ RI KDQGZULQJLQJ DWWHQGHG E\ D ÁXUU\ RI FRQVFLRXVQHVV PRVW of which look both undigested and hardly helpful.

A lawyer and a teacher, Odinkalu can be reached at chidi.odinkalu@tufts.edu

FEC, NPC AND THE IMPERATIVE OF LOCAL CONTENT The upcoming census in Nigeria is scheduled for April, 2023. The last census was held over two decades ago. The importance of accurate census in any country for budget planning, security management, allocation of scare resources as indices of national growth and development, among others, cannot be overemphasized.

Demographic experts and planners have EHHQ EUDQGLVKLQJ ÀJXUHV UDQJLQJ IURP million to 230 million as the population of Nigeria in the last couple of years, hence WKH QHHG IRU DQ DFFXUDWH DQG UHOLDEOH ÀJXUH

for national planning and projections. This makes the execution of the 2023 national census very important and crucial in charting a course for national development.

Apart from Nigerians actually knowing how many they are, it is equally imperative WR H[DPLQH KRZ WKH H[HUFLVH ZLOO DͿHFW WKH economy of Nigerians that will be directly involved in the enumeration duties and those that will produce and provide digital equipment to be deployed, especially the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) components for the exercise.

One of the major areas the 2023 census is envisioned to impact directly is the ICT subsector of Nigeria’s economy through the Local content drive of the federal government YLD ([HFXWLYH 2UGHUV DQG 7KH 1DWLRQDO 3RSXODWLRQ &RPPLVVLRQ 13& WKH DJHQF\ VDGGOHG ZLWK WKH responsibility of executing a very credible, ÁDZOHVV DQG VXFFHVVIXO FHQVXV LQ 1LJHULD had indicated its plan to procure and acquire 800,000 digital devices for the exercise. This is quite laudable as well as promising as it will GHÀQLWHO\ WRXFK WKH OLYHV RI PDQ\ 1LJHULDQV in the sector as enshrined in the executive RUGHUV DV WKH\ DͿHFW SURFXUHPHQW DQG adherence to local content policy.

3DUW RI ([HFXWLYH 2UGHU WKUHH VWDWHV WKDW “Made in Nigeria products shall be given preference in the procurement of such items as: Engineering, ICT, and at least 40% of the procurement expenditures on the items in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the FGN shall be locally manufactured goods or local services.”

3ULRU WR WKLV WLPH WKH WUHQG DPRQJ government agencies had been solely lip service to adherence of the Executive Orders on local content, thereby making Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in Nigeria living from hand to mouth. It is envisaged that the opportunity presented for the acquisition and deployment of 800,000 GLJLWDO GHYLFHV IRU WKH FHQVXV ZLOO DͿRUG the Federal Executive Council (FEC) the opportunity to properly look inwards and ensure that OEMs with proven capacity in the ICT sub-sector, are deliberately given a

new lease on life and fresh breath of air as against avid patronage of products of foreign companies.

The National Information Technology Agency (NITDA), created in April 2001, is mandated to develop, regulate and advise on ICT policies in the country and serve as a clearing house for all ICT projects and related matters. NITDA, under the leadership of Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, its current Director-General, had been alive to its responsibilities, spearheading the local content drive in federal government agencies with remarkable success. This is commendable.

A couple of months ago, NITDA in its bid to actualize the drive in local content promotion, had invited accredited and capable Local Original Equipment Manufacturers in Nigeria (OEMs) and R΀FLDOV RI WKH 1DWLRQDO 3RSXODWLRQ &RPPLVVLRQ 13& IRU D PHHWLQJ DW LWV headquarters in Abuja to discuss the need for the full implementation of the Local Content Component in the 2023 census digital devices procurement. Thereafter, NITDA forwarded the names of three OEMs whose devices had been tested and FOHDUHG E\ WKH UHJXODWRU\ DJHQF\ WR 13& To certify that the OEMs had functional and operational factories in Nigeria DQG WKH SUHUHTXLVLWH FDSDFLW\ 13& delegation led by the Chairman, Alh. Nasir Isa Kwarra visited these OEMs at their various locations for on-the-spot assessment. They were impressed by what they saw.

The OEMs are encouraged by the noble DQG SDWULRWLF ]HDO H[SUHVVHG VR IDU E\ 13& and looks forward to ensuring that every recommended OEM by NITDA gets a reasonable and fair share of the 40% Local Content component of the digital devices’ procurement. We hope this will not be PRQRSROL]HG E\ RQH LQGLJHQRXV RXWÀW This is very important and necessary, and VKRXOG EH H[DPLQHG DQG FRQÀUPHG E\ the Federal Executive Council because the lives and welfare of some Nigerians ZLOO EH DͿHFWHG DV WKH\ DUH WLHG WR WKHLU existence and sustainability.

The Federal Executive Council, should as matter urgency and utmost importance support the very good and commendable FXUUHQW HͿRUWV RI 1,7'$ DQG 13& WR HQVXUH WKDW TXDOLÀHG ORFDO 2(0V DUH engaged for national economic gains especially as the Naira is currently taking an agonizing hit. The 2023 census and its attendant value chain should be used to empower Nigerians as devices produced locally and serviced by locals will result in the transfer of knowledge, improve the standard of living of Nigerians involved and equally add value to their lives. The local OEMs being part of the production of 800,000 digital devices, by no means will certainly propel and be enough to catalyze revolution in the ICT manufacturing sector of our emerging economy. It is therefore up to the Federal Executive Council to do the needful for the greater good of the enterprising ICT professionals. This will in turn generate increased employment, strengthen the Naira and ensure the growth of our local economy.

Ogbechie writes from Abuja

26 4

T H I S D AY

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

ON CBN AND NAIRA REDESIGN The CBN and Finance Ministry will do well to iron their differences out of the public glare

L

devices as shall be approved by the President on the ast week decision by the Central Bank of recommendation of the Board.” President Buhari Nigeria (CBN) to redesign some Naira KDV QRW RQO\ FRQÀUPHG KLV DSSURYDO EXW KDV DOVR denominations (N200, N500, and N1000) KLJKOLJKWHG SRWHQWLDO EHQHÀWV RI WKH SROLF\ %XW KLV has continued to generate considerable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, debate in the country. While circulation Zainab Ahmad, told National Assembly members that is expected to begin from 15th December she had no inkling of the policy and if implemented, 2022, both the new and existing currency notes will it would portend great consequences for the economy. remain legal tender until 31st January 2023 when the Technically, the CBN is independent, so the governor latter will no longer be accepted. “Although global doesn’t need the permission of the Finance Minister best practice is for central banks to redesign, produce on the issue, especially after securing presidential and circulate new local legal tender every 5–8 years, approval. But the idea of contemplating this kind the Naira has not been redesigned in the last 20 years,” RI KLJK SURÀOH DFWLRQ WKDW ZLOO VLJQLÀFDQWO\ LPSDFW VWDWHG WKH &%1 JRYHUQRU *RGZLQ (PHÀHOH ZKLOH the economy without the announcing the policy. minister’s input may be While we hope that the counterproductive. Proper CBN succeeds in its plan political management given the enormous cost demands a necessary that would come with There should be no room for mixed messages. Decisions that affect synchrony of purpose failure, several issues between monetary and have been thrown up. every Naira in people’s pocket is a matter of grave public interest ÀVFDO DXWKRULWLHV HVSHFLDOO\ One, older generation for a policy of great strategic of Nigerians who were public consequence as this. around during a similar Therefore, irrespective of redesign of currency notes T H I S D AY what the enabling Act says, horizontal and vertical in 1984, incidentally when President Muhammadu EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU communications with relevant stakeholders ought to Buhari was a military head of state, have unpleasant DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA precede the announcement by the CBN. MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO memories to recall. Two, the planned currency change Now that the president has publicly expressed his DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU LV GXH WR WDNH HͿHFW IURP VW -DQXDU\ DIWHU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI support, we hope that the CBN and Finance Ministry which the current notes will no longer be legal tender.

EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN ZLOO LURQ RXW ZKDWHYHU PD\ EH WKHLU GLͿHUHQFHV RXW That is just about three weeks before the presidential MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI of the public glare. However, part of the indiscipline election. There are fears that the possible economic THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE H[KLELWHG E\ R΀FLDOV XQGHU WKH FXUUHQW DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ and social disruptions from implementing the policy is externalising things they can resolve internally, could manifest in a fragile transitional period. Three, LQFOXGLQJ ÀJKWLQJ LQ WKH RSHQ RQ PDWWHUV DV VHQVLWLYH the CBN is silent on what would happen to lower T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D as national security. On this issue, the president needs denominations (N5, N10, N20, N50 and N100) that EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA WR FDOO KLV R΀FLDOV WR RUGHU KDYLQJ DSSURYHG WKH DUH FXUUHQWO\ LQ FLUFXODWLRQ HYHQ WKRXJK LQÁDWLRQ KDV GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, policy. There should be no room for mixed messages. rendered them practically worthless. Are they being ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI 'HFLVLRQV WKDW DͿHFW HYHU\ 1DLUD LQ SHRSOH·V SRFNHW LV phased out? Besides, what happened to the coins that DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, a matter of grave public interest. When such decisions ANTHONY OGEDENGBE the CBN produced some years ago?

FUHDWH GLVVHQVLRQ DPRQJ R΀FLDOV ZKR VKRXOG DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI However, more fundamental is the issue of SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ordinarily act together through consultation for a consultations with relevant stakeholders before the ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI common public good, there is a problem.

CBN announced the policy. Section 19 of the CBN Act CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI For the CBN, the jury is still out about the necessity, 2007 empowers the apex bank to issue the national DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO timing and other issues on this policy. For that reason, currencies in “such forms and designs and bear such TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com failure is not an option.

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

THE DIASPORA COMMISSION AND NIGERIA’S GRIM EXPORT Nigeria`s historic 1960 independence did not mask the fractures in the foundations of the country. But it gave the country an unprecedented opportunity to consider its options away IURP WKH SU\LQJ H\HV DQG VXͿRFDWLQJ VFUXWLQ\ RI LWV FRORQLDO PDVWHUV ,Q HVVHQFH ZDV WKH ÀUVW WLPH VLQFH WKDW 1LJHrians could speak for themselves and their country.

It took only six years after independence to become an incineration of the hope that a country of such staggering diversity could pull in one direction. The military coups of 1966 paved the way for the cataclysmic civil war of 1967-70. Since then, Nigeria has continued to grasp at straws in a bid to realize its potential.

To make the country, there have been military coups and military regimes. Corruption blossomed under many of them.

There have also been poverty and crime of every manner as NiJHULD KDV VWUXJJOHG WR ÀQG LWV EHDULQJV DV D FRXQWU\ Till this day, there are those who consider secession out of the country as the ultimate solution to their own problems. Almost half of the country`s population of over 200 million people live below the poverty line.

In recent years, terrorism has emerged as a formidable challenge which has singlehandedly fueled the spectacular disinte-

gration of Nigeria`s security architecture. The devastating result is that many Nigerians now live in constant fear of ruthless attacks by non-state actors.

As a result of all these problems exacerbated by a marked failure of leadership, many Nigerians with the means have mopped up and left the country. Many others without means have shown that there are really no limits to the distance desperation can drive one by the daring journeys they have made under perilous circumstances in their bid to escape the country.

In this time, Nigeria has lost some of its best heads and best hands to the mistral of migration to other countries where life is not necessarily a bed of roses but is bliss compared to Nigeria`s thicket of thorns. ,Q WKLV WLPH PDQ\ 1LJHULDQV KDYH ÁRFNHG WR WKH 8QLWHG $UDE Emirates where the country`s oil wealth and embrace of technology have become honeypots attracting migrants from many unstable countries. However, it appears that much to the embarrassment and chagrin of Nigeria, many Nigerians who have IRXQG WKHLU ZD\ WR WKH 8QLWHG $UDE (PLUDWHV LQ UHFHQW WLPHV have taken their criminal tendencies with them all the way from Nigeria. What a grim export!

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who heads the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission(NiDCOM) via a tweet recently drew attention to the fact that the crime rate of Nigerians in Dubai which is in the 8QLWHG $UDE (PLUDWHV LV RQH RI WKH KLJKHVW The observation came just days after the government of the 8QLWHG $UDE (PLUDWHV VODPPHG D YLVD EDQ RQ 1LJHULDQV DQG nationals of other African countries including Ghana, Sudan, 8JDQGD 5ZDQGD DPRQJ RWKHUV It is indeed very sad that some Nigerians leave their country only to take to a life of crime in other countries. If only those Nigerians who do these things would understand that their actions are demarketing Nigeria and Nigerians, and soiling what little is left of the image of Nigeria in the eyes of the international community.

NiDCOM must intensify its sensitization of Nigerians living in diaspora on the need to be good ambassadors of the country HVSHFLDOO\ DV 1LJHULD FDQ LOO DͿRUG WR ORVH ZKDW OLWWOH FUHGLELOLW\ LW has in the eyes of the international community.

Kene Obiezu, @kenobiezu

LAWYER TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022

A

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

WEEKLY PULLOUT

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

DR CHARLES ADEOGUN-PHILLIPS

‘Remuneration of Nigerian Judicial Officers is Appalling’

N

II

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

IN THIS EDITION

Whether Defect in Originating Process Can be Waived by Parties Page IV

NBA President Commissions Ikeja Lawyers Lounge Page V

QUOTABLES

‘In the effort to resolve the ASUU issue, we provided a total of N470 billion in the 2023 budget from our constrained resources, for the revitalisation and salary enhancement in tertiary institutions.’

- President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria ‘We are urging a swift and systemic overhaul of the systems in place, to protect the country’s oil and gas resources.’ - Rt. Honourable Olufemi Gbajabiamila CFR, Lawyer, Speaker, House of Representatives, 9th National Assembly, Federal Republic of Nigeria

COLUMNIST

Pavestones Wins 2022 Africa Law Firm of the Year (Small Practice) at the African Legal Awards Page V

CJN Decries Challenges of Facilities, Basic Resources Faced by Judges in Nigeria Page V

LAWYER

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE: EDITOR, JUDE IGBANOI: DEPUTY EDITOR, PETER TAIWO, STEVE AYA: REPORTERS

III THE ADVOCATE

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022

2023: Beyond the Blame Game Enough of the Blame Game!

Over the past few years, I have developed the habit where I sometimes use topical issues to illustrate legal principles. Today will be one of those days. s we are now firmly into the election season, the 2023 general elections being upon us - February - March, 2023, I think it’s necessary to discuss the terms “Caveat Emptor” and “Statute of Limitations/Statute Barred” in relation to political parties and their candidates, particularly the Presidential candidates, so that the incoming administration doesn’t think it can deploy the same unsuccessful ‘blame game’ tactics throughout its administration like members of the present administration/ruling party have sought to do. Granted, it seems as if things in Nigeria are in a much worse state today than the APC found them when they took over in 2015, at least with regard to security and the economy (see Sections 14(2)(b) & 16 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)(the Constitution), and Nigerians have been through quite a harsh last few years, we are all aware of what our problems are, most especially those whose campaigns are based either on wanting to right the wrongs of the past or this APC administration, or those who say they want to build upon them!

A

Caveat Emptor & Encumbrances Seven and a half years since the Buhari administration assumed office, it is ridiculous and tragicomic that some APC spokespersons are conducting their campaign by still blaming their failures on what the PDP did while they were in office, prior to their administration.

If we draw a parallel between a purchase of land or a product and the 2015 election, in the context of this discussion, APC was the buyer and PDP, the seller, governing Nigeria, the product. When making a purchase, there’s the maxim, ’Caveat Emptor’, which literally means ’Let the Buyer Beware’ (look before you leap!). There is also usually a warranty period in the case of the purchase of a product, usually one year, after which the product cannot be exchanged or repaired for free. Can we relate this warranty period to something like a statute of limitations, to put a time limit on how long the complaints about a previous administration can last?

The APC complaints about PDP, should be statute barred by now!

In the case of purchase of land, the onus is on the Buyer to do due diligence and all the necessary investigations before making the purchase. In Marem v Istifanus (2022) LPELR-57523 (CA) the Court of Appeal held that “The risk of encumbrances is on any Purchaser who by the maxim (caveat emptor) is required to satisfy himself, by undertaking a full investigation of title before completing his purchase”. Also see the case of Onyido v Ajemba 1991 4 N.W.L.R. Part 184 Page 203.

For instance, when a Buyer is purchasing land in an urban area, it is up to him or her to fully investigate the title of the land, by first conducting a search at the Land Registry to find out if it is good - for example, to discover if the seller owns the land; if the seller may have sold the land to a third party previously and is now seeking to resell the same land to them (the first Purchaser would however, have had to obtain Governor (State land) or the Minister’s (Federal land) consent, in order for this registered interest to reflect at the Land Registry - if not, it is an equitable interest which could be difficult to ascertain); if there is a lien on the land from a loan the seller may have taken from a Bank using the land as collateral and has not repaid (if the Bank registers the loan it will reflect at the Land Registry as a deed of legal mortgage; if it is only a deposit of the title deeds with the Bank, the Seller won’t have the title documents to give to the Purchaser, as they would be with the Bank), to mention but a few scenarios.

Many encumbrances are however, not insurmountable. For instance, if it’s a debt with the Bank, the Purchaser can pay the

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive. com onikepob@yahoo.com

The

Advocate “From about five to six years ago, APC’s ‘blame game’ habit has become nothing more than a tiresome cacophony, reminding one of a bad workman who blames his tools. There should be a statute of limitations, that is, a maximum time period allowed for being able to make such complaints” Bank off out of the agreed purchase price, retrieve the title documents from the Bank while paying the Purchaser the balance, if any.

Certainly, the problems in Nigeria which may have been caused by PDP’s corruption and mismanagement, amongst other things, were not insurmountable.

During the campaign for the 2015 election, APC campaigned on the failures of the PDP (akin to encumbrances on a land offered for sale) and promised to do a better job. How did APC come to know about PDP’s failures? Not just by being Nigerians who resided in the country at the time and could see the failures reflected in the daily lives of Nigerians, but by doing a thorough investigation (search) to come up with three main priorities which became the bedrock of their campaign promises - fighting insecurity and corruption, and revamping the economy.

In Babayaro v Labile & Ors (2020) LPELR-51465 (CA), the Court of Appeal held that “A Purchaser would be able to plead absence of notice only if he had made all the usual and proper inquiries, and still found nothing to indicate any equitable interest”. In the case of our dear country Nigeria, not only was there notice, there was a lot to show that things were not rosy.

More so than the average Nigerian, APC knew what they were going in for. They knew that corruption was the order of the day under the PDP; they also knew that Boko Haram was active in the North East - the Chibok Girls had been abducted from their school in

President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR

2014, and the insurgents had taken over some local governments in the North East, going as far as flying their flag there and forcibly collecting taxes from the people. There was also kidnapping and militancy, going on in the South South region. The fact that high ranking members of PDP defected to join APC, would have even provided more than a fountain of useful, even information that may have been kept secret from the public, to APC. So, the defence that APC had no notice of the defective Nigerian product that they bought from PDP in 2015, cannot avail them. They promised Nigerians that they would fix the problems of insecurity, corruption and the economy (Change) - this is prima facie evidence that the condition of Nigeria was well known to APC before they assumed office in 2015. From about five to six years ago, APC’s ‘blame game’ habit has become nothing more than a tiresome cacophony, reminding one of a bad workman who blames his tools. There should be a statute of limitations, that is, a maximum time period allowed for being able to make such complaints.

Statute of Limitation/Statute Barred According to Black’s Law Dictionary, a Statute of Limitations is defined as follows: “Statutes of the Federal Government and various States, setting maximum time periods during which certain actions can be brought or rights enforced.

After the time period set out in the applicable statute of limitations has run, no legal action can be brought, regardless of whether any cause of

action ever existed”. In Chigbu v Tonimas Nig. Ltd & Anor (2006) LPELR-846 (SC) per Belgore JSC (later CJN) the Supreme Court defined a Statute of Limitation thus: “The Limitation Law is certainly procedural, setting out clearly the time frame within which an action must be brought”. An action which is statute barred, cannot be validly instituted or maintained, and must be struck out as not being properly before the court - see the case of P.N.Udoh Trading Co. Ltd v Abere & Anor (2001) LPELR-2893 (SC) per Kalgo JSC. For instance, Section 285(5)-(7), (10)-(12) of the Constitution sets out the time frame in which pre-election and election matters must be filed and disposed of. So, for instance, an election petition that isn’t filed within 21 days after the date of the declaration of the result of the election, becomes statute barred, and the disgruntled Petitioner cannot enforce his or her rights after the 21-day deadline passes.

In Fred Egbe v Adefarasin & Anor 1987 1 N.W.L.R. Part 47 Page 1 per Oputa JSC, the Supreme Court held that the court can determine the period of limitation “by looking at the writ of summons and statement of claim alleging when the wrong was committed which gave the Plaintiff the cause of action, and by comparing that date with that on which the writ of summons was filed. This can be done without taking oral evidence from witnesses”.

I submit that APC is statute barred from continuing to blame PDP and everyone else but themselves, for the woes and the difficulties Nigeria is experiencing presently.

In this analogy, if the failures of the PDP can be considered to be a pre-election or even election matter, the blame game should have ended by 2016, latest 2017. After the first one or two years, if this administration had taken the right steps and done things better, possibly we would have had a better outcome by now.

‘De-Marketing’ Nigeria Take for example the Terror Alert that was sounded by the Americans recently, causing them to evacuate their citizens from Nigeria, is that the fault of PDP, or bad mouthing, or ‘de-marketing’ as Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information loves to put it?

The Americans are world famous for their surveillance techniques, and know what they observed to result in this Terror Alert. In the seven and a half years of this Administration, the Americans never evacuated their citizens due to security concerns (it was only done in 2020, because of the Covid-19 pandemic); so, why now? Instead of cooperating with the American Government to investigate the reasons for this unfortunate Alert, and what steps to take to change this negative narrative, this administration, in its usual ‘wrong and strong’ abusive attitude, is blaming the Americans for the Advisory! Governmental reactions to imminent danger and other negatives, cannot be to hurl abuses and find fault in others. Some pro-activity on the part of Government, is a more productive line of action! Why are Nigerians not entitled to know if they are not safe, and need to take extra precautions to secure themselves?

Conclusion My point? Whoever wins the next election is coming in with full notice and knowledge of the rut Nigeria finds herself in, and flimsy and feeble excuses that he and his political party didn’t know how bad or encumbered the product they purchased is, will not absolve them of their responsibilities. They have done the needful required by the maxim ‘Caveat Emptor’, which has resulted in the evolution of their manifestos. They must also understand that whoever is voted in, would, other things being equal, have been elected on the basis of the acceptance by the majority of their campaign promises to fix our problems, and that they were not voted in to justify or rationalise their failures, by constantly blaming past administrations and others for them. We have already had seven and a half years of that. Nigerians deserve a fresh and better future. “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”, or don’t bother to enter the kitchen at all!

IV LAW REPORT

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

Whether Defect in Originating Process Can be Waived by Parties Facts At the trial court, the Appellant as Plaintiff commenced the suit against the Respondents via a writ of summons dated 11th May, 2000, claiming inter alia, the sum of N9,071,650.00 paid into the 2nd Respondent’s account with the 1st Respondent between 24th November and 2nd December, 1998 on the inducement of the 1st Respondent.

The Respondents denied the claim, in their respective Statements of Defence. Upon conclusion of trial, judgement was entered in favour of the Appellant on 30th May, 2008. Aggrieved thereby, the 1st Respondent appealed to the Court of Appeal, challenging the competence of the Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim, which were signed in the name of a law firm instead of a legal practitioner known to law.

The Appellant on its part, raised a Preliminary Objection challenging the competence of the Notice of Appeal filed by the 1st Respondent and the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal to determine the appeal in the face of the incompetence. The Court of Appeal, however, decided to determine first, the first issue raised, which challenged the competence of the originating processes filed by the Appellant at the trial court.

The court allowed the appeal on this ground and struck out the Appellant’s Preliminary Objection challenging the competence of the appeal before the Court of Appeal.

At the Supreme Court, the Appellant challenged the decision of the Court of Appeal striking out its Preliminary Objection, and contended that the Court of Appeal had no jurisdiction to have entertained the appeal. The Appellant also contended that the Court of Appeal ought to have distinguished the case from the cases of OKAFOR v NWEKE (2007) 10 NWLR (Pt. 1043) 521; SLB CONSORTIUM LTD v NNPC (2011) 9 NWLR (Pt. 1252) 317 and FBN PLC v MAIWADA (2013) 5 NWLR (Pt. 1348) 444.

Issue for Determination Though the Appellant formulated six issues for determination by the court, and the Respondent posed three issues for determination of the appeal, the Supreme Court resolved the appeal on the sole issue as follows: Whether the Court of Appeal was right when it held that the Appellant’s action at the trial court was incompetent, the Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim having been signed in the name of a law firm instead of a legal practitioner known to law.

Arguments Counsel for theAppellant contended that the person who signed the originating processes in question, is indefinable by the name written on it. He argued that J.O. Esezoobo who signed the processes, is different from J. Odion Esezoobo & Co written under. He maintained that where the signature is the name of counsel, as in this case, it cannot be ascribed to a law firm since it is not a mere mark or contraption that is not identifiable. He relied on DANKWAMBO v ABUBAKAR (2016) 1 NWLR (Pt. 1495) 157. He posited that with the signature – “J.O. Esezoobo” being clearly the name of the person who signed, the identity of the person who appended the signature was no longer in doubt.

Counsel relied on the decision in HAMZAT v SANNI (2015) 5 NWLR (Pt. 1453) 486 in respect of his submission on the difference between “shall sign” and “shall endorse” in respect of processes of court provided for in the Rules of the trial court. The Appellant also submitted that the Respondents, who did not raise an objection to the competence of the processes filed by the Appellant at the trial court, are deemed to have waived their rights to complain about the alleged incompetence.

On his part, Counsel for the 1st Respondent argued that only a legal practitioner entitled to practice law under the Legal Practitioners Act (LPA) can sign processes to be filed in

signed by way of a contraption as a signature for and in the name of J. Odion Esezoobo.

Citing the case of SLB CONSORTIUM LTD v NNPC where His Lordship, RhodesVivour, JSC explained that all processes filed in court must be signed with the signature of counsel which may be any contraption, followed by the name of counsel, who counsel represents and the name and address of the law firm, the court held that the originating process of the Appellant did not meet the requirements highlighted in the case.

A look at the signature on the process did not show the semblance of a specific and identifiable name, which is required to be clearly written in addition to the contraption.

On the submission that the 1st Respondent is deemed to waived its right to challenge the competence of the processes, having failed to raise the objection at the trial court and participated in the proceedings, the court held it is trite that where a court lacks jurisdiction or competence to entertain an action, the parties to the suit cannot by acquiescence, waiver or even agreement, confer jurisdiction or competence upon the court. A party cannot waive in a situation, where clearly the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain a matter – UGO v Okafor (1996) 3 NWLR (Pt. 438) 542.

It is never too late in the course of the proceedings of all courts in a matter, at all stages of the judicial ladder, for any of the parties or the courts to raise the issue of jurisdiction, in any form, and that once raised or it arises, it should be decided first before further steps are taken or other issues in the matter in order to avoid an exercise in futility – MADUKOLU v NKEMDILIM (1962) 1 All NLR 587.

In view of the foregoing, the issue was resolved in favour of the 1st Respondent. The court held that this effectively subsumed other issues raised in the appeal. The originating processes were thereby struck out.

Honourable Mohammed Lawal Garba, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Thursday, the 7th Day of January, 2022 Before Their Lordships Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun Ejembi Eko Mohammed Lawal Garba Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa Justices, Supreme Court Appeal No: SC.80/2016 Between SKYPOWER EXPRESS AIRWAYS LTD

APPELLANT And

1.

2.

UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC SILVERGATE INTERNATIONAL MERCHANT BANK PLC

RESPONDENT

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Mohammed Lawal Garba, JSC)

court and that a process signed in the name of a law firm is incompetent. He argued further that the decisions in OKAFOR v NWEKE (2007) 10 NWLR (Pt. 1043) 521; SLB CONSORTIUM LTD v NNPC (2011) 9 NWLR (Pt. 1252) 317 do not create exceptions and borderline cases. He maintained that the processes signed by J. Odion Esezoobo & Co did not come before the trial court initiated by due process of law and upon fulfilment of a condition precedent to the exercise of jurisdiction, and so, they are incompetent. He argued further that a party cannot waive lack of jurisdiction of a court to entertain an action.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Before determining the issue, the Supreme Court noted that the Appellant challenged the competence of the 1st Respondent’s Notice of Appeal at the lower court by way of Preliminary Objection, which was not countenanced by the lower court as the court went on to determine the issue raised by the 1st Respondent on competence of the originating processes by the Appellant initiated the suit before

“….. an originating process signed in the name of a law firm is incurably incompetent and incapable of igniting or invoking the jurisdiction of the court, for being in contravention of Sections 2(1) and 24 of the Legal Practitioners Act”

the trial court. The Apex Court validated the position taken by the Court of Appeal in determining the issue of competence of the originating processes before the trial court, despite challenge to the competence of the Notice and Grounds of Appeal and its jurisdiction to entertain the appeal. The Supreme Court reasoned on this point, that in the absence of the requisite jurisdiction on the part of the trial court, the question of the competence or incompetence of the appeal would not arise. The court relied on NNPC v ROVEN SHIPPING LTD (2019) 9 NWLR (Pt. 1676) 67 at 92 where the Supreme Court per Muhammad JSC, restated that a decision arrived at by a court without jurisdiction, being null and void, can never be the basis of a competent appeal or further litigation.

On the sole issue, the Supreme Court held that an originating process signed in the name of a law firm is incurably incompetent and incapable of igniting or invoking the jurisdiction of the court, for being in contravention of Sections 2(1) and 24 of the Legal Practitioners Act. The court cited and relied on the decisions of OKAFOR v NWEKE (2007) 10 NWLR (Pt. 1043) 521; SLB CONSORTIUM LTD v NNPC (2011) 9 NWLR (Pt. 1252) 317 and FBN PLC v MAIWADA (2013) 5 NWLR (Pt. 1348) 444.

Their court noted that the question whether a court process was signed in the name of an identifiable person or in the name of a law firm, is determined by a physical view of the process itself. Their Lordships observed that the processes contained in the record of appeal, were

Dissenting Opinion of Honourable Ejembi Eko, JSC His Lordship held the dissenting view that the principle of law espoused in OKAFOR v NWEKE (2007) 10 NWLR (Pt. 1043) 521; SLB CONSORTIUM LTD v NNPC (2011) 9 NWLR (Pt. 1252) 317 and FBN PLC v MAIWADA (2013) 5 NWLR (Pt. 1348) 444, were wrongly applied considering the peculiar facts of this case. His Lordship expressed the view that a Writ of Summons is issued “by Order of the Court” and enjoys the presumption of regularity under Section 168(1) of the Evidence Act. His Lordship distinguished between a Writ of Summons which is issued by Order of Court and the endorsement on the Writ of Summons.

The learned Justice further noted that the competence of the Writ of Summons, was not an issue before the trial court. Therefore, the 1st Respondent’s Ground of Appeal at the lower court, was not a challenge to any particular ratio decidendi of the trial court.

It follows that leave ought to be sought and obtained before filing such Ground of Appeal, being a fresh issue at the lower court.

The issue of competence of the Writ ought to have been raised timeously as a Preliminary Objection and not a Ground of Appeal. Having failed to raise the objection, the Respondents were estopped from raising same as a Ground of Appeal before the lower court. On this basis, His Lordship allowed the appeal.

Appeal Dismissed by a Majority Decision of 4:1.

Representation Johnson Odion Esezoobo, Esq. with Samuel Esezoobo, Esq. for the Appellant.

Adedapo Tunde-Olowu, Esq. with Davidson Oturu, Esq. and Rebeccar Ebokpo, Esq. for the 1st Respondent.

No representation for the 2nd Respondent.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

V

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

NBA President, Y.C. Maikyau, SAN and NBA Ikeja Chairman, Barth Aguegbodo cutting the tape during Aderonke Alex-Adedipe and Seun Timi-Koleolu of Pavestones the opening of the NBA Ikeja Lounge

L-R: Dr Anthony Idigbe, SAN; Hon. Justice Salisu Abdullahi; Hon. Justice William Ouko of the Supreme Court of Kenya; Chief Judge of Akwa-Ibom State, Hon. Justice Ekaette Obot; Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Moses Frank Ekpo MFR; Hon. Justice John I. Okoro JSC; Hon. Justice Chima C. Nweze JSC; Hon. Justice Nelson Katsala of the Supreme Court Malawi; Hon. Justice Henry Mbha (Rtd) of the Supreme Court of Appeal, South Africa and John Edozie in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

NBA President Commissions Ikeja Lawyers Lounge Stories by Steve Aya

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mr Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, has called on all Lawyers to always stay in court even if their matters are delayed, because they may pick up one or two tips that will help them along the way.

The NBA President was speaking at the commissioning of the Kemi Pinheiro Lounge constructed by the Ikeja Branch of the NBA in honour of Mr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN and his contributions to the development of the Ikeja Branch.

He backed up his point with a personal experience of how while waiting at the Court of Appeal, Abuja for his matter; the judgement of a different matter in court assisted him in solving a very pressing matter.

While commissioning and dedicating the Lounge, Mr Maikyau, SAN congratulated the Ikeja Branch for coming up with such a wonderful and visionary idea, which according to him, will further improve the welfare of its members.

He maintained that the Lounge will indeed, serve all Lawyers who are either waiting to have their time in court, looking for a place

to have a small group meeting, or just to unwind after a hard day’s work.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, who was represented by Justice Raliatu Bukola Adebiyi, expressed his delight at the opening of the Lounge; he also stressed the need for the place to be fully equipped with facilities such as Wi-Fi. Chairman of NBA Ikeja, Mr Bartholomew Aguegbodo, in his welcome remarks, said the idea of having a Lounge for Lawyers was conceived in a discussion with some senior members.

He stated that lawyers with cases in court leave their homes early in the morning without eating, only to get to court and their matter is fixed for the late afternoon, leaving them hanging around, while some make their way to the various ‘Buki’s’ and canteens in the hope of looking for where to eat, which is not dignifying.

Aguegbodo further stated that over time, facilities in the Lounge will be further upgraded to make it easy for Lawyers to use at all time.

Mr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, in whose honour the Lounge was named,

Pavestones Wins 2022 Africa Law Firm of the Year (Small Practice) at the African Legal Awards Pavestones was conferred with the prestigious Africa Law Firm of the Year (Small Practice) Award 2022, at the African Legal Awards Ceremony held in Johannesburg, South Africa on September 2, 2022. The Afri-

can Legal Awards is aimed at recognising outstanding individuals and law firms, in the pan-African legal community. This year, the award witnessed a recordbreaking submission from 20 countries.

in his speech thanked the Executive of NBA Ikeja for doing him such a great honour by naming

the Lounge after him. He promised his support, dedication, and assistance at all times to NBA Ikeja

and the National NBA. The Kemi Pinheiro Lounge, is located within the premises of the NBA

Ikeja Bar Centre. The occasion was attended by several leading and prominent Lawyers.

FG Renames Legal Aid Building In recognition of his effort to the development of law in Nigeria, the Federal Government on Tuesday renamed the Legal Aid Council Headquarters Building after the late Chief Chimezie Ikeazor, SAN. The renaming was done by Minister of Justice and AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF), Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, on behalf of the Federal Governmen, in recognition of the late eminent Lawyer’s contributions towards the establishment of the Legal Aid Council.

The AGF said the late Ikeazor, was one of the legal luminaries who helped to set up the Nigerian Legal Aid Association, which subsequently led to the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria.

“His antecedents in providing legal services to poor Nigerians are exemplary, and along with a few like minds – the late Chiefs Solomon Lar, Debo Akande,

SAN and Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, he founded and financed the Nigerian Legal Aid Association in 1974, which served as a platform for providing legal aid for poor Nigerians.

“The Association was inaugurated on February 6th, 1974, had several branches across the nation, and enjoyed immense support from the Bench, pursuant to its laudable mandate,” Malami stated.

“Chief Ikeazor’s sacrifices cannot go unnoticed. Indeed, the Federal Government and the thousands of Nigerians who enjoy the services of the Legal Aid Council today, remain grateful to the Learned Silk for his selfless sacrifices and foresight in the protection of the freedoms guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution, particularly on access to justice”, he added.

The Minister commended the Council for living up to

expectations, while pledging his Ministry’s support towards achieving the constitutional and statutory mandate of the Legal Aid Council.

He also disclosed that as of the second quarter of this year, the Council was able to, “process Legal Aid Services to 57,134 citizens, recovered over N57 million as claims/compensation for victims of motor accidents and provided defence for 224 suspects arraigned before the Federal High Court for certain offences”.

Malami also stated that the Special Task Force of the Council facilitated the release of 30 Awaiting Trial Inmates in Keffi Correctional Centre, in addition to filing applications for enforcement of the fundamental rights of 101 Awaiting Trial Inmates.

“The Police Duty Solicitors Scheme of the Council, currently operates in eleven States across

the country. This operation has successfully diverted over 7,000 persons from the Criminal Justice System, and 90% of these persons left Police custody during the first five days of arrest.

“It is therefore, a thing of joy and indeed, my pleasure to stand with legal friends and colleagues on this auspicious day, to celebrate the acknowledgment of the sacrifices made by Chief Ikeazor, by naming the Legal Aid Council Headquarters after him.

“It is my hope that by this great feat, his name will remain immortalised within the living memory of all of us in the legal community.

“Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I hereby rename the Legal Aid Council Building as the Chief Chimezie Ikeazor, SAN Building, in service to God and Humanity”, Malami declared.

CJN Decries Challenges of Facilities, Basic Resources Faced by Judges in Nigeria - Says conflicting judgements from the Court of Appeal worrisome, as Akwa Ibom demands sitting of Court of Appeal in Uyo Okon Bassey in Uyo The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola GCON (CJN) has expressed concern over the challenges of inconvenient courtrooms, as well as lack of basic resources being faced by Judges in the country to ensure optimal performance. This, he noted, has forced Judiciaries at State level to go cap-in-hand to various State Governors to solicit for funds in order to run their courts, thus, contradicting the constitutional principle of Separation of Powers.

The CJN who doubles as the Chairman, Board of Governors of the National Judicial Institute

bared his mind at the opening of a three-day retreat for Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal held at the Ibom Icon Hotels and Golf Resort, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.

Despite the constraints in the system, "I must equally urge us to look inward as Justices of Appellate Courts, considering the fact that the rate of conflicting judgements churned out from the Court of Appeal is worrisome".

The CJN stressed the urgent need to check this trend even as an election year approaches.

He reminded judicial officers of ethical challenges they are exposed to, saying that judicial officers are being held to highest standards of professional and personal conduct.

"My Lords are therefore, enjoined to uphold the integrity of the Judiciary by complying to the Code of Conduct as the

drawbacks for non-compliance can be grave."

The CJN expressed optimism that the retreat organised by the Attorney General Alliance Africa (AGA Africa), in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI), would discuss issues which help cross-pollinate ideas, in order to proffer strategies for the way forward.

Justice Ariwoola praised the AGA Africa under the leadership of the Executive Director, Karen White, Director Marcus Green and their team, for organising the retreat in collaboration with the NJI under the leadership of Hon Justice Salisu Garba Abdullhi.

In his opening remarks, Director AGA Africa, Mr Markus Green said the retreat was timely, as talks around judicial reform have been going on in recent months, with regard to judicial performance, accountability, and

efficiency.

As Supreme Court and Court of Appeal Justices, he said they play an important role in maintaining peace and prosperity within a country, by adjudicating conflicts in accordance with the Constitution and the law.

"You also play and important role of guiding all lower courts’ interpretation and enforcement of the rule of law; ensuring that there is uniformity and discipline during dispensation of judgements."

"The purpose of this retreat is to therefore, provide you with an opportunity to rethink the judicial system, in line with international best practices, by dissecting the pitfalls that are standing in the way of its progress and proposing new approaches, with a view to building a more accessible and sound justice system that protects the rights of all persons.

#upjudicialsalaries “……needless to state that I am grossly appalled at the poor remuneration of judicial officers in Nigeria. High Court Judges in the UK in some instances, earn a lot more than the Prime Minister.

I believe that concerted efforts should be made to enhance the remuneration of judicial officers, as this would attract the best quality candidates to the Bench.” - Dr Charles Adeogun-Phillips

VI COVER

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

Dr Charles Adeogun-Phillips

‘Remuneration of Nigerian Judicial Officers is Appalling’ Nigeria, without any iota of doubt, has some of the brightest legal minds in the world. Both at home and in the diaspora, Nigerian Lawyers have distinguished themselves with expertise in diverse areas of law. Dr Charles Adeogun-Phillips is one such shining stars; a former Prosecutor/Senior Counsel at the United Nations’ International Criminal Court who recently received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Warwick, has done outstanding work in international criminal prosecutions, chasing ‘bad guys’ all over the world, with a view to bringing them to justice, whether for crimes against humanity and war crimes, or financial misdeeds. He has done so, with a good measure of success.

He told Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi in a chat last week, how most of his prosecutorial work has helped to set the much-needed precedents where they didn’t exist. He has also demonstrated his willingness to help in the home front, while firmly advocating that Nigeria needs more Judges and better conditions of service for them

C

ongratulations on your Conferment of LLD by your alma mata, Warwick University. Tell us briefly about how you ended up as a pioneer lead Genocide and War Crimes Prosecutor at the United Nations? You were a lead Prosecutor at the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The case of Mikaeli Muhimana, Councillor of Gishyita Sector for crimes against humanity, rape and genocide, in which he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, was one of the 12 precedent-setting international cases you prosecuted. Many have referred to the 2020 incident at the Lekki Toll Plaza as a massacre, crime against humanity etc. In the light of your experience with such matters, does it qualify to be called that?

Thank you. Iººººt was indeed, a great privilege and honour to be invited to receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Warwick, and be placed in such distinguished ranks as those of past honourees such as President Nelson Mandela, who received a similar honour in 1996. I however, do not take it for granted. I hope to continue to be a worthy advocate for the University, and a standard bearer for the legal profession.

My work with the United Nations and in the area of international criminal law in particular, remains a significant milestone in both my career and life. With the genocide convention of 1948 having only existed on paper, and the trials of major war criminals before the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg in 1945 serving as my only precedent, my work as a Lead Prosecutor at the UN, fighting

for justice on behalf of over 800,000 victims of the worst crimes ever known to mankind for well over a decade, placed me in the forefront of several pioneering developments in the field of international criminal law. Sadly, I also gained first-hand experience of the extent of man’s inhumanity to man.

So aged 31, I joined the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (UN-ICTR) in January 1998, from private practice in the United Kingdom having been appointed to that position by the then Chief UN Prosecutor, H.E Justice Louise Arbour (former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and later UN High Commissioner for Human Rights). What I had initially thought would be a short-term sabbatical from the rigours of practice as a “white-collar” criminal defence solicitor in London and an opportunity to engage in precedent setting international human-rights work, eventually lasted well over a decade.

For over a decade, between January 1998 and June 2010, I prosecuted, with great success, 12 precedent-setting and complex international trials of those responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide, 10 of which I led as lead prosecution counsel, making me arguably one of the most experienced and successful genocide prosecutors in history. My elevation in 2001, to the rank of Senior Counsel before an international court at the age of 35, by the then Chief UN Prosecutor, H.E Ms. Carla Del Ponte (former Attorney-General of Switzerland), was equally unrivalled. Between

“My work with the United Nations and in the area of international criminal law in particular, remains a significant milestone in both my career and life….. my work as a Lead Prosecutor at the UN, fighting for justice on behalf of over 800,000 victims of the worst crimes ever known to mankind for well over a decade, placed me in the forefront of several pioneering developments in the field of international criminal law”

2007 and 2008, I also served as the Head of Special Investigations, under the leadership of the then Chief UN Prosecutor H.E. Justice Hassan Jallow, (former Judge of the Special Court for Sierra-Leone and now the current Chief Justice of The Gambia).

In leading the prosecution of these genocide cases before the UN court, I was involved in historic and ground-breaking international legal practice in what was soon to become, the fastest growing and emerging area of public international law, cumulating in my citation in the maiden edition of Creswell’s “Who’s Who in Public International Law” in 2007, and in the International Yearbook and Statesmen's Who's Who in 2011.

This precedent-setting work involved tackling several novel substantive and procedural issues never addressed before in international law. The jurisprudence engendered in these international trials contributed to the development of international criminal law which hitherto, only existed on paper and has helped strengthen and preserve this emerging system of transitional justice. Indeed, this was the first time the scope of international law was extended beyond governing the relationship between countries, to making individuals accountable for violations of international law and norms.

It was indeed, a watershed moment in public international law.

There were challenges both in terms of the substantive and the procedural law. For example, only the crime of genocide was codified. Even at that, it only existed on paper as of 1997.

Unlike the genocide convention, the law of crimes against humanity are not codified in an international convention, but has primarily been developed through the evolution of customary international law derived from the cases we were prosecuting.

As you have rightly observed, I led the trial of serial rapist Mikaeli Muhimana, involving charges of sexual violence and cruelty against women, between 2004 and 2005. I think that was actually my fifth international trial. The Muhimana case not only clarified, but developed the jurisprudence of the international criminal

law on the legal elements and definition of the crime of rape in the context of large scale and widespread international crimes. This is a clear example of what I mean when I say that, we developed the law through the cases we prosecuted.

Procedurally, international trials are very protracted.

Because of the widespread nature of such crimes, they involve hundreds of factual witnesses, a handful for experts including historians and forensic scientists, with documentary exhibits often running into thousands of pages. And, because we were pioneers with simply no precedent to follow, we simply had to make up most of the procedural rules as we went along, quite a bit like what happened during Covid in 2020.

Because trials before international courts are expensive and lengthy, they are often reserved for ‘ring-leaders’ and not ‘foot soldiers. One of the main challenges we encountered was developing a criterion to determine those persons who bear the greatest responsibility for the crimes. International crimes are often complex and political in nature, in the sense that they often stem from political differences and therefore, involve complex ideological issues. Many of those being investigated would, at some stage, have been part of the State apparatus. Naturally, investigating crimes allegedly committed by such persons is bound to be challenging.

With regard to your question as to whether the 2020 incident at the Lekki Toll Plaza would qualify as a crime against humanity, let me say this; Crimes against humanity are certain acts that are purposefully committed by a State, or on behalf of a State, as part of a widespread or systematic policy, typically directed against civilians, in times of war or peace. The violent nature of such acts is considered a severe breach of human rights, hence the name. Crimes against humanity differ from war crimes, because they are not isolated acts or sporadic events committed by individual soldiers, but rather, are acts committed in furtherance of a State or a government policy or of a widespread practice of atrocities tolerated or condoned by a government or a de facto authority.

Like I pointed out earlier, unlike the genocide convention, the law of crimes against humanity is not codified in an international convention, but has primarily been developed through the evolution of

VII COVER ‘Remuneration of Nigerian Judicial Officers is Appalling’ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

customary international law. So, while it is as clear as night follows day that the 2020 incident at the Lekki Toll Plaza was directed against civilian protesters, was perpetrated by individuals drawn from the Nigerian Armed Forces, and were purposefully committed on behalf of the Nigerian State, it would, in my view, be hard to demonstrate that those acts were committed by those individuals, as part of a widespread or systematic policy of the Nigerian State. That said, the mere fact that the said acts were committed either in furtherance of a State or a government policy, or that such atrocities were tolerated or condoned by the Government would render them capable of meeting the threshold required for them to be considered as a crime against humanity.

The International Criminal Court, in the view of many, has failed to justify its very creation and existence. Some are of the view that its focus is mainly on Africa and third world countries. That for example, those who falsely claimed that Saddam Hussein had nuclear weapons and thereafter, invaded Iraq and murdered Saddam Hussein, had no questions to answer because it involved first world countries like America. That there are two different standards - one for third world countries and one for first world countries.

In any event, America and many European countries are not even members of the ICC. What do you have to say about this? With over $2b in budget in 20 years, the ICC purportedly has less than 10 convictions.

Kindly, share your views on this?

It is not entirely the ICC’s fault that it has not been that busy, since it was established in 2002.

This is so, for a myriad of reasons. Before I go into those reasons, let me start by saying that it is generally accepted as is outlined in the preamble of the Rome Statute of the ICC that “the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole, must not go unpunished”.

Despite this preamble, it must be noted that, the ICC is not a substitute for national courts. Rather, it complements them. This is known as the Principle of Complementarity, under which priority is given to national systems. This is a major feature of the jurisdiction of the ICC. What this means in plain language is that, the ICC’s jurisdiction is only activated only when a State Party is genuinely unable or unwilling to investigate and/or prosecute a crime under the jurisdiction of the court. Therefore, it is the duty of every State to exercise its criminal jurisdiction over those responsible for international crimes. The ICC can only intervene where a State is unable or unwilling genuinely to carry out the investigation, and prosecute the perpetrators. That in and off itself places a limitation on the ICC’s operations, and very few people understand that.

But, beyond the issue of principle of complementarity, there are several other limitations to the effect of the exercise of the ICC’s jurisdiction, which, in my view, further emphasises the need for National jurisdictions to exercise jurisdiction over crimes committed in their territories.

For example, the ICC’s jurisdiction is limited to events that took place after 1 July, 2002. This is what is known as the Temporal Jurisdiction of the court. The Court also has no jurisdiction with respect to any person who was under the age of 18, when the crimes concerned were committed.

Another limitation of the court is that, it only has jurisdiction over the investigation and prosecution of four international crimes, namely, genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and more recently, the crime of aggression. This is known as the subject-matter jurisdiction of the court.

But, even where the ICC has both the temporal and subject-matter jurisdiction over a situation, it will not necessarily act. Why? Well, because the principle of “complementarity” provides that certain cases will be “inadmissible”, even though the Court can exercise jurisdiction over them. In general, a case will be inadmissible if it has been or is being investigated or prosecuted by a State with jurisdiction.

In addition, a case will be inadmissible if it is not of sufficient gravity to justify further action by the Court. A case may however, be admissible before the court if the investigating or prosecuting State is unwilling or unable to genuinely to carry out the investigation or prosecution. For instance, a case would be admissible if national proceedings were undertaken for the purpose of shielding the person from criminal responsibility. For example, in the case of Nigeria, the ICC Prosecutor has announced its intention to exercise jurisdiction over certain crimes alleged to have occurred in Nigeria. Now, Nigeria’s main challenge would consist of the fact that, those cases are not admissible before the ICC because they are being actively investigated and/

Dr Charles Adeogun-Phillips or prosecuted by the Armed Forces and/or the Nigerian Government.

But, even if one were to overcome all the institutional challenges to the jurisdiction of the court, there remains the political challenges to the court’s jurisdiction. Some of which you have rightly pointed out in your question concerning those responsible for the invasion of Iraq, and the possibility of United States citizens being held accountable before the ICC with respect to the US invasion of Iraq.

Now, let me tell you what the problem with that is.

You will recall that by virtue of the American Service Members' Protection Act, the United States has sought to guarantee that its citizens will be immune from prosecution at the ICC. In furtherance of this Act, the United States Government then went ahead and concluded Bilateral Immunity Agreements (BIAs) with several countries. Those agreements were aimed at guaranteeing US citizens immunity from the ICC’s jurisdiction, wherein they threaten to cut off US aid to country that did not agree.

So, therein lies the challenge. In essence, a resolution of the Security Council would be required before any US citizen can be brought before the ICC, and the US will veto such a move. The practical effect of this is that as the ICC has no law enforcement powers of its own, it depends on the cooperation of members countries to conduct its investigations.

In that regard, my sense is that the US would simply have exerted pressure on countries that have signed BIA with it to oppose the ICC and not cooperate with the court. So, for example, if US citizens are in such a country, that country will refuse to hand those citizens over to the ICC which has no law enforcement powers of its own. So, you can clearly see where the problem lies.

But, moving away from Iraq and/or Saddam Hussein and the allegation of the existence of nuclear weapons as a justification to invade Iraq, let me provide you with a more recent and practical example of such a political challenge which might resonate with you and your audience more readily. It is as clear as night follows day, that there have serious violations of international humanitarian law by the Russian military and/or its leadership in the territory of Ukraine. Now, can the ICC render President Putin accountable over his invasion of Ukraine? In theory, yes. In practice, no. Even though Ukraine is not a party to the Rome Statute of the ICC, it had previously accepted the court’s jurisdiction in 2014 in connection with the Russian invasion of Crimea, and then also went on to accept the ICC’s jurisdiction on an open-ended basis, and so, in principle, the ICC has both the subject-matter and temporal jurisdiction over these set of events as war crimes and/or crimes against humanity under international law.

But, as a permanent member of the Security

“Sadly, however, corruption has gone from a mere act of accepting bribes to "make ends meet" to one that is simply driven by sheer greed – perhaps, even a sense of entitlement from people in positions of authority. Corruption has become a complete state of mind and a way of life”

Council, Russia will mostly likely exercise its veto powers to prevent a referral of the Ukraine situation to the ICC. President Putin’s actions in targeting civilians in Ukraine constitute war crimes and/or crimes against humanity under international law. In addition, his actions in invading Ukraine also constitute the crime of aggression under international law. So, on the face of it, proving that Russia has committed the crime of aggression would appear straightforward. But, again, as a permanent member of the Security Council, Russia will exercise its veto powers. So, this again will never happen. So, this a typical example of the some of the political limitations that affect the operation of the ICC. But, you have also raised other aspects regarding the operation of the ICC which I would also like to deal with. Now, you have raised the issue of whether the ICC has targeted or focused unfairly on African countries. Having served as the International Criminal Court Bar Association’s focal point for Nigeria for over five years now, I am unable to subscribe to that view, and I will explain why.

The ICC was established by treaty in 2002.

I started prosecuting international crimes at the UN in January 1998 – four years before the ICC itself was established. What that suggests to you is that, I was fully aware of the negotiations amongst various countries that led to the establishment of the Court, and I can tell you for free that African countries made great contributions to the establishment of the Court and influenced the decision to have an independent Office of the Prosecutor. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) was very active in supporting the proposed Court, and its declaration on the matter was endorsed in February 1998, by the participants of the African Conference meeting in Dakar, Senegal, through the “Declaration on the Establishment of the International Criminal Court”.

At the Rome Conference itself in 2000, the most meaningful declarations about the Court were made by Africans. Without African support the Rome Statute might never have been adopted. In fact, Africa is the most heavily represented region in the Court’s membership.

The trust and support come not only from the governments, but also from civil society organisations. The Court has also benefited from the professional experience of Africans, and several Africans have occupied high-level positions in all organs of the Court. The former President of the Court was from Africa, as was the former Chief Prosecutor of the Court.

In addition, I will have you know that majority of ICC investigations were opened at the request of or after consultation with African governments. Other investigations were opened following a referral by the United Nations Security Council, where African governments are also represented.

So, in my view, it completely unfair for anyone to suggest that the ICC targets only Africans or third world countries.

Finally, moving on to your comments about the high cost of funding the ICC, let me start by saying that International criminal tribunals and courts, be they UN and/or donor funded, do not come cheap. That said, I agree that even though the quest for securing justice for the victims and survivors

of widespread international crimes is the cardinal aim of the transitional system of justice, the costs incurred in the pursuit of justice cannot be open ended. This in my view, is especially so, when one considers that the cost of running some of these international trials before these institutions, is perhaps, almost equal to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of many of the countries where such widespread atrocities occurred. In fact, the cost of prosecuting one international crime could well outstrip the annual budget of the entire judiciary of many African States. For example, the cost of prosecuting former Liberian president, Charles Taylor at the UN, stood at a whopping US$50 million, while the annual budget of the entire Sierra Leonean justice sector was about US$13 million.

The high cost of international criminal prosecutions, derives mainly from the excruciating evidentiary processes associated with criminal prosecutions. Proving a case beyond reasonable doubt – the evidentiary standard of criminal prosecution – involves an investment of huge financial and time resources, comprehensive and expensive investigations, and above all, the exhaustive examination of extensive materials.

In summary, as a pioneering and founding member of this unique area of public international law, let me end our discussions on this section by stating that to my mind, charting the course ahead essentially means that national jurisdictions must position themselves to take maximum advantage of the limited jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. But, there are legal and procedural obstacles that States are bound to encounter in this regard. What are these obstacles and how can they overcome them? Well, the first is that States must first incorporate international crimes into their domestic legislation. This is what is called domestication. This legal and legislative process, is what confers jurisdiction on local courts over the prosecution of international crimes.

Once that has been achieved, then the procedural obstacles are triggered, chief of which is the issue of capacity. Do States have the capacity to investigate and/or prosecutes complex international crimes?

Do these States need to reform their penal law that provide for the death penalty for capital offences? Do they have the material resources to deal effectively with complex international and/or transnational crimes? Do they have the human and technical resources to deal effectively with complex international and/or transnational crimes? These are questions that we need to reflect over, and which can form the basis of further discussions on this particular topic in future.

What is your assessment of the EFCC prosecutions? Many are of the view that their success rate is poor, and most of their cases have been bungled. What, in your view, may they not be doing right? What kind of message do you think the pardoning of exGovernors Jolly Nyame and Joshua Dariye convicted and imprisoned for corruption, sends to the world about Nigeria’s so-called fight against corruption?

I started my professional life as a specialist “white-collar” criminal defence Lawyer in the UK, and since leaving the UN and returning to private practice in 2010, that area of practice accounts for about half of my domestic and cross-border work.

You will of course, also recall that I was deeply involved in the precedent-setting prosecution of very senior Federal judicial officers in Nigeria between 2016 and 2017, and we all know how that ended!

I am also currently instructed in what can aptly be cont'd on page VIII

VIII

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

COVER ‘Remuneration of Nigerian Judicial Officers is Appalling’ cont'd from page VII

described as the largest fraud case ever brought before an English court by a Sovereign State. Closely linked to my expertise in white-collar criminal litigation, is my cross-border asset tracing and recovery practice. Since 2017, I have been retained by an agency of government to investigate, trace and recover over 14 billion US Dollars, currently owed to a Sovereign State, following its acquisition of non-performing loans from some of the country’s ailing commercial banks. More recently, I have been involved in the drafting of the Statute for the proposed International Anti-Corruption Court at The Hague. So, I guess “white-collar” crime is simply in my DNA, and this would perhaps, place my comments in some perspective.

The most prevalent type of white-collar crime, often the subject of criminal investigation and/or prosecution in Nigeria consists of allegations of corruption, breach of public trust by PEPs (Politically Exposed Persons) and/or outright theft or fraud within the public and banking sectors. Sadly, however, corruption has gone from a mere act of accepting bribes to "make ends meet" to one that is simply driven by sheer greed – perhaps, even a sense of entitlement from people in positions of authority. Corruption has become a complete state of mind and a way of life. After all, as it is often said in Pidgin English; “na for where man dey work, na em e go chop”.

Now coming to your question about the EFCC, despite the fact that these white collar criminals almost brought our country’s economy to its knees, our complex criminal justice system, in spite the ACJA of 2015, is almost powerless to deal with them effectively. Why? Because these category of Defendants practically escape justice, mainly not because of their singular and/or collective might, but primarily because it has been so difficult for our law enforcement and anti-graft agencies to establish that a crime has taken place.

Indeed, most white-collar crime goes undetected, unprosecuted, and unpunished. White-collar criminals, are rarely jailed. For the most part, prosecutors really only look at white-collar crime as a property crime, so it gives the perception that there's not as much damage, when in fact the damage is often greater than a common street crime. That said, some of us “white-collar” crime Lawyers will argue that there is no useful purpose served in sending white-collar criminals to jail, simply because it's harder for them to repay money they have stolen from behind bars!! Frankly, if we incarcerate every man or woman who has diverted and/or stolen N10 million, then we might just end up having more people in jail for such crimes than we would for those who have committed acts of sexual violence against women! This simply is the reality of the problem.

So, why is it so difficult to prosecute white-collar criminal cases?

Speaking generally, I believe that vested interests and corruption play a major part in this regard.

Speaking legally, the prosecution of complex “white-collar” crime requires some sophistication, commercial or business acumen, exposure and professional skill. Prosecutors must remember that, their case is only as good as their evidence.

Consequently, they need proper investigations in order to generate sound evidence capable of assisting them in discharging the burden of proof which, only they as prosecutors must carry.

White-collar offences are often far more complex than blue-collar offences. This means that identifying that a crime has taken place is a lot more difficult, as these crimes are committed by more sophisticated defendants who are more likely to eliminate the evidential trail. To this end, investigators and/or prosecutors cannot apply the same technique that they apply to dealing with common criminals to an individual charged with a “white-collar” or financial crime. These cases involve professionals who are accomplished, such as Accountants, Lawyers, businessmen and high-level government administrators. But, those who investigate these crimes, through no fault of their own, do not possess these sophisticated personal or professional attributes, and so they are easily outmanoeuvred by the defendants who are able to retain some of the most experienced and skilled professionals to represent them.

White Collar cases tend to take years, as it can take several years for each side to investigate and present evidence for or against a defendant. In addition, politics very often plays a major role in high profile corruption cases. There is a lot of back and forth between bureaucrats and/or politicians about how to proceed with prosecuting such crimes, how much of a role the government should play, and what the penalties should be. The result - resolution takes months, if not years, because of the administrative/bureaucratic gridlock. It is the combination of these factors that has given rise,

Dr Charles Adeogun-Phillips in recent years, to the use of plea-bargaining in white-collar crime cases.

What is your view on Plea Bargain as is used in Nigeria? Should it be retained?

Some believe that it is just a way of getting high profile offenders off the hook as lightly as possible The challenges outlined in my answer to your last question would suggest that a more effective way of dealing with white-collar crimes, will be for prosecutors/courts to encourage the use of plea bargaining and/ or negotiation techniques as a tool in these sorts of cases, in order to get them moving to save time and very limited resources.

The process of plea bargaining which is provided for in Section 270 of the ACJA, is prevalent for several practical reasons. For example, defendants can avoid the time and cost of defending themselves at trial, the risk of harsher punishment, and the publicity a trial could involve. In the same vein, the prosecution saves the time and expense of a lengthy trial. More importantly, because we operate an adversarial system of criminal justice which is based essentially on the ability of the prosecution to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, both sides, are spared the uncertainty of going to trial. Finally, the administration of criminal justice system, which is already lacking in resources, is saved the burden of conducting criminal trials for every crime charged, thereby reducing the caseload on a system which is already completely stretched and/or overburdened.

Although plea-bargaining is essentially a private process between the prosecution and the defendant/defence Lawyer, it encompasses the need to address the needs and concerns of other stakeholders in the criminal justice process, namely the victims of the crime charged and/ or the wider public. Plea bargaining must be in the overall public interest, the interest of justice, must not give rise to the appearance of an abuse of the legal process, must reflect the gravity of the offence charged, the level of offending and must deliver justice to all the stakeholders in the administration of criminal justice process.

I guess the question we need to ask ourselves is this - Is the existing legal framework in Nigeria adequate for plea-bargaining? Sadly, in my view, despite the obvious benefits of the plea-bargaining process outlined above, the existing legal framework for plea-bargaining in Nigeria as outlined at Section 270 of the ACJA 2015 is completely flawed and perhaps, even deficient in its current form.

In that regard, the provisions of the ACJA suggest that plea negotiation should only be considered where there exists “insufficient” evidence to prove the offences charged. That then provokes the following question; why would any defendant enter into any plea negotiations, when he or she knows that the prosecution cannot prove its case against him or her? In any event, one would have thought that the rules of professional ethics would effectively bar a prosecutor from proceeding to file charges in criminal cases where there is insufficient evidence. For example, Rule 37(5) Rules of Professional Conduct suggests that a prosecutor shall not institute a charge

“…… it has become rather apparent to anyone who has litigated a case before the Apex Court this year, that the Justices are becoming increasingly overwhelmed by the sheer volume of work before the court”

where he knows the charge is not supported by evidence. Isn’t that what it says?

In this regard, whilst it is always the prerogative of the prosecutor to select the charge he/ she wants to prosecute, Sections 236 and 237 of the ACJA itself encourages prosecutors to only select and frame charges that the available evidence can sustain, and in considering accepting pleas to a lesser offence or fewer charges. Common-sense would dictate that the thing to do in such circumstances, would be to withdraw the charges levelled against the defendant for lack of sufficient evidence, would it?

In practical terms, I am of the view that prosecutors must be trained to assess a multiplicity of factors. For example, it is not always true that a defendant who pleads guilty will receive a lenient sentence. Prosecutors must be mindful of the fact that public policy considerations may require that a lengthy sentence be imposed on a defendant even after a plea. This should be the case when the defendant was placed in a position of public trust, and is in breach of such trust. The Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 needs urgency review, to take cognisance of these facts in the context of white-collar criminal trials.

Having had the benefit of operating in more advanced jurisdictions and in Nigeria, what key things do you think Nigeria should do to bring our Judiciary up to speed and ensure its independence?

For one, the Nigerian Judiciary is world famous for being one of the busiest in the world, with the judicial officers being one of the most poorly paid As stakeholders in the administration of justice system, I guess the first question we should ask ourselves is; who is best placed to superintend over the proper administration of a court? In my opinion, we need to employ proper court administrators who do not necessarily have to be Lawyers, but who are experienced in the running of institutions.

Essentially, we need to introduce a central case management system that runs across all the courts. More importantly, there is a need to create more Judges. In England & Wales, they have a system of hiring part- time Judges who are taken from the Bar, who are known as Recorders. These categories of Judges can be tasked to undertake a certain level of cases, leaving the full-time High Court Judges to take control of the heavier caseload. That said, there is need to improve the quality of Judges, they should consider appointing some of them who have distinguished themselves in their careers in legal practice.

Cases that are set down for trial should be given realistic length of trial estimates, and then all trials should run on consecutive days until the conclusion of the evidence. Timetables can then be set for closing addresses and the judgement of the court. I have often wondered why a Judge would be required to read an entire judgement in court, instead of a summary of the said judgement, following which certified copies of the said judgement can be distributed to the parties thereafter. An average judgement in a case before an international court, is typically approximately 400 pages. I cannot imagine any Judge in those courts having to read the entire text in a hearing; it is simply a waste of time and resources. The same should be done with interlocutory rulings.

In addition, I have always wondered why I, as a party in a case, have to apply for a copy of the judgement in my own case. Doesn’t that go without saying? I see no reason why that should be necessary. The fees for obtaining a certified copy of a judgement can be charged

by the court upfront when the filing of the court processes occur, and the judgement should be delivered in summary and copies given to the parties right there in the court. This would save valuable time.

Another major challenge I have in litigating cases in this jurisdiction, concerns the inability of Judges to observe the demeanour of witnesses who testify before them because they are busy recording the proceedings by hand. This is further complicated by the fact that there are no video recordings of court proceedings which the Judges can refer to if necessary, to observe the demeanour of the witnesses that appeared in the case. In that regard, courts should be equipped with court reporters and/or a transcription service, in order to allow the Judges take their own notes only when necessary. This would speed up trials and court proceedings generally, and would also create a new cadre of court professionals known as judicial or court reporters which can either be internally sourced or outsourced to companies that can provide this service and cost will be borne by the parties who can apply for such transcripts at a reasonable cost. This is being done in the High Court within the Lagos State Judiciary, and I hope that it will be extended to the lower courts in that jurisdiction, soon.

Lawyers representing the parties in criminal matters should be required to (i) set out the issues in the cases; (ii) Anything that is not in issue should (if absolutely necessary) be put into written admissions that are agreed by both sides; (iii) the defence should, following a prosecution case summary, submit a defence case statement setting out in broad terms what the accused persons defence to the charge is and what parts of a witness statement is challenged.

Lawyers should be discouraged from raising points of law that have absolutely no merit and are merely used as a way of delaying trials - points of law should be raised and adjudicated on were possible before the trial commences. Lawyers need to be trained in how to prosecute and defend in criminal trials - reminded of the duty a defence Lawyer has to the court, or that as prosecution counsel you are not prosecuting to achieve a conviction at all costs. I am also of the view that there is need to create civil and criminal courts, instead of what currently obtains were most courts hear all types of cases. The present system inherently creates delay, and is simply inimical to effective administration of criminal justice.

With regard to the functioning of the Appellate Courts, especially the Supreme Court, it has become rather apparent to anyone who has litigated a case before the Apex Court this year, that the Justices are becoming increasingly overwhelmed by the sheer volume of work before the court. It is in this regard that I wonder whether the Supreme Court in Nigeria can borrow the practice of the US Supreme Court whose task is limited to interpreting the meaning of a law, to decide whether a law is relevant to a particular set of facts, or to rule on how a law should be applied. To that end, in almost all instances, the Supreme Court does not hear appeals as of right; instead, parties must petition the Court for a writ of certiorari.

It is the Court’s custom and practice to “grant cert” if four of the nine Justices decide that they should hear the case. Of the approximately 7,500 requests for certiorari filed each year, the Court usually grants cert to fewer than 150. These are typically cases that the Court considers sufficiently important to require their review; a common example is the occasion when two or more of the federal courts of appeals have ruled differently on the same question of federal law.

It is my suggestion that we need to adopt such a system whereby the Supreme Court would be able to reject cases on an Appellant’s preliminary brief, say of no more than seven pages, wherein the fault of the lower court is outlined. So, once a panel cont'd on page IX

IX COVER ‘Remuneration of Nigerian Judicial Officers is Appalling’ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

cont'd from page VIII

of three Justices reject your preliminary brief, the matter ends there. Like the American system, a motivating factor for the Justices in accepting to hear such an appeal, will be the possibility of conflicting Court of Appeal authorities. It is my belief that such a system will go a long way in reducing the burden of cases sent to the Apex Court as of right.

Finally, needless to state that I am grossly appalled at the poor remuneration of judicial officers in Nigeria. High Court Judges in the UK in some instances, earn a lot more than the Prime Minister.

I believe that concerted efforts should be made to enhance the remuneration of judicial officers, as this would attract the best quality candidates to the Bench.

Well apart from your precedent-setting international trials before the UN courts, you have also been very active in ligating landmark human rights cases, before the African Court on Human and People’s Rights, can you please talk to us briefly about your work in the area of international human rights?

Between 2013 and 2014, following my departure from the UN, I achieved another first before the African Court on Human and People’s Rights, where I successfully represented the late Rev Christopher Mtikila, the outspoken Tanzanian opposition politician, in a landmark and precedent-setting case against the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, wherein I successfully challenged the constitutional prohibition against independent candidature for election into public office, as a violation the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, the International Convention of Civil and Political Rights, and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. The Mtikila v Tanzania case was a watershed moment in International Human Rights in Africa, as it was the first case to be heard by the African Court on Human and People’s Rights on its merits since its inception in 2004. It was also the first case to be decided by the Court in favour of the Applicant, and the first case before the Court on the issue of reparations.

Holding charges have become so contentious in Nigeria. Some are of the view that it has outlived its usefulness, while some think its continuous retention is necessary. On which side of the divide are you?

A holding charge involves law enforcement agencies arraigning suspects before inferior courts, which clearly lack the jurisdiction to try the offences charged. The goal is to buy time for further investigation or for the receipt of the legal advice of the DPP on the appropriate charges and the appropriate court to file them. Holding charge is used to avoid the constitutional prohibition against detention beyond a period of 24 or 48 hours without producing the suspect before a court of law, as provided in Section 35(4) of the Constitution.

So, this is how it works in practice. Suspect A is arrested on suspicion of having committed manslaughter. He is arrested and charged before a Magistrates’ Court which clearly has no jurisdiction over such an offence, following which he is remanded in prison by the said court having taken a plea to the said offence, pending the time that the Police conclude their investigations into the offence or the legal advice of the Attorney-General.

In Nigeria, holding charges are often brought under the guise of “remand proceedings”. Although used interchangeably, both concepts are completely different. A remand order is the consequential order of the court to detain a suspect in custody, pending further investigations in a criminal trial.

In remand proceedings, charges are not filed, and the suspect is therefore, never arraigned. If the court is satisfied that there is reasonable suspicion of a crime, the suspect is detained for a short period of time, usually 14 days, subject to the court’s discretion to extend such detention time.

The total detention time may not usually exceed 60 days in total, and this can only happen through extension.

What is contemplated in Section 35(4) and (5) of the Constitution is that the person be brought before a court, not necessarily arraigned. This is what makes remand proceedings constitutional. In fact, Section 35(5)(b) of the Constitution contemplates the possibility of detention for a longer time than 45 hours.

Therefore, criminal procedure laws like the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) in Lagos and Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) at the Federal level, provide for remand

Dr Charles Adeogun-Phillips proceedings. Remand orders are granted exparte, and the Court has the discretion to set conditions of bail whether the suspect applies for bail or not during such a proceeding. The suspect is not released until the bail conditions are fulfilled and/ or varied by the same court or a higher court, and then fulfilled.

To that end, detaining a suspect pursuant to a remand order fulfils the constitutional requirements in Section 35(1)(c) of the Constitution, and there will likely be no question of unlawful detention at all. In fact, both the former Criminal Procedure Act and the Criminal Procedure Code Act provide for remand proceedings. So, the ACJL did not introduce it for the first time.

Unlike holding charges, remand proceedings are deemed completely constitutional and supported by the provisions of Section 35(1) of the Constitution. In addition, the Supreme Court, in Lufadeju & Anor v Johnson (2007) LPELR-1795(SC), has held that the pre-trial detention of the suspect on remand is constitutional and valid, and by so doing, laid to rest the controversy between the two concepts.

So, in truth, the concept of a holding charge is completely unknown to Nigerian law. In addition, the concept of a holding charge constitutes a violation of the provisions of Section 35(4)(a)(b) of the Constitution. It also violates Articles 6 and 7 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights which provides for a person’s right to liberty, freedom from arbitrary detention, and to be heard within a reasonable time before a court of competent jurisdiction.

In terms of the jurisprudence of Nigerian Criminal law, the concept of a holding charge has over several years, been subjected to judicial review, wherein several superior courts in Nigeria have declared such practice unlawful and/or unconstitutional. See Olawoye v Commissioner of Police; Enwere v C.O.P; Shagari v Commissioner of Police; Jimoh v C.O.P; Ogori v Kolawole; Onagoruwa v State; Oshinaya v C.O.P; and, in Anaekwe v C.O.P. The practice of holding charge raises quite several fundamental issues including the role of judicial officers and law enforcement agencies in abusing the court process, and by so doing infringing on the fair trial rights of suspects.

On a different stretch, the law mandates the judicial officer before whom a holding charge suit is brought to decline jurisdiction, and direct the FIR or Complaint to the proper court clothed with jurisdiction. The different provisions make this mandatory, and do not require either the alleged offender, the Accused, or his counsel to raise a written or oral preliminary objection before this is recognised.

It is unlawful, then, for a court with no jurisdiction over a matter to take cognisance of the matter, as has become the practice of inferior court judges today. A mere adherence to the requirements of the law will help throw this unconstitutional practice to the confines

“Based on our own circumstances here in Nigeria, criminalising the payment of ransom is an unjustifiable limitation on fundamental rights of Nigerians.…Criminalising ransom is tantamount to asking a woman not to save the life of her dying child because the taste of the medicine is bitter, and that the pharmaceutical company will not cease producing that type of medicine unless it is boycotted. Until there are sweettasting alternatives, it makes no sense to boycott the bitter one”

of extinction, which will ultimately dissuade prosecutors from instituting matters untimely and at the wrong places.

Do you support the criminalisation of ransom payments to kidnappers?

Let me say that criminal laws are intended as a limitation to constitutionally guaranteed human rights, especially, the right to life in the case of the death penalty; the rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement in the case of imprisonment; and the right to own property in the case of fines and forfeiture.

For any limitation placed on the fundamental rights of citizens to be legitimate, it must fulfil three constitutional requirements. Three boxes must be ticked. First, it must be specified by law; second, it must be reasonably justifiable in a democratic society; and third, it must be in the interest of defence, public order, public safety, public morality, public health or to protect the rights and freedoms of others.

The question therefore is this; does the criminalisation of the payment of ransoms to kidnappers (including terrorists and bandits) fulfil these three conditions?

Based on our own circumstances here in Nigeria, criminalising the payment of ransom is an unjustifiable limitation on fundamental rights of Nigerians. Why do I say so? Well, because two things are certain in kidnapping cases in Nigeria. The first is that if you are “a nobody” in Nigeria and you are kidnapped, then you are completely on your own. We all know that our law enforcement brothers and sisters will do little or nothing about your case in good time, even if you “mobilise” them. Secondly, if you fail to pay the ransom demanded, it is almost certain that the detained victim will be killed. That said, I accept that this also happens sometimes even when the ransom is paid. But, the odds are that the detained victim would be released on payment of the ransom. So, you are in a race against time to secure the life of the victim, who is in most cases your loved one.

Self-preservation is an innate instinct of humans. We do all we can, to protect ourselves and our loved ones from harm. Criminalising ransom is tantamount to asking a woman not to save the life of her dying child because the taste of the medicine is bitter, and that the pharmaceutical company will not cease producing that type of medicine unless it is boycotted. Until there are sweet-tasting alternatives, it makes no sense to boycott the bitter one.

The rationale for criminalising the payment of ransom is that it encourages more kidnappings, and serves as a source of funding for the kidnappers. To be honest with ourselves, law enforcement agencies in Nigeria know exactly who the real sponsors of these criminals are.

In fact, they have admitted repeatedly they know who they are. But, how many of these people have been brought to justice to date?

It is my humble view that, the payment of ransom is not what encourages kidnapping in Nigeria. What encourages kidnapping in Nigeria from all indications, is a deliberate policy of the State to allow it to fester by failing to tighten the borders, utilise crucial intelligence and impliedly protecting the sponsors of such criminals. Even Nations who have a policy of not negotiating with terrorists pay ransoms, but just try to be discrete about it. You will recall that only recently, the US proposed exchanging prisoners with the Taliban.

So, punishing payment of ransom with imprisonment, fines, the death penalty etc., especially in the Nigerian context, would constitute an unjustifiable limitation of the fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, freedom of movement and ownership of

property as guaranteed by the Constitution. That a law is enacted, does not make it valid. It can be struck down for unconstitutionality. We have seen that in the case of the Public Order Act in IGP v ANPP (2007) JELR 33842 (CA).

Finally, I note that the criminalisation of paying ransom as reported in the media would be contained in the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2013 (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which had its third reading on 27 April, 2022. However, the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 repealed and replaced the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, No. 10, 2011 which was amended in 2013. It appears the said 2022 Act which came into force on 12 May, 2022, does not contain any provision criminalising payment of ransom. What is criminalised in Section 24 of the 2022 Act is demanding ransom, among other things. This is just like the provisions in various criminal laws in the country.

What is your opinion about the ongoing Nnamdi Kanu case, his extraordinary rendition, and the Court of Appeal judgement discharging him. Would you say that the Nigerian Government has followed due process? Is his continued detention lawful? If not, what are the proper steps that should have been taken?

I have not had the privilege of reading the full judgement of the Court of Appeal. However, from the excerpts of the final orders made by the Court of Appeal as reported in the media, it appears Mr Kanu has not been acquitted of the charges levelled against him. The practical effect of the Court of Appeal’s decision, is simply that the correct procedure was not followed in filing those charges, and that until such a defect has been corrected, those charges cannot be sustained against him.

To that end, it must be said that there is a marked difference between a defendant in a criminal trial being discharged, and a defendant in a criminal trial being acquitted. When a defendant is discharged, that presupposes that the question of whether that defendant has been adjudged as guilty, or not has not been answered at all. A discharge simply means the charges preferred against the defendant have been struck out. In order words, the practical effect of a discharge, is that the charges can be refiled when the defect has been corrected or remedied.

The practical effect of an acquittal on the other hand, is that the question of whether the accused person is guilty of the charges has not only been answered but also decided in the defendant’s favour, following a trial on the merits. The main difference is that acquittal is pursuant to a trial on the merits, while discharge is in the absence of a trial on the merits.

In addition, a discharge does not prevent the application of the double-jeopardy principle (the non bis in idem principle), as the said principle is not applicable without a trial on the merits. The double-jeopardy principle is only applicable to a case which has been tried before a court of competent jurisdiction. In this regard, a discharge by a court on procedural grounds, does not constitute an acquittal of a defendant in criminal proceedings. Accordingly, the defendant who has been discharged cannot invoke the double-jeopardy principle to prevent his subsequent trial on the charges which formed the basis of his discharge.

The Attorney-General of the Federation can refile the charges against Mr Kanu, provided he has cured the procedural defect which led to his discharge in the first place. Alternatively, he can appeal the decision ordering the discharge, on the basis that there were no procedural defects necessitating such discharge. I am not sure if that is what is being done now, as I am not privy to the proceedings. Besides, if the Supreme Court is now seised of the matter, pursuant to an appeal brought by the Federal Government, then, of course, there is a limit to which public comments can be made thereof.

Thank you Dr Adeogun-Phillips.

X

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

My Brief by SKB STEPHEN KOLA-BALOGUN

stephenkolabalogun@yahoo.com

Proposed Appointment of Lawyers to Appellate Courts Raises Concerns Background xactly a month ago, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) requested members to apply to be appointed Judges of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria. In a message to Lawyers dated the 1st day of October, 2022, the President of the NBA, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, informed members of a request by the President of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria requesting that the NBA recommend qualified members of the Bar to help fill 16 vacancies on the Bench in the Court of Appeal, which constitute both present and imminent vacancies.

E

The slots available for nomination are: (a) Two slots for the North-Central geo-political zone (b) Three slots for the North-East geo-political zone (c) Five slots for the North-West geo-political zone (d) Three slots for the South-East geo-political zone (e) Two slots for the South-West geo-political zone (f) One slot for the South-South geo-political zone.

Circuit Judge/Recorder I have long argued that this new approach hasn’t been properly thought through and that it would perhaps, be more ideal if we have a thorough and well thought out consultation process leading to substantive ideas for genuine reform, before embarking on such a far reaching process of change.

Admittedly, although there is a vast backlog of cases at both the High Court and Appellate Court levels of our judicial system that needs to be cleared, what the country really requires is the need to develop a circuit system as presently operates in England and Wales and some other common law jurisdictions. A Barrister or Solicitor who sits as a part-time circuit Judge is referred to as a “Recorder”. Since 1971, the term Recorder has been used for part-time Judicial appointments in England and Wales, designed to give experience of Judicial office to those deemed not yet ready to become full time Judges.

Significantly, it is now the practice to require all full time appointees to the Bench to first have some part-time experience as Judges. Barristers or Solicitors of at least 7 years standing may sit in either the criminal or civil divisions of the English Courts.

They are addressed by their usual title and in some instances as your Honour, paid a daily fee, and are expected to sit part-time as a Judge for between three to six weeks a year. Notably, retired Judges may also sit as Recorders. A similar system exists in Hong Kong, but the position of Recorder is usually restricted to Senior Counsels or Retired Judges, and just as in England and Wales they are expected to sit for between one to three months a year. The same applies in the USA/Canada, where part-time Judges hear misdemeanours, traffic violations and other petty criminal offences.

It will be most ideal to introduce a similar practice here in Nigeria, to help relieve our over burdened Judges of their heavy work load. It would also provide ideal experience for Lawyers desirous of becoming Judges later on in their professional careers, but many of whom due to economic considerations are not yet willing to make such a firm commitment. It would also provide some form of distinction for other senior and hardworking Lawyers who are not qualified to become SANs and, at the same time, are not ready to commit their professional careers to the Bench. Most importantly, this system will help in eradicating corruption from the Bench, since only committed Judges would now aspire to join the Bench full time.

Workings of the Circuit System The system however, can only work in practice on a

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola GCON circuit basis, ideally within our six geo-political Zones. In other words, a Lawyer practising in Lagos will only be qualified to sit as a Recorder in a State away from his normal area of professional practice. For example, a Lawyer practising in Lagos may be sent to Ekiti to serve as a part-time Judge for about three months in the legal year, before later returning to his legal practice. Such a practice would help minimise instances of possible conflicts of interest. They would also assist our over-burdened Judges, particularly with interlocutory applications and other pre-trial issues.

Appellate Level A similar practice may also be of benefit at the appellate level of our Judicial system, where SANs and other senior Lawyers may provide assistance to the Courts as Deputy Judges, but they should be restricted to interlocutory appeals and ideally have garnered experience in this regard sitting in the High Court. In short, it’s premature to start this process at the appellate level.

I think this would be a much better practice to adopt instead of appointing senior Lawyers directly to the Bench as appellate Judges, and as earlier indicated, there is already precedent for this practice in other common law jurisdictions.

In the past here in Nigeria, the practice was to elevate the best of our Magistrates to the High Court to help clear any lingering backlog of cases, but unfortunately, standards have since dropped and a fresh approach is now required.

Some Lawyers have also argued that it is time again to re-invent the era when the likes of late Teslim Elias and late Augustine Nnamani who

“Serving on the Bench is a call to service, and we must respect those who have committed and dedicated themselves to such service. It’s wrong to overlook many of our hardworking Judges who have already gained requisite and valuable experience on the Bench to serve as appellate Judges, in favour of members of the inner and outer Bar”

coincidentally were both Attorney-Generals of the Federation at different times, were appointed straight to the Supreme Court, with even Elias appointed as CJN. With profound respect this was a completely different era, when it was customary to have many talented Nigerians, many of whom were trained abroad, to fill the gaps left by the departing Colonialists. Those times have long gone, and with the abundance of talent trained either here in Nigeria or abroad, we have more than enough qualified Judges to fill any void in our appellate court system.

Having said that, the experience of our senior Lawyers should not be discounted, and could indeed, be useful on the Bench, but as earlier pointed out, only in a part-time capacity as is done in other common law jurisdictions.

Judge Richard Marks, KC Only last week, a woman in England was sentenced to 34 years for murdering and decapitating her friend in a row over money.

Jemma Mitchell, 38, became the first woman in England and Wales to be sentenced live on television for killing Mee Kuen Chong, 67, also known as Deborah, and dumping her headless body in some woodlands more than 200 miles away in Salcombe, Devon, England. Significantly she was sentenced by Judge Richard Marks KC ( the UK equivalent of SAN) who described her as "extremely devious”.

Interestingly Judge Richard Marks, KC, was appointed the 81st Common Serjeant on 3 March, 2015. That’s the second most senior Judge in the Crown Court. The Crown Court is a division of the High Court that deals with criminal matters.

Likewise Judge Anthony Kelly, KC who freed Novak Djokovic from detention on an application for judicial review (before he eventually lost on appeal) after his visa to compete at the Australian Open earlier this year had been revoked by the Australian Minister for Home Affairs. He was appointed to the Federal Circuit Court in 2017 after 30 years as a Barrister and 10 as a KC? What is therefore, obvious from the above examples cited, is that most practising Lawyers first of all gain experience on the Bench at the High Court level. Serving on the Bench is a call to service, and we must respect those who have committed and dedicated themselves to such service. It’s wrong to overlook many of

our hardworking Judges who have already gained requisite and valuable experience on the Bench to serve as appellate Judges, in favour of members of the inner and outer Bar. The Bench ought not to be seen as a parallel career path, to that of a SAN or other Senior Lawyers. The Bench must always be viewed as higher, and it’s dignity maintained. It is for these reasons that Lawyers can’t go straight to the appellate courts, as some want to suggest. They should, and must start at an appropriate level of the High Court, in order to gain valuable experience.

Perhaps, more significantly, their CV should also outline the cases they have handled. That way, we are all made aware of the requisite experience of the Lawyer elevated to the Bench.

Conclusion The common law system is one great piece of heritage bequeathed to us by the departing colonial authorities, and although we are expected to modify the law to suit our peculiar needs and characteristics, we are equally expected as a country to stay abreast of changes that will aid the smooth and efficient administration of justice. A Federal circuit system which is even in use in the US, and which would aid the appointment of Judges and assist those already serving on the Bench, is a practice well worth considering.

There is no doubt that there is a need for a series of radical reforms to improve the efficiency of our judicial system, but whatever wide-ranging changes that is necessary to improve the delivery of our justice system, needs to be carefully thought out and considered.

Perhaps, more importantly, is the question – who should be in charge of the administration of our justice system, bearing in mind the need to retain the independence of the Judiciary at all times? The Judiciary, by making direct reference to the NBA to fill voids in its appellate structure, may indirectly be eroding its independence. In the same vein, it is not about Lawyers looking for a new challenge or motivation after making millions in legal practice, it is more about a call to service with the requisite and necessary experience.

A Law or Act establishing the part-time Judge will be one step towards garnering that experience, without the need to jump the queue by landing directly in the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court, and in so doing, we will be developing a pragmatic approach, rather than a superficial approach to justice.

1.11.2022

/XI

XII/

1.11.2022

1.11.2022

/XIII

XIV/

1.11.2022

XV

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022

FEATURES

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

Tackling PipelineVandalism, Crude Oil Theft Headlong As part of measures to tackle the increasing spate of pipeline vandalism, operatives of the Commandant General Special Intelligence Squad of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have intensified efforts to curb the menace. Rebecca Ejifoma reports that the squad has in multiple marathon operations confiscated more than 420,875 litres of allegedly adulterated and illegally refined petroleum products, sealed several petrol dump sites and doctored waybills, as well as arrested culprits from Abuja to Bauchi, Edo, Ondo, Nasarawa, and Plateau between September and October 2022

The CG's squad at one of the illegal refineries

Some seized tankers laden with stolen crude

F

state. They demanded a ransom of N10 million from him but got N1 million only from him while awaiting 10 million.

Reports further have it that, do operate with 2 AK weapons and marches-sticks. Furthermore, he confessed to having been involved in cattle rustling. According to the operatives around Abaji, Muhammed and his cohorts stole over 40 cows in a night and shared them among themselves.

Thus, he got four cows as his cut and sold them at N30,000 to a butcher in Nasarawa LGA. Among his accomplices as he listed are Nasiru, Lambu, Jamilu and Boje (still at large). The suspect has been handed over to the Commandant NSCDC Nasarawa State Command for further investigation and Prosecution.

or the Commandant General Special Intelligence Squad (CG's SIS) of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the gains recorded in the fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism is one that must be sustained.

In its quest to protect the nation's critical assets and infrastructure, they have in marathon operations confiscated more than 420,875 litres of allegedly adulterated and illegally refined petroleum products, sealed several petrol dump sites and doctored waybills, as well as arrested culprits from Abuja to Bauchi, Edo, Ondo, Nasarawa, and Plateau between September and October 2022 Operation on Ore Expressway Stationed on Ifosu, Benin-Ore expressway, Edo and Ondo States and at Ajebamidele OreLagos expressway at 9.40 am and 12 pm on Wednesday, October 12 and Thursday, October 13, the operatives intercepted three trucks and one Volkswagen Salon Car laden with over 140,000 litres of suspected adulterated and illegally refined petroleum products (AGO). They proceeded to impound the trucks, and also seized two forged waybills which paved the way for the arrest of eight suspects, a sequel to an intelligence report.

Meanwhile, at noon on 13th October, this year around Ajebamidele Opposite Adolak filling station on Ore - Lagos Express Way, Ondo State, SIS operatives stormed on another truck conveying over 50,000 litres of suspected adulterated and illegally refined AGO that loaded at another illegal oil dump in Same Edo State and was also heading to Lagos before the arrest. The driver and motor boy all confessed to the crime and were taken into custody alongside the track and the forged waybill.

While eight suspects were nabbed, three exhibit trucks and two forged waybills and a red Volkswagen saloon car with registration number REE 620 OKP were seized.

Busted Petrol Dump Sites in Edo Again, the CG'SIS operatives intercepted, nabbed and impounded two trucks conveying large quantities of suspected adulterated and illegally refined AGO estimated at over 85,000 litres loaded from two illegal dump sites in Edo State and heading to Lagos.

While one of the trucks broke down on the way, the squad secured it for 48 hours before getting a mechanic that fixed it to enable it to be moved from Ore to Akure. Both the trucks, the two drivers and the two truck boys were apprehended and taken into custody while one forged waybill was recovered.

Sealing Illegal Petroleum Products Dump Site In yet another strategic and pragmatic approach following intelligence tip-off, the CG'SIS operatives raided an illegal petroleum product dump site that specialises in illegal storage of suspected vandalised, illegally refined and Adulteration of

Some suspects Petroleum products, most especially AGO at 5.52 pm on October 20 this year at Agbor Junction on Benin-Asaba Express road, under the high tension electric cables in Benin, Edo State.

It was, however, gathered that after the adulteration, the suspects would reload and transload into long and peddler trucks for sale to the general public. Although the suspects were said to have taken to their heels upon sighting the SIS men, two men were apprehended.

The operatives did not only seal the dump site, but they also confiscated over 300,000 litres of suspected doctored AGO, three pumping machines, one generator, and two surface tanks containing suspected adulterated and illegally refined AGO. Other exhibits recovered are two empty surface tanks, three trucks containing such products and nine empty trucks on a fenced land of about 100 by 50 size.

Seizure of 16,000 AGO Products Again, in line with its mandate to clamp down on oil vandals across the nation, the CG SIS men intercepted and arrested a short truck transporting about 7,000 litres of suspected vandalised, illegally refined and adulterated AGO. The personnel further discovered an unlawful oil dump yard with about 9,600 litres of suspected same diluted AGO in two of its surface tanks at Egba community on Benin Auchi Express road in Edo state.

Acting on credible intelligence, the CG SIS men accosted a short paddle truck with plate number LSD 385 XD that was believed to be transporting

suspected contaminated AGO at Ogege road Benin express road on its way to distribute the products. However, during the arrest of the truck, the driver and the motor boy were painstakingly interrogated. According to the officers, the nabbed men confessed to having loaded the products from an illegal dump at Ogba community along Benin Auchi express road, Edo State.

The squad immediately moved to the dump site and cordoned, sealed and confiscated exhibits including a short truck with a white head, plate number LSD 385 XD with N7,000 illegal products of AGO, over 9,600 litres of suspected illegally refined and adulterated AGO in two surface tanks, two empty surface tanks, one short truck made of Volvo with plate number SMK 349 XD empty tank, 17 drums, five with engine oil, a white Hilux van with plate number BDG 405XR, and two Golf cars with plate number KSF 570 CG and AKD 405XR. Following the busting of the alleged criminal acts, the suspects arrested are Goodluck China age 35; Fidelis Ogwuemiti age 32; Philip Olawale age 41; Roland Ogwu age 38 and Onime Daniel age 27.

Kidnapper, Cattle Rustler Land in CG SIS Net On Thursday, September 1, 2022 at 1 pm in the Tsafe area, the CG's SIS arrested 25-year-old Tukur Muhammed aka TK. He is an indigene of Mararaba village of Tsafe LGA from Zamfara State. He was said to have confessed to being an informant to bandits. Reports also have it that he belongs to a notorious gang kidnapping and cattle rustling syndicate that specialises in stealing cows and in kidnapping for ramson around Abaji and Nasarawa LGA and across the state and the FCT and its environs.

Tukur Muhammed divulged that he and his cohorts were responsible for the kidnapping of Mallam Ibrahim at Nasarawa LGA in Nasarawa

Marathon Hunt The personnel further sealed an illegal petrol dump site of over 54,000 litres of suspected vandalised illegally refined adulterated AGO. In another marathon hunt, at 10.52 am on 28th October 2022 in the Daki Biyu area of Jabi, Abuja Municipal Area Council, FCT. Based on Intelligence Tip-off, The CG's SIS Operatives raided an illegal Petroleum product dump site that specializes in illegal storage of suspected vandalised, illegally refined and Adulteration of Petroleum products, most especially AGO, after the Adulteration, they do reload into long and peddler trucks for sales to the general public within FCT and its environs.

The Squad on arrival at the said dump immediately cordoned it off and arrested the following suspects including Odeh George age 42 and MD/CEO); Kheata Onemiye age 36 and staff; Obinna Ugwuzor age 23 and truck driver; Ibrahim Mohammed age 35 Kaduna, engineer to the dump.

The SIS team sealed up the illegal dump site. Exhibits confiscated are five trucks with one loaded with 30,000 litres of suspected adulterated AGO; four surface tanks with two loaded with suspected AGO 11,000 and 13,000 litres; one pumping machine; one generator; five cake of 25 litres with black oil; two drums of AGO 30 litres and 60 litres; two-way bills; two number plates with registration numbers DSZ 501 XA and MUS 465 XY respectively; one Den gun; one pump action with the batch number 12-1703; and six cartridges.

Aside from the illegal operation of the oil dump, George was said to have conspired with others at his dump to conceal the death of one Babao Ahmed, a male from Kaduna state early this October 2022.

The victim was said to be his staff. He died while washing a surface tank at his illegal oil dump located at plot 208, Daiki Biu, Jabi Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

To wind up the clandestine operations, the illegal dump sites and every recovered exhibit in all the arrests made were handed over to the Commandant, NSCDC, Edo State Command, for further investigation and prosecution.

XVI

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT World Headed for Climate Catastrophe, Needs Urgent Action, Says UN Secretary-General Bennett Oghifo

U

nited Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that unless countries dramatically scale up their efforts to counter the climate crisis, the world faces a global catastrophe, stating that the window to take urgent climate

action is closing rapidly.

Guterres’ comments come upon the recent release of the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP’s) Emissions Gap Report 2022, which shows that under current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the world is headed for 2.8 degrees of global heating by the end of the century.

Simply put, an NDC is

a climate action plan to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts. Each party to the Paris Agreement is required to establish an NDC and update it every five years. Despite a call for strengthened NDCs for 2030, UNEP’s report finds that progress since COP26 in Glasgow last year has been inadequate.

“The recommendations in

today’s report are clear,” said Guterres. “End our reliance on fossil fuels. Avoid a lock-in of new fossil fuel infrastructure.

Invest massively in renewables.

“Commitments to net zero are worth zero without the plans, policies and actions to back it up. Our world cannot afford any more greenwashing, fake movers or late movers,” he added. “We must close the

emissions gap before climate catastrophe closes in on us all.”

Guterres’ warning comes less than two weeks before the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), where global leaders will discuss ways to tackle the climate emergency – from building resilience and adapting to its impacts to financing climate action.

As climate impacts intensify, the Emissions Gap Report 2022 finds that only an urgent system-wide transformation can avoid an accelerating climate disaster. The report looks at how to deliver this transformation through action in the electricity supply, industry, transport and buildings sectors, and the food and financial systems.

CORBON Seeks Building Code Bill’s Amendment, Collaboration with Professionals, States to Administer Construction Sites Bennett Oghifo The Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria, (CORBON) has said it is seeking an amendment to the National Building Code Bill, being addressed by the National Assembly, to enable it to monitor construction sites, in collaboration with building industry professionals and agencies of state governments.

“We have presented an

amendment to the National Assembly, which they have graciously accepted, and in the amendment, we are taking on the entire capacity of workers and operatives in the building site,” said the Chairman of CORBON, Bldr.

Samson Opaluwah, stated this at an annual general meeting of the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) in Lagos, recently.

Opaluwah explained CORBON’s plan to collaborate with governments and professionals and gave the reason for the launch of the Project Evaluation and Monitoring Unit (PEMU) of CORBON, saying, “Every agency of government has a profile, has something that was set up to address. All of them that interface with building construction and management, we will interface with them, we

Pentagon Real Estate Hands Over Homes to NAMA Cooperative Bennett Oghifo A private developer, Messrs Pentagon Real Estate Investment Limited has allocated exquisite designed houses to members of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) staff cooperative in Mowe, Ogun State.

The estate known as its Mainland Park Regal Estates sits on a landmass of over 60 hectares of land, covered by a global Certificate of Occupancy in favour of the company.

The houses were delivered to NAMA cooperative subscribers through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN)’s National Housing Fund (NHF) programme, while Omooluabi Mortgage Bank Ltd, now Living Trust Mortgage Bank facilitated the transactions.

The entire estate consists of 1,500 units and developed in eight phases, with each phase ready for occupation upon completion with all attendant facilities and infrastructure. The first Phase has 100 plus houses already built, fully occupied out of the the 200 houses projected, while construction is ongoing in the first phase.

Also, the house types comprises two, three and four bedroom bungalows; four and five bedroom duplexes with boys quarters, while two and three bedroom maisonettes are planned in subsequent developments.

Among amenities provided in the Mainland Park Regal project are constant power supplies from a dedicated industrial line from the national grid, portable water with water treatment facilities and sewage treatment facilities.

Others facilities are 15,000 square metre of open spaces for green and play area, well-lit streets with well-interlocked estate roads, car lots for each house, covered drains and walkways and 24-hour security (mobile police and civil security).

Speaking at the handover of the houses to the cooperative, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Pentagon Real Estates, Rev. Kennedy Okoruwa, said the Mainland Park is a unique city that must be experienced.

“We are creating a distinct neighbourhood life that harbours superb residential, recreational, and commercial facilities, crowning these with

amazing infrastructural tentacles to welcome a teeming population of visionary people that place a high premium on excellence and quality,” he said.

Okoruwa said it has been a journey, which came to reality, “I remember us coming here and we assuring you that we will help to facilitate access to the NHF. Today, it is a great joy that our dream led to the possibility of having sustainable home and the vision is being interpreted.

“God will always give us nature, but it is the responsibility of man to create an environment out of nature. It is whatever we build that becomes a reality. We are particular about the building, as its meant to last a lifetime.”

The General Manager/Chief Operating Officer, Pentagon Real Estate Investment Limited, Ike Atuonwu, pledged to assist other NHF contributors and cooperatives to own houses in the estate.

He said Nestle staff cooperative and other multinational entities have indicated interest to domicile their staff home ownership scheme through the NHF window at Mainland Park Regal.

will have dealings with them and we will collaborate with them, but how the government chooses to run the governance in each state is the business of government and politicians, but we are professionals. So, whatever organisation they set up, we will work with them.”

According to him, “The Project Evaluation and Monitoring Unit of CORBON is our response to the management gaps on the building construction sites in the country. You are all aware of the incessant building collapse that has peaked recently and we have decided to take the bull by the horns, and to make sure that as registered builders in Nigeria, we provide the platform for stopping that unfavorable occurrence in our nation.”

He said one of the first things the monitoring units would do is to make sure that every site is being implemented, in other words, the practices, the building technology, the methodology,

its responsibility if professionals in that nation don’t take the mantle of their own responsibility, because there are no other builders that are Nigerians, we are the builders that are Nigerians and we have arisen.

“Anybody that is embarking on wrong practices on site already knows that the day we will catch up with him has come and we advised them to hire professionals and competent building professionals to handle their projects, particularly developers. “We are concerned about their loss of investment that happens every time a building collapses. That is a loss to the national economy and we will not want that to continue, because we are here to protect their investments as well. So, we call on them that anybody putting up a structure should engage a competent and registered Builder and we have registered them and they are all over the country.”

Trend Micro Looks to Close Skills Gap with Innovative Training Programme Fadekemi Ajakaiye The current global cybersecurity skills shortage is putting businesses and individuals across the board at increased risk. As the threat landscape continues to expand, intervention is crucial.

The cybersecurity space has recently seen rapid growth due to the massive increase in digitalisation, expanding the attack surface. Many organisations have struggled to keep up with the demand for skilled cybersecurity talent.

In fact, a recent ESG report 1 showed around 70% felt their organisation had been negatively impacted by the global skills shortage which has left over 3.5 million positions unfilled2.

While Africa has seen great improvement in technology investment, especially in Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa, the continent, like most others, faces a significant cybersecurity skills shortage. Although the region is typically overlooked when it comes to technology, Sub-Saharan Africa is home to

the largest youth population3 and some of the fastest-growing economies. Building digital skills in the region is essential to Africa remaining competitive in the future.

However, doing so is impossible without investment from the businesses and government organisations that so desperately need the skilled workforce to remain viable. One company that is committed to closing the cybersecurity skills gap is Trend Micro, a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions.

LSDPC Begins Activities to Mark 50th Anniversary Fadekemi Ajakaiye

General Manager/Chief Operating Officer, Pentagon Real Estate Investment Limited, Ike Atuonwu; Unit Head, Flower Gate Nestle factory Foods, Shagamu, Comrade Makinde; senior staff of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr. Bimbo Olumogba; MD/CEO, Pentagon Real Estate, Rev. Kennedy Okoruwa; Chairman, NAMA Staff Cooperative, Lagos chapter, Mr. Uchechukwu Duru, during the handover of the houses to NAMA Cooperative in Mowe, Ogun State… recently

the processes on site are in accordance with the National Building Code and the laws setting up all the professions that operate in the building environment.”

He said prior to the launch of the monitoring unit, “we were mostly concentrated on registered builders but we have realised the fact that registered builders alone cannot produce a building, so everyone that operates on the site apart from our colleague professionals that interface with us on the building site, those that were responsible for the technologies the technicians the artisans and even the unskilled labourers, we will bring them under our purview and we will regulate them. That is the essence of the amendment.”

He described the launch of the monitoring unit as a milestone and a sign that the nation was rising to its responsibility and that “the nation cannot arise to

Lagos State Development & Property Corporation will begin activities today to mark its 50th anniversary of providing homes in the state.

The Managing Director/ CEO of LSDPC, Hon. Ayodeji Joseph, who addressed the media yesterday, stated that “the 50th anniversary of LSDPC is a proud milestone for us as a Corporation, as we have proven to be a prime example of transformation and have forged strong and mutually beneficial public

and private partnerships in recent times.”

Hon Joseph said “To celebrate this occasion, we will be collaborating with the Association of Housing Corporation of Nigeria (AHCN) to host the International Conference and Exhibition tagged- Africa 2022 which will take place on the 1st – 3rd of November, 2022. The third day of the conference will hold a special symposium to celebrate LSDPC’s 50 years of Housing Delivery in Lagos State.”

He said the symposium is themed “Unfolding

Arms to Join Hands: Moving the Lagos Property Market Forward”. It will focus on topics ranging from enhancing housing availability, effective stakeholder relationships, public/ private partnerships, and standardization of policies.

The speakers for the day are the President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Tpl. Toyin Ayinde and the Chairman, Lagos Building Investment Company, Mr. Hakeem Ogunniran. This event will also feature key players and stakeholders in the built industry.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022

27

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

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

08056356325

O C T O B E R

S & P INDEX

3 1 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

10.25%

INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

9.56%

1-DAY

0.16%

YEAR TO DATE

7.64%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10.52%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.44%

Fitch: Nigeria, Others to Face Mass Poverty, Displacements as Climate Change Intensifies

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The negative effect of climate change will massively impact Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African countries before the global pledge to end carbon emissions by 2050 and Nigeria’s commitment to join in 2060, a Fitch Solution Industry Risk and Country Research, has stated.

Nigeria and other African countries remain the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, even though they contribute less than 3 per cent to the global emissions footprint.

Nigeria faces a wide range of aftermath results, including increased floods, and some drought, which is expected to decrease food production as well as inundation of its coastal zones and deltas, spread of waterborne diseases and risk of malaria, and changes in natural ecosystems as well as loss of biodiversity.

Total available water in the large basins on the continent has decreased by 40–60 per cent and many climate models project declining mean precipitation in the already-dry regions.

Last year, at the 2021 United

Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, President Muhammadu Buhar pledged that Nigeria would cut its emissions to net zero by 2060 and urged developed countries to make available the $100 billion yearly commitment to the continent.

But in its latest report, Fitch stated that the rising global temperatures have caused more frequent and extreme weather events in SubSaharan Africa (SSA).

Referencing the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, it stated that by 2030, about

250 million people may experience high water stress in Africa, with up to 700 million people displaced as a result.

“We expect that more mass internal displacements and cross-border migrations in SSA will exacerbate ethnic tensions and increase competition for already scarce resources, encouraging governments to adopt more restrictive immigration policies.

“We also expect that there will be an increase in poverty and economic inequality as a result of climate change, creating fertile ground for social unrest.

“Between 2022-2031, we expect that the number of climate-induced internal displacements in the continent will increase as temperature continues to rise,” the agency said in its monthly outlook presentation.

It explained that rising resource competition through cross-border migration could also encourage more restrictive immigration policies in the long term, stating that ethnic tensions exacerbated by climate change will be used by those using ethnic nationalist politics or outright secessionism.

“We expect that Hausa-Fulani

people in northern Nigeria, who face rising climate risk, will increasingly migrate southwards to more Igbo- and Yoruba-dominated states, fuelling southern separatist movements,” it projected.

The report stated that the Sahel of which North-eastern Nigeria is part, will be particularly vulnerable to intensified resource conflict as a result of higher temperatures, causing drier conditions in the semi and arid regions.

“We expect that land and water Continued on page 28

World Bank: Elevated Energy, Commodity Prices, Currency Devaluation Responsible for Skyrocketing Food Prices Gilbert Ekugbe The World Bank has stated that the shrinking value of the currencies of most developing economies is deepening the food and energy crises that many of them are already facing.

The multilateral institution stated this in the latest edition of its Commodity Markets Outlook, adding

that in the first three quarters of 2022, food-price inflation in South Asia averaged more than 20 per cent while food price inflation in other regions, including Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, averaged between 12 and 15 per cent during the first three quarters of 2022.

According to World Bank, the shrinking value of the currencies of most developing economies is also driving up food and fuel prices in ways that could deepen the food and energy crises that many of them already face.

Meanwhile, World Bank has predicted that agricultural prices are expected to decline by five per cent next year, adding that

FOOD

COMMODITIES

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

RICE

100KG

ABUJA

N23,000–N25,000

SORGHUM

50KG

OYO

N22,000-N25,000

50KG

PLATEAU (JOS)

N23,500-N25,000

50KG

KWARA N24,000–N27,000

50KG

LAGOS

50KG

RIVERS N23,000–N26,500

50KG 50KG

wheat prices in the third quarter of 2022 fell nearly 20 per cent but remained 24 per cent higher than a year ago.

It said: “The decline in agricultural prices in 2023 reflects a better-thanprojected global wheat crop, stable supplies in the rice market, and the resumption of grain exports from Ukraine. Metal prices are projected to decline 15 percent in 2023, largely

SIZE

PRICE

STATE

100KG JIGAWA

NAME OF COMMODITY

N9,000

C O C OA

BENUE

N8,500

100KG

KADUNA

N8,500

50KG

ENUGU

N23,000

50KG

LAGOS

N17,000

SOKOTO N11,500–N13,000

100KG

DELTA

N23,000

N17,000–N20,000

100KG

ABIA

N23,000

EDO

“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.”

For the Director of the World Bank’s Prospects Group and EFI Continued on page 28

T O D AY

PRICE

100KG

N23,000–N26,500

because of weaker global growth and concerns about a slowdown in China.”

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

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

1 TON

ONDO

N740,000 – N760,000

1 TON

OSUN

N730,000 – N750,000

1 TON

EDO

N720,000 – N740,000

1 TON

CROSS RIVER

N700,000 – N720,000

1 TON

AKURE SOUTH, ONDO

N730,000 — N755,000

28

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS FOOD

NAME OF COMMODITY

PALM OIL

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

25CL LAGOS N20,000-N25000 25CL

PH

NAME OF COMMODITY

TOMATOES

N19,500 – 25,000

COMMODITIES SIZE

STATE

40KG BENUE

PRICE

N15,000

40KG

KADUNA

N5,000

40KG

ABIA

N18,000

25CL IBADAN N18,000-N22,000 25CL

IMO

N21,000–N24,500

25CL

EDO

N19,000–N21,000

25CL ABUJA

N19500- N25000

25KG LAGOS

N9,500

40KG DELTA

N17000

PRICE

T O D AY

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

ONIONS

100KG

IBADAN

N25,000

100KG

KANO

N10,000

100KG

BENUE

N27,000

100KG GOMBE

N12,000

100KG DELTA

N21,000

100KG LAGOS

N25,000

100KG ENUGU

N15,000

100KG

N29,000

ABIA

NAME OF COMMODITY

MAIZE

LOCATION

PRICE

100KG JIGAWA

N9000

100KG ENUGU

N24000

100KG DELTA

N15000

100KG ABIA

N14000

50KG LAGOS

N13500

SIZE

IEA: Renewable Energy Investment Needs to Triple, Hit $1.3trn by 2030 to Realise 2050 Goals Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Investment in renewables must more than triple to $1.3 trillion annually by 2030 if the world is to reach netzero emissions by 2050, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has said in a report.

Previously, the agency had estimated that clean energy would need $1 trillion in

annual investment to reach the climate goals.

In the World Energy Outlook 2022 published Thursday, the IEA said that electricity generation from renewables needs to see one of the largest increases in investment in the Net Zero Emissions (NZE) Scenario, rising from $390 billion in recent years to $1.3 trillion

by 2030.

This level of annual spending in 2030 would be equal to the highest level ever spent on fossil fuel supply, $1.3 trillion spent on fossil fuels in 2014, the IEA said.

Concerns about fuel prices, energy security, and emissions – bolstered by stronger policy support – are

brightening the prospects for many low emissions fuels, the IEA said.

Clean energy investment is massive today, but it needs to rise much more if the world has a chance to get to net zero by 2050.

“A huge increase in energy investment is essential to reduce the risks of future price spikes and volatility,

and to get on track for net zero emissions by 2050,” the IEA added.

“Governments should take the lead and provide strong strategic direction, but the investments required are far beyond the reaches of public finance. It is vital to harness the vast resources of markets and incentivize private actors to play their

part,” the agency noted.

According to the report, for every $1 spent globally on fossil fuels, $1.5 is spent on clean energy technologies.

Under the NZE Scenario, every $1 spent on fossil fuels needs to be outmatched by $5 spent on clean energy supply and another $4 on efficiency and end uses by 2030.

COP27: FAO to Convene Local, Global Actors for Agrifood Transformation Gilbert Ekugbe The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has announced that it would convene local, national and global actors in its quest to seek solutions that would transform agri-food systems and make them more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable to ensure that no one is left behind in the efforts to eradicate hunger and malnutrition.

In a statement obtained from its website, the UN food body said that it would be having its first ever food and agriculture pavilion jointly hosted with the Rockefeller Foundation at COP 27 that is scheduled to hold from November 6 to 18 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

The FAO Director-General, Mr. QU Dongyu, said: “We are proud to have our first ever Food and Agriculture Pavilion at COP27, which is timely with the launch of the two new thematic

FAO Strategies on Climate Change, and on Science and Innovation, to be implemented in synergy.”

As world leaders gather for COP27, communities around the world are grappling with the compounded impacts of a global pandemic, growing pressures from the

climate crisis, high energy and fertilizer prices, and protracted conflicts, which have disrupted production and supply chains and dramatically increased global food insecurity, especially for the most vulnerable.

The Executive Managing Director, CGIAR, Claudia

Sadoff, said: “Supporting the transformation of food, land and water systems in a climate crisis is CGIAR’s mission and the stakes have never been higher.

Millions more people are on the brink of food insecurity and threats to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers are increasing. We

are honored to collaborate with FAO and The Rockefeller Foundation to ensure that these important issues are firmly on the agenda of this year’s COP.” On his part, the President of The Rockefeller Foundation, Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, said: “Climate change is a singular threat to humanity, and

we cannot fully address it without building equitable, resilient, and sustainable food systems that nourish both people and planet.

Good ideas and actions for transforming our food systems can come from anyone, and we are proud to support a space where knowledge can be shared.”

Stakeholders Insist Nigeria Must Consider Local Priorities in Executing Energy Transition Plan Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Various stakeholders, including the Nigerian Extractives Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NGRI) have stressed that Nigeria’s pledge for transitioning away from fossil fuel must be balanced with local aspirations and priorities.

In a communiqué made

available in Abuja after the one-day dialogue on the global energy transition hosted by the NEITI, NRGI and BudgIT Foundation, stakeholders noted that a decline in fossil fuel consumption globally would be detrimental to Nigeria’s economy, with negative implications for livelihoods, as women and other vulnerable groups bear the brunt.

The participants said it

was critical for the plan to be responsive to the Nigerian context and the realities of the Nigerian people face.

The groups also decried the non-alignment of the Nigerian energy transition plan with the national development plan and Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), noting that it could pose an impediment to its implementation.

Other challenges, they stated, include lack of adequate infrastructure, connectivity and cost-reflective framework, which could threaten the successful implementation of the natural gas ambitions under the energy transition plan.

At the end of the dialogue, participants urged the government and other stakeholders to ensure that the plan translates into an

implementable action plan which is inclusive.

The dialogue also stressed the need to operate the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to facilitate the use of gas as a transition fuel and decarbonisation, while the federal government should be explicit on the delivery mechanism of the energy transition and how the green economy would translate to job creation for Nigerians.

WORLD BANK: ELEVATED ENERGY, COMMODITY PRICES, CURRENCY DEVALUATION RESPONSIBLE FOR SKYROCKETING FOOD PRICES Chief Economist, Ayhan Kose, “the combination of elevated commodity prices and persistent currency depreciations translates into higher inflation in many countries.

“Policymakers in emerging market and developing economies 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 outlook for commodity prices is subject to many risks.

Energy markets face significant supply concerns as worries about the availability of energy during the upcoming winter will intensify in Europe.

Higher-than-expected energy

prices could feed through to non-energy prices, especially food, prolonging challenges associated with food insecurity. A sharper slowdown in global growth also presents a key risk, especially for crude oil and metals prices.

“The forecast of a decline in

agricultural prices is subject to an array of risks,” the Senior Economist in the World Bank’s Prospects Group, John Baffes, said.

“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; 2023 is likely to be the third La Niña year in a row, potentially reducing yields of key crops in South America and Southern Africa, “he warned.

FITCH: NIGERIA, OTHERS TO FACE MASS POVERTY, DISPLACEMENTS AS CLIMATE CHANGE INTENSIFIES disputes will intensify and could spread, as Sahelian communities fleeing violence migrate to other areas, increasing intercommunal crisis and regional insecurity.

“We expect that there will be increase in poverty and economic inequality as a result of climate change, creating fertile ground for social unrest.

“Given budgetary constraints, security issues and inadequate access to irrigation systems, the continent’s agricultural sector lacks resilience to extreme weather events,” Fitch added.

It therefore gave Sub-Saharan Africa as a whole a score of 50.5 out of 100 (lower scores imply higher risks) in its proprietary Long-Term

Political Risk Index (LTPRI), stressing that the score is largely weighed down by the score of 39.0 in the ‘characteristics of society’ component of its LTPRI. According to the report, the harsher climate conditions will likely lead to increased unemployment and income loss among the rural population and will raise food

insecurity in both rural and urban areas as crops are damaged, causing an uptick in food prices.

While more climate disasters could increase the amount of humanitarian food aid coming in to Nigeria and Sub-Saharan areas, it noted that this could also trigger more clashes between security forces and armed groups, particularly in

West and East Africa, where there have been multiple instances of insurgents and armed bandits stealing food supplies to sustain themselves.

In other African countries, it stated that Ethiopia for instance, has been constructing the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) project on the Blue Nile since 2011,a

development that has raised tensions with Egypt and Sudan over fears the dam would disrupt the water supply to the two downstream countries.

In August 2022, Fitch noted that Ethiopia completed the third-stage filling of the dam, despite the disapproval of Egyptian and Sudanese officials.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022

29

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Komolafe: Oil Theft Causing Consistent Shut-in of 1.2m bpd Production In a session to mark the one-year anniversary of the inauguration of the management of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Chief Executive, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, speaks on how much the regulatory agency has achieved during the period and aspirations for the future. Emmanuel Addeh presents the excerpts.

Oil theft is a big challenge. Aside the means of tackling it, which are already in the public space, tell us what else you are doing to stop it. part from the fact that we are a regulatory commission, we are also involved in finding non-kinetic solutions to crude oil theft. Part of this responsibility is to make sure that the host communities regulation was quickly developed. Reason being that although the law has been passed, but we needed to have regulations that will give meaning to the intent of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to fully operationalise it.

As we speak, that host community regulation has been passed and gazetted in conjunction with other stakeholders. As a matter of fact, it is now law. Stakeholders were carried along in making that happen. So, it has been gazetted and we have started operationalising it.

The PIA provides for 3 per cent of operating expenditure of the oil companies, which will be set aside for the host community development fund, which the commission will strictly monitor. Our role is that we are setting clear guidelines, which we have already started.

Trustees are being set up. So, in that respect, what is happening is that the commission will ensure the settlors or operators actually mandatorily make sure it works and the commission is ensuring that that is adequately done in line with the provisions of the law.

By implication, we are ensuring the sensitisation of the oil communities in that respect so that they can actually know their obligations and benefits under the host communities provision under the PIA. The Health, Safety Environment and Community department is embarking on its processes and we expect that it will have positive impact in tackling crude oil theft because part of the challenge coming from our engagement with those communities is the lack of jobs. We are ensuring that the host communities are carried along.

Very soon , the host communities will see that the government and the law see them as critical stakeholders that are recognised and whose needs are being met. And very soon we will begin to see the results as they see themselves as critical stakeholders who should protect the assets. We are also giving attention to hydrocarbons accounting to accurately account for the volume of crude produced and we are collaborating with the intelligence agencies.

Earlier, you mentioned that the nation has about 37 billion barrels reserves. Do these include those in the frontier basins? And how have you met your projected revenue to government?

At the beginning of the year we declared the national crude oil and gas reserves, which are 37 billion barrels and 208 TCF. As for revenue, we have met our budget because what happens is that yearly we have a revenue budget and we surpassed our budget in 2021.

And as of the third quota we have moved very close to achieving that of 2022 and we are assuring the nation that at the end of the year, the commission will achieve its target.

And on the audit of crude oil volume, we actually set a task for ourselves, and the reason was that we were having different figures being bandied around as figure for crude theft.

And for us as a commission, we’re not just talking about figures, we are talking about national revenue. Like I said, we are committed to transparent accounting of the nation’s hydrocarbons resources. So we realise that it is very important for us to be able to have the forensic figure in that respect. So that exercise was designed by the commission and as I speak, the exercise is ongoing and

A

Komolafe

we intend that towards the end of the year, the report will be made available to the nation.

What are the biggest challenges you have faced in the last one year?

We have the capacity to meet our quota production of 1.8 million barrels per day within the shortest possible time. What we are losing oscillates between 80,000 and 100,000 barrels per day. And for us as a commission, one area that led to poor oil production is the downtime we are having at Forcados line and the line is critical. We have been working with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and with the coming on stream of that line, it has the capacity to shore up production by 350,000 to 400,000 barrels per day. If you add that, you will find out that we will be oscillating around 1.5 million barrels per day. So, that will take us close to our Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota.

We are doing everything possible to ensure that shut-in wells begin to produce.

We are engaging all the operators and we just finished with a particular operator and the target is to have clarity around their operations, work programmes and challenges.

We have equally set up an operations committee to identify the shut-in wells to have visibility around the volume of shut-in. That exercise was carried out and with these engagements, we have found out that it is possible and as a matter of fact that 1.2 million barrels per day of oil has been shut in consistently as a result of the impact of crude oil theft.

So, in the engagements we are having, it is aimed at bringing back some barrels to beef up existing depressed crude oil production and if we are able to do this , 40 to 50 per cent of our shut-in volume will be back and it will be easy to have 500,000 bpd additional barrels to meet and surpass our OPEC quota.

Are International Oil Companies

(IOCs) interested in getting back these barrels? Because this move may be affected by the energy transition.

The responses we had had have been heart-warming. We have good assurances and they are continuing investment in that respect.

What would you say have been your major achievements in the last one year?

The commission has achieved fundamental milestones in our mandate. We were focused on laying a solid foundation for our regulatory functions and in pursuing that, we have drafted Environmental Remediation Fund Regulation and the Upstream Environmental Regulation and Upstream Petroleum Safety Regulation, both of which have been subjected to stakeholder review in line with the PIA (2021).

The commission also successfully launched the Host Communities Regulations to guide the implementation and operationalisation of the Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT), as also enshrined in the PIA. The commission is putting in place modalities to ensure the smooth take-off of the various Trusts in a timely manner.

In the area of development and production, the commission has within the past one year achieved the declaration of the nation’s reserves which stands our oil and condensate reserves at 37.046 MMMB, this indicates an increase of 0.37 per cent compared to 2020 figures.

We have a life index which now stands at 60 years while gas reserves are 208.62 TCF, this indicates an increase of 1.01 per cent compared to 2020 figures. Life index for this stands at 88 years.

We have carried out automation of upstream work processes which is almost completed. It is planned to improve the efficiency of our work processes and become operational before the end of year 2022.

Ikike first oil was officially celebrated in September 2022. It is expected to

deliver peak production of 50,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day by the end of 2022 and we have supported the deployment and commissioning of Aiteo 120kbd barge mounted crude oil processing facility to minimise crude oil theft and vandalism.

There’s deployment and commissioning of Tenoil 10kbd Early Production Facility (EPF) to increase crude oil daily production by 10kbd, regularisation and commissioning of Halkin 5kbd EPF at Atala OML-46 and inauguration of an integrated industry-wide study to ascertain shut-in wells that can be reactivated in the short, medium, and long-term.

We also have the development of the Advanced Cargo Declaration Regime, and Crude oil and LNG Tracking (COLT) which are also in process, granted 274 export permits for a total of 480,863,863 barrels of crude oil/condensate/EGTL between Q4 2021 and Q3 2022 and completed establishment of ELI-AKASO crude oil export terminal.

Also, we have published up-to-date data on national crude oil production on the commission’s website which has ensured transparency of data and information and provided accurate volume to both internal and external users.

In line with the provisions of Section 108 of the PIA 2021, we have commenced engagement and sensitisation of all operators to submit gas flare elimination and monetisation plan, awarded 47 Petroleum Prospecting Licences (PPLs) to winners of marginal fields during the 2020 marginal field bid round, among others.

Among others, in the area of economic regulation and strategic planning, the commission has commenced the implementation of the financial viability monitoring of licensees, lessees and permit holders in line with Section 7(y) by requesting the companies to submit their 2020 and 2021 Audited Financial Statements; as well as the review of Crude Handling and Crude Transportation Agreements in line with Section 174(9) with a view to ensuring the tariffs do not negatively impact on the cost of production.

Looking ahead, what should we expect in the next one year?

The commission projects in the next one year to embark on the development of a regulatory framework to reduce facilities development projects delivery costs through effective participation and regulation of concept, design and equipment selection.

We plan initiating the review and drafting of new gas flare regulations further to the provisions of the PIA 2021 and updating the technology adaptation guidelines and technology plan with input from the industry.

We are embarking on development of barging and trucking system/portal which has already reached user acceptance test phase; and the commission has commenced developing draft guidelines for fluid sampling and characterisation in oil and gas field operations in Nigeria.

In the area of Health, Safety, Environment and Community matters, the commission is working on on boarding of all identified host communities, incorporation of trusts and operationalisation.

We are signing off in the operationalisation of the green house gas emission monitoring guideline and gazetting and operationalisation of the upstream petroleum environmental remediation fund regulations.

The commission is also embarking on the upstream petroleum environmental regulations, and the upstream petroleum safety regulations; and state-wide sensitisation workshop for host communities on provision of PIA 2021.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022

30

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Shell-funded Venture Awards $80,000 Grant to Eight Nigerian Start-ups Peter Uzoho All On, an independent impact investing company funded by Shell has awarded an $80,000 support grant to eight Nigerian clean energy start-ups to enable them scale up their businesses and help bridge the energy access gap in the unserved and under-served rural communities in the country.

The company through its venture-building platform, the All On Hub, in partnership with the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC) presented the award to the eight start-ups, who emerged winners at the 2022 edition of the annual incubation programme for early-stage renewable energy entrepreneurs, and each beneficial

L-R: 1st Vice President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Prof. Pius Olanrewaju; Managing Director of Parallex Bank, Mr. Olufemi Bakre; and President and Chairman of Council CIBN, Dr. Ken Opara, at the conferment of an Honorary Fellowship PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT of CIBN on Mr. Olufemi Bakre at the 2022 CIBN Fellowship Investiture in Lagos… recently

Exxon, Chevron, Eni Make Historic Q3 Profits on Natural Gas Export Surge Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Exxon Mobil and Chevron amassed more than $30 billion in combined net income in Q3, as politicians criticised Big Oil for raking in massive profits at a time when consumers are struggling with soaring inflation and energy shortages worldwide.

Big Oil refers to the world’s six or seven largest publicly traded and investor-owned oil and gas companies.

Exxon posted the highest profit in its 152-year history, while

Chevron announced its secondbest quarterly result as natural gas demand and prices surged.

Those earnings followed strong results posted by European peers Shell and TotalEnergies last week.

Even as the super majors bask in profits unimagined just two years ago during the darkest days of the pandemic, oil executives are under pressure by government leaders to ease prices at the pump for consumers and cut global-warming emissions.

Meanwhile, shareholders have been demanding higher returns

and an end to costly exploration programmes, adding to commodityprice pressures.

For Exxon, third-quarter pershare profit of $4.68 exceeded $3.89 median estimate from analysts in a Bloomberg survey while net income of $19.7 billion surpassed the all-time high of $17.6 billion amassed during the second quarter.

Exxon bucked the trend of weaker refining earnings, benefiting from record crude-processing in North America and high diesel demand.

In Europe, a continent-wide

FG Intensifies Effort to Combat Transboundary Animal Disease in Nigeria Gilbert Ekugbe The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has intensified its effort to address trans boundary animal disease in its bid to improve animal production and productivity for sustainable livestock development in the country.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Mohammad Abubakar, revealed that the ministry has revalidated the emergency preparedness plan for the control of highly pathogenic avian influenza and reviewed the Animal Disease Control Act, 2022 signed by Mr. President.

To further reaffirm its commitment to eradicating trans boundary animal diseases, he added that the ministry, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, has developed a five year National Control Strategic Plan (NCSP) to curtail the spread of trans boundary diseases in the livestock sub sector in Nigeria.

He added that the plan would help the country ensure improved animal production and productivity for sustainable livestock development in the country.

The minister made this known at the flag-off ceremony of the 2022 nationwide mass vaccination campaign against trans boundary animal diseases for the North-central zone in Abuja recently.

Abubakar further stated that the ministry, in its efforts to curtail the spread of trans boundary animal diseases, has procured 4,148,000 doses of CBPP vaccines, 15,479,500 doses of PPR vaccines, 2,000,000 doses of FMD vaccines and 3,000,000 doses of Newcastle Disease vaccines to be allocated to the 36 States of

the Federation and FCT based on request.

The Minister pointed out that over the years, as part of the ministry’s quest to ensure effective coverage of the vaccination, it had supported all the states including FCT with veterinary medicare inputs, including vaccines and other consumables, veterinary infrastructure such as primary health centers among others.

He, therefore, appealed to states to key into the exercise, take full ownership and sustain it in order

to protect and preserve the critical livestock resources of the Northcentral geopolitical zone and the country at large.

In her remarks, the Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, who was represented by a Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, stated that with the right structure in place, the livestock sub -sector has the capacity to become Nigeria’s second leading revenue earner.

‘Govt Must Increase Tariff on Imported Lubricants to Boost Indegeneous Firm’ Oluchi Chibuzor Industrialist and the Chairman of Chicason Group, Chika Okafor, has called on the federal government to increase the tariff on imported lubricants in order to curb dumping of fake products into the country and thereby boosting indigenous firms market share.

He pointed out that Nigeria has the potential to control Africa lubricant markets if given the adequate support and protection to participate globally in the lubricant market.

He stated this in Lagos when AZ Petroleum Products Limited a subsidiary of the group announced its synthetic lubricant products relaunch.

According to him, “As an organisation, we believe that this is a necessary step to take, to adequately reflect our position as a forwardthinking company that offers superior grade quality products which aids seamless transitions, reduces wear and tear, rejuvenates, and breathes life into

your engines while leaving a positive effect as regards the society at large.

“The newly packaged and improved products which include, AZ crown X10,000, AZ crown super SAE-20W/50, AZ crown super+, AZ crown Elite, AZ PMO, AZ super 4T, AZ ATF Dexron III, AZ TXPSAE 50 and AZ AZGO are specifically engineered to reduce emissions, hereby grossly eliminating the adverse effect of air pollution and in turn creating a greener, safer environment.”

On the new product, he explained that the products have been improved and are specifically engineered to cater to the different needs of vehicle, industry cars, tricycles and generators while providing them with superior performance and quality unmatched.

He, however, stressed the need for the government to protect indigenous businesses as some importers are deliberately sabotaging indigenous firms that are operating under regulatory guidelines to produce quality products.

scramble to stash natural gas ahead of winter swelled the prices Exxon received for the fuel by 22 per cent, more than offsetting the pain from a 12 per cent drop in what the company fetched for crude.

Meanwhile, Chevron’s thirdquarter earnings of $5.56 per share surpassed the median $4.94 forecast among analysts in the Bloomberg Consensus.

got $10,000 grant.

The companies included Retile, Let It Cold, Energy Assured, Nutrideen Agriculture Concepts, Danwawo Group, Swift Tranzact, Solaris Greentech Hub,and Powerbox Energy Systems.

At the Demo Day hosted in Lagos, the start-ups pitched their business plans to a seasoned, varied panel of judges for a chance to win $10,000 grant award funding.

According to All On, the incubation programme which started training new cohorts in May 2022, aimed to contribute to the reduction of Nigeria’s energy-access gap by building a pipeline of early-stage renewable energy enterprises with the potential to scale.

West Africa Power Board Adopts Working Document, Budget for 2023 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Executive Board of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) has adopted a new work programme and budget for 2023 at the 55th ordinary session of its executive board meeting at its headquarters in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

Speaking during the session, the Chairman, Executive Board of WAPP, Dr. Sule Abdulaziz expressed satisfaction with the 2023 working document, a statement by the organisation

said.

Abdulaziz, who is also the Managing Director/CEO of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), lauded the transparent manner in which WAPP has been implementing projects of the pool.

“As with the review of the financial statements, where I expressed confidence in this institution and its transparent documentation, I reiterate the same sentiment regarding the 2023 work programme and budget.

31

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

NCC Harps on Competitive Neutrality in Regulating Fintech, EmergingTechnologies Emma Okonji Given the global shift to digital services, just as financial services and payments are now powered by mobile phones, providing access to new data, embracing technological innovations, and changing mindsets of users, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator, has said it will regulate Nigeria’s digital space.

NCC, however, said it would be mindful of protecting the consumers and meeting the needs of the robust operating environment that the digital economy has created, while considering regulation.

Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta made this known on

Wednesday, during the NCC’s Day at the ongoing Nigerian Fintech Week in Lagos, with the theme: ‘Navigating the Next Normal-Sustainable Impacts in FinTech, e-Government and Emerging Technologies.’

Danbatta who was represented by the Director, Digital Economy at NCC, Mr. Austin Nwaulune, said the backbone of the FinTech and any emerging technology, remained hyper connectivity, which means growing interconnectedness of people, organisations, and machines that result from the internet, mobile technology and the Internet of Things (IoT).

According to Danbatta, “It is therefore imperative to note that NCC, being the regulator of the communications

sector, is responsible for ensuring that regulation is innovative, technology neutral, competitively neutral, protects the consumers and meets the needs of the robust operating environment that the digital economy has created.

“The digital economy is taking shape and changing conventional notions about how businesses are designed; how firms network; and how consumers obtain services, information, and goods. It is in recognition of the impacts of the digital economy that Nigeria developed its guiding Policy and Strategy document known as the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) and the NCC has positioned itself to ensure full implementation of its responsibilities as communicated in the NDEPS.”

How Saudi Aramco Exec Spent Week in Indian Jail for Possessing Satellite Phone Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja A senior executive at Saudi Aramco spent almost a week in an Indian jail over the summer after he was arrested for having a satellite phone while on a yoga holiday near the country’s border with China.

Fergus MacLeod, head of investor relations at the world’s largest oil exporter, said he was arrested on July 12 at his hotel in the Valley of Flowers National Park in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand.

The 62-year-old was held in prison in the town of Chamoli until July 18, a Financial Times report said.

Authorities detained the British executive after picking up the coordinates of the phone, which MacLeod says he turned on and off at his hotel but did not use while on the holiday with friends, some of whom were colleagues from Saudi Aramco.

It is illegal for foreign nationals to possess and operate satellite phones in India without

government permission. The bans came after satellite phones, which take signals from satellites rather than the terrestrial towers that cellphones use, were used by terrorists during the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

MacLeod, who has led investor relations at Saudi Aramco since 2017, told the Financial Times that he was unaware of the ban and had passed through two Indian airports, carrying the phone openly, without being stopped by staff.

L-R: Company Secretary, Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange , (LCFE), Fatima Lawal; Chairman, Onyenwechukwu Ezeagu; Managing Director, Akin Akeredolu-Ale; Managing Director, Apel Capital Registrars, Olufunmilola Babalola and Non-Executive Director, LCFE, Rasheed Yussuff, during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of LCFE in Lagos… recently

Tranzfar Launches Freedom Account in Nigeria Emma Okonji Tranzfar, an international payment solution provider focused on cross-border money transfers from the United Kingdom, United States, and 27 EU countries, including Canada, New Zealand and Australia to Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya, has launched its latest innovative product ‘The Freedom Bank Account’ in Nigeria.

The Freedom Account allows customers in Nigeria to open and manage their own United Kingdom foreign account for instant payments across UK bank accounts.

Announcing the solution at a press conference in Lagos recently, Chairman Tranzfar, Mr. Bankole Eniola, said the Freedom account was carefully designed to give people in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya the opportunity to bank

globally in over 30 countries where Tranzfar currently have footprint.

Eniola further added that ‘Tranzfar was about making payment seamless across the globe and aspiring to become the world’s leading African financial technology platform, providing innovative digital financial products on behalf of the African diaspora communities and users across the globe.’

The Chief Executive Officer of Tranzfar, Mr. Ryan Romeo, said: “Tranzfar is dedicated to ameliorating the challenges a lot of the Africans in diaspora and those within Africa face daily financially.

Within the diaspora itself, a lot of Africans suffer limited financial accessibility and limited access to basic financial amenities. The introduction of Freedom Bank Account will guarantee a seamless

payment of overseas bills, utilities and obligations. Beyond that within the continent itself, there is volatile exchange rate that leads to a big and enlarged devaluation of people’s wealth.

Tranzfar is trying to bring Africans in diaspora back into the fold and give them the financial access that they are currently deprived of. The Freedom Account gives the opportunity for increased financial participation for those within African and Africans in diaspora.”

According to the Chief Financial Officer of Tranzfar, Dr. Olusiji Sanya, Tranzfar is committed to fostering a potent link between Africa and the rest of the world through trustworthy financial solutions and remains committed to the development of the Nigerian financial society through fast, easy, and reliable services.

32

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

Russian Attacks Leave Ukrainian Cities Without Electricity, Water Russia intensified its attacks on multiple Ukrainian cities Monday, targeting critical infrastructure and knocking out power and water supplies in Kyiv and other regions. The attacks came a day after Russia alleged that Ukraine attacked its Black Sea fleet.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said attacks in the capital cut off power and water supplies in parts of the city, leaving more than 80 per cent of its residents without running water.

In a tweet, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba condemned the attacks.

Ukraine’s army posted on Telegram that the barrage included “more than 50” cruise missiles in several waves of attacks.

“Another batch of Russian missiles hits Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. Instead of fighting on the battlefield, Russia fights civilians.

Don’t justify these attacks by calling them a ‘response’. Russia does this because it still has the missiles and the will to kill Ukrainians.”

New York Compensates Men Wrongly Convicted for Malcolm X Killing with $36m Two men wrongly convicted of the assassination of civil rights icon Malcolm X in 1965 and cleared of those charges last year will be compensated with $36 million.

New York City will pay the men $26 million, while New York state will pay $10 million, according to David Shanies, the men’s attorney.

Both men, Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam, always maintained they were innocent.

Aziz is 84. Islam died in 2009.

A judge dismissed the men’s convictions last year in the face of new evidence that there was witness intimidation and the suppression of evidence related to their trial.

The men spent decades in prison and were paroled in the 1980s.

The money will be equally divided between Aziz and Islam’s estates.

Cyrus Vance, Jr, the district attorney at the time of Malcolm’s assassination, apologised for law enforcement’s “serious, unacceptable violations of law and the public trust.

The New York City Law Department said Sunday that the financial agreement “brings some measure of justice to individuals who spent decades in prison and bore the stigma of being falsely accused of murdering an iconic figure.”

Malcolm was shot in Upper Manhattan’s Audubon Ballroom.

Nine Arrested After India Bridge Collapses, Killing 133

Authorities in India say they have arrested nine people in connection with a suspension bridge collapse in the western state of Gujarat that killed at least 133 people.

According to police, those arrested included managerial staff at the company that operated the bridge, which had recently been renovated.

Police say more people are likely to be arrested.

Local media reports said Monday that the nearly 150-year-old bridge over the Machchu river opened five days ago after seven months of repair work by a private firm. The reports said the Morbi city bridge had not received the local government’s fitness or safety certificate.

Many people were hospitalised following Sunday’s collapse, and officials say they fear the death count could rise.

Officials said that hundreds of people had crowded onto the bridge during celebrations for the Hindu festival of Diwali.

The Reuters news agency reported that CCTV footage from the site shows a group of young men trying to rock the suspension bridge from side to side before the cables gave way.

Official: Hundreds of Cameroonians Deported from Equatorial Guinea

Cameroon says Equatorial Guinea has deported several hundred Cameroonians, some of whom say they were fleeing terrorist and rebel attacks at home. The government of Equatorial Guinea says the deportees were economic migrants and is planning to deport 7,000 Cameroonians in all by the end of the year.

Scores of Cameroonians applauded Monday while welcoming back at least 200 of their citizens who were deported. But the wellwishers are not happy with Equatorial Guinea’s actions. Civilians shouted that by deporting Cameroonians, the oil-rich country is being

indifferent to people who have rendered services as mechanics, electricians, bricklayers, miners and other types of workers.

Nguenang Rigobert, one of the deported Cameroonians, says he lost his teaching job in Equatorial Guinea. Nguenang says he, like many Cameroonians in Equatorial Guinea, are victims of what he calls the Cameroon government’s lack of interest in the plight of its citizens outside the country. He says Cameroon should have negotiated for Equatorial Guinea to give Cameroonians more time to acquire resident and work permits.

Nguenang said several dozen deported Cameroonians fled their country partly because of its ongoing separatist crisis.

Others left because of Boko Haram terrorism in the north.

Lula Wins Brazil’s Presidential Runoff Vote

Former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva triumphed over incumbent president Jair Bolsonaro Sunday in Brazil’s presidential runoff vote.

Da Silva had 50.9 per cent of the ballots, with 99.9 per cent of the votes counted.

Election officials said Lula’s victory was a mathematical certainty.

“They tried to bury me alive, and here I am,” President-elect Da Silva said Sunday.

The far-right Bolsonaro did not acknowledge defeat on Sunday. However, a day before the runoff vote, he said, “There is not the slightest doubt. Whoever has more votes takes it (the election).”

While DaSilva is widely known for lifting millions of Brazilians out of poverty during his presidential tenure, Bolsonaro’s tenure in office was marked by his far-right politics, his mocking of the coronavirus, the deforesting of the Amazon rainforest and rampant inflation.

Da Silva has promised to improve the country’s social welfare system and establish a ministry to address the concerns of the country’s indigenous population, but all that may be an uphill battle with the inroads conservatives have made in Brazil’s Congress.

EU Mulls Adding Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as Terrorists: German Official

Germany and the European Union are considering adding Iran’s Revolutionary Guards to the list of terrorist organisations, German Foreign Minister Annalina Baerbock said on Sunday.

Last week, Germany announced that it would impose tougher sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran outside the EU sanctions package.

In an interview Sunday with a German news agency, Baerbock added, “We are also examining how we can list the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation.”

Baerbock’s comments come a day after Hossein Salami, the head of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards, warned protesters that Saturday would be their last day of taking to the streets, signalling that security forces might intensify their crackdown on nationwide protests.

The Revolutionary Guards are a part of Iran’s military charged with protecting the

country’s Islamic political system. It also controls a huge business empire active in almost all sectors of Iran’s economy.

Iran Rejects Potential Sanctions Against Revolutionary Guards

Iran’s Foreign Ministry says statements from German officials about imposing potential sanctions against Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps are irresponsible and not constructive.

Speaking to reporters at a Monday briefing, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said such sanctions would be illegal.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Sunday that Germany and the European Union were considering enacting sanctions against the IRGC. She told broadcaster ARD there is ongoing consideration of how to list the IRGC as a terrorist organisation.

Baerbock’s comments came a day after the commander of the IRGC, Hossein Salami, warned protesters not to demonstrate anymore.

Iran has seen weeks of protests since the mid-September death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, arrested by Iran’s morality police for allegedly violating the country’s strict Islamic dress code for women.

Kidnapped French Australian Veterinarian Released in Chad

A conservationist and veterinarian with dual French and Australian citizenship kidnapped last week in Chad has been released.

Chad President Mahamat Idriss Deby announced Jerome Hugonnot’s release Sunday in a post on Twitter without providing any further details.

Hugonnot, who manages an oryx park on behalf of the Sahara Conservation Fund, or the SCF, was kidnapped Friday by unknown assailants.

SCF has been working for years to reintroduce into the environment a species of desert antelope known as the scimitarhorned oryx.

The reason for Hugonnot’s kidnapping or whether a ransom was paid for his release was not immediately clear.

Supreme Court Rejects Turkey’s Bid to Stop US Brawl Lawsuits

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected Turkey’s bid to shut down lawsuits in US courts stemming from a violent brawl outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence in Washington more than five years ago that left anti-government protesters badly beaten.

The justices did not comment in turning away Turkey’s arguments that American law shields foreign countries from most lawsuits. Lower courts ruled that those protections did not extend to the events of May 16, 2017, when during a visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, “Turkish security forces violently clashed with a crowd of protesters,” as one judge described the situation.

The Supreme Court’s action allows the lawsuits to proceed. In the lawsuits, protesters claim they were brutally punched

and kicked, cursed at and greeted with slurs and throat-slashing gestures. According to the complaints, one woman slipped in and out of consciousness and suffered seizures, and others reported post-traumatic stress, depression, concussions and nightmares.

Peace Talks on Ethiopia’s Tigray Conflict Extended

Peace talks between warring sides on Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict have been extended into Monday.

An official familiar with the arrangements for the talks confirms that discussions continue in South Africa between Ethiopia’s federal government and representatives from the northern Tigray region.

The African Union-led talks seek a cessation of hostilities in a war that the United States asserts has killed hundreds of thousands of people, an estimate made by some academics and health workers.

The first formal peace talks began last week, and South Africa’s government had said they would end Sunday. Representatives of the warring sides have not responded to questions.

Neighboring Eritrea, whose forces are fighting alongside Ethiopian ones, is not a party to the talks, and it is not clear whether the deeply repressive country will respect any agreement reached. Witnesses have told the AP that Eritreans were killing civilians even after the talks began.

Envoy: India Closely Monitoring Nigeria’s Security Situation Michael Olugbode in Abuja Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gangadharan Balasubramanian, says India is closely monitoring the security situation in Nigeria before a decision is made on closing its embassy.

The envoy disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the Indian National Unity Day celebration.

The United States and the United Kingdom government issued terror alerts on Nigeria, with some other embassies temporarily closing down.

“Security is certainly paramount, and we have taken certain precautions and embraced the inputs that have been received generally from the government,” stated Balasubramanian.

He added, “So, we have not shut down our things. We continue to work, but taking precautions as security is paramount for Indian nationals and people who are working over here.”

Balasubramanian noted that though Nigeria’s security is an internal issue, India would always be ready to support the African country with training and capacity building, stressing the 64 years of cooperation between the countries.

The Indian ambassadors added that the latest in the bilateral relations between the nations was the invitation extended to Nigeria to be a guest country for the G20 events as India assumes the presidency on December 1, 2022.

33

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 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 28Oct-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 172.89 177.54 4.65% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 11.47% Nigeria International Debt Fund 317.16 317.16 12.40% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 106.35 107.50 7.77% 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 11.10% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.51 3.57 2.92% 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 8.32% Anchoria Equity Fund 134.19 135.67 -3.64% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.14 1.14 -0.02% 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 20.41 21.02 0.61% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 477.34 491.73 5.80% ARM Ethical Fund 41.02 42.26 5.29% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.09 1.09 0.89% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.06 1.06 4.93% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.19% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 87.15 87.15 -8.17% AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Naira 1,061.29 1,061.29 6.13% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 137.44 138.41 3.28% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.21% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.09 2.09 2.06% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.22 2.26 2.61% CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.03 1.03 6.97% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 11.88% Paramount Equity Fund 17.43 17.74 4.42% Women's Investment Fund 142.81 144.48 0.59% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.06% Cordros Milestone Fund 128.67 129.51 3.51% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 111.81 111.81 4.95% 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 10.18% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 11.85% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,131.83 1,140.85 1.32% 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 N/A N/A N/A Emerging Africa Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund N/A N/A N/A Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 1441.92 1441.92 11.36% FBN Balanced Fund 190.87 192.11 8.73% FBN Halal Fund 125.13 125.13 12.13% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 11.28% FBN Dollar Fund 127.06 127.06 6.43% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 154.91 156.99 3.20% 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 10.23% Legacy Debt Fund 3.59 3.59 -10.34% Legacy Equity Fund 1.79 1.83 3.06% 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

4,005.55 3,655.40 100.00

4,032.53 3,655.40 100.00

3.45% 6.54% 12.55%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.12 1.12 4.08% GUARANTY TRUST FUND MANAGERS LIMITED enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.83% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.90 2.94 4.19% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 6.00% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 143.82 143.82 6.58% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.17 1.20 -2.05% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.07 1.07 4.35% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: www.meristemwealth.com/funds/; Tel: +2348028496012 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 11.45 11.52 5.53% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.17% 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) 100.90 100.90 8.71% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 11.10% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM EuroBond Fund N/A N/A N/A SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 121.92 124.38 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 3,443.77 3,476.47 1.66% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 243.43 243.43 3.34% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.33 1.35 6.35% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 328.40 328.40 4.88% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 249.25 252.58 6.78% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.93% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 11,549.69 11,705.74 5.86% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.35 1.35 4.46% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 120.20 120.20 2.81% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 113.59 113.59 6.78% 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 0.89 0.91 0.84% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.32 1.34 1.28% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.13 1.14 9.46% 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 124.19 124.19 5.83% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.90% 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 13.32 13.44 0.98% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 15.16 15.30 3.68% Zenith Income Fund 23.25 23.25 5.91% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.02% 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 -6.90% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 5.65 5.75 -3.28% Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund 16.06 16.26 -9.11% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.06% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 18.79 18.99 -5.96% Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund 133.86 135.86 -15.06%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

119.29 52.14

5.27% 2.50%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

14.38 120.21 89.74 17.10 16.40

14.48 123.24 91.70 17.20 16.50

2.78% -5.43% -10.04% 6.57% -1.32%

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.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022

34

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Ossiomo MD to Share Power Reform Insights at Edo Investment Summit Nosa Alekhuogie Owing to the run-away success of the Ossiomo Power Company, which operates a 95MW power generation and distribution facility in Edo State, the Managing Director of the Company, Dr. Uwa Igiehon, is set to headline the 2022 edition of the Alaghodaro Economic Summit in the state as the keynote speaker.

The summit, in its 6th edition, is organized by Alaghodaro Summit Ltd/ GTE, a policy think-tank that rallies private investors in the state in shaping government policies, programmes and reforms aimed at making Edo the most investment-friendly sub-national in Nigeria.

This year’s edition of the summit is themed Edo’s transformation: partnerships,

resilience, impacts and will run from Friday, November 11 to Sunday, November 13, 2022.

The event will commence with the Edo Summit by 9am on Friday at the New Festival Hall in Government House, Benin City, while a State Banquet will be held, same day, at the Edo Hotel Marquee by 6pm.

It also features a golf tournament on Saturday, November 12 by 7am as well as the launch of Digital Benin website at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub and Soundstage by 2pm, while a Thanksgiving Service will be held on Sunday, November 13.

According to the Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media Projects, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, “The 2022 edition of the Alaghodaro Summit promises to be a celebration of the success of

the summit over the past five editions.

“The summit has attracted not less than $2bn worth of investment across different sectors of the state’s economy. This is spread across agriculture, food processing, manufacturing, energy and petrochemicals, among others. The $500m Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP) is one of the star projects in the state coupled with the injection of about $250m

by Saro Africa Group of Companies, among others.”

Osagie said Igiehon has garnered experience as a first-mover investor in the state, taking the risk to build the Ossiomo Power plant after the signing of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the state government.

Abbey Mortgage Bank Reaches New High With BBB Rating Status Kayode Tokede Following its good capitalization, among others, a pan-African credit agency, Agusto & Co has rated Abbey Mortgage Bank BBB in its latest rating report.

The BBB rating from leading Agusto & Co, will further propel Abbey as the first choice for mortgage and related investments in the country.

According to Agusto & Co, “the rating is supported by Abbey’s good capitalization, experienced management team, strong commitment from shareholders, good level of provisioning for impaired loans and low leverage”.

The mortgage bank kicked off the year on a high note,

celebrating 30 years in the banking industry and has continued on an upwards trajectory in financial growth.

Speaking on the bank’s new rating the Executive Director, Treasury and Business Growth, Dipo Adeoye stated, “The outcome of the rating exercise is a demonstration of the progress we have made in rebuilding the bank in the last two and a half years and we are committed to continuous improvement in line with our corporate objective “.

The Managing Director, Mobolaji Adewumi at the Nigeria Trade and Investment Summit UK. Speaking on Financing the Housing Market in Nigeria, stated that “Real Estate has proven to

be an effective hedge against inflation in Nigeria, especially if you invest in properties in prime locations”.

He advised there are opportunities in the secondary market for real estate with dynamic products and service offerings which will improve the Mortgage Industry, where Abbey is well-positioned to support individuals and organizations with this new rating.

As the year draws to a close, Abbey is looking forward to ending strong, especially as it has already recorded N442.6million before tax in the second quarter (Q2) and N771.5million in third (Q3). There is no doubt a record high is expected from Abbey in the year ending 2022.

Parallex Bank’s MD Receives CIBN’s Honorary Fellowship Parallex Bank’s Managing Director, Mr Olufemi Bakre, was on Saturday, October 29th, 2022 conferred with the Honorary Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), the highest cadre of membership of the Institute.

According to the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of CIBN, Dr Seye Awojobi, the Governing Council of CIBN approved Bakre’s election as an Honorary Fellow of the Institute, having been found worthy of such honour.

According to Awojobi, Bakre’s elevation alongside

twenty-one others acknowledges his roles and invaluable contributions to the Institute, the banking industry, and the Nigerian economy at large as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Parallex Bank. Awojobi said Bakre is a worthy member of the Body of Banks CEOs, a member of the Strategy and Advocacy Committee of CIBN from the year 2020 till date, an honorary senior member of the Institute and a staunch supporter of the United Kingdom’s branch of the CIBN and played a strategic role in

the survival of the branch at its infant stage.

Olufemi Bakre, a consummate banking professional, commenced his banking career at MBC International Bank (formerly Merchant Banking Corporation), where he rose to the position of General Manager. After the acquisition of MBC by First Bank in 2006, he became the Group Head, Multilateral, Financial Institutions and Global Custody. He initiated and delivered the First Bank of China Representative Office, amongst other awardwinning achievements.

Nigerian Ports Authority Wins 2022 Maritime Cup The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) last Friday afternoon defeated the Nigerian Navy 1-0 to win the 12th Maritime Cup. It is the second time the NPA team would lift the Maritime Cup. The team first won the trophy in 2018.

The only goal of the match was scored in the 10th minute of the first half by NPA’s top striker, Charles Shadrack.

The epic final match was played at the Stable, Union Bank Sports Complex in Surulere, Lagos and watched by a mammoth crowd including representatives of the managements of both teams.

Earlier, ENL Consortium defeated Josepdam Ports Services 3-1 at the same venue to win the third place match of the tournament.

The NPA Koko Marines qualified for the knock-out stage of the tournament after finishing on top of Group A with six points with a goal difference of +5 from three matches. It won its first match against Dynasty Ocean Shipping 2-0; lost its second match 0-1 to Josepdam Port Services (JPS) and defeated hard-fighting National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) 4-2. The Koko Marines later defeated ENL Consortium 2-0 in the semi-final match.

The Nigerian Navy’s Admiralty FC won all their three group matches against Customs (1-0), ENL Consortium (2-0) and Higher Pacific International, HPI (2-0) to sit atop Group B with nine points.

The team did not concede any goal at the group stage. The team

later defeated 2019 runners-up Josepdam Port Services 6-4 through penalty kicks to set up the final match against NPA. The CEO of Ships & Ports and Chief Host of the Maritime Cup, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, expressed satisfaction with the tournament.

He said a total of N2 million will be won in prizes by the winning teams and players.

Akinola said the winner of the trophy will smile home with N1million while the silver and bronze medal winners will get N500,000 and N300,000 respectively. He said the Most Valuable Player, Augustine Chibuzor and the Best Goalkeeper, Ayetoba Iseoluwa – both of the Nigerian Navy, as well as Josepdam Port Services, which won the Fair Play award would also get cash prizes.

From left: A Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Suleiman Barau; 1st Vice President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Professor Pius Olanrewaju; Managing Director, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mrs. Yemisi Edun and President/Chairman of Council, CIBN. Mr. Ken Opara, during the Investiture of Mrs. Edun as a Honorary Fellow of the Institute on October 29, 2022 in Lagos.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

AUGUST 2022 Money Supply (M3)

49,356,443.6

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

50,601.36

Money Supply (M2)

49,305,842.3

-- Quasi Money

27,869,678.3

-- Narrow Money (M1)

21,436,164

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,680,236.81

---- Demand Deposits

18,755,927.2

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

5,074,909.92

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

27,869,678.3

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

61,195,142.4

---- Credit to Government (Net)

21,001,401.5

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

40,193,740.9

--Other Assets Net

6,785,979.22

Reserve Money (Base Money

14,040,351.9

--Currency in Circulation

3,210,664.98

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,829,686.9 390,557.8

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

July 2022

Inter-Bank Call Rate

13.00

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

2.76

Savings Deposit Rate

1.42

1 Month Deposit Rate

3.64

3 Months Deposit Rate

4.96

6 Months Deposit Rate

5.87

12 Months Deposit Rate

5.76

Prime Lending rate

12.10

Maximum Lending Rate

27.61

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 24 OCTOBER, 2022

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $92.17 a barrel on Monday, compared with $92.09 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), 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).

Ch Dir cor

35

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022

MARKET NEWS

Investors Lose N2.57trn Amid Rising Global Risks in October Kayode Tokede Investors in stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) lost an average N2.57 trillion in the October 2022 as escalated global energy and commodity crises triggered massive portfolio realignments.

The market capitalisation opened trading at N26.451 trillion, dropping N2.57trillion or 9.7per cent to close at N23.878 trillion yesterday, while the NGX

All-Share Index depreciated by 10.6 per cent to close at 43,839.08 basis points from 49,024.16 basis points it closed for trading in September 2022.

The stock market in its year-to-date return, however, remained positive with average year-to-date return of 2.6 per cent, equivalent to net capital gain of about N1.58 trillion for the 10-month period.

The October stock market performance underlined

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

sustained decline in recent months with investors losing an average of 1.63 per cent or N430 billion in September. The market had lost about N28.3 billion in August and suffered its highest loss within the quarter at the onset with a N772 billion loss in July.

Capital analysts attributed the stock market performance to the worsening domestic and global economic risks characterised by rising inflation and higher

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

interest rates.

The vice president, Highcap Securities, Mr. David Adonri had explained that “Losses suffered by the stock market is based on the movement of financial assets from stock, which depend on the micro-economy conditions and monetary policies.

“In 2020, CBN embarks on expansionary monetary policies to expand money supplies, and the stock market appreciates massively.

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

“But now that we have inflation and when CBN has decided to hike monetary policies, we also see the impact on equities, causing financial assets to move from equities. That was why the market lost in the last month.”

The CEO Wyoming Capital and Partners, Mr. Tajudeen Olayinka attributed the decline in the stock market to prolonged repricing of securities across markets and instruments by investors.

O F

He said, “Investors reacted sharply to three quick succession in MPR hike, beginning with 13per cent in May, 14per cent in July, and 15.5per cent in September.

“September 2022 was quite spectacular because investors exercised extreme caution by holding back further investment in equity, in reaction to aggressive rise in inflation (20.52 per cent) in the month of August, 2022.

3 1 / 1 0 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

36

TUESDAY, NOVE ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

ʬ

ʬ

ʬ

7 R S 7 U D G H V E \ 9 R OX P H

7 R S * D LQ H U V T ic k er

T ic k er

NA HCO

5.67

9.9%

T R A N SC OR P

19.0

1.9%

C OUR T VILLE

0.50

8.7%

A C C ESSC OR P

16.6

1.3%

N EM

4.00

6.7%

ST ER LN B A N K

12.5

0.0%

F ID ELIT YB K

4.20

2.4%

F ID ELIT YB K

12.2

2.4%

T R A N SC OR P

1.07

1.9%

SOVR EN IN S

10.8

-3.6%

A C C ESSC OR P

7.80

1.3%

J A P A ULGOLD

10.7

-9.7%

UB A

7.15

0.7%

FB NH

9.5

0.5%

FB NH

9.85

0.5%

GT C O

8.4

-1.7%

A UST IN LA Z

2.03

0.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

6.9

-0.5%

H ON YF LOUR

2.13

0.0%

NA HCO

5.6

9.9%

7 R S 7 U D G H V E \ 9 D OX H

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

IN T B R EW

4.15

-9.8%

SEP LA T

1320.9

0.0%

LIVEST OC K

1.02

-9.7%

M TNN

857.9

-0.1%

J A P A ULGOLD

0.28

-9.7%

A IR T ELA F R I

166.3

0.0%

ET I

9.95

-9.5%

GT C O

149.4

-1.7%

0.25

-7.4%

Z EN IT H B A N K

139.2

-0.5%

1.01

-6.5%

A C C ESSC OR P

130.4

1.3%

VIT A F OA M

107.3

-0.7%

T ic k er

CHA M S IKEJ A H OT EL

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

P ric e C hg %

P ric e C hg %

7 R S / R V H U V

Vo lum e

P ric e

UC A P

11.40

-4.6%

R EGA LIN S

0.23

-4.2%

FB NH

93.0

0.5%

74.6

0.0%

50.1

2.4%

SOVR EN IN S

0.27

-3.6%

OKOM UOIL

M B EN EF IT

0.28

-3.4%

F ID ELIT YB K

Investment Research

Brokerage

Asset Management

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Damilare Asimiyu | dasimiyu@afrinvest.com

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022

37

PERSPECTIVE

2023: Why Afegbua Misses the Point Over Obaseki’s Frank Take on APC’s Fate

Obaseki

Crusoe Osagie

W

hile many Nigerians suffer under the weight of unprecedented socio-economic challenges foisted on them in the last seven years, it is quite regrettable that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its hangers-on, while evidently denying the obvious, are falling over themselves to repudiate the frank take of Governor Godwin Obaseki on the state of the nation.

From the whimsical to the comedic and then to the ridiculous, all would rather the governor did not point to the ill-fate that awaits the country if the candidate of the APC makes it to Aso Rock in 2023 by hook or crook.

Among all these characters is a most pathetic traducer, a fly-by-night penpusher and erstwhile self-appointed spokesman to former Military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, Kassim Afegbua.

He called the governor’s advice to Nigerians inflammatory, yet he described the times we are in as ‘such a delicate time of our nationality.’

May I ask why this time is delicate, Mr Afegbua?

Perhaps it is delicate because of the misrule of the APC, the new party where Kassim Afegbua is seeking economic refuge.

It is delicate because the nation now has near-zero capacity to export crude oil having been overrun by crude oil thieves who the present APC government has allowed to run amok due to their incompetence.

Today, the $1 exchanges for nearly N1000 as against around N300 that they met it, all due to the APC’s ineptitude in managing the country’s economy; due to galloping inflation under the APC’s watch, a bag of rice now sells for about N40,000 to N45,000 as against

Afegbua

N8,000 in 2015.

Nigerians are now the most terrorized people on earth because the APC-led government supervises a free reign of bandits and terrorists.

Abuja, the nation’s capital is now under siege. It is now a pariah state with the new incursion of terrorist elements. No one can travel safely across communities in the country without the fear of kidnappers, who continue to reign without let.

So, one wonders why he will say the times are delicate, yet questions the rationale for the governor’s warning to Nigerians.

Everyone knows that Afegbua’s only patriotism and loyalty is to mammon. Once there is the prospect of making some money, Afegbua loses his capacity to reason factually and critically.

If there is a slightest chance of getting into the pockets of politicians, particularly the ones that are endangered like his people in the APC, he jumps out and begins to cobble together inconsistent sentences, advertising his jaundiced reasoning in order to be able to grab from the vulnerable politicians he pretends to defend with his hogwash.

In his self-seeking attack on the governor, he has made his lack of character, coherence and intellect bare.

He continues to display his crass ineptitude and insensitivity, which make him incapable of appreciating the recent concerns that the Edo State Governor, His Excellency Godwin Obaseki, iterated with regards to the parlous state of the nation.

As usual, every attempt to ridicule Governor Obaseki only elevates the governor, but leaves Afegbua in a shameless dance. In the lengthy write-up that was a clear reflection of his muddled thinking, not once did Afegbua address or debunk the failures of the APC. His only

submission is that the Edo State Governor is not in a position to criticize the ruling party. If as a governor, with a bird’s eye-view vantage point to assess the state of affairs, the governor does not – in Afegbua’s thinking – qualify to speak about the country’s fate, who then qualifies?

Afegbua was quick to lament the terrible condition of the entry points into the state, when even an elementary school pupil knows that the federal government run by Afegbua’s current political party of refuge is solely responsible for Federal roads across the country.

If not for the ingenuity of the governor in integrating community participation in security management, which has made Edo one of the safest states to live in the country, the state would have been inundated with criminals, and left at the mercy of federal security outfits, who are already over-burdened.

It is not surprising that Afegbua, being a political lackey, would impugn Governor Obaseki’s ability to attract major businesses and investors to the state because he is unable to appreciate the process of seeking and accessing private capital.

In less than six years, the governor’s strategic approach to governance has created a conducive climate that has attracted over $1.5bn worth of investment into Edo State, including the $500 million Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP); the commencement of the injection of over $250 million Saro Africa Integrated Farm with an ethanol processing facility; the establishment of an independent power generating company, Ossiomo Power Company; the 6000bpd Edo Refinery and the 2500bpd Duport Refinery, with the first energy park in Africa, among many others.

For the reckless and wanton wastefulness of the APC and the hardship they have inflicted on Nigerians in the past seven years, nobody with any modicum of morality can come to their defense. Even the most pessimistic of their critics could not have predicted that things would deteriorate so rapidly under their watch in the last seven and half years.

The APC government has failed abysmally on each of the three areas they swore to deal with – security, economy and corruption, and more.

In the sixty-two-year history of our nationhood, Nigerians have never lived in as much fear, hunger, pain and uncertainty as is the case today and cannot wait to get rid of this failed political party from government in 2023.

One, therefore, does not have to look so far to see why Afegbua misses the point over his hurried and ill-conceived response to Obaseki. He is after his pocket, which has been dry for some time now having been out of government since the end of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s administration in Edo State in 2016, where he was a commissioner.

He is working hard to ingratiate himself to the Lagos godfather even if for the crumbs that will fall from his table this electioneering season.

But the APC product is and will remain a bad sell. It reeks of arrogance, deceit and soullessness. Pray tell, who would want to continue with the current state of affairs if such a person genuinely wants what is good for this country.

Afegbua can continue living in a fool’s paradise to satiate his gluttonous appetite but all those who want the best for Nigeria agree with Governor Obaseki and would ensure the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election. t $SVTPF 0TBHJF JT 4QFDJBM "EWJTFS PO .FEJB 1SPKFDUT UP UIF &EP 4UBUF (PWFSOPS

38

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022 • T H I S D AY

39

40

TUESDAY, N ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

Naira Redesign Is Step in the Right Direction L

et me go straight to the point. The redesign of the Naira is a very good idea. Kidnappers, bandits and many corrupt elements have stockpiles of Naira that they can’t bank. This change will render their billions useless. The pound and dollar have been redesigned multiple times. On this, Emefiele did well! His job is very tough. Many people erroneously blame the collapse of the Naira on him.

But the devaluation of the Naira is due to Nigeria’s high propensity to import, unfavorable balance of trade position, and high dependence on foreign borrowing, none of which are his responsibility. If he is sacked, chances are that his replacement won’t be any better. The finance ministry makes the borrowing decisions.

This policy will work, because the Money Laundering Act limits the amount of cash you can deposit in a bank. It also prohibits banks from changing cash from customers who do not have accounts.

Additionally, when a country relies on foreign countries to educate and medicate its own citizens, its currency can never be strong.

The UK issued less than 9,000 student visas to Nigerians in 2019/20. But this year, with ASUU on indefinite strike, they issued almost 66,000 student visas to Nigerians. If you assume that each student needs about £50,000 annually (tuition, boarding, tickets, health, upkeep, etc), that means as a country, we will need to send extra £2.85 billion per year! Now that’s just the UK only! None of that is Emefiele’s fault!

The Naira redesign will also help improve the value of the Naira by getting currency out of circulation and into banks, which will reduce, but not eliminate, the ability of currency speculators to frustrate the Central Bank of Nigeria’s ability to control the direction of the Naira.

I see some people saying that those with unexplainable stockpiles of cash will start buying properties to try to escape the Naira redesign.

Yes, that is a possibility, but it will hardly solve a problem, because paying for a property above N5 million in cash is a crime according to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Only unwise people will sell their properties for cash that they may find difficult to deposit.

And yes, they can break it down into smaller amounts and deposit at different dates, but the Central Bank of Nigeria has software that alerts it when individuals make cash deposits of more than a certain amount over a short period, even if it is paid into different accounts in multiple banks. Your Bank Verification Number tracks all your accounts. Besides, commercial banks have laid down rules for reporting illicit or suspicious transactions, rules that would be vigilantly followed this period.

And yes, they could give those monies to surrogates to pay into their accounts. But let us face it. We are talking about Nigeria and Nigerians here. What did Boris Johnson say about our ‘obsession’ with money? Well, good luck to those who will try that. I hope they will be able to retrieve their money from their surrogates.

But on a serious note, Nigeria is facing desperate times, and desperate times call for desperate remedies. What are we doing with

Naira notes N3.3 trillion cash in circulation and outside the banking sector? No wonder inflation is now in double digits. And the number one culprit are bandits, who kidnap for ransom, and Nigerians who agree to pay the ransom demanded. I know this sounds cruel, but the more we pay ransoms, the more kidnaps will occur.

And Governor Emefiele cannot go about arresting kidnappers. He neither has the mandate to do so, nor the wherewithal to do it. And so the next-best thing is to make their Naira stockpile useless to them.

Most of these guys are stuck in different forests around the country. Leaving their lairs to go to the city to exchange their old Naira for new Naira is risky. And by virtue of the Money Laundering Act, banks will not change amounts above N5 million for non-customers.

Even if they use proxies, it will be hard for them to change their old Naira before the deadline.

We are so used to reflexively condemning any government policy that we do not even pause to reflect on whether a policy is good or not before we criticise it. By this one act, Emefiele has dealt almost a mortal blow to bandits and kidnappers.

And some people, including those in this present administration, seem not to understand the nuances in the relationship that the Central Bank of Nigeria has with any incumbent President and his administration.

By virtue of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007, the Central Bank of Nigeria is an independent financial institution. Section 1

(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 provides that “The Bank shall be an INDEPENDENT body in the discharge of its functions.”

Flowing from the above, the argument by the Minister of Finance that she was not informed of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s intention to redesign the Naira, is not a negative on the CBN. It is actually a great positive. It shows that they are independent.

The Bank of England is independent of 10 Downing Street. The US Federal Reserve Bank is independent of the White House. I am not saying everything that the West does is good and that we should copy them hook, line, and sinker. No. However, even communist Russia and China have copied this model and granted partial independence to their own central banks (Putin and his central bank Governor do not see eye to eye on crypto). And such independence has worked well for them. And it will also work well for us.

In monetary matters, attack is the best form of defence. Advance notice will give saboteurs within the system (and believe me, there are many), enough time to develop strategies to counter this patriotic action by the Emefiele-led CBN board. And the argument about costs is moot. Why? Because whether or not we redesign the Naira, we will still have to print new Naira notes. For those who do not know, the process of recalling old currency notes and replacing them with new ones is a recurring process in Nigeria, if not in every country. Let

us take the United States for example. According to the website of the US Federal Reserve Bank (federalreserve. gov), the average lifespan of a $1 bill is 6.6 years. For the $5 bill, it is 4.7 years. For the $10 bill, it is 5.3 years.

Money is not static. It is dynamic. And for good reason too. Viruses and bacteria love money.

Paper currency is what is known in microbiology as a fomite. By definition, a fomite is any object or material which is likely to carry infection.

And the thing about paper currency is that it is very hard to sanitise without destroying it. And that is one of the reasons why they have to be periodically destroyed, as failure to do so would (not could) lead to a health crisis within society. Which is why it is virtually impossible to find a Naira note that was signed by a former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor from eight years ago. As a nation, we ought to respect the independence of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and not second guess that critical institution, so that its board is not distracted from the task ahead of it. And believe me, the CBN has its job cut out for it. I mentioned the inflation rate earlier, and that must be tackled with very tight policies, like Chile has had to do, (lifting rates from 0.5% to 11.25%), or we face the prospect of a Venezuelan or Sri Lankan-style inflation, which does not come alone (it is accompanied by intense civil unrest that makes EndSARS look like a child’s play). Nobody benefits from such a scenario. So, our best bet is to prevent it from happening by allowing the Central Bank of Nigeria focus on its core duties, instead of this analysis paralysis neurosis that has since gripped our nation.

Reno’s Nuggets You only think you are behind your mates, because you are thinking carnally. Think spiritually. The stone that will go far must first be drawn backwards by the catapult. You are not behind. You are only being prepared for your launch into orbit! And by the way, who is really your mate? You were born alone and you will die alone, and in between your birth and your death, the only person that will have exactly the same experiences as you is you. You are your ONLY mate! #RenosNuggets #FreeLeahSharibu

Sanwo-Olu: Archbishop of Lagos, Olumakaiye’s Death, a Personal Loss Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed sadness over the passing of the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most.

Rev. (Dr.) Humphrey Bamisebi Olumakaiye, describing it as a personal loss.

Olumakaiye, the Lord Bishop and Missioner, Diocese of Lagos, 53, died yesterday after a brief illness. He was the first

Bishop of Osun North East in 2009 before being transferred to the Diocese of Lagos in 2018.

Sanwo-Olu in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said the death of Bishop Olumakaiye was a great loss not only to the Anglican Communion but the Diocese of Lagos and the entire Lagos State.

“In fact, Bishop Olumakaiye’s death is a personal loss to

me,” Sanwo-Olu said, while commiserating with the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most.

Revd Henry Ndukuba, bishops, clergies and the laity over the demise of the Bishop of Diocese of Lagos.

He urged the deceased family, especially, the widow, Prof. Motunrayo Olumakaiye, friends, clergymen and entire members of the Diocese of Lagos and Province of Lagos to

take the death of Archbishop Olumakaiye in good faith.

“The death of Archbishop Humphrey Bamisebi Olumakaiye, who I have known for many years as a fellow Anglican came to me as a rude shock. His death is a great loss to the Anglican Communion, especially the Diocese of Lagos.

But we must always take solace in God that our Lord Bishop lived a good life and served humanity passionately.

“He impacted people within and outside the shores of Nigeria positively. He was the first Nigerian priest to preach at Melbourne Church, London.

As an evangelist, preacher, and administrator, he served God with all his heart, using his spiritual gift to win souls for God. He was an apostle of God and remained committed to God till his death on Monday.

“The pastoral and wise counsel of Archbishop Olumakaiye

will be sorely missed by his family, the House of Bishop, clergies, and the laity.

“I sympathise with his family, particularly Mama Lagos Diocese, Prof. Motunrayo Olumakaiye, and the entire Anglican Communion members. I pray that God will grant the late Archbishop Olumakaiye eternal rest and grant the family and the church the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” he said.

41

TUESDAY, N ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

“PUSHING THE FRONTIERS –AN EVENING WITH GLO”...

L-R: Head, Web/ETop/Data Sales, Globacom, Ugochukwu Ibe; Head of Business, Globacom, Dr. Zerguerras Salah; Executive Directive, Zenith Bank, Akin Ogunranti, and Head, Tertiary Institutions Data PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA Sales, Globacom, Osagie Esangbedo, at the “Pushing the Frontiers –An Evening with Glo” event held by the company for stakeholders in Lagos...recently.

Certificate Saga: Coast Clears for AA to Open Case against Tinubu Court declines to join Omo-Aje faction Alex Enumah in Abuja The coast has been cleared for the Action Alliance (AA) party to open its certificate forgery allegations suit against former Lagos State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidates, Senator Bola Tinubu.

Hearing in the matter could not go on as scheduled following an application by one Adekunle Omo-Aje and his group claiming leadership of the AA party and also insisting they did not engage any legal practitioner to institute the suit against Tinubu.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja had in August, fixed October 12 for commencement of hearing shortly after ordering parties to exchange their briefs of arguments in the case.

However, at the next adjourned date, Omo-Aje and his faction had asked to be joined as a defendant in the suit filed by the AA. But after listening to arguments in support and against the joinder

application, the court declined to grant the request.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu in his ruling dismissed the joinder application on the grounds that conditions precedent for such joinder to be granted were not placed before the court.

Amongst others, Justice Egwuatu held that Omo-Aje did not establish his claim as National Chairman of the AA and also did not disclose how his interest would be jeopardised if not joined as defendant in the suit.

Justice Egwuatu while dismissing the joinder request directed the plaintiff to open its case of certificate forgery allegations against Tinubu on Friday, November 4, 2022.

The judge specifically ordered that witnesses in the suit must be brought before the court to enable it determine the suit within time stipulated by law.

AA had on June 21, approached the court for an order restraining Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from including

the name of the APC in the ballot for the 2023 presidential election.

The party had equally asked the court for another order restraining the electoral umpire from accepting Tinubu’s name as candidate of the APC in the forthcoming presidential election.

The plaintiff in the Writ of Summon marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/954/2022, had predicated its request on the claim that both the APC and its presidential candidate, Tinubu were not qualified to participate in the 2023 presidential election on alleged forgery committed by Tinubu in 1999.

While the AA is the sole plaintiff, INEC, APC and Tinubu are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.

Plaintiff in the suit is claiming that Tinubu forged his university of Chicago certificate he submitted in 1999, in aid of his qualification for the 1999 governorship election in Lagos State, which he won.

In a 16 paragraph statement on oath deposed by one Kalu Agu, the plaintiff submitted that, “the

$1.3m Fraud: EFCC Declares Kano APC Senatorial Candidate Missing Before Court Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday told a Kano Federal High Court that the Kano Central Senatorial Candidate of the All Progressive Congress(APC) Abdulsalam Abdulkarim-Zaura, who is standing trial for an alleged $1.3 million fraud is nowhere to be found.

The EFCC Prosecution counsel, Aisha Habib, told the court that the defendant was nowhere to be found for arraignment.

"This is a criminal case and the defendant must be in court to answer his plea even if he is challenging the jurisdiction of the court to arraign him.

"This is a total disrespect; the defendant has to be in court before he can file an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to arraign him," Habib said.

Counsel to the defendant, Ibrahim Garba Waru, told the court that at this critical stage of the proceedings the presence of the defendant was not mandatory.

"Section 266(b) of Administration

of Criminal Justice Law(ACJL) 2015 says in a criminal trial the presence of the defendant is necessary but where there is an exception of interlocutory application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to arraign him cannot take place,” he added.

He said the defendant was not in court because he was not physically fit.

The presiding judge, Justice Muhammad Nasir-Yunusa, said in a criminal case the defendant must be in court.

"This is a criminal case Where is the defendant," he added.

He ordered both parties to file a written address on why or not the defendant to appear before the court and adjourned the matter till November 10.

The three panel of Justices of the appellate presided by Justice Abdullahi Bayero had struck out the judgment of Justice Lewis Allagoa that discharged Zaura of the alleged financial theft in June 2020.

On June 9, 2020 the defendant was discharged and acquitted by a Federal High Court over a

nine-count charge of $1.3 million fraud.

The Kano Court of Appeal division in April, 2022, had ordered a fresh retrial of the case earlier dismissed and acquitted by a Kano Federal high court which ruled in favor of the defendant.

3rd defendant is a person who is not qualified for election to the office of President of Nigeria on the grounds of alleged forgery.”

According to the deponent, the 3rd defendant had provided false information and attached forged documents in his form CF 001 he submitted to INEC in 1999 in aid of his qualification for the governorship poll.

The deponent stated that the claim of Tinubu that he possesses Bsc degrees in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Chicago and Chicago State University in 1976 and 1979 respectively were false.

“The 3rd defendant knew he did not possess all the educational qualifications he listed in the said INEC form,” he added.

The deponent further claimed that the matter of false information

by Tinubu was once reported to the Inspector General of Police and the Lagos State House of Assembly, wherein the latter set up a committee which in its report at page 2 said that, “The Governor of Lagos State stated his evidence by admitting full responsibility for some of the needless errors being pinpointed in recent publications and which formed the basis of the allegations against him.”

The plaintiff is contending that arising from the above the 3rd defendant is not qualified for election into the office of President of Nigeria.

The party therefore prayed the court to declare that 3rd defendant’s claim that he attended Government

College, Ibadan and University of Chicago on his INEC Form CF 001 in 1999 which he presented to INEC is false.

He also urged the court to further declare that the alleged false information on Tinubu’s INEC Form CF 001 about his BSc degree in Economics from the University of Chicago “is a forged certificate.”

Plaintiff said in view of Section 137(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution, the

court should declare that the 3rd defendant, “haven in 1999 presented a forged certificate to INEC….is not qualified to contest for the office of president.”

“A declaration that by virtue of Sections 224, 23 and 24 of the 1999Constitution and the Constitution of the APC, the office of the President of Nigeria is to be occupied by a man of integrity and impeccable character”’

FRC Moves to Strengthen Fiscal Management in North-east States Daji Sani in Yola The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), an agency of the federal government said it has made concerted effort towards strengthening fiscal management in the north-eastern states through effective fiscal responsibility laws.

The Chairman of the Commission, Chief Victor Muruako, made the disclosure at a three -day awareness and sensitisation workshop on transparency and accountability held in Yola, Adamawa State, yesterday in his opening remarks.

According to Muruako, the participants were carefully selected from the state ministries of Finance, Budget and Planning and Civil Society Organisations drawn from the six states of north-east geopolitical zone of the country.

The Chairman said they were commencing the awareness and

sensitisation workshop in the north-east and would soon take it to other geo-political zones of the country.

He further explained that the FRC would continue to keep driving towards its vision of a transparent and accountable government financial management framework in the country.

"The programme is in alignment with the Commission's mission which for the records is to promote prudent and transparent fiscal management in Nigeria; in line with the mandate of the Commission to support states and local government in the federation to adopt and improve good fiscal practices as provided in the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007, " he said According to the chairman, "The theme of the workshop is sustaining the gains of fiscal Transparency and accountability in state."

Edo Targets Local Processing of Crude Oil, Gas Products Before Export Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has said the state has set a target of ensuring that all crude oil and gas products in the state are processed in refineries and gas processing facilities in the state before being exported to increase the state’s foreign receipts and diversify its economy.

The governor, who said this during the inspection of the test-run of Duport Energy Park in Egbokor, Orhionmwon Local Government Area (LGA) of the

state, noted that the state was fastbecoming Nigeria’s hydrocarbon hub.

A statement quoted Obaseki to have said: “Due to the benefits and advantages that we have in Edo State to have onshore oil and gas production, we are now attracting investors to utilise that production locally.

“Our goal is that every drop of crude oil and gas produced in Edo State is used here for national development rather

than exporting it.”

The facility in Egbokor is the first energy park in Nigeria with a modular refinery, gas and power plant. It has a refining capacity of 10, 000 barrels per-day, a 50 megawatts power plant, a 60 million scf gas processing plant and over 100 RAM data bank centre.

The state also plays host to the 6000bpd Edo Modular Refinery operated by Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Limited.

The Edo Modular Refinery would produce from its feedstock 50 per cent of diesel (500,000 litres), 25 percent of naphtha (300,000 litres), and 20 percent of fuel oil (200,000) litres.

The Chinese consortium that handled the construction of the refinery is made up of Peiyang Chemical Equipment Company of China (PCC), Sinopec International Petroleum Service Corporation (SIPS), and African Infrastructure Partners (AIP).

42

TUESDAY, N ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

NEW CORPORATE OFFICE FOR FIRST GUARANTEE PENSION...

L-R: Managing Director, Sigma Pensions Ltd, Mr. Dave Uduani; former Chairman, First Guarantee Pension Limited, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam; Chairman, First Guarantee Pension Limited, Mr. Herbert Wigwe; and Managing Director, First Guarantee Pension Limited, Mr. Wilson Ideva, during the formal handing over of First Guarantee Pension at the new corporate office in Abuja…yesterday

Flooding: Agric Minister Dispels Fears of Imminent Food Shortage FG unfair to Bayelsa, Diri insists Says state only got mosquito nets, clothes from NEMA Warns youth hijacking food from IDP camps Lokpobiri urges federal govt, IOCs to assist victims NAOC distributes relief materials in 260 communities zones, adding that records of the distribution including farm implements to farmers was available.

He said, "We have insurance scheme for farmers who are flood victims, for those under insurance coverage, we process and pay them, and for those who don't have we do intervention from the government from time to time.

"In line with the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari for the provision of a master plan to mitigate flood, the ministry is collaborating with Ministries of Water Resources and Environment.

"We are improving production of agriculture products in areas where security is okay to make up for areas that is challenge security wise and security agencies are helping to provide some measures of security.”

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Abdullahi Yahaya(APC-Kebbi) said the agric ministry must ensure that its

budget was specific and focused on programmes to be executed.

He said there was also need to ensure that preparation of budget entailed collaboration with representatives of the people so as to benefit the people.

He added that it was appalling that a country of over 200 million people would have a low budget on agriculture, saying that it was nothing to write home about, given the importance of agriculture to growth and development of the economy.

Abdullahi, however, said the Federal Government in the last four years had done creditably well on release of budgetary funding for the execution of projects in the agriculture sector and other MDAs, saying that the MDAs had gotten not less than up to 70 to 80 per cent of their capital release.

Union Tackles MMA2 Management for Allegedly Sacking 37 Workers by Mail

Meanwhile, Diri has considering Bayelsa’s contribution to the nation’s economy, the response of the federal government to the flood situation in the state was not commensurate and fair.

His Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as having made the remark on Sunday, at the Chief DSP Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa, while declaring open a three-day solemn assembly of fasting and prayers ahead of the state's annual Thanksgiving Day on November 2.

While bemoaning the level of destruction caused by the natural disaster across communities in the state, he noted that it would cost the government hundreds of billions of naira to rehabilitate damaged road infrastructure in the state.

He also stated that people of the state have been rendered homeless and traumatised with their livelihoods gone.

“We are still calling on the federal government to come to our aid.

What it will cost us to repair broken down roads amount to hundreds of billions of naira.

"This is a solemn period. As a government and people, we are

Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Sunday Aborisade in Abuja, Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammed Abubakar has dismissed fears that Nigeria could experience food shortage in the coming months following the massive flooding which swept away many farmlands across the country recently.

This was Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has once more tasked the federal government to support the state to cushion the effects of the devastating floods.

Diri said considering Bayelsa’s contribution to the nation’s economy, the response of the federal government to the flood situation in the state was not commensurate and fair.

Abubakar spoke while responding to questions from lawmakers yesterday, at the budget defence

Chinedu Eze The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) has expressed anger over the manner Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the domestic terminal, Murtala Muhammed Airport Two (MMA2), Lagos, allegedly sacked 34 of its workforce.

The union alleged that the workers were sacked last Friday, with “ordinary e-mails” sent to their different boxes with disregard to the rule of law after they were first sent on compulsory leave of absence for 10 days.

The Vice President and Deputy General Secretary of ATSSSAN, Emmanuel Jaja and Frances Akinjole, respectively told aviation journalists at the union secretariat at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, yesterday, that most of those laid off had worked with the company for at least a decade.

session of the ministry.

The budget defence was jointly organised by the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Agriculture.

Some of the lawmakers in their separate submissions lamented the effect of flooding in the country especially on farm products.

They said projections had been made that Africa may experience food shortage given the stoppage of grains importations occasioned

by Russian Ukrainian wars.

But in his response, the Minister said, "The main concern about food scarcity, in the coming months, we will not allow that to happen, I can guarantee you by the grace of God, because we have measures in place.

"One of the measures is dry season farming, which we have in place and the money, we are working with Ministry of Finance, we have gotten money from financ-

Akinjole emphasised that the action was to witch-hunt its members working with the terminal operator, stressing that its branch chairman, branch secretary, branch treasurer and branch women leader were all affected by the sack.

He said the action of the management contravened Section 20 of the Labour Act on engagement and disengagement of staff by any company in the country, maintaining that the union would kick severely against the act of the management.

According to Akinjole, since the terminal operator “grudgingly” accepted that its staff could join the unions, the company had continued to intimidate its members.

He explained that the union had on June 16, 2021 concluded the signing of the staff Conditions of Service (CoS) for its members in Bi-Courtney, after a prolonged negotiation with the management, which spanned about three years.

ing agencies, one of them is AFDB, and we will intensify dry season farming," he said.

Mohammed nevertheless admitted that the flood being a natural phenomenon, could not be stopped.

He added that flooding could in some situation, be used to benefit agriculture production.

He said the ministry was already assessing the flood situation on extent of damage done to farm lands and crops like, rice, maize and the number of farmers affected.

He said the immediate intervention was that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management has been distributing grains provided by the agriculture ministry.

He added that the ministry has programmes lined up to address issues of flooding of farm produce.

On support for farmers, he said the ministry was distributing inputs every year in every geo- political

He also explained that after the execution of the CoS document, a female member of the union resigned her appointment with the BASL when she could no longer condone the intimidation, and presentation of a cheque for her terminal benefits, which she rejected, became an issue.

He explained that BASL management had used historical (year by year) computation to calculate her exit pay instead of the expected last salary, lamenting that the rejected cheque denied the beneficiary to the tune of about N3,000,000.00.

He maintained that Section 1.12 of the Conditions of Service provides two months' basic salary per year to be paid to any worker who resigns his or her appointment.

He said, “We have seven executive members in BASL and out of these numbers, four of our executives were issued sack letters.

These four people sacked were key members of our union. In all,

37 people were sacked with 34 of them being our members.

“When the same management did a similar thing in 2018, we sacrificed 29 of our members through an uncommon ugly redundancy arrangement. The fallout of the crisis was the grudging acceptance of unionism into the BASL by their management. Series of intimidation of union members has continued in the company.

“We are not out to destroy any company because we are supposed to be partners in progress. We are also not against employers doing whatever they want to do with employers, but as unions, we should be involved in their downsizing, rightsizing or redundancy exercise as it affects our members.”

Also speaking, Jaja said most of those sacked by the company had been in service of BASL before the coming of unions into the company in 2018.

Flood Relief: FG Unfair to Bayelsa, Diri Insists

suffocating. This is the state where the golden egg is laid. The federal government quickly intervenes in disasters that are not up to half of what we are experiencing now,” the governor said.

Diri maintained that the state was yet to receive relief materials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and cautioned against playing politics with the lives of people that are in great distress.

"Let us not play politics with the lives of people that are already traumatised and dying. Houses are giving way. Our infrastructure is gone. As I speak, what the State Emergency Management Agency has received from NEMA are mosquito nets and some guinea brocade materials. Food items that are being distributed in the state were procured by the Bayelsa government."

On the Thanksgiving Day, the state's helmsman said there was no better time to offer thanksgiving to God as the flood disaster in the state could have been worse.

In his homily titled: "The Good Shepherd," Catholic Bishop of the Bomadi Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Hyacinth Egbebo, described God as a care-giver that expresses utmost concern for his people.

In a related development, the Chairman of the Taskforce on Flood Mitigation and Management in Bayelsa State, Iselema Gbaranbiri, has warned some community youths who find joy in harassing and attacking IDP camps and carting away food provided by the government to alleviate the hardship occasioned by the flood to desist or face the full wrath of the law.

Some youths had formed the habit of attacking IDP camps, especially the private ones where government has given food items as palliatives According to Gbaranbiri, the misguided youths carry out the criminal act in the pretence that the items were meant for their chiefs, Community Development Committee members, youth bodies, among others.

Continues online

43

TUESDAY, N ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

COURTESY VISIT OF THE GAMBIAN MINISTER TO THE NCC...

L-R: Director, Digital Economy, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Engr. Augustine Nwaulune; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, The Republic of Gambia, Mr. Ousman Bah; Director Legal and Regulatory Services, NCC, Ms. Josephine Amuwa, and Director, Human Capital and Administration, Mr. Usman Malah, during the courtesy visit of the Gambian Minister to the NCC in Abuja…recently

2023: You Can’t Buy South West, Atiku Campaign Mocks Tinubu Says ethnic politics can’t save APC Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation has mocked the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following alleged moves to get reputable South West leaders to support his presidential ambition.

One of the spokesperson of the campaign, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Nigerians watched with dismay as Tinubu resorted to playing ethnic card at a session he organised at Pa Reuben Fasoranti's house in Akure, Ondo State, at the weekend, in a bid to divert attention from his numerous anti-people issues and used the unsuspecting leaders to create an impression of having secured the endorsement of the South West.

"Our electoral process is badly scandalised by report in the public space that the APC has been making huge financial overtures to some leaders to create factions in certain credible Pan-South West organisations and use such procured factions to pronounce support for the APC presidential candidate.

"The very thought by the APC

presidential campaign to compromise the leaders of the South West is to say the least, reprehensible, atrocious, sacrilegious and show the extent of disrespect, irreverence and disdain the APC, has for such revered leaders," he said.

He said Tinubu ought to know that he could not sway or buy the South West or any other part of the country the way he procured the APC presidential ticket – a ticket that has been compared to the Zimbabwean dollar.

According to Ologbondiyan, "The handlers of the APC presidential candidate should know that the South West, like other sections of the country, are holding Tinubu directly responsible for the woes the nation has been passing through in the last seven and a half years of the APC administration – an administration Asiwaju Tinubu confessed to have helped install."

Moreover, he said Tinubu cannot be trusted by the South West or any part of the country for that

matter as his persistent self-centered assertions and barefaced entitlement messaging demonstrated that his presidential ambition was driven by the pursuit of personal aggrandizement and not to serve the people.

In view of this, he said, "It is clear that majority of the people of the South West have rejected the APC Presidential candidate and cannot fall to APC’s trickeries.

This informs why the APC lost woefully in the July 16 Osun State governorship election to the PDP,

a state considered to be Asiwaju’s ancestry home.

"The people of the South West are knowledgeable; they are egalitarian; they know what is in their best interest and Asiwaju Tinubu's life ambition does not represent that.

If anything, Asiwaju represents all the woes, miseries, agonies, pains and desolations brought to our country by the APC administration.

"This is why the South West and other regions of the country are rallying with the presidential candidate

of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, who represents the hope of Nigerians in their collective determination to rescue and rebuild our nation from the ruins caused by Asiwaju Tinubu’s APC administration," he said.

On his part, Senator Dino Melaye, who condemned Tinubu for singing the Yoruba anthem and still wanted to be Nigeria’s president, dismissed him as an ethnic jingoist, and asked: "Where is Tinubu's loyalty: Nigeria or Yoruba?"

Buhari Congratulates Brazil's New President, Lula Da Silva Labour party says his victory a red card for APC Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Wale Igbintade in Lagos President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, congratulated Brazil's newly elected President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on winning a hardfought, divisive runoff election.

But the Labour Party, which also congratulated the Brazilian leader, said his victory signposted a red

card for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria.

However, in congratulating the new leader on staging ‘an astonishing comeback’ after leaving office and serving jail term, the President, in a statement by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, said he hoped that Lula would further enhance the excellent relations between Nigeria and

Brazil.

President Buhari stressed that he looked forward to working together with him "to continue the excellent bilateral cooperation and growing trade relations between our two countries."

On its part, the Labour Party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Arabambi Abayomi, described

Lula's Victory as a red card to the APC led government, saying APC should begin to prepare its handover notes and should not think of getting the third term by proxy.

Arabambi said Lula's Victory showed that power in a democracy belonged to the People, and

therefore advised that Nigerians should learn to take their destiny into their hands by voting the 'Hawks' out of power next year.

He said Lula represented the People, adding that the muchtouted power of incumbency and so-called structures were not a determinant to elect leaders.

AbdulRazaq: Nigeria Can Arrest Poverty Through Food Security

Indian Envoy: Security Situation Closely Monitored in Nigeria

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has said Nigeria and Africa could easily break the shackles of poverty through proper investments in food security and various safety net programmes that could directly put money in the pockets of those mostly in need of it.

AbdulRazaq stated this in Ilorin, yesterday, at a meeting with Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), led by Mr. Javed Khan, held at the Government House, Ilorin.

Apart from its support for agriculture, the governor said the administration has continued to support small businesses and lift up people below the poverty line through its social safety programmes such as Owo Arugbo and Owo Isowo, among others.

Addressing national programme

for food security, the governor said everything must be done to grow the agricultural value chains such as the one being supported by the bank.

Kwara, Kebbi, Kano and Ekiti have been identified to benefit in the first phase of the programme which is funded by the IsDB. "The global problem created

by Covid-19 is still subsisting. We have a huge problem globally not just in Nigeria, which has affected food security throughout the world. Africa, and indeed Nigeria, is ready to feed the world.

“We have the land and everything to achieve that. But we have to be organised. And it is programmes like this that will put us in the right footing to feed the world in every aspect. It is a serious thing that you sent a team down to Kwara to make sure you have hands-on approach to the programme.

“Our 10-year Agriculture Transformation Plan shows the seriousness our administration attaches to agriculture and its value chains. The future for us is agriculture and agro-processing.

That is where we have comparative advantages.

"We thank you for your interest in our state. With thorough engagement and sincerity of purpose, be assured that our team is prepared and very serious about this project, because we don't have oil in Kwara, agriculture is part of what we are looking at to sustain us. So, we need to and we, indeed, can break the chains of poverty through agriculture,” he said.

Khan, on his part, said, “As a procedure, we are here just to confirm and we got the confirmation from the relevant team here, that whatever is designed is according to the needs and

requirements of the Kwara State.

"We are here to listen to all the technical people if they need to add or remove something from it.

This is a project for the people of Kwara. What I saw in the last few months that I joined the Nigerian team in Abuja is that there is a lot of potentials not only in Kwara but also in many other states.

"But you need to harness this potential for greater benefits. How do we get this benefits from it? We need to work together to achieve the set objectives,” he said.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Abdulateef Gidado Alakawa, said Kwara would join three other states — Kano, Kebbi and Ekiti — that have been captured in the first phase of the programme, and attributed the choice of Kwara and others to their government's commitments to agricultural sector in their respective states.

Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gangadharan Balasubramanian, has said the Indian Government was still closely monitoring the security situation in Nigeria before a decision would be made on closing its embassy in the country.

The envoy said this yesterday in Abuja during the celebration of the Indian National Unity Day Both the United States and the United Kingdom government had issued a security alert on Nigeria with some other embassies temporarily closing down in the country.

But the Indian envoy said, “Security is certainly paramount and we have taken certain precautions and embraced the inputs that have been received generally from the government.

“So, we have not shut down our things, we’ll continue to work,

but taking precautions as security is paramount for Indian nationals and people who are working over here.”

Balasubramanian, on assistance of his country to Nigeria in the area of security, said security was an internal matter for training and capacity building.

He, however, said his country was always ready and had always been providing such training, including on the security side to Nigerian nationals and would continue to do so.

He noted that India-Nigeria relations were quite strong, with 64 years of cooperation between both countries, dating back to 1958.

He revealed that the latest in the bilateral relations between India and Nigeria was the invitation extended to the country to be a guest country for the G20 events, where India would be assuming the presidency on December 1, 2022.

44

TUESDAY, N ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

PRUDENTIAL ZENITH LIFE HOSTS NCRIB TO DINNER...

L–R: Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mr. Tope Adaramola; Vice President, NCRIB, Mrs. Ekeoma Ezeibe; Deputy President, NCRIB, Mr. Tunde Oguntade; President, NCRIB, Barrister Rotimi Edu; MD/CEO, Prudential Zenith Life (PZL), Mr. Chuks Igumbor; Executive Director/Chief Commercial Officer, PZL, Mrs. Isioma Olowu; and Honorary Treasurer, NCRIB, Mr. Ayodele Akande at the October members’ dinner of NCRIB hosted by Prudential Zenith Life recently.

Kwankwaso: I Sold My Properties to Sponsor 3,000 Students, Local, Overseas Running mate mocks fitch poll on Tinubu Juliet Akoje and Kuni Tyessi in Abuja Presidential candidate of New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, yesterday, reeled off the achievement's of his foundation, especially, in the area of education, saying he once sold some of his properties to provide both local and overseas scholarships to students in Kano, Nigeria and Africa.

Speaking at a colloquium organised by the Kwankwasiyya

Development Foundation to mark his 66th birthday, Kwankwaso stated that the kind of leadership he would provide the nation, if elected in 2023, would be totally different from what the other political parties had offered and are offering.

This is as his running mate, Archbishop Isaac Idahosa, has dismissed the recent prediction by Fitch, a global rating company, that the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, might win the 2023 presidential election.

Harping on the theme of the conference, "Democracy and Good Governance in Nigeria: The Legacy of Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso", the presidential hopeful added that his political group was concerned about the general development of the nation.

“I'm happy to say that in the 2019 election in Kano, we (Kwankwasiyya movement) had no governor, no minister, no serving or former member (House of Representatives).

We had just these young men and women and we were able to win

our election for the governorship.

"And that was why I was encouraged to create the scholarship scheme for our young men and women. When we advertised in 2019, believing that there are few people, who are first class, we exhausted them in Kano. Second class upper we exhausted them. We went on to second class lower levels, when I left government in 2015 "We had over three thousand of them going to 14 countries across the world. I'm also happy that we sponsored students in

BPP Sensitises Stakeholders on Draft Review of Standard Bidding Documents Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has embarked on a twoday sensitisation workshop for stakeholders on the draft review of standard bidding document used in the procurement of goods, works and services.

Speaking at the workshop held in Port Harcourt yesterday, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Mamman Ahmadu, said since the development of the existing standard bidding documents in 2009, a lot has happened in the procurement space both locally and internationally.

Represented by Engr. Eze Obasi, the Director Department of Special Procurement, Ahmedu said the workshop was aimed at creating an opportunity to harvest valuable inputs from all public procurement stakeholders, discuss the key clauses of interests, synergies various perspectives and incorporate them in the documents being reviewed and developed.

He disclosed that the development of new procurement documents and the revision of the existing procurement ones was aimed at addressing the inadequacies observed by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government in use of the current documents, which were developed in 2009 and last updated in 2011.

According to the BPP boss, already a draft procurement documents had been produced and shared with relevant procurement stakeholders.

He said while the workshop in Port Harcourt was for stakeholders in the South-south and South-east, the engagement process would also take place in Lagos, Abuja and Kano, in order to receive inputs and reactions from wide range of public procurement's stakeholders.

"BPP in line with her function stipulated in Section 5(m) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 is mandated to prepare and update standard bidding and contract documents with the aim of achieving its objectives of transparency, competition, cost effectiveness and professionalism in the public sector procurement system and disposal of public assets in line with international best practice.

"Since the development of the existing standard bidding documents in 2009, a lot has happened in the procurement space both locally and internationally.

"Notably is the global economic meltdown, the global pandemic brought about by Covid-19, rapid advancement in technology, advancement in procurement practice globally, just to mention a few.

"Experiences in using these documents have shown their inadequacies to cater for large, complex and dynamic procurement of goods, services and administration of contracts arising from their use.

"In addition, the use of these documents over the years has thrown up lessons borne out of the challenges encountered by both the public sector and the private sector actors in the

conduct of public procurement in the country.

"In the light of the above, the Bureau as the regulator of public procurement in Nigeria, decided to respond to the identified challenges in the use of the procurement documents with a view to bringing them up to date with the current international best practices while ensuring domestic interests are well taken care of for the purpose of national

development.”

Speaking to journalists, BPP Director, Database Regulations and ICT, said the Bureau was not reinventing the wheel, but standardising the procurement documents in line with international best practice.

Aliyu also stated that the document would curb the issue of unnecessary arbitration over procurement matters, as witnessed in the past.

private universities in Nigeria.

More than 412 benefited and over 3000 were sent abroad. They are in different sets all sponsored by the Kwankwasiyya foundation.

"I feel the best investment for any politician is education, because I was trained in Kano, in northern Nigeria. And Nigeria can only grow if we have educated people. When I was governor, we were able to feed our children in primary schools, return them to school.

"I realised that I had a few things that I didn't need, and I had to sell almost all things that I didn't directly require for myself to pay for the scholarships. Our scholarship was not only for Kano indigenes. It was for residents, people who are living in Kano, because we believe in the fact that where you live is your home.

"Today, they have an association of those who collected our uniforms in primary schools. They are in millions. I thank all my brothers and sisters, my friends across the country, who supported the foundation," Kwankwanso said.

However, dismissing the Fitch poll, Idahosa described it and others ahead of the forthcoming elections as fake and "paid for", saying his party would spring surprises nationwide, going by the political structures and alliances it

was building across the country.

"Forget about those polls and ratings. They are paid for. When the votes are cast, then all eyes will be clear. We are not here to debate about the polls. Anyone could have sat down wherever he is, and conducted his polls. I could choose today to rise and conduct polls. Of course, you don't expect a teacher to fail himself, but the reality will dawn shortly.

"Nigerians should just await the surprises that are about to be foretold. We are in the 2023 presidential race to win it. We are the party to beat. We don't begin to count our chicks before they are hatched, but just wait for the surprise that will spring up in a short while," he said.

President of Kwankwasiyya Scholars and Kwankwasiyya Development, Dr Yusuf Kofarmata, said the former Kano governor's altruistic efforts to improve the lives of the downtrodden would live on in history and do much to immortalise his place in the country.

Prof. Alfred Mathias Ebi, the Head of Department, Peace and Security Studies, Mewar International University, Nasarawa State, said there was hope for the country if it could get its leadership right in 2023.

N S A : N I G E R I A N OT U N D E R A N Y H E I G H T E N E D S E N S E O F I N S E C U R I T Y “So, you have to look at the purpose of this kind of announcement and, then, you also have to look at intelligence sharing and the best use you can make of shared intelligence and strike that balance.”

Chief of Defence Staff, General Leo Irabor, mentioned the recent attempted terrorist attack on Wawa Cantonment in Niger State and the successes made by the army in the incident.

Irabor said, “Perhaps, to use this opportunity to mention that I'm sure some of you may have seen in the media, or among you, that on the night of 29th, October 2002, Wawa Cantonment in Niger State was attacked.

“Of course, the alertness of the troops led to the neutralisation of the attackers and the vehicles that were laden with IED and other items were impounded and five of those attackers were equally arrested.

Just to use that to let you know the level of alertness of members of the armed forces, the police and other security agencies.”

Those present at the emergency National Security Council meeting included Vice President Yemi Osin-

bajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, and Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari.

Others were Minister of Defense, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd.); Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; and Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi.

Irabor led the three service chiefs, namely, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Farouk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao, to the meeting.

The National Assembly commenced thorough search of all vehicles coming into the complex.

There was no exception to the search, as representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the federal government, who came for the 2023 budget defence, were checked by the security agents strategically positioned within and around the complex.

The NASS Security Management

Committee, in a memo, stated that the stop and search exercise was to prevent the complex from being a vulnerable target for insurgents.

The memo signed by Director, Administrative, Dr. Tahir Sani, read in part, “One of such measures is the directive to security agencies and the Sergeant-at-Arms Department to ensure that, effective October 31, 2022, all vehicles coming into the National Assembly premises are thoroughly searched.

“This entails that the drivers of the vehicles shall by themselves open the booths of their cars and submit their vehicles to comprehensive checks.

“Honourable Members and Distinguished Senators are by this notice advised to use the Presidential gate, unless they are willing to submit themselves to this stop and search policy.

“While regretting the inconvenience that this policy may cause to our visitors, staff, Honourable Members and Distinguished Senators, it is important to state that this measure is due to the exigent demands of our security challenges.”

The FCT EXCO gave the safety reassurance yesterday after its 12th meeting at Gwarinpa. The meeting was sequel to the series of security advisories issued by some foreign embassies in Abuja alerting their citizens to alleged threat by terrorists. It was presided by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, who represented the FCT minister, Mallam Muhammad Bello.

The meeting had in attendance Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Mallam Bashir Mai-Borno, Secretaries of Mandate Secretariats, and AMMC Coordinator, among others.

The EXCO said necessary arrangements had been made by the government, in conjunction with security agencies, to safeguard life and property of all residents.

It noted that though the advisory had generated tension, fear and panic among residents, the security agencies were combing every nook and cranny of the territory to fish out criminals and other persons wishing to truncate the peace and tranquillity of the FCT. Continues online

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

45

NEWS

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME…

L-R: Head, Trade and Sister-Cities, Lagos State Office of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Investment, Mrs. Yemisi Akingbade; Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on SDGs, Mr. Lekan Fatodu; TV Personality and Host, Your View, Mrs. Morayo Afolabi-Brown; Director, Public Affairs, Office of SDGs and Investment, Mr. Sanusi Abdulateef, at the second round of 2022 Lagos SDGs Week’s Surprise Mentorship Programme in Ikeja, Lagos… yesterday ETOP UKUTT

Protest as Militias Attack Plateau Community, Kill Two SerikiAdinoyiinJos Suspected Fulani Militias on Sunday night attacked NTV community in Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA) at about 11pm, killing at

least two persons.

The development resulted in a massive protest along Bokkos -Barkin Ladi road causing serious gridlock. A resident of the community, Mrs. Cynthia Malu

NCC Committed to FG’s Anticorruption Crusade, Says Danbatta Emma Okonji The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with other agencies towards supporting federal government’s anti-corruption campaigns.

The Director, Human Capital and Administration at NCC, Mr. Usman Malah, reaffirmed the commitment yesterday, while representing the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, when NCC played host a delegation from the Public Complaints Commission (PCC),

which paid a courtesy visit to NCC According to Malah, the NCC earned a score of 81.15 per cent in the year 2020, putting it in the top 10 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government among 352 MDAs assessed on Ethics Compliance and Integrity Scorecard (ECIS) by the ICPC. Malah told the PCC delegation that “with this performance, the Commission also emerged as the most ethically compliant government regulatory agency for the year 2020 under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.”

Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund Launches Contest for Youths

Sunday Okobi

In furtherance of its mission to transform the healthcare system in Nigeria, as well as empower Nigerian youths, the Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF) has launched an initiative, a National (WeNaija) Literary contest.

According to the organisation, the WeNaija Literary contest titled: ‘Righting our Story’, is an initiative that seeks to tell, through written content, the vision of a healthier Nigeria.

This can be expressed either as poetry, short stories, non-fiction prose or flash fiction.

According to the General Manager of NSSF, Dr. Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, “The campaign will allow the youths to be a part of something inspirational with widespread impact while providing an avenue for empowering and up-skilling the Nigerian youths.”

She added that the campaign would allow the youths to build their capacity on the use of digital tools and applications for writing, editing, publishing, promotion, and skill marketing, adding that the expected outcome is increased opportunities for global employment via the internet.

Davido Reportedly Loses Son, Ifeanyi Vanessa Obioha There were speculations yesterday that Ifeanyi, the three-year-old son of famed Nigerian music star Davido, had died by drowning.

Various blogs and tweets suggested that the young boy, who enjoyed a lavish birthday celebration last week, was found drowning in the swimming pool at the singer’s house. It was gathered that he was quickly taken to the hospital but efforts to revive him were futile.

While the couple is yet to release an official statement on this incident, some celebrities hinted at the death through their social media posts. Comedian Ayo Makun posted early hours of Tuesday on Instagram that the death of a child is “unnatural, unfair and tragic. This hits me so bad.”

Ifeanyi was born in 2019 to Davido and his partner Chioma.

The two have been in an onand-off relationship, with recent sightings indicating that they may tie the knot soon.

said: “The youths came out this morning, as early as 8am to protest the attack on the community, which left two persons dead.”

She added that the Fulani attackers have severally attacked communities in Bokkos in recent times, recounting that within the past one month, there have been over four attacks on Bokkos

communities.

Also speaking, a staff member of Plateau State University, Bokkos, Mr. Audu confirmed the late night attack on the community, condemning it as dastardly. He said the protest by the youths was an expression of deep pains in their hearts caused by persistent attacks on the people of the community.

He said that the road was totally blocked by the protesting youths until the security personnel intervened to pacify the youths.

Calling on government and security agents to come to the rescue of the communities, the protesters said it was high time government took their plight seriously by being proactive.

They called on Governor Simon Lalong to rise to the occasion by being more proactive.

“The attacks on communities in this local government have been over four in the past one month, and in each case scores of lives were lost. What else does government need before it rises to the occasion?”, he queried.

Fayose Mobilises Support for Oyebanji, Hails Gov for Embracing Opposition VictorOgunjeinAdoEkiti Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, yesterday visited the Governor Biodun Oyebanji, applauding him for being receptive to opposition in the state.

Fayose said he was in the office on a congratulatory visit to Governor Oyebanji, who was inaugurated on October 16, and to also express his condolences on the passing of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Funminiyi Afuye.

Fayose urged Ekiti people to support the new administration so that the governor can improve the economic situation of the state and deliver on his promises to move the state forward. The former governor said God was kind to Ekiti State to have made Oyebanji the governor, describing him as a listening and pragmatic leader, who is well prepared to offer diligent and excellent service.

He said Governor Oyebanji had started very well judging by

some of the steps he had taken so far, adding that the support of the people is what is needed for him to do more.

Fayose, who said he was ready to offer his support and counsel at all time, maintained that the governor needed good advice from well-meaning leaders and citizens of the state on the best way to move the state forward in the face of global economic crisis.

“You are now the face of Ekiti, you need everybody to gather

advice, you need good counselling, especially in a state where some people are looking for manna from above. I will continue to offer my advice, when we have observations we call you to tell you.

“Support this governor, he’s not the Governor of APC, he’s not the Governor of PDP, though he contested under his party but he’s now the governor of Ekiti State. So, he needs all the support to succeed, and I know he shall succeed, because he has started very well.

2023: Chidoka Denies Attacking Peter Obi Corps Marshal of the Federal for 2023 presidential election. response is to expose his carefully David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Former Aviation Minister, Chief Osita Chidoka has denied allegations that he has been commissioned to lead an attack on his fellow Anambra-born presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi. Chidoka in a press statement signed by Head of his media team, Comrade Ikechukwu Okafor, said the allegation was untrue.

The former minister and

Road Safety Corps used to be an ally of Peter Obi, but remained in the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) to work for the Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar when Obi left for LP. There had been reports that the former minister was attacking Obi. But in the statement, Chidoka said: “Ordinarily, we wouldn’t glorify an unsigned write-up with a reply but, the reply has to be done considering we are in the period of electioneering

“We don’t know what the author of the piece hopes to achieve but we suspect that he used the good name of Osita Chidoka to give momentum to his nefarious goal of tarnishing Peter Obi’s name.

“His crude tactics of sharing unprintable and libellous allegations against Peter Obi using the attention-grabbing name of Osita Chidoka should be clear to any discerning reader.

The writer’s aim is clear and our

disguised evil intention.”

Chidoka said he has never been known for negative rhetoric or mud-slinging as far as politics was concerned, and that in 2017 when he ran for governor, his campaign was issues based.

“Chief Chidoka’s robust online campaign and fundraising for the PDP candidate in the 2021 Anambra Governorship election is still fresh in the minds of many as an example of positive messaging.

Wike: Ex-Transport Minister Can’t Speak for Rivers BlessingIbungeinPortHarcourt Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has stated that the former Minister of Transport, Dr. Abiye Sekibo is not in the leadership position to speak on behalf of the state.

Governor Wike said Sekibo is a self seeking politician who has been unable to attract democratic

dividend of whatever kind, to the State while he served as minister and also to his home town, Okrika.

The governor spoke yesterday, during the inauguration 319 Ward and 32 Constituency Liaison Officers in Government House, Port Harcourt.

His word: “I watched a video when one Dr. Abiye Sekibo, while he was addressing people in his

house yesterday (Sunday), said he is the director of Atiku’s Supporters in Rivers. I have no problem about that.

But he does not have that capacity to speak on behalf of Rivers State.

“In that video, he said that River State has been having close relationship with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and that Rivers State has always benefitted from Atiku Abubakar. I want to correct one

impression, Dr. Abiye Sekibo has a personal relationship with Alhaji Atiku, not Rivers State.

“Dr. Abiye Sekibo was Minister of Transport when Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was the Vice president of Nigeria. Can you people mention one project in Okrika, I don’t even want to talk about Rivers State, in Ogu/Bolo, one project that he brought to Rivers State.”

Falana Asks Court to Dismiss PDP’s Suit against INEC, Others for Lack of Jurisdiction

Wale Igbintade

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has asked a Federal High Court, in Port Harcourt to dismiss or strike out a suit instituted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) alongside others over non-payment of filing fees.

Other respondents in the suit brought pursuant to Order 26 Rules 1 and 2 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019, Order 7 Rule 1 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Pre-election) Practice Directions 2022, and under the inherent powers of the court are Prince Nwafor, Gokana Geoffrey M, Dagogo AGreen, Jonathan Excellent Joy- Success, Lawson Ibiso Sarah, Deinma Bridget Tamunobelema,

Goteh Amegua, Hon Vincent C Solomon, Progress Ikechi Ayiteh, Gibson Ukuoma, Mr Pamarieri Tobin, Obua Sampson Amobi and Hon King Tony Gboms.

The Plaintiff, (PDP) in the suit specifically prayed the court to declare that the 2nd, 3rd to 16th Defendants are not entitled to participate in 2023 general elections in respect of the elective positions into membership of the Senate,

House of Representatives and State House of Assembly for any of the constituencies in Rivers State or to nominate, sponsor or field any of the defendants as candidates in the forthcoming 2023 general elections, “having failed to hold valid primaries for the nomination of its candidates, as required by law and the Guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

46

NEWSXTRA

DEVELOPING NEW ENTREPRENEURS…

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Johnson O’Eclat Designs Co, Gbemisola Johnson; Chief Risk Officer, Bank of Industry (BoI), Dr. Ezekiel Oseni; Managing Director/CEO, BoI,Mr Olukayode Pitan, and Director, Entrepreneurship Innovation Centre, Lagos Business School(LBS), Dr. Henrietta Onwuegbuzie, during the LBS-BoI Entrepreneurship Development Programme graduation ceremony in Lekki, Lagos…yesterday

Buhari Off to London for Two-Week Medical Check-Up Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday departed Abuja for London, the United Kingdom(UK) for a routine two-week medical check-up.

The president, had earlier at the State House, Abuja presided

over an emergency meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs and other top security brass.

President Buhari also flew to Owerri, the Imo state capital, to declare open the Conference

Umahi Bans Unauthorised Use of School Premises, Markets for Political Rallies

Benjamin Nworie inAbakaliki

Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, yesterday banned the unauthorised use of school premises, market places and other public facilities in the 13 local government areas of the state for political rallies.

The governor said the use of the government facilities must be authorised by the Ministry of Education after the payment of approved levies.

He also banned the use of motorcycles in all parts of the

state between 7p.m. to 6a.m. by the people in the state.

Speaking during the 2023 budget estimate and citizens input that took place at the Ecumenical Centre in Abakaliki, the state capital, Umahi alleged that motorcycle operators are responsible for insecurities in the state.

He said the ban in the use of motorcycles in the 13 LGAs was because they are being used by unknown gunmen to kill innocent citizens, especially as the 2023 general election approaches.

Gunmen Invade Kogi Community again, Kill Six

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

For the umpteenth time, suspected gunmen from neighbouring state have invaded Akpanyan community in Igala Mela Odolu Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing six people.

THISDAY gathered that the incident happened in the afternoon of last Sunday in the community located at the boundary between Kogi and Enugu States.

The source hinted that the hoodlums, numbering more than 30, came in their usual number on buses and started

shooting sporadically in the town, making residents to scamper for safety.

It was learnt that no sooner the hoodlums entered the community that the security agents, including the vigilantes, advanced and confronted them in a gun duel.

The melee that followed led to the death of six people, among whom were members of the invading hoodlums.

The locals, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, stated that the criminals managed to carry away two dead bodies of their members while retreating in a hurry to their state.

Ondo Community Protests Alleged Plot to Remove Monarch FidelisDavidinAkure Some residents and indigenes of Akungba community in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State yesterday protested an alleged plot to illegally remove the Alale of Akungba Akoko, Oba Isaac Sunday Adeyeye, Ajimo III, from the throne.

The protesters, who besieged the palace of the monarch, held placard with various inscriptions: ‘We say no to illegality in Akungba’; ‘We love our King’; ‘No Court ordered the

removal of our king’; ‘No to breach of peace inAkungba’, among others.

While emphasising a vote of confidence in the monarch, the protesters said the alleged plot was being initiated by some elements whom they described as “haters of peace and progress.”

Expressing their displeasure, the leaders and people of the community hosting the state-owned AdekunleAjasin University, frowned at the unprovoked interference of some officials in the affairs of Akungba Kingdom.

and Retreat For Senior Police Officers.

He is thereafter, expected to leave for London for medical checks that will last till second week of November, 2022.

The Media Adviser to the President, Femi Adesina, in a release issued said: “President Buhari leaves for London October 31, 2022, for routine medical check-up.

“He returns to the country second week of November, 2022”.

However, some analysts have expressed worries that despite budgeting billions of naira annually for the State House

Clinic and other hospitals in Nigeria, the Buhari, members of his immediate family and other top government functionaries routinely travel abroad for medical tourism.

Commuters Stranded as Lagos Drivers Protest Extortion, Harassment by Agberos Segun James and Rebecca Ejifoma Many commuters yesterday were left stranded on Lagos State roads as commercial bus drivers in the state began seven-day strike against alleged extortion and harassment from motor park thugs.

The protest comes with the

lingering excessive levies imposed by the management and caretaker committee members locally known as ‘Agbero’ on buses at almost every junction across the state.

The bus drivers, under the aegis of the Joint Drivers’ Welfare Association of Nigeria (JDWAN), went on with their decision to display their grievances from

October 31 to November 6 over the inability of the state government to tackle the excessive levies on commercial bus drivers.

The National Leader of JDWAN, Abiodun Akintade, in a statement yesterday said: “Drivers and commuters have had a brimful extortion and harassment from the motor park management and caretaker

committee members popularly known as Agbero.”

He bemoaned that it is also visible that the cost of goods and services in the state is a consequence of thug extortion, adding that: “No goods would be delivered, and 95 per cent of working-class residents can’t be transported without the service of commercial drivers.

Suspected Gunmen Abduct Four Travellers in Ekiti Victor Ogunje inAdoEkiti

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted four travellers in Irele-Ekiti, Ajoni Local Council Development Area(LCDA) of Ekiti State.

It was reliably gathered that the victims, who were said to be heading to Ibadan, Oyo State capital, after attending an

event in Kogi State last weekend, were kidnapped around 11a.m. last Sunday.

It was gathered that the four travellers were waylaid by seven gun-wielding attackers on the road between Irele-Ekiti and Oke-Ako, and whisked them into the forest.

The source said: “The four persons kidnapped were coming from an event in Kogi State and

returning to Ibadan when they were attacked on the Irele-Ekiti and OkeAko road.

“We have not heard anything from the gunmen since yesterday (Sunday) and we are hoping they will get in touch with their families possibly for ransom.”

A community leader in IreleEkiti, Chief Kehinde Abejide, who confirmed the abduction,

lamented the incessant attack by gunmen in the area, calling on the government to beef up security in the axis.

Abejide, who is the Akogun of Ikere-Ekiti, urged the new state Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, to impress it on the military authorities to provide army outpost to safeguard the area against the rampaging gunmen.

PDP, Atiku Have Lost 85% of Supporters to Obi, Says Labour Party Chieftain Emameh Gabriel inAbuja A Labour Party (LP) chieftain and Special Adviser to Peter Obi on Public Affairs, Katch Ononuju, yesterday said the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lost up to 85 per cent of its supporters to Obi since after leaving his former party for LP. Ononuju also boasted that the

ongoing organic revolution across the country will secure the party the expected victory at the polls in February next year.

Meanwhile, Peter Obi has disowned a manifesto in circulation purportedly released by the party yesterday morning.

In interview on Channels TV Sunrise Daily monitored by THISDAY, Ononuju said: “Up to

85 per cent of the PDP historical voting blocs are now following LP, never mind what the dinosaurs are telling you and their ability to rent crowd. We want to work with the organic people, we want to work with the Nigerian people.”

Ononuju said he left the PDP for LP because the party has grown in popularity with Nigerians, especially the youths.

His words: “The LP wasn’t known six months ago in the way it is known today but the minute problem came in the PDP, Peter Obi moved.

“He wasn’t the only one to move, several people moved and suddenly the youths looked at those who moved and said this is where we are going to and that we are very happy for.”

Niger Suspends School Principals for Collecting Illegal Dues

Laleye DipoinMinna

The principal of a female senior secondary school in Minna, Niger State, and four of her vice principals have been suspended indefinitely over the ‘illegal’ collection of levies from students.

It was learnt that the school heads (names withheld) have

been allegedly illegally collecting N3, 000 per term from each student over the years.

The levy, according to findings, was different from what the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) of the institution approved.

It was gathered that the bubble burst recently when one of the students demanded the money

from her parents, who claimed he did not have such money to pay to the school since the government is implementing a free-education policy.The parent was said to have raised the alarm to the state Ministry of Education which denied approving the collection of such levy.

Following the discovery, the

ministry was reported to have carried out immediate investigation which confirmed the illegal collection As a result of that, the state Commissioner for Education, Hajia Hannatu Jibrin Salihu, ordered the immediate suspension from offices of the principal and her four vice principals of the school.

Armed Robbers Attack Man in Broad Daylight, Cart away N6m in Kwara Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Daredevil armed men yesterday attacked one Mr. Abu Sifau while in his car at Sabo-Oke area in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, and went away with over N6 million from his vehicle.

Eyewitness account stated that

the robbery incident was carried out at about 1p.m. in full glare of residents, shop owners and pedestrians around the area.

It was also gathered that the armed men, numbering four, wore mask and fired gunshots to scare people away before pouncing on their target.

One of the eyewitnesses narrated that the attackers, who were in a Toyota Camry car, had trailed the Lexus car marked: ‘Sarkin Samarin Bacita’ on the number plate with two occupants at the time of the incident.

He said: “The car should be that of a traditional title holder in

Bacita in Edu Local Government Area of the state.

“The car was going in the street with two people in the vehicle when suddenly the Toyota Camry with about four guys in mask, and heavily armed, overtook it forcing the car to a stop and made for the bag containing the money.”

47

TUESDAY, N ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Chance of a Life Time for Osimhen to Announce His Arrival in Europe Tonight Duro Ikhazuagbe Victor Osimhen will be hoping to truly announce his arrival on the big stage of European football at Anfield this evening when Napoli battle Liverpool in their final UEFA Champions League Group A match.

Nothing is at stake as teams are already assured of a place in the last 16.

With maximum 15 points from five matches in the group, the Italian league leaders will be guaranteed they top the group if Osimhen and his teammates again conjure the form that earned them victory against the

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE struggling Reds at Anfield tonight.

Liverpool with 12 points from same number of matches will need to beat Napoli by four goals or more to book top spot. Anything else, and the Italian side win the group going into the knock out phase of the money spinning phase of the top club competition in Europe.

The 23-year-old's Osimhen at the weekend fired his first treble in the 4-0 annihilation of Sassuolo and helped Napoli extend their lead at the top of the Italian topflight.

He scored twice in the first 19 minutes and dinked in his third 13 minutes from time to make it seven league goals this season - and give him a share of first place in the Golden Boot race with Austrian Marko Arnautovic.

"That was my first professional hat-trick so I'm really excited about it," Osimhen told BBC Sport Africa yesterday.

"It's been a great return after a few challenges at the start of the season and hopefully I can continue this form.

"As a striker you always want to help your team so I want to stay

hungry for more."

Osimhen spent over a month out with a thigh injury but has scored six goals in his past four outings across all competitions since his return.

He has become the fifth African to score a hat-trick Italian Serie A after Liberia's George Weah (for AC Milan in 1998), Cameroon's Patrick Mboma (Cagliari in 1999), Egypt's Mohamed Salah (AS Roma in 2016) and Senegal's Keita Balde (Lazio in 2017).

That form is what Neapolitans want to see this evening as Napoli continue their unbeaten run this season.

TODAY Liverpool v Napoli (9pm) Rangers v Ajax (9pm) Leverkusen v C’Bruges (6:45pm) Porto v Atletico Madrid (6:4pm B’Munich v Inter Milan(9pm) Viktoria Plzen v Barcelona (9pm) Marseille v Tottenham (9pm) Sporting Lisbon v E’ Frankfurt (9pm)

WEDNESDAY

Victor Osimhen...time to announce arrival in Europe

Chelsea AC Milan Real Madrid Shakhtar Man City Copenhagen Juventus Maccabi Haifa

v Dinamo Zagreb (9pm) v Salzburg (9pm) v Celtic (6:45pm) v Leipzig (6:45pm) v Sevilla (9pm) v Dortmund (9pm) v PSG v Benfica (9pm)

Cup Holders Sundowns Ladies Snatch Maximum Points from Bayelsa Queens CAF WOMEN’S SC CHAMPIONS H AMPIO O N S LEAGUE

Bayelsa Queens (in white jerseys) lost to South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies in their opening game of the Group B of the 2022 CAF Women’s Champions League...yesterday

NFF Refutes Mmadu’s Claim of 101 Official Matches for Super Falcons The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) insisted yesterday that former Super Falcons’ player and one-time assistant coach of the team, Maureen Mmadu did not play up to 101 official matches for Nigeria as is being claimed by the former player and promoted in a section of the domestic sporting media.

NFF’s Director of Media and Communications, Ademola Olajire, said on Monday that the Federation’s records showed that the former midfielder played 52 matches for the team between 1995 and 2007 when she called it quits with the National Team.

“Our records show that between 16th February 1991 when they played their first official game (a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ghana’s Black Queens at the National Stadium, Lagos) and 18th September 2007 (when Mmadu featured in her last match for Nigeria against USA in Shanghai during the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup), the Super Falcons played a total of 103 official matches.

“Maureen Mmadu, who did excellently well for Nigeria while wearing the green-white-green, only started playing for the team during a FIFA Women’s World Cup match against Canada in Helsingborg (which ended 3-3) on 8th June 1995, when she came in for Ann Mukoro. Mmadu won about 52 caps in all, and certainly not 101 as claimed in some quarters.”

The NFF insisted that it had become necessary to put the facts out in the public space after accusations of gender discrimination against the Federation by some former Super Falcons’ players that the body had honoured players like Joseph Yobo, Vincent Enyeama and Ahmed Musa who won up to 100 caps for Nigeria but discountenanced Madu.

“Before the NFF honoured Yobo, Enyeama and Musa, we put out

the official matches played by each of them. The NFF has never identified, confirmed, celebrated or promoted Maureen Mmadu as having won up to 100 caps for Nigeria. Anyone domiciling such information anywhere is hanging on to unsubstantiable claims.

“There was no doubt that Madu gave her heart out and worked assiduously hard on the field during her time representing Nigeria. But she did not win up to 101 caps.

We challenge those promoting this fallacy to come up with those 101 official matches.

“For avoidance of doubt, official matches (that qualifies for a cap) are matches played wearing the green-white-green colours of Nigeria against a team wearing the colours of another country, and certified as such by FIFA. Matches against selected teams, clubs or warm-up games do not qualify in this direction.”

Odaudu Hails Bullet B’ball Tournament as Event Tips off Coach of Rivers Hoopers, Ogoh Odaudu, has hailed the Bullet Basketball Tournament as one of the great things happening in Nigeria Basketball.

The former D’Tigers guard is excitement that the Hoopers are again involved in the competition that ends just before the Nigeria Basketball Federation’s Final-8 Playoffs starts.

The Bullet Tournament powered by the Sam Oguche Foundation is serving as a Grade A warm up event for the Nigeria League clubs participating in the playoffs.

Ogoh said in Lagos on Monday, “It’s quite a great opportunity for my team. The fear of entering the playoffs in a very rusty form is

gone with the Bullet event. “We are going to use it to get very ready for the bigger playoffs event that starts immediately afterwards.”

The Hoopers who are the defending champions of the Bullet Tournament arrived in Lagos on Sunday ahead of today’s tip off for the competition. Hoopers who are the Nigerian league champions would love to enter the NBBF playoffs as the Bullet Energy Drink champions. Odaudu explained how his team would approach the competition.

“Certainly we are here to defend our trophy but we are also going to be very careful. It’s a tricky one.

We have always wanted an event like this but we are also going to

be very careful to avoid any form of injury. We also want to win the playoffs and be on the continent for BAL.” Kwara Falcons, Ebun Comets and First Bank (women) are some of the top clubs that will feature in the Bullet Energy Basketball Tournament.

The competition is billed for the Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos from Tuesday through Sunday. The NBBF Final-8 Playoffs will start the following day at the same venue.

Hoopers who represented Nigeria in the first edition of the African continental event, BAL, are tipped as favourites to win the two competitions.

Nigeria’s representatives in the 2022 CAF Women’s Champions League, Bayelsa Queens FC, lost their Group B opening game 2-1 to South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies yesterday.

Holders, Sundowns Ladies began their title defense on the back foot as they were constantly tested by the Bayelsa Queens' frontline.

But after soaking enough pressure from the Nigerians, the Jerry Tshabalala led Sundowns settled well in the game and it didn't take long before getting an opener.

Daweti, who hadn't scored in four outings for the Sundowns Ladies was the biggest nemesis for the Bayelsa Queens as she lofted into the back of the net an inswingers from the right wing after 32 minutes, beating Bayelsa Queens' Cameroonian international who had been impressive in the tie

before the deadlock was broken.

The Queens came close to scoring shortly before half time as Ornella Tuota's freekick failed to hit the bull's eye.

All efforts to get an equaliser was futile, with the Sundown ladies claiming a half-time win.

The 23-year-old Lelona Daweti scored the second for the South African side in the 58th minute when she ran into the space left behind by the Nigerian champions, decisively dispatching Wabou to extend her side's lead.

Substitute, Anjor Mary reduced the deficit for Bayelsa Queens in the 81st minute as she placed her powerful shot inside the box past Andile Dlamini.

The goal was the first to be conceded by Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies in the CAF Women's Champions League history.

Mojisola Ogunsanya Gym Hosts Boxing Clinic As an extension of contribution to the development of professional boxing in Nigeria, the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Boxing Gym, in collaboration with Flykite Productions, has announced a three-day boxing clinic for eight Nigerian boxers.

The boxers, six males and two females, will be camped at the ultra-modern Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Boxing Gym (MOMBG) from Thursday November 3 to Saturday November 5.

Boxers selected for the clinic include: Rilwan Oladosu (super featherweight), Steven Kadima (cruiserweight), Sikiru Waheed (flyweight) and Mojid Adeniji (middleweight).

Others are: Chibuike Ogbuagu (heavyweight), Omole Dolapo (featherweight), Kehinde Ayomiposi (super flyweight) and Happiness Okoh (featherweight).

Jenkins Alumona, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Flykite Productions, organisers of GOtv Boxing Night, noted that the clinic is aimed at expanding the capacities of the selected boxers and putting them in shape for their next bouts.

He added that the boxers will

be under the tutelage of renowned boxing coaches, Augustine Okporu, Shehu Yusuf and Afolabi Shittu.

“This clinic is the brainchild of Chief Adewunmi Ogunsanya (SAN), Chairman, MultiChoice Nigeria and Chairman, GOtv Boxing. The Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Gym is standing in memory of his late wife.

Chief Ogunsanya is committed to the development of boxing in Nigeria, as he has demonstrated through GOtv Boxing Night and GOtv Boxing NextGen Search before this clinic. Essentially, the clinic is part of his desire to see Nigeria boxers and boxing grow,” said Alumona.

He also noted that the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Boxing Gym is Nigeria’s most modern boxing facility.

According to him, the multimillion Naira gym is intended as a pre-bout preparation facility for local as well as foreign boxers. It is also, said Alumona, an academy for nurturing promising boxers to stardom.

The fully air conditioned facility, located in a serene environment, accommodates over 30 boxers and trainers at a time.

TR

Tuesday, November 1, 2022

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE

Igbo Youths to Buhari “It is now clear to all that President Buhari is on a gross personal vendetta against Nnamdi Kanu and the Igbo nation. The action of the Federal Government on Kanu’s case is fanning the embers of disunity, mistrust, and lack of respect for constituted authority. This administration is worse than the military regime in all sense of the word “ --President-General, Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, Goodluck Ibem, condemning the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, against the court order.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

New Naira Notes and All Things New “M

y own brother!”

“What’s up men? Have you gone to deposit all the N200, N500, N1,000 notes that you have at home in the banks so you can exchange them for new notes by the deadline of January 31.”

“What is my business with depositing old notes in the banks? I don’t keep money at home.

I don’t have the kind of money the Central Bank of Nigeria is looking for.”

“The CBN did not say they are looking for money. They simply want to manage money supply better. Out of about N3.7 trillion in circulation, more than N2 trillion is outside the banking system.

The Central Bank wants to call in all of the N3.7 trillion, and then send it back into the system. This is something other Central Banks do every five or eight years. The last time Nigeria printed new currency notes was 20 years ago, and besides, the CBN is just doing its job.”

“Listen to yourself. They just want N3.7 trillion brought back into the banking system. They are not looking for people who are likely to faint if they see a billion Naira cash. Did you not hear the President? He said the people they are looking for are people with illicit money. Those people who hide money inside overhead water tanks, in cemeteries and other corner-corner places. The people who speak in billions, and who cannot take their money to the banks. Government wants them to bring out the money. E no concern me. I no get any illicit money. Na dem dem.”

“The cash component of money in circulation affects everyone. Even your small amount that you have at home, even if it is a few thousands, once it is in the N200, N500 or N1,000 denominations, you have to take it into the bank.”

“But I thought the Minister of Finance has said she is not aware of the policy and that it could have grave consequences.”

“The Minister of Finance does not know what she is talking about apparently. The CBN does not report to her. The CBN is in charge of monetary policy in line with Section 2 of the Central Bank Act of 2007. The Minister of Finance is in charge of fiscal policy, and in any case the Board of the CBN has among its members the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, and the Accountant General of the Federation.”

“But did the CBN Board discuss this plan to print new currency notes?”

“I am not in a position to know. And well, what does it matter? The President of Nigeria has said that the CBN has his backing. Under Section 19 of the CBN Act, the Bank is required to request authorization from the President with regard to three things: its Annual Report, if it wants to invest outside Nigeria, and if it wants to make alterations to the currency. We have heard from the CBN twice that it acted within the province of the law. We have also heard the President publicly telling everyone that the CBN is in order. Please, who is Minister of Finance?”

“You mean who is the constituted authority?”

“I leave that to you to decide”.

“But why the secrecy? Is it that these people don’t trust each other? I understand this same President did the same thing in 1984.We need proper alignment between fiscal policy and the monetary side of things” “The country’s national currency is a matter of national security. It is not everything that you tell everybody before you take action. In this country, people are always looking for a way to cheat and game the system. If you disclose your plans, they can share with others and before you know it, your proposals will die even before they become policy.”

“Particularly those politicians who have hidden money away to do serious battle during the 2023 general election. We have seen it before: “dibo ko se obe o” meaning vote for our party and prepare a pot of soup today. Stomach infrastructure. Election

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele sandwich. But in any case, politicians keep their money in dollars, not Naira.”

“Nigeria’s currency is the Naira, not the dollar.

The dollarization of the Nigerian economy is an indication of fundamental problems in the management of our economy.”

“I will rather have dollar, please” “But both are connected. The dollar is the primary reserve currency of the world, that is why when the US Central Bank, the Federal Reserve raises rates, the effect is felt globally. Those who have money keep dollar, and buy dollar, as a wedge against the Naira, and that is why immediately after the CBN announced the plan to redesign the three currency notes, the Naira immediately depreciated in the parallel market, in less than a week, it has moved from N778 to the dollar to N865 to the dollar, with implications for inflation.

This is why many economists are nervous about the cost of the policy.”

“Ha. What a country!”

“What is funny?”

“The way Nigerians are experts in everything…

If the subject is security, everybody is a security expert, if it is a legal matter, even my mechanic would argue that he knows better than judges, and now that the matter is the redesign of the new notes, everybody is now an economist, lawyer and analyst join on top!”

“But people have a right to express opinions about something that can affect their lives. Things like cost, effect on the Naira and the foreign exchange and why now? Because of politics, government is redesigning Naira notes close to Christmas and election?”

“I know, and I think that is why Sheik Ahmad Gumi says kidnappers will start collecting ransom in dollars and that government is about to commit economic suicide by asking people to deposit their money in the banks!”

“Sheik Gumi is an educated man. He is a medical doctor, a retired Captain of the Nigerian army and a respected cleric. But is he an economist?”

“Are you an economist?”

“I don’t go about reading the mind of kidnappers.”

“You don’t get the point. Where were you when Primate Elijah Ayodele of the INRI Church asked President Buhari to sack the CBN Governor because the plan to redesign some dominations of the Naira will not stop terrorism or insecurity. Is that from the Bible or the Primate’s personal opinion? Ah, this country! This was how one prophetess was

also quoted copiously by a section of the media saying the reason there is flood across parts of the country is because the goddess of the river is angry.”

“This thing called free speech and its dangers.”

“Let me ask you something? Can the Banks handle the massive pressure that the rush to deposit old notes in the banks will cause? Why is the allotted time for deposit and access to new N200, N500 and N1,000 notes so short? The last time the UK changed some of its currency notes, it gave the people up to one year.”

“I believe that is a legitimate thing to worry about. But you know your country. People will wait till the last minute before they begin to act. I think the CBN needs to do a lot more to enlighten the people. The deadline of January 31st can still stand, then after the election, government can announce an extension. That is the way I see it.”

“But these new notes that everybody is talking about. Will the banks pay depositors with new notes? In this country, the only place you can see new notes is at event centres during weekend parties. People hawk the Naira the way they sell serviette papers and they do so at a premium.

But you go to the banks, what you can get is mutilated, smelly notes. What can the CBN do about that? The threat to this economy is not just those parallel market dealers, but the mint Naira merchants on the streets.”

“What I know is that it is an offence to sell the Naira like a commodity, mutilate it, deface it or step on it, but nobody enforces the law.”

“But I hear this time around, EFCC has read the riot act, that anybody that is found playing hanky-panky with money will be dealt with according to the law. In fact, EFCC officers will be deployed to all banking halls to monitor how people bring in money to the banks.”

“That’s funny. How many banks can the EFCC monitor? There is a reporting mechanism in place if you do money transactions beyond certain thresholds. Banks have structures in place to inform the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) or the EFCC. They only need to deepen their infrastructure. By the way, the CBN is hoping that through this exercise, it can deepen financial inclusion and intermediation.”

“I hear the politicians have come up with a plan to delay the redesign of the denominations.”

“Tell me.”

“I understand that there is a case in court challenging the Arabic inscriptions on the Naira notes” “It is called Ajami” “Ajami or Arabic. Some lawyers are saying all that needs to be done is to get an injunction to stop the CBN because until the matter before the court is determined, the proposed redesign of the notes will be sub judice.”

“Court?”

“Yes, court.”

“Okay, we are here. We will see. Have you not read that the CBN will not remove the Ajami on the Naira notes? They have been on that matter since 2020. They will still be on it by the time your grandson graduates from college.”

“Well, bros, let us drop matter. I have discussed this matter so much I am beginning to think something is wrong with me. I don’t want to die in their war. If they want to change the colour of money, let them do so. Wetin be my own? I am more concerned about the future the 2023 general elections. INEC has announced that the voters’ register now has 93. 5 million voters and that the register would be displayed and reviewed in 8, 809 wards and 774 local government areas from Nov. 12- 25. Quite a lengthy list of voters – about 9.3 million pages long. How do I go through that?”

“I am sure you can. But what I find interesting about the new register is the demographics: 12.

29 million new voters added to the register out of which about 2.78 million were found to be illegal registrants.”

“INEC said 23 INEC officers aided and abetted the illegal registration. Those persons must be punished!”

“I agree but talking about the demographics, I was going to say that when you look at the breakdown, the largest number of registered voters are young people between the ages of 18 – 34- that is - 76.5% of the total, followed by women – 50.8% and students – 40.8%. It is thus clear that the 2023 general election will be determined by women and youths. And the major battle grounds will be Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Rivers and Katsina which have the highest number of voters. In general, the bulk of the voters are from the seven states of the North West. The political parties have a lot of work to do to mobilize the voters to prevent voter apathy. We must also ensure that INEC gets the Permanent Voters Cards ready for collection and that the people collect them. It is not enough for anyone’s name to be on the voter’s register.

You must have your PVC and you must go out to vote on election day.”

“My own is that nobody should tamper with BVAS – the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System that will prevent rigging and manipulation on election day. The days of multiple voting should come to an end, and it is good that INEC has promised that this piece of technology and innovation, an advancement on the smart card reader, would be fully deployed to keep the riggers out.”

“You are correct. On point.”

“I am always on point”.

“No, not always” “I am on point for example to say that the Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu had no point boasting that he has the powers to stop Governor Samuel Ortom’s Senatorial ambition and that of others in the Party who may be interested in other positions. He also didn’t have to boast that nobody can sack him. That is provocative. The party Chairman, no matter the provocation should always try to unify his own base and not make divisive comments” “A man has a right to stand up for himself.

Governor Wike and his allies have been bullying Senator Ayu for months. It is now his turn to cry out and fight back.”

“We’re talking leadership. No party chairman can boast that he will stop anybody. The Electoral Act 2022 spells out clearly how an elective office seeker can be stopped. It does not give any God-like powers to the party leader. Besides, a leader is like a refuse dump. The refuse dump does not choose which garbage they throw on it.”

“Is that a metaphor or a proverb? You better talk straight because the young people these days are not interested in any form of round-about thinking. Don’t tell them anything about words and palm oil. No. These ones are the Shawarma generation. They were brought up with groundnut oil, not palm oil!”

“But just see how Wike has attacked the PDP party Chairman telling him that Governor Ortom was his guarantor without whom he could not have been party Chairman. Or Governor Seyi Makinde sending a representative to a meeting between Afenifere and the APC Presidential candidate in Pa Reuben Fasoranti’s home in Akure.”

“Please, I don’t want to comment any further on that Afenifere subject. Let Afenifere resolve their own internal crisis.”

“Afenifere is a conclave of elders. The elders will decide.”

“This is a democracy. They can decide for themselves as individual citizens and as persons who are entitled to one vote. But I abhor group-think, or herd mentality or any intimations of it. People are free to endorse or not endorse whoever they want but the pillar of democracy is the right of the people to make their own informed choice, freely, without let or hindrance.”

“I think I hear sef say that una Baba don go London again for medical check- up oh” “My friend, are you okay?”

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3085, 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com