MONDAY 2ND NOVEMBER 2020

Nigeria’s Stock Investors Gain N1.93tn in October Market closes as world’s second-best performer Goddy Egene Investors in the Nigerian equity market gained N1.934 trillion in October as the market recorded its best

monthly gain since 2018 on the continued inflow of funds searching for real returns and positive reactions to the better-than-expected third quarter(Q3) and nine months

earnings so far released.

The market capitalisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), which measures the total value of listed equities rose from N14.024 trillion

at the end of September to N15.958 trillion at the end of October, indicating a growth of N1.934 trillion or 13.79 per cent.

Similarly, the NSE All-Share

Index (ASI), the benchmark index, climbed 13.8 per cent from 26,831.76 to close at 30,530.69, compared to 5.9 per cent growth recorded in September.

The performance in October has pushed the year-to-date growth of the market to 13.7 per cent, making the Nigerian Continued on page 9

Finally, Payment of Revised Electricity Tariffs Resumes...Page 8 Monday 2 November, 2020 Vol 25. No 9338. Price: N250

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Afenifere, PANDEF Back Fayemi, El-Rufai, Insist on Restructuring Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere and its Niger Delta counterpart, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), have expressed their support for the weekend's call by Governors Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State for the restructuring of the country.

The two groups, however, warned against the call being associated with any political colouration.

Spokesman of Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, told THISDAY yesterday that the group will continue to support any call for the restructuring of the Nigerian state especially on the issue of creation of state police.

According to him, "Afenifere agrees with anybody who is for state police, which is an ingredient of federalism but this is no time to choose and pick aspects of federalism and Continued on page 9

APC, PDP Trade Words over US Rescue of Hostage in Sokoto Chuks Okocha and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday engaged in recriminations over the rescue of an American hostage by the United States Special Forces in Nigeria on Saturday.

The PDP fired the first salvo, saying that the rescue mission confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari could neither secure the territorial

integrity of the nation nor arrest the insecurity ravaging the country.

But the APC fired back, accusing the PDP of playing politics with the country’s security.

The United States Government, working with the governments of Niger Republic and Nigeria, had rescued the American citizen, Philip Walton, 27, abducted last week in Niger but held Continued on page 9

INSPECTING THE RUINS...

Managing Director, Nigeria Ports Authority, Ms. Hadiza Bala-Usman (left), during the inspection of the section of the NPA Headquarters burnt by hoodlums during the #EndSARS protests in Lagos…yesterday

Buhari Urges Youths to Embrace Dialogue... Page 5

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

Buhari Urges Youths to Embrace Dialogue Recognises 15 youth innovators

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday told the youths that the time has come for them to leave the streets and embrace dialogue.

Buhari has also recognised and celebrated the accomplishments of some youth innovators in Nigeria, including the 20-year-old Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, engineering student, Mr. Usman Dalhatu, who built a portable automatic ventilator to help people with breathing problems.

Buhari said it was important for the protesting youths to realise that protests cannot last indefinitely.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, the president, represented by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Muhammad Bello, spoke at the maiden National Youth Day programme with the theme “Invest in the youth, secure our future� held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The statement was titled “President Buhari to Nigeria Youths: End Street Protests, Dialogue with Government on Police Reforms.�

The president was quoted as saying that after the protests,

what the federal government wants to hear now are “concrete and practical ideas� from the youths.

Buhari acknowledged the constitutional right of the youth to peaceful protests but added that they needed to stop the protests before “forces and actors� will take over the protests in order to redirect them in ways the youth did not intend and perhaps do not agree with.

He said: “You must realise that protests cannot last indefinitely. My government will not lift a hand to stop or suppress you. “However, the fact of the matter is that other forces and actors will seek to take over your protests that they may redirect them in ways you did not intend and perhaps do not agree with. “Every successful protest movement the world over has understood that there comes a time when activity must move from the street to the negotiation table. That time for you has come. Do not be afraid of this reality. You should welcome it.�

He said it is important to use the protest moment constructively, adding that too many people had already sacrificed too dearly. “It is our duty to use this

Senate Knocks Fashola over Bad Federal Roads Deji Elumoye in Abuja The National Assembly yesterday absolved itself of blame over the deplorable condition of federal roads in Benue State, describing as a “fallacy of the highest order,� a statement credited to the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, on the state of the roads.

The National Assembly was responding to recent claims

by Fashola that the federal parliament was responsible for the terrible state of roads in Benue State.

Fashola was quoted to have made the allegation last Monday in Abuja while playing host to retired generals and 'other leaders of thought' from Benue South Senatorial District, led by Air Vice Marshal Morgan (rtd.), following their complaints about the deplorable state of roads in the senatorial district.

Reacting to the allegation, Senate spokesman, Senator Ajibola Basiru, said in a statement that the National Assembly should not be held responsible for the deplorable state of roads, whether in Benue State or any part of the country.

According to Ajibola, the decision to respond to the claims by the minister became imperative in order to set the records straight, particularly against the backdrop of how critical the issue of road infrastructure is to the nation’s development.

He said: “Much as the upper chamber would not want to engage in any unnecessary altercation with the minister, it is, however, necessary to speak up because the issue of road infrastructure is too

important and controversial a matter to be ignored where the National Assembly has been fingered by a serving minister.

He said: “The records must be set right so that the two arms of government should not be seen as working at cross purposes in the course of delivering good governance to the electorate. “For 2020 fiscal year, the National Assembly approved the request for N265, 868, 037,093 billion for capital expenditure by the executive.

The executive later brought a revised allocation of N256, 734,983,667, which we also appropriated. As we speak, even in the budget proposal for 2021, the executive proposed a capital expenditure of N363, 266, 425, 976. “The upper chamber cannot help but wonder where Mr. Fashola got his figure of N600 billion, which he said was proposed by his ministry and allegedly not approved by the National Assembly.

"The Senate, therefore, invites Nigerians and specifically the minister’s guests from Benue South Senatorial District to note that figures do not lie.�

Ajibola listed three road constructions, which are ongoing in Benue South to include: Oju -Adum Okuku road at N 91,180 000; Otukpo Township road at N357, 200, 000; and Oju/Loko - Oweto bridge at a cost of N357, 200, 000.

The Senate spokesman described allegations by the minister that the National Assembly gave priority to constituency projects over other projects as an attempt to incite Nigerians against the legislature.

fateful situation to move ourselves to a more just and caring society,� Buhari said, adding: “As youths, you have a nation and a future to build.

My government will always be your faithful partner in this essential and patriotic endeavour.�

Buhari reiterated his position that it is wrong to use violence to disperse peaceful protesters and warned against using security agents to brutalise peaceful protesters.

The president argued

that to allow protests is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength and belief in democracy. “No one who is obeying the law, whether they are in line waiting for a taxi or in a peaceful protest line, should be harassed or brutalised by law enforcement agencies,� he said, explaining: “It is because of my abiding belief in the people’s constitutional rights that we moved with dispatch to abolish SARS and to consider other reforms that

will enhance the quality of law enforcement and improve the relationship between the police and public which is a pre-requisite in a just society.�

The president added: “To allow protests is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of strength and belief in democracy and faith in the innate goodness of our people. “This also shows confidence in the ability of our government to work with the people toward a reasonable and practical resolution to any

challenge.�

Describing Nigerian youths as agents for social change, economic growth and sustainable development, Buhari said his regime has established no fewer than 25 initiatives aimed at empowering youths across the country.

He noted that the initiatives were aimed at placing Nigerian youths on the path of career development, Continued on page 9

THE CITATION...

L-R: Nollywood actress, Ms. Ini Edo; Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika; movie producer, Mr. Kunle Afolanyan; and lead actress, Ms. Temi Otedola, during the premiere of Afolayan’s new movie, 'Citation,' in Lagos‌weekend kunle ogunfuyi

PDP Demands Probe into FG’s COVID-19 Intervention Fund CACOVID insistence on inauguration delays distribution of palliatives, says Akeredolu

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and James Sowole in Akure The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct an open and independent public enquiry into the handling of monies released by the federal government as COVID-19 intervention fund.

The main opposition party called on the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Ms. Sadiya Farouq, to give an account of how much was released to her, the specific purchases, with details of contractors; details of the distribution of palliatives and agents in all states; as well as details of bank withdrawals and beneficiaries of the N20, 000 cash disbursements.

PDP said it has exposed designs by indicted federal government officials to use the invasion of CACOVID palliative warehouses to escape investigation into the reported stealing and criminal diversion of funds and palliatives provided by the federal government to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It also described as scandalous an alleged attempt by Farouq to create an impression that the CACOVID palliatives

besieged in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protest were the same federal government palliatives for which she is required to give account.

In a related development, the Ondo State Governor and Chairman of the Southwest Governors’ Forum, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, yesterday said the insistence on an official inauguration by the Coalition Against Covid-19 (CACOVID) before the distribution of the palliative commodities was largely responsible for the delay in distributing the items to the people.

According to a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, "Our party wants to inform the minister that such infantile antics cannot sway Nigerians, as the public is already aware that CACOVID palliatives came from donations from well-meaning individuals and organisations, which is completely different from the N500 billion voted by the federal government, which has not been accounted for.

"If anything, this attempt by the minister to muddle-up issues and confuse Nigerians only goes to validate allegations of stealing and diversion of funds and palliatives provided by the federal government and placed

under her purview.

"Of course, the CACOVID palliatives have nothing to do with the alleged stealing and diversion of funds in the cash disbursement of N20, 000 to undocumented beneficiaries leading to a widespread outcry

by Nigerians that bulk of the money may have been diverted."

The PDP said the minister has not explained the reason for the obvious breach of statutory public finance report system and appropriate documentation by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), leading to the alleged diversion of funds to private purses.

Also, the CACOVID palliatives, the PDP said, have nothing to do with the billions of naira claimed to have been spent on school feeding at a time the schools were shut and schoolchildren were in their homes in different locations across the country.

According to the PDP, "It is revealing to state that our party had earlier gotten winds of allegations in the public space that some indicted federal officials compromised arrangements at CACOVID warehouses to trigger an invasion by agitating Nigerians, as a decoy to frustrate the investigation into the alleged stealing and diversion of federal government palliatives by

government officials.

"Our party holds that this particular attempt to cover corruption places a huge burden on the Buhari-led administration and we call on Mr. President to come clean on the handling of federal government’s funding on COVID-19."

The party expressed its support for calls by Nigerians that Buhari immediately orders an open and independent public enquiry into the handling of the funds released by the federal government as COVID-19 intervention fund.

Also yesterday, Akeredolu said the insistence on an official inauguration ceremony

by CACOVID before the distribution of the palliative commodities, was responsible for the delay in distributing the items to the people.

Akeredolu, at a church service to mark the third year enthronement of the Bishop of Owo Diocese, Anglican Communion, Reverend Stephen Fagbemi, in Owo, debunked claims that some governors deliberately hoarded COVID-19 palliatives, which were looted by hoodlums who hijacked the #ENDSARS protests.

Akeredolu stated that Ondo State was saved from the looting spree due to the continuous distribution of the palliatives.

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Finally, Payment of Revised Electricity Tariffs Resumes Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The payment of the revised electricity tariffs took off yesterday with the federal government urging Nigerians to prepare for further price reviews, since pricing will in the future depend on market dynamics.

The federal government, through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), had, on September 28 directed the suspension of the Service-Based Tariff structure, which was earlier approved for the Distribution Companies (Discos), following opposition from organised labour and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

However, after negotiations with labour, the tariffs for customer categories D and E, with a power supply of fewer than 12 hours daily, remain frozen, while band A will have a 10 per cent reduction from the initial September 1 rate.

Customers under band B will enjoy 10.5 per cent reduction while those in band C will get up to 30 per cent discount.

However, the government said its decision to pull the brakes on the decade-long subsidies will continue but that the discount will be funded by the Value Added Tax (VAT) mopped up during collection

in the industry.

Although the newly revised order from NERC, which the Discos started implementing yesterday, had yet to be made available to the media and the public as at evening, Chairman of NERC, Prof. James Momoh, confirmed that the new order has been signed.

Feelers from some of the Discos, including Abuja and Ikeja, which have already alerted their customers on the resumption of the revised rates, also indicated that the regulatory agency already has communicated to them the new order. “This is to inform our customers that with effect from 1st November 2020, AEDC has effected a revised Service Reflective Tariff as approved by the regulatory agency. “Customers on the prepaid platform will be the first to experience the revised tariff when they vend from Sunday, 1st November 2020, while the revised tariff will reflect in the bills for customers on the post-paid platform when they receive their electricity bill,� a statement from the AEDC stated.

But Momoh, who spoke during an online event organised by “A Professional Africa,� on the current status of the electricity industry in Nigeria added that he will

sign a new capping order for unmetered Nigerians today.

Also hinting on the often held opinion by Nigerians that the regulatory agency was not firm and independent enough, Momoh, who confirmed the position, said the agency knows the right thing if given a free hand to operate by the government. “We can now work and look forward to December and January to see what kind of review we have to do. It won't remain the same forever. No, there's another review and it will come with a complete answer. “But if the president says don't do it, we won't do it.

But we know what to do if given a free hand to do the work,� he stated.

The NERC chairman added that the industry currently has a shortfall of about 50 per cent in terms of collection rate, saying that that is not

sustainable. “We must have a new paradigm shift in rate design in Nigeria. There's a tariff shortfall, where you are not allowed to charge what is due to be paid. For an invoice of N157 billion, there's a tariff shortfall of N63 billion and who's paying for that? [It is] government. “Only 51 per cent is allowed for recovery from customers.

That means we are dependent on the government to recover.

Now, the government has a problem because it's saying our schools are not functional, roads are bad, water is a borehole. Everything is hogwash. “So, the government said do your rates design because we can no longer subsidise this.

This is what has consumed my energy in the last one year," Momoh stated.

He said during consultations, electricity customers said they

were not averse to an increase, but the quality of service must improve.

He explained: “It was there that the service-based tariff was arrived at where what customers pay is reflected in the service they get. But vulnerable customers won't be affected. We have to protect them. “The new tariff structure is based on this MYTO that includes exchange rate, inflation rate, GDP, foreign exchange and all those things and we have people in the office who calculate those things and that was what gave us the five bands which represent customers and the quality and reliability of service. “For band D, the tariff will not change for them, so it's frozen. Band E are the very poor people and they take very small power, poor communities in rural areas.

We make sure they don't pay more than N4. “Band A, B, C already have the infrastructure. So, for example, we can assume that there's power in Asokoro every day. The people in the unions came and sometimes we were here till 7 in the morning.�

He said the government could not pay for A, B and C consumers, saying that would mean returning subsidy, which it does not have the money. “So, we said that band A should be discounted by 10 per cent and the relief in band B will be 10.5 per cent and because there are many people in band C, a lot of them are given relief.

"Above 12 hours will get relief, B with more than 16 hours will get 10.5 per cent of discount and that will come from VAT. It is split in the sector among A, B, C,� he added.

NAFDAC Warns against Use of Sniper to Preserve Foodstuffs Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cautioned members of the public against the use of Sniper and all other brands of Dichlorvos (DDVP) in the preservation of foodstuffs.

It said the use of the chemical has health implications that can lead to death.

In a statement issued yesterday by the Resident Media Consultant to NAFDAC, Mr. Sayo Akintola, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye restated the dangers inherent in the continuous misuse and misapplication of Sniper and other brands of Dichlorvos by the general public, especially grain merchants, beans aggregators and dried fish sellers.

According to the NAFDAC DG, the continuous misuse of the dangerous agrochemicals in the preservation of foodstuffs is replete with health implications such "as weakness, headache, tightness in the chest, blurred vision, salivation, sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, eye and skin irritation, eye pain, runny nose, lack of appetite, dizziness, convulsions, low blood pressure, and possibly death."

Adeyeye said that this has necessitated the agency to put in place some regulatory measures, which include the immediate ban on the importation and manufacture of Sniper and all other Dichlorvos usually found in 100ml pack size.

In addition, she disclosed that the agency has taken measures against the misuse

and misapplication of these hazardous agrochemical substances, including a ban on hawking and prohibited sale of crop protection products in the open market and supermarkets nationwide.

She added that the agency had embarked on sensitisation workshops in collaboration with relevant stakeholders on a safe and responsible use of crop protection products on agricultural commodity storage in seven locations across the country. ‘’NAFDAC in collaboration with relevant stakeholders organised two sensitisation workshops for agro-input dealers on the safe and responsible use of crop protection products in Kano and Oyo states prior to the outbreak of COVID-19.

She said that this will be extended to the other parts of the country when the condition is more favourable.

Adeyeye explained that the main uses of Dichlorvos (DDVP) are for insect control in food storage areas, greenhouses, and barns, and for parasite control in livestock, insisting that Dichlorvos is generally not used on outdoor crops.

She regretted that despite several warnings by the agency, some traders have continued to misuse and misapply the banned agrochemical to preserve foodstuffs, thereby endangering the lives of unsuspecting consumers. ‘’The agency wishes to inform the general public that our offices nationwide as part of their post marketing surveillance activities are to ensure enforcement of these regulatory measures and take appropriate sanction against defaulters,’’ she warned.

BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE...

L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Aramide Adeyoye; and Managing Director, Craneburg Construction Company, Mr. Jilbert Sassine, during the inauguration of the rehabilitation and upgrading of Eti-Osa/Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos‌yesterday

NPA Fire Didn't Destroy Critical Information, Documents, Says Bala-Usman Eromosele Abiodun The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza BalaUsman, has stated that though the damage done to the authority’s Marina head office in Lagos was enormous, it didn't destroy critical information and important documents.

Bala-Usman stated that the damage has not affected the smooth operations of the NPA, adding, however, that it will take years to fix the facilities burnt, given the financial situation of the country.

She said the arsonists originally targeted the port locations in Apapa, Calabar and Tincan Island revealing that it took the combined efforts of the military and other security agencies to repel them.

Bala-Usman spoke yesterday in Lagos while conducting journalists around the damaged sections of the NPA head office.

She added that a total of

27 vehicles, including cars, utility vehicles, pick-up vans and staff buses were torched while 33 other vehicles, 22 of which belong to members of staff, were vandalised. “After an assessment of the extent of damage, it was discovered that apart from the annex wing that was burnt, many offices were vandalised, while computers, printers, water dispensers and other electronic devices were looted. A Toyota Prado SUV, a Bajaj motorcycle and one Hilux patrol van were also stolen from the premises. “All assets of the authority are comprehensively insured and insurers are currently undergoing an assessment of the damages,� she said.

Describing how the event happened, she said: “The attack on the Tincan Island Port commenced at 9:45 am on Tuesday, October 20, 2020. The hoodlums made an attempt to forcibly gain access into the port, attacked the administrative building and set ablaze a truck, which

was evacuating cargo. It took the combined effort of officers of the port authority police, the police mobile force and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to repel the attack.

She said: “The attackers at the headquarters, numbering over 300 persons, gained access into the premises at 8:42 am on Wednesday October 21, 2020, from the outer Broad Street wing brandishing, daggers, sticks and cutlasses. “After attacking, disarming and chasing the security personnel on duty out of the headquarters premises, the attackers proceeded to burn and vandalise several vehicles belonging to the authority and some members of staff. “They thereafter set a wing of the office building on fire. Upon knowledge of the attack, officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces were invited and deployed in the premises. They successfully dispersed the hoodlums and reclaimed possession of the

premises following which the authority’s firemen were able to gain access into the building and put out the raging fire.�

The management of the NPA, she added, is particularly grateful that no life was lost in the incident.

Bala-Usman stated: “This is in spite of the fact that some members of staff who were on critical duties were in the building at the time of the attack. The authority recognises the gallantry of men of the Nigerian Armed Forces and our firemen whose intervention restored normalcy. “We also appreciate the concerns of all stakeholders and citizens who have reached out with kind words of support and encouragement. “All stakeholders and the general public are hereby assured that the situation has not affected operations of the authority in any way as we have continued to render our services unhindered.�

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PAGE NINE NIGERIA’S STOCK INVESTORS GAIN N1.93TN IN OCTOBER equities market the second-best performing among the 93 major global markets tracked

by Bloomberg.

The NSE All-Share Index came second behind Denmark’s OMX Copenhagen 20 Index that led with 17.13 per cent.

After slipping into the negative territory in the first (Q1) quarter, the Nigerian equity market began a recovery in the second quarter (Q2), which it sustained in the third quarter (Q3).

And beyond the expectations of many stakeholders, the market ended the first month of the fourth quarter (Q4) with the highest monthly growth that was last seen in February 2018.

Out of the 20 trading sessions in October, the market was up in 13 sessions and down in just seven trading days.

Besides, the value of trading increased significantly as investors traded 8.97 billion shares in 106,626 deals

as against 5.95 billion shares traded in September.

The positive performance stemmed from continued activities of bargain hunters, who have swooped on the stock market in search of higher yields in the face of increasingly negative real returns in the fixed income market and absence of attractive alternative investment options.

The low yields in the fixed income market are reflected in the recently listed FG bond for 2022 and 2023 rates, which were below 4.0 per cent, while treasury bill rate crashed further at the last auction to below 1.0 per cent in an environment where inflation rate stood at 13.7 per cent as at the end of September.

According to the Chief Research Officer, Investdata Consulting Limited, Mr. Ambrose Omordion, the low yield environment and other factors triggered buying interest in the market despite the seeming disconnection

with economic realities to sustain the four consecutive months of a bullish run.

He said the positive close on bullish sentiment, successfully defied the social unrest tension of EndSARS that led to the shooting of protesters and destruction of public and private property worth trillions of naira, in the midst of high liquidity and the influx of mixed corporate earnings reports released over the past two weeks.

Omordion explained that it is a known fact that stock markets, as leading indicators of economic activities, are forward-looking, such that current share prices reflect future earnings potential or profitability of quoted companies. “Since stock prices reflect expectations about profitability, and profitability is directly linked to economic activity, fluctuations in stock prices are thought to show the direction of any economy.

But our market since April has rallied on liquidity

and sentiments ignoring economic fundamental and at the same time pointing to economic recovery as quoted companies’ numbers remain resilient in the midst of negative macroeconomic indicators,� he stated.

The financial and investment analysts said the positive investor responses to the mixed numbers as at release dates, which has pushed many equities on the exchange to a new 52-week high revealed high liquidity and confidence. “The possibility of prices rallying further from here is high, amidst portfolio reshuffling on the strength of the Q3 numbers, just as investors would be assured of reward in the form of dividends when the full-year score-cards begin to flow into the market in the early days of 2021 despite the possibility of a dividend cut. “It is expected that discerning investors and traders would take advantage of the prevailing relative

low stock prices, year-end season and cycle to grow their income, ahead of major earnings season in the first quarter of 2021,� he added.

Omordion said the undervalued state of most quoted companies, their strong fundamentals and the seemingly high dividend yields may attract more inflows to the Nigerian stock market as many equities are selling above their 52-week and three-year lows, offering higher upside potential.

Before now the Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, had linked the stock market rally to CBN’s restriction of domestic investors from participating in its open market operations (OMO) as well as the interest rate cut.

He said investors are always in search of higher returns on investments, adding that CBN’s policies have made the stock market attractive to investors.

He said: “I must say that some of the policy changes

include the CBN policy that domestic institutional investors should stop participating in the OMO market. That has driven significant funds into the Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTB) market and some of those funds have found their way into the equities market. We have also seen a cut in interest rate.

That was a significant move in support of equities as an asset class. What investors tend to do is to look for yield.�

According to Onyema, since the Nigerian economy has shifted into a negative real interest rate environment, investors are now in search of investments that would give them higher yields and returns. “Given the record dividend yield available in the Nigerian market and given the strong fundamentals of a number of companies that are listed on the exchange, it makes sense that as investors try to rebalance their portfolio, they would look at equities,� he stated.

Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Yekini Nabena, in a statement yesterday, said combating terrorism and other emerging cross border crimes require international collaborations and assistance when necessary.

He noted that the president as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces swore a constitutional oath to protect lives and property of citizens and has consistently demonstrated that resolve throughout his administration.

APC added that Buhari's reactions and actions after Dapchi schoolgirls' kidnap was a pointer to how a responsive government should act.

APC stated: "The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a statement on Saturday's rescue of a kidnapped American citizen in Nigeria

by US special forces has decided to rubbish our security services constantly putting their lives on the line to ensure our safety and secure Nigeria's territorial integrity.

"The PDP again chooses

to play politics with our national security in its tired, baseless and dull attacks of the President Muhammadu Buhari government.

"The PDP should explain to Nigerians how its immediatepast administration handled the 2014 abduction of 276 Chibok schoolgirls. To refresh the PDP's memory, former British Prime Minister, David Cameron in his book, For the Record, said the Goodluck Jonathan-led government was ‘sleeping on the wheel,’ when the schoolgirls were abducted."

The party said it was on record that the PDP government did nothing for two weeks after the Chibok schoolgirls' abductions, dismissing it as a grand political conspiracy while the schoolgirls were continually held and their families suffered in anguish.

According to the party, while the PDP still refuses to take responsibility for the tragedy up till now, the same PDP government rejected the British offer to help in the rescue of the Chibok schoolgirls.

reality is that if we don't restructure Nigeria, the country will restructure itself; recent happenings in the country should serve as harbingers of the future, to all Nigerians.

"It is also important to underscore that what is needed is a complete reconfiguration or restructuring of Nigeria, not a review of the revenue sharing formula. You may wish to recall that when

revenues from cocoa and groundnut were the nation's economic mainstay derivation principle, before the discovery of oil in commercial quantities, in Oloibiri, Bayelsa State, derivation principle was the primary component of revenue allocation. “The derivation principle was at over 60 per cent, before independence; it was dropped to 50 per cent in 1960; and 45 per

cent in 1969.�

He said it has become necessary to revert to the structure that allows control of mineral resources to be vested in the states in the interest of equity, fairness, and justice, adding that the states who would then pay applicable royalties and taxes to the Federation Account for distribution as said to have been rightly recommended by El-Rufai’s APC Committee.

portable automatic ventilator to help people with breathing problems.

At the maiden National Youth Day Celebration, held yesterday at the State House Conference Centre, in Abuja, Buhari, who was represented by the FCT Minister, Mr. Muhammad Bello, congratulated the young innovators for making the nation proud, assuring them that his government will continue to invest in entrepreneurship, skills and career development.

Shehu said Dalhatu was among the five youth innovators in different fields showcased by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development at the occasion of the maiden National Youth Day Celebration, observed on November 1, which also coincided with the African Youth Day Celebration.

The ministry also organised a 60-fay App Challenge competition in which 10 winners emerged across the country.

Other youth innovators,

who received cash donations of N500, 000 each from the federal government are Intissar Bashir Kurfi, Managing Partner, Ifrique Eco Solutions, a green architect and environmentalist.

Kurfi, in her late twenties, established a factory for upcycling plastic waste in Abuja. The factory would upcycle Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) such as pure water sachets, plastic bottles, polythene bags and others into Interlocking Tiles.

APC, PDP TRADE WORDS OVER US RESCUE OF HOSTAGE IN SOKOTO hostage in Nigeria.

The daring high-risk U.S. military raid took place early Saturday morning in Sokoto State, according to sources familiar with the operation.

President Donald Trump, who tweeted the development as a show of support, however, called the operation a “big win� for the elite force.

Trump further announced in a tweet: “Last night our country’s brave warriors rescued an American hostage in Nigeria. Our nation salutes the courageous soldiers behind the daring nighttime rescue operation and celebrates the safe return of yet another American citizen.�

It is, however, not clear what form of support Nigeria rendered towards the rescue operation, as no official statement had been issued as at the time of going to press.

Efforts to get the presidency’s comments did not also yield any result.

Reacting to the incident, the PDP, in a statement described the situation where the US had to come into the

Nigerian territory to pull a rescue, as an international embarrassment and also an indication of how low the Buhari’s administration had fallen in its failure to guarantee the safety of lives and property in the country.

The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said the fact that under Buhari, bandits and abductors from neighbouring countries now freely cross into Nigeria to use the country as detention camps shows the failure of the Buhari administration to secure the national borders and territorial integrity.

It said: "It also shows that contrary to claims by the Buhari administration, parts of our country are still under the control of bandits and insurgents.

"It is indeed grossly disconcerting that under our commander-in-chief, a general who had consistently promised to lead from the front, it took a foreign country to come on our soil to rescue their citizen, while hordes of our citizens are reportedly being held,

tortured and killed in various kidnappers' and insurgents' dens in various parts of our nation," the PDP stated.

PDP recalled that earlier in April, Nigeria was equally embarrassed by reports of how Chadian President Idris Deby, personally led his troops to rout insurgents and freed Nigerian territories and soldiers held captive by terrorists in northern part of Borno State, while the Nigerian leaders recede into the safety and the comfort of the Presidential Villa.

According to the PDP, the fact that other countries with competent and determined leadership have successfully dislodged and vanquished bandits on the Nigerian soil highlighted the incompetence, lack of honesty and want of will power on the part of the Buhari administration to effectively secure the nation.

PDP explained that the exploits of these countries in the Nigerian territory show that the bandits, vandals, kidnappers, insurgents are not invincible but have been allowed to take hold of the

nation due to the failures of the Buhari administration.

"Such failures had dragged our nation down to rank as the third country with the highest level of terrorism, after Iran and Afghanistan, according to 2019 Global Terrorism Index rating by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).

"Our party believes that the latest experience will compel President Buhari to accede to widespread demand by Nigerians to rejig his security architecture as well as replace his service chiefs with more competent hands to effectively tackle insecurity challenge facing our country," PDP stated.

However, PDP commended the courage and sacrifices of Nigerian troops who are daily risking their lives to safeguard the nation against the insurgents despite the challenges they face.

But the APC kicked against PDP's criticism and accused it of playing politics with national security, describing its latest attack on Buhari as baseless and dull.

The Deputy National

AFENIFERE, PANDEF BACK FAYEMI, EL-RUFAI, INSIST ON RESTRUCTURING it has to be wholesome."

PANDEF lauded statements credited to the two governors on the need for the restructuring of the country, saying the governors who stated the obvious spoke well.

The group's National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Ken Robinson, in a statement issued yesterday, stressed that the clamour for restructuring is gaining greater momentum, lately,

with an increasing number of prominent Nigerians, across the country, acknowledging the reality that the country cannot continue with the extant flawed structure.

He, however, expressed the hope that some of these statements, coming at this time, are candid and not mere assertions to procure citizens' support for future political permutations.

He explained: "Without

doubt, there are some foundational errors, and an extensive concentration of power at the centre, which has become disadvantageous to the unity, peace and growth of the country. It is only antagonists of Nigeria and beneficiaries of the present skewed and lopsided structure that is opposed to the restructuring of the country. “However, the stark

BUHARI URGES YOUTHS TO EMBRACE DIALOGUE entrepreneurship, skills development and direct employment. “Today, we will unveil the official logo of the N75bn Nigeria Youth Investment Fund for the period of 2020–2023. “This novel fund is dedicated to investing in the innovative ideas, skills and talents of Nigerian Youths and to provide our youths with a special window to access much-needed financing, business management skills and other inputs critical for

sustainable enterprise,� the president said.

Buhari announced that over one million applications have already been received since the Youth Investment Fund Portal went live on October 12, 2020.

Restating his call for national unity, Buhari said Nigerian youths are better positioned to drive the indivisibility of Nigeria and collectively overcome whatever challenges bedevilling the nation.

He added, “On this

special occasion, we affirm our faith and confidence in the indivisible entity called Nigeria and in its future. “We face many challenges but, in you, this nation has the collective ability and drive to overcome that which confronts us.�

Meanwhile, Buhari has also recognised and celebrated the accomplishments of some youth innovators in Nigeria, including the 20-year-old Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, engineering student Usman Dalhatu, who built a

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Concerns Mount over Continued Absence of Policemen from Duty Posts Protest meetings allegedly held by some officers IG’s committee begins nationwide tour of police formations

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja There are fears that the continued absence of policemen, especially in states where police assets were destroyed, may precipitate a breakdown of law and order, THISDAY has learnt.

Investigation also revealed that policemen allegedly held protest meetings where they resolved not to return to work in protest against the killing of their colleagues and destruction of their stations nationwide.

However, the FCT Police Command and the Force Headquarters have debunked the allegation that the policemen have not returned to their duty posts, saying that the operatives have done so in the areas where their stations were not burnt down.

This is coming as the ninemember committee set up by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, to assess the extent of damage done to the police formations nationwide will tomorrow begin a nationwide tour with a visit to the Lagos State Command.

THISDAY gathered that there were nocturnal meetings of policemen and personnel of

other security agencies who insisted that they would not be on duty in view of the fatal attacks on police operatives and wanton destruction of police stations until the damaged places are repaired.

THISDAY checks showed absence of law enforcement officers, especially in states where police infrastructure was destroyed.

Even in places where they are on duty, they appeared non-committal to activities around them and depict traits of despondency and low morale.

The most affected states include Lagos, Edo, Plateau, Rivers Imo and Ogun.

But Deputy Force PRO and Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Mr Aremu Adeniran, told THISDAY that contrary to such “insinuations” the IG’s order for policemen to return to their duty posts was complied with.

“There is nothing like that.

Those are insinuations. They are back on their duty posts.

They have complied with IG’s directive.

“But you know that those places burnt would not be repaired in a day. It may take some time; so you don’t expect

to see policemen in such places to do business as usual, they may be in outposts”, he said.

Spokesperson of FCT Police Command, ASP Mariam Yusuf, also said policemen in the FCT were at their duty posts.

“That will be unjust. Our people are everywhere. They

have been directed to be on their duty posts and they have complied,” she said.

THISDAY checks showed that that the policemen and personnel of other security agencies in the states most affected by the carnage had allegedly taken a decision not to return to duty until

the damaged infrastructure were repaired.

But a senior security source told THISDAY that those behind such meetings should bear in mind that the police cannot be unionised.

“That is a futile effort because the situation is being addressed. I hope

those having that meeting know that police cannot be unionised,” the source said.

THISDAY also gathered that policemen in Imo State, as a precautionary measure, embarked on joint patrols with other security agencies.

WE STAND WITH YOU…

L-R: Senator representing Kwara North senatorial district, Senator Sadiq Umaru; National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator BolaTinubu; lawmaker representing Kwara Central at the National Assembly, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe; and Senator representing Kwara South, Senator Lola Ashiru, when the three senators from Kwara State paid a sympathy/solidarity visit to Tinubu in Lagos… yesterday

FG Commits to End Impunity for Crimes Nine Nigerians to Contest in US Elections Tuesday against Journalists Alex Enumah in Abuja The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), has reiterated the federal government’s commitment to end impunity for crimes against members of the public, including journalists.

Malami made this known in his message commemorating the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.

In a statement by his media aide, Dr. Umar Gwandu, the minister also expressed joy that Nigeria is no longer among the countries with impunity for crimes against journalists.

Reacting to the 2020 Global Index for Impunity for Crimes against Journalists released last week by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the AGF noted that Nigeria is the only country that came off the index from 2019.

He described the achievement as a result of deliberate and committed efforts of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government through the implementation of many reforms in the Nigerian justice sector to include increased access to justice, speedy justice dispensation, decongestion of Nigeria’s correctional centers and judicious implementation of the Criminal Justice Act and Justice Sector reforms.

Malami, also expressed optimism that Nigeria will never again “feature among nations where journalists, citizens and inhabitants of the country will suffer from any form of impunity in the future”, owing to the solid foundation of reforms by the current administration.

“The minister said the recent developments in the Nigeria’s international arbitration against P&ID and some international oil companies are but indicators of resolute determination of the federal government to bring to an end the era of impunity and lack of adherence to due diligence and rule of law in governmental operations.

“He said that it could be recalled that in the last decade, before the advent of the present administration, Nigeria ranked 13th across the globe and used to be among top three African countries with impunity for crimes against journalists only after Somalia and South Sudan,” the statement read in part.

While expressing commitment to maintain the tempo, Malami said there was no room for complacency in ensuring serene online and offline atmosphere of journalism practice in the country.

Malami, who also observed that with the development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) the internet became a veritable tool for mass media communication, said that “Government is working to ensure safety of journalists against rhetorical aggression, trolling, incursion of privacy, and cyber attacks”.

He stated further that with the implementation of cybercrime Act 2015 the incidences of cyber-related crimes would be minimised.

The minister however urged journalists to adhere strictly to the ethical provisions of their profession and refrain from misinformation and fake news.

No fewer than nine NigerianAmericans are on the ballot in Tuesday’s general elections in the United States.

Running mostly on the platform of the Democratic Party, the candidates are bidding for different offices at the federal, state, and local levels.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that besides the presidential election, governorship polls are holding in 11 states and two territories, in addition to other state and local elections.

Congressional elections are also holding on Tuesday with all the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate up for grabs.

At the federal level, Mr. Oye Owolewa, whose father is from Kwara and mother from Oyo, is aiming for a ‘shadow’

(non-voting) seat in the House of Representatives.

Owolewa, a Ph.D holder in Pharmacy from Northeastern University, Boston, is seeking to represent the District of Columbia (DC) under the Democratic Party.

If elected, the 30-year-old, whose agenda includes fighting income inequality in the U.S., would be the first Nigerian congressman in the country’s history.

Also at the federal level, Mr. Yomi Faparusi, an Ibadan-born native of Ode-Ekiti in Ekiti State, is vying as an independent candidate to represent the state of Tennessee in the U.S. Senate.

Faparusi holds a doctorate in Medicine from the University of Ibadan, a Ph.D. in Health from Johns Hopkins University,

and Juris Doctorate from the Widener University School of Law, Delaware.

This is not his first shot at the U.S. Congress. In 2014 and 2016, he vied for the Republican Party’s ticket to the House of Representatives but lost on both occasions Faparusi’s priorities include being a positive voice for all Nigerians in the U.S. Senate, and inspiring Americans of African or Nigerian descent to seek public office in the country.

In Missouri, a Republicancontrolled state, Mr. Yinka Faleti from Lagos is the Democratic Party flagbearer in the election for the office of Secretary of State.

According to Wikipedia, Faleti was in the U.S. Army as an active-duty officer from 1998 to 2004. He served in Kuwait, first

under Operation Desert Spring and later as part Operation Enduring Freedom.

The 44-year-old father of four holds a Bachelor’s degree from the United States Military Academy, West Point, and a Juris Doctorate from the Washington University School of Law. Also at the state level, Mr. Paul Akinjo from Ondo State is running for election to the California State Assembly under the Democratic Party to represent District 12.

Akinjo once served as Vice Mayor of Lathrop, California, and in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1982 to 1989. His priorities include housing, immigration and transportation.

In Delaware, a small MidAtlantic U.S. state, Adewunmi Kuforiji is aspiring to represent District 34 in the state House of Representatives.

FRSC Confirms Death of 16 in Ondo Accident Calls for relocation of markets from highways Kayode Fasua and James Sowole in Akure The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, yesterday confirmed the death of 16 passengers in the Ondo auto crash and advocated relocation of markets from the highways in the country.

In a statement issued yesterday through the Corps Public Education Officer, Mr. Bisi Kazeem, Oyeyemi decried the Akungba auto crash, “caused by brake failure and loss of control that claimed multiple lives at the Ibaka area of Akungba Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State

on Saturday evening”.

The Corps Marshal explained that the crash occurred at about 6.30 p.m on Saturday, October 31, 2020, when a DAF Truck loaded with bags of rice rammed into the stalls in the market and crashed into a Toyota Camry saloon car, a Toyota Corolla car, and three other motorcycles.

“The fatal crash involved a total of 23 people comprising 11 male adults, three male children, seven female adults and two female children.

“Out of the 23 people involved, a total of seven people comprising three male adults, three female adults and one male child were rescued with different degrees of injuries and

taken to the hospital.

“Sixteen people got killedcomprising eight male adults, two male children, four female adults and two female children; and the dead bodies had been deposited at the Specialist Hospital, Ikare and General Hospital Iwaro-Oka mortuaries respectively, by FRSC emergency rescue teams,” he recounted.

The Corps Marshal who spoke extensively on the urgency of the relocation of Akungba market, also revealed that the corps was concerned with the rising statistics of innocent citizens who had lost their lives as a result of building markets close to the highways.

Commiserating with the

families of the victims, the Corps Marshal advised road users to be more disciplined, maintain their vehicles regularly and maintain prescribed speed limits at all times especially in crowded places like markets.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has promised to assist the injured victims, who are still in the hospital.

The governor who visited the scene of the ill- fated expressed displeasure at the incident and commiserated with the families of the victims.

He blamed the cause of many accidents to recklessness on the part of drivers and faulty vehicles.

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SERAP, Lawyers File Lawsuits against NBC over N9m Fine against TV Stations Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and a group of lawyers, under the aegis of Digital Rights Lawyers Initiative, have filed lawsuits against the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over the N3million fine imposed by the commission on ARISE News Channel, Channels Television and AIT in relation to their coverage of the #EndSARS protests.

Both suits are before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

SERAP, which filed its suit in collaboration with 261 concerned Nigerians, civil society and media groups, also joined the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed; and the acting Director-General of the NBC, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, as defendants.

The group is urging the court to declare that the N3million fine imposed by

NBC on each of Channels TV, Africa Independent Television and ARISE TV over their coverage of the #EndSARS protests was “arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional.”

It wants the court to stop NBC from enforcing the fine.

SERAP contended that the information minister had been making consistent efforts to gag the press from performing their watchdog role by using broadcasting codes.

The group said the imposition of N3 million fine on each of Channels TV, Africa Independent Television, and Arise TV without giving them fair hearing was in breach of the constitutional rights of the media houses.

“The NBC, being a regulatory body, is not empowered by law to act as the prosecutor and the

judge; all at the same time.

We humbly urge the court to set aside the unlawful and unconstitutional fines imposed on independent media houses, and to uphold the sanctity of the Nigerian Constitution, Nigerians’ human rights, media freedom, and the rule of law,” SERAP said.

It urged the court to strike

down Section 2[n] of the NBC Act and Broadcasting Code relied upon by the NBC and information minister to impose fines on the three stations.

SERAP argued that that section was inconsistent sections 22 and 39 of the Nigerian Constitution which guarantee freedom of expression, access to

information, and media freedom.

Similarly, DRLI, in the suit filed by its lawyers, Messrs Solomon Okedara and Olumide Babalola, contended that “the sanction and fine imposed on the television stations creates a chilling effect on freedom of expression and constitutes an unjustifiable interference

of its members’ right to freedom of expression particularly, their right to receive ideas and information from the sanctioned television stations.”

DRLI is praying the court to set aside the N3million fine and to award N1million damages against the NBC.

FCT Police Arrest 12 Suspected Looters Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The FCT Police Command weekend arrested 12 suspected looters along Gosa-Lugbe axis.

A statement issued by the command said the suspects were arrested during a joint patrol at an estate in Gosa while attempting to escape with looted items.

The suspects are Abubakar Hassan, 32; Jibirin Musa, 19; Mohammed Mohammed, 19; Abdul Ibrahim, 18; Shamsudeen Idris, 25; Yusuf Mustapha, 28;

Mohammed Yusuf, 18; Shaibu Usman, 38; Abubakar Salisu,19; Haruna Bello, 35; Sadiq Musa,18; and Abu Lawal, 18.

The statement signed

by Spokesperson of the command, ASP Mariam Yusuf, said the suspects would be arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigation.

“While enjoining residents to remain law-abiding, the command wishes to reiterate its unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property within the FCT”, it said.

FG Threatens to Stop Salaries of 720 Civil Servants over IPPIS Peter Uzoho The federal government has threatened to stop the salaries of 720 civil servants with alleged “insufficient records” on the government’s centralised payroll system, the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

According to a circular dated October 28, 2020, and marked HCSF/PS/ CMO/IPPIS/1289/Vol. I, which was signed on behalf of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, by the Director, IPPIS-Service Wide Department, Mrs A. I. Attah, the 720 affected civil servants were given the grace of between October 30 and November 6, 2020, to perfect their records or have their salaries suspended with immediate effect.

The circular, sighted by THISDAY, was addressed to all permanent secretaries, Directors of Human Resources Management and all the affected officers,

was titled: ‘Suspension of salary of employees with insufficient IPPIS Human Resource records’.

The officers were also directed to present documents such as their personal files at the point of entry into service and original copies of their credentials for final clearance of issues surrounding their dates of birth and dates of first appointment.

“Respective MDAs are required to confirm the identity of the affected officers from their ministries through letters duly endorsed by the Director (HRM), otherwise they would not be attended to.

“You are cordially requested to inform the affected officers to note that after the expiration of the period, the salaries of non-compliant officers would be suspended on the IPPIS’ platform with immediate effect.

“Please bring the content of this circular to the attention of the affected officers.”

EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION...

Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh (left), and Commandant, National Defence College (NDC), Rear Admiral Mackson Kadiri, in Abuja... recently.

Concerned APC Group Extends Ultimatum Given to Buni-led Committee AdedayoAkinwaleinAbuja The Concerned All Progressive Congress (APC) group has extended by seven days, the ultimatum given to the party’s Caretaker/ Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee led

by Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, to fix the date for the party’s convention.

The group recently gave the leadership of the party a 14-day ultimatum to release timetable for the convention or risk mass protest against it by members.

But, in a statement issued yesterday by its Spokesperson, Mr. Abdullahi Dauda, the group in a unanimous

decision decided to extend its earlier 14 days ultimatum by seven days due to a recent statement credited to the party’s Deputy Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yekini Nabena, that the party was working on the convention time table.

The ruling party had during the emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the Presidential Villa on June 25, dissolved the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) following protracted leadership crisis and set up a Caretaker/ Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee to manage the affairs of the party in the interim.

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

Within the six months, the committee was mandated to organise a national convention for new leaders to emerge and was also mandated to reconcile aggrieved members.

But the perceived inaction of the caretaker committee to fix a date for the convention is already creating ripples within the party.

The group stated: “In the light of the seven days extension, we hope that the failure and disappointments that characterise the period of the

earlier ultimatum given will have no place in the next one week.

“It is important to state that, with this extension, the Buni-led APC caretaker committee is given an ample opportunity to fix convention date and timetable that will produce new National Executives for our party in November.

“We want to authoritatively warn that, if no time table is released within the next seven days, we will have no option than to embark on daily protest to draw attention of Mr. President and party members on the elongation plot that will destroy the party we have labored for,” it added.

Wike Threatens Fresh Restrictions on Worship Centres Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike has condemned the flagrant abuse of COVID-19 regulations by churches in the state and threatened to impose fresh restrictions on worship centres.

Wike spoke yesterday at the Saint Thomas Anglican Church in Mile 2 Diobu, in Port Harcourt Local Government Area during Chief

Azubuike Nmerukini’s family special thanksgiving service in honour of his wife, Mrs. Oroma Nmerukini, who survived critical medical condition.

The governor said he observed during the service that more than 80 per cent of worshippers did not wear facemasks.

Wike, in a statement by his Special

Assistant, Media, Mr. Kelvin Ebiri, warned if violation of the protocol continued, he would revisit his position on worshippers permitted in worship centres.

He said: “85 per cent of those who are here are not wearing facemask.

That is the problems we have. Nobody wants to obey simple instruction.

“The mere fact that we have agreed

that we should worship and allowed everybody, does not mean that we should disobey the protocol.

“My lord Bishop, encourage our people to wear their face masks.

It is very important. If this continues then I will go back and review the restriction to say it cannot be more than a particular number”.

Ruling House Wants Oba of Lagos Palace Cleansed The Akinsemoyin Ruling House of Lagos State has called for the cleansing of the palace of Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, following its invasion on October 21 by rampaging youths, who carted away the royal staff of authority.

The palace and the monarch were attacked amid the mayhem that broke out following the shooting of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos by

soldiers on the evening of October 20.

In a statement yesterday, the ruling house described the invasion of the palace and the removal of the royal staff of authority as a sacrilege.

The statement, titled, ‘#EndSARS protest: Akinsemonyin ruling house condemns attacks on Oba’s palace,’ was co-signed by the Olori Ebi Akinsemoyin Ruling House of Lagos, Chief

Musliu Anibaba; Prince Saminu Akinsemoyin; Prince lbrahim Adekunle; and the Chairman of Egbe Omo Eko Nimi Lagos Forum, Prince Ademola Akinsemoyin.

Members of the ruling house said they watched with shock rioters’ “forceful entering, ransacking, looting and desecration of lga ldunganran (Oba Ado Palace) which is the Palace of Oba of Lagos.”

They said, “Painfully, the

desecration of Oba’s Palace, in particular, the stolen ‘Opa Ase’ and our ancestral items with impunity has not only exasperated the tense atmosphere but also shows lack of respect for Lagos traditional heritages.

‘Pertinently, the sad events were sacrilegious and an abomination to Lagos land, heritage and prohibited by Yoruba and Lagos tradition and social customs.

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

FRCN AND DEFINITION OF SMEs

Innocent Okwuosa urges FRC to adopt universal deďŹ nition of SMEs that is not constrained by local exigencies

I

n its document on the road map for the adoption of IFRS in Nigeria, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) of Nigeria defined SMEs as entities that may not have public accountability and: their debt or equity instruments are not traded in a public market; they are not in the process of issuing such instruments for trading in a public market; they do not hold assets in a fiduciary capacity for a broad group of outsiders as one of their primary businesses; the amount of its annual turnover is not more than N500 million or such amount as may be fixed by the CAC; its total asset value is not more than N200 million or such amount as may be fixed by the CAC; no board members are an alien; no members are a government or a government corporation or agency or its nominee, and the directors among them hold not less than 51 per cent of its equity share capital.

FRC then mandatorily requires such SMEs to prepare and present their financial statements based on International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS), effective 2014. Hence the above definition determines whether an entity adopts IFRS for SMEs or not.

It has been six years since SMEs are required to prepare IFRS based financial statements. But there are issues associated with the above definition and its mandatory IFRS requirement especially in this period of COVID-19 pandemic.

The first problem is that FRC definition of SMEs is tied to a fixed amount of turnover or total assets not independently determined by it but tied to CAC fixation. Apart from this, the CAC definition places other conditions that work to compound our understanding of what constitutes an SME; for example, no foreigner as a board member, no government corporation or agency as member.

The interpretation of the later is that once a foreigner invests in an entity whose turnover and assets meet the CAC fixed amount, it will no longer be a SME. One question that arises is whether a N100,000 investment in a Nigerian company by a Ghanaian or Korean is enough ground for that company not to qualify as a SME even though its turnover is N500 million or total assets, N200m.

It should be noted that the CAC definition of SMEs, which FRC adopted, accords with that of IASB as both

FRC SHOULD SIMPLY DEFINE SME AS ‘AN ENTITY THAT HAS NO PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY’. PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY SHOULD THEN BE RESTRICTED TO CONSIDERATIONS AS TO WHETHER THEIR DEBT OR EQUITY INSTRUMENTS ARE BEING TRADED IN A PUBLIC MARKET‌

stresses not having public accountability, but IASB does not impose further restriction as FRC has done. I do recognise that IASB allows local jurisdiction to take into consideration local exigencies in defining SMEs, it cannot be said that the chosen exigencies of fixed turnover, asset, foreign ownership and ownership by government corporation are the best for our environment.

This is problematic for IFRS adoption because a company that qualifies as an SME today and is mandatorily required to adopt IFRS may tomorrow, as a result of say COVID-19 or CAC’s dictates, not meet the turnover and asset threshold. The implication is that the investment made to implement IFRS by these SMEs may be wasted.

For example, section 394 (3) of the recent 2020 CAMA has specified a turnover of N120 million and total assets of not more than N60 million for qualification as SMEs. This supports the reason why FRC must revisit its wrong definition of SMEs that is tied to CAC fluctuating definition. Without this, many entities will continue to bear unnecessary cost and burden of mandatory IFRS adoption as opposed to voluntary adoption.

The way out for FRC is to adopt universal definition of SMEs that is not constrained by local exigencies. To this end FRC should simply define SME as “an entity that has no public accountability�. Public accountability should then be restricted to considerations as to whether their debt or equity instruments are being traded in a public market; whether they are in the process of issuing such instruments for trading in a public market and whether they hold assets in a fiduciary capacity for a broad group of outsiders as one of their primary businesses. So, on the strength of the last consideration, finance companies will always not qualify as SMEs on account of holding assets in a fiduciary capacity.

The IASB is currently requesting information for the amendment of IFRS for SMEs and this therefore presents another opportunity for FRC to revisit its definition of SMEs in order to correctly mandate IFRS adoption among entities who will derive maximum benefits from its adoption. r%S 0LXVPTB JT $IBJSNBO *'34 &YQFSU 'PSVN /JHFSJB

FINANCING SAFE, AFFORDABLE WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE Making an investment case for WASH is fundamental to receiving funding allocations from government or donors, writes Guy Hutton

S

ince its inception, the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership has recognized the primacy of financing in catalyzing progress. Since 2010, it has held four high-level meetings with finance ministers from all around the world alongside the World Bank’s Spring Meetings. These meetings have become known as the “SWA Finance Ministers’ Meeting�

(FMM). They are brief opportunities (about two hours in length) to showcase why water, sanitation and hygiene are deserving of more public funds and to outline the investment opportunities for governments and private sector alike using successful case studies.

As with hundreds of other meetings this year, the SWA Finance Ministers’ Meeting planned for April 2020 was cancelled.

But like some wonderful Greek mythical creature, this one global meeting has sprouted into three regional meetings with Finance and Sector Ministers, giving these regular high-level meetings a new format and a new audience. The first meeting in early-November is for Africa, following in two-week intervals by Latin America and the Caribbean and then Asia and the Pacific. The advantages of this new format are obvious: regional meetings engage regional organisations which to-date have been relatively silent in SWA; and it encourages participation among peer countries in a more meaningful way. Not to mention the avoidance of travel costs and carbon emissions that face-to-face meetings entail. So I am personally greatly looking forward to the events and seeing the outcomes of this new approach.

Why would a Finance Minister be interested in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) during these tumultuous times? I can’t claim to know the inside of a Finance Ministers’ mind, but I would expect that their chief concern is how to protect their economies during the Covid-19 pandemic and how to restart their economies as the threat is diminished. Hence, if we cannot link our aim – maintaining and expanding WASH service levels – with the concern of a Minister of Finance, there will be little interest to engage with us during this

very busy and challenging period. Indeed, we have much to link WASH with the concerns of a Finance Minister: first, the quality of WASH, in particular hygiene measures like handwashing, are closely bound with the trajectory of the pandemic as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); second, having water and toilets available at home makes it easier for communities to adhere to lockdown measures for the greater good; third, the breakdown of WASH services threatens to bring further health impacts, social disruption and economic losses – the lack of WASH services was estimated to cost the world US$ 260 billion in 2010; and fourth, a return to ‘normality’ depends on WASH services operating, in both public places and in institutions such as workplaces, schools and healthcare facilities. However, a report in 2020 from WHO and UNICEF stated that two in five schools around the world lacked basic handwashing facilities prior to COVID-19 pandemic.

Advocacy for WASH financing is not one-off, but a perennial activity. While all these arguments for WASH are clear and supported by evidence, the policy dialogue is currently crowded by so many issues and concerns that the need for WASH has to be continually articulated at the highest levels of government and development organisations, and throughout society. Hence, making an investment case for WASH remains fundamental to receiving funding allocations from government or donors, and attention from the private sector. Other social sectors such as health and education have benefited from high level advocacy, political attention and subsequently have received greater fund allocations. Indeed, in WASH this has been achieved in some countries, with several notable examples of Heads of State putting their political reputations on the line. For example, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to make India free of open defecation within five years and put behind it over US 20 billion of government funds to achieve it. But the India case remains the exception rather than the rule.

What are my expectations of these

regional finance ministers’ meetings?

There are three long-term outcomes that I hope this series of regional meetings will contribute to: Bring global funds to countries. We hear about billions of dollars being released by development banks or global funds such as the Green Climate Fund, which are available for WASH. This now includes funds targeted for WASH activities under the Covid-19 response, such as from the World Bank. However, despite the very urgent need, these funds are often very slow to arrive and are insufficient for the global needs to meet the global WASH targets.

WASH must be (seen as) investible. We need to be better at identifying the investment opportunities in water, sanitation and hygiene, including attracting private sector finance. Whether it is a financial return on investment, a return on health, a return on women or a return on children, we need to be in the right places with the right messages to make sure that our advocacy efforts are impactful. For example, a recent SWA call to action for world leaders urges them to recognize the vital role of WASH in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, there is no shortage of options for bringing in the private sector through different blended finance arrangements – where in essence public funding leverages much larger financial volumes from the private sector – but the success will depend on the underlying sector governance, such as regulations, transparent bidding processes and trust in the law – all of which give investors the confidence to invest.

We have to make better use of existing funds. We need better evidence on the status and opportunities in the sector, better mechanisms and more accountability.

We also need financiers to work together to collectively achieve shared targets, such as the establishment of pooled funds under a sector-wide approach. In Ethiopia several development partners such as the World Bank and UNICEF worked closely with the Government of Ethiopia to ensure official development assistance worth hundreds of millions of dollars supported national plans. By demonstrating more

responsible use of existing sector financing will leverage more resources. There are many ways of increasing sector efficiency and equity, from quicker adoption of promising low-cost technologies, to better management of services, to reallocating sector budgets to those most left behind, to overall sector governance and strengthening. Underlying these many actions is a solid sector financing strategy and a realistic workplan that is funded and has clearly assigned roles and responsibilities.

While the above indicates general principles, solutions must be tailored to every country, hence this will mean the options for service delivery models, tariff policies and subsidy approaches, regulatory environments and technological solutions need to be assessed in each context. A new initiative of SWA on Strengthening Systems and Finance will help provide global advocacy and bring about focused attention in countries to remove bottlenecks to WASH financing, and help advance the conversations taking place in and around the regional finance ministers’ meetings.

In conclusion, these FMMs represent key moments for WASH advocacy and solution-seeking that we cannot afford to waste. Finance Ministers fundamentally need to know that the WASH sector is improving and developing in a systematic way, informed by good evidence and a long-term vision. The FMMs therefore provide an opportunity to honestly put all these issues on the table and walk away with a plan for revitalizing the sector that has the buy-in of ministers and eventually Heads of State. Target setting and commitment making are very major tasks that need key stakeholders and constituencies to formulate and implement together. The results of these meetings can be reflected not only in a strong intention to accelerate progress towards universal coverage, but also reflected in national pledges to the international community through the SWA Mutual Accountability Mechanism, which has already seen over 300 commitments across more than 50 countries. r)VUUPO JT 4FOJPS "EWJTFS GPS XBUFS TBOJUBUJPO BOE IZHJFOF 6/*$&'

15

T H I S D AY ˞ ˜ Ͱ˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

EDITORIAL

SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY TO CHAD It does not make economic sense as Nigerians will be worse off

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ore than 80 million Nigerians don’t have access to electricity today, and her industries and homes rely on meagre output from the national grid to run their activities. Yet the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) recently told Nigerians who have for years put up with epileptic supply that the country plans to supply electricity to the Republic of Chad following their recent request. We will have little to worry about if the plan is economically sound, if Chad will pay the market rate for every kilowatt of electricity sent to it and if Nigeria has enough for her domestic economy. Why should we be supplying power to another country when we are insufficient at home?

It is indeed instructive that on the day the TCN announced this plan, the total THE CHADIAN PLAN amount of elecFOLLOWS THE SAME tricity available to PATTERN WITH THE RAIL about 100 million Nigerians who TO BE CONSTRUCTED TO are connected NIGER REPUBLIC WITH to the national BORROWED MONEY grid to run their homes and businesses was 4,318 megawatts. According to performance data from the office of VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo, 3,987 megawatts were shut-in on that day, due to gas supply, and transmission infrastructure challenges.

On that same day, the power sector lost an estimated N1.9 billion worth of revenue to these constraints, one of which is the TCN’s constant inability to take all possibly generated electricity to the distribution ends for onwards supply to homes and offices across the country. Ironically, the same TCN wants to transmit electricity to Chad which is circa 1,767 and 1,550 kilometres respectively from Delta and Niger States where most of Nige-

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ria’s electricity is produced.

Nigeria does not have what it takes now to be this benevolent to Chad even if they want to pay the right price for the electricity or they are our neighbours in need. The Republics of Niger, Benin and Togo owe Nigeria millions of dollars for years for electricity supplied to them in a bilateral bond that is unhealthy and opportunistic.

We also suspect that Chad, seeing the opportunistic benefits these other countries enjoy, may have decided to take advantage of the country. But the main concern is that if this deal sails through it will hurt our power sector and its investors who have put in so much and yet have not derived any tangible benefits since it was privatised in 2013.

We do not understand the ‘charity begins from overseas’ disposition of the current government since this Chadian plan follows the same pattern with the rail to be constructed to Niger Republic with borrowed money. We must state clearly that economically, Nigeria cannot afford to send electricity to Chad at any price below cost reflectivity, and that include all the indices – fuel cost, transmission cost, inflation rate, and others. These are the parameters used to determine the true economic price of electricity. But beyond that, the idea makes no sense at a time we are far from meeting domestic demand.

If Chad is serious, it should leverage on the eligible customers’ scheme which the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has developed and signed into law for any large power user to do business in the country’s power sector. Selling the electricity which we do not have enough for our domestic use to Chad will simply undermine our energy and economic security. The federal government should do the right thing which is, be patriotic enough to resist this benevolent charade. President Muhammadu Buhari was elected by the people of Nigeria to serve them. And his charity should begin at home!

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

THE PROLIFERATION OF MINI-BANKS

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walk around my neighbourhood here in FESTAC Town, Lagos, reveals a large number of minibanks that have recently been set up along the streets, and in one corner or the other, of the neighbourhood. I believe that this is also currently the situation in many other parts of the country.

Many umbrellas and kiosks have been set up in one corner of the street or the other, offering banking services, which would otherwise have been offered at the different bank branches.

This reminds me of the days when the GSM (Global System of Mobile) Communications services were newly introduced into Nigeria.

Many kiosks and mini-shops became involved in offering GSM services, such as making phone calls, selling recharge cards, etc.

With the newly introduced mini-banks, services range from cash transfers, cash withdrawal, cash deposit, Point of Sale (POS) services, etc.

However, one thing that I have observed about the new mini-banks’ services is that they are quite expensive. For instance, just some days ago, I attempted to withdraw N7,000 using one of these mini-banks. On getting to the mini-bank, I was told that I would be charged N300, for withdrawing N7,000. I felt that this charge was too much, compared to the current N35 charge (and even the hitherto N65 charge) placed on the fourth and subsequent withdrawals made in a month, from an Automated Teller Machine

(ATM) not belonging to your bank, and the NO CHARGE for withdrawals made using your bank’s ATMs. I therefore bargained for a N200 charge, but the mini-bank attendant refused.

I would have used an ATM to make a withdrawal on that day, but at the several ATM centres of the four different banks along 23 Road in Festac Town where I had attempted making the withdrawal earlier, there were only a few of the ATMs dispensing cash, and there was a long queue of people waiting to use the ATMs. So, I opted for the mini-banks, as I needed the money urgently to purchase some prescribed medications.

The reason I have chosen to write about my experience with these mini-banks is that I feel that their charges are quite high. For example, at the mini-bank where I was able to withdraw N7,000 at a charge of N300, one of the people standing by even said that I was fortunate to be charged N300 for withdrawing N7,000. He told me of another instance where someone was charged a whopping N1,000 for withdrawing N10,000! This probably took place during the #EndSARS protests, when there was a curfew, and many businesses were closed.

So, I would like to use this medium to make some suggestions regarding the operations of these recently introduced mini-banks: First: I would recommend a reduction in the charges for transactions made through these mini-banks, especially with regard to cash withdrawals. I

think that the current charges are quite high.

Second, although the banks might claim that introducing and setting up mini-bank outlets is to help ease the stress encountered by their customers, such as spending hours either at the ATM or in the banking hall, before they are eventually able to successfully complete their transactions, this setting up of mini-banks should serve as only an alternative of last resort, especially for the few whose circumstances would not allow them to visit their bank branches to perform their transactions. It should not be an excuse for the banks and their branches not to load their ATMs with sufficient volumes of cash regularly. I emphasize this because I have already observed that since the introduction of these mini-banks and their services, the ATMs of some banks have not been stocked regularly with cash, as they used to be previously, thereby forcing the bank customers to take the rather expensive alternative of patronising these mini-banks.

The banks should still maintain their previous custom of loading their Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) with sufficient volumes of cash, on a regular basis, epecially during periods of crisis, when the need for people to access cash urgently usually arises. The banks should not reduce the amount and frequency of loading cash on their ATMs, just because of the existence of these newly introduced mini-banks. r%BOJFM *HIBLQF '&45"$ 5PXO -BHPT

VOTE AND DON’T SHOOT

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n the numerous articles about the US election there was one recent item that seems disturbing - gun stores are running out of ammunition. This could be good news as those unhappy with whatever the outcome is won’t be able to buy any ammunition although it also could be disturbing in that they have already bought this ammunition in case of a result they don’t support. For a country that is the land of the free there should be no use of weaponry in the decision or acceptance of an election result.

Vote and then accept the result without using lawyers or guns to try and get the result you wanted.

Please, there have been enough deaths already in America recently.

The same ideal should also apply in all countries as the use of violence seems worldwide. r%FOOJT 'JU[HFSBME .FMCPVSOF "VTUSBMJB

16

MONDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2020 •T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2020

POLITICS

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

M O N D AY D I S C O U R S E

How Low Can They Go? Once dignified, Vanessa Obioha writes that, some political personalities in the last few days have been subjected to ridicule for their words or actions

Lekki Tollgate, scene of enduring EndSARS controversies

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rguably, the infamous Lekki incident and the attendant looting have left a trail of ire that keeps swirling each passing day.

Not a few Nigerians have vented their irritation at the culmination of the EndSARS protest which started peacefully but ended in violence and death.

The anger, however, is not one-sided.

On one hand, are the politicians fuming over the scrutiny and ridicule Nigerians have subjected them to. On the other hand are Nigerians who are equally tired and pissed at the way leaders abuse their intelligence with their words and actions.

The accompanying reactions are expected as Nigerians take stock of their loss and lessons from the incident. What is not expected is the defiance of the people as they continue to demand good governance from their leaders.

The cycle of blame and attack seems almost unending, particularly on social media where the frustration is always at an exaggerated level.

A perceived wrong word or action could easily nail one’s reputation to the coffin and unfortunately, the comedic Ghanaian pallbearers are always on standby.

Such were the fates of some politicians in the past week. Once dignified

and revered in their respective fields, these personalities became objects of ridicule. In a flash, their utterances made them internet memes and fetched them new appellations which are in no way glorifying.

Take for instance the fate of former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola. A man who is held in high esteem by many for his works in Lagos state. It was Babatunde that introduced the popular BRT buses

to Lagosians. Under his administration, the Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge was constructed as well as the ongoing 10-lane Badagry Expressway. While his tenure as Minister of Works and Housing is yet to be felt, Fashola was still adored by many until last Sunday.

On a visit to the Lekki scene where unarmed protesters were dispersed by the bullets of soldiers called to the scene to enforce the curfew imposed by the Lagos state government, Fashola

To crown a week of mockery and indignation, actor cum politician Desmond Elliot was the latest to be demystified by the public. Desmond was alleged to have made some derogatory remarks about the Nigerian youths who championed the #EndSARS protest and promoted the anti-social media bill at the House Assembly where he is representing Surulere constituency. The lawmaker had said at one of the plenary sessions that celebrity and social media influencers should stop spreading hatred, that they have the constitutional power to change the things with their PVC

alongside other South-West governors made a discovery that was in no way shocking.

Captured on video, the Minister moved around the toll booths with keen observation, as if expecting to find a missing puzzle in the mystery that has clouded the shooting. All of a sudden, the camera zoomed to the Minister observation of a gadget sitting conspicuously on the toll booth. It turned out to be a camera.

His colleagues watched with interest and amazement at the finding. Carefully, he brought out a black piece of cloth and picked up the camera which was dumped into a bag. He reportedly said that the new evidence will aid the investigation of the Lekki incident where the government have been accused of taking off the security cameras before the soldiers’ arrived.

If the Minister expected a laudatory remark on his accomplishment, he got the opposite. He was mocked and pilloried by Nigerians who believe the act was staged. To his critics, it seemed ludicrous that Fashola would out of the blues discover a camera at a conspicuous place after the Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has inspected the place and found nothing, and the cleaners of the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) had equally scrubbed the place.

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2020

18

MONDAY DISCOURSE

Tinubu

Sanwo-Olu

Fashola

Elliot

Within a few minutes of the news break, the revered Minister was named all manners of monikers. Some called him Agent Fash, others referred to him as Forensic Fash.

Fashola’s fate may pale in comparison to the truculent criticisms that have trailed the National Leader of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu since he made a public appearance last weekend.

In a courtesy visit to the state governor Sanwo-Olu, Tinubu had addressed the press where he denied the allegations that he absconded to France following the Lekki shooting for fear of his life. “I didn’t go nowhere; I’m a Lagosian and I still hold the title of Asiwaju of Lagos and I am still a Jagaban. Fake news is all over the place. They say Seyi my son was kidnapped and was chased but look at him. I didn’t pay a penny to bring him here,” he reportedly said when asked about his whereabouts.

Not a few lambasted him over this statement. They opined that his long silence is evident that he was afraid of his life as his alleged assets were affected most during the looting and arson rampage that erupted after the Lekki shooting.

But it wasn’t the only sin counted against the APC chieftain. His statement on protesters who suffered casualty at the Lekki incident was deemed inappropriate and insensitive.

“Those who suffered casualty during the gunshots need to answer some questions too,” he had reportedly said while hinting at a foul play.

“But where are we getting the looting, the carnage, the burning, the invasion of police stations, stealing of arms, maiming of the innocent? It is a handshake beyond the elbow.”

To many, the aftermath of the Lekki incident was a clear attack to diminish the towering figure of the statesman.

And if the criticisms fired at him these past few days were a yardstick, then the agenda of his detractors are

working.

The man at the centre of the Lekki saga has perhaps received the harshest vitriols and it is no one’s doing.

Sanwo-Olu, a young politician was sold to Lagosians last year as the perfect replacement for Akinwumi Ambode who unfortunately didn’t get his party’s blessings to run for a second term.

Sanwo-Olu embodied Fashola — the once-beloved governor — in more than one way. It is there in his countenance, his humility and chief of all, speaking in a language that Lagosians understand. He knows when to speak Queen’s English, and when to use ‘ìgbéga èkó’.

When the coronavirus pandemic hit the nation, Sanwo-Olu rose to the occasion with diligence and intelligence. Although, he was later alleged to have mismanaged the relief funds

sent to the state.

Also, he showed his support when the #EndSARS protest began but with the Lekki shooting, whatever prestige Sanwo-Olu enjoyed from Lagosians evaporated. First, on the night of the shooting, Nigerians rained curses on him because of his deafening silence.

When he finally spoke, his speech didn’t overwhelm citizens. Still, the governor urged on, pledging to deal with the perpetrators while deftly exonerating himself from the attack.

Things, however, went awry this past week. What seemed to be a blame and attack game unfolded as more details of the attack came into light.

Sanwo-Olu in a CNN interview admitted that army personnel shot at the protesters. Previous remarks from him suggested his ambivalence on the identity of the security personnel captured on videos. His response

To many, the aftermath of the Lekki incident was a clear attack to diminish the towering figure of the statesman. And if the criticisms fired at him these past few days were a yardstick, then the agenda of his detractors are working. The man at the centre of the Lekki saga has perhaps received the harshest vitriols and it is no one’s doing. Sanwo-Olu, a young politician was sold to Lagosians last year as the perfect replacement for Akinwumi Ambode who unfortunately didn’t get his party’s blessings to run for a second term. Sanwo-Olu embodied Fashola — the once-beloved governor — in more than one way. It is there in his countenance, his humility and chief of all, speaking in a language that Lagosians understand. He knows when to speak Queen’s English, and when to use ‘ìgbéga èkó’

immediate fetched a retaliatory remark from the Nigerian army. They revealed that they were at the venue on the command of the governor who had earlier denied he called the army.

These half-truths peddled by the governor distinguished any glowing light around his persona. Many now see him as a puppet and a weak governor. Irrespective of the attack on his person, the governor is still steadfast in his mission but his efforts may not be rewarded.

To crown a week of mockery and indignation, actor cum politician Desmond Elliot was the latest to be demystified by the public.

Desmond was alleged to have made some derogatory remarks about the Nigerian youths who championed the #EndSARS protest and promoted the anti-social media bill at the House Assembly where he is representing Surulere constituency.

The lawmaker had said at one of the plenary sessions that celebrity and social media influencers should stop spreading hatred, that they have the constitutional power to change the things with their PVC. He added that if they are tired of the way things are in the country that they should join the government.

He also expressed shock at the manner of insults thrown at leaders by children, adding that the youths were among the looters who wreaked havoc on the state.

While he debunked the claim that he did not attack social media influencers or promote the social media bill as alleged, he was not forgiven for regarding Nigerian youths as children.

A few celebrities cancelled him on Twitter, rubbishing his acting career and calling for his recall from the House.

At this rate, it will be difficult to pacify the incensed youths and the resentment cycle may see no immediate end until perhaps, the reformation the country badly needs is visible.

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T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2020

POLITICS

EndSARS: Nigeria Police Count Losses Udora Orizu writes that trend of burning down police stations by angry youths shows that when citizens loose faith in the government and criminal justice system, they are less likely to rely on the law to solve issues

Police building on fire

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ollowing the recent shooting of unarmed #EndSARs protesters who converged on around the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos state to protest against police brutality and seek reforms for good governance, arson, killings, looting and all sorts of violence have trailed the once peaceful, particularly the burning of police stations across the country by the aggrieved youths.

On October 11, as the #EndSARS protests gathered momentum, across the country, the Federal Government heed the citizens cries and announced the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robber Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigerian police force, which has been linked to torture, unlawful imprisonment, extortion and murder of innocent citizens.

The #EndSARS hashtag dates back to 2017, when it was used to share experiences of assault and violence. Amnesty International reported at least 82 cases of torture and extrajudicial execution between January 2017 and May 2020. The vexation of the youths reached its peak, when on Tuesday, 20th October 2020, when men of the Nigerian military opened fire at Lekki Tollgate on unarmed, peaceful protesters.

Following the massacre, the protests degenerated into more killings, arson and looting as the angry youths unleashed mayhem in several states across the country. It was clear that the frustrations expressed on the streets of various states were not just about the crimes of a police unit. Obviously the youths felt betrayed by the government.

However, by channeling their anger at the police, with the razing of its buildings, the youths lost focus, and may not even come close to the real target. Yes, the guilty officers, who perpetrated those heinous crimes should be brought to book and punished, but burning down police stations won’t amount to anything and it’s doing more harm than good.

There are actually some policeman that are honest working people. The youths need to show restraint, empathy by remembering those good ones. We agree that they have to get better, starting by weeding out bad officers but violence is not the way to go.

The effects of the wanton attacks on police stations and officers, sometimes under very gruesome circumstances, also means the police themselves are vulnerable, this must be very demoralising to many officers, particularly the good ones and should also be of great concern to citizens.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, last Friday said 22 police personnel were killed across the country during the protests.

He said officers of the Nigeria Police Force acted professionally, exercised commendable restraints and some paid the supreme price for peace during the recent protests and ensuing violence in some parts of the country.

The statement said available reports showed that 22 police personnel were extra-judicially

IGP Adamu killed by some rampaging protesters and scores injured during the protests. ‘’Many of the injured personnel are in life threatening conditions at the hospitals.

Two hundred and five police stations and formations including other critical private and public infrastructure were also damaged by a section of the protesters. Despite these unprovoked attacks, our police officers never resorted to use of unlawful force or shooting at the protesters as alleged in the report”, it said.

IGP Unveils fatalities On October 30, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, unveiled the gory statistics of fatalities during a virtual meeting with commissioners of police in the 36 states and FCT, in Abuja.

The statistics showed that the death toll nationwide from the violence is now 73, with 22 of them policemen.

He also directed his officers and men to henceforth sturdily defend themselves if attacked by hoodlums again. The IG also disclosed that 71 public warehouses and 248 privately owned stores were looted in the course of the protests in 13 states and the FCT. According to the IG, the affected states recorded major violence leading to attacks on critical national security infrastructure and other corporate and private properties as well as injuries or fatalities to civilians, the police and other security agents.

Adamu said 205 critical national security assets, corporate facilities and private property were attacked, burnt or vandalised. ‘’So far, a total of 10 firearms including eight AK 47 rifles stolen during the attack on police stations and a locally made pistol have been recovered from elements operating under the guise of the #EndSARS protesters. In addition, 1,596 suspects were arrested in connection with the violence and widespread looting by hoodlums, who hijacked the protests across

the country.

The breakdown shows that 520 suspects were arrested in Lagos, 367 in Plateau State, 210 in the FCT and 142 in Kwara State. Similarly, 82 suspects were apprehended in Osun State, 60 in Adamawa State and 36 in Kano and Ogun states respectively.

He said 33 suspects were arrested in Edo State, 20 each in Kaduna and Akwa Ibom states, 15 in Abia and Delta states and 13 in Oyo and Ekiti states respectively. Furthermore, 10 suspects were arrested in Rivers State and four in Ondo State.

“Out of these figures, not less than 1,117 have been charged to court across the country”, Adamu added Meanwhile, Adamu who spoke on the attacks on policemen during an assessment tour of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, same day asked all personnel of the force to protect themselves against attacks, saying his officers and men have the right to defend themselves in case of physical danger.

He also encouraged the operatives, who had abandoned the streets in the past five days following the killing of over 22 policemen during the #EndSARS violence, to return to their beats.

Adamu alleged that the #EndSARS protesters were out to demoralise the personnel, adding that the government and the Nigeria Police Force would soon roll out packages for the families of the deceased officers.

He said: “The unity of this country lies in the support that is given to police officers because if you are demoralised, the tendency is for criminals to take over the public space, and the country is relying on us to make sure that the public space is not taken over by the criminals. So, no amount of provocation, no amount of insult would make us shy away from our responsibilities.

“Inasmuch as we are aware that the government is behind us; so, we would encourage you to keep performing your duties. We would

The breakdown shows that 520 suspects were arrested in Lagos, 367 in Plateau State, 210 in the FCT and 142 in Kwara State. Similarly, 82 suspects were apprehended in Osun State, 60 in Adamawa State and 36 in Kano and Ogun states respectively.

He said 33 suspects were arrested in Edo State, 20 each in Kaduna and Akwa Ibom states, 15 in Abia and Delta states and 13 in Oyo and Ekiti states respectively. Furthermore, 10 suspects were arrested in Rivers State and four in Ondo State.

Out of these figures, not less than 1,117 have been charged to court across the country

encourage you to be professional, to be civic, but if anybody touches you, if anybody comes to assault you, you can also protect yourself.

“When we talk of human rights, the police are human; so, the rights of police officers would also be protected. So, we are sending the message that legally, we have the right to protect ourselves but while we are doing that, we make sure that until we are endangered.”

Assessment Committee Inaugurated The IG also inaugurated a 9-man committee to undertake an assessment of the loss suffered by the Nigeria Police Force across the country during the #EndSARS protests.

He explained the setting up of the assessment committee was informed by the need to properly document the loss suffered by the police for the purpose of strategic planning, re-construction and re-equipment, as well as for future reference.

He said the force encountered huge losses in terms of human and material resources during the #EndSARS protests which commenced on a rather peaceful note but unfortunately degenerated into violence, loss of lives and wanton destruction of property.

The committee, whose chairman is CP Abutu Yaro, was charged by the IG to see the assignment as a call to service and that it must be undertaken with purposefulness, empathy, dedication and sacrifice.

The terms of reference of the Committee include the physical visit to the scenes of incidents and capture the pictorials of all damages done to police infrastructure and personnel; verify the fatalities suffered by the police; establish the weapons holdings that were lost during the incidents, amongst others. He emphasised that the committee should visit families of deceased police officers and the injured on behalf of the force.

Interventions by state governments for the slain officers Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, last Friday pledged, police officers lynched in the wake of the violence instigated by the nationwide youth demonstration against police brutality will not die in vain, The state government, directed Lagos State Scholarship Board to award scholarships to the children of the slain officers up to the university level.

Sanwo-Olu, made the offer to take the bill of replacing the logistics lost by the police when he visited the Command Headquarters in Ikeja to boost the morale of officers, following the demoralising events of the past week in which police officers and their stations were targeted by hoodlums.

The governor got the assurance of the police’s commitment to strengthen security across the state from the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu.

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

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FEATURES

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

Rekindling Morale of a Highly Demotivated Police Force Chiemelie Ezeobi writes on the import of rekindling the morale of personnel of the Nigeria Police who were gravely demotivated as they watched their colleagues killed, police stations and personal effects burnt down while they were powerless to defend themselves

H

Abejide Abiodun of Department of Operations (DOPs), State Headquarters and two others attached to Orile Division.

In attendance at the gathering were the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, other cabinet members, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Leye Oyebade; Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Ahmed Iliyasu; Commissioner of Police (CP) Hakeem Odumosu; DCP Mohammed Ali, DCP Yetunde Longe, DCP Tunji Disu, Area Commanders, Commanders of Mobile Police formations, DPOs, senior officers and other ranks.

Meanwhile, police officers with no offices have been asked to report to the respective Area Commanders which they have done. Also, the state government has been making arrangement for makeshift structures so that the police can return to work, especially in this ember months.

ow do you restore confidence in a badly battered police? How do you lift the morale of a demotivated police force? These were some of the questions posed by well meaning Nigerians over the weekend after anarchy reigned supreme with hoodlums vandalising and looting public and government properties.

Initial Harassment When the #EndSARS protest started nationwide, the police initially responded with force to dispel the protesters. In Lagos, the CP, Hakeem Odumosu, first courted the rage of protesters by storming the State House in Alausa to dismantle the tents pitched by some of the earliest protesters. It took the intervention of the House of Assembly members to douse the situation as the governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu was out of town.

In Abuja, the police shot water cannons, tear gassed and even brutalised protesters, including journalists who were about their legal duties covering the protests. Across the country, there were few cases of extra-judicial killing and harassment by the police as they battled to overpower the overwhelming force of the protesters.

Stand Down As things went from bad to worse in managing the crisis, something had to give. Given the backlash they rightfully got from responding to the protest with more brutality, the police hierarchy soon announced a stand down for its men.

The order was a total ban on use of force against the protesters.

They also acceded to some of the fivepoint demands by the protesters; the disbanding of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), the reformation of the police and release of all those arrested during the protest.

Downside But there was a downside to that order that not many foresaw; hoodlums saw that as an avenue to wreck mayhem across the state. With the down tool order, the police became the first target.

Across the nation, many policemen were killed and several others injured and they watched helplessly without defending themselves, except in some stations in Lagos that divisional police officers returned fire for fire.

Many police stations were vandalised, same with their barracks, further demoralising them. So when the hoodlums turned on the citizens, the police practically looked away. The result was widespread devastation.

It was President Muhammad Buhari that first gave an insight into the total fatality and casualty figures nationwide.

According to the president, 69 people were killed during the protest nationwide.

Giving a breakdown, he said those who died include 51 civilians, 11 police officers and seven soldiers among several unknown. But the police have updated the figures of slain policemen to 22 with 205 stations either vandalised or looted.

Across the nation, widespread violence rocked different states, resulting to break down of law and order. In Calabar, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Abuja, Edo, Anambra, and Ondo among others, all hell was let loose as multiple public and private infrastructure were either looted or vandalised.

In the aftermath of the violence, affected banks took stock of their losses.

At the last count, 67 bank branches were destroyed and many automated teller machines (ATMs) damaged.While the

vocal in explaining that they are still running at a deficit, especially with the numerous security challenges that crop up everyday.

This year, the total amount allocated to the police was N403,709,451,000 and according to the police, while the recurrent expenditure makes up 96.4 per cent of the budget, capital expenditure is 3.6 per cent, a figure they insist is low considering the scale of capital investment required to upgrade the moribund facilities and equipment of the service.

This begs the question, how the police will fund the rebuilding of the burnt stations, barracks and vehicles when they are already running at a deficit.

IG’s Move Perhaps as part of his recent moves to shore up the morale of officers and men, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has begun a tour of commands and formations nationwide.

Starting off in Abuja last Friday, he commended personnel for how they professionally exercised commendable restraints, adding that some paid the supreme price for peace during the recent protests and ensuing violence in some parts of the country.

Meanwhile, as part of the rebuilding process, the IG inaugurated a nine-man committee for the assessment of losses suffered by the police across the country.

This he said was informed by the need to properly document the losses suffered for the purposes of strategic planning, re-construction and re-equipment as well as for future reference.

The terms of reference of the committee include: that the delegation should physically visit the scenes of incident and capture the pictorials of all damages done to police infrastructure and personnel; verify the fatalities suffered by the police; establish the weapons holdings that were lost during the incidents, amongst others.

Confidence Building in Lagos The Lagos State Governor started off the first step in confidence building by visiting the command headquarters in Ikeja. He led members of his cabinet to to restore confidence in the system.

Promising scholarships for the children of slain cops as well as compensation for their families, he also pledged that the state would fund the burial of the murdered cops, as well as foot medical bills of injured police officers in the protest.

He also said government will consider insurance for serving police officers of Lagos Command, adding that all burnt stations would be remodeled and two new generators provided to power the command.

Sanwo-Olu further noted that it was time for improved police-citizens relationship, urging the officers to ensure that their uniform represented dignity, pride, honour and discipline.

The Lagos Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, while counting losses incurred said while six policemen were killed, 38 others were injured, 71 police vehicles, 62 exhibit vehicles and 29 formations were destroyed across the state.

He identified the deceased officers asASP Yard Edward, attached to Denton Police Station; Inspector Olayinka Erinfolami of defunct Anti Kidnapping Unit (AKU); Inspector Adegbenro Aderibigbe attached to Meiran Division, Sergeant

Striking a Balance In striking a balance, the recent protest and its aftermath has again reinforced the need for the police to have crisis managers. This is because while certain situations require officers to take the aggressive approach, in other cases, reasoning with empathy most often than not, defuses a crisis.

Essentially, you can’t fight those fighting against police brutality with same brutality they are waging a war against. This can be attested by some cases where police officers, especially divisional police officers, came out to meet a raging mob and successfully defused the situation.

Also, the need to court a relationship between the host community is key. In most cases of unrest, they would protect you when the chips are down.

However, the crux is striking a balance between the carrot and stick approachrewarding good behaviour but at the same time tackling crime judiciously without fear or favour.

Summarily, the last few days have shown the importance of policemen in the society, because a nation without its police is anarchy in waiting, an anomaly which was witnessed when hoodlums, arsonists and looters reigned supreme.

Also, the onus of boosting the fallen morale of the personnel lies squarely on the doorsteps of the police hierarchy and they can start by implementing the short term goals of the police reforms.

Mohammed Adamu, IG

hoodlums torched some bank branches, they broke into others in a bid to access their vaults.

For the police, they appeared to have borne the brunt of the attacks. Across the country, there were coordinated attacks against police formations. While some were burnt, others were vandalised with police uniforms, weapons and accoutrements looted.

Other losses accrued by the police were burnt case files, computer sets, personal and vehicle exhibits, personal cars and uniforms of policemen.

In the armoury, the hoodlums made away with an unknown number of AK47 guns and pistols, from each of the police stations they visited and overpowered.

The police said they have recovered most of the stolen weapons.

Demotivated Police With the stand down order by the police hierarchy during the protest, most of them were incapacitated to defend their lives and divisions.

The aftermath was a gravely demotivated police who could care less about the looming anarchy given that they watched their police stations and personal effect burnt down and were powerless to fight back.

For the good cops, it was particularly demoralising as it seemed like they were punished alongside the bad eggs in the force. This period would go down memory lane as one of the lowest moments in its 90-year history.

Burden of Rebuilding The destruction across board has exacerbated the underwhelming lack of adequate equipment the police continuously face. For now, the police are faced with the challenge of repairing the damaged police stations, barracks and even buy more patrol vehicles.

However, the feasibility of this remains uncertain given the paucity of funds available to the police in the 2021 budget. Recently, the federal government presented the 2021 Appropriation Bill to the lawmakers and in that allocation, if approved, the police would get N447.6 billion.

But the police hierarchy have been

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COVID-19 Palliatives: CACOVID, Humanitarian Ministry and the States Chiamaka Ozulumba writes that the recent looting of government-owned warehouses containing COVID-19 relief food items in some states may have reinforced the assertion that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development had been harshly judged by her critics

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or a woman who has been severely vilified by all and sundry, the recent looting of COVID-19 food items that are meant to be palliatives for poor Nigerians from various warehouses managed by some states arising from the fallout of the nationwide #EndSARS protest seems to have revealed hitherto unknown facts about the distribution of food items to Nigerians by Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

During the COVID-19 forced national lock down from March to July, the federal government and various organisations led by the Corporate Nigeria under the Coalition Against COVID-19, (CACOVID) intervened with various food items as relief to poor Nigerians whose means of livelihood were negatively impacted by the national lockdown.

During this period, the Minister of Humanitarians Affairs toured almost all the 36 states of the federation to deliver relief items and also flagged off distribution of Conditional Cash Transfer and School Feeding Programmes in Ogun, Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory.

The Central Bank of Nigeria-led private sector relief fund, under the banner of CACOVID raised over N20billion that was used to procure medical supplies, set up isolation centres and other medical consumables such as Personal Protective Equipment, face masks among others. Perhaps, the most controversial aspect of the relief initiatives was how the food items were distributed by both the federal government and CACOVID. Recent nationwide protests which degenerated into anarchy, arson, vandalism and looting of both public and private properties in Lagos, Osun, Edo, Kogi, Rivers, Plateau, Kaduna, Kwara, Cross Rivers, Ekiti and Adamawa where rampaging hoodlums descended and looted government controlled warehouses where the relief food items were stored exposed the underbelly of the entire COVID-19 relief efforts by the federal and state government.

The wave of looting of warehouses started in Lagos at Mazamaza in Oriade Local Development Council Area. The looted Lagos State-controlled warehouse is located at Benster Crescent, Monkey Village. In what looked like copycat from Lagos, the looting moved to Osogbo from where it spread to other states.

While many Nigerians have justified the looting of the relief food items and blamed politicians, most especially the governors, for hoarding relief materials meant for the poor, others said the Minister of Humanitarian has been most harshly lampooned. Some Nigerians on social media also stated that the discovery of the relief food items from the various warehouses vindicated the minister who had always insisted she ensured effective delivery of all relief materials to all the states including the Federal Capital Territory.

Affected states have defended themselves that they distributed the relief materials accordingly while the ones looted were recently supplied

by CACOVID waiting for official programme to launch distribution as demanded by the private sector donors.

Many Nigerians on social media, especially on Twitter and Facebook, in the past week, have profusely apologised to Farouq for insulting her when she publicly stated that the ensured delivery of all items to the states even with open hand-over ceremony involving the senior officials of each of the states.

Speaking during a town hall meeting last week Tuesday, October 27, 2020 in Gusua, Zamfara State, Farouq noted that she did not hold anything against those who have unjustly vilified her because her conscience has always been clear that she did her job well and ensured fair distribution of the relief materials across the country.

The minister explained that the ministry

Cross section of the beneďŹ ciaries of the federal government’s N20,000 cash support for rural women in Zamfara State from the Ministry of Humanitarian Aairs, Social Development and Disaster Management

A beneďŹ ciary of the cash support for rural women shared 70, 000 tonnes of foodstuff to the 36 states during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

She also stated that she supervised distribution of 145 trailers of rice to the states.

She said, “For me I have done my job. We shared foodstuff to the states and we did not do it in the mid-night, everyone has seen it.

About 70,000 tonnes of foodstuff was shared.

The rice we got from Custom was shared to the 36 states. We shared some other grains to 24 states only.�

The minister, however, noted that she will not join issues with any state governor on the reasons why some of the food items delivered by the federal government and CACOVID were not distributed till they were looted from the warehouses. “The question as per the delay in the distribution of the looted items should be left for the governors to answer. I have shared the stuff and have the record with us and the truth has revealed itself,� she added.

All states, the minister added, should have shared the foodstuff from the days they were delivered during the lockdown period, as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Farouq decried the looting of the food items by criminals stating that the delay in distribution can never be a justification for looting since the items would still have been delivered to the poor who really need them.

Asked if she feels vindicated with the

discovery of the food items across the states where they were kept and some of the social media commentaries where some Nigerians apologised to her, the Minister said the truth will always prevail. “I am aware many people have made various spurious allegations and accusations against my person and my ministry over the way we distributed federal government palliatives to cushion the effect of COVID-19. I have always said I am carrying out my duties and responsibilities to the best of my ability and with fairness to all parts of the country.

Now that they have realised their mistakes, I will only pray to God to forgive us all,� she maintained.

While in her home state, she paid homage to the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello, where the monarch appealed to the federal government to take a second look at the security situation in the state. “The federal government should support the state in opening more access roads to expose the hideouts of criminal elements and give security operatives easier access to counter all terrorists.We should also be considered for more federal appointments because currently, we only have one federal permanent secretary. I want to assure you that we will continue to support all federal government programmes geared towards improving the wellbeing of the people,�

the emir said.

At a town hall meeting in Gusau where she met with leaders and other stakeholders in the state, the minister reeled out some of the achievements of her ministry in Zamfara and revealed that a total of 282,529 pupils are currently being fed under the Home Grown School Feeding Programme in Zamfara.

She said the school feeding programme, a signature project of the Buhari-led administration under the Social Investment Programme (SIP) is being carried out in 1,759 schools spread across the 14 local government areas of Zamfara State. She further revealed that 2,000 cooks were employed in the state to cater for the pupils every school day.

At the town hall meeting, the minister explained that the purpose was to identify, articulate and derive solutions to the humanitarian and developmental challenges in the state. “It must be noted that the COVID-19 lockdown, ongoing activities of armed bandits and the flooding experienced across the North West has led to the displacement of over 247,000 persons across Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Niger and Kebbi. This has impacted on the economic and agricultural activities in Zamfara State, thereby, creating social and economic vulnerabilities. “This townhall meeting is significant, as it will allow us to collectively communicate, identify, articulate and derive solutions to the humanitarian and developmental challenges that have arisen in Zamfara State from banditry, extreme weather conditions and the COVID – 19 pandemic,� she said.

Farouq commended the commitment of Zamfara government in addressing the challenges of economic vulnerability, and pledged that her ministry will continue to partner with the state to implement humanitarian, social inclusion and protection measures.

According to her, the Federal Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) programme had provided loans to 48,503 individuals in Zamfara.

She also said that the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme has impacted positively on the lives of over 6.44 million vulnerable poor people across the country, including Zamfara. “Beneficiaries enrolled into the programme increased from 630,964 Poor and Vulnerable Households with direct household beneficiaries of 3,201,402 as at August 2019, to 1,289,405 Poor and Vulnerable Households with 6,443,878 direct households’ beneficiaries as at August 2020.

Number of beneficiaries receiving payment increased from 469,362 households in 22 states to over one million in 34 states.

The CCT is providing support to 129,137 poor and vulnerable households in Zamfara with a monthly base cash transfer of N5, 000, with the sole aim of graduating them out of poverty,� she said.

Governor Bello Matawalle, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Bala Maru, appealed to the federal government to fulfil its earlier promise of providing N10 billion to support victims of flood and banditry in the state.

Matawalle also appealed to the federal government to reconstruct the DansadauBirnin Gwari-Minna federal road, which went through Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger states. The governor explained that the reconstruction of the road will aid the fight against banditry in the state. He called for synergy between the state government and Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, to form a joint team for distribution of support materials to deserving persons.

Also in his remarks, Chairman, Zamfara Council of Chiefs, who is also the Emir of Anka, Alhaji Ahmad Muhammad, appealed to the federal government to provide assistance to displaced person and families affected by banditry.

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

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Group Business Editor Obinna Chima

Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

O C T O B E R

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

743.18% -0.26% 18.59%

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

Quick Takes Chevron, Exxon Shrink Spending

MEDIA BRIEFING

L-R:ProjectManagerGlobalInfoswiftConsultingLimited(GICL),Mr.WunmiAdesinasi;SalesManager,JellienToribio;ChiefExecutiveOfficer,Mr.AfolabiOkeand GeneralManager,Mr.AndrewAdaji,duringapressconferencetolaunchtheCR2bankingsoftware,heldinLagos...recently

WTO Seeks Measures to Bolster Economic Recovery Dike Onwuamaeze The Deputy Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Mr. Yi Xiaozhun, has called on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) members to step up cooperation with the WTO in order to bolster trade and lay the foundation for strong economic recovery from the devastation created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Xiaozhun, made the call while addressing a virtual meeting of ministers of the OECD, which was organised by the Australian government ahead of the OECD annual meeting.

He said: “A robust and inclusive economic recovery requires open and predictable international trade, supported by a well-functioning trading system.�

The meeting, which was convened by Australia, also looked at how to narrow differences and move towards an agreement in the WTO fisheries subsidies negotiations and on how the global trade body could best contribute to global economic recovery in the wake of the damage caused by the pandemic.

ECONOMY Xiaozhun noted during the meeting that, “the outlook for global trade is a bit brighter than it was a few months ago due to your countries’ extraordinary fiscal and monetary measures that, “cushioned the fall in demand, forestalled financial market instability, and contributed to an uptick in trade.� “Our economists now estimate that global merchandise trade will shrink by just over nine per cent this year. This is historically bad, in line with 2009. But it is better than the earlier projections of a decline of 13 to 32 per cent. In the second quarter, global services trade was down 30 per cent year-on-year,� he added.

He, however, warned that the short-term risks to economic recovery are obvious as COVID-19 case numbers were beginning to rise again in many countries, whose longer-term risk might be, “a weak, faltering growth trajectory that leaves output well below the pre-pandemic trend — at great cost to the lives of millions.� “Cooperation on trade would help reduce both sets of risks. In

efforts to tackle the pandemic, trade has been a key means of access to medical supplies, helping to ease some of the shortages we saw earlier this year. To take one example: trade in personal protective equipment (PPE) was 92 per cent higher in the second quarter compared to the same period in 2019.�

He disclosed that the WTO’s continued monitoring of member states’ pandemic-related trade policies has revealed that, “trade-facilitating policies have outnumbered trade-restricting measures by nearly two to one.

Many trade restrictions introduced earlier in the crisis have been rolled back.�

The deputy director general also noted that trade has remained a catalyst for growth and productivity in the wider economy and, “by the same token, closing markets to trade would amount to an additional self-inflicted supply shock.�

He assured that greater cooperation at the WTO could defuse trade tensions and provide greater certainty for international trade. “We have heard from Ambassador Wills about the fisheries subsidies negotiations. There is scope for much more. Groups

of WTO members are negotiating rules on digital commerce, investment facilitation and services domestic regulation. Each would help fill gaps in the global trade architecture,� Xiaozhun noted.

He added that several members have put forward ideas for making supply chains more resilient, which would reduce incentives to restrict trade in future crises.

He emphasised that, “a robust and inclusive economic recovery requires open and predictable international trade, supported by a well-functioning trading system. I urge you to work with other members and the new Director-General to make this a reality.�

The WTO last Thursday officially revealed what transpired at its meeting where it was expected to have concluded the selection process, saying majority of its members indicated “strong preference for Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as DG.�

The Geneva-based organisation, in a statement posted on its website, quoted the WTO General Council Chair, Ambassador David Walker, as saying: “She (OkonjoIweala) clearly carried the largest Continued on page 24

Nigeria’s Future Depends on Its Youth, Says Aig-Imoukhuede Obinna Chima The Founder/Chairman, Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG), Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede has stressed the importance of creating more opportunities for young people to contribute to nation-building, saying the future of Nigeria depends on its youth.

The former Access Bank CEO said this in her opening remarks during the 2020 AIG annual public lecture titled “Transforming the Public Sector in Nigeria: Reflections from My Leadership of the Federal Inland Revenue Service,� that was delivered by the former Executive Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS),

ECONOMY Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, in recognition of her contributions to public service.

Aig-Imoukhuede added: “The hope and future of our nation lies in the contributions of our young people and those who are truly committed to the nation’s development. “The situation is urgent, we will further expand our scholarships and fellowships and intensify our investments to build a critical mass of capable leaders who can move our nation forward.�

He pointed out that without a strong, ethical and effective public sector, Africa’s prospects for

growth and development would remain constrained.

Less than a week after the annual lecture, Nigeria was confronted with the consequences of several years of underinvestment in leadership and capacity building. “The Africa Initiative for Governance grieves with the nation at the loss of life and property following recent days of social unrest. We must use this momentary period of darkness as impetus to usher in a new dawn of enlightenment and progress.

This is the time to envision what we want our nation to be and to move forward by building and empowering Nigeria’s next generation of leaders,� a statement

from the organisation stated.

The AIG provides funding and programs to inspire and support current and future public leaders to deliver sustainable economic growth and social justice for Africa. In partnership with the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, the AIG Fellowship is awarded each year to an individual who has demonstrated evidence of outstanding contributions to the public good.

The 2019/20 AIG Fellowship was awarded to Omoigui-Okauru in recognition of her outstanding contributions to public service, as the Executive Chairman, FIRS, where she spearheaded

United States oil majors - Chevron Corp. and Exxon Mobil Corp. have cut spending aggressively in the third quarter, in a race to oset weak trends in fuel demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Reuters, Exxon posted its third straight quarter of losses on Friday and reduced spending plans for the coming year.

In common with others in the sector, the two are laying o a substantial portion of their workforce and expect to cut costs further as they try to reverse years of weak stock performance, worsened by the impact of movement restrictions.

US oil prices have dropped 41 per cent this year as the coronavirus forced billions of people into lockdowns. Demand recovered in the late northern hemisphere summer, but nations including Germany, India and the United States are again tackling a surge in infections, dampening demand for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

The outlook for energy consumption “depends on when the world this country and other countries - get control of the pandemic and those activities resume. We don’t know when that’s going to be,â€? said Chevron Chief Financial OďŹƒcer, Pierre Breber.

Exxon shares were down one per cent to $32.62 on Friday. Chevron shares gained one per cent to $69.50. Exxon shares have lost half of their value this year; Chevron’s are down 40 per cent.

Chevron, the second-largest U.S. oil producer by production, earned $201 million in the most recent quarter, compared with a proďŹ t of $2.9 billion for the year-earlier period. Exxon posted a loss of $680 million, its third straight quarterly loss.

Sprite Introduces Recycled Bottles

In a fresh move to deepen its market penetration, Sprite, is moving away from its iconic green packaging to a new unique design in transparent PET plastic bottles for easy recycling.

Speaking on the new look, the Marketing Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Abiodun Ajiborode, said, “For us at Coca-Cola, clear is better and we are journeying to a World Without Waste by moving to clear Sprite packs, which means more of our plastic can be collected, recycled and reused to make new bottles�.

The World Without Waste campaign represents Coca-Cola’s commitment to doing business sustainably through the creation of jobs for members of its host communities, promotion of ďŹ nancial empowerment, and elimination of environmental waste.

With grants of over $1,000,000 from The Coca-Cola Foundation to multiple NGOs in Nigeria, several recycling and women empowerment programs are being implemented to address the issue of environmental protection while empowering women who are signiďŹ cant pillars of the society Additionally, through Coca-Cola’s System investment in a foremost recyclingcompany,Alkem,morethanonebillionPETbottleswerecollected and recycled in Nigeria into ďŹ bre and other products from 2005 to 2011.

Morethan1,800peoplewerealsodirectlyemployedonanaverageincome of $6 per day; which is three times the national average.

BCW Named Global Agency of the Year

Burson Cohn & Wolfe (BCW) has been named Global Agency of the Year at the PRovoke Media’s 2020 Global SABRE Awards ceremony, which was held virtually recently. The global communications agency, an aďŹƒliate to CMC Connect BCW in Nigeria, was praised for its innovative new client oerings, attracting exceptional new talent and delivering consistently strong performances across all regions.

Speaking about the award, Global CEO, BCW, Donna Imperato said: “It is thrilling for BCW to be named Global Agency of the Year just two years after the launch of our brand. “Our leaders and teams have worked so hard to exceed all expectations for our successes so far. I’m really honored and proud of everyone for their ďŹ erce dedication, incredible talent and their palpable passion for making BCW the next generation of communications agencies. This award is for them.â€?

Speaking in a similar vein, CEO of BCW Africa, Robyn de Villiers said: “This Global Agency of the Year recognition is an amazing achievement and testament to the eort of BCW sta from around the world.

“The threat of recession, increased national debt, increase in NPLs and potential financial crisis have put pressure on regulators to reassess their supervisory activities to strengthen their capabilities to address these challenges and forestall financial crisis, �

MD/CEO, NDIC,

Continued on page 24

Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim

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BUSINESSWORLD WTO SEEKS MEASURES TO BOLSTER ECONOMIC RECOVERY support by members in the final round and she clearly enjoyed broad support from members from all levels of development and all geographic regions and has done so throughout the process.�

Owing to this, Walker said he submitted the name of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the candidate most likely to attract consensus and recommended her appointment by the General Council as the next director-general of the WTO until August 31, 2024.

Walker stated that at the Heads of Delegation meeting that his decision was the assessment of the “troika� of facilitators, adding that a formal decision had to be taken by the members at a General Council meeting, which he has scheduled for November 9.

NIGERIA’S FUTURE DEPENDS ON ITS YOUTH, SAYS AIG-IMOUKHUEDE

comprehensive tax reforms, culminating in the development of Nigeria’s first national tax policy, the modification of tax legislation and a remarkable improvement in the effectiveness of tax collection.

During her lecture, the former FIRS boss said, “Leading reform or, indeed, any other organisational activity is a team sport. The strength of the institution is in the strength of the team – past, present and future.� The strength of the FIRS team is apparent 10 years after her departure.

The AIG scholarship programme awards five scholarships annually to promising future leaders to undertake a Master’s degree in Public Policy (MPP) at the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government.

This September, undeterred

by COVID-19 challenges, it embarked on the national selection processes to identify the 2021/22 AIG scholars for Nigeria and Ghana.

However, it pointed out that recent events in Nigeria had threatened completion of the scholar selection exercise.

NEWS

‘SMEs Key to Building Sustainable Economy’ Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq at the weekend said small and medium scale enterprises are very important in any effort to building a strong and sustainable economy.

He, however, added that the government will continue to support small businesses, including those affected by the recent looting of public and private properties in Ilorin.

Speaking while receiving the delegation of the management of Palms Mall , owner of Shoprite Supermarket, led by its Chairman, Tayo Amusan at the Government House, Ilorin, the governor said that, “Our plan is to build a strong economy. We aspire to build an economy like Lagos which has an IGR of about N35 billion monthly’ “That’s about what we generate here in a year. So, we want to scale up our IGR and it is the businesses like what you are doing here (Kwara Mall) that will help us to scale up�.

He added, “You are an investor and I know with what happened, you will be disappointed. But I urge you not to lose hope but to forge ahead, stay with us and continue to invest in Kwara. What happened does not represent our character. “You have built a mini-economy in Kwara by anchoring Shoprite and other small and medium enterprises that had sprung up around Kwara Mall. That fits into our programme of building an

enterprising state. Kwarans are enterprising. You will see Kwarans all over the country doing very well.�

Responding, the chairman of Palms Mall, Mr. Amusan commended the governor’s show of concern and swift response following the attacks.

He cautioned Nigerians against attacking public and private properties during any crisis, saying such actions constitute serious threats to economic growth. “I am much more concerned about ordinary entrepreneurs, the small and medium entrepreneurs.

The persons that have hair dressing salon, selling small materials or

those who just opened businesses there,� he said.

He stressed that, “Shoprite is another firm I feel for because this is the second time that it will be attacked (not in Kwara but elsewhere around the nation). “The first time was during the xenophobic attacks. A number of places were attacked and they almost fed up. We have to keep on appealing to them. “I want to also appeal to Nigerians that we should not destroy ourselves. This is not it. I was at the Mall and I saw some of the workers there, doing nothing.

I must say, we will recover. We will try and see that some shops

return before the end of the year.�

Also speaking’ the Portfolio Manager of Palms Mall, Mrs. Ajibola Sobande, described the incident as unfortunate and said at least 39 brands were affected in the Mall alone.

She said that, “It was an unfortunate incident. The incident of that day cannot be underestimated. We want to thank Your Excellency because we called and you answered us.

We did lose properties but we are grateful that no life was lost.

We want to say thank you for being there. “Our hope is to get people back to their businesses because we

have over 39 brands in the Mall.

They are all medium and small enterprises outside the Shoprite.

We are hoping that things will get back to normal’.

Shoprite and other stores in Palms Mall in Ilorin were recently looted by some suspected hoodlums in the state.

During the attack’ all the goods inside the mall were carted away by the hoodlums.

Security operatives have so far arrested over 144 suspected hoodlums in connection with the attack while some of the residents of Ilorin have begun to return the stolen loots in the state.

THISISOURSCORECARD

L-R: Managing Director ,11Plc ( formerly Mobil Oil Plc ), Mr.Tunji Oyebanji; Executive Director, Corporate Services representing Company Chairman, Alhaji Aminu Abdulkadir;CompanySecretary,Mr.ChrisOlumuyiwaMaseko,andDirectorLegalServices,PaulChukwumaObi,atthecompany’s 42ndAnnualGeneralMeeting heldinAbuja...recently

NB, Nestle, Seplat Recommend Interim Dividend Goddy Egene Shareholders of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Nestle Nigeria Plc and Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc are to enjoy a cash boost in the earning season as the companies have recommended payment of interim dividend.

The company announced the interim dividend last week following the release of their financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

For instance, Nigerian Breweries recommended an interim dividend of 25 kobo per share or N1.9 billion after posting a profit after tax of N7.05 billion in 2020. The company said the interim dividend would be paid on December 1, 2020.

According to the unaudited and provisional results shows a decline of 0.7 per cent decline in net revenue from N235.7 billion in 2019 to N234 billion in 2020.

The company attributed the marginal decline to an increase in Excise Duty, a rise in inflation, an increase in VAT from five per cent to 7.5 per cent and most importantly, the impact of the COVID-19 on most businesses across the world.

However, the company said it would continue to focus on efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on its operations, while protecting the health, safety and welfare of employees, customers and partners.

On its part, Seplat recommended an interim dividend of

N19.25 per share despite ending the nine months with a loss. The results of the petroleum firm indicated a revenue of N135.6 billion, down 10.7 per cent from N151.9 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2019.

Loss before tax stood at N45.5 billion as against a profit of N56.7 billion in 2019, while loss after tax printed at N33.7 billion compared with a loss of N56.6 billion. The dividend would be paid on December 7, 2020.

Similarly, Nestle Nigeria Plc recommended an interim dividend of N25.00 per share having recorded a PAT of N31.94 billion, which is 13.3 per cent lower than the N36.84 billion posted in the corresponding period of 2020.

The company ended nine months with a revenue of N212.7 billion as against N211.4 billion in 2019. Profit before tax fell by 12.9 billion per cent to N49.26 billion from N56.55 billion, while PAT declined from N36.84 billion to N31.94 billion.

Looking at the third quarter (Q3) results of Nestle Nigeria, analysts at Cordros Research said the Q3 performance is unimpressive, in our view, especially with the significant decline in food revenue.

They noted that total debt (excluding. leases) increased by 384.2 per cent q/q to N28.34 billion (2.1x total debt at the end of 2019). “The detailed breakdown of the debt composition is not disclosed but we recall that the company

paid off its outstanding FX debt of N5.52 billion due to its parent company in Q1-20. Between Q2 and Q3, the company took up a new long-term intercompany loan of N16.96 billion and N7.00 billion in bank loans,� they said.

However, they said despite the weakness in Q3, they expect the focus to be on the still positive 9M earnings and dividend, hence, they do not foresee a negative reaction. “Though currently tracking ahead, we expect the Q4 outturn to bring earnings in line with our 2020FY estimates. Per our numbers, the stock is trading at a forward (2020E) P/E of 24.9x, a significant premium to its Middle East and Africa peer average of 17.2x,� they said.

Portland Paints Shares Surge on Merger Plans Goddy Egene Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) Eromosele Abiodun (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafor (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy)

The shares of Portland Paints and Products Nigeria (PPPN) Plc surged 32.2 per cent last week as investors moved to buy into the firm ahead of its proposed merger with Chemical and Allied Products (CAP) Plc. The boards of directors of CAP Plc and PPPN in the previous week announced the decision to merge their respective businesses to change the Nigerian paints and coatings landscape, create more value to shareholders of both companies.

Although the merger is still subject to regulatory approvals, some discerning investors are increasing their stake in PPPN so as to be shareholders of CAP Plc, which

will become an enlarged entity.

Seeing PPPN is relative cheaper, investors are acquiring more shares and given the increased demand for the stock, it rose from N2.05 to N2.71. According to companies, the decision to pursue the merger is driven by the strategic objectives of the boards to drive growth and expansion within the Nigerian and African markets.

The merger will involve the transfer of all PPPN’s assets, liabilities and business undertakings including real property and intellectual property rights to CAP. In consideration for the transfer, CAP is offering shareholders of Portland Paints a choice to receive N2.90 cash every Portland Paints share held or one new ordinary share of CAP, credited as fully-paid

up for every eight Portland Paints shares held.

Commenting on the merger, Managing Director of CAP Plc, David Wright, said: “The decision to pursue the proposed merger, is driven by the board’s strategic plan to aggressively grow within the Nigerian and African markets. We believe that the proposed merger presents a unique opportunity that will benefit all stakeholders, from shareholders to customers as well as the broader economy. I am excited by the prospect of an enlarged company with a broader decorative paint portfolio covering the premium, mid-market and affordable segments and the inclusion of marine and protective coatings, all of which will benefit our customers and shareholders.�

On his part, Managing Director of Portland Paints, Bolarin Okunowo, said: “In recent months, the board and management of Portland Paints have evaluated various strategic options with a view to positioning our company to capture emerging growth opportunities. CAP’s business is complementary to ours, and both companies will be better able to serve our respective customers by coming together. I believe the combination of Portland Paints and CAP will yield significant benefits for all of our stakeholders.�

They noted that CAP and PPPN play in distinct segments, and the enlarged CAP will have a broader portfolio covering the top-end/ premium decorative segment, the mid-market decorative segments as

well as the industrial segment (in particular marine and protective coatings).

They believe that it would provide customers access to a broader product portfolio and a wider range of value options to meet their needs. “The combination of CAP and PPPN will create a formidable paints and coatings company that will be strategically positioned across segments as a result of its combined brand portfolio,� they added.

They explained that the merger will be executed by way of a Scheme of Merger in accordance with Section 711 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 and other applicable laws, rules and regulations.

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Olugbemi: Nigeria’s Educational System Requires Systemic Overhaul The President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Mr. Bayo Olugbemi, in this interview stresses the importance of youth empowerment and advises the federal government to overhaul the country’s educational system. Obinna Chima provides the excerpts:

Y

outh unemployment has been a challenge for Nigeria, what do you think the federal government can do to address this, challenge?

The recent developments in the country has brought to the fore the need to give priority attention to the subject of job creation and youth empowerment. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), unemployment figures in Nigeria currently stands at 27.1 per cent. This figure points to the fact while the government is doing a lot considering the various social interventions schemes it has introduced, they are just not enough. Nigeria is blessed with a large youthful population which can be an asset, but if not properly managed, it may turn round to become a liability. Consequently, urgent attention must be paid to tackling this hydra-headed challenge. Here are a couple of options to consider: First, we need to up the ante and enlarge the scope of our diversification of the economy like never before. At present, the oil sector contributes 8.93 per cent to nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while agriculture contributes 23.92 per cent; manufacturing 11.79 per cent; construction 6.83 per cent; real estate 5.3 per cent; finance/ insurance 3.76 per cent; arts, entertainment and recreation 0.18 per cent. To create employment for our teeming youths, relevant authorities must focus on sectors such as agriculture, solid minerals, ICT/Digital economy, creative industry, sports and all other sectors that can productively engage the youths. It is often said that, “an idle hand is the devil’s workshop,� when the youths are properly engaged and productive, the menace of juvenile delinquencies and youth restiveness will fizzle out.

Also, there would be enough for the domestic market and the rest can be exported to enhance the nation’s foreign exchange earnings. Another very important area that must be given priority attention is improvement in the educational system. The educational system in Nigeria requires a systemic overhaul. The kind of education required by our youth, is one that should prepare them for employment and entrepreneurship in the digital age. Only an informed and empowered youth can act responsibly. Our educational curriculum should be reviewed right from primary to tertiary education. It is imperative to mention that we can no longer continue to ignore vocational/technical education as well as the use of “Mother tongue� in our educational system. To creatively engage the youths, we must raise the bar on the quality of our education especially vocational training. This is what some developed countries like Singapore did and they are where they are today. Quality education would enable our graduates compete favourably with their counterparts from other parts of world. We must produce graduates that can contribute to economic development in this digital age and this in turn will enable the country transit from a consumer nation to a producer nation. Also, the government would need to strengthen its mechanism for dealing with the issues of insecurity. Fredrick Douglas, an American social reformer and writer said in 1842 and I quote, “Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.� The current security situation in Nigeria must be taken seriously by the government. No reasonable investor will invest in an environment that is not secure. There must be peace and tranquility in the country to attract investors both local and foreign. Another critical issue that must be given attention is investment in infrastructure. Basic infrastructure such as stable electricity, railway, good road networks and telecommunications are required for businesses to thrive especially small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) which is the engine of the economy. These facilities are necessity for young entrepreneurs who require stable power (electricity), good roads and running water to sustain their start-up businesses.

It is estimated that over N3 trillion is required to close the infrastructure gap in Nigeria. This therefore implies that Nigerian government should collaborate with the private sector in the form of Public Private Partnership (PPP) to provide the needed financing.

Ougbemi As the leader of an institute of bankers in the Nigeria, a critical sector that was affected by the recent civil unrest as we saw how several bank branches and ATMs were destroyed, what advise do you have for the government to ensure such doesn’t reoccur?

The banking community in Nigeria ably led by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Bankers Committee, the body of Banks CEOs and CIBN the umbrella body for banks and bankers in Nigeria have done quite a lot and have continued to play significant role as an entity that is economically and socially responsible. The banks have been the vanguard of financial literacy/Inclusion, propagating and bequeathing individuals with set of skills and knowledge that will empower them to make informed

The banks have been the vanguard of ďŹ nancial literacy/Inclusion, propagating and bequeathing individuals with set of skills and knowledge that will empower them to make informed and effective decisions with their ďŹ nancial resources and also catering to the need of the unbanked/ underbanked

and effective decisions with their financial resources and also catering to the need of the unbanked/ under-banked. Very recently, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Bankers Committee and the body of Banks CEOs coordinated by the CIBN unveiled a N1 billion Bankers Charitable Endowment Fund for impactful social projects in education in Nigeria.

This project is targeted at empowering the poorest in the society and lifting them out of poverty through education. As you are aware, banking is a service as well as a business and just like every other business, it thrives in an environment that is secure and safe. The banks suffered colossal loss due to the recent mayhem and unrest, as bank facilities and installations across the country were vandalized and looted by unscrupulous elements who took advantage of the #EndSars protest. My candid advice to the government at this point in time is that government must embark on series of engagements with critical stakeholders and keep the public informed. Fake news thrives in the absence of authentic news. So, government has a responsibility to keep members of the public adequately informed. When government engages and informs the public, it will clear the air and dispel tension. Citizens’ confidence in government will also be restored.

The president recently presented the 2021 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly, what is your assessment of the proposed budget?

The 2021 appropriation bill as presented by the president seems to have set the right priorities with the bulk of capital spending going to Works and Housing, Power and Transport as well as the increased capital allocation to education and health.

The budget deficit projected at N5.2 trillion or 3.6 per cent of GDP, is higher than the three per cent threshold stated in the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007. This marks the second fiscal year the federal government is exceeding the fiscal deficit threshold due to the unprecedented economic shocks brought by the pandemic. However, this is likely to be the

trend going forward, with implications for debt sustainability risks. In view of this, it is expected that the federal government would finance its budget deficit mainly through domestic borrowing from the debt market and the CBN as well as through multilateral and bilateral sources. The relatively high budget deficit may raise average domestic interest rates, and so crowd-out investments decisions and activities of individuals, firms, and associations.

Hence, associations and other professions should effectively undertake scenario planning to caution against marked divergence from expectations. The projected recurrent expenditure is still high while new borrowings of over N4 trillion to part finance a deficit of over N5 trillion is worrisome given the already huge amount of N3.1 trillion allocated to debt servicing alone. The 2021 budget is overly optimistic considering the weak prospects of strong revenue collection due to the pandemic and the historical trend of poor budget performance. While the revenue assumptions seem quite conservative, the broader weakness in the non-oil economy would affect collection. It is therefore advised that going by the unstable and fluctuating global oil prices, the federal government should review and strengthen existing policies and incentives to support the growth of the non-oil sector to minimise the country’s vulnerability to macro-economic risks such as production fall, fall in demand and price, and also a run out of foreign exchange reserve.

A reduction in fiscal deficit is necessary since the implementation of the Finance Act 2020 with respect to VAT, stamp duties, PPT etc, should translate to increased revenue for the government. So also, is the removal of fuel subsidy which will free up more resources for the government. COVID-19 notwithstanding, the deficit to GDP should have been kept within the three per cent threshold stipulated in the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.

The National Assembly is encouraged to consider Continued on page 26

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OLUGBEMI: NIGERIA’S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM REQUIRES SYSTEMIC OVERHAUL The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), US-Africa Cybersecurity Group, West African Institute for Financial & Economic Management (WAIFEM) etc. Permit me to mention that the Institute is also playing very prominent roles in the global space with its leadership of the Global Banking Education Standards Board (GBEStB) where a Past President of the Institute Dr. Segun Aina, OFR, FCIB serves as Chairman. The Alliance of African Institute of Bankers (AAIOB) is also ably led by the Registrar/Chief Executive of the Institute, Mr. ‘Seye Awojobi, FCIB who is the Chairman of the regional body. The Secretariat of AAIOB is domiciled in Bankers House Abuja. These global bodies set standards for the training of bankers across the globe. May I place on record that as part of our capacity building initiative, the Institute has a Mentoring scheme where young upcoming bankers learn from senior experienced practitioners under a structured mentoring arrangement. This initiative has helped to ensure that the ethos of the profession is passed from the older generation to the younger generation. Also, notable is the introduction of the Professional Ethics and Conduct Certification, an industry mandatory online training and certification programme for staff from Managers down the ladder. It is gratifying to note that over 87,430 staff of banks have subscribed to this programme. These are some of the initiatives embarked upon by the Institute in order to ensure that the workforce in the industry have the requisite skill sets and continues to observe the code of ethics and professionalism.

any amendment within the budget envelope of N13.08 trillion and should not end up jerking up the figure.

The expectation is that the economy will slip in recession in the third quarter 2020 GDP ďŹ gures to be released in the coming days, what do you think the government should be doing in order for the country not to have a prolonged downturn in economic activities, which actually is a depression?

As you may be aware, this is not the first time the economy will be sliding into recession. The economy went into recession in Q2 of 2016 and the extraordinary measures taken by monetary and fiscal authorities who invoked the appropriate monetary and fiscal policy mix supported a rebound of the nation’s economy during the second quarter of 2017. I am very optimistic that we will come out of a recession as we have what it takes to tackle it.

For instance, the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan is an instrument that is readily available. As you may also be aware, very recently, an astute banker and a distinguished Fellow of the Institute, Mr. Atedo Peterside, Founder Stanbic IBTC Bank, was appointed to co-chair the steering committee for the development of a medium-term national development plan, alongside the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, this initiative will also help to address some of the issues facing the economy. Seriously speaking, to get out of a recession, government must pay attention to the productive sector of the economy such as Agriculture and Manufacturing. Focus must also be placed on MSMEs as an engine of growth of the economy. MSMEs help to put money in the hands of households and with increased household spending coupled with government spending, the economy will gradually reflate and bounce back.

Government will also need to block leakages and wastes among other things in order to get the economy back on track.

What is your assessment of the measures/ policies introduced by the CBN since the outbreak of the virus?

The response of the Central Bank of Nigeria to the pandemic has indeed been very encouraging. You will recall that the apex bank introduced monetary policy measures to support affected businesses, households, financial institutions and other stakeholders. Some of the initiatives of CBN include: one-year extension of moratorium on principal repayment on its interventions; reduction in interest rate on all CBN facilities from nine per cent to five per cent until 28th February 2021; regulatory forbearance to deposit money banks to restructure the terms and conditions of facilities extended to households and business affected by the pandemic; strengthening of the loan-to-deposit ratio policy; and the introduction of the N3.5 trillion combined stimulus package. All these were put in place to support the private sector and keep the economy running. The Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID), a Private Sector task force in partnership with the Federal Government, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) is another initiative largely led by the financial services industry with the sole aim of combating Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nigeria. The mandate of the task force is to pull out resources across industries to provide technical and operational support while providing funding and building advocacy through aggressive awareness drives to support efforts of the Federal government in combating the pandemic. The impact of the efforts and support provided by the coalition had been felt across the country and has gone a long way in the fight against COVID-19. You must have noticed that quite a number of our financial institutions are playing frontline roles in the coalition. Another index that speaks to the effectiveness of policies put in place by the CBN is the relative health of the banks. It is important to note that at present, no bank in Nigeria is reported to be in distress.

We are still in the pandemic; we hope and pray that with the anticipated release of vaccines the virus will be defeated and we can return to our “normal life�.

The theme of your forthcoming investiture is, ‘Financial Services in a post COVID 19 Environment: Strategic Imperatives.’ What do you think should be the focus of the industry following the outbreak of the virus?

This is a very good question, first I believe banks will continue to strengthen their cybersecurity architecture against potential attacks by fraudsters especially now that traffic has moved to the digital space. Banks will also continue to reinforce their risk management framework in tandem with govern-

Ougbemi ment policies. I also believe that banks should consider conducting more market research on how customer needs might change in the Post-COVID era. This would inform product development and process improvements. May I inform you that a crop of experts have been assembled to x-ray this subject. As such, other insights on this very important topical issue, will be shared during the Fellowship Investiture Ceremony coming up on Saturday December 5, 2020.

How will you score the level of corporate governance in the banking sector today?

The banking sector is the most regulated industry in Nigeria and the world over because of the crucial role banks play in national economic development.

Several aspects of the Code of Corporate Governance as stated by regulatory bodies are being adhered to by Nigerian banks, which is not to say that there is no room for improvement. According to a research carried out by The CIBN Centre for Financial Studies, the research arm of the Institute, Nigerian banks have not met the CBN 30 per cent quota for female representation on the boards of directors of banks in Nigeria. This is an area for improvement, and I would like to encourage our banks to continue in their efforts to meet this quota.

Dearth of manpower in the banking sector has remained a challenge. What is the CIBN doing to address this?

The institute in line with its mandate to determine the standards of knowledge and skills to be attained by persons seeking to be members of the industry and the approved Competency Framework for the Banking and Finance Industry in Nigeria has done a lot in this space and still doing, in order to ensure that the knowledge and skills of persons working in the banking and finance industry is up to date.

This year alone the institute produced a total of 677

I also believe that banks should consider conducting more market research on how customer needs might change in the Post-COVID era.

This would inform product development and process improvements.

May I inform you that a crop of experts have been assembled to x-ray this subject

Associates and 640 Microfinance Certified bankers in addition to the existing 6242 Associates and 5594 Microfinance Certified bankers. It is imperative to mention that the Institute recently reviewed the syllabus of its Banking Professional Examinations in order to ensure that the contents are contemporary and cover emerging relevant issues within and outside the banking and finance industry that have implications for human capacity development. The new syllabus that was developed in conjunction with PwC, brought in a lot of innovation, combining global standard with local content. It also addresses the current market and employers needs and reflects the anticipated future skills requirement.

Subjects featured in the new syllabus include: Public Finance (for the public sector), Digital Banking and Fintech, Agency Banking, Enterprise Risk Management, Finance in the Global Market, Agricultural and Rural Banking, Applied Banking, Bank Management and Strategy, Ethics, Corporate Governance & Professionalism to mention a few.

The new syllabus also has an Experiential Learning Module which simulates the responsibilities of a Chartered Banker and focuses on the core activities which employers expect competent individuals in those roles to routinely perform In addition, in order to deepen knowledge and expertise in specialized areas of banking operations, the Institute also launched fifteen (15) new Certification programmes in critical areas of Banking and Finance. It is instructive to note that apart from Nigeria, the Banking Professional Examinations of the Institute are conducted in other African Countries such as Ghana, Liberia, The Gambia, Sierra-Leone, Rwanda and Zambia. The Institute is providing this intervention in order to help build the capacity of practitioners and also provide safety nets across the continent in line with its Vision to be a global reference point for skills and conduct.

As part of efforts to ensure that industry players are well rounded, the Institute went into strategic collaborations locally and internationally, to enhance the quality of its offerings. Some of the collaborations/ partners are as follows: Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA), UK, Bangor University, Wales UK, Chartered Banker Institute, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), Credit Bureau Association of Nigeria (CBAN), Crown Agents Limited, UK, E-Payment Providers Association of Nigeria (E-PAN), Financial Markets Dealers Association (FMDA), Fintech Association of Nigeria, Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP), International Finance Corporation (IFC), Lagos Business School (LBS)/Pan Atlantic University (PAU), McKinsey & Company, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS), Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Retail Banking Academy (RBA), London, Risk Management Association of Nigeria (RIMAN), Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI),The London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF),

Generally, what have you set out to achieve during your tenure as the President of the CIBN? My vision for the Institute is encapsulated in my strategic focus as the 21st President/Chairman of Council of the CIBN. The strategy, which is detailed in my acceptance speech, is essentially to further push the CIBN to be a global reference point. The strategic focus of my administration has been crafted into the acronym, “A-TEAM� which means: A for Accelerated Development; T for Technology and Digital Enhancement; E for Engagement for Growth; A for Accountability and Transparent Leadership; and M for Membership Drive for Value. To achieve this feat, we would pursue creative and innovative ideas, that would transform and propel the Institute into global limelight in line with its vision of becoming a global reference point for skills and conduct. This vision will be executed in congruence with the Institute’s Corporate Strategic Plan (2020 – 2024) How is the CIBN going to support the federal government in navigating out of the numerous challenges the economy is facing?

The CIBN is committed to supporting the federal government by playing its statutory advocacy role as the conscience of the industry. The Institute has at various times supported government initiatives using the platform of advocacy. It is important to mention at this point that the Institute has a wide spectrum of stakeholders in two broad categories i.e. corporates and individual members. The corporate members of the institute include the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), all deposit money banks (commercial and merchant), development banks, microfinance banks, mortgage banks, mobile money banks and payment service banks. All our corporate members play various roles in supporting the government under the aegis of CIBN. Similarly, the institute is endowed with members who are thought leaders and experts in various fields of endeavour who play critical roles in advising the government on topical and sensitive issues. The institute also supports the government through public sensitisation and enlightenment programmes. Some initiatives of government such as financial literacy and inclusion, sustainable banking, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing, etc, have been supported by the Institute through various knowledge events, seminars, workshops and Consumer awareness programmes. The Institute also makes input into bills at the National Assembly ensuring that the interest of the industry is protected in the larger interest of the economy and public good. In the same vein, the institute collaborates with National Judicial Council to organise Annual National Seminar on Banking & Allied Matters for Judges. This programme has helped the judges understand emerging trends in banking thereby aiding dispensation of justice. From all that has been said, it is evident that the Institute has a tradition of supporting the government at all levels and we will continue to do so in line with our statutory mandate.

T H I S D AY ˞ Ͱ˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

27

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Phillips Consulting Highlights Benefits of Adopting Digital Solutions Oluchi Chibuzor Phillips Consulting Limited (pcl) has urged organisations seeking to move into the new digital-first reality environment to first require an assessment to provide one simple, yet crucial perspective – provide bearings in a digital age.

Speaking on the topic, ‘Gauging Digital Readiness through Digital Assessment,’ Associate Partner, Digital and Technology Consulting of pcl, Jason Ikegwu, was quoted in a statement to have explained that, “It is, therefore, essential to assess the optimisation potential in determining its digital readiness and maturity.�

According to him, the two most important aspects of a digital readiness assessment are the evaluation of behavioural and cognitive competencies. An employee needs to have the ability

and the will to learn and excel in the age of digital transformation. “Not only do employees need to be resilient to transforming technologies, but they also need to possess mental agility, openness to learning and manage change, a collaborative and inclusive outlook, and an innovation-focused approach to truly imbibe the digital way,� he stated.

Digitally mature organisations look beyond just investing in quality digital tools. They relentlessly focus on deriving new business value from digitization, through continual optimisation of operations.

To achieve this, Ikegwu said, “They do not just implement edge solutions. Instead, they use Digital Assessments to integrate digitization into core operations and, in the process, reshape the entire organisation. It helps them to maximise productivity, perfor-

mance, and ultimately generate industry-leading results.�

Consequently, he further stated that after completing a digital assessment and successfully implementing a digital transformation strategy to become digitally mature, “organisations can now say goodbye to busy work and welcome real productivity.

Employees thrive in a digitally enhanced work environment, quality training, practical on boarding processes, and userfriendly tools to bring the best out of teams.�

Speaking on the need for organisations to be competitive, in-

novative in the new digital market place, Ikegwu said, “To remain competitive, agile, innovative and responsive, organisations need to be part of the digital revolution. It is reshaping the world right before our eyes in no small measure�.

The Associate Partner, Digital and Technology Consulting of pcl., who said digital technology is changing how we work, further stated that almost overnight, entire populations are told to stay at home, and a fully digitized environment became a necessity for businesses to continue operation.

“To some extent, this was inevitable with the current rate of innovation, but it is no doubt that COVID-19 has accelerated this process. As society starts to emerge from the pandemic, this new digital reality is here to stay. Digital capabilities will be necessary to perform 90% of jobs in the near future, regardless of the sector.� He said.

According to him, the digital transformation strategy of every organisation needs to be well prepared to accommodate varied aspects of digitalisation.

It requires a defined objective, an all-encompassing business plan,

as well as a workforce ready to take on the challenges that come in the way of achieving the digital goal.

The quest for digital transformation begins with a Digital Assessment to identify the state of digitization and recognise the next steps in becoming a truly formidable force in the future market.

At Phillips Consulting, he said, “We support organisations in conducting digital assessments (readiness, culture, platforms) and developing a digital strategy for proper alignment between digital journey and business goals.�

Caverton Records 8% Revenue Drop in Q3 Chinedu Eze Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc (COSG), the provider of marine, aviation and logistics services to local and international oil and gas companies in Nigeria, has announced its unaudited first half year results for 2020.

The results show a profit before tax of N1.5 billion and an after-tax profit of N1.2billion.

Its revenue went down by eight percent, to N23.6 billion, as against the N25.8 billion recorded in September 2019.

In the same vein, the company’s direct operating expenses also dropped by 10 per cent supporting the earnings per share, which also dropped by 55 per cent, when compared to 2019 third quarter results Commenting on recent events, COSG’s chief executive officer, Bode Makanjuola said, “2020 is definitely a year we would all like to put behind us. While the Covid-19 pandemic and oil price crash continues to have adverse effects on the Nigerian economy, recent protest have further exposed deep socio economic problems in the country. “Despite these setbacks we are cautiously optimistic about the future for Caverton as well as Nigeria as a nation. As a people we remain resilient in weathering these uncertain times

and look forward to finishing the year on a more positive note. “As we move into the fourth Quarter of the year we look forward to the completion of our Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Hangar (MRO) as well as the Caverton Aviation Training Centre (CATC), which would be the first fully equipped simulator training centre in sub Saharan Africa.

When completed the MRO and CATC would help in reducing capital flight and providing employment for Nigerian pilots and engineers.�

Its EBITDA for the period was N8.1 billion, lower than the N9.5 billion recorded as of September 2019, while earning per share was 35 kobo, as against the 77 kobo recorded as of September 2019.

The Group’s focus and primary business is to provide logistics and environmental support services to oil and gas fields with broader plans to support energy operations along the West African shelf as well as other ancillary support services.

Caverton has a young and growing fleet of vessels and aircraft operating out of nine locations. The company has an impressive oil and gas client base which include Shell, Total, ExxonMobil, NNPC, Aiteo, Aje-Folawiyo, and Chevron, among others.

OAU Graduates 200 Students through e-Learning Platform Emma Okonji The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife has announced that it recently graduated 200 nursing students, through an online programme, in partnership with EduTech, which provided the online technology facilities and platform.

Speaking about the prospects and challenges of online learning during a recent webinar organised

by EduTech, a technology learning platform, its General Manger, Mr. Femi Shonubi, said EduTech was able to reduce the cost of bandwidth to support students’ online connectivity and that the online programme was able to eliminate challenges of hostel accommodation for campus students and the challenges of transportation for off-campus

students, since they could have virtual online studies with their lecturers from the comfort of their homes. “We are delighted to help facilitate another batch of graduates in partnership with the OAU CDL. Coming at a time that there’s renewed focus on alternate means of studying following the COVID-19 pandemic, we are pleased to prove that e-learning platforms are not only viable in Africa but hardworking students can leverage our technology platforms to bag first class degrees as demonstrated by the duo of Olumuyiwa Elizabeth Amoo and Dolapo Rukayat Adebisi who finished top of the class among the 200 graduating students in a four-years of rigorous study, that attracted practicals and written examinations,� Shonubi said.

EduTech recorded double milestones in December 2019 when the first set of students in the B.Sc Accounting programme in OAU graduated through the EduTech online platform, with three members of the class finishing with first-class degrees.

In order to help more students participate in the online degree programme, EduTech also announced the launch of its student financing solution, called EduCollect. The solution, which is an education financing gateway, aggregates funders to provide loans to students of various academic institutions.

Created for both students and guardians, the solution facilitates secure loans with no collateral, to allow students continue with their studies without the added pressure of bulk and upfront

payments. “As a pioneer in the education financing space in Nigeria, EduCollect will provide unparalleled access to short-term loans with a convenient repayment regime at some of the lowest interest rates in the market without any collateral. By following three simple steps, interested students can secure their education through EduCollect,� Shonubi said.

Aside OAU, EduTech is also partnering other universities in the country like Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo in Ogun State, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Lagos, to promote online learning, with plans to partner more universities and institutions in the country.

Firm Introduces Banking, ATM Solution Dike Onwuamaeze The Managing Director / CEO of Global InfoSwift Consulting Limited (GICL), Mr. Afolabi Kehinde Oke, has launched a product that enables banks to render 24 hours undisruptive ATM services.

This, feat, the firm explained was achieved by moving from reactive to proactive ATM maintenance that identify and resolve problems before they materialise.

Oke said that the product

would save banks significant amount of money and protect them from damage done to their reputations by disruptive ATM services.

He said the GICL, which is a registered IT company that provide solutions/services to Nigerian financial institutions and the promoter of the Omni channel digital banking platform and CR2 banking software in Nigeria, has the capacity to offer this service across a wide range of ATMs models like the NCR, Wincor, Hyosung and Diebold and

back up the product with a robust ATM uptime/vendor performance management solution.

The managing director said the product would fill the gaps identified in available ATMs maintenance services in the country to enable banks increase the uptime of their ATMs in line with the digital direction of the financial markets in Nigeria.

Oke said: “Given the level of expertise in our team, we make bold to say that we have well trained engineers that have the capacity to rework parts while

awaiting the arrivals of a replacement part. “The model of ATM support that we run will achieve 100 per cent. The Global InfoSwift is a multivendor ATM service support organisation with strong links to OEM like, NCR, DIEBOLD, WINCOR, HYOSUNG and CR2, to provide the world most robust channel manager solution.

We partner with other foreign companies when necessary.�

He said a recent report done by the Celent showed that the CR2 achieved one of the top

performers’ score among the 19 vendors that submitted their platforms for review.

The CR2, according to him, scored the highest in application security, approach to system changes, internationalisation and localisation as well as customers’ feedback.

Oke said: “The CR2 scored highest in customer references in both implementation and post implementation- no other vendor scored better. “CR2’s platform functional scope is broader than most,

with demonstrable capabilities in customer onboarding and sales optimisation as well as support across retail business and corporate lines of business,� adding that it also, “offers a card management system, which provides acquiring services for complete settlement and reconciliation with international and/or domestic card schemes. It includes modules such as CardWorld Producer that allow a bank to produce both proprietary and globally branded cards.�

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Insurers Restate Commitment to Claims’Settlement Ebere Nwoji Three out of the 57 registered insurance underwriting companies have disclosed that they are underwriters to some of the businesses and assets destroyed by hoodlums during the recent civil unrest across the country.

The companies are Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, AIICO Insurance Plc and Coronation Insurance Plc, formerly Wapic Insurance.

For instance, AIICO Insurance stated its readiness to meet its obligations to customers who had

policy prior to the unfortunate incident AIICO Insurance Managing Director, Mr. Babatunde Fajemirokun, stated that the riots have had tremendous effect on individuals and businesses, both small and large.

According to him, the losses incurred in terms of human lives and assets are enormous.

Assuring the customers of the company’s readiness for timely settlement, Fajemirokun said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected in one way or another. I assure you that as a company, we are doing

all that is necessary to see our customers through this phase. “We are asking our customers with covered cases to contact us for immediate assistance with claims.�

Speaking further he said, “the year 2020 and all we have experienced as a nation are tailwinds, propelling us forward and helping us to evolve. Indeed, the injection of new imagination, energy and innovative thinking into our national discourse will take us there.�

He said AIICO’s claims’ profile over the years provides insights

into its unwavering commitment to claims settlement and benefits payment. “In 2019, over N30 billion was paid out to our customers. This followed N29.1 billion paid in 2018 and N23.3 billion in 2017,� the AIICO Insurance boss stated.

Also Coronation Insurance disclosed that some of its clients had their businesses destroyed during the civil strife.

The company also reassured them of speedy compensation through a recent statement that quoted its Managing Director, Yinka Adeyinka.

Adeyinka said her management team believes that insurance companies must ensure their clients do not have to wait for assistance after a disaster occurs by proactively collating information of damage and losses as well as responding to claims with speed and precision. “We are well aware that our customers are dealing with numerous difficulties at this time and the last thing they want is a painful and challenging claims process. “Following the recent monumental loss of human life and damage to property and assets

across the nation, we have shifted to our highest gear to get our customers the most appropriate help as quickly as possible at this time of need,� the company said.

In the same vein, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance (CHI) Plc, said it was set to settle insurance claims for the civil unrest victims The company, which stated this in a mail sent to all its policyholders and stakeholders across the country, noted that, such claims, like all others, would be expeditiously handled to ensure that customers are back in business as quickly as possible.

Pharmaceutical Society Honours SON DG, Five Others Chris Uba The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has honoured the Director General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mallam Farouk Salim, along with five other pharmacists for attaining great heights in the public service.

The awards were conferred on the recipients at a forum organised by the PSN in Abuja.

Chairman of the occasion and Publisher of Leadership Newspapers, Pharmacist Sam Nda-Isaiah congratulated all the awardees on attaining key positions in the public sector and described them as great pride to the pharmacy profession.

He enjoined the award recipients to strive to make meaningful impact in their various positions to pave way for the appointment of more pharmacists into key positions of responsibilities in the public and private sectors in the near future.

Commenting on the recent protest against police brutality in the country, the publisher expressed support for the idea, but condemned the wanton destruction and arson that followed it.

He stressed that even President Muhammadu Buhari supported the protest by acceding to the immediate disbandment of the outfit.

Nda-Isaiah stressed the importance of dialogue in achieving noble objectives.

In his keynote address, President of PSN, Sam Ohuabunwa commended the SON Director

General on his appointment and expressed confidence that the organisation was set for positive changes to improve on its achievements in years past.

The PSN President expressed the pride of the society, “in having pharmacists occupy key public service positions such as Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning by Mrs. OlusolaIdowu; Salim; Dr. Kelly Nwagha as Acting Director General, National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF); Dr.Zango Mohammed as Managing Director, NNPC Medical Services; Mrs. Christiana Akpa, General Manager, Medical Services, Nigerian Ports Authority and Professor Isa HussaniMarte, Chief of Staff to the Governor of Borno State.�

Ohuabunwa noted the efforts of all the appointees in expanding their knowledge base as well as building their capacities beyond pharmacy as a profession but rather as effective managers of men and resources.

He commended the various organisations in the health care sector in particular for opening the turf for leadership to all professionals in the sector and challenged practicing pharmacists to provide avenues for the professional development of those upcoming.

The PSN President challenged the awardees and all members of the group to join hands towards the speedy completion of the Secretariat building project in Abuja and invest in a similar project in Lagos for good returns.

Nigeria’s e-Government Summit to Attract Foreign Participation Emma Okonji Nigeria and six foreign countries will be participating and showcasing their e-Government experiences at this year’s Nigeria e-Government Summit that is geared towards accelerating online presence of the Nigerian government at all levels.

The foreign countries include France, South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Malaysia, and Ethiopia.

Given the global shift from physical transactions to online transactions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, organisers of the annual Nigeria e-Government Summit have said they would focus more on policies, strategies, solutions and technologies that would be required to achieve accelerated eGovernment deploy-

ment at the federal, state and local governments’ levels, and to make government’s online presence felt by all Nigerians.

The annual Nigeria e-Government Summit, scheduled to hold November 17, in Lagos, has the theme: “COVID-19: Impetus for Accelerated Adoption of eGovernment.�

The Executive Chairman, DigiServe Network Services, and convener of the summit, Mr. Lanre Ajayi, said: “We are assembling world-class technology experts and solution providers to share their experiences and showcase latest innovations applicable to e-Government service deployment. We are also inviting top government officials not only to learn from foreign experts but also to share their own experience

‘B737 Max May Resume Flight Operations Soon’ Chinedu Eze with agency report There are indications that after almost two years Boeing 737 MAX grounded for two tragic accidents would soon take to the sky again, as the aircraft is getting closer to being certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Reuters also reported that Boeing may not launch a new plane in the near future until it settles with the recertification of B737 MAX expected to regain its position in the market.

The MAX is expected to win safety approval within weeks following a 19-month grounding in the wake of two crashes, Safran Chief Executive, Philippe Petitcolin said. “We are doing everything with

Boeing to put the MAX back in service in the best possible conditions,� he told reporters.

Boeing, suppliers and leasing companies - all of whom invested heavily in the MAX - have pushed back against the idea of replacing it despite mounting cancellations.

But Boeing is expected to try to capture eye-catching orders to recover some of the share lost to Airbus, especially the increasingly dominant A321neo.

Reuters reported that if airlines stop buying the MAX or fail to reabsorb it into their fleets, there has been speculation Boeing could obliquely begin the process of replacing it by first developing a replacement for the out-ofproduction 757.

This is a slightly larger singleaisle jet occupying a spot in the market overlapping with the MAX

and A321neo family.

It is therefore seen as a possible starting point for a design that could eventually pivot to a full MAX replacement.

Petitcolin said the 737 MAX was likely to stay in service until 2035, implying development of a successor would not start until 2027 with pre-marketing starting in 2025.

If the MAX failed to reassert itself in the market, Boeing could theoretically be tempted to bring that forward to 2022-23. “The success or otherwise of the return to service of the MAX could - I am speaking hypothetically - influence Boeing’s decision whether to launch a plane earlier,� he said.

A new model is, “in the realm of possibilities even if today it is not the solution or option that

we consider the most probable,�

Petitcolin told reporters.

Boeing, which has repeatedly said it is focusing solely on the MAX, was not immediately available for comment.

Reuters first reported in April that Boeing had been studying a possible 757 replacement to thwart the A321neo, though plans for this and a potential revamped 767 cargo jet had been placed on a back-burner during the crisis.

Fresh reports pushed up Boeing shares, as senior industry sources said Boeing would not launch a new jet soon, though some analysts have urged it to do so.

Boeing is meanwhile studying refinements of larger MAX variants including the MAX 9, they said. The Air Current reported this week that Boeing was looking at updating the MAX 10.

CHI Limited Launches Hollandia Slim Evap Milk Raheem Akingbolu As part of moves to sustain its innovative drive, CHI Limited has rolled out another product, Hollandia Slim Evaporated Milk – a partially skimmed evaporated milk product.

With its offer of 50 per cent less fat, higher protein, and other elements, the new offering was said to be the first of its kind in the low-fat segment of the evaporated milk category in Nigeria.

According to a statement issued by the promoters of the brand, the new product comes in aseptic

and hygienic Tetra Pak packaging and is expected to be a regular feature on breakfast tables in homes and offices around the country.

It can also be used during tea and coffee breaks with snacks, and/or with other beverages.

CHI Limited Marketing Director, Mrs. Toyin Nnodi, described the new product saying, “Exercising regularly, eating healthy, and adopting a healthy lifestyle are the in-thing today. We are, therefore, introducing Hollandia Slim Evaporated Milk to cater to a large number of consumers who

are very conscious of their health and desire to have the optimum weight and body shape they can reasonably achieve.�

Nnodi added, “We believe that Hollandia Slim Evap Milk will be warmly received by all consumers, but even more so by those persons who desire to stay healthy, trendy, and confident, whilst indulging in the goodness, richness and nourishment of milk without any guilt. In addition, we have made this product available at the right value price points to make it affordable and accessible

to all consumers.�

Hollandia Slim Evap Milk is available in 60g, 120g, and 190g pack sizes which retail for N50, N100 and N150 respectively. The products can be purchased in supermarkets, departmental stores, markets, neighborhood stores, and kiosks across Nigeria.

CHI Limited is one of the most admired companies in the Food & Beverages industry in Nigeria. It offers products that are themselves benchmarks in their respective categories of Juice, Dairy and Snacks which includes CHIVITA Active, CHI Exotic,

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Harnessing Digital Resources for Growth The need for government and stakeholders in the information and communications technology sector to develop new strategies, using digital resources in promoting digital economy has become imperative, writes Emma Okonji

I

Abubarka Alibaba, who represented the state governor, said the state was already working towards achieving ICT skills compliance for all civil servants in the state.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, who was also represented by the State Commissioner of Science and Technology, Hakeem Fahm, said Lagos State invested so much in ICT to drive education and Internal Revenue Generation (IGR) for the stage, and is in the process of making Lagos a smart city, driven by technology that will further promote digital economy and national economy growth.

The Secretary to the State Government of Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, who represented the state governor, narrated how the states’ investment in ICT has helped developed the health and education sectors of the state, to the level that medical doctors now leverage technology to attend to patients from remote parts of the state. The ICT Director, Kaduna State, Mr. Gerald Illukwe, who represented the state governor, said investments in ICT helped the state to promote state government online activities, thus making government processes easily accessible to the people of the state.

n line with global digital transformation strategies, nations are beginning to prioritise their needs to promote nation-wide digital economy. In Nigeria, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) experts are working with government to harness resources to grow the Nigerian economy and to achieve her digital transformation drive.

To further give boost to the Nigerian agenda for digital transformation, the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), penultimate week in Abuja, organised a national dialogue on telecoms and ICT sector in Nigeria, with the theme: ‘Harnessing the Digital Resources for the Building of Our National Economy,’ where ICT experts and government representatives reassured Nigerians of their commitments to drive technology development across the country, through the use of digital resources.

The dialogue President of ATCON, Mr. Olusola Teniola, while giving details of the national dialogue, said the digital technology growth across all the sectors of Nigeria’s economy, became exponential as a result of government’s resolve under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to drive the entire economy through digital resources and the frantic efforts being pursued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and members of ATCON. “The National Dialogue on Telecoms and ICT sector is targeted at changing the narrative of our country’s development through the optimal utilisation of digital resources and to achieve this, state governors, ministries, agencies and sectors like Agriculture, Education, Oil and Gas, Health, Industry, Trade and Investment, Security and Defence, Transportation, Works and Housing, were invited to be part of the national dialogue along with telecom and ICT companies in order to see the strategic essence of taking advantage of digital resources to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their respective sectors for the betterment and over all benefits of the country,� he said.

The supply side which comprises telecom and ICT companies and the demand side which is made up of all the ministries, states, local governments, Nigerians and non- Nigerians, are expected to have higher level of productivity on the condition that they adopt and leverage on the opportunities presented by the digital economy to improve their output.

Speaking on the expected outcome of the national dialogue, Teniola listed some of the benefits that were likely to be accruable to both federal and states’ government to include: Unlocking of the inherent digital potential of our country, which according to him, would enable states that have bought into the Nigeria National Broadband Plan 2020 – 2025, to enjoy and maximise the opportunity that pervasive broadband penetration and other ICT infrastructure can offer as the people of these states can leverage on uninterrupted telecommunications and ICT services, which they have not been enjoying before now. Other benefits include the opportunities that telecoms and ICT infrastructure would give Nigerian youths to express their gifts and talents thereby exporting them to earn foreign exchanges in turn. “ATCON carefully selected thought leaders in the sector who are expected to come up with brilliant ideas as to what the public and private sector can do to maximise the benefits inherent in the digital economy such that the recent fall in Nigeria’s GDP can be reversed,� Teniola said.

Broadband infrastructure The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, in his keynote presentation, spoke about the importance broadband infrastructure development across the public and private sectors as key requirement for the successful implementation of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan, which he said, would further drive digital transformation and national economic development across the country.

Pantami, who was represented by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta,

commended the choice of theme and sub themes that were lined up for the national dialogue, adding that they would further spur digital development in the country. “Our digital economy journey commenced on the 24th of October, 2019, following the approval of our request by President Muhammadu Buhari, to redesignate the Ministry from the Federal Ministry of Communications to the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. The redesignation was endorsed by the Federal Executive Council on the 23rd of October, 2019 and the implementation of the digital economy mandate started a day after. We have developed a National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDBPS) for a Digital Nigeria. The development of our National Digital Economy is anchored on 8 pillars such as: Developmental Regulation; Digital Literacy and Skills; Solid Infrastructure; Service Infrastructure; Digital Services Development and Promotion; Soft Infrastructure; Digital Society and Emerging Technologies; and Indigenous Content Development and Adoption. These pillars address the different aspects that we need to develop in order to have a vibrant digital economy, � Pantami said.

He stressed that the digital economy would not be independent of the traditional economy.

Rather, they are interdependent and a focus on growing the national digital economy, will also improve the nation’s traditional economy.

It will enable us get a slice of the global gigital economy, which Oxford Economies values at $11.5 trillion, which is approximately 16 per cent of the global economy. This value is expected to grow significantly over the coming years,� Pantami said.

Citing report from the World Economic Forum, which predicted that over 60 per cent of global GDP would be digitised by 2022 and that over the next decade, digital platforms would be used to create close to 70 per cent of new value, as well as the report from Ericsson titled: “How Important Are Mobile Broadband Networks for Global Economic Development�, which also predicted that 10 per cent increase in mobile broadband penetration results in approximately 0.6 per cent to 2.8 per cent rise in gross domestic product (GDP), Pantami said most nations were prioritising the need to develop their digital economies because they realise the multiplier effects that this can have on all other sectors of the economy. “For instance, the digital economy in the United States contributed 6.9 per cent to the nation’s GDP in 2017. It also contributed 5.1 million jobs in that year.

The 2019 Digital Trade and US Trade Policy also noted that almost two-thirds of all the jobs created in the United States since 2010 required medium or advanced levels of digital skills. In Nigeria, we are keen to develop a digital economy that will have a great impact on every sector of Nigeria’s economy,� Pantami said.

Challenges/opportunities Identifying some of the challenges and opportunities of the digital economy, Pantami said they would always serve as triggers for a robust discussion at every conferences like the ATCON organised national dialogue conference. He listed the challenges to include: Rapid evolution of technology and widening inequalities between the digital “haves� and “haves-not�; Need for new regulations; Cybercrime and other threats; Low level of digital literacy; and Need for infrastructure.

The minister also listed some of the opportunities to include: economic growth and productivity; increased transparency; growth of digital innovation and entrepreneurship; digitization of work; and useful insights from big data.

Analysing some of the challenges, Pantami said Cybercrime could threaten citizen’s adoption of the digital economy and this is why we are taking advantage of the Global Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which is October to educate Nigerians on how to stay safe online. “Regarding the need for new regulations, it is often said that cybercrime moves at the speed of light while cybersecurity moves at the speed of law. Through the developmental regulation pillar we aim to proactively create regulations that will help us be a step ahead of cybercriminals. On the opportunities, according to the QZ ‘2020 GDP Report by the National Bureau of Statistics, ICT contributed an unprecedented 17.83 per cent to the GDP. The digital economy encompasses ICT and all digital services, which includes all online activities in financial institutions, eCommerce, online tax payment, any form of online payment, online banking. When we consider these, the contribution of the digital economy could be up to 45 per cent or even more,� Pantami said.

He therefore stressed that technology and partnerships would no doubt play an important role in the development of the digital economy, including how we access opportunities and overcome challenges.

State governments’ resolve Recognising the fact that the telecom and ICT sector stand to gain a lot from the development of the country’s digital economy and the public and private sectors need to partner to maximise the impact, state government representatives that were present at the conference, resolved to harness the digital resources in their respective states to promote national economy.

Some of the state governors who were present at the national dialogue conference, explained how they were leveraging technology to boost the economy of their states, in line with the federal government’s drive for digital transformation through digital skills development.

The Director of ICT, Nassarawa State, Shehu Abdulahi, who represented the state governor, said the state was already using technology tools to empower public servants in the state.

The Director of ICT, Katsina State, Dr. Babangida

Promoting ICT innovation Danbatta, who also presented a keynote paper at the national dialogue conference, said in recognition of the fundamental role of research in innovation, in 2016, the Commission created a Research and Development Department. “The department has continued to collaborate with the academia to support the development of innovative services and life-changing solutions with the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) to promote Indigenous Content Development.The Commission has, so far, awarded the sum of N336.4 million as research grants to the academia and has endowed professorial chairs in two Nigerian universities,� Danbatta said.

He added that NCC empowered Nigerian youths by promoting their ingenuity and innovation in the development of locally-relevant technology solutions. “The latest of such was the 2020 NCC Virtual Hackathon, at which we awarded N9 million in grant to three top promising tech startups for solutions aimed at addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and epidemic diseases in the thematic areas of health, community, productivity, economy and transportation. The commission recognises that the key to the survival and growth of the telecommunications industry in Nigeria is sustained investments.

In the last five years, the Commission has deliberately and consistently engaged investors in different fora to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs). We showed investors the Commission’s roadmap for broadband, which includes the Open Access Model Initiative, the Infraco Project, our 5G readiness and the Access Gaps for market opportunities that new entrants could leverage on in Nigeria’s telecoms space,� Danbatta further said, adding, “Our regulatory interventions in the area of issuance of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) Short Code to banks and other Financial Institutions (OFIs) have helped in deepening financial inclusion in the country.�

Danbatta said NCC would ensure that in the next five years, the Commission would leave no stone unturned, and would not rest on its oars until it achieves its goals. “The commission is placing emphasis on growing the digital economy in collaboration with sister agencies under the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy,� he said. “We hope to consolidate on spectrum trading to ensure maximum and efficient usage of available resources; continuous SIM registration audit to provide security and curtail incidences of banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery; completion and commissioning of Emergency Communications Centres (ECCs) in the remaining states to enhance security and provide succor to citizens in distress,�

Danbatta added.

Nigeria no doubt is on the path of achieving her digital economy vision, but collaboration and government’s commitment are needed to achieve it fast.

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MONDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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L-R: Mrs. Precious Achumba; the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji; and former Executive Chairman of Ikwuano Local Government Area, Hon. Ngozi Oji, during the birthday reception for the Governor of Abia State ,Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu... recently

L-R: Director General, Centre for Gender Values and Culture (CGVC), Mrs Alayingi Silva; Director General, National Center for Women Development (NCWD), Mrs Mary Ekpere-Eta; Chairperson, House of Representatives Committee on Women Aairs and Social Development, Wunmi Onanuga and Representative of the United Nations Women, Patience Eveoba, during a Breast/Cervical Cancer Walk and and Free Screening organised by NCWD in collaboration with CGVC in Abuja...recently

L-R: Centre Manager Palms Shopping Mall Sakiru Gbadamosi; Chairman Palms Mall Tayo Amusan; Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; and Portfolio Executive Palms Mall Adebola Sobande; during a courtesy visit by the Palms Mall Executives to Government House, Ilorin...recently

L-R: Project manager, Mojec, Oluwatayo Fogbonjaiye; Business Manager,Oshodi Business unit Ikeja Electric, Mr. Taofeeq Basanya; Commercial manager,Ikeja Electric,Mrs Olabisi Adebayo and Metering Project manager,Ikeja Electric,Adeniyi Odutayo during the unveiling of the Ikeja Electric National Metering event held in Lagos... recently

L-R: Director General, FederalRadio Corporation of Nigeria, Mr Mansur Liman;Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief, The Nation Newspaper, Mr Victor IďŹ jeh, Chairman, The Nation Newspaper, Mr Wale Edun; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Press Council,Mr Francis Nwosu and Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria, Mr Buki Ponle during the visit of the Minister and histeam to the Nation Newspaper over the attack on the organisation by hoodlums during the #EndSARS protest in Lagos...recently

L-R: MD/CEO, WalterSmith Petroman Oil Ltd, Chike Nwosu; Chairman, WalterSmith Group, AbdulRazaq Isa; Director/Chief Executive, DPR, Sarki Auwalu and Zonal Controller, DPR Owerri, Roselene Wilkie after touring and declare ready for operation the 5,000 barrels per day (bpd) Waltersmith Modular ReďŹ nery in Ibigwe, Imo State...recently

Minister of Niger Delta Aairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio(left) addressing the stakeholders’ meeting in Essien Udim Local Government Council Hall, of Akwa Ibom State...recently

33

T H I S D AY ˞ Ͱ˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

Bad spot on Federal Low Cost Housing Estate- Itoikin Road. Sabo, Ikorodu Lagos needs attention

Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum (middle), commissioning a three-story school building at AbujaSheraton in Maisandari ward of Maiduguri metropolitan council...recently

L-R: Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde; Representative of the Soun of Ogbomosho, Chief Ojo Oyetunji; The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji; and AlaaďŹ n of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, during the Governor’s meeting with traditional rulers, council chairmen and the clerics, in Ibadan...recently

A long procession of Muslim faithfuls singing and dancing on Idi Araba road in celebration of the Eid-ElMaulud in Lagos...recently PHOTO: KUNLE OGUNFUYI

Early voters queue to cast their ballot for the presidential election at a polling centre in Queens, New York... recently

Muslim faithful during Maulud celebration at Kaduna Township Stadium, Kaduna...recently

L-R: Member, PDP Southwest, Caretaker Committee, Chief Taiwo Abayomi Kuye; Party’s Chieftain, Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele; former Deputy National Chairman, Olabode George; Secretary, PDP, Lagos State, Prince Muiz Dosumu during the press brieďŹ ng on the state of the nation held in Lagos...recently

L-R: Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District , Senator Istifanus Gyang: DeputySpeaker, House of Representatives, Ahmed Wase, Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong and Minister of Women Aairs, Dame Pauline Tallen during the visit of National Assembly members from Plateau State to the vandalised warehouse by hoodlums in Jos...recently

34

T H I S D AY ˞ Ͱ˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

CITYSTRINGS

ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ăš Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ™ĂœË? Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă–Ă“Ă? äĂ?Ă™ĂŒĂ“ Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă– Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă–Ă“Ă?Ë›Ă?äĂ?Ă™ĂŒĂ“ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ă™Ă—Ëœ ͙͔͙͚͚͓͖͑͑͑͒

They Sang about Police Brutality, We are Still Living With It Vanessa Obioha writes that the timeless songs about police brutality, corruption and bad governance by veteran music duo of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti to Majek Fashek resonated recently during the #EndSARS Protest as a harsh reminder that the country is still enslaved to the aforementioned hydra-headed monster

T

he recent protests and violence that rocked the nation for two weeks conjure sonic messages of veteran music artistes. From Fela Anikulapo-Kuti to Majek Fashek (both dead), timeless songs about police brutality, bad governance, religious and ethnic divides that continue to threaten the unity of the country resonate with the EndSARS protest that escalated last Tuesday and Wednesday; shooting of unarmed protesters by security personnel and destruction of state-owned properties respectively in Lagos state.

Since these unfortunate incidents, the nimbus in the country is a mixture of grief and ire, but it is a harsh reminder that the country is still enslaved to the corruption and inhumanity of their leaders. The following songs are timeless pieces that reflect the current mood of the country.

Zombie: in his lifetime, Fela dedicated most of his music to activism. He often sang about the military, the existing rulership in his time, boldly condemning their abuse of power and hostilities towards citizens. In 'Zombie' the lead track on his 1976 album of the same name, Fela made a mockery of the robotic nature of the police and army. He likened them to Zombie, a person held to resemble a walking dead. That is, a will-less and speechless human who supposedly died and has been supernaturally reincarnated.

In his interpretation, the soldiers and policemen were controlled and had no will of their own. They do what they are asked to do as he depicted in his chants: "Turn left, turn right, fall in, fall out‌" This depiction rightly fit into the armed security personnel who opened fire at unarmed protesters at the Lekki tollgate on Tuesday. The operatives whose identity is still clouded in ambiguity behaved in a manner that suggests they were will-less souls, armed and instructed to destroy innocent souls. A zombie has no emotions, he has no soul. He is controlled by forces beyond him. He is not bothered about the consequences of his actions as long as he delivers. The zombies Fela sang about unfortunately are still living with us and dealing with us the same way they did in the past.

Sorrows, Tears and Blood: "Seven minutes later, All don cool down brother, Police don go away, Army don disappear, Dem leave sorrow, tears and blood."

These lyrics from the 1977 song 'Sorrows, Tears and Blood' from the Afrobeat legend captures the mood of Tuesday night as images and videos of protesters hurt by the unknown soldiers flooded social media platforms. For many, it was difficult to accept the realities they were looking at: cries of pain and helplessness from wounded protesters, voices of desperation and despair calling for their loved ones.

Like Fela boldly vocalized, this is the regular trademark of the police and army. They confuse and leave behind tears, sorrows and blood. They bring heartaches to people who were justly exercising their fundamental rights, campaigning for a better Nigeria.

Fela also criticised the cowardice of his generation; their timidity to confront police abuse like the young generation did with the #EndSARS protests. He lashed out at them for being too concerned about their social and family upkeep

Fela

Majek Fashek

Mohammed Adamu, IG

more than speaking against the injustices meted on them by those in power.

"So policeman go slap your face, You no go talk,

Army man go whip your yansh, You go dey look like donkey."

It is this kind of brutality perpetrated by the dissolved Special Anti-Robbery

Squad that triggered the #EndSARS movement again which unfortunately was seized by hoodlums to cause mayhem, eventually leading to the death of some of the peaceful and defiant protesters.

Unknown Soldier: In the past few days, the question on many lips is: Who gave the order to shoot at protesters at Lekki?

In a recent interview on CNN, the Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu claimed that footage obtained showed that the soldiers were present at the Lekki tollgate where the incident occurred.

Following that revelation, the Nigerian army released a statement that indicated it was invited by the state governor to intervene in the ongoing protests after violence was reported in many parts of the state leading to the imposition of curfew. The Army also denied shooting at the protesters.

The back and forth allegations are reminiscent of Fela's song 'Unknown Soldier'. A sort of tribute to his mother — who was thrown downstairs from the storied Kalakuta Republic in the 70s after soldiers destroyed the property and wounded inhabitants, including Fela, in retaliation for his mockery of them in 'Zombie', — Fela sang about the injustices meted to citizens and how the government heaps the blame on an unknown entity.

The chorus 'Unknown Soldier' is a metaphor that captures the similar tactic of the military and government. Like most critics have pointed out on social media, the conclusion of the Lekki shootings will be "unknown soldiers carried out the attack!"

Police Brutality: Majek Fashek was another musician who produced a timeless piece on police brutality. The seventh track in his 1988 debut album 'Prisoners of Conscience', the late reggae icon described the actions of the men in uniform as insanity.

"Them dey loot, Them dey shoot, Them dey kill all leaders of tomorrow.

This their insanity has caused a lot of disunity in our community�

These words reflect the actions of the armed men who opened fire at the unarmed protesters on Tuesday. At dusk, they opened fire at the leaders of tomorrow. They left thugs who hijacked the protest to vandalise properties and shot at those who've been conducting peaceful protests. Indeed, it is insanity!

Religion Na Politics: In 'Religion Na Politics', the late music icon attempted to blur the dividing lines of religion, ethnicity and politics. He referred to those who use such factors to create discord in society as fanatics while preaching oneness and unity.

A remarkable trait of the #EndSARS protest is the unifying voice of the protesters. They dumped their religious and ethnic disparities and embraced oneness in protesting for a better Nigeria. A Nigeria where tribe or religion will not be a yardstick to measure one's relevance.

Pictures of Muslim protesters praying on the protest ground while the Christians faithful guard them were a sign of the peace and unity they were clamouring for until purveyors of disunity and chaos infiltrated their movement. The vandalism carried out by thugs has further fuelled the widespread conspiracy theories of sectionalism.

But like Majek rightly pointed out, 'I and I is one.

35

T H I S D AY ˞ Ͱ˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

CRIME&SECURITY

A Naval Sting Operation In a sting operation that has brought some measure of relief to business owners whose shops and offices were looted by vandals in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protest in Lagos, Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that the operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT recently arrested 41 suspects and recovered goods worth over N100million

Some of the stolen items recovered by the navy

Acting Executive OďŹƒcer, NNS BEECROFT, Commander Andrew Zidon with others oďŹƒcers showing o some of the recovered items

Recovered NPA SUV

I

n the aftermath of the #EndSARS protest, aside the loss of lives, those that bore the brunt of the widespread violence and vandalism were business owners across Lagos. From Lagos Island to the Mainland, the devastation was gripping.

The looters hijacked the peaceful protest and unleashed mayhem on businesses across the state- from stalls to malls, warehouses and even government establishments. The worst hit were SMEs, some who took out loans to stock their shops.

Although some are still counting their losses, there was some measure of relief recently after the operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT carried out a sting operation and recovered some of the stolen goods said to be worth over N100million. They also arrested 41 suspects.

Sting Operation After the looting, the operatives kicked off a sting operation across Surulere, Apapa, Ijora and environs where malls, private shops and houses were vandalised.

According to the Commander NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Ibrahim Shettima, the over 200 active patrols soon paid off with the massive recovery across the aforementioned suburbs.

Shettima who was represented by the base's acting Executive Officer (XO), Commander Andrew Zidon, added that they also responded to over 50 distress calls as the state plunged into civil unrest characterised by riots, looting and reported widespread criminal activities by hoodlums.

He noted that the operation was conducted under the Lagos State Security architecture code named OP MESA which designates, Apapa, Orile, Ijora, Costain, Surulere, Mile 12, Amukoko etc as the Area of Responsibility (AOR) for the Nigerian Navy.

Some of the suspects Arrests At the end of the operation, 41 suspects were rounded up including those that were out of state-bound in a truck fully laden with stolen goods. However, minors were released to their parents after screening.

Shettima said: “These suspects here are those we have degree of certainty on their involvement in the crimes. Among the 41 suspects arrested, some were 11, 12 or 13-year-olds and so, not people we felt we should keep in custody. We invited their parents and handed them over to them. “Suspects were arrested from various locations. The truck was intercepted under the bridge at Orile and the driver arrested.

He said the truck was going outside Lagos.

Through the driver, we have gotten other suspects.�

Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) headquarters in Lagos, electronics, kitchen and home appliances, bicycles, auto spare parts, fabrics, clothes and shoes, COVID-19 palliatives, among others.

Setting off the process of restoring recovered items to some of the already identified owners, Shettima said the base was collaborating with the state government and some associations to ensure recovered items were handed over to the real owners, adding that suspects would be handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.

He also added that they have done serialisation of every item recovered and some of the owners have already identified what belongs to them.

Safeguarding Critical National Assets One of the proactive measures taken by Recovery and Restoration the navy was to safeguard critical national Some of the recovered items include assets. Thus, they deployed personnel to Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) looted from the Tin-Can Island Port and Apapa Wharf, all

NNPC installations at Tarkwa Bay Island including Terminals/Tanks Farms and the Atlas Cove Jetty.

Also, Harbour Patrols were conducted around the Ports and Lagos Anchorage to prevent miscreants from attacking visiting merchant vessels.

Meanwhile, when NNS BEECROFT were alerted about the attack at NPA headquarters, they stormed there and with the help of security on ground, evacuated some staff, some of who required medical attention, just as some hoodlums were arrested.

The base also deployed personnel to Ijora Police Station as the station was under attack by armed miscreants. They succeeded in dispersing them and secured the station.

Additionally, the Lagos State DNA and forensic center was ransacked by some miscreants before they were dispersed by personnel, who also arrested six suspects.

Commendations Through the association of shop owners, some of the victims were contacted and after inventory was taken, pointed out some of their goods among the recovered loots.

An employee of STI Textiles, Seun Olubode, who said their shops at Suruelere and Lekki were looted, thanked the navy for helping them get some of the items.

Another victim, Abubakar Mohammed, who also thanked the navy, said his spare part shop was looted twice with goods worth over N17million carted away. He was thankfully able to identify most of his goods in the booty.

Also, the Lagos State government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, commended the navy in a letter signed by the Permanent Secretary, J.O. Olakulehin, for the recovery of some CACOVID palliatives, which was looted from the warehouse at Monkey Village in Mazamaza.

36

T H I S D AY ˞ Ͱ˜ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Group Plans N2bn Investment,SeeksPartnershipwithBayelsa Govt Ugo Aliogo Petferns Group has begun a N2 billion investment operations in the country with the purchase of seven hectares of land in Bayelsa State, setting up of assembling and manufacturing plants.

The plants are expected to provide employment for 3,000 Nigerians directly and indirect.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos yesterday, the spokesperson for Petferns Group, Ms. Peace Eberechukwu, said the N2 billion investment was for agrofarms, manufacturing of tissue papers, production of industrial gases, pharmaceuticals, generator assembly plants andelectrical fittings.

She called for a partnership with the state government for receptive leasing by sand filling the vast land for quick commencement of operations.

She stated that a bulk of the business such as produc-

tion ofindustrial gases, tissue paper production, assembly of knockdown generators and electrical fittings would be carried out in Bayels state.

Eberechukwu disclosed that the company was ready to offer 10 percent equity share if the state government accepts to sandfill the land located at Amasoma by Niger Delta University.

The spokesperson maintained that financing of the huge investment was being funded by the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Providus Bank.

According to her, “Financing is based on bank funding.

Cost of structure is by us while machinery cost is joint venture financing of 25 percent equity and 75 percent from bank. We have also invested into land properties in other States like Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Enugu states where other businesses would be situated. “There is the need to address

unemployment issues in Nigeria.

How do you say youths are the leaders of tomorrow and there are no jobs for them after graduation from higher institutions to prepare them for leadership.�

She hinted that business operations would commence next year. She also lauded President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for promoting incentives such as backward integration and tax holidays, noting that the incentives would further help to plough the component of business into expansion.

She called for the harmonisation of the tax system in the country.

Eberechukwu added: “Our produce will be the local markets, who are our first priority. Our prices would be cheap because we are processing the seeds here and we are also going to generate our own power.�

Diri

MARKET INDICATORS

Jaiz Bank Explains Proposed N3.3bn Capital Raising, Denies Allegation of Board Crisis James Emejo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Jaiz Bank Plc, Mr. Hassan Usman yesterday disclosed ongoing plans to raise an additional equity of N3.3 billion through private placement.

He said the approval was given by bank’s board and shareholders at an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting (EGM) convened on October 28, under its Chairman, Dr. Umaru Mutallab. Speaking at a media briefing, he pointed out that the proposed placement represented only about 30 per cent of of the bank’s existing capital adding that it will shore up its working capital going forward.

The MD further clarified that there is currently no rift in the board as speculated in the media, “other than legitimate exercise of divergent opinions on a matter in the ordinary course of the directors’ duties.�

However, he said the recent approval for capital injection at the EGM was clear testament of the existing harmony within the company.

Usman, explained that the capital expansion drive will among other things help the bank to finance big ticket transactions and provide the liquidity to pursue its business expansion drive as well as invest in information technology to enhance its operations and finance infrastructure.

He added that the bank has always had an aspiration to systematically grow its capital as the business expands.

But, there had been allegations that the bank was entangled in a succession crisis, given that Usman’s contract as MD was fast had approached.

He said: “Whereas some directors of the bank opined that a change of leadership was required to pursue some critical strategic goals, others believed otherwise, given the very impressive performance of the current management. “The board nonetheless resolved to appoint a new successor in person of Mr. Muhammad Shaheed Khan. This decision was however rescinded at a

subsequent meeting of the board.�

He said: “The board’s resolution to rescind its decision and consequently discontinue the appointment process was in line with the terms and conditions of the offer letter issued to Mr. Khan since the offer was subject to relevant regulatory approvals.�

He said incidentally, the approval obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) materially modified the intention of the board as expressed in the conditional offer to Khan, a situation which further necessitated the board’s decision to discontinue the process of his appointment.

The bank, however, reassured its customers, shareholders, investing public and other stakeholders that the board remained committed to conducting its affairs within the stipulations of existing corporate governance codes for banks and public companies in the country.

Usman, also listed some of the bank’s intervention programmes to ameliorate the impact of COVID-19 on customers and Nigerians in general.

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS Money Supply (M3)

36,822,751.47

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

3,476,121.25

Money Supply (M2)

33,346,630.22

-- Quasi Money

120,764,479.02

-- Narrow Money (M1)

12,582,151.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,002,026.89

---- Demand Deposits

10,580,124.31

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,637,137.23

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

29,185,614.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

39,711,115.95

---- Credit to Government (Net)

Gadol Financial Services Limited, has received the final approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to operate in the financial market.

Commenting on the development, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Gadol Financial Services, Mr. Patrick Obi-Akatchak, said while adhering strictly to industry guidelines, they are set to change the dynamics of lending for the betterment of their customers and ultimately the society. “We are also introducing a system with the shortest turnaround time where borrowers will walk in with their request and walk out with their loan; and investors will receive sustainable returns,� he added.

According to him, over 60 years combined board members’ would be leveraged on to fulfil

the promises of quality service delivery and customer satisfaction.

This also includes that of the MD/CEO whose banking experience spans among three major banks in Nigeria, the last of where he resigned as a branch manager to establish a multipurpose finance cooperative society. “Having observed the impersonal loan service approach employed by most institutions in the financial industry towards customers, Gadol Financial Services Limited seeks to penetrate the market withthe adoption of the latest approaches in global administrative practicesand professional empathy towards its customers. “The company has consequently designed a number of products so as to achieve this.

One of the most prominent fea-

tures amongst these products is the company’s disposition to tailor products and services to meet customers’ peculiarities. “Some generic products are also available to borrowers and they include but not limited to personal loans, auto loan, asset financing, contract financing,� the company explained. Gadol Financial Services Limited added that it is positioned to be an investor’s haven. “With the adoption of a strong corporate governance model, priority is placed on the sustainability of investors returns. The company also focuses on modifying rates in realistic proportions and in conformity with industry realities. This is to ensure that while it remains competitive in the industry, investors’ funds are protected and returns are maximised,� it said.

19,521,851.08

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-130,189,264.87

--Other Assets Net

3,472,017.70

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,421,827.07

--Currency in Circulation

2,395,917.03

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,025,910.04 317,234.17

Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

Gadol Financial Services Secures CBN’s Operating Licence

(MILLION NAIRA)

JULY 2020

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT THURSDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2020

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $37.12 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $38.42 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

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

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

37

T H I S D AY ˞ Ͱ˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

9M:Lafarge Africa Posts N180bn Revenue, N28.2bn Profit Goddy Egene Lafarge Africa Plc has recorded improved top and bottom-lines for the nine months (9M) ended September 30, 2020 as deleveraging and cost efficiency efforts continue to pay off.

The cement firm reported a revenue of N179.877 billion in 2020, up 10.3per cent from N163.1 billion. Selling and marketing expenses were reduced by11.9 percent to N2.811 billion, from

N3.189 billion. Also, financing cost declined by 54.5 per cent from N16.578 billion to N7.541 billion in 2020.

As a result, profit before tax (PBT) rose by70.3 per cent from N20.139 billion to N34.291 billion, while profit after tax(PAT) increased by 37.5 per cent from N20.5 billion to N28.2 billion.

Looking at the results, analysts at FSDH Research said the growth in revenue was driven by uptick in sales, which offset

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

the weakness in aggregate and concrete.

According to the analysts, the recovery in revenue reflects improvement in private sector cement demand and absence of covid-19induced pressures on construction activities.

They added that deleveraging efforts yielded decent results as net finance cost dipped 55.7 per cent to settle at N6.8billion in 2020. “While finance income dipped lower by 38.8 per cent due to the

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

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

low yield environment, finance cost dropped 54.5 per cent. This fed into strong growth in pretax profits which grew 70.3 per cent to N34.2 billion in9M 2020 from N20.1 billion in 9M 2019.

Lastly, we were impressed by the 37.1 per cent y/y increase in Net income to N28.2bn in 9M 2020which reflects the largely impressive performance “The company 9M 2020performance was overall positive. However, we are concerned with the 39.0

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

percent quarter/quarter (q/q) spike in cost of Sales to N45.5bn in Q3 2020 despite a modest 4.4 per cent increase in revenue.

Thus, we think the company is beginning to be affected by the impact of the naira devaluation which affects the naira cost of imported raw materials and United States dollars (USD) priced energy sources.

The Chief Executive Officer of Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Khaled El Dokani, had in September

O F

said that the proactive measures put in place have been instrumental to the positive results the company had recorded in recent times. “Our route-to-market strategy has proven to be effective, particularly, our expanded distribution network which proved very valuable during the peak of the COVID-19pandemic lockdown.

We have steadily expanded our retail footprint in our core markets.

3 0 / 1 0 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

38

MONDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

Will Somalia’s Bloated Cabinet Deliver?

Early last week, the Somalian Parliament endorsed the 71-man cabinet newly constituted by the Prime Minister, Mohammed Hussein Roble, to help manage a country which has been plunged into conflict for three decades and virtually struggling to maintain a semblance of governance, making many wonder whether this move is in synch with realism, writes TONY IYARE

Many, including this writer, are miffed with the appointment of a new 71 member cabinet in conflict ridden Somalia.

Not many also share the optimism by its Prime Minister, Mohammed Hussein Roble, who says his newly appointed bloated cabinet will “strive to tackle the country’s most pressing issues,” particularly the smooth running of the envisaged parliamentary and presidential elections, slated for 2020 and 2021, as well as insecurity One can hardly glean the benefit of the one month consultation and brainstorming that preceded the brewing of a cabinet filled largely with old faces, that smirks more like some old wine in new bottle, comprising 27 Ministers, 27 Deputy Ministers and 17 State Ministers. In what looked more like a re-circled cabinet, more than 50 per cent of the members of the dissolved cabinet including the Deputy Prime Minister, Mahdi Mohammed Guled alias Khadar, Foreign Minister, Ahmed Issa Awad and Finance Minster, Dr Abdurahman Dualeh Beile, are back.

Roble was appointed by President Mohammed Abdullahi Famarjo on September 17 to replace Hassan Ali Khaire, whose cabinet lost the confidence vote in Parliament on July 25. The lower house of Parliament later endorsed him on October 23rd with his new cabinet that includes 8 women, 4 minsters, a state minister and 3 deputy ministers.

It’s strange why Roble has not taken a cue from Famajo, also a former Prime Minister who had to resort to a near shoe string cabinet, which he pruned from 39 to 18, when he took over on October14th, 2010 from Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, who resigned the month before following a protracted dispute with President Sharif over a proposed draft constitution Roble himself neither evinces a deep political experience nor grasp of governance. He was born in Hobyo in October 1963 and hails from the Reer Hilowle, Sacad, Habar Gidir subclan of Hawiye, like the first Prime Minister of Somalia, Abdullahi Issa. He received a BSc in Civil Engineering from the Somali National University, and later attended the KTH Royal Institute of Technology where he completed an MA in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Engineering. Before entering politics, he served as the member of International Labour Organization and environmental engineer.

No doubt, the task of rebuilding infrastructure, tackling insecurity and reining in some semblance of governance remains critical for Somalia. But one hardly shares Roble’s delusion that a country with a GDP of $4.7 billion in 2018 and $7.7 billion in 2019 and a budget of $459.5 million in 2020, up with $130 million more than the previous fiscal year, needs a 71 man cabnet to manage its affairs.

Since 1991 that Siad Barre was overthrown, Somalia has been in the throes of conflicts and control by different militia groups which has taken slices of the country. Although international effort which brokered the roadmap leading to the formation of the Transitional Federal Government 2004 and other transitional institutions have been active to re-establish stable governance, the Islamic militia groups still maintain their hold of much of the country.

Located in the Horn of Africa and bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, the Gulf of Aden to the north, the Indian Ocean to the east, and Kenya to the southwest, Somalia has the longest coastline on Africa’s mainland. Its rich terrain consists mainly of plateaus, plains, and highlands. Hot conditions prevail year-round, with periodic monsoon winds and irregular rainfall.

Somalia has an estimated population of around 15 million and has been described as Africa’s most culturally homogeneous country. Around 85% of its residents are ethnic Somalis, who have historically inhabited the country’s north while ethnic minorities are largely concentrated in the south. The official languages of Somalia are Somali and Arabic. Most people in the country are Muslims, the majority of them Sunni.

By mid-2012, the insurgents had lost most of the territory they had seized, and a search for more permanent democratic institutions began. A new provisional constitution was passed in August 2012, reforming Somalia as a federation.

The same month, the Federal Government of Somalia was formed and a period of reconstruction began in Mogadishu.

Somalia has maintained an informal economy mainly based on livestock, remittances from Somalis working abroad, and telecommunications With the end of the transitional government in 2012 and the creation of formalised government which later saw the creation of the Independent National Electoral Commission which organised the election that produced Famajo as President in 2017, it was heart warmng that the country was gradually getting back to the path of

Ethiopian Prime Minister, Roble stable democracy.

But whether this is anchored on political and social realism is perhaps a different kettle of fish. It’s still some wonder why the political elite of this war torn country felt it was wise to settle for a bicameral legislature when a country like Senegal, one of Africa’s most politically stable countries had to do away with their upper house just to save money.

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Somalia by 2012 had some of the lowest development indicators in the world, and a “strikingly low” Human Development Index (HDI) value of 0.285.

This would rank amongst the lowest in the world if comparable data were available, and when adjusted for the significant inequality that exists in Somalia, its HDI is even lower. The UNDP notes that “inequalities across different social groups, a major driver of conflict, have been widening”.

Somalia’s economy consists of both traditional and modern production, with a gradual shift to more modern industrial techniques. According to the Central Bank of Somalia, about 80% of the population are nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoralists, who keep goats, sheep, camels and cattle. The nomads also gather resins and gums to supplement their income.

The World Bank says its economy has suffered as a result of the state failure that accompanied the country’s civil war. Interetingly, some economists, including libertarian Peter T. Leeson, have argued instead that state collapse has actually helped improve economic welfare, because the previous Somali state was largely predatory.

It may be premature for the international community to assume that Somalia which is still largely donor dependent, can be left to fend for itself including leaving it to take a path which may lead to a relapse into conflict. The 2017 work of Vanda Felbab-Brown, co-director, African Security Initiative and senior fellow, Foreign Policy, Centre for Security, Strategy and Technology, titled, “The Hard, Hot, Dusty Road to Accountability, Reconciliation, and Peace in Somalia: Amnesties, Defectors Programs, Traditional Justice, Informal Reconciliation Mechanisms, and Punitive Responses to al-Shabab,” should provide a guide..

“Since 1991, Somalia has been battered by undulating phases of a civil war playing out among the country’s many fractious clans, larger entities aspiring to statehood, warlords, and Islamist groups. State institutions, including the security apparatus, have experienced a profound collapse.

“Despite extensive international efforts for three decades to rebuild state institutions and stabilize the

country, Mogadishu-based national governments have had limited operational capacity and physical reach into much of the country. Critically, they have been debilitated by parochial political competition among the country’s clans and powerbrokers.

“Thus, the official state has been mostly unable to deliver even a modicum of governance to local populations while battling strong and agile military opponents and separatism. Characteristically, the most effective, even if brutal, stabilizing actors in Somalia have been Islamist groups. More than other contestants for power, they have been able to rise above clan divisions and administer a uniform rule, protect marginalized minority clans, and deliver swift, predictable, and non-corrupt justice.

“Yet because of their connections to global jihadist movements, including active participation in vicious terrorism abroad and in Somalia, and significant human rights abuses, rule by the country’s jihadi groups has been unacceptable to the international community as well as resented by Somalis. Nonetheless, when international or Somali military efforts have liberated territories, clan infighting and discrimination have often broken out, and the state has often failed with adequate and equitable governance,” she argues.

Why Roble thinks that a bloated cabinet is what he requires to takle the problems of this near failed state is intriguing. Sometimes we tend to take our joke too far on the African continent. Experiencing multiple iterations of jihadi groups able to control large territories amidst state collapse, the government of Somalia is currently battling the Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen, commonly referred to as al Shabab, and its splinter faction, the Islamic State.

At its peak, between 2009 and 2011, al Shabab controlled most of southern Somalia, including Mogadishu. Since 2012, an international military intervention by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), composed of forces from Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, and Djibouti, in combination with Somali clan militias and the vestiges of Somali national forces (SNF) supported by the larger international community, has succeeded in wrestling control of large parts of Somalia from al Shabab.

But since 2015, military efforts against al Shabab have stalled, the capacity of Somali national forces remains minimal, and AMISOM is reducing its presence. Meanwhile, al Shabab, because of its delivery of pan-clan governance, remains deeply entrenched and undefeated. So the prospect is for conflict to intensify and insecurity to worsen.

Iyare, Communication & Development Consultant is also an International Relations Analyst

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In Historic Move, A’Court Reverses Its Judgments, Reinstates Lawmaker Davidson Iriekpen The Court of Appeal in Kaduna has ordered the reinstatement of Hon. Suleiman Aliyu Lere as the member representing Lere Federal Constituency of Kaduna State at the House of

Representatives.

In a historic judgment delivered on Friday, the court set aside its earlier decisions in suit number: CA/K/EPT/ NA/18/2019 and suit number: CA/K/EPT/NA/19/2019 for being nullities.

In a unanimous decision, the court consequently ordered the enforcement its decisions in CA/K/40/2019, which was affirmed by the Supreme Court in SC/222/2019 and CA/K/ EPT/NA/4/2019 which had earlier declared Lere as both the

Military Kills Five Bandits, Loses Soldier in Katsina Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Nigerian Army yesterday said its troops of Operation Sahel Sanity, deployed to ward off banditry and kidnapping in North-west, have killed five bandits and lost a soldier during a gun duel with the hoodlums in Diskiru village of Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The acting Director of Defence Media Operations, Brig.Gen. Benard Onyeuko, in a statement issued to journalists at the Army Special Super Camp IV, Faskari, said three bandits were neutralised on the spot, while two other dead bodies of the bandits were later discovered along their withdrawal route.

Onyeuko, in the statement, explained that in the aftermath of the fierce fire-fight, three nursing

mothers and their infants earlier kidnapped by the marauding bandits were rescued by the gallant troops.

Regrettably, he said one brave soldier paid the supreme price in an attempt to save one of the rescued nursing mothers in the heat of the deadly encounter.

He said: “On October 29, 2020, troops swiftly responded to a distress call about bandits activities at Diskuru village in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

“The incident was recorded as the marauding bandits stormed the village on several motorcycles, shooting sporadically with the intent to scare the locals and loot valuables.

“On arrival, the gallant troops engaged the criminals in a fierce fire fight forcing them to withdraw

in disarray. Resulting from the encounter, three bandits were neutralised by the troops as several others were believed to have escaped with various degrees of gunshot wounds”.

He added: “During the exploitation phase, two additional bandits’ dead bodies were discovered along their withdrawal route. Also in the aftermath of the encounter, three women and their infants earlier kidnapped by the bandits were rescued from the criminals.

“Troops continue to dominate the village and adjoining environment to deny the bandits any respite. Regrettably, one brave soldier paid the supreme price in an attempt to save one of the rescued nursing mothers in the heat of the encounter”

Globacom Entices Customers to Upgrade to 4G with Data Bonus Fully integrated telecommunications company, Globacom, is inviting its 3G customers to upgrade to 4G to enjoy mouth-watering data gifts, including a one-off 10GB free data.

Globacom introduced its super fast 4G LTE network nationwide in October 2016 and has consistently extended its reach to more parts of the country since then.

The operator said in a statement in Lagos that customers who

upgrade and recharge with a minimum of N500 will get a one-off 10 GB data. In addition, they will get 25 percent extra data on subsequent data purchases ranging between N500 and N5000 for the next 6 months.

The 10 GB free data has validity of seven days, while the validity of the 25 percent extra data will be determined by the data bundle purchased by the customer.

Globacom encouraged its

subscribers who desire to swap their 3G SIMs for 4G SIMs to visit any Gloworld, Glozone or SIM Swap outlet across the country.

The telecom company said the upgrade does not affect whatever tariff plan a customer has opted for.

The subscriber will enjoy the benefits of his or her preferred tariff profile in addition to the benefits accruing to the 4G SIM upgrade.

Osun Alleges Fresh Plot By Hoodlums to Cause Crisis Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The Osun State Government yesterday said it has uncovered plot by hoodlums to spark fresh round of crisis in the state.

A Public Service Announcement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, said those behind the plot planned to plunge the state in crises beginning from

today (Monday).

Egbemode said security agencies had been briefed and would be on the alert to protect the peace of the state.

She said, “The State Government of Osun is aware of the plot by some unscrupulous elements, teleguided by agents of anarchy, to spark trouble in the state by starting another round of hooliganism tomorrow, Monday, November 2, 2020.

“The government is imploring parents, guardians and well-meaning citizens of the state to caution their wards not to allow themselves to be used to satisfy the knavish tricks of these elements who are determined to trouble the state with their misguided actions.”

The commissioner said the state had been through enough crisis in the past weeks and could not afford another one.

Sanwo-Olu Flags off Reconstruction of Ibeju Lekki-Epe Highway Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, rolled out a major infrastructural overhaul in the Epe Division of the State, flagging off the reconstruction of Eti Osa-Lekki-Epe Expressway 40 years after.

The governor flagged off the first phase of the road project yesterday at a ceremony held at the Pan African University in Eleko, Ibeju Lekki area. The first

phase, which will be completed in 20 months, will cover 18.75 kilometres, stretching from Eleko to T-Junction in Epe. The residents, who heaved a sigh of relief, thronged the ceremony where Sanwo-Olu formally kick started the project.

The road was constructed in 1981 as a single carriageway, but underwent an upgrade to a two-lane carriageway in 2006.

Its condition, however, became deplorable as a result of population growth and increased vehicular traffic.

Sanwo-Olu’s intervention would see the entire stretch from Eleko to Epe dualised on rigid pavement, with three lanes on each side. A lane on each side will be dedicated as toll weighbridges only for heavy-duty vehicles.

candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the winner of the February 23, 2019 House of Representatives election for Lere Federal Constituency.

The court, which had Justices Obietonbara Daniel-Kalio, Saidu Tanko Hussaini and Olutodun Adepope-Okojie, held that the decision of the Election Petition Tribunal cannot stand in the face of the superior courts’ decisions by virtue of Section 287(2) of the 1999 Constitution.

The sub-section states that “the decisions of the Court of Appeal shall be enforced in any part of the federation by all authorities and persons, an by courts with subordinate jurisdiction to that of the Supreme Court.”

Lere through his lawyer,K. O. Oyeniran, had asked the appellate court to set aside its decisions in CA/K/EPT/

NA/18/2019 and CA/K/EPT/ NA/19/2019 for being nullities.

He urged the court to enforce its decisions in CA/K/40/2019 which was affirmed by the Supreme Court in SC/222/2019) and CA/K/EPT/NA/4/2019.

The lawmaker contended that the decisions of the court in CA/K/EPT/NA/18/2019 and CA/K/EPT/NA/19/2019 were only a miscarriage of justice, but an aberration.

He noted that since the decision of the Election Petition Tribunal cannot stand in the face of the Superior Courts’ decisions by virtue of Section 287(2) of the 1999 Constitution, the court should make consequential orders re-instating him as the member representing Lere Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

While the court in suit numbers CA/K/40/2019 and

CA/K/EPT/NA/4/2019 set aside the judgment of the Kaduna State High Court and ordered INEC to recognise, accept and treat Lere as the candidate of the APC for Lere Federal Constituency, and that by virtue of the Supreme Court judgment in SC/222/2019 Lere participated, won and complied with the provisions of Section 285(13) of the Constitution and was therefore a necessary party to the petition, in a dramatic, in suit number: CA/K/EPT/ NA/18/2019 and suit number: CA/K/EPT/NA/19/2019, it affirmed the decision of the National and State Houses of Assembly Tribunal in Kaduna State that Lere was not a candidate at the general election, and that he did not participate and did not satisfy the provisions of Section 285(13) of the Constitution.

Buhari Commiserates with Turkey, Greece over Earthquake Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has consoled the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, over the earth quake that struck both countries, leaving many casualties.

The Senior Special Assistant

to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu, in a statement issued yesterday said the president also commiserated with families in City of Izmir, Turkey and Greek islands of Samos, Greece, who lost loved ones.

He sympathised with the government and people of the two countries as they make efforts to save lives, while

recovering from the shock of the earthquake.

“The government and people of Nigeria stand in solidarity with Turkey and Greece in this trying period as they deal with the unmitigated fallouts of a natural disaster.’’

Buhari also prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed and quick recovery for the injured.

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Oniru Prince Writes Sanwo-Olu, Tinubu Narrates how he was denied stool A Prince in Iruland, and member of the Abisogun ruling house, Hakeem Ajasa, has written a pre-litigation letter to the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, alleging manipulation in the process of selecting the Oniru, Oba Omogbolahan Lawal.

The letter was also addressed to the Chairman of Eti Osa Local

Government Area, Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the current Oniru and the Elegushi of Ikate Land In a letter dated October 27, 2020, Ajasa claimed he had been selected as the next Oniru but one of the leaders in the state called him to a meeting and informed him that he would have to give up his ambition because his business partners were not happy with his emergence.

He said this in a letter titled, ‘Possible Amicable Resolution in Compliance With Order 5 Rule 1 Sub-Rule 2 Sub-Sub Rule (E) of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and in Respect of Pre-Action Protocol in the Proposed Matter of Prince Hakeem Oriyomi Ajasa (Oniru Elect) and Ors’.

In the letter, which was signed

by his lawyer, Ishola Agboola, the prince stated that he remained the only candidate selected by the Abisogun ruling house but the state government went ahead to pick Lawal, who he said did not take part in the contest.

He said the entire members of the Iru royal kingdom had confirmed in a broadcast on TVC

on December 8, 2019 that he had been picked by the Abisogun ruling house in line with the declaration of September 14, 1993 and the custom and traditions of Iru kingdom.

He said rather than recognise the choice of the ruling family, the Lagos State Government decided to choose Lawal, which he said was against

the principle of natural justice.

According to the letter, Ajasa had informed his lawyer, to take the matter to court to make 13 prayers one of which included that he be recognised as the real Oniru of Iruland and that he be paid the sum of N500million as general damages.

Adeola Seeks Special Status, Grant for Lagos Deji Elumoye in Abuja A member of the National Assembly, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, has canvassed a special status as well as grant for Lagos following the massive destruction that followed the #ENDSARS protest that rocked the former federal capital.

Adeola represents Lagos West senatorial district and was one of the South-west Senators briefed last week by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the destruction of public and private property across Lagos State.

He noted that over the years, many attempts had been made in the agitation for a special status for Lagos State on the basis of its being the nation’s economic nerve centre and its status as the former Federal Capital of Nigeria with many federal infrastructures and huge population of all tribes of Nigeria.

The Chairman of the Senate committee on Finance added that the resources of the state government cannot adequately cater for the population and the pressure on amenities arising out of the status of the state as an acknowledged mega city with a population of over 20 million Nigerians.

The ranking Senator in a statement issued yesterday said: “The issue of special status for Lagos State has again been brought to the front burner following the fallouts of the

protest against extra-judicial killings and Police brutality. With the magnitude of the destruction of critical infrastructures in Lagos State last week, it is inconceivable that Lagos Government alone can handle the rebuilding of destroyed properties, most of which are for public good. It is necessary at this time to state that when Federal Government makes interventions to assist the state like the N1billion per state to assist in efforts aimed at stemming COVID-19, Lagos State should be more favourably treated in view of its status. Nigerians boarding all the burns BRT Buses are not Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Muhammdu Mera (left); and wife of Kebbi State Governor, Dr.Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, during the asked their state of origins when presentation of award to the governor’s wife for her efforts against polio and cancer, at the commemoration of this year’s World Polio Day at the Emir’s palace in Argungu, Kebbi State… recently. they board”.

While commending Sanwo-Olu for his adroit and patriotic handling of the crisis within the power and resources available to him, Adeola Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja during a one-day interactive exchange rate stability and efficient rice, wheat, cotton and other stressed the need for urgent grant consumable and CBN will enlightenment session with payment system. from the federal government to The Central Bank of Nigeria stakeholders organised by the The acting director who continue to provide finance aid the Lagos State Government (CBN) has said it is providing CBN in collaboration with labour lamented that the country cannot for farmers to grow those in rebuilding and replacing and will continue to provide unions. continue to import items and commodities and create jobs destroyed public facilities of interventions for agriculture and Nwanisobi said the five-year consumables the nation has for Nigerians”. all kinds during the attendant industrial revival of Nigeria as policy thrust of the apex bank, the capacity to produce, said Speaking on the revival of the mayhem to the protest. the two sectors amongst others which covered 2019-2024 initiated through Anchor Borrower financial nation’s economy, he said the apex “From what we saw during remained a veritable tool towards by the CBN governor will grow intervention of the CBN, minimum bank is making concerted effort our sympathy and condolence building a robust economy for the real economy for the country. of ten commodities would be to see a double-digit economic visit to Lagos State Governor and the country.

He said that the policy, which produced to make food readily growth where the inflation rate its people, it was clear that Lagos would be a single digit, adding CBN’s acting Director, Corporate centred around establishing a available for Nigerians.

State Government cannot handle Affairs Communications, Mr. firm and stable microeconomic According to him, “there must that the bank would also look at the rebuilding of infrastructure Nwanisobi Osita disclosed environment would pave room be a limit to the importation of issues of power, industries and and facilities destroyed alone as this at the weekend in Lokoja for low inflation, financial stability, goods. We can grow tomatoes, the nation’s foreign reserve. the destruction in Lagos State in all aspects expectedly dwarfed that of other states and FCT put together as a result of the the weekend in Kaduna at the another study on youths’ kind of mayhem happened in Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto crisis” he stated.

Golden Jubilee celebration of engagement and development the North, the region may not In the wake of the recent the establishment of the Arewa with focus on job creation and have been able to cope with it #EndSARS protests which later House, which is affiliated to entrepreneurship in Northern as it “doesn’t have money for the reconstruction” that would became a national unrest, the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Nigeria.

In statement issued by the Bello further explained why it have been required.

Northern State Governors Forum Pointing out that it is in (NSGF) has concluded plans to governor’s Special Adviser on became necessary to undertake commission and bankroll a study Media and Publicity, Muhammadu the study during a stakeholders’ the collective interest of indicated that thorough work was of both issues by the Centre for Bello, yesterday, he said Tambuwal, meeting with a cross section the North to reject unrest not done by the contractor and Historical Documentation and who represented the Chairman of Kaduna people held at the and violence, Tambuwal, the engineers that supervised the Research, Arewa House, Kaduna, of NSGF, Plateau State Governor, Kaduna State University (KASU), who was in company of his construction. with a view to forestalling future Simon Lalong, assured the Arewa noting that the lessons to be Ekiti, Jigawa and Kaduna “Recently, the federal occurrences and mitigating the House that its recommendations learnt from the fallout of the States counterparts, urged government told states not to outcomes, particularly in the in the #EndSARS study would #EndSARS are many. all leaders in the reg i on be implemented by the NSGF. Economically, “it runs into t o be “accommod at i ng repair their roads. But this road Northern region.

He also said the forum is also trillions of naira,” he stated, as wel l as d raw ot her Sokoto State Governor, Aminu links three local government areas and the primary users are Tambuwal, disclosed this at interested in commissioning emphasising that had that p eop l e cl oser.”

Bayelsans. So, while we know it is a federal road, we had to take immediate action.

“To ameliorate the suffering of our people, the Ministry of Works Chinedu Eze were arrested on October 28, had penetrated into the society, of people in drugs is and Infrastructure mobilised down 2020, and were said to have we can only imagine the condemnable considering here to ensure that remedial work is The National Drug Law concealed the drugs in a multiplier effect of crime rate the fact that drug intake is done to allow our people to move. Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) spectacular way to beat the in the country,” Ahmadu said. a catalyst that fuels crime. I He said in the third quarter of want to call on well-meaning “It is however unfortunate that has arrested two Nigerians officials of the NDLEA. The NDLEA Commander this year, from July to September, Nigerians to collaborate with us the job that was done appears not who came in from Sao Paulo, to be a very concrete one. I’m sure Brazil, with 16.65 kilogramme at the airport, Garba Ahmadu, the agency had arrested 12 by exposing drugs barons. All if the engineers come here, they of substances suspected to in a statement, said the drugs suspected drug traffickers, information shared with us will will know where the problem lies,” be cocaine on their arrival were concealed in eight children which included seven males always be treated with utmost at the Murtala Muhammed duvet which contained seven and five females, and a total of confidentiality. The Command the governor said.

While responding to questions International Airport (MMIA), absorbent towels soaked with 15.800kg drugs seized, which will remain focused on the drug cocaine while others were neatly included cannabis sativa, cocaine war by intensifying efforts and from journalists, Senator Diri said Lagos. exposing whatever modes of The two suspected traffickers, and cleverly concealed in tin and methamphetamine. with the pace of work, the failed According to the NDLEA concealment used by the drug Okwubunne Chidiebere Simeon cans labeled ‘Schramn’. portion would be fixed in about “If this quantum of drugs commander, “The involvement peddlers.” and Aniakor Uchenna James, one week.

WORTHY HONOUR…

CBN: Why We are Focusing on Agriculture, Industrial Revolution

Northern Govs to Bankroll Studies on #EndSARS Protests

Diri Directs Works Ministry to Fix Collapsed Bridge Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has directed the state Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to repair the collapsed portion of the bridge on the Edepie-Otuasega-Imiringi road in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.

The governor, who gave the directive on Saturday during an inspection of the failed portion, said he asked the ministry to carry out remedial work on the federal road project as its users were Bayelsans that suffer the effect of the damage.

The road, which links three local government areas in the state, was cut off by erosion on Wednesday leaving commuters stranded on both sides.

The governor’s spokesman, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted him in a statement as saying that his administration would not fold its arms and watch Bayelsans suffer as a result of the collapsed bridge.

He said the level of damage

NDLEA Nabs Two Suspects with 16.65kg of Cocaine at MMIA

MONDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Gombe Gov Inaugurates Commission of Inquiry on Police Brutality

Segun Awofadeji in Gombe

Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has inaugurated an 11-member Commission of Inquiry to investigate allegations of human rights violations by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other Nigerian Police

units or security agencies in the state.

The commission, which draws its membership from Human Rights Commission of Nigeria (HRCN), Youth Council of Nigeria (YCN), legal practitioners, civil society organisations and students’ union, has a retired High Court Judge, Justice Sa’ad Mohammed,

Tension in Rivers Community as Soldiers Continue Search for IPOB Activists The people of Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State are groaning under the yoke of the exercise by soldiers to enforce the 24-hour curfew declared on the area by the state Governor, Nyesom Wike, to rid the area of suspected members of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

Although access to the area is restricted and risky, THISDAY gathered that soldiers are combing the area for IPOB members.

According to the THISDAY source, “Soldiers are on the offensive in all the criminal hideouts in Oyigbo.

Terrible discoveries have been made in hideouts such Waji Down Below, Kom Kom, Mbano Camp, Obeama among others. Some of the looted items were also recovered there.

“A number of arrests were made, but you cannot rule out intimidation and harassment of innocent residents when there is military engagement.

The residents of the area have not seen such massive deployment of soldiers in Oyigbo, and this has caused panick.

“The military aerial survey yesterday in Oyigbo sent jitters down the people. I think they will be more to be scared of tomorrow (today) because I learnt from military sources that there is going to be military show of force tomorrow (today) in Oyigbo. But hunger is more deadly now especially those that have exhausted their stock.”

Another resident from Igbo, who does not want to be named also said: “I am in full support of the military operation. Let us weed out those criminals. Those complaining have something to hide. The soldiers are searching houses, and what is the big deal about it? I have thrown my gate open. Let them come and search, I have nothing to hide.”

as its chairman.

In his speech during the inauguration ceremony at the Government House in Gombe yesterday, the governor said the setting up of the commission was in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 2 of the Commission of Inquiry law Cap 33 laws of Bauchi State 1991, which is applicable to Gombe State.

He said events of the past few weeks have drawn considerable attention to the issues of human

rights and responsive civil policing in Nigeria, noting that what began as a genuine protest against human rights abuses and alleged police brutality was hijacked by criminal elements who sought to exploit the grievances of the youths.

Yahaya said in spite of the challenges facing the Nigerian Police, the organisation has been playing an important role in preserving law and order with its officers and men gaining commendation from within

and outside the country.

The governor said: “The SARS, which was established by the Nigerian Police Force in order to arrest the raising cases of armed robbery and criminality across the country, did well in the discharge of its responsibilities, but that cases of human rights abuses, extortion and extra judicial actions perpetrated by some personnel of SARS have put a huge dent on the reputation of the Nigerian

Police.”

He, however, observed that in spite of those challenges, Nigerians must not fall into the temptation of throwing the baby away with the bathwater.

According to the governor, “The decision by the federal government to disband the SARS is a welcome development; it is a demonstration of our commitment to a total reform of the Nigerian Police Force under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

GOVERNOR TO THE RESCUE…

L-R: Commissioner for Special Duties (Bayelsa East), Mrs. Preye Broderick; Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri; and Speaker of House of Assembly, Hon. Abraham Ingobere, during an inspection of the collapsed portion of the bridge on the Edepie-Otuasega-Imiringi road in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State…weekend

Kano Private Schools’ Owners Gana Seeks Quick Passage of New Electoral Laws before 2023 Elections Slash School Fees By 25% system devoid of the central leaders are extremely important to next general election. We must Chuks Okocha in Abuja

IbrahimShuaibuinKano

Members of theAssociation of Private Schools Owners of Nigeria (APSON), Kano State chapter, yesterday agreed to reduce school fees paid by students by 25 percent as directed by the state Ministry of Education.

Spokesman for the ministry, Mr. Aliyu Yusuf, said in a statement yesterday that the members of the association disclosed their decision when they paid a solidarity visit to the state Commissioner for Education in his office.

Speaking during the visit, the National Deputy President of the APSON, Hajiya Maryam Magaji, said their association has decided to comply with the government directives for the reduction of school fees with a view to cushioning the effects of the economic hardship occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic on parents in the state.

She explained further that the directives given to the proprietors to reduce school fees was not intended by the state government to hurt anybody, rather, it was done in the best interest of the educational development of the state.

The national officer of the group said even though their association doesn’t have jurisdiction to force other three sister associations to follow suit, she promised to mobilise all the members of the APSON to adhered to the directives.

“We cannot force the three sister associations to do the same as we do, but we are pledging our loyalty to the government, and we will try and mobilise our members to comply.

“We are not going to media to destroy the good efforts of the ministry, and we would not support anybody going to court to challenge the government decision,” Maryam stressed.

Electricity Consumers Knock FG, Discos over New Metering Programme Peter Uzoho

The federal government and the electricity distribution companies (Discos) have come under heavy attack by electricity consumers in the country over the newlylaunched National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP).

The consumers accused the federal government and the Discos of being insincere and playing with their intelligence by announcing that they were giving them free prepaid electricity meters, and turned around to say that the method of collecting the cost of the meters back from them would

be communicated to them later.

The government had said it was going to roll out six million meters across the entire Discos’ networks under the NMMP to expeditiously bridge the wide metering gap in the country, starting with the deployment of one million within the next two months for the first phase.

Last Friday, four Discos namely: Ikeja Electric (IE), Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) and Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO), commenced the implementation of the scheme in their respective franchise areas.

Former Minister of Information and Culture, Prof. Jerry Gana, has charged the National Assembly to hasten the passage of the electoral laws that would improve the quality of elections in Nigeria.

He also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the electoral bill into law while advocating a local government

government control.

The former minister stated this in his house in Abuja at the weekend during a courtesy call by VITALDI, a leadership development initiative of patriots from all parts of Nigeria seeking the intervention of credible elder statesmen to help preserve the peace and stability of the country.

According to Gana, “Since

the development process, we must thoroughly examine and refine our electoral system. We must ensure the conduct of credible elections to elect our leaders. If elections are ruined by all sorts of manipulations, then our democracy may soon collapse.

“There is no reason whatsoever why the new Electoral Act should not be signed into law before the

insist on free, fair and credible elections.

“Democracy and development must always go together. If our democracy fails to deliver genuine development, then democracy will gradually lose meaning and significance. The security and welfare of the people is the primary purpose of the government.”

Ayade Denies Masterminding Arrest of Catholic Priest The Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade, has denied masterminding the arrest of a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Titus Armon.

A statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Christian Ita, read, “A lie remains a lie no matter who is telling it. The report making the rounds on the social media linking the state governor to the arrest of a Catholic priest of the Ogoja Diocese, Rev. Fr. Titus Armon, by the Nigerian Army, is a lie from

the pit of hell.

“First, the brother of the priest, a supposed critic of the Ayade administration, is someone that is not known to government.

As such, his criticisms of the administration have gone unnoticed by government.

“Second, Ayade only became aware of the arrest of the priest after a visit by four priests on the morning of Friday October 30, 2020 to plead for his release. They are Frs. Vincent Undie, Malachy Ephraim, Bob Etta and Julius

Adah.”HE Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade, has denied masterminding the arrest of a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Titus Armon.

A statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Christian Ita, read, “A lie remains a lie no matter who is telling it. The report making the rounds on the social media linking the state governor to the arrest of a Catholic priest of the Ogoja Diocese, Rev. Fr. Titus Armon, by the Nigerian Army, is a lie from

the pit of hell.

“First, the brother of the priest, a supposed critic of the Ayade administration, is someone that is not known to government. As such, his criticisms of the administration have gone unnoticed by the government.

“Second, Ayade only became aware of the arrest of the priest after a visit by four priests on the morning of Friday October 30, 2020 to plead for his release. They are Frs. Vincent Undie, Malachy Ephraim, Bob Etta and Julius Adah.”

FG Must Address Structural Issues to Kick-start Economic Growth, Says OPS in order to stimulate aggregate industry subsector can scarcely increase owing to improved new Chris Uba

Two organised private sector groups, the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) and Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), have reacted to the continued contraction of Manufacturing Purchasing Index (MPI), saying emphasis should be placed on the sectors that have repeatedly experienced contraction

growth of the economy.

The groups said the emphasis of necessity should include addressing the structural issues of high energy cost, high logistics costs, and weak purchasing power; depreciating exchange rate and liquidity problems in the FOREX market.

They insisted that until these issues are addressed substantially, the Nigerian manufacturing

make any headway in terms of contribution to economic growth.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had last Tuesday released the October PMI report showing a contraction for the sixth consecutive month, as it stood at 49.4 index points.

The report stated that despite the fact that the PMI for the month of October contracted, the PMI recorded a month-on-month

orders, faster manufacturing supplier delivery time, and slight changes in production and employment levels.

PMI is a measure of the prevailing direction of economic trends in manufacturing. It is based on a monthly survey of supply chain managers across 19 industries-covering both upstream and downstream activity.

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MONDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

Boko Haram Kills Seven CJTF Operatives, Hunters in Borno Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri Seven members of the Civilian Joint Task Force

(CJTF) and local hunters were yesterday killed in a remote village in Chibok Local Government Area in Borno State.

#EndSARS Protest, Consequence of Corruption, Says Bishop Kaigama The Archbishop of Abuja, Arch Bishop Ignatius Kaigama, has posited that the #EndSARS protests that rocked the country recently was ignited by the failure of political leaders in the country to listen to calls by Nigerians to end corruption in the country.

He said the youths have again highlighted what the Catholic Bishop Conference has been talking about, and expressed the hope that their protests would awake the political will in the leaders and every other person to do something about it.

Kaigama stated this yesterday during the homily at the celebration of 90th anniversary of Holy Ghost Parish in Makurdi, Benue State.

According to the cleric, “Let us not pretend that there is no problem in the country. Let us not behave like the Ostrich that buries its head in the sand and behave as if there is no danger.

There is danger! The brutality we are suffering in the hands of the police was enough, and the youths have said it.

“The Catholic Bishop Conference has been saying itstop corruption so that the wealth of the nation can go round. We kept saying that, but they didn’t listen. Now, the youths have said it clearly. I hope it will wake us all, and I hope that the next political dispensation will be a different one.

“Not of selfish interest but with values. We have been driven by selfish, self-centered materialistic interest, by religious, tribal partisan political sentiments, and that is why we can’t grow. We make one step forward and three steps backwards, therefore, the youths are determined to change this.”

The bishop, therefore, urged the youths to continue to be peaceful and not allow the bad ones to destroy what they started, with killing and looting.

The clergyman expressed the hope that change will come, insisting that: “This world is not our home; we have little time here, so let us use the little time to embrace ourselves and embrace peace, as force won’t bring peace.

According to a resident of Chibok LGA, who spoke anonymously to our correspondent, the slain men engaged suspected Boko Haram insurgents, who came on Sunday morning with the intention to loot Takulashe.

He said the terrorist group stormed Takulashe at about 9a.m. yesterday, shot onto the air to scare off the villagers, after which they broke into homes to steal foodstuffs and livestock.

The source said they were engaged by members of the

CJTF and local hunters who prevented the hoodlums from doing major damages.

He lamented that at the end of the engagement, which took over an hour, seven men believe to be Civilian JTF and local hunters were killed.

The eyewitness, however, said the number of casualties from the insurgents could not be ascertained as they went away with their corpses.

A member of the Civilian JTF, who was involved in the stand-off and evacuation of the casualties, while not

identifying those killed in the attack, said the insurgents rained bullets on the village.

He said seven dead bodies have so far been evacuated from the village, adding that the search and rescue operation were still ongoing as at the time he spoke at about 5p.m. yesterday.

The CJTF member said the terrorists looted and carted away foodstuffs and livestock as the helpless villagers ran into bushes.

He lamented that members of the CJTF

and vigilantes engaged the insurgents but were overpowered, saying: “Many of my colleagues are still missing after the attack that lasted for over an hour.”

Attempt to confirm the incident from both the police and military authorities were unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report yesterday evening as the spokesmen of both organisations were yet to respond to inquiries sent to them.

PEACEMAKERS…

L-R: Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma; Leader of #Peace Back Nigeria Campaign, Ambassador Emmanuel Nkweke; and member of the peace campaign, Ambassador Sam Ogoin, during a visit to the governor at the Sam Mbakwe Exco Chambers, Government House, Owerri…yesterday

WAEC to Release 2020 SSCE TRCN Boss Urges Govs to Implement New Salary Scale forTeachers Results Today The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has said the results of the 2020 Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination would be released on Monday (today), November 2, 2020.

The release of the results was postponed due to the violence and arson in the country.

WAEC had said the unrest in the country affected some of its offices and operations nationwide.

While giving an update released, WAEC tweeted, “This is

to inform candidates that sat West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates, 2020 that the results of that exam will be released by @waecnigeria tomorrow, Monday, November 2, 2020 by 10:30am.”

The WASSCE was taken between August 17, 2020 and Saturday, September 12, and the council was expected to release the results on October 27– 45 days after.

Ugwuanyi, OthersVisit School Children Involved in Road Accident Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, at the weekend led prominent Igbo leaders such as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo; and the Deputy Minority Leader of House of Representatives and member representing Aninri/Awgu/ Oji-River Federal Constituency, Hon. Toby Okechukwu, among others, to empathise with the students of Presentation Nursery and Primary School, Awgu Local Government Area and other victims, who were involved in a recent road accident.

The governor and his team, who wished the school children and other victims

quick recovery, consoled the parents of the kids to have faith in God. Ugwuanyi, on his part, promised that his administration will do anything possible to ensure that they fully recover.

The governor therefore announced that the state government will take care of all their medical bills to any level and urged the management of the hospital to give the victims adequate medical attention.

Ugwuanyi had earlier expressed the deepest commiserations of the state government to the families of the school children, who died and sustained injuries in a fatal road accident.

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Registrar/Chief Executive, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Prof. Segun Ajiboye, yesterday called on state governments in the country to key into the review of welfare packages for teachers set for implementation by the federal government soon.

He stated that this is important due to the fact that education is

on the concurrent legislative list, and state government should be ready for smooth implementation at the state level.

Ajiboye, while speaking with journalists in Ibadan yesterday, said President Muhammadu Buhari recently approved a new salary scale among other welfare package for teachers being worked upon for implementation by the Federal Ministry of Education and Office of the Head of Service of

the Federation.

The TRCN boss noted that when fully implemented at both federal and state levels, the best brains would be attracted to teaching while the experienced would be retained.

He stated that years of neglect of the welfare of teachers, who are charged with molding the leaders of the future, is being attended to by President Buhari to lay a solid education foundation for

the Nigerian child and also boost the morale of professional teachers.

According to him, “Very recently, President Buhari approved some welfare packages for teachers. The approval cut across new salary structure for teachers, retirement age, some allowances, teaching practice allowances for both lecturers and pre-service teachers, bursary awards for education students, rural housing scheme for teachers among others.

Power Sector Records N243bn Capacity Loss in 10 Months The power sector has recorded a generation capacity loss of N243 billion from January to October.

This is contained in the October 2020 electricity generation statistics released on Sunday by the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), the umbrella body of GenCos. According to the data, the major

challenge facing the electricity generation sub-sector is the load rejection by distribution companies (DisCos).

The Cable reported that the data puts the current available generation capacity at 7,739 megawatts (MW), while stranded generation is 3,578MW. Maximum Generation:

4,532.35MW (29th October).

Minimum Generation: 3,618.58MW (7th October). Maximum stranded generation was recorded on 6th October where stranded power totaled 4,401.5MW (Gas: 1,717.5 and DisCos Low load demand: 2,684MW),” the document read.

“Average generation for October 2020 of 4,162MW

represents the maximum monthly generation in the year 2020. Of the total constraint recorded, gas constraint accounted for 47.5%, while load rejection by DisCos accounted for 52.5%.

“Total Capacity Loss from January to October 2020: N243.82 Billion”

VC Race: UI ASUU Denies Involvement in Protest Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The University of Ibadan chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has absolved itself from the protest organised last week by members of the NonAcademic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) in the institution over alleged planned imposition of the next

vice-chancellor by the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka.

This is just as the union reaffirmed its earlier appeal to the Governing Council of the University for a level playing ground in the appointment of the next vice-chancellor in order to protect the sanctity of the autonomy of the university.

The union in a special bulletin dated October 30, 2020, signed

by Prof. Ayoola Akinwole and Chris Omoregie, chairperson and secretary respectively, and made available to THISDAY yesterday, said: “Having observed that a protest was carried out on October 28, 2020, around the Senate and Council Chambers of the university by members of the NASU and SSANU in the University of Ibadan, the executive of the branch met on October 30, 2020, deliberated

on the incidence and resolved as follows: ‘That members of ASUU-IJI were not part of the protest, contrary to reports in some media outlets.

“We condemn in the strongest terms the disruption of the meeting of the Governing Council of the University of Ibadan that was convened to conclude the selection of the next vice-chancellor of the university.

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FORTHCOMING

A Parable from National Urban Reality Introduction While the formal fact-finding panels pursue their assignment, and bewildered minds attempt to absorb the turn of events, reflect upon, and engage in informal caucuses on 'what really happened’ during, and following the authentic #ENDSARS campaign, both in the Lekki arena and in horrifying dimensions across the nation, I believe that it will not be out of place to offer a parable extracted from a forthcoming work of fiction. A parable, yes, but an actuality that has become virtually institutionalized across the nation. It is offered as a public service before the events of the month of October 20/20 congeal in the minds of participants, onlookers and consumers of the Nigerian staple of the now mandatory UFN (Unidentified Flying Narratives). The forthcoming novel from which it is extracted -- CHRONICLES FROM THE LAND OF THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD (BookCraft) - will be published towards the end of the month of November, 2020. Read on:

Excerpt from CHRONICLES Adjusting to a new culture was his main concern, but not an insurmountable culture shock. Badagry, after all, albeit closely intertwined with Lagos, was still Badagry.

Pitan-Payne was on hand, though keeping a frenetic pace to wind up his affairs and proceed to his UN assignment on schedule. The engineer seemed to thrive on interlocking calendars, and in any case, he now had Menka to pick up the loose ends for him in his absence‌.

The timing could not have been more thoughtfully ordained. The unexpected and the planned seemed to dovetail neatly, like the finely adjusted sprockets or his mechanical prototypes.

And while Lagos/Badagry lacked the excitement of receiving sudden cartloads of human debris from Boko Haram’s latest efforts to out-Allah Allah in their own image, one could count on gratuitous equivalents from multiple directions.

Such as the near daily explosion of a petroleum tanker on the expressway or city centre. Or a roofless lorry bulging with cattle and humans tipping over on a bridge and dropping several feet onto an obliging rock outcrop in the midst of the river. Sometimes, more parsimoniously, a victim of military amour propre – in uniform or mufti, it made no difference.

That class seemed to believe in safety in numbers, and all it took was that even a low-ranking sergeant should take offence at another motorist, who perhaps refused to give way to his car, a mere ‘bloody civilian’, never mind that the latter had the right of way. An on-the-spot educational measure was mandated. Guns bristling, his accompanying detail, trained to obey even the command of a mere twitch of the lip, leapt out of their escort vehicle, dragged out the hapless driver, unbuckled their studded belts, whipped him senseless, threw him in the car boot or on the floor of the escort van and took him to their barracks for further instruction. However, the wretch sometimes created a problem by suffocating en route – which left society to develop structures for neutralizing such inconvenience.

The contradicting, ironic sequence occurred to Menka only for the first time – yes, come to think of it, the military hardly ever recorded a fatality – once or twice, maybe even three times in a month -- yes, the accident of excess did happen, but mostly such terminal disposal was left to the police, whose favourite execution site was a road block, legal or moonlighting. Perhaps a recalcitrant commuter, or passenger bus driver had refused to collaborate in providing a bribe on demand, or insulted the rank of the demanding officer with a derisive sum.

And it did not have to be the original offender but some too-know grammar spouting public defender who had intervened on behalf of the potential source of extortion. The outcome was

Soyinka

predictable – victim or good Samaritan advocate instantly joined the statistics of the fallen from ‘accidental discharge’. The expression was still current, but often it was anything but. Accidents had become infrequent and unfashionable. Oftener to be expected was that the frustrated, froth-lipped police pointed the gun, calmly, deliberately, at the head of the unbelieving statistic and, pulled the trigger. Again, the inconvenience of body disposal.

But then, the community of victims themselves – what a specialized breed of the species! The roles, it constantly appeared, had become gleefully, compulsively interchangeable. Allowing him only a few days to ‘catch your breath and get your bearings’, Pitan-Payne lost no time in taking Menka to inspect the land designated for the Gumchi Rehabilitation Centre, for victims of Boko Haram, ISWAP and other redeemers – nothing like striking while the iron was hot! On their way, the familiar sight of crowd agitation – how would the day justify itself without some kind of street eruption somewhere, wherever! Trapped in the chug-stop-chug of traffic, the favourite commuter distraction was to attempt to guess what was the cause, and even place bets on propositions. That morning, Menka’s first in nearly a year down south did not disappoint. But for the milling blockage by intervening viewers, they could have claimed the privilege of ringside seats. Compensating for that obstructed viewing however was the sight of men and women trotting gaily, anticipation all over their faces, towards the surrounded spot of attraction. From every direction they came, some vaulting over car bonnets, squishing their legs against the fenders, squeezing through earlier arrived bodies or simply scrabbling for discovered vantage viewing points.

They climbed on parked vehicles and the raised concrete median. Commuter buses slowed down and stopped, keke napep -- the motor-cycle taxis -- pulled

aside, drivers and passengers alike rubber necking on both sides of, or in the direction of a wide gutter that sank into a culvert. The lights changed to green and Pitan-Payne drove on, their last shared image a pair of muscular arms raised above the bobbing heads, clutching an outsize stone, slamming that object downwards into the gutter. Very likely a snake, Pitan suggested. With the rainy season, quite a few sneaked through the marshes into culverts and slithered their way into parking lots and even offices.

A police van came racing down the road, against the traffic, strobes flashing and sirens blaring, so Menka looked back, saw the crowd drawing back and drifting reluctantly away from the uniformed spoilsports. This opened an avenue just in time for Menka to obtain the briefest glimpse of an object slumped over the rim of the gutter, once human, but not any longer. Indeed the only human identity

left him was his iodine-red tunic and black trousers, still recognizable as the uniform of a LASA officer, an unarmed unit whose function was simply to unplug traffic – stoppered as readily by truculent drivers as by the roadside markets, vendors of all the world commodities who had taken over the streets, haggled, negotiated, delivered change and goods at their own pace. If the activities delayed movement over half a dozen changes from red to green and back again, it did not concern them in the least.

Later that evening, the television newscast narrated the full story. After futile spurts of preventive measures, Authority had commenced arrests of vendors and seizures of their wares. The LASA team, their van parked in a side street, had pursued several such malfeasants. In a desperate attempt to escape capture however, one ran straight into the snout of a speeding vehicle, was tossed up, landed with an ominous thud on the sidewalk and remained there, unmoving. In a trice, a mob had gathered.

They set the parked LASA vehicle on fire and worked up further appetite for vengeance. The unarmed officers had already fled. A hunt party pursued and eventually brought down a scapegoat, quite some distance from the actual scene of crime. They proceeded to the ritual battering of their catch. He broke free, ran into the gutter, tried crawling into the culvert for safety. They dragged him out by his feet, trunk and head smeared and reeking from the accumulated sludge of the blocked tunnel. Passers-by, totally ignorant of the beginning or mid-act of the mayhem, refused to be left out. They grabbed the nearest assault weapon to hand and joined in the gratification of the thrill for the day, a newbreed citizen phenomenon. The massive stone, raised above a throng of heads, quivered lightly against a Lagosian skyline of ultra-modern skyscrapers before its descent onto bone and brain. It took on an iconic dimension that stuck instantly to Menka’s surgical album of retentions, a rampant insignia of the transfiguration of a collective psyche. “I envy you� Menka remarked the following morning, as they confronted the print media coverage, their scalding coffee no match for the nausea aroused by the photograph sensationally smeared across the front page. “You are going away for a while. You’ll be spared such sights.� “I feel guilty�. confessed Duyole. “Guilty, but yes, that is one spectacle I shall not miss.� “Careful!� Menka quickly cautioned.

They have their equivalents over there.

Ask the black population.� “No. Not like this. Occasionally yes, there does erupt a Rodney King scenario.

Or a fascistic spree of ‘I can’t breathe’.

America is a product of slave culture, prosperity as the reward of racist cruelty.

This is different. This – let me confess - reaches into – a word I would rather avoid but can’t – soul. It challenges the collective notion of soul. Something is broken. Beyond race. Outside colour or history. Something has cracked. Can’t be put back together.� And then Pitan-Payne gasped, paused, folded over the pages and passed the newspaper to Menka. “Take a look at this. Not that it changes anything but - here, read it yourself.�

There was a chastening coda. It altered nothing. The fleeing vendor, whom no one had even thought to help, was very much alive. He had picked himself up, salvaged most of his scattered goods, and found his way home despite a sprained ankle and some bruises. Most of the earlier spectators had retreated to a safe distance.

They continued what they had been doing earlier – filming the action with their phone cameras. The police did however capture the Goliath with the terminating stone who had administered the coup de grace. He remained on the spot, to all appearance, admiring the evidence of his work.

He vehemently protested the injustice of his arrest: “I thought he was an armed robber.�

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PERSPECTIVE

A Thought for Nigerian Journalists Yusuph Olaniyonu and Jeremy Gaines Today (November 2) on the international calendar is devoted to ‘End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists’ and comes just days after a country such as Somalia pledged to end arrest of journalists. It comes in a year when 28 journalists have already been killed in the pursuit of their profession, one of them sadly in Nigeria, and when 246 journalists are in prison for the same reason.

And it comes only a few years after the killing of a journalist in Malta and Slovakia respectively led to changes in government.

This sobering day provides us with a welcome opportunity to devote some thought to the travails of media practitioners a little closer to home. And to consider the important role of their institution as they struggle to fulfil their constitutional and social responsibility in a free and democratic Nigeria.

The media in Nigeria have for decades had a special place carved out for them in the aspiration of our founding fathers to build a society founded on justice, unity, equity, progress and mutual respect. Our constitution has as a result consistently clearly stipulated their important role and placed a protective shield around them. Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution as amended reads: “The Press, Radio, Television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this chapter (Chapter 2 - Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State) and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people.�

It is striking that no other professional except journalists have specific roles assigned to them by the constitution. This is a provision that confirms the status of the media in Nigeria as the fourth estate of the realm – after the legislature, executive and judiciary. In that capacity, it falls to the journalists to act as independent monitors of our freedom and democracy.

Indeed, the wise minds who drafted our constitution granted the media corresponding freedoms that enable them to effectively perform the role assigned to it in Section 22. Section 39 guarantees the freedom of expression including the right to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information. This right also extends to the entitlement “to own, establish and operate any medium for the dissemination of information, ideas and opinions�. Like the freedom of assembly, this is a core human right that helps lay the foundations of all democracies.

A glance back in our history shows that at the latest since 1979, the constitution has, as it should, always taken measures to prevent, discourage and frown at any impunity for crimes against journalists.

This special protection of the media and media professionals is borne out of a keen sense of the role they have played in critical periods in the life of our country. When nationalists and people of other African countries had to wage armed struggle to secure their independence from the colonialists, our own nationalists resorted to wielding the power of the pen to unsettle the British. They became journalists and founded newspapers, such as the ‘West African Pilot’ by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, ‘Nigerian Pioneer’ by Sir. Kitoye Ajasa, ‘African Messenger’ by Ernest Sesei Ikoli, ‘Lagos Daily News’ by Herbert Macaulay, ‘Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo’ by Mallam Abubakar Imam, Nigerian Tribune

by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, among others.

In these famous newspapers, they published crucial articles and appeals to sensitize and mobilize their fellow country men and women on the desirability of independence. It was a strategy pursued by no less a man than Nnamdi Azikiwe.

The words the nationalists-cum-journalists penned hit home. In response, the colonialists enacted the 1903 Sedition Law and other laws to suppress the nationalists. It is dismaying to say the least that these outdated colonial laws are gradually finding their way back into our statute books, albeit in various guises.

Just as the nationalists’ words persevered, so, too, we must hope that what is written today withstands repression.

The press and the journalists were sterling warriors in the war for independence. As the above-mentioned example of ‘Zik’ shows, their toil and sacrifice secured independence for Nigeria 60 years ago. The coincidence of Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary

Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami last month and today’s focus on railing against protecting the media professions seems uncanny to us. And becomes all the more troubling when we consider reports of recent attacks on journalists simply trying to do their job and cover the youth movement.

Equally not to be forgotten are the brave male and female journalists who stood in the post-Independence frontline confronting the military during the total of 29 years and two months in which Nigeria was under martial law and led by unelected men. The media condemned repression by the military and provided a rare platform for agitation and the campaign for return to democracy.

If today, we have sustained democracy for the past 21 years, then much credit goes to journalists and their institutions - the press.

As people who have closely observed government in the last 21 years, we have come to appreciate all the more how important it is to protect our ‘fourth estate’, to shield the purported ‘thorn in the side’ of politicians.

It is they who have helped us make our democracy better and stronger, who have often fearlessly sought to make government accountable to the people and publicize the inefficiencies and leakages that have hindered our development.

Today, despite our living under a democratic dispensation, the news emanating from Nigeria about the treatment of journalists are cause for concern. Just a few days ago, the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) clamped down on three leading television networks – Channels, AIT, ARISE – by imposing fines of N3 million on each for their explicit coverage of events around the #EndSARS protest. we regard this as an attempt to gag a key national asset: the free press. The fines come at a time when media houses’ ad takings are dwindling and other sources of revenue contracting in the wake of the economic recession. Many media houses are already worried about paying salaries. Such fines are an obvious attempt to cripple them further.

The fines are unfortunately the latest bout of suppression and repression of journalists and the media in Nigeria. For example, Reporters Without Borders, a fully independent international organisation that conducts advocacy for Freedom of Information and Press Freedom ranks Nigeria 115 out of 180 in its 2020 data of press freedom ranking, and 22nd worst African nation. It makes very troubling reading: “Nigeria is now one of West Africa’s most dangerous and difficult

countries for journalists, who are often spied on, attacked, arbitrarily arrested or even killed‌ Journalists are often denied access to information by government officials, police and sometimes the public itself‌ governors are often their most determined persecutors and act with complete impunity.�

Amnesty International reports that no less than 19 journalists and other practitioners in the media suffered attacks in Nigeria.

According to the report, many of them were prosecuted under the Cybercrime and Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013. It must be stated that the intended purpose of that law is to tackle the growing crime of internet fraud, funding terrorism or spreading messages aimed at fuelling, sustaining and exchanging information with violent groups. Meaning it is not supposed to be used to prevent the free speech of journalists whatsoever.

Such an abuse of the law is sadly only consistent with calls being made by ministers for the government to regulate the social media, citing the situation of censorship in China of all countries in a favourable manner. Moreover, we should not be talking about shutting down the social media in times of crisis. We should be encouraging our youngsters to use them, and use them responsibly. After all, the future is digital not analogue.

The Amnesty International reports also noted that between 2015 - 2019, eight media houses were raided and their workers harassed while three journalists were forced into exile.

The report mentioned the cases of Jones Aborisade, Kofi Bartels, Mary Ekere, Jamil Mabai, Saifullahi Mikailu, Ahmed Salkida, Samuel Ogundipe, Obinna Don Norman, Daniel and Timothy Elombah and Ohimai Amaize who have all been clamped down on by security officials.

The report also mentioned the infamous raid on the headquarters of the ‘Daily Trust’ and its offices in Maiduguri and Lagos, the raid on ‘Premium Times’, the demolition of Breeze 99. 9FM, Fresh 105. 9FM. Many of the journalists concerned were simply doing their work and the normal reaction would have been for those affected by their publications or reports to file a civil case of defamation. Might we point out that even under the military rule, military governors filed civil cases of defamation in protest against journalists or commentators in the newspapers. The case of General Murtala Muhammed Vs Prof. Ohonbamu is a clear

case in point.

So we do ask myself why elected and other public officials file for ‘criminal’ libel against those who defame them. Is the ugly head of the old sedition law which the colonialists used to suppress the pre-independence journalists raising itself again?

If we wish to duly celebrate this International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, then surely moving forward, we should ensure that all elected and political appointees make it a priority to support the growth of the free press, enhancement of freedom of expression. Just how important journalists are to a nation’s well-being can be shown by two examples: What would South Africa be like today if Donald Woods and Helen Zille had not published how Steve Biko was murdered? What would the United States be without Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward having uncovered Watergate?

Our legislators at state and national levels should therefore review all laws which infringe on the enhancement of freedom of the press and amend them appropriately to reflect the democratic status of Nigeria. By the same token, journalists and their associations should also attend to issues of unethical practices amongst their ranks, detect and punish the bad eggs, and expel the quacks who give their noble profession bad names.

Going forward, we can only encourage journalists to seek to make use of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) passed by the 7th National Assembly. It is an ideal tool with which to uncover many hidden secrets in government and an effective investigative instrument. Government agencies and top functionaries must duly obey its provisions, journalists should be ready to enforce the provision through the courts. And their associations should close ranks with the judiciary in ensuring FOIA cases are heard and decided quickly as this is only to the good of the nation. A climate in which people think government is hiding things is one in which confidence in democracy can easily be eroded.

There are of course other issues dogging journalism in Nigeria, such as training and retraining, the onslaught of digitization and the social media. we can only hope the media readily avail themselves of these new opportunities. One other major issue is proper remuneration and failure of employers to regularly pay journalists. An unpaid journalist sent out on assignments is as much a potential danger to society as an armed but unpaid policeman. Wages for work must become a matter of course in a modern Nigeria.

I welcome the fact that foreign institutions such as Germany’s Deutsche Welle are helping train our young up-and-coming journalists as journalism schools and departments in the universities, for example, struggle sometimes to teach development journalism tenets and tactics while also inculcating the techniques into the training. Media organisations must more strongly emphasise the need for objectivity, fairness, truthfulness, accuracy, conciseness and patriotism among professionals. Then the bane of ‘fake news’ will cease to plague us.

In this context, government should proactively initiate policies and programmes aimed at helping the media to develop, rather than fearing them. There is no reason why Nigeria should not have a TV network with a continental reach and in due course rival CNN and Al Jazeera. After all, it would start with a home audience of 200 million! And we do not mean a government channel, as government has always proven to be incapable of managing and growing media outfits. No. Government should solely be the enabler in our new broadband world and remove any obstacles along the way.

First and foremost, however, on this World Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, we call on all security agents across the country to stop allowing themselves to be used in suppressing, oppressing and intimidating journalists. The journalists are the ones who can shed light on, for example, the poor pay of policemen, the unpaid salaries of soldiers, and many other issues. We need our journalists as partners in democratic progress and as free agents of national development. r0MBOJZPOV JT PG UIF "CVCBLBS #VLPMB 4BSBLJ 'PVOEBUJPO XIJMF %S (BJOFT JT B %JSFDUPS PG 5IF "GSJDBO 1PMJUJFB *OTUJUVUF 5"1*

MONDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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MONDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Miserable Weekend for Eagles in European Leagues Iwobi, Osimhen ďŹ re blanks Ighalo not used Simon, Omeruo injured Duro Ikhazuagbe Nigerian internationals had miserable outings for their various clubs in Europe at the weekend with the defeat of Odion Ighalo’s Manchester United at Old Trafford by Arsenal the highlight of the poor performances.

Ighalo was not listed as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s second-half penalty gave Arsenal

their first Premier League victory in 14 years at Old Trafford yesterday.

Gabonese Aubameyang ended a run of five games without a goal by sending David de Gea the wrong way on 69th minutes after Paul Pogba had fouled Hector Bellerin in the box.

The Gunners now have 12 points and are up to eighth while United remain in 15th on seven points.

It was another miserable outing for Alex Iwobi and his Everton teammates who suffered a 1-2 loss at St. James’ Park against Newcastle United.

Iwobi featured in the last 15 minutes of Everton’s second defeat of the domestic league season.

Elsewhere in the Italian Serie A, Victor Osimhen fired blanks as Napoli suffered a 0-2 home

defeat in Naples to Sassuolo.

Although Osimhen was denied a penalty that would have leveled scores and perhaps change the game, the visitors went ahead to grab the second vital goal that sealed any hope of a fightback from Gennaro Gattuso’s men.

That defeat has now pulled Napoli one step back to No 5, while winners Sassuolo are now

second on the Serie A log with Juventus that defeated Spezia 4-1 in third place.

In late Saturday night fixture between Nantes and PSG in the French Ligue 1, Eagles winger, Moses Simon had to be substituted after just 25 minutes due to a groin injury in the game the former lost to the capital city team.

Yesterday in the Spanish

second tier Segunda, Kenneth Omeruo also picked an Injury as Leganes edged out Mirandes 1-0.

Omeruo limped out of the pitch three minutes after the break and was replaced by Roberto Rosales. Jose Arnaiz netted the winning goal for the home team in the 49th minute.

The 27-year-old has made seven league appearances for Leganes this season

AFCON 2022 QUALIFIER

Obaseki Assures Players, Fans of Maximum Security at Ogbemudia Stadium Adibe Emenyonuin Benin City Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has assured players, supporters and all other visitors coming to the state for the Super Eagles’ 2022 AFCON qualifier against Sierra Leone of maximum security at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

The match is scheduled to be played on November 13, a day after the inauguration of the governor and his deputy, Mr. Philip Shaibu, for their second term of office.

The game is the first competitive match for the Super Eagles since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and is also the first official event to hold at the refurbished Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, reaffirmed the readiness of the state to host the teams and lovers of football, expressing confidence that the Super Eagles will be victorious.

According to him, “We are proud to play host to the

AFCON 2022 qualifier between our Super Eagles and Leone Stars of Sierra Leone at the world-class Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. “This match is dear to us as it is coming barely 24 hours after the inauguration of Governor Godwin Obaseki on November 12. “As a sport loving government, the Governor Obaseki-led administration has made concerted efforts to ensure the safety and security of all players, supporters and visitors who would be in the state for the football match. The governor has promised that the Super Eagles won’t lack any form of support to come out victorious in Benin City on November 13. “The very competitive match will also be an opportunity for the governor to showcase to Edo people and Nigerians the holistic transformation of the stadium into a world-class facility. Players and supporters alike will be treated to one of the best sporting facilities in the world, which features a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.

After Medicals, Enugu Rangers Set for New NPFL Season Management of seven-time Nigeria league champions, Rangers International F.C of Enugu at the weekend, completed the medical tests for their returning players and newly acquired ones as preparations for the fast approaching NPFL 2020/2021 season kick off in earnest.

The medical examinations were carried out by a team of doctors led by Dr. Wen Udeoji, Rangers’ team doctor and all the players pencilled down to defend the colours of the ‘Flying Antelopes’ for the coming season participated in the exercise.

Captain of the side, Tope Olusesi, who was around for the medical examination said, “We thank God for bringing us together again for the new season and the medical examination is a requirement for full registration in the league, hence we have to take it. “I thank our management

who have been working around the clock to keep the club going and it is my strong belief that we shall deliver the goods this time around for the government and good people of Enugu State as well as our teaming supporters all over the world,� observed the Rangers captain.

With the end of the medical examinations on the players, coach Salisu Yusuf and his lieutenants took the players to the main-bowl of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium for the first feel of the pitch in the last seven months.

Coach Salisu, after the morning session on Saturday, congratulated the players for making the list of players to defend the club’ colour in the coming season while charging them to up their game as the Flying Antelopes as in chase of a double in the 2020/2021 NPFL season that is expected to kick off mid November.

Match winner Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang (centre) celebrating Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat of Manchester United at Old Trafford...yesterday

Stoke City Boss, O’Neill, Hails ‘Excellent’ Mikel Stoke City Manager Michael O’Neill has showered encomium on John Obi Mikel for his performance in their 1-0 victory over Rotherham United in the Championship game played at the Bet365 Stadium..

James McClean scored the only goal of the game in the 27th minute as the Potters secured their fourth win of the season.

Mikel was one of the stand-out performers in the encounter, playing a key role as the Bet365 Stadium outfit kept a clean sheet.

The former Super Eagles

captain had 36 touches on the ball, made two tackles and won five aerial contests in the match.

O’Neill praised the contribution of the 33-yearold former Chelsea stalwart as well as Jordan Thompson and Nick Powell for his side’s victory. “In all honesty, it’s not probably the kind of game that Jordan thrives in but John (Mikel) was excellent, a great presence, and Jordan was important beside him,�

O’Neill toldreporters shortly after the game. “I thought Nick Powell

was terrific as well. He was that good link between the midfield and Steven Fletcher. “We stood up to a very physical challenge and we’re delighted to get the three points.�

Mikel teamed up with the Potters in the summer after parting ways with Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor on mutual agreement.

The midfielder has been impressive in the games he has featured for the club so far, helping them to the eighth spot on the Championship table.

Mikel made a name for

himself during his time with Premier League club Chelsea, where he spent 11years and won a number of accolades including the league title and the Champions League trophy.

The former Super Eagles captain has already revealed his desire to help Stoke gain promotion to the English top-flight at the end of the 2020-21 season.

The midfielder will hope to continue his impressive form for the Potters when they take on William Troost-Ekong’s Watford in their next league game on Wednesday.

HotSports Welcome Ibitoye Back to the Beat After a five-and-a-half-year hiatus from active sports journalism, Toyin Ibitoye, returned to the beat last week following his completion of an acclaimed and highly successful tour of duty as the Media Officer of the Super Eagles.

And leading sports production and marketing company, HotSports Nigeria Ltd has finalised plans to formally welcome back the brilliant and resourceful purveyor of sports news and information whose experience cuts across the print and electronic media.

The event slated for Studio 2 inside the Company’s sprawling television production complex in Ikeja, Lagos takes place 4pm, Sunday, November 8, 2020.

Leading the welcome party will be Taye Ige, President/ CEO assisted by top officials of the Company. Expected to

grace the event will be Ibitoye’s friends and family members, top officials of the Nigerian Football Federation and other leading lights of the football confraternity in Nigeria, sports editors and managers of Nigerian newspapers and programmes on radio and television.

In a release he personally signed yesterday, Ige said “On behalf of the Teams at both HotSports Nigeria Ltd & HS Studios, Nigeria’s leading sports marketing company and owners of the largest television production complex in the west coast of Africa, I wish to extend my heartfelt salutation and congratulations to our colleague, Toyin Ibitoye on the successful completion of his tour of duty. “Relevant members of the HotSports Team and I would like to recall, with immense gratitude, how pleasurable it was working with you in the last

five-and-a-half years especially during our several activations in furtherance of our roles as both the official media partner as well as marketing consultant to the Nigeria Football Federation.

We all know how difficult access to the national team camp can sometimes be. This became significantly easy for us to achieve under your watch, making both our editorial and marketing activation responsibilities much easier to carry out. It has thus been a privilege working with you and now it’s an honour to celebrate the legacy of hard work and exceptional dedication to duty you have left behind for your successor. “Secondly, that the Super Eagles largely delighted us with good results on the field of play during your tenure, qualifying for both the AFCON and the FIFA World Cup finals in grand style (in some cases two matches ahead) is also

evidently traceable to the quality of “technical assistance� you afforded the Team’s chief coach, Mr. Gernot Rorh. It is not for nothing that, in informed circles, Toyin, you were known as the de facto assistant to the national coach as you were reputed to put at his disposal your awesomely rich knowledge of Nigerian players, their current status in their various Clubs both home and abroad as well as advise him on the best formations to adopt based on options of players available at any given time.

Ige concluded; “It is for these services to our Company and to our dear country that we wish to thank you and formally welcome you back to the profession we know you have always loved.

We know your passion for sports journalism and we are almost certain that you can’t wait to get back to it.�

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MONDAYSPORTS

The Stigmatization of a Sportsman

T

he attack and criticism was totally off colour and uncalled for. A journalist had put in a reply to a tweet by Super Eagles midfielder John Ogu. The midfielder (who seems to be getting very vocal on social issues and rightly so) had criticized Lagos State lawmaker Desmond Elliot on the latter’s plan to regulate social media. A renowned journalist, famous only for being a host in the defunct HITV, shut him up, criticizing Ogu and telling him to face football and not politics as he is a professional footballer. This was not only ill-advised but very myopic and wrong.

The responses on his twitter feed hopefully should make him realise that. Ogu may be a footballer but he has rights to speak too and more importantly, because he is a footballer does not make him incapable of other things.

I never downplay my achievements. No, certainly not. I may not gloat or boast about it but I certainly know that winning an Olympic Gold Medal is not commonplace, especially in a country like mine where

we have had only three to give a key remark Gold medals in our whole in a large high school history, won by 30 people. reunion. I was scheduled (One by an exceptionally to speak immediately after talented lady, Chioma a classmate of mine who Ajunwa, another by a very was a doctor. After standing gifted football team of 23 for some eternal minutes players and the third by listening to his citation of the great effort of a superb 4 x 400m relay team of 6 individuals which I was an integral part of). To put that in context, only 30 people in a country of 180million people can lay claim to be an Olympic Gold medallist.

That is 0.0000162162 per cent of the population and statistically, that is an insignificant number.

So you will understand when I have the feeling of a rare breed.

The rarity doesn’t stop there. With the risk of sounding braggadocious, I am the only male multiple Olympic medallist. The honour I share with only two other female Nigerian John Ogu...more than Olympians, so one can just footballer see why I feel entitled to a special place in my university education, his country’s history. professional fellowships and However, while I how he has self-financed appreciate the recognition his specialist course in the given me in certain social United Kingdom. I was circles, I cringe at the later simply introduced, ‘stigmatization’ of my when it was my turn, person as being just a as an ‘Olympic Gold ‘sport person’. medallist. While the I was once selected cheer I received was the

loudest, I was quick to remind all around that I had a stellar university education at the College of Medical Sciences, and had self-sponsored my studies for my Masters in Sports Administration in Switzerland while simultaneously pursuing my professional qualifications and running a great business start-up in which I had employed over one hundred people.

This I had hoped would make people understand that there is more to just sports in that body of mine.

During a corporate dinner, I was introduced to a business executive. After telling him of my business interests and successes in a struggling market, my host cheekily added, “And he is an Olympic Gold Medallist�. Well it seemed to be the only words that the executive heard as he inquired about my sport and my race before adding, “When are you going to produce more athletes like you?� While I am a pretty good coach with requisite knowledge and qualification, I was not mooted as such to him and I am not even actively coaching. So I actually felt very insulted by the

generalization that as a former athlete, I must transit into a coach. It is one of the most common errors of conclusion as to the capability or usefulness of a sports person in Nigeria that after their active sports career, its only coaching that they may have the ability to do. I politely had to tell the executive that since he was once a student that probably did well in his exams in college, I would like to know when he would become a teacher and produce more “exam passing� students?

Only recently while discussing politics with some colleagues, one person impertinently said to me that I should “leave politics alone and stick to sports.� I was not a bit amused. It was because they had a concept of stigmatization that a sports man is all brawl and no brain. I was not diplomatic in reminding him that as a qualified lawyer, he should not have dabbled into politics. Also

questioning if he thought politics was a profession?

Our politicians are lawyers, business leaders, doctors, etc. so a sportsman being a politician or knowledgeable in politics is not nouvelle.

It must be understood that a great sportsman is human just like any other person, only with the added talent of being very good in sports and to many of these well-groomed athletes, sports is just an ad-hoc responsibility and not their main profession.

And so, when next a politician is brought to be accountable or anything close to that, we should all remember that politics is more of a responsibility than a career. And yes, the professional actor, Desmond Elliot knows this.

* EneďŹ ok is an author, Speaker, administrator, Life coach, businessman and Nigeria’s ONLY Male two Time Olympic Medalist

SERIE A

Ibrahimovic’s Winner Extends Milan’s 24-match Unbeaten Run Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored another acrobatic late winner as AC Milan consolidated top spot in

the Italian Serie A with victory at Udinese on Sunday.

The 39-year-old hooked

in a seventh goal in just four league appearances this season. “Mine was a good goal

Sir Bobby Becomes Fifth 1966 World Cup Hero Diagnosed with Dementia One of England’s greatest footballers, Sir Bobby Charlton has been diagnosed with dementia- a disease characterized by loss of memory.

He featured for Manchester United and was a member of the 1966 World Cup winning team with the Three Lions.

The news of the 83-year old legend’s condition was broken to UK’s The Telegraph newspaper by his wife, Lady Norma Charlton at the weekend.

His diagnosis comes just days after the death of his former team-mate, Nobby Stiles, and three months after the passing of his older brother, Jack, at the age of 85.

Both were discovered to have been diagnosed with dementia in their later years.

The Telegraph reports that Lady Norma hopes the news may now ‘help others’.

Sir Bobby featured in every minute of England’s World Cup glory campaign in 1966.

The revered former midfielder also won the Ballon d’Or in the same year.

He is regarded as one of the finest footballers in history – and scored 49 goals in total on the international stage.

The icon netted 249 goals in 758 games for United, and was a crucial performer in the club’s first European Cup triumph in 1968.

Sir Bobby was a survivor of the tragic Munich Air Disaster in 1958, which saw 23 people killed on board.

Up until the end of last season, he was regularly spotted attending United games alongside Lady Norma.

His diagnosis will increase demands for football to do more to deal with dementia in professionals after the passing of Stiles on Friday.

Stiles, Martin Peters, Jack Charlton and Ray Wilson, all members of the 1966 group of heroes, have died in the last couple of years after living with dementia.

A Staffordshire corner concluded, when examining the death of former West Brom forward Jeff Astle, that heavy, rain-sodded footballs – coupled with the game’s physicality – might have been a cause of his neurodegeneration.

His daughter, Dawn, has spearheaded the campaign for research into the area.

She said: “Our hope back then was we might establish a real understanding of the link within perhaps 10 years at least.

That might mean we could help families, even though it was too late for people like my dad.�

However, it was only 12 months ago that analysis, funded by the PFA and the FA, firmly established the connection made all those years ago.

It was discovered there was a five-fold increase in the risk of Alzheimer’s, a four-fold increase in motor neurone disease and a two-fold increase in Parkinson’s among former players.

but the victory counts more,� said Ibrahimovic. “We are among the youngest teams in Europe, I take the blame for raising the average age, but they all make me feel younger.�

Ibrahimovic - who now has 17 goals in 22 Serie

A games in his second spell with Milan - created the first goal for Franck Kessie before Rodrigo de Paul pulled Udinese level from the penalty spot.

Ibrahimovic snatched the win when he acrobatically tricked Udinese defenders

Rodrigo Becao and Sebastian de Maio to beat goalkeeper Juan Musso with the close-range overhead kick.

Milan are unbeaten in 24 matches since competition resumed in June after the coronavirus lockdown.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic doing the over-head kick that extended AC Milan’s unbeaten 24-game run since last June

Gyan Returns to Ghana Club Football

Sir Bobby Charlton...diagnosed of dementia

Former national captain Asamoah Gyan, 34, has returned to play his club football in Ghana in a move hoped to boost the local league.

Gyan, the top goalscorer in Black Stars’ history with 51 goals, has joined Legon Cities FC on a one-year renewable deal. “I’m happy to join this club because they have a future plan for Ghana football,� said Gyan, who had been a free agent, on social media at the weekend. “We think that if he comes to Ghana to play, he will lift the ground of Ghanaian football and the other professional Ghanaian football superstars who have left will also come back to lift the

Ghana league,� said Gyan’s agent, Sammy Anim.

The former BBC African Footballer of the Year turned down offers from Qatar and elsewhere to secure his return to the Ghanaian game. “I know Gyan is going to make an impact, like he did in Dubai and other countries,� added Anim.

The forward’s sole previous club in Ghana was Liberty Professionals, who he left in 2003 to embark on a career that incorporated spells in Italy, France, England, Turkey, China and the United Arab Emirates.

During an illustrious international career, Gyan not

only scored at several Africa Cup of Nations but also became the highest scoring African in World Cup history - with six goals.

Asamoah Gyan...back to his root

Monday November 2, 2020

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MISSILE

PDP to Minister

“Our party wants to inform the minister that such infantile antics cannot sway Nigerians, as the public is already aware that CACOVID palliatives came from donations from well-meaning individuals and organisations, which is completely dierent from the N500 billion voted by the federal government, which has not been accounted forâ€? – PDP calling on the Minister of Humanitarian Aairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Ms. Sadiya Farouq, to account for monies released as COVID-19 intervention fund.

ALEXOTTI OUTSIDE THE BOX

alex.otti@thisdaylive.com

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the World Trade Organisation “The single most exciting thing you encounter in government is competence, because it’s so rare�

- Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (1927-2003) “Knowledge is great, Competence is great. But the combination of both encourages people to trust you and increases your powers of enchantment.

And in this world, the combination is a breath of fresh air�

- Guy Kawasaki

I

t is always refreshing to have Nigeria in the news for the right reasons. For several months now, our country has been the focus of intense media mention following the Žě˜›Â?ÂœČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂ˜Â—ÂŽČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂ˜ÂžÂ›ČąÂ&#x;ÂŽÂ›Â˘ČąÂ‹ÂŽÂœÂ?ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ‘ÂŽÂŠÂ?ČąÂ?‘Žȹ world’s highest body on trade, the World Trade Organisation (WTO). This eminent Nigerian is none other than Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (NOI). She was Nigeria’s Minister of Finance in the Obasanjo government and during the Jonathan administration, she was reappointed Minister Of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. Before then, she spent most of her working life at the World Bank, where she rose to become Managing Director. She earned Â‘ÂŽÂ›ČąÄ™Â›ÂœÂ?ČąÂ?ÂŽÂ?›ŽŽȹÂ?Â›Â˜Â–Čą Š›Â&#x;Š›Â?Čą —’Â&#x;Ž›œ’Â?¢ȹŠ—Â?Čą ‹˜Â?‘ȹ ‘Ž›ȹ Čą Š—Â?Čą ‘ Čą Â?Â›Â˜Â–Čą ÂŠÂœÂœÂŠÂŒÂ‘ÂžÂœÂŽÄ´ÂœČą Institute Of Technology, both in the USA. She is from Abia State like Yours Truly and I can say, without any equivocation, that she is one of the Abia citizens genuinely worried about the contradiction and confusion that the state has become lately. Abia is, without doubt, a state that has produced some of the best minds and hands in the country. Painfully, the same state is Â?Â‘Â’ÂœČąÂ?’–ŽǰȹÂ?ŽŠ•’—Â?ȹ ’Â?‘ȹŠȹ•ŽŠÂ?ÂŽÂ›ÂœÂ‘Â’Â™ČąÂ?ŽęŒ’Â?ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ?‘Žȹ point that it is almost a failed state. Today, Abia is reeling in rot and decay. It is practically a broken system with a parlous state of infrastructure.

I recall a story NOI once told about when she brought the former World Bank President Robert Zoellick to Aba. As they were riding in the car together, she was embarrassed when the man thundered, I can understand that people are poor here, but must the place be this dirty?â€? ŠÂ?•¢ǰȹÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂœÂ?Â˜Â›Â˘Ç°ČąÂ›ÂŠÂ?‘Ž›ȹÂ?‘Š—ȹÂ?ŽĴ’—Â?ČąÂ‹ÂŽÄ´ÂŽÂ›Ç°ČąÂ‘ÂŠÂœČą got worse, but that is a story for another day.

The year 2020 can actually be compartmentalised ’—Â?Â˜ČąÂœÂ™ÂŽÂŒÂ’Ä™ÂŒČąÂŽÂ&#x;Ž—Â?ÂœČąÂ•Â’Â”ÂŽČą ˜›˜—ŠÂ&#x;Â’Â›ÂžÂœÇ°ČąÂŒÂ›ÂžÂ?ÂŽČąÂ˜Â’Â•Čą market meltdown, EndSARS and lately, the WTO. In each of these, things rose to such frenzy that most other things were drowned out. In the ÂŒÂŠÂœÂŽČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂ?‘Žȹ Ç°ČąÂ?Â‘Â’ÂœČąÂ ÂŽÂŽÂ”ČąÂ’ÂœČąÂ Â‘ÂŽÂ—ČąÂ’Â?ȹꗊ••¢ȹ makes landfall. Â˜Â›Čą Œ˜—Â?ÂŽÂĄÂ?Čą œŽĴ’—Â?Ç°Čą Â?‘Žȹ Â Â‘Â˜Â•ÂŽČą Â’ÂœÂœÂžÂŽČą Š‹˜žÂ?Čą trade assumed importance as the outcome of the economic theory of specialisation and division of labour. To maximise global productivity, the concept of global trade gave rise to the General Â?›ŽŽ–Ž—Â?ČąÂ˜Â?Čą Š›’ěȹŠ—Â?Čą ›ŠÂ?Žȹǝ ǟȹ’—ȹŗĹ&#x;ĹšĹœČą after the Second World War. It was the GATT that gave rise to the WTO founded on January 1, 1995. The main objective of WTO was to ensure that rules of trade between member countries are respected and that trade was not only promoted amongst member countries, but is smooth, predictable and free of hiccups and Â‹Â˜Ä´Â•ÂŽÂ—ÂŽÂŒÂ”ÂœÇŻČą Â’Â?‘ȹ’Â?ÂœČąÂ‘ÂŽÂŠÂ?šžŠ›Â?ÂŽÂ›ÂœČąÂ’Â—Čą Ž—ŽÂ&#x;Šǰȹ the WTO is made up of 164 member nations who account for about 98% of world trade. With Šȹ ÂœÂ?Šěȹ ÂœÂ?›Ž—Â?Â?‘ȹ ˜Â?Čą ˜Â&#x;Ž›ȹ ĹœĹ–Ĺ–Ç°Čą Â?‘Žȹ ˜›Â?Š—’œŠÂ?Â’Â˜Â—Čą spends about $215m annually. The WTO had operated without a Director General (DG) since September 1, 2020 following the resignation of Â?Â‘ÂŽČąĹœÂ?‘ȹ Čą ˜‹Ž›Â?Â˜Čą ÂŁÂŽÂ&#x;ÂŽÂ?Â˜ČąÂŽÄ›ÂŽÂŒÂ?Â’Â&#x;ÂŽČą žÂ?žœÂ?Čą 31, 2020, a year before the expiration of his tenure. His exit necessitated the search for his replacement and by the close of nomination

Okonjo-Iweala on July 8, 2020, eight candidates from eight countries were nominated. The elimination process started based on the procedure already established by the council for picking a new DG.

By October 28, 2020, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala Â ÂŠÂœČąÂœÂŽÂ•ÂŽÂŒÂ?ÂŽÂ?ČąÂŠÂœČąÂ?‘ŽȹÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂ‹ÂŽÄ´ÂŽÂ›ČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂŒÂŠÂ—Â?Â’Â?ŠÂ?ÂŽÂœČą who would secure consensus from the member countries. This followed a voting process by member countries where she polled 104 out of the 164 votes. Her candidacy was backed

by China, Europe, Africa, and many other members. She was to proceed to the General Council for endorsement by November 9, 2020. ČąÂ?Â˜Â›Â–ÂŠÂ•ČąÂŠÂ—Â—Â˜ÂžÂ—ÂŒÂŽÂ–ÂŽÂ—Â?ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ?‘ŠÂ?ČąÂŽÄ›ÂŽÂŒÂ?ȹ‘ŠÂ?ȹ‹ŽŽ—ȹ made by the Chair of the General Council, Ambassador David Walker. Celebration had started in Nigeria and elsewhere as ordinarily, the meeting of November 9, would have just been a formal endorsement and announcement of the appointment, but that was not going to be. The US was to drop a bombshell later that day, objecting to the candidacy of Okonjo Iweala in preference for her closest rival Ms. Yoo Myung-hee of South Korea. The US gave Â?Â Â˜ČąÂ›ÂŽÂŠÂœÂ˜Â—ÂœČąÂ?Â˜Â›ČąÂ’Â?Č‚ÂœČąÂŠÂŒÂ?Â’Â˜Â—ÇŻČą Â‘ÂŽČąÄ™Â›ÂœÂ?ČąÂ’ÂœČąÂ?‘ŠÂ?Čą Čą didn’t have the required trade experience while the second was that the selection process didn’t follow laid down procedure. Were these the real reasons or were they a smokescreen?

Before going further, we would like to recall Â?‘ŠÂ?Čą Â?Â‘Â’ÂœČą Â’ÂœČą —˜Â?Čą Â?‘Žȹ ꛜÂ?Čą Â?’–Žȹ Â?‘ŠÂ?Čą Â?‘Žȹ Čą Â’ÂœČą standing against the candidacy of NOI. In 2012, when she presented herself for the position of the Presidency of the World Bank, the Obama administration blocked her and instead supported the South Korean-born Dr. Jim Yong Kim, who eventually secured the position and served as the 12th World Bank President between 2012 and 2019.

Turning to the the US allegation that the organisation didn’t follow procedure in the selection process, this has been found to hold no water as the procedure for the selection of DG is established in a WTO document reference WT/L/509 dated January 20, 2003 and was on the contrary, followed, except for a clause which requires that the search of a new DG should commence 9 months before the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent. Given that the incumbent resigned before his tenure expired, this nomination couldn’t have started at the prescribed time. One also considers this, inconsequential when viewed alongside important issues central

to choosing a credible candidate for the role. The other point raised by the US for not supporting Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s candidacy is that she is not experienced for the role. We consider this very preposterous and certainly deserves no response.

Those not familiar with her are encouraged to access and read her resume to assure themselves that no other candidate bidding for the WTO Â“Â˜Â‹Čą ÂŒÂŠÂ–ÂŽČą Â?Â˜Čą Â?‘Žȹ Â?Š‹•Žȹ  ’Â?‘ȹ ‹ŽĴŽ›ȹ Œ›ŽÂ?Ž—Â?Â’ÂŠÂ•ÂœÇŻČą So what could be the real reasons for the US ŠŒÂ?Â’Â˜Â—ÇľČą ’쎛Ž—Â?ČąÂ›ÂŽÂŠÂœÂ˜Â—ÂœČąÂ‘ÂŠÂ&#x;Žȹ‹ŽŽ—ȹŠÂ?Â?žŒŽÂ?ȹ‹¢ȹ Â?’쎛Ž—Â?ČąÂŠÂ—ÂŠÂ•Â˘ÂœÂ?ÂœÇŻČą ÂŽČąÂœÂ‘ÂŠÂ•Â•ČąÂŽÂĄÂ™Â•Â˜Â›ÂŽČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽÂœÂŽČąÂ’Â—ČąÂ?ž›—ǯ With President Trump’s rhetoric and actions, some people have advanced the racist theory. It Â’ÂœČąÂ—Â˜Â?ČąÂ?’ĜŒž•Â?ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ‹ÂžÂ˘ČąÂ’Â—Â?Â˜ČąÂ?Â‘Â’ÂœČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽÂ˜Â›Â˘ČąÂ?Â’Â&#x;Ž—ȹÂ?‘Žȹ antecedents of Washington but then NOI acquired US citizenship last year, even though acquiring US citizenship does not remove anything from the fact that she is a black Nigerian and she is also being sponsored by Nigeria. Added to this is the gender issue which many people even though may not admit, are still sensitive to. Some people may not stomach the fact that she is not Â˜Â—Â•Â˘ČąÂ‹Â•ÂŠÂŒÂ”ČąÂ‹ÂžÂ?ČąÂ ÂŠÂœČąÂ?˜’—Â?ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂŽÂ–ÂŽÂ›Â?ÂŽČąÂŠÂœČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÄ™Â›ÂœÂ?Čą female to occupy that position. However, this Â?Â‘ÂŽÂ˜Â›Â˘ČąÂ?ÂŠÂ•Â•ÂœČąÄšÂŠÂ?ČąÂ˜Â—ČąÂ’Â?ÂœČąÂ?ÂŠÂŒÂŽČąÂ Â‘ÂŽÂ—ČąÂ˜Â—ÂŒÂŽČąÂ›ÂŽÂŠÂ•Â’ÂœÂŽÂœČą that the candidate the USA is backing is also female.

The US - China trade war has also been adduced as the unspoken reason why the US decided to withhold accent to her candidacy.

The argument is that since Donald Trump became President, he has been in a running ‹ŠĴ•Žȹ ’Â?‘ȹ Â‘Â’Â—ÂŠČąÂ˜Â&#x;Ž›ȹ ‘ŠÂ?ȹ‘Žȹ›ŽÂ?ÂŽÂ›ÂœČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂžÂ—Â?Š’›ȹ trade practices by China. He argues that China deliberately holds its currency value down in order to dump cheap goods on America, thereby weakening productivity in America. He had ÂŠÂ•ÂœÂ˜ČąÂŠÂŒÂŒÂžÂœÂŽÂ?ČąÂ?‘Žȹ ČąÂ˜Â?ȹ‹Ž’—Â?ČąÂ’Â—ÂŽÄ›ÂŽÂŒÂ?Â’Â&#x;ŽȹŠ—Â?Čą would ordinarily not support any candidate supported by China. His fears are that NOI would push policies favourable to China at the detriment of US interest. Also, being that she is being sponsored by Nigeria which has increased its trade and business relations with China, she came out on the bad side of the US. Again, it is argued in some quarters that Nigeria Â’ÂœČą Š—ȹ ’—œ’Â?—’ęŒŠ—Â?Čą –Ž–‹Ž›ȹ ˜Â?Čą Â?‘Žȹ Čą Š—Â?Čą Â?‘Ž›ŽÂ?Â˜Â›ÂŽČąÂ‘ÂŠÂœČąÂ&#x;ÂŽÂ›Â˘ČąÂ•Â’Ä´Â•ÂŽČąÂœÂ?Š”Žȹ’—ȹÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂ˜Â›Â?Š—’œŠÂ?Â’Â˜Â—Čą Š—Â?ČąÂ Â˜ÂžÂ•Â?ČąÂ—Â˜Â?ȹŽ¥Ž›Â?ČąÂœÂ˜ČąÂ–ÂžÂŒÂ‘ČąÂ’Â—ÄšÂžÂŽÂ—ÂŒÂŽČąÂ˜Â—ČąÂ Â‘ÂŠÂ?Čą happens at the WTO. Out of all the theories, the one that looks Â–Â˜Â›ÂŽČąÂ™Â•ÂŠÂžÂœÂ’Â‹Â•ÂŽČąÂ‘ÂŠÂœČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ Â’Â?‘ȹÂ?‘Žȹ‹ŠĴ•Žȹ‹ŽÂ? ŽŽ—ȹ globalisation and protectionism. When people hear Trump scream, ‘America First’ or ‘Make America Great Again’, what he really means is that globalization has hurt America and the time has come for Protectionism. In the past, there had been increasing push towards globalisation and that is the whole reason behind the formation of Â?Â‘ÂŽČąÂ‹Â˜Â?¢ȹ’—ȹÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÄ™Â›ÂœÂ?ČąÂ™Â•ÂŠÂŒÂŽÇŻČą Â‘ÂŽČąÂ Â˜Â›Â•Â?ČąÂŽÂŒÂ˜Â—Â˜Â–Â˘Ç°Čą however, seems to be headed towards more domestication and protectionism. So, rather than pushing globalisation, Trump has been pushing Â–Â˜Â›ÂŽČąÂ˜Â?ČąÂ™Â›Â˜Â?ÂŽÂŒÂ?Â’Â˜Â—Â’ÂœÂ–ÇŻČą ÂŠÄ´ÂŽÂ›ÂœČąÂ‘ÂŠÂ&#x;ÂŽČąÂ—Â˜Â?ȹ‹ŽŽ—ȹ helped by the Coronavirus Pandemic which disrupted global supply chain and exposed America and the the rest of the world to supply vulnerabilities. In fact, it was only China that managed to keep its factories open. So some parts of the world is rethinking the globalisation strategy. Based on her antecedents, NOI is seen to be a candidate that would push more globalisation Â?Â‘ÂŠÂ—ČąÂ™Â›Â˜Â?ÂŽÂŒÂ?Â’Â˜Â—Â’ÂœÂ–ÇŻČą ‘Žȹ ČąÂŒÂŠÂ—Â—Â˜Â?ČąÂŠÄ›Â˜Â›Â?ČąÂ?Â˜ČąÂ?Š”Žȹ the risk. In fact, the WTO seems to have been a toothless bulldog in the recent times because the interests of member nations do not seem to align on the issue of globalisation. Instead of common trade agreements that will harmonise

Â?ÂŠÂ›Â’Ä›ÂœÇ°Čą  ‘ŠÂ?Čą Â’ÂœČą ÂœÂŽÂŽÂ—Čą Š›Žȹ ›ŽÂ?Â’Â˜Â—ÂŠÂ•Čą Š—Â?Čą ‹’•ŠÂ?Ž›Š•ȹ agreements that seem to stand in contradiction with the WTO. The US seems to trust the South Korean candidate more as she had done things in the past that seem to push protectionism. The US seems to also be safer with her because of the position of her country which is in complete alignment with its interest. Supporting her against a popular candidate like Okonjo Iweala would give the US some advantage in that she would be expected to be very loyal to the US without which, she wouldn’t have emerged.

Given the scenario above, what are the options Â˜Â™ÂŽÂ—Čą Â?Â˜Čą ›ǯȹ Â?Â˜ÂŁÂ’Čą Â”Â˜Â—Â“Â˜ČŹ  ŽŠ•ŠǾǯȹ ‘Žȹ ꛜÂ?Čą is for Nigeria, leading Africa, to get Ms. Yoo Myung-hee to withdraw from the race. This cause of action is what is recommended in the ™›˜ŒŽÂ?ÂžÂ›ÂŽÂœČąÂ–ÂŠÂ—ÂžÂŠÂ•ČąÂŒÂ’Â?ÂŽÂ?ČąÂŠÂ‹Â˜Â&#x;ÂŽÇŻČą Â?ČąÂœÂ™ÂŽÂŒÂ’Ä™ÂŒÂŠÂ•Â•Â˘Čą requires that contending candidates withdraw ŠÂ?ČąÂŽÂŠÂŒÂ‘ČąÂœÂ?ŠÂ?ÂŽČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽÂ˘ČąÂ›ÂŽÂŠÂ•Â’ÂœÂŽČąÂ?‘ŠÂ?ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽÂ˘ČąÂŒÂŠÂ—Â—Â˜Â?ČąÂŠÄ´Â›ÂŠÂŒÂ?Čą consensus. However, expecting her to withdraw is looking far fetched as the day draws near.

Besides, the fact that a member like the powerful USA is behind her is enough moral booster for her and it would be a tough order for her to just withdraw. Nevertheless, there is enough South Korean interest to guarantee by the African lobby team to get a concession from them and their candidate.

The next option is for the US to withdraw her support for Ms. Myung-hee and move same to ÇŻČą Â‘Â’ÂœČąÂŒÂŠÂ—ČąÂ‘ÂŠÂ™Â™ÂŽÂ—ČąÂ’Â?ČąÂœÂžÄœÂŒÂ’ÂŽÂ—Â?ČąÂ™Â›ÂŽÂœÂœÂžÂ›ÂŽČąÂ’ÂœČą brought to bear on the US or in the event that Trump loses the November 3 election to Joe Biden. Some pundits have argued that even if Trump loses, there is no guarantee that Biden would not continue with the present position of the US as his silence may mean that he does —˜Â?ČąÂ?’œŠÂ?›ŽŽȹ ’Â?‘ȹ Â›ÂžÂ–Â™ČąÂ˜Â—ČąÂ?Â‘Â’ÂœČąÂ–ÂŠÄ´ÂŽÂ›ÇŻČą The sure direction is that November 9 would come. On that day NOI would be presented as the candidate that is more likely to have a consensus built around her. If any of the above considered scenarios do not play out, the US will Â?Žę—’Â?Ž•¢ȹ –Š”Žȹ Š—ȹ ŠĴŽ–™Â?Čą Â?Â˜Čą Â‹Â•Â˜ÂŒÂ”Čą Â’Â?ÇŻČą ‘Ž—ȹ all else fails, the General Council would be left with the only option of dividing the house and activating clause 20 of the Procedures document which calls for voting. It is important to note that in its 25 year history, this clause has never been activated and no one has been selected without consensus. The clause states that in the unlikely event that this clause is activated, it should not be seen as a precedent, but as a last resort. If this happens, Dr. Okonjo Iweala will win majority of the votes, all things being equal. However, there may be likely backlash amongst which may be that the US and some of its allies may pull out of the WTO. This is a scenario that Trump has no qualms about.

After all, he had the boldness to pull out of the World Health Organisation (WHO), during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Should this happen, it would leave a big dent on the organisation that may eventually sound the death knell on WTO, except if it is properly and delicately managed.

Anyhow it pans out, we salute the courage and tenacity of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. She is a true Nigerian heroine. She has done very well. Even if at the end of the day, she does —˜Â?ČąÂœÂžÂŒÂŒÂŽÂŽÂ?ȹ’—ȹÂ?ŽĴ’—Â?ČąÂ?Â‘ÂŽČąÂ“Â˜Â‹Ç°ČąÂœÂ‘ÂŽČąÂ‘ÂŠÂœČąÂ?˜žÂ?‘Â?Čą Â?‘ŽȹÂ?˜˜Â?ȹęÂ?‘Â?ÇŻČą Â‘ÂŽČąÂœÂ?˜˜Â?ČąÂ Â‘ÂŽÂ›ÂŽČąÂ˜Â?Â‘ÂŽÂ›ÂœČąÂ?Š’•ŽÂ?ÇŻČą She has made every African, Nigerian and woman very proud. We wish her success as we approach November 9. Well done Ada Ukwu. Â—ÂŽČąÄ™Â—ÂŠÂ•ČąÂ Â˜Â›Â?ČąÂ?‘˜žÂ?Â‘ČąÂ’ÂœČąÂ?‘ŠÂ?ČąÂ Â‘Â’Â•ÂŽČąÂ˘Â˜ÂžČąÄ™Â?‘Â?Čą Â?Â˜Â›ČąÂ?‘ŽȹÂ?Â•Â˜Â‹ÂŠÂ•ČąÂ˜ÄœÂŒÂŽÇ°ČąÂœÂ™ÂŠÂ›ÂŽČąÂŠČąÂ?‘˜žÂ?‘Â?ČąÂ?Â˜Â›ČąÂ˘Â˜ÂžÂ›Čą dear state, Abia. The proverbial grieving bird is still crying.

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