TUESDAY 2ND NOVEMBER 2021

At ARISE News Debate, Soludo, Uba, Ozigbo Spar on Agenda for Anambra How candidates played up cards on security, environment and economy Emmanuel Addeh, Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Vanessa Obioha The three frontrunners in next Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra State, yesterday, faced off at a debate organised by Arise Television, sparring over their

agenda for the state.

It was an initiative supported by a pro-rights group, “Enough is Enough.”

Candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Professor Charles Soludo, his rival in the All

Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Andy Uba, and their counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, spoke on how they intended to improve the deteriorating security situation as well as revamp the education, environment and the health sectors

in the state.

Soludo, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), given his background, was expectedly big on data, while Uba leveraged his experience as a politician, and Ozigbo, a chartered accountant, sold himself as the most

youthful and untainted of the trio, having never been in government.

On the regional agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), all the candidates declined to take sides or condemn the proscribed group.

Soludo, who restated his position

as a pan-Nigerian Igbo, however, insisted that the reasons for the agitation by the group needed to be discussed, rather than the deployment of force. He noted that he was on record as having visited Continued on page 11

COP26: World Leaders Launch Global Negotiations to Save Humanity... Page 5 Tuesday 2 November, 2021 Vol 26. No 9703. Price: N250

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IG Orders Investigation into Invasion of Justice Odili's Home

Denies police involvement Diri, NHRC, Ohanaeze, others condemn raid Say development setback for judiciary's independence

Alex Enumah, Michael Olugbode and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Inspector General (IG) of Police, Mr. Baba Usman, yesterday ordered

a detailed investigation into the invasion of the Abuja residence of Justice Mary Odili, a justice of the Supreme Court. Usman denied the involvement of the Nigeria Police

in the breach of security at Odili’s home.

But Nigerians have risen in condemnation of the raid, which took place at the weekend. Governor

Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the umbrella socio-cultural organisation of the Igbo, among others,

denounced the invasion, calling it an assault on the independence of the judiciary.

The IG said, "The leadership of the force was not aware and did not

at any time order police operatives to carry out such assignment."

He described the "violation of Continued on page 11

Collapsed 21-Storey Ikoyi Building: Sanwo-Olu Orders Immediate Probe Property is without procedural approvals, says Lagos govt Buhari urges emergency institutions to provide support, commiserates with victims’ families First responders dig into the night to find survivors trapped in the rubbles Billionaire property owner among scores of others feared dead Industry stakeholders express worry about implications

Bennett Oghifo in Lagos and Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered an immediate

Rubbles of the collapsed building

investigation into yesterday’s collapse of a 21-storey building situated on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, which was still under construction.

But the Lagos State government was

quick to add that apart from using inferior materials and flouting basic building regulations, the billionaire businessman owner, Femi Osibona, had allegedly carried on with the

Rescue efforts ongoing

construction without subjecting it to procedural approvals.

Also, yesterday, President MuhamContinued on page 11

Building then under construction

Irabor: Military Operations in 36 States Draining Resources... Page 12

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

NEWS

COURTESY VISIT TO MR. PRESIDENT...

Former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sherrif (left) and President Muhammadu Buhari, during a courtesy visit to the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja … recently

COP26: WorldLeadersLaunch Global Negotiations to Save Humanity Chiemelie Ezeobi in Glasgow, Scotland As part of effort to save humanity from looming effects of climate change, about 120 leaders came together in Glasgow, Scotland, yesterday to launch two weeks of global negotiations to help determine and drive forward an urgent action.

This was the crux of discussions at the World Leaders Summit at the ongoing Climate Change Conference (COP26), where major emitting countries met face to face with countries most vulnerable to climate change.

According to the global leaders, an urgent action had become imperative especially as the world has begun to experience record temperatures and extreme weather, which has pushed the planet dangerously close to the precipe.

COP26 President Alok Sharma called for immediate action and solidarity to ensure Glasgow delivers on the promise of Paris.

According to Sharma: “The science is clear that the window of time we have to keep the goal of 1.5 alive , and to avoid the worst effects of climate change, is closing fast. But with political will and commitment, we can, and must, deliver an outcome in Glasgow the world can be proud of.”

Campaigner and Kenyan environment and climate activist, Elizabeth Wathuti said: “We need you to respond with courage to the climate and ecological crisis...for these next two weeks - which are so critical for the children, for our species, for so many other living beings - let us step into our hearts.”

Also leading the charge, Yrsa Daley-Ward, a poet, whose specially commissioned poem Earth to COP includes the lines: “Anything less than your best is too much to pay. Anything later than now, too little, too late. Nothing will change without you", addressed the delegates.

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson announced a funding package as part of the UK’s Clean Green Initiative, to support the rollout of sustainable infrastructure and revolutionary green technology in developing countries.

The package includes guarantees to the World Bank and the African Development Bank to provide £2.2 billion ($3 billion) for investments in climate-related projects in India, supporting India’s target to achieve 450 GW of renewable energy installed capacity by 2030, and across Africa.

Also, the UK’s development

finance institution, CDC, would commit to deliver more than £3 billion of climate financing for green growth over the next five years.

This, he said would include £200 million for a new Climate Innovation Facility to support the scale-up of technologies that would help communities deal with the impacts of climate change, which is double the amount of climate finance CDC invested in its previous strategy period from 2017-2021.

Also, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office-backed Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) would also commit more than £210m in new investment today (Monday) to back transformational green projects in developing countries such as Vietnam, Burkina Faso, Pakistan, Nepal and Chad.

In a related development, climate justice civil society groups in Africa yesterday issued a position paper urging political leaders from the continent attending the COP26 to advance climate solutions. This, they said would be targeted at building resilience of African communities with a view to demonstrate commitment for the continent’s fair share of global climate change action.

This is just as over 725 groups from nearly 100 countries including 130 African organisations also issued a statement calling on governments and leading international institutions to end reliance on “Net Zero” promises and commit to specific, ambitious, and immediate actions to bring emissions and fossil fuel production down to Real Zero, consistent with science and equity.

According to the groups, it was pertinent to state their stance as countries’ delegations begin to tout Net Zero pledges premised on mid-century emissions targets, offset-based carbon accounting tricks, and illusory and dangerous technologies like carbon capture, blue hydrogen, and bioenergy.

Such pledges, the statement noted, masked climate inaction and provide cover for business-as-usual fossil fuel production that spells planetary destruction.

Proponents of the demands insisted that so-called solution that enable Big Polluters to buy more room to continue to emit only binds people, especially in the poor regions like Africa, into decades of more devastation.

According to Corporate Accountability, Director of Climate Campaign for Africa, Hellen Neima, "after weakening the Paris Agreement, polluting governments

and corporations are burying real solutions that stop emissions at source in favor of empty promises disguised by the catchy ‘net zero’ slogan.

"Fortunately, this big con has been exposed for the scam that it is.

Governments at COP26- especially Global North governments- need to stop condemning the world and heed the demands of the people by committing to real solutions and Real Zero right now.”

Also, Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Nnimmo Bassey said:“The polluting rich countries and corporations are fully on ground in Glasgow to promote their Net zero scam which will only bolster corporate power and

further delay the urgent actions needed to address the climate crisis."

The joint statement further noted that Africa contributed and still contributes insignificantly to the current climate crisis yet is the most adversely affected by its consequences.

“It will only be strategic for the governments of the continent to project a harmonised position and engage the discussions with a ‘common language’ premised on uniform climate actions that won’t compromise each nation’s peculiarities," they posited.

They also urged African governments attending the COP to, "Challenge and reject pledges

made by polluting corporations and governments to achieve “net zero” emissions, which are being used to shift additional burdens onto the African region and avoid responsibility for their role in the global share of emissions to-date; commit to achieving Real Zero emissions reductions, embracing the concept of equity (each country does their fair share); and reject industry-driven attempts to ram through rules enshrining market mechanisms into the center of Paris Agreement implementation, via the guidelines for Article 6.2 and 6.4 of the Paris Agreement.

“Governments across the region must come up with real climate change plans (adaptation and

mitigation) and reflect the same in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs); secure concrete outcomes advancing policies to implement real solutions via Article 6.8 of the Paris Agreement; advancing a strong argument to commit industrialised and wealthy countries to provide adequate climate financing for the implementation of its adaptation and mitigation plans; and ensure that the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of African countries are independent of false solutions and corporations’ influences, but rather accommodates workable and home-grown climate solutions on mitigation and adaptations."

Buhari: Africa's Desire to Restore over 100m Hectares of Degraded Landscape Realisable Says Nigeria ready to assume regional leadership of Great Green Wall Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that Africa’s ambition of restoring over 100 million hectares of degraded landscape for productive agriculture is realisable.

The President, according to a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, spoke yesterday in Glasgow, Scotland where he expressed the optimism at the Climate Change Summit, COP 26, side event on the Great Green Wall (GGW), co-hosted

by French President Emmanuel Macron, the Prince of Wales, and the Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.

Speaking on the theme of the event, “Accelerating land restoration in Africa, the case of the Great Green Wall initiative”, President Buhari said it was noteworthy that the meeting was tailored towards ameliorating the problems of land degradation, desertification, depletion of the forest ecosystems and biodiversity in Africa.”

He said: “With all hands on deck and concerted efforts at land restoration by African leaders, I am optimistic that Africa’s ambition of restoring over 100million hectares of degraded landscape for productive agriculture is achievable.

“I am pleased to inform you that Nigeria will soon be assuming the leadership of Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Pan African Agency of the Great Green Wall.

“Nigeria pledges her unalloyed commitment to expanding the achievements of the GGW pro-

gramme in Africa from the enviable status attained under the leadership of His Excellency, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

“Together we commit to the transformative process of restoring the African degraded landscape and ultimately the continent’s environment."

The president recounted that one of the major outcomes of the fourth edition of the One Planet Summit on Biodiversity, organised by the French Government in Paris, France on 11th January 2021, was the pledge of $19.6 billion by the coalition of international communities to upscale the implementation of the Great Green Wall Initiative in Africa.

While appreciating the international partners for bringing environmental issues in Africa to the limelight, President Buhari described the Biodiversity Summit as a direct response to the request for support by African leaders to the global communities on addressing Africa’s environmental challenges.

According to him, since the pledges by the financial partners, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification has continued to give technical backstopping to the Pan African Agency of the Great Green Wall through the establishment of Great Green Wall Accelerator for the 2021- 2030 Decennial Priority Investment Plan for the Great Green Wall programme.

This, he stated, was to fast-track the implementation process with the prime purpose of translating

the pledged financial resources of $19.681 billion into hectares of land restoration and other livelihood improvements at various country levels.

Highlighting Nigeria’s role in actualising the land restoration initiative, the President told the side event held on the margins of COP 26 World Leaders Summit that Nigeria participated in drafting and harmonising the Results Framework for the Accelerator with five cardinal pillars to address the 2021- 2030 Decennial Priority Investment Plan ambition of the Great Green Wall.

According to him, the five cardinal pillars include the restoration of 100 million hectares of degraded land; sequestration of 250 million tonnes of carbon; creation of 10 million green jobs; resilient economic development in the various Member States as well as capacity strengthening and development.

On the margins of COP26, Buhari accompanied by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Environment (State), Petroleum (State), Power (State), the Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK, Sarafa Tunji Isola and the Group Managing Director, NNPC, Mele Kyari toured the Nigerian Pavilion.

At the Pavilion, the President held a bilateral meeting with the Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Mr Ibrahim Thiaw.

They exchanged views on the challenges of desertification, along with climate change and loss of biodiversity in Africa, need to

recharge the Lake Chad and the UNCCD support for the GGW initiative.

President Buhari stressed that Nigeria’s approach in addressing the physical and socio-economic aspects and effects of desertification, drought and climate change would prioritise education of the local communities and the use of technology.

In his remarks, Thiaw, while congratulating Nigeria’s imminent presidency of the Heads of State and Government of the Pan African Agency of the GGW, said the world is looking up to President Buhari for leadership.

According to him, 11 countries including Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Eretria, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Sudan have been selected as intervention zones for the Great Green Wall.

He expressed confidence that the implementation of the GGW initiative would prevent and reverse degradation of the ecosystem in the affected countries while improving the living conditions of the affected communities.

Nigeria is part of the 193 countries that have ratified the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

The goal of the Convention, as defined by its Article 2, is to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa, through effective action at all levels, supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements.

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NEWS

UNVEILING LAGOS STATE LOTTERIES' NEW BRAND LOGO...

L-R: Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on State Lotteries, Joan Olotu; Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly. Committee on Finance, and Representative of the Speaker, Rotimi Olowo; Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State lotteries board, Mr. Are Bashir; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Oniru of Iruland, Oba Omogbolahan Lawal and Deputy Speaker, Lagos State House Of Assembly, Wasiu Eshinlokun- Sanni, during the unveiling of the Lagos State lotteries and gaming authority’s new brand logo at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos... recently

Senate Flays Envelope Budgeting, Abandonment of Ajaokuta Steel Project Minister seeks legislative intervention Deji Elumoye and Juliet Akoje in Abuja The Senate has flayed the executive arm of government for forwarding to the National Assembly annual envelope budgeting for approval.

The Red Chamber through its Committee on Solid Minerals, Mines, Steel Development and Metallurgy, also frowned at the abandonment of Ajaokuta Iron and Steel Project through non provision of required

budgetary votes on yearly basis.

The Senate's position was sequel to a proposed N23.4 billion 2022 budget estimates enveloped for the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development as presented by the Minister of State, Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah.

Ogah who represented the Minister, Olamilekan Adegbite in his presentation, said out of the N23.4 billion budget profile for the Ministry in 2022, N10 billion is for

personnel cost, N1.47 billion for overhead cost and N11 billion for capital projects.

Reacting to the Minister of State's presentation, members of the committee took turn to condemn the meagre budgetary allocation for the sector which, according to them, should rank second after the oil and gas sector.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Tanko Al- Makura, who fired the first salvo said: "the yearly

ritual called budget, is garbage in, garbage out, which will not take the country to anywhere as far as required diversification is concerned.

"The type of budgeting process being carried out in this country over the years, is stereotypic one. It is wrong for budget to be conceptualised in the ministry, enveloped and forward to the National Assembly for approval."

On his part, Senator Smart Adeyemi, said the economic

Convention: PDP Ready to Regain Power in 2023, Says House Caucus Udora Orizu in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives has said the successful conduct of the political party’s 2021 National Convention showed that it was ready to take over power in 2023.

The group argued that the PDP was ready to put to an end what it alleged was the life of misery, poverty, hunger, bloodletting, unemployment, suppression and humongous corruption that had been the hallmark of the ruling APC failed and anti-people administration.

The caucus in a statement by the minority leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu also congratulated the National Chairman-elect, Senator Iyorchia Ayu and the other national officers-elect, as they prepare to assume office in December.

Elumelu tasked party members to remain united and ensure that

all interests within the party are carried along in the task ahead.

He said: "Indeed, the unity of purpose and the spirit of sportsmanship witnessed at the event, despite all the challenges, further underscore the democratic credentials of our party as the platform for all Nigerians in the collective determination to rescue our nation from the stranglehold of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and return her to the part of good governance, national cohesion and economic prosperity.

“The PDP national convention further highlights the readiness, capability and willpower of the PDP to regain power in 2023. The widespread interest by Nigerians and the nationwide applause that trailed the successful conduct of the convention confirm the resolve of our citizens to march with the PDP to take back our country from the suppressive grip of APC, come 2023.

"We must continue to foster an all-inclusive platform which provides a level playground for all. We must bear in mind that the task before us is an enormous one, given the immensity of the confidence Nigerians repose on our party as their only hope. “We therefore commend our leaders and organs of the party; National Executive Committee (NEC), the National Working Committee (NWC), Board of Trustees (BoT) the PDP Governor’s Forum, the 2021 National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) the youths, women and other critical stakeholders, for their efforts towards a successful convention.

"We also commend members of the National Assembly Minority Caucus for their resilience and commitment in standing for Nigerians despite the APC government’s suppressive disposition.”

Continuing, he said: “While

US Consulate Supports STEM Workshops for 500 Students in Lagos Segun James The United States Consulate General in Lagos recently sponsored more than 500 high school students from underserved communities of Agege, Alimosho and Ifako-Ijaiye in Lagos Education District one to participated in a series of STEM workshops.

During the workshops, the students learned how to build, program, and fly drones, computer coding, solar panel assembly, weather balloon technology, cell phone repair, artificial intelligence, and coding of video games.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the program held at

Government Senior College in Agege, the US Consulate Public Affairs Officer, Stephen Ibelli, explained that the initiative was designed to stimulate the interest of the participating students in math and science, as well as careers in the STEM fields.

“The U.S. Mission in Nigeria is committed to supporting programs that provide youth with access to quality technological learning opportunities,” Ibelli said.

“In a world that’s becoming increasingly technology-driven, it’s more important than ever before for our youth to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to become innovators, educators,

researchers, and leaders who can solve the most pressing challenges facing our world, both today and tomorrow.”

Ibelli explained that the series of workshops were part of the U.S. Mission’s ongoing efforts to promote STEM education in Nigeria. He noted that ensuring access to opportunities in STEM fields drives innovation and create conditions for a more prosperous society.

In his remarks, co-founder of Global Air Drone Academy, Eno Umoh, highlighted the importance of equipping students with the requisite skills to be successful in the 21st century global economy.

pledging the unalloyed support and collaboration of the entire members of the PDP in the House of Representatives, we reiterate that the task of rescuing Nigeria from the devastation of the APC is paramount to all at this point in our national life."

team of President Muhammadu Buhari was clearly out of tune with realities on ground as regards what Nigerians needed.

He wondered: “How on earth would a minister propose N82 billion for procurement of mosquitoes net and a sector as important as the solid minerals, given N10 or N11 billion?"

According to him, Ajaokuta Iron and Steel Complex that could give jobs to about 50, 000 Nigerians had been lying fallow in a country with army of unemployed youths who could stage revolution at any time.

He said: "Nigeria is bleeding from this envelope form of budgeting riddled with repetition of line items and allocations on yearly basis.

"Government may be building infrastructure but building infrastructure is not as good as creating wealth through diversification of

the economy.

"The best way of doing this is to remove whatever bottleneck hindering continuation of work on Ajaokuta Steel complex and get it completed."

Responding, the Minister said envelope budgeting was not the creation of the ministry as it affects other government agencies.

He added: "My appeal to you distinguished Senators on the current model of budgeting is for the National Assembly to seek the attention of the President.

"Operating with envelope as far as yearly budget is concerned doesn't make one think out of the box. It makes one looks stupid.

We have the passion to drive the development of the country and transform into reality, the vision of Mr. President like other patriotic Nigerians in one public Office or the other."

Supreme Court to Resume Hearing on Rivers, Imo Oil Well Dispute Jan. 17 Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The Supreme Court has adjourned till January 17, 2022 for hearing of the substantive matter on oil well ownership between Rivers and Imo states.

The Supreme Court order of injunction restraining the federal government and its agencies from ceding oil wells in Akri and Mgbede, Rivers State to Imo State, still subsist.

The case filed by Attorney General of Rivers State (plaintiff) vs Attorney General of the Federation and others was registered in suit number SC.1037/2020).

At the resumed session yesterday, the Attorney General of the Federation and Attorney General of Imo State suffered setback, as the Supreme Court did not take an intended motion to set aside the ex parte order restraining federal government and its agencies from ceding oil wells, located in Akri and Mgbede communities, to Imo State.

The counsel to the Attorney General of the Federation, Remi Olatubura and Imo State counsel, Olusola Oke had wanted their motion challenging the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to hear the matter to be heard, but the counsel to Rivers State government led by

Emmanuel Ukala countered with a motion for direction to streamline all the other motions.

The seven-member panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, adjourned the matter to January 17, 2022, to hear the substantive matter.

Speaking to journalists outside the courtroom, one of the counsels to Rivers State government, Sebastian Hon said the matter was adjourned till January 17, when all interlocutory application will be withdrawn and the substantive matter heard.

Hon explained: "There is a boundary dispute with respect to some oil wells against Imo State. But we joined the Attorney General of the Federation who is a necessary party, because of the regulatory bodies like the National Boundary Commission, the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Committee, etc that are federal agencies.

"Basically, it is a dispute that borders on some oil wells which Rivers State is claiming belongs to it. They (defendents) said the court ought to have taken their motion challenging jurisdiction first, but we said no, we have a motion for direction to streamline all the other motions.

"Then the court said instead of wasting time, let's wait till

January to hear the substantive matter. Everything will be taken on that day. They (defendents) actually wanted the court to quash the injunction, but tacitly the court refused to go into that."

Rivers State government had filed a suit against the Attorney General of the Federation and the Attorney General of Imo State before the Supreme Court, asking for a declaration that the boundary between Rivers State and Imo State as delineated on Nigeria’s administrative map, 10, 11 and 12th editions and other maps bearing similar delineations are inaccurate, incorrect and do not represent the legitimate and lawful boundary between Rivers and Imo. Rivers, through its Attorney General also sought a declaration that the country's administrative map 10, 11 and 12th editions and other maps bearing similar delineations with respect to the boundary between Rivers and Imo, are unlawful and void, and cannot be relied on to determine the extent of the territorial governmental jurisdiction of Rivers State and to determine the revenue accruing to the State from the federation account, including the application of the principle of derivation and other revenue allocation principles as contained in the 1999 Constitution.

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NEWS

FINANCIAL REPORTING IN PUBLIC SECTOR...

R-L: Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo; Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Pension Manager, Olumide Oyetan; Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Capital, Funso Akere; and Chief Investment Officer, Stanbic IBTC Infrastructure Fund, Dolu Olugbenjo, at NESG 27 summit in Abuja… recently.

Nigeria, Angola’s Under-performance Cut OPEC’s October Production Target Bank of America forecasts $120 per barrel by mid-2022

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) delivered barely half the oil production increase it had planned for October as African members, especially Nigeria and Angola continued to struggle with output losses.

OPEC is reviving supplies halted during the pandemic, but added only 140,000 barrels a day last month because of the difficulties faced by both countries, according to a Bloomberg survey based on ship tracking data. The under-performance may increase the impatience expressed by the United States President, Joe Biden and other world leaders, who have been pressing OPEC and its allies to alleviate surging fuel prices by opening the taps. Core members of the cartel including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq have so far rebuffed those calls as the group prepares to meet this Thursday.

The combination of a recovery in fuel consumption after the pandemic and constrained supply has led to a global energy crunch which has been felt most acutely in natural gas markets, as Brent crude, Nigeria’s benchmark, has rallied 30 per cent since late August.

While Middle Eastern members of the cartel like Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates are all increasing supplies in line with

their schedule, their counterparts in Africa are lagging behind.

Angola’s production slumped by 70,000 barrels a day to 1.1 million a day, sinking back to the 14-year low reached earlier this year, according to the survey as the country has been plagued by investment constraints resulting in declining supply from deep water oil fields.

Nigeria’s output fell by 60,000 barrels a day to 1.44 million a day in October, just above the five-year low hit in August. Last week, Royal Dutch Shell Plc was forced to invoke a clause suspending exports from its Bonny Oil Terminal in the country after a pipeline halt, Bloomberg reported.

Total production by the group’s 13 members was 27.58 million barrels a day, while overall, the cartel is curbing output by 15 per cent more than stipulated by its production quotas.

The development meant that the increase in OPEC’s oil output in October fell short of the rise planned under a deal with allies as involuntary outages in some smaller producers offset higher supplies from Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

OPEC states and their allies, a grouping known as OPEC+, are relaxing output cuts made in 2020 as demand recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, but some members are not delivering the full boosts promised due to a

lack of capacity.

The OPEC+ alliance is also wary of pumping too much oil in case of renewed setbacks in the battle against COVID-19. The supply restraint has helped support oil prices, which are trading near $85 a barrel and close to a three-year high, prompting the United States and other consumers to urge producers to supply more crude.

The OPEC+ agreement allowed for a 400,000 bpd production increase in October from all members, of which about 254,000 bpd is shared by the 10 OPEC members covered by the deal, OPEC figures seen by Reuters showed.

With output undershooting the planned increase last month, OPEC’s compliance with its pledged cuts increased to 118 per cent in October the survey found, from 114 per cent a month earlier.

The biggest rise in October came from OPEC’s top two producers, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, which both boosted output largely as promised according to the agreement.

Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Algeria also made increases as called for by their higher October quotas. Angolan exports bucked their declining trend and rose in October, while output declined in the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, the survey found, owing to a lack of capacity to produce more. Aside Nigeria, the second largest decline was in Libya, one of the countries exempt from OPEC supply curbs, due to a pipeline leak.

Meanwhile, the Bank of America has anticipated that Brent crude would hit $120 a barrel by the end of June 2022. It made the prediction in a note yesterday.

The Country Director of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Mary Adetinuke Boyd has said, “the triple epidemic of HIV, TB, and COVID-19 pose a challenge and an opportunity.”

She explained that, “the challenge is that all three diseases are relentless, damaging, and continue to cost countless lives in our communities. However, because detection, treatment, and prevention exist and are readily available to us right here and right now, we have an opportunity to respond and save many lives.”

She said this during the launch of the Rivers State Integrated screening and service delivery for TB, HIV, and COVID-19, in Port Harcourt, recently.

A statement from the US

Embassy yesterday, noted that with the support of the US-CDC, the integrated screening and service delivery for the three diseases aimed to integrate COVID-19 screening into points where HIV and TB services were already being provided, thereby improving access to early detection and prevention, and mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in healthcare facilities and communities.

The statement further added that in addition, the novel initiative would scale up the utilisation of an Antigen-based Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for timely and efficient triage, Infection Prevention Control (IPC) and accelerated vaccine uptake by creating additional access points and communication that promote the importance of the COVID-19 vaccines, thereby reducing the chances of severe illness and death.

Boyd urged healthcare workers

while investors cashed in ahead of the November 4 OPEC meeting of major crude producers.

Brent crude futures dropped 29 cents, or 0.4 per cent, to $83.43 a barrel by 0351 GMT, after gaining 6 cents on Friday, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures slid 40 cents, or 0.5 per cent, to $83.17, having risen 76 cents on Friday, although they later closed at $84.63 and $84 respectively for the day.

The drops came after China said in a rare official statement that it had released reserves of the two fuels to increase market supply and support price stability in some regions.

All eyes are now on Thursday’s meeting of OPEC, Russia and their allies, together called OPEC+, with analysts expecting them to stick to a plan to add 400,000 barrels per day of supply in December.

Gambari Turns the Sod for N21bn State House Clinic Facility solely for president, VP use when completed

Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari yesterday turned the sod for the construction of the Presidential wing of the N21 billion 14-bed State House Clinic in Abuja.

Speaking at a brief ceremony,

Gambari said the clinic when completed, would provide the needed medical care for the president, the vice president and other officials of government.

He said: “It is a humble beginning but what we are doing today will outlive the current administration and would serve many generations

HIV, TB, COVID-19 Pose Challenge, Opportunity, Says US-CDC Michael Olugbode in Abuja

A global energy crisis has sent prices for gas and coal soaring around the world, and this has turbocharged the recovery in benchmark London- and New York-traded oil futures, Bank of America Corp. analysts including Francisco Blanch wrote in the note.

Several oil traders have said $100 crude was fast approaching as demand outstrips supply and a climate-inspired slowdown in investment in new sources threatens to allow reserves to wither.

A surge in gasoline demand along with a rebound in middle distillates, diesel and jet fuel, coupled with refining-capacity constraints could accelerate the rally into 2022, the analysts wrote.

Also, yesterday, oil prices dropped as China’s release of gasoline and diesel reserves eased concerns over tight global supply,

to be the champions against vaccine misinformation and disinformation as well as to lead by example in promoting the use of vaccines against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

To date, Nigeria has had three COVID-19 waves and Rivers State was affected, reporting the third most considerable burden of COVID-19 and deaths in the country.

Moreover, due to the government's commitment to active surveillance, the data showed that each subsequent COVID-19 wave in Rivers had higher peaks in cases and deaths.

Boyd said: “While we battle the COVID-19 pandemic, other disease outbreaks didn't give us a break; instead, the intensity of cholera and environmental polio in Nigeria soared higher than we've experienced in years. It reminds us that these devastating health threats are unpredictable, and even worse,

if we are not ready to respond with agility."

Earlier, during a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Health, Prof.

Princewill Chike, and the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Tammy Weneke Danagogo, the Country Director discussed efforts at supporting the state towards tackling HIV, TB, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

She commended the exemplary leadership of the state government towards the health sector leading to essential milestones in HIV epidemic control and the strong collaboration with US-CDC and its implementing partner, the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN).

CDC's robust support to the HIV response in Rivers has resulted in demonstrable progress, with the state attaining 90 per cent treatment coverage within 24 months.

yet unborn. ”We know how important health is to the life of every individual and government will continue to do its best to deliver healthcare to the people.”

He therefore, urged the construction company handling the project to commence work immediately and also work hard to complete the project within the time frame of one year.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in charge of State House, Tijjani Umar, said the ground-breaking ceremony was very important.

According to him, “In line with the approved timeline for the construction of the presidential wing of the State House Clinic, 1st November, 2021 was set aside and approved as the ground-breaking day. In other words, we will do the foundation laying ceremony and from here move forward with the full construction activity,” he said.

On his part, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said the ground breaking was a historical day for the health sector in Nigeria.

“We give glory to God for a day like this, not the words said here today will be remembered but the action because in months, years and many decades to come, this facility will serve a lot of people including sitting Presidents of Nigeria, visiting

Presidents and senior members of the State House. Everybody that will come to use this facility will find succour. It is to the glory of God and for the good of man,” Adesina stated.

The project has already been captured in the 2022 budget and it is expected to give medical attention to the First family and other dignitaries when completed.

State House Permanent Secretary, Umar Tijjani, had last Thursday told the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs that N21 billion out of the N40 billion being proposed for the State House in the 2022 Appropriation Bill would be used for the construction of the Presidential Clinic.

According to him, the contract for the clinic's construction has been awarded to the construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and is expected to be commissioned by December 31, 2022.

He added that the clinic would contain 14 bed facilities with total area 2700 square meters with underground facilities, first floor, two number operating theatres, two number Executive Suites, 2 VIP, 2 Isolation and One number of six bed isolation area in the building.

Laboratory, healing garden, Pharmacy and X-ray facilities, according to him, are also planned for the clinic.

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ELEVEN AT ARISE NEWS DEBATE, SOLUDO, UBA, OZIGBO SPAR OVER AGENDA FOR ANAMBRA Nnamdi Kanu at Kuje prison to dialogue with him and asked for his release, adding that he believes in a democracy, everything should be put on the table.

“There is a consensus that we need to have a dialogue on IPOB,” Soludo declared.

Uba noted that the secessionists had become very vocal because of growing unemployment, while Ozigbo held the view that the popularity of IPOB was clearly due to leadership failure.

During the debate anchored by former Presidential Adviser, Dr. Reuben Abati, and Ngozi Alaegbu, both of Arise TV, Soludo maintained that what Anambra needed at the moment was a transformational leader, with an unblemished record of public service.

Describing himself as a village boy, Soludo recalled that in his 30s, he accomplished virtually everything he needed to accomplish, including consulting for over 20 international institutions, serving three governors, and being bestowed with the third highest

national honour in the country due to his track record in public service.

He explained that following his global and national experiences, it was time to come home and give back to the Anambra people the kind of modern, 21st century life, they deserved.

While blaming Uba, partly, for the insecurity in the state, Soludo said insecurity was a recent phenomenon in the state and that all the security agencies were under the federal government’s control.

He argued that the upsurge in crime and killings were partly politically motivated to create fear in the state.

According to Soludo, “And in terms of how we go, I see three buckets; the first bucket is really the formal cum the local security architecture, the intelligence gathering, the equipment, the military, the police, the DSS, and so on and so forth.

“And then you add the local vigilante and that has to happen.

The next bucket is dialogue and reaching some harmonious agree-

ment with the non-state actors. The third is in our manifesto, which is prosperity through jobs.”

Under the APGA government, Soludo stated that Anambra currently had the lowest unemployment rate in Nigeria, and lowest underemployment, quoting figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). He admitted that there was a “road challenge” that needed to be fixed in the state, adding, however, that APGA’s Dr. Willy Obiano had done a lot in that respect. He vowed to continue from where the governor stopped.

Soludo said his agenda was to separate the roads into tiers 1,2,3, look at those for concession and those for direct government financing, emphasising that even the state’s entire budget cannot fully fund road construction and maintenance.

On the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), he pledged to block all leakages with the technology and set up the Anambra Development Fund with a seed amount of $200 million.

To attract investment, Soludo promised to enhance the ease of doing business, leverage information technology, human capital development, create industrial parks, build captive power to encourage industrial clusters, fix road infrastructure and establish a venture capital fund of N5 billion as well as create 1,000 millionaires.

Soludo promised to promote “Made in Anambra” agenda, make it a digital tribe, make the state a cheap cost of production area, ensure 72-hour business registration as well as fast settlement of industrial disputes.

He identified the environmental issues, including flooding, as an existential threat, pledging to build embarkations and form partnerships among all the tiers of government to deal with the menace.

On health, the former CBN governor said he would embark on a lifestyle change campaign, fix public health infrastructure, working with private sector in the diaspora, promote health

IG ORDERS INVESTIGATION INTO INVASION OF JUSTICE ODILI'S HOME the sanctity of the residence of the Justice of the Supreme Court as unfortunate and unacceptable" A statement by Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, a Commissioner of Police, said the IG ordered the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) to probe the invasion.

The statement said, "Consequently, the IGP has directed the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) to conduct a discrete investigation into the incident. He assured the commitment of the force to the safety and security of the members of the Judiciary and Nigerians, in general.

"He further called for calm, promising that the Force will do all within its powers to unravel the perpetrators and motives behind the breach with a view to bringing all indicted persons to book."

The IG also directed the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Sunday Babaji, to strengthen security around Odili’s street and residence to ensure her safety and prevent a reoccurrence of the incident.

Usman assured that details of the police investigation would be made public.

Over 50 officers suspected to be from the Nigeria Police, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Joint Panel Recovery unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice, had last Friday evening invaded the house of the senior justice located at Imo River Street, Maitama.

The security officials claimed they were executing a court warrant to search the house.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State visited the Odilis after the search episode.

Chairman of EFCC, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, had denied that operatives of the commission were involved in the raid.

The Supreme Court justice is the wife of a former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, who is said to be on the watch-list of EFCC. Diri described the raid as an ill-advised sting operation, saying it is an attempt to intimidate the judiciary, an independent arm of government. He called on the federal government, which controls the security agencies, to not only investigate the incident but also also ensure that those found culpable were brought to justice.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, the Bayelsa State governor said such acts by security agencies made a mockery of the country's democracy and the principle of separation of powers.

The governor said the world was watching to see how the federal government would handle the incident, which according to him, was another ugly episode of the attacks on the homes of judicial officers by security operatives in the country.

Douye stated, "Nigeria is not a Banana Republic that security operatives would just take the laws into their hands. The raid on Justice Mary Odili's residence is highly

condemnable and should not be glossed over by any responsible government.

"I urge the federal government to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and take needed actions against those found culpable.

"For me, the ill-advised raid was an attempt to intimidate the judiciary, judicial officers and custodians of the highest temple of justice. It is yet another attack on Justices in our country that deserves condemnation and should not be allowed to happen again."

On its part, Ohanaeze Ndigbo said it was pained that Nigeria was in the news, most of the time, for the wrong reasons. The organisation said it was ethically reprehensible and globally unacceptable for the executive to invade the home of a senior member of the judicial arm of government, in this case, a Supreme Court Judge.

In a statement by its spokesman, Alex Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze said, “It is simply a mockery of democracy and a foul miasma on the image of Nigeria.”

It called on the federal government to apologise to Nigerians for the invasion of Odili’s privacy.

“The siege on her home is an assault on several institutions; womanhood, judiciary, democracy, rule of law, civil society and, indeed, all facets of humanity,” the organisation said.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo demanded that an unreserved apology should be rendered to the highly revered

Justice of the Supreme Court and an assurance given that such embarrassment would never again be contemplated.

The statement read, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide led by Ambassador Professor Obiozor advises the relevant authorities that part of the roles of any person recruited by the government for any position whatsoever includes the protection of the image of the chief executive at all times. It is regrettable that officers in federal government often overreach themselves thereby lending the presidency and, indeed, Nigeria a bad name in the comity of nations.

“Justice Mary Odili is one of the few judges in Nigeria with clean and intimidating credentials. All the schools she attended still post her brilliant performances.

“In spite of her distinctive background as the daughter of a prominent lawyer and traditional ruler, she has remained humble and hardworking; an upright moral edifice who resisted all the lucre that the Office of the First Lady provided during the eight years the husband, Dr. Peter Odili, served as the governor of Rivers State.”

Executive Secretary of NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, condemned the incident, describing it as a violation of Odili’s right to privacy, integrity of her judicial personality, premises, and office.

Ojukwu, in a statement yesterday, stressed that the perpetrators must be made to account for

their professional misconduct by arresting and prosecuting them.

He said the Supreme Court justice deserved a public apology from those responsible for the misconduct.

The NHRS chairman said, “These are the only deterrents that can forestall future desecration of the rights to privacy, integrity of the person, residence and office of our judicial officers, especially, at that level.”

Ojukwu further said the invasion of the residence of one of the most senior judicial officers in the country was highly condemnable in any democratic setup, describing it as another affront on the judiciary.

He said the judiciary remained a very important arm of government that should not be ridiculed under any circumstance (and inexperienced law enforcement officers must be made to know this), adding that the independence of the judiciary must be respected at all times.

Ojukwu stated, “This should be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians in the interest of our nascent democracy, independence of the judiciary and respect for human rights and rule of law.”

He assured that the NHRC would not relent in its efforts to train and retrain the law enforcement officials to always mainstream human rights in their operations.

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary, Onofiok Luke; President of the Centre for Continued on page 16

insurance system, and carry out training and proper remuneration of health workers.

In the area of education, he noted that his government, if elected, would fund scholarships, review the school curricula to bring them in tune with the digital age, regulate private schools more effectively, and make public schools more competitive.

“I offer to you my life. I want to serve you with my excellent health, to use what is left of me to serve you. God has blessed me; I do not want your penny. I am a great reformer, I am prepared to give you my best,” he concluded.

Uba, while detailing his own plan, stressed that voter apathy had always been an issue in Anambra. He alleged that Obiano had refused to engage anybody on the insecurity in the state.

“The governor is the chief security officer of the state. Let me tell you, in this case, the governor has not done what he is supposed to do,” Uba said.

He expressed belief in dialogue, adding that if he wins the poll, he would set up a security response team and have a public phone number that people can call instantly to report cases.

Uba explained that instead of condemning or supporting IPOB, Nigeria needed to sit down with the agitators to know what they wanted.

“I won’t support or condemn IPOB,” he said.

He pledged to declare a state of emergency on Anambra roads, get the airport to operate, set up industrial parks and ensure people made money from there.

He described Soludo as a manager and not a leader, saying the economy collapsed immediately he left the CBN. To attaract investors, Uba said he would improve security and give tax incentives to allow them invest in the state. He vowed to conduct local government elections within six months of his government and ensure that whatever accrued to the third tier of government got to them.

Uba described the issue of erosion in Anambra State as catastrophic, saying he would solve the problem by planting trees and building public drainage systems.

For his plan on health, Uba explained that there would be three clusters, adding that his government would not build new health institutions, but upgrade existing ones and attract the diaspora to invest.

While alleging that education had collapsed in the state, Uba promised free basic education and employment of more teachers.

Ozigbo, in his submission, argued that what Anambra State

required was a young vibrant, trendy person, who was passionate about the state. He said he had served in the private sector and grown businesses all over the world.

Ozigbo stated that the security agencies needed more intelligence to tackle the worsening insecurity in the state, regretting that nobody is being brought to book for committing crimes.

He said, “But above security, there is a lot we can do. There is, indeed, a lot we can do. Just even go back to when Peter Obi left it.

Just providing money monthly to these vigilantes, paying them, providing vehicles and making sure that they are well empowered, because there is no community that doesn’t know the criminals around them.”

He stated that both the APC and the APGA had failed the state, and promised to provide resources for vigilante groups, create employment and engage agitators.

Ozigbo maintained that there was a better PDP now, which he said was moving away from the dysfunctional party of the past. He described Anambra as a broken state that needed to be fixed.

The PDP candidate stated that the reasons for agitation by IPOB were not unfounded and demanded the release of Kanu as well as the de-proscription of the group.

He described Soludo as a theorist, who had held high positions without solving problems.

Ozigbo said he would leverage on the private sector and allow competition.

The former Transcorp president promised to cut waste, run a people government, curb touting, make Nnewi an industrial hub, and make Awka a true capital city.

Ozigbo said the state under him would attract aid from multilateral institutions to curb erosion, embark on recycling, and ensure process improvement.

He said people would be rewarded, when they do the right thing, and would be punished when they do wrong. He said his government, if elected, would partner communities, reduce brain drain, build mega diagnosis systems, provide access for the vulnerable, and improve mortality rate, while disease prevention would be a major campaign in the state.

Ozigbo claimed APGA had done nothing to improve education, promising to embark on training of teachers, partner private sector, solve the affordability problem, pay bursaries, and build an ecosystem, where there would be educational support even for those in the Igbo apprenticeship system.

COLLAPSED 21-STOREY IKOYI BUILDING: SANWO-OLU ORDERS IMMEDIATE PROBE madu Buhari sent a condolence message to families of the victims of the unfortunate incident and wanted rescue efforts intensified.

The President, in a statement issued last night by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, shared the sad moment with people and government of Lagos State.

He urged authorities concerned to step up efforts in the rescue operations, saying emergency institutions, including hospitals, should provide the necessary support to safeguard lives of the rescued.

The President, therefore, prayed for God's intervention in the ongoing rescue operations.

Already, the first responders had begun to dig into the night with the hope of finding survivors trapped in the rubbles, just as the property owner, Osibona, was amoung several other people who were in the building at the time of collapse feared dead. Since the build came down yesterday, no one has been able to reach the property magnate fuelling speculations about his condition.

The Lagos State governor, while calling for calm over the incident, said the report of the investigations would be made public in due course.

The governor gave these assurances in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso.

He said the Lagos Rescue Unit (LRU), Lagos State Fire Service and Lagos State Ambulance Services

Femi Osibona (LASAMBUS) were already on the site, battling to save the lives of those under the rubbles. Three persons have been rescued, even as the operations to save more lives continue.

The Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, visited the site in the company with other officials, including the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako and Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Bamgbose-Martins.

Others were Special Adviser on Urban Development, Mr. Ganiyu Adele Ayuba; Special Adviser, GIS

and Physical Planning, Dr. Olajide Babatunde; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mrs. Abiola Kosegbe as well as General Manager, LASEMA Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu.

The Deputy Governor directed security agents to cordon off the site to facilitate rescue efforts.

General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Gbolahan Oki, was also at the scene, assessing the site for any likely damage to the surrounding structures.

Oki, disclosed that the owner of the building was given approval

to construct only 15 floors.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that the owner of the property was arrested sometime last year over breach of town planning rules.

“He got an approval for a 15-storey building and he exceeded his limit. I am on ground here and the materials he used are so inferior and terrible. The materials he used, the reinforcement, are so terrible.

He got approval for 15 floors but built 21,” he said.

It was also gathered that the Lagos State government had last year sealed the property and ordered the developer to discontinue with the project, because he embarked on the project without subjecting it to procedural approvals from the state’s agencies and other authorities.

THISDAY, last night, contacted the structural engineering company, Prowess Engineering Limited, which had warned in a letter that had gone viral, after withdrawing their services at the construction site, because of irreconcilable differences they had with the developer regarding the construction method.

Executive Director of Prowess Engineering Limited, Mr. Abimbola Ahmed, confirmed that the letter making the rounds was authentic, saying, “The collapse wouldn’t have happened if they had listened to us.

With our pedigree in the industry, we observed the way things were going at that moment, we advised but obviously the advice was falling

on deaf ears and that was why we took the decision at that time.”

Pressed further to state what the exact cause of the disagreement was, he said, “The concrete mix but we do not want to say too much for now.

This is not the time for speculation but we know the government is doing their investigation and we don’t want to mislead anyone.

Obviously, Prowess saw happenings that were not supposed to be on a project site at the time and that informed that withdrawal.”

In a letter to the owner of the building, dated 20th February 2020, informing him of their withdrawal from the project, the structural firm had among other things stated: “We arrived at this decision due to the fact that we no longer share same vision with you as our client based on how the project is being executed.

“We can guarantee the integrity of the first two buildings and also works done up to the fourth floor of the third building supervised by us provided specifications have been met in terms of the required concrete strength.

“This we do not have control over as we do not have the concrete cube test results for each stage of the building till date. Also, kindly note that we are not taking responsibilities for any other construction errors that may have occurred over time on the project.”

However, after rescuing three Continued on page 16

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NEWS

FLAGGING OFF COVID-19 MASS VACCINATION IN OGUN ...

L-R: Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Mrs Mojisola Adesanmi (being vaccinated) by Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib and Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker (right) at flag-off ceremony of COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign at the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office, Abeokuta... yesterday

Irabor: Military Operations in 36 States Draining Resources Exercise not designed to occupy southeast, says military Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Chief Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, yesterday, said military operations in the 36 states of the federation have constituted a drain on the finances of the military.

The defence chief spoke as he inaugurated the maiden Joint Operations Planning Exercise (JOPEX) codenamed “Exercise Sky Lock” for participants of Army, Naval and Air Force War Colleges in Abuja.

At the same time, the Nigerian Army has said the ongoing military operations in parts of the country did not amount to an occupation of the South-east region.

However, speaking on the impact of the operation on Army’s finances, Irabor said the military was engaged in internal security operations in all the 36 states of the nation as well as the FCT. “This has put a strain on our available resources committed to the ongoing counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations in the North-east", he said.

According to him, the exercise

was built around contemporary, realistic, and real-time security event in Nigeria and also marked the culmination of several moments of significant efforts towards developing the skills of participants of the three colleges in operational arts, design and decision-making process amongst others.

According to the CDS, the exercise was another milestone in the professional military education and profile of the Nigerian military in its quest to properly equip its officers for present and future assignments.

“As think tanks of the armed forces of Nigeria, our war colleges are indeed laboratories and incubation centres for the production of military operational level plans as well as measurement of performance and effectiveness of subsisting plans with a view to reviewing them for enhanced effectiveness.

“To this end, the product of this joint operations planning exercise will form part of the military decision making cycle for some ongoing and future operations.

This further underscores the

significance of this science and the resources committed to each actualisation.

“Today’s event, therefore, provides an opportunity to kick start an enduring tradition for the colleges that will enshrine joint planning culture at the military operational leadership level," he said.

Also, speaking at a briefing in Abuja, the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said the ongoing Nigeria Army Exercises Still Water, Golden Dawn and Enduring Peace led to the arrest of 76 suspected criminals nationwide and rescue of 37 kidnapped victims.

"It is crucial to dispel the unfounded narrative that the ongoing exercises are aimed at military occupation of the South-east. Contrary to this insinuation, the deployment of troops of the Nigerian Army is not only in the South-east Nigeria but also in the troubled parts of the country, particularly, in the North-west and North-eastern Nigeria, where troops are conducting major operations to tackle

more threatening national security challenges," he said.

He, however, said the exercise covered 20 states and the FCT, adding: "Note that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya on 4 October flagged off Exercises Still Waters Enduring Peace and Golden Dawn in the South-South,

President Muhammadu Buhari has described the Nigerian youth as the nation's most strategic asset, who should be ready to channel their energies into active political participation.

Declaring open a three-day maiden National Youth Conference with the theme: Energising the Youth for Development: Inclusiveness, Governance, Security and Employment, in Abuja on Monday, the President urged Nigerian youth to remain resilient and keep moving whatever may be the situation.

"Wherever you are in this country, whatever you are doing, keep moving, don’t look back, you will win eventually. Keep moving ahead, whatever the situation – ‘We Move',” he said.

Represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Buhari while regarding Nigeria’s youth as ‘the country’s most strategic asset’, ‘the very best of us’ and ‘our reservoir of hope and creative optimism’, told Nigerian youth that his administration “will continue to support your efforts by creating

an environment that enables the fulfillment of your dreams.”

He also praised the innovativeness and resilience of the Nigerian youth, whom he said were proffering solutions to social issues in the country.

According to him, “Across the world, our most potent ambassadors are young Nigerians, who are breaking new grounds, breaking records and winning laurels in diverse fields of endeavour. We recognise that our young people are this country’s most strategic asset. Investing in them is clearly investing in the economic strength and development of our nation".

The President added that the interests of the Nigerian youth remained at the centre of policy making in his administration’s investment and development agenda.

“Because young people constitute the majority of our population, they are, by both default and design, at the very centre of all of our efforts to stimulate growth. From our social investments and interventions to our promotion of an innovation

economy and support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises,” he said.

Acknowledging the incredible potential, innovation and enterprise of Nigeria’s youth population, President Buhari noted the exploits in entertainment and music, sports, technology and other sectors, adding that, "because of the labours of our youth, in addition to being home to the third largest film industry in the world, we are the epicentre of a global and pan-African popular culture anchored to the dynamism of Nigerian creatives.

“There are also young Nigerians riding the crest wave of the information technology revolution, who are pioneering new patterns of enterprise and wealth creation and in the process have established this country as the most vibrant innovation hub on the African continent. Our tech entrepreneurs and innovators are not just applying their talents to profit-making endeavours, but also seeking to address social problems".

On the global recognition of the innovation of Nigerian youths, the

"As it stands today, troops have maintained an offensive posture, conducting several kinetic operations in the forms of raids on criminal hideouts and patrols amongst others. So far, all the exercises have recorded significant successes. I will go through each subsequently by way of reporting," he said.

Anambra Election: Group Calls for Large Voters Turnout, Asks IPOB to Call Off Lockdown Dike Onwuamaeze The Federal Social Democrats Movement (FSD) has urged voters in Anambra State to turn up in mass on Saturday, November 6, to exercise their constitutional right of electing who would become the next governor of the state.

The FSD stated this in a statement signed by the Interim Publicity Secretary of FSD, Mr. Gbayode Somuyiwa.

The FSD also urged the Independent National Electoral

Buhari: Youths Are Nigeria's Most Strategic Asset Deji Elumoye in Abuja

South-west, North-central and South-east zones respectively.

"On the whole, these exercises cover 20 states and the FCT. Furthermore, these exercises are traditionally scheduled to hold in the last quarter of the year to checkmate all forms of crimes as the yuletide season approaches.

President recognized the exploits of “Silas Adekunle, the robotics engineer, who invented Mekamon, the world’s first intelligent gaming robot,” and ‘Max Chinnah, who invented the Genesys Cooker; a smokeless stove that addresses the problem of smoke pollution, which kills an estimated four million people every year.

He also noted that, “People like Saadat Aliyu, who runs a tech hub in Kano, has developed an app for reporting cases of sexual assault. Only last week, the Canon Young Champion of the Year Award, which celebrates the achievements of young people around the world, who are driving social and environmental change, went to Alabi Samuel Anjolaoluwa in the Under-21’s category for his inspiring project: 'Students of Ibadan', which shines a light on the struggles faced by under-served students in the city of Ibadan.

“I could also speak of Ejikeme Patrick Nwosu, an organic chemist, who has invented a fire-retardant paint that could drastically mitigate the risk of fire outbreaks. How about outstanding young teachers in primary and secondary schools?”

Commission (INEC) to organise a free and fair election in spite of the current besetting challenges in the state and called on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to call off its threat to lockdown the South-east region between November 5 and November 10, 2021, in order to make way for a peaceful and orderly election to hold as scheduled.

IPOB had threatened to lock down the region if its leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, is not freed by the federal government on or before November 4, 2021.

The FSD also expressed concern over the federal government’s alleged deployment of a deputy inspector general of police, five assistant inspector generals of police, 14 commissioners of police, 31 deputy commissioners of police, 48 assistant commissioners of police, and about 35,000 police personnel besides soldiers and members of other security outfits.

It described the deployment as nothing but, “a siege on Anambra State when we are not at war,” saying that the development could create anxiety in the state.

Somuyiwa said: “We call on the people of Anambra to turn out in large numbers to choose their preferred candidate who will be their governor.

“It is time for all the well-meaning persons from the state to come together and ensure the election holds.

“We at the FSD say Anambra State governorship election must hold.”

He also commented on the threat to lockdown the South-east by IPOB. He said: “We urge IPOB to allow the election to hold and to call off its threat to lock down the entire South-east region and allow the judicial process to determine the fate of their leader.

“Lockdown is counterproductive,

and it is not in the interest of the people of the state. Instigating violence to stop the election will hurt the ordinary people more and those engaged in this act should be wary of playing into the hands of anti-democratic forces who have hinted at imposing emergency rule in the state,” he said.

The FSD also condemned strongly the perceived double standard employed by the federal government in dealing with “separatists’ agitations in both the South-east and South-west regions, whilst terrorists in the North-west and North-central regions are treated with kids’ gloves.”

The statement also said the FSD recognised the inalienable right of any group to self-determination and supported the actualisation of this aspiration through democratic and peaceful means.

It, however, blamed the growing discontent in the country on, “the inability of the government to listen to any voice of dissent and the use of force to silence opposing viewpoints has exacerbated discontent among various groups in the federation,” warning that “the rule of law, which is the foundation of any democracy is daily assaulted and we are witnessing an accelerated erosion of democratic norms in our country.”

It also called on the federal government to caution its security agencies against brutalisation of the people and for the law enforcement agencies deployed to the state to maintain neutrality and strict professionalism throughout the election process.

The movement also warned that INEC could not afford to be sloppy with its arrangements and logistics. “Situation where electoral materials do not arrive on time at polling stations or where polling stations cannot be located must be avoided,” it said.

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2021

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

COMMENT

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

THE GOOD EXAMPLE OF AIG-IMOUKHUEDE FOUNDATION Etim Etim writes that the partnership between the federal government and the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation is working

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n the midst of a seeming national despair, it is so uplifting to see some citizens rise to the occasion to offer succour to others and support our government in delivering service to the people.

In the last few years businesses and some members of the privileged class have been engaged in many acts of kindness to Nigerians, but the work of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation in partnering with the federal government to digitalize the operations of the federal civil service, starting with the Office of the Head of the Federal Civil Service, is uniquely stunning and exemplary. We often hear of the rich offering food to the poor and giving out scholarships to indigent students, but the idea of a private citizen offering to pay for the digitalization of the operations of the federal bureaucracy and training of civil servants is not common. What is the philosophical underpinning of this gesture? Is Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, banker, investor, philanthropist and Chairman of the Foundation influenced by his personal experience? His father, we recall, was a senior Federal civil servant when the bureaucracy was largely driven by competence, merit and professionalism.

On Tuesday, October 26, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) signed an agreement with the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation to formally mark their collaboration to digitalize the work of the OHCSF, with the implementation of an Enterprise Content Management Solution (ECMS). The ECMS solution will create efficiency and effectiveness in the OHCSF and ensure the integrity of processes and their outcomes, as well as reposition the federal civil service for better performance and improved quality of service. It was quite fitting that the signing ceremony happened during the 27th Nigerian Economic Summit and was witnessed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who has in the last six years been championing Ease of Doing Business in the country. Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, signed on behalf of OHCSF and Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, signed for his Foundation. Present at the ceremony were the Executive Vice Chair of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Mrs Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, as well as several Federal Permanent Secretaries.

The 27th Nigerian Economic Summit (NES 27) which held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, was a gathering of national and global leaders in government, business, politics, civil society and academia to deliberate on the theme ‘Securing Our Future: The Fierce Urgency of Now’. I attended the Summit and was greatly impressed as stakeholders debated, discussed, examined, explored and conceptualized ways our country could reverse poor economic trends, improve human capital base of the economy and mitigate security challenges. One of the summit’s sub-themes was Digital Transformation. Earlier on the second day of the Summit, Mr Aig-Imoukhuede had participated as a panel discussant in the plenary session on ‘Mobilizing for Political Economy Development’, while Mrs. Aig-Imoukhuede moderated the plenary on ‘Urgency and Audacity of Public Sector Reform: Driving Change and Accountability’.

The Head of the Civil Service, Mrs Yemi-Esan also served as a discussant on the Public Sector Reform plenary. She spoke of the incremental positive change that has occurred in the service over the years, and heaped encomiums on the contributions of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation for its assistance.

The partnership between the OHCSF and the Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG), a subsidiary of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, dates back to 2017, when the two entities signed a Memorandum

of Understanding. AIG engaged the services of Mckinsey & Co to develop the Federal Civil Service Strategy & Implementation Plan 2017-2020 (FCSSIP20) and since that time, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation and its subsidiary entities have been working with the OHCSF, supporting the implementation of some of the key priority areas outlined in FCSSIP20. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for the civil service to digitalize, and the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation has been working with the OHCSF, providing necessary consulting support, resources and funding for the digitalization project.

WE OFTEN HEAR OF THE RICH OFFERING FOOD TO THE POOR AND GIVING OUT SCHOLARSHIPS TO INDIGENT STUDENTS, BUT THE IDEA OF A PRIVATE CITIZEN OFFERING TO PAY FOR THE DIGITALISATION OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY AND TRAINING OF CIVIL SERVANTS IS NOT COMMON

The digitalisation project has been implemented in stages with the first stage being the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), which have since been completed by the OHCSF and are currently undergoing adoption by all the Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The second stage was the Organisational Readiness Assessment which assessed the OHCSF’s state of readiness to adopt the ECMS and measure future outcomes of the project implementation. Additionally, the OHCSF is preparing for ISO 90012015 (Quality Management System) certification, which will provide direction for establishing an effective and responsive compliance management system within the OHCSF, enhancing organisational readiness for the ECMS. A Joint Evaluation Panel set up by the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation and the OHCSF identified a suitable ECMS vendor and the project is now at the final stages of implementation.

Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation said, “Our mission at the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation is driving improved public service delivery and we are committed to supporting the efforts of the public sector to increase its effectiveness so that it can deliver on its mandate to the Nigerian people. As we approach the final stage of the digitalisation project, I am confident that this will mark the beginning of a new era of increased efficiency in the Federal Civil Service.” Dr Folasade Yemi- Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation was equally enthusiastic in her assessment.

“We are committed to improving public service delivery and efficiency to ensure that the people of Nigeria have a seamless experience of federal services. The digitalisation of our work processes will enable us to be more effective and I commend the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation for partnering with us to achieve this. It is a true testament to the role that public-private sector collaboration can play in national development and I hope that this partnership will inspire other entities in the public and private sectors to collaborate to build a better Nigeria’’, she said.

In 2017, Prof Yemi Osinbajo facilitated the partnership between the OHCSF and the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation to develop a clear communicable action plan building on the Federal Civil Service Strategic Plan 2017-2019, and an MoU between the OHCSF and the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation was signed to establish the relationship.

The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation supported with the revised strategic plan through engagement of Mckinsey & Company, and the Federal Civil Service Strategy & Implementation Plan 2017-2020 (FCSSIP20) was developed. The VP (then Ag. President) presided over the Steering Committee meeting on the revised strategic plan and directed that a memo be presented to FEC for approval. 0n 12 July 2017, FEC approved the Federal Civil Service Strategy & Implementation Plan 2017-2020 (FCSSIP 2017-2020) which has been implemented with continued strategic support and funding from the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation.

IN SEARCH OF A COMPETENT LEADER Sani Musa, representing Niger East in the Senate, is fit for purpose, writes Dirisu Yakubu

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s bigwigs of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) intensify consultations in their quest to lead the party preparatory to the 2023 general elections; counsels are rife on the need to tread the path of caution.

Squaring up yet again against the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), without Muhammadu Buhari on the ballot underscores the significance of carefully settling for a leader whose work ethic, competence and experience have been tested over time.

For the lawmaker representing Niger East in the ninth Senate, Senator Sani Musa; leading the APC to war in 2023 is neither a task for weather-beaten politicians nor a job for political greenhorns. In a parley with newsmen recently, Musa advanced reasons for jumping into the ring this way: “I want to bring a new vision, a new direction in the running of the APC so as to build the most acceptable platform that will continue to foster democratic tenets for constructive development and governance.”

For political pundits, that brief but illuminating vision statement gives the lawmaker away as a political strategist whose eyes are fixed on the horizon, beyond the sprint to the 2023 elections.

Up against A-lister politicians and former governors like Ali Modu Sheriff (Borno), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa) among others, Senator Musa didn’t just jump into the fray but took out time to consult with relevant stakeholders and leaders of the party.

“I have the backing of relevant stakeholders in the state (Niger). I have the support of majority of the members of National Assembly, especially the Senators and many APC governors. With their support, I will emerge the next national chairman of the APC,” he said.

A few years ago, Musa got more than he bargained for when he arrow-headed a bill to sanitize the social media space of hate, bile and outright falsehood. Tagged “The Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulation Bill 2019,” the ace lawmaker had argued that the internet must and should be leveraged upon to advance the cause of the society. Shrinking the world into a hamlet, the internet, Senator posited, must not become a platform to amplify the nation’s religious differences, a fault line that has done more harm than good.

His words: “One of the disadvantages of the internet is the spread of falsehood and manipulation of unsuspecting users. Today, motivated by geo-political interest and identity politics, state and non-state actors use the internet to discredit government, misinform people and turn one group against the other.”

Driving home the crux of his argument, the Senator reminded Nigerians to pause for a second and reflect on the lessons from the needless falsehood peddled about the person of President Buhari at the height of his ailment a few years ago.

“The hoax about the demise of President Buhari in London and his purported replacement by one Jubril from Sudan, among others, are things that threaten the peace, security and harmony of our

people,” he stressed.

Only recently, Musa was voted Senator of the Year by Politics Today, a frontline online news tabloid. The newspaper settled for Senator Musa after the lawmaker beat five other nominees to the top prize in a highly competitive poll.

According to the publisher, Mallam Nasir Dambatta, Musa, aside his integrity and vibrancy as a grassroots politician, has sponsored 26 bills in the red chamber, the highest among the 109 lawmakers in the ninth Senate, hence the award of “Senator of the Year.”

Receiving the award, the lawmaker said recent events in the country have vindicated his call for the regulation of social media in the country. Appreciating the organisers of the event for the honour, Senator Musa said he was encouraged by the award to continue to pursue his convictions which include the conclusive legislation on social media regulation in the country, people’s empowerment, women and youth inclusiveness in the governance architecture of the country as well as job creation.

His words: “I dedicate the award to my constituency. They discovered me and sent me here. If not for them, I won’t be here doing my best and contributing my quota in terms of lawmaking to the good governance and betterment of our dear nation.

“In his speech, the publisher mentioned integrity as one of the reasons I’m being honoured today. I appreciate the fact that some people are sincerely watching us and taking notes of our efforts and the patriotism and sound principles that govern our activities on the floor of the Senate. This is because

money can’t give integrity. It is my words and deeds that earned me this award and I’m grateful.

“The murky nature of our politics has made people to lose confidence in it. But I’m not losing confidence in the fact that I’m in the right place and our country is in safe hands under this administration. Our country has all it takes to be far greater than this. We have the resources, the people and the brains. We in government are doing our best. But our best appears not to be enough sometimes. But we will get there.

“This is a shared responsibility. We need the Press to do better for the country to be greater than this. The Press cannot blame us alone for what is happening now because they are the 4th Estate of the realm. When we suggested the regulation of social media, the mainstream media didn’t support us. But from the events of EndSARS up to the ongoing crises across the country, are we not vindicated?

He continued: “I still stand on my social media regulation bill as the best thing for Nigeria at the moment if we must manage our unity in diversity, and live in peace with one another. If we continue to leave the social media like this, to operate without any check or regulation, the country may go up in flames.

“Look at the EndSARS. The social media was used to mobilize people to join the destruction. I spend all my time on social media and I know what goes on there some of which are positive. But the negative things can set the country on fire if we don’t regulate it.

Yakubu, a political analyst, wrote from Kaduna

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

EDITORIAL THE INVASION OF JUSTICE ODILI’S RESIDENCE The raid of Justice Odili’s home is condemnable

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hen, in October 2016, operatives of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) stormed the residences of some judges at night like armed robbers, many justified the impunity on grounds of ‘fighting corruption’. Overlooked was the damage the raid did to rule of law and the threat to the independence of the judiciary. Exactly five years later, a combined team of ‘unknown’ security agents last Friday invaded the residence of Justice Mrs Mary Odili. The consensus now is that some operatives of the current administration seem desperate to destroy the judiciary in pursuit of sinister agenda.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) is yet to find its voice on this egregious act it described in 2016 as a crude attempt to coerce the judiciary into submission. Invasion of the residence of a Judge runs contrary to Section 158 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, THE RAID OF JUSTICE ODILI’S which provides for the independence of the HOME PROVIDES BOTH judiciary. But it came THE BAR AND THE BENCH AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL as no surprise under THESE POWER-MONGERS: an administration in which security ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! agencies whimsically disobey orders from the courts. Yet, what should not be lost on the authorities is that when a critical institution like judiciary is destroyed for political reasons, our democracy will be imperilled and everyone loses.

The growing recourse to lawlessness and brigandage should worry President Muhammadu Buhari. On 6th December 2019, a group of armed DSS officials invaded the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court presided over by the Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu while she was sitting. Apart from disrupting proceedings, the security personnel manhandled Omoyele Sowore in a desperate bid to arrest him in defiance of the orders of the court

Letters to the Editor

which had admitted him to bail. Those involved in that disgraceful conduct were not sanctioned. Even the Senate which investigated the attack on the court refused to release its report so as not to embarrass the federal government. But this sort of lawlessness cannot be allowed to continue.

I T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGED ENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

t bears stating unequivocally that we are not opposed to investigating and prosecuting judges who may have infringed on the law. It is also true that the NJC has not done enough in fighting corruption. Merely retiring those found to have abused their oath without recommending them for criminal prosecution to serve as deterrence to others perhaps led to the current situation. However, the point being made is that rule of law is sacrosanct and must be observed in the fight against any crime. Breaking into judges houses at midnight in a country where unknown gunmen are killing people indiscriminately cannot be justified.

Last Friday invasion of the residence of the second most senior justice of the Supreme Court is therefore not just bizarre, it is indeed criminal.

It is instructive that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has denied any involvement. But his denial has been questioned by the Magistrate who issued the badly written search warrant. While revoking the warrant, the Magistrate blamed the Office of the Attorney-General for misleading him. This is a serious allegation that has not been denied evidently because it is true. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and DSS have also claimed non-involvement. Their denials lack believability. Besides, they may not be involved but they cannot claim not to know who authorised the raid.

Perhaps some high officials of the current administration who are abusing their powers do not understand that anyone can become a victim of impunity. Those who are issuing criminal orders today will become ordinary citizen tomorrow. The raid of Justice Odili’s home provides both the bar and the bench an opportunity to tell these power-mongers: Enough is enough!

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to specific 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.

WITCH PERSECUTION AND PUBLIC ENLIGHTENMENT IN SOUTHEAST

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buses linked to witchcraft and ritual money beliefs are rampant in society because no effective measures have been taken to combat them. This trend must change.

Existential challenges and uncertainties drive people to entertain occult anxieties. The so-called prophets, pastors and faith healers nurture and reinforce these fears.

Accusations of witchcraft are pervasive and motivate people to commit atrocities. Many accuse family members, friends, or co-workers of using juju to cause their problems including death, accidents, business failure, lack of progress, infertility, and illness. These accusations do not usually end as mere verbal utterances because punitive measures are taken by the accusers. Heinous crimes are committed in the name of witch beliefs.

Those who claim to be victims of witchcraft do not take the matter lightly; they take measures to ‘revenge’ or eliminate their supposed enemies or attackers. Witchcraft accusations are against the law. So, witchcraft accusers too often take laws into their hands. They engage in extra-judicial attacks and killings.

Innocent people suspected of witchcraft are attacked or murdered with impunity in our communities. Alleged witches suffer other forms of abuse and abandonment. Children and the elderly are most vulnerable. But truth be told. Everyone is at risk of being attacked and abused in the name of witchcraft. Every person is a potential victim of violations linked to demonic possession, and ritual money beliefs.

As I am writing this piece, the Advocacy for Alleged Witches is intervening in a case in Ebonyi where a young man was accused, tortured, and later thrown into a river. This incident happened in August but nobody has been arrested or prosecuted. This is a recurrent pattern in

witchcraft-related attacks. Authorities seldomly bring perpetrators to justice.

Look, the murder of the suspected wizard in Ebonyi was not committed at night by a lone attacker in some remote corner of the state. This horrific murder was carried out in public. The man was brought to the village square, tied up, beaten before they disappeared him. The corpse has not been found. Many accused persons have disappeared that way without trace.

Unfortunately, nobody intervened to save this man’s life or to stop the savage act. Some people were present and they watched as this innocent man was gruesomely tortured and killed. Many people have been abused or killed others for Igwo Ogwu, ita amusu, ime nsi, Igba pin, and other supposed harmful magical activities in Southeast Nigeria.

As in the case of the man from Ebonyi, the intervention of the Advocacy for Alleged Witches comes too little too late; when the accused has been killed, and the harm has been done The same thing applies to ritual attacks and murder. Reactive approaches have been ineffective in addressing these issues. So this advocacy campaign needs a change of strategy.

We need to adopt a more proactive approach to tackling witchcraft accusations, witch persecution, and murder. Community outreaches will be conducted across the country. These grassroots activities are meant to dispel irrational beliefs, debunk myths and superstitions that inform witch persecutions and ritual attacks before these misconceptions translate into heinous crimes and egregious human rights abuses. The goal of this initiative is to educate, enlighten and reason our people out of witchcraft beliefs and other mistaken notions that are destroying lives, families, and communities. Let this process of intellectual awakening begin.

Leo Igwe, nskepticleo@yahoo.com

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PROMISES, NOT ACTIONS

t is interesting, as an Australian, to see the criticism of our approach to Climate Change.

As is evident to all, except perhaps selfinterested politicians, the climate is changing as often happens but this time it looks like it will be permanent. There are fires, floods and famine around the world, once in a century events that now seem to occur frequently and yet some are blinded by the smoke that these fires produce.

Our Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, formally worked in advertising, has now announced a plan to reach net zero emissions by 2050, a time that seems so too far away for most to consider and yet will arrive too soon for us to make serious changes. Of course, a plan is really intentions, not actions and we have a long way to go to succeed in protecting the climate.

We all need to work on preventing climate change and yet so many are reluctant to make real steps. Australia can now go to the Glasgow COP26 with a promise of change, but we must ask how much political promises are really worth.

Action must start with the people not the politicians. Get out there and tell your politicians what to do. The Earth needs your support, not political promises.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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TUESDAY, ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

GROUND BREAKING FOR NEW PRESIDENTIAL CLINIC ...

L - R , Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambiri; Permanent Secretary of State House, Tijjani Umar; Medical Director, State House Clinic Dr Munir Yakasai and Senior Special Adviser PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI to the President on Media, Femi Adesina, during the ground breaking ceremony of the new VIP Clinic at the Presidential Villa, Abuja....yesterday

Keyamo: FG to Disburse Outstanding N7.3bn to Public Works Beneficiaries Dec Deji Elumoye and Juliet Akoje in Abuja The federal government, yesterday, promised to pay the outstanding N7.3 billion to the remaining beneficiaries of its Special Public Works Programme introduced last year.

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this during budget defence session before the Senate Committee on Labour.

The programme, domiciled in the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), engaged 774,000 Nigerians across the country to carry out public works for three months and beneficiaries were to be N60,000 each.

Keyamo attributed the delay to bank issues but promised that the remaining fund would be disbursed before the end of December this year, adding that limited banks were selected for the programme to ease audit process.

"Why we insisted on certain banks was because of auditing process.

This is so that we have a clear audit

instead of us chasing banks all over the place. We said the bank should use their local branches to ensure that those 1,000 people selected in that local government area go to those banks within that locality," he said.

He, however, said the ministry had opened up the process for

beneficiaries to use any bank in their localities.

"We have made an adjustment in the last few months. We are not attaching a particular bank to a local government again. So, no matter what it is, we will achieve 98 per cent success on the programme,"

he explained.

Also speaking, the DirectorGeneral of NDE, Abubakar Fikpo, said the N52 billion appropriated for the scheme was domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which channelled the money to the beneficiaries through the selected

that instructs CBN and then they effect the payment, which was why sometimes we experience failed payment. We only intervene in the process, when payment fails.

We then communicate with the beneficiaries to sort out the issue with their banks," he said.

‘PDP Determined to Ensure Participation of Youths in Politics’ John Shiklam in Kaduna The newly elected National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Muhammed Suleiman, has said his emergence was a demonstration of the party’s decision to ensure youth inclusion and participation in politics.

In a statement yesterday in Kaduna, Suleiman, who was elected at the party’s National Convention on Saturday in Abuja, said he was aware of the challenges currently bedeviling the youths, occasioned by alleged maladministration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

He, therefore, called on Nigerian youths to support the PDP to rescue Nigeria from its present predicament.

According to him, the new leadership of the party headed

by Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, would work assiduously to return PDP to power in 2023, even as he expressed gratitude for the opportunity given him to lead the PDP youths at a time like this.

“I extend my sincere thanks to the leaders of our party in my state for nominating me to contest as their consensus nominee out of many competent young party faithful. I am deeply moved by the expression of confidence from our party

leaders from different states of the federation and the entire delegates, who participated in the election.

“I take on this responsibility knowing that I stand on the shoulders of committed young men and respected elders of our party,” he said, while calling for support and help, of all stakeholders, because without such, the desired goals would not be achieved.

Suleiman, however, maintained that, “Under the leadership of our newly-elected Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, myself and other elected members of the National Working Committee (NWC), we

IG ORDERS INVESTIGATION INTO INVASION OF JUSTICE ODILI'S HOME Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS), Professor Yemi Akinseye-George, and some other stakeholders and experts in the field of criminal justice joined their voices in condemning the act which many believed was an attempt to muzzle the Judiciary.

They all spoke at a one-day workshop to review the proposed amendments to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

Luke, in his speech as Chairman of the occasion, said the incident was, “very troubling" because the major law enforcement agencies, including the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, had all denied having a hand in the siege.

The lawmaker said, "Further adding insult to the injury is the flimsy grounds of ‘illegal activities’ which the application for the warrant was founded on.

"The siege, reminiscent of 2016 incident where in the dead of night security agencies simultaneously invaded private residence of judicial officers, is condemned in strong terms. The action is a major setback to the attainment of judicial independence and a further blot on the nation’s democratic credentials.”

While advocating a complete overhaul of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, to fill some lacuna created by the Act, Luke suggested a reform of the process of application and issuance of search warrant in order to check

commercial banks.

The agency, he said, compiled the details of the beneficiaries, including their bank accounts, and forwarded to the Office of Accountant-General of the Federation, which would then instruct the CBN to disburse.

"It is the Accountant General

abuse of the process.

He said, "The primary function of every government is to maintain peace, order and good government.

This function cannot be attained without a criminal justice system that addresses violence, disorder and criminal misbehaviour, which are the antitheses of peace and order, in a system."

While commending the Centre for Socio-legal Studies and its Professor Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN, for spearheading the amendments to the Act, the lawmaker said for the law to be more effective it should be repelled and re-enacted.

Luke said, "It has been discovered along the line, however, that the ACJA has not effectively achieved the objectives for which it was enacted. It is pleasing to see the centre leading the charge in the amendment of the Act. "Several and important amendments have been proposed to the Act, which I strongly believe that when passed, will put the Act right back on the faster lane to achieving its purpose. For instance, the proposed abolition of trial within trial, allowance of some part-heard matters to be continued by a new judge, requirement for filing of Defendant’s Statement by the defence, etc., will definitely promote speedy dispensation of justice."

In a welcome address, CSLS President, Professor Akinseye-

George, lamented the worsening insecurity in the country, and called on the federal government to adopt a more effective strategy to tackle the challenge.

While commending the approach of disrupting communication chan-

nels and supply network to bandits and terrorists, Akinseye-George said, "It is imperative to build the capacity of local communities to protect themselves and take proactive measures which can nip criminal activities in the bud.

COLLAPSED 21-STOREY IKOYI BUILDING: SANWO-OLU ORDERS IMMEDIATE PROBE people from the rubbles of the collapsed 21-storey tower, the first responders worked late last night hoping to find more people alive.

The actual number of people, who were in that tower, one of three under construction at 41BCD Gerald Road, as at the time the incident occurred, was yet to be determined.

Reports also had it that the owner of the property was one of those trapped in the collapsed tower and feared dead.

Yet, the cause of the collapse was not known at press time and still being investigated by Lagos State Government officials.

“Whatever we tell you now will be mere speculation,” an official, who did not want to be identified, told THISDAY last night.

But the Lagos state government claimed that, “With the combined efforts of the Lagos Rescue Unit (LRU), Lagos State Fire Service and LASAMBUS, not less than three victims of the collapsed 22-storey building on Gerald Road, Ikoyi were rescued, while rescue operations

continued.

“However, investigations have commenced as to the cause of the collapse, while the General Managers of the Lagos State Building Control Agency and the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority were on ground to make summary assessment on the spot of the extent of damage to the surrounding structures, if any.”

Commenting on the tragedy, the National President of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Mr. Kunle Awobodu said, “It is a sad day. We have never had a building of this height collapse.

It is obvious some professionals will be involved.”

Awobodu said it was important to investigate what happened to avoid speculation.

“Professionally, it is not good to speak based on speculation, but what I will just say is that the collapse of this high-rise will now put fear and doubt in those who are interested in buying or renting high-rise apartments in Ikoyi,” he added.

would work assiduously to return PDP back to Aso Rock in 2023.

“It is worthy of note that, my emergence is apparently a demonstration of the decision of the PDP to guarantee youth inclusion, participation and involvement in politics and leadership positions in Nigeria. I want to assure you that I

am not unaware of the challenges currently bedeviling our youths occasioned by the maladministration of the APC government.

“In the light of this, I want to use this opportunity to call on Nigerian youths to come to PDP, let's rescue Nigeria together to save our future from eminent destruction.”

EFCC Quizzes Obi Cubana Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

Popular socialite and businessman, Obinna Iyiegbu, aka Obi Cubana, was yesterday arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Anambra-born tycoon, who arrived the headquarters of the EFCC at Jabi Abuja at about 12pm is currently being interrogated by operatives of the commission.

Though allegations against the socialite were sketchy as at press

time, a source disclosed that his case borders on alleged money laundering and tax fraud.

When contacted, Spokesman of the Commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said he was yet to be briefed on the development.

The 46-year-old recently caught media attention and has trended on social media, following the recent lavish burial ceremony of his mother in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

‘Insecurity in Anambra May Affect Nigeria's Trade, Commence’ Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Ahead of the November 6 Governorship election in Anambra State, a group, Peace Messengers of Nigeria, has expressed worry that if the current violence and political tussle in the state were not arrested, it might have negative impact on the country.

Speaking on the initiative to help promote peaceful co-existence in the country, President of organisation, Mr. Sulaiman Adejoh, said the security agencies should begin to collaborate with the citizens as means of boosting intelligence gathering that would enable them secure the communities better.

On the threat of violence and insecurity as it affects the Anambra election, Adejoh said federal and state governments must do something urgently to avert any security crisis that might destabilise the South East region.

"Anambra State is a very sensitive state in Nigeria due

it's key position as a major centre of commerce and distribution of goods to every part of the country.

If products come into country from Lagos or Port Harcourt Seaports, the first place it comes is Anambra State before being redistributed.

"The idea of our intervention in the Anambra election is to remind all the players that if anything goes wrong in the Anambra election, it is going to have adverse impact on the South Eastern part of and the entire country as well.

"We cannot afford to have another major security crisis in the South East region. We, therefore, urge all the political actors to eschew violence and to allow for peaceful and transparent contest," he said.

Adejoh claimed that, another way of curbing the violence and criminality in the land, was by implementing youths empowerment schemes across the country which would engage many of the idle hands roaming the streets.

17

TUESDAY, ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

Meaning And Humongous Returns on Non-Fungible Tokens A unit of Pudgy was worth $70 in June of 2021. And today, their value shot up to $9,500 a unit. That is an over 10,000% return on investment. I challenge you to name any investment that can yield that rate of return. Go ahead. I challenge you.

Only Cryptocurrencies and NFT are performing that well. And that is why I urge my readers to update their financial knowledge, so they do not lose out of this geometric wealth creation that is going on around the world.

You cannot use yesterday’s financial knowledge to do business in 2021. Analogue financial intelligence is dying. Finance is now ultra-digital. Equip yourself with #crypto knowledge and explode your finances forever!.

I travelled around Africa between 2018 and 2019. There is no part of Africa I have not been to. If a plane goes there, I have gone there. And the wide-continental poverty I saw in Africa sobered me. I tried throwing money at it, but one man can only do so much.

According to the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, 99.4% of bank accounts in Nigeria contain less than N500,000. So forget about all the social media posturing you see. Ignore the ‘image is everything’ or swagger of the iPhone 13-totting generation. There is widespread poverty in Nigeria. This is the reason why I am devoting my time on social media to teach people how to prosper Even if I may be personally prosperous, my prosperity is not that meaningful if my people live in unimaginable and unnecessary poverty.

Reno’s Nuggets An NFT by Beeple, which sold for $69 million in March of 2021.

A

s you read this, no investment on planet Earth is generating as much returns as NonFungible Tokens. Yet, sadly, very little is known about NFTs, as they are called in Africa.

What exactly are Non-Fungible Tokens?

The short answer is that they are digital assets, which are usually in the form of digital art.

The reason why they are non-fungible is that their value is abstract and not intrinsic.

The term fungibility is an economic term that refers to goods that do not have an individually specific identity, which means that you can replace them with another identical item because they are mutually interchangeable.

For example, a barrel of a particular brand of crude oil, like the Bonny Light Crude, is fungible because it has an exact value and can be exact shred for another barrel of Bonny Light Crude, wherever it may be in the world.

This principle applies to monies of the same currency (your $100 has exactly the same value as mine and are thus interchangeable). It also applies to almost all goods and services.

For example, if I enter a contract with you to perform the service of flying you from London to New York in a private jet, that service is fungible as long as I use any type of the planes I promised.

So if I contracted to fly you in a Learjet,

one Learjet is as good as the other.

Now, Non-Fungible Tokens are the exact opposite of that. They are art. So their value is abstract. They cannot be interchangeable or exchanged for another art of exactly the same value, because their value is unique.

So for instance, the Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci, is unique. It can never be recreated. Therefore, it can never be interchanged or exchanged for another Mona Lisa.

Thus, the value of any Non-Fungible item is in its uniqueness. Like snowflakes, which can be many in number, yet, each is individually unique.

Now, imagine this in a digital world of virtual reality. What you have imagined is a Non-Fungible Token.

And the reason why they could be so valuable is because you can create them and have them authenticated in a blockchain ledger. Then they become tokenised and own-able, such that if anybody duplicates them or takes a photo of them, their copy does not become valuable, just as a photo of the Mona Lisa does not become valuable, and it does not detract from the value of the original.

Now, Non-Fungible Tokens are not so common, but in the next five to ten years, they will become so mainstream, and that will further drive their value up.

Imagine paper money, also known as currency, or cash. When proper paper money was first introduced in the United States in 1690, the public were sceptical.

They refused to stop using gold and silver

as money and resisted the greenback.

But as time went on, and they saw the advantages of paper currency over the gold standard, i.e. that it was easier to carry around, faster and better to trade with, and more easily borrowed and lent, they gradually embraced it.

And even now, paper currency is giving way to digital currency. In fact, a country as conservative as Nigeria just launched the e-Naira. You can live in America for a decade without even touching a physical dollar because the digitalisation of the dollar has reached advanced stages.

Now, that digitalisation is now being applied to art. And the initial result is Non-Fungible Tokens. Eventually, it will encompass many other things.

Just last week, CryptoPunk, an NFT, sold for $530 million, and that is over half a billion. While there are currently unanswered questions about that sale, it is crystal clear that as of 2021, nothing on planet Earth can make you rich like Non-Fungible Tokens.

In March of 2021, a digital artist known as Beeple, whose real name is Michael Joseph Winkelman, sold a single unit of NFT for $69 million at an auction at the world-famous British auctioneers, Christie’s.

A series of NFTs known as Pudgy Penguins, created by a digital artist known as Clayton Patterson, has made more people millionaires this year than almost any other thing on Earth. And a significant portion of those who became overnight millionaires are eighteen-year-old kids.

If you learn coding, you may never become a billionaire, but you will never be poor again.

Because every day, more opportunities are opening for coders. The world is moving from analogue to digital. You can never suffer with that skill. Go and learn how to code! And remember, there is no secret to success. No formula for wealth. No assured way of making money. Just make money and succeed however you can, so long as it’s legal. Even if it’s by washing plates, succeed at it. Success is the goal. Success justifies the means. #RenosNuggets #FreeLeahSharibu

Reno’s Darts

To show you how confused Buhari is, he banned #Cryptocurrency. Then created his own subpar digital currency, and asked foreign investors, many of whom are heavily into crypto, to invest in his e-Naira. That is like banning Scottish whisky, then asking Scotland to invest in palm wine!

It took the dogs called e-Naira just 48 hours to crash out of the App Store (it has returned and is being bartered there by bad reviews). And that is what Buhari said will triple Nigeria’s GDP to ₦12 trillion?

Where are those who attacked me for saying Buhari did not even know what he was launching? Have I not been proved right? e-Naira done e-choke! Did I not say it? e-Naira May as well stand for Embezzle Naira! Which fool will invest in a digital currency issued by a foolish government that banned Twitter, when its citizens can override the ban via a VPN? When a government has shown such stupidity, it should expect divestment, not investment. #TableShaker

18

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2021

POLITICS

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

Buhari’s Unfulfilled Promise to Inaugurate NDDC Board Last July To douse the tension and agitation in the Niger Delta region, and also comply with the law, following the continued imposition of an illegal interim management/sole administrator contraption in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) since October 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari, on June 24, 2021 gave a firm promise to inaugurate the NDDC Board upon receipt of the Commission’s forensic audit report in July. However, since receiving the forensic audit report on September 2, 2021, the President is yet to keep to his promise to inaugurate the NDDC Board, and continues to run the Commission in breach of the law, to the consternation of stakeholders, writes Nseobong Okon-Ekong

Buhari

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari promised the nation on the 24th day of June 2021, while receiving the Ijaw National Congress (INC) at the State House in Abuja that the NDDC Board would be inaugurated as soon as the forensic audit report is submitted and accepted.

The President said: ‘‘Based on the mismanagement that had previously bedeviled the NDDC, a forensic audit was set up and the result is expected by the end of July, 2021. I want to assure you that as soon as the forensic audit report is submitted and accepted, the NDDC Board will be inaugurated.”

But two days later, on Saturday, June 26, 2021, apparently in doubt of the President’s promise, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), the militant group which violently shut down the nation’s oil production in June 2016, published a release on its website and threatened to unleash ‘Operation Humble’, which it said would bring “down target oil installations capable of humbling the economy into permanent recession.” It said: “This mission is also targeted at political actors collaborating with the Nigerian government to undermine interest of the Niger Delta people.” Its 10-point demand included the inauguration of the substantive board of NDDC. The group said the action was necessary to “remind this failed government that we have exhausted the very last iota of patience.” It vowed: “We shall spare no oil installation within our range of strategic targets for destruction in the coming days and we bet the Nigerian government will be humbled to return to the drawing board and chart an all-inclusive course by the time we are done with our action plan.”

In a swift response one day after the NDA threat, President Muhammadu Buhari reassured the NDA of his promise to inaugurate the Board of NDDC on submission of

Akpabio

the forensic audit report in July, and therefore declared as unnecessary the threat.

According to a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina, it was “curious that the threat was coming less than 48 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari met with the leadership of the Niger Delta and Ijaw National Congress (INC), at the Presidential Villa, and the germane issues had been responded to, especially call for restructuring of the Federation, and the inauguration of a Board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).”

Curiously, in the six and a half year regime of the Buhari presidency the NDDC has been run by a substantive board for only two years, 2016 to 2018.

The Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba led Board of NDDC was appointed by President Buhari in July 2016 barely one month after the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) blew up Chevron’s oil wells in Delta state, lowering the nation’s daily

Prof. Okaba

oil production to 1.4 million barrels from 2.2 million barrels.

The report of the forensic audit of NDDC has since been submitted by Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to President Buhari on September 2, 2021. More than two months after submission of the forensic audit report, there is increasing tension in the Niger Delta region over the delay in inaugurating members of the board of the Commission. In fact the Ijaw National Congress (INC) had earlier cautioned in a statement issued on September 10, 2021 that “any further delay in the inauguration of the NDDC board is a clear betrayal of trust and display of State insensitivity on ljaw nation and Niger Delta region.”

Also, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as was widely reported in the media promised to ensure that the Board came on stream before the end of June this year. That promise which was postponed to end of July to enable the conclusion of the Commission’s

Curiously, in the six and a half year regime of the Buhari presidency the NDDC has been run by a substantive board for only two years, 2016 to 2018.

The Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba led Board of NDDC was appointed by President Buhari in July 2016 barely one month after the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) blew up Chevron’s oil wells in Delta state, lowering the nation’s daily oil production to 1.4 million barrels from 2.2 million barrels

forensic audit, after which the Board will be inaugurated still has not been fulfilled more than two months after the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs submitted the forensic audit report to President Buhari through the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, on September 2, 2021.

Little wonder that the tension in the region has reached fever pitch.

Already, across the length and breadth of the Niger Delta region there are unending calls, demands and peaceful agitations of youths, men and women, political and traditional leaders and civil society organisations that the inauguration of the board of NDDC will promote and sustain peace, equity and fairness, transparency and accountability, good governance and rapid development and transformation of the Niger Delta Region, and douse the tension of militancy as well as curtail the menace of insecurity in the region.

According to prominent Niger Delta groups, the non-inauguration of the board negates a promise by the President to inaugurate the board after the forensic audit.

The groups that have expressed their dismay include Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF); the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the Urhobo Progressives Union (UPU), the Ikwerre People’s Congress (IPC) Worldwide, Isoko Development Union (IDU), the Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND).

They have warned against further delay of the NDDC board inauguration.

PANDEF’s spokesperson Ken Robinson, described Buhari’s silence as worrisome, saying the President had “watched like an unconcerned spectator” all the shameful drama going on in the NDDC. He said the President’s indifferent stance conveyed the general attitude of the Federal Government towards issues of the region. Robinson said ”PANDEF and other stakeholders in the

19

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2021

POLITICS

Can Godwin Maduka Upset the Applecart in Anambra Governorship Election?

Tony Amadi writes that the Anambra governorship candidate of Accord, Dr. Godwin Maduka has all it takes to cause an upset in the election

Obiano

T

he November 6 Anambra Governorship Election 2021 could well go down as the most controversial election in Nigerian history. The most expensive election of the decade is shrouded in all sorts of scenarios, will it hold or not hold, how would the two biggest parties in the land perform in the voting, or could the Pain Doctor from America upset the applecart and win it? The former PDP aspirant and now Accord candidate is highly optimistic about winning and appears not to entertain any talk of losing simply because he is highly positive about his winning chances.

I encountered the triple doctoral graduate of Harvard College of Medicine in Abuja recently and he was looking self-assured and hopeful of winning when the Independent National Electoral Commission announces the result of the highly anticipated election. The crowd of contestants is another intriguing factor, eleven of them in total and at least half a dozen with little or no chance, yet they project an aura that is difficult to discern.

Strangely, only Dr. Maduka of all the candidates have toured all the 21 local governments and about 327 wards, some impossible to access unless the candidate is prepared to ride the Okada motorcycle or the highly risky boat transport system to reach the voters. The revered philanthropist and pain doctor completed the rounds of campaigning and can claim to be the only candidate in the election to have toured the whole state inside out to meet the voters who will decide the fate of governance in Southeast’s frontline state.

A frightened member of the PDP National Executive Committee called me last week to confess that in their straw poll, Dr. Godwin Maduka was sailing pretty well and that previously he was underrated and no one gave him a

Maduka

chance considering the fact that in the PDP primaries in June 2021, Dr. Maduka was among the also ran in the event that picked party’s candidate, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo as the winner of the primaries. The truth is that there was a messy primary which left the PDP shell shocked by the actions of its state leadership who will have to pay the prize of the botched politics of calumny and for the ruling party at the national level, the APC, the belief that they can rain down the state with its so called federal might to win an election is simply a bogus dream with no head or tail in the process.

Which brings us down to the ruling party in the state, All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA which has so far run the state government for four consecutive terms. With a formidable candidate like Professor Chukwuma Soludo and the incumbency factor in the present governor Willie Obiano, the party is uncertain of what the electorate have in stock for them due to increasing perception of poor governance in the second term of the governor. However, the entire people of the state are happy to acknowledge the completion of the Anambra state airport near the state capital Awka, as a major success story the people of the state can be proud of.

There has not been any sign that Willie Obiano is that much interested in his successor but since the emergence of Soludo as the candidate, Obiano has had no problem with moving towards the former Central Bank governor. I watched a sponsored video on Arise News taken from the APGA campaign headlined by its candidate Chukwuma Soludo and

Governor Obiano separately addressing the massive crowd. It was breathtaking and looked as if the entire population of the state emptied into the rally. But there is the point being made quite strongly in the state that Soludo in all his years at the Central Bank has done nothing for Anambra people like other Central Bank governors have done for their people while in office. The candidate has so far tried to douse the tension created by this issue unsuccessfully.

In the case of Godwin Maduka, it is clear that no candidate has done as much as he has done over the years in developing the state. Any doubting Thomas has only to travel to Umuchukwu, his home town to see what he has done there. He has turned the place into a big city with all the facilities necessary to create an enviable environment. Maduka first decided that no thatched house should exist in Umuchukwu so he went on to build modern two, three or five bedroom houses for the poor people and those living in thatched houses. Then he built two churches, Catholic and Protestant, a well-equipped hospital which he handed over to the Catholic Church to run.

Not done yet, the former American based pain doctor now full-fledged politician donated land to build a Nunnery, then went on to build a Police Station, magistrate court, high court and several houses for police officers and judges and moved on to the education sector and built a well-equipped secondary school and could go on to build a university if necessary. A visionary man from time, Dr. Maduka is now concerned with banishing medical tourism in the whole country.

He has built a seventeen story tower in his hometown dedicated to setting up a huge medical institution to be equipped with the highest world class standard to ensure that Nigerians do not have to go to India, UK or America for medical tourism.

The intimidating array of personal achievements of Dr. Maduka is unmatchable and his opponents know this as a fact. What about leadership qualities? Despite his triple doctorate degrees in the medical sciences, he developed and maintained six hospitals in America which has been the source of his finances and the vast philanthropy over the years. While playing politics in Nigeria, the management of the hospitals is now under his relation whom he brought to America, trained him and he is now fully in charge of his hospitals in the USA and generating the level of income with which he has built the massive infrastructure in Umuchukwu and all the political forays that he has been involved with these past few years.

The choice before the people of Anambra is simple. Do you want leaders who will develop the state with intent to help themselves with your money or leaders who have made enough for themselves and will only develop the state with the people’s money and not loot the treasury? Anambra voters should realize that in the privacy of the polling booth, they should ask themselves the crucial question.

There is quite a number of candidates in the INEC list who are coming to sell the people down the river and complicate the issues and those who are coming to work for the people and make the state the number one in Nigeria.

I have therefore little doubt that Dr. Godwin Maduka is the candidate to deliver the state from the filthy hands of some political buccaneers among the candidates on November 6 2021.

Buhari’s Unfulfilled Promise to Inaugurate NDDC Board Last July region have continued to underscore the fact that the prolonged non-constitution of the board of the NDDC is affecting issues of the Niger Delta, particularly developmental issues.

“Perhaps, there are people in the presidency who are benefiting in terms of inducement from the illegal and illegitimate processes that have been going on in the NDDC for about two years now. So, Niger Delta people are worried at the indifference of the president towards setting up the board and proper management of the NDDC and left it in the hands of one man.”

The umbrella body for Ijaw nation worldwide, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), said the silence of the Federal Government was just another way of playing on the

sensitivity and sensibility of the people of the Niger Delta. INC President Prof Benjamin Okaba urged the government to act fast to avoid unpleasant consequences the delay might trigger.

The IPC said it was disturbing that the NDDC was being run like a private enterprise without adherence to the Act establishing the commission. IPC Chairman Livingstone Wechie, recalled that in 2019, the President promised to follow the Act in inaugurating the NDDC board immediately after the conclusion and submission of the forensic audit report which had been submitted since September 2, 2021. Wechie said: “IPC as a critical stakeholder in the region believes that

the President has not lived up to his pledge and commitment and this is very disappointing to say the least.”

MOSIEND described the delay in the inauguration of the NDDC board as unacceptable. Its National President Kennedy Tonjo-West said the Federal Government had no excuse for not inaugurating the board.

Curiously, whereas the North East Development Commission (NEDC) has been allowed to function with its duly constituted Board in place in line with its NEDC Act thereby ensuring proper Corporate Governance, accountability, checks and balances and fair representation of its Constituent states, the NDDC on the other hand

has been run arbitrarily in the last 2 years

by Interim committees/sole administrator in breach of the NDDC Act even after President Buhari had appointed a Board for the NDDC which was duly confirmed by the Nigerian Senate on November 5, 2019, but was asked to be on standby for inauguration after the forensic audit.

Now that the forensic audit report has been submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari since September 2, 2021, the President should do well to heed the call of Niger Delta leaders and other stakeholders, comply with the law setting up NDDC, and also fulfill his own promise of June 24, 2021, and inaugurate the board to manage the Commission for the benefit of the people of 9 (nine) Niger Delta states.

20

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

Barclays CEO Staley Resigns after Epstein Probe

Barclays chief executive Jes Staley is leaving the bank after a dispute with British financial regulators over how he described his ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Staley will be replaced as CEO by Barclays’ head of global markets C.S. Venkatakrishnan, who on Monday pledged to continue his predecessor’s strategy.

Staley’s shock departure comes after Barclays was informed on Friday of the unpublished findings of a report by Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulatory Authority into Staley’s characterization of his relationship with Epstein, who killed himself in jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges related to sex trafficking.

“In view of those conclusions, and Mr Staley’s intention to contest them, the Board and Mr Staley have agreed that he will step down from his role as Group Chief Executive and as a director of Barclays,” the bank said.

“It should be noted that the investigation makes no findings that Mr Staley saw, or was aware of, any of Mr Epstein’s alleged crimes, which was the central question underpinning Barclays’ support for Mr Staley following the arrest of Mr Epstein in the summer of 2019.”

Barclays shares fell 2% following the announcement.

Anti-Taliban Group Registers with US to Build Afghan Resistance US officials have confirmed that a newly formed armed group resisting the Taliban rule in Afghanistan has registered with the United States.

The confirmation came in response to claims by the anti-Taliban National Resistance Front (NRF) that its international office has received authorization to open in America officially.

Ali Maisam Nazary, the foreign relations chief for the anti-Taliban group, made the announcement on Friday via a Twitter post, promising the NRF “will soon expand its activities throughout the globe.”

A spokesperson for the US State Department told VOA officials “are aware that an entity calling itself “The National Resistance Front” registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act on October 26.”

The spokesperson, however, explained the decision to register was made by the registrant and did not require any further action or approval by the Department of Justice or any other American government entity.

“In general, organizations such as this one can open offices in the US and do not require involvement from the Department of State,” the spokesperson said.

In August, the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan after ousting the Western-backed government in Kabul as American and NATO troops withdrew from the country after 20 years of involvement in the war.

Biden Opens Climate Talks with New Climate Commitments US President Joe Biden on Monday announced a range of American commitments aimed at curbing global warming, as leaders from more than 100 countries gathered in Glasgow for the UN Climate Change Conference.

“The United States will be able to meet the ambitious target I set at the Leaders Summit on climate back in April, reducing US emissions by 50 to 52 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030,” Biden said. “We will demonstrate to the world that the United States is not only back at the table, but hopefully leading by the power of our example. I know it hasn’t been the case, and that’s why my administration is working overtime to show that our climate commitment is action, not words.”

Those new goals include a set of new US climate commitments that build on previous global agreements: the unveiling of plans for a $3 billion President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience to tackle climate awareness, financing and adaptation efforts, and a raft of domestically focused legislation that aims to shore up American infrastructure

while also cutting greenhouse gas pollution by well over one gigaton in 2030.

That legislation had occupied the US Congress for months, with members of the legislative body negotiating fiercely throughout — but ultimately, failing to bring the matter to a vote before Biden left for the summit last week.

UK: Success at COP26 Will Be ‘Touch and Go’ For months, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his aides have been raising expectations for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, hosting in Glasgow. But heading into the two-week gathering, they have sounded far less confident.

In Rome at the G-20 summit Saturday, Johnson said the chances of a big enough agreement emerging from COP26, one really capable of containing global warming, were not much better than 50-50.

At the opening ceremony Monday of the critical climate-change talks, Johnson warned fellow leaders from nearly 200 countries that humanity has “long since run down the clock on climate change,” and he cautioned that if we don’t get serious today, “it will be too late for our children to do so tomorrow.”

Earlier his foreign secretary, Liz Truss, said there is no certainty anyone would see the action needed from global leaders. It is “touch and go,” she said, and there will be “really intense negotiations” between leaders over the coming days. The summit represents a “massive opportunity” to “hold these leaders to account,” she added.

A few months ago, Johnson, who by nature prefers the role of an optimistic booster, appeared much cheerier about the prospects for COP26, talking breezily about how Britain will use the presidency of COP26 “to galvanize ambitious global action on climate change.” But British ministers and officials now admit it is uncertain whether Britain as host will secure the deals adequate to curb irreversible climate change at COP26.

Under the Paris Agreement on climate change made at COP21, nations agreed to limit warming to two degrees and ideally 1.5 above pre-industrial levels. It left them to develop their own action plans and to review them every five years.

At Glasgow, the summiteers will formally

review the action plans and evaluate how successful they have been.

Japan PM Kishida, Strengthened

by Election Win, Launches Broad Policy Plans Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, invigorated by a surprisingly strong election victory, signalled on Monday he would pursue defence policies to deter China, address climate change and accelerate recovery from the pandemic.

Kishida’s conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) defied predictions and held onto its single-party majority in a Sunday election, solidifying his position as head of the fractious party and giving him a freer hand in parliament, with recovery from the coronavirus pandemic - including an extra budget — taking priority.

Some had feared that Kishida, only in power for a month, could become another one of Japan’s short-term prime ministers, but the election results - which set stocks surging in relief — will allow him to put his own stamp on policies ahead of an upper house election next summer.

The LDP’s solid victory in Japan’s parliamentary election also eased bond market fears of massive bond issuance because it will likely take pressure off Kishida to inflate the size of a pandemicrelief stimulus package.

Mexican Journalist Dies from Wounds, Second Slain in Week Photojournalist Alfredo Cardoso died in a hospital Sunday two days after being shot in Acapulco, the second Mexican journalist to be killed during the week, an international journalism group said.

Jan Albert Hootsen, Mexico’s representative for the Committee to Protect Journalists, reported Cardoso’s death, saying he had direct confirmation from Cardoso’s family.

Prosecutors in Acapulco said Friday that Cardoso, who worked for a news portal, had been found sitting on a city street with gunshot wounds and was taken to a hospital. According to the National Union of Press Editors and information from the family relayed

by CPJ, Cardoso had been taken from his home earlier Friday by armed men.

On Thursday, reporter Fredy López

Arévalo, who contributed to several local, national and foreign media outlets, was shot to death when he arrived at his home in San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas state.

During the first three years of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration, 47 journalists and 94 human rights defenders have been slain in Mexico, according to data offered in early October by the undersecretary of human rights, population and migration, Alejandro Encinas.

Mexico is the most violent country in the Western Hemisphere for journalism, according to CPJ, a New York-based press protection group.

US Expresses Alarm Over Reports of Escalation of War in Ethiopia US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed “alarm” Monday over reports that forces from Ethiopia’s Tigray region have advanced into Dessie and Kombolcha, two towns in the neighbouring Amhara region.

“All parties must stop military operations and begin ceasefire negotiations without preconditions,” Blinken wrote in a Twitter post.

The Ethiopian government accused the Tigrayan forces Monday of carrying out large-scale killings and destruction of property.

“The terrorist [Tigray People’s Liberation Front] TPLF group has infiltrated into Kombolcha at night killing more than 100 young people,” the federal government’s spokesperson, Legesse Tulu, said in a statement posted on Fana Broadcasting Corporate, the state-owned media.

“The terrorist group has destroyed private and public property in the cities of Dessie and Kombolcha,” the statement read in Amharic.

VOA could not independently verify the government’s accusation. A request sent to Billene Seyoum, the prime minister’s spokeswoman, went unanswered.

Speaking to the Reuters news agency on a satellite phone from an undisclosed location, TPLF spokesperson Getachew Reda denied government allegations that civilians were killed. He said Tigrayan forces “don’t have to kill the youth,” and that “there was no resistance in Kombolcha.”

21

TUESDAY, ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ϮϭďƉƐ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ďLJ ϮϭďƉƐ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϳϳϴ͘ϳϲ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƐĞůůͲŽīƐ ŝŶ 'd K ;ͲϬ͘ϵйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϰйͿ͕ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϲϳϰ͘ϴϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϲйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ^^ ;ͲϬ͘ϱйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ

t W K ;Ͳϭ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ h ;ͲϬ͘ϳйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂͲ ϭϴ͘ϭй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘Ϯй͘

Ticker

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

1,778.76

-0.21%

780.00

0.0%

28.7%

72.00

0.0%

10.4%

-6.9%

28.40

-0.9%

8.2%

-12.2%

WƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ƌĂŐƐ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ͘​͘​͘ ^/ ĚŽǁŶ ϭϱďƉƐ

^/ ƵƉ ϭϭďƉƐ ĂƐ E' D 'ĂŝŶƐ ϯ͘ϯй zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ & E, ;ͲϮ͘ϳйͿ͕ E'^h' Z ;ͲϮ͘ϵйͿ͕

zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ĚƌĂŐŐĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ,KEz&>KhZ ĂŶĚ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ;ͲϬ͘ϵйͿ ƉĞƌĨŽƌͲ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ ĂƐ E' D ĂŶĚ ŝŶĚĞdž & E, ĨĞůů ;нϬ͘ϳйͿ ŵĂŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ E'y ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ϭϱďƉƐ ďŽůͲ ƚŽ ƐƚĞƌĞĚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůůͲ ϰϭ͕ϵϳϲ͘ϳϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͕ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƐůŝĚ േϯϮ͘ϯďŶ ^ŚĂƌĞ ƚŽ േϮϭ͘ϵƚŶ ǁŚŝůĞ ŝŶĚĞdž zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ƚŽ ϰ͘Ϯй͘ DĂƌͲ ďLJ ŬĞƚ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ϭϯ͘Ϭй ϭϭďƉƐ ƚŽ ϯϵ͕ϱϱϬ͘ϯϲ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ zd ůŽƐƐ ŝŵͲ ĂŶĚ ϲ͘ϱй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ƚŽ ϯϳϴ͘Ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ േϯ͘ϮďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ

ƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ Ͳϭ͘ϴй ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ D E &/d ;ϱϮ͘ϰŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕

േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ h ;Ϯϵ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E, ;Ϯϳ͘ϱŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ EͲ

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ

/d, ;േϯϯϵ͘ϴŵͿ͕ & E, ;േϮϵϵ͘ϴŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ t W K ;േϮϳϵ͘ϮŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ϴϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ dZ E^ KZW ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ & E, ;ϭϭ͘ϭŵ

ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ E ^d> ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕ DŝdžĞĚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ

ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ͕ Ϯ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ/ d ŝŶĚĞdž ĐůŽƐĞĚ ϯ ŇĂƚ͘ dŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϭ͘ϴй ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ƐŽůĚ Žī ƐƚĂŬĞƐ ŝŶ K E K ;Ͳϳ͘ϵйͿ ĂŶĚ d ZE ;Ͳϵ͘ϵйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 BUA Cement Plc 3 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC 4 Zenith Bank PLC 5 Dangote Cement PLC 6 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC 7 Nestle Nigeria PLC

Ğƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϰ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉ ƐŝĚĞ͕ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ // K ;нϴ͘ϵйͿ͕ t W/ ;нϲ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ t W K ;нϭ͘ϵйͿ ĚƌŽǀĞ ϭ͘ϵй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϭй ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> ;Ͳ

ĂŶĚ D E^ Z ;ͲϮ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ

T ic k er

ƟŽŶ ŝŶ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͘

F ID SON

ĂŶĚ KhZds/>> ;Ͳϵ͘ϭйͿ ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ŶĞdžƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ

GUIN N ESS

SOVR EN IN S A IIC O

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ͘ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ

;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞ ŝƐĐůŽƐƵƌĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϲdž ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ W ƵƐƐŽŶƐ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ WůĐ ĂŶŶŽƵŶĐĞĚ Ă ĚŝǀŝĚĞŶĚ ŽĨ

-6.9%

19.1%

11.2%

34.6x

6.5x

-12.2%

24.8%

3.9%

4.3x

1.1x

10.5%

23.3%

5.1% 2.3%

15.1%

29.3%

2.9%

20.9%

2.8%

3.4x

0.7x

11.9%

40.4%

16.7%

13.9x

5.4x

6.2%

7.2%

175.60

0.0%

5.0%

3.4%

3.4%

179.2%

14.1%

12.7x

19.2x

5.9%

7.9%

1,400.00

0.0%

3.7%

-7.0%

-7.0%

106.8%

15.6%

27.2x

32.0x

4.3%

3.7%

27.50

1.9%

4.3%

30.6%

30.6%

9.9%

7.1%

10.3x

1.2x

3.5%

9.7%

9.45

-0.5%

3.1%

11.8%

11.8%

2.7x

#N/A N/A

9.0%

37.7%

8.55

-0.6%

2.7%

-1.2%

-1.2%

10.75

-2.7%

3.7%

50.3%

50.3%

52.50

-0.9%

1.9%

-6.3%

39.05

0.1%

2.0%

3.4%

2.1x

0.4x

6.4%

46.5%

10.6%

1.0%

5.0x

0.5x

4.1%

19.9%

-6.3%

5.3%

1.9%

48.4x

2.5x

2.1%

2.1%

3.4%

15.4%

2.0%

9.0x

1.4x

10.5%

11.1%

-11.4%

-4.5%

5.20

-1.0%

1.4%

-12.6%

-12.6%

29.45

0.2%

1.2%

13.3%

13.3%

731.50

0.0%

1.9%

81.8%

81.8%

1.0x

-11.0%

4.5x

0.7x

5.6%

22.0%

3.4%

1.9%

16.9x

0.6x

5.6%

5.9%

-100.0%

135.00

0.0%

1.2%

48.4%

48.4%

38.8%

25.2%

9.2x

3.2x

5.2%

10.9%

2.73

-1.8%

0.8%

8.3%

8.3%

12.7%

1.2%

2.4x

0.3x

8.1%

42.2%

8.50

-4.5%

1.0%

41.7%

41.7%

1.5%

0.1%

28.2x

0.4x

16.50

-2.9%

0.5%

-6.3%

-6.3%

25.6%

12.1%

6.4x

1.5x

9.0%

15.7%

3.6%

3.19

0.0%

0.5%

-4.2%

-4.2%

1.50

0.7%

0.3%

-26.5%

-26.5%

10.1%

0.9%

3.3x

0.3x

3.3%

14.65

0.0%

0.4%

1.0%

1.0%

20.7%

5.9%

13.8x

3.0x

2.8%

7.3%

1.05

-1.9%

0.4%

16.7%

16.7%

-1.3%

-0.3%

0.6x

0.9%

-2.0%

89.00

0.0%

0.3%

25.4%

25.4%

2.1x

1.1%

15.60

0.0%

0.2%

12.2%

12.2%

-1.3%

-0.8%

1.4x

6.35

-0.8%

0.2%

19.8%

19.8%

4.7% 30.7%

-1.0% 3.9%

9.00

-2.2%

0.4%

91.1%

91.1%

2.0x

7.8%

39.90

9.9%

0.4%

110.0%

110.0%

8.1%

3.8%

14.2x

1.1x

1.2%

7.0%

8.45

0.0%

0.3%

44.4%

44.4%

24.7%

7.5%

4.2x

1.0x

6.7%

24.0%

12.2%

1.8%

13.5x

0.6x 1.7%

18.3%

1.35

8.9%

0.2%

19.5%

19.5%

240.80

0.0%

0.3%

85.2%

85.2%

25.00

0.0%

0.2%

41.9%

41.9%

18.3%

2.4%

4.4x

0.8x

1.6%

23.0%

0.85

4.9%

0.2%

23.2%

23.2%

13.7%

0.8%

4.0x

0.5x

4.9%

24.9%

4.0%

0.0%

-100.0%

7.1%

0.8%

5.9x

0.6x

4.8%

-7.9%

0.1%

25.7%

14.5%

2.6%

2.0x

0.3x

4.7x

0.6x

4.65

25.7%

7.4%

5.5x

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-38.7%

-9.5%

52.95

0.0%

0.1%

-4.4%

-4.4%

14.8%

10.1%

5.38

0.0%

0.0%

49.4%

49.4%

16.9% 49.9%

2.1x

-20.1% 2.0%

21.4%

0.9x T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

T o p 10 G a i n e r s

Z E/E^ ;нϵ͘ϭйͿ ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ ǁŚŝůĞ d ZE ;Ͳϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ hW ;Ͳϵ͘ϰйͿ͕

0.8x ot Applicable

1.4%

38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 39 Beta Glass PLC 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ϯϭ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ &/ ^KE ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ 'h/EE ^^ ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ^KsͲ Ğƌ͕ ƵƉ ϭ͘ϴй ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂͲ

ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ƉƌŽĮƚͲ

5.2%

14.3%

32 AIICO Insurance PLC 33 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri

ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϲdž ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϲdž ĂƐ ϮϬ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ

3.5%

14.7%

1.4%

23 Sterling Bank PLC 24 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

36 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 37 Oando PLC

ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K ;ͲϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͘ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬ

15.0%

-8.4%

14.3%

21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc

34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 35 Wema Bank PLC

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ tĂŶĞƐ ŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ďLJ Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲ

77.9%

-8.4%

6.9%

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 Ecobank Transnational Inc

ƚŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƐĞƋƵĞŶƟĂůůLJ͘ ϵ͘ϭйͿ͕ hE/> s Z ;Ͳϯ͘ϱйͿ͕ >/E< ^^hZ ;Ͳϲ͘ϰйͿ͕

5.4x

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

21.2%

0.0%

30 Guinness Nigeria PLC 31 Custodian and Allied Insurance

P/BV

6.8%

17 11 PLC 18 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ Ϭ͘ϵйͿ͕ E'^h' Z ;ͲϮ͘ϵйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ;ͲϬ͘ϵйͿ͘

ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ & E, ;ͲϮ͘ϳйͿ͕ 'd K ;Ͳ

P/E

0.0%

14 International Brew eries PLC 15 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 16 SEPLAT Energy PLC

28 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC 29 United Capital PLC

ROA

-0.4%

12 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ͕ ϭ ŝŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ/ d

ROE

25.15

10 United Bank for Africa PLC 11 FBN Holdings Plc

26 Presco PLC 27 Unilever Nigeria PLC

Price Change Index to Date

280.00

8 Lafarge Africa PLC 9 Access Bank PLC

ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ

ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ Ϭ͘ϰй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϯй

Price Previous Current Change Price YTD Weighting Change

Current Price

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

6.76

9.9%

M B EN EF IT

52.4

-7.1%

39.90

9.9%

UB A

29.3

-0.6%

0.24

9.1%

FB NH

27.5

-2.7%

1.35

8.9%

A IIC O

27.0

8.9%

R EGA LIN S

0.40

8.1%

T R A N SC OR P

26.2

-1.9%

UP L

2.34

7.8%

J A P A ULGOLD

15.7

-6.8%

GLA XOSM IT H

6.50

6.6%

WEM A B A N K

15.6

4.9%

WA P IC

0.51

6.3%

Z EN IT H B A N K

13.5

-0.4%

R OYA LEX

0.53

6.0%

A C C ESS

12.7

-0.5%

WEM A B A N K

0.85

4.9%

WA P C O

9.9

1.9%

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T o p 10 L o s e r s

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^dK < ;Ͳϰ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ DĞŵďĞƌƐ ĂƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ϳƚŚ ŽĨ :ĂŶƵĂƌLJ ϮϬϮϮ͘

ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŵŝdžĞĚ͕ ĂƐ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ƐĞĂƐŽŶ ŐƌĂĚƵĂůůLJ ůƐŽ͕ ŝƌƚĞů ĨƌŝĐĂ WůĐ ĂŶŶŽƵŶĐĞĚ ĂŶ ŝŶƚĞƌŝŵ ĚŝǀŝĚĞŶĚ ŽĨ Ϯ ĐĞŶƚƐ ǁŝŶĚƐ ƵƉ͘ ƉĞƌ ŽƌĚŝŶĂƌLJ ƐŚĂƌĞ ƚŽ ďĞ ƉĂŝĚ ŽŶ Žƌ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ϭϬƚŚ ŽĨ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ

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T ic k er

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

ET ER N A

7.79

-9.9%

Z EN IT H B A N K

339.8

-0.4%

UP D C

1.63

-9.4%

FB NH

299.8

-2.7%

C OUR T VILLE

0.40

-9.1%

WA P C O

279.2

1.9%

OA N D O

4.65

-7.9%

GT C O

263.9

-0.9%

H ON YF LOUR

3.32

-7.8%

UB A

250.9

-0.6%

LA SA C O

1.08

-7.7%

ST A N B IC

222.2

0.1%

M B EN EF IT

0.26

-7.1%

M TNN

216.5

0.0%

J A P A ULGOLD

0.41

-6.8%

NB

143.9

-0.9%

N EIM ET H

1.81

-6.7%

N EST LE

126.3

0.0%

2.82

-6.0%

A C C ESS

119.2

-0.5%

C H A M P ION

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

P ric e

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Damilare Asimiyu| dasimiyu@afrinvest.com

22

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱ, ͰͮͰͯ

FEATURES

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

Exploring Pineapple Cultivation as National Economic Asset In this report, Sunday Ehigiator writes on the economic and health value of pineapple and how the Nigerian government can explore its economic potentials to improve on revenue generation

T

he tropical fruit pineapple is rich in vitamins, enzymes and antioxidants.

They are perennial (present at all seasons of the year) plants of the family Bromeliaceae.

“They introduced it to Saint Helena shortly after they discovered that island in 1502," said Britannica.com. “Soon after, they carried it to Africa and, by about 1550, to India. Before the end of the 16th century, cultivation of the plant had spread over most of the tropical areas of the world, including some of the islands of the South Pacific.”

Different pineapples are grown in different parts of the world, varying in sizes, shapes, colours, and more. Speaking with THISDAY during a recent visit to ‘First Massive Achiever’s Ltd. (MAF) Pineapple Republic’, situated at Sawonjo, Yewa North area of Ogun State, MAF President, and Board of Trustee (BoT) Chairman, National Pineapple Growers Processors and Marketers, Mr. Okekunle Akintunde, noted that there are four major types of pineapple.

“Although we have about 10 species of pineapple, the major ones are four in number, Smooth Cayenne, Red Spanish, Queen, and Abacaxi. However, on this farm, we only grew Smooth Cayenne in commercial quantities.

Smooth Cayenne pineapples are likely the ones you’d find in a typical supermarket.

They are bigger than most other varieties, weighing in at four to ten pounds. Their flesh is mostly yellow and is very juicy," said Akintunde.

“Red Spanish pineapples are orange-red. It produces fruit that has a light yellow colour and an aromatic flavour. They’re high in fibre but aren’t as tender as other varieties.

Queen pineapples are dark-yellow with a small core. It has a pleasant aroma and flavour but cannot be preserved. They’re better eaten fresh. However, they are more tolerant of diseases and cold temperatures than other types of pineapple.

“Abacaxi pineapples are very sweet and quite resistant to disease as well. They weigh anywhere from two to eleven pounds. They’re spiny and tall, and their flesh is nearly translucent in colour. They’re delicious but too delicate for commercial purposes.”

Gestation and Harvesting Pineapples grow from the crowns produced by the fruits or from suckers produced around the base of a mature plant. The fruit stem emerges from the middle of the plant, and you get one pineapple per plant. The plant is normally propagated from the sucker produced at the top of the fruit or from a side shoot and typically matures within a year.

Akintunde noted that pineapple could be harvested within two years. After the first harvest, suckers are grown, and they reproduce. The crop will undergo induction between 16 and 18 months — an organic solution to spring "forth the crop." Induction attracts uniform harvesting.

“Once induction is done, the entire sucker will bring out fruit at the same time, and we will be able to harvest and supply in commercial quantities all at the same time.

Each pineapple plant can only flower and fruit once, but the main plant usually produces suckers once it begins to flower," he added. “These suckers, which are small plants growing off the main plant, can then grow into mature plants and produce their own flowers and fruits.

“So when harvesting, you leave the suckers on the plant until after you harvest the pineapple, then the main plant begins to decline. You can then cut them free from the main plant's root system and grow them to maturity in their own individual pots."

Climate and Soil Effect According to Akintunde, pineapples grow under a warm and humid climate, mostly at low elevations in areas with a temperature range of 15 to 30ºC. However, a high temperature of over 35ºC can be unfavourable for them to develop fruits. They thrive with a wide range of rainfall from 600-2500 mm per annum, the optimum being 1000-1500 mm.

“In 2020, we experienced a terrible drought.

It affected some of our pineapple suckers.

But one of the characteristics of pineapple is that it can endure a long period of drought because of the special water storage cells," said Akintunde. “It's also a crop that has self-protection because it is surrounded with thongs. Cattles cannot penetrate a pineapple

Mysterious pineapple sucker with 21 fruits (pineapples) at ‘First Massive Achiever’s Ltd. (MAF) Pineapple Plantation, Sawonjo, Yewa -north area of Ogun State plantation. “It can be grown on a wide range of soils, including poor soils, but does not tolerate water-logging. It gives you a superior flavour and quality fruits if grown on light soils. Sandy, loamy, and the laterite soils are best for its cultivation.”

Uses According to researchgate.com, pineapple is used for food, bromelain, fibre, juice, animal feeds, folk medicines, and ornaments. Pineapple is said to be highly rich in nutrients. FAO's 1996 report noted stated that pineapple contains the following nutrients, calories, fat, protein, and carbs. Others are fibre, Vitamin A, C and K, manganese, Vitamin B6, copper, thiamin, zinc, folate, potassium, magnesium, niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin and iron. Its health benefits are numerous. According to an online nutrition website, healthline.com, Pineapples are said to be a good source of antioxidants, which may reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers.

“Antioxidants are molecules that help your body combat oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress is a state in which there are too many free radicals in the body. These free radicals interact with the body’s cells and cause damage that is linked to chronic inflammation, a weakened immune system and many harmful diseases.

Global Pineapple Economy (GPE) The World Food Programme and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), production of pineapples currently stands at over 28.3 million tonnes, with Costa Rica leading with 3.4 million tonnes yearly, representing 10 per cent of the total production. The Philippines comes second with 2,730,985 tonnes yearly production, and Brazil comes third with 2,650,479 tonnes of production per year. Brazil is the third-largest producer of pineapple.

Nigeria is placed ninth and highest producer of pineapple in Africa with 1,664,510 annual productions, representing 5 per cent of the global production. Abia, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River, Edo, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, and Ondo are the biggest pineapple producers in Nigeria.

According to FAO, the Asian continent is the biggest producer of pineapples with 41 per cent of the world’s total production, followed by America, with 38

per cent, and Africa, with 20 per cent. In 2020, global sales for pineapples exports by country totalled $2.1 billion. Costa Rica, the Philippines, Netherlands, United States, and Belgium generated just over three-quarters 76 per cent of all globally exported pineapples in 2020.

Among continents, Latin America, excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, generated the highest dollar worth in international sales of pineapples during 2020, with shipments valued at $1.1 billion or over half (53.2 per cent) of the worldwide total.

In second place were Asian exporters at 18.8 per cent while 18.5per cent of total shipments of the sweet fruit originated from Europe. Smaller percentages came from North America (5.3 per cent), Africa (4.3 per cent), then Oceania (0.007 per cent), notably New Zealand and Australia.

The 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of pineapples in 2020 were Costa Rica, with $922.7 million, which represents 44.4 per cent of exported pineapples, Philippines, with $307.7 million representing 14.8 per cent of exported pineapples, and the Netherlands with $189.8 million representing 9.1 per cent of exported pineapples.

Nigeria’s GPE performance in 2020 Although Nigeria ranked higher in Africa in terms of pineapple production, it was nowhere to be found among the top 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of pineapples in 2020.

Nigeria was not ranked among the 113 top countries leading exportation in the world. Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Kenya ranked 10, 11, and 19, respectively, with pineapple export revenue of $31 million, $29 million, and $12 million apiece.

Cameroon, Togo, Uganda, South Africa, Tanzania, Benin Republic, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Angola, and Guinea were respectively ranked 29, 30, 31, 32, 37, 59, 61, 62, 65, 82, 84, 86, and 87.

The pineapple export revenue of Togo, Uganda and South Africa were pegged at $2.8 each, the Benin Republic, $2 million, Tanzania, $263,000, Sierra Leone, $166,000, Rwanda, $150,000, Mozambique and Burkina Faso, $20,000 each, Morocco $15,000, Angola and Guinea $13,000 apiece.

Investment in Pineapple Production for Export "Pineapple is an internationally traded

What I advise the government to do is to start producing pineapple and make it our national assets.

Government should enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with these countries that can't grow pineapples

commodity. If you go to Iraq, Kuwait, Egypt and other Arab countries, their climate and land cannot support the growing of pineapple; hence they depend on other countries' supply, which is never enough," Akintunde added.

“What I advise the government to do is to start producing pineapple and make it our national assets. Government should enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with these countries that can't grow pineapple, and also bring in investors who will be up-taking it from here and exporting it to these countries."

Continuing, he stated, “This will largely improve our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) because it is an exportable commodity, although pineapple business is capital intensive.

However, we can generate good revenue through its mass cultivation and exportation.

In doing this, he said the government's support is needed. According to him, a good number of people write good proposals but are not farmers, pointing out that organisations "like us (with over 15,000 members) have been training people for the National Directorate of Employment (NDA), Lagos State chapter."

"We don't need money from the government.

We are farmers, and all we need is equipment to make our work easier and faster. We need tractors, ploughs, planters and bulldozers. Once we have that, I imagine solving unemployment with pineapple farming alone.

“If I were to be the Minister of Agriculture, I know how to turn the economic fortune of this country around and also reduce unemployment with agricultural investment and exportation.”

Pineapple Farming as Solution to Unemployment Akintunde further noted that pineapple production could also be a source of ending unemployment in Nigeria.

“I want to advise the government to test run a policy, for example, give 10 graduates, either polytechnic or university graduates, 10 acres of land and N3 million each as soon as they graduate. Put them under our supervision here at MAF. Let's train them on pineapple cultivation. We will transform their lives miraculously within the shortest time possible."

He added. “We have vast and fruitful land here, especially in Ogun State. Also, when you come from the North to Kwara State, you have savannah. When you get to Oyo and Osun State, you have green savannah, but when you get to Ogun, we have evergreen savannah. After their first harvest, they will also be able to employ more hands and expand the business. This business is self-sustaining, and its international demand is very high.”

The Mysterious Pineapple Sucker Meanwhile, regarding the 300 acres of pineapple plantation belonging to MAF, Akintunde drew THISDAY’s attention to a particular pineapple sucker with 21 fruits (pineapples). A pineapple sucker is expected to produce only one fruit per sucker. However, this particular sucker produced 21 fruits on just one sucker. Of the 21, nine of the fruits sat alone while the remaining 12 were conjoined.

“Every pineapple farmer knows that a sucker of pineapple can only give birth to one fruit, but amazingly we discover what has never happened in the history of the world, that a sucker on our pineapple plantation bore 21 fruits," explained Akintunde. “Among the fruits, 12 are conjoined. This is beyond human imagination. We don't know what is responsible for this, and on that note, we have been on a mission to inform the whole world that something good has started in Nigeria.”

Akintunde said the development prompted MAF to apply as participants at the US-Nigeria Investment Summit held on September 17 and 18, 2021, but denied a visa to attend the summit.

“We have something to sell to the world.

All we needed was for international scientists and researchers to come here and investigate what may have caused this to happen and also see if there was a way it could be reproduced going forward so that pineapple farmers could be harvesting at least four pineapples on a sucker," he stressed. “We are farmers and not scientists, but we were denied visas for reasons best known to the US. We are, however, calling on researchers and scientists to come in and help us investigate this incident.”

23

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱ, ͰͮͰͯ

FEATURES

Okowa’s Unique Impact on Coastal Communities

O

ne of the fastest ways to develop a community is functional infrastructure. No matter how remote a community is, once there are good roads linking it to the urban or semi-urban areas, the lives of the people will witness a positive change. This is exactly what is happening in the coastal and other rural communities of Delta State. The state, which is was carved out of the defunct Bendel State in 1991, is made of an estimated 60 per cent upland and 40 per cent riverine or coastal communities. This composition and topography across the state makes it extremely difficult to develop infrastructure especially in the riverside areas, which includes marshy creeks, because of high cost of construction.

The coastal and shoreline areas in the state cut across the three senatorial districts with part of Ndokwa East in Delta North and Ughelli South in Delta Central but predominantly more in Delta South with Isoko South, Burutu, Bomadi, Patani, Warri, South West, Warri North local government areas chiefly among the riverside areas in the state.

However, these obvious challenges did not deter the Senator Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration in Delta from developing these coastal communities since he took over the mantle of leadership in 2015.

The governor has expressed his belief that the riverine communities, being rich in crude oil and constituting the nation's economic mainstay could only be ignored or neglected at the nation's peril. The belief of Okowa is that it would be wicked of any government exploiting oil from their environment to leave these communities unattended to amidst pollution and degraded environment.

Due to the age-long neglect and deprivation of the riverine communities, most of they resorted to pipeline vandalism and shutting down of critical oil assets as a way of drawing the attention of government and the international community to their plight.

These destruction and disruption continued unabated until Okowa entered into a pact with them to build lasting infrastructure in the coastal communities no matter the cost.

The governor restored the people's confidence by holding townhall meetings with them, and resolved to take development to the creeks, which were hitherto described as impossible-to-reach, in terms of development projects.

Aside the Bomadi Bridge built by the Ibori administration, most administrations were afraid of the humongous resources that will be deployed to construct a kilometre of road in the creek or to build a structure capable of housing students and people that live in the riverine communities.

However, the Okowa administration chose to take the bull by the horns and has been able to put in a whole lot of resources to build roads in the difficult terrain of the state.

For instance, in Burutu Local Government Area, the governor ensured a complete concrete pavement of all internal roads in Burutu town, the administrative headquarters of the local government area. Also, schools were built and a modern market is currently under construction there.

In the same local government area, the government completed the 20.29 kilometer Obotobo 1 - Obotobo 11 – Sokebolou–Yokri Road in Ogulagha Kingdom in Burutu as well as the Main Axial Road at Okerenkoko in Warri South-West Local Government Area of the state.

Riverside communities of Oporoza, Okerenkoko and Benekrukru, among others, have been given a facelift with well-paved roads.

In Patani Local Government Area, the government constructed the Uduophori-ToruAngiama-Toru-Apelerebi-Patani Road, while Lucky Korebe Road, Koko and concrete landing jetty with walkway at Ogheye-Dimigun also got the attention of the state government in Warri North.

The government completed the construction of concrete pavement road at Obitobon-Elolo-Ajaokurogbo-Orubu, Ogidigben; construction of Access Road to Nigeria Maritime University Okerenkoko (Kurutie Campus); construction of Oporoza Palace Road in Gbaramatu Kingdom, all in Warri South-West Local Government Area as well as the construction of Ogulagha/

Okowa Youbebe/Biniebiama Road, in Burutu Local Government Area.

Through the state interventionist agency, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Okowa ensured the rehabilitation and completion of the Primary Healthcare Centre, Gbokoda; Primary Healthcare Centre Deghele in Warri South-West; renovation of Ngbile Town Hall, Kiagbodo in Burutu; supply and installation of 250KVA Transformers at Odimodi Community in Burutu; renovation of classroom block at Jelu School, Omadino in Warri South; and, completion and fencing of examination hall in Sanctus Rosarium Catholic School in Patani.

Other projects in the shoreline communities include construction of Staff Quarters Akugbene, Bomadi, sandfilling of Tekedor Kusimi Community Egwa II, Warri South-West, construction of concrete landing jetty for Burutu Modern Market in Burutu, construction of Concrete Landing Jetty with walkway, Ugbege Community, Warri North, construction and furnishing of 10 units of five-bedroom bungalows at Okerenkoko in Warri South-West.

Inaugurating the road projects in Ogulagha Kingdom in 2019, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo said that he was pleased to perform the historic inauguration of over 20 kilometers of roads in the creeks of the Niger Delta, a feat he described as unimaginable.

Osinbajo said:"It is an honour to be here to visit you, the King of Gbaramatu Kingdom, and inaugurate road projects that were executed by Governor Okowa.

I am very pleased that we are able to see this type of development in this axis and I commend Governor Okowa for his efforts.

“There is a lot of oil and gas in this area and the national assets have been protected. I thank you, Your Majesty, for all that you have done to be able to achieve peace and prosperity in this kingdom.”

Osinbajo, who was happy with the development strides of Governor Okowa in the creeks and other parts of Delta State, expressed sadness that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ministry of Niger Delta had not met with the yearnings and aspirations of the people in the riverine communities despite the huge funds allocated for the development of the area.

Besides, and for the first time in the history of the state, the government

inaugurated concrete paved roads in Burutu, the administrative headquarters of Burutu Local Government Area.

While addressing the people of the area, Okowa noted that he would like to be remembered as the overnor who developed the riverine areas of Delta State.

At Ogulagha, Governor Okowa said: “It is not just the length of the road that makes this project unique; it is that the road is located right beside the Atlantic Ocean with all the human, material, ecological and financial implications that this difficult terrain presents. We did not know we could get this length of road in the creek until the king drew our attention to it.

“I am happy about the progress we have made so far. This has greatly helped to ensure peace in the state, which makes for uninterrupted oil production and the health of the national economy. We are continuing to use various structures and initiatives to ensure that the peace we have enjoyed in the last three years is sustained."

The Ebenanaowei of Ogulagha Kingdom, HRM Joseph Timiyan I, in an address said: "In spite of the enormous contribution of Ogulagha Kingdom to the economy of ours, we have never enjoyed the presence of both the federal and state governments through infrastructural development, appointments and training programmes until 2015 when the current God-sent Governor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, came to our rescue with development and appointment of Special Assistants."

Chairman of the local government council, Hon. Godknows Angele, had in an address, said that the people of the area were delighted with the development brought to their local government by the Okowa administration and pledged their unalloyed support towards the peace and development of the state.

As testified by ex-MEND leader, Freedom Adowei, “Under Okowa, riverine communities across the state have been receiving government's attention more than ever, with some transforming into visible living communities. If you go round, you will see how the governor is being commended for the construction of roads in riverine communities such as the Okerenkoko Road in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West, Sokebolou/ Obotobo Road in Ogulagha Kingdom, Burutu Township concrete road pavement and others, all within Burutu Local Government Area of the state as well as other parts of the riverine Delta.”

All of these efforts by the Okowa administration in riverine communities is a clear evidence of his sincere commitment to rural and equitable development

Another great contribution of the Okowa administration to the development of riverine communities is the construction of new towns in Oboghoro and Utonlila communities in Warri North Local Government Area. The projects, which were executed through DESOPADEC, were inaugurated in March 2019, transforming the communities to modern towns. They include 24 units of 2-bedroom semi-detached bungalow, multi-purpose hall, portable water supply scheme with treatment plant, concrete walkway, pedestrian bridge, concrete landing jetty, fishing boats, among numerous others.

Speaking during the inauguration, Okowa said that his administration would turn around most of the riverine communities into modern towns in the next four years.

“It is important as a country that we begin to think of how to impact on the lives of our people in the riverine areas; if you seek peace, and partnership with the people, you need to do things that will make them happy. I can see that the people are excited but I am more excited to be in this community than you are because, from your statements, this is the first time that a governor is visiting this area to commission projects.

"Living in the creeks should not deprive the people of basic necessities of life and in the next four years, we shall develop more towns in the creeks. I thank the DESOPADEC for embarking on these projects. This is how it ought to be, executing projects in line with the demands of the people.”

Oboghoro and Utonlila communities in a joint address read by Chief Solomon Arenyenka, stated: “We like to place on record that this is the first time Oboghoro and Utonlila communities have been privileged to receive a State Governor, whether elected or appointed or any other visitor of that calibre since their founding some centuries ago "Your Excellency, your visit to our communities today is remarkable as it is the first time that different projects of such magnitude are to be inaugurated in any Itsekiri riverine community. How else can we appreciate you than to say that we are 100 percent behind you, not only in your bid to return to Government House for second tenure, but also in future.”

The then Chairman of DESOPADEC, Hon. Godwin Ebosa, had said that the projects were based on the demands of the people and thanked the government for encouraging DESOPADEC to discharge its responsibilities to the oil producing communities.

Okowa also inaugurated concrete jetties at Ogheye Dimigun Community and Koko, all in Warri North Local Government Area.

Another project of this administration in the creeks of Delta State is the multi-billion naira Ogheye Floating Market in Warri North Local Government Area. A project the Okowa administration inherited from the previous administration but the process was slow and the contractor couldn’t achieve much.

When Okowa came in, he redesigned the project, which sits on a 6,000 square metres platform built on top of the river. The market has a banking hall, an administrative building, a standing tower, power generating sets and other facilities. The contractor has built 96 open stores and 80 lock-up stores.

Speaking during an inspection of the project in May, 2021, Okowa said:“It is a special market because we have a lot of communities from Warri North and Warri South-West, and the river extending to Edo and Ondo states. It will obviously open up a lot of opportunities, and it will expand the economic opportunities of the people of the riverside areas.

“For every project we are able to deliver in the riverine area, we are happier for it, much more as a government, than those projects we do in the upland because it is much easier to do projects in the upland. However, we must realise that our brothers and sisters who are in the riverine areas who suffer more from the effects of oil pollution, the contamination of their water, environmental degradation of their land, do suffer more and ought to be attended to."

-Egware is Senior Special Assistant (Media) to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.

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

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Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com

L-R: Managing Partner, M.B. Alabidun and Co, Mr. Bayo Alabidun; Principal Partner, Ajibola Kaka and Co, Mr. Ajibola Kaka; Principal Partner, Alesinloye and Associates, Mr. Dele Alesinloye; and Principal Partner, Folorunso Ilori and Co, Mr. Folorunso Ilori, during the 2021 annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, River State…recently

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, and former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, during the just concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention at the Eagles Square, Abuja… recently

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr. Edet Akpan; Minister of State of the ministry, Mohammed Abdullahi; Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; and the Director of Chemical Technology Department of the ministry, Mr. Mej Bassey, during the unveiling of the ministry logo by the minister in Abuja...recently PHOTO: ENOCK REUBEN

L-R: Publisher, Pharmanews/Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy, Sir Ifeany Atuenyi; President, Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy (NAPHARM) and Chairman of the occasion, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; Guest Speaker/ President of the Nigerian Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists in the Americas, Dr. Theresa Pounds; and Pharmacist, Jimi Agbaje, during the investiture of new fellows and life fellows by NAPHARM at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos…recently

L-R: Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mallam Farouk Salim; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment/Chairman, Governing Council of SON, Dr. Evelyn Ngige; and a member of the Council, Senator Adefemi Kila, during SON council meeting at SON laboratory in Ogba, Lagos…recently

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) (right), and Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu (left), during the 10th meeting of the National Council on Lands, Housing and Urban Development in Lagos…recently

L-R: Former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko; Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo State); Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto State); Nyesom Wike (Rivers State); and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia State), during the visit of the governors to Mimiko in Ondo State…recently

L-R: Geologist, NPDC/Seplat Energy JV Asset, Hajarat Lawal; Base Manager, Western Assets, Seplat Energy Plc, Emmanuel Otokhine; winner of the 10th Edition of Seplat Energy/NPDC JV Pearls Quiz, Peniel Academy, Agbor; CSR Manager, Seplat Energy, Esther Icha; and the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Delta State, Mrs. Rose Ezewu, at the Seplat Energy/NPDC JV Pearls Quiz final at the Government House, Asaba...recently

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Whether the Issue of Jurisdiction Can be Raised Freshly on Appeal Page IV

Lead’ e h t s e k a T ‘ NBA sues s I l a n o i t a N on AGC 1 2 0 2 g n i r u D

Court Revokes FG’s Illegal Search Warrant on Justice Odili’s House Page V

QUOTABLES ‘As a country, we have not agreed on the type of Judiciary we want. There is no consensus.’ - Olawale Fapohunda, Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Ekiti State, Nigeria

‘Any increase in the number of Judges, has always met with an increase in the number of cases.’ - Hon. Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip (FNIALS), President, National Industrial Court of Nigeria

Change of Baton at NBA-SLP Page V

ASTEP Educates Public on the Role of Administrator General in Resolving Probate Matters Page V

III THE ADVOCATE

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2021

The Challenge of Democracy in Africa The Unspeakably Abominable Siege on Mary Peter-Odili, JSC’s Residence efore I go into the word for today, I must unequivocally condemn the raid/siege on the residence of Honourable Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, Justice of the Supreme Court and second most senior Judicial Officer in Nigeria, whether by the EFCC, Police, Justice Ministry or whichever Government agency carried out this dastardly act. To say that this ugly incident shows a blatant disrespect and disregard for not only the Judiciary, the third arm of Government, but also the rule of law generally, is an understatement. Those responsible for this illegal act, should not be allowed to get away with such lawlessness. The perpetrators of this breach of Justice Odili’s fundamental rights, particularly her right to dignity of her person and not to be subjected to torture (both mental and physical) and degrading treatment, and the invasion on her right to privacy contrary to Sections 34(1)(a) and 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) (the Constitution), must be made an example of, to prevent the reoccurrence of this kind of assault on the Judiciary. I have maintained on several occasions, that Nigeria seems to be rapidly descending into a Police State; this is yet another example that buttresses my assertion.

This incident must not be allowed to be swept under the carpet, as is the usual practice in Nigeria. There must be consequences.

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Sit-Tight Rulers and Semi-Democracy For the last few decades, the globally acceptable way to effect a change in government which is by election, that is, democracy, sort of caught on in Africa, albeit reluctantly. We saw the end of Apartheid in South Africa, and several African military regimes make way for ‘democratic’ rule.

The less friendly and less acceptable way of change of government, like military coup d’état (aka coup), seemed to go out of fashion, maybe because of the agitation by the various local human rights groups for a change to civilian democratic rule, and pressure from the Western world.

But, 22 years after Nigeria supposedly returned to civil rule, and looking at the African continent generally, I wonder whether most of us Africans are really practicing democracy. I don’t think so - maybe some form of semi-democracy, but not democracy in the true sense of the word.

Here, we have a civilian Government mostly in name only. In Nigeria, a good number of our so-called politicians and elected officials, are former military men. Is it so easy to change an autocratic ‘obey before complaint’ training and lifelong mindset, just because the Western world says it’s time to change?

In some African countries, we have the "sit-tight democratic" rulers, who have been in power for decades, with some even having their constitutions altered, so that they can keep running for office ad infinitum. Examples are late Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe; 88 year old Paul Biya of Cameroon, who has been in office since 1982 when I was 17 years old - I’m 56 years old now!; Late Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi; late Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi of Libya; late Hosni Mubarak of Egypt; Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia (who incidentally is exactly two days younger than me, and took office as President in 1996 after two years as the Chairman of the Armed Forces Ruling Council, from 1996 when we were 31 years old, to 2017 when we turned 52; yet, he still had to be chased out of office after losing the election to his successor, and forcibly attempting to stay on); Yoweri Museveni of Uganda; and Paul Kagame of Rwanda.

Back home in Nigeria, so soon after we returned to civilian rule, it was alleged that during President Obasanjo's second term, they tried to push a "third term" agenda to extend his Presidency, but it failed. Let me add that, many of these rulers, have military backgrounds. In fact, in Nigeria, out of the four Presidents we have had since our return to civilian rule in 1999, two of them, General Obasanjo and Major General Buhari are not just former Military Generals, they are former Military Heads of State/Dictators. Like I said, some of their fellow soldiers also dropped their military uniform, and wangled their way into the new ‘democratic’ order, through one political/Ministerial position or the other, one of them, Brigadier General David Mark, even ending up as the President of the Nigerian Senate for eight years.

Our first challenge with democracy is that, most African rulers never want to leave office. For most of us Africans, our elections are manipulated to return sit-tight leaders/political parties/ politicians every electoral cycle, and secondly, our Constitutions are mostly observed in the

also amended to allow him to run for additional terms as President, and dissension against his Government, is said not to be tolerated. Presently, President Kagame is on his third seven-year term, which commenced in 2017.

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive.com onikepob@yahoo.com Twitter: @TheAdvocate

The

Advocate

The Bottom Line The bottom line is that, most of us reasonable people do not ascribe to coups and violence, especially in this day and age - I certainly do not.

But, be that as it may, most African Governments must take a step back and reconsider their style of governance and the feelings of the people they are governing, to prevent such occurrences.

They cannot continue to bury their heads in the sand, wishing the discontent of the people away, because they pretend that it doesn’t exist.

For example, the Minister of Information (Disinformation), Alhaji Lai Mohammed said: “The point is about you swallowing hook, line and sinker, a report by a foreign organisation which you have not even interrogated yourself....”. Government has been unable to rebut CNN’s assertion and evidence about the Army firing live bullets at unarmed Protesters at the Lekki Tollgate during the #EndSARS Protest.

So, why not de-emphasise CNN, concentrate on implementing institutional reforms for the Police and paying victims’ compensation, instead of trivialising issues and making Government look like unreliable purveyors of falsehood; insulting CNN and insulting the intelligence of the Nigerian Youths, of those whose family members have died or been injured or maimed as a result of Police brutality, and of Nigerians as a whole, while trying to gag the media. This sort of reasoning, talk and behaviour from such a senior Government representative, is annoying and disappointing - it incenses and riles people, Forces. Britannica defines a Coup d'état and it is counter-productive. as "the sudden violent overthrow of an existing government by a small group". NBA Conference and Referendum Sometimes it can be bloody, other times, no I attended the just concluded Nigerian Bar Asfatalities are recorded. Most of the coups that sociation (NBA) 2021 Annual General Conference occurred in Nigeria were bloody, except for which held last week at the Yakubu Gowon maybe General Abacha's coup in which he Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt, Rivers State overthrew the Interim National Govern- themed “Taking the Lead”. Indeed, the NBA ment of Chief Ernest Shonekan, less than ‘took the lead’ in selecting contemporary and three months after they took up office in relevant topics for discussion, and the sessions August, 1993. were extremely interesting and informative. At A wave of coups, seems to have started times, I got confused about making a choice as to to gradually sweep through West Africa. I which session to attend, when there was a clash! had thought they were long gone - ancient At the closing plenary session titled “We the history, but, alas! I was wrong. In 2021 People….” A Debate on Constitutional Amendalone, there have been three coups in Africa ment, the consensus and resolution was that, - in Mali (May 25), Guinea (September there should be a Referendum as a prelude to 5) and Sudan (which stretches from West redrawing a new Constitution. While some asserted to Northeast Africa)(October 25, just last that there should be a constitutional amendment week)(military dictator, Omar Al-Bashir by virtue of Section 9(2) of the Constitution to was ousted two years ago). expressly include a provision for Referendum, While there are many causes of coups - Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN (who was one of the grievances of military personnel, insecurity, Discussants on the Panel) (like my humble myself), economic crisis, domestic political crisis, believes that there are enough provisions within ethnic differences (tribalism), corruption the Constitution which imply that Referendum and bad governance feature high on the is permitted, like the preamble and Section 14(2) list of reasons for coups; sadly, many of (a) of the Constitution, which gives sovereignty these negative elements are present in many to the people. Now is the appointed time for African countries, including Nigeria. And Government and the Legislature to actualise while the outcome of a coup could result this resolution of the NBA, in the interest of in a positive change, that is, a reversion peace and progress of Nigeria. to a better, democratic political order, it usually doesn’t end up that way. Mostly, Conclusion countries just end up jumping from frying It is time to take a good look at the grievances pan to fire, with the installation of a new set of the African people, and work towards adof autocratic, despotic military rulers who dressing them. In Nigeria, the insurgency we transform themselves into semi/pseudo- are experiencing in the North East and South democrats, as we have seen in countries East, is a form of coup attempt. There is no like Egypt. As much positive change and better time for serious discussion and action, development as former soldier and rebel than now. Those who feel marginalised and leader, Paul Kagame may have brought to discriminated against, like the South Easterners Rwanda, the Rwandan Constitution was (see Sections 14(3) and 42 of the Constitution) - is there any justification for their feeling? Does the South East zone have enough States? Are the Federal official positions distributed evenly?

Should majority of the heads of the security agencies and Federal courts all hail from one zone, or should these positions be distributed evenly across all the zones? Those who say that Zamfara State is keeping the revenue from its gold for itself, while the South South is not enjoying the fruits of its oil - is there any basis for their complaint?

How should the issue of VAT be resolved, when the provisions of the Constitution in this regard are clear? Fiscal Federalism? Those who say we should adhere strictly to Section 10 of the Constitution and keep religion personal in the interest of peace - is their demand legitimate? Devolution of powers?

Restructuring? Until all these and the many other hard questions are answered truthfully, and then addressed properly, I fear that the unrest we are experiencing, will not subside or abate. It is obvious that Government cannot continue to gloss over these crucial matters, as if they don’t exist. ‘A stitch in time, saves nine’. A word, they say, is enough for the wise! Government mustn’t allow the situation in the country, to deteriorate any further. My dear Readers, what are your thoughts on this?

“But, 22 years after Nigeria supposedly returned to civil rule, and looking at the African continent generally, I wonder whether most of us Africans are really practicing democracy. I don’t think so - maybe some form of semi-democracy, but not democracy in the true sense of the word. Here, we have a civilian Government mostly in name only” breach, especially the equivalent of Chapter IV of our Constitution, that is, Fundamental Human Rights - these provisions have been more or less, muted. Like in the military days when we were ruled on the whims and caprices of our dictators, in our socalled present-day democracy, there is no accountability, as in Nigeria’s case for instance, Section 6(6)(c) of the Constitution has ousted the jurisdiction of the courts when it comes accounting for performance, that is, how well the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy contained in Chapter II of the Constitution have been achieved - meanwhile these objectives and principles are the very essence of governance.

Needless to say, discontent seems to be the general feeling gradually moving across Africa, from the Arab Spring which started in North Africa in 2010 to date. Apart from the fact that the people have become more politically savvy and want their votes to count, bad governance leading to the people not having any dividends of democracy to enjoy, have gingered up the feelings of dissatisfaction and discontent amongst many.

But, now that different types of dissenting groups have decided that the ballot box will not bring any of the changes they desire, since with every subsequent electoral cycle, the system remains more or less the same or worse, we are now seeing some of the old, violent types of regime change resurface in Africa, like military coups and revolution.

Military Coups While a revolution is a movement by a large number of people seeking the overthrow of a government for a new order, whether political, economic or social, a coup is a violent regime change carried out by a small group, usually the Army or the Armed

Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili, JSC

IV LAW REPORT

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2021 • T H I S D AY

Whether the Issue of Jurisdiction Can be Raised Freshly on Appeal

Facts In 1997, the ABC Merchant Bank Ltd entered into an agreement with the Respondent (NERFUND), as one of the participating banks in the disbursement of the National Economic Reconstruction fund loans. In this capacity, ABC Merchant Bank Ltd granted a loan in the sum of N35 million to the 1st Appellant. Shortly afterwards, the Bank went into liquidation, as its operating licence was revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) was appointed as its official Liquidators. During this period, the loan granted the 1st Appellant was due but unpaid. In the process of the liquidation, the NDIC entered into an agreement with the Bank, wherein its rights and liabilities in the transaction with the 1st Appellant, were assigned and transferred to the Respondent (which provided the funds). Further to this, the Respondent proceeded to enter into fresh loan agreements with the 1st Appellant, and dealt directly with it. The 2nd and 3rd Appellants, were the Guarantors of the loan.

In 2003, the loan sum of N47 million was further granted to the 1st Appellant, bringing the principal sum granted by the Respondent to N82 million.

The agreed interest payable on the loan, was 19% per annum. The 1st Appellant, however, defaulted in meeting the repayment schedule, despite several demands for repayment by the Respondent. Given the foregoing, the Respondent instituted an action against the Appellants at the Federal High Court, Abuja, under the Undefended List Procedure. The Respondent sought an order of court for the sum of N115,025,503.79, being the principal and interest on the credit facilities as at 31st March, 2008; 21% pre-judgement interest on the sum from April, 2005; and 15% post-judgement interest till the date of final liquidation.

Despite being served with the processes, the Appellants neither appeared in court, nor filed processes in the suit. The trial court entered judgement against the Appellants in the sum claimed as principal and interest on the credit facility, with 10% post-judgement interest. The Appellants, who felt aggrieved by the decision of the trial court, appealed to the Court of Appeal.

Owing to non-appearance/representation of the Appellants at the trial court, all the issues raised in the Notice of Appeal were fresh issues, including the challenge to the jurisdiction of the trial court to determine the suit. The issues were raised, without seeking leave of court. In its Brief of Argument, the Respondent raised a Preliminary Objection, contending that all the grounds in the Notice of Appeal were incompetent. The Court of Appeal upheld the Preliminary Objection of the Respondent, and struck out the appeal. Nonetheless, conscious of the fact that it is not the final court, the Court of Appeal went ahead to consider the appeal on the merit, and dismissed same. Dissatisfied with the decision, the Appellants appealed to the Supreme Court.

Issues for Determination 1. Whether the Court of Appeal was right in upholding the Preliminary Objection of the Respondent, to the effect that the Appellants required leave to raise the issue of jurisdiction or competence of the trial court to entertain the Respondent’s claim in the Court of Appeal.

2. Whether the Court of Appeal was right in holding that the Federal High Court had jurisdiction to entertain the Respondent’s claim or action, which was founded on contract and/or breach of contract.

Arguments Submitting on the first issue, counsel for the Appellants argued that the fundamental nature of the issue of jurisdiction exempts it from restrictions which may affect other legal points on appeal if not raised at the lower court, or at the appropriate time. He posited that the issue of competence of the court can be raised at any stage of the proceedings, even for the first time on appeal at the Supreme Court, without seeking leave. By its nature, the issue can even be raised by the court suo motu – OLORIEGBE v OMOTOSHO (1993)

bank nor a financial institution – NDIC v OKEM ENTERPRISES LTD (2004) 10 NWLR (Pt. 880) 107. In response to the issue of the transaction being a simple contract, counsel submitted that a contract which touches on the very essence of the statutory duties of the Respondent, cannot be described as a simple contract. He referred to the sealed Deed of Legal Mortgage in the transaction, in support of his position that a simple contract cannot be under seal.

Honourable Adamu Jauro, JSC In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Lagos On Friday, the 7th day of May, 2021

Before Their Lordships

Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun John Inyang okoro Ejembi Eko Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa Adamu Jauro Justices, Supreme Court SC.159/2009 Between 1.

2.

3.

Edison Automotive Industries Ltd Eddy Obichebendu Ferdinand N. Obichebendu

Appellants

And The National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND)

Respondent

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Adamu Jauro, JSC) 1 SCNJ 30. Counsel stressed that the failure to raise the issue, does not vest a court with the competence it lacks – WESTERN STEEL WORKS LTD. & ANOR. v IRON STEEL WORKERS UNION OF NIGERIA (1986) SC 35. Reacting to the issue, counsel for the Respondent argued that without seeking and obtaining leave of court, the Appellants were precluded from raising the issue of jurisdiction.

He relied on GLOBAL TRANS. OCEANICO S.A. v FREE ENT. (NIG) LTD (2001) 5 NWLR (Pt. 706).

On the second issue, counsel submitted for the Appellant that, jurisdiction of the Federal High Court is prescribed by Section 251(1) (a) - (s) of the Constitution of the Federal High Court, 1999 (as amended), and any matter not contained in the Section is outside its jurisdiction. Further, jurisdiction of court is determined by the Plaintiff’s claim, as endorsed in the Writ of Summons or Statement of Claim. The claim of the Respondent before the trial court, was for breach or repayment of a loan contract. Counsel submitted that a proper interpretation of Section 251 referenced above, would reveal that same does not confer the Federal High Court with jurisdiction to

“A court cannot, under any disguise, decline to deal with an issue of jurisdiction raised for the first time on appeal without leave….

Also, by virtue of Section 233(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), no leave of court is required to raise an issue of jurisdiction”

entertain matters founded on contract and/ or its breach - ONUORAH v. KADUNA REFINERY & PETROCHEMICAL CO. LTD (2005) 21 NSCQR 130. He urged the court to allow the appeal and invoke its powers under Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act, to transfer the suit to the High Court of Anambra State for its determination.

Responding to the submissions above, counsel for the Respondent contended that the Respondent is an agency of the Federal Government, and that the finding of fact made in this regard stands, having not been appealed against. Counsel argued that in so far as the claim before the court pertains to the administration and management of a Federal Government agency, by virtue of Section 251(1)(p) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Federal High Court has exclusive jurisdiction to entertain the claim. He relied on the decision in NEPA v EDEGBERO (2002) 18 NWLR (Pt. 798) 79. Reacting to the submission that the trial court does not have jurisdiction in matters founded on contract, irrespective of the parties to the transaction, counsel countered the submission, stating that the Respondent was established solely by the Federal Government for the purpose of granting loans, which is the basis of this action. Further, the Respondent having assumed the rights and liabilities in respect of the loan transaction, the Respondent had stepped into the shoes of the participating banks. Counsel argued that if the banks could recover outstanding capital from the Appellants at the Federal High Court, then the Respondent should not be precluded from so doing. He argued that a Banker-customer relationship had arisen between the parties, and both the Federal High Court and the State High Court have jurisdiction in the matter, though the Respondent is neither a

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Deciding the first issue, the Apex Court reiterated the fundamental nature of the issue of jurisdiction, stressing that it behoves on every court, the Supreme Court inclusive, to carefully examine the issues in the Statement of Claim, to determine whether the issues sought to be ventilated before the court are within its jurisdictional competence. On the question whether the Appellants in this instance, required leave of court to raise and argue the issue of jurisdiction, their Lordships held that although the rules require a party raising a fresh issue on appeal to do so by leave of court; nonetheless, the issue of jurisdiction is radical and at the foundation of adjudication, and if a court acts without jurisdiction, the entire process is a nullity. A court cannot, under any disguise, decline to deal with an issue of jurisdiction raised for the first time on appeal without leave – CGG (NIG) LTD v AMINU (2015) LPELR-24463(SC). Also, by virtue of Section 233(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), no leave of court is required to raise an issue of jurisdiction. It follows that the lower court was in error, when it held that the Appellants required leave to raise the issue of jurisdiction as a fresh issue.

In its determination of the second issue, the Apex Court scrutinised the verifying affidavit filed by the Respondent and the reliefs sought before the trial court, in concluding that the Respondent’s suit was for recovery of a loan contract entered into by the parties. The Respondent argued strenuously that by Section 1(2) of the NERFUND Act, the Respondent was established solely for the purpose of granting loans to deserving small scale and medium scale industrial enterprises, and that the action for recovery of loans granted falls within the management and control of the agency, and therefore, within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court. Counsel had also argued that the suit can be classified as one arising from banker/customer relationship, and that the Deed of Legal Mortgage executed by parties in respect of the transaction, takes it away from the purview of simple contract. Their Lordships, however, held that Deed of Legal Mortgage is not the document to be considered, in determining whether the action is one founded on simple contract.

The court held that an action predicated on recovery of loan is one for the enforcement of simple contract … and it is the High Court that has jurisdiction to entertain actions predicated on breach of contract; not the Federal High Court. The fact that granting of loans which forms part of the basis of this action is the sole reason why the Respondent was set up by the Federal Government, cannot give the contract a colouration other than that of a simple contract.

The character of the transaction did not change, simply because the current creditor is an agency of the Federal Government. Notwithstanding the presence of a Federal Government agency as a party to a suit, the subject-matter of the dispute is also relevant in determining whether the Federal High Court has jurisdiction – A-G LAGOS STATE v EKO HOTELS LTD & ANOR. (2017) 12 SC (Pt. 1) 107.

The court concluded that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit, and that the decision reached by the court was a nullity; same was thereby, set aside, including the appeal arising therefrom. The court then, invoked its powers under Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act, to order a transfer of the suit from the Federal High Court to the High Court of Anambra State for proper adjudication.

Appeal Succeeds.

Representation Emeka Mozie, Esq. with Abdulkarim Usman, Esq. for the Appellants.

K.O. Ekwem, Esq. with Michael Ezie, Esq. for the Respondent.

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

V NEWS

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2021

Chairman, NBA-SLP, Chief Ferdinand Orbih, SAN

Lagos State Administrator General and Public Trustee, Mrs Omotola Rotimi

Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili, JSC

Court Revokes FG’s Illegal Search Warrant on Justice Odili’s House Steve Aya The search warrant granted to the Joint Panel Recovery Unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice to search the home of Supreme Court Justice Mary Peter-Odili, has been revoked by a Chief Magistrate Court. In an order issued on Friday night, the Chief Magistrate accused the Government and its agents of misleading the court.

The order read, “Upon misrepresentation to this honourable court that led to the issuance of a search warrant in favour of Joint Panel Recovery, Ministry of Justice, against House 9, Imo Street, Maitama, Abuja, dated October 29, 2021. In view of the above fact, the said search warrant is hereby revoked.”

The Joint Panel Recovery unit, which comprises the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Nigeria Police and the Ministry of Justice, had obtained a search warrant from the Magistrate’s court

after a whistleblower, Aliyu Umar, claimed to have observed illegal activities going on at No. 9, Imo Street, Maitama, Abuja.

Umar’s affidavit dated October 13, 2021, read in part, “I have observed some illegal activities going on in those houses within Abuja are illegal, and hereby report the said matter to the law enforcement agency.

“I hereby state that all information provided by me to the EFCC is true and correct, to the best of my knowledge.”

In a second affidavit deposed to by a Senior Police Officer, CSP Lawrence Ajodo, the Panel applied to the Chief Magistrate in Abuja, seeking a search warrant to search the house. The Chief Magistrate, Emmanuel Iyanna, subsequently approved the search warrant on October 29, 2021.

Armed with the search warrant, the Police and other members of the Panel stormed the house which turned out to be the home

Change of Baton at NBA-SLP The Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Legal Practice successfully inaugurated a new Exco, at the recently concluded Annual General Conference of the NBA in Port Harcourt. It new officers immediately assumed office, after the Section’s forum during the Conference.

The new Exco is led by:* Chief Ferdinand Orbih, SAN, KSG as Chairman * Mrs F. Boma Ayomide Alabi OON, SAN – Vice Chairperson * Professor Augustine Agom – Secretary * Mr Laolu Osanyin – Treasurer

Members of Council include i. Chief J. B. Daudu, SAN ii. Mallam Yusuf O. Ali, SAN iii. Mr E. C. Ukala, SAN iv. Mrs Funke Adekoya, SAN v. Mrs Miannaya A. Essien, SAN, CArb vi. D. C. Denwigwe, SAN vii. Y. C. Maikyau, SAN viii. Mr Richard Ayodele Akintunde, SAN ix. Prof Wahab Egbewole, SAN x. Oluseun Abimbola, SAN, FCArb xi. Mr Charles Adeogun Phillips xii. Mrs Folashade Alli CArb xiii. Mrs Ezinwa Okoroafor

of Supreme Court Justice and second most senior Judicial Officer in Nigeria, Mary Peter-Odili, who is also the wife of former Governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili. She was said to have resisted the attempts by the Policemen to search her house, insisting that the house belonged to her and

not her husband.

But, EFCC Spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said, in a statement, that the Commission had no hand in the matter, and advised members of the public to disregard any news to the contrary.

Dr Peter Odili, who was Governor from 1999 to 2007,

obtained a perpetual injunction from the Federal High Court in 2007, which barred the EFCC from investigating or prosecuting him. In 2020, he again approached the Federal High Court, to get another injunction to stop an impending probe. Last month, the former Governor sued the Nigeria Immigra-

tion Service, for seizing his passport at the airport.

In its response, however, the NIS said it was the EFCC that asked it to seize Dr Odili’s passport as part of a probe. Justice Inyang Ekwo, however, ordered Immigration to release the passport to Dr Odili immediately.

Group Seeks EFCC Action on Lottery Commission Probe

A non-governmental organisation, Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN), has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Minister of Special Duties & Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, not to shield any employee of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) from investigation and prosecution, over allegations of corruption.

The Secretary, Association of Civil Servants of Nigeria, NLRC unit, Mrs Anastasia Ijobo, had urged the EFCC to probe, what in her opinion, amounted to suspicious transactions by the leadership.

The EFCC had invited some staff of the Commission for interrogation, but no charges have been filed.

GICN, in a statement by its Director in charge of Welfare and Logistics, Mr.

Akumabi Ojogbane, said no action has been taken on its June 6, 2020 petition to Senator Akume, EFCC, and other relevant bodies.

It urged the EFCC to ensure that no one named in the petition, is shielded by virtue of his or her connections in Government.

The Commission’s Head of Public Affairs, Magnus Ekechukwu, speaking during the picketing of the Commis-

sion by the staff in September, denied the allegations against the NLRC management. He wondered how over N2billion could be diverted in this era of the Treasury Single Account (TSA). He denied any fund diversion, or mismanagement by any official.

Ekechukwu noted that the Buhari administration has zero-tolerance for corruption, and will not spare any corrupt official.

Eastern SANs Call for Truce Despite Recent Security Challenges in the Southeast Concerned Senior Advocates of Nigeria of Southeast extraction, have noted with deep regret the recent killings and destruction of private and public properties, including those of the Police and other law enforcement agencies, as well as State institutions such as INEC, Courts, and Correctional Centres by unknown persons.

The Concerned Southeast SANs, in a statement signed

by Chief Udechukwu Nnoruka Udechukwu, SAN, condemned unequivocally and in very clear terms, the said acts of arson and the taking of human lives in the process.

He said ‘These acts of violence are not supported, and cannot be supported by the people of the Southeast. The Concerned

Southeast SANs commiserate with the families of law enforcement officers, other public servants and private individuals, who have lost their loved ones as a result of the recent carnage’.

‘Southeasterners are peaceloving, law abiding and development-oriented people, and the recent carnage is not representative of the aspirations of the good people of the Southeast, just as is the case with the other geo-political zones of the country, where there have been security challenges.

‘It is indeed, worrisome, that the persons or group of people responsible for the mayhem; where they are from and what their objectives are, remain unknown. It is equally worri-

some, that the management of the crisis unfortunately exhibits double standards with regard to the response of Federal security agencies in South East vis- à-vis other similarly afflicted Zones.

‘In order to find an immediate resolution and stop further degeneration of the security situation, the Concerned Southeast SANs hereby call for a truce and immediate cessation of hostilities on all sides, to allow for a consideration of the underlying issues and grievances which have led to the recent rise in ethnic or tribal nationalism, not only in the Southeast but in other parts of the country.

‘The Concerned Southeast SANs, hereby call on those who are destroying public and

private properties, especially facilities of law enforcement agencies in the Southeast zone to immediately discontinue their actions, in order to forestall the slide into a total breakdown of law and order in the Zone. The Concerned Southeast SANs urge all persons in the Southeast to remain law-abiding, whilst calling on the law enforcement agencies to respect the sanctity of life and avoid indiscriminate arrests.

‘The Concerned Southeast SANs also appeal to the Federal Government to embrace dialogue and diplomacy as a means of resolving the myriad of growing disaffections across the entire country, in the interest of peace and unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

ASTEP Educates Public on the Role of Administrator General in Resolving Probate Matters The Association of Succession, Trusts and Estate Planning Practitioners (ASTEP) held a webinar titled “The Role of Administrator General and Public Trustee in Resolving Probate Matters” recently.

The webinar was facilitated

by Mrs Omotola Rotimi, the Administrator General and Public Trustee of Lagos State. The program was well received by participants, and the Facilitator brilliantly explained

administration of estates, the powers and duties of the office of Administrator General and Public Trustee in administration of estate, and challenges that arise from the failure to obtain grant of probate or letters of administration.

Mrs Rotimi commenced her paper by explaining that the office of the Administrator General and Public Trustee is statutorily established by the Administrator General Law,

Ch. A6, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State, 2015. The other laws that guide the office activities are:1) Administration of Estate Law Cap A5 Laws of Lagos State 2021; 2) Public Trustee Law Ch. 19 Laws of Lagos State 2015; 3) Child Rights Law of Lagos State 2007; 4) Chapter 4, Constitution of FRN 1999; 5) Marriage Act;) Trustee Investment Act; 7) High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules on Probate, 2019.

By virtue of the AdministratorGeneral Law, the Administrator General and Public Trustee is a corporate entity with perpetual succession, and has an official seal. It is capable of suing and being sued, in its corporate name. She stated that the law empowers the office of the Administrator General to administer and manage the entire estate of deceased persons, such as acting as an Executor where appointed by a

Testator in a Will after the grant of probate, or act as an Administrator where the deceased died intestate and within a month of his demise, no efforts have been made to commence the process of obtaining Letters of Administration. She then went on to list the other functions, roles and powers of the office, which includes the protection of women/widows rights as it relates to Estate of the deceased persons.

Mrs Rotimi highlighted some key areas which must be noted.

First, the powers, functions and roles of the Administrator General cannot be delegated, divested or waived, because the powers are statutorily conferred on the Office by virtue of the law. Further, she gave an extensive explanation on the procedure for obtaining Letters of Administration, by the Administrator General and Public Trustee.

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L-R: Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili, JSC representing the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, NBA President, Olumide Akpata, Rivers State Governor and Life Bencher, Nyesom Wike and Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzette Nyesom-Wike

NBA ‘Takes the Lead’ on National Issues During 2021 AGC The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), the largest professional body in Africa, last week held its flagship event, the 2021 Annual General Conference at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The Olumide Akpata led team of National Officers of the 120,000 strong Association, left Lawyers in no doubt that indeed, the NBA can live up to its billing as the foremost defender of the rule of law. Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi who attended the weeklong event, report on the day-to-day proceedings, where Lawyers ‘Took the Lead’ and offered pragmatic insights on many topics pertaining to how Nigeria can peacefully resolve its present constitutional impasse, and generally become a better, stronger nation NBA Must Go Back to Positive Activism - Governor Nyesom Wike

G

overnor Nyesom Wike of Rivers, has urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), not to give up the struggle for protecting the rights of citizens as the Judiciary remains the last resort of the common man.

Wike stated this on last Monday in Port Harcourt, at the NBA 2021 Annual Conference with the theme, “Taking The Lead.”

He stated that confronting the Government may be tough and often misinterpreted politically, but, there should be no room for reticence, retreat or surrender.

“We must aspire to have excellence in our judicial system, and prevent innocent persons from suffering adversity because of the failures of our legal system.

“We must speak about Judges’ lack of courage to enforce our laws with equal measure, or worse still, because they have sold out to some form of political intimidation or pressure”, he said.

According to Wike, “Taking the Lead”, therefore, is to transform and reform the NBA into an activist Association, willing and ready to use the law to advance the values and aspirations of the law profession, and for the progress of society as a positive social force for change, with courage and determination.

“Taking the Lead” is to reclaim and uphold the values of the profession we once held; to have the courage to challenge what is wrong and unjust; to break free from tired traditions and status quo of the system.

“To question the motives of unfair and inequitable governmental actions and decisions; as well as to take appropriate and bold steps to eliminate the increasing costs, delays and drudgery of our criminal justice system.“Taking the lead” is to embrace the truth and having no patience for injustice; no tolerance for bad governance”, Wike added.

The Rivers State Governor said that, for the NBA to take the lead, it must have no sympathy for political leaders who fail their citizens. He said there should be no sympathy for timid and incompetent judicial officers, who betray their judicial oath with wrong and conscienceless judgements.

“I do hope and pray that from this Conference, the NBA will reawaken to its responsibility as the trustee of our legal system, resolve to guard against the easy slide into passivity, and find the courage and inspiration to fight for good governance, democracy, judicial independence and the rule of law, as the

identities and traditions of our country through positive activism.

“This is the mission of our profession, and vigilance is the price of liberty”, the Governor said.

Wike stated that the law is not just an instrument for social control, but as much an instrument for social progress. He faulted Executive Order 10, and said it was an oppressive erosion of the powers and autonomy of the sub-national Governments to administer their own judicial budgets according to prevailing economic indices.

“This is what informed the decision, to seek judicial interpretation of the Order’s legality or otherwise.

“It is for similar reasons of strengthening fiscal federalism that we are in court to determine the proper authority, under our Constitution, for imposing and collecting the Value Added Tax in our country.

“These are very nationally sensitive issues, and Nigerians are eagerly waiting for the final outcome of the judicial process.

“We therefore, wonder why the Supreme Court is not giving accelerated hearing to these matters, and we respectfully request, that this should be done in the national interest.”

NBA Not Fighting for The Masses Wike pointed out that his administration built a befitting Secretariat for Port Harcourt Branch, approved to build Secretariats for all the other Branches in the State, built Courts for both Federal and the Rivers State Judiciary, launched the Multi-Door Court House, and has commenced building a campus of the Nigerian Law School which will cost over N6 billion.

He condemned the NBA, for failing to fight the cause of the masses in recent years. Wike opined that the NBA has not done enough to promote good governance lately.

He said: “A little moment of introspection would reveal that the NBA is not what it used to be before the estimation of Nigerians, in terms of the quality and commitments of its disposition to the struggle for the rule of law, social justice and national development.

“Since the birth of this nation, Nigerians have relied on the law and our legal system to settle disputes, prevent crime, promote democracy, protect human rights and regulate virtually all aspects of both private and public life.

“While I would leave us to be the judge,

my own personal conclusion is that, for years now, the NBA has focused less on promoting and fighting for the values of good governance, democracy, judicial independence, human rights and the rule of law.

“These are some of the concerning facts: Never in our political history has Nigeria been so badly governed and denied of good governance, with the Federal Government woefully failing in its basic duties to provide for the wellbeing and security of its own citizens, as we have experienced in the last six years”.

Wike accused the Federal Government of continuing to undermine the welfare of judicial officers, with poor remunerations.

“The struggle for a better deal for our judicial officers is one that the NBA must champion with utmost priority and commitment, before it’s too late in the day to rescue it from total collapse”, he said.

NBA Must Lead Conversation on Peace, Unity and National Development - Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has called on the NBA to take the driver’s seat in the conversations surrounding the peace, unity and development of Nigeria.

Represented by Hon. Luke Iniofiok at the NBA 2021 Annual Conference, Gbajabiamila said that nation building is a joint task. He stated that the theme of the Conference, “Taking The Lead”, was not only timely, but also timely in the light of the challenges facing the nation.

“The theme presents a fierce urgency for Lawyers to capture the moment, and take the drivers seat in the conversation surrounding our collective patrimony.

“We have to answer the call to save and commit to the course of the downtrodden, to rebuilding our nation and raising it from the realms”, he said.

Gbajabiamila urged the Lawyers as they began the conversations, to remember their vision and to ensure that everyone lives in a just society, free from abuse of power and protected by a justice system based on fairness and the rule of law.

“As Lawyers, you also have a role to play individually and collectively in promoting social justice and respect for the rule of law.

“If we all play a part and intentionally contribute, we will pull our country from the deepest stages

of strife and systematic failures, to the mountain top of peace and prosperity”, he said.

The Bar Must Collaborate with Legislature to Develop our Laws - Senator Ovie Omo-Agege Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, said that there would be no meaningful development of the laws of Nigeria, without the active and progressive collaboration between the Bar and Lawmakers.

Omo-Agege made this known in his addresses delivered at the Conference. The Lawmaker said he is hopeful that the Conference would lay the bridge between the NBA and the legislative arms of Government at all levels, for the continuous exchange of ideas. He acknowledged that it this is indeed, the era legal practitioners ought to be at the forefront of development of the nation for the benefit of all.

“The theme, “Taking The Lead”, is also very significant at a moment like this, that serious national issues are being discussed.

“The National Assembly has already taken the lead in enacting laws to give legal teeth to some of the provisions of the fundamental objectives and directive principles of State policies”, he said.

According to Omo-Agege, it is in regard of issues that the attention of the National Assembly has focused on the enthronement of a transparent electoral process, as a precursor to good and accountable governance.

Our People Must See Themselves in their Constitution - Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah exclaimed ‘Nigerians are Exhausted!’ at the NBAAnnual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State last Monday where he was Guest Speaker the opening of the 2021 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association.

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese focused on the recurring attempts by the political elite in the country to review its Constitution, an exercise that has been repeated so often that it has become an object of derision on the part of the people.

He delved into history by citing the evolution of the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights to draw a contrast between the principled debates and the judicial activism involved in the progress of an imperfect but progressive document, and the trivialities of the Nigerian version, which, he said, is no more than a debate between various tribal unions, between southerners and northerners, and between Christians and Moslems. Amidst the noise, he said, the voice

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NBA ‘Takes the Lead’ on National Issues During 2021 AGC of the Citizen – which should be loudest – is lost. A constitution is a secular Bible, he added, and its framers should be constrained in their appeals to religion. In his memorable ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, the legendary Dr. King never once appealed to his Christian religion, Kukah reminded the assembled delegates; instead, he apeealed to the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence which laid its groundwork.

Lamenting the Nigerian elite’s inability to rise beyond primordial sentiment, and its inability to distinguish between moral authority and mere occupation of public office, the cleric said the failure of the Nigerian state has reinforced every negativity in our national life, including our collective ignorance of one another.

He ended by again paraphrasing King in saying that the Nigerian state stands guilty of issuing a dud cheque to its people. But the agitations currently roiling the nation today, he asserted, are evidence that the Nigerian people no longer believe that the nation’s bank of justice is bankrupt.

He further stated that ‘Nigeria is like a Catholic marriage; it may not be happy, but it shall never break up.’

Adopt and Enforce the Child Rights Act - Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzette Wike Wife of the Rivers State Governor, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, has appealed to States to adopt and enforce the Child Rights Act. She said many vices upsetting the society, were a direct consequence of deliberately disregarding the rights of children and the important roles women play in the nurturing process of children.

She spoke at a special dinner she organised for female delegates to the NBA Conference, at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Port Harcourt.

Justice Nyesom-Wike said the Act was designed to protect children from abuse, defilement and exploitation.

She said: “This is one law that also protects children when it comes to defilement and all kinds of sexual abuses, because the criminal code, of course as we know, is very limited. This one is now expanded, especially with the Violence Against Persons Laws that are being adopted in the States”. She urged the society to keep encouraging and supporting women in the onerous task of parenting, saying women who give their children useful guidance and watch them grow into age of responsibility, deserve the support of the society. Justice Nyesom-Wike implored parents to shower their children with love at all times, to enable them give same back to the society.

Taking a Stand: Akpata Launches NBA Sexual Harassment Policy A major highlight of the AGC breakout session on workplace and professional harassment, was the launch and formal presentation of the NBA’s ‘Sexual Harassment Policy’ by the Association’s President, Olumide Akpata.

Championed by the Women’s Forum of the Association, the document aims to ‘create a safe work space for all’.

In his remarks at the event, Akpata said that although the NBA as a whole was still contending with certain capacity issues, the same cannot be said of the Forum, thanks to the able leadership of its President, Prof.

Oluwayemisi Bamgbose, SAN, the Chairperson of the NBA’s Advocacy Committee, Mrs. Folashade Alli, as well as Dr Foluke Dada, a former Vice-President of the NBA. Although not every male person is a sexual predator, a sexist or an apologist for male patriarchy, Akpata went to say, the actions of a few unprincipled people – if left unchallenged – can destroy the work of many people of goodwill. The Policy document, he declared, is one of such challenges - a clear rejection of physical, verbal and non-verbal harassment and victimisation in any shape or form.

To help enforce the Policy on behalf of the NBA leadership, Akpata proceeded to task two ‘male champions’ to work with the Women’s Forum on the issues – namely, Ekiti State Attorney-General and new SAN-designate, Olawale Fapohunda, and the afore-mentioned Mr. Ajagbe.

In answer to a question during the interactive session at the launch, Mrs. Alli of the NBAAdvocacy Committee, said the document details a comprehensive complaint procedure that encompasses both law firms and public institutions where Lawyers ply their trade – as stipulated

by International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Bar and Bench Brainstorm on Mode of Appointment of Judicial Officers Judges and Lawyers advocated for a thorough, rigorous and unbiased process for the appointment of judicial officers at the NBA Conference.

The Managing Partner of S. P. A. Ajibade & Co., Dr Babatunde Ajibade, SAN, Moderator of the session on “Justice Sector Reform: Oversight Functions of the Bar and Bench”, expressed dissatisfaction at the process of appointing Judges in Nigeria.

Dr Ajibade stated that there should be no reason why the process of being a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, should be more rigorous than the process of becoming a Judge.

“The SAN will appear before the Judges, and if the process of becoming a Judge is lower, and the Judges are potentially not at par with the SANs, they have difficulty in controlling their courts.

Justice Oludotun Adefope-Okojie of the Court of Appeal, blamed NBA for not doing what it ought to do in the process of appointing Judges.

“Yes, there is a huge problem associated with the appointment of Judges. The problem is: the Bar is not doing what it is supposed to do.

L-R: Rufus N. Godwin; Chief Judge of Rivers State, Hon. Justice, Simeon Chibuzor Amadi; President, NBA, Olumide Akpata; AttorneyGeneral & Commissioner for Justice, Rivers State, Prof Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN; and Mrs Miannaya Essien, SAN “At every level of appointment, the Bar is represented”, she said.

In the Question and Answer segment, This Day Lawyer Editor, Onikepo Braithwaite, commented that it may not be the fault of the NBA, as the FJSC for instance, may not take cognisance of the NBA’s suggestions. Mrs Braithwaite pointed out that the NBA President’s observations on some of those shortlisted as Court of Appeal Justices in the last recruitment exercise, were ignored. His reservations that some of the candidates were unfamiliar with basic Latin legal terms, were dismissed with the wave of a hand.

The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, said that there was always the “Nigerian factor of favouring children of highly-placed individuals in the society.

“I do not have that pressure, by the grace of God. I try as much as possible to do what is right.

“What I do is to strictly follow the guidelines, no matter who made the nomination or who made a recommendation”, she said.

Justice Dipeolu said that the NBA has a huge role to play, since it also nominated and recommended candidates, but she was dissatisfied.

“Make your stand known, you will be respected for it”, she said.

Legal Practitioner and Public Affairs Analyst, Dr. Chukwuma Chinwo, advocated the training of prospective Judges before their appointment.

Chinwo said that there was a need to change the law curriculum of universities from the fourth year, for students to know the career path they would want to follow.

He said that the responsibility of being a Judge, is very high.

“I commend the Rivers Government for coming up with a Judicial Institute, but it should not be for Judges alone to be trained.

“Let those who want to be Judges go there, get trained, under-seasoned Judges too, and get the certificate”, he said.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekiti, Olawale Fapohunda, said that the happiness of judicial officers was important in justice delivery, regretting that their salaries had not been increased over the years.

“I have continuously disagreed with my colleagues, that once you sign-on to be a Judge, you should be satisfied with the salary you will be paid.

“I feel for the Judges who are thinking of their lives after service, when in some cases they cannot go home with the cars they are using and even have a home to stay after service”, he said.

“We, The People”…….ADebate on Constitutional Amendment Tackling the issue of How Legitimate is the Nigerian Constitution?

This was the closing plenary session, which took place on Wednesday afternoon. For the first time in decades, two of Nigeria’s foremost human rights advocates, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN and Femi Falana, SAN came to a consensus on a crucial national issue.

The enlivening Showcase Session was Moderated

by Chief J-K Gadzama, SAN; and weighing in on the contentious issues were Governor Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Femi Falana SAN and Professor Chidi Odinkalu and Ms Ann Kio-Briggs.

In summation Ozekhome SAN, wondered what frightens the governing elite, that they are refusing or delaying working towards a new Constitution for Nigeria.

Prof Odinkalu called for a document that will bring about the restructuring of minds.

Ms. Ann Kio-Briggs, said there is no reason to continue to keep the Constitution In agreeing with Chief Ozekhome, Femi Falana said: “I strongly believe that the country needs

a new and popular Constitution, prepared by the accredited representatives of the people”.

The Nigerian Constitution, according to Ozekhome, is “a child of bastardy” and so, illegitimate. As a result, he claimed that no essential value could be derived from such a document, even if it went through a million ‘amendments.’ The learned Silk went down memory lane, to demonstrate that the Nigerian people had never truly had their own Constitution, whether during the colonial period or subsequent civilian administrations. He also noted recent examples of other countries who have adopted new constitutions as a result of referendums, and wondered what the governing elite in Nigeria was frightened of, by refusing – or at the very least delaying – a similar exercise. He frequently stated that: “This makeover is not rocket science. The only thing that is required to write a constitution that reflects both our national identity and the diversity of the individuals who make up our country, is political will and sincerity”.

Femi Falana, SAN, said the people of Nigeria were not involved in the processes which culminated in the constitutions promulgated by the colonial regime. Thus, the Lugard Constitution of 1914, Clifford Constitution of 1922, Richards Constitution of 1946, Macpherson Constitution of 1951, and Littleton Constitution of 1954 were enacted in London and imposed on Nigerians.

In order to protect the interests of the British Government, the Independence Constitution of 1960 was negotiated between the British colonial regime and the nationalist politicians. Even the much-celebrated Republican Constitution of 1963, was a mere amendment of the Independence Constitution. He said the amendments of the Constitution carried out by the first set of parliamentarians, were rather cosmetic.

Falana continued: “I strongly believe that the country needs a new and popular Constitution prepared by the accredited representatives of workers, women, youths, physically challenged people and other interest groups. But, a new Constitution can only emerge from the struggle of the Nigerian people through a process that is democratic, inclusive and transparent. The popular struggle of the past had led to the entrenchment of Chapter 2 and 4 in the 1999 Constitution. Although the provisions of Chapter 2 are not justiciable, there are laws that have been enacted by the National Assembly to actualise some of the rights. With respect to Chapter 4, some Laws have been enacted against illegal arrest and detention, torture of suspects, and extrajudicial killing of citizens, while indigent citizens shall have access to free legal advice and representation by Lawyers in court.

“In view of the commitment of the Nigerian Bar Association to take the lead, this Conference should direct the members of the Human Rights Committees of each Branch, to accompany Chief Magistrates and Judges during the monthly visits to Police stations and other detention facilities in the country. The NBA should be prepared to partner with the human rights community, with respect to the provision of pro bono services to all victims of human rights abuse in the country.

“The NBA should pluck up the courage to sanction Attorneys-General who encourage disobedience of court orders, and frustrate the payment of damages awarded by courts to victims of human rights abuse. Since Nigerian Lawyers support the call for a new Constitution for Nigeria, the NBA should embark on consultation with the Nigerian people, through its Branches that are spread across the 36 States of the Federation.”

According to Ms Ann Kio-Briggs, another flaw in the current Constitution, is its glaring

unfairness. She saw no reason to keep a document that, in its current form, as the previous Speaker put it, “lies to itself.” How can the State of Zamfara, for example, be allowed to keep the lion’s share of gold profits found on its territory, while the Niger Delta receives only a small fraction of crude oil revenues derived from the region, thanks to the magnanimity of the powers that be at the centre, she wondered? How can a Constitution allow one part of the country to flagrantly and blatantly violate the principle of federal character, at the expense of other sections? To address this shortcoming, she concluded that Nigeria must be unbundled in order for its citizens to be free of the toxic legacy of ‘Lugard’s Problem,’ as she dubbed it, and that only a brand-new Constitution, subject to the will of the people as expressed in a free, fair, and credible Referendum, can do so.

Short Takes from the AGC ‘All Conferees Deserve Commendation’ – Chief J-K Gadzama, SAN – Pioneer Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL ‘I wish to congratulate us all on the successful conduct of the 61st AGC of our dear Association, the NBA.’ ‘This was an A-Class Conference’ – Erojekwe – Chairman, NBA Institute of Continuing Legal Education ‘The AGC of the NBA, was, in my view, well coordinated. There were over 10,000 Lawyers in attendance at the Conference, and the atmosphere was very peaceful and convivial. The number of attendees is very impressive by any standard, and more so, because the AGC took place during normal work season and during a pandemic. The registration process was seamless, this guaranteed a pleasant experience right from the moment they get to the venue of the Conference. The technical sessions of the Conference were very informative, with Bishop Hassan Mathew Kukah leading the way as the Keynote Speaker.

In all, the Olumide Akpata led NBA, the NBA Technical Committee on Conference Planning, and all Nigerian Lawyers should be proud of themselves for putting together a very impressive, world class, Conference.’

‘NBA is Taking the Lead’ – Jonathan Gunu Taidi – immediate past General Secretary of the NBA ‘I should begin, by congratulating the NBA for hosting another successful Conference, and for making the event as rich and memorable as can be in the circumstances.

The sessions at the Conference achieved the major objective of helping to reorient and rejig the legal profession to reflect current realities, particularly as regards strengthening the rule of law, guaranteeing the independence of our system of justice, and positioning our Association to be a leading light of the nation.

The other major takeaway is that the legal profession must never be afraid to take front and centre role, in the effort to make Nigeria the country of our dreams.

Indeed, as the conference has demonstrated, there is no one more qualified to ‘Take the Lead’ than ourselves.

Conclusion The Conference ended rather cheeringly with a ‘Blow-out’ party for all Conferees, where young wigs outnumbered the older ones.

The Gold Tournament sponsored by Chief J-K Gadzama, SAN, was another highlight on the Conference agenda, while the weeklong football tournament saw the Lagos Branch going home with coveted trophy.

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IMAGES

L-R: Co-Chairman, Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP), Akinmade Ajibola; Chairman TCCP, Omubo V. Frank-Briggs; Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal; Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzette Wike; President NBA, Olumide Akpata; NBA General Secretary, Joyce Oduah; Panelist member, Ann Kio-Briggs and Panelist Moderator, Joe Kyari Gadzama, SAN

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike

NBA President, Olumide Akpata

L-R: Rufus N. Godwin; Chief Judge of Rivers State, Hon. Justice, Simeon Chibuzor Amadi; Olumide Akpata; Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Rivers State, Prof Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN; and Mrs Miannaya Essien, SAN

L-R: Member TCCP, Kelechi Nwuzi; Akinmade Ajibola; Chairperson, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Ronke Sokefun; Chairman,Senate Committee on Army, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume; DG, Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha; Chief Executive Officer, Budget, Gabriel Okeowo; Panelist Moderator, Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya

L-R: Dr Chukwuka Chinwo; Ogun State CJ, Hon. Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu; Panel Moderator, Dr Babatunde Ajibade, SAN; Mrs Joyce Oduah; Senator Ita Enang; Hon. Justice Oludotun Adefope-Okogie, JCA and Ekiti State Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Olawale Fapohunda Keynote Speaker, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah

Hon. Justice Peter-Odili, JSC

Former A-G of Ekiti State, Obafemi Adewale, SAN (left), and Legal Adviser, APC, Babatunde Ogala, SAN

Mrs Mia Essien, SAN (left), and THISDAY LAWYER Editor, Onikepo Braithwaite

Former NBA President, Augustine Alegeh, SAN, and Y.C. Maikyau, SAN

Mrs Chika Ndubuisi (left), and Chairman Council of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN

Rivers State Commissioner for Social Welfare & Rehabilitation, Mrs Inime Chinwenwo-Aguma

Former NBA President, OCJ Okocha, SAN

Former NBA President, Paul Usoro, SAN

Daniel Bwala

Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN

Boma Alabi, SAN (left) and former NBA President, Okey Wali, SAN

IX IMAGES

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2021

Godwin Omoaka, SAN (left), and Prof Fidelis Oditah, QC, SAN

L-R: George Etomi, Inemesit Dike; and former SSG Bayelsa State/ Member, NBA General Purpose Committee, Serena-Dokubo Spiff

L-R: Joyce Oduah; wife of immediate past Governor of Bauchi State, Aisha Abubakar and the former Governor, M.A. Abubakar

L-R: L. Fubara Anga, SAN; Joe Kyari Gadzama, SAN; and Sotonye Inyemema-Etomi

L-R: Mrs Aikpokpo Martins; her husband, NBA 1st VP, John Aikpokpo Martins; NBA Fin Sec. Raphael Anagor and NBA 2nd VP, Debo Adeyemo

Dr Babatunde Ajibade (left), SAN and Tony Ojukwu

L-R: NBA Asst. Pulicity Sec, Ferdinand Nasa and NBA Welfare Sec. Olukunle Edun

Osayamor Ogbebor (left) and Olumide Akpata

L-R: Omubo V. Frank-Briggs, Akinmade Ajibola, Aderemi Oguntoye and Panelist, Tobenna Erojikwe

NBA Treasurer, Mercy I. Agada (left) and NBA Publicity Secretary, Dr Rapuluckukwu Nduka

Secretary NBA Lagos Branch and Member, TCCP, Ms Nta Ekpiken (left), and Dr Olumide Famuyiwa

Chairman NBA Lagos Branch, Ikechukwu Uwanna (left), and Mrs Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya

L-R: Mr Olumide Akpata; Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike; Governor of Ekiti State/Chairman Governors Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021 • T H I S D AY

IMAGES

L-R: Former Governor of Rivers State, Celestine Omeha; Augustine Alegeh, SAN; Osayamor Ogbebor and Olumide Akpata

L-R: Chief Asamah Kadiri, SAN Dr (Mrs) Maymunah Kadiri and NBA Nat Asst. Sec, Uchenna Nwadialo

Samuel Nsirim of Port Harcourt Branch (right) receiving Most Valuable Player, NBA AGC Football Tournament 2021 L-R: Rivers State Govermor, Nyesom Wike, Onikepo Braithwaite and Ekiti State Govermor, Dr Kayode Fayemi

L-R: Prof Adangor, SAN, Hon. Justice Kanyip, Olumide Akpata, Rufus Godwin, Inime ChinwenwoAguma and Y.C.Maikyau, SAN L-R: Uzodinma receiving Lagos Branch Lateef Egbeyemi Golden Golf award from Governor Kayode Fayemi Akinmade Ajibola (left), and Omubo V. Frank-Briggs

L-R: Former NBA Presidents, Okey Wali, SAN and OCJ Okocha, SAN

L-R: Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oyo State, Prof Oyelowo Oyewo, SAN; P. Harris Ogbole, SAN and Prof Offoenze Amucheazi, SAN

L-R: Lawal Amusan being presented with football Golden Booth award by Governor Nyesom Wike

L-R: Executive Secretary, Ekiti State Mortgage Board,and Member Body of Benchers, Ms Oludayo Olorunfemi (left), and Olawale Fapohunda

Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume

Nosa Edo-Osagie and Gregory Okonkwo

Chairman, NDIC, Mrs Ronke Sokefun

Lamar Gadzama (left), Winner of Golf Handicap Category receiving his prize from Olumide Akpata With them is the Sponsor, Joe Kyari Gadzama, SAN

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

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PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Espinosa: Greater Ambition Now Critical as UN Climate Change Conference Opens Bennett Oghifo

F

ollowing a series of reports and studies warning that urgent action is needed to keep the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global average temperature increases to 1.5C within reach, the United Nations Climate Change Conference opened on Sunday with the key aims of raising ambition on all fronts and finalizing the agreement’s implementation guidelines.

“We are extremely grateful to the Government of the United

Kingdom for hosting this crucially important conference in these unprecedented times and for making every effort to keep all participants safe and healthy,” said Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change.

“The devastating loss of lives and livelihoods this year due to extreme weather events clarifies how important it is to convene COP26 despite the impacts of the pandemic still being felt.

We are on track for a global temperature rise of 2.7C, while we should be heading for the 1.5C goal. Clearly, we are in

a climate emergency. Clearly, we need to address it. Clearly, we need to support the most vulnerable to cope. To do so successfully, greater ambition is now critical,” she underlined.

Greater ambition is required to achieve progress on all elements of the climate change agenda, including reducing emissions, moving adaptation to the centre of the agenda, addressing loss and damage from extreme climatic events and increasing the provision of support to developing countries.

A central issue is the provi-

sion of support to developing countries, especially in relation to the goal of mobilising $100 billion annually by 2020. Financial support is crucial for all elements of the climate change regime, including mitigation, but also in terms of adaptation, capacity-building, technology transfer and several other elements. Many Parties, especially developing countries, feel that in order to advance towards full implementation of the Paris Agreement, previous commitments should first be honoured.

Finalising the Paris Agree-

ment’s implementation guidelines will enable the full implementation of all provisions, which will unleash more ambitious climate actions by all its Parties. Specifically, the outstanding guidelines relate to the details around the global goal on adaptation, how to report climate action and support transparently, and the use of market-based mechanisms and non-market approaches.

“We have no choice but to make COP26 a success. For that, we need unity of purpose.

We need to leave Glasgow with

a balanced package of decisions that reflects the positions of all countries. With a willingness to compromise among the many perspectives we can arrive at workable, ambitious solutions that will help us keep the 1.5C goal within reach. We stand ready to work with all Parties and to leave no voice behind to reach this important goal,” Ms. Espinosa said.

Having been postponed by a year owing to COVID-19 and having to address items from COP25 held in 2019, COP26 has a huge agenda beyond the key aims.

technical skills being given greater priority alongside more traditional curricula. One example is how an increasing number of educators across the region are seeing the value of gaming when it comes to promoting active learning, enhancing student engagement and enriching learning. Using platforms such as Microsoft’s Minecraft: Education Edition, educators have been successful in encouraging collaboration, team creation, and leadership values, with excellent results.

Equally, technology can help support learners in new ways by offering tools to combat new challenges. Across different parts of the world, remote

learning triggered a decline in reading skills – a trend that is of particular concern for many countries in Africa and the Middle East, where the battle to improve literacy rates has been long and hard-fought. But the introduction of free tools such as Reading Progress will help students improve their reading comprehension at their own pace. Teachers can also review assignments quickly and accurately using builtin-auto-detect features. The Education Insights dashboard then provides educators with a holistic view of students’ progress, including key trends such as typical mispronunciations and omissions.

Reframing Technology’s Role in Education Around 50 per cent of today’s jobs require some element of digital skills. By 2030, that figure will jump to 77 per cent, with a host of new technologies changing not only the types of jobs we will see but also the skill sets required to succeed in them.

Echoing this is McKinsey’s August 2021 Opportunity Youth report, which notes that the next generation of youth in the MENAP region will be entering a radically changed labour market.

Today’s students will need more than just a diploma: they will need digital savvy and real-world skills that make them more employable in the

future of work context. As a result, education systems will need to nurture traditional IQ alongside digital literacy and skills, while also equipping learners with the tools they will need to independently innovate, create and collaborate in a global digital economy that will require agile, resilient mindsets.

Remote learning opened new doors of opportunity During the pandemic, we witnessed first-hand great collaboration between ministries of education, Microsoft and donors such as UNESCO, UNICEF and Global Partnership for Education, joining

together to provide solutions for remote learning. Indeed, the pandemic opened the door to much-needed innovation in the education sector. According to a recent YouGov survey commissioned by Microsoft, 82 percent of educators agree that this past year has accelerated the pace at which technology has driven innovation in teaching and learning.

While the education sector turned to technology to enable remote learning, the radical shift that the pandemic presented is not just about technology as a simple mechanism for the delivery of learning. Technology should be viewed as a robust mechanism

for culture building; a way to redesign learning that fosters creative, cognitive thinking, independent innovation, and the ability to collaborate effectively. Education technology should be embraced not only to enable teaching, but to enrich the experience as well.

Education enrichment through tech Promoting active versus passive learning is one way that tech can help better engage learners in a new remote or hybrid schooling environment.

The past year has brought the social-emotional aspects of learning into the spotlight, with higher-level cognitive and

Obasanjo, Osinbajo, Ooni, Others Call for Partnership at Housing Fair Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibajo, SAN; and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; were speakers at The National House Fair 5.0 organised

by Abuja-based real estate firm BSTAN Homes between 7th and 10 October, 2021 at the International Conference Centre,

ICC, Abuja.

The event with the theme, Three ‘S’ of Shelter in Economic Stability – A New Wave”, viz-a-viz Standard, Secure, and Sustainable shelter, was designed to promote economic and social development via sustainable housing.

It was an opportunity to explore, connect, and provide

access to a better life by making quality and safe shelter available to all people, irrespective of social or economic position. It also exposed participants and attendants an opportunity to network and invest in real estate across Nigeria.

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo called for

increased partnership of the private and public sectors in the housing industry, explaining that the problem of housing was everybody’s business.

Obasanjo made this call through a virtual speech, commending the Group for its introduction of the “metro shelter” scheme aimed at de-

centralising movement from rural to urban areas.

He stated that BSTAN Group cannot remedy the housing deficit alone, stressing that government at all levels, as well as the private sector need to do more in ensuring that the housing issue ceases to exist.

According to him, “Housing is

one of the essential requirements of humankind. Here, let me commend what BSTAN Group has been doing in providing affordable accommodation all over Nigeria. They have covered about a third of the states in the country. There’s still a lot to be done, but once again I will say, more grease to their elbow.

AfCFTA Must Prepare for Data Security, Say Experts The need for data security in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has been stressed by experts in cybersecurity.

This was one of the resolu-

tions at the second (Virtual) Africa Data Security Conclave (“the Conference”) which held recently with over 200 attendees from various African countries and the rest of the

world.

One of the experts, Abiola Sanni (SAN), Professor of Law at the University of Lagos and Chairman, Board of Directors of Taxaide Technologies Lim-

ited (Taxtech), stated that “it is no gainsaid that the world’s largest economic free trade area that the AfCFTA has created needs to be fully conscious of the data security issues that

awaits it, especially in the aspects of its Trade in Intangible Services and the attendant consumption of personal data in the zillions of bytes.

Along with the challenges

are also the opportunities for Governments, Citizens, Businesses and Practitioners alike; all of which we seek to fully explore in this year’s Conference.”

Rotary Club of Akowonjo to Provide Water in Community In keeping with the club’s promise to deliver quality projects within its catchment community, Rotary Club of Akowonjo has promised to sink a borehole and other projects in conjuction with Faadaakaa, a Home, Housing and Properties company which has vowed a million naira in support of projects to be executed by the club for the next one year in alignment with the foundation vision of the organisation.

Speaking during his installation as the 36th President of Rotary Club of Akowonjo, Rotarian (Engr.) Victor Amaraegbu, expressed great delight at the patnership with Faadaakaa and expressed happiness following numerous promises made towards the club’s planned projects by public spirited

individuals and organisations that graced the club’s installation event which took place at the exquisite Oranmiyan Hall of the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja recently.

President Amaraegbu, expressed satisfaction with what the club has accomplished within three months of assuming the position of the club’s president noting that “with less than nine months to go into the Rotary year, I can confidently say that we have done a lot of projects and I know we are going to do more”.

According to the Rotarian president “so far, we have been able to plant over 80 trees within Lagos State; renovated dilapidated block of classrooms; we have made donations to Little Saints Orphanage; made

donations to our Adult Literacy programme; and book donation at Rauf Aregbesola Primary School, Akowonjo, conducted a school’s debate and quiz during our Basic Education and Literacy programme, giving out so many valuable gift items including a trophy, medals and writing materials and this month we are also having our economic empowerment programme.”As he put it: “we have done so much within these three months and I am sure that in the next nine months to come we have so much to do for mankind adding also that “honestly, I want to say, I am privileged to lead men of high intelligence in this club, and Rotary Club of Akowonjo will smile again and continue to smile after this current year”.

He thanked and was full of praise for the Investiture Com-

mittee which organised the event, the board of directors and entire

club for their massive support for the programme.

R-L: Past Assistant Governor, Rotarian (Dr) Olukayode Akinlade, Mr. Kabir Aregbesola, from the Vice President’s Office Aso Villa, Abuja, Rotarian Victor Amaraegbu, newly inducted president of Rotary Club of Akowonjo and the MC of the event, Rotarian (Dr.) Olasunkanmi Amoye, Senior Consultant (People Transformation), Investiture of the 36th President of Rotary Club of Akowonjo… recently

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

08056356325

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NNPC’s Contribution to Federation Account Slumps by N13bn in September

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The contribution of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the Federation Account fell by about N13 billion in September, a document detailing the corporation’s monthly presentation to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shown.

It is the second most impactful development since the national oil company failed to contribute any funds in April when it started making

deductions owing to its funding of subsidy on the pump price of petrol.

The data showed that since May, the corporation’s funding of the Federation Account had Increased steadily, but dropped from N80.030 billion in August to N67.533 billion, a difference of about N13 billion.

Before the latest development, the contribution jumped from N38.608 billion to N47.1 billion between May and June and from N67.2 billion to N80 billion in August, before falling to N67.5 billion in September.

In all, the information showed that the corporation had done very badly this year in terms of its statutory funding of the Federation Account, having just been able to pay N496.8 billion, leaving a huge deficit of N1.386 trillion as at September this year.

This is out of its yearly projection of N2.51 trillion total payment for 2021 and a monthly contribution of N209.3 billion as well as a supposed year-to-date (January-September) funding to the tune of N1.88 trillion.

While Nigeria’s earnings from oil

and gas sales dropped by N87.41 billion between July and August this year, the summary indicated that the total oil and gas sales in July was N271.215 billion but dropped to N183.81bn in August, representing a decrease of 32.23 per cent.

As reported earlier, the NNPC will also deduct N163.73 billion from its remittance to FAAC in the coming month, which is a combination of N123.73 billion on petrol subsidy and another N40 billion deferred deduction.

Similarly, in October, it netted off N149.28 billion from its remittances, while pipeline repairs stood at N1.67 billion, with domestic crude oil sales at N265.13 billion.

As reported by THISDAY, NNPC deducted N149.2 billion from the federation’s joint account in October, while it withheld about N173.1 billion the previous month to pay for what it terms under-recovery or value shortfall.

From January to September, NNPC had paid N864 billion as subsidy

with the eight month getting the lion’s share of N173.1 billion, while June came next with N164.3 billion, followed by May with N126 billion, then July in which N103.2 billion was spent on what the government terms under-recovery.

In the same vein, while no subsidy was paid in January, N24.3 billion was paid in February, N60.3 billion in March and N61.9 billion in April this year, while September gulped Continued on page 26

FG Moves to Reduce Insider Threats to Nigeria’s Nuclear Assets Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government, through the National Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) has underscored the need to ensure the reduction of insider abuse of its nuclear assets, saying that aside the deployment of physical protection like the use of security forces, persons manning the facilities were even more critical to their safety.

To this end, it noted that a multi-stakeholder template had been designed to promptly identify and address such security threats,

including software compromise and other issues that may disrupt the safe utilisation of nuclear energy in the country.

Speaking at the opening of a three-day national workshop on nuclear security themed: “Beyond Physical Protection Systems in Nuclear Facilities,” Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of NAEC, Prof. Yusuf Ahmed, listed nuclear security, nuclear safety and nuclear safeguards as the three pillars of national nuclear energy programmes.

Represented by the Director, Nuclear Technology Centre (NTC),

Hamman Tukur, Ahmed stated that it was essential to ensure the protection of workers, people and environment wherever nuclear facilities are operated in the country.

According to him, nuclear security had become a major topic after the terrorist attack in 2001 that destroyed the twin towers and the World Trade Centre in the United States.

He stated that the event ushered in a global climate of fear from which the global community was yet to recover, even as world leaders have resolved to guard nuclear

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materials and allied facilities to ensure that such materials do not get into the possession of non-state actors.

To guarantee the entrenchment of this goal, he noted that several nuclear security summits had been held globally with far-reaching decisions made via international legal instruments that are binding on all nations, thereby entwining it with national security issues.

He added: “One of such international instruments is the International Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials (CPPNM) and

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its amendments thereof, of which Nigeria is a signatory. “ It places the responsibility of securing nuclear material squarely on the state and NAEC; which is a specialised agency of government, with nuclear materials domiciled in various centres under its supervision.

“Nuclear security is a governance regime that proactively seeks to ensure the prevention, detection and response to theft or any intentional or malicious act on nuclear materials and associated facilities.”

Ahmed explained that what readily comes to mind whenever

T O D AY

nuclear security is mentioned is the usual hardware that is most visible, but noted that attention must be paid to the ‘software’, which are the humans who man and manage the security surveillance systems, the close circuit television cameras (CCTVs), among others.

He argued that every hardware system is only as good as the software operating system within it, pointing out that the centrality of the human factor in the overall dynamics of the physical protection Continued on page 26

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NEWS

NNPC’S CONTRIBUTION TO FEDERATION ACCOUNT SLUMPS BY N13BN IN SEPTEMBER

N149 billion.

When the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) begins in earnest and the federal continues

in its hesitation to stop payment of subsidy on petrol, it will be double jeopardy for the sub-nationals which would also be hugely affected by

the deduction of the controversial 30 per cent frontier exploration fund.

In all, the overall NNPC crude oil lifting of 8.71 mbbls (export &

domestic crude) in July 2021 recorded 0.87 per cent increase relative to the 8.66 mbbls lifted in June 2021.

In June, the NNPC told the

nation that Nigeria was losing about 42 million litres of petrol to the activities of smugglers across the country’s borders, increasing

Nigeria’s estimated daily consumption of 60 million litres to 103 million litres, thereby worsening the subsidy payment regime.

Sylva: Reorganisation of Staff in Newly-formed Upstream Commission Ongoing Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Minister of State, Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, has stated that to ensure the smooth implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the federal government is reorganising staff deployed from the defunct agencies to ensure their proper fit for tasks assigned.

By the new law, employees of the scrapped Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) are to be absorbed by both the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NURC) and the Midstream/Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (MDPRA).

Also included among the defunct agencies whose staff will be redeployed to the two succeeding organisations are those of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

Speaking at the 5th Quadrennial

Branch Delegates Conference of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), DPR branch, in Abuja, Sylva stated that everybody will be carried along in the process to maintain the existing industrial harmony.

Represented by the Director, Human Resources Management, at the ministry of petroleum, Dr. Famous Eseduwo, the minister enjoined the unions to cooperate with the government to ensure the success of the PIA implementation.

“As we speak, efforts towards staff reorganisation are in top gear, in line with the legal framework of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

I am sure that NUPENG and PENGASSAN are to be represented in the process so that there will be

Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) have disagreed over the extent of power cuts to be experienced by some Abuja customers during the installation of a Gas Insulated Substation (GIS) in Gwarimpa.

While the TCN said that during the installation which will be completed on November 9, power supply will not be disrupted, the AEDC in a response, noted that it had been forced to resort to load shedding as about 100MW had been cut off from its allocation.

General Manager, Public Affairs of TCN, Ndidi Mbah, said that the new 2x60MVA substation was part of TCN’s efforts to reinforce the high voltage transmission ring project

around Abuja, which will increase bulk power available for Abuja Disco to take to its customers in Abuja metropolis and environs.

“During the 14-day installation period, bulk power delivery to the Abuja AEDC will not be affected as TCN has made adequate plans to ensure that the quantum of power supplied AEDC is maintained.

“This means that the installation of TCN’s new GIS substation will not affect bulk supply to Abuja Disco for its customers. The Gwarimpa GIS substations project, when completed and commissioned into circuit, will increase the quantum of bulk power supply in Abuja and the environs,” TCN said.

But AEDC through its spokesman, Oyebode Fadipe, picked holes in the TCN report, saying its load intake in some parts of Abuja had been

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systems is what matters most.

Earlier, an Assistant Director at NAEC, Mr Inemo Adaka, explained that the workshop was a forum

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to learn and detect malicious acts against nuclear facilities in the country.

“We want to ensure that beyond

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significantly reduced by 65 per cent of the daily load following the commencement of the project.

As a result of the exercise by the TCN, he stated that AEDC Plc can only take 40MW out of the 140MW it hitherto received from TCN for distribution to customers fed from the Kubwa 2 X 60MVA 132/33kV transmission station (AT4).

Kubwa substation serves Dawaki, Bwari, Deidei and Kubwa 33kV injection substations in Abuja.

The 40MW is shared between Suleja and Kubwa transmission stations on the basis of 20MW each.

“In order not to keep the feeders out completely, the load carried by the Kubwa 2 X 60MVA 132/33kV substation has been diverted to the Suleja transmission station and this has led to the massive load-shedding currently experienced by AED Plc

N17,000–N20,000 N19500- N25000

guards and guns and gates, we want to do more. We want to guard against insider threats, strengthen leadership and come up with a

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together and one of the first things I have done is to set up work teams, one of which is about staff matters and that underscores the importance we place on our staff. We will continue to engage , be fair and just and ensure matters pertaining to your welfare is taken seriously,” he assured.

National President of NUPENG, Williams Akporeha, who was represented at the event by the National Auditor of the body, Thompson Ogbodo, stressed that the struggle to pass the PIA took about 20 years, noting however that any attempt to hijack the implementation process, to the disadvantage of the working people, will be resisted.

“The union will not leave you or abandon you and we will stand

by you and defend your interest as things evolve and unfold. We are gearing up for the second phase of the struggle,” he said.

He said NUPENG and PENGASSAN had already set sup a six-man committee to monitor the implementation of the PIA to the letter, adding that there must be transparency in the implementation process.

Also, Branch Chairman, Isah Idris, in his remarks, insisted that there should be no job losses, urging the authorities to ensure that staff welfare is maintained.

He noted, however, that although there may be movement of staff from one department to another, what is paramount is that nobody is treated shabbily.

customers who take power from the aforementioned feeders,” he said.

The distribution company listed affected areas as Dawaki, Deidei, Kubwa, Gbazango, Suleja, Gwagwa, Iddu Karmo, parts of Life Camp and Gwarinpa, I-Pent Estate, EFAB Metropolis and Mab-Global Estate.

Others areas impacted include Zuba, Kaduna Road, Bwari, Dutse, Lower Usman Dam, Dantata Estate, Kubwa, Zuma, Gauraka, Dikko, Deidei International Building Materials Market and environs.

Meanwhile, TCN has said that it is still changing the old overloaded 132kV Ikeja West – Alimoso – Ogba – Alausa – Ota – Papalanto 240MW transmission line with a new high capacity 500MW transmission line to solve the problem of poor power supply in Ikeja West/Papalanto axis of Lagos State.

Presently the five power stations along that line route have a total capacity of 570MW but is only able to deliver 240MW because of the old undersized transmission line.

The company said that as the area continues to experience continued increase in human population and socio-economic activities, the demand for electricity will continue to grow and if the line is left without upgrade, electricity supply would soon become impossible in the area.

Bearing in mind the importance of power supply, TCN said it is carrying out the line replacement work from 8am to 5pm daily, while light is restored by 6pm in the evening to 8am in the morning daily, a development estimated to last for another four weeks from last week.

sound template to operate with,” he noted.

Adaka explained that leadership, insider threats, calibre of humans

manning the facilities remain very important to the safety of the assets in the country, especially by employees who are disgruntled.

FG MOVES TO REDUCE INSIDER THREATS TO NIGERIA’S NUCLEAR ASSETS

FOOD NAME OF COMMODITY

oil production and attract higher revenues, disclosing that he would rely on the activities of members of the union to achieve the goal.

“I am a comrade at heart and I am a democrat. Human resource is the most important factor in production.

You are critical to the success of the industry, especially in the light of the projected deliverables in the PIA. It cannot be achieved without you.

“The implementation of the PIA has commenced smoothly and on our part, we shall do everything to ensure industrial peace and harmony.

So, we solicit your support. We are coming in at a critical time in the nation’s history and in the industry, especially when we look at the energy transition.

“We will continue to work

TCN, AEDC Differ on Impact of Substation Installation on Abuja Customers Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Aviation Editor Chinedu Eze Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy)

no stone left unturned.

“PIA has brought about enormous changes in the industry that will attract investment in the sector and the sincere support of your members is inevitable for a seamless implementation of the act. I enjoin the incoming leadership to participate in the process of implementing the PIA to sustain the existing industrial harmony,” he stressed.

The minister further urged the union to ensure that its ongoing elections are conducted in line with its constitution to ensure a free, fair and credible process.

Chief Executive Officer of the new NURC, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, in his remarks, called on members of the union to redouble their efforts in the country’s bid to increase crude

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

COCOA

T O D AY SIZE

EDO

N17,000–N20,000

PRICE

N740,000

1 TON ONDO – N760,000 1 TON OSUN 1 TON

EDO

N730,000 – N750,000 N720,000 – N740,000

N700,000 1 TON CROSS – N720,000 RIVER

50KG SOKOTO N11,500–N13,000 50KG

STATE

1 TON

AKURE SOUTH, ONDO

N730,000 — N755,000

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

ONIONS

100KG

IBADAN

N25,000

100KG

KANO

N10,000

100KG

BENUE

N27,000

100KG GOMBE

N12,000

100KG DELTA

N21,000

100KG LAGOS

N25,000

100KG ENUGU

N15,000

100KG

N29,000

ABIA

27

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

INDUSTRY

Quest for Sustainability Puts Manufacturing Sector on Transition Mode The need to accelerate sustainability in the economy and avoid worsening the damage done to the environment has ignited a transition from a linear model of producing goods and services to a circular model, writes Dike Onwuamaeze

A

transition is gradually taking place in the Nigerian manufacturing sector.

The transition is on the use of natural resources for industrial production with an emphasis on a shift from the linear economic model of manufacturing to a circular and sustainable industrial model that uses raw materials more efficiently and reduces waste.

The linear model of production is characterised by take-make-consume-throw away pattern that mostly depend on the use of virgin raw materials and a vast amount of energy and water while the circular model, according to the 2019 United Nations Environment Assembly, was described as a model in which products and materials are “designed in such a way that they can be reused, remanufactured, recycled or recovered and thus maintained in the economy for as long as possible.”

This transition is not peculiar to Nigeria. Other parts of the world, including Europe, are experiencing it. The European Union said that a circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involved sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible in a manner that would extend the life cycle of the products.

In practice, “it implies reducing waste to a minimum. When a product reaches the end of its life, its materials are kept within the economy wherever possible. These can be productively used again and again, thereby creating further value,” the EU said.

The trend is also impacting Nigeria’s academic system and demanding a comprehensive policy response from the government. Eggheads from Nigeria’s ivory towers and the industrial sector, including the Managing Director of the Unilever West Africa, Mr. Carl Cruz, were of the opinion that fostering this transition would demand tripartite collaboration between the government, the academia, and the industries for policies, manpower and research development and practices that best utilise resources and protect the environment.

Cruz said recently in an event that was organised by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) on “Strengthening Academia-Industry Collaboration in Circular Economy and Natural Capital Accounting,” that the transition to a circular economy is based on the concept of Earth Overshoot Day (EOD) that is created to enable the human economy to operate within the earth’s ecological limit.

He defined the EOD as of the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeded the limit the earth could regenerate and replenish within that year.

According to him, the EOD for 2021 fell on July 29 and implied that the world has been on an ecological deficit since that date and would carry it over into the coming years unless it is corrected.

Cruz said: “We perpetuate this deficit by liquidating ecological resources and accumulating wastes in the environment.”

NIGERIA EXPERIENCE

Nigeria has experienced a surplus in terms of EOD until 1972. But has been on a downward deficit movement ever since, except in 1997.

He stated that “Nigeria is currently running an

ecological deficit of -0.4, meaning that Nigeria is overconsuming its share of the planet. The world’s natural resources of geology, soil, air, water and all living things can be sustainable if we manage them well.

“From this natural capital, human beings derive a wide range of value such as food, water, building materials and medicines that make life better.

“But there is no doubt that we have been over-exploiting our natural capital. And this is catastrophic in terms of biodiversity loss as ecosystem productivity and resilience over time.”

He warned that wholly mismanaged natural capital would create not only ecological liability but social and economic liabilities like massive flooding and droughts, starvation, conflict over resource scarcity and displacement of villagers.

“This particular issue is especially important for developing countries that depend on national capital for about 47 per cent of their wealth.

And yet in several of these countries, natural capital is being depleted without corresponding investments in human capital, education, health and infrastructure, which lead to decreasing wealth and the failure to improve the standard of living amongst the whole,” Cruz said.

Hence, it has become imperative for each country to commit to natural resource accounting to possibly correct its stocks of natural assets.

“We must have a strategy for managing our resources better if we must wave off the impending crisis. And here comes the concept or principle of circularity. Our linear make-use-dispose economic model has been at the heart of industrial development and no doubt generated an unprecedented level of growth. But it has also left growing pressures on resources simply because we extract materials, manufacture goods, use them once then threw them away.

“But if we can design waste and pollution out of the system, keep products and materials to be used longer and regenerate natural systems, we can basically reinvent everything,” he said.

Cruz said that Unilever “tries to influence how this can play out successfully. Therefore we have made far-reaching commitments and actions to protect nature and creating a waste-free world. But there is no doubt we all need to do more not only from other industry players but also from academia and the government.”

Safety, Health, Environment Manager of Unilever, Ms. Rachael Ezembakwe, said: “We have the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan for 10 years. Its goals include improving health and wellbeing for one billion people; reducing environmental impact by half by reviewing our operations and enhancing livelihood for millions.

“Our circular economy and national accounting are included in reducing environmental impact by half. Last year, we did a summary of this ten-year program. As of 2015, Unilever achieved zero non-hazardous waste across all our manufacturing sites. What this meant is that we have to look for how and who can re-use our waste. We have had success in the

area of finding some SMEs that would reuse our wastes. Now, in Oregun and Agbara every waste is either re-used or recycled by people in the circular economy.

“We are committed to reducing plastics through our framework of reduced plastics, better plastics, and zero plastics. We are interested in consumer return plastic. We will also remove PVR from our system. Unilever is committed to removing 6000 tonnes of plastics from the environment. This will make us become plastic neutral. We want to remove every drop of plastic we have produced back from the environment. In 2014 alone we were able to remove over 1,100 tonnes of plastics from the environment. We are having kiosks in communities where people are encouraged to return their plastics and receive benefits in terms of money or materials.”

Ezembakwe, however, said that the journey is to achieve zero plastic, adding that many bottling companies are currently using less plastic to give the same volume of water.

“This is using smaller plastic to give you the same volume of water. Some of them are infusing recyclable elements to make them reusable. Getting to zero plastic will take some journey,” she said.

The Vice-Chancellor of the Igbinedion University Okada, Professor Lawrence Ikechukwu Ezemonye, who is also a renowned Professor of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Forensics, stated firmly “that we are in a transition from a linear economy that uses resources without replenishing them to a circular economy that sees value in waste.”

Ezemonye said that the transition to a circular economy would bring about a rethink on the conception of waste, which has been erroneously termed valueless. “The circular economy prioritises waste and gives it value, thereby altering the paradigm shift completely.

“To do this we must engage the principles of eco-innovation that involves redesigning products, repairing products and making them long-lasting. The circular economy will drive the concept of ensuring that failed components are replaced, core elements are refurbished, and precious metals are recovered and remanufactured into new products.

“At the end of the day, circular economy drives zero waste scenarios making everybody within the society happy and wealthy for it.

He said that the transition to a circular economy in Nigeria must be driven by a profitable partnership that is comprised of universities, manufacturers and government. “What has always been the problem is who initiates the handshake. This delay has often made this partnership redundant. Mutual trust has not been established and collaborative benefits have not even been put into place so people find it difficult to go into,” Ezemonye said.

He pointed out that the Igbinedion University and the University of Benin are among the Nigerian universities that have started mainstreaming circular economy into their curriculum.

The University of Benin has set up the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation that is modeled after the University of Lancaster. The centre has a desk for the industry to participate in the development of products and services.

He said that the critical elements in this partnership are mutual understanding, trust and benefits, adding that the Igbenedion University, which has a 15-man board that is made up of the representatives of industry, academia and government.

“They met quarterly to review the needs of the industry and develop total academic programs and research that will support the industry to ensure that their problems are solved. The government’s role is to provide the platform for the commercialisation and patent of the innovations and creative works of academia.

“Beyond this, all our postgraduate programs have two supervisors- one from the industry and another from the academia. And every postgraduate project must solve one industry problem before it will receive senate approval.

“The industry and the academia look at a problem and co-design the research. They also develop it jointly and co-deliver it. This takes care of the problem that university’s products are not solving industry needs. Because if you co-design, co-develop and co-deliver with me, will you then say that the end product is not useable? The answer is no,” he said.

Ezemonye stated that industry collaboration with academia has yielded a project that could power 6.5kva biogas engine from cattle dungs and food wastes.

He, however, advised, that policy that would enhance the transition to a circular economy “must be driven by a shared vision and must show pragmatic examples that it works. It must also foster and include community ownership because it is what determines sustainability. Finally, our policies on job and wealth creation must mainstream circular economy to drive the transition on a seamless road.

And it is very possible in the Nigeria scenario.

We are about to develop a post-graduate study on circular economy.”

A Professor of Agricultural Engineering and former Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Professor Michael Faborode, said that circular economies have important environmental and sustainable advantages over linear economies by focusing on re-use and recycling.

Faborode noted that the transition to the circular economy was among the reasons for the review of the entire university curriculum in Nigeria with the introduction of the CCMAS that overhauled the old BMAS. The CCMAS, according to Faborode, is studentcentered and deeply rooted in hands-on practical and industry experiential skills that are anchored on ell-defined learning outcomes.

Its goal “is to produce engineers that are imbued with critical thinking, analytical and modern engineering design skills able to dream, design and manage infrastructure and create entrepreneurial businesses and start-ups,” he said.

Faborode called for increased domestic sources of funding for researches that would promote the transition from linear to a circular economy.

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

OIL & GAS

COP26: Racing Against Time!

Emmanuel Addeh writes that as nations of the world converge on Glasgow, United Kingdom, to discuss the future of the planet, a lot is at stake.

F

rom last Sunday, world leaders began to troop into Glasgow to find solutions to the damage inflicted by the impact of carbon emissions on the atmosphere.

The conference, an annual meeting to discuss how to tackle climate change, first took place in 1994, but with the very popular Paris Agreement made at COP21 where 196 countries agreed to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius or 1.5 degrees, compared to pre-industrial levels.

In basic terms, pre-industrial levels means the state of the earth before the industrial revolution, which led to the birth of factories and mechanisation, starting in Britain in the mid-1700s.

At the COP26, the 26th in the series, nations will review the progress made and share their plans for cutting emissions as they make commitments in a race against time, to rescue the earth from being consumed by man’s indiscretion.

COP stands for Conference of Parties and is a meeting of all the countries that are signatories to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which came into force in 1994.

Experts say that some impacts of climate change are already upon the world in the form of extreme weather events, but how to protect and restore ecosystems, build defences, put warning systems in place and make infrastructure and agriculture more resilient to avoid loss of homes, livelihoods and lives would be the focus of the two-week meeting.

But there is a big gap between commitment and action.

Many nations, including Nigeria, have made pledges to the reduction of greenhouse gases by 2030, however the problem is that beyond the paperwork , there’s little to show for it.

Representatives from more than 190 countries including world leaders and tens of thousands of negotiators are expected to attend, along with observer organisations, while 30,000 experts and decision-makers will take part in panels, discussions and events.

This year’s edition could is even more defining as COVID-19 has refocused priorities and caused individuals and governments alike to pay closer attention to the environment, with many countries looking to rebuild their economies on ‘building back better’ through a green recovery.

Secondly, COP26 is being viewed as the successor to COP21 where the Paris Accord was signed and to address what has and hasn’t been achieved since 2015.

HUMANITY’S LAST CHANCE?

Many experts on the environment have described COP26 as humanity’s last chance against climate change. Indeed, it has been said that actual actions do not even come close to achieving the target of limiting global warming to at least below 2 degrees Celsius.

At the 2015 Paris Climate deal, nations were given the freehand to embark on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), which have been deemed to have been inadequate for the achieving the ambitious goal set thereafter.

The deal marked the first time that countries agreed to limit global warming by entering into a legally binding international treaty on climate change and was ratified by 197 parties.

The Paris Agreement also mandated that wealthier countries would extend finance and knowhow to help poor, vulnerable countries tackle climate change as they race towards ‘Net Zero’ emissions, a situation where the amount of greenhouse gasses produced is the same as the amount that is removed from the atmosphere.

COP26 will further give world leaders the opportunity to embark on the five-yearly review of the NDCs submitted by the countries in 2015, although a UN report published earlier this week found updated NDCs put the world on track for a dangerous global temperature rise of at least 2.7 degrees Celsius by the end of the century-even if plans were fully met.

FOSSIL FUELS AS THE BIG ELEPHANT

So, when people talk about cutting greenhouse gases, they are essentially talking about reducing consumption of hydrocarbons, which many countries still depend upon to power their economies.

According to the organisers, the key element of the summit’s agenda involves getting countries to “come forward with ambitious 2030 emissions reductions targets (NDCs) that align with reaching net zero by the middle of the century”.

To that end, it says, they “will need to accelerate the phase-out of coal, encourage investment in renewables, curtail deforestation and speed up the switch to electric vehicles”.

But the issues are not so straightforward. Many countries are still at different levels of development. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. The anger against the big fossil fuel companies also seem unjustified.

While they played a large part in creating the climate crisis, they also helped build economies and boosted industrialisation.

In fact, the disdain is so palpable this year that unlike at previous climate summits, the organisers of COP26 in Glasgow didn’t give fossil fuel companies a formal role in the talks, a move that climate activists have interpreted as a reprimand for the companies’ lack of clear action to end their planet-warming emissions.

on sentiments and emotions rather than hard science.

This line of thought is also toed by Nigeria’s Minister of State, Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, who says there are many pathways to achieving net zero without necessarily halting funding of oil and gas projects.

Indeed, Barkindo has warned that if the calls to halt investments in the oil and gas sector are heeded, the current crisis in the gas market could worsen, stressing that leading energy outlooks show that the world will need a broad portfolio of fuel choices to support the post-pandemic recovery.

Even by 2045, Barkindo argues that oil and gas together will continue to provide more than half of the world’s energy needs – with oil at 28 per cent and gas around 24 per cent.

The former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) insists that these two fuels will be the “heavy-lifters” of the world’s economy and energy system for the foreseeable future.

Given the current expectations, the secretary general says that the industry will continue to need predictable capital to juggle the demands for more energy and more progress on meeting global climate goals.

“There is no short-cut to a lower-carbon future, and you cannot short-sell vital energy assets if you are to achieve a smooth transition,” he maintains.

AFRICA’S TAKE

But the oil industry will continue to wield huge influence as far as the world needs to be powered, as scientists believe burning fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, remain the chief driver of the climate emergency.

Coal, however, is the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel in terms of emissions and therefore the most important target for replacement in the pivot to renewable alternatives.

Today, China remains the biggest emitter of carbon dioxide, but has pledged to peak emissions before 2030, reduce carbon intensity by 65 per cent below 2005 levels, increase installed capacity of wind and solar energy by 1,200 GW, and increase forest stock by 6 million cubic meters.

India, the third-largest emitter, has also made three promises: To reduce emissions intensity economy-wide by 33 to 35 per cent below 2005 levels, to generate 40 per cent of electricity from renewable energy sources, and to create a carbon sink capable of absorbing 2.5 to 3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide.

CONTENTIOUS AREAS

Major areas of contention will include climate finance and net zero emissions targets. Eleven years ago, at the 15th COP, it was decided that developed countries would deliver $100 billion to developing countries by 2020 to help manage climate mitigation and adaptation since lower-income countries will likely face the brunt of climate change.

However, developed countries have so far failed to live up to their promises, and are unlikely to cough out the sum of $100 billion before 2023-three years after the original deadline. It is on record that by 2019, developed countries had managed to provide and mobilise just $79 billion.

According to the UNFCCC’s financial standing committee, this amount is insufficient and the developing countries would actually need between $5.8 trillion to $5.9 trillion every year till 2030 to achieve less than half of their climate goals under the Paris Agreement.

The $100 billion also doesn’t include finance for loss and damage due to climate change, which developing countries argue should be footed by high-income countries who are responsible for a bulk of emissions causing climate change today.

A second area of disagreement would be about net zero emissions targets, whereby the same amount of carbon dioxide that is emitted due to human activity is removed from the atmosphere.

Although both China and the US have committed to net zero targets by 2060 and 2050, respectively, other countries like India have contended that since they haven’t contributed to historical emissions, the responsibility of making deep cuts shouldn’t lie with them.

While the US remains the biggest historical emitter, accounting for 20 per cent of global emissions today,

China began emitting heavily during the turn of the century, leading it to be the source of 11 per cent of global emissions today, while India, meanwhile, accounts for just 3.4 per cent of the global emissions.

NIGERIA’S EMISSIONS FOOTPRINT

The whole of Africa contributes a paltry 3.8 per cent to global greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon Brief, which tracks countries’ activities as they relate to global warming, however recorded that in Africa, Nigeria only comes behind South Africa.

Nigeria’s economy is closely tied to oil and gas exports.

Profits from petroleum exports currently account for 86 per cent of Nigeria’s total export revenue.

But the irony is that Nigeria has one of the highest rates of energy poverty in the world and suffers from chronic power cuts even as climate change is having a large impact on the country. Sharp increases in extreme heat are affecting the many millions of people without access to air conditioning or electricity.

In addition, changes to precipitation threaten Nigeria’s largely rain-fed agricultural sector. Some even suggest that climate change is fuelling the current conflict in the north of the country, spiralling into the farmers/ herders imbroglio.

The federal government has pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2030, when compared to “business-as-usual” levels.

This pledge rises to 45 per cent on the condition of international support.

A 2015 survey showed that more than half (61 per cent) of Nigeria’s population considers climate change to be a “very serious problem”, compared to a global average of 54 per cent and consider “extreme heat” to be the largest of climate change’s threats.

Much of Nigeria’s tropical forest has already been destroyed. Between 2000 and 2005, the country lost 55.7 per cent of its primary forest – giving it the highest deforestation rate in the world over that period.

Since 2005, rates of deforestation have remained high in natural forests, according to data from the Global Forest Watch. From 2010 to 2019, Nigeria lost 86,700 hectares of tropical forest, releasing the equivalent of 19.6 MtCO2.

But this may even worsen as the prices of cooking gas continues to skyrocket and Nigerians seek to find solace in the no so good old firewood, a big greenhouse emitter.

Scientists say that temperatures in Nigeria have risen by around 1.6C since the start of the industrial era – higher than the global average. Depending on the rate of future climate change, temperatures could rise by a further 1.5-5C by the end of the century.

OPEC’S ARGUMENT

Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Dr. Sanusi Barkindo, believes that the discussions around a carbon-free world are mostly based

Chair, African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change, Tanguy Gahouma-Bekale, writing recently, noted that at COP26, the African Group of Negotiators will echo the African leaders.

“We will speak with one strong, clear and single voice in Glasgow. We will maintain that COP26 will succeed only if Africa is at the heart of the negotiations.

In fact, under the UNFCCC, putting Africa at the heart of the global climate agenda is a binding obligation.

“Africa’s situation deserves extraordinary attention: the continent contributes just 4 percent of global total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the lowest of any region, yet its socio-economic development is threatened by the climate crisis. In other words, Africa contributes the least emissions but suffers the brunt of the consequences,” he stated.

He noted that for example, in addition to the effects of the climate crisis such as food insecurity, population displacement and water scarcity, more than half of African countries are likely to experience climate-related conflicts.

At COP26 in Glasgow, Gahouma-Bekale, explained that the developed countries must avoid shifting their climate responsibilities, particularly regarding their cumulative GHG emissions, to developing countries and lead with clear targets for reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

“Second, based on the commitments and obligations under Article 4 of the UNFCCC, developed countries must mobilize and provide adequate climate finance resources and transfer environmentally sound technologies to African countries.

“Third, the COVID-19 crisis must not derail the climate finance agenda. A massively scaled-up and more progressive multilateral response is required to address the climate crisis, and finance is at the heart of it,” he stated.

Furthermore, he mentioned that developed countries must pledge to meet their pre-2020 climate finance gap of $100 billion, stressing that the $100 billion per year should be the floor, not the ceiling.

NIGERIA’S PLAN

Minister of State, Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, speaking earlier this month, said the federal government of Nigeria, would seek out opportunities to mobilise funds to mitigate the challenge of climate change in the country at the event.

At the 15 National Council on Environment (NCE) Ikeazor said the commitment to improve the nation’s carbon credit has led to the remediation of 15.3 hectares of polluted land into arable land suitable for agricultural activities in Ogoniland.

She also listed the ongoing construction of six water supply schemes with a capacity of supplying 2400 cubic meters (m3) of portable water per day to communities across the four LGAs of Ogoniland.

She added that the ministry is also accelerating the implementation of the Great Green Wall Programme, through its Agency, the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), which she said has cumulatively increased the total average of arable land recovered from a baseline of 90 Hectares in 2019 to 4,792 Hectares by the second quarter of 2021.

The minister noted that the ministry also ensured the issuance of 29 permits for the export of hazardous wastes and import of green wastes in line with the Basel Convention on Trans-boundary Movement of Hazardous Waste and other Wastes and their Disposal.

She said all these efforts aimed at the safety of the environment would be raised at the event with a view to access funding for Nigeria to further fight climate change.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

29

BUSINESSWORLD

MANUFACTURING

Coca-Cola System’s Role in Pioneering Wa s t e M a n a g e m e n t i n N i g e r i a Ugo Aliogo writes on how the introduction of PET packaging has boosted energy efficiency and water conservation for manufacturers and Coca-Cola System’s commitment to minimize the environmental impact of its packaging as part of its vision of a World Without Waste

Alpha Beach Clean up

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anuary 2008 marks a watershed in the evolution of PET packaging in Nigeria. Barely a month earlier, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) had directed all soft drinks manufacturers in the country to adopt the use of plastic bottles. A line was drawn in the sand.

Its Director-General at the time, the late Dr. Dora Akunyili, had vowed to bring the hammer down on defaulters, beginning from January 2, 2008. The regulatory agency had cited the presence of extraneous materials and mounting consumer complaint as major factors necessitating the new directive.

The introduction of PET packaging has not only boosted energy efficiency and water conservation for manufacturers, but more importantly, it has significantly reduced incessant consumer complaints associated with Refillable Glass Bottles (RGB). This is a development to cheer about.

But PET, like every other innovation, has equally been punctuated by its fair share of spurts. Despite its apparent convenience, the simplicity of its logistics and its on-the-go appeal for consumers, its impact on the environment remains a global challenge that requires urgent attention.

An estimated 300 million tonnes of plastic waste is generated every year, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. Nigeria generates more than 32 million metric tonnes of waste annually with Lagos alone accounting for about 10,000 daily metric tonnes. Most of this waste end up in landfills and in waterways, further exacerbating health challenges and environmental hazards.

To address the menace, corporate organizations like the Coca-Cola System have challenged themselves to do more—to be leaders in making sustainable business practices fundamental to how they operate in Nigeria.

A Country’s First Recycling Model is born in 2005, the Coca-Cola System, comprising Nigerian Bottling Company and Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, led the first major efforts to address the problem head on.

Leveraging its partnership with Alkem, a synthetic fiber manufacturer, the Coca-Cola System introduced the PET collection and buy-back scheme and launched the first PET collection and sorting centres in the country.

With investment running into hundreds of millions in Naira at the time, the PET collected, irrespective of source or brand, were recycled into synthetic fibre used as raw materials in local industries.

The partnership between Alkem and the Coca-Cola System lasted for about eight years and deepened Nigeria’s bottles-to-fiber recycling operation and set the stage for active corporate participation in waste recycling.

Renowned for its penchant for self-regulation, the Coca-Cola System has continued to raise the tempo, making waste recycling a strategic imperative in the nation’s manufacturing sector. Few years ago, it announced a bold, ambitious goal: to help collect 100% of its primary packaging materials and recycle 50% by 2030.

Regardless of where it comes from, the System has committed to minimize the environmental impact of its packaging at every stage of its lifecycle, as part of its vision of a World Without Waste. For the past seven decades in Nigeria, the System has championed this initiative, leveraging its 3Rs principle: Reduce, Recover, Reuse – to increase the use of recycled or renewable content and implementing light-weighting techniques.

Recover - The System ensures that all its primary and

A recycling bank set up recently by the Coca-Cola System secondary packaging materials are fully recyclable.

Riding the crest of its partnership with Alkem, the System successfully collected and recycled nearly 26,000 metric tonnes in the project cycle, while empowering hundreds of people in the communities, especially women. The project led to the creation of more than 26 collection centers across 10 cities in the country. Additionally, in the last quarter of 2020, in line with its goal to use more recycled and renewable materials, the System launched the Sprite clear bottles which are 100% recyclable. This will improve the Bottle-to-Bottle Recycling as clear PET is more flexible to recycle.

Reuse – Across the globe, a chunk of the world’s finite resources ends up as waste, posing a challenge to the ecosystem and the future of our planet. The proliferation of single-use plastics in the global manufacturing value chain has further aggravated the problem.

As of 2016, a chunk of the System’s beverages was sold in its refillable glass bottle, which is fully recovered from trade for reuse. But changing consumer preferences and the flexibility that comes with PET have seen glass packaging reduce significantly. The System is leveraging its strong sustainability credentials to address the challenges associated with the post-consumer waste through aggressive recycling partnerships, product innovations, buy-back schemes, process re-engineering, community education, amongst others.

In addition, its three main beverage packs (returnable glass bottles, PET bottles and beverage cans) have been lightweighted by as much as 16% to conserve materials and reduce packaging waste volume.

Reduce – The System also reduced the weight of its glass bottle from 380g to 290g for Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite and Schweppes Bitter Lemon and PET bottle weight by 2g and reduction of shrink film thickness by 3 microns. The result of this is a reduced carbon footprint on our environment.

The lightweighting of its Returnable Glass Bottle began in 2008 when it launched its Ultra Glass Bottle, an initiative with huge capital outlay but designed to reduce the Company’s impact on the environment.

“We firmly believe a world without waste is possible. By investing in our planet and our packaging through our World Without Waste programme, we can help tackle this global challenge. We’re doing our part to help lead the way wherever we can” said Mathieu Seguin, Managing Director, Nigerian Bottling Company. An organization like the Coca-Cola System is expected to generate large volumes of waste; however, its World Without Waste initiative shines through and provides a blueprint for similar companies to provide products that are not only tastier and healthier but that also are better for the environment along their entire value chain.

DRIVING RESULTS THROUGH COLLECTIVE ACTION

The plastic waste crisis is far too big for any single government, company or industry to solve individually. The Coca-Cola System recognizes that

an all-hands-on-deck approach, led by players across the plastic packaging value chain, is needed to drive solutions at scale. Delivering the World Without Waste objectives requires forward thinking and solutions from sharp minds around the globe—including industry peers, the public sector and civil society—that see both the big picture and the small, iterative steps needed to get there.

This is why the System has continuously driven collective action by working with stakeholders, suppliers, non-profits, communities, customers, and industry peers to invest in waste management innovation, facilities, organizations, and initiatives.

In 2018, the System successfully led the Coalition of an Industry group known as the Food and Beverage Recycling alliance (FBRA), an industry partnership between Coca Cola, the Nigerian Bottling Company, Nestle Plc, 7up Bottling Company and Nigerian Breweries plc, to build a sustainable recycling economy for food and beverage packaging waste.

Under the Umbrella of FBRA, the Coca-Cola System alongside other members are promoting recycling in Nigeria through; Advocacy engagements with Stakeholders which include NESREA, SON and State Ministry of Environments; Implementation of market and Beach Clean-up exercise in most vulnerable locations; Partnership with Delta State to provide the first recycling hub. In addition, the FBRA is working with the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) to address waterways plastic pollution and donated 6 boats to LASWA in demonstration of its commitment to rid our environment of plastic waste. The FBRA has currently collected over 13,366 metric tonnes of post-consumer PET off the environment since its inception in 2018. Currently, it is building an Aggregation Hub in Ibeju-Lekki with a capacity of 3,600 metric tonnes to facilitate collection, sorting and recycling. These are prime examples of harnessing partnerships to drive solutions at scale.

KNOWLEDGE BUILDING HARNESSING THE POWER OF COMMUNITIES

The Coke System is also leading efforts to stimulate public understanding and community participation in waste recycling programs. This has witnessed critical investments in capacity development, capital incentives and financial support for recyclers. Earlier in March, the System awarded N303 million in grants to 8 local NGOs through its philanthropic arm, The Coca-Cola Foundation.

“Making our bottles and cans recyclable is only part of the answer. If something can be recycled, it should be recycled, and helping our communities understand how to do their part through knowledge building is critical”, said Alfred Olajide, Managing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria.

In 2020, the Coca-Cola System set up 7 Recycling Banks in Lagos and Abuja to bring recycling closer to communities and many more are coming on stream. It is expected that each of the recycling banks will recover 300 tons per annum, notwithstanding thousands of waste pickers and sorters will be empowered through this initiative.

The System, through Project Revive launched in 2020, has created 660 green jobs, expanded opportunities for 886 recyclers and recovered 179.34 tons of wastes. Other major projects include Recycles Pay, which supported disadvantaged parents to turn in wastes in exchange for their children’s school fees.

Aside a retinue of grants provided for many NGOs to strengthen environmental sustainability in Nigeria, the System is also working with governments and allied agencies, including the recent partnership with the Statewide Waste and Environmental Education Project (SWEEP) Foundation to rid Lagos of wastes through the ‘Waste in the City’ initiative.

Every year, the System mobilizes individuals, including its employees, to volunteer in Beach and Community cleaning programs leveraging on relevant commemorative days. Also, education programmes on recycling in schools and communities such as Badagry, Oshodi, Lekki and more have been carried out. Through FBRA, the System has launched community recycling programme, partnering with communities and the industry – to clean up existing packaging, community buy back schemes and other ongoing local activities.

AN OUTLOOK TO THE FUTURE

The COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on industries the world over, and while the initial focus is to emerge from the crisis stronger, the Coca-Cola System is focusing on its World Without Waste agenda as a critical element of its future growth.

By the end of this year, the system plans to deliver additional 20 recycling banks in Lagos, and Abuja. These are part of larger efforts to give back to communities on the occasion of its 70th anniversary. “We are doing this because we want to be part of the plastic waste solution,” said Matthieu Seguin, Managing Director of NBC, at a recent briefing to unveil activities for the anniversary.

“A sustainable world is central to our future growth and accelerating our World Without Waste agenda is key to that future. We are passionate about promoting sustainable design for all our packaging material created from 50% recycled material by 2030,” Matthieu said.

That commitment, according to Matthieu, is relentless, and would continue to be so, particularly in a world where environmental challenges seem to be closing a firm grip around our throats. Last week, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (CCHBC), the parent company of the Nigerian Bottling Company, announced its global commitment to achieving net zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2040. Launched across 28 markets by the leading bottlers of the Coca-Cola brands, its Nigerian operations would play a leading role in driving these key targets.

“If we are to go on living together on this earth,” wrote Koffi Annan, “we must all be responsible for it.

All of us have to share the Earth’s fragile ecosystems and precious resources, and each of us has a role to play in preserving them.”

In its 70 years of operating in Nigeria, the Coca-Cola System has shown us that we can rewrite the history of our planet by being more responsible; by working together to making sustainable decisions that prioritize the future. At the heart of its storied heritage lies a philosophy that the bottom-line is not only about business outcomes. It has to reflect tangible, sustainable impact on the people and the planet.

30

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

ENERGY

Orjiako: Transition to Renewable Energy Should be Balanced As global leaders converge on Glasgow, Scotland, for the 26thConference of Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Peter Uzoho compiled excerpts of Dr. A.B.C Orjiako’s incisive interventions on energy transition and climate change at the 24th edition of the Milken Conference.

T

he 24th edition of the prestigious Milken Institute Global Conference, themed “Charting a New Course”, which recently held in Los Angeles, California in the USA, assembled top players and experts from various walks of life - government, business, finance, entertainment, technology, academia, philanthropy, and academia, among others – to brainstorm and proffer solutions to various subjects of global concern such as financial markets, food sustainability, climate/environment, diversity, equity, and inclusion, education, health, and entertainment, etc.

Among them was the Chairman of Seplat Energy Plc., Dr. A.B.C Orjiako, who featured in the panel discussion on “Energy and Commodity Markets: Structural Bull or Earthbound” where he analysed the race for energy transition and charted what he sees as a more pragmatic roadmap. Orjiak highlighted challenges in energy transition and proffered solutions, an intervention that participants described as timely.

situation where you’re destroying the forests, you’re creating health hazard in homes, then that’s multiple problems for the society. One of the things we’ve done in our midstream business is to focus, not just on providing gas to power, but also to implement what we call LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) penetration into the homes. Once you do this, you take away the firewood, you preserve the forest, you take away the HHKs (Household Kerosene), the fuels that create the fumes. In doing so, you’re protecting the people from hazardous fumes as well as helping the environment.

So, it’s something you need to do in totality, “Orjiako said.

SOLVING ENERGY POVERTY

THE CHALLENGES

According to Orjiakor, one of the biggest challenges in energy transition is continuous discordant tunes that people are beginning to sing.

“And what you’re seeing today with the bull in commodity prices is because there are completely uncoordinated plans where there is a heavy race towards transition. But the real message is that energy transition, zero or net carbon emission, is not the same as zero fossil fuels. I think that’s where the players got it wrong. So, there is a massive withdrawal of investible capital from fossil fuel investments. And quite a lot of funds go into renewable energy.

“Energy transition should be done in a manner where there is collaboration, and has to be properly balanced between the race to carbon neutrality or net zero and energy poverty that you see in Africa and other developing nations, “he said.

THE NIGERIAN CONTEXT

Just to put things in context, he stated that in Nigeria with 200 million people, 12,500 megawatts installed capacity for grid power, has only three to four thousand megawatts of grid power.

“In the meantime, you have 25,000 megawatts off-grid power supplied by electricity generators.

In this same country, more than almost 60 per cent of the population has no electricity.

So, the luxury of turning the switch on to see light does not exist in the majority of the population.

“In this same environment, you find out that 80 per cent of the energy need is actually in the households where they are using firewood and kerosene to provide the energy they need for cooking. And there is added to all of these the health challenges, the poverty. How do you prioritise to transit to renewable overnight when you have the abundance of fossil fuels in that environment that can leapfrog the provision of power?

“So, when you talk about the Sustainable Development Goal 7 - access to sustainable universal electricity in an affordable and reliable manner - there is absolutely no way, in Nigeria for example, you leave almost 200 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves that can give you this electricity and power very quickly and then you transit and start using renewable, “he stated.

THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE

He stressed that there has been transition – wells, coal, liquid and gas – which took more than a hundred years and indeed still are evolving.

The difference this time, he said, is that because of all the obvious problems of climate change, there is some urgency of now.

“Therefore, everyone wants transition that will happen overnight. I think that is really the issue. This transition is being driven on

Dr ABC Orjiako the one hand by mere politics, activism, whereas what the whole players should be looking at should be more around the technology, innovations, and right policy so that you can have a coordinated transition globally. In fact, the Secretary-General of the United Nations made a statement calling on countries to stop investing in fossil fuels, which I consider rather activist.

Look at the contradiction of that: SDG 7 speaks to universal access to affordable, and reliable energy. There is absolutely no way you can achieve that when you stop investing in fossil fuels, “he said.

MORE REALISTIC APPROACH

He added, “I thought the message should be “What do you invest in?” it should be to invest in technology that will continue to drive net carbon. Those who are producing fossil fuels should also, through policies, be made to put in place things that will do carbon capture, storage and sequestration.

“At Seplat, for example, what we have decided to do is to take off our flays. The Federal Government of Nigeria put 2030 as the year when there will be no more

“The second thing I’ll do is provide very lowenergy light bulb. It can use solar, it can use anything that is available or gas and provide her the power so they can even feed. That is the transition.”

flays. But we made a deliberate decision to take out our flays by 2024. This will be taking out 2.8 million metric tons of carbon emission.

“We launched the natural approach to see how we can do effective carbon capture. We just launched what we call the “Seplat Tree for Life Programme” where we’re going to be using it to intensify our commitment and deepen it in terms of ESG. Once you do this, you’re addressing the environment because a lot of the carbon will be absorbed by the trees. And then, you’re going to be addressing very strongly the earth and the social impact investment will create jobs by mobilising a lot of youth to plant and maintain the trees, “he explained.

CARBON TAX/CREDIT

Carbon credit, he suggested, is really a very important incentive in addressing energy transition.

“But we should also have some standardisation about how to really measure the carbon footprint, what you really offset, and what you get credit for.

If, for example, a fossil or an oil-producing company takes away flays, that shouldn’t give you carbon credit. But if you go over and above that and invest in areas that will help take away carbon and greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, then you should have the right credit for it. That will become an incentive to make people put in place things that will help create carbon neutrality. That’s why we (Seplat Energy) chose tree planting.

“Obviously, if you can make all energy in the world to be renewable, then all of the climate change crisis would come under arrest. However, where you don’t have the ability to do that today, a lot of emphasis must be on taking away the greenhouse gasses and the carbon.

“Again, using our home environment, a

In solving the energy poverty challenge, he stated that the Federal Government of Nigeria launched the Solar Power Naija programme to deliver solar power to about 5 million homes.

According to Orjiako, “Obviously, that’s not the massive scale renewable energy you’re talking about. When you’re looking at a huge gap, then it becomes more challenging. What’s happening is that there is mass population growth in Africa, and as this happens, people are migrating from poverty level wishing to become middle-income earners and things like that. And all of these come with growth in energy demand. When you have this kind of energy demand, you will find that it is very difficult to rely on just one source of energy to provide those. So, basically, we’re looking at a situation where there’s going to be growth.

“One thing I know will ultimately happen is that the percentage contribution of renewable energy to that mix will continue to grow. As the population grows, as the need for energy continues to grow, the percentage of fossil fuel contribution will be coming down as renewable energy is going up. But ultimately, the absolute number isn’t going to change much in those periods.”

The Seplat boss said the global demand for fossil fuel, for example, is about 100 million barrels per a day.

“If you factor in the natural decline of 10 per cent, what then happens? Even in 2050, when the real growth in energy and everyone wanting the fossil fuel business to go down, you find that that the contribution might come down from about 55 per cent today.

It might be 40 per cent. But when you plus that overall demand for fossil fuel, you still find that the world will be consuming more than 100 million bpd. And that cannot just be supplied by renewable energy.

“Then another major point of focus, if we want to coordinate activities, is to go back to the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement is actually looking to make sure that the activities on earth do not cause rise in temperature beyond 1.5 to 2 per cent level over and above pre-industrial age. The attention will not only be to pull out investments in fossil fuel, but to begin to invest in technology, innovation, and policies that will remove the emission from the atmosphere, “he said.

WHAT ENERGY TRANSITION MEANS TO AFRICANS

On what energy transition means to Africa, he said: “Let me just paint you a picture of what energy transition really means, using a rural African or Nigerian woman as a reference point. A woman comes back home, having toiled the whole day in the farm. She has five or six children, who are hungry. Her first priority is not to switch on electricity. Her first priority is to cook food for the children, who are hungry.

And to cook food, she will either light up the firewood or kerosene. So, the first thing I’ll do for energy transition is replace the firewood or kerosene with natural gas – LPG. “The second thing I’ll do is provide very low-energy light bulb. It can use solar, it can use anything that is available or gas and provide her the power so they can even feed. That is the transition. And then, in doing that, you would have saved her from a lot of health hazards.

So, putting it in totality, the real solution is to focus on a coordinated approach, globally.”

31

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

IITA Launches Initiative to Empower Nigeria’s Insect Entrepreneurs Gilbert Ekugbe The Business Incubation Platform (BIP) of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has launched an initiative, Insects4Feed Impact Cluster, to empower insect entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

The IITA said that the project would seek to raise insect entrepreneurs that would provide the needed alternative protein sources and feed for fish and poultry.

The IITA-BIP Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Frederick Schreurs, said at the official launch in Ibadan that the project is a step forward for BIP. Schreurs explained that BIP would create businesses by incubating innovations and technologies and collaborating with private organisations for a sustainable market and to ensure job creation.

He further explained that the project would create sustainable jobs for Africa, especially for the youth.

The project, which was awarded by the government of The Netherlands to Nigeria, would have IITA BIP as one of the implementing partners together with the University of Ibadan (UI), New Generation for Nutrition (NGN) and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor of University of Ibadan (UI) Professor Adebola Ekanola, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, Professor Kayode Adebowale, said any innovative action to make food available would be appreciated.

He noted that the problem of climate change had been linked to the accumulation of greenhouse gases from several sources, including livestock that are the conventional source of protein for humans.

He expressed his excitement and said stakeholders had found an ingenious way to provide protein sources through the insect called Black Soldier Fly (BSF).

He emphasised the willingness of UI to support the project and its objectives. He explained the benefits of growing BSF, which could be used as a substitute in any animal feed and reduce the cost of fish and poultry feed due to its rapid multiplication.

The NGN Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Marian Peters, spoke about the opportunities around insects, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in more consumption of local foods.

She said that BSF production in Nigeria would require good climatic conditions for local production to thrive, stressing that BSF would provide good nutritional quality

for feed as a replacement for fish meal or any other animal protein.

A member of the UI Crop Protection and Environmental Biology Faculty, Mr. Adebayo Omoloye, highlighted the role of insects in the circular economy.

He said the high demand for animal-based protein has negatively impacted the ecosystem, making it necessary to look for viable and sustainable protein alternatives.

He said insects are a valid substitute in human and animal nutrition for protein, stating that their treatment and management as a good food source have low environmental impact and efficient food conservation ability.

32

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ NOVEMBER 2, 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Olam Drives Nigeria’s Wheat Production with N300m Investment Dike Onwuamaeze The Olam Group, the parent company of the Crown Flour Mill Limited (CFM), has launched a N300 million ($750,000) project for community seed enterprises that would increase wheat production in Nigeria.

A press release that was issued by Olam, which was made available to THISDAY, said that the seed enterprise project would be pursued in conjunction with the CFM and the partnership of the Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI).

The press release added that the investment, which was launched virtually last week, is a 10-year wheat value chain project that would strengthen agricultural production in northern Nigeria’s wheat farming belt, underline Olam’s commitment to supporting

Nigeria’s quest for self-sufficiency in food production and encourage participation of women in the country’s agriculture.

Speaking during the launch of the project, the Managing Director of CFM, Mr. Ashish Pande, said: “In order to ensure the long-term viability of the wheat sector in Nigeria, it is critical to identify and support the development of high-yielding local wheat varieties. This project will further stimulate the federal government’s drive towards the attainment of economic growth, the country’s agricultural research capabilities, employment generation, community development and the economic empowerment of women in Nigeria.”

Speaking on the partnership with the LCRI, the Principal Research Officer of the LCRI, Dr. Kachalla Kyari Mala, said: “The institute is delighted to be

a part of this intervention, as it represents a laudable private sector financial support and contribution to all the work done and other ongoing research endeavours by the LCRI in the area of wheat development.”

Similarly, the Senior Scientist, Durum Wheat Breeder of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Dr. Filippo M Bassi, said: “The selection of female farmer associations as community enterprises is premised on the fact that investing in rural women has proven to yield nearly double the development outcomes than previously done so. Women farmers are conscientious with their use of income, deploying it wisely, re-investing it in innovations and seeking the betterment of the whole community. African women are the true glue that keep the community together.”

‘FG’s Sugar Policy Yielding Results’ The Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Zacch Adedeji has stated that available records show that Nigeria is recording steady and appreciable progress in the implementation of its policy roadmap for the sugar sector as captured in the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP), a 10-year blueprint designed to revitalize the sector and make Nigeria a net exporter of the commodity.

In a press statement signed by the Director, Executive Secretary’s Office, Ahmed Waziri, Mr. Adedeji restated government’s readiness to build a globally competitive sugar industry that would boost local economy, provide jobs for Nigeria’s teeming youth population and position Nigeria as a net exporter of the commodity.

According to Adedeji, seven years into the policy and three

more years to go, the sector has attracted over N250 billion worth of investments through its Backward Integration Programme, even as more investors have expressed their willingness to commit their resources to the sector.

He said, “Only recently a new investor, KIA Group Africa completed the process of acquiring the defunct Nigeria Sugar Company (NISUCO) in Bacita, Kwara state and has since commenced work.

The KIA Group now joins existing industry players like the Dangote Group, BUA Group and the Flour Mills to drive the BIP component of the NSMP.” He said, the new owner has set its eyes on producing at least 300,000 metric tonnes of sugarcane, refining an estimated 204,000 metric tonnes of the sweet commodity, and generating N46 billion revenue by 2027.

He added that a workforce of about 20,000 employees would be engaged to drive the company towards optimum production and ensure economic growth of the country.

“Also, another major player in the industry, Flour Mills Limited recently signed a multi-millionaire agreement with the Nasarawa state government to build a factory in Toto LGA of the state. The new project is in addition to the company’s N50 billion Golden Sugar estate in Sunti Niger state, which was commissioned in 2018 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Adedeji said the Council it is wisdom recently convened a roundtable meeting comprising of critical stakeholders to deliberate and share perspectives on challenges associated with the importation of equipment and machineries by some operators.

Phillips ConsultingTasks Organisations on Future of Work Phillips Consulting Limited (pcl.), a leading business and management consulting firm in Africa in collaboration with Nigerian-South African Chamber of Commerce, (NSACC) recently held a webinar to share practical experiences and propose viable solutions for unique future of work and market post pandemic.

According to experts who spoke at the programme, “The “post-pandemic” world of work will continue to evolve. With no clear answers in sight, organisations will continue to search for best-fit solutions to navigate the uncertainty around us. There is

no doubt that this will have an impact on our lives.”

The consensus position was that, with little to no information about Africa, specifically the Nigerian business environment, many thought leaders offer solutions suited to advanced economies.

However, differences in everyday realities such as technology adoption, economic strength, demographics, and educational levels affect the pattern of evolution in developing and emerging markets. According to Head of Advisory- People Transformation, Mr. Joshua Ademuwagun, who delivered pcl.’s perspective on the future of work, he emphasised

that people can neither stop nor fight the future of work.

Ademuwagun further advised that organisations should position themselves to ride the wave of change by answering the questions about why, by whom, when, and how we will do work in the future.

Partner Strategy and Operations Transformation, Omorinsola Sofola, who spoke about the pcl. experience and how the firm had evolved to meet the new demands of remote work during the lockdown, mentioned that engaging employees in designing their future workspace created a sense of ownership and identity.

Zee One Launches on StarTimes A sister channel of Zee World – Zee One was yesterday launched on StarTimes.

The CEO Africa and Indian Ocean Islands, Zee Networks, Somnath Malakar in a statement said the channel is dedicated to showcasing a wide selection of family-friendly programmings such as awardwinning series, lifestyle/food, reality, and highly acclaimed movies, which are dubbed in English.

“The Brand new channel Zee One is a 24-hour general

entertainment channel offering programmes dubbed in English.

Look forward to a compelling slate of spectacular series, gripping dramas, movies, and cookery shows such as Snack Attack, Guddan, Lies of the heart, and Reach for the Stars.

Zee One will be available on channel 509 (DTT), 553 (DTH) on StarTimes “With a strong worldwide presence boasting over 40 channels, Zee has entered many homes and won the hearts of over 1.3 billion viewers, across

173 countries. Zee first ventured into Africa 25 years ago as the brand’s first international territory launching Zee TV. Since then, the brand has expanded on the continent with many more channels being made available which includes flagship channel Zee World. ”he said.

“We are incredibly pleased to offer the Zee channels as a destination of family-friendly entertainment, a place where viewers can easily connect with our carefully selected programming.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ ͵

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

33

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

International Breweries Reports 32.1% Increase in Revenue Kayode Tokede International Breweries has reported 32.1 per cent increase in revenue to N46.43 billion in the third quarter (Q3) of 2021 from N35.15billion recorded in third quarter of 2020.

The company in its report to Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) reported a profit after tax of N367.5 million in the review period, a major boost from the downturn recorded in the

previous year. International Breweries recorded a revenue boost of 32.1per cent in Q3 2021 from N35.15 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2020 to N46.43 billion in the current period.

Cost of sales also increased by 16per cent to N33.86 billion, thereby yielding a gross profit of N12.57 billion in Q3 2021, a significant jump from N5.96 billion recorded in the previous year.

Similarly, the gross profit

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R

DEALS

margin moved upward from 16.9per cent recorded in Q3 2020 to 27.1per cent in the review period. Its earnings per share also moved towards positive territory from the loss recorded in the corresponding period of 2020 to N1 in Q3 2021.

A cursory analysis of the statement of financial position shows that the total assets of the company increased by 8.3% in the past nine months. It grew from N372.65 billion recorded as

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

of the end of last year to N403.46 billion as of September 2021.

In the same vein, inventories jumped significantly by 65.8per cent to N23.54 billion as of Q3 2021 from N14.19 billion recorded as of the end of last year.

Recall that, International Breweries printed negative returns in the previous year, largely attributed to the effect of the covid-19 pandemic and lockdown measures around the world, specifically Nigeria.

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

The brewing company declared a loss of N1.52 billion in the third quarter of 2020.

The positive movement in the company’s Q3 2021 result is an indication of recovery from the losses recorded in the previous year, as businesses continue to open and parties resuming across most areas in the country.

A further breakdown of the financials reveals that during the nine months period ended 30th September 2021, the company

O F

acquired plant, property and equipment with a total cost of N16.2 billion as against N12.1 billion in the corresponding 2020 period.

It is worth noting that gross and EBITDA margins went up by over 1000basis points and 240basis points respectively. The company in a statement said its impressive growth is linked to the consistent effort in products quality, leading to an upward spike in demand for its brands.

0 1 / 1 1 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

34

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2021• T H I S DAY

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

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

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust): is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 29Oct-2021, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS

MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS

AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.88% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.32 3.59 -0.76% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 8.77% Anchoria Equity Fund 143.34 145.16 7.77% info@anchoriaam.com Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.14 1.14 -14.11% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 20.73 21.36 14.32% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 451.67 465.28 12.81% ARM Ethical Fund 39.64 40.84 17.59% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.08 1.09 -1.09% ARM Fixed Income Fund 0.98 0.99 -5.92% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.26% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 107 107 5.20% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,047.83 1,047.83 4.78% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.08 2.08 -4.57% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.24 2.29 4.68% mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.03 1.03 4.21% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.10% Paramount Equity Fund 17.43 17.75 8.98% Women's Investment Fund 141.69 143.35 6.48% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.50% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 133.18 134.01 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 109.46 109.46 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 7.47% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 8.18% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,159.40 1,180.13 0.81% assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-assetmanagement-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.34% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.03 1.03 2.62% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.13 Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 103.82 FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price FBN Bond Fund N/A FBN Balanced Fund N/A FBN Halal Fund 113.97 FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund

127.44 173.52 Bid Price 1.00 3.99 1.71 1.19

1.13 12.48% 103.82 3.78% invest@fbnquest.com Offer Price N/A N/A 113.97 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn N/A N/A 9.31% 8.94%

127.44 4.02% 175.84 14.78% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Offer Price 1.00 3.99 1.75 1.19

Yield / T-Rtn 6.67% 3.01% 12.43% 5.11%

FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.47% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.90 2.96 1.53% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 154.45 154.72 -0.68% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.29 1.33 2.31% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.06 1.06 3.68% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.47 1.49 7.64% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,143.10 1,143.10 7.19% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 12.03 12.09 14.94% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 10.17% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 100.55 100.56 7.22% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 8.37% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM EuroBond Fund N/A N/A N/A SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 136.06 137.52 11.75% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.07 1.07 10.07% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,414.52 3,444.86 6.22% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 234.19 234.19 4.15% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.28 1.30 9.32% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 309.78 309.78 5.13% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 236.27 239.86 8.28% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.68% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 11,194.70 11,357.75 6.69% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.28 1.28 4.50% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 116.20 116.20 4.61% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 104.92 104.92 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.35 1.37 5.03% United Capital Bond Fund 1.93 1.93 5.57% United Capital Equity Fund 0.93 0.96 16.82% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.91% United Capital Eurobond Fund 121.21 121.21 5.87% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.09 1.10 6.65% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.07 1.07 6.69% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.15 13.27 10.84% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 14.70 14.86 20.46% Zenith Income Fund 24.59 24.59 2.49% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.31%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

124.98 53.90

10.62% 6.67%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.96 132.28 104.43 17.83 21.83

14.06 135.57 106.71 17.93 21.93

5.61% 10.01% 5.25%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.05 5.65 17.93 1.00 21.67 157.64

4.15 5.75 18.13 1.00 21.87 159.64

7.97% -0.61% 10.67% 6.58% 5.60% -15.08%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.28

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

35

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

COVID-19: Ogun Threatens Unvaccinated Workers, Residents

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Ogun State Government yesterday declared that any residents of the state that fails to take his or her COVID-19 Vaccine before the end of this year risks being barred from government offices, schools, markets and public transport.

In order to enforce this, the government yesterday gave a 60day ultimatum to unvaccinated residents of the state to obtain their COVID -19 vaccines as more vaccination centres, would be created.

The State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, handed down the ultimatum at the flag-off ceremony of COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign exercise in the state.

Abiodun said, the 60-day grace period was to allow unvaccinated residents take their jabs, as part of moves to flatten the curve of the virus.

The governor threatened that, any resident of the state who fails to provide his or her vaccination card after the 60 days grace period would not

be allowed access into public schools, markets, government offices and public transportation services.

Abiodun disclosed that, the government is targeting to vaccinate 2 million residents of the state between now and December 2021.

He said:”We are going to give a window to allow for this vaccine and that window starts from today till the next 60 days. Anybody after

sixty days that is not vaccinated will not be allowed in our offices, schools. Such person will not be allowed to do business with us.

We will chase this person in our markets, you will be required to carry your vaccine cards with you at all time.

ACCOUNTABILITY TRAINING…

L-R: Deputy Zonal Commander, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Office, Mr. Emeka Okonjo; Chairman, Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), Ekiti State, Mr. Alfred Ologunloye; Chairman, Finance and Appropriation Committee, Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr. Sunday Olajide; Executive Chairman, FRC, Mr. Victor Muruako; and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Osun State, Mrs. Adebimpe Ogunlamade, at the sensitisation workshop on fiscal transparency and accountability organised by FRC in Lagos yesterday ETOP UKUTT

Court Orders FG to Hoodlums Lay Siege to Lagos High Court, Pay Delta $1.638bn Prevent Inmates from Leaving Derivative Arrears A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, ordered the Federal Government to pay 1.638 billion dollars to Delta Government being 13 per cent derivative sum due as arrears of revenue payable to the oil-rich state.

Justice Donatus Okorowo, while delivering the judgment, held that being a suit instituted to recover revenue accruing to the state government, it qualified for the undefended list.

Okorowo ruled that the development made the court to declare the plaintiff’s case as “unchallenged.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that while the Attorney-General of Delta is the plaintiff, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) is the sole defendant in the suit.

The plaintiff, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/660/2012 and filed on July 12 by his counsel, Ken Njemanze, SAN, urged the court to compel the AGF to pay five per cent of 50 billion dollars recovered

as additional revenue accrued to the Nigerian government.

Justice Okorowo dismissed the AGF’s preliminary objections, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the suit as well as the mode in which the case was instituted as ‘undefended list.’

Okorowo had, in an ex-parte application on July 22, ruled that the “plaintiff’s writ of summons be marked and placed on the undefended list.”

The judge, therefore, granted all the reliefs of the Delta government.

“The suit succeeds on its merit and all the reliefs sought by plaintiff are granted,” he ruled.

Delta government, through its Attorney-General, had in an affidavit setting forth the grounds upon which its claim was based, urged the court to “direct the defendant (AGF) to pay the sum of $ 1,638,396,277 being the 13 per cent derivative sum due as arrears of revenue payable to Delta as assessed.

NSCDC Boss Condemns Attack on Operatives in Zamfara Michael Olugbode in Abuja The Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi has strongly condemned the deadly attack on security operatives, innocent citizens and critical national assets and infrastructures in Zamfara State.

Audi while calling for new approaches, greater commitments and more affirmative actions against all criminal elements threatening the internal peace and security of Nigeria, described the attack as unfortunate.

A statement by the spokesman of the NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu, said the recent assault on members of the Joint Task Force operation comprising of Nigeria Police,

Civil Defence Corps and Vigilante group where one police personnel and two members of NSCDC paid the supreme price in their brave struggle against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, was unfortunate.

Audi said the brazen attack which happened in Shinkafi, along Kaura Namoda road, Zamfara State while the operatives were on deployment to checkmate the rising wave of banditry, kidnapping and other heinous crimes in the state is not only condemnable but callous, despicable and inhuman.

He commiserated with the families and friends of those who had lost their loved ones in the “heinous crime” and promised to fish out the criminals and make them face justice.

There was pandemonium at the Lagos High Court, sitting in Tafa Balewa Square (TBS), yesterday, as hoodlums laid siege at the entrance of the court in protest of one of their friend shot by a prison warder.

The hoodlums caused panic, which made all the judges to end proceedings abruptly and immediately left the court, alongside their registrars.

Also, litigants and those working around court premises hurriedly vacated the surrounding and took to their heels.

The hoodlums deflated tyres of the two Black Maria vehicles that brought inmates to court from Ikoyi prison thereby preventing them from leaving the court.

According to an eye witness,

the victim was unruly and was allegedly trying to interact with some of the inmates in the Black Maria and was warned severally to desist but he refused.

Another eye witness who pleaded anonymity said the victim was shot in the hip while trying to disarm the warder.

Shortly, after the victim was shot, information got to

the hoodlums, who swiftly mobilised and barricade the entrance of the courts and deflated the tyres of the Black Maria.

A woman who also witnessed the incident stated that the victim had mental problems, adding that a senior prison warder, tried to prevent the warder from shooting the victim.

Police Arraign Three minors for Allegedly Raping 11-year-old Girl in Benue The Police Command in Benue yesterday arraigned three minors before a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl.

The Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Godwin Ato, told the court that the three minors resided in the same address at North-Bank area of Makurdi.

Ato alleged that the case was received at the State Criminal Investigation Department,

Makurdi from ‘C’ Divisional Police Headquarters, Makurdi, via a letter dated October 27, 2021.

He told the court that one Mrs. Grace Shula of Behind Ambassador Hotel, North-Bank, Makurdi, had reported at the police station that her 11-year-old daughter had been raped.

He alleged that the complainant had on October 21, sent her daughter to buy torchlight batteries for her.

The prosecutor said the three defendants dragged her to one primary school and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her without her consent.

Ato said during police investigation, the defendants were arrested and the confessed to committing the crime.

He told the court that the defendants also named another 12-year-old boy now on the run as an accomplice.

The prosecutor said the offence contrarvened Sections 97 and 284 of the Penal Code Law of Benue, 2004.

The Magistrate, Mr. Vincent Kor, refused taking the plea of the defendants because of their status as minors.

Kor ordered a transfer of the case to the Juvenile Court, Makurdi, and adjourned the case until November 4, 2021 for mention.

Exorbitant PTA Charges: Kwara Sanctions Erring Principals Kwara State Government has sanctioned some school principals, who were found collecting exorbitant and unapproved charges and items from students in the state schools system.

The State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu, disclosed this after an emergency meeting held with the principals yesterday

in Ilorin.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that some principals of some public schools in the state were fingered in the alleged illegal collection of fees apart from the approved PTA charges.

According to ModibboKawu, some parents had reported to the Ministry that some principals were charging above the approved PTA levies

and also collecting items not approved during the Education stakeholders’ meeting.

She said the present administration would not fold its arms and allow saboteurs to blackmail or sabotage the result oriented education reform of Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led administration in the State.

She therefore, directed that the affected Principals should be queried to serve as a deterrent

to others, who are still collecting such illegal fees.

NAN reports that the schools affected are UBE Ita Ayisa, UBE Olunlade, UBE Ganmo, Senior Secondary School Ganmo, Senior Secondary School, Amoyo.

Also affected are: United Secondary School, Taiwo Isale, United UBE, Taiwo Isale, Oke Aluko Junior & Senior Secondary School respectively, all within Ilorin Metropolis.

El-Rufai Swears in Council Chairmen, Urges Them to Prioritise Service Delivery John Shiklam in Kaduna Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has sworn in newly elected council chairmen, urging them to prioritise service delivery to the people at the grassroots.

The governor charged them to look beyond partisan politics in the discharge of their mandates.

He congratulated them for emerging victorious at the September council polls which

was conducted through the use of electronic voting machines.

The governor said God, who entrusts power to whom He chooses, has chosen them to be the leaders of all citizens in their localities without regard to their political, ethnic or religious persuasions.

El-Rufai urged the chairmen to be fair, just and reasonable in all their dealings, decisions and interactions with the people.

He warned them against discriminating against those that did not vote for them and favouring those with whom they share the same ethnicity or religion as that will offend their oath of office. Those sworn in, included 16 chairmen elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC ) and five from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Elections could not be

conducted in Birnin-Gwari LGA due to security concerns while the outcome of the election in Jaba LGA is subject of litigation.

El-Rufai said his administration had taken careful steps to reform the Local Government system for performance by addressing ‘’the capacity deficit by directing the recruitment of professionals, including lawyers, engineers and architects for the local government service.’’

36

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS XTRA

Gbajabiamila Urges Security Agencies to Find Missing Vanguard Reporter Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, has called on security agencies not to relent until the missing Vanguard Newspapers’ reporter, Mr. Tordue Salem, is found.

Salem, who covers the House for Vanguard Newspapers, had been missing for some weeks now.

He was last seen on October 13, 2021, between 8p.m. and 9p.m. at Garki Area II, Abuja.

Gbajabiamila stated this

yesterday in Abuja while declaring open a capacity building workshop for the House Committee on Media, which was organised by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation.

He said: “The House and I had been in contact with the leadership of the press corps and the authorities that are carrying out this investigation. Since this matter came to light, I want to encourage the security agencies not relent in their efforts to locate missing journalists and bring him back to his family.

“Because I see the press corps

as part of the institution, and anything that touches one touches the rest of us.”

The Speaker said in a rapidly changing and highly volatile landscape today with and evolving technological innovations, the media space has seen vast changes in the way the media operates and the channels information is transmitted through.

He noted that these among other reasons have highlighted the necessity and the importance of a capacity building workshop of the committee.

Don Advocates Better Remuneration for Pharmacists

James Sowole in Abeokuja

A Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and former Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Cyril Odianose Usifoh, has advocated better remuneration for pharmacists like other professionals in the health sector.

Usifoh presented the advocacy while speaking with journalists on his vision to reposition pharmaceutical practice as election of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria (PSN) slated for Port Harcourt, Rivers State, approaches.

The don, who is a top

contender for the office of the national chairman of the association, promised that he would use his wealth of experience to reposition the pharmaceutical industry for greater efficiency and production of safe drugs for Nigerians.

The university lecturer, who had once served as the state chairman of the association in Edo State as well as chairman of National Association of Pharmacists in Academia among others, said it was about time the pharmacy profession moved to the next level with pharmacists being recognised and adequately

remunerated for their invaluable role in healthcare delivery.

Usifoh said: “My vision is to have a united and progressive pharmacy family where pharmacists are respected, increasingly relevant and adequately remunerated for their invaluable role, while also networking with health team members and other professionals for the growth and development of the society.

“My mission is to ensure that medicines are available such that we are able to project pharmacy in good light so that pharmacists will get what they deserve.

Also, the House Committee Chairman, Hon. Ben Kalu, said the 21st-century media environment is dynamic and continues to develop in novel, but unanticipated ways, which have serious

consequences for democratic governance.

He noted that new media has radically altered the way government institutions operate, and the way that political leaders communicate

and engage citizens.

Kalu stressed that the media today disseminates a tremendous amount of political content, most of which are trivial, unreliable, and polarising.

Protest Mars New UI VC’s Assumption of Office The assumption of office of the new Vice-Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, was yesterday marred by a peaceful protest by the institution’s non-academic staff members.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the protest was staged by Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian

Universities (SSANU).

NAN also reported that the inauguration and thanksgiving service of the 13th vice-chancellor was held at Chapel of Resurrection within the university on Monday.

However, the institution’s staff members held the protest immediately after the service over the 75:25 per cent sharing formula of the just-approved N22.1 billion for payment of earned allowances for university staffers by the Federal Government.

The protesters marched through the base of the vice-chancellor’s office to the frontage of Trenchard Hall, Mellamby Hall, Tedder Hall and Students’ Union Building before dispersing.

Speakers during the protest included SSANU Chairman, Abiodun Omisore; his NASU counterpart, Malachy Etim; a former SSANU chairman, Wale Akinremi and a former National Vice-Chairman of SSANU, Alfred Jimoh.

Aba Residents Build RRS Operational Headquarters Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia Residents of Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, have demonstrated that security in Nigeria is everyone’s business as they build an operational headquarters for the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in order to enhance the crime fighting capacity of the specialised police unit.

The complex, which is located at Eziama, Aba, comprises

administrative block and 300 detention cells with modern toilet facilities, which was funded by public-spirited individuals in Aba. It was inaugurated last weekend by the state Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.

Speaking at the event, the governor, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Mr. Sopuruchi Bekee, assured the state that his administration would sustain its support for

the police to enhance sustainable security in the state.

He lauded the state RRS Commander, SP Johnbull Obioguru, for the landmark achievement made possible by the goodwill he enjoys from the people of Aba due to the good performance of the RRS. The governor said: “Those of you who go home and sleep may not know that these men are awoken 24 hours making sure that Aba and Abia State are safe.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

37

NEWS XTRA

Plateau Assembly Crisis: Lawmakers Call for Buhari’s Intervention Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Embattled Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Ayuba Abok,and other members of the House loyal to him, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the crisis bedeviling the assembly.

Abok was on October 27 impeached by eight members of the assembly and elected Yakubu Sanda as the new Speaker.

However, Abok and members of the house loyal to him held a session outside the assembly complex same day during which they suspended six of the members that impeached him, and declared him(Abok) as the authentic speaker of the house.

But Governor Simon Lalong had recognised Sanda as the new speaker of the assembly.

However, Abok and the lawmakers loyal to him gained access to his office yesterday and were holding an executive session preparatory for a sitting when some youths staged a protest in front of the assembly complex in support of Abok.

Security personnel have

been deployed to the assembly with the Commissioner of Police in the state, Edward Egbuka ,and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant, Alexander Barunde supervising.

The lawmakers in a video recorded in the chamber of the assembly and made available to journalists, appealed to the president and Plateau elders to end what they called “the impunity and the siege on

the assembly by security personnel”.

The Deputy Majority Leader of the legislature, Phillip Dasun, who is loyal to Abok ,said that Abok remained the speaker of the assembly.

“Today the first of November 1, 2021, we the 12 members are supporting Abok the Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly, that was duly elected by constitutional provision.

“As you can see his picture is

still on the wall not tempered with, his name tag is still intact, the mace is still here to tell you that there was only an attempted impeachment, our speaker was not impeached, whatsoever.

EXCELLENT RECOGNITION…

L-R: Chief Operating Officer (COO), Whole and Retail Sales, VDT Communications, Dr. Horsefall Onamari; Director, Licensing and Authorisation, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Mohammed Babajika; Group Managing Director/CEO of VDT Communications, Mr. Biodun Omoniyi and CEO of IoT Africa, Mr. Lanre Ayoola at the Nigeria ICT Impact CEO Forum and Africa Digital Awards event in Lagos...recently

Doctors Commence Seven-day Empowering Youths Economically, Best Way Warning Strike in Kwara to Develop Africa, Says Elumelu

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Members of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), Kwara State Chapter, yesterday commenced a seven-day warning strike action across the 16 local government areas of the state.

Speaking in Ilorin on the commencement of the strike, the Chairman of State Chapter of NAGGMDP, Dr. Saka Agboola, explained that the association had been patient and had given series of ultimatum to the state government concerning their

agitation on members’ welfare.

Agboola said that warning strike was meant to give room for engagement with the government on some of their agitation including good conditions of service, especially the payment of new remuneration to the members of the union.

He said: “It has gotten to a point that the wellbeing of doctors in Kwara has to be seriously looked into.

“We have responsibilities to our families, our neighbours and even to our patients. There is need to remunerate the doctors to get efficient output.

Group Condemns FG’s Handling of Separatists’ Agitations Akowe Peter The Federal Social Democrats Movement (FSD) has condemned the double standard employed by the federal government in dealing with separatists’ agitations in both the Southeast and South-west regions, while noting that terrorists in the North-west and North-central regions are treated with kids gloves.

A statement made available to THISDAY by the FSD, Interim Publicity Secretary, Mr. Gbayode Somuyiwa, said the refusal to declare the so-called bandits

as terrorists is unconscionable, even after the international terror watch has declared them as the 4th deadliest terrorist group globally.

The group also noted that if IPOB can be declared terrorist organisation, bandits who can blow up a rail track and attack military formations apart from other heinous crimes committed by them, should be declared terrorists immediately.

The FSD said it considered it expedient to lend its voice on the uncertainties surrounding the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State.

Oluchi Chibuzor The Founder and Chairman of Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) HEIRS Holding, Mr. Tony Elumelu, has said that giving economic power to young people remains the only solution to Africa’s developmental challenges, especially in the Sahel region.

This, according to him, is because 65 per cent of Sahelians are less than 25 years of age and remain adversely affected by the pandemic.

Elumelu stated this yesterday at the virtual launch of a developmental initiative for the Sahel region tagged, ‘Generation Unlimited (GENU) Sahel: A Leap For Sahel Youth’ which is aimed at connecting Sahel’s young people to opportunities.

He said more than two million people in the Sahel region are forced to flee their homes with millions losing their major sources of livelihoods as resources are scarce and opportunities are

limited leading to more tensions and conflicts in the Sahel region.

“Empowering and investing in our people, especially our young ones in the Sahel to give them economic hope and opportunities is the only solution. This is what we believe in at the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) and we are happy that global partners also buy into this vision. As I have always said, poverty anywhere is a threat to all of us,” he said.

According to him, TEF has provided over $5000 nonrefundable seed capital per beneficiary, business training and mentoring for young entrepreneurs to scale their enterprises.

“We have funded 10, 898 entrepreneurs across Africa, these young Africans entrepreneurs have gone on to create further 400, 000 direct and indirect jobs across the continent.

“In 2019, we partnered with the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) to identify , train, mentor and fund 2100

young entrepreneurs in the Sahel region and these includes Northern Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Chad, Cameroun and Mauritania.

“Again in 2020 in the heat of the pandemic we partnered with UNDP to train 1860 young Malians which face a triple threats of conflicts , insecurity and poverty as well as loss of means of livelihood from climate change, through our interventions we are well able to create small businesses and generate economic pool in the youth; channeling their creativity and skills to transform the Sahel region,” he said.

Elumelu called for collective efforts in order to find a lasting solution to all intractable crises that have hindered development in the region.

Speaking at the virtual launch, the Prime Minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo, said the young people from the Sahel would bring improvement and change needed in the region if

given the opportunity.

He noted that among the many challenges facing young people two were more important and pledged to work with Nigeria in the field of digital space.

“First strengthening education systems from basic education to vocational training to supporting young people finding employment and addressing the lack of governance and political representation from young people.

He maintained that the private sector has a role to play in young people ”especially in the digital field and I hope that Generation Unlimited Sahel will further strengthen this generation of young people, bringing hope and change.

The event saw some notable world leaders making pledges towards programmes that will address the critical role of youth in contributing to peace, security, stability, and economic growth in the Sahel.

Rivers Police Arrest Manufacturers of Fake Drink Blessing Ibunge inPortHarcourt

The Rivers State Police Command have arrested one Akhayera Collins and Christian John for allegedly engaging in the manufacturing of faked drinks in the state.

In a statement signed by the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP. Nnamdi Omoni, and made available to journalists yesterday,

showed that the suspects were arrested on October 22, this year at their hideout in Rumuokoro, Obio/Akpor by an intelligence unit of the command based on credible information.

Omoni disclosed that the suspects have confessed to the crime and would be charged to court at the conclusion of investigation.

“On October 22, 2021 at about

3:30 p.m., operatives of Puff Adder, acting on credible information, led by the Commander SP. Noble Uwoh, stormed a hideout at Eligbolo Road, Rumuokoro, where they burst a syndicate that engages in the manufacture of fake drinks believed to be dangerous to public health.

“In the course of the operation, two suspects were arrested, namely: Akhayera Collins (Male)

41yrs and Christian John (male), while others took to flight.

“Exhibits recovered include assorted wines, spirits and several alcoholic beverages including empty bottles waiting to be filled with the poisonous liquid/ substances.

“They have made useful confessions and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”

Amotekun, Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, revealed this yesterday in Akure while hosting the Commandant of the National Defence College, (NDC), Major General Ibrahim Manu Yusuf, during a national study tour to the state.

Adeleye said: “By next week’s Monday, Ondo Amotekun will commence the phase four of the

‘operation clean up’ and the essence is to go back again to those dark sports and smoke those criminals out from the forest and this we will do by ensuring massive patrols, massive intelligence gathering to enhance our operations, such that the yuletide period will be free of crime.

“So, the best any criminal can

do is to leave Ondo State. There is no hiding place for them again.

We have initiated a joint patrol of major highways within Ondo, Ekiti and Osun and when we have security challenges we both consult each other, so there is a synergy between us. It is clear that Ondo State is a no-go area for criminals and we will not relent.

Two Men Docked for Allegedly Abducting, Defiling 16-year-old Yuletide: Amotekun Begins 4th Face of ‘Operation Clean- up’ Physically Challenged Girl Two men were yesterday docked in a Magistrates’ Court in Badagry, Lagos, for allegedly abducting and defiling a 16-year-old physically challenged girl.

The police charged Aro Akeem,20; and Babatunde George 27; whose addresses were not given with are defilement, indecent assault and abduction.

The Prosecution Counsel, ASP Ikem Uko, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on October 26 at about 8am, at Olayinka Street, AjaraTopa, Badagry area of Lagos.

Uko said that the defendants abducted the girl between 8 am and 11.m and forced her to drink dry gin in order to have defile her.

Fidelis David inAkure

The Ondo State Security Network Agency, which is codenamed “Amotekun,” has said that it would commence the phase four of its “Operation Clean-up” in order to make the Christmas festive season free of crime.

The State Commander of the

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38

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Retired Ighalo Back as Rohr Ignores ‘Red Hot’ Awoniyi Ndidi, others in Super Eagles 23-man list for Liberia, Cape Verde Femi Solaja Weeks of speculations over the possible return of Odion Jude Ighalo to the Super Eagles ended yesterday as Head Coach, Gernot Rohr, listed the Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia forward amongst the 23 he called to camp for the final two matches of the AFCON 2022 qualifiers this month.

The German gaffer conveniently ignored Union Berlin forward, Taiwo Awoniyi, who has scored seven goals in 10 Bundesliga matches this season.

Aside the reentry of the former Ighalo, team Captain, Ahmed Musa, Deputy Captain, William Troost-Ekong, defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Leon Balogun, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi were invited to camp In the attack, Rohr placed his hopes on the shoulders of Osimhen, Iheanacho and Moses Simon.

The Super Eagles will tackle the Lone Star of Liberia at the Grand Stade Tangier in Morocco on Saturday, 13th November and then fly into Lagos for the final group game against Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Tuesday, 16th November.

Nigeria presently top the Group C of the qualifiers on nine points but hotly chased by seven-pointer Cape Verde who will host Central African Republic on the island of Mindelo.

Super Eagles need the

three points against the Lone Star on the neutral turf of Morocco’s principal northern city to remain on firm ground when hosting the Blue Sharks three days later in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos.

Leicester City of England’s midfield enforcer Wilfred Ndidi who missed the last round of games home-andaway against Central African Republic, is back in the trough, just as fellow Premiership Everton middle man Alex Iwobi and Spain-based forward Samuel Chukwueze.

Coach Rohr had earlier hinted he needed Ighalo who was 2019 Africa Cup of Nations’ top scorer. The gaffer harped on Ighalo’s experience as something that was lacking in the team since he retired from Eagles two years ago.

The invited players and overseas-based members of the technical crew are to report directly to the city of Tangier next Monday, 8th November while technical officials from Nigeria are to report in Tangier the same day.

INVITED EAGLES Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands) Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Jamilu

2 0 2 2 W O R L D C U P Q UA L I F I E R S Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG

Hoffenheim, Germany) Midfielders: Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Galsgow Rangers, Scotland);

Odion Ighalo ...IN

Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England) Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal

FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

Taiwo Awoniyi...OUT

....Liberia’s Lone Star Recall Spanish-born Keeper for Nigeria

Spain-born Boison Wynney De Souza has been recalled to Liberia’s Lone Star Ahead of AFCON 2022 qualifier with Nigeria

In the bid to fortify the Lone Star ahead of next week’s AFCON 2022 qualifying fixture against Super Eagles, Liberia yesterday recalled Spanish-born goalkeeper, Boison Wynney De Souza for the crucial tie.

The goalkeeper has been absent for nearly two years, a recall by the national team was based on his recent performance in the Romanian league where he plays for FC Somesul Del. Although Liberia had last month changed the venue of the match from Ghana to Morocco due to the ‘mathematical chance’ the team have to top the group and qualify for the final knockout phase, the recall of the goalkeeper is seen as taking the match “very seriously.”

The shot-stopper who plays for FC Someul Del in Romania’s third tier will have to challenge Tommy Songo or Ashely Williams for the starting position in the Red White and Blue two remaining matches in this stage of the qualifiers.

“We are happy to inform

you that our team goalkeeper Boison Wynney De Sousa has been summoned to the Liberia national team, Good luck Boison” the club said in a statement on its website

De Sousa first received his call for the Liberia National Team on November 2, 2016. He made his international debut in the 0-3 away loss to Zimbabwe in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations

qualifying rounds.

Liberia will face Nigeria on November 11 and take on Central African Republic on November 15 in Tangier, Morocco.

All Set for SMED Launch in Lagos All is now set for the official launch of the Sport and Media Development Network (SMED Network) scheduled to take place in Lagos today.

According to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and media guru, Gboyega Okegbenro, all arrangments are in place for a successful Media Launch of the Non-Governmental Organisation to help youths to develop their talents.

“We are ready and I want to assure all that it will be an interesting season,” Okegbenro said.

“It is going to be one of its kinds with some of the speakers coming for the launching. The

likes of Segun Odegbami, who played for Nigeria for so many years, Onochie Anibeze, a season journalist who has covered so many international sports competitions around the world, and Bukola Olopade, a former commissioner for sports in Ogun State and sports business guru.

“Like I have been saying, I decided to come up with this idea after my experience covering various events across all the continents of the world,” stressed Okegbenro.

He explained further that before going ahead with the formal registration of SMED Network with the CAC, he

held wide consultations within and outside of Nigeria’s sport and media industry; including direct engagements with each of the members of the Board of Trustees.

He expressed profound appreciation to all the BoT members for reposing huge confidence in him and accepting to serve as Trustees of SMED Network.

Former international, Segun Odegbami alongside Saturday Editor, Vanguard Newspaper, Onochie Anibeze, and former Ogun State’s Commissioner for Sports, Bukola Olopade, are all expected to deliver papers at the ceremony.

39

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SPORTS

Spurs in Advance Talks with Conte to Replace Sacked Nuno Tottenham are in advanced negotiations with former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte about becoming their new manager.

Chairman Daniel Levy and Managing Director Fabio Paratici are moving quickly to secure a replacement following Nuno Espirito Santo's sacking on Monday after four months in charge.

Conte, 52, was scheduled to hold face-to-face talks late on Monday with Spurs while an announcement may be made today hiring him or not.

The Italian left Inter Milan in May just weeks after winning Serie A. He won the Premier League and FA Cup at Chelsea but was sacked in July 2018 after a disappointing second year in charge.

The former midfielder also managed Juventus from 2011-14, winning three Serie A titles, and took charge of the Italian national team from 2014-16.

Conte spoke to Tottenham on a number of occasions in the summer as the club looked for a replacement for Jose Mourinho.

Antonio Conte is in advanced talk with Spurs management on the possibility of replacing sacked Nuno Espírito Santo

Chelsea Without Mount, Lukaku, Others Are Favourite in Malmo

Mason Mount ...rested for Chelsea clash with Malmo tonight Premier League leaders Chelsea will be without Mason Mount for tonight’s trip to Malmo in the UEFA Champions League.

The midfielder is absent because of illness and joins injured trio Timo Werner, Romelu Lukaku and Mateo Kovacic in being unavailable

TODAY B’Munich D’ Kyiv Atalanta Villarreal Wolfsburg Sevilla Malmo Juventus

v v v v v v v v

Benfica Barcelona Man Utd Young Boys Salzburg LOSC Lille Chelsea Zenit

Romelu Lulaku...still down with injury

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE for the game.

However Christian Pulisic is fit again and travelled with the squad to Sweden after recovering from an ankle injury.

"Mason does not really feel better," said Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.

"To stop any speculation, it's not Covid, he's negative for Covid. He's just ill and he does not feel good enough to take part in training and of course take part in the trip to Malmo."

Chelsea go into the game strong favourites after beating Malmo 4-0 two weeks ago.

Tuchel's side have won two of their three games in the

Champions League so far and sit second in Group H, three points behind Juventus.

"I think it's the fifth, sixth game in a row where we are considered as favourites," added Tuchel.

"I like a lot how my team approaches these matches because we put in a lot of effort and a lot of intensity.

"When you say very rightly that Malmo maybe needs an extraordinary performance then I think they will absolutely prepare for this and any team on this kind of level is ready to create an extraordinary performance, so we should be prepared.

"We should be humble and respectful enough towards the game and the opponent and anything can happen.

Atalanta Boss Heaps Plaudits on Ronaldo as the Red Devils Visit Italy Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini expressed regret on Monday at Cristiano Ronaldo's decision to quit Serie A for Manchester United, describing the Portuguese star as "an incredible goalscoring machine".

Gasperini was speaking on the eve of United's Champions League visit to Atalanta which marks the 35-year-old Ronaldo's first appearance in Italy since his return to Old Trafford.

Gasperini's side have already suffered at his hands this season.

Ronaldo rounded off United's fight back from 2-0 down to Atalanta in their Champions League clash at Old Trafford a fortnight ago to score their third nine minutes from time in the 3-2 win.

"I can only say that he's an extraordinary player but that sounds too banal," said Gasperini.

"What he's doing again at Manchester, you only have to

look at his goal on Saturday (against Tottenham) and the others he's already scored, he's an incredible goalscoring machine."

The Atalanta boss said even if it cost his club goals "I'd prefer that he'd stayed in Italy, because you always want to see the best players here".

After three seasons at Juventus, winning two league titles and finishing last season as top scorer, Ronaldo caught the football world on the hop when rejecting Manchester City's overtures to sign for his old club.

Atalanta's Colombian striker Duvan Zapata, appearing at the same online press conference, added: "He's a top player, of the very highest quality.

"We can't give away many chances to him, nor any of his team."

Atalanta share second place in Group F, two points behind leaders United.

Abdulkareem to Perform at 4 Inch Heel Race at Sportscity Nigerian hip hop artist, songwriter and singer, Eedris Turayo Abdulkareem Ajenifuja, known simply as Eedris Abdulkareem will light up the stage and take excitement to a higher level when he performs hits from his rich repertoire of songs to thrill guests at the 3rd edition of the 4 Inch Heel Race Competition 2021.

This year’s edition is scheduled to hold on Saturday, November 6 at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The 4 Inch Heel Race Competition is an event that targets young Nigerian ladies between the ages of 18-35 years wearing 4-inch high heeled stilettos shoe to compete in a 100-meter race in an open field.

Speaking with sports journalists in Lagos recently, the Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer of DAK Marketing Services Limited, Dede Kalu, explained that the event is geared towards giving Nigerian young women

a platform to showcase their talents and also support their dreams.

Kalu said selection of participants cuts across graduates and undergraduates in higher institutions.

“First prize attracts N500, 000, second prize goes for N300, 000, while the third prize is N200, 000. And all participants will have free bits e.g., hair products, sanitary wears, etc.” The form for "participation is N1, 000 and it closes Nov. 5th.”

Tuesday November 2, 2021

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

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Price: N250

MISSILE Afenifere to Lai Mohammed “There is no point answering Lai Mohammed again. If at the rate people are dying every day, kidnapped every day, murdered every day across the country, the government can easily say the country is safer now, it is unfortunate. He can only be deceiving the people in Aso Rock and not Nigerians or the world, and that is why Buhari has the kind of people who surround him” –– Afenifere’s Leader, Ayo Adebanjo, berating the Information Minister for his lies.

FEMIFALANA GUEST COLUMNIST

Journalism in Africa, Its Soldiers Enemies

T

he mass media across the world, especially the International Co in nsortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), should be congratulated for the Pandora Papers. They leaked 11.9 million documents and 2.9 terabytes of data exposing corrupt dealings by the powerful and the global rich. The Pandora Papers which were released on October 3, 2021, exposed the secret dealings of 35 world leaders and over 100 billionaires and powerful people.

In 600 journalists from 150 media organisations, across 117 countries working together, shows not just the power of organisation, professionalism and commitment to make the world a better place, but also, the unstoppable power of the press.

I am proud that the Nigerian media are among the organisations that worked on the Pandora Papers. Ghana has been providing refuge for Nigerian journalists fleeing persecution. When the Abacha regime in Nigeria decided to physically eliminate Mr Olorunyomi in 1995, it was to Ghana he fled for refuge. When his wife, Ladi who had been held hostage was released on bail, it was Ghana that welcomed her and the children.

When Nigerian employers were unwilling to hire Nnamdi Azikiwe, one of the greatest journalists that ever practiced in West Africa, it was Ghanaian employer, Mr A.J. Ocansey who in 1934 gave him a job to establish and run a fearless, Pan Africanist newspaper, the AFRICAN MORNING POST in this city.

Azikiwe later moved back to Nigeria setting up one of the best and most fearless newspaper chain, the WEST AFRICAN PILOT.

Press Freedom and its enemies.

The high professionalism, exposure of sleaze and holding the powerful accountable as was done by the Pandora Papers, come at a very high prize. The Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ) says that between 1992 and 2021, a total of 1,418 journalists were killed in the line of duty. That is some 50 journalists killed annually! This is a very high prize to pay and humanity owes journalists eternal gratitude for being watch dogs for the society, checking corruption, criminality and power abuse.

In West Africa, journalists have faced repression and death. This includes the October 19, 1986 mutilation of Mr Dele Giwa, the Editor-in-Chief of the Nigerian NEWSWATCH Magazine through a parcel bomb, and, the 1995 sentencing of four Nigerian journalists, Mrs Chris Anyanwu, Kunle Ajibade, George Mbah and Ben Charles-Obi to life imprisonment for reporting an attempted coup. There was the December 13, 1998 mafia-style execution and incineration of investigative Burkinabe journalist, Norbet Zongo, his brother, chauffeur and a friend.

The trend in the region as manifested in the countries mentioned and those like Ghana, show that perhaps the greatest enemies of press freedom is military rule.

Generally, development was not arrested in Togo until the January 13, 1963 military coup against Sylvanus Olympio. Degeneracy did not set in Ghana until the February 24, 1966 military coup against Kwame Nkrumah.

Nigeria did not become a degenerate state until January 15, 1966 when the military overthrew

Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed

the elected government of Tafawa-Balewa. The cumulative 29 years the military ruled Nigeria is mainly responsible for the quagmire the country is in currently. Today, the Nigerian coup-generals and their beneficiaries continue to recycle themselves in power. In the last 22 years of post-military rule, former military rulers, Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari have been President for fourteen years during which they have continued the military culture of repression.

The African military, being a colonial creation for the oppression of the people, has been one of the greatest setbacks for development in West Africa. Fifteen of the sixteen countries in Wes Africa, experienced coups and military rule. The only exception is Senegal.

Although, we have tried to steer our countries back to civil rule – democracy is still unattained - military misrule is burrowing itself back to power. There was a military coup in Mali on August 18, 2020.

This year, there have been three military coups within five months; one in Chad on April 19, 2021, another in Mali on May 24, 2021 and a third in Guinea Conakry on September 5, 2021. If will add these to other contemporary coups on the continent like the March 22-24, 2013 coup in the Central African Republic, the General el-Sisi coup in Egypt in July 2013 and the long drawn November 14-21, 2017 coup in Zimbabwe against President Robert Mugabe, we will realise that there is the danger of other military takeovers. These would constitute threats to constitutional governance and press freedom.

So the media, especially in West Africa, must rise up to help galvanise the struggle not just against military rule, but also misrule by leaders like Alassane Ouattara in Cote d’Ivoire who unconstitutionally elongate their tenure in office, Fuare Gnassingbe of Togo who has transformed governance into a monarchy and leaders who implement economic programmes designed and imposed on Africa by imperialism.

The West African peoples and their organisations have a duty to join the mass media in fighting for press freedom. I do not mean press freedom to defend the selfish

interests of the ruling class but the interests of the oppressed people who constitute the majority of people in each of the countries in Africa.

One of the immediate tasks is the decriminalization of press freedom. Permit me to salute the government of Ghana which has decriminalized freedom of expression, and the Liberian government which on February 28, 2019 did the same. I want to commend the Media Foundation for West Africa for its contribution to the campaign for decriminalization in the region. The MFWA has, successfully challenged the illegal arrest and detention of journalists in the Ecowas Court of Justice.

But we have a huge battle in our hands especially in countries like Nigeria which are speeding towards increasing repression and criminalization of freedom of speech.

In recent years, we in Nigeria have battled against attempts and bills on ‘Hate Speech’ attempts to chain the social media and closure of media organisations. But while it used to be easy shutting down media houses, today, with ICT, journalism has become like the rainbow; how do you pin down the rainbow?

How do you shoot it down? Gradually, the power of states like those in West Africa to shut down the media is slipping out of their hands. Let me cite a case. On June 5, 2021, the Nigerian government placed an indefinite ban on Twitter for deleting tweets

by President Buhari in which he threatened a major nationality in the country. However, Nigerians ignored the ban by switching to the encrypted Virtual Private Network (VPN) tunnel over which the government has no power.

In a case filed against the suspension by the Socio Economic and Accountability Project (SERAP) at the Ecowas Court of Justice the Judges have restrained the Government from carrying out the threat to prosecute twitter users pending the determination of the case.

Before then, the same Court had declared illegal, null and void the ban on the use of Internet in the Republic of Togo.

Misinformation and Digital Media Regulation.

Facts, for the media, are sacred. They are like a religious obligation and their violation, side stepping, mutilation and misrepresentation are like the cardinal sin. So disinformation, misinformation, falsehood, deception and fabrication are antithetical to journalism. Yet, these ancient practices thrive because these are ways the state and power manipulate society and try to keep it in chains. It is also a way for the exploiter to exploit the exploited. The digital age with its instantaneous dissemination of information has strengthened these.

No other world leader in contemporary times has abused this more than former America President Donald Trump who in holding misinformation in a vile grip, told 30,573 verifiable lies in his four years at the White House; an average of 21 lies or inaccurate statements for every day he was in office.

This is not uniquely American. War time British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill propagated that: “In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.” In other words, in times of conflict or assumed conflict, one

of the first casualties is the truth or facts on which journalism built its practice.

State actors, non-state actors and all specie of human beings for various reasons disseminate fake news or what is elegantly clothed as alternative news. These are fed the citizenry, the innocent or the gullible.

Misinformation or fake news is a danger to journalism, but there can be no let-up in the struggle against the purveyors who in many cases, is the state. In fact, many countries establish fake news sites or farms where they plant, culture and harvest fake news which they disseminate.

Yet the same state turns round to try regulating and censoring the social media in the name of checking fake news. Indonesia has a whole agency to regulate online media while the German state is empowered to force the online media to delete what is considered hate speech or fake news.

There is no single solution to ensuring that this does not result in outright press censorship and the circumscription of the fundamental right to freedom of speech. My suggestions include that: *Journalism must remain true to its professional ethics of facts being sacred. *The media should engage in self-regulation and expose unprofessionalism. *Gate keepers especially News Editors, Rewriters and Editors in the media need to be alert and critical so that unverified information do not get past, and if they do, retraction is made in accordance with the ethics of the profession. *The media should expose fake news sites and call out purveyors of such news. *. Media houses should invest in technology that can fact check news or information. *Media organisations should not repost or rebroadcast materials they cannot verify. * Journalists should strive for a system that ensures social platforms use their real names so they can be called to order if they engage in misinformation. * The mass media especially in Africa should not assume that news or materials from foreign news agencies or sources are true, or value free. So they should cross check such news or materials and rewrite, rather than just regurgitate them. * There is need for an education system that challenges the student to think so that conscientious citizens would be produced who can question what they read, watch or experience.

Cinclusion

Press freedom is the freedom of society; press development, is the development of society. Therefore, the society must fight to protect press freedom, expand its boundaries, ensure the wellbeing of the mass media and protect the journalist.

In conclusion is that as human beings, we owe it a duty not just to protect and defend journalists but to also ensure that the mass media in the face of digital development, changing technology and dwindling resources, remain on course. This is in the interest of basic freedom, human rights, democracy and the development of humanity.

(Above are excerpts from a Keynote Address delivered recently by Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN),at the West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards in Accra, Ghana).

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