FRIDAY 12TH NOVEMBER 2021

Buhari: We've Invested Massively in Roads, Rail, Power, Airports Flays uneven distribution of COVID-19 vaccines between developed and developing nations Deji Elumoye in Paris, France President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said his administration had invested extensively in critical infrastructure and economic

projects, stressing that the possibilities being created through the investments for Nigerians and foreigners are enormous. Buhari also declared that investment in gas was a top priority of his

government, as it had huge benefits in terms of financial returns and generation of power.

The president spoke in Paris while playing host to Managing Director of the

Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Dr. Mohammed AlJasser, and Chief Executive Officer of Total Energies, Patrick Pouyanne, on the sidelines of the three-day Paris Peace Forum (PPF),

which began in the French capital on Thursday.

Speaking at the meeting with the IDB boss, Buhari emphasised his administration’s commitment to infrastructural renaissance

for Nigeria, saying, “We are struggling very hard on infrastructure, because there can’t be sustainable development without it."

Continued on page 8

Report: 78% of Girls in Northern Nigeria Marry Before Age 18...page 5 Friday 12 November, 2021 Vol 26. No 9713. Price: N250

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Police Parade 14 Suspects over Invasion of Justice Odili's Residence THISDAY disowns Stanley Nkwazema, says he left company over 15 years ago Malami denies group leader Alex Enumah and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Nigeria Police yesterday paraded 14 suspects allegedly

involved in the invasion of the Abuja residence of Supreme Court Justice, Mrs. Mary Odili.

THISDAY disowned one of the suspects, Mr. Stanley

Nkwazema, who claimed to be a staff and contributing editor of the newspaper.

Similarly, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF)

and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, distanced himself from the leader of the group that conducted the raid, Lawrence

Ajodo, who claimed to be a consultant to the AGF. A group that claimed to be personnel of some security agencies, including

the police, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of Continued on page 8

Gov Fayemi: Malami Should Defend Nigeria, Not Claimants Says Attorney General misleading President Alleges consultants' demands dubious, fraudulent Emmanuel Addeh, Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) yesterday maintained

that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami has continued to mislead President Muhammadu Buhari in the case of the $418 million

(N169 billion at official FX rate) Paris Fund deductions being claimed by some consultants.

Speaking on ARISE News Channel, THISDAY’s broadcast arm, in response to comments

made on the matter earlier by Malami, the NGF Chairman, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, wondered why the attorney general was taking sides with people he described as “dubious”, instead

of defending the country against them.

The federal government had approved the payment of the controversial sum to six creditors, in defiance of the

issues raised by the 36 state governors on the legitimacy of the demands by the claimants.

The claimants included a Continued on page 8

WITH PIA, NEW ERA UNFOLDING IN OIL SECTOR...

L-R: Country Chair Total Energies, Mike Sangster; SVP Africa EP Total Energies, Henri-Mike Ndong-Nzue; President E&P TOTAL Energies, Nicolas Terraz; CEO of TotaL Mr. Patrick Pouyanne; President Muhammadu Buhari; Minister of State Petroleum Timipre Sylva; GMD NNPC, Mele Kyari; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and GGM NAPIMS, Bala Wunti, shortly after a meeting with Chairman and CEO of TOTAL Mr. Patrick Pouyanne in Paris... yesterday

De Klerk: South Africa's President Who Quashed Apartheid, Dies at 85... Page 47

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

RETREAT FOR INTERNAL AUDITORS...

L-R: Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola; Deputy Governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat; and Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Audit, Mr Abayomi Oluyomi at the Opening of the14th Annual Retreat for Internal Auditors in Lagos ... yesterday

Report: 78% of Girls in Northern Nigeria Marry Before Age 18 FG moves to revamp primary healthcare Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Francis Sardauna in Katsina A new report has stated that 78 per cent of girls in northern Nigeria are married before the age of 18.

The report titled, 'State of the Nigerian Girl Report - An Incisive Diagnosis of Child Marriage,' was launched in Abuja yesterday, by the Save the Children.

It stated: "Child marriage is more prevalent in the north-west and north-east of Nigeria, where 48 per cent of girls were married by age 15 and 78 per cent were married by age 18.

"Also, 44 per cent of girls are married before their 18th birthday and the country records as one of the highest rate of child marriage globally."

The report further revealed that the percentage of people aged 20 - 49 years who were first married or in union before age 18 for women was 44.1 per cent, while men accounted for six per cent.

It noted that the percentage of young people aged 15-19 years who are currently married or in a union for women was estimated at 22.2 per cent while no man was in such a union.

In addition, the report estimated that the percentage of people from 15 - 49 years who are in a polygamous union - for women was 36.9 per cent, while men accounted for 18.7 per cent.

These, it stated was a proof that Early Child Marriage affects quite a large number of women and girls.

Furthermore, the report indicated that there was a clear and strong link between Child Early Forced Marriage (CEFM) prevalence and endemic poverty, poor education outcomes, school dropout rates, a high rate of out-of-school children, and poor access to basic social, economic and healthcare services.

It also stated that despite the Compulsory Free and Universal Basic Education Act of 2004, lack of access to quality, free, safe, uninterrupted and inclusive education for girls remains a big driver of child marriage.

It added: "In Borno State, 89.13 per cent of women aged between 15 and 49 were first married before age 15.

"59 per cent of them had no

education whatsoever; 42 per cent had some level of primary school education and 100 per cent had no secondary school education. Among women who are in a marital relationship or union, 46 per cent have spouses who are older by 10 years or more."

The report noted that in Jigawa State, 78 per cent of women, aged 20-49 were first married before age 18; while 25 per cent of women aged 15-19 are presently married or in a union and 63 per cent of women dropped out of school to marry.

It revealed further that only eight per cent of women who married before age 18 are gainfully employed and earn above the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) 2020 national poverty line. It also showed that 65 per cent of fathers, mothers and mothers-in-law approve of CEFM. Reacting to the report, the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, said the country has the highest cases of child marriage in Africa with 23 million girls married before the age of 18 years.

Tallen, who spoke during the launch and dissemination of the 72-page report, described the statistics as worrisome and unacceptable.

According to her, being a girl child in Nigeria automatically make the child vulnerable to issues such as denial of access to education, inequality, child marriage, social violence, exploitation and other negative vices.

The minister reiterated that out of the 13 million out-of-school children in the country, the majority were girls, "Only about 2 per cent of 15 to 19 year-old married girls are in school".

She explained that 15 out of the 20 countries with the highest cases of child marriage were in Africa, and Nigeria was second to India.

She lamented the spate of out-of-school children in the country, saying 13 million Nigerian children were currently out-of-school.

She said: "15 out of the 20 countries with the highest cases of child marriage are in Africa and Nigeria is second to India.

"Nigeria has the highest numbers of child marriage in Sub-sahara Africa with about

23 million girls married in childhood. Traditional rulers must raise up as champions to end child marriage in Nigeria.

"Nigeria's out-of-school children population is also the highest in the world. Out of the 13 million out-of-school children in Nigeria, the majority

are girls. Only about 2 per cent of 15 to 19 year-old married girls are in school".

Earlier, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, said the federal government has concluded plans to revamp Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the country.

He added that the government was working towards implementing universal health care coverage and urged state governors to improve the standards of their PHCs. In her remarks, the country Director of SCI, Mercy Gichuhi, called on the state governors

and Houses of Assembly to priorities the implementation of the 2003 Child Rights Act to end child marriage.

She, however, applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to increase education funding to 22.5 per cent by the year 2025.

Wike Accuses FG of Intimidating Judiciary Ahead of 2023 Blessing Ibunge Rivers State governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike has reiterated that the invasion of the residence of Justice Mary Odili, was a ploy by the federal government to intimidate the judiciary to a state of fear ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The governor alleged that the federal government wants to continue to ride roughshod unchecked over the rule of law and the sanctity of the country’s electoral system, hence, the renewed attack on judicial officers.

Wike said this yesterday, during a special court session to mark the opening of the 2021/2022 Legal Year of the Rivers State judiciary held at the Chief Judge's ceremonial court, Port Harcourt.

He said: "Although it is still early morning in our democratic match towards 2023, the attack on Justice Mary Odili is a prelude to

many more and even worse political maneuverings we should be prepared to experience from the APC-led Federal Government, which having lost relevance and popular support is becoming more and more desperate over its dwindling political fortunes by the day.

"While cases with political undertones, including the constitutional validity of certain sections of the recent amendments to the 2010 Electoral Act, if assented to by Mr. President, would necessarily come before our courts; what is important is the duty and capacity of our judiciary to save our democracy and the country.”

He noted that it was the responsibility of the government at all levels to protect the judiciary and accord the Courts with such assistance as they may require to safeguard their independence, advance the rule of law and dispense

justice equally and fairly to all citizens.

According to him, "while the federal government has been very weak in resourcing and strengthening the judiciary; it has been very strong and readily predisposed to ridiculing the entire institution and subjecting individual judges to both physical and psychological trauma for its own self-interest.

"We all witnessed the infamous midnight raids on judicial residences and the subjection of some judges, to illegal raids, arrests and detentions by agents of the federal government purportedly carrying out a baseless sting operation back in 2016.

"Since then the intimidation of judges whose judgments, intellectual or moral disposition they are not comfortable with has continued unrelenting with the latest attack on a peaceful mother, wife of a former Governor and Justice of

the Supreme Court, our own highly revered Hon. Justice Mary Odili.

"It is important to emphasise that we allow these intimidations to become acceptable standards of behaviour and even become complicit in their unholy design to undermine the administration of justice when we all opt to keep quite in the face of these assaults."

Wike, who commended the leaders of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Body of Senior Advocates, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and members of the public for promptly condemning the siege to judiciary, said they must quickly move beyond the verbal protestations to unveil those behind the raid on Justice Odili's residence and ensure that they are all are held to account for their actions, otherwise this impunity would never cease to rear its ugly head in the country.

UBA’s $300 Million Eurobond Oversubscribed Kayode Tokede Amid global and domestic challenges, the United Bank for Africa Plc’s (UBA) $300 million Eurobond attracted 1.7 times oversubscription from investors across the globe.

The Pan-African bank had on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) announced plans to raise a five-year fixed rate benchmark USD-denominated Regulation S/144A Senior Unsecured offering under its Global Medium Term Note Programme subject to market conditions.

The lender in a statement yesterday revealed that the targeted $300million Eurobond attracted an order book of $520 million, representing 1.7 times oversubscription.

According to statement obtained by THISDAY, the issue attracted interest from global investors across Europe, United States, Middle East, Asia and Africa, with orders from quality real money accounts.

The bank explained that its ability to achieve this transaction despite the challenging market backdrop, reflected continuing global investor appetite for

UBA’s credit and support for the Group’s Pan African banking strategy.

It further added that: “In conjunction with the new issue, UBA announced a tender offer on the existing $500 million Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022.

“The issue size of $300 million represents the amount required to fund the tender offer based on the maximum expected hit rate, in line with market precedents.

“The new issue along with the liability management exercise, complements

UBA’s stable funding base and supports the growth of the Bank’s balance sheet and the overall business.

“This issuance represents UBA’s second Eurobond transaction and the Bank’s first issuance under the recently established $1.5 billion Global Medium Term Programme, which was set up to enable the Bank access funding from the international debt capital markets, as and when required, in line with its growth plans and funding strategy.”

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EDO TECH PARK INAUGURATION...

L-R: Bishop Feb Idahosa; Managing Director, Edo Skills Development Agency (EdoJobs), Mrs. Ukinebo Dare; Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu; Managing Director, Development Policy and Partnership, World Bank, Mari Elka Pangestu; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; his wife, Betsy; World Bank Country Director, Shubham Chaudhuri and Chief of Staff to Edo State Governor, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha, during the inauguration of the Edo Tech Park in Benin City

Naira Sustains Gains on Parallel Market, Now N535/$ Nume Ekeghe Following improved dollar supply by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for legitimate transactions, the naira has appreciated to N535 to a dollar as of yesterday, stronger than the N560 to a dollar it was previously.

Some parallel market forex dealers told THISDAY that in recent times they have been recording reduced demand for the greenback.

Analyst predicted that the momentum would be sustained for the rest of the year and could possibly strengthen further to N520 to a dollar.

Speaking to THISDAY, Managing Director Afrinvest

Research, Mr. Abiodun Keripe noted that the strength of the foreign reserves and supply of forex by the CBN played a major role in this appreciation.

“The CBN now has more firepower in forex reserves at over $40 billion and this gives the CBN ability to supply the market and clear the backlog in the system combined with the inflows from the last Eurobond sale and accretion in oil prices.

I believe this is driving the appreciation in the naira,” he added.

On his part, the Head, Retail Investment, Investment Management Group, Chapel Hill Denham, Mr. Ayodeji Ebo noted that the trend could be

sustained.

He said: “It will be sustainable; there was a lot of speculation which increased demand and you know, when there is speculation even when you do need to, people buy and keep.

“Looking at the forex reserves also provides a bit of confidence and provides a bit of confidence for domestic institutional investors.

“So, I feel this is sustainable.

We may we may see further appreciation because we expect remittances to increase as we approach the end of the year, which will increase the supply to the economy.”

Also, Head, Financial Institutions Ratings at Agusto &

Co, Mr. Ayokunle Olubunmi said: “Even in our forecasts, we see more appreciation in December because the COVID-19 restriction have been lifted and people would come into the country.”

Also speaking to THISDAY, Investment Research Analyst, United Capital Plc, Mr. Ayorinde Akinloye added: “The sudden appreciation is largely due to weak demand at this point in time. Pressure could return at the turn of the new year when people resume travels, begin to pay school fees for international schools and resumption of business activities at the start of the year. Thus, the appreciation may only last a few weeks before renewed pressure.”

CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele had on Wednesday in Paris, disclosed that confidence in the Nigerian business environment was growing due to sustained policy interventions in the economy. Overall, Emefiele said the business confidence index was projected at 37.7 index points in November 2021 and 57.6 index points by mid-2022.

Speaking further, Emefiele pointed out that headline inflation in the country was expected to moderate to 15.35 per cent by December 2021 and 14.91 per cent

by February 2022, respectively.

Similarly, he anticipated that core inflation would fall to 13.39 percent in December 2021 from 13.74 per cent in October 2021.

Lawan to Ikpeazu: The Progressives Are Waiting for You Commissions shoe factory Bags another chieftaincy title in Abia President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, yesterday, told the Governor of Abia State, Dr.Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, that the progressives were waiting for him.

Lawan, however, extolled the virtues of the governor, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, whom he said was already a progressive at heart and in actions.

The Senate President spoke in Aba, Abia State, at a Grand Civic Reception in honour of Prince Paul Ikonne, the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Land Development Authourity( NALDA).

Lawan was in the state on the invitation of the governor primarily to commission a shoe factory, Enyimba Automated Shoe Company (ENASCO), sited at Obingwa near Aba. Shortly after the commissioning of the shoe factory, the convoy headed to Abia State Polytechnic in Aba, venue of the reception.

It was at the reception that the Enyi 1 of Aba, HRH, Eze I. A. Ikonne conferred on Lawan,the chieftaincy title of the Onyentukwasi Obi 1 of Aba in recognition of his "highly exemplary leadership qualities, meritorious service to Nigeria."

In his response after the conferment of the title, the Senate President said, "I want to say a little about our governor here, our friend. One of the earlier speakers said the governor will go to Senate in 2023. Amen.

"Your Excellency, it is necessary for me to speak about you here even though you and I are invited to attend a function meant to honour our young brother, Prince

Paul Ikonne.

"Your Excellency, I want to thank you for the opportunity to be here with you. I have listened to the remarks of Prince Paul Ikonne on your relationship with him and I have also listened to your remarks on the relationship.

"The relationship is a progressive relationship. The relationship that is blind to differences especially, in political persuasions. But all of you are wide awake and alert to one major responsibility: to make the lives of the people here in Abia State better. And that is what we need to do everywhere.

"You are a shinning example of a Nigerian that is pan-Nigerian, that believes in coming together with everyone to ensure that the lives of the people they govern are improved and I want to commend you for that.

"Your Excellency, before you go to the Senate, it doesn't matter how we are able to work to get ourselves into a progressive forum.

You are already a progressive at heart. You are a progressive in action. Your Excellency, the progressive forum is waiting.

"Your Excellency, I'm not suggesting anything. I'm just stating the obvious. You are different. You are a very peaceful man. You are a very humble man.

You are a very firm person.

You are a very fair person. You believe in justice. You believe in everything that is ideal of progressivism.

"And, therefore, for us, it's not anyone leaving from somewhere to somewhere, you are already there. You are ours, we are yours and Your Excellency, our people

look up to us in this country, regardless of their political beliefs, all they want is for us political leaders to put our heads together to salvage whatever situation needs to be addressed.

"You are indeed a great partner.

I have a great deal respect for you and we in Abuja, will like to go with you more closely. You have demonstrated your capacity to bring change in the lives of the people of Abia. Your Excellency, we are waiting for you to go and

contribute to the improvement in the lives of Nigerians at the center by the Grace of God." Lawan, however, thanked His Royal Majesty, for the honour and dedicated the title to all his Senator colleagues.

“This is due to the favourable impact of the various CBN and government interventions in the agriculture and the real sector, the moderation of supply side constraints and the gradual increase in domestic economic activity, which is expected to keep prices low in the near-term,” Emefiele told his audience.

He estimated that Nigeria’s external reserves would surpass $42 billion by mid-2022. This, according to the CBN Governor was due to sustained increase in crude oil price, the impact of Eurobond Issuance, and the stable exchange rate condition.

According to Emefiele, the recent launch of the eNaira would improve the conduct of monetary policy in Nigeria, reduce transaction costs and increase financial inclusion in the medium to long term.

“We expect an increase in the availability of credit through the CBN intervention programmes to increase aggregate demand and stimulate growth in key sectors that face credit constraints.

“We expect higher revenue due to stronger revenue administration efforts by the fiscal authorities,” he added.

Lawmakers Query Malami's Directive for Keystone Bank to Pay $40m Owed NNPC in Naira Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The House of Representatives has expressed dismay over the directive of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami ordering Keystone Bank to pay $40 million belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in naira equivalent.

The Executive Director, North and Public Sector Directorate, Keystone Bank, Mr. Lawal Ahmed, who appeared before the AdHoc Committee on Assessment and Status of all recovered loots, Movable and Immovable Assets from 2002 to 2020 by agencies of the federal government of Nigeria for effective efficient management and utilisation, said the total amount of money established by the AGF to be paid to NNPC was $136,676,600.51.

Giving a breakdown of the figure, Ahmed said, “Out of this entire amount, we paid $96 million in United States dollars and we paid the equivalent of $40 million in naira. That was the directive by the Attorney-General

at the rate of N305 to a dollar.

The schedule is also attached."

But the chairman of the Committee, Hon. Adejoro Adeogun asked how much Keystone had paid out of the $40 million at the N305 exchange rate and Ahmed in response said all the money had been paid.

According to him, the AGF recommended the rate.

Also, Adeogun wondered why the $136 million that was supposed to be for Brass LNG Investment Account was paid to a different account.

Responding, Ahmed explained, “We were paying into the Brass LNG’s NNPC account in the TSA and at the time the AttorneyGeneral gave the directive, he instructed that the funds be credited to the FGN Assets Recovery Account.”

Adeogun however showed a letter from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for Ahmed to see the differences in the details given to the committee.

After reading the document, Ahmed argued that there were no discrepancies in the exchange rates as recorded in the CBN and

Keystone’s documents.

He noted, “The first item, which is N12,421,794,504.88 is the equivalent of $40 million at N305, which was directed to the federal government Assets Recovery Account.

"There were two accounts: there was Brass LNG and there was OML 40. At the time this (AGF) letter was written, I believe that we had not concluded payment yet.

The final payments were made thereafter in tranches."

But not satisfied, Adeogun insisted that each of the two parties should be paid what was due to them.

According to him, “You could see there; you paid $18 million to a different person. So, we cannot accept that the payment to that other party is part of this payment (to the first party)."

Ahmed, however, insisted that the bank was duly advised on which account was to be paid into.

The committee chairman further aasked who instructed the bank pay money meant for (Brass) NLG to a different entity Responding, Ahmed said, “I stand to be corrected but I believe

that the instruction to pay would have come either from the NNPC or the CBN.” Adeogun stated that the committee would not admit the $18 million payment to be part of the remittance to (Brass) NLG. He added, “Right now, we have two issues in contention: $18 million that was wrongly paid, which we don’t know where it is, and as long as that cannot be determined, it means the $18 million is missing; and you need to prove that you paid $13 million. What we would do is to adjourn your own hearing for that purpose until you are able to give us evidence.”

It was at this point that a member of the committee, Hon. Olanrewaju Edun, said the House could take up the bank for the payment of $40 million in naira.

He said, “Out of the $40 million that you claimed that the AttorneyGeneral gave you a letter…as far as I am concerned, I don’t know why you have to take a letter from the Attorney-General.

This is Nigeria’s money owned by the three tiers of government.

We can take you up on that.”

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PAGE EIGHT P O L I C E PA R A D E 1 4 S U S P E CT S OV E R I N VAS I O N O F J U ST I C E O D I L I ' S R E S I D E N C E State Services (DSS), among others, had invaded the home of the Odilis on October 29.

The invasion drew wide condemnation from individuals and organisation, including the judiciary, Senate, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ohaneze Ndigbo, Afenifere, and other socio-cultural groups and civil society organisations.

EFCC Chairman, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, had denied involvement of the agency in the raid, while the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Usman Baba, in ordering investigation into the incident also denied involvement of the police in the matter.

But parading the suspects at the Force CID in Abuja, Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, a Commissioner of Police, said the investigation

was predicated on a petition submitted by Malami directing the Inspector General of Police to conduct a robust investigation into the matter. Mba said 14 suspects were arrested while seven were at large, even as he said detectives were working round the clock to apprehend others still at large.

He said the leader of the syndicate, Ajodo, who claimed to be a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), was an impostor.

"He is an impostor, not one of us or other law enforcement agencies in the country," he stated.

Mba said the syndicate obtained a search warrant based on false representation. He said the identity card found on him containing the signature of the AGF was forged.

Mba said the invasion was

a well-conceived one with actors drawn from different professional backgrounds, notably, law, journalism, and rogue law enforcement. He said one of the suspects, Yusuf Adamu of the Bauchi State Liason Office, had claimed that there was a large deposit of hard currency in the home of the Odilis.

Mba said a prayer warrior, Aliyu Umar Ibrahim, who was contacted by an alleged Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) staff had gone to Odili’s house to get soil sample of the place which confirmed the existence of the hard currency in the residence.

He said the syndicate contacted a staff of EFCC, Austin, who was at large, and two lawyers, Barristers Igwe and Lawrence, and a journalist, Nkwazema.

Nkwazema claimed he was

investigating an exclusive story.

But Mba said the police doubted him because he did not report the story before it broke and long after it broke, until police invited him.

Mba said all the suspects attended all the meetings before the invasion and were all there on the night of the invasion. He said the security men at Odili's residence should be commended for observing that the search warrant contained No 7 instead of No 9.

According to Mba, "This action saved the nation what would have been an embarrassment.

The investigation has been swift, intelligence-led and comprehensive. Any of the suspects currently at large will be arrested.

"We have contacted other security agencies, whose

B U H A R I : W E ' V E I N V E ST E D M AS S I V E LY I N R OA D S , R A I L , P O W E R , A I R P O RT S He said, "When infrastructure is in place, our people can look after themselves.”

The president emphasised that looking at the vastness of the country, "We need roads, rail, power, airports, housing, and that is what we have engaged ourselves with in the past six years.

"And our people are seeing the new developments. Relative to the resources available to us, we have not done badly."

He appreciated IDB for its support so far, saying; “What we are so dependent on (crude oil) has lost a lot of energy. It is coming back gradually, and we are breathing a bit more with some confidence. But we expect greater cooperation from you.”

Earlier, Al-Jasser said he was glad to see the level of collaboration between Nigeria and IDB since he assumed office three months ago.

He told Buhari that he was impressed by Nigeria’s policies on infrastructure, saying it would give “opportunities to youths, and encourage the private sector.”

He added, “Nigeria is a pivotal country to us, and it deserves all the help it can get.”

The IDB boss said the main role of the bank was to promote development among its stakeholders, saying it would continue to lend a helping hand to Nigeria.

Buhari stated when he received Pouyanne that Nigeria had made huge investments in gas, adding that the country would continue to create opportunities for expansion, while looking at creating alternatives with renewable energy. He said Nigeria was mindful of the target of zero emission by 2060, and had started putting in place structures to ensure balance and safety for citizens and

the global community.

In his remarks, the CEO of Total said the French oil giant had been greatly encouraged by the support for investors in Nigeria. He said the company would continue to explore and pursue opportunities of mutual interest.

Pouyanne noted that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), led by Mele Kyari, had provided a strong support base and partnership for growth, assuring that investments in the gas sector would be sustained with consideration for renewable energy.

During the opening of the three-day forum yesterday, Buhari flayed the disparity in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines between developed and developing nations since the pandemic broke out last year.

He canvassed an end to the hoarding of vaccines by lifting export restrictions imposed by some countries.

Delivering a keynote address entitled, "Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Importance of Coordination Among All Actors for Vaccine Delivery,” at the forum, which held at Grande Halle de la Villette in Paris, Buhari submitted that the coordination for distribution of the vaccines needed to be total while the objective had to be the same to deliver vaccines to the world.

According to him, the state of vaccine delivery across the world leaves much to be desired.

He stated, “We have a situation where some countries are giving booster third doses for their citizens when millions across the world, especially in the developing world, are yet to receive a single dose.

“Let us compare vaccination

rates to give an idea of the dimension of the problem.

According to recent data, as of 4th November 2021, 91.3 doses of vaccine had been given for every 100 persons across the world. On the same date, however, only 14.7 doses of vaccine per 100 persons had been administered in Africa – a clear case of lop-sidedness.

“According to Bloomberg, countries with the highest incomes are getting vaccinated ten times faster than those with the lowest income.

“As of 5th November 2021, Africa had fully vaccinated 77 million persons, amounting to just six per cent of the continent’s population. By comparison, 60 per cent of the European Union population had been fully vaccinated by September 2021.

This massive gap between vaccine requirements in Africa and vaccine availability is undermining the fight against the coronavirus pandemic on the continent. Even if Africa were to receive the 600 million doses of vaccine expected to be delivered to the continent by the end of 2021 under the COVAX arrangement, there would still be a considerable shortfall when compared to the population of the continent which currently stands at 1.383 billion.”

Quoting the World Health Organisation (WHO), Buhari stressed that even the planned COVAX deliveries to Africa had been cut by 25 per cent due to supply shortages and export bans.

He said, “This is a major setback for Africa, where it is estimated that COVID-19 vaccine deliveries have to increase from around 20 million doses a month to an average of 150 million doses a month if the target of fully vaccinating 70 per cent of its population

by September 2022 is to be achieved.

“So, what needs to be done to plug the gap? How can vaccine availability in Africa be boosted?

Who needs to do what?”

The president urged world leaders and global health institutions to follow a regime of enabling access to the COVID-19 vaccines, cautioning that sidelining countries in terms of reach will undermine the entire effort.

He emphasised that export restrictions that encourage needless hoarding of vaccines needed to be lifted, while welcoming pledges by industrialised countries to share vaccines.

Buhari said pledges should be fulfilled in a timely manner, as he appreciated some countries, like France, that had donated vaccines to developing countries.

According to him, “Resolving supply-chain constraints would require better coordination within the manufacturing process; and between manufacturers and end-users.

“There is a clear need for the expansion of vaccine production capacity in Africa. In this regard, African countries already have a roadmap: the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa (PMPA) developed in 2007 by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) on the basis of an African Union Summit decision taken in 2005.

“Licensing agreements should be reached with pharmaceutical companies for the transfer of intellectual property and technology to support the production of vaccines in Africa. If global vaccination is the only way to end the COVID-19 pandemic, then all stakeholders must act in a coordinated manner to plug the vaccine supply gap in Africa.”

GOV FAYEMI: MALAMI SHOULD DEFEND NIGERIA, NOT CLAIMANTS former member of the House of Representatives, politician and lawyer, Ned Nwoko, who is demanding $142,028,941; and Riok Nigeria Limited, Orji Nwafor-Orizu, and Olaitan Bello, who are laying claims to $142,028,941.95, $1,219,440.45 and $215,159.36 respectively.

Also, Ted Iseghoghi is claiming $159,000,000, while a firm, Panic Alert Security System Limited, owned by George Uboh, is claiming $47,831,920 in separate “consent judgments”.

The Debt Management Office (DMO) was recently directed to commence issuance of promissory notes to the creditors, a development the governors have continued to resist.

Malami had insisted that the consultants were deserving of the monies, from his own assessment of the situation, alleging that the governors had admitted to owing the debts and had actually been

paying them off for some years.

According to Malami, contrary to claims, the NGF had signed a contractual agreement authorising the deduction of fees from the federal allocation of the states as payments to consultants, who handled negotiations on behalf of the 36 States and FCT. He had stated that having committed to the deduction of the fee from the federal allocation which the governors of the 36 states had signed to and which preceded the Buhari administration for which payments were made in the past, the federal government could not but follow through with the payment hence the recent approval to effect the payment to the consultants via promissory notes.

But speaking yesterday, Fayemi, who stated that he was ordinarily reluctant to discuss the matter since it was already in court, noted that the governors

had held several consultations with Buhari, his chief of staff, the attorney general and the finance minister in the last eight months to sort out the contentious issues.

He upbraided the attorney general for publicly identifying himself as the attorney general of the federal government during his interview, noting that the office which Malami occupies exists to serve the federation and not the federal government.

Rather than defending the consultants, Fayemi insisted that Malami’s job was to defend the federal, state and local governments which make up the federation.

According to the Ekiti state governor, the consultants were taking advantage of Buhari’s “decency and generosity of spirit” to fleece the Nigerian people, having tried and failed during the administrations of Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umar Yar’adua and Goodluck

Jonathan to rip off the Nigerian people.

“It is not $418, it is $419 million and that may ring some bell in many places,” he stressed, apparently referring to the term 419, the popular Nigerian word for fraud or scam.

He argued that there was no order of mandamus against the governors anywhere as alluded to by the attorney general and challenged Malami to produce the document if he’s in possession of one.

The NGF chairman further pushed back on a statement made by Malami during the interview, that there exists a consent judgment confirming that the monies were owed the consultants and there was an agreement to pay, saying that there was nowhere in the so-called document that any amount was mentioned.

Continued on page 44

personnel are among those at large."

The police spokesman said no staff of the Ministry of Justice was involved in the operation.

But a man, who claimed to be the whistle-blower, an Islamic prayer warrior and swore to an affidavit that there was looted money in the house, said the information he was given was authentic. He alleged that he was called by the EFCC, after which they all assembled at the Ministry of Justice, where they demanded for the affidavit that he submitted, prompting surveillance on the home of Justice Odili.

"I showed him Justice Odili's house," Ibrahim said.

Mba declared, "At the end, all would be charged to court based on their level of involvement."

He said the charges might include conspiracy, impersonation, and forgery.

However, Ajodo, insisted that he was one of the five consultants appointed by the office of the AGF and that he was mandated to recover stolen funds lodged in 18 accounts.

Responding to questions during their parade, Ajodo said he was neither a personnel of the police nor worked for the AGF, but maintained his position that he was one of the consultants mandated to recover 18 accounts. He said the search was not executed on the night of the invasion because the house number on the warrant was No 7 and not No 9 Imo Crescent, the residence of the Justice, which prompted them to call off the search.

"I was given18 accounts to recover. I am a consultant, one of the five engaged in that office (AGF),” Ajodo insisted.

However, the web of denial of involvement by security agencies appears to be punctured by the accounts of the police and the suspects.

For instance, the police said two soldiers, a police ASP, an immigration officer, and an EFCC staff, who were allegedly involved in the raid, were at large. Those who raided Odili’s residence were also said to be about 50.

These raise the question how, suddenly, the paraded suspects are only civilians – lawyer, journalist, native doctor – or fake policemen or suspects, who forged search warrants for the operation.

THISDAY Disowns Stanley Nkwazema Meanwhile, the management of THISDAY Newspapers, in a disclaimer notice signed by the Managing Editor, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi, stated categorically that Nkwazema was neither a staff nor a Contributing Editor of the organisation.

The notice dated November 11, read, in part, "The attention of the management of THISDAY Newspapers has been drawn to the news making the rounds that Mr. Stanley Nkwazema, one of those suspected to have invaded the home of Justice Mary Odili, claimed to be a staff and Contributing Editor of THISDAY. "Contrary to his claim, Mr. Nkwazema is neither a staff of THISDAY nor a Contributing Editor. He was a Sports Correspondent and resigned more than 15 years ago."

Adebiyi explained that occasionally, Nkwazema, like hundreds of other readers of the newspaper, sent for publication articles and analyses and were usually obliged. He added that it was a privilege THISDAY gave to some of its ex-staff.

The notice added, "That does not in any way make him a staff and contributing editor of THISDAY.

"Since his resignation, THISDAY had at no time contracted Mr. Nkwazema to investigate any story, and we know nothing of his alleged investigation of a story leading to the raid of the residence of Hon. Justice Odili.

“The police authorities and the general public should, therefore, note that Mr. Nkwazema, whatever may be his involvement in this matter, was not on any reportorial assignment in any shape or form on behalf of THISDAY.”

Malami Denies Ajodo In a related development, Malami denied knowing or engaging Ajodo at any time.

Malami, in a statement, described the confession of Ajodo as that of a "drowning man scavenging for a dying partner".

He added that he could not have stooped so low to engage a quack or fake police officer as consultant.

Malami's position was contained in a statement by his media aide, Dr. Umar Gwandu.

The statement said, "The attention of the Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to a confession of a suspect during interrogation in the investigation of the recent invasion of the residence of the highly respected Justice of the Supreme Court; Justice Mary Peter Odili.

"With all the competent, high level professionals and capable human resources available at the disposal of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, it only takes the imagination of the evil minds to assume or think that the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will descend so low to engaging a quack or fake police officer to serve as his consultant.

"This is a case of a drowning man scavenging for a dying partner."

The AGF said he was happy that investigation had commenced to unravel the circumstances and personalities behind the invasion and sponsored campaign of calumny against his person.

He added that it was his desire and hope that the investigation would also disclose those after him, dragging his personality, his name and his exalted office in dirty politics.

Malami, while describing the development as an orchestrated attempt to stir unnecessary controversy and public apprehension, challenged the suspect to present documents of engagements where he worked as a consultant to the AGF, whether in the past or present.

The statement added, "Consultant for what? Which activity or assignment? When was he engaged? What were the terms of reference for the alleged consultancy service?

When was he engaged?

Where was he engaged? Which work has he executed for the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice? For what duration?

And for how much?

"We boldly and unequivocally challenge the fake consultant/ police officer to come out with answers or responses to these questions to the general public.

"The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice superintends over and respects the rule of law, and will not do anything to undermine the sanctity of his office and that of the entire judiciary and Justice sector.”

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NEWSXTRA

BEYOND THE PANDEMIC...

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun (left) exchanging greetings with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Nigeria International Partnership Forum, with the theme, “Beyond the Pandemic”, holding in Paris … yesterday

Aregbesola: Only 954 out of 4,860 Inmates That Escaped from Correctional Centres Have Been Recaptured Says 2.74m Nigerian passports issued in 24 months

Deji Elumoye

The Interior Minister, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola has put the total number of inmates from correctional centres who escaped during jail breaks across the country since 2020 at 4,860.

There had been reported cases of jails breaks in some correctional centres located in Benin, Owerri and Oyo, among others, with several inmates still at large.

The minister who gave the

figure yesterday, while featuring at a ministerial press briefing at the State House, Abuja, further explained that only 954 inmates had so far been rearrested, while 3,906 others were still on the run.

He, however, assured of the capability of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) to re-arrest the escapee inmates, saying with time those still at large would be taken into custody.

“How long can they continue to run from the state? The state is a

patient bird. You can run but you can never hide. Whenever and wherever they appear to transact any business, their cover will be blown,” he added.

According to him, the biometrics of all custodial inmates in the country had long been taken, which would enable the escapees to be tracked and rearrested.

"I will like to inform Nigerians that we have captured the biometric information of all inmates in the facilities of NCoS

working in partnership with the Nigerian Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

"Therefore, we have the capacity and are tracking all escapees from our facilities. In addition, we are working with and have shared the details of escapees with INTERPOL, to check the risks of cross border movements.”

The minister also said 465 inmates were running various degrees programmers around the country, adding that 85 of the

Nigeria on the Precipice, Says Afenifere Leader, Adebanjo Restates call for Sovereign National Conference Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Socio-cultural group, Afenifere, yesterday raised the alarm that Nigeria is tottering on the precipice with the raging criminalities in the land.

At a press conference, Leader of the group, 93-year old Chief Ayo Adebanjo said if nothing urgent was done, the ship of state would soon hit the rocks.

Afenifere accused President Muhammadu Buhari of presiding over a nation steeped in violent convulsion occasioned by insurgency, armed Banditry and other criminalities that appear insurmountable under his administration.

Adebanjo repeated the longheld demand of the group that Nigeria should be restructured and the need to convene a sovereign national conference.

"The Northeast was already aflame before the coming of Buhari, its peoples rendered as pawns in the power games of the northern elite, who allowed Boko haram to fester as the evil powers of the federal government was lost to them, and the insurgents were seen as ethnic champions, indeed, Buhari protested about the onslaught on Boko haram, and for those who might have paid attention, Gumi’s interventions are merely saying what Buhari used to say, before he gained office in 2015.

"But what used to be confined to the northeast, has today

become a pan Nigerian problem", he said.

"The terrorists have crossed into the north-west and as they have ravaged the entire region including the president’s home state, kidnapping hundreds of schoolchildren and their teachers, raping and pillaging the land, the Buhari regime has treated them with kids gloves, and have blithely labeled them as bandits, businessmen, vandals, and even recently as Area Boys", he lamented.

He further stated that "train track bombers, who were clearly intent on the derailment of a passenger train, are labeled as vandals in a clear advertisement of the complicity of the Buhari regime in the terrorist led insurgency, ravaging Nigeria.

"In the Middle belt, what were once episodic outbursts of Fulani herdsmen and farmers conflicts, a conflict as old as man, has acquired a most evil dimension.

He affirmed that Afenifere remained convinced that the need for a sovereign national conference is imperative and that the basis of the Nigerian state must be clearly negotiated.

"We are not asking for Buhari’s resignation, and since the National Assembly has not seen fit to impeach him, he remains the president of Nigeria until the 27th of May, 2023.

"But it is the considered position of Afenifere that he urgently constitutes a

Government of National Unity, charged with the sole task of seeing to the restructuring of Nigeria, in consultation with the Nigerian peoples.

"The Buhari regime has no plans for any elections in 2023, and this statement is not a difficult proposition to establish, once the parties to the debate, are fully seized, of their faculties", he said.

Stating further that; "The Buhari that stormed the Government House in Ibadan during the administration of Late Alhaji Lam Adesina, is the one established inside Aso Rock, and

the extreme nepotism of the man, his unbridled Islamist irredentism, are not only intact, they are unfettered by any pretense at presidential leadership. *“Be your brother’s keepers” was Buhari’s response to the slaughter in the Benue debacle, and “give up your land in order to live” was the spokesman’s recommendation to the victims*.

In the southeast, in the lands of the Igbo people, Gen. Buhari has been most indecorous with his words, but his actions are even worse than his words, and he has effectively lost control of the East.

inmates are running postgraduate programmes including four who are doing Ph.D programmes.

He said 560 inmates have been enrolled for WAEC/NECO examinations while 2,300 enrolled for Adult Literacy classes in several custodial centers.

Aregbesola assured that the challenge associated with procuring international passports would soon be a thing of the past as he disclosed that no fewer than 2,742,207 passports had been issued by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in the last two years.

According to him: “It is important to inform you that we have witnessed growing demand for the Nigerian passport both locally and by Nigerians in diaspora. A total of 2,742,207 passports of different categories were issued between 2019 to date.

"The year-on-year increasing growth rate is however putting a lot of pressure on the current processing structure and resources and further justifies the need for a reform in the passport application and processing system in line with the current reality,.”

According to him, the ministry was not unaware of the challenges Nigerians face trying to process passports, adding that efforts are being made to deal with the problem.

“The Ministry is aware of the challenges faced by applicants for processing and reissue of passports. I want to use this unique opportunity to assure Nigerians that the current experience will soon be a thing of the past. New production and capture centres will be opened in the next few weeks to ease access

by Nigerians all over the world.

"I am pleased to inform Nigerians that the Ministry has taken substantial measures to address the issue of shortages of the e-passport booklets.

“This year alone, the Ministry approved a special deployment of over 600,000 passport booklets, the largest of its kind ever done, to cushion the effects of shortages being experienced,” he said.

On current efforts to tackle corruption in the Ministry and its parastatals, Aregbesola cited the recent sting operation carried out by the Acting Comptroller General of the NIS, Isa Jere, at both Ikeja and Ikoyi Passport Offices, saying reforms such as new appointment management system were being put in place to rout corruption.

The former governor of Osun state also stressed that 174,000 jobs have been created for Nigerians through the administration of Expatriate Quotas and Business Permits.

US Trains 300 Nigerian School Girls on Coding Bayo Akinloye The United States consulate general has launched a new project to empower 300 secondary school girls in Osun to pursue education and careers in STEM fields through the project tagged 'Osun Girls Can Code'.

The 300 schoolgirls would receive training on coding, web design, and product creation, "all key skills needed in today’s increasingly competitive job market," said the US government.

It explained in a statement issued yesterday that encouraging the role of girls and women in STEM fields, "has been the cornerstone" of the technologylearning programmes supported

by the US embassy in Nigeria.

According to the statement, in addition to the capacity building programme for the 300 students, 60 female STEM teachers from Osun would receive training to help teach more effectively and on how to mentor women and girls about careers in tech fields.

During the project's inauguration in Osogbo, US Consul General Claire Pierangelo noted that the six-month capacity building program would foster a supportive community where the young girls can receive mentorship, network, and share internship opportunities in STEM fields.

Pierangelo explained that the, 'Osun Girls Can Code programme

was one of the many initiatives of the US embassy that "seeks to ensure gender parity and provide women and girls" with opportunities to contribute to creating sustainable and inclusive economic prosperity for Nigeria.

“The United States promotes the rights and empowerment of women and girls in our foreign policy, and we have invested millions of dollars to advance gender equality across sub-Saharan Africa,” Pierangelo said.

“When barriers to the participation of women and girls in STEM fields are removed, we all benefit. Whether at home or abroad, promoting women in the STEM fields is a US government

priority.”

The project will end with a pitch competition to showcase the participants’ achievements, with US consulate representatives taking part on the panel and the winning schools receiving prizes.

A 2016 Mandela Washington Fellow, Dayo Adeniyi, is implementing the project with a public diplomacy grant from the US consulate general.

The US government has introduced several programmes to create opportunities for women in the tech field.

In 2011, the US government introduced the TechWomen programme to empower the next generation of women leaders in the technology field.

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COMMENT

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

DIRECTING PRIMARIES THAT WORK FOR THE PEOPLE The abolition of indirect primaries is a positive legislative action against executive arrogance, writes Bolaji Adebiyi

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ow, technical glitches witnessed during the Anambra State governorship election last Saturday are thought to have weaponised political opponents of the electronic electoral system, which makes the case for technology-driven accreditation, voting, collation and transmission of election results. The election, which the Independent National Electoral Commission used to test-run its innovative Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, suffered the usual drawbacks and more. But the one of interest to the opponents of technology has been the hitches with BVAS. This, at best, is subterfuge.

Coming while the nation awaited the National Assembly’s adoption and passage of the report of its harmonisation committee on 2010 Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021 that resolved to grant INEC power to determine mode of electoral process, the antagonists saw a ray of hope. However, the approval of this recommendation on Tuesday by the Senate and the House of Representatives circumscribed that hope.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly added insult to their injury when it approved direct primaries as the sole mode of selection of parties’ candidates for elective offices. As it is their nature to be optimistic even when the issues are as visible to the blind as they are audible to the deaf, the adversaries, largely led by governors, are not giving up.

They, it is reported, have taken their battle to the presidency, hoping to convince President Muhammadu Buhari, who is a beneficiary of direct primaries, to withhold accent. Again, this at best, is reckless optimism.

The main argument for technological intervention is that it would reduce human interference in the electoral system and make the process more transparent and credible. The expected corollary is that it would reduce post-election contestation and make the nation’s electoral outcomes more acceptable to the generality of contestants and the people. This is essentially why the civil society and opposition politicians supported the idea and were up in arms against the federal legislators when they attempted to expunge the provisions in the electoral amendment bill a couple of months ago.

In proposing the introduction of technology, neither INEC nor its supporters beat their chest and vouched that all would be smooth without itches. First, BVAS is an innovative improvement over its predecessor, the Smart Card Reader. It aims to increase the commission’s capacity to make the accreditation process faster and more credible. It offers a voter whose thumbprint is not recognised by the accreditation devise a second chance through facial recognition. If both fail the voter, then he would not be accredited as the device has eliminated the notorious incidence form that was in the past used to compromise the accreditation process. It would also send its information to the commission’s central server, thereby making padding at any stage impossible.

That some of the gadgets of the new device had technical itches on its first deployment is obviously a none-issue because being a new innovation it would only be perfected through a learning process. In any case, this was the experience with the card reader when it was introduced in 2015. But by the general election of that year, it had been

IT IS OBVIOUS TO ALL DISCERNIBLE OBSERVERS OF THE NATION’S POLITICS THAT THE DELEGATE SYSTEM HAS NOT ONLY BEEN FRAUGHT WITH FRAUD BUT HAS ALSO ENHANCED THE CAPACITY OF STATE GOVERNORS TO DOMINATE THEIR PARTIES AND POLITICS

sufficiently mastered to render one of the most acceptable electoral exercises in the country to date. So, as the text-run continues with other stand-alone elections, including the governorship polls for Ekiti and Osun States next year, INEC’s electronics engineers have ample time to deal with the noticed challenges.

Secondly, it is necessary to point out that BVAS is only a leg of the electoral process that is billed for transition from analogue to digital (technology) mode. The others, voting, collation and transmission of results are outstanding, and their transition is in the offing. Already, INEC has more or less perfected the art of electronic transmission of results with the last Osun and Edo States governorship and some state constituency elections. Therefore, the partial failure of one leg at first deployment cannot be a sufficient argument for the abandonment of the push for an electronic electoral system.

The opposition to direct primaries is even more repugnant to the noble quest for entrenchment of internal democracy in the political parties, which the 1999 Constitution as altered insists are the only entities that can present candidates for elective offices in the country.

It is obvious to all discernible observers of the nation’s politics that the delegate system has not only been fraught with fraud but has also enhanced the capacity of state governors to dominate their parties and politics.

Had the governors been effective in the delivery of services to the people, their control would have been appreciated. Unfortunately, their political control has been largely detrimental to national development.

Having subdued the legislative and judicial arms of government in the states, the governors govern almost without restraint so much so they have become so emboldened to neglect their basic responsibilities of providing good governance.

The governors’ thirst for political dominance would have been ignored if it did not have the possibility of extending their gross incompetence to the federal level. Everyone knows that with their dominance of political power in the states no one could aspire successfully to any elective office at the federal level without their support.

This, no doubt, has made many of them so arrogant that not a few non-executive actors, including legislators and other aspirants think they are the main source of instability in the political parties.

If this is the case, there can be no sustainable argument against the need to clip their wings. The abolition of the delegate system by the federal legislature is a right move in this direction and it should be supported largely because, as argued quite correctly last week, resisting the executive’s bully must go beyond belly-aching and threat issuing from the other arms. Both aggrieved arms must come together to take concrete actions to abate its arrogance and hostility. This, therefore, is a positive legislative action to begin to rid the polity of the armful influence of a segment of the executive that has over exploited the advantages of the functions donated to it by the constitution to the detriment of not only the other arms of government but also the very people for which it was entrusted with power.

Adebiyi, managing editor of THISDAY Newspapers, writes from bolaji.adebiyi@thisdaylive.com

SHIFTING GOALPOST ON LAGOS-CALABAR RAILWAY Tony Iyare writes that the Lagos-Calabar rail will likely be abandoned, again

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ometimes one is at a loss on the increasing double speak and different tunes on the proposed 1,400 kilometers Lagos-Calabar rail line or what has become the shifting goalpost on such a vital project.

While delivering the 34th convocation lecture of the University of Calabar in March, 2021, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi disclosed that the federal government was going to sign a loan agreement for the commencement of the project and before the end of the year, contractors would move to site.

Mr Amaechi also told the nation assertively in July this year that a London bank had consented to fund the project. According to a report by thenewsguru. com, an online publication, Amaechi was quoted as saying that the, “London-based Standard Chartered Bank offers to fund the Lagos-Calabar coastal rail with $11bn of the $14.4bn needed to build the project.

“The rail line will pass through Calabar, Uyo, Aba, Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, Otuoke, Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, Benin, Agbor, Asaba, Onitsha, Ore, Ijebu Ode, Sagamu and Lagos!,” the minister said.

But between the recent interview he granted to THISDAY and the Transport Ministry’s budget defence at the National Assembly, we are now being told that the government is still sourcing for money to fund the Lagos-Calabar railway or what’s otherwise called the West-East Coastal rail line, a novel project that will link the western and eastern parts of the country.

Hear Amaechi in ThisDay interview published on November 1: “I am looking for money to do Lagos-Calabar, which covers my area, South-south; it is not there, $11.1 billion. We have seen some movement of cash; they have told us that they will give us $300 million to start while we look for $1.65 billion. Supposing

we finished the $300 million and they say they don’t have money, what will you do? But so far, they have not given us any money, which is why I said I have seen, because once you put pen to paper, they will raise the first $300 million for us to commence construction.”

Perhaps one of the most significant projects to be embarked upon since the country’s independence, the Lagos-Calabar rail line involves the construction of a total of 1,402 kilometers of railway line in addition to railway platforms, 22 railway stations including ancillary facilities, administrative space, and level crossings. Other works include the installation of safety systems, electrical systems, lighting systems, and signaling systems, as well as the laying of tracks and electricity lines.

The first phase will run between Calabar and Port Harcourt, while the second phase will run between Port Harcourt and Lagos through Onitsha.

Given the nature of that route as one of the busiest in the country, it’s possible that it could even outstrip the 11 million tons of cargo envisaged to be moved by the Lagos-Kano rail line. It will not only provide an alternative outlet for the massive movement of passengers and goods but reduce the weight and carnage wrought by heavy duty trucks on expressways such as Lagos-Ibadan, Benin-Shagamu, Benin-Onitsha, Benin -Warri, East-West and many others. This will surely lengthen the lifespan of these vital roads. It is also expected to engender massive industrialization of the cities where the rail line will pass through and generate thousands of jobs.

Since it will connect Obudu Cattle Ranch, it offers the opportunity to rekindle our tourism industry as it could be extended in future to link both the Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State and the Yankari Games Reserve in Bauchi State. So it is really not a project that should be mired in fiddlesticks.

In early August, 2021, the Federal Executive

Council (FEC) approved the project for the award of the contract for the building of the Lagos-Calabar railway. Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed who briefed the media said, “And then, also another memo that was approved today was the ratification of the President’s approval for the award of contract for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Standard Gauge.”

He revealed that the project was an old project which was inherited by the current administration.

Mohammed said that under the former administration, approval was given but nothing was done.

“Today, the council has given approval to commence the Lagos-Calabar Coastal rail. This particular route is very important because after the Lagos-Kano route, this Lagos-Calabar Coastal route actually will link all the coastal cities in the country.

“Actually, the proposed route alignment is as follows; it will go from Lagos to Sagamu, Sagamu to Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Ode to Ore, Ore to Benin City, Benin-City to Sapele, Sapele to Warri, Warri to Yenagoa, Yenagoa to Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt to Aba, Aba to Uyo, Uyo to Calabar, Calabar to Akamkpa to Ikom, Obudu Ranch with branch lines from Benin-City to Agbor, Ogwashi-ukwu, Asaba, Onitsha and Onitsha Bridge and then Port Harcourt to Onne Deep Sea Port.

“This particular route is very important especially for our coastal economy; the cost of the project is 11.

17 billion dollars,’’ he said. According to him, the project is expected to be completed in six years.

I really do not want to share the cynicism of those who say the project has entered voicemail. In fact, a highly respected senior friend of mine actually said, “Don’t mind Amaechi, this government will not touch that project”. The skeptics may indeed be right because time is obviously running out for the expected ground breaking event.

If nothing happens this year, it’s doubtful whether

the project will be touched even with a long spoon in 2022 when the dramatis personae in government will be heavily distracted by the politics of 2023.

The Buhari government’s vacillatory stance on this project also evokes doubt as to whether it is really committed to pulling it through. You can almost glean its sleekly antics from what has become the cocktail of shifting goalposts on the issue.

First, we were told that an American firm was interested in funding the project. After President Buhari returned from his Russian trip, the Presidency told the nation that Russia had resolved to undertake the project. The development, we were informed was one of the agreements reached at a meeting between President Buhari and the Russian President, Vladimir Putin. Last, it was Amaechi’s London bank tale by moonlight. From the London bank story, we are now being told that the government is still looking for funds for Lagos-Calabar railway. At each turn, the story on the project keeps changing.

The Buhari administration may however not be alone in this dodgy moves on the project. In July 2014, under the Jonathan administration, the LagosCalabar Railway Line Project received necessary approvals from Federal Executive Council (FEC). By November of the same year, the Federal Ministry of Transport signed an agreement to build the Lagos to Calabar railway line with China Railway Construction Corp. Ltd. (CRCC). In February, 2016, the Export-Import (Exim) Bank of China, one of three institutional banks in China chartered to implement the state policies in the industry, foreign trade, economy, and foreign aid to other developing countries, and provide policy financial support so as to promote the export of Chinese products and services, agreed to finance a part of the project.

Unfortunately by September 2017, the CRCC expressed its unwillingness to fund the project.

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EDITORIAL FINALLY, MAINA GOES TO JAIL Nobody is above the law

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fter a decade of high drama and powerplay, the law has finally caught up with the seemingly untouchable former chairman of the Pension Reforms Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina. On Monday, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja sentenced him to a total of 61 years’ imprisonment for defrauding the federal government of N2.1 billion. But the crude attempt by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials to rearrest a man that had just been convicted and was on his way to prison should be condemned.

The Maina saga is a long-running one, but it is significant that at the end, the system has proved that the former civil servant is not above the law. In 2013, the then Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, announced at the Senate that the police had planned to place a bounty on Maina’s head but was constrained by lack of funds owing to the delay in signing into law the 2013 Budget. This THE MAINA SAGA IS A convenient but lame LONG-RUNNING ONE, excuse came at a BUT IT IS SIGNIFICANT period the police had THAT AT THE END, THE shielded Maina by SYSTEM HAS PROVED providing him with THAT THE FORMER CIVIL dozens of armed and SERVANT IS NOT ABOVE undercover security personnel both before THE LAW and after the Senate had declared him wanted. Summoned to appear before the Senate to clear the air on a report that indicted him, Maina demurred at first and then later instituted a N1.5 billion lawsuit against both the upper legislative arm and the police.

With a lot of public money to play with, Maina operated as though above the law, moving around the country with a convoy of several vehicles and a retinue of security personnel. He was also a regular visitor to

Letters to the Editor

the Presidential Villa at the period. Despite the obvious fact that he was living far above his means, Maina claimed that the Senate was after him because he was exposing corruption. “We are not under any illusion that the struggle to rid the pension funds management of corrupt and fraudulent characters would be a bed of roses,” he said in one of his numerous media briefings.

“Certainly not, given that the culprits are sitting on billions of stolen pension funds, and are ever prepared to use the huge loot for shielding themselves from prosecution”.

M 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

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.

ERIC ZEMMOUR: LESSONS FOR NIGERIA

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n the late 1970s after successive Soviet leaders died and Mikhail Gorbachev was ready to do a deal with the West, a writer and a thinker was very bullish in his thought that the need of the Soviet Union was going to be the end of the world as no further squabbling will emerge.

Francis Fukuyama’s book in 1992 was very premature as a new wave of identity will herald the social disposition of the world. Recently Fukuyama, understanding the flaws, wrote a book, Identity. Identity has always been the reason. Actions fight each other. Adolf Hitler enunciated the identity milieu when he postulated the Ayran race in his book Mien Kampf, meaning my struggle. Donald Trump won an election because a lot of conservative Americans felt challenged by the emergence of Barack Obama. Let’s not forget we have the Reagan Democrats which was an historical identity collage. The rise of nationalism and the quest about who is really French has polarized most European nations especially France. The rise of front national and the successive inroads made by Jean-Marie Le Pen. Le Pen and the new emergence of a polemicist and nationalist Eric Zemmour has put the debate again on the front burner. For me it is not only about Zemmour, it is about billionaires like Vincent Bollore that set up CNnews where Zemmour became a star with his anti-immigrant views. He has become so compelling

ore confounding at the time was the seeming helplessness of the presidency in dealing with an employee of the federal government. At first the presidency claimed it lacked the power to dismiss the assistant director. Then, due to public pressure, there was a directive from President Goodluck Jonathan for the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to discipline Maina. But suddenly, once it became public knowledge that Maina had escaped and so beyond the reach of Nigerian security agencies, the presidency announced the dissolution of the task force that he headed.

Shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari came to power in 2015, it became public knowledge that the Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami, SAN, had also met with Maina in another round of controversy about the connection of the former civil servant. Eventually, following public pressure, Maina was arrested to face a 12-count money laundering charges filed against him by the EFCC. But he jumped bail before he was eventually rearrested in Niger Republic last December and brought back to Abuja to continue the trial that has now culminated in his conviction.

Aside forfeiting two choice properties at Life Camp and Jabi districts of Abuja, a bulletproof car and a BMW 5 series car, Maina is to spend eight years in jail. That hopefully brings an end to the sordid Maina drama that has lasted a whole decade.

in his argument against Muslim immigration despite being of Algerian parentage. His acerbic rhetoric has caused a lot of divisions in France and this has increased support for him. Zemmour just constantly asks the questions of identity albeit in a divisive way but his support base shows that people have taken on his message; this is an indication of the polarization of the society in France and other parts of the world. It is sad that if Zemmour gets on the ballot he would pass the first round in the 2022 elections. As we take lessons from France, we must also look inward in Nigeria and work on our unity. The recent agitations for division has gathered steam and a lot of people are buying the rhetoric. We should ask ourselves why has the polarization in Nigeria become so palpable, why has the drumbeats of war become so louder albeit when the drummers are fueled by the political class? Ralph Waldo Emerson says what lies ahead and behind are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. This is the time for everyone to reach out to one another and build unity. The identity battle is existential in nature and France will be fighting theirs with Zemmour. Are we thinking in Nigeria? In Nigeria today there are many Eric Zemmours justifying evil under the identity card and we must be careful of this divisive rhetoric so we don’t destroy our country.

Rufai Oseni, rufaioseni@gmail.com

IN PRAISE OF IDRIS WASE

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ember, House of Representatives and Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase does not need introduction in Nigerian politics and Plateau State in general.

Since the time he joined politics to date, Wase has been contributing greatly towards enhancing legislative business that led to the passage of many bills for national development in the green chamber. There is no gainsaying the fact, Ahmed Wase is a blessing to the good people of Wase federal constituency. He has proved beyond doubt that leadership is all about touching human lives in different ways. Through his good and purposeful leadership, Wase has built many schools to improve access to qualitative education and enhance schools’ enrollment.

In the area of youth empowerment, the deputy speaker has secured hundreds of jobs to his constituents in Civil Defence, FIRS, Army and other MDAs. This gesture has assisted greatly in poverty reduction. Wase also spearheaded the sponsoring of scholarship for many students, attracting infrastructural developments such as solar street light, hand pump and motorized solar borehole, construction of primary health care centres, building of skills acquisition centres, etc.

His wealth of experience spanning a long period of time in the legislature has shaped and fully prepared him for future arduous tasks.

No wonder, as Chairman House Committee on Federal Character for eight years, he fought consistently to bridge the disparity and imbalances between various states and regions in terms of employment and infrastructural distribution.

Malam Bala Adamu Wase, Kaduna

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POLITICS

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

On the Peaceful Conduct of Anambra Governorship Election Alex Obiogbolu praises the peaceful conduct of the recent governorship election in Anambra State and applauds the orderly conduct of the people of Anambra

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congratulate Ndi-Anambra for a successful governorship election which held on November 6 in 20 Local Government Areas of the state and on November 9 at Ihiala LGA. Following on the heels of our Governorship Candidate, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, I congratulate the Governor-Elect of Anambra State, Professor Charles Soludo and the APGA Campaign Organisation for their victory. This is a “You win, I win” situation as this was a victory for Ndi Anambra, as those who wished our state doom were put to shame.

The conduct of the good people of the state before, during and after the election was a beauty to behold and shall definitely become a shining example to other states of the federation.

Despite the huge expectations from the highly touted Biometric Voters’ Accreditation (BVAS) system, it turned out to be the sad note of the election. Coupled with poorly trained and poorly motivated staff, thousands of voters who turned out in huge numbers contrary to what pundits had predicted, returned home unable to cast their votes.

Thousands who cast their votes had these precious votes cancelled as a result of failure to employ the malfunctioning BVAS machines.

Despite this, we cannot thank God Almighty enough for the peace that pervaded our state throughout the Election Day. I commend the security agents who conducted themselves with more professionalism during the conduct of the election and thank God for the safety of lives.

The members and officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and all the members of the PDP 2021 Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation under the Chairperson of Senator Uche Ekwunife must be singled out for acknowledgement, they all in their own ways contributed to the campaign efforts of the party.

For me, it is such a special privilege to work with most of you, and I must add that working with some of you availed me the opportunity to know more about you. So much lessons were learnt while working with you on ‘Ka Anambra Chawapu’ project.

Of course, words will not be enough for me to appreciate the PDP’s Governorship candidate in the just concluded election, Mr Valentine Ozigbo who found me worthy to be the Director General (DG) of his PDP 2021 Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation. Mr. Valentine Ozigbo exhibited extra ordinary intellect and leadership that saw not only his emergence as the candidate of the party, PDP, but saw the far reach of his Ka Anambra Chawapu message amongst Ndi Anambra . He made our party proud and inspired hope in the youths and professionals of Anambra State.

Particular reference must be made to party faithful who were

All the candidates of 18 political parties that participated in the governorship election must be commended for their maturity and for running issue based campaign before the election. Their disposition of course was responsible for the peaceful polls

in the trenches day and night.

These men and women of honour who on certain cases put their lives on the line, toiled to ensure ‘Ka Anambra Chawapu’ project gain currency. I must say with all sense of responsibility that these persons have written their names in marble in the sand of time.

All the candidates of 18 political parties that participated in the governorship election must be commended for their maturity and for running issue based campaign before the election.

Their disposition of course was responsible for the peaceful polls. Anambra State has again proved to be the Light of the Nation with the outstanding leadership qualities demonstrated by the candidates of the different political parties.

Once again, I congratulate the winner of the November 6 governorship election, Prof Charles Soludo. There is no gain stating the fact that election is over and it is time to rebuild Anambra State again. This has continued to be his particular message in the past 12 years and It is my earnest desire that he would put Anambra State first in all his dealings as the governor of a state so blessed with abundance of human and material resources.

May the light of God continue to shine upon Anambra State.

-Dr Alex Obiogbolu is the Director-General, PDP 2021 Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation

Re: Formation of NDDC Board Not Part of My Responsibility Senator Godswill Akpabio denies a statement making the rounds that he has been making excuses to delay inauguration of the Senate approved Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission

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y attention has been drawn to sponsored write ups in the media, claiming that I passed the buck on my responsibility for the constitution of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC).

The write ups, deliberately published while I am outside the country on national duty, reportedly quoted my media aide, Jackson Udom, claiming that I have denied responsibility for the constitution of the board of the Commission. I have checked with Mr. Udom, and he has clearly said he was misquoted.

While I am not shocked by the mischief inherent in the publication, I am alarmed at the extent of falsehood the writers went in pushing their anti- Niger Delta agenda, to scuttle the due consideration of the report of the Forensic Audit by stampeding the government. More alarming is the attempt to drag the hallowed name of our president into this plot.

For the avoidance of doubt, Mr President has set out to reposition the NDDC after 19 years of rot saw to the undermining of the dreams of the fathers of the region, to fast track its

development through the setting up of an interventionist agency.

Part of the strategy was a forensic audit to understand what went wrong, despite the resources committed to the Commission over the years.

The report of that audit has just been submitted to Mr President, who is studying it to come up with a formula for a commission fit for purpose. That formula is what the board being put together will work with.

It is not in the interest of the region to stampede the government into aborting the reform process. The President has demonstrated immense love for the Niger Delta and its people. This is reflected in the support he has given to the NDDC to complete some of the projects abandoned over the years, like the headquarters complex in Port Harcourt, the Students’ Hostel at Uyo, and the electrification project in Ondo State.

The President wants to give to the region an interventionist agency that will realize the dreams of our fathers for our people and generations yet unborn.

The greatest disservice we can do to the region is to attempt to stampede him, through ingeniously crafted media campaigns.

I am irrevocably committed to assisting Mr President to leave behind a legacy for the Niger Delta people, particularly, saving the NDDC from dying like past developmental agencies put together for the region since 1958.

-Akpabio is the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2021

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PERSPECTIVE

The Anambra Elections: Talking to the Numbers What Nigeria and Africa Can Learn from America’s Infrastructure Agend

Chido Nwangwu commends a new legislation in America that seeks to rebuild aspects of America and reposition her for the digital competition, environmental science and energy efficiency

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t was former President Bill Clinton’s Press Secretary Mike McCurry who sometime ago spoke in projection of the focus of the Democratic Party. McCurry whom I met and chatted with in South Africa when I traveled with and covered U.S. President Bill Clinton’s historic visit to parts of Africa, March-April 2, 1998, has argued “There’s a wider agenda that speaks to what the Democratic Party has historically stood for, which are economic rights for those who are struggling in the middle class, concern for the poor, for economic justice for those who are marginalized in our society.” There are millions in his party who believe the same aspirations and achievement of such important purposes.

Even more strongly than Mr. McCurry, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, has made the same arguments, legislated for, voted for and proposed that agenda for more than 50 years of his engagement with public service.

In the usual intra-party squabbles of the Democratic Party, they sent mixed and confusing messages about their handling of the Biden Infrastructure agenda to rebuild aspects of America and reposition better for the digital competition, environmental science and energy efficiency necessary.

I do know that those three areas constitute the dominant highways to economic success and leadership.

After all the zig and zag, the formidable Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi reorganized her parliamentary tactics and strategy. In a couple of days, the House approved bipartisan infrastructure legislation last Friday November 5, 2021 — advancing the President’s agenda.

It is the $1.2 trillion “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” H.R. 3684, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, or BIF. It increases investments and spending on road and technology highways. BIF projects and provides substantial funding for better transit and rail networks across the country. Also, it supports the development and research into electric vehicles, climate change issues, harnessing of green energy and explore other solutions to some of the environmental challenges which Americans and the world are facing, currently and into the

future!

Biden has commended the bill as: “A once-in-a-generation investment that’s going to create millions of jobs, modernize our infrastructure, roads, bridges, broadband, a whole range of things. To turn the climate crisis into an opportunity…. It puts us on a path to win the economic competition of the 21st century that we face from China and other large countries in the rest of the world.” He also promised: “It’s going to create more jobs — goodpaying jobs, union jobs — that can’t be outsourced.”

Some of the high points of his agenda include yearly grants for energy efficiency programmes, energy efficiency building codes, enhanced energy efficiency standards for manufacturing and industrial facilities, use of battery power, battery storage, battery mineral processing and recycling.

The package also deals with one of the issues faced in some poor neighborhoods namely that of healthy, clean, drinking water infrastructure and for lead service line replacement and the prevention of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination.

Significantly, the Biden and BIF legislative package seeks to plant more than 1 billion trees.

Somehow, the toxicity of rabid partisanship have seen some moderate Republicans face death threats and severe attacks from their radical party members especially those who wake up on, sleep and swear by anything former President Donald J. Trump says!

Hopefully, many of the mismanaged and corruption-ridden African countries can borrow or copy to adapt several of the strategic and tactical ideas about the competitive future and paradigm shifts for all economies. Or, will Nigeria and Africa be colonized again?

-Dr. Nwangwu is the Founder and Publisher of USAfricaonline.com

BIF projects and provides substantial funding for better transit and rail networks across the country. Also, it supports the development and research into electric vehicles, climate change issues, harnessing of green energy and explore other solutions to some of the environmental challenges which Americans and the world are facing, currently and into the future

Ahmad Sajoh expresses concern about growing voter apathy and its implications on Nigeria’s democracy

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n many ways, the Anambra elections presents a lot of lessons for our democracy, especially as we move towards 2023 elections circle. Undoubtedly the build up to the elections was filled with a lot of apprehension and sometimes fear. Drums of war beaten by separatist groups, the weaponization of fake news on social media on the streets of Anambra created fear and confusion in the minds of the Ndi Anambra and other Nigerians.

The heavy deployment of security personnel over 50,000 in number was meant to reassure the citizens of their safety, but it also had the opposite effect of creating a scare. During the occasional exercises called “Show of Force” in the state capital Akwa, a resident was heard lamenting that an eminent clash between the separatists and security forces was sure to result in huge fatalities.

But by the time returning officer Professor Florence Obi declared results for the 21 Local Government Areas after the Ihiala supplementary elections, the fears, apprehensions, and confusions of the build-up to the elections have become the celebration of a near successful exercise. The elections held on the 6th of November were to a large extent peaceful and conducted within the requirements of the electoral act. As they say in the law courts, there appeared to have been a substantial compliance with the requirements of a successful election.

Indeed, there are many positives recorded in the Anambra elections. The most important of these positives is the reported professional conduct exhibited by the security agencies. Expectations from security personnel in the conduct of elections should be protective of voters, officials and materials, respect for human rights of all concerned and maintenance of non-partisan disposition throughout the process. According to most observer reports, the security agencies acted to a large extent within these realms. This is quite commendable.

Another positive is the deployment of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System BVAS. This is a welcome innovation in the electoral process. The BVAS goes a notch higher than the card reader because it authenticates voters finger prints, pictures and voter details. Granted that there were glitches in a few places with respect to the effective functioning of the BVAS, it is gratifying to note that these glitches were corrected, and the process went on successfully. It must be acknowledged that the use of the BVAS indeed a very positive development and positive step towards creating an electoral system that is credible.

INEC had also used the Anambra elections to test-run the possibility of electronic transmission of results. There was even an active results portal which could be accessed by journalists and observers during the election period. But electronic transmission is still far from eliminating the manual transmission that requires signatures of returning officers as a legal requirement and of party agents as proofs of acceptance that the results represent voter preferences or accurate computations of the results at the collation centre.

The main purpose of this write-up is to speak to the numbers as expressed after the results of all 21 Local Government were declared. But before interrogating the numbers, it may be expedient to try and attempt to situate it within the context of the credibility of the polls. According YIAGA Africa, one of the observer groups that deployed over 500 observers one indication of the credibility of the polls is the confidence the contesting political parties have expressed towards the elections.

One way to gauge political party acceptance that outcomes reflect conduct at the polling unit and collection centres is by the acceptance of their agents to append their

signatures to the result sheets. YIAGA Africa did a study of the numbers of party agents who signed form E.C 8A. the result shows that 86% of APC agents did sign the forms.

98% of APGA agents did same. For the PDP, the figure is 96% and for YPP it is 79%. These are truly high figures because one returning officer for Orumba North had alleged that he signed a result sheet under duress. It wasn’t practically possible to put all the party agents under some kind of duress for this high number to sign the documents.

Talking to the numbers gives a very serious cause for concern. According to INEC voter turnout on the overall was 10.12%.

This is based on the fact that of the 2,466,638 registered voters in the 21 LGAs, 249,631 votes were cast in all. This is even less than the 258,334 voters accredited by 8,703 and about 10.47% of the Registered voters. Even out of the 249,631 votes cast only 241,523 were valid votes. A huge chunk of 8,108 votes were invalidated. This according to INEC represents 3.3% of the total Registered voters in the state. In some of the Local Governments the voter turn-out was so dismally below the state average of 10.12%.

Awka North had a voter turn out of 6.17%.

Onitsha South is 5.99%, Idemili North is also 5.99 while Idemili South is 5.87%. The list is Ogbaru with 5.39%.

Simply put, in a state of 5,527,809 only 249,631 determined who the Governor should be. Of this number the APGA candidate polled a total of 112,229 votes or 44.96% of the total votes cast. What percentage of the total registered voters took that decision on behalf of the rest? I cringe. A near negligible 4.55% of the registered voters took part in the decision as to who governs Anambra from 2022. For a population of 5,527,809 the votes received by the winner of the election simply represents 2.03%. What?

So less than 3% of the population decided for everybody? Is this really democracy? Is this the rule of the majority?

What of the number of those who were accredited but didn’t vote? They number 8,703 or 3.49 of the total accredited voters.

Although this is just 0.35% of the Total Registered Voters, it is still instructive that even at the point of voting after being accredited over 8,000 citizens felt the whole process was not worth their while. They simply worked away. Perhaps they only went to test their voter accreditation status and no more. But all of these represent some red signals in our democracy. It speaks to the fact that the democracy project is not aligned with citizen’s interests and expectations.

This is truly worrisome for the survival of our democracy even after 22 years of uninterrupted democratic practice.

-Sajoh is the Executive Director/CEO FutureNow Initiative and writes from Wuse Zone 1, Abuja NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

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Aviation Authority Denies Giving Approval to Airlines to Sell Non-refundable Tickets to Passengers

Chinedu Eze The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has denied giving approval to any other airline in the country to sell nonrefundable ticket to passengers.

The General Manager, Consumer Protection of the agency, Kalu Anaso, told THISDAY in an exclusive interview on Wednesday that NCAA does not give approval to airlines to sell non-refundable tickets to passengers.

The development, he said, is at the discretion of the airlines stressing that passengers must be informed.

“If a passenger buys a ticket he should check it to see when it has non-refundable. There are different types of tickets. Some are refundable with taxes deducted, while some will refund you all the money; so all tickets are not the same but we did not give approval to any airline to sell non-refundable ticket. If there is anyone that has such problem

bring it to our notice so that we know how to intervene and settle it,” Anaso said.

NCAA was reacting to the allegation by Azman Air that the agency gave it approval to sell non-refundable tickets to passengers who were not eventually airlifted by the airline to their destinations.

Speaking on behalf of the passengers, CEO of the Daniel young Investment Limited, Mr. Daniel Young, told THISDAY that Azman Air had adopted it as a

policy not to refund tickets to passengers without prior notice to the passengers that such tickets are not refundable.

Yound noted that checking the tickets of the airline; there were no written indication that the tickets if not used the fare would not be refunded.

“Recently a 16-year old student of the Nigerian Defence Academy on Abuja-Kaduna flight was stranded because after he was screened and allowed to board, the Aviation Security of the Federal

Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), called him back to check another thing in his luggage. The FAAN official informed Azman Air officials at the foot of the aircraft that the boy would come back to board his flight. But by the time the boy was allowed to come and board the flight, the flight crew had closed the aircraft door and started taxing.

He spent over seven hours at the terminal. The airline refused to refund him and his parents could only raise N13, 000, which

was less than the fare. It was the following day that a Good Samaritan bought him ticket for another airline. NCAA and FAAN officials were very angry. In fact, FAAN officials took the On-Duty Card of the Azman Air station manager and he threatened to report to the Chairman of the company, claiming that NCAA was aware that the airline does not refund passengers their fares,” Mr. Young told THISDAY. Continued on page 24

GoG Security: NIMASA Calls for Uniformity of Laws as KAIPTC Demands Change to Yaoundé Code of Conduct Eromosele Abiodun Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, has appealed for the standardisation of the legal frameworks of countries in the Gulf of Guinea to aid effective prosecution of maritime crimes.

Jamoh made the appeal in Lagos at the Third Technical Rotating Meeting of the project on, “enhancing regional research, convening

of stakeholders and capacity development in the Gulf of Guinea,” implemented by the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra, and the Government of Denmark.

A communique calling for the transformation of Yaoundé Code of Conduct (YCC) into a binding convention for better coordination and optimal benefit to the member countries, was issued at the end of the meeting organised in partnership with

NIMASA and the Inter-Regional Coordination Centre (ICC).

The Director General said efforts were being made to standardise regional maritime law enforcement, stressing that some countries are already enacting their own antipiracy laws.

Jamoh stated, “We encourage countries within the region, which do not have distinct antipiracy laws, to try to enact such laws. It is in the interest of every country in the

Gulf of Guinea to consciously work to remove obstacles to the prosecution of piracy and sea robbery suspects.

“Shipping is an international business, and crimes associated with it are equally international in nature. Now, how do you try a suspect in a country where our SPOMO Act cannot be applied?

“No country can fight maritime insecurity alone. It is a collective responsibility. There is hardly any nation that does

not have commercial interest in the Gulf of Guinea.

“So we must work to ensure uniformity of legal frameworks in the region to facilitate effective prosecution of maritime crimes.”

The communique read, “The YCC, as it stands now, is a code of practice without any binding provisions. This affects the way it is implemented at the regional and national levels. The meeting, therefore, calls for expedited action

towards the transformation of the YCC into a binding Convention taking on board, the peculiar contexts of diverse jurisprudence, linguistic traditions and the inter-regional coverage of the code as well as the differing procedures of the three (3) sponsors of the ICC (i.e.

ECOWAS, ECCAS and the GGC).”

“Coordination of action at all Continued on page 24

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT T H U R S D AY, O C T O B E R 2 8 , 2 0 2 1 FGN BONDS DESCRIPTION 12.175 FGNSB 10-OCT-2021 11.244 FGNSB 16-OCT-2021 10.296 FGNSB 13-NOV-2021 13.390 FGNSB 14-NOV-2021 9.091 FGNSB 11-DEC-2021

Price

Yield

BILLS Change (%)

MATURITY

OTC FX F U T U R E S

Discount Yield

Change (%)

100.08

2.85

0.00

NTB 14-Oct-21

2.88

2.88

0.00

100.20

2.92

0.00

NTB 28-Oct-21

3.04

3.04

0.00

100.70

3.25

0.00

NTB 11-Nov-21

3.20

3.21

0.00

101.04

3.26

0.00

NTB 25-Nov-21

3.36

3.37

0.00

NTB 13-Jan-22

3.92

3.96

100.97

3.59

CONTRACT TENOR (MONTH) 1

Contract

Current Rate ($/₦)

NGUS OCT 27 2021 420.93

2

NGUS NOV 24 2021 422.38

3

NGUS DEC 29 2021 423.83

0.00

4

NGUS JAN 26 2022 425.28

0.00

5

NGUS FEB 23 2022 426.73

C Ps MATURITY

Discount Yield

Change (%)

CMBL CP XV 11-OCT-21 UBNP CP VIII 18-OCT-21 CMBL CP XII 31-OCT-21 CMBL CP XVII 15-NOV-21 FSDH CP III 16NOV-21

6.27

6.27

0.00

7.91

7.93

0.00

4.14

4.16

0.00

5.15

5.18

0.00

6.52

6.57

0.00

24

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

AIR WATCH

Immigration Blames NIMC for Delay in Issuance of Passport Chinedu Eze The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has attributed its inability to meet the six weeks target for the issuance of fresh passport or three week re-issuance to challenges posed by National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in obtaining National Identity Number (NIN).

Immigration has also advised intending applicants to ensure that their details in their passports and those on their National Identity Number (NIN) correspond or they would not get passports until that challenge was resolved.

Passport applicants who spoke to journalists said there were discerning changes since a new administration has taken charge of the Ikoyi Passport office, noting that the cloud of uncertainty, which characterised activities in the office in the past, had disappeared.

However, they noted that major challenge experienced with regards to collection of passport booklets by applicants were attributed to the inability to provide NIN for some of the applicants in time.

Some applicants were told that the NIN portal had been down for weeks and the Nigerian Immigration Service could not confirm and match identity details in both documents.

The new Passport Control Officer (PCO), Deputy Controller Immigration, Abolupe Bewaji, explained that applicants always mistakenly think Immigration issues NIN and usually lump the blames of delays experienced on the NIN on the service, stating that applicants must ensure the have their NIN before applying as doing both simultaneously, especially with down time from the NIN end, would lead to such delays.

She said, ” For people seeking passports they need their NIN validated before we proceed further on application of passports. This will make them know the delay in the process is not from Immigration.

All things being equal re-issuance of a passport is three weeks while fresh passports are six weeks. We need all hands on deck to educate the public on certain areas. For example, the price of passports is online. It is everywhere and so we need to project it so people are aware and it becomes, as it should be.

“We should make the public to know the difference between starting application with Immigration and getting you NIN validated correctly.

All details in your passports should correspond and be arranged the way it is on your NIN Slip, if there are differences, the process will not work and this will cause delay on the passport,” she explained.

F A A N ’s Q u e s t f o r Corruption Free Airports

Expert Calls for More Dedication t o G row Av i a t i o n S e c t o r The Grand Patron of the National Aeronautical Communicators Association of Nigeria (NACAN) and Chairman West Link Airlines, Capt. Ibrahim Mshelia, has called on aviation workers, especially members of NACAN to rise up to industry challenges with courage and determination to ensure the growth of the industry.

Mshelia who stated this recently in Abuja during NACAN’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), where he was named the Grand Patron of the association, regretted that the nation’s aviation industry, just like its counterparts around the world, was going through a turbulent time, but urged everyone to join hands together to salvage the sector from its present precarious situation.

He, however, expressed hope that the industry would surmount present predicament with the efforts put in place by the present government to ensure its rebirth.

Mshelia who is also the Chairman, Mish Aviation Flying School, the first privately owned Pilot Training School in West African Sub-region and SubSaharan Africa in Ghana called

for a combined effort towards saving the industry from the present ruins occasioned by the neglect of the past and urged the industry players to avoid damaging steps that would rescue defeat from the grip of pending victory.

“Our aviation industry is passing through a very turbulent time and it is just compulsory that all of us must roll up our sleeves in a joint effort to salvage it from the present ailing state. The global aviation sector fell into unpremeditated financial cesspit as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 and is yet to recover fully from the ravishing ill wind that swept across the sector. It is more devastating here because we were still in the struggle to match pace adequately with global practice when the calamity struck.

“However, inch by inch, we have been trudging on, with assured steps that is now bringing hope that we shall breast the tape victoriously very soon. This can only be possible if we learn to do things right and effect some necessary changes that we need to handle with the required dexterity.

“The fact that we have not really moved with time has culminated in obsolete equipment and the attendant stress in the discharge of duties. I am however hopeful that; in the midst of the myriad of obstacles currently besetting the free flow of our works, due to these neglects, we shall soon come out triumphant,” he said.

Speaking on the conferment of the title on Mshelia, President, NACAN, Comrade George Nkambo said the association bestowed the title on the aviation mogul in order to shore up the profile of NACAN and in recognition of the enormous contributions of the recipient to the sector.

According to him, Mshelia was chosen as NACAN Patron after a careful research into the latter’s laudable track records, which he said placed him so distinct among peers.

Captain Mshelia is also a Member of Royal Aeronautical Society (MRAeS), Aviation Consultant (Airline Management, Training, Leases/Sales), and Certified Agricultural Pilot (Corp Dusting & Aerial work/Pest Control).

GOG SECURITY: NIMASA CALLS FOR UNIFORMITY OF LAWS AS KAIPTC DEMANDS CHANGE TO YAOUNDÉ CODE OF CONDUCT levels is critical for impact on the ground. Such coordination efforts must begin with states demonstrating willingness to cede portions of their sovereignty and invest in the realizations of the provisions of the YCC.” It added, “State and multilateral actors who lead in the implementation of

safety and security measures in the Gulf of Guinea, must identify and implement relevant confidence-building measures to reinforce the principles of coordination and in the implementation of the YCC.” The Yaoundé Code of Conduct was signed in 2013 by 25 West and

Central African countries, it provides the structure for joint operations, intelligence sharing, and harmonised legal frameworks among its five zones, two regional centres, and one Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC) that watch over 6,000 kilometres of coastline and 12 major ports.

AVIATION AUTHORITY DENIES GIVING APPROVAL TO AIRLINES TO SELL NON-REFUNDABLE TICKETS TO PASSENGERS He said that passengers have rights to information notwithstanding how the flight booking was made, noting that airlines are obliged to provide passengers with a written notice, setting out the rights they are entitled to incase their flights are delayed, cancelled or denied boarding, adding that 95 per cent air passengers do not know their rights.

“Azman Air knows that passengers have a right to refund but have chosen to hide under layered subterfuge to rob them of their cash. It is criminal to hold back people’s money without offering any form of relief to them. Azman claims that NCAA approved the policy, and that

seems very odd. It is not clear why NCAA should approve a different refund policy for Azman Air against what is seen in the Civil Aviation Act. “Passengers on Azman Air never get refunded whatever the circumstance and NCAA is standing by without doing anything. In fact, consumer protection personnel are even afraid to challenge them now because they know that nothing will come out of it,” Young said.

Reacting to the controversy, the Chief Operating Officer of TAL Helicopters, Femi Adeniji explained that some tickets are designated as non-refundable but passengers are usually informed and there is usually time-line for

such tickets.

“Yes, some tickets are non-refund but you have 12 months to use the ticket. Does this happen here? South West Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines issue very cheap tickets which are non-refundable but if you wish to use the ticket again, you are asked to pay the difference in fares. This, I believe, is not the case here. Let the airlines Azman Air, Aero Contractors come out and clarify this action,” he said.

THISDAY contacted the CEO of Azman Air, Muhammed Hadi Abdul Munaf, who neither picked his call nor responded to the message sent to him through SMS.

Chinedu Eze After series of criticisms and exposure on video, the nefarious activities of many officials who work at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and extort money from passengers, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) decided to end the unscrupulous practice, which has damaged its image globally.

The agency recently announced measures and regulations geared towards reducing extortion of travellers by officials at the airports to its ‘barest minimum’.

FAAN Managing Director, Captain Rabiu Yadudu, while making the announcement recently in Abuja, said the new effort would go a long way in improving security and integrity at the country’s airports.

To show its seriousness this time, FAAN on Tuesday announced the apprehension of a staff of Nigerian carrier, Arik Air, for soliciting and collecting bribe from a passenger.

FAAN said, “Following an emergency FAAN management meeting on the incessant extortion of passengers by airport officials at the nation’s airports and steps being taken to address the situation, a staff of Arikairline had been apprehended while soliciting bribe from a travelling passenger at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), Lagos.”

The agency immediately withdrew the On- Duty Card of the erring staff and handed her over to the relevant security agency for appropriate action in order to serve as deterrent to other bad eggs in the airport.

In reaction, Arik Air management announced the suspension of the staff in a statement, signed by the airline’s spokesman Adebanji Ola, it stated: “The management of Arik Air (in Receivership) has suspended with immediate effect one of its staff caught by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria for soliciting bribe at the domestic wing of the MurtalaMohammed International, Ikeja, Lagos, pending further investigations.

“While the management conducts its own internal investigation, we wish to reassure FAAN of our cooperation on this matter if further investigation is required. We fully support what FAAN is doing to rid our airports of this menace of corruption.”

FAAN also noted, “Recent embarrassing online videos where passengers complained of acts of extortion at the nation’s airport had necessitated the need to devise multi level strategies to curb the menace.”

But THISDAY findings indicate that this new determination by FAAN to eliminate corruption at the airports, especially the nation’s gateway, MMIA is not going to be easy. Investigations carried out by THISDAY confirm that the major officials who carry out extortion and solicit for bribery from passengers operate in semi-autonomous manner, so are not directly answerable to FAAN management.

These include officials of Nigerian Customs Service, Quarantine, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) even security operatives attached to FAAN Aviation Security (AVSEC).

These officials always claim that they get directives from their head offices and therefore are not obligated to abide by the rule of engagement directed by FAAN management.

On September 26, 2021, THISDAY carried out survey of activities at the departure of the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and found out those NDLEA officials, Immigration and Quarantine carved out spaces where they order passengers to come for the search of their luggage.

The investigation revealed that beside the x-ray machine which screens all passengers luggage at the entrance of the terminal, officials of the NDLEA, the Department of State Service (DSS), Quarantine and AVSEC located themselves in a booth where they direct every passenger to bring his luggage for physical search immediately it comes out of the x-ray machine.

This forces the passengers to queue in disorderly manner and form a crowd at the entrance of the terminal and the security operatives take time to search every bag.

THISDAY gathered that the same old routine of forcing some passengers to pay money or some of the things in their luggage would be seized, was being carried out by the security operatives and the passengers who were obviously in a hurry were paying so that they would be allowed to go to the airlines processing counter to check in.

But the General Manager, Public Affairs of FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, told THISDAY that adequate measures have been put in control to check the excesses of the security operatives who are not directly answerable to FAAN. She said that if there was any infraction, FAAN would withdraw ON-Duty card from the official and then he would have to go and explain to his office why the card was withdrawn.

She also said that there is new directive that every official must wear his name tag clearly on his chest so that passengers would see it and passengers have also been given numbers to call or send messages towhen there is unfavourable interface.

In addition, cameras exposing areas of activities have been activated along with signage, which warn officials that cameras are zeroed on them.

Reacting to the new development, aviation security expert, the CEO of Centurion Securities and former Commandant of MMIA, Group Captain John Ojikutu (retd) warned, “Without involving the Airport Security Committee, FAAN may bring conflicts within the multilateral government security agencies in the airports. National Civil Aviation Security Committee and the Airport Security Committee should see into the issue of extortion in the airports, which cuts across all the government agencies in the airports. With the level of homegrown terrorism, poverty, poor salaries or remuneration of staff in the country, we should begin to have the fears of insider threats.

“The Airport Security Committee consists of: FAAN, Customs, Immigration, police, DSS, military airport Commandant, AON, Foreign Airlines Representative.

Although the Nig CARs Part 17 (Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulation, 2006, as amended) designates FAAN to coordinate the government security agencies in the airport security programme, but that has been a Herculean task for an agency established more for airports development and management than security.”

He added that all the government security agencies in the airport are together more than four times the strength of FAAN security personnel.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

25

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

L-R: Head, Media Relations, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olalekan Ajayi; Group Business Editor, THISDAY, Eromosele Abiodun; Editor, THISDAY on Sunday, Davidson Iriekpen; Deputy Editor, THISDAY, Obinna Chima; Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Mr. Osita Nwanisobi; Acting Head, Public Relations Department, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Edward Osagie; Head, Communications Management and Strategy Division, Corp. Comms. Department, CBN, Dr. Abdulmumin Isa, and Head, Lagos Liaison, Corp. Comms. Department, CBN, Uche Ogbonna, during the babies’ dedication ceremony organised by Chima in Lagos…recently

UBA Harps On Tackling Mental Health Challenges at Work Place Kayode Tokede In its move to have productive staff, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Foundation Plc has taken a stand to tackle mental health challenges, most especially at workplace.

Speaking at the bank’s “Mental Health Awareness Week” in Lagos, the Chairman of the Foundation, Kennedy Uzoka challenged organisations and bodies to tackle mental well-being at the workplace.

Uzoka said mental well-being is something that everyone knows but nobody wants to talk about it because people think it is bad.

According to him: “From my experience, I have seen people with mental health challenges that wear suits & skirts to work.

“COVID-19 has brought out the hidden side of most of the people. I decided to take it on so that people should not hide and be free to express their challenges.

“I’m sure similar institutions

and bodies will lash on this initiative. We need to tackle mental health challenges, especially at the workplace. We can only get good productive staff when things are done properly and no side challenges.

“We decided to do this awareness program to orchestrate and solve mental health problems people run away from and that is a reality.

“I’m happy the awareness has started and we are going to reach different levels because we have over 20,000 staff across the globe.”

The Director, Group Human Resources, UBA, Patricia Aderibigbe, during the panel of discussion expressed wellness is very important to the Pan-African bank.

She highlighted different types of mental well-being that include, career well-being, social well-being, physical well-being, and community well-being.

A k w a I b o m Woos Investors to $3bn FTZ

The need for diversification and collaboration in the wake of the global pandemic, as a vehicle towards achieving a robust economy, cannot be overemphasized. This was the reverberating sentiment opined by guests at the just concluded German-Nigerian Business Forum, which held physically at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos. The Forum, which is in its 9thedition, was organized by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria (AHK Nigeria) in collaboration with the Nigerian–German Chamber of Commerce (NGCC) and the German-African Business Association (Afrika-Verein), to explore opportunities between both countries as well as chart a way forward in a post pandemic period.

While the world is gradually emerging from the crushing blow of COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant pecuniary distress, Akwa Ibom State is said to hold a promise for economic respite as well as a catalyst for socio-economic transformation in West African sub-region. This is due to the economic renaissance that has recently characterized this Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

The event, which was well attended by dignitries from the public and private sector, featured keynote speeches, panel sessions, presentations, and product demonstrations.

Some of the speakers include Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of Nigeria, H.E. BirgittOry, German Ambassador to Nigeria, FolasadeAdefisayo, Hon. Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, Emeka Offor, Executive Secretary/ CEO, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Herbert Wigwe, Group Managing Director and CEO, Access Bank Plc, and many more.

Speaking on the subject Akwa Ibom and Investment opportunities, the Chairman, Technial Committee on Foreign Direct Investments, Gabriel Ukpeh, called on investors across the globe to the investment opportunities that exist at the Akwa Ibom State Free Trade Zone, which have amounted to over $3billion in investment.

Ukpeh who harped on the renewed promise and attributesthat Akwa Ibom state holds for potential investors through its various initiatives said that Akw Ibom Free Trade Zone is boost of 50,000 hectares FTZ, free container import – zero duties, no company taxes, sell in foreign currency, Ammonia plant - $1.4B, refinery, petrochemical plant, Fertelizer plant, Methanol plant, Gas processing and Thermal power plants for potential investors.

He stated that the investment opportunity in this unique location is worth over $3billion.

According to him, “the governor of Akwa Ibom State, H.E. Udom Emmanuel, came from the private sector, hence, bringing a private sector perspective to bare on governance in the State, restructuring the way business of governance is done in Nigeria. Akwa Ibom state stands out when compared to other States in Nigeria for obvious reasons: it has been affirmed by many Nigerians including the Nigerian Police Force, as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria, the security architecture is at par with those found elsewhere in the world”.

He also added that Akwa Ibom has the largest oil and gas reserve in the country, “there are a lot of oil and gasfor investors whether in the area of petrochemical plants, methanol plant, thermal power plant, gas processing and other possibilities etc.

Speaking further, she said: “organisations now understand that they have a role to play. Someone can be present at work but mentally

ill, so, organisations lose more from presence than absence. COVID-19 has made mental health issues more glaring. It is a journey and we are

not there yet.”

A panelist, a consultant psychologist, Angel Yinkore said, everyone has daily stressors that

they cope with. She identified different types of mental issues as mental distress, mental illness and mental disorders.

Parthian Partners Offers Clients Features that Manages Finance from One App Dike Onwuamaeze

their finances, which could help to reduce financial stress caused The Parthian Partners has added new by debt, unplanned expenses, or features to its i-invest that would an impulse to spend on things we help its subscribers to manage their could not afford.

It said that the new i-invest now finances better in one mobile apps without downloading multiple has a fresh look and easy to use applications in their mobile devices. interface that renders seamless and It said that the updated features convenient financial experience that would also make it more convenient would allow clients to securely for clients to have control over purchase and manage treasury

bills, Eurobonds and equities.

“These new features make i-invest an integrated platform for finance management. As such, rather than having several applications downloaded on your mobile device for different financial transactions, you can now manage your money in one place on the i-invest app,” it said.

It also said that the new features

have personalised savings that could enable clients to choose how they want to save their money depending on their goals, adding that although taking charge of one’s finances could “be a daunting task to keep up with, having a mobile application like i-invest that helps you save, plan expenses, and invest all in one place can be an important step to financial freedom.

Ogun Woos Industrialists with Operational Facilities Dike Onwuamaeze The Ogun State government has called on industries operating in the state to take advantage of its Agro-cargo airport and other similar facilities being provided the present administration to boost their business.

The call was made by the Ogun State Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Kikelomo Longe, during her tour of Olam Nigeria Limited and the TGI Group locations in Sagamu, Ogun State.

Longe stated that the agro-cargo airport as well as the Economic Development Clusters, the African Development Bank Special Agroprocessing Zone and the Afrexim Quality Assurance Centre would offers great advantages to the growth

of industries in the state.

She added that the projects would enhance the agricultural value chain, aid symbiotic relationship between small and big businesses, create more job opportunities and also increase export volume of goods produced in Ogun State.

Longe said: “The Agro-cargo Airport and the Economic Development Clusters which the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration is currently working on as well as the African Development Bank Special Agro-Processing Zone and the Afrexim Quality Assurance Centre which will soon commence operation in Ogun State will be of great advantage to businesses.

“Ogun State is open for business.

We are working to make it easier for businesses to operate in Ogun State by improving the business

enabling environment. Governor Abiodun is big on raising the industrial profile of the State.”

The commissioner commended Olam and the TGI for ensuring strict compliance to COVID-19 protocol and urged the companies to encourage their workers to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus before the 60-day deadline given by the government expires.

Also speaking during the interactive session, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Remi Ogunmefun, assured that the ministry would continue to provide all the necessary assistance for industries and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to flourish urging them to continue to relate with the government.

In his contribution, the Group

Director of Corporate Services, TGI Group, Sagamu, Mr. Michael Onabola, re-affirmed the company’s commitment to continue to relate with the government as partners in progress, adding that all of its workers had been vaccinated through the support of the Ogun State Government.

The Business Managing Director, Olam Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mayank Paliwal, lauded the support of the state government towards the development of industries operating in the state, stressing that the organisation was willing to tap into the advantages of the agro-cargo airport project, the Economic Development Clusters (EDC) as well as the Afrexim Quality Assurance Center as it continues to increase its export volume to the international market.

IGR: Ogun Ranked Fourth in Nigeria with N74billion James Sowole in Akure The Internal Revenue Generation drive of the current administration in Ogun State, has yielded resuit, with generation of not less than N74 billion by the state within the first nine months of Year 2021.

With this figure, the state was

ranked fourth in Nigeria by Statisense for generating the figure between January and September 2021.

According to Sensitense, she state which came behind Lagos, FCT and Rivers on the ranking, recorded a plus of 131.5% revenue increase in the months under review.

Reacting to the ranking, the Chief Economic Adviser and Commissioner for Finance, Mr Dapo Okubadejo, noted “this is the first time in the history of Ogun State that we’d be generating such an amount within just nine months” He attributed the feat recorded by the state to the current revenue

generation drive by the incumbent administration led by Governor Dapo Abiodun.

Okubadejo added that various economic initiatives capable of enhancing Ease of Doing Business being implemented by the administration, has begun to yield positive results.

Firm Pledges Food Sustainability through Investment, Innovation Funmi Ogundare Tetra Pak, a food processing and packaging solutions company, yesterday, expressed its readiness to address the challenges of food sustainability in the country through investment and innovation efforts.

Speaking during the virtual media lunch of the organisation’s 2021 sustainability report the President and Chief Executive Officer of the

organisation, Mr. Adolfo Orive noted that it is focused on reducing its carbon footprint, increasing recycling, protecting biodiversity and enhancing access to safe, nutritious food for people worldwide.

According to him, “our sustainability report reiterates the need for a comprehensive, holistic approach to sustainability; where we are protecting the food that is produced globally, the people that we work

with, and the planet we live on.”

He added that the organisation is fully committed to playing its part, both in enhancing food access and reducing environmental impact, adding that every step will count if it is able to meet its sustainability ambitions.

“As long as we keep innovating and collaborating, we can strive for a sustainable future that protects what’s good,”Orive said.

Managing Director, Tetra Pak, West Africa, Oshiokamele Aruna said the organisation is constantly harnessing the inherent potential and the greater value proposition that investment in sustainability offers.

“Food access and food insecurity have significant environmental impacts especially in West Africa, and finding a common ground between food production and environmental conservation is crucial to survival.

26

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

NIMASA Seeks Safer Waters with Wreck Removal, Bringing Nairobi Convention into Focus Chinweizu Chidi Amuta

N

igeria launched the National Wreck Removal exercise on September 24 in Lagos.

The exercise is being carried out by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

NIMASA has the statutory responsibility for ensuring safe and secure navigation in Nigerian waters. With regard to wreckage obstruction, NIMASA’s mandate covers wrecks outside the access channels. This includes the area from the baselines to the territorial waters, contiguous zone, and the exclusive economic zones.

Though, the country was the eighth to ratify the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks (Nairobi Convention), which entered into force on April 14, 2015, the convention has not yet been domesticated in Nigeria. But the launch of the National Wreck Removal exercise has brought the issues in the convention into focus.

The Nairobi Convention provides a framework for wreck removal. Three central questions arise when dealing with shipwrecks: Who is responsible?

What measures can and are to be taken based on such a responsibility?

Lastly, how can the responsibility be enforced?

The convention addresses these questions. In the case of responsibility for abandoned/derelict vessels, the registered owner of a ship bears strict liability according to the convention, but can be exonerated by certain limited defenses.

On the second question regarding measures that can be taken, the convention clearly identifies locating, marking, and, subsequently, removal of the wreck from the waterways, while the onus to remove the wreck is on the registered owner. But there are also options available to the state affected by the wreck should the registered owner not cooperate or become impossible to reach.

Critically, the Nairobi Convention also includes an optional clause enabling State Parties to apply certain provisions to their territory, including their territorial sea.

Finally, the convention strives to ensure enforceability by compulsory insurance for ships, wherever registered, with a gross tonnage of 300 tons and above calling any port or offshore facility in a State Party. The convention also enables an Affected State to make claims from the insurer directly.

NIMASA WRECK REMOVAL INITIATIVE

The clause that provides for states affected by wrecks to take necessary measures is where the government agency responsible for ensuring safe and secure waterways, NIMASA, has stepped in.

In order to achieve effective implementation and enforcement of provisions of Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention, the Agency divided its wreck removal programme into three stages, namely, Pre-wreck Removal, Wreck Removal, and Post-Wreck Removal operations.

As required by the convention, the Agency also enforces compulsory insurance or financial security to cover liability for wreck removal on ships of 300GT and above, and issues Civil Liability Certificates on Wreck Removal It has been estimated that Nigeria, as a maritime country, would rake in about N30 billion from over 200,000 tonnes of metal wastes in its waterways, as NIMASA commenced wreck removal in the country’s waters.

The Pre-Wreck stage of the operation involved the identification of what the Agency described as critical wrecks on the country’s waterways

i.e. the abandoned vessels/wrecks that pose an imminent threat to safe navigation in the territorial waters.

On September 24, the Honorable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chubuike Amaechi, together with the NIMASA Director General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, and Acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr. Mohammed Koko, flagged off the Wreck Removal phase of the operation in Lagos at the National Wreck Removal exercise.

MEN AT THE HELM

It is important to note that the push to prioritise the wreck removal exercise was led by the Honorable Minister of Transport and the

NIMASA DG, in particular, which culminated in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval being granted for the commencement of the operation. During the flag-off, the Minister commended Jamoh for coming up with the wreck removal idea.

“This creative venture of clearing our waters of wrecks and derelicts, apart from guaranteeing better safety of navigation, opens up the prospects of many new investments in the maritime industry,” Amaechi said.

He added, “it would tremendously help the Federal Government’s economic diversification drive and enhance Nigeria’s standing within the global maritime community.”

Speaking also at the event, Dr. Jamoh stated, “These wrecks inhibit the operation

of shipping companies, which constantly strive to increase efficiency in order to remain in business.

“As a result, most of the shipping companies usually avoid operating or investing in areas where navigational hazards are identified due to high insurance premium charges.”

He said with the elimination or reduction of the costs associated with insurance, survey and charting of wrecks, the cost of shipping would, drop to the benefit of mariners and other stakeholders in the maritime industry.

The benefits that would accrue to Nigeria from wreck removal and recycling are enormous. It will improve safety along the country’s navigational corridors within the internal waterways and territorial waters

outside its shores. This would impact positively other businesses that are carried out daily in the waterways, like fishing and passenger transportation. It will also lead to a drastic reduction, if not total elimination, of marine accidents that are linked to wrecks.

A WRECK-FREE FUTURE

Nigeria stands to gain several advantages from the national wreck removal exercise. The ultimate goal is to rid the country’s waterways of these derelicts. But the advantages cover the entire economic gamut.

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

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021

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PERSPECTIVE

NLNG Train 7: Between Keeping to Commitment and Wasting Another Growth Opportunity Onyemaechi Nnodim

A

fter the spectacular Nigerian content attainment in Total’s Egina Deepwater project and the subsequent lull in Final Investment Decision (FID) in the industry, the next big project in the offing is the NLNG Train 7.

This explains the huge excitement and broad accolades the Train 7 FID attracted when it was taken in December 2019 and the award of the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract to SCD Consortium of Saipem, Chiyoda and Daewoo on 13th May 2020.

Since the official announcement of the contract award and the performance of the groundbreaking event by President Muhammadu Buhari in June 2021, the mood in the industry has been understandably upbeat, particularly among indigenous service companies who play in the areas of engineering, fabrication, and welding.

For one, Train 7 project offers the local service providers great hope of survival after the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic and slow economic recovery. The hope of indigenous service providers was buoyed by the knowledge of Train 7 Nigerian content scope and the assuring remarks by the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Simbi Wabote.

During the NLNG Train 7 contract signing ceremony, Wabote had postulated that “The Train 7 scope on fabrication will bring many of Nigeria’s fabrication yards roaring back into life with over 70,000 tonnes of in-country fabrication, covering condensate stabilisation units, tanks, pipe racks, flare systems, non-cryogenic vessels and many other spools and fittings”.

Besides NLNG’s commitment on Nigerian content work scope on fabrication, the expectation of the local service providers concerning Train 7 is very well grounded and further underpinned by section 53 of the NOGICD Act. It provides that: “From the commencement of this act, all operators, project promoters, contractors and any other entity engaged in the Nigerian oil and gas industry shall carry out all fabrication and welding activities in country”.

So, the NOGICD act talks about “All fabrication and welding activities in the country”. This is remarkable. This section recognises the importance fabrication to engineering activities and industrial development.

And from the number of fab yards and tested capacity, demonstrated under Egina, there is no gainsaying the fact that most, if not all forms of fabrication can now be carried out in-country.

By the way, what does fabrication and welding really entail? In its basic form, fabrication is simply the process of constructing products by combining typically standardised parts using one or more individual processes. It involves cutting, forming, punching, shearing, stamping, and welding. It is used to cut, shape or mould raw material (steel or metal) into a final product.

There are two types of fabrication, namely: steel fabrication, and metal fabrication. Steel fabrication involves manufacturing steel components for specific usage in steel structures.

The processes include cutting, bending, and assembling. Metal fabrication involves forming a complete assembly made from smaller sub-assemblies for use with readily available standard

sections.

Welding on the other hand simply entails joining two or more pieces of metal together utilising a combination of heat and pressure.

These definitions help to keep in view what each activity contemplated in the section 53 of the NOGICD Act entails.

Again, it helps to illustrate the point that these activities have been happening big time in Nigeria, at least since Egina.

Even though steel structure projects involve some complexities in construction, schedule and delivery which must be considered at the planning stage to ensure efficiency in terms of delivery time and project cost, it is not necessarily rocket science. Besides, Egina demonstrated ample fabrication capacity and capability in-country,

which a new oil and gas project need to build on and possibly surpass.

There are strong feelers by industry watchers of subterranean moves to shortchange indigenous fabrication companies under the pretence that existing fab yards in Nigeria do not have the required capacity to carry out steel structure fabrication required for Train 7.

This is not provable, and stakeholders are watching keenly. NCDMB and other relevant government agencies (including the National Assembly), need to take note of other relevant government agencies of this brooding development. The misgiving about existing in-country fabrication capacity is misconceived and baseless.

Apart from the phenomenal feats

performed by various fab yards in Nigeria under Egina, there is even a recent independent assessment report of in-country steel structures fabrication and galvanising capacity undertaken by KPMG. The report released a few weeks ago, contains current cumulative in-country capacity for steel structures based on 11 fabrication yards surveyed, which is put at approximately 40,260 tonnes per annum for steel structure fabrication against the less than 30,000 tonnes per annum required for the Train 7 project.

The fabrication yards surveyed were those of Aveon, Dorman Long, Sparkwest Steel Industry, Ariosh, EWT, SDEM Erectors, Lee Engineering, MG Vowgas, Seflame, DeGrills Integrated, and Nivafer Steel Construction, all located within the country to provide

services to the industry and create employment opportunities.

According to the report, six out of the 11 yards surveyed have demonstrable capacity to meet all the specifications requirements for the NLNG Train 7 project. The other five can fabricate steel structures consistent with some typical drawings listed in the specification for steel structure project agreement document for the NLNG Train 7.

In addition, two out of the 11 fabrication yards have joint in-country galvanising capacity of 162, 000 tonnes per annum.

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

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

L-R: Head of Commercial, Savannah Energy, Oge Peters; Chairman, Savannah Energy (Nigeria) Dikko Ladan; Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed and Chief Executive Officer, Savannah Energy, Andrew Knott during a visit to the Minister by the Savannah Energy team in Abuja… recently

Qatar, China Southern Sign MoU to Enhance Connectivity Qatar Airways and China Southern Airlines have signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), confirming a significant expansion of the existing codeshare agreement, and outlining greater benefits and more seamless connections between the two partners.

The comprehensive MoU, signed by Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, and China Southern Airlines President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Han Wensheng, builds upon the existing codeshare agreement signed by the airlines in December 2019.

As part of the collaboration, all future flights between China and Qatar would be codeshared, allowing passengers to benefit from seamless connecting flights.

The closer cooperation will also

provide greater customer benefits, including increased joint lounge access and a soon-to-be confirmed enhanced frequent flyer agreement.

In addition, the two airlines agreed to support the growth of Beijing’s Daxing International Airport, into a leading international aviation hub for both passenger and cargo services.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “This is the latest chapter in the story of our airline’s continued journey to provide an enhanced and seamless customer experience for passengers travelling via our two hubs of Hamad International Airport, the new Beijing Daxing International Airport and Guangzhou BaiyunInternational Airport.

“We look forward to further deepening our close relationship

with China Southern Airlines and explore even greater opportunities for collaboration in the years to come. Passengers can travel with confidence knowing that Qatar Airways is committed to safety, and our 5-stars COVID-19 safety rating is a testament to our efforts to remain the leading global airline for biosafety.”

China Southern Airlines President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Han Wensheng, said: “As the largest airline in China, the strategic cooperation between China Southern Airlines and Qatar Airways will provide global passengers with expanded travel options and an exceptional travel experience. Our collaboration will also lay a solid foundation for the development of Beijing Daxing International Airport into a global aviation hub.”

Factoring: NEPC Seeks to Unlock $1bn for MSMEs James Emejo in Abuja The Executive Director/Chief Executive, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, yesterday said it planned to establish factoring and forfaiting as instrument of financing trade and export in the country.

Factoring entails financial transaction whereby a business sells it account receivables to a third party at a discount in exchange for immediate money with which to finance continued business activities.

Similarly, forfaiting is a method of trade finance that allows exporters to obtain cash by selling their medium and long-term foreign accounts receivable at a discount on a “without recourse” basis.

Awolowo, at the maiden National Conference on Factoring and Forfaiting Services in Nigeria, described the concepts as one of the fastest growing instruments for structured trade finance in the world.

He pointed out that factoring could help unlock over $1 billion annually in financing for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country.

Citing a report by Pricewater House Coopers, the NEPC boss said factoring could could be directed at solving most of the financial challenges witnessed

by MSMEs with traditional banking including excessive interest rate, credit profile constraints and insufficient collateral. He said factoring gives MSMEs, particularly those with high-quality receivables access to

cash flow and capital that would help maintain and grow their businesses.

He said the instrument remained a viable and long-term solution to the problem of limited capital which threatens the growth of small and medium-sized businesses in the country.

Also speaking at the occasion, Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, said factoring would contribute to the implementation of the National Economic Sustainability Plan and Export Expansion Facility Programme.

Represented by the Director, Commodities and Export Department, FMITI, Mr. Suleiman Adebayo, he said all stakeholders have a role to play in making factoring a success in Nigeria.

Police Arrest 2 for Vandalising N20m NPA Property Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Two persons have been arrested and paraded by the Port Authority Police, for allegedly vandalising Wharf quay Apron steel beam valued at N20million each, at Port Harcourt, Area1, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

The suspects are, Wiliams Tabotamuno (38), and Akpos Ekiye (44) years, were arrested follow an alleged timely report.

Parading the suspects, the Commissioner of Police, Eastern Port Command, Tami Evelyn Peterside said the suspects were arrested about 10 o’clock in the night of Monday, November 8, 2021, while trying to escape from men of Marine Police.

Peterside said the activities of the thieves are seriously affecting the durability of Wharf deck to the point that the platform is beginning to cave in.

She disclosed the value of the Quay beam being stolen by the thieves at N20 million each.

She said, “In recent time the Command has been inundated with activities of vandals at the Port.

“However, On November 8, 2021 at about 10 pm, acting on credible information, that hoodlums were sighted cutting NPA Wharf Steel Beam underneath the Quay Apron valued Twenty Million Naira (N20M) in the Port Harcourt, the Ports Authority Police Eastern Command moved swiftly by deploying its marine team which gave them a hot pursuit in the coastal waters and arrested two suspects.

“Exhibits recovered from the suspects include, One Tecno mobile phone, one canoe and two paddles, three gas cylinders of different sizes, two spanners,

one wooden canoe with some particles of rusted iron fillings.”

Speaking further, the CP assured that the arrest of the duo would reduce, calm the illegal activities of vandals to save the quay apron from imminent collapse.

But the suspects denied the allegation, insisting that they were on the water channel in search of their missing relative when men of Marine Police arrested them, adding that the charge against them is bogus and unfounded.

Similarly, the command also paraded five Wharf thieves who allegedly diverted 23 bags of wheat at the Port.

Peterside assured that the driver of the truck; Akande Adeo and his three accomplice are currently being tried by a court of competent jurisdiction, in line with the constitution.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2021 •T H I S D AY

THIS WEEKEND WEEKLY MAGAZINE

NEWS METRO THISLIFE ART WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com 07010510430

Dr. Dolapo Fasawe: Making Case for the Environment at COP26 through LASEPA

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COVER

Dr. Dolapo Fasawe: Making Case for the Environment at COP26 through LASEPA For the first female General Manager of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency in its 25-year history, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, the responsibility of protecting and improving the environment of a megacity like Lagos State, although enormous, is one she is bent on doing with passion. Aside building a portfolio of sound environmental management programme and projects, Fasawe, who is a medical doctor, public health physician and environmental advocate all rolled into one, has taken up the gauntlet to ensure the development of sustainable environment in conjunction with other arms of government. In this interview with CHIEMELIE EZEOBI at ongoing 26th Conference of Parties, COP26, of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC, in Glasgow, Scotland, Fasawe, who made a case for LASEPA, opined that the world can be better if collective action is taken to achieve Net-zero emissions

M

an is a product of his environment, therefore, for the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), its responsibility as the environmental regulator for Lagos State in charge of assisting the public and private organisations, industries, businesses and non-governmental organisations to achieve compliance by providing environment friendly solutions to varied environmental challenges, is one task to be taken seriously.

With Dr. Dolapo Fasawe as the general manager, the agency has grown in leaps and bounds since she assumed office on August 19, 2019. She is saddled with the responsibility of implementing policies, aimed at protecting and improving the environment in Lagos.

right now. The implementation would be obvious for all to see, the impact would be measurable objectively and verifiably measured.

“For example, we have hubs now in Lagos where we encourage you to drop your plastics for incentives. Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) is currently working actively on sorting waste, biodegradable from degradable.

We are decommissioning the land fill so we can have a mechanised landfill and we are thinking of incineration and these are all active measures towards the policies that have been made in the past.

“I’m also happy to announce here we have partnerships and global investors who are coming into Lagos to start to help us find a way to stop burning fossil fuels, gas pipelines, energy gas. Even the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is doing a lot in this regard and I beg to disagree that we are all policies. If you look deeply we are starting to walk the talk.”

Outing at COP26 As part of the enviable delegation from Lagos State headed by the Commissioner of Health, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, the general manager of LASEPA made a case for achieving Net- zero emissions as well as tackling global warming. She also touched on how the state was tackling plastic and air pollution, as well as need for climate financing.

Monitoring Air Quality As one of the strategic directives of LASEPA, the GM noted that they are very much focused on monitoring the air quality and emission in the state.

She said: “We are focused on emissions because from the World Bank Air Monitoring Project we just concluded to know where the greatest pollution is coming from, surprisingly or unsurprisingly, the pollution is coming from traffic in Lagos.

“In industrialised nation, its usually by industries, manufacturing companies and air travels and not from cars. But here is pointing towards traffic because of the kind of fuel we use. In developed countries, the sulphate content has been reduced.

“However, the federal government and Lagos State government are working on that with DPR to find a way to reduce that. Also the governor recently make announcement of electronic car.

But before we get there we need to consider what is realistic, affordable and available. So we are encouraging hybrid. Lagos State BRT buses will very soon be running on gas and that reduces carbon footprints by a significant margin in Lagos State.

“These interventions we are planning are measurable when we have air quality monitoring machines. It will tell the emissions and after the emissions. The truth is a lot of people do not understand what causes global warming or climate change.”

Going Green A firm advocate of going Green, Dr. Fasawe was however of the opinion that much can be achieved by political will, financing and creating awareness.

She said: “We are very passionate about information, education and communication- I mean two way discussion and not just talking at people.

“We also believe that achieving Net-zero is possible . We cannot but emit because its part of life, but part of what our organisation and industries have to come up with is to look up a framework where what you emit is mopped up.

“For example, as simple as planting trees in Lagos State ensures that all centers are green. Why is because trees are natural carbon sinks- they help us mop up carbon dioxide from the air and you would notice that in terms of greenery and parks, this current administration is taking it very seriously. It’s not just for beauty but for carbon sinking.

“Another thing we are looking at is looking for partnership for finance in climate change- climate financing. And coming to COP26, we have been

Dolapo able to talk with the Commonwealth. The Lagos State Ministry of Environment has been able to do that. We have a project coming up in a couple of weeks. In a couple of weeks we will initiate where they would help us access finance into sustainable and bankable projects of the government.

“Coming here has been very rewarding and eye-opening opportunity. The whole world has gone green. We have conference of parties, Nigeria is a party and it’s about time we start thinking green.

With all said and discussed here, I believe if there is political will at the federal level, the same we have at the state level, we are matching slowly but steadily.”

Tackling Plastics On tackling the challenge of plastics in Lagos, she said: “We have found out that in Lagos State, plastic pollution is a major problem and it blocks a lot of drains as plastics are not bio de-gradeable. Every single plastic made is still on the surface of the earth. They can be blocking drains or eaten by fishes which we in turn eat and the implications health-wise are now coming to the fore.

“We intend to mop up used plastics. We are having conversations with beverage and food alliance companies who produce plastic bottles. We cannot stop them but they have

a responsibility by government to ensure that these plastics are properly disposed off and now we are enforcing recycling and enforcing putting money in a general treasury to deal with plastic pollution.

“We recently launched a program called Waste Exchange and this simply means we are putting a premium on amount of used plastic. What do we hope to achieve? We hope to mop up used plastics all the way from the drains. For instance, if plastics are being bought for N5, we intend to buy it for N10 or N15 and you’ll ask me how is this sustainable, most industries and companies pay environmental development charge, a levy, a tax that is compulsory to be paid to the coffers of Lagos State. We will now start to use tax payers money to work for the tax payer. “ This money will be used as a premium to attract plastics from every nook and cranny of Lagos State. You ask me how will it be sustainable, sustainability will come when our off-takers, they have to pay for what they are taking off us, they start to pay and the cost starts to grow while government subsidy starts to reduce. That way, it becomes a revolving fund.

Walking the Talk in Lagos Stressing that the state government is walking the talk in Lagos, Dr. Fasawe added that “the current government of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is about walking the talk. We have many policies and initiatives we are starting to implement

The current government of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is about walking the talk. We have many policies and initiatives we are starting to implement right now. The implementation would be obvious for all to see, the impact would be measurable objectively and verifiably measured

Tackling Coastal Degradation Shedding more light on what LASEPA is doing to protect the coastal areas, which are presently suffering from degradation, Dr. Fasawe said: “Lagos is a coastal city but if you look through our beaches, all the way from Bar Beach down, there’s a big problem with plastics, they’ve come ashore and the ecosystem is affected.

Explaining the cycle, she said plastics are dropped in the water and gets eaten by the fishes and man in turn eats the fishes, which then becomes carcinogenic since the plastics are not biodegradable.

This she said, was one of the many reasons why LASEPA decided to start an active campaign against plastic and pollution on the water coasts.

One of the active plans they have was the recent meeting with Clean up Africa, an organisation with a big vessel called the ‘Interceptor’ that can mop up such plastics up to 2,000 metric tonnes of plastic from the rivers daily.

Stressing the political will of the state government, she said another plus was the jobs the constant mopping up of plastics would create in the respective coastal communities. She also opined that once the coastal waters are clean, the barracudas and other fishes, who had hitherto receeded into the deep sea because of pollution, would return.

Pakam-Household Recycling App While passionately charging Nigerians to take personal responsibility of protecting the ecosystem, she disclosed the presence of an application on Android Playstore called Pakam, a household recycling app.

With this app, she noted that the agency goes round to pick up plastics, thus making it easy to dispose such waste.

While lamenting on the single use of nylon bags, she said “we go to supermarkets and get multiple nylon bags, we trash them, and go back and get more. All these are ending up in our landfills and they cannot be degraded. If we keep reusing them, you reduce the amount of plastics that we have to deal with.”

Advocacy to Conserve Water Debunking the mindset that water is inexhaustible, she noted that the desertification in sub-Saharan Africa is moving closer to us, thus the need to save and conserve water for use and reuse.

Tackling Industrial Waste Beyond the environmental damages caused at the domestic level, the GM further noted that industries must ensure their products are environmentally sustainable.

She also disclosed that already in Lagos, some banks have started practicing Green Banking, whereby they switch off their grid by 6pm daily and use only solar power.

She further hoped that the state would get to a stage whereby if ones business is not eco-friendly, they cannot get it done.

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Another TREM Kingdom Life Holds with Exceeding Glory Stories by Mary Nnah The 32nd edition of the annual convention of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) with the theme “Exceeding Glory” will be held from November 21st to 28th as one of the major highlights to mark the 40 years of TREM as a ministry.

The annual convention takes place at the TREM National and International Headquarters along Gbagada Expressway, Anthony Oke, Lagos, with an opening ceremony on the 21st of November from 5pm to 8pm.

Consequently, the morning session will be held by 9a.m while the evening session is to be held at 5pm daily throughout the duration of the weeklong conference.

Other additional activi-

ties to be held as part of the occasion are a special International Women Prayer Conference (IWPC) for both Men and women, scheduled for November 25th from 9am to 12noon during which Bishop Peace Okonkwo will be ministering alongside with other women of God while November 26th is for the Radical Worship Musical Concert from 9pm till down.

The Radical Worship Musical Concert, which is also known as “Zamar” has had gospel artist like Nathaniel Bassey, Tim Godfrey, Chioma Jesus, Sammie Okposo, Mercy Chinwo, Onos, Jerry Sax, Emeka Jonathan, Oluwanonibisi and many more anointed Christian music artist.

Christian music lovers are expected to register at the church website: www.

TREM Founder, Bishop Okonkwo trem.org in compliance with covid-19 protocol. The convention closes on November

Victor Uwaifo Junior Drops ‘Happy Day’ Fast-rising talented musician, Uwaifo Isoken Peter better known as Peter De Rock, has revealed that he is the only one that had the last memory of the late highlife, legend Sir, Victor Uwaifo who happens to be his uncle, saying they both had a collabo eight days before his death.

Talking about his relationship with the ‘Guitar Boy,’ Peter said: “I was eight years old when I lost my father. That was in 2002. I can’t recall many things but I knew my father, Clement Uwaifo (Clemico) was the first music icon in our family. He nurtured Sir Victor Uwaifo.

“My father can play all music instruments and had to retire for his younger brother to continue doing music. I grew up seeing Sir Victor Uwaifo as my father.

“I have been close to him since 2010. When he saw my interest, he started giving me lessons on the guitar. That is why you can see his impartation to me. He gave me my first electric guitar and wireless transmitter”, he recalled.

Currently signed to Denmark based Robert A. Douglas Entertainment, Uwaifo Jr who started his music career in 2008 while in junior secondary school was introduced into music by his music director, Mr. Moses Owa aka ‘Golden Boy’ in Benin, a graduate of Uwaifo’s Music Academy.

Uwaifo Junior is a songwriter, composer, music director and performing artiste who has not only won several awards but has two released studio albums; ‘Weneagbonmu’ and ‘Jesu – Do.’ He just released a song, ‘Happy Day’ after the funeral of Sir Victor

28, 2021.

Since its evolution in 1990 with the theme “Walking in

Dominium”, the church has had several captivating and inspiring themes.

Notable men of God have graced the conference as speakers over the years.

Port Harcourt Fashion and Design Week Holds November The Port Harcourt Fashion and Design Week (PHFDW) 2021 is set to hold from November 19 to 20, 2021.

Organised by Ngozi Ferrari, a former model and chief executive of Wave Model Management, the Port Harcourt Fashion and Design Week, seeks to expand the potential power of fashion as a tool to alleviate poverty, capacitate and empower local fashion designers and lifestyle brands, facilitating market and network opportunities in order to ensure growth and sustainability of their business as well as celebrating the people, the culture and sophistication inherent in them.

First launched in 2019 with the theme “Fashion...the New Oil and

Gas”, the essence Ferrari said was to let people know that outside of the oil and gas, which Port Harcourt is hitherto known for, there is another industry capable of shaping the economy of the state.

As this year’s event will hold at the prestigious EUI Event Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Ferarri, who is also boss of Wave Events Global Limited, said this year’s event is themed “Revitalising the Economy through Fashion tourism”.

She explained that the fashion business has gone beyond promoting the industry alone but also has the capacity to develop tourism and drive trade.

“The big capitals of fashion cities understood this a long time ago and

have used platforms like this to promote tourism and drive trade in their various countries. Emerging societies are gradually embracing this trend and it’s a good time for us as a community to tag along”, he noted.

This year’s event will feature international fashion designers from South Africa, Uganda, Kenya as well as the big names in home-grown brands including Ejiro Amos tafiri, Koffi Akatua from Ghana, Martin Kadida Tanzania amongst others.

With support from Lush Hair, Vino Emporium, Ms Steph 2022, EUI Event Centre, and others, organisers are looking forward to a great show.

It promises to be yet another world class event.

Honeywell, FRSC Collaborate on Road Safety Awareness Uwaifo Jnr Uwaifo of which the production was handled by Miracle Day Music which also managed the late Majek Fashek.

With a certificate in Jehoshaphat Music Academy and his own band, De Rock Muzik Factory, Uwaifo Jr loves music as he says it is part of him. From gospel to highlife music, ministering in churches and performing his highlife music like his mentor in various shows, he woos many with his dexterity and skill as he plays the guitar, piano, bass, saxophone and drums.

Honeywell Flour Mills Plc has reignited its yearly collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on the need to maintain safety on the road during the ember months, especially Christmas period.

Officials of both organisations always use the occasion to admonish commuters especially drivers on the need to observe safety, avoid accidents and deaths on the roads. This year’s event took place at Apapa, Ikeja, Lagos State and Sagamu in Ogun State.

Speaking during the awareness exercise at Ikeja, Lagos recently, Assistant Corp Commander (ACC), Emmanuel Obi, Unit Commander RS2.15 Ojota said, “we are here today because of the collaboration we have with Honeywell, in respect of our ember months flag-off awareness with a theme: “Maintain Self-Speed,

Avoid Night Travel, Enjoy Quality Road Experience”. “ It has been an ongoing programme since Road Safety started that towards the end of the year, we try to sensitise our motorists on the right way to use the roads and tell them that the month of December is like any other month in the year.

“We have been doing this every year, and it is not an in-house programme.

Awareness has always been going on and we have what is called, ‘advocacy visit’ where we visit parks, churches and mosques to keep creating road safety awareness. It has been an ongoing thing in Road Safety”.

Obi added that “what we are trying to preach now is for drivers to avoid over speeding, get your valid driver’s license, don’t overload vehicles, and ensure that your tyres are in good condition. We also discourage night

trips because of the condition of our roads and insecurity in the country”.

Corroborating Obi’s submissions, Managing Director, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Mr. Lanre Jaiyeola represented by Manager, Trade and Marketing, Mr. Mr. Dayo Adeniyi said “we have been into this partnership with FRSC up to a decade to create awareness during ember months because of our interest in the life of Nigerians.

“Unfortunately, during this season, a lot of lives are lost because of low awareness, ignorance and other practices of drivers “We will continue to collaborate with Road Safety to ensure that the awareness and information is out there to our drivers and populace at large on the need to take life easy at this time”.

CEN Urges Govt, Nigerians to Use Right Engineers against Building Collapse Rebecca Ejifoma The Association of Consulting Engineering in Nigeria (ACEN), Monday, urged governments at all levels and Nigerians to consult the right engineers for projects as a solution against building collapse and avoidable deaths in the country.

The association noted this at a press conference to announce its Golden Jubilee and award night, which was be

held on Wednesday, November 10 this year at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja Lagos.

In his reaction to the Ikoyi 21-storey building collapse, the President of ACEN, Mr. George Okoroma, an engineer, noted that no one can tell the cause of the incident until after investigation.

“It is after investigation we can know whether it was a design error, construction error, wrong consultant, wrong contractor, or wrong number of buildings,” he emphasised.

Okoroma, however, bemoaned that despite the association’s pool of independent-minded entrepreneurs of the highest technical skill, intellectual competence, and ethical orientation, they don’t enjoy proper patronage from the government and the citizens.

“How can you embark on a major project and not consult the expertise of the appropriate engineers to guide you? The government and the people should do the

needful,” he argued.

Meanwhile, the past president, Mr. Kadir Adeola, outlined technical engineering reasons as responsible for building collapse.

“There are technical engineering reasons, administrative, and procedurerial reasons that a building will collapse. A building will collapse if the design is faulty. “ A building will collapse if the design is faulty and if you have a quack as a designer or a contractor. That means

you put the wrong people on the project.”

For the past and only female president of ACEN, Mrs. Mayen Adetiba, an engineer, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) should sit up, and be strict on manufacturers of building materials, as it remains the major challenge facing the body.

“Some people are not doing the rightful jobs. The building materials like water and cement are not up to

standard. I don’t know why SON is not strict on these manufacturers. People’s lives are in danger. It’s not enough for you to say you are trying,” she charged the association.

Meanwhile, to mark its 50th anniversary, ACEN honoured past presidents as well as founding members who have not been presidents, just as it awarded firms and distinguished Nigerians who have been there for them.

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E-TRENDS

MUSIC SHOWBIZ

…Your weekly entertainment delight

NOLLYWOOD

‘The HarderThey Fall’ Misses the Message of Fela’s ‘Let’s Start’ Stories by Vanessa Obioha The new Netflix western film ‘The Harder They Fall’

by Jeymes Samuel was quite a buzz when the trailer was released, mainly because Nigeria’s Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’ song was featured.

The song titled ‘Let’s Start’ is from Fela’s 1971 live recording with his bandAfrika 70 and featured renowned drummer Ginger Baker.

In the film which tells the story of an outlaw seeking revenge, the song was used during the fight between two female outlaws Trudy (Regina King) and Mary (Zazie Beatz). Just as Mary entered the dye barn to duel

with Trudy, the intro of the song was cued in: “We gonna play for you our first tune tonight, And the first tune is called ‘O l’oun t’awa se n’yara. Je k’abere,’ which means let’s start what we have come into the room to do.”

The clash of the horns, cymbals and drums set off the fight between the two and extends to scenes of other characters dueling.

In a New York Times report, Samuel was quoted as saying that the music is cowboy. “That music is western. How come this music has never met the Old West before? How come that music has never been firstly in cinema, but especially in cowboy? It fits

perfectly.”

Music is mostly used to reflect the mood and tone of scenes in a film. Sometimes, a contrasting sound can be used to show the mood of a scene. For instance, a calm song can be used in a chaotic scene and vice versa but this is often deployed in comedic scenes. Generally, music should convey to the viewer the unseen consequences of an onscreen action or match with the emotion of the character.

While it is understandable that Samuel’s choice of this particular song tilts more to the forceful and upbeat sounds, the song however has nothing to do with the fighting scene. The song’s message is sensuous

and not violent, and since everything about a film conveys meaning, ‘Let’s Start’ is not the perfect choice.

Samuel, who has Nigerian blood coursing through his veins and is also the younger brother to renowned musician Seal, is not new to music.

His music is known for its cinematic element, therefore for his feature film debut, the score is filled with songs from mostly the Black race — an ambitious goal Samuel set out to do with the film which had mostly black lead characters. According to the New York Times, Samuel aimed to counter two tropes of traditional westerns with ‘The

Harder They Fall’: people of colour shown as less than human; and women appearing subservient and less than men.

He had Idris Elba playing the crime boss Rufus Buck while Jonathan Majors played Nat Love, the outlaw keen on killing Rufus.

Each of the characters had a female companion. For Elba, it is King’s character, while Majors and Beatz stick together.

With Fela’s vast catalogue of music, Samuel may have found a suitable song for the scene. Songs like ‘Opposite People’ ‘Sorrows, Tears and Blood’ or ‘Zombie’ would have reflected that scene and still add the western zing to it.

Regina King in ‘The Harder They Fall’

Movement-Japa Recap, Ep.2: A Kidnap Brings Bad Luck This week’s episode of ‘Movement-Japa’ dwells on the unemployment rate in the country and the frustration that accompanies it. That frustration often leads to desperation to seek greener pastures outside the shores of Nigeria irrespective of the cost.

The episode titled ‘Bad Market’ opens with Osas receiving a sack letter from the security agency he works for as well as his girlfriend Mimi losing a gig because of her looks, a subtle jab at the film industry’s practice of favouring looks over talents.

The three meet at a local bar to discuss their fate, lamenting over the unemployment rate in the country even for those

Sambasa Nzeribe (Osas) in ‘Movement-Japa’

as educated as Osas. The resolution for the friends is to leave the country by “any means necessary” as echoed

by Shina. Osas suggests they

meet with an Uncle Willy who has a reputation of helping desperate Nigerians to travel to any country of their choice.

He tells them they will go as

stowaways and charges each One Million Naira. The cost sounds ridiculous to Shina who is still battling to buy drugs for his sick mother.

amateur kidnappers are further destabilised when Mimi reveals that the victim’s father is a former police commissioner.

The scene brings a comedic effect with the actors’ facial expressions at their bad luck, especially Shina who keeps giving Osas the ‘I-told-youso’ look. However, the new dilemma that the friends will have to confront in the next episode is whether to carry out the order of the victim’s mother to kill her and get an additional sum of N2 million or to let her go.

‘Movement-Japa’ shows every Monday night on Africa Magic Showcase. It is also available on Showmax.

CandyBleakzSettoThrillHerFanswith NewGrammyPerformanceVideo

Ayra Starr Joins Spotify EQUAL Music Programme Mavin female artist Ayra Starr is the latest to join Spotify’s EQUAL Music Programme. The music streaming platform recently unveiled her as the EQUAL Africa Artist of the Month.

The 19-year-old singer’s burgeoning music career gained popularity following the release of her smash hit, ‘Bloody Samaritan’, from her debut studio album ‘19 and Dangerous’. Her charismatic music style is daring and undaunted-impacting and empowering people, especially those who need encouragement.

She is one of Nigeria’s most promising new voices and exudes confidence in her songs, joining Gen-Z artists who are pioneering the kind of sound that younger audiences are leaning towards.

Spotify EQUAL aims to foster gender equality in music and provide a platform to highlight influential female creators.

“Our aim with the EQUAL programme is to create a space on the platform that allows us to solely amplify the work of female creators,” says Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, Phiona Okumu. “Ayra represents the rise of new-age female artists whose creativity and determination breaks barriers between genres.

But Osas, calm and collected, comes up with an idea to kidnap the daughter of a former employer to raise the requested sum. Shina objects to the plan but a phone call from his sister that the drugs he bought was fake and his mother’s health deteriorating changed his mind.

The duo carries out the kidnapping but instead of requesting a N4 million ransom as earlier agreed, Osas raises the sum to N10 million to the surprise of Shina.

He manages to convince Shina but their plan swiftly hits the rocks when a jealous Mimi storms the house and discovers the kidnap. The

Emmanuel Nnebe leaves GUS 12

Ayra Starr

She possesses the boldness and swagger that we’re used to seeing from pop artists but has an edge that feels symbolic of the listening habits of Gen-Zers. We aim to amplify more confident female voices like hers through EQUAL.” “It feels good to be a part of the generation that is changing the narrative and being appreciated for our contribution to society, irrespective of the sector and age,” says Ayra Starr.

As the latest artist to join the EQUAL Music Programme, Ayra Starr will also feature on Spotify’s Times Square billboard in New York and her breakout hit, ‘Bloody Samaritan’, will lead the EQUAL Africa playlist and feature on the EQUAL Global playlist.

GUS 12:Will Adedamola Help Clan Amo Climb to theTop? Clan Amo suffered a double loss in episodes seven and eight on the ongoing Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS). The clan came last in the ‘Unpack’ and ‘Rope-a-Dope’ tasks which saw 29-year-old Emmanuel Nnebe and 26-yearold Iniabasi Umoren evicted after failing the task at the Place of the Talking Drum.

Nnebe was unable to answer the question posed to him by the anchor Toke Makinwa.

Nnebe’s eviction sank Omokhafe Bello (aka Rachel) spirit. As the first member of Clan Amo to leave the show, Rachel felt his absence from the night he was evicted. She kept mostly to herself. Not even the joyful celebration of Clan Iroko who won the ‘Unpack’ task lifted her spirits. Not until the contestants prepared for their second task the following day, did she

regain her composure.

However, Clan Irin emerged as the winner of the ‘Rope-a-Dope’ task and was rewarded. For their failure to keep up the winning streak, Clan Iroko was asked to nominate the weakest link among themselves. At the end of the day, following the eviction of Iniabasi who failed to follow the instruction of Makinwa at the Talking Drum, they had to lose a team member to Clan Amo. Adedamola became the preferred choice for the remaining three members of the Clan Amo. This weekend’s episode will show how Adedamola will help Clan Amo either in strength, speed or intellect to climb to the top of the game. GUS airs on Africa Magic channels on DStv and GOtv on Saturday and Sunday nights.

Precious Ugwuzor Chocolate City Music’s Candy Bleakz is set to perform at the digital performance series

by Recording Academy tagged “Global Spin” which was created to celebrate Afrobeats, KPOP, and Latin music.

This performance video is the first of its kind for an artist making street pop music in Africa as Candy Bleakz is bound to create a record break-

ing and thrilling experience for her fans through this video.

After getting nominated for AFRIMMA and endorsed by Google it is amazing that she keeps representing the street pop culture home and abroad.

On the Recording Academy performance, she delivers an electrifying performance of her songs “Kope” and “Kanle”.

This is just the beginning as Candy Bleakz proclaims that she has a lot more in store for her fans.

DettyDecemberisBackasLivespotX FestivalReturns It is official! Livespot360, the creative agency owned by the Art-Alades is bringing back Livespot X Festival, a curated series of events to mark the yuletide season.

Preparations were already underway last year to hold the festival but for the recalcitrance of the capricious coronavirus, it was postponed. Making the

announcement this week, the organisers said that the festival this season will be a six-day affair starting from December 16 to 21. It will be a hybrid event: virtual and physical and about 100,000 guests are expected to witness the magic on stage of the soon-to-be-unveiled Livespot Entertainment Centre.

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ART WEEKEND

…For pure art enthusiasts

Sanwo-Olu Uncloaks 2021 Greater Lagos Fiesta Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared that the month-long 2021 Greater Lagos Fiesta will reflate the state’s economic recovery efforts in post COVID-19 times. Yinka Olatunbosun reports

G

reaterLagosFiestamay well be the city’s most ambitious, multilayered cultural project yet. The state government is set to ignite the city and shake up all the ‘pepper dem gangs’ with a massive experience that begins on December 1 and will ultimately wrap up the year ending on January 1, 2022.

With a grand opening ceremony at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, it will feature cycling, photography and fashion competitions, the Xmas Souk Village, traditional games and concerts parading A-list artistes across all five divisions of the state.

Recently, Governor Babajide SanwoOlu, represented by his deputy, Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat announced the series of activities that await funseekers in Lagos from December 1. The fiesta with the theme, ‘Lagos Rocks’ is expected to rouse the city from its slumber.

At the unveiling ceremony held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, the governor revealed why the Greater Lagos Fiesta is indeed a cultural necessity.

“Society relies on three tripods: economy, health and well-being as well as the security of lives and property. What COVID-19 has done is to affect all the three as well as nightlife but this edition of the Greater Lagos Fiesta, which activities speakers have highlighted for you, will help reflate our economy.”

The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Uzamat AkinbileYusuf, explained that the 2020 edition was cancelled because the Lagos State government prioritised public health and safety.

He added that the government will explore the Greater Lagos Fiesta to further “transform Lagos into a major African tourism and entertainment hub by exploring and promoting the potentials that abound in the state as well as integrating the trending entertainment and art industry as a viable platform to attract visitors and

L-R: Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Arts & Culture, Solomon Bonu; Commissioner for Tourism, Arts & Culture, Pharm. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf; Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Dr Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat, and Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Tourism, Arts & Culture, Hon Fatai Oluwa at the unveiling ceremony of 2021 Greater Lagos Fiesta

create job opportunities.”

Only vaccinated persons will be allowed into the Fiesta’s venues which boast of adequate security and emergency services. Further, the Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Solomon Bonu, affirmed the fiesta’s ties to tourism development.

“The Greater Lagos Fiesta 2021 is a reflection of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s love for tourism and entertainment with fervent belief in the ability of the ministry to organise an event that would portray the standard Lagos has been known for over the years,” he said.

The Chair, Marketing Communications Sub-Committee for the Fiesta, Mr Israel Jaiye Opayemi described the fiesta as a unifying platform to promote entertain-

ment, commerce, arts, culture, and the bubbling spirit amongst the people of Lagos State.”

Opayemi who is the Managing Director/Chief Strategist of Chain Reactions Nigeria, a leading integrated marketing communication consultancy, also shared the statistical justification for the 2021 Greater Lagos Fiesta.

He revealed that 42 per cent of consumers are willing to attend parties and concerts than other social gatherings this December as part of their “high energy.”

Reflecting on the brand identity and meaning of the logo, he disclosed: “Red symbolises – Courage, Love, Vigour, Warmth; orange symbolises – Energy, Excitement, Vibrancy, Youthfulness, Change and blue is Peace, Trust, Calmness, Healing. Yellow to symbolise – Cheerfulness, Passion, Friendship;

Green to symbolise – Growth, Prosperity, Progress; Black to symbolise – Power, Prestige, Strength, Elegance and White to symbolise the clarity of our vision.”

The cycling competition will kick off on December 5, while the photography and fashion contests will be held on December 7 and 10. The Xmas Souk Village which features children’s corner, book exhibition, food, fashion and Santa’s Grotto will open in Lagos’ five divisions of Ikorodu, Ikeja, Badagry, Lagos Island and Epe on December 18.

The Marina Experience, showcasing the state’s water treasures, is set for December 26. It will then be four unbroken days of quality music from A-list music stars and emerging ones across the five divisions from December 27 to 30.

The official closing holds at Eko Atlantic on December 31.

Unchained Vibes Honours Eedris Abdulkareem, Mulls Artistic Freedom Yinka Olatunbosun One of Nigeria’s earliest hip-hop heavyweights, Eedris Abdulkareeem was honoured recently as the first Freedom Vibes’ Artist of the month in recognition of his over two decades of courageous activism and advocacy for democratic governance in Nigeria through conscious music.

The emotion-filled moments at Freedom Park, Lagos saw veteran Nollywood actor Hilda Dokubo present the award on behalf of Unchained Vibes Africa with accolades and goodwill messages from the Director, PEN America’s Artists at Risk Connection Julie Trebault and Unchained VibesAfrica’s Palesa Sibiya from South Africa.

While presenting the award, Dokubo recalled the sacrifices made by Eedris in 2004 which paved way for the respect that Nigerian musicians currently enjoy today.

At the session moderated by culture activist, Jahman Anikulapo titled “Artistic Freedom of Expression,’’ artists were urged on defending their fundamental rights. It was fitting to have conversations on freedom inside

L-R: Eedris Abdulkareem receives plaque from actress, Hilda Dokubo at the maiden edition of ‘Unchained Vibes’

the former colonial prison walls.

Dokubo led the discussion with her advice for artists not to make themselves political tools but drivers of social change.

“As an artist, your business is not just to entertain but to educate and inspire change,’’ she said.

In January 2020, the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) reportedly ordered cinemas nationwide to stop showing a movie,

‘SugarRush.’ It was widely believed that the movie was suspended because of the depiction of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as an incompetent organization. Also, the Milkmaid movie was subjected to several edits. Eventually, 24 minutes were removed from the original cut.

Dr Pure, an on-air-personality and rapper, born Saifullah Ibrahim joined the conversation with concerns on how tribalism in Nigeria trivialises his

memory of racism. He also frowned on the culture of censorship that places limit on the themes what artists can explore in their works.

“When you rap about drug and sex they want you to stop. Restricting us is making us want to do more and to think outside the box. We need to stop the mentality of tribalism because together we are a weapon,” he said.

The Executive Producer, Unchained Vibes Africa, Ayodele Ganiu remarked that “all these restrictions have created an atmosphere of fear for many artists and has fostered self-censorship, a practice that has undermined and continued to undermine democracy and rule of law in Nigeria.’’

Ade Bantu, Founder, Afropolitan Vibes blamed the situation on the trauma of military dictatorship and unresolved issues occasioned by the civil war. He encouraged older artists to embrace and guide new artists to build a mutually beneficial relationship. He explained why artists need to protect their integrity.

“If you sing for politicians, you lose credibility. Artists have been largely compromised,’’ he said.

BEETA ARTS FESTIVAL: Simmering Stew of Creativity Yinka Olatunbosun BeetaArts Festival is the unique new Pan-African celebration organised by the Beeta Universal Arts Foundation. The festival debuts in Abuja today 12th November and runs till the 14th at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel and the Art-Tech District, Abuja.

The festival which has as theme ‘Re-Imagine’ seeks to foster arts development and cultural unity by synergising various art forms.

The festival include stage plays, film screenings, concerts, poetry, art exhibitions, trainings, workshops, book readings, indigenous cuisine, conversations and lifestyle events.

Beeta Universal Arts Foundation was founded by the uber-creative entrepreneur Bikiya GrahamDouglas, an award-winning actress and producer. Her vision for arts development also birthed the Beeta Playwright Competition and the Beeta Campus Outreach.

As a Pan-African festival, participating films are drawn from Kenya, Uganda, Mauritius, Ethiopia, Egypt, Tunisia, and the host nation, Nigeria.

There would be stage performances from Nigeria and Egypt at the festival. They include stage plays written by winners and finalists of the Beeta Playwright Competition. Olarotimi Fakunle, will be producing the Theatre segment of the festival featuring ‘Room 7’ by John Ekpeno Ukut starring the rising Nollywood star Tope Oloniyowon while Tony Edet (Thin Tall Tony) will be directing a play called ‘Cancelled’.

Sky Film Distribution Champions African Content Rebecca Ejifoma As part of its commitment to champion true narratives and original African contents, Sky Mall Global Investments Limited has launched Sky Film Distribution. The distribution company is created to partner with filmmakers to produce and make available family-friendly, socially inspiring and faith-based movies.

It has an assortment of international titles featuring independent titles, Hollywood, Bollywood, Nollywood among other industries globally.

On the launch of its new outlet, the Sales and Marketing Team Lead, Sky Cinemas/ Sky Films, Fortune Olaleye, explained that Sky Film would share its slate of films, which will offer a unique platform for the best of creative talents in film making.

“We shall be working closely with filmmakers to take advantage of the generous tax incentives offered by the government by working around the country,” she expounded.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director, Sky Film Distribution, Mr. Macaulay Akaniyene implore the government to support Nollywood movie projects that would add to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.

“It’s a sure way of taking the industry to heights never before imagined,” he said, noting that beneficiaries will include actors, technical crew and other film professionals, who deserve better remuneration and greater standard of living.

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METRO

…Your city life in print

Felix Ofungwu: Regular Testing is Most Important Method of Controlling Diabetes As the World Diabetes Day is marked round the globe on November 14 with the global theme, “Access to Diabetes Care”, ISN Products Limited, one of the predominant suppliers of medical diagnostic solutions across Nigeria and major supplier of Accu-Chek, the most widely used product for testing blood sugar levels in Nigeria, is leveraging the 2021 WDD to increase awareness on the disease and the access to care with an outreach event scheduled for November 13 at Gbagada General Hospital. The Managing Director, ISN Medical, Felix Ofungwu, in this interview with MARY NNAH insists that diabetes is one of the silent killers in Nigeria at the moment, thus there is need for regular testing.

This is just as he appealed to government and all stakeholders to see the health condition as an emergency Tell us briefly about your journey to ISN Medical Limited. y background is in business. I worked as a business consultant for a number of years and then got into healthcare through ISN six years ago.

ISN Products Limited, also known as ISN Medical, is one of the predominant suppliers of medical diagnostic solutions across Nigeria. We have about 200 employees across 10 offices in Nigeria and we service over 1,000 hospitals, laboratories and diagnostic centres. So, I have been with ISN for six years now.

or diabetic during medical check-ups or wellness screening sessions.

M

As a major stakeholder in diagnostic healthcare, how would you describe the diagnostic healthcare industry in Nigeria?

I will say that the overall healthcare landscape in Nigeria is rapidly changing, and I think a lot of that has to do with the Covid-19 pandemic that we are still going through. I think it has really focused attention on many aspects of the healthcare sector including diagnostics, the need for proper and accurate testing.

We’ve seen that patients have become more aware of the need for timely and accurate testing and they are demanding those types of services.

You see a proliferation of testing centres across Lagos that are open 24/7, and patients are even able to do drive through testing; they are able to get results generally within a day. These are things that we didn’t see before and now they are becoming more and more common in Lagos and perhaps soon across other parts of the country.

I think the private sector especially, has risen up to that challenge that has been thrown down as a result of Covid-19.

ISN Medical was incorporated in Nigeria in 1976 with initial focus on industrial products and nutrition, what led the company into medical services and diagnostics?

Yes, we were incorporated in 1976 but I wouldn’t say that our major focus was on industrial products and nutrition. The company was founded by a former Medical Lab scientist and while there were at a point, arms of the business that dealt with industrial products and nutritional products, the core and focus of the company has always been around scientific products used in medical settings, especially in laboratory settings and that is what we have done for over 40 years now. We equip labs, hospitals, and diagnostic centres with the products that they would need to accurately diagnose their patients and therefore, provide the right sets of therapy for those patients.

This focus as a provider of medical solutions is what led us to our first distribution agreement with a company called Boehringer Mannheim in 1981, which is now Roche Diagnostics GmbH. That’s how essentially, we got started in the medical diagnostics space and we’ve been operating in that space since then.

Besides being heavily involved in diabetic advocacy, what other areas of the medical business is ISN majoring in?

As I mentioned earlier, our heritage really is in the provision of diagnostic products to hospitals, Labs and diagnostic centres and that is still a big part of our business today.

How would you leverage on the November 14th WDD? Let me provide a little more context and rationale behind the World Diabetes Day activities we have planned. So, we are a supplier of a product called Accu-Chek, the most widely used product for testing blood sugar levels in Nigeria and it is also the most accurate. It is commonly referred to as a Glucometer because it is used to test blood glucose

There is this needle phobia, what is the painless method of carrying out this test?

There are products we offer currently that are relatively painless. Technology has enabled us to come up with relatively painless ways of drawing a patient’s blood and testing them. However, there are now needle–free testing devices available, they are not the most affordable but they are available.

Things that, for example, use patches and other devices to read something that is equivalent to what you would get from a blood test but they are not affordable as needle–based products.

Can diabetes be cured?

As far as we are aware, there is no cure necessarily for diabetes. What we focus on and what the literature supports is proper management of diabetes and when diabetes is properly managed, people live very long and relatively healthy lives. We are not aware of any cure or any therapy that reverses diabetes. Insulin does not cure diabetes; it manages and regulates our blood sugar levels. If you are supposed to be taking Insulin to control your diabetes and you stopped taking Insulin, you are going to have a problem. So, that is not a cure but a management tool.

Ofungwu levels. We have supplied Accu-Chek for over 10 years now, and as a result, we have become quite embedded within the whole diabetes management system in Nigeria. We took it upon ourselves to not just play the role of a supplier but also to act as evangelists for better management of diabetes among patients.

So, over the years, we have had events, especially commemorating World Diabetes Day, which is always on November 14th. Therefore, we have these events which include outreaches and related events aimed at spreading awareness around diabetes and diabetes management.

This year is no different; we have a number of activities planned and the hallmark for this year’s is an outreach event, which we are doing in conjunction with Gbagada General Hospital on November 13th. We have another series of events with Access Bank throughout the week of the WDD. ISN’s theme for this year’ WDD is, “Improved Access to Diabetes Care” and that is really what we are trying to establish – how do you increase the level of access to diabetes care specifically, starting with testing? Once one is diagnosed to be diabetic, what next? How do you increase the level of access to diabetes care for the diabetic patients? Another thing I really want people to know is that accuracy is really important in managing any disease condition but particularly, diabetes. So, it is important that patients are using the right products that give accurate results, because the consequence of treating based on inaccurate results can be fatal. It is really important that people understand that this is not an area where guess work suffices. This is an area where precision is key.

Apart from these events that are focused on WDD, what other activities do you do to create awareness on the disease?

We do a lot of activities. Our business is

divided into what we call the diagnostic arm and the diabetes arm. For diabetes, we do outreaches and screening events all through the year. We have various promotions aimed at improving awareness around diabetes; improving people’s knowledge of how to manage diabetes conditions and what products they should use.

We usually do them in collaboration with our partners.

On the diagnostic side of our business, we have a whole other set of activities we do like continuous adult medical education, seminars, clinical meetings, various exhibitions and conferences.

When and how would someone know that he or she is diabetic?

There are some warning signs, though we wouldn’t want people to start experiencing those warning signs before they start doing something. Typically, what you see is that people are diagnosed as being pre-diabetic before they are actually diagnosed as being diabetic generally.

There two main forms of diabetes, the adult-onset or type 2 diabetes and juvenile or type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed as a child and there is very little that can be done to prevent that. Adult onset or type 2 diabetes comes with risk factors like family history, types of food that we eat and other lifestyle factors.

Some red flags include frequent urinations, night sweat, and constant thirst. Like I said, you wouldn’t want to wait till you experience the warning signs, since we know enough about some of the risk factors; we try to advocate that people try to manage the risk factors before those warning signs start to occur. But once those signs start to occur and you go to a doctor, typically, they are able to diagnose whether you pre-diabetic or diabetic.

Also, patients can be diagnosed as pre-diabetic

Is this medical condition diabetes a death sentence?

Diabetes is not close to being a death sentence if it is well managed and of course, things are done in moderation – nutrition, diet, drinking and all of that needs to be done in moderation and with the understanding of the impact it has on your body and blood sugar level.

For me, I think that knowledge is very important because if you know how certain things affect your sugar level, you are more empowered to make the necessary adjustments.

First of all, testing your blood sugar levels regularly is very important because that is when you would know whether it is in or out of control. You need to know that regularly. Now if you have been diagnosed with diabetes by a doctor, then they would set a therapeutic course for you. It might involve Insulin and oral medication; it always involves testing regularly just to make sure that your blood sugar levels are in control. It will also generally involve lifestyle modifications – the things you eat, exercise, movement and limiting sedentary activity.

Usually a doctor will set a course of action and one`s ability to live a relatively long and healthy life even with diabetes is based on how well they adhere to the recommendations of their doctors.

How do you see diabetes cases in Nigeria compared to other West Africa countries?

Part of the challenge in answering that question is the relative lack of data around diabetes and diabetes management in Nigeria. One of the challenges we see is that there are a lot of people living with diabetes without knowing. So, the proportion of undiagnosed diabetes is something that gives a lot of experts concern. There are a lot of people living with this disease that do not know because they haven’t been screened or tested.

In some places, once you enter a clinic or hospital, for any condition, testing of diabetes is automatically part of the protocol but here, we don’t necessarily have that. But what we have seen, depending on which studies you look at, is that around 3 to5 per cent of the adult population have type 2 diabetes in Nigeria.

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

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POLSCOPE

áÓÞÒ ÎÎã ÎÓàáÜÓ ÏÎÎã˛ÙÎÓàáÜÓ̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙט ͸΀͸ͽ ͻ͸; ΁ͻͽ;

As Yahaya Bello Chisels His Presidential Baton

I

t had hit the political space with some shock, and not many had ascribed sincere seriousness to his ambition, But the young man seems determined to forge ahead with his inclination to become the number one citizen in the country. His name is Yahaya Bello, the sitting governor of Kogi State.

If nothing is known about this young man, most Nigerians know that he is the youngest governor in Nigeria. At 46, he is the youngest serving governor in Nigeria. This is his second term in office. That means he was elected governor at the prime age of 41. Not many people took him serious as he vied for the governorship of Kogi State. But his eyes were on the ball. And he won, to the chagrin of many.

His firm control of the affairs of the state has somewhat given a strong recommendation to the capacity of youths and the drive younger persons have in changing the ancient narrative that have continued to dull the shine of public administration in Nigeria.

Even though he should be stepping down from the governorship dais by 2024, Governor Yahaya Bello often hailed as GYB, seems determined to short-circuit that route by chatting a presidential lane come 2023.

Already, he appears to be one of the few early political risers in the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), who has thrown his hat into the ring. The young man wants to be President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

While many other interested political gadflies have clothed their ambition in the silhouette of “consultation” and choosing to read the body language of President Muhammadu Buhari, Yahaya Bello had long announced his desire to run for the highest office of the land, as he forms groups and coalitions across various parts of the country.

So, has he read, perhaps correctly, the said body language of Mr President? Is there anything to even read? Does Buhari intervene or interfere with democratic processes?

So, where is Yahaya Bello drawing his political energy from? Does he have the presidential nod?

Or is he just trying his luck? Or does he just want to be later described as one of the also-ran?

Insiders say GYB is close to Mr President. But would that translate to political endorsement for the highest office in Nigeria?

Then comes the issue of financial war-chest.

On matters of financial capacity, would Saul be said to be among the prophets? Does Yahaya Bello have even a slice of the required financial muscle to run a presidential race? Kogi State is not one of the “big States” with deep vault.

Even if it were, the wealth thereof does not really belong to the governor, per se. So where is the financial well from which GYB will fetch his required water to ‘wet the ground” for his presidential ambition? There is no doubting the fact that presidential race requires humongous

Yahaya-Bello amount of money.

Thus far, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the political Iroko of Lagos State, popularly described as the National Leader of the APC, appears to be the heaviest political weight to have stealthily walked into the presidential arena.

He’s been on it, albeit surreptitiously.

All kinds of groups and alliances have long been formed. Tinubu seems poised to pour and exert all his energy and political acumen into the contest. So, thus far, Yahaya Bello and Tinubu have shown their hands in the quest for the presidential seat.

But what happens to the issue of zoning?

Yahaya Bello is technically from the northern geo-political zone. Kogi is somewhat in the middle belt. It is not a Southern state. If the present status quo in the party structure is sustained and the northern geo-political zone retains the national chairmanship of the party, would that not hurt and impede Yahaya Bello’s chances? Would the northern geo-political zone be allowed to produce both the national chairman of the party as well as the presidential flagbearer?

Is Tinubu’s doggedness at the race being buoyed by this geo-political calculation?

When the politicians come down to brass

tacks, would Yahaya Bello’s presidential sheaves still be standing?

Many Nigerians are however enthralled by the courage and determination of the young Bello to go after the number one office in the land. He is not fazed by the motley crowd of the issues facing Nigeria. He is sure he has the answer.

He has recently vowed that he’d fix many of the problems facing Nigeria within one year of coming into office. Campaign, in a way, has started.

In matters of governance framework, GYB has shown a good and great example. Perhaps the most laudable evidence is his commitment to giving women a chance. Long before the cry for 35 per cent inclusiveness for women gained ground, Yahaya Bello had adopted women into his government with clear intentions. Not only is a woman his Aide De Camp—the only example in the country, his Secretary to State Government, often described as the engine room of the government, is occupied by a woman. What’s more, all the Vice Chairmen of the 21 Local Government Areas in the state, are women. His disposition to women leadership clearly ticks the box of political inclusiveness.

And that is a plus!

Perhaps one other leadership strength of GYB is his Nigerianness, His cabinet is filled with people from all regions and religions. There are Heads of

parastatals from other states like Enugu, Kaduna etc, just as there are Permanent Secretaries from various parts of Nigeria in the Kogi State government structure. The clear absence of discrimination on the basis of geographical region is one governance virtue Nigerians have been clamouring for.

GYB has been largely described as a bridgebuilder. Not only is he a bridge between the older and younger folks in the country, even the geographical location of his Kogi State is literally a bridge between the north and the south.

In terms of performance, GYB’s credential in this regard may well be the fact that the state which had been a haven for criminals and criminality has been largely weaned of that status. The state, given the statistics on ground, has reasonably become one of the safest states in the country. The avalanche of attacks, kidnappings, terrorism (Boko Haram used to have several camps in the state), have all been cleared off. Although a few cases of attacks have been recorded in recent times, it remains largely a safe domain for business and peaceful living.

This feat has even now become a major requirement for anybody stepping into the presidential office, given the mounting cases of insecurity besetting the country from all sides.

Yahaya Bello appears to have cobbled together a valid crack team in securing the state from the activities of criminals.

If the model being operated in Kogi state is credited to the age-range of the operators, then there is a great sense in the quest for involving the younger folks in the business of governance. Kogi State government is populated and operated by largely young people. Young people have energy.

They have drive. They also have technologynourished vision. That explains why, for instance, Kogi State, under GYB administration, was one of the states in the country to use technology to clean up the state’s payroll wherein the huge number of “ghost workers” were cleared off the state’s payroll. It was one of the earliest signs of GYB’s determination to run a serious government in 2016 when he assumed office. At the end of the verification and screening exercise in the state, a total of 18,211 workers were discovered to be ghost workers and had caused the loss of N213 billion from the state coffers within the last 13 years. The ghost workers were in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) both at the state and local government levels.

In the months ahead, GYB’s presidential crusade will become louder as the struggle for the party’s presidential ticket will become stronger and fiercer.

Will all his political and governance virtues speak for him? One thing sure is that GYB is not relenting.

He is chiseling his baton and ready to do the race.

His stead and presence in the media is strong and reassuring. And his confidence index is increasing.

And Nigerians are waiting to see if Governor Yahaya Bello, against all odds, will emerge as the Knight with the shining armour.

180 Seconds with Desperate Gunmen

I

n a complex city like Lagos, there is a thin line between safety and danger. This complexity is even made worse by the twin factor of its population density as well as weak security presence. In a way, what Lagos gains from being shielded from acts of terrorism, it loses from highway attacks. Many years ago, one of the earliest things I learnt as a cob reporter is the presence of “Black Spots” in several parts of the city, as identified by the Lagos State Police command.

So, if the Police have identified certain places as “Black Spots”, common sense would suggest that there will or should be increased police presence in such spots. But nay. The narrative seems to be something like: You have been told; so, take care of yourself in such places.

And that was my ill lot penultimate Thursday, when some three gunmen surrounded me and violently robbed me and my friend.

It was about 7.40 pm, November 4. We had run into a terrible traffic snarl at the 2ndRainbow area of the Apapa-Oshodi expressway. We were headed home in Festac Town. All routes and spaces were choked and blocked by trailers and tankers.

Even “okada riders” were having a hell of time meandering between the vehicles.

We soon got helmed in and stranded. It was bad traffic. Very bad. Many drivers had turned off their engines and the headlights. We were on the service lane, few meters after the Tank and Tommy NNPC filling station. My friend had earlier expressed strong worry of being trapped in traffic at such spots, as “bad boys” often capitalize on it to wreak havoc. And it was not long after, that the havoc hit us. Some two young men soon appeared by the road side, making as if they were just walking by, pretending to be making telephone

Hakeem Odumosu calls. They all wore black T-shirts with various imprints. They stood, surveyed the area and then left. We were not sure what they were up to, nor what we should do. The traffic persisted. About twenty minutes later, the boys were back, this time, with an additional young man, in his late 20’s. they conferred among themselves briefly, assigning themselves to who should attack who, and I saw their leader walk to my side of the car. He raised his shirt to show the bronze-coloured pistol he tucked into his trousers. He soon pulled it out, pointed it at me, yelling the order of “bring out

all the money”. I had barely answered that I did not have money on me, when he pulled out an iron and smashed my glass windows. He was clearly under the influence of drugs. And I was bathed with glass smithereens, many of which were in my mouth. He was still barking the order of “bring the money or I kill you”, and I handed over one of my less prized phones to him. The other I had thrown under the foot mat before he came. He was not appeased. He soon smashed my face with the iron, breaking one of my tooth and my lips. Blood was all over me. Meanwhile and simultaneously, the other assailant had drawn out a very long dagger at my friend who sat beside me, robbing him of all his phones and cash. He dashed at the driver behind us and also robbed him quickly of whatever he could grab, and as he made to run off, he, again, smashed the window of the other side of my car. So both glass windows were smashed.

While we were being robbed, the driver of a red Toyota Camry car in my front was also being robbed, while one of them stood in the front of my car. The driver in my front was robbed of his laptop, phones, wallet, cash and yet stabbed deeply on his right arm. Barely three minutes after, they were done. They fled. The red Camry driver was bleeding profusely, his whole shirt soaked with blood. We had to look for handkerchief to tie the bleeding spot.

It was after the robbers had fled in a waiting motor bike that many of the other drivers came sympathizing with us, as we still were held down by the traffic. About ten minutes later, some soldiers (who watch over the NNPC filling station) walked up to us asking where the robbers were, as if we should know. Many of the sympathisers recounted frequent ordeals in the hands of highway robbers

who often take advantage of traffic snarls to attack motorists.

The soldiers managed to direct the traffic in a way that we could escape from the traffic after some 20 more minutes. We drove straight to the hospital for treatment.

By the following day when we went to incident the attack at the Festac Police Station, we were assailed by the signature malaise of the Nigeria Police. Somebody had forewarned us that the police would demand money to incident the case.

Thankfully they did not. But while they asked us to write our statement, they feasted on the meal of Semovita and Ogbono soup, right in our presence, washing it all down with sachets of ‘Pure water’ before attending to our complaint. The attitude was most sickening. They asked, whilst picking their teeth, if we were just interested in filing the report or we wanted an investigation. I told him both, knowing fully well that as I write this story, one week after the incident, the paper on which we filed the report must have got lost. To say they were nonchallant and manifestly unprofessional would be an understatement. But that is our lot in Nigeria!

In recent years, I have stopped seeing policemen who ride on patrol motor bikes on Lagos roads.

Their presence helped to keep away these deadly criminals. Today, motorists are practically on their own, even as the menace of traffic snarls continue to plague Lagosians.

Can somebody tell the duo of Gov Babajide Snawo-Olu and Hakeem Odumosu, the Lagos state Commissioner of Police, that Lagos motorists are being attacked and even killed frequently in traffic.

They should rise up and do something. It will only get worse as Christmas draws nearer. May the Good Lord save us!

38

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ NOVEMBER 12, 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

PTAD Assures Pensioners on Zero Tolerance for Fraud, Prompt Payment of Benefits James Emejo ÓØ ÌßÔË The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Dr. Chioma Ejikeme, yesterday said the directorate is committed to ensuring integrity of its pension payment system, assuring pensioners that their entitlements will be “processed and paid accurately, fully and on time”.

She said as an organisation, which handles public funds, there is the need for transparency and accountability in its activities to engender public confidence.

Ejikeme, at the inauguration of members of PTAD’s reconstituted Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), said fighting corruption required the willpower, support and effort of everyone including staff, pensioners and management.

She pointed out that no single organisation could overcome corruption without the efforts and cooperation of all concerned.

She said ACTU will serve as the directorate’s watchdog in ensuring zero tolerance for fraud which PTAD is known for.

The PTAD boss said ACTU has the responsibility and performs duties enshrined in the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 to ensure good governance which would help the directorate to retain the trust of pensioners.

She pointed out that PTAD had enjoyed fruitful and cordial relationship with anti-corruption agencies including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and sought for closer collaboration and synergy.

Ejikeme, further acknowledged the excellent performance of the erstwhile and pioneer members of ACTU and urged the new members to imbibe same spirit as well as strive to surpass their performance during their tenure.

She also said that PTAD has successfully consolidated all the

former treasury funded defined benefit pension schemes including the field verification of all its pensioners.

She added that database clean up exercise was ongoing, stressing that the pilot phase of its webbased solution, ‘I am Alive’ would expose pensioners who are not alive for possible removal from payroll anytime the confirmation process is carried out.

Also, speaking at the inauguration, Chairman of ICPC, Prof.

Bolaji Owasanoye, said the war against corruption by the federal government and anti-corruption agencies demanded that all public institutions, public officers and managers of public funds, are in unison to diminish and eliminate the scourge of corruption.

Represented by ICPC Deputy Director and Head System Study Division, Mr. Demola Bakare, he said the directorate’s ACTU had always been a source of pride to the commission in view of its past activities and achievements.

Chief Executive of Kuda Technologies, Babs Ogundeyi (left) and Chief Technical Officer, Musty Mustapha, after the bank signed an agreement with Visa...recently

MARKET INDICATORS

CBN: Other African Countries Understudying e-Naira Nume Ekeghe The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has stated that the success and acceptance of the e-Naira has attracted other African countries to understudy the model and basics of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).

Speaking on the sidelines of the CBN special day at the ongoing Lagos International Trade Fair yesterday, Director, Corporate Communications of the apex bank, Osita Nwanisobi, noted that as one of the first countries in the world to have adopted the digital currency, Nigeria has become a role model to many

other central banks in Africa and beyond. He said, “Presently, many African countries are in the country trying to understand and see how they can also start their own digital currency. Many central banks across the world are still trying to understand it and the CBN has made history as one of the first to achieve this.

The world is moving away from fossil fuel and we are entering a digital world. If we do not join the train now, we would be left behind.”

He further noted that with the upgrade in the e-Naira wallet application, there ha been increased traction in the acceptance and usage of the digital currency in

the country. According to him, there is a whole lot of enthusiasm from the public on the e-Naira.

On her part, the president of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) organisers of the fair, Mrs Toki Mabogunje commended the apex bank on the launch of the eNaira which according to her will help to expand payment gateways for digital transaction.

“The launching of the Nigeria digital currency the e-Naira is highly commendable and marks a milestone in Nigeria digital economy it is equally remarkable that the e-Naira is the first in Africa’s financial market, “she said.

FirstBank Reiterates Commitment to Youth Empowerment, Entrepreneurship Kayode Tokede First Bank of Nigeria Limited has reiterated its commitment to Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship through the celebration of its ongoing 2021 Youth Week.

The Youth Week, themed, “The Future is Now, Let’s Takeover” started on Monday, 8 and will be concluded today.

The week-long event comprises a variety of activities, including: Youth themed Future Forward activities, First@arts Creative Artistry Empowerment Workshop, Grooming and Wellness Workshops, Digital Engagements, Virtual Mini Concert, and many more. Each activity is associated with various gift items, including gift vouchers and cash prizes.

Speaking on the Youth week celebration, Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan in a statement said: ‘’we remain committed to recognizing the enormous opportunities that can empower the Nigerian youth. Over the years, we have seen our youth benefit from actively engaging in our programmes where they develop effective leadership skills and gain a stronger connection to their community.

Young people are our future and we are always ready to support and help harness their skills as with these, we put them at an advantage in securing their future as they contribute to national development.

“At FirstBank, with about 57% of the entire workforce being

millennials and ‘Gen Zs’, the Youth segment has been and will continue to be the prime focus. Therefore, the Youth Week presents a unique platform to strengthen the Banks commitment to the younger population, who have become the powerhouse driving all facets of digitization and innovation in our world today’’.

During the celebration of the FirstBank Youth Week 2021, youths will get rewarded for their talents by following this process - Do a recording showcasing your singing prowess in a video (1 minute or less), Upload your video on Instagram, be sure to follow firstbanknigeria on IG, then Tag 5 friends to follow the bank with the hashtags #YouthVoices #FirstBank #YouthWeek.

CIBN Honours Nova Merchant Bank CEO The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of NOVA Merchant Bank Limited, Mr. Nath Ude, has been conferred as an Elected Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) at the 2021 CIBN Fellowship Investiture.

The event which held on the 30th of October 2021 at the Balmoral Convention Center, Federal Palace Hotel and Casino, Victoria Island Lagos comes in recognition of his

commitment to professional responsibilities and invaluable contributions to the banking sector as well as the Nigerian economy at large.

The Chief Host and President/ Chairman of Council, CIBN, Dr Bayo Olugbemi, congratulated the deserving awardees and asserted that “through dint of hard work and God’s blessings the awardees were being elevated to the pinnacle of their respective

careers”.

The event was well attended by other bank CEOs and dignitaries including the Former Minister of National Planning, Dr Shamsudeen Usman who was the Special Guest of Honour and the Chief Executive CIBN, Seye Awojobi. Dr. (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala the Director General, World Trade Organization (WTO) was also conferred the award of Honorary Fellow at the event.

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 AS AT THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7

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).

39

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͰ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Lafarge Africa Announces N16.1bn Interim Dividend Kayode Tokede Lafarge Africa Plc has announced an interim dividend of N16.1billion with a pay-out of N1 per 50 Kobo ordinary shares for nine months ended September 30th, 2021.

This dividend to be paid out of the pioneer profits,

will be made to shareholders whose names appear in the Register of Members as at the close of business on November 10th, 2021.

CEO of Lafarge Africa, Khaled El Dokani, in as statement said: “We are pleased to announce the payment of an interim dividend to our esteemed

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R

DEALS

shareholders. This reiterates our commitment to ensure that we continuously deliver value to all our stakeholders.

“Our 9-month performance showed significant improvement, with net sales of +21.9per cent, recurring EBIT of +17.1per cent and net income of +43.3per cent,

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

compared to nine months 2020 results.

“We are equally pleased with the progress we are making on sustainability; our use of affordable clean energy and agro-ecology footprint are in accordance with our net zero pledge journey.

“We extend our sincere

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

appreciation and gratitude to all our stakeholders for their continued support.”

The interim payment date is November 19th, 2021 and will be paid electronically to shareholders whose names appear in the Register of Members as at 10th November, 2021, and who have completed the e-dividend

O F

registration and mandated the Registrar to pay their dividends directly into their Bank accounts.

The company had reported 43.3 per cent increase in profit to N40.39billion in nine months ended September 30, 2021 as against N28.2billion reported in nine months of 2020.

1 0 / 1 1 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

40

FRIDAY, ͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

Friday, November 12, 2021 Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index fell 0.6% by 14bps The dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index fell 56bps to close at

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

at 1,674.89 points due to sell-pressure ϭ͕ϴϰϮ͘ϵϲ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůů-pressure onon AIRTELAF ZENITH (-0.9%), (-0.6%), WAPCO GTCO (-0.9%), (-1.3%), andand GTCO UBA (-Ϭ͘ϰйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞͲ (-0.7%). These stocks cumula-

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘Ϯй͘ ly account for 44.3% of the index.

ASI Local upBourse 11bps Extends as DANGCEM Losses...

Gains ASI3.3% down 40bps

zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ the ƉƌŝĐĞ Yesterday, All-^ŚĂƌĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ /ŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ϰϬďƉƐ ŝŶ ƚŽ ,KEz&>KhZ ϰϯ͕ϱϰϵ͘Ϯϴ (+9.8%),ĚƵĞ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ E' D ƚŽ ƉƌŽĮƚ-taking ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ in ĂŶĚ MTNN & E, (-0.5%), (+0.7%) GTCObol(0.9%), stered ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ and ZENITH (-0.4%). Accordingly, the local bourse the market as thecapiAllƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ĨĞůů Share േϴϮ͘ϱďŶ ƚŽ േϮϮ͘ϳƚŶ ǁŚŝůĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ǁĞĂŬͲ index rose by

Ticker

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

1,842.96

-0.56%

871.70

-0.9%

30.9%

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

ĞŶĞĚ 11bpsϰϬďƉƐ to 39,550.36 ƚŽ ϴ͘ϭй͘ points.

DĂƌŬĞƚ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ĚǁŝŶĚůĞĚ zd ĂƐůŽƐƐ volume ŝŵͲ

8 Lafarge Africa PLC 9 Access Bank PLC

ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚŝƉƉĞĚ ϰϬ͘ϰй ĂŶĚ ϲϮ͘Ϭй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ proved to -1.8% while ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ to

10 United Bank for Africa PLC 11 FBN Holdings Plc

161.3m േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽunits േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ anddƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ േϮ͘ϭďŶ͘ FBNH ;Ϯϴ͘Ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ TRANSCORP ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ;Ϯϯ͘ϱŵ ďLJ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ƚŽ ĂŶĚ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ZENITH ƵŶŝƚƐ ;ϭϮ͘ϱŵ ǁŚŝůĞ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ value

Price Previous Current Change Price YTD Weighting Change

Current Price

Price Change Index to Date

84.3%

15.0%

3.5%

2.3%

2.3%

14.7%

5.2%

2.1%

15.3%

-3.7%

-3.7%

19.1%

11.2%

35.8x

6.7x

7.6%

-15.3%

-15.3%

24.8%

3.9%

4.1x

1.0x

10.9%

24.1% 30.7%

2.8%

24.00

-0.4%

6.3%

-3.2%

-3.2%

20.9%

2.8%

3.3x

0.6x

12.4%

280.00

0.0%

6.6%

14.3%

14.3%

40.4%

16.7%

13.9x

5.4x

5.9%

7.2%

200.00

-0.5%

5.5%

17.7%

17.7%

179.2%

14.1%

14.4x

21.9x

5.4%

6.9%

1,400.00

0.0%

3.5%

-7.0%

-7.0%

106.8%

15.6%

27.2x

32.0x

4.3%

3.7%

25.50

2.6%

3.9%

21.1%

21.1%

11.6%

8.4%

9.5x

1.1x

3.9%

10.5%

9.35

-0.5%

3.0%

10.7%

10.7%

17.0%

1.4%

2.6x

0.4x

9.1%

38.1%

8.15

-2.4%

2.4%

-5.8%

-5.8%

2.0x

0.4x

6.7%

48.8%

11.50

0.4%

3.8%

60.8%

60.8%

0.5x

3.9%

18.6%

52.50

0.0%

1.9%

-6.3%

39.00

0.0%

2.0%

3.3%

12 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 14 International Brew eries PLC 15 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

10.6%

1.0%

5.4x

-6.3%

5.3%

1.9%

48.4x

2.5x

2.1%

2.1%

3.3%

15.4%

2.0%

9.0x

1.4x

10.5%

11.2%

-10.3%

-3.9%

-6.7%

-6.7%

12.1%

12.1%

731.50

0.0%

1.8%

81.8%

81.8%

FBNH by volume ;േϯϮϮ͘ϭŵͿ͕ were dZ E^ KZW ĂŶĚ ZENITH ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ;േϯϬϭ͘ϮŵͿ ůĞĚ & E, ďLJ (11.1m ǀĂůƵĞ͘

16 SEPLAT Energy PLC 17 11 PLC 18 Okomu Oil Palm PLC 19 Fidelity Bank PLC

142.00

0.0%

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

1.2%

56.0%

2.67

-1.1%

0.7%

6.0%

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

20 Ecobank Transnational Inc 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

8.45

-2.3%

0.9%

17.10

0.0%

0.5%

WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ

22 FCMB Group Plc 23 Sterling Bank PLC

3.07

0.7%

0.5%

-7.8%

-7.8%

1.50

-3.2%

0.3%

-26.5%

14.15

0.0%

0.4%

1.00

0.0%

26 Presco PLC 27 Unilever Nigeria PLC 28 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC 29 United Capital PLC 30 Guinness Nigeria PLC 31 Custodian and Allied Insurance 32 AIICO Insurance PLC 33 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri 34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

1.0x

-10.3%

4.5x

0.7x

5.7%

22.3%

3.4%

1.9%

16.9x

0.6x

5.7%

5.9%

56.0%

38.8%

25.2%

9.7x

3.4x

5.0%

10.3%

6.0%

12.7%

1.2%

2.3x

0.3x

8.2%

43.1%

40.8%

40.8%

1.5%

0.1%

27.9x

0.4x

-2.8%

-2.8%

25.6%

12.1%

6.6x

1.6x

8.8%

15.2%

-26.5%

10.1%

0.9%

3.3x

0.3x

3.3%

-2.4%

-2.4%

20.7%

5.9%

13.3x

2.9x

2.8%

7.5%

0.4%

11.1%

11.1%

-1.3%

-0.3%

0.6x

1.0%

-2.1%

2.1x

1.1%

-1.3%

-0.8%

1.3x

0.0%

24 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

-100.0%

89.00

0.0%

0.3%

25.4%

25.4%

14.60

0.0%

0.2%

5.0%

5.0%

6.10

1.7%

0.2%

15.1%

15.1%

3.6%

4.9% 30.7%

-1.0% 4.1%

9.70

-1.0%

0.4%

105.9%

105.9%

2.2x

7.2%

37.50

0.0%

0.4%

97.4%

97.4%

8.1%

3.8%

13.4x

1.0x

1.2%

7.5%

7.65

0.0%

0.2%

30.8%

30.8%

24.7%

7.5%

3.8x

0.9x

7.1%

26.6%

1.28

-0.8%

0.2%

13.3%

13.3%

12.2%

1.8%

12.8x

0.6x

240.80

0.0%

0.3%

85.2%

85.2%

1.8%

18.3%

7.8%

5.5x

24.80

0.0%

0.2%

40.7%

40.7%

18.3%

2.4%

4.3x

0.8x

1.6%

23.1%

35 Wema Bank PLC 36 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

0.86

-1.1%

0.2%

24.6%

24.6%

13.7%

0.8%

4.1x

0.5x

4.7%

24.6%

0.0%

0.0%

-100.0%

7.1%

0.8%

5.6x

0.6x

5.0%

37 Oando PLC 38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 39 Beta Glass PLC

4.85

0.0%

0.2%

31.1%

14.5%

2.6%

2.1x

0.3x

4.7x

0.6x

40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϲdž ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘ϵdž as 19 ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ

while CORNERST (-8.8%), CUTIX (-8.1%), and REGALINS (-

5.1%

10.4%

1.4%

ƟŽŶ in E' D FTNCOCOA (+5.0%), (+3.3%). and UNIVINSURE (+4.8%) led gainers

0.8x ot Applicable

0.0%

1.1%

stocks lost ƌĞůĂƟǀĞ ϭϮ gainers. (+7.3%), er, up 1.8% ƚŽ driven

by UNITYBNK price apprecia-

5.4x

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

-0.9%

0.0%

Investor ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K (-0.8%),ĂƐ E/d, (-Ϭ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;-Ϭ͘ϮйͿ͘

P/BV

74.50

0.0%

and D E^ Z (-Ϯ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ Investor ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ tĂŶĞƐ ing indices fell by Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůů-

P/E

27.40

5.55

was bearish 4 indices lost while the Consumer Bearish Sector as Performance Goods and Oil & Gas ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ Across sectors under our coverage, performance was The Insurance and ĂŶŬŝŶŐ indices shed 0.9%, due to price bearish as 4 indices lost, 1 index gained ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &Z-/ d ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ t W/ ;-Ϯ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;-0.9%). Similarly, ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ the AFR-ICT index declined 0.7% dampened by sell preser 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ Insurance indices, down 4.6% and ƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ DdEE ;-0.5%) while hd/y (-8.1%) pulled the Inϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚ-ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> (dustrial Goods index lower by 0.1%.

9.1%), hE/> s Z (-3.5%), >/E< ^^hZ (-6.4%),

ROA

25.6%

29.15

topped ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ the ďLJ volume ϴϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ chart േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ while The MTNN most traded ;േϰϬϱ͘ϯŵͿ͕ stocks

ROE

31.1%

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%

2.1x

-20.1% 2.0%

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

UN IT YB N K

0.59

7.3%

FB NH

28.2

0.4%

F T N C OC OA

0.42

5.0%

T R A N SC OR P

23.5

0.0%

P ric e C hg %

0.22

4.8%

Z EN IT H B A N K

12.5

-0.4%

25.50

2.6%

A C C ESS

9.3

-0.5%

UP D C

1.69

2.4%

ST ER LN B A N K

8.3

-3.2%

UA C N

11.00

2.3%

GT C O

7.3

-0.9%

J A P A ULGOLD

0.44

2.3%

WA P IC

6.4

-2.0%

UN IVIN SUR E

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 T ic k er

17.7% 47.9%

7.3%) led decliners. In today͛s trading session of the week, /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ ǁĞ ĂŶƟĐŝƉĂƚĞ Ă ŵŝůĚ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ĐůŽƐĞ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͘ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ 1.6x

WA P C O

PZ

6.10

1.7%

C OUR T VILLE

4.1

0.0%

ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ stocks

M A N SA R D

2.19

1.4%

UB A

3.6

-2.4%

A F R IP R UD

6.35

0.8%

M ULT IVER SE

3.2

0.0%

advanced while 15 stocks declined. MRS (+9.9%), MAYT o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s

BAKER (+9.8%), and HONYFLOUR (+9.8%) led gainers P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

C OR N ER ST

0.52

-8.8%

M TNN

405.3

-0.5%

C UT IX

5.70

-8.1%

FB NH

322.1

0.4%

R EGA LIN S

0.38

-7.3%

Z EN IT H B A N K

301.2

-0.4%

ET R A N Z A C T

1.90

-7.3%

GT C O

198.9

-0.9%

LA SA C O

1.06

-5.4%

N EST LE

129.6

0.0%

ST ER LN B A N K

1.50

-3.2%

OKOM UOIL

116.4

0.0%

UB A

8.15

-2.4%

A C C ESS

87.0

-0.5%

ET I

8.45

-2.3%

P R ESC O

67.9

0.0%

N GXGR OUP

18.10

-2.2%

ST A N B IC

60.4

0.0%

WA P IC

0.48

-2.0%

B UA C EM EN T

49.7

0.0%

T ic k er

while ABCTRANS (-8.3%), LASACO (-6.7%), and LIVESTOCK (-4.8%) led losers. Yesterday, we expect the market ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŵŝdžĞĚ͕ ĂƐ earnings season gradually winds up.

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

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

41

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 12, 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 10Nov-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 168.83 170.31 4.30% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 9.03% Nigeria International Debt Fund 320.95 320.95 -15.98% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 106.57 107.62 -3.73% 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 10.42% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.47 3.63 1.97% 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 8.67% Anchoria Equity Fund 142.52 144.33 7.15% info@anchoriaam.com Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.14 1.14 -13.97% 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 20.89 21.52 15.19% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 458.52 472.35 14.52% ARM Ethical Fund 39.80 41.00 18.05% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.09 1.09 -0.84% ARM Fixed Income Fund 0.99 0.99 -5.85% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.52% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 107.23 107.23 5.43% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,051.61 1,051.61 5.16% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.07 2.07 -4.52% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.24 2.29 3.47% mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.03 1.03 4.50% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.11% Paramount Equity Fund 17.64 17.97 10.32% Women's Investment Fund 142.89 144.57 7.38% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.65% Cordros Milestone Fund 134.25 135.11 14.28% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 109.77 109.77 5.29% CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.95% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.27 1.29 5.74% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.41 1.41 -10.90% 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 7.61% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 8.28% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,167.20 1,188.57 1.49% 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 8.27% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.03 1.03 2.85% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.12 Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 104.01 FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price FBN Bond Fund 1,370.43 FBN Balanced Fund 175.42 FBN Halal Fund 114.27 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

N/A 151.59 Bid Price N/A N/A N/A N/A

1.12 11.56% 104.01 3.96% invest@fbnquest.com Offer Price 1,370.43 176.73 114.27 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn 11.48% 5.22% 9.24% 8.91%

N/A N/A 153.67 14.46% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Offer Price N/A N/A N/A N/A

Yield / T-Rtn N/A N/A N/A N/A

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 7.61% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.92 2.98 2.15% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 154.82 155.10 -0.44% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.28 1.32 1.58% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.06 1.06 3.67% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 12.03 12.10 14.98% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 10.05% 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) 100.81 100.82 7.40% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 6.52% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.59 1.62 13.11% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.05 11.07 -9.03% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.47% PACAM Equity Fund 1.47 1.48 -6.98% PACAM EuroBond Fund 112.41 114.57 2.47% 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 135.21 137.60 12.44% 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 10.05% 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 3,419.61 3,448.40 6.36% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 234.45 234.45 4.27% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.29 1.31 10.17% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 310.31 310.31 5.31% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 242.48 246.24 11.14% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.72% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 11,246.24 11,411.78 7.19% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.28 1.28 4.65% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 116.32 116.32 4.72% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 105.16 105.16 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 1.36 1.38 6.24% United Capital Bond Fund 1.94 1.94 5.84% United Capital Equity Fund 0.94 0.96 17.75% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.98% United Capital Eurobond Fund 121.44 121.44 6.07% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.09 1.11 7.20% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.07 1.07 6.81% 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 13.22 13.34 11.42% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 14.70 14.86 20.46% Zenith Income Fund 24.62 24.62 2.61% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.51%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

124.98 54.20

10.62% 7.24%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.96 132.78 107.12 17.95 21.42

14.06 136.09 109.47 18.05 21.52

5.61% 10.43% 7.97% 1.23% 16.11%

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

3.94 5.64 18.40 1.00 21.89 157.84

4.04 5.74 18.60 1.00 22.09 159.84

5.14% -0.77% 13.48% 6.60% 6.63% -14.98%

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.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021

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INSIGHT NIMASA Seeks Safer Waters with Wreck Removal, Bringing Nairobi Convention into Focus

Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi (middle); Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh (left); and Acting Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Koko, during the flag-off of the National Wreck Removal exercise along the Badagry Creek in Lagos Chinweizu Chidi Amuta

N

igeria launched the National Wreck Removal exercise on September 24 in Lagos. The exercise is being carried out by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

NIMASA has the statutory responsibility for ensuring safe and secure navigation in Nigerian waters. With regard to wreckage obstruction, NIMASA’s mandate covers wrecks outside the access channels. This includes the area from the baselines to the territorial waters, contiguous zone, and the exclusive economic zones.

Though, the country was the eighth to ratify the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks (Nairobi Convention), which entered into force on April 14, 2015, the convention has not yet been domesticated in Nigeria.

But the launch of the National Wreck Removal exercise has brought the issues in the convention into focus.

The Nairobi Convention provides a framework for wreck removal. Three central questions arise when dealing with shipwrecks: Who is responsible?

What measures can and are to be taken based on such a responsibility? Lastly, how can the responsibility be enforced?

The convention addresses these questions.

In the case of responsibility for abandoned/ derelict vessels, the registered owner of a ship bears strict liability according to the convention, but can be exonerated by certain limited defenses.

On the second question regarding measures that can be taken, the convention clearly identifies locating, marking, and, subsequently, removal of the wreck from the waterways, while the onus to remove the wreck is on the registered owner. But there are also options available to the state affected by the wreck should the registered owner not cooperate or become

impossible to reach.

Critically, the Nairobi Convention also includes an optional clause enabling State Parties to apply certain provisions to their territory, including their territorial sea.

Finally, the convention strives to ensure enforceability by compulsory insurance for ships, wherever registered, with a gross tonnage of 300 tons and above calling any port or offshore facility in a State Party. The convention also enables an Affected State to make claims from the insurer directly.

NIMASA WRECK REMOVAL INITIATIVE The clause that provides for states affected by wrecks to take necessary measures is where the government agency responsible for ensuring safe and secure waterways, NIMASA, has stepped in.

In order to achieve effective implementation and enforcement of provisions of Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention, the Agency divided its wreck removal programme into three stages, namely, Pre-wreck Removal, Wreck Removal, and Post-Wreck Removal operations.

As required by the convention, the Agency also enforces compulsory insurance or financial security to cover liability for wreck removal on ships of 300GT and above, and issues Civil Liability Certificates on Wreck Removal It has been estimated that Nigeria, as a maritime country, would rake in about N30 billion from over 200,000 tonnes of metal wastes in its waterways, as NIMASA commenced wreck removal in the country’s waters.

The Pre-Wreck stage of the operation involved the identification of what the Agency described as critical wrecks on the country’s waterways i.e. the

abandoned vessels/wrecks that pose an imminent threat to safe navigation in the territorial waters.

On September 24, the Honorable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chubuike Amaechi, together with the NIMASA Director General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, and Acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr. Mohammed Koko, flagged off the Wreck Removal phase of the operation in Lagos at the National Wreck Removal exercise.

MEN AT THE HELM It is important to note that the push to prioritise the wreck removal exercise was led by the Honorable Minister of Transport and the NIMASA DG, in particular, which culminated in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval being granted for the commencement of the operation.

During the flag-off, the Minister commended Jamoh for coming up with the wreck removal idea.

“This creative venture of clearing our waters of wrecks and derelicts, apart from guaranteeing better safety of navigation, opens up the prospects of many new investments in the maritime industry,” Amaechi said.

He added, “it would tremendously help the Federal Government’s economic diversification drive and enhance Nigeria’s standing within the global maritime community.”

Speaking also at the event, Dr. Jamoh stated, “These wrecks inhibit the operation of shipping companies, which constantly strive to increase efficiency in order to remain in business.

“As a result, most of the shipping companies usually avoid operating or investing in areas where navigational hazards are identified due to high insurance premium charges.”

He said with the elimination or

reduction of the costs associated with insurance, survey and charting of wrecks, the cost of shipping would, drop to the benefit of mariners and other stakeholders in the maritime industry.

The benefits that would accrue to Nigeria from wreck removal and recycling are enormous. It will improve safety along the country’s navigational corridors within the internal waterways and territorial waters outside its shores. This would impact positively other businesses that are carried out daily in the waterways, like fishing and passenger transportation.

It will also lead to a drastic reduction, if not total elimination, of marine accidents that are linked to wrecks.

A WRECK-FREE FUTURE Nigeria stands to gain several advantages from the national wreck removal exercise.

The ultimate goal is to rid the country’s waterways of these derelicts. But the advantages cover the entire economic gamut.

The increased safety that would result from wrecks removal and recycling will be in addition to the noticeably low level of marine accidents that are currently being experienced, which has come about as a result of the safety awareness campaign mounted by NIMASA. The wrecks removal and recycling initiative is going to create an entirely new industry that would generate employment, especially in the area of skilled labour, and increase the level of Nigeria’s technical know-how in the industry. This would, in turn, add value through revenue generation to the government. The gains that would be derived from the initiative will guarantee environmental sustainability for the continuous development of maritime businesses. r"NVUB JT B 1VCMJD 3FMBUJPOT 0GàDFS BU UIF /JHFSJBO .BSJUJNF "ENJOJTUSBUJPO BOE 4BGFUZ "HFODZ /*."4"

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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NEWSXTRA

APC Stakeholders Demand Dissolution of Buni-led Committee

Says Caretaker committee conducted the worst congresses since 2013 Alleges Uba emerged party’s candidate through strange process

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may be in for another round of crisis as Concerned Stakeholders of

the party, yesterday, called for the dissolution of the Caretaker/ Extraordinary Ordinary Convention Committee of the party, led by the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala-Buni.

Co-convener of the group, Mr. Ayo Oyalowo, who made the call at a press conference in Abuja, recalled that a little over a month ago, the group kicked-off a campaign, calling for the rebirth

of APC after coming to terms with the reality that the party, by virtue of its administration and management, was on a descent to possible extinction.

Oyalowo noted that in kicking

Banditry: Military Deploys Troops, Attack Helicopters on Abuja-Kaduna Rail Line Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The military high command, yesterday, said it has ordered the deployment of troops and attack helicopters on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway in a bid to contain attacks by bandits on the rail line in the area.

In another operation, troops killed 31 insurgents in the Northeast, rescued 97 kidnap victims while 1,186 terrorists and families surrendered to troops in the past two weeks even as troops had deactivated 20 illegal refineries in the Niger Delta area.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya, however, charged troops to be decisive and ruthless in dealing with terrorists and bandits, reminding them that the security threat facing the country was "real".

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, Acting Director, Directorate of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), BrigadierGeneral Bernard Onyeuko, said following recent breach of rail transport in the area, military authorities deployed troops and attack helicopters to patrol the area, adding that, "Nigerian Air Force is also on patrol along the rail lines".

On the North-east, he said 31 terrorists were decimated while 71 were arrested and that,1,181 insurgents surrendered to troops.

"In the course of these operations, within the period of two weeks, 31 terrorists were neutralised and 71 of them arrested, including two women logistics suppliers namely Mrs Aisha Umar, 19, with a child of two years and Mrs Kaltumi Bakura, 20, all resident at IDP Camp in Bama.

"Also a total of 122 assorted weapons were recovered.

Additionally, a total of 97 kidnapped civilians were rescued, while a total of 1,186 Boko Haram elements and their families comprising 226 adult males, 406 adult females and 555 children surrendered to own troops at different locations in Borno State," he said.

On operations in the Niger Delta, he said troops of Operation Delta Safe conducted land, maritime and air operations in the South-South Zone, to forestall activities of economic saboteurs

and other criminal elements.

He said within the period, several anti-illegal oil production and raid operations were executed at different locations in the zone that yielded significant results.

He stated that in the course of the operations, troops discovered and deactivated illegal oil refining and bunkering sites in Bayeslsa, Delta and Rivers.

"Cumulatively, troops discovered and immobilised a total of 20 illegal refining sites,

non grata, while also banning them from accessing the party secretariat.

It claimed that it has become obvious to all discerning party men and women that the Buniled committee could not fix the problems it met on ground.

"If anything, the Caretaker Committee has created even more problems for the party than it was meant to resolve.

On the basis of the above and many others too numerous to mention, the Concerned APC Stakeholders are calling for the immediate resignation of the Buni-led Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee for their glaring failures in managing the affairs of the party, failure of which the Committee should be immediately dissolved and a new committee whose task will be to immediately conduct the National Convention of the party be constituted."

SHIPPERS’ COUNCIL VISITS MAKINDE… L-R: Chief of Staff to the Oyo State Governor, Segun Ogunwuyi; Chief Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Emmanuel Jime and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, during a courtesy visit to governor's office at Ibadan…recently

GOV FAYEMI: MALAMI SHOULD DEFEND NIGERIA, NOT CLAIMANTS He mentioned that whatever consent judgment the consultants claimed to have obtained was entered into by a faction of the governors’ forum in the days when the then chair of the NGF, Rotimi Amaechi, was purportedly removed, maintaining that Amaechi’s NGF which was the authentic body never sanctioned the deal.

He stated that not even the best lawyers in the United Kingdom would NOT charge those huge amounts for a “two-page letter” purportedly given to the faction of the governors’ forum on review of the judgment, insisting that it doesn’t appeal to common sense.

“The attorney general of the federation is pushing so vehemently on the side of people whose primary intent is to fleece the Nigerian people.

Even the EFCC that reviewed all of these matters, actually accused the federal ministry of justice of lack of diligent prosecution of this matter.

“These matters were not appealed by the federal ministry of justice, admittedly not under Malami at the time.

But what is happening now is just a continuation of the sleight

62 ovens, 12 cooking pots/ boilers, eight cooling systems, 19 reservoirs, 18 large dugout pits and 88 storage tanks.

"Additionally, eight criminal elements, including two impostors were arrested and seven arms and three rounds of ammunition, among other items were recovered in the course of the operations in the zone", he said.

He said, troops rescued 13 kidnapped civilians within the period.

off the campaign, the group summoned a press briefing to highlight the issues bedeviling the party, the consequences that were manifesting as a result and what needed to be done to correct them as well as return the APC to the path of progressive ideologies it was known for.

According to it, when it held the view that the practices within the party ran contrary to the progressive image and credentials of the APC, it raised its voice because it didn't want to to go down in history as one of those whose silent complicity brought the APC to where it was headed.

The group lamented that instead of seeing reasons with its concerns and heeding the call for a return of the party to its core foundational principles and progressive ideologies, the party leadership responded by declaring its members persona

of hand and that’s what the governors are challenging.

“I wrote to the president on behalf of my colleagues, sat with Mr. President on this issue and clearly Mr. President was misled and there’s no way governors are going to allow this.

“I will ordinarily not come out and do this, but my brother Abubakar Malami directed his media aides to accuse governors of being the ones behind this and he has repeated on your programme (on Arise Television) that we are forum-shopping,” he said.

He stated that Malami’s claims that part of the monies had been offset in the past and therefore was a basis for further deductions did not hold water, since it was possible to obtain money by fraudulent means, but that the governors are now insisting that the right thing should be done.

Fayemi pointed out that since the activities of public servants would be scrutinised by the public at some point after they exit their positions, it was imperative to display the highest form of transparency in all their dealings.

“I am afraid that we do not believe that the attorney

general has demonstrated this (transparency) and that’s what has brought this about,” he declared.

Asked to confirm if the EFCC verified the amount being claimed by the consultants, he stated that it wasn’t possible, reason the governors had been calling for a forensic audit, since members of the anti-corruption agency are not forensic auditors.

For instance, he stated that the EFCC report revealed that one of the documents which was used to claim the huge amount by one of the consultants was forged, describing the whole matter as clouded with a lot of “malfeasance”.

He questioned why the attorney general, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was in a hurry to execute the so-called judgment of the lower courts when the governors had appealed the matter in a higher court.

He explained that because governors wanted access to the Paris Club fund when Buhari agreed to disburse it in 2017, they had some agreements with certain parties who had gone to court to block the money from being released, but noted that whatever they got was the full

and final payment.

On the accusation of forumshopping, he described the allegation by Malami as “ingenuous”, alleging that the directive by the attorney general for the release of the monies was basically to rip Nigerians off.

Fayemi stressed that it was an “insult” for the attorney general to insinuate that the governors were forum-shopping, a practice where a party attempts to have his action tried in a particular court or jurisdiction where he feels he will receive the most favourable decision or verdict.

“We have been very clear that these claims, to the best of our knowledge are fraudulent and should be subjected to a forensic audit.

“If states are found to be liable on account of the purported consultancy allegedly delivered by these people, because I don’t know how anybody can claim to have delivered on the refund that is already established, for anyone to suggest that they did that is a red herring.

“The best way to describe this 419 million dollars is to say that this is a local equivalent of the P&ID case and it’s an irony that the attorney general is the one prosecuting the P&ID all over

the place and trying to rescue $10 billion for the Nigerian people and yet is so willing to release $419 million to people of dubious circumstances who are demanding for the money I don’t believe they worked for.”

But an analyst of the development who does not want his name mentioned. told THISDAY that it would be disingenuous for Malami to continue to push for the payment of such a huge amount of money at this point in time when the economy is still reeling from the effects of the COVID-19, the consequent slump in federal government’s revenue and its inability to meet its OPEC daily crude export quota . "All these challenges have made the federal government to remain in the debt market, borrowing monies from every available avenue to meet its obligations.

Therefore, under the situation that the country finds itself, managers of the nation such as Malami should be more concerned about efforts to reflate the economy and should not be seen as the one encouraging steps that would further make the economy bleed.

At a time like this, focus should be on how to spend our

way out of the present economic situation and on job creation for our huge youth population so as to raise productivity. All Malami is interested is paying consultants dubious consent judgment; The analyst argued further that whether the governors initially allowed deductions to take place in 2016, "does not hold water because the variables available then are not the same as 2021 and there are now different players entirely who have looked at matter and realised something is not quite right in the all scheme.

More so, when the deal was consummated in 2016, the dollar was around N150/$1 and now he is pushing for the consultants to be paid at around N450/$.

We are talking about a colossal amount of money to be paid to a few people to the detriment of over 200 million people. This is just immoral however one looks at it, said the analyst.

"Clearly, as the chief law officer of the country, Malami should know that all his actions on this matter are not morally right and purely against public interest and it would be immoral for the president to even endorse the payment."

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NEWSXTRA

HAPPY FIRST ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION...

L-R: Former Group Managing Director, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Alhaji Mohammed Yahaya; Founder, Jaiz Bank Plc, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab and Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, NatureNews, Alhaji Aliu Akoshile, at the first anniversary celebration of the newspaper and launch of ClimateAfrica magazine in Abuja…recently

After Reviewing Anambra Poll, INEC Presents Certificate of Return to Soludo Today Commission prepares for FCT area council election Feb 2022 Uba rejects result, alleges manipulation Ihedioha lauds Anambra electorate, salutes Ozigbo Abdulsalami’s peace c’ttee, Ekiti APGA hail outcome

Chiemelie Ezeobi, Chuks Okocha, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Victor Ogunje in Ekiti The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will today in Awka, Anambra State, present Professor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grandad Alliance (APGA) with the certificate of return as the duly elected governor in the November 6 governorship election in the state, after duly reviewing the election process.

INEC also said an in-depth examination of the system, review reports from accredited observers from Anambra, the media and response to all identified challenges, would prepare it ahead of the next major area council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), holding on 12th February 2022.

This is as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Andy Uba, has rejected the outcome of the election, alleging massive manipulation.

Nonetheless, the immediate past governor of Imo State, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, has commended residents of the state over what he described as the resilience of the electorate.

Similarly, the National Peace Committee (NPC) led by former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, has commended the people of the state for the peaceful conduct of the November 6th governorship election.

In the same vein, Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ekiti State, Mr Rufus Alabi, has said Soludo’s victory at the just concluded Anambra election was a morale booster to Nigerians.

However, INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, hinted at the presentation of certificate of return to Soludo after the meeting of the commission.

According to Okoye, "Following the conclusion of the election and as provided for in Section 75 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), certificates of return will be presented to the governorelect and deputy governor-elect tomorrow Friday, 12th November 2021, at our state office in Awka."

He said the commission was

awaiting the reports of all officials deployed for the election for an in depth review of the processes.

Okoye, in the statement, said after the supplementary election in Ihiala Local Government Area on Tuesday 9th November 2021 and before the process was concluded, the commission commenced a preliminary review of the functionality of systems, particularly, the newly introduced Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

He explained that the system performed two functions on election day. "First is the accreditation of voters using both the fingerprint and facial authentication. Secondly, it snaps the polling unit level result sheets and uploads them in real-time to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

"This aspect of the BVAS functionality performed optimally such that by the early hours of Sunday morning, results from 4,987 (88.5%) out of 5,634 polling units had been uploaded for public view.

"While still in the field, our ICT team responded to the identified glitches in the accreditation of voters and corrected them.

Consequently, in the Ihiala supplementary election, there were no reported incidents of BVAS malfunction," Okoye explained.

According to him, the commission would carry out an in-depth examination of the system, review reports from accredited observers and the media and respond to all identified challenges ahead of the next major area council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), holding on 12th February 2022 "We shall again test run the system in the bye-election (s) that may arise before then. The Commission remains convinced that despite some glitches experienced in Anambra State governorship election, the deployment of technology in elections is better than the best manual process," noting that the Anambra election was conducted under the most challenging circumstances.

"Never before did the Commission have to grapple with numerous issues ahead of an off-season governorship election, including attacks on our facilities, withdrawals of critical service providers such as the ad

hoc staff and transporters on the eve of the election and the general tension pervading the atmosphere.

Happily, the election passed off peacefully," Okoye stated.

Commission, however, expressed its gratitude to the security agencies, election duty officials, political parties and candidates, the National Peace Committee under the leadership of Abubakar, religious and community leaders, socio-cultural associations, civil society organisations and the media for the enormous sacrifice and support in ensuring that the election was conducted and peacefully concluded.

He, however, said INEC looked forward to the support of all Nigerians in the forthcoming elections, adding that, "We will continue to work hard to protect the sanctity of the ballot and to conduct free, fair and credible elections anywhere in Nigeria.

We remain resolute that only the votes cast by citizens at polling units will determine the outcome of elections."

Meanwhile, Uba, in a statement on Thursday by the Spokesperson of his campaign organisation, Mr. Jerry Ugokwe, described the outcome of the election as a 'charade' and did not reflect the wishes of the people of Anambra State.

"Our popular candidate, Senator Andy Uba, is a victim of widespread electoral fraud and manipulation by INEC in cahoots with the Willie Obiano regime and the security forces deployed to oversee the Anambra State Governorship Election.

"The elections were characterised by widespread irregularities, intimidation and voter suppression in order to clear the path for the inglorious ‘victory’ of APGA in the polls," he said.

Uba lamented that in polling units, where the Biometric Voters’ Accreditation System malfunctioned, INEC went ahead to conduct the elections manually, noting that there were numerous cases, where votes announced by INEC exceeded the number of accredited voters in polling units.

The APC candidate alleged that a clear manifestation of collusion between the Obiano administration and INEC was the publishing of results on the social media handles

of APGA, even before official announcement by INEC. "Yet, mysteriously, the votes announced in advance by APGA always correspond correctly with the official figures released by INEC. It is inconceivable that our candidate, who polled over 200,000 votes in the APC primary election would be allocated a slightly above 43,000 votes by INEC." Uba said it was surprising that APGA that lost almost 80% of its stalwarts through defection to the APC before the election came out ‘victorious’.

He recalled that a sitting APGA Deputy Governor, seven members of the House of Representatives, 10 members of the Anambra State House of Assembly, the APGA party’s member of Board of Trustees, many serving Special Advisers, Senior Special Advisers, as well as a serving PDP Senator all defected to the APC very timely before the election, "yet APGA emerged ‘victorious’. This is quite ridiculous.

"From all indications, the only people remaining in APGA at the time of the election were Governor Obiano and his household and a few staff of the Government House as well as Prof. Soludo and his household but majority of the electorate in Anambra State have moved to the APC. "There was definitely no way the carcass of APGA could have defeated the APC without the active collusion and manipulation

by INEC and the Obiano administration."

Uba insisted that what happened on November 6, 2021, fell far below the acceptable standard of a free and fair election, and could best be described as an electoral fraud perpetrated by the INEC, Willie Obiano administration and the security forces.

He, however, called on his supporters to remain peaceful and calm, saying he would not relent in pursuing the 'stolen electoral mandate' to the limit of the law through all the constitutional means available, stating that the facts on the ground did not in any way reflect the outcome of the elections as announced by INEC.

Ihedioha Lauds Anambra Electorate, Salutes Ozigbo

Sacked former Governor of Imo State, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, has commended residents of Anambra State over what he described as their resilience during the Anambra election.

In the press statement personally, Ihedioha also felicitated with the Anambra governor-elect, Professor Chukwuma Soludo on his election, even as he commended the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, "for his impressive outing".

The statement read in part: “Worthy of commendation is the resilience of the electorate – Ndi Anambra – who resisted efforts to compromise their conscience and unequivocally expressed their preference for their choice candidate.

“In the same vein, I am gratified and indeed salute the doggedness of Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, candidate of my party, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), who despite daunting challenges and distractions, led our party formidably.

"I am delighted to note that, in the spirit of sportsmanship and patriotism, most of the candidates of other political parties in the contest have called to congratulate Prof. Soludo on his victory. I wish to urge him to be magnanimous in victory and take steps also to reach out to his co-contestants for the good of the state.

Abdulsalami’s Peace Committee Hails Anambra Poll The National Peace Committee (NPC), led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has commended the people of Anambra State for the peaceful conduct of the November 6th governorship election.

In a congratulatory message to the governor-elect, Prof.

Chukwuma Soludo, Abubakar, said the people of the state displayed unprecedented patience, courage, decorum, and sacrifice casting their votes.

Thus, on behalf of the Peace Committee, he congratulated Soludo and urged him to be magnanimous in victory as well as live up to the democratic ideals for which he was elected.

"I want to particularly thank the people of Anambra for the way and manner they conducted themselves throughout the period of the governorship election, leading up to the announcement of the election results. Throughout the period of the elections, you displayed unprecedented patience, courage, decorum, and sacrifice to cast your votes and play your part in deepening the culture of peaceful elections in Nigeria," he said.

Ex-Edo Gov, Lucky Igbinedion, in EFCC Net Over N1.6bn Fraud Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

Former Governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, was grilled by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) over what a source described as alleged criminal diversion of public funds to the tune of N1.6billion The former governor, who arrived the headquarters of the EFCC at Jabi, Abuja, around 2pm, was still undergoing instruction as at the time of filing this report.

Shortly after his exit as governor in 2007, Igbinedion

was prosecuted by the EFCC and convicted of corruption.

The new investigation, according to a source, who spoke anonymously, was based on fresh evidence that the former governor diverted a loan obtained by the Edo State government to finance an investment during his tenure to settle the financial indebtedness of a company in which he has interest.

Spokesman of the Commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the invitation of the former governor but declined further comment.

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

US: Gulf States in First Joint Naval Exercise with Israel The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are holding their first joint naval exercise with Israel a year after normalizing ties with the Jewish state, the U.S. Navy said on Thursday.

The five-day manoeuvres in the Red Sea, which is linked to the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal, are intended to “enhance interoperability between participating forces”, a statement said.

“It is exciting to see US forces training with regional partners to enhance our collective maritime security capabilities,” said Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, or NAVCENT. “Maritime collaboration helps safeguard freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade, which are essential to regional security and stability.”

On Wednesday, the exercises included boarding, search and seizure training on the USS Portland, an amphibious transport dock ship.

China Begins Tenure Extension Moves for Xi Jinping China’s leaders have approved a resolution on the history of the ruling Communist Party that was expected to set the stage for President Xi Jinping to extend his rule next year.

The official Xinhua News Agency said the resolution on the party’s major achievements and the historical experience was adopted during a four-day meeting of its Central Committee that ended Thursday.

The move is expected to give Xi status beside the ruling Communist Party’s most important figures.

The statement is only the third statement of its kind in the party’s 100-year history after one issued under Mao Zedong, who led the party to power in 1949, and Deng Xiaoping, who launched reforms that turned China into an economic powerhouse.

Issuing a similar statement under Xi would confirm he has amassed enough authority to ignore two-decade-old party practice that says he should step down next year when his second five-year term as general secretary ends.

Sudanese General Reappoints Self as Head of Interim Govt Sudan’s top general has reappointed himself as head of the army-run interim governing body, a sign that he’s tightening his grip on the country two weeks after he led a coup against civilian leaders.

There was no immediate reaction by pro-democracy groups to the move by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, which was announced by Sudan’s state television.

The development comes amid repeated promises from the military that they will hand over power to civilian authorities.

Some other members of the body had also sat on the previous council that Burhan headed before he dissolved it in last month’s coup. Also

reappointed to the body Thursday was the powerful paramilitary leader Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, as vice-president. According to the state TV, Burhan also reappointed as council members, another three generals who had served in the previous council.

Eight civilians, including one from the previous council, were also appointed.

Ukraine to Deploy Troops, Helicopters to Guard Belarus Border Ukraine will deploy another 8,500 troops and police officers, and 15 helicopters, to guard its border with Belarus, aiming to prevent possible attempts by migrants to breach the frontier, the Ukrainian interior minister said on Thursday.

The European Union has accused Belarus of encouraging migrants to come to its territory then pushing thousands of them to cross into Poland and other neighbouring EU states in retaliation for sanctions imposed on Minsk.

While not an EU member, Ukraine is wary of becoming another front in the migrant crisis.

Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskiy said the new forces would include 3,000 border guard servicemen, 3,500 servicemen of the National Guard and 2,000 police officers. Monastyrskiy said earlier on Thursday that Ukrainian border guards, police and the national guard would hold drills on the border with Belarus.

Pakistan: Afghanistan ‘At Brink of Economic Collapse’ Afghanistan is “at the brink of economic collapse,” and the international community must urgently resume funding and provide humanitarian assistance, Pakistan’s foreign minister warned Thursday as US, Chinese, Russian, and Taliban diplomats met in Islamabad.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi spoke at the opening of the so-called “troika plus” meeting, including Thomas West, the new U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan. The delegates also met later Thursday with Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

“Today, Afghanistan stands at the brink of an economic collapse,” Qureshi said, adding that any further downward slide would “severely limit” the new Taliban government’s ability to run the country.

Activist Jailed 6 Years for Promoting Hong Kong’s Independence from China A Hong Kong activist, nicknamed “Captain America 2.0” for carrying the fictional superhero’s shield at pro-democracy demonstrations, was sentenced Thursday to nearly six years in prison for promoting Hong Kong’s independence from China.

Last month, food delivery driver Ma Chun-man was convicted of inciting secession by chanting slogans, doing media interviews, and displaying signs.

Ma was sentenced to five years and nine months under a law that China imposed in June 2020, generally ending the largest and longest-running pro-democracy protests since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Amnesty International called Ma’s sentence “outrageous” and said limits on free speech in Hong Kong are “dangerously disproportionate.”

Under the law, anything Beijing sees as secession, terrorism, subversion and collusion with foreign forces are punishable with maximum life sentences.

Kenya Dissolves National Football Body over Corruption Kenya on Thursday disbanded its national football federation over corruption allegations and said it might seek to prosecute any guilty officials.

The move was swiftly rejected by the suspended head of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), who denied any wrongdoing.

Sports Minister Amina Mohamed said the action was taken after a government investigation into FKF finances revealed it had failed to account for funds received from the government and other sponsors. She said in a statement there would be a further probe to “establish the extent to which the misappropriation of funds in FKF may have occurred, with a view of prosecuting those who may be found culpable”.

But suspended FKF chief Nick Mwendwa vowed to fight the move.

Sudanese Judge Urges End to Post-coup Internet Blackout On Thursday, a Sudanese judge ordered telecoms companies in Khartoum to explain why internet services are still cut more than two weeks after a military takeover and two days after a court said connections should be restored.

Mobile internet services across Sudan have been cut since the military seized power on Oct. 25. The suspension has hampered efforts by pro-democracy groups to mobilize for a campaign of civil disobedience and strikes against the coup. The judicial order to restore internet services immediately was issued on Tuesday in response to a complaint by the Sudanese Consumer Protection Society. The judge on Thursday repeated the order for Zain, MTN and local providers Sudatel and Canar to restore services, pending the announcement of

any damages to be paid to subscribers.

Germans Carnival Underway Amid COVID-19 Surge Germany’s carnival season, a series of festivals among German Catholics, began Thursday but under strict COVID-19 restrictions because of a surge in new infections in the nation.

Costumed revellers in the western city of Cologne had to line up Thursday to show proof of their COVID-19 vaccinations before they could start the outdoor celebrations. Last year’s festivals were cancelled altogether because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The carnivals are being held despite the fact Germany is undergoing a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, setting a record Wednesday for the number of daily infections.

And while the vaccine requirement was strictly enforced, the streets of Cologne were filled with people, side by side, without masks.

Thursday’s celebrations began with a somewhat ominous sign - designated so-called prince for the Cologne carnival, Sven Oleff, had tested positive for COVID-19 the previous day, a breakthrough case since he is fully vaccinated. The festival committee said he showed no symptoms and was feeling well.

Chinese Newspaper Removes Editorial Calling for More Media Freedom A Chinese newspaper editorial that lamented government interference in media and “increasing restrictions” on Chinese journalists has apparently been removed from the paper’s website.

The English-language commentary was published Monday in the Global Times, a nationalistic newspaper controlled by China’s Communist Party.

“I feel deeply that it is becoming more and more difficult to do media,” read the editorial

by Hu Xijin, the Global Times’ chief editor.

Hu is better known for his acerbic attacks on the United States, especially as the U.S.-China relationship has deteriorated. However, in his Monday piece, he instead criticized Beijing.

“Frankly speaking, media practitioners have been subject to increasing restrictions for some time,” Hu said. The interference, he warned, could “impact the media’s function as news outlets” and lead to a loss of “credibility and combat effectiveness.”

“As a battlefront, they should be trusted and have the independent space to carry out innovation that fits the needs of the times,” he added. By Thursday, the editorial could not be found on the Global Times English website. It was replaced by a 404 “page not found” error message.

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FRIDAY, ͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

PROFILE

De Klerk: South Africa's President Who Quashed Apartheid, Dies at 85

F

rederik Willem de Klerk died on November 11, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa. He was born on March 18, 1936, in Johannesburg.

According to nobelprize.org, in 1990, as then-South Africa's president, de Klerk decided to release Nelson Mandela, leader of the liberation movement, who had been in prison since 1963. Following the release, the two politicians worked together to end the policy of racial segregation. For his participation in this peace process, de Klerk was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

When de Klerk took office as president in 1989, no one expected him to play a key part in the termination of apartheid. As a lawyer, as a parliamentarian, and as a member of the government, he had stood out as a firm upholder of white privilege.

But when he realised that the apartheid system was leading to economic and political bankruptcy, de Klerk put himself at the head of a radical change of course. He continued the negotiations with Mandela and the ANC liberation movement, which had begun in secret. They agreed to prepare for a presidential election and draw up a new constitution with equal voting rights for every population group in the country.

De Klerk graduated with a law degree from Potchefstroom University in 1958 and then practised law in Vereeniging in the Transvaal.

In 1969, he married Marike Willemse, with whom he has two sons and a daughter.

De Klerk was offered a professorship of administrative law at Potchefstroom in 1972, but he declined the post because he had been elected to parliament as a National Party member for Vereeniging at the time.

In 1978, he was appointed Minister of Posts and Telecommunications and Social Welfare and Pensions by Prime Minister Vorster.

Under Prime Minister P.W. Botha, he held a succession of ministerial posts, including Posts and Telecommunications and Sports and Recreation (1978-1979), Mines, Energy and Environmental Planning (1979-1980), Mineral and Energy Affairs (1980-1982), Internal Affairs (1982-1985), and National Education and Planning (1984-1989). In 1985, he became chairman of the Minister’s Council in the House of Assembly. On December 1, 1986, he became the leader of the House of Assembly.

As Minister of National Education, F.W. de Klerk was a supporter of segregated universities, and as a leader of the National Party in Transvaal, he was not known to advocate reform. In February 1989, de Klerk was elected leader of the National Party, and in September 1989, he was elected State President.

In his first speech after assuming the party leadership, he called for a non-racist South Africa and negotiations about the country’s future. He lifted the ban on the ANC and released Nelson Mandela. He brought apartheid to an end and opened the way for drafting a new constitution based on the principle of one person, one vote and the entrenchment of basic human rights.

After South Africa’s first universal democratic elections on April 27, 1994, de Klerk was appointed as Executive Deputy President in South Africa’s Government of National Unity. He held this post until June 1996, when his party withdrew from the Government of National Unity. From then until he retired from active politics in 1997, de Klerk was the official opposition leader.

De Klerk published his autobiography ‘The Last Trek – a New Beginning’ in January 1999 and established the F W de Klerk Foundation to work for peace in societies divided into cultural, ethnic, religious or linguistic lines.

The britannica.com noted that de Klerk committed himself to speed up his predecessor's reform process and initiate talks about a new post-apartheid constitution with representatives of four designated racial groups (White, Black, Coloured, and Asian [Indian]). Though faced with a strengthened right-wing opposition in parliament (the Conservative Party), following his famous opening address to parliament on February 2, 1990, de Klerk quickly moved to release all-important political prisoners, including

FW De Klerk Nelson Mandela, and to lift the ban on the African National Congress (ANC) and the Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania.

After that, he frequently met with Black leaders, and in 1991 his government passed legislation that repealed racially discriminatory laws affecting residence, education, public amenities, and health care in South Africa. In 1992 he called a referendum in which almost 69 per cent of the country’s white voters endorsed his reform policies. That same year de Klerk undertook serious negotiations with Mandela and other Black leaders over a proposed new constitution that would enfranchise the Black majority and lead to all-race national elections. In the meantime, his government continued to

dismantle the legislative basis for the apartheid system systematically.

What World Leaders Say South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said de Klerk’s death saddened him and the government. According to Aljazeera, De Klerk had played a “key role in ushering in democracy” in the country, Ramaphosa said, expressing his condolences to the former president’s family.

“May FW de Klerk rest in peace and rise in glory. The former president occupied a historic but difficult space in South Africa.

The late FW De Klerk played an important role in South Africa’s history," said Archbishop

Desmond Tutu. “At a time when not all of his colleagues saw the future trajectory of the country unfolding in the same way, he recognised the moment for change and demonstrated the will to act on it.”

A statement by the Nelson Mandela Foundation said, “De Klerk’s legacy is a big one. It is also an uneven one, something South Africans are called to reckon with in this moment. De Klerk will forever be linked to Nelson Mandela in the annals of South African history."

It added, "As head of state, he oversaw the release of Madiba from prison on 11 February 1990. In 1993, they were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for ushering in a negotiated settlement that led to South Africa holding its first democratic election in 1994."

...Buhari Mourns Deji Elumoye in Paris, France President Muhammadu Buhari has mourned the demise of the last white President of South Africa, Frederick de Clerk.

Buhari described his death as, “is the end of an era because of his tremendous impact on history and the cause of justice.”

Reacting to the demise of de Klerk yesterday, Buhari in a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, described Klerk

as a remarkable moral force, for change who will be celebrated for years after his death.

According to the president, ending the obnoxious apartheid system by a white President was an incredible act of moral courage and fierce commitment to human rights regardless of the colour of the victims of racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa.

He noted that the late South African leader had put humanity and justice before

personal political ambition by dismantling the abhorrent apartheid system.

President Buhari added that, “History will be greatly kind to the late de Klerk because it takes a lot of moral audacity to do what he did at the time he did it. De Klerk who won a joint Nobel Prize for Peace in 1993 alongside Nelson Mandela, will not be forgotten for years to come because of his immense and immeasurable contributions to world peace, human rights and justice".

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Police Arrest Suspected Kidnappers Attempting to Collect Ransom James Sowole in Abeokuta Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command in collaboration with men of the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, and men of the So Safe Corps in the state have arrested three members of a kidnap syndicate.

The suspects, according to a statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Abimbola Oyeyemi, were arrested on November 9, 2021.

The suspects are Abubakar Sodiq, 26; Ibrahim Kuaki, 24, and Muhammadu Dio, 22.

Oyeyemi disclosed that the suspects were arrested following a report lodged at Ilupeju divisional headquarters that two men, who had gone to work at Abule Oba Alamala on Ayetoro road, were kidnapped by some gunmen.

He said: “Upon the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Sabo Ilupeju mobilised his men in collaboration with men of Nigerian Army and So Safe Corps and embarked on a joint aggressive bush combing in

search of the victims and the suspects.

“While the exercise was going on, the operatives received information that the suspects have contacted the

families of the victims and asked them to bring the ransom money somewhere in the area.

“Having received the information, the operatives

swiftly moved to the area and laid ambush for the hoodlums. Not quite long, the hoodlums appeared to collect the ransom and the operatives engaged them in

gun duel.

“Having realised that they were about to be overpowered, they took to their heels but were hotly chased and three among

them were apprehended.

Other members of the gang escaped with gunshot injuries, abandoning their victims, who were rescued unhurt and reunited with their families.”

NB PLC MARKS 75TH ANNIVERSARY…

L-R: Corporate Affairs Manager, Lagos/Headquarters, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Tayo Adelaja; Corporate Affairs Director, Mrs. Sade Morgan; Managing Director, Mr. Hans Essaadi; Chairman, Chief Kola Jamodu; Head of Integrated Communications, Mr. Uchenna Ibemere, and Senior Brand Manager, Mr. Funso Ayeni during a media parley to commemorate the 75th anniversary of company in Lagos...recently SUNDAY ADIGUN

Fraudsters Arrested for IPOB Orders Arrest of Persons Enforcing Sit-at-home Order Duping Job Seeker of N12m in Katsina David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

Francis SardaunainKatsina

Two fraudsters that specialises in defrauding job seekers of huge sum of money under the guise of providing non-existent employment have been arrested by the Katsina State Police Command.

The suspected fraudsters, Ibrahim Bello, alias “Ibra”, of Saulawa Quarters and Ibrahim Abdullahi, alias “Baba Iro”, of Unguwar Yari Quarters in Katsina metropolis, were nabbed by police operatives on Novemver 1, 2021.

Parading the suspects before journalists yesterday, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Gambo Isah, said the duo dupped one Khadija Adamu and collected the sum of N12,975 million.

In the course of investigation, he said, fake employment letters

and various letter headed papers belonging to the agencies and many other government and corporate organisations were recovered from them.

Isah, a superintendent of police, said: “On 1/11/2021, the Command succeeded in busting a syndicate of fraudsters that specializes in defrauding unsuspecting members of the public through the sale of fake employment and appointment letters and plots of land.

“The duo of one Ibrahim Bello, alias “Ibra”, ‘M’, aged 44yrs of Saulawa Quarters, Katsina and Ibrahim Abdullahi, alias “Baba Iro”, ‘M’, aged 50yrs of Unguwar Yari Quarters, Katsina, were deceitfully introduced to the victim, one Khadija Adamu, ‘f’, aged 34yrs of Kofar-Sauri Quarters, Katsina, by one Musa Abba (now at large).

FG Sets Up Task Force against Extortion of Passengers at Airports Chinedu Eze The federal government has set up a joint task force to stop extortion of air travellers and other corrupt activities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

This was coming barely 48 hours after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) apprehended a staff of Arik Air for extortion of air travellers at the domestic wing of the airport, known as General Aviation Terminal (GAT).

THISDAY gathered from a confirmed source yesterday evening that the joint taskforce comprised Nigeria Air Force (NAF), Department of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Police and Aviation

Security (AVSEC) of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

The taskforce was inaugurated on Tuesday, but commenced work at the major airports across the country on Wednesday with a responsibility and rule of engagement to get rid of the airports of touts and touting activities, including apprehending officials who violate airport protocols or solicit for funds from any air traveller.

“The federal government set up a joint taskforce comprising the military and the paramilitary to ward off touts and touting activities at our airports, including the Lagos Airport. The team has commenced work immediately, but did not harass anyone in the cause of their duties. We need to rid our airports of corruption and I think the government has started well.”

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has ordered for the arrest of anyone found enforcing the already suspended Monday sit-athome order in the South-east region.

The Media and Publicity Secretary of the group, Emma Powerful, gave the directive yesterday in a statement made available to THISDAY in Awka, Anambra State.

He said the group has long suspended the order, and wondered why some people

would continue to enforce an order that has already been cancelled by IPOB. Powerful said: “We wish to reiterate once again that IPOB has cancelled Monday sit- at P home order, and anybody or group enforcing the order is from IPOB nor from IPOB volunteer group.

“We are advising our people to ignore anybody enforcing non-existent Monday sit-athome order and go about their normal business because such person(s) are working for our enemies and their intention is to blackmail IPOB and set the

movement against the people but they won’t succeed.

“Anyone caught adding to the pain of our people in the name of enforcing Monday sit-at-home order will be treated like the enemy that he or she is.

“We, therefore, warn these agents of darkness using the name of IPOB to enforce a non-existent sit-at-home to desist from it because if we lay hold on them they will eternally regret their evil actions.

“Why should such unpatriotic elements be

inflicting pain on our people and dragging our image in the mud? IPOB remains a non-violent movement and our peaceful approach for Biafra restoration has not changed.”

The group added: “We hereby direct community leaders, market leaders, church leaders, and other institutions of authority in Biafra land to arrest any hoodlum trying to enforce sit-at-home orders on Mondays and hand them over to IPOB. Such criminal elements must be treated in a language they understand.”

Pastor Bags Life Imprisonment for Defiling a Teenager Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, yesterday sentenced Mr. Justice Aniele, pastor of a pentecostal church to life imprisonment for defiling a 14-year-old female teenager (name withheld) in Port Harcourt.

Aniele, who pastor’s in one the Assemblies of God Church in the state, was said to have unlawfully sexually abused the 14-year-old victim, an orphan under his care and subsequently impregnated her.

THISDAY learned that the rape incident happened on December 11, 2017, at Amaji

community in Omuma Local Government Area of the state where he worked as a pastor.

Delivering her judgement on the matter, which lasted for about four years, the presiding Judge, Justice Augusta Kingsley-Chuku, found the accused guilty.

Convicting the accused, the judge said he (Aniele) took advantage of the minor under his care and had unlawful sexual intercourse with her which resulted in pregnancy and the birth of a little baby boy that later died.

The Court held that the accused did not show any remorse for his actions,

by attempting to abort the pregnancy more than once and for threatening to kill the victim should she reveal the truth to anyone.

Justice Kingsley-Chuku further noted that the offence committed is punishable under section 32, sub 2 of Rivers State Child Rights Law 2009.

Speaking with newsmen after the judgement, the State Prosecution Counsel, Lilian Franklin, said justice has been served on the victim and the state.

She said: “We got judgement today for unlawful sexual intercourse with a child with

a maximum sentence which life in imprisonment.

“Police concluded investigation and the case file was sent to the Ministry of Justice and immediately we called witnesses to testify in court which they did, the victim has also testified.

“The IPO was called to testify and he called the doctor that attempted abortion for the defendant. Although he refused, he testified which strengthened our case that the defendant actually brought the victim for a failed abortion and she had a baby instead although the baby died.

We have Not Received N10bn CBN Agric Loan, Says Bayelsa Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa The Bayelsa State Government has debunked reports that it had collected additional loans, saying that state had not received N10 billionn agricultural loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the proposed development of the state oil palm potential.

The State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Maxwell Ebibai made the clarification in Yenagoa during the state transparency briefing for the month of July

and August.

He spoke against the backdrop of claims that the government had collected and misappropriated the fund.

The N10 billion CBN aAgric loan was part of the N17 billion facility which the State House of Assembly approved in November 2020 for the Governor Douye Diri administration to borrow from multiple sources.

Also, N4 billion would be accessed from Sustainable Development Goals Counterpart

Fund, and N3 billion as “a revolving temporary credit facility with a 12 months’ tenor to fund state financing gap when there is a shortfall in monthly revenue accruing to the state.”

The governor had in his letter of request for the approval of the House said: “The facility from the CBN will aid the state government to develop our oil palm potential, while the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Counterpart Fund is a prerequisite for the state to attract a matching grant under

the SDGs.” However, Ebibai said during the briefing that there was the need to clear the air in the wake of the claims in some quarters that the government had received the N10 billion loan and misappropriated it.

He said:”As citizens of Bayelsa State, we agree that it is the right of every citizen to make constructive criticism and where people are not cleared with certain facts, it is appropriate that we seek clarification.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

49

NEWS XTRA

Obey Court Order, Release My Son, His Sister-in-law, Widow Tells Police Alex Enumah in Abuja

An 80-year-old widow, Mrs. Bridget Osuhor, has called on the Inspector General of Police (IG) to direct the release of his son, Mr. Jude Osuhor, and his sister-in-law, Miss Happiness Efifie, who are currently being held by the police against the order of a Federal High Court, Abuja.

Both Mr. Osuhor and Happiness Efifie have been in police custody in Abuja, since October 15, over alleged murder of Mrs Vivian Efifie, late wife of Mr. Osuhor and immediate elder sister of Miss Happiness.

They were initially arrested on October 2, but were released on bail after the absence of evidence linking them to the death of Vivian.

The police then invited the two applicants to Abuja for further questioning based on a formal complaint by another younger sister of the deceased, one Miss Loveth Efifie.

According to medical report in support of the motion on notice brought against the IG and five others, the late Vivian died from complications related

to fibroid.

The 35 years old mother of two was said to be eight weeks pregnant at the time of death.

The medical report and

death certificate issued by Dr. Oyetunde Oyeyinka of Healing Field Specialist Clinics, Ajao Estate, Lagos, stated that Vivian died of Fiboid Menorrhagia,

Septicemia and Diabetic Ketoacidosis on 14th September.

But Loveth claimed there was foul play and accordingly asked the police to investigate

the matter, following which Mr Osuhor and Happiness were then invited to Abuja for interrogation.

Meanwhile, Justice Inyang

Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had ordered the police to immediately release the applicants who have been in custody since October 15, 2021.

PROVIDING SUCCOUR TO COUPLES…

L-R:Dr.ToyinAjayiofBridgeClinic;RegisteredDieticianNutritionist,AdeleyeAdeolaOmoshalewa;RepresentativeofWifeofLagosStateGovernor,Mrs.FunmiOmotosho;Chairman,Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation (IIF), Pastor Ituah Ighodalo; Mother of the Founder of IIF, Mrs. Monilola Ajayi; Registered Nurse & Psychologist-Mediacl Art, Mrs. Adepeju Osanaiye; Commissioner for Health, Ogun State, Dr.Tomi Coker, and Lead Pastor, Flourishing Family Bible Church, Ruth Essien, during the Parent-in-waiting conference organised by IIF in Lagos…yesterday

Kwara Poly Expels 29 Students 2023: Anyim’s Declaration No Threat to for Examination Malpractices Umahi, Says Commissioner

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The management of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, has expelled 29 students of the institution for examinations malpractices.

In a statement issued in Ilorin yesterday and signed by Principal Assistant Registrar, Mrs. Opadiran Oluwakemi, stated that the expulsion of the affected students followed their offences, which are contrary to the matriculation oath they sworn to.

The statement said: “Please recall your involvement and

trial in the case of alleged examination malpractice leveled against you, contrary to the Matriculation Oath you sworn to.

“Consequently, the Kwara State Polytechnic Governing Council considered the Report of the Academic Board in respect of the case and approved your immediate expulsion from the Polytechnic”.

The statement added, “Your expulsion is in line with the provision in the Review Student’s information and Regulations Handbook 2019.

‘How Michael Ataga’s Lifeless Body Was Found’ Wale Igbintade Nkechi Mogbo, the owner of the service apartment, where Michael Usifo Ataga, the Super TV’s Chief Executive Officer was allegedly murdered, yesterday narrated to the court how Ataga’s lifeless body was found.

Mogbo made the revelation while giving evidence as the first prosecution witness (PW1) in the ongoing trial of Chidinma Ojukwu and two others before Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the Lagos High Court, sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square TBS. Chidinma Ojukwu, a 300-level

Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri, are standing trial for the alleged murder of the CEO, of Super TV. Mogbo, while testifying, told the court that she dealt in female shoes and has a self-service apartment, rented out for short service accommodation.

According to her, the apartment is fully furnished like a normal house with a cable TV subscription, 24-hour power services, and a well-equipped kitchen.

Lagos Builds Infrastructure to Reduce Carbon Footprint As part of efforts to reduce the carbon footprint in Lagos, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has stated that the state government has begun the building of low carbon healthcare infrastructure facilities in the state.

He stated that the administration would build healthcare infrastructure that are 50 per cent less carbon and 50 per cent less energy dependent, adding that they are investing in renewable energy, “we are cooling down the buildings and we have special

designers building our primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities.”

Sanwo-Olu, who disclosed this at the Climate Change Conference, COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, recently while making a presentation on the state government efforts in improving healthcare in the state, revealed the state government was building its health infrastructures in the state to be net zero and ensure that fossil fuel are not used to generate power or cool down the facilities.

The recent decision by former Senate President and Secretary to Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim to declare his in the 2023 presidential race poses no threat and would not diminish Ebonyi State, Governor Dave Umahi’s chances of success.

The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Uchenna Orji, who stated in Lagos, explained that if the 2023 presidential race is to be decided purely on the

pedigree of aspirants, the fact that Anyim is from the same state and geo-political zone Umahi does not posing any serious threat to the governor’s sterling performance in infrastructural development and his lifting of Ebonyi state from ‘third world to the first world’ within this short period of time as governor.”

According to him, gone were the days when Nigerians were hoodwinked into supporting

people who had no track records of any accomplishments.

“Nigerians are getting wiser and are going to make a remarkable departure from the past by scrutinising every aspirant based on his developmental pedigree and contributions to society measured through every position they have held in the past.

“Without sounding rude, in comparison with Umahi, in the whole of Ebonyi state, you cannot

see any tangible project that the former Senate President who later also went on to become the Secretary to the Government of the Federation under former President Goodluck Jonathan did not to even talk of the entire Southeast zone.

“Let me put it on record that the people of the zone already know who is a performer and can make the difference in comparison to those that are merely playing to the gallery.”

Abia Unlucky With Leadership, Governance Since 1999, Says APGA

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA) yesterday lamented the inability of the state to reap the gains of democratic governance since 1999 when the present democratic dispensation commenced.

The state chairman of APGA, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, stated

the position of the party at a press conference held at the party office in Umuahia, saying that Abia has been “very unlucky in terms of good leadership/governance”.

According to him, the structure for democratic governance was in 1999 laid on a faulty foundation in Abia and ever since nothing has been done to correct the fault as the ruling Peoples Democratic

Party(PDP) has “successively foisted bad leaders on the people of Abia”.

“We cannot beat our chest and say that Abia State has achieved any meaningful development, economically and otherwise for the past 22 years,” he said.

The Abia APGA chairman said that the party’s damning verdict on Abia was based on comparison with other

Southeast states, namely Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu, that, according to him, have recorded far better development indices.

He said that the sordid state of affairs in Abia has plunged the people into “serious economic hardships, strangulation and subjugation in the hands of political jobbers/opportunists who forced themselves on the people as leaders”.

Two Sentenced to Death for Murder in Ekiti Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

An Ekiti State High Court, sitting in Ado Ekiti, has sentenced two persons to death by hanging. The convicts are Fayomi Femi and Jamiu Oyediran, who were convicted for offences bordering on conspiracy and murder.

Handing down the harsh verdict yesterday Justice, Adekunle Adeleye, said:

“The prosecutor had led credible evidence linking the defendants to commission of the two offences. Having found them guilty of the offences of conspiracy and murder, the two of them are hereby sentenced to seven years imprisonment for offence of conspiracy and also to death for offence of murder.

May God almighty has mercy on your souls”.

According to the charges, the

defendants on 11th of December, 2017 in Otun Ekiti, Moba Local Government Area of Ekiti State, conspired and murdered one Adeoye Adegoke, contrary to Sections 516 and 316 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

One of the deceased relatives who testified before court said, he met his brother on the hospital bed on that day, struggling for his life before

he gave up the ghost.

The deceased, according to the witness, was tied to the stake and beaten to death by the convicts and other defendants, who are now at large for stealing a bag of Indian Hemp.

The fleeing suspects are: Seyi Koro, Ilesanmi Babaloja, Dare Jamiyu Kabiru, Johnson Festus, Ganiyu Owolabi Yinka, Michael Oyeniyi and others.

IGR: Ogun Ranks Fourth in Nigeria with N74bn in Nine Months

James Sowole in Akure

The internal revenue generation(IGR) drive of the current administration in Ogun State has yielded result, with generation of not less than N74 billion by the state within the first nine months of year 2021.

With this figure, the state

was ranked fourth in Nigeria

by Statisense for generating the figure between January and September 2021.

According to Sensitense, the state, which came behind Lagos, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Rivers on the ranking, recorded a plus of 131.5 per cent revenue increase in the months

under review.

Reacting to the ranking, the Chief Economic Adviser and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, noted “this is the first time in the history of Ogun State that we would be generating such an amount within just nine months.”

He attributed the feat recorded

by the state to the current revenue generation drive by the incumbent administration led by Governor Dapo Abiodun.

Okubadejo added that various economic initiatives capable of enhancing Ease of Doing Business being implemented by the administration, has begun to yield positive results.

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NEWSEXTRA

Niger Police Arrests 15 Suspected Kidnappers, Rescues 15 Victims Laleye Dipo in Minna The Police in Minna Niger State has recorded a major success in its battle against bandits, kidnapers and other criminal elements with the arrest of 15 suspected kidnappers, rescue of 15 kidnapped victims and recovery of over 500 rustled cattles.

The Command also recovered several dangerous weapons including AK47 rifles, machetes, knives, cudgels and charms from the suspects.

The exploits of the police is in conjunction with local hunters and men of the local vigilantes.

Parading some of the suspects before newsmen in Minna on Wednesday, the Commissioner of Police Mr.

Monday Bala Kuyars, said the major highlight was the arrest of 10 suspected kidnappers and recovery of 500 cattles from the Sonfada forest in the Lapai Local Government Area of the state.

Kuryas explained that the suspects had invaded the Sonfada village where they reportedly kidnapped two villagers and collected a ransom of N1.3 million after taking the victims to the Sonfada forest.

According to him, a combined team of the Police, local hunters and men of the vigilante went after the kidnappers in the forest leading to their arrest and recovery of part of the ransom collected and the 500 cows.

“The suspects were equally

arrested with two Bajaj motorcycles, a sum of N270, 000 and five cutlasses,” Kuyars said, adding that during interrogation, they claimed to have reared their cattles to Sonfada forest from their different locations.

He said one Mohammed Isah of Eminuku area of

Lapai aged 65 years was the oldest of the suspects while 19 year old Mohammed Jaye of Abugi village near Lapai was the youngest among the kidnappers.

Kuyars disclosed that the 15 rescued kidnap victims were those traveling in two commercial vehicles along

the Bangi -Mangoro road last Tuesday before they were abducted.

The police boss explained that upon the receipt of the information, the Command mobilised the Police tactical teams in conjunction with the military and vigilante to the scene which led to the rescue

of the victims unhurt.

However, the kidnappers were said to have escaped.

He assured the public of the readiness of the police to protect them and their property but solicited for the cooperation of the people, especially in the area of giving valuable information to the police.

Gbajabiamila Hails Proponents of Nigeria’s Startup Bill Sunday Okobi The Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, yesterday commended the proponents of the Nigerian Startup Bill for a thoughtful and timely bill to support the burgeoning tech

ecosystem.

The Speaker expressed delight that Nigeria is a top destination for tech investments on the African continent, and it’s prepared to attract further investment by providing a clear legislative framework to support such efforts.

He also noted that

“technology continues to play an important role in our socio-economic advancement, and Nigeria being a major player globally must not be left behind.”

Meanwhile, Gbajabiamila also appreciated the delegation led by Mr. Jude Feranmi; Chief Executive Officer of

RepublikKraft, Micheal Oluwagbemi; Founding Partner, Lofty Capital Management, Davison Oturu, as well as Partner, Aelex, for an essential engagement with the leadership of the National Assembly.

He considered it a working call because of the importance of the bill.

Dike Onwuamaeze

Ituah Ighodalo, during a press conference that was called to announce the foundation’s 2021 edition of “Parent-inWaiting Conference.”

Pastor Ighodalo also disclosed that the foundation would establish mother and child centres in different part of the country in a bid to reduce child mortality in the country, adding that the

MCC would be named after his late wife, Mrs. Ibidunni Olajumoke Ituah-Ighodalo.

He said that the 40@40 Project “is a challenge. It costs us about N120 million.

Each IVF process cost between N1.9 million and N2.4 million depending on the institution you are using. Other needs support in medication, counseling and for delivery.

Despite Nigeria, Others Pumping Less Oil, Foundation Deploys N120m to Assist OPEC’s October Output Rises by 220,000 bpd Fertility Challenged Couples National Petroleum Corporation OPEC. Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja For the umpteenth time, Nigeria failed to meet the oil production output allocated to it by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), pumping 45,000 less than it did in September and missing the expected target set by the cartel by over 260,000 barrels per day in October.

This development occurred despite assurances by the Minister of State, Petroleum, Mr. Timipre Sylva and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian

(NNPC), Mallam Melee Kyari of improvement in the country’s output.

A number of factors, including ageing upstream infrastructure, outright sabotage, vandalism and oil theft as well as community issues have combined to hobble Nigeria’s oil production in the last few months.

Added to these reasons, Kyari recently stated that operators were finding it difficult restarting oil facilities shut down in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic last year, amid the cuts imposed by

But the November OPEC oil market report showed that Nigeria fell from an average production figure of 1.786 million barrels per day in 2019 to 1.579 million bpd in 2020, to 1.413 million bpd in the first quarter of 2021, 1.423 million bpd in the second quarter of this year and 1.359 million bpd in the third quarter.

In August Nigeria produced 1.296 million barrels per day, in September it was 1.399 million barrels per day and further fell to 1.354 million barrels per day in October.

Gbajabiamila Advocates Common Passport for Africa’s Integration

Udora Orizu inAbuja

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has advocated for Africa to have a common passport, a single customs and monetary union.

Gbajabiamila, who spoke at the opening of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region 51st Conference in Abuja yesterday, said there was the need to agree to use the instruments of trade and common markets to set, “us irreversibly on the path to a future of honourable peace, abiding prosperity and brotherhood amongst the nations of Africa.”

Gbajabiamila, in his welcome address, noted that the CPAAfrica Region had and would continue to play an essential role in advancing democracy in Africa, noting that

it provided an opportunity for parliamentarians across Africa to engage with and learn from each other about the challenges they shared and the strategies for overcoming them.

The speaker lamented a situation where Africa witnessed a reversal of the democratic gains made over the past two decades in Sudan, Mali, Guinea, Niger and Chad, amongst others.

He said: “Let us commit ourselves to using the tools of parliamentary diplomacy and authority to enable the achievement of a common passport, a common market and a single customs and monetary union that will make full African integration possible.

“Let us agree to use the instruments of trade and common markets to set us irreversibly on the path to a future of honourable peace, abiding prosperity and

brotherhood amongst the nations of Africa.

“It is, therefore, apt that we have chosen to make addressing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic the theme of our Conference this year. This will allow us to critically examine the present conditions across Africa, consider options for building political and economic resilience using the tools and powers of parliament, and affirm our shared commitment to the goal of a democratic, free and prosperous continent,” he said. a He said the work of the CPA Africa Region was sustained by innovation and the creative use of limited resources, citing the Investment Board as one of such innovations, which allowed it to venture into a commercial activity that saw plans for the construction of a 5-star multipurpose hotel in Dodoma, Tanzania hatched.

Psychiatrists, Professionals Seek Increased Allocation to Tackle Mental Health Challenges Mary Nnah Medical Director of Tranquil and Quest Behavioral Health, Lagos, Gbonjubola Abiri has called on Federal and State Governments to increase budgetary allocation to mental health emergencies in order to address this growing challenge.

Abiri, who among other professionals spoke at the 2021 virtual mental wellness symposium organised by Corona Schools’ Trust Council recently, observed that many Nigerians with these health issues do not get the desired

treatment and continue to experience stigma and discrimination.

Abiri, a consultant psychiatrist in her presentation at the symposium on the theme ‘Mental health in an Unequal World’ said lack of access to medical services remains a factor that has increased the unequal nature of Mental illness in the world.

She noted that about 75 to 95 percent of people with mental health disorders in low and middle-income countries like Nigeria are unable to access mental health services.

According to her, Nigeria at present has less than 250 psychiatrists in a country with a population of over 200 million people. The maths shows that there is less than one psychiatrist to 200 million because the expertise is declining the resources are dropping.

“World Health Organisation reports that one in four people at some point in their lives were affected by mental health condition. Statistics and data continue to show mental health issues are not given the attention it deserves”, she said.

The Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation (IIF) has deployed N120 million in furtherance of its 40@40 Project that was launched last year to assist fertility challenged couples to conceive and have their own children.

This was disclosed by the Chairman of the IIF, Pastor

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Southern Governors’ Forum Congratulates Soludo Fidelis David in Akure The Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) and Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has congratulated the Anambra State Governor-elect, Prof.

Charles Soludo, over his victory in last Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

This was contained in a statement made available to journalists in Akure by the Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo.

Akeredolu also commended the people of Anambra State for trooping out to exercise their

franchise in spite of the security challenges in the state.

The SGF chairman, who charged Soludo to brace up for the herculean job ahead, noted that security and economic challenges in the southern part of the country and Nigeria at large, required joint efforts and unalloyed commitment.

According to him, “We look forward to working with Prof. Charles Soludo under the auspices of the Southern Governors’ Forum, for the peace, security and development of Anambra State, southern Nigeria, and the country at large.

“No doubt, we will be happy to explore the experience of the

governor-elect, as it relates to the economy and also help in our efforts to keep the people of the southern Nigeria safe.

“Prof Soludo’s experience as a consummate economist will be of great asset to the good people of Anambra State, Southern Governors’ Forum and the country in general. Our efforts towards economic integration and enhanced socio-economic relationship in the SGF will undoubtedly be boosted in many respects.

“On behalf of my colleagues in the forum, I congratulate Soludo and wish him the best as he prepares for the Herculean task ahead.”

Sarki: Why I Wanted to Contest as APC National Women Leader

A businessman from Kano State, Mr. Ameer Sarki yesterday disclosed that he wanted to contest the position of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Women Leader position because of his passion to assist women and position them for political appointments amongst others.

Sarki revealed this to journalists after his meeting with the National Women Representative of the party, Hon. Stella Okotete, adding that his intention was not to slight the womenfolks but to support them.

He bemoaned the idea of politicians promising and using women before elections only to abandon them afterwards.

He, however, stepped down his ambition and promised to support any female candidate who picks the form ahead the national convention. He praised the wisdom of the incumbent women leader and her maturity and inclusiveness in carrying both young and old women along in her programmes for the party. “ We need young leaders like Hon Stella Okotete who genuinely loves the people and serving them well in her capacity as the women leader. We are proud of her achievements and I am calling on the party stalwarts to focus on her because she has so much more to deliver ahead of 2023.

Sarki also hinted of his desire

to form a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) that would be women-oriented and would serve as a platform to support women and the girlchild especially in the area of education for Northern children.

Responding, Okotete commended him for the courageous step taken so far and urged him to do more in advancing the course of women politically and economically.

“I am using this medium to call on our men to support women so they can occupy both party and political positions as we prepare for the National convention and in alignment with the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari who is a gender-friendly president,”

Obaseki Inaugurates Edo Tech Park The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has inaugurated the Edo Tech Park, an elite software engineering and leadership training institute, noting that the park will produce at least 15,000 world-class software engineers in the state within the next five years.

Obaseki, who spoke during the inauguration of the take-off campus for the Edo Tech Park in Okhoromi Community, Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, said his government

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as BELLO ADEOLA VICTORIA, now wish to be known and addressed as AWE ADEOLA VICTORIA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWANKWO AMAKA MARYANN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ANIEMEKE AMAKA MARYANN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ROSEMARY UGBEDE ADOFU, now wish to be known and addressed as ROSEMARY UGBEDE EDIBO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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aimed to transform Edo into the technology outsourcing nerve centre in Africa.

The governor also commended the World Bank for supporting the government’s efforts at empowering the youths and preparing them for the future.

According to him, “If not for the support of the World Bank, I am not sure that we would have been able to do as much as we did for our people, which made them vote us for a second term.

“Today, we are starting another journey, and are fortunate to have the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri and the Managing

Director of the Bank, to see what we as a people are trying to do to reposition ourselves for the future.”

He continued: “We haven’t waited for them to help us design what our future should be like or help us start off the journey to the future. We didn’t wait with our hands behind our back for the future to be realised.

“But to show them that this is what we have started and how we have organized ourselves to begin to confront the challenges of the future. Having seen the way that we have organized and positioned ourselves, we hope, as you did a decade ago, you will now renew your partnership with us.”

660,028 Unclaimed PVCs in Ogun, Says INEC James Sowole in Abeokuta The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday disclosed that there are 660,028 unclaimed Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) with the body in Ogun state.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, disclosed this during a meeting held with political party leaders in Abeokuta.

Agbaje said a total of 464,604 out of 1,126,247 PVCs were collected by their owners before the 2019 general election, adding that 1,615 PVCs had so far been collected since the beginning of the Continuous Voter Registration

(CVR) exercise in the state.

He lamented the low participation of eligible citizens of the state in the first quarter of the CVR exercise, saying Ogun recorded the lowest number of registered voters compared to other SouthWest states like Ekiti, Ondo and Osun.

The REC therefore, urged the party leaders to mobilise members of their parties to participate in the ongoing CVR exercise across the state.

He said, participating in the CVR exercise is the only thing that would enable eligible voters carry out their civic responsibilities in the forthcoming 2023 general election and other future elections.

WORLD OF ISLAM

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

COP26 and Reclaiming our Neglected Duty of Stewardship (1) By: SHabib Siddiqui/IslamiCity Who would have believed that the levels of the two most important anthropogenic greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide and methane, continued their unrelenting rise in 2020 despite the economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic response? 2010-2019 is the warmest decade on record. On the current path of carbon dioxide emissions, the global temperature is expected to increase by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

Scientists, climate activists and UN officials have been warning that if governments don’t take drastic action to reduce emissions immediately, much of the world will suffer climate catastrophes, such as devastating sea-level rise, longer and more intense heat waves, and widespread species loss, among other consequences like the infrastructure damages.

Going forward, it is important for communities to invest in resilient infrastructure that will be able to withstand future climate risks.

Glaciers have shrunk, ice on rivers and lakes is breaking up earlier, plant and animal ranges have shifted and trees are flowering sooner. The Arctic Ocean is expected to become essentially ice free in summer before mid-century. The intensity, frequency and duration of hurricanes have all increased since the 1980s. Sea-level is projected to rise another 1 to 8 feet by 2100. Bolivia’s second-largest lake has all but dried up due to drought; Iran’s largest lake has all but disappeared; and Lake Chad, Africa’s largest, has shrunk 80 percent in 30 years.

Heatwaves and drought during the past several years have already been connected to soaring food prices, making the staples of everyday life suddenly unaffordable. This may and has led to unrest in many affected regions and mass migration across the globe.

The United Nations held the first Conference of the Parties (COP) back in 1995. COP1 concluded with the Berlin Mandate, a precursor to the Kyoto Protocol.

The Berlin Mandate committed world leaders to keep talking on climate change but rejected plans to make targets and timetables for carbon emissions reductions legally binding. This decision was crucial and echoed through COP after COP, where big emitters, including the USA, Russia, China, India and Brazil, consistently refused to commit to specific and accountable limits on their greenhouse gas emissions.

These “bad COPs” continued until 2015 when the Paris Agreement was signed. For the first time, the international community agreed to a new process. The aim was to keep the global average temperature from rising by 1.5°C (2.7°F) above pre-industrial levels and, failing that, prevent it from reaching 2°C (3.6°F) above.

Every single country in the world would announce a specific target for emissions reductions this decade, by either 2025 or 2030. The 2015 commitments were a strong foundation even though it was clear that the countries’ emissions targets were inadequate.

Not surprisingly, earth-warming emissions have continued to rise faster than expected. The world has already warmed 1.1°C, and a UN assessment released in August ‘21 predicted that warming will exceed 1.5°C within the next two decades. Recent research suggests that current international commitments would increase greenhouse gas emissions by about 16 percent by 2030 compared to 2010, far short of the roughly 45 percent reduction in carbon emissions that is required to keep the world at 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming.

COP26 is the first time since the Paris Agreement that countries are revisiting their voluntary commitments under the accord. More than 100 countries have already submitted new targets, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs). However, experts say that even these new NDCs are not enough to prevent devastating temperature rise.

Heavy industries, e.g., steel, aluminum, chemicals and cement, and transportation sector, e.g., shipping, aviation and road, contribute to roughly a third of all emissions.

The major areas to cut down gas emissions are: coals, cars, and trees. We must stop mining and burning coal, an indefensibly dirty energy source, as quickly as possible. Alternative sources of energy, e.g., nuclear, wind, battery and solar, must be made affordable for the consumers. Vehicle emissions already account for about 15 percent of global carbon pollution, and transportation emissions are rising faster than other sectors. This is why phasing out the internal combustion engine and electrifying cars, buses, trucks, planes and trains are crucial to combating climate change as well as promoting public health.

Preservation of forests, which serve as vital carbon sinks, is very important for a healthy planet. In 2018, however, forest loss represented 8 percent of total global carbon emissions. The Amazon rainforest is danger. In 2019, deforestation reached an 11-year high in Brazil and then increased an additional 25 percent in 2020.

Meeting the climate goals will neither be easy nor cheap; prices of most items can go up by at least 20%. Since cost always matters, a customer

will not buy high-priced items unless the prices are affordable. So, the alternative solutions must aim at cutting costs for a wider acceptability.

Many of the developing countries rely on fossil fuel to improve the standard of living of their people.

They blame the industrialized nations who got rich over the past two centuries by releasing huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

They are reluctant to commit to carbon reduction despite being more vulnerable to climate change unless cash incentives are delivered by the wealthy nations to subsidize.

To address this cash issue, the largest emitters committed in 2009 to provide $100 billion annually, starting in 2020, to help other countries meet their targets and adapt to climate impacts. Unfortunately, the donor countries are approximately $20 billion short of fulfilling their promise.

Alok Sharma, COP26 President, said: “The World Bank will commit to spending $25 billion in climate finance annually to 2025 through its Climate Action Plan, including a focus on agriculture and food systems.”

Is this enough to save our planet? More than 90% of children around the world breathe toxic air today, with fossil-fuel burning largely responsible.

Air quality in New Delhi and Shanghai is worse than most cities in the globe. Coal, oil and gas are responsible for 8.7 million premature deaths a year, one in five of all deaths.

Just reflect on a recent report published Friday, Nov. 5, by Oxfam and the Stockholm Environment Institute, which revealed that the world’s richest 1% is set to be responsible for 16% of global carbon emissions by 2030.

“Maintaining such high carbon footprints among the world’s richest people either requires far deeper emissions cuts by the rest of the world’s population, or it entails global heating in excess of 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels,” the report stated. “There is no other alternative.”

The report was presented at the ongoing COP26 climate talks in Glasgow.

It estimated that between 1990 and 2015 “the consumption of the world’s richest 1% drove twice the carbon emissions of the poorest half of the global population combined.”

According to the report, the carbon footprint of the around 80 million people who make up the world’s richest elite will be 25% higher in 2030 than in 1990.

It will also be 30 times higher than the per capita emissions permissible to remain below the 1.5 degrees of warming (since the industrial revolution) that was agreed on in the 2015 Paris agreement.

The report set a limit of 2.3 tons of CO2 emissions per person per year by 2030 to keep warming to below 1.5 degrees. The wealthiest 1% are set to produce around 70 tons, with the richest 10% (around 800 million people) set to emit over 20 tons by 2030.

“A tiny elite appear to have a free pass to pollute,” said Nafkote Dabi, Climate Policy Lead at Oxfam.

At the same time, the 4 billion people who make up the poorest half of the world’s population will see their carbon emissions remain well below the per capita limit.

In total, the global per capita average will still be 2.2 tons of CO2 more than it should be.

The global middle class, the 40% between the richest and the poorest, are set to cut their emissions the most, but still far from what is necessary. While the 1% will see some emissions cuts, according to the research in the report, this will likely only amount to around 5% by 2030.

The report also found that the geography of carbon inequality will change, predicting that China’s wealthy elite will overtake that of the US in terms of carbon emissions by 2030.

These are dire warnings that our generation needs to pay attention to save our planet from the climate disaster that it has created collectively.

Published reports suggest that people do care and are serious about their future. The COP26 attracted many activists - from pre-teen school-going students to housewives and young mothers to vendors on the streets, let alone thousands of activists who came together in Glasgow with negotiators, officials, and ministers from across the world, making their voices heard and demanding the action needed to prevent catastrophic climate change in our lifetimes.

Not all were amused. Greta Thunberg delivered a burning critique of COP26. “The leaders are not doing nothing, they are actively creating loopholes and shaping frameworks to benefit themselves and to continue profiting from this destructive system,” she said.

“The Cop has turned into a PR event,” she added. “[Leaders] have had decades of ‘blah blah blah’ and where has that left us?” said Thunberg. “We know our emperors are naked,” she said.

A delegation of mothers from all over the world, all of whom had seen their own children suffer health damage from air pollution, met Alok Sharma on Friday morning to demand an end to fossil fuel financing.

To Be Continued

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FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Ighalo Happy to Reunite with Eagles, Trains with Squad in Morocco Duro Ikhazuagbe Al Shabab forward, Odion Ighalo, and Enyimba goalkeeper, John Noble arrived Super Eagles camp yesterday in Tangier, Morocco to complete the 24-man squad invited by Coach Gernot Rohr for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde.

“I’m happy to be back, it has been long (away from the team), almost two years plus and it is good to see some of the guys,” Ighalo said after arriving the team’s camp in Tangier, Morocco on Thursday afternoon.

“I have seen my strong man, (William) Ekong, hopefully I will see the other guys,” stressed the AFCON 2019 top scorer.

Rohr equally expressed joy at the return of Ighalo to Eagles and is expectant of good outings in the remaining two games of Group C starting with Saturday’s clash with Lone Star of Liberia.

“It’s a good feeling here and we hope the weather stays nice as it has been since we

got here. Everything is calm and the team has been able to concentrate very well,” observed the German gaffer.

At Thursday afternoon training, there were no dull moments as Captain Ahmed Musa, Victor Osimhen and Kelechi Iheanacho fired from all cylinders to the delight of the technical and administrative staff in moderate weather in Morocco’s principal northern city.

There was vibrancy and go-go spirit as the group welcomed back Ighalo, as well as midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi, and forward Samuel Chukwueze.

Today, the Super Eagles will have a feel of the turf of Grand Stade Tangier during the official training in the evening.

It was at the same venue that the Super Eagles B squad defeated their Angolan counterparts 2-1 in the quarter finals of the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

Saturday’s match will kick off at 5pm Morocco time.

Liberia Give up on World Cup Ticket, Playing for Pride Super Eagles in lively training session ahead of Saturday’s clash with Liberia in Tangier, Morocco

Ikoyi Club to Host World Amateur Golfers as FirstBank Lagos Open Clocks 60 The 60th edition of the FirstBank sponsored Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship scheduled to tee off at the golf section of Ikoyi Club 1938 on Thursday, November 18, is attracting the best amateur golfers from across the world.

Also, lady golfers will be participating for the first time in this diamond jubilee edition of the championship where a purse of US$5,000.00 is at stake for invited Professional golfers

to share.

The championship is billed to tee off with the Corporate Golf Challenge on Thursday next week. It is a special aspect of the competition geared towards raising funds for charities, under the bank’s SPARK initiative, an acronym - Start Performing Acts of Random Kindness; a value-based initiative designed to raise consciousness that we can choose to be kind.

Two of such charities to benefit

from the proceeds include the Pacelli School for the Blind and the Down Syndrome Association.

This year’s event, according to the organisers, is a unique one to celebrate FirstBanks unwavering commitment to golf and sports in general.

Speaking at a press briefing to herald the diamond jubilee edition in Lagos on Wednesday, FirstBank’s Deputy Managing Director, Gbenga Shobo, who represented the Chief Executive

L-R:Chief Risk Officer, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Olusegun Alebiosu; Deputy Managing Director of the bank, Gbenga Shobo; Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Folake Ani-Mumuney; Chairman, Ikoyi Club 1938, Demola Mumuney; Group Executive, Retail Banking (Lagos & West), Tunde Owolabi; Vice-Captain, Ikoyi Club 1938 Golf Section, Anthony Oboh, at the press conference of the 60th FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship, held on Wednesday at the club

Officer of FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, Adesola Adeduntan said this year’s event marks landmark sponsorship of the longest-running known golf competition in this part of the world.

Also speaking, the Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Ms. Folake Ani-Mumuney said the bank will continue to sponsor sporting events, because it reflects the banks belief in the role of sports as a major vehicle for social development, whilst also being a unifying force of individuals, irrespective of language, culture, religion and social strata in any given society.

Chairman of Ikoyi Club 1938, Ademola Mumuney, applauded First Bank for its commitment and partnership with the club towards the development of golf.

“This partnership is a goal, and we are indeed proud to be associated with this phenomenon brand.”

The FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship is a World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) listed competition that attracts the best golfers from the amateur scene, not only in Nigeria but across the world.

This year’s event would be rounded up on Sunday, November 21.

The Liberian senior national team facing Nigeria on Saturday in a Group C World Cup qualifier has announced that it is only playing for pride.

The team, with three points, is rooted at the bottom of the Group C table.

In the Facebook page of Liberia Football Association, it is announced that following the arrival of nearly all the players but Kedah’s in-form striker Kpah Sherman, Head Coach Peter Butler and his assistants conducted their first practice session yesterday for Saturday’s showdown against Nigeria.

“Liberia are rock-bottom ahead of their rubber stamp fixture but are aware that a

good display on Saturday will crucially decide Group C which Nigeria lead by two points from Cape Verde who host third-placed CAR this weekend.”

The Liberian Lone Star play the Super Eagles in a World Cup Qualifiers at Stade Ibn Batouta in Tangiers, Morocco knowing they can’t progress to the further round but can decide who go through as they play for pride in Group C. The training session in a bright and breezy sunshine in Tangier was fruitful and promising according to LFA Media Videographer and Photographer, Salia Kamara who is with the team.

Sports Minister Inaugurates Ten-year Football Devt Committee The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, has inaugurated the Nigerian Football Ten-year Development Masterplan Committee.

The inauguration took place yesterday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

The Sports Minister said the Committee would have 12 weeks to work at the first instance which could be extended if the need arises.

A former Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima is the chairman of the Committee. Yemi Idowu, a sports entrepreneur is the vice chairman.

The Director of Grassroots in the Federal Ministry of

Youth and Sports Development, Dr Bode Durotoye will be the Secretary of the Committee and will be assisted by a former General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF), Barrister Musa Amadu.

Other members of the committee include; NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, former Nigerian internationals, Segun Odegbami, Sunday Oliseh and Emmanuel Babayaro.

Others include respected women football advocate and promoter, Alhaja Ayo Omidiran, top sports journalists, Ikeddy Isiguzo and Ade Ojeikere.

Also serving on the committee are Augustine Ojiabor, John Opubor and Tony Nnachetta.

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SPORTS

Mali Through as Ghana Suffer Setback after Draw with Ethiopia Mali secured a place at next year's African World Cup play-offs but Ghana's hopes of reaching Qatar 2022 suffered a setback following a 1-1 draw with Ethiopia.

Mali beat 10-man Rwanda 3-0 to secure top spot in Group E and join Morocco and Senegal in progressing through the group stage.

Meanwhile, a win for Ghana in

2022 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS their final group match may not even be enough to finish above South Africa in their group after the Black Stars drew 1-1 against Ethiopia in Johannesburg.

Only the group winners will progress to the play-offs next

March, when the continent's five representatives in the Middle East will be decided.

Captain Andre Ayew fired Ghana ahead from a free-kick midway through the first half, but Getaneh Kebede equalised

for Ethiopia with 18 minutes remaining when he volleyed in.

The draw temporarily puts Ghana level on points with South Africa at the summit of Group G, but Bafana Bafana moved three points clear after win over Zimbabwe.

Goal difference will decide top spot if the two sides finish level on points.

South Africa will travel to Milovan Rajevac's Ghana in the final round of group matches on Sunday.

The Black Stars failed to reach the World Cup in Russia in 2018, while South Africa have not played at the tournament since hosting the first finals in Africa in 2010.

Mali moved a step closer to qualifying for their first-ever World Cup as they extended their unbeaten record, which has seen them win four games and draw another in Group E without conceding.

Southampton midfielder Moussa Djenepo fired home Mali's opener from outside the area 12 minutes later, and Ibrahima Kone

immediately doubled the lead with his fifth goal in has last three qualifiers as he made the most of a mistake by Rwanda keeper Emery Mvuyekure.

The win gave Mali an

unassailable four-point lead over Uganda with a game to spare.

Hosts Rwanda were reduced to 10 men after just seven minutes when Djihad Bizimana was shown a straight red card.

Russia Crush Cyprus 6-0 to Widen Lead

Five second-half goals helped Russia to rout Cyprus 6-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday and widen their lead in Group H. Aleksandr Erokhin scored in each half, with Fedor Smolov, Andrey Mostovoy, Aleksei Sutormin and Anton Zabolotny also on target in the last 35 minutes as Russia moved on

to 22 points from nine games, five ahead of second-placed Croatia who face Malta later last night.

With only the group winners guaranteed a place in next year's finals in Qatar, Russia will secure their place in the World Cup if Croatia do not beat Malta in Thursday's showdown.

RESULTS Africa Uganda 1-1 Kenya Rwanda 0-3 Mali Ethiopia 1-1 Ghana Congo 1-1 Namibia Tanzania 0-3 DR Congo Benin 2-0 Madagascar

Europe Ghana Black Stars’ Captain, Andre Ayew (in front) closed-marked by an Ethiopian defender during their 2022 World Cup qualifier ...yesterday

Georgia 2-0 Sweden Russia 6-0 Cyprus

We Are Determined to Unearth New Talents, Says Ogunkoya Chairperson of South-west Athletics Association, Chief Falilat Ogunkoya has insisted that today’s all secondary schools athletics meeting at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Ground in Yaba, Lagos is one of the programmes lined up by the association to unearth new talents for the respective states in the South-west region and Nigeria in general.

“The South-west zone is determined to give proper definition to grassroots sports development and we are taking the first step towards the

SOUTH-WEST ATHLETICS unearthing of new talents that we will nurture to become another Falilat Ogunkoya, Mary Onyali, Yusuf Alli, Seun Ogunkoya, Sunday Bada, Angela Atede and Enoch Adegoke.

“The athletes mentioned here were developed by the zone before they became international stars,” said Ogunkoya who made history as the first track and field athlete to win an individual Olympic medal and the first to win two medals at the edition of the

quadrennial games.

Ogunkoya revealed that the event is open only to students from schools in the South-west region only and will feature the 100m, 400m, long jump, shot put and the 4x100m and 4x400m mixed relays.

The four-time World Athletics Championships 400m finalist ranked the best quarter-miler in the world in 1998 said that Friday's event is sponsored by members of the association.

“I want to sincerely thank all members of the association for pulling resources together for this event. It shows how passionate they are about the sport and their desire to see that the zone produces for the 2024 Olympics another Enoch Adegoke who made history as the first man since 1996 to qualify and run in the final of the men's 100m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics,” said Ogunkoya.

The one day event will likely have Tonobok Okowa, president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria as a special guest.

GERARD TAKES OVER AT ASTON VILLA...

Former Liverpool legend, Steven Gerard, was yesterday unveiled as new Head Coach of Aston Villa FC. He left his post in Glasgow, Scotland as manager of Rangers FC

Utobuiro Wins 3rd Edition of 4 Inch Heel Race Competition A 21-year-old 200 level Actuarial Science undergraduate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Grace Utobuiro, has emerged the winner of the third edition of the 4 Inch High Heel Race Competition at the NIS Pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Utobuiro out-paced 14 other

Lilong Seeks Partnership with Sports Sector on Health Challenges Promoters of Lilong’s Spectrum Energy (bucket) room, a high-tech specialized carbon Crystal far infrared technology for taking care of several health related diseases, are seeking to partner the sports sector in Nigeria.

Speaking at the introduction of the equipment to a select audience of sportsmen and women in Lagos recently, Managing Director of Lilong Nigeria, Mr Hua Long, describes the product as a high-end far infrared product that every sports man or women that has tasted its health benefit will be quick to recommend to another.

Amongst some of the former Super Eagles players present at the Lekki Phase 1 unveiling of the product in Lagos last weekend include; Waidi Akanni, Friday Ekpo, Victor Agali, Wasiu Ipaye and Loveday Omoruyi.

“This is energy medicine

without medicine. What we are advocating is the use of physical therapy instead of chemical therapy. With the ultimate goal of promoting energy medicine, LiLong is committed to family rehabilitation and providing green recuperation for chronic disease sufferers,” began the Lilong chief executive with hordes of former footballers present.

Mr Hua stressed that the Spectrum energy room was capable of generating equivalent of “50 minutes of lymph node detoxification, 300 aerobic chest expansion of exercise, 30 minutes of whole body meridian massage, 2 hours of Yoga exercise, 10 kilometers of jogging to consume fat, 36 million times of cell exercise as well as thorough visceral fat clearing.”

He said based on these qualities of their equipment, most sportsmen and women who

suffer sports injuries need not go through strenuous processes of recovery to be fit to return to their trades.

As a way to ensure that the awareness of their products get

to sports authorities, Lilong has promised to allow administrators of the country’s sports to have first hand experience of the facilities .

Most of the former Super Eagles players that experienced

20 minutes of the facilities were full of appreciation for the gesture.

Friday Ekpo admitted that it was really great to have first hand knowledge of how the infrared energy bucket room works.

L-R: Lilong International Ltd official, Uchenna Onyema; Ex-internationals Loveday Omoruyi, Waidi Akanni, Victor Agali, Mrs A. Uzoamaka; Friday Ekpo, Wasiu Ipaye at the introduction of Lilong’s health products to a select audience of former footballers in Lagos...recently

contestants to emerge winner at the one-day 100m event.

In the heats, she enjoyed easy runs, but was however given a strong challenge in the final by Favour Eluwa and Zainab Ayinla who had to settle for the second and third positions respectively.

The 4 Inch Race Competition is a special event aimed at creating excitement and entertainment and confident among young women in Nigeria. It is the first of its kind in Lagos, Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

Positioned to be a funtertainment (fun and entertainment) programme, young Nigerian girls between the ages of 18-35 years, participated wearing 4-inch high heeled stilettos shoe to compete in a 100m race.

The event which was organised

by DAK Marketing Services Limited (DMS Limited), a marketing communications company based in Lagos, as part of its CSR. Utobuiro went home with N200,000 and gift items, while Favour and Zainab received N150,000 and N100,000 respectively as well as gift items.

Sponsors includes Recare limited, makers of Natures Gentle Touch, 7 UP bottling Company, BIC Nigeria, Avis Nigeria and Ekulo group of Companies.

54

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Zainab Ahmed to Companies’ Criminals “The Federal Government is aware and concerned that anonymous companies remain the major obstacle in the fight against money laundering and corruption. They enable corrupt and criminal actors…, to hide behind the chains of companies registered in multiple jurisdictions, to deny the Nigerian citizens of the benefits they should derive from their common wealth ” – Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, blaming criminals using anonymous companies for money laundering and corruption in the country.

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26 years

AKINOSUNTOKUN DIALOGUE WITH NIGERIA

akin.osuntokun@thisdaylive.com

Igbo Presidency: Road to Defeatist Resignation

T

heoretically, the prospects of the emergence of an Igbo as the President of Nigeria is challenged by the theory of social reproduction and the inertia of power. The theory propounds the argument that the ruling class tends to reproduce itself given its inherent strategic advantages of wealth, patronage, power of coercion and the propagation of its cultural attributes as the dominant sociopolitical norms. ‘It is the process of perpetuating values, norms, and social practices through socialisation and leads to structural continuity over time’. According to Bourdieu, cultural ((social) reproduction is the mediating instrument through which culture is reproduced across generations, especially through the socialising influence of major institutions. In the specific experience of Nigeria, the theory has manifested itself in the fact that were it not for the intervention of extraordinary circumstances, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan (of the non hegemonic Southern Nigeria geopolitical origins) may not have been propelled to power. It took the enabling backdrop of the protracted annulment crisis of 1993-1998 to secure the compensatory presidential ascendance of Obasanjo in 1999 and the sudden death of President Umaru Yar’Adua for the latter to emerge President in 2010. Contrariwise, were it not for the arbitrary intervention of military President Ibrahim Babangida, Northern hegemony had set in motion the emergence of either Shehu Yar’Adua or Adamu Ciroma (the emergent presidential candidates of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National Republican Convention (NRC) as President.

As we speak, who would have thought that Nigeria will be confronted with the steady dissipation of the assumption of inevitable rotation of power to the South come 2023? The dissipation is topically encapsulated in the observations of a number of my friends including high Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Magnus Onyibe, Sam Amadi and Osita Chidoka. For Dokpesi ‘the only chance the PDP has in winning the 2023 presidential election is by fielding in a northern candidate, specifically from the North-east zone and preferably the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’. Magnus Onyibe followed with the observation that “although, there has been a deluge of rhetorical statements that can be likened to the roars of lions from Igbos at home and in the diaspora about 2023 being a watershed year for a member of their ethnic group to be the president of Nigeria on the premise of the fact that both the Yoruba and Hausa/Fulani nations have had their turns in the presidential power rotation arrangement introduced since 1999: in terms of the physical mobilisation of Igbo voters and the actual preparation of Igbo candidates, there has not been any significant evidence to match the vigour displayed in the media. Rather the hoopla in the mainstream and social media without commensurate practical action on the ground makes the Igbo appear like whimpering kittens as far as the struggle for the presidency of

Buhari Nigeria in 2023 is concerned’. Sam Amadì argued that ‘I am not hung up on Igbo presidency at all. I just want Igbos not to have any inferiority complex about Nigeria. Presidency is not what you need to dominate your environment’ while Osita Chidoka noted that ‘At the PDP convention, Atiku, Saraki, Tambuwal, Bala Mohammed, Kwankwaso dominated the arena with presidential posters. No Igbo man even shared a leaflet’. Pari pasu, recall that the political leadership of the North including the state governors, traditional rulers and sundry opinion leaders rose as one, weeks ago, to serve notice to the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF), in particular that zoning is antithetical to democracy.

Somewhat taking a cue from this enabler are the shenanigans going on in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in which talks of the party’s nominee is being effectively reduced once again, to the candidature of Atiku Abubakar. And then, of course, there is the overriding civil war syndrome in which the Igbo is perpetually framed with the mentality of the defeated Nigeria nation wreaking villain.

Inferring from the negative propaganda utility of the Biafran secessionist bogeyman (the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB), my Fulani friend recently caught me off guard with the defensive refrain and apologia that the first priority of such a president will be the declaration of a Biafra Republic. My friend is as astute and cosmopolitan as they come, so his opinion was not that of a run of the mill victim of received political wisdom. I then put it to him that from a personal standpoint is it conceivable that an lgbo lucky enough to be elected Nigerian President would entertain the notion of swapping such coveted prize and rarefied providential boon with a most fraught and improbable Biafran secession? He appears oblivious of the loaded vetting process and criteria for the emergence of such a prospective president beginning with a record and clear enough demonstration of a pan

Nigerian disposition.

The unmistakable reality is that, assuming it was disposed towards such concession, the extant Northern hegemony denominated Nigerian political process would, as a matter of course, condition and ensure the emergence of a status quo compliant candidate. Indeed, the lucky chap would be so much overcome with gratitude and excitement such that he would most likely become the avenging angel against any notion or identity that begins with B and ends with A and not its starry eyed promoter. Yet the fear to which my friend was responding is real and twofold. One is the popularity of the self-determination banner in the South generally and the South-east in particular.

Second is the conspicuous demonstration and precedence of how the Nigerian presidency has been made to subvert and expropriate the Nigerian commonwealth to serve the cause of a Northern Muslim segregationist agenda led by a Mohammadu Buhari revolt against the equality of Nigerian citizenship. The reverse logic of this precedence is the dread of successors of different ethno national origins behaving in like manner. After all, as one of the brilliant anonymous responders to this backpage column remarked, a killer is always apprehensive when someone coming behind him wields a machete.

Less said but perhaps the most critical disabling factor is the historical Southern disunity between the Igbo and the Yoruba.

In a typical observation of third party critical scholars of Nigerian politics, S.K Panterbrick asked the million naira question “Why, then, have the Igbo and Yoruba been so unsuccessful in combining against the fulani, allowing the latter to play one off against the other-even to the extent of accepting the NCNC as partners in the federal government from 1959 onwards? I have taken the position that eight years of President Olusegun Obasanjo and eight years of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (in 24 years, in which the Igbo had never featured in either position), morally disqualifies the South-west from contending for the presidency with the Igbo in the forthcoming 2023 election.

Unfortunately, the prevailing Nigerian realpolitik favours the Sout-west and the concomitant contravention of this moral imperative. In the APC, for instance, the potential presidential candidates we hear of are Governor Kayode Fayemi, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu not any Igbo politician.

If this scenario ultimately carries the day, the eventuality is guaranteed to reinforce and deepen, beyond repairs, the political wedge between the two Southern giants to the permanent advantage of their common oppressor. I have always marvelled at the dramatic transformation of otherwise idealistic Yoruba intelligentsia into stubborn intrasigence mode when it comes to making the argument for deferrence to Igbo political aspiration.

Almost all students of Nigerian politics are stumped at what is akin to the wanton display of cutting your nose to spite the face mutual indisposition towards one

another’s political advantage.

The history of who is more sinned against between the Igbo and Yoruba goes way back but the most conspicuous beginning was the famous story of the alleged ethnicity induced cross carpeting said to have deprived Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe the prize of becoming the leader of government business in Western region in 1951. I know this allegation to be incorrect because my father was supposed to be one of the cross carpeting tribalists. It is patently untrue and he stated precisely what actually transpired in his autobiography.

Nonetheless the argument over Igbo presidency is significantly a test of the moral consistency for which the Yoruba intelligentsia prides itself-arguing for what is just and equitable regardless of the short term discomfort and inconvenience. The ability to transcend the age-old mutual demonisation and follow the lead of moral politics lies the political equilibrium emvisioned for Nigeria - the ability of the South to effectively checkmate the excesses of the North. Someone just has to begin playing the adult in the room and it seems as if providence has placed the Yoruba in this role. In retrospect this is the only perspective in which the seeming politically obtuse decision of Chief Obafemi Awolowo to pick his running mate from the South-east in the 1979 presidential election makes sense.

Otherwise it is conspicuously unrealistic for anyone aiming to win the Nigerian presidency to ignore the North in the choice of presidential candidate, the running mate and the party chairman.

It only makes sense if it was intended to lay the foundation for the South-west and South-east acting in concert.

Fare Thee Well Obadiah Mailafia According to the scriptures “Obadiah reminds the Edomites that God did not turn a blind eye towards the wicked deeds His children had suffered. He was not absent in the cruelty they had endured.

The second comfort for the people of God is found at the end of the sentences with words like “misfortune, distress, disaster, calamity, and ruin” befalling the persecutors of his people. I do not know what the parents of Obadiah Mailafia had in mind when they named their child Obadiah.

Intriguingly, as it turned out their son lived his life, (almost to a t) replicating the career of the Biblical Obadiah. The Yoruba have a saying that oruko lo n ro omo (christening a child with a particular name foretells his life pathway). You will recall the historic Middle Belt liberation struggle role Mailafia assumed in the last year of his life. You will also recall Mailafia’s premonition of his death following his earth shaking revelation that a prominent elected politician in the North is the commander of Boko Haram in Nigeria; that Boko Haram and the bandits are one and the same.

May the good Lord grant his valiant soul eternal rest in his bosom.

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