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Finance Bill Proposes Tax Reliefs for Donors to COVID-19 Funds Reduces import duties on commercial vehicles, tractors NEC resolves to engage youths Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja More highlights of the Finance Bill 2020, approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday, were unveiled yesterday at a virtual

National Economic Council (NEC) meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

Presenting the bill to NEC, the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mr.

Clement Agba, said the bill provides tax reliefs to companies that donated to COVID-19 Relief Fund on the platform of Coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID).

The bill also guarantees a

reduction in import duties on motor vehicles for transportation of goods from 35 per cent to 10 per cent.

It reduces levy on motor vehicles (cars) for transportation of passengers

from 35 per cent to five per cent as well as duties on tractors from 35 to 10 per cent.

It exempts small companies with less than N25 million turnover from payment of two per cent education tax under

the Tertiary Education Trust fund (TETFUND).

It stipulates a 50 per cent reduction in minimum tax from 0.5 per cent to 0.25 per Continued on page 10

NUJ, NGE Kick as FG Insists on Social Media Regulation... Page 5 Friday 20 November, 2020 Vol 25. No 9356. Price: N250

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EU, Nigeria Commit to Integrated Approach in Fight against Terrorism To collaborate to halt violence in North-west, Middle-Belt Kingsley Nwezeh and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The European Union and Nigeria have resolved to adopt an integrated approach

to tackle terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin region.

They also committed themselves to increase military pressure on terrorists in the region and increased

collaboration to halt violence in the North-west and the Middle-Belt.

The collaboration between the EU and Nigeria to rout terrorism came barely a

Troops tracking down bandits’ collaborators, says DHQ week after a global alliance, championed by the United States, committed itself to assist Nigeria and other West African countries to combat insurgency.

The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS resolved to apply lessons learnt from the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria to defeat Boko Haram and other terror groups in West

Africa.

The US Department of State, in a statement last week said the resolution was taken at Continued on page 10

Three PDP Govs Negotiate with APC as Others Reassure Party Secondus: Transparent election not feasible without Electoral Act amendment Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may shed more gubernatorial weight if ongoing negotiations between three of its governors and the ruling All Progressives Congress succeed.

Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. Dave Umahi, had on Tuesday opened the impending floodgate of defections when he deserted the PDP and pitched his tent with the APC complaining that the main opposition party had treated his South-east home zone shabbily.

THISDAY gathered last night that three PDP governors are deep in discussions with the APC and might jump ship shortly.

The governors in transition, according to multiple sources

close to the discussions, are Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Prof. Ben Ayade (Cross River) and Senator Bala Mohammed (Bauchi).

It is not clear why the governors want to leave their party that had given them abundant opportunities to be politically relevant, a PDP source in the know of the move told THISDAY last night.

However, governors of the party yesterday gave assurances of their loyalty and commitment to support and strengthen it after a meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja.

Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Sokoto State Governor, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, spoke on behalf Continued on page 10

Revealed: Abducted Police Officers Travelled in Mufti, Unarmed... Page 5

LATEST ADDITION...

President Muhammadu Buhari (left) and Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. Dave Umahi, during a visit to the president by the governor, who recently deserted the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress, in Abuja…yesterday

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NEWS Revealed: Abducted Police Officers Travelled in Mufti, Unarmed

Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike

Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Sources confirm five freed, four in captivity

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The nine police officers, who were abducted by gunmen during their journey from Borno State Police Command to Zamfara State, embarked on the trip in mufti and were unarmed, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.

The police officers, it was learnt, also embarked on the journey without notifying their command.

Police sources told THISDAY that five of the newly-promoted Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) had been set free by their captors while four remained in captivity.

It was not clear if they met the demands of the kidnappers, who made an initial ransom demand of N10 million and later raised it to N100 million.

But police sources said four officers remained in captivity as negotiations were still ongoing.

THISDAY gathered that the nine officers travelled to Zamfara by night without informing the command about their movement.

It was also gathered that they travelled in mufti and were unarmed when they were taken.

"The truth is they are nine and not 12 as the media has reported. They left their command and travelled by night.

"They did not inform the Commissioner of Police about their departure. If you recalled, the Borno CP said he was not aware of any kidnap of his officers because he wasn't in the picture of their movement," one of the police sources told THISDAY. "They travelled by night and were in mufti when they were taken and they were unarmed," the source added.

Another source confirmed that five of the kidnapped officers have regained their freedom.

"Two were released initially.

Three were released between Wednesday and Thursday.

Between now and tomorrow, we hope to get others released," the source, who is privy to negotiations with the kidnappers, said.

Meanwhile, three suspects, namely Onwuka Emmanuel Chidiebere a.k.a Ceeceeboss TMT 32years, currently residing at Lekki, Lagos State and native of Aro-Ikpa in Abia State; Ikechukwu Ohanedozie a.k.a Dozzy 34 years and Onuegwu Ifeanyi a.k.a SSG Toolz 35years of Prof’s Avenue, Umudagu, Mbieri, Mba-itolu LGA, Imo State have been arrested by the Nigeria Police Cybercrime Unit, INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja.

The three suspects were arrested following intelligence report received from INTERPOL Cybercrime Directorate in Singapore on global attacks by Nigerian cyber gangs who engage in mass email phishing campaigns and distribution of malwares aimed at stealing authentication data from browsers and email headers.

Findings so far revealed that of the three suspects, Onuegwu Ifeanyi specialises in creating, designing, selling of phishing links and hosting malwares on website used by the gang for phishing and hacking purposes.

A statement by Force Headquarters said the suspect collected charges running into several millions of naira from other fraudsters he mentored and improved their phishing capabilities.

Onwuka Emmanuel Chidiebere, a graduate of Business Administration from Imo State University, specialises in business email compromise and hacking.

A comprehensive forensic analysis reveals that he had in his laptop computer over 50,000 email accounts and websites, including passwords of various individuals and corporate entities across the world.

He recruited the third suspect, Ikechukwu Ohanedozie, a medical student of Imo State University, into the gang.

Ikechukwu Ohanedozie sorts and profiles e-mail accounts to determine financial

strengths of prospective victims and passes on information obtained therefrom to Onwuka Emmanuel Chidiebere.

The statement said the suspects would be charged to court on conclusion of investigation and prosecuted in line with the Cybercrime Prevention/Prohibition Act, 2015.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has unveiled a cybercrime reporting web portal.

The portal which could be accessed by clicking on the link https://incb.police.gov. ng/ is part of efforts directed at ensuring ease of crime reportage by members of the public to enable prompt

investigation, arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of cybercrime and other related offences.

It said the portal caters for complaints pertaining to cybercrimes.

"With this, victims and complainants can now report cases of cybercrime online at any time and from any part of the world.

"The cases are promptly attended to by the Cybercrime Unit of the Force domiciled with the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Force Headquarters, Abuja and the newly created Cybercrime Unit at the INTERPOL Annex, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos," it said.

The Force Headquarters said the new portal would provide updates on achievements being recorded by the police and would, among other things, avail the citizens knowledge of basic cyber-related issues such as emerging cybercrime trends, the modus operandi of the cyber crooks and offer tips on how citizens could make themselves less vulnerable within the cyberspace.

It urged potential users of the portal to ensure that only correct and accurate information, devoid of deliberate falsehood, misrepresentation and misinformation are provided when filing their complaints.

NEW PATRON ONBOARD...

President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan (left), and Pro-tem President, the Chartered Institute of Forensic and Investigative Professionals of Nigeria, Dr Victoria Enape, during the decoration of Lawan as the patron of the institute in Abuja‌yesterday julius atoi

NUJ, NGE Kick as FG Insists on Social Media Regulation Govt threatens sanction against CNN Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) yesterday cautioned the federal government against its insistence on regulating the social media, saying Nigeria has enough laws to check fake news.

The caution came against the backdrop of the federal government's reiteration yesterday that while it would not shut down the social media, it is determined to regulate it to curb the spread of fake news.

But the NUJ and the NGE cautioned the federal government over its insistence on stifling the social media and warned that going ahead with its plan without inputs from stakeholders will be a breach of the spirit of democratic governance, which is hinged on the right of the people to free expression.

The Minister of Information

and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed, at a press conference in Abuja yesterday had said the #EndSARS protest that spawned the violence that recently wracked some states, had reinforced the federal government's determination to regulate social media to stop fake news and disinformation.

He added that social media was used to guide arsonists and looters to certain property, both public and private, while fake pictures of persons, including some celebrities, supposedly killed at the Lekki Tollgate by soldiers were widely circulated.

Mohammed, who spoke on the EndSARS protest and its aftermath, also said the federal government would sanction the Cable News Network (CNN) over its Wednesday's report on the Lekki incident.

However, a few hours after the minister expressed the government's plan to punish the United Statesbased television station, CNN

remained unyielding as it repeated the report and at the end, it said it stood by it, adding that it was “carefully and meticulously researched.�

The minister also applauded security agencies, especially the military and the police, for the way they handled the civil unrest.

According to him, security agents were professional and measured in their response.

The minister, who described the event of October 20, 2020, as a “massacre without bodies,� said contrary to claims by an eyewitness, DJ Switch, not a single body has been produced or a single family has come out to claim their family member was killed at the Lekki Tollgate.

He added that the popular disc jockey, Obianuju Catherine Udeh, fondly referred to as DJ Switch, “will be exposed� soon over her claims on the alleged shooting of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at Lekki.

Mohammed accused CNN

of sensationalism and of doing a great disservice to itself and journalism.

He described the CNN report aimed at shedding more light on the Lekki shootings as “a poor piece of journalistic work.�

The minister said the CNN relied on social media videos without verification to produce its report. “This should earn CNN a serious sanction for irresponsible reporting,�

Mohammed said. “Like everyone else, I watched the CNN report. I must tell you that it reinforces the disinformation that is going around, and it is blatantly irresponsible and a poor piece of journalistic work by a reputable international news organisation. “CNN engaged in incredible sensationalism and did a great disservice to itself and to journalism. In the first instance, CNN, which touted its report as an exclusive investigative

report sadly relied on the same videos that have been circulating on social media, without verification,’’ he stated.

The minister said the social media was used to guide arsonists and looters to certain property, both public and private, and that pictures of persons, including some celebrities, who were supposedly killed at the Lekki Tollgate by soldiers, were circulated widely, only for those persons to refute such claims or for the discerning to disprove such posts. ‘’As I said earlier, what started as a peaceful protest against police brutality quickly degenerated into incredible violence despite an immediate response to the demands of the government. Keen watchers of the developments cannot fail to notice the role played by social media in the EndSARS protest. ‘’As a veritable tool for mass mobilisation, the organisers of the protest, of course,

leveraged heavily on social media for that purpose. But on the other hand, the same social media was used to spread fake news and disinformation that catalysed the violence that was witnessed across the country. ‘’This development has reinforced the campaign against fake news and disinformation, which we launched in 2018. As a matter of fact, as far back as 2017, when we dedicated that year's National Council on Information to the issue of fake news and disinformation, we had been expressing concerns on the dangers posed by irresponsible use of the new media platform.

The concerns culminated in the launch of the national campaign which I referred to earlier,’’ the Mohammed explained.

He said while the federal government had no plan to shut down the social media, Continued on page 16

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NEWS

Kyari: Era of Waste in Nigeria’s Oil Industry Over Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, has said the era of waste and lack of transparency in the oil industry is over.

He said the country could not afford to sustain such a regime, especially on the back of the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sector’s operations.

A statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Dr. Kennie Obateru, stated that Kyari spoke during a virtual presentation at the opening ceremony of the 38th Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) held in Lagos.

According to him, it is no longer sustainable to continue to do business in an environment of high operational costs as the current market reality does not support it.

He said: “It is instructive to

understand that the current market reality cannot support inefficiency and escalated costs of operations. The era of $30/ bbl oil no longer exists. “In today’s COVID-19 defined market, sustaining operations and making progress means that all stakeholders must recognise the need to improve efficiency, reduce costs, eliminate wastages and entrench accountability. “They must act with transparency and embrace technology and innovation to drive performance and value realisation across strategic investment portfolios.�

Kyari added that the NNPC has made progress in improving operational efficiency through the adoption of technology and deliberate effort to curtail the soaring cost of operations across strategic assets.

He explained that in the face of the energy transition, the corporation is focused on developing gas infrastructure and deepening domestic gas utilisation as gas remains the energy of the future.

He reiterated NNPC’s resolve to grow the nation’s hydrocarbon reserves to 40 billion barrels through reinvigorated exploratory activities in the inland frontier basins across the country, stating that crude oil has already been discovered in the Benue Trough in commercial quantity, with Nigerian geologists spearheading the efforts.

Kyari noted that the strategy is to explore for more oil in the frontier basins in order

to grow the nation’s reserve base, in line with the federal government’s aspiration to hit the 40 billion barrels reserves target.

He said the theme of this year’s conference: “Accelerating Growth in Nigeria’s Hydrocarbon Reserves: Emerging Concepts, Challenges and Opportunities,� fits into NNPC’s key aspiration, which is to grow the nation’s hydrocarbon reserves, reduce unit operating cost of crude oil

production to $10 per barrel and improve efficiency across its businesses. “It is my pleasure to appreciate the good work and resilience of our inhouse professionals in the ongoing inland basins exploration activities that culminated in the recent discovery of hydrocarbons in Benue Trough. NNPC is indeed proud that it is NAPE members that are spearheading this effort,�

Kyari stated.

He expressed optimism that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) will be passed next year, noting that the fiscal environment proposed will attract more investment into the oil and gas industry.

He assured NAPE and all other industry operators of sustained collaboration from NNPC, saying that the strategy of synergy is required to drive down operating cost and survive the emerging challenges in the industry.

Access Bank Grows Profit by 16% to N102bn in Nine Months Goddy Egene Access Bank Plc’s unaudited results for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, has shown that the bank delivered strong top line figures despite the challenging landscape occasioned by COVID-19 as it recorded a 16 per cent growth in its profit after tax (PAT) to N102.3 billion, compared with the N88.4 billion recorded in the first

nine months of 2019.

The results released on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday also showed that its profit before tax in the period under review climbed by 16 per cent to N116.6 billion.

Its gross earnings rose 15 per cent year-on-year to N592.8 billion at the end of September, higher than the N513.7 billion realised same period in 2019. Interest

FIFTEEN HEARTY CHEERS...

L-R: Wife of Alake of Egbaland, Adetokunbo; Oba Adedotun Gbadebo; and Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, during the 15th Coronation Anniversary of the monarch in Abeokuta‌yesterday

and non-interest income contributed 63 per cent and 37 per cent respectively to its earnings.

Access Bank’s customer deposits also grew by 24 per cent in the period under review to N5.26 trillion with strong savings account deposits of N1.23 trillion.

Similarly, net loans and advances grew by 15 per cent to N3.53 trillion.

In addition, the bank maintained a robust capital and liquidity positions of 21.1 per cent and 48 per cent respectively, well above regulatory levels.

Commenting on the results, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, said: “We recorded consistent growth in our retail banking business as evidenced by the growth in customer sign-on by 3.2 million customers year-to-date via our financial inclusion strides. Transaction volume and value also grew based on our deliberate investments in digital banking. “Asset quality continued to improve as guided to 4.2 per cent, on the back of impairment charges, strong recoveries and a robust risk management approach. This is expected to trend downwards as we strive to surpass the standard we had built in the industry prior to the merger with Diamond Bank. “We have continued to grow our African footprint in a capital-efficient and profitable manner, in furtherance of our vision to be the World’s most respected African Bank and Africa’s

payment gateway. Our African expansion strategy is two-pronged; consolidating in markets we already exist (Mozambique and Zambia) to become major players and entering into new key African markets and trade corridors (Guinea, Kenya and South Africa).�

In addition, he said the bank recently received the Central Bank of Nigeria’s A p p ro v a l - I n - P r i n c i p l e for a holding company structure, which will enable it to further accelerate its objectives around business diversification, improved operational efficiencies, talent retention as well as robust governance. “The year has been challenging for all and I would like to appreciate our customers for their unwavering loyalty in these uncertain times. Recognising the adverse effects of the recent events on our customers, we remain committed to delivering superior value to our customers and providing innovative solutions for the markets and communities we serve. “Going into the last quarter of the year, our focus remains on consolidating our retail momentum and expanding our African footprint. The next two years will see updates with regards to the realisation of synergies and actualisation of the bank’s strategic intent. Finally, I would like to thank our people and shareholders as we could not have achieved these feats without their dedication, commitment and support,� he said.

Stockbrokers Mourn as Frontline Capital Market Operator, Okumagba, Dies Goddy Egene A frontline economist, stockbroker, capital market operator and investment expert, Mr. Albert Okumagba, is dead. He was 56.

Reliable sources in the capital market, where Okumagba was highly respected, confirmed the news of his death. He was said to have died in Abuja.

Although the cause of his death could not be ascertained as at press time, some market operators said his problems began as soon SEC withdrew the registration of BGL Plc in 2015 and Okumagba suspended from all market operations.

The Delta State-born financial expert was the Group Managing Director of BGL Group, a leading investment

banking and financial services group. However, Okumagba was suspended from operating in the capital by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on May 20, 2015 when the commission found BGL guilty of complaints made by various investors.

SEC said Okumagba should cease to be a registered Sponsored Individual with the commission following the withdrawal of the registration of BGL Plc as a capital market operator.

According to the commission, the decision to suspend BGL was taken after its Executive Management Committee meeting held on May 19, 2015, where it considered the report of an investigation into the various complaints received from investors against subsidiaries

of BGL Group.

SEC directed that "BGL Asset Management Limited, BGL Capital Limited and BGL Securities Limited be suspended from all capital market activities, all Sponsored Individuals of BGL Asset Management Limited, BGL Capital Limited and BGL Securities Limited whose particulars are contained in the commission’s record as at December 2014 be suspended from performing any capital market activity."

The commission noted that "all suspicious transactions observed in the course of the investigation have been referred to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for further investigation; and BGL Asset Management Limited, BGL Capital Limited and BGL Securities Limited and

all individuals involved in the management of the said companies have been referred to the SEC Administrative Proceedings Committee (APC), which will give all parties to the cases a fair hearing."

In 2017, SEC slammed a life ban on Okumagba, saying the ban was the final decisions of its APC in the matter of APC/1/2015: Rivers State Ministry of Finance & 31 Others V. BGL Plc & 31 Others.

Okumagba was President of Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) between 2014 and 2015. The CIS is a not-for-profit professional institute providing training for professionals in stockbroking, securities and investment, fund and portfolio management, asset

management, investment management, and other related fields.

Born April 1964, Okumagba attended Federal Government College Warri, 1975-81; Kings College Lagos, 1983; the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos. He had Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Economics.

Stockbrokers Mourn Meanwhile, the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), the professional umbrella body for securities dealers in Nigeria, has described the death of Okumagba as a great loss to the nation’s capital market.

In a statement, signed by the Registrar and Chief Executive of CIS, Mr. Adedeji Ajadi, the President of the

institute, Mr. Olatunde Amolegbe, described Okumagba as a professional imbued with laudable initiatives from which the institute benefited immensely. “Okumagba was a dedicated stockbroker who demonstrated uncommon commitment to the Institute and the profession as a whole. An astute thinker and big dreamer, he initiated several laudable initiatives which benefitted the Institute immensely. His death is a great loss to the Institute and the Nigerian capital market.

He will be sorely missed by all of us who knew him and worked with him. May God grant him eternal rest, and grant his family, friends and colleagues fortitude to bear this great loss,� the institute said.

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PAGE TEN EU, NIGERIA COMMIT TO INTEGRATED APPROACH IN FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM a virtual meeting with members of the coalition and representatives of West African states and relevant regional organisations convened by the United States and Nigeria.

The meeting by the coalition was convened to discuss the threat of ISIS in West Africa and ways the coalition can contribute to collective efforts to ensure ISIS’s enduring defeat in the region.

In a communiquĂŠ issued yesterday after the seventh Nigeria-EU ministerial dialogue held virtually on Wednesday, the EU also expressed its willingness to step up assistance to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to defeat terrorism in the Lake Chad basin and West Africa.

The dialogue was co-chaired by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari, and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, Mr. Josep Borrell.

The duo signed the 10-page communiquĂŠ in which they condemned the horrific abuses committed by non-state armed groups and acknowledged the efforts to reduce the threat.

Also, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said that the armed forces are intensifying operations to track down and arrest bandits' collaborators.

The EU-Nigeria meeting reaffirmed the importance of preventing a general destabilisation of the region, while stressing the need to strengthen the resilience of communities, especially the most vulnerable, as well as refugees and internally displaced people.

The communiquĂŠ read in part: "Both sides acknowledge that in order to respond to the complex challenges in the Lake Chad Basin region, a truly integrated approach is needed,

linking political, security, environmental and development efforts and ensuring provision of humanitarian assistance in a principled manner.

"Both sides expressed their support for the implementation of the AU’s Lake Chad Regional Stabilisation Strategy in close coordination with all key actors, including the AU and the United Nations.

"The EU expressed willingness to continue working closely together through the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) as part of an integrated response to the crisis, and in line with relevant Security Council resolutions. The EU called for better cooperation between MNJTF member states and increased operational activity."

The European body acknowledged the significance of Nigerian leadership within the MNJTF and urged the federal government to take initiative to enhance the MNJTF’s efficiency.

EU and Nigeria recognised the need for higher military pressure on armed terrorist groups, in compliance with humanitarian law, for the return of peace in the Lake Chad region.

It added: "Both sides intend to work together to prevent further violence in the North-west and the Middle-Belt, particularly through the implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan.

"Both sides recognised that maritime security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea require concerted efforts of all stakeholders, and noted that Nigeria demonstrated strong resolve to tackling the threats in its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone."

The EU and Nigeria expressed resolve to intensify collaboration and coordination, even with neighbouring countries, and to continue the implementation of the YaoundĂŠ Architecture to fight transnational organised crime in the maritime domain.

They stressed the significance of consolidating democracy and the importance of implementing electoral reforms ahead of the next general election, and recognised the concerted efforts put in place by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for achieving the electoral reform process, including the recommendations provided by the EU Observation Mission in 2019.

The EU and Nigeria stressed the importance of stepping up efforts in tackling the persistent challenges in curbing transnational organised crime, including cybercrime, trafficking in persons, drugs and arms as well as money laundering and other financial crimes.

They said they would continue their cooperation in these areas, including through capacity building and enhanced cross-border collaboration, including with the UN. Following the recent #EndSARS protests, EU and Nigeria reiterated the importance of respecting human rights, including the right to peaceful demonstrations and freedom of expression within the context of law and constitution.

The EU expressed condolences to the casualties and stressed the need to bring the perpetrators of violence to justice.

Both sides acknowledged the importance of delivering on genuine reforms, including of the police, through a process characterised by engagement of all stakeholders, local ownership, transparency and accountability.

Both EU and Nigeria acknowledged the concrete efforts and response of the federal government in addressing the #EndSARS movement demands, including the setting up of independent bodies to investigate complaints of police brutality or related extra-judicial killings, with a view to delivering justice for all victims of the dissolved SARS and other police units.

This, they said, also included

civilian brutality to policemen and damages done to private and public properties and investments.

They expressed commitment to continue supporting efforts to address Nigeria’s peace and security challenges, and to respond to the humanitarian needs, in particular in the North-east, North-west, Middle Belt, Niger Delta and the Gulf of Guinea.

They noted that a humanitarian-developmentpeace nexus approach should be at the heart of this cooperation.

They also reiterated the importance of security and defence forces to respect human rights and to work closely with local authorities and humanitarian actors to protect civilian populations and facilitate access to humanitarian assistance.

They reaffirmed their commitment to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of all human rights and to the full and effective implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the outcomes of their review conferences and remain committed to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), in this context.

On the economy, they reaffirmed their support for the modernisation of the World Trade Organisation in order to preserve and strengthen the multilateral rule-based order.

They also welcomed Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, being the candidate recommended for the appointment as next director-general of the WTO, while the body also hopes the appointment would follow in due course.

The EU welcomed the signature by Nigeria of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement.

They also noted the importance of continental and

regional economic integration and the EU reiterated its support for this transformative process for the African continent.

The EU said its trade arrangements in Africa would pursue similar objectives at the regional level and contribute towards the continental project.

The meeting, on the side of EU was attended by the EU’s Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Ms. Mariya Gabriel; Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ms. Ylva Johansson; Commissioner for Crisis Management, Mr. Janez Lenar; Commissioner for International Partnership, Ms. Jutta Urpilainen, and the Commissioner for Energy, Ms. Kadri Simon.

On the Nigerian side were Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd); Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Ms. Sadiya Farouq; Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo; Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Mohammed Nanono; Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami; Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige; Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola; Minister of Environment, Mr. Muhammad Mahmood; and Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed.

Troops Tracking Down Bandits’ Collaborators, Says DHQ Meanwhile, the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, has said that the armed forces are intensifying operations to track down and arrest bandits' collaborators.

According to him, the military

is devising and deploying new strategies to address insecurity, noting that once it is able to crack down on the collaborators, banditry will be curbed.

Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, Enenche added that some collaborators had been arrested at different locations by troops, with three bandits’ accomplices arrested in the North-west between November 12 and 18.

He noted that the bandits also suffered heavy casualties as some of them were killed and many others escaped with varying degrees of gunshot wounds. “Based on credible information that a suspected bandit was sighted at Kukar Samu village in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State, troops mobilised to the scene and arrested two suspected bandits’ collaborators named Nura Ibrahim and Abdullahi Yusuf while trying to escape with motorcycle belonging to bandits who fled on sighting troops. “One Sabe Iliya from Muniya village in Safana LGA was also apprehended while pretending to be a farmer but was identified by locals as an informant,�

Enenche added.

He explained that a large cache of arms and ammunition and other items were captured by troops during the operations in the North-west while identified bandits’ camps were also destroyed.

Speaking on the activities of the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji and other subsidiary operations, he said they have sustained their operations aggressively with noticeable successes.

He added that the troops within the period carried out a series of clearance operations, ambushes and aerial patrols, adding that on November 15, troops of Operation Accord while on night patrol at Yar Tasha village engaged some bandits in a firefight.

FINANCE BILL PROPOSES TAX RELIEFS FOR DONORS TO COVID-19 FUNDS cent for gross turnover for financial years ending from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021.

A statement by the vice president's media aide, Mr. Laolu Akande, said the bill recommended that only compensation for loss of office up to N10million will be exempted from tax, adding that it is the employer’s obligation to account for tax on payments relating to compensation for loss of office.

"Prior to the Finance Act 2019, compensation paid to an employee for loss of office over and above N10, 000 was subject to capital gains tax. There were two notable issues with the provision: "The introduction of software acquisition as qualifying capital expenditure to improve the ease of doing business.

"It raises compensation exemption threshold and

qualifies software acquisition for capital allowance," it stated.

The statement said the minister reported to the council balances in the accounts of the federation as at November 17, 2020, comprising: excess crude account ($72,409,970.48); stabilisation account (N49, 151,181,622.35); natural resources development fund (N155, 530,778,234.58).

The statement added that the ad hoc committee constituted by the council, chaired by the vice president, to engage youths and other critical stakeholders in addressing the deeper roots of the #EndSARS protests presented its report to NEC. It said the committee was mandated to engage the youth, religious organisations, civil society groups and security agencies regarding emerging issues and recommend effective solutions towards strengthening national unity, among others.

According to the statement, Osinbajo briefed the council on the committee's resolutions.

The resolutions are: "There should be two broad levels of engagement, one with states and the second at zonal levels.

"All governors should commence engagement within a week. Guidelines of the engagement process should be developed.

"Engagement to include meetings with the youths and community leaders et cet era; the focus to be on young people.

"Engagement process to be flexible taking into consideration the peculiarities of individual states.

"The VP office to develop and forward engagement guidelines.

Zonal engagement to commence on the 14th of November.

"The zonal meetings to be attended by committee members, including the governors.

"Governors to identify the

various groups to be invited to the meetings."

The statement said the council later resolved that the planned zonal engagements should focus on youths and civil society organisations exploring issues or jobs, and employment.

"Similarly, the states level interactions should proceed in places where this has not been reported," it added.

According to the statement, the council was also briefed on new trends on food prices by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agriculture, Dr. Andrew Kwasari, who stressed the need for urgent remedial measures.

It said: "Council received the presentation on the above subject matter with current food price situation analysis showing that food prices have changed between September and November, involving commodities in Lagos and a

few randomly selected states.

"The hike in prices is due to the following factors: Delay in going out to the farm, which translates to delay in harvesting courtesy of COVID-19 pandemic.

"EndSARS protest stalled food transportation and delivery and in some instances destroyed food stores.

"Banditry in the Northwest effectively preventing farmers from harvesting fields cultivated.

"Farmers/herders conflict destroyed farm produce in some states and increased cost of transportation."

Akande said the council resolved that states and the federal government should adopt urgent measures, including social protection schemes to deal with the situation.

It added: "The federal government will also pursue the

THREE PDP GOVS NEGOTIATE WITH APC AS OTHERS REASSURE PARTY of his colleagues at the 90th NEC meeting in Abuja.

The governors’ pledge followed the defection of Umahi.

The National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, who presided over the meeting, seized the opportunity to warn that there would be no transparent general election in 2023 without amendment to the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

Tambuwal said the PDP governors are more than united as could be seen in the fact all the governors attended the meeting.

He said: “All 15 of us are here present. We are individually

committed to good governance in our various states in order to make our party strong. “This is a clear statement that we are united and working towards strengthening our party for the future.�

The Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin, told the gathering that the PDP remains strong in Ebonyi State despite the exit of Umahi.

He faulted reasons adduced

by Umahi for leaving for the APC but said it was a thing of joy that the PDP structure in the state remains intact.

Jibrin expressed delight that

the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) took proactive steps to ensure that Umahi did not take undue advantage of the PDP structure in the state.

Also speaking on behalf of the PDP caucus in the National Assembly, the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinanya Abaribe, assured the party leadership that the caucus is prepared to fight against antimedia legislation “with every drop of our blood.�

He said: "The attempt to gag each and every one of us by the government talking about the media, I can assure you that

we shall fight with the last drop of our drop and that attempted legislation will not see the light of the day.

"We are also going to ensure that in the Electoral Act that we are tampering with now, we will be putting all the safeguards and ensure that our vote will always count.

"We also want to use this opportunity to appeal to the national party that as we work towards the 2023 elections, party discipline will be most important to us.

"Our members need to always be sure that they can depend on the national party for protection

in and wherever they are."

Secondus, however, said there would be no transparent general election in 2023 without amending the Electoral Act. He added that Nigeria is now on autopilot due to the incapacity of the present administration that has piled up over N31 trillion debts.

He described the defection of Umahi to the APC as a personal voyage, adding that the party cannot be intimidated or blackmailed.

Secondus, in his address Continued on page 16

implementation of its ESP -Agric plan and others to positively improve the situation in the sector."

The statement said NEC also received an update on COVID-19 from the DirectorGeneral of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu.

According to the report, as at last week, there were 1,058 confirmed cases in 25 states with Lagos accounting for more than 47 per cent of them.

The report said Lagos, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oyo, Kaduna, Rivers and Plateau States accounted for more than 80 per cent of the cases in the last week.

TOP GAINERS BOCGASES ETERNA REDSTAR MAYBAKER CORNERSTONE TOP LOSERS PRESCO FCMB LINKASSURE

NGN NGN 0.61 6.77 0.43 4.78 0.32 3.59 0.31 3.49 0.05 0.58 NGN 7.95 71.80 0.33 3.02 0.05 0.50 FIDELITY 0.20 2.65 CORONATION 0.03 0.42 HPE Nestle Nig Plc â‚Ś1,400.00 Volume: 364.920 million shares Value: N13.50 billion Deals: 6,340 As at yesterday 19/11/2020 See details on Page 39

% 9.9 9.8 9.7 9.7 9.4 % 9.9 9.8 9.0 7.0 6.6

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2020 •T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˞ ˜ Ͱ͎˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

COMMENT

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

GBAJABIAMILA: LEADING FROM THE FRONT The Speaker of the House of Representatives is committed to nation-building, writes Eni Olukotun

T

he year 2020 has remained an unusual year globally.

It signifies the most challenging period in the century.

Nations, organizations and individuals who had high hopes were humbled in most cases. The first quarter witnessed the full blow of a novel Coronavirus pandemic that started from China in late 2019.

Within months, the entire humanity quaked as COVID-19 ravages nations, killing hundreds of thousands. Lives and livelihoods were lost.in Nigeria, the pandemic challenge tasked and painfully exposed the unpreparedness of the country to mitigate the plaque. Cities were locked down, the poor and many living on the fringes of life groaned as income ceased.

At this critical point of our nation’s history, the Speaker of the Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila showed unequaled leadership by galvanizing the legislative arm of the government in responding to the greatest public health crisis in centuries.

Rather than railing at the executive whose constitutional duty it was to tackle the menace, the Speaker rallied his colleagues.

They parted with their salaries and contributed to alleviate the plight of the poor. The pandemic revealed the precarious state of the nation’s public health system.

To this end, Gbajabiamila has stepped up his agitation for better funding for the health sector. He was in Lagos on Sunday to push this plan. He met with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and shared his commitment for better allocation to the health sector.

The Speaker who organized a capacity training programme for health workers in his Surulere Constituency compared notes with the governor and had cross-fertilization of ideas.

He said the training was ‘part of efforts to ensure health care professionals have the skills they need to continue to do the incredible work they have done so far. “The House is committed to increasing the appropriations due to the health sector so that we can remedy the weaknesses of infrastructure and capacity, access and quality that bedevil our national health care system�, the Speaker said.

The #EndSARS protests that rocked the nation was another challenging moment in the nation’s history. Nigerian youth took to the streets to demonstrate against the impunity of men of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The peaceful protests snowballed into anarchy and mindless looting and destruction of private and public assets. Lagos, the commercial nerve centre and the epicenter of the protest was worse hit. Public buses, buildings, the monarch palace and wares of traders were invaded by hoodlums who hijacked the protests.

Lagos incurred humongous losses that will take years to restore. The State Government launched an endowment to rebuild the state from its current ruins. It is dubbed, Rebuild Lagos Trust Fund.

As a true Lagosian and nationalist, Gbajabiamila threw his weight behind the initiative and pledged to rally the ninth House of Representatives and other federal tendencies to support the project. The Speaker also made a tour around his constituency and other facilities that were ravaged across the state. He calmed frayed nerves and sued for peace among

WE WILL REMAIN OUR BROTHER’S KEEPERS. THAT’S WHAT WE DO IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, BE OUR BROTHER’S KEEPERS, AND THAT’S WHAT WE WILL DO FOR LAGOS STATE AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY

residents. Gbajabiamila appealed to the people’s sense of patriotism and urged them to protect their heritage. “We will rebuild this state with everything that we need, with all the tools at our disposal, we will rebuild Lagos. This is the time to prove it, that Eko o ni baje. “I think it goes beyond budget appropriation. It will call for a special intervention from the federal government to make sure that monies are devoted, not just to Lagos, although Lagos bears the major devastation. “So it’s going to be panoramic; it’s going to be for all the states, but we all know that Lagos bears the brunt of the devastation. “So we will pull all our friends and colleagues and talk to them that we don’t look at this from a state or political prism but a nationalistic point of view and make sure that what needs to be done would be done. We will remain our brother’s keepers. That’s what we do in the National Assembly, be our brother’s keepers, and that’s what we will do for Lagos State and the rest of the country�, the speaker assured.

A major plank of the five for five demands of the #EndSARSprotesters was the reform of the Police. In fulfillment of his promise to ensure legislative support for the demands, the House of Representatives presented a draft copy of the Police Reform Bill at a Public Dialogue on Wednesday.

A draft of the Police Service Commission (Reform) Bill 2020, was presented at the Public Policy Dialogue Series organised by the House Committee on Implementation and Monitoring of the Legislative Agenda in Abuja. Among other things, the Police Service Commission Bill proposes creation of state offices for the commission to take public complaints and investigate allegations against officers of the Nigeria Police Force.

The House also proposes a Special Unit of the NPF to be created by the Inspector-General of Police, scrutinised and approved by the PSC. The commission, which is expected to have more stakeholders in its board, will also be empowered to set up panels to investigate police officers and recommend them for sanctions or prosecution. According to the House, the draft is to allow critical stakeholders to be involved in the preparation of the bill, ahead of its presentation. Gbajabiamila has continued to redefine governance in Nigeria.

He believes regardless of the arm of government a public officer operates, the overall objective is to create opportunity for citizens to improve their lives.

He demonstrated this when he volunteered to meet with Ghanaian authorities over the obnoxious trade policy imposed on Nigerian traders and other foreign nationals in Ghana.

Recently, he also met with Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed. He sought for partnership that improves the life of common man in Nigeria.

They reportedly discussed issues relating to electoral reforms, gender-based violence, enabling environment for more women in politics, improvement of public financial management systems, managing Africa’s Debt crisis as well as improving social investment and social protection systems in Nigeria. rOlukotun wrote from Lagos

KENNETH GBAGI AND DELTA 2023

Irikefe Ogheneakpobo writes that Kenneth Gbagi has what it takes to manage the aairs of Delta State

A

s the battle to settle for the successor of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa rages on, there is a burning desire amongst Deltans to opt for a trustworthy and reliable politician with the resume to match the performance of Chief James Ibori and Felix Ibru who were past Governors of Delta State.

Against this backdrop, the rumbling clamour as to which Senatorial District would produce the next governor in 2023 was nipped in the bud when the Delta State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) zoned same to Delta Central Senatorial District.

The decision was in keeping with the zoning formula hitherto adopted during the Ibori-led administration which saw the rotation of power between the three Senatorial Districts in the State. The agreement in view of the PDP’s recent consensus remains unbroken and nipped mounting pressures of requests for zoning on the basis of ethnicity, one which otherwise would have been counterproductive and damaging for the party.

Those who met to agree on the zoning of the governorship to Delta Central reached the agreement after resolving to reject the imposition of a candidate on the party by major power brokers within the state. It was gathered that doing so would encourage persons with the requisite credentials to be projected on the basis of merit and past achievements, and nothing short of same, so as to sustain the tempo of development already stirred by previous administrations.

So far, out of those who have indicated interest to contest the governorship election in 2023, only one stands out in view of his visible track records which sets him aside from his contemporaries. It is however embarrassing that some whose foot prints are yet to be seen in their constituencies, and do not have the requisite competence or what takes to win such elections are warming up to indicate interest to contest.

What is even more disturbing is the fact

that these persons are present appointees of the state government without the required financial wherewithal to slug it out with the opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC), to ensure a win at the polls.

Other considerations which they do not meet are those anchored on their contributions to the development of their immediate communities and how much they’ve done to improve the lives of citizens in the state.

No doubt, some of them will be put to shame at the poll, particularly those planted to disempower opponents whose status or position stands a threat to their devious scheming.

Unfortunately, some very desperate ones have resorted to using blackmail in order to stop competent candidates from contesting the governorship election in 2023.

It will be crude, barbaric and oppressive if at this time, some politicians still believe that imposition or Godfatherism is a better source of winning election. This method does not show one’s popularity, capability and competency in governance. It is also disturbing that some people who may not have known much, have started dancing around these characters who lack effective leadership qualities needed to actualize good governance in the State.

Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, most politicians whose only source of income is politics do not think of investing in their respective states so as to provide employment for the teeming youths. Rather, they focus their energies on how to be rotated in political offices. A few of them who tried to have investments preferred to do so in Europe and other African countries than Nigeria.

Deltans will forever remember some of our indigenous industrialists like Edewor, Uloho, Ibru, Onosode and so on. Others who share their vision include Aliko Dangote, Dantata, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Kenneth Gbagi, Igbenedion among others who continue to provide employment in the country.

With Kenneth Gbagi fully keyed into

contesting the governorship election in Delta State, the aspirations of unpopular contestants can only come to reality if Gbagi who believes in philanthropy and job creation lacks same credentials. Apart from possessing the qualities of compassion and empathy, his zeal for job creation places him as the most prepared and qualified aspirant within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who satisfies the zoning formula.

Gbagi’s support and contribution towards the growth of the PDP since its inauguration in 1999 attests to his commitment and sacrifice made over the years as a reliable party man.

When the cry of hunger caused by the lockdown ravaged the homes of Deltans, Kenneth Gbagi rose to the occasion as the first and only business mogul and politician who used his personal money to buy food items of various kinds as palliatives across the 25 local government areas of Delta State.

He went as far as paying the bills of patients in various hospitals and also provided money to cover surgical costs for sick people who are with chronic ailments. The masses are easily satisfied. They require jobs and stability to make them happy.

Gbagi’s empathy for humanity has manifested severally in appeals to the federal government to intensify efforts and contain incessant killings in Southern Kaduna, the attacks of Boko Haram and the Fulani herdsmen as well as the evils perpetrated by bandits in the Northern region of the country.

This also included appeals on behalf of victims of flooding in several communities in Delta State.

Kenneth Gbagi’s role as a former Minister of State for Education went beyond the functions and activities of the ministry. He spent time to keep watch on the infrastructure which the federal government situated in his constituency and Delta State.

He also worked assiduously to see that the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE) Ugbomro-Effurun was commissioned for learning and equipped with required

facilities and equipment for smooth take off.

He objected to the relocation of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Effurun to Kaduna.

To further demonstrate that he is one whose tenure as governor will not be regretted, he came home with the approval of Government Girls College to Oginibo, an Urhobo town in Delta State.

Going by the above accounts, those who misunderstood or were misinformed of the saga at the Signatious Hotel, Effurun, appear skeptical in giving him maximum support towards his governorship ambition.

Such persons in their interest should have a reset of their impressions, especially as the truth and reasons for such allegations have been exposed as the handiwork of political blackmailers.

Kenneth Gbagi’s lifestyle exudes love and empathy for his people and therefore can never be associated with such acts of inhumanity as portrayed in the molestation allegations against him.

Also, if he is said to be prudent or stern in handling his businesses or enterprises, he should not be castigated or blamed because most of the ailing or abandoned industries of both the state and the federal government were reduced to nothing as a result of mismanagement.

Apparently, Kenneth Gbagi’s opponents in the governorship race are aware that his credentials towards winning the race are unbeatable. Therefore, a competition as this, requires the ability to campaign or convince the electorate and to also showcase what they’ve done to make the masses support their aspiration.

They are therefore advised to discontinue the act of blackmail or calumny in politics, since same does not portray the spirit of sportsmanship or oneness as expected from the people of the same political party and ideology. r0HIFOFBLQPCP 1%1 TUBMXBSU XSPUF GSPN 8BSSJ %FMUB 4UBUF

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T H I S D AY ˞ ˜ Ͱ͎˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

EDITORIAL

DEATH BY SNAKEBITES

Government could do more to contain the public health problem

D

espite the prevalence of snakebites, especially in the rural parts of the country, the health authorities are not doing enough to tackle the challenge. “We report 15,000 snakebites annually but we only procure 5,000 antivenom doses and that means we have a shortage of 10,000 people left untreated,� said Fatai Oyediran, Deputy Director/ Head, Snakebite Division Envenoming Unit. He added that in 2019 alone, a total of 15,926 admissions were recorded in Nigeria as a result of snake bites and no fewer than 280 people died.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), snakebite is a neglected public health problem in Nigeria with a mortality of 12 per cent. Rural populations are frequent victims as they go about their daily RURAL POPULATIONS ARE food producFREQUENT VICTIMS AS THEY tion and GO ABOUT THEIR DAILY animal rearing FOOD PRODUCTION, AND activities and sometimes SOMETIMES EVEN IN THE even in the COMFORT OF THEIR HOMES comfort of their homes. Unfortunately, many of these snakebite cases go unreported and thus do not appear in official epidemiological statistics. That then explains why health workers often have little or no formal training in the management of snake bites while appropriate anti-venom is rarely available.

Even so, guidelines for the prevention and clinical management of snakebite in Africa have been developed by WHO with contributions from local experts. These guidelines developed at the request of the federal government in 2004 are meant to assist health workers to improve medical care for snakebite victims. They also serve as a source of information for the general public on issues related to snakes and snakebite which can be deadly if not treated quickly.

While the right anti-venom can save a snake-

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bite victim’s life, getting to an emergency room as quickly as possible is also very important. If properly treated, many snake bites will not have serious effects. But the cost seems prohibitive.

Indeed, according to medical practitioners, snake treatment and management are very expensive, putting the average cost of treating one case at N62,000. Since most of the victims are unable to afford this amount because they are mainly subsistence farmers, it is important for the government to subsidise the treatment or provide it for free and make the anti-venom available in primary healthcare facilities. This is a good reason for the government to engage in health education as the main preventive measure.

In 2011, the federal government said it would make available and affordable Anti-Snake Venom (ASV) but insisted on preventive strategies.

That led to the establishment of the Nigeria/UK Echitab Study Group to research and develop ASV, as well as look into ways of providing free treatment for snakebite victims. The inauguration of the structure that houses the Echitab Snakebite Control and Research Centre in Kaltungo in Gombe State was part of the collaborative efforts aimed at finding lasting solutions to the menace of snakebite in the country. It has over the years developed three different brands of ASV, using venom extracted from local snakes purposely to address the Nigerian situation.

While the idea to increase research activities and prepare room for the development of ASV in the country is good, government at all levels also needs to embark on sustained public enlightenment, particularly among dwellers of rural communities. They should be told how to prevent snakebites and what to do as first aid when someone is bitten. Besides, to ensure the availability of the ASV before local production of the drugs begins, government should import large quantities. It is also important to train medical personnel to effectively manage cases of snakebite early since the venom usually worsens the health of victims by the minute and increases their likelihood of succumbing to death as a consequence of its potency.

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

ANAMBRA STATE AND N25BN BOND

t has come to the knowledge of the Anambra State Government that Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Uba claims in a voice note which he has gleefully been distributing to all manner of persons and individuals that the state government furtively raised a N25 bn bond from the Debt Management Office/ Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning for failed federal roads in the state which the state has rehabilitated or reconstructed. For effect, Chief Ubah emphasizes that the bond was approved without the knowledge of the National Assembly.

This claim is, with due respect to the senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, bizarre.

We are not aware of anywhere in the world where a bond can be issued secretly. Before a bond can be issued for a state government in Nigeria, the State House of Assembly, the Debt Management Office, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Securities and Exchange Commission must be involved. Every bit of the transaction must not only be transparent but also be public knowledge.

The Anambra State Government has not raised any money from the Debt Management Office or the Federal Ministry of Finance under a bond or any financial instrument from any institution or organization. Our record of prudent financial management and integrity is well acknowledged far and near.

Last August 31, for instance, BudgIt, a highly regarded independent civic organization which uses technology to intersect citizen engagement with institutional improvement to facilitate societal change, declared Anambra State and the petroleum –rich Rivers State the two states with the best fiscal responsibility index in Nigeria.

It is tough to speculate how Ubah came about the phantom N25bn bond which Anambra State purportedly raised surrepti-

tiously from the DMO/Federal Ministry of Finance. The only thing that any individual can possibly think about is the promissory notes which the state government received in two tranches from the Debt Management Office/Federal Ministry of Finance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of failed federal roads in the state.

The promissory notes were never secret. The reimbursement was recommended by the Senate after a public hearing on the debts owed the state for the roads rehabilitation and reconstruction. Given the fact that the Federal Ministry of Finance did not have the cash to settle the debts, it opted for promissory notes.

The amounts and proceeds of the promissory notes are captured clearly in the Report of the Accountant General with Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December, 2019. Even the purposes to which the funds are deployed are stated clearly in the Annual Report. The transactions could not have been more honorable and transparent.

Anambra State is today regarded as a model in governance.

Despite limited resources, it is ahead of every other state in Nigeria in a lot of areas, including the employment rate which many economists in the world regard as the most important indicator of economic performance. On August 19, 2020, for example, the National Bureau of Statistics published the latest survey of unemployment rates in Nigeria which saw Anambra, with a13.1% unemployment rate in a working population of 2.25 million, as the state with the lowest unemployment rate in the country whereas the average national unemployment rate is 27.1%. It is not for nothing that Anambra has now become the most competitive state in Nigeria. r$ %PO "EJOVCB $PNNJTTJPOFS GPS *OGPSNBUJPO 1VCMJD &OMJHIUFONFOU "OBNCSB 4UBUF

BRING BACK THE FUNNY CATS

W

hen the Four Seasons Landscaping press conference folly occurred a check for Memes on the topic showed there were quite a few and they were funny. How could so many show such disrespect for the President’s representative? Very easily and very frequently it seems. It does raise the question about what we find funny, Slapstick where someone is hurt, sports mishaps and stupid animals usually raise a laugh.

Perhaps their time is done and people want more sophisticated humor and yet it is the ridiculous, the weird tweets, the inability to accept reality and the general high farce of the Presidency that provide most of the best laughs. What is needed is a political leadership that provide confidence and reliability and then people can return to watching cat videos. This time is almost upon us. r%FOOJT 'JU[HFSBME .FMCPVSOF "VTUSBMJB

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FRIDAY, ÍşÍ¸Ëœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWS

Nigeria Needs N3tn to Tackle Infrastructure Deficit, Says Moody’s Obinna Chima

emerging market countries. “The National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP), which set out priorities for 30 years to 2043, estimated $3 trillion investment is required over 30 years to close the infrastructure gap, which equates to an annual spending rate of above seven per cent of GDP. “In its 2020-2024 Nigeria Strategy Paper, the African Development Bank (AfDB) highlights infrastructure development as one of its key priority areas for support, noting that the country’s infrastructure deficit acts as a significant supply-side constraint,� it added.

The report, however, showed that the country’s share of the population with access to electricity increased from 40 per cent in 2015 to 54 per cent in 2020.

While Nigeria has 13,500MW total installed generation capacity, only 7,500MW is functional, it added.

It said: “The generation capacity is constrained by the unavailability of gas feedstock (despite Nigeria's large gas resources) and inadequate transmission capacity. Deficient on-grid supply leads to consumers using off-grid alternatives, which account for 52 per cent of electricity consumption. “Citizens who have access to the grid electricity face regular power cuts. Of the around 90 million Nigerians reported to have no access to electricity, 17 million live in urban areas, while 73 million live in rural communities, which means that a majority of the non-electrified population live in off-grid areas where the provision of grid supply is not economic because of the high cost of constructing transmission infrastructure. “Nigeria ranks near the bottom of a number of international surveys assessing institutional strength and

scores poorly compared with peers on most Worldwide Governance Indicators, including government effectiveness, control of corruption and rule of law. “The government has a low tax base relative to SubSaharan Africa (SSA) peers.

Corruption is of particular concern to investors in large, capital intensive infrastructure projects that require years of planning, land negotiations and permitting, and regulatory approvals.�

Commenting on the findings of the report, Vice President, Senior Analyst at Moody's Investors Service, Kunal Govindia, said: "Nigeria currently has a significant infrastructure deficit, and faces additional pressures from a rapidly growing population. “Its low government funding capacity and customer affordability has been weakened further by the Coronavirus pandemic and low oil prices."

NUJ, NGE KICK AS FG INSISTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATION Victoria Island, Lagos, Brig. it would regulate it.

37 Policemen, Six Gen. Ahmed Taiwo, who told ‘’Nigeria is not alone in this Soldiers Killed

Report on Lekki Shooting, Says CNN

Mohammed also said 57 civilians, 37 policemen and six soldiers were killed nationwide during the #EndSARS crisis.

He lauded the security agencies for their professionalism and measured response during the crisis. ‘’Even when their lives were at stake, they exercised uncommon restraint. Their professionalism and measured response saved many lives and properties. For example, despite arresting hordes of looters during the violence in Lagos, the army treated them humanely and even counselled them before handing them over to the police. “The same cannot be said of those who unleashed mayhem on the security agents, killing and maiming them, sometimes in such a barbaric manner that is unprecedented in these parts.

As I said earlier, six soldiers and 37 policemen were killed all over the country during the crisis. This is in addition to 196 policemen who were injured; 164 police vehicles that were destroyed and 134 police stations that were razed," he stated.

He said the government stood by last Saturday’s testimony of the Commander of 81 Military Intelligence Brigade,

However, despite the federal government's criticism, CNN defended its report on the alleged shooting of #EndSARS protesters, saying it was diligent in packaging it.

The report, it said, was “carefully and meticulously researched.�

The cable station, in its reaction titled ‘Nigeria threatens CNN with sanctions but provides no evidence Lekki toll gate investigation is inaccurate,’ broadcast yesterday, said it remained unbending on its report on the Lekki shooting.

It said: “Our reporting was carefully and meticulously researched, and we stand by it. “The report was based on testimony from dozens of witnesses, and photos and video obtained and geolocated

by CNN. It painted a picture of how members of the Nigerian army and the police shot at the crowd, killing at least one person and wounding dozens more. “CNN verified photos and videos acquired from multiple eyewitnesses and protesters using timestamps and other data from the video files. “Video footage shows soldiers who appear to be shooting in the direction of

protesters. And accounts from eyewitnesses established that after the army withdrew, a second round of shooting happened later in the evening. “Prior to publishing the report, CNN tried multiple times to elicit comment from the Nigerian army and police.

A Lagos State police spokesman declined to comment because of an ongoing investigation. “While a statement from the Lagos State government said that there would be no comment while a judicial tribunal was underway.�

Speaking to THISDAY on the planned regulation of the social media, the NGE President, Mr. Isa Mustapha, admitted that fake news is real and had played some part in fuelling the #EndSARS protests and the subsequent hijack.

He, however, added that the editors' position on social media regulation remains unchanged. “The nation already has enough laws to deal with the abuse of social media. The government should summon the courage to implement those laws. The government can also work on social media platform providers to deal with fake

news,’’ he said.

The NUJ President, Mr. Chris Isiguzo, also said journalists are equally disturbed by the damage fake news is doing to the national life and will subscribe to legitimate steps being taken to arrest the situation. He canvassed a proper process in dealing with the matter as has been done in some other countries.

He said: “The federal government cannot regulate end-users; it should engage owners of the platforms themselves; for instance Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. The government should interface with the owners of the platforms to ensure that only verifiable stories are allowed on their platforms. ‘’It is also important for the government to convene stakeholders parley, engage stakeholders in the media industry, NUJ, NGE, NPAN, BON, NIPR etc; the meeting will afford the government the opportunity to hear from the operators themselves. This will go a long way in ensuring everybody is carried along in the planned regulation process. ‘’Allowing the government to regulate without inputs from stakeholders will be totally against the spirit of democratic governance which is hinged on the right of the people to free expression.’’

Speaking in a live television interview, Wike said while no one would deny Umahi the right to pursue his political aspiration, which is the primary reason for his defection to the APC, he should be mindful of the political future of the South-east.

He said Umahi had shown himself as an ungrateful man for saying that he left PDP to protest the injustice the party meted out to the South-east since 1999.

Wike stated that one reason Umahi was unhappy with PDP was because former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, was chosen as the running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in 2019.

He said: “When we had the 2018 convention that produced

our presidential candidate then, the Wazirin Adamawa, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, he consulted widely and came up with Peter Obi to be his deputy. Umahi was livid because he wanted to produce or he wanted to be vice president. You don’t choose who would be the vice-presidential candidate of anybody. Umahi was livid.

What disturbs me - why do you think that if anything comes to South-east must be you? Why do you think so?"

He said Umahi could not talk of injustice when he practised injustice against the South-east zone by installing his two younger brothers as the zonal vice chairman of PDP and the deputy state chairman of the party.

One of the leading global rating agencies, Moody's Investors Service, has stated that the infrastructure in Nigeria is behind other emerging market peers, with about $3 trillion needed over 30 years to close the gap.

Given the budget constraints facing the country, the rating agency noted that addressing this shortfall will require financing from the private sector, multilateral development institutions and other non-state investors.

The company, in its first report on the Nigerian infrastructure market obtained yesterday, noted that Nigeria faces many budgetary and financing challenges.

It stated that weak institutions and governance frameworks along with a low tax base are hindering infrastructure investment, while financially strained utilities are unable to invest

regard. The issue of social media regulation is an ongoing debate not just in Nigeria but around the world, including in the United States, which is the flag flyer of constitutional democracy. Even the owners of the various social media platforms, including Facebook, are increasingly joining the call for content regulation,’’ the minister said.

Labels Lekki Incident ‘Massacre without Bodies�

Mohammed also described the Lekki shooting as a “massacre without bodies� and accused DJ Switch of pushing out exaggerated narrative of the incident as not a single body has been produced or a single family has come out to claim their family member was killed at the Lekki Tollgate.

The minister added that while the government awaits the judicial panel in Lagos to unravel what transpired at the Lekki Tollgate, based on testimonies available in the public space, ‘’the world may have just witnessed, for the very first time ever, a massacre without bodies.’’

Listed 57 Civilians,

in improvements.

It said: “Nigeria has a significant infrastructure deficit and faces additional pressures from a rapidly growing population. Nigeria's current infrastructure stock lags behind emerging market peers, and it is a constraint on business activity and growth. “There are major budgetary and financing challenges to developing infrastructure in Nigeria. Government funding capacity and customer affordability are both low and have been further weakened by the Coronavirus pandemic and the low oil price environment. The country's weak institutions and governance framework, together with a low tax base, also hinder infrastructure investment. “Infrastructure development has been concentrated on economic infrastructure and this focus will continue.

Investment has primarily been within economic infrastructure

such as power, railways, roads, ports and pipelines; rather than social infrastructure such as hospitals and schools.�

According to it, Nigeria requires investment to address its electricity shortages, noting that increased private and multilateral sector involvement is required to achieve this.

It added that Nigeria's power sector could benefit from renewable energy like solar and wind with financing also possible from green bonds.

Financial guarantors, multilateral development banks and local institutional investors will be important in helping finance infrastructure development, it said. “In its Economic Recovery and Growth Plan 20172020 (ERGP), the Nigerian government estimated that the country’s infrastructure stock represented only 35 per cent of GDP, compared with an average of 70 per cent for peer

the Judicial Panel of Inquiry instituted by the Lagos State Government that blank bullets were fired at the toll gate.

Mohammed said: “One of the purveyors of fake news was one DJ Switch, which real name is Obianuju Catherine Udeh, even though she claimed authentic evidence of mass killings. Surprisingly, instead of presenting whatever evidence she may have, she chose to escape from the country on the claim that her life was in danger. In danger of what? “The military has come out to say we never sought after her and to the best of my knowledge, the police never declared her wanted. “Her conduct thus becomes suspect. Who is she fronting for? What is her real motive?

Who are her sponsors? If she has any evidence, why is she not presenting such evidence to the panel? Since she was very desperate for asylum in any country, did she have to resort to blatant falsehood to tarnish the image of the country? “In the fullness of time, this lady will be exposed for who she is, a fraud, a front for divisive and destructive forces.�

We Stand by Our

NGE, NUJ Kick against Social Media Regulation

THREE PDP GOVS NEGOTIATE WITH APC AS OTHERS REASSURE PARTY to the NEC meeting, urged members of the party in the National Assembly to work hard to ensure a new Electoral Act is passed before the 2023 general election.

He said: "Know it as a fact that transparent election under the watch of APC is not feasible with the current Electoral Act. We are liaising with our very reliable members in the National Assembly to ensure that a fraud-free law is put in place ahead of 2023.

"Within our family also, we are putting all hands on deck to ensure we enter the next election stronger as one united and harmonious family and to achieve this I solicit the full and undiluted cooperation of NEC. “On your behalf also, we

are continuing in our extensive consultations with critical stakeholders to ensure that no stone is left unturned for our return to Aso Rock."

According to Secondus, "While borrowing in economics is not bad, it depends on what the borrowed resources are being channelled for. With the unprecedented corruption in the system under APC watch, it would be difficult to see this borrowed funds properly deployed.

"Amidst the frightening insecurity in the country accompanied by mass killings that has set fears on the people, what you get from the government is multiple tariffs- electricity, VAT, fuel hike and more, with its

operatives indulging in lies and propaganda.

"NEC may, therefore, wish to join other voices in charging the APC federal government to #Stop borrowing, #Stop mortgaging our future, #Account for borrowed Funds #Stop the Persecution of #EndSARS Youth Protesters, #Respect Nigeria Youths, #Give Nigeria Youths a Voice, and # No to censoring of Social media."

On the defection of Umahi, he said the governor was on a personal voyage and that the party would not bandy words with him.

He explained that the PDP has taken steps to safeguard the party structures in the state.

"The real season that informed this decision will soon be

exposed," he said.

Secondus expressed PDP's opposition to the federal government's bid to regulate social media.

Umahi Left PDP over 2019 Vice Presidential Ticket, Says Wike In a related development, Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has said that Umahi was not happy with the PDP because he was denied the opportunity to run as vice presidential candidate in the 2019 election.

He advised Umahi not to allow his quest to become president to destroy the Southeast politically.

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2020

18

POLITICS

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

USA Elections 2020: Lessons for INEC and Nigerian Electorate Magnus Onyibe, an alumnus of Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Massachusetts, USA and a former cabinet member of Delta State government suggests that Nigerian voters and the Independent National Electoral Commission have a lot to learn from the 2020 American presidential election

T

wo things that distinguish the November 3, 2020 general elections in the USA from the previous ones are the mail-in voting and early-voting which saw former USA Vice President and the candidate of the Democratic Party, Joe Biden polling about 75 million votes, (and still counting) while the incumbent President, Donald Trump polled about 71 million (and still counting).

By the time the exercise is concluded , a total of over 145 million American eligible voters would have voted.

That’s an unprecedented feat in the annals of American history at least in the last 100 years.

Hitherto ,between 50% to 60% of Americans voted.

But in the 2020 presidential elections , a whooping 72% or thereabouts are estimated to have voted and that’s more or less an impressive 7% increase in the number of voters .

And that’s despite the deadly threat of COVID-19 pandemic that has significantly altered humanity’s way of life.

In fact the increase in votes cast by Americans is driven by the COVID-19 pandemic which has compelled most people to engage in mail-in voting and early-voting to protect themselves from contracting the Coronavirus, if they were to opt for in-person voting on November 3, Election Day. The elections that ushered in Donald Trump as president in 2016, is such that, Hillary Clinton polled more popular votes totaling 65,853,514, which is 48.2% of the total votes, and 3 million votes more than the votes garnered by the declared winner, Donald Trump, who garnered 62,984,828 or 46.1%.

Although the electoral equation appears odd, it reflects a striking uniqueness of the USA electoral college system.

Remarkably, despite the fact that President Trump’s votes were 3 million less than the popular votes cast for Clinton who lost the election, he won the contest simply because he received more electoral college votes, 304 than his rival, Hillary Clinton who got 227.

In other words Clinton earned more popular votes , yet lost the election because of the unique role that the electoral college system plays in America’s electoral system.

Although the advocates of the electoral college system claim that it is a safe guard and bulwark aimed at protecting the sanctity of the American electoral system, it is opaque and therefore a process that is not practiced in Nigeria even though the Presidential system being operated in our country was borrowed from the USA. I believe the Nigerian equivalent is the rule in the 1999 constitution that demands that a presidential candidate must win at least one quarter of 2/3rd majority of the votes nationwide.

So far it has worked for us, hence despite President Mohammadu Buhari’s oft touted 12 million votes from his northern political support base, he could not win the presidency of Nigeria until the 3rd attempt when he received votes not just from his ethnic enclaves, but from across the country. And he was able to achieve the feat by engaging in political alignments that earned him votes not only from the south-west, but also from south/east or south- south in the 2015 and 2019 elections which is in consonance with the spirit and letter of the constitutional provision that seeks to compel the person that qualifies to be the president to be the one who received a nationwide mandate via broad based voting.

Our country’s 2/3rd majority votes requirement for a candidate to be declared successful in a presidential election has also conferred the status of battle ground states on states like lmo and Rivers states for the current ruling party , the APC both

in 2015 and 2019 presidential elections. Of course any state in south east and southsouth could be battle ground. But the most susceptible to such change or swings are always targeted.

Put simply: To win, since a presidential

candidate must garner at least a quarter of the votes in the 2/3rd majority of all the votes cast nationwide, some states become swing or battle ground states.

And the requirement has on a couple of occasions proven to be a thorny issue

When Top Political Class Bid Austin Opara’s Mother Farewell Austin Uganwa highlights the good mix of politicians and the clergy at the funeral of Mrs. Sarah Opara, mother of the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Austin Opara

P

ort Harcourt City, the capital of the oil-rich Rivers State was unmistakably boisterous Friday, November 6, 2020. This was as Rt. Hon. Austin Opara, former Deputy Speaker House of Representatives interred his mother, Mrs. Sarah Ihunda Opara at Saint Thomas Anglican Church in Port Harcourt. She was aged 96. Unprecedented heavy vehicular movements within the city and unbroken blaring of sirens were instructive that uncommon event was taking place.

Prior to the commencement of the funeral service at about 10 O’clock in the morning, long convoys of vehicles snaked incessantly through the ever-busy Ikwerre Road .They streamed into St. Thomas Anglican Church premises, venue of the event and its neighborhoods . Hordes of security operatives were at hand to control the traffic. In compliance with the federal government’s safety protocols on COVID-19, health workers on ground dutifully ensured that everyone was given free face mask and hand sanitizer. This was underpinned with intermittent announcements on the urgent need to wear the mask properly and to ensure the realization of social distancing in the sitting arrangements.

However, in attendance and organization the event was historic. It intrinsically attracted throngs of people from various walks of life particularly those in the top political echelon and highly-placed clerics.

It was a distinctive assemblage of top political officers from across the six regions. The roll call included: House of Representatives Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbalabiajemila, Governors Nyesom Wike, Rivers; Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta; Aminu Bello Masari Katsina ; Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Sokoto and Douye Diri, Bayelsa. Others were: Former

First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, former Governors Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State, Peter Odili and Celestine Omehia, Rivers State and national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus and a host of others.

Apart from the Primate of the Anglican Communion Nigeria, Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba, notable Church leaders came in their numbers. They included: The Dean of the Anglican Church of Nigeria, Most Reverend Buba Lamido, Archbishop of the Province of Niger Delta, Most Reverend Tunde Adeleye, Bishops of Niger Delta and Niger Delta North - Rt. Rev. Wisdom Ihunwo and Rt. Rev. Solomon Gberegbara, respectively.

Saint Thomas Church building, venue of the funeral service is an imposing edifice that sits arrogantly at the centre of Diobu, an ever busy part of Port Harcourt. As the dignitaries were ushered in to take their seats, the magnificently ornamental and expansive Church hall blended harmoniously and charmingly with the exquisite outfits intriguingly paraded by the guests.

Rt. Hon Austin Opara, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives who is the third child of Mama Sarah Opara, led the congregation into the virtues of the deceased. According to him, his mother was an image and exemplification of faith. He told the story of how the mother kept faith with the Lord and remained bonded with his husband in spite of 11 years of childlessness after marriage . He added with a nadir of inspiration that her mother’s faith did not even wane when the first child that ultimately came died shortly after at the hospital.

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

in Nigeria. This is currently evidenced by the absurdity of the Supreme Court ruling which awarded the governorship elections for lmo state in 2019 to Hope Uzodinma, the candidate of the ruling party, APC, whose votes could only earn him the fourth position after the governorship contest.

But based on technical reasons, including recounting of votes allegedly previously suppressed or ignored, the Supreme Court, in a rather opaque and strange manner, annulled the election of Emeka Ihedioha, the candidate of the former ruling party, PDP who had been sworn into office as governor. And the ruling party’s candidate was installed after bypassing the other parties candidates that came 2nd and 3rd respectively in the contest.

In order to surmount the quarter of 2/3rd majority votes rule hurdle or obstacles, which had been a stumbling block on the path to Aso Rock Villa for candidate Buhari, a coalition of formerly ethnically oriented or political parties with native biases as well as clannish composition and outlook, such as CPC, from the north, ACN in south-west , ANPP and APGA from the south-east and part of the north merged with the soul aim of generating votes with national spread and thus be in compliance with the constitutionally requirement of least a quarter of 2/3rd majority votes of Nigerian electorates . Before 2015 and 2019, the 2/3rd majority votes rule, had also created a political hiccup and runchus in 1979 as a fall out of the election of Alh Shehu Shagari(1979 -2003) .

It may be recalled that in 1979, the opposition party, Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN had challenged president-elect Shehu Shagari, and of National Party of Nigeria, NPN for falling short of winning the 2/3rd majority threshold. But the complex equation or matrix was resolved when the legal luminary , Richard Akinjide came up with the 2/3rd majority formula under very controversial circumstances.

Interestingly, in the 2020 USA presidential elections, despite the Coronavirus pandemic, more votes, amounting to estimated 75 million, (and still counting) were cast for the eventual presumed winner, Joe Biden, the candidate of the Democratic Party.

And about 71 million (and still counting) have also been received by the incumbent president, Donald Trump, who has presumably lost the presidency by about 4 million popular votes.

Coincidentally, in Nigeria, President Buhari also defeated his closest opponent in 2019, Atiku Abubakar, by the same margin of 4 million votes , after he polled 15.2 million votes representing about 56%, just as Atiku Abubakar, his closet rival scored about 11.2 million which is about 42%.

Given how diligent, committed , methodical and thorough the USA electoral council has been in the organization of the elections, (despite Trump’s refusal to concede defeat) going forward, the lndependent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Nigerian agency responsible for elections, can’t afford to continue to be supine.

More so as the chairman , Mahmood Yakubu has been offered a second term mandate by president Buhari which is a rarity, since no electoral umpire in Nigeria is on record to have been re-appointed for a second term.

-ONYIBE, an entrepreneur, public policy analyst ,author, development strategist, alumnus of Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts university, Massachusetts, USA and a former commissioner in Delta state government, sent this piece from lagos.

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PERSPECTIVE

Ahmad Lawan’s Warnings Before the Dark Cloud Obama’s Promised Land, Trump and bin Laden Chido Nwangwu, Publisher, USAfricaonline. com focuses on a new book by former American President Barack Obama which gives account of some events during his presidency

“F

or all our differences, we remained bound as one people . . . together, men and women of goodwill could find a way to a better future.�

Those words reflect the essential character, fundamental outlook and philosophical disposition of the first African-American President of the United Staes, Barack Obama.

He served as the 44th President.

Those are his exact words in the best-selling book, ‘A Promised Land,’ published on November 17, 2020. It is the first of the two memoirs.

This November 25, 2020 Thanksgiving weekend, it will become the highest selling presidential memoir in history. It has a total of 768 pages which provides the insider roles and events which became prominent or obscure, non-publicized factors that shaped the course of history under the charismatic Obama, On the motivation for writing the book, Obama said in a tweet that he seeks to “provide an honest accounting of my presidency, the forces we grapple with as a nation, and how we can heal our divisions and make democracy work for everybody.�

The book, understandably, serves as a platform to further confront (or simply to correct) the unusual and non-presidential conducts of his successor Donald J. Trump at the White House. And Trump before he became the 45th President.

Also, he reveals how his team “used�

Trump as a distraction for the media the period he had ordered the raid and killing of Al-Qaeda’s kingpin, Osama bin-Laden.

It was at the 2011 White House Correspondents dinner. Trump, for almost 16 months, was hawking the false and racist claim that Obama was not born in the United States.

It’s the dog whistle, fancifully known as “birtherism.�

Trump and his cohorts demanded the “certificate of live birth� or “produce his long-form birth certificate� for Barack Obama. While millions of decent and fair-minded Americans frowned at the crass and incendiary advertisements yet baseless claims of New York’s flamboyant real estate and reality tv show mogul Trump, there were millions of others who cheered Trump on!

This is important because it laid the foundations for the segment of these United States (at least 15% of both the voting and non-voting youth) who still, GPPMJTIMZ CFMJFWF rUIBU 0CBNB XBT BO iJMMFHJUJNBUF 1SFTJEFOUu rUIBU 0CBNB XBT OPU CPSO JO UIF 6 4 rUIBU 0CBNB JT XBT

B NVTMJN rUIBU QFPQMF PG "GSJDBO EFTDFOU in America are children of a lesser ‘God’.

They don’t believe that Black Lives Matter! “Fortunately it turned out that the country’s leading distraction had been invited to sit at the Washington Post’s table that night, and those of us aware of what was going on took odd comfort in knowing that once Donald Trump entered the room, it was all but guaranteed that the media would not be thinking about Pakistan,�

Obama indicated in his big book. bin Laden was killed by U.S Special forces, in Pakistan.

At dinner, Obama recalled that “my face fixed in an accommodating smile, as I quietly balanced on a mental high wire, my thoughts thousands of miles away.â€? “When it was my turn to speak, I stood up and started my routine. About halfway through, I turned my attention directly to Trump‌. As the audience broke into laughter, I continued in this vein, noting his ‘credentials and breadth of experience’ as host of Celebrity Apprentice and congratulating him for how he’d handled the fact that ‘at the steakhouse, the men’s cooking team did not impress the judges from Omaha Steaks‌.These are the kinds of decisions that would keep me up at night. Well handled, sir. Well handled‌..

The audience howled as Trump sat in silence, cracking a tepid smile. I couldn’t begin to guess what went through his mind during the few minutes I spent publicly ribbing him. What I knew was that he was a spectacle, and in the United States of America in 2011, that was a form of power. Trump trafficked in a currency that, however shallow, seemed to gain more purchase with each passing day. The same reporters who laughed at my jokes would continue to give him airtime. Their publishers would vie to have him sit at their tables. Far from being ostracized for the conspiracies he’d peddled, he in fact had never been bigger.�

Again, in 2012, from the elections held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, Obama and Biden won reelection.

Regarding his campaigns, the first and the second, he notes the value and impact of communications, effective messaging to mobilize people.

The breakthrough speeches catapulted Obama to stratospheric level heights; leading up to his run for Senate; serving briefly and lining to a competitive field which included formidable technocrats, politicians and former First Lady of the United States, Hillary Clinton. Hillary was then serving as a Senator from New York. It’s true but necessary for me to note that the Clintons were at the pinnacle of their political influence, propelled by an intimidating armada of persons and “infrastructure�.

Without any doubts, at the time, they dominated the party. After all, to this day, no member of the Democratic or Republican party can unpack and explain and lend some vitality of life into any complicated public policy package better than Bill Clinton, former U.S President and husband of Hillary’s. Especially, healthcare policy details dripping with complex, technical arcana. Bill is a “natural.�

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Mon-Charles Egbo, Print Media Aide to the Senate President reviews instances when Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan had forewarned about an impending calamity

F

or keen observers, Ahmad Lawan’s dispositions on critical issues of governance always bring to the fore a seeming demerit associated with democracy as a form of government. By the doctrine of separation of powers, the legislature makes laws for order and good governance, the judiciary interprets and enforces the laws while the executive formulates and implements polices flowing from those laws. Therefore, the ultimate delivery of governance tangibles lies exclusively with the executive, irrespective of outputs from the other arms. For instance, there are cases where the legislature would seek to fully assume its responsibility of connecting the people to governance, but is routinely limited relative to constitutional provisions. This innocent defect has become the bane of rapid development in democracy.

Objectively, Lawan embodies a contemporary realization that the welfare and security of citizens which constitute the primary purpose of governments are practically beyond economic and infrastructural developments. He elevates whatever that offers social fulfilment or can liberate people from limited choices, as in deed deserving of governments’ attention. It is his leadership ideology that education, wealth and job creations as well as functional health system should be the paramount ambition of governments, especially in the developing countries such as Nigeria.

Similarly and within the context of UNDP’s description of human development as “expanding the richness of human life, rather than simply the richness of the economy in which human beings live,� Lawan’s passion for human development is utterly profound. By words and actions, he recognizes it as a sure path to sustainable national development. But unfortunately, there is a certain limit he is constitutionallyempowered to attain, though he is uncompromising and speaks up whenever it matters.

Acknowledging the dire consequences of unemployment especially among the youth populace, as well as possible repetition of the recent #EndSARS protest, with attendant devastating outcome, Lawan offered some patriotic warnings.

According to him, “recently we had some of our youths protesting. Some of them very genuinely. They were seeking the attention of leaders and they got the attention of leaders. So our budget, especially for 2021, should be mindful of what we do to provide employment opportunities for these youths. They demonstrated. They protested because they could do so. There are so many other people who may not be youthful but are also in the same need and they didn’t protest. Let’s meet them where they are. We don’t have to wait until they also try to grumble or protest. We should be proactive. We should reach them and they are in the rural areas.

Most of them. So we should meet them there. Give them what we can and what they need to some extent, within the purview of our resources and give them there, to make them live a productive life and that is the only way we can make a difference in the lives of the people.�

Elsewhere and reechoing Nelson Mandela’s postulation that “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world� Lawan had again warned that “today, the

education sector suffers a lot. I keep on saying the 11 or 10 million children out of school; we owe them that responsibility to do something about them. That is taking us back to the implementation of the Universal Basic Education Act. How do we ensure that we reduce and eventually eliminate the number of out-ofschool children in our streets? But even if we needed that kind of programme, we have to do something and the government has to take responsibility, both at the state and federal levels. At the tertiary level, we produce graduates who have nothing to add to the development of the country. We must face the reality of making our economy work for the people. We need our graduates, both in the universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to actually be graduates that have some functionality.

Either they can engage themselves in some productive activities or when they are employed, they should be able to perform if we want our economy to function. Today’s economy is about what capacity your citizens have. Many countries don’t have more resources than the kind of resources we have but they have been able to develop the capacities of their people. India and China have done that.�

Then at the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic even when not yet reported in Nigeria, Lawan was overtly proactive.

He variously interfaced with critical stakeholders to ascertain the level of preparedness to combat the virus in the event of possible outbreak. Yet again, he warned that “while the Federal Ministry of Health and associated agencies may be doing their best, I think this best is not good enough and we should not take anything for granted. I imagine that we should have a standard set by the ministry or National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) rather than allow states do what they want to do on their own. Personally, I feel that we; the Federal Government, should provide such centers. If states want to have as they want to do now, they can have through other means, but we should have standard centres by the Federal Government at least one in each of the six geo political zone. For now, only the one in Lagos that is standard and functional. We need to step up because we are in a period of emergency. Even if it didn’t happen now we should do whatever it takes to provide those centers and make them functional so that we make use of them if there is a need, and even when there is no need to use them now, the expenditure will not be in vain.�

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20

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2020 •T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY Ëž BER 20, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

A T

REPO 0.50 % 0.63 %

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

0.50 % 1% 1.20 %

N O V E M B E R S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

736.22 % 0.00 % -1.71 %

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

1 3 , 2 0 2 0 S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE 17.48 % YEAR TO DATE 53.01 %

EXCHANGE RATE N379/1US DOLLAR* ĚŠ

Quick Takes Qatar, Air Canada Sign Codeshare Pact

BUSINESS EXPANSION

L-R: Dana Air’s Head of Security, Mr. Ossai Edwin; Enugu Station Manager, Chioma Anioke, Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Chief Operating OďŹƒcer, Dana Air, Obi Mbanuzo, and Communications Manager, Kingsley Ezenwa at the inaugural ight of Dana Air to Enugu...recently

Qatar Airways has announced that it has finalised a codeshare agreement withAirCanadaapplicablefortravelbetweenDohaandToronto.Saleshave startedwiththefirstcodeshareflighttooperatefromDecember15,2020.

Accordingtoastatement,theagreementreinforcesQatarAirways’long-term commitmenttoCanadianpassengersandwasexpectedtoboostCanada’s globalconnectivityandsupporttherecoveryoftourismandtrade.

Theairlinesaiditspassengerscannowenjoyseamless,one-stopconnectionsto andfromTorontoviatheBestAirportintheMiddleEast,HamadInternational Airport.

AirCanadapassengerswouldbenefitfrombeingabletobooktravelonQatar Airways’ flights between Toronto and Doha and onwards to more than 75 destinationsinAfrica,AsiaandtheMiddleEast.

QatarAirwaysGroupChiefExecutive,Mr.AkbarAlBakersaid,“Wearedelighted to secure this strategic codeshare agreement with Air Canada to provide ourtravellerswithaseamlessjourneytoandfromTorontowithexcellencein state-of-the-artandsustainableaircraft,safety,comfortandonboardservice. “The agreement will increase choices for thousands of passengers and allowsforsmoothconnectivitytoasignificantnumberofnewdestinations –particularlythroughoutAfrica,AsiaandtheMiddleEast.Byharnessingour complementary strengths, this agreement will also provide benefits to aid therecoveryofinternationaltravel.�

AFRAA Harps on Collaboration by Airlines

FG Urged to Tackle Multiplicity of Inspection, Shipping Charges Eromosele Abiodun To ensure the drive by the federal government to boost exports succeeds, the government has been urged to simplify the process through the removal of factor associated with delays, multiplicity of product inspection and the high cost in export process.

Customs agents in the country who made this call in a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari also advised the government to streamline terminal and shipping companies charges in line with international best practice to make Nigerian products compete favorably in international market.

The agents in the petition signed by the National President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed

MARITIME Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), the umbrella body of customs agents in Nigeria, Lucky Amiwero said one-stop–shop process on export would reduce the bottlenecks of lengthy and cumbersome process, high cost and international reject of Nigerian produce.

According to the agents, “The duplication on process and cost on same product should be streamlined, and discountenance with and the duplicity of test, Pre-shipment and harmonized procedure to reduce cost of clearance. “Our import, export, Regulatory and transit procedure is encountered with lengthy, cumbersome procedure that is associated with unnecessary delays, high transaction cost and

increase of cargo dwell time, which makes our port the most expensive in the globe based on verifiable statistical information.�

They added, “The reform to our import, -export, and Transit procedures, is to implement an integrated set policies and procedures that is globally accepted, which will ensure effective Trade Facilitation by the reduction of transaction cost, cargo dwell time and ensures safety and security of the process.�

The customs agents blame the lack of scanners at the port for the delays and called on the government to urgently make good its promise to provide scanners at the port. “The three scanning companies, Cotecna, SGS, and Global Scan entered into contract for the provision, installation,

operation and management of X-Ray scanning machines and computerised management for examination of goods on Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) for A period of 7 years from 2006 to 2012 extended for six months, which ended in June 2013. “The federal government subsequently entered in to transition contract agreement, with the service provider on the 1st July- 30thNovember for transfer of the scanners to Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) with the constitution of the transition Implementation committee on destination inspection scheme by the then Coordinating Minster of the Economy and Minster of Finance on the 5th of July, 2013, with specific mandate to Continued on page 22

‘Why Access to International Financing is Hard for Nigerian Airlines’ Chinedu Eze An industry expert has given reasons why Nigerian airlines find it difficult to access credit from the international market.

Nigerian airlines in the past did not have the goodwill to attract international financiers to support their businesses with single-digit and long-term loans for aircraft acquisition, lead consultant at ETIMFRI Group, Amos Akpan said.

He recalled that before the 2006 Civil Aviation Act and before the Category 1 rating of Nigerian by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) along with the certification of Nigeria by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the country’s air transport sub-sector could be described as rudderless.

Nigerian carriers benefitted from such credit facility in the

AVIATION past, but not as regular as other airlines in Africa such as Ethiopia Airlines, Kenya Airways and others.

In Nigeria, airlines like the defunct Afrijet had benefited from such credit facility, but the airline that hugely benefitted from international financiers was Arik Air. According to the Founder of the Airline, Mr. Joseph ArumemiIkhide, Arik Air was beneficiary of such credit facility, which the airline effectively serviced because it maintained acceptable international standards when it started flying.

But the aviation economist explained to THISDAY that Nigeria’s financial sector did not develop internationally recommended practices, credit based financial system until

recently.

But since the high rating of Nigeria’s safety standard by international aviation regulatory bodies, they have recently commenced building data for credit worthiness.

He noted that this was one of the reasons why Nigerian airlines could not engage on interlining with foreign airlines in addition to the fact that banks may not be able to come up with forex when needed to pay their foreign partners. “This makes it difficult to synchronize with other operators in climes with developed credit systems. It is an issue of difference in practices based on cultural setting. Leasing aircraft or any aviation plant for business operations requires you satisfy certain regulatory criteria. “There is the lack of understanding of aviation business by commercial financial institutions

in Nigeria. An investor wants to bring in $100 million through a Nigerian airline. The investor requires a guarantee from a Nigerian bank that it will receive all income from operations, process the repatriation of the sum plus interest for a period of 15 years. “The Nigerian bank will require assets or cash worth $120 million deposited with her as collateral before issuing the guarantee to the foreign investor. Note that the investor has already insured the said $100 million before releasing it,�

Akpan explained.

He also explained that the investor would ensure the money does not enter as cash into the local airline, but as leased and purchased productive machines and trained human capital.

Continued on page 22

The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) has concluded its 52nd Annual General Assembly with a call for airlines to take specific measures to build resilienceandemergestrongerafterthecrisis.TheAssemblyfurthercalledfor amulti-sectorialandpragmaticapproachbygovernmentsandstakeholders to support the recovery of air transport industry and interrelated sectors such as tourism, hosted byTAAG Angola Airlines, was held in virtual format underthetheme:“RedefiningAirTransportforaNewEra�.

TheAssemblybroughttogethertopAfricanairlineCEOs,industrypartners, leadersofinternationalandregionalairtransportassociationsincludingthe Africanunion,IATA,ICAO,AFCAC,TIACAandmorethan400delegatesfrom 76nationalitiesacrosstheglobe.

SpeakingasChiefGuest,theTransportMinisteroftheRepublicofAngolaMr. Ricardo de Abreu said, “We are conscious of the enabling role that aviation plays in facilitating trade and growing our economies. As we collectively navigate these times, we will seek to emerge from this pandemic more resilient,organisedanddeterminedtosucceed.�

In a comprehensive analysis of the industry’s outlook for 2021 and beyond that was presented in AFRAA’s annual report, it was noted that recovery of trafficinAfricawasexpectedtostartwithdomesticmarkets.Intra-African routes were projected to follow suit, while international traffic is expected to take more time to reach pre-crisis levels due to a challenging operating environment.

Wema Bank Organises Webinar for SMEs

Wema Bank has announced that it will be holding a webinar for small and mediumscalebusinesses.Theonlineforumseekstoprovidebusinesseswith insightsneededintakingstrategicstepsforcontinuityandsustainabilityin light of the COVID:19 pandemic and the recent crisis that led to the looting ofmostlysmallbusinesses.

The webinar which is tagged “Business Continuity and Sustainability PostCrisis� will hold virtually on November 26th and would sensitise small and medium business owners on strategies to ensure their businesses keep thrivingevenamidstcrises Speaking about the webinar, Divisional Head, Retail Banking, Wema Bank, DotunIfebogun, statedthat,“alothaschangedduetotherecenthappenings andalotofbusinesseshavehadtostruggleforsurvivalasaresultoftheharsh realitiesbroughtaboutbythepandemic.Asabank,wecareaboutthewelfare ofourcustomersandtheirbusinesses. “Thiswebinarwillpresentuswithanopportunitytosharepracticalstrategies thatwillhelpbusinessesthroughtryingtimes,aswellasequipthemtoprotect themselvesagainstpossiblefuturecrises.�

According to Ifebogun, the bank believes the webinar will inform small and medium business owners on the necessary steps to take to ensure their businessesarerevived. “WemaBankisrelentlessinthesupportofcustomersandtheirbusinesses throughthickandthin.Thiswebinar,thoughthemaideneditionfromthebank’s SMEteam,promisestobeeducativeandinformative.Businessownersare thereforeencouragedtoregisterasthisisanopportunityofgreatvalue,�he added.

“Enugu state is peaceful and our economy is growing really fast. With Dana air in Enugu, we now have the game changer�

Governor of Enugu State,

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

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BUSINESSWORLD FG URGED TO TACKLE MULTIPLICITY OF INSPECTION, SHIPPING CHARGES ensure a seamless transfer of functional scanners from the service providers to Nigeria Customs Service. We called on the government to revisit this and take actions where necessary.�

The agents added that the provision of the port (related) offences etc., Act 61 should be implemented and enforced by the federal government, in order to reduce the multiplicity of agencies in the port in line with global practice, reduce transaction time and the cost of clearance from the ports.

Nigerian Cargos, they added, are moved to other West African ports as a result of inefficient port system and draught level, which cannot accommodate Mega ships with 8000-20000 TEUs. “Port of Lome have advantage of Draft up to 15.5m, Cotonou Port Draft at 15.m, Ghana Tema port is for expansion at $1.5 dollars estimated draft of 19m and Cameroon (IRIBI) container terminal with 16m draft, while Nigerian Port is still under 13m Draft, which allows most Nigeria shipment to be transshipped though these port. “Therefore, the Nigeria concept of Deep/sea and transshipment center must be designed to accommodate Large E-Class Vessels/Mega ships of 8000-20000 TEUs, which meets up with regional demand.

‘WHY ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL FINANCING IS HARD FOR NIGERIAN AIRLINES’ This is because the local airlines cannot produce the collateral required by the Nigerian bank that $100m investment cannot come in. “Financial policies change every four years, which is the life span of an elected government but an investor works with a minimum of 10years for gestation, growth, and rebirth. Secured and stable polity attracts investors in transport and tourism sector. “If a Nigerian airline has the collateral required by Nigerian bank to guarantee foreign investment it would not need the loan in the first instance. If repatriation of foreign investment funds was a predictable process, Nigerian airline would easily access foreign credit facility,� Akpan said.

NEWS

Lawmakers Hail NIMASA’s Budget Performance Despite COVID-19 Stories by Eromosele Abiodun The House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration has hailed the budget implementation status of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Lynda Ikpeazu, who stated this in Lagos during an oversight visit to NIMASA, said the agency has done creditably well, despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Ikpeazu expressed confidence in the current management of NIMASA led by the DirectorGeneral, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, adding that Jamoh has laid down a clear roadmap for taking the agency to greater heights, and pledged the lower chamber’s support.

The House Committee chairman added that, “The Director-General has laid a good foundation for the committee and the committee is here to monitor the activities of the Agency for 2020 and see how it has performed so far and further legislative assistance that can be brought to bear in order to generate more revenue for the government. The DG of NIMASA is doing his best to ensure that he repositions the

agency to make sure the Agency delivers on its core mandates.

We will make sure we give the DG all the necessary support he needs because we have seen him moving towards the right direction and, most especially, he has made it clear to us that he wants to address insecurity

in the Gulf of Guinea. The issue of security goes a long way to affect revenue generation in the maritime sector.�

She also revealed that the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act Amendment Bill had gone through First Reading in the House of Representatives. She

said the proposed amendment would reflect contemporary issues that would be beneficial to indigenous shipowners in the country. “A more responsive Cabotage law will stimulate opportunities and policies for giving seafarers jobs and improve on shipbuild-

ing capacity, �Ikpeazu stated.

Jamoh, in his response, thanked the committee for the cooperation and support it had accorded NIMASA. He said on his watch human capacity development in the maritime industry would continue to take pride of place.

WE STAND WITH YOU

Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman (left) and Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, Lekki Port, Du Ruogang, during the courtesy visit to commiserate with the agency on the damage inicted on NPA headquarters by hoodlums in Lagos...recently

Terminal Operators Assure NPA of Support The Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) has promised to support the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in replacing some of the items lost to the recent attack on its headquarters by suspected hoodlums.

The Chairman of STOAN, Vicky Haastrup, said this in Lagos, when she led the port operators on a visit to the Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman to sympathise with her and the NPA executive management

over the attack, which led to the burning of a section of the NPA headquarters.

Haastrup described the attack as “sad and mind-boggling.�

She said: “We are most saddened by what we have seen.

It’s actually beyond anybody’s comprehension that so much carnage and destruction could be done to a government property particularly NPA. “I can imagine what the NPA management has gone through. It must be a very difficult and sad period for you

because you put together so much and then some hooligans somewhere can just come and carry out this level of damage to the property. “We sympathise with you and that is why we all decided that we want to pay you a courtesy visit to let you know that we are with you and we are equally very sad because this is a government establishment where we all benefit from and are a part of and as well enjoy support with your team of management.�

She added: “All the terminal operators in Nigeria are all well represented. I assure you that as terminal operators, we are ready to support especially in replacing some of your office equipment. “We will do all we can, within our power to support you. I have the assurances of my colleagues that we will support you. We are not going to wait for insurance. We have come and we have seen the level of damage. This is the time we need to support the

NPA. They have always had our back and this is the time we need to have their back.�

Also speaking during the visit, the Managing Director of PTML Terminal, Ascanio Russo, while commending the combined effort of the police and Navy in repelling hoodlums that invaded the Tin Can Island Port in the wake of the EndSARS, protest appealed to the NPA management to check the influx of unauthorized persons loitering around the port area.

Firm Denies Litigation over NCS Modernisation The Managing Director of Webb Fontaine Nigeria Limited has denied media reports linking his company to another company identified as Adani Mega System Limited in respect of a litigation process challenging federal government’s move on Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Modernisation.

Webb Fontaine Nigeria, he stressed, has never had any form of interaction or alliance with Adani Mega Systems

Limited “For the umpteenth time, we find imperative to state in clear terms that our company has never had any form of interaction or alliance with Adani Mega Systems Limited. Importantly, we want to reiterate that Webb Fontaine Nigeria Limited is not in court with the Federal Government of Nigeria. We have never engaged in litigation with any ministry, department or

agency of government. “We never knew when the Adani suit against the federal government was instituted and we are not aware of their cause for legal action. Our company has never sighted documents showing court processes neither do we have legal representation following the matter,� he said.

He added that he does not know what motives any parties may have for adding his company’s name to a lawsuit

it knows nothing about. “We find it misleading and dubious at a minimum, and disruptive to our excellent relations with the Federal Government, the National Assembly, and the Nigeria Customs Service.

We will continue to conduct investigations and may have to take further measures to ensure that there are no further incidences of this. “We wish to once again restate our support for the

Federal Government drive for modernisation of Nigeria Customs Service, which synchronises with our vision as a service provider in this line of business,�he said.

He said his firm is unequivocally committed to supporting government’s intention for a more modern customs administration that will improve in revenue collection, trade facilitation and productive speed without compromising national security

ENL Appeals Court Judgment on Disengaged Dockworkers Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Ogene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Ă‹Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă— Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ĂŒĂ™Ă–Ă&#x; (Advertising) Correspondents

Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x; äĂ? (Aviation) ĂœĂ™Ă—Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă? ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafor (Energy) Ă—Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă?Ă– ĂŽĂŽĂ?Ă’ (Energy) Reporters

Ă&#x;Ă—Ă? Ă•Ă?Ă‘Ă’Ă? (Money Market) Ă™Ă?Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă•Ă’Ă&#x;ÙÑÓĂ? (ICT) Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ äÙÒÙ (Energy)

ENL Consortium, operator of Terminals C and D, Lagos Port Complex Apapa, has sought the leave of the Court of Appeal to appeal against a judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) filed by some disengaged dockworkers against the company.

The terminal operator, in a statement said there was a suit between some dockworkers who voluntarily disengaged from service in 2016 and ENL Consortium at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria

(NICN) in which judgement was delivered on February 25, 2020.

It added that in the said matter, the dockworkers were the claimants while ENL was the defendant. “The judgement by the National Industrial Court was partly in favour of the Claimants and partly in favour of the Defendant. Based on the provisions of Section 243(3) of Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the decision of the Supreme Court in the case

of SKYE BANK PLC v IWU (2017) 16 NWLR (PT. 1590) 24, leave of the Court of Appeal is required to appeal against the aforesaid judgment.

ENL added, “ENL has a pending application at the Court of Appeal praying for the leave of the Court of Appeal to appeal against a part of the aforesaid judgment. ENL also has a pending application at the Court of Appeal, praying for stay of execution of the judgment and restraining the compliance with the order made in the judgment

pending the determination of ENL’s application for leave to appeal. “The Claimants also have a pending application at the Court of Appeal praying for leave to cross appeal against another part of the same judgment.� “Despite the pendency of these applications, the Claimants obtained certain orders from the National Industrial Court, ex-parte on the 3rd day of November 2020. “ENL has by virtue of the provisions of the National

Industrial Court of Nigeria (Civil Procedure Rules), 2017 applied to the Court to set aside the orders and the application is pending before the National Industrial Court of Nigeria. The return date for the matter is Wednesday 18th day of November 2020. “As a responsible and law abiding corporate citizen, ENL is confident in the adjudicatory system and would abide by the final decision of the Appellate Courts in respect of the issues in dispute,� the company said in the statement, “it stated.

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BUSINESSWORLD

MARITIME

Eradicating Sleaze in Nigeria’s Maritime Sector Eromosele Abiodun writes on the need for the federal government to empower key agencies in the maritime sector to maintain effective oversight on all officials and officers to exterminate corruption at the nation’s seaports

R

ecent research suggests that corruption at ports raises the cost of trade.

However, the absence of data on actual bribe payments has made it difficult to understand how corruption emerges and how it affects the economy more broadly. And yet ports provide fertile ground to analyse corrupt behaviour since opportunities for rent seeking abound.

A port represents an administrative monopoly over an essential public service with broad discretionary powers and scant institutional accountability. From a theoretical perspective, how bribes are set and the mechanisms through which corruption affects the economy are ambiguous.

For instance, the “corruption as grease� theory argues that if bribes are set according to the time-preferences of private agents, corruption can be efficiency-enhancing by reducing delays in slow-moving queues for public services.

An alternative view suggests that bribes are set according to the strategic preferences of bureaucrats, representing a “distortionary trans-action tax� that leads to an inefficient allocation of public and private resources.

Other theories emphasise that bribe setting is shaped by different combinations of wage incentives and administrative sanctions. Different theories persist in the literature in part due to the challenge of obtaining micro-data on the dynamics of corrupt behaviour, and to the difficulty of measuring the impact of corruption on economic outcomes.

Corruption is a global phenomenon. For instance, the risk of corruption in major port around the world is high, and illicit facilitation payments are common, mainly in the form of in-kinds demands such as cigarettes and beverages.

Companies that refuse to pay are often penalised with delays or with fines for alleged non-compliance. In addition, laws and procedures are ambiguous and opaque, making it hard for stakeholders to report and seek solutions to alleged non-compliance.

Recently, the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) launched a collective action aimed at improving container tracking IT systems; promoting an e-governance system for cashless export licences; integrating whistle blowing into existing procedures; establishing a stakeholder forum for discussion; and raising awareness about laws and regulations in the maritime sector.

The project resulted in improving transparency of the regulation for importing goods in selected ports around the world. As a result many of these institutions have improved the accountability of key government stakeholders towards the private sector. That is not all.

The shipping industry operating in Africa is facing specific challenges regarding the inspections of holds and tanks, custom declarations, and on board-practices. Data from shipping companies highlighted a systemic issue with demands for payment, including cases of extortion. As a result, experts have called on Nigeria to draft new regulations to improve specific areas: approval of a vessel’s holds or tanks for the loading of agricultural products, development of new IT system for processing and registering holds/tanks inspections. “Specifically, the new regulations must limit the inspector’s discretion by having more precise definitions and objective criteria for holds or tanks rejection introduce inspectors’ rotation in ports and terminals to hinder collusion and development of proper arrangements in certain ports and client interactions increase the timeframe allowed for remedying hold’s deficiencies strengthen control mechanism by creating a new Technical Appeals Tribunal develops a risk matrix on the basis of which inspections will be supervised establishes a trustworthy whistle blowing hotline,� said maritime lawyer, Mr Godwin Omose.

Nigerian Ports and Corruption Nigeria is considered one of the most challenging countries to do business due to systemic corruption. Recently, Maritime Anti-Corruption Network supported a pilot project implemented together with local authorities and the United Nations Development Programme. The aim was to identify and address vulnerable elements in vessel port call processes where corruption is prone to take place. Measures taken included improving and harmonizing public officials’ port clearance procedures, establishing a new complaint mechanism that enabled companies to file a complaint when faced with improper demands from government officials, conducting anti-corruption training of selected officials and developing anti-corruption policies for

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi

all relevant agencies.

This effort has not really change the reality on ground that much. Recently, a report by Integrity Organisation Limited GTE and its private sector facing arm, Convention on Business Integrity (CBi), revealed that corruption and exercise of discretionary powers by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and port officials has had huge implications for ease of doing business in Nigerian seaports and terminals, leading to revenue loss of as much as about N2.5 trillion corporate revenue in the ports industry annually. Integrity Organisation Limited is an anti-corruption research, advocacy and consulting organisation concerned with issues of accountability and transparency in public and business life. It was founded in 1995 during the late Sanni Abacha’s regime as a direct reaction to the corruption and poor governance of Nigeria represented by that era.

The report, which was jointly funded by ActionAid and UK Aid, revealed that the negative operational elements have pushed many customers to now use ports and terminals of neighbouring countries thereby leading to loss of foreign exchange earnings for Nigeria.

The report said capacity utilisation stands at 38-40 per cent, adding that approximately 40 per cent of businesses located around the ports communities have either relocated to other areas, scaled down operations or completely closed down.

According to the report, “Customs officials have enormous discretionary power and this can easily be exploited for pecuniary gains including gratifications and bribes. Customs officials and port officers have influence on ports operations by law and function in the bureaucracy which they can manipulate as either enablers or disablers depending on interests per time. For custom officials for instance, the fact that they have full information on shipments, shippers and have the powers of assessments and valuation make them able to manipulate ports processes if they so desire. “Custom officials and port operators function at the supply side of the system and are very influential in manipulating the system for and/or against the demand side of port users.

Even though not as statutorily discretionary as customs officers, port officials like port gate officials, stevedores, document clerks, and scanner agents also have influence on the demand side and can manipulate the system in manners that trade-off efficiency. “Ports and terminal officials enjoy exercise of wide discretionary powers even when these are in conflict with the legal procedures and processes. These discretionary powers are sometimes indiscriminate, bridge port processes, lead to bottlenecks and create fertile ground for corruption and graft and the procedures become convoluted. Often, such exercise of discretion creates opportunities for outright graft and extortion of port users. Poor infrastructures and inefficiency cause delay in port processes and create administrative and clearing bottlenecks which make the ports/ terminals prohibitive to legitimate businesses.�

The report pointed out that grievance

mechanisms are available at the ports but some customers are not aware of these mechanisms.

It stated: “For those who are aware of the availability, most of them have never used the mechanisms. Even in the case of grievances, customers often choose not to complain because they perceive the process as subjective. There is perceived weak enforcement and poor investigative structures and ineffectiveness in the case of complaints/feedbacks. Port users do not have total trust in the complaints/ feedback mechanisms as they consider the mechanisms part of the problematic processes.

There is also the belief that the mechanisms will always lead to backlashes.� “The problem is not about relevant policies, frameworks or government order and pronouncement but compliance. Even when authorities put relevant policies in place, compliance and enforcement is poor. Port officers/officials appear too strategically and creatively powerful that they manipulate the system and port operations with unwavering exercise of discretions against the rules even when this makes doing business at the ports difficult,� it stated.

The report recommended that the government need to empower Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to be able to maintain effective oversight on all officials and officers at the port. “The NPA should be able to sanction non-compliance and exercise of discretions directly and indirectly. There is also the need to empower customers to report corruption and inefficiency directly to the highest level beyond the ports in way that will prevent witch haunting and backlashes. Customers should become strategic partners in enforcement/compliance and driving anti-corruption.

Officials still exercise discretionary powers and perpetrate corruptions without fear of consequences, “it stated.

Economic loss to corruption In another report on the performance of Nigerian ports released recently, it was revealed that the country loses over one trillion naira every year to inefficiencies, process failures and corruption in the cargo clearing process. “The report titled: Nigeria: Reforming the Maritime Ports,� which was inaugurated by the Centre for International Private Enterprises in collaboration with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Financial Derivatives Company, was publicly unveiled in Lagos at the LCCI public-private discussions on port reforms.

The report stated that while the efficiency of port processes is a major driver of trade and economic activities across countries, Nigeria’s case has been rather gloomy.

It said over the years, users and operators at the Nigerian ports have been facing lingering challenges and bottlenecks which include infrastructure shortcomings, policy and regulatory inconsistencies, overlapping functions and duplicity of roles among government agencies operating within ports across the country.

The report also pointed out that a lack of clear legislation, ports governance remains prone to inefficiency and corruption. It added that under

such condition, companies in the Nigerian ports have to deal with bureaucratic red tape, constant delays; high costs, harassment, and demands for illegal charges by representatives of government agencies operating at the port.

These, according to the report, diminish the seaport’s potential to create about 10,000 new jobs annually and about 800,000 jobs on the long run. The reforming the Maritime Ports report claimed that Nigerian seaports remain the most expensive in the West African sub-region attributing this to the cumbersome Customs documentation requirements and double charges imposed on importers and exporters.

Using a semi-structured survey, respondents of the study listed the documentation processes, requiring 25-33 different papers from multiple agencies as the biggest issue contributing to time and cost delays.

About one-fourth of the respondents sampled by the report also complained about the duplication of functions of the multiple agencies within the ports while 29% of those surveyed in the report say multiple cargo inspections are the most critical of operational bottlenecks at the nation’s gateways.

It is, however, not all doom for the industry according to the report, as it stated that Nigeria’s ports continue to see substantial increment in gross tonnage by 3.3 per cent – Compounded Annual Growth Rate – to 144.2 million tons between 2010 and 2015. The annual growth rate of 1.8 per cent is expected to rise until 2021 despite the challenges in the sector.

However, the growth projections were premised on the assumption that the nation’s ports will continue to be the preferred means of transporting goods in and out of the ECOWAS sub-region.

In its recommendations, the report pointed out that authorities should embark on immediate port reforms.

These reforms are expected to lead to faster clearance of goods, shorter waiting times for ships awaiting berth, and eliminating redundancies in the functions of the several regulatory government agencies in the ports.

It also called for the adoption of an Integrated Advance Cargo and customs clearance system, with scanning, sealing and tracking capabilities; the establishment of a National Trade Data Centre and implementation of a Single Window platform.

The report also called for more private sector investment in Nigerian ports, reduction in the number of government agencies to 6 from 14. From the policy end, the report called for immediate passage of certain legislative bills that will aid port reforms and improve performance. These bills include the National Transport Commission Bill and the Port and Harbour Bill (PHB).

Finding solution As part of its contribution to the effort to eliminate corruption in the ports, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), which is the nation’s port economic regulator in partnership with agencies under the Federal Ministry of Transportation and in collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) late last year organized this One-Day stakeholders’ summit on Anti-Corruption in the Nigerian Maritime and Transport Industry.

The theme of the summit, which is, “Zero tolerance for corruption in the maritime and transport industry, “ describes what the shippers council stands for and its desire to have transparent and efficient port system in Nigeria.

According to the Chairperson EFFC/NSC Joint Committee, Margaret Orakwusi, “The maritime sector is a strong catalyst for socio-economic development particularly as it concerns businesses, markets, countries and people through international trade.

Despite government efforts on ease of doing business and fighting corruption at all sectors of the economy, the maritime sector has remained very vulnerable to unwholesome practices. “The capital flights and leakages that have plagued the Nigerian Maritime Sector is worrisome, therefore there is need to enlighten stakeholders on the spate of corrupt practices and develop strategy capable of curbing the menace of corruption in the sector thus the reason for this joint summit. “At the end of the summit, the presentation, discussions and contributions would be evaluated to form part of the road map needed to strengthen and eliminate corrupt practices in the sector for greater efficiency and transparency.�

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25

T H I S D AY ˞ Ͱ͎˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

As Dana Air Clocks 12 Years

Dana Air B737 aircraft Chinedu Eze For a country which airlines are known to thrive on average of 10 years, surviving 12 years is a great achievement for Dana Air, which bounced back from a very challenging time four years into its operation to become an airline that is endearing to many air travellers.

Dana Air and Afrijet started operation the same year in 2008. The latter is no more. Discovery Airline came on board after, lingered for a few years and then exited and within the last 10 years IRS Airline, First Nation Airways, Associated, Chanchangi and perhaps temporarily, Medview have left the Nigeria’s airspace.

According to Flight Global, many of the structural and institutional deficiencies that caused the collapse of Nigeria Airways remain.

Additionally, the global airline industry has become fiercely competitive, and new entrants would have a very hard time surviving.

In Nigeria there are factors that make airline business a very precarious one and government, aviation agencies and industry stakeholders are yet to acknowledge and own up to their contributions to the perilous environment that ensures the short life span of airlines.

It is in the face of this reality that Dana Air should be commended for remaining an ongoing concern after 12 years and indications show that it is still on the path of growth, adding more aircraft to its fleet and opening new routes.

The Chief Operating Officer of Dana Air, Obi Mbanuzuo told THISDAY that the airline has striven to operate efficiently and it is customer oriented in the sense that its priority is to ensure on time departure and also enviable in-flight service, which has attracted loyal customers to the airline over the years. “We have tried to maintain our service level post COVID-19 and our priority still remains taking our passengers to their destination in time. We have ensured that we keep to these basic rules and we have maintained that tight on-time schedule. Our passengers understand our level of efficiency and they understand and

In Nigeria there are factors that make airline business a very precarious one and government, aviation agencies and industry stakeholders are yet to acknowledge that

know the way we relate with them and so far we have continued to meet their expectations,� the COO said.

According to industry stakeholders, aircraft insurance companies, international airline partners, Nigeria is a harsh operating environment because of uncertainties, including policy summersault, unfriendly tax regime, lack of maintenance facilities, the difficulty in leasing aircraft and lack of adequate government support. But Dana Air has buffeted through these odds over the years.

Mbanuzuo said when one refers to environmental obstacle it includes the fact that an airline cannot plan and not being able to plan means that the airline cannot make projections about its future. This is due to policy summersault. For example, every Minister of Aviation comes to make its on laws or tweaks the existing ones; so the laws exist at the whims of the individuals; not just based on existing regulations as institutionalised. “One of the major challenges about our environment is that it is very difficult to plan. You cannot plan with your banker on financing your operations because even as discussion is ongoing one policy will come up and erode your plan unexpectedly. So we have the problem of policy summersault. We don’t control the environment; so we cannot plan ahead. For example, VAT was raised from 5 per cent to 7.5 per cent, which means that airlines have to pay more. This will affect your financial projections. So it is really very difficult to plan,� Mbanuzuo said.

He explained that due to low profit margins airlines make, they depend on long term loans to acquire aircraft, which cost millions of dollars, but this is difficult to do in the Nigerian environment because of high interest rate and undulating economy, where the dollar can record astronomical rise against the local currency any time. “Interest rate is very high; so it is difficult to borrow money on that rate. Airlines make at most 10 per cent profit margin. You cannot buy aircraft at that rate because it involves millions of dollars. In 2016 we started a plan to renew our fleet but economic downturn came and we lost that finance support,� the COO also said.

Nigerian airlines pay outrageous insurance premium, they find it difficult to lease aircraft, they ferry their aircraft overseas for maintenance at huge cost. Now that the dollar is rising fast against the naira, it is extremely difficult to pay for aircraft maintenance and acquisition of spares.

But Dana Air has survived similar challenge in the past and Mbaduzuo told THISDAY that the resumption of flights to Enugu on Tuesday is not temporary.

In 2014 we left Enugu when the airport was closed. But now we are not planning to leave,� he said.

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Weighing Planned Airport Concession Aviation industry experts still insist that if government must concession the airports, it must ensure there is legal framework and due process. Chinedu Eze writes

R

ecently Aviation Round Table (ART), a think-tank group of industry experts, held a webinar conference on airport concession and sounded a note of warning to the federal government.

They insisted that for the effort to be successful it must abide by international standard. They also acknowledged that private sector funds must be injected to the industry to develop the airports.

International aviation consultant and Chief Executive Officer, African Aviation Services Limited, Nick Fadugba, said concession of airports could be controversial and noted that it must be carried out following due process because not doing it well would have bad consequences.

Looking at it from the global angle, Fadugba said there had been successful airport concessions but they ended up in fiasco and warned that the federal government should ensure that it abides by the rules in its effort to concession airport facilities. “I want to make a statement right from the start that doing it (concessioning the airports) badly is worse than not doing it at all. I think we should bear this in mind. Transparency is critical in ensuring success. Let me go back a bit. “In the old days airports and airlines around the world were all government owned primarily. And then we had deregulation, commercialization, privatization and then globalisation. “It was only subsequently that airports started to be privatised and concessioned around the world. Some good stories and some bad stories around the world; I think the most successful was the privatization of the British Airport Authority and they have flourished. Obviously, in the UK they have a vibrant aviation industry pre-covid-19, of course. “Beyond this, there have been not so successful stories. If we take Argentina for example, the government of Argentina way back in 1998 decided to privatise its airports. They had 33 airports at that time and they gave them to one consortium but by 2007 the agreement had gone badly; the consortium could not afford the fixed annual fees to be paid to the government and the whole thing had to be renegotiated. “Let’s not forget that investors are in this business to make money and therefore the terms of agreement must followed,�

Fadugba who is the Chairman of African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA), said.

Resolving Past Disagreements Former Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren in his presentation pointed out the issues that could undermine the concession process and that is lack of legal framework.

He appealed to the federal government to resolve the various legal issues with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in order to boost the confidence of investors and encourage them to commit funds to develop airport infrastructure. “We need to resolve all the various legal issues with FAAN, since we are talking about (concessioning airport facilities in) Lagos; if not, nobody will take you seriously. Any investor coming in will be very worried. What about our legal framework? Do we obey our rules? Do we break contracts?

Domestic terminal, Lagos airport, MMA2

This is so important that we need to resolve it and it is never too late for good sense to prevail.

Demuren said now that the federal government has concluded plans to concession airport infrastructure is

the time it needs to resolve lingering issues concerning past concessions that are trailed by controversies and legal logjam.

He gave example with the issues relating to the concession of the

domestic airport at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos developed and being run by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), the concessionaire. He warned that unless the controversy is resolved, other investors might not be willing to commit funds to develop airport facilities, especially in Lagos. “We must take the opportunity to resolve these issues. Nobody will bring money in to go and invest in any terminal in Lagos when they know there is problem with terminal 2 (MMA2). There is a risk department who will ask you that you have not resolved that, where are you going? “What happens to you? What is your guarantee? Not only are we dealing with terminal 2, we also have another one with Chief Harry Akande with the international side.

That case has gone to the court in England; they even wanted to attack the accounts of the federal government of Nigeria.

“The Ministry of Justice is also trying to resolve that also. We need to resolve all these problems. We can’t continue to quarrel; we must find a solution. Enough is enough; let by gone be by gone. MM2 has gone to borrow money to do all these and they are paying interest. Who is going to discuss that? Where do we come in line on how to resolve that? And government seems faceless, one will come in today, another one will come tomorrow, and you change the policy and that is why we are having this problems. “The present Managing Director of FAAN didn’t sign that agreement; another person signed that agreement and that person is gone. The Minister who signed the other one is gone, so government is faceless but we inherit this problem and they will continue to be there,� he noted.

Continued on page 27

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Weighing Planned Airport Concession Appeal Demuren therefore appealed to the Chairman of BASL, Dr Wale Babalaki, Chief Akande and all those who are having problem with FAAN to come together and sit down and talk. “Let’s discuss and solve this problem, we can’t continue this way, nobody is going to win.

And you can’t have any successful concession of terminal if we don’t resolve this. They will refer to it; the banks will refer to it because before they give you money they have a risk committee. This is the first thing they will refer to. I think it is important that we do this for our country and for our land,� the former Director General of NCAA said.

Demuren explained to Chief Babalakin that there is only one regulator in the aviation industry, which is NCAA, noting that FAAN, which manages the airports, is a service provider and urged him to resolve his company’s issues with the agency about the concession of MMA2. “However, don’t forget FAAN is the cash cow of the industry; that is the big place where everybody, whether it is National Assembly or

the Ministry, that is where they look to, so it is tough in handling them. But it is very important now that we are discussing this; everything has been concessioned from FAAN. We are just blaming FAAN, everything has been taken out, they control nothing; everything is gone.

So you can’t compare FAAN as an airport with other places. My advice today I think ART should continue this kind of discussion and let’s try and resolve this problem and let the Minister of Aviation, FAAN and the government look at this problem, let’s resolve it so that the new concession you are entering into will not end like this again,� Demuren advised.

Abide by Agreement In his speech during the webinar, Chief Babalakin said that his company pioneered comprehensive concession of airport terminal and therefore was used as guinea pig. “We are pioneers but appropriately described as guinea pig. It is important that the authorities decided that they want a proper concessioning process and once this concession is signed it

is more important that they stick to the rules of the game. We have spent 13 years trying to enforce an agreement and till date we only have about 30 per cent to 35 per cent of our right under the various agreements implemented.

As you mentioned that in recent times a new chief executive of FAAN has been engaging us in negotiations, this is a breath of fresh air.

Because in the last 12 years what we have received is battery. “We finished the concession on schedule, only the private sector can finish a concession on schedule because its finances are tied to that project. You can count the number of public works that are finished on schedule.

We have 40 per cent of guarantee traffic, the agreement we signed assured us of all domestic traffic, till date we don’t have it. Rather, our regulator (FAAN) decided to be competing with us with government money next door.

So we have to use private sector money, then next door there is somebody with government money,� Babalakin said.

He noted that the judgments he had over the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) and other

cases are still subsisting that should be looked into before another concession agreement should be signed by government. “Nobody will take things seriously when they know that you have no regard for resolution process. And that even when the dispute is resolved there is no guarantee that it will be obeyed. I am happy I am seeing Dr Demuren on the screen, under the plan we had by now we will had finished the phase two of MM2 which would have outclassed the airport in Ghana. But the land that was given to us expressly next to the airport has not been delivered to us. When Dr Demureen was Director General of NCAA, he tried to find a solution to the problem,� he said.

Babalakin said his company had an agreement with government to build a monorail linking all the terminals at the Lagos airport; install a power plant to provide power for BASL and sell to the aviation industry.

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

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Accelerating Bank Lending Obinna Chima writes on the impact of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s loan-to-deposit ratio policy on banking sector credit

A

s part of efforts to unlock consumer and real sector lending in the country, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had in July 2019, announced an increase in the required minimum Loan-Deposit Ratio (LDR) to 60 per cent, a policy which became effective at the end of September 2019.

However, upon review of the results of the policy, the CBN then decided to raise the ratio higher to 65 per cent and banks were then directed to comply with by the policy by the end of December 2019.

Almost one year after the last increase in the policy which sought to trigger growth in a weak economy, analysts have continued to analyse its impact on the economy.

The CBN had in a letter to banks on the lending policy, stressed that the LDR would be subject to quarterly review.

Owing to this, it even had course to sanction banks that fell short of the directive.

Indeed, the policy was aimed at encouraging SMEs, retail, mortgage and consumer lending and these sectors were assigned a weight of 150 per cent in computing the LDR. “Failure to meet the above minimum LDR by the specified date shall result in a levy of additional cash reserve requirement (CRR) equal to 50 per cent of the lending shortfall of the target LDR. “The CBN shall continue to review development in the market with a view to facilitating greater investment in the real sector of the Nigerian economy,� the banking sector regulator had stated.

Analysts’ Assessment In assessing the impact of the policy on credit growth in the economy, analysts at CSL Stockbrokers Limited, stated that data sourced from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that aggregate banking sector credit to the economy stood at N18.8 trillion at the end of the second quarter 2020, which represented an increase of 15.8 per cent from the aggregate banking sector credit of N16.3 trillion at the end of the third quarter 2019 before the minimum LDR was raised to 65 per cent.

According to the Lagos-based financial advisory firm, “much more impressive was the 24.4 per cent growth in aggregate banking sector credit when compared with the total of N15.1 trillion at the end of the second quarter 2019, before the minimum LDR of 60 per cent was announced.�

This, it stated, compares with a decline of 2.3 per cent and 3.9 per cent in aggregate banking sector credit in 2017 and 2018. “Thus, on the credit growth front, it can be said that the CBN has been successful at driving credit growth,� it added.

Also examining the impact of the policy on borrowing costs in the economy, it pointed out that many corporates moved to refinance their expensive loans following the steep decline in borrowing costs.

This, the CSL noted was evident in the financial performance of deposit money banks as many reported steep declines in cost of funds. “In addition, we note that several corporates have taken advantage of the lower borrowing costs to raise cheap financing (long term & short term) from the debt capital markets. For example, corporates like Flour Mills, Nigerian Breweries and Dangote Cement have all raised funding via commercial papers at low and mid-single digits in 2020. “That said, we note that the LDR policy was not the sole driver of the decline in borrowing costs but it was

Ahmad

EmeďŹ ele

one of many policy levers implemented by a dovish CBN. Lastly, we think the CBN’s overriding objective was to trigger accelerated recovery in economic growth. “However, we retain our view that a fiat-driven strategy may not be sufficient to accelerate economic growth given the presence of many structural challenges. That said, the advent of Covid-19 and its economic challenges makes it difficult to measure the real impact of the LDR policy on economic growth,� it added.

percent, respectively, in August 2020.

Broad money stock (M3) recorded an annualised growth of 10.4 per cent reflecting the 19.4 percent annualised growth in private sector credits during the month. “Growth in domestic credit illustrates the continued potency of the Bank’s LDR policy as gross credit grew by N3.8 trillion since May 2019 to N19.3 trillion in August 2020. This followed increased lending to manufacturing, consumer credit, and agriculture among others. “Even with fragile financial markets condition (as capital market indices improve and FX market pressure persists), the Nigerian banking sector remained largely stable. Non-performing loans (NPL) ratio fell further to 6.1 per cent in August 2020, from 11.2 percent in May 2019 as CAR rose to 15.3 per cent from 14.5 per cent,� he revealed.

Nevertheless, he reiterated the need for sustained support of the real sector at this critical time to stimulate aggregate supply and enhance job creation.

Given the ramifications of supply shock and food shortages for GDP and inflation outcomes, policy should optimally aim to resolve structural constraints, he recommended.

In this regard, Emefiele said the CBN would continue to liaise with banks to restructure lending and grant forbearance to constrained economic units. “I note the dilemma created by the rising inflationary pressure and falling output and the trade-off inherent in policy options. I acknowledge the primacy of price and exchange rate stability and underscore the need to not lose sight of output stabilisation,� he added.

On his part, the Deputy Governor, Corporate Services Directorate, CBN, Mr. Edward Adamu, several policy measures which the CBN had implemented prior to, and since the outbreak of COVID-19, have continued to have tremendous

Accelerated Lending To the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the credit conditions in the banking system has since improved due to the policy.

Emefiele said the measures had placed Nigerian banks in a much better position towards supporting a stronger economic recovery.

However, the CBN Governor pointed out that current realities underscore the need for sustained support of the real sector through growth enhancing policies.

Emefiele noted that the CBN’s development finance initiatives to minimise the adverse impact of the covid-19 pandemic, resolve underlying structural deficiencies, and speed-up recovery.

According to him, the liquidity support covers various economic activities and aims to narrow supply shortages within the economy and boost consumer spending. “I am of the view that an effective correction of the supply shortages (especially in farm produce) will have the dual effects of boosting output and moderating inflation. Analysis of liquidity conditions indicates expansion in monetary aggregates and single-digit money market rates. “Weighted average inter-bank call and open buy-back rates were 7.4 and 8.4

We note that several corporates have taken advantage of the lower borrowing costs to raise cheap financing (long term and short term) from the debt capital markets. For example, corporates like Flour Mills, Nigerian Breweries and Dangote Cement have all raised funding via commercial papers at low and midsingle digits in 2020

effect.

In particular, he said the Differentiated Cash Reserves Requirement (DCRR) and the minimum LDR policies have ensured a significant stream of credit to the real economy. “The outlook for credit to the economy remains positive given that these policies are still in place and, importantly, that the banking industry continues to be resilient. In fact, the industry’s non-performing loans ratio further declined in August 2020 to 6.1 per cent from 6.4 per cent in July, while capital adequacy ratio (CAR) rose to 15.3 per cent from 14.6 per cent in July,� Adamu explained.

To the Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability Directorate, CBN, Mrs. Aishah Ahmad, the focused implementation of the LDR policy over the last year has continued to promote credit growth to the real sector and have also resulted to lower deposit and lending rates, - which supported banks’ net interest margins. “This lower interest rate environment coupled with improved credit conditions survey which indicated that more households are accessing finance presents an opportunity to further increase credit to the real economy at lower cost, critical to driving the much-needed recovery. “The industry however remains exposed to macroeconomic fragilities, given the uncertain business environment, exchange rate fluctuations and other spillover effects of the pandemic. Thus, the Bank must sustain its vigilance and deploy its prudential tool kit as required to ensure the sector continues to support the domestic economic recovery. “Complementary fiscal and monetary measures paramount for a quick recovery. Low oil prices, muted fiscal revenues and significant debt service obligations have dramatically restricted the already fragile fiscal space. Further fiscal adjustments will be required to curtail rising public debt and budget deficits, in addition to prioritisation of government spending to support the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP),�

Ahmad advised.

According to her, for optimum benefits to the economy, monetary policy instruments should complement policies in other sectors of the economy to deliver broad-based economic prosperity.

She noted that the structural impediments to growth and job creation, particularly poor infrastructure, could be improved upon via speedy implementation of the ESP. “Indeed, aspects of the plan which seek to improve non-oil government revenue and reduce non-essential spending are vital and reinforces the importance of prioritising government expenditure to support social infrastructure, including but not limited to health, education and security, to help drive economic growth prospects,� she added.

Conclusion Nevertheless, there is need for the banking sector regulator to continue to guard against a possible buildup of NPLs in view of the headwinds caused by the COVID-19. Furthermore, there is need for the central bank to continue to work with the fiscal authorities in order to improve the operating environment and minimise the level of risks for businesses in the country.

In addition, there is need for the regulator to enhance profiling of borrowers in the banking system as well as for banks to scale up corporate governance practices so as to prevent insider abuse and compromise of credit assessment processes, so as not to derail the laudable initiative.

THIS WEEKEND WEEKLY MAGAZINE

NEWS METRO THISLIFE ART WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com 08038901925

Yinka Obebe: Supporting Nigerian SMEs

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COVER

Yinka Obebe: Supporting Nigerian SMEs Yinka Obebe is the Chief Executive Officer, Pop Central, the fastest-growing homegrown media platform for the young audience that is redefining content co-creation, television viewership and social engagement in Nigeria and acrossAfrica on DStv channel 189 and their DNAis LIVE television, second screen, and rewards. In this interview with CHIEMELIE EZEOBI, the CEO revealed that they recently supported 144 Nigerian SMEs with ad grants worth N388,000,000 million and why

T

ell us what the SME Ad Grant is all about and why Pop Central embarked on the initiative?

The SME Ad Grant is for small and medium sized enterprises across Nigeria. As businesses started openingup and coming out of COVID-19 lockdowns, the economic downturn that followed as a result prompted us to find anapproach to support these businesses in the way we can. So, in partnership with FAYA, an Adtech company, we sort to offer them Ad grants.

The idea is to provide support by giving them visibility, and most importantly a level of verifiability; and when that converts, they make more sales, hire more people, scale up their business and the cycle continues.

There’s no doubt that advertising attracts customers to a business and increases sales.

When consumers see strong and positive advertisements they are more willing to buy and ready to choose the business.

On the other hand, this initiative also gives us an avenue to play our part in the nation’s economy growth. We believe that an economic rippling effect is guaranteed whenever advertising increases.

How many SMEs in Nigeria are you targeting with the ad grant and how much will each SME be getting?

Our target is as many as we can accommodate in the period. With N388,000,000 million worth of inventory, we intend to reach a base number of 144 businesses.

We might increase that depending on the response we get. Each business gets a whole week of advertising at 12 spots a day. It is necessary to clarify that we are not giving away cash, it’s a grant, which means we have opened up our inventory to cater to the businesses at no cost to them. We have had a lot of inquiry in that regard, hence the need to clarify.

Is TV advertising still influential for driving SMEs growth in today’s digital savvy environment in Nigeria?

Absolutely, it still is. There is a misconception that everyone is on their phones exclusively consuming media all the time.

What is actually going on is that people spend time on their mobile phones but still consume media onTV. It goes hand in hand actually. This is why for TV, it is about appointment viewing. Viewers know when to keep up with their favourite programs on TV. When viewers find a reason to watch TV, they do, and this keeps TV in a class of its own for experiencing entertainment in homes, either individually or with others.

Another reason why TV is relevant at the moment is that “Nothing is really real unless it happens on television�.Television provides verification and believability.

When people see it on TV, they believe it; this is important for SMEs positioning their business. And we are not taking that for granted, which is why we are ensuring the SME ad grant is available to real businesses and real people.

Being digital savvy is a good thing especially for the kind of TV we have.

Obebe

Popcentral is a social TV, and we encourage the SMEs who will take advantage of the ad grant to ensure that their ads also integrates their social channels so they can get even more people checking out their social pages or websites to learn more about their businesses.

What is the process for interested SMEs who wish to apply for the grant?

Very simple, and thanks to our friends at FAYA, they have built the perfect platform for this to happen. For the first time SMEs will be accessing their free ad spots directly from mobile devices or laptops.

Owners of SMEs can go to www.popcentraltv/smeadgrant and register. They will get a response that gets them into the FAYA portal, and they choose their interests and claim their spots. This is just like getting promoted adverts on any of the top social media platforms we are used to.

What is the reach that SMEs will be getting via the grant with adverts placed on Pop Central, DSTV Channel 189?

Over 2,000,000 eyeballs across and beyond the entire country daily will be able to see the SMEs’ adverts. And these are people who have the power to spend that we know businesses are in search of.

Remember, we are on the most premium platform, channel 189, DSTV. It doesnot get any better on television anywhere in

Africa.

What long term plan do you see the SME Ad grant achieving in Nigeria?

I mentioned that in response to the first question. It will cause an economic rippling effect. It will be Ubercool if other media platforms can join us, set up the same platform and let’s drive commerce with what we have. Advertising is a very strong tool, it will guarantee awareness, repeat business, top of the mind, build loyalty, competition, create a positive image for the businesses and at the end of the day money will move. It’s not complicated at all.

Owners of SMEs in Nigeria have been hit hard by COVID-19, how do you advise they navigate through the reverberations of the pandemic?

There is actually no better time than now for businesses to put themselves out there.

If a business is fortunate to be standing, then it is imperative that it does what it takeswithin the confines of marketing to get noticed. We understand that getting noticed costs money, that’s why we have introduced the SME Ad Grant for SMEs to make the most of the offering. SMEs would need to put some thoughts into making an ad that tells their unique story; it’s all about telling stories at the end of the day and ensuring people listen to the story. So my advice, if you are still standing, let your current and potential consumers and users know you are there.

What are Pop Central’s offerings as an innovative media company?

First of all, we are doing television in a completely different way and I’m glad people are now getting it. What we are constantly creating is a social television driven by our co-creation model. We are like a YouTube of television.

We have provided a growing platform for content creators to monetise their content with us. So, in essence our viewers are also our partners. It’s driven in a very organic way.

Secondly we are big on Live TV, which allows for instant engagement. And this also helps us to deliver the channel as a utility channel. As much as we have used the live platform to join causes, conversations and more, our clients; banks, churches, leadership events and so onhave also used it effectively.

Thirdly, from inception, we launched with our own App,Poppin by Popcentral, easily the most well-built, functional and useful application, already available on all major app stores. For us, being digital and social is not an appendage, it’s is what we are, it’s our DNA. We are very experiential, we are definitely the only TVchannel that you can walk into our space and can have a drink at our lounge. We also have our event space incorporated where we hold our parties and other people use it too. So, for us we are growing, exploring and collaborating without borders.

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Polo Gets Exclusive Merchandising Right for Gucci Ready-to-Wear Clothing Stories by Mary Nnah Polo Avenue, Nigeria’s foremost luxury fashion destination, has received exclusive rights to retail Gucci Ready-to-Wear clothing in Nigeria. Polo Avenue has so far successfully established itself as the gatekeeper for luxury brands in West Africa.

Italian luxury brand, Gucci, made its entry into the Nigerian market through collaboration with Polo Avenue in 2012. Since then, the brand has housed its exquisite accessories, shoes, and leather products at the flagship store, attracting clients seeking luxury fashion pieces in Africa.

After years of partnership, Polo Avenue has now become an exclusive retailer for Gucci Ready-to-Wear pieces in West Africa, in addition to leather goods. This is in line with the brand’s commitment to providing beauty and customer delight, and connecting international fashion brands to Africa, using innovative global partnerships such as Gu-

cci’s. Speaking about the partnership, Executive

Director, Jennifer

Polo Avenue, Obayuwana,

said: “For many, Gucci is a way of life and a means of self-expression. Its high quality, attention-grabbing, luxury pieces always make a statement, which is why we ensured that we deepened our partnership with the brand to introduce its Ready-to-Wear pieces. “Our customers are promised beauty, delight, and an assurance of authenticity with each unique and opulent piece, and for these reasons, we are proud to be the true custodians of this luxury brand here in Nigeria. Gucci lives here at Polo Avenue.�

Polo Avenue has also recently launched its second store in Lekki, Lagos, which presented the opportunity to extend her partnership with Gucci. The luxury fashion retailer launched in Nigeria in 2014 as a sister-company to Polo Luxury. In addition, Polo Avenue retails some of the world’s most prestigious fashion brands such as Bottega Veneta, Amina Muaddi, Berluti, Dolce & Gabbana, and Valentino, among others.

Platform Capital Group Donates for Adopt-a-School Programme As part of its commitment to education and to bring about capacity development in Nigeria, Platform Capital Group has donated items ranging from world-class swimming pool and a multipurpose sports hall, as well as offered N30 million scholarships under its Adopta-School Programme.

Platform Capital aims at improving education across primary and secondary schools in the country.

The recent gesture is a continuation of the work in the education vertical which began with the refurbishment and donation of three-modern lecture halls for the University of Lagos and Business School’s (ULBS) Executive MBA programme.

The entire building was renovated, and lecture halls were fully fitted with state-ofthe art technology including interactive white boards, sound systems and versatile furniture, to ensure a best-in-class digital learning environment for students. A similar development is currently underway at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun State.

The thrust of the programme involves identifying, adopting, renovating and rehabilitating schools across the country; and creating model institutions of learning for students that provides them with world class facilities and access to best-in-class learning.

For the latest phase of this initiative, City of Knowledge Academy (CKA) in Ijebu-Ode (CKA), Ogun State was selected as a beneficiary of the Adopta-School initiative.

Platform Capital will fund the sponsorship of 10 students of CKA at N30 million a year, the construction of a worldclass swimming pool and multi-purpose sports hall.

Platform Capital will also

ANWBN CountryNational DirectorCoordinator, PharmAccess Chief Nigeria, (Mrs) Anita Mrs Njide NanaNdili Okuribido presenting the award to Managing Director, Paelon Memorial Hospital, Dr Ngozi Onyia

Paelon Memorial Hospital Gets Safe Care Level Five CertiďŹ cate Leading health care facility, Paelon Memorial Hospital has been awarded a Safe Care level five certificates by PharmAccess for its quality improvement measures for the second time.

They are accredited by the international society for Quality in Health Care External Evaluation Association (IEEA).

Safe Care is an arm of Pharm Access group that focuses on health care quality improvement and accreditation/certification of healthcare. Safe Care standards are divided into 13 different service elements, covering a full range of medical to the non-medical aspect of care.

Safe Care enables healthcare providers to implement best practices using the different service elements, measure performance against the standard, and assign a quality consultant to the healthcare facility to ease the quality improvement process.

The implementation of the Safe Care standard at Paelon Memorial Hospital, was initiated in November 2014 with a baseline assessment score of Level two (we were the first hospital in Nigeria to score a two star in the baseline assessment) and maintained a continuous quality improvement process which was evident in the day to day processes and organisational culture.

Speaking at the Certificate Presentation Country Director PharmAccess Nigera, Mrs Ndili said “Paelon Memorial was one of the very first facilities to enrol on the SafeCare consultancy service; they were the first facility to achieve a level two certificate at baseline assessment, and also the first to achieve a SafeCare level five in Africa.

She added that “the facility has continued to maintain excellence by sustaining their level five quality status. Paelon Memorial Hospital is the only health care facility on a SafeCare level five in Nigeria till date. PharmAccess Foundation is proud to be supporting Paelon Memorial in maintaining high standards of health care delivery.�

On October 2016, the hospital re-assessed and stepped up to a Level Five which is the highest level in Safe Care, making Paelon the first hospital to attain a LEVEL 5 in Africa.

The Chief Executive Officer Onyia of Paelon Memorial Hospital, Dr Ngozi Onyia also mentioned that, “Safecare helps us to deliver on our promise of getting it right the first time, every time�.

Funmi Iyanda’s Show, Public Eye Debuts on TV Funmi Ogundare L-R: Head of School, City of Knowledge Academy, Ms. Abiola Lamikanra; Director, Research and Impact, Diatom Impact, Dr. Anna Bethune; PR & Communications Manager, Platform Capital; Mrs. Sharon-Ann Adaigbe and Founder, City of Knowledge Academy, Mrs. Mosun Belo-Olusoga at the formal presentation from Platform Capital to CKA

provide internship opportunities for students at Platform Capital and its portfolio companies.

Partner, Platform Capital, Dr. Ponmile Osibo said that beyond providing long-term capital to its investee companies at Platform Capital, it has also decided that it was critical to address deeply entrenched development challenges with innovative solutions to truly effect change.

Osibo explaned further that this was what led to the establishment of Diatom Impact, an impact focused, research and investment organisation committed to being a global change agent through collaborative partnerships with communities, corporations, and governments, adding, “education is one of Diatom Impact’s five key focus areas and our work there is pivotal to unlocking and transforming young minds on the continent�.

Director, Research and

Impact, Diatom Impact, Dr. Anna Bethune, said, “We’re very passionate about building up education infrastructure in Nigeria. This is just one of our many innovative solutions and a huge part of Dr. Akintoye Akindele’s vision as we continue to invest in the village and in being our brother’s keeper. “We believe that education is one of the most important ways to ensure we build our nation for a better future. It is important that the children we sponsor are not only academically sound but are also well rounded in character and learning. We’re proud of our partnership with CKA and we believe in their 3 ethical pillars – culture, character, and confidence.�

Founder, City of Knowledge Academy, Mrs Mosun BeloOlusoga, said, “When I was setting up CKA, I wanted to give children an opportunity, who under normal circumstances would not have the chance to

be educated in an institution of similar standards as CKA. “As such, we solicit sponsorships from individuals and corporate institutions and we are delighted that Dr. Akindele’s vision aligns with ours, as we strive to ensure that our students are good ambassadors of our culture, of sound character and confident enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their counterparts from any part of the globe.�

In attendance at the formal presentation of the cheque were Founder, City of Knowledge Academy, Mrs Mosun BeloOlusoga; Head of School, City of Knowledge Academy, Ms Abiola Lamikanra; Vice Principal (Academics); Mr Edwin Bankole, Vice Principal (Administration & Pastoral Care), Mr Emmanuel Kolapo; Director, Research and Impact, Diatom Impact, Dr. Anna Bethune, and PR & Communications Manager, Platform Capital, Mrs Sharon-Ann Adaigbe.

Nigerian media entrepreneur and talkshow host, Funmi Iyanda, is back with a new show titiled ‘Public Eye’.

The show which had its debut recently, on TVC, was aimed at providing answers to some of the problems bedeviling the country. With Public Eye, Funmi Iyanda brings together the different stakeholders affected by the many problems in Nigeria; police brutality, poor education, sexual abuse, and those in power to fix these problems.

The problems are not just discussed, but contextualised in a manner that highlights why these problems persist and the solutions.

According to her, “given our traumatic past and our present pain, how do we then override our trauma bonding to empower a collective will towards seizing responsibility for the future?

What is our vision for a changed future and how do we get there? How do we make it inclusive of all? “I don’t have answers, but that’s the point, isn’t it? We can either be engaged with finding the answers, lay down and die or even worse continue a cycle of distrust, guilt, blame, and anger which leaves us no option other than fall victim to opportunistic saviors asking us to anoint them leaders whilst they pray and prey on us to steal our national resources, soul and spirit. “They feed us fear and hate when our resources are limitless and as yet barely scratched.�

She recalled the ENDSARs protest and the efforts the youths made in canvassing for a better future. “Nigeria’s self-reckoning is coming, the shape of it depends on an articulation of our national future desire rather than navel-gazing with our beleaguered past. Soon the chance to choose may be out of our hands. “With Public Eye, we will do our best with starting the conversations that allow no one an emotional cop-out if we truly want to heal and fix our future.�

31

T H I S D AY ˞ Ͱ͎˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

Polo Gets Exclusive Merchandising Right for Gucci Ready-to-Wear Clothing Stories by Mary Nnah Polo Avenue, Nigeria’s foremost luxury fashion destination, has received exclusive rights to retail Gucci Ready-to-Wear clothing in Nigeria. Polo Avenue has so far successfully established itself as the gatekeeper for luxury brands in West Africa.

Italian luxury brand, Gucci, made its entry into the Nigerian market through collaboration with Polo Avenue in 2012. Since then, the brand has housed its exquisite accessories, shoes, and leather products at the flagship store, attracting clients seeking luxury fashion pieces in Africa.

After years of partnership, Polo Avenue has now become an exclusive retailer for Gucci Ready-to-Wear pieces in West Africa, in addition to leather goods. This is in line with the brand’s commitment to providing beauty and customer delight, and connecting international fashion brands to Africa, using innovative global partnerships such as Gu-

cci’s. Speaking about the partnership, Executive

Director, Jennifer

Polo Avenue, Obayuwana,

said: “For many, Gucci is a way of life and a means of self-expression. Its high quality, attention-grabbing, luxury pieces always make a statement, which is why we ensured that we deepened our partnership with the brand to introduce its Ready-to-Wear pieces. “Our customers are promised beauty, delight, and an assurance of authenticity with each unique and opulent piece, and for these reasons, we are proud to be the true custodians of this luxury brand here in Nigeria. Gucci lives here at Polo Avenue.�

Polo Avenue has also recently launched its second store in Lekki, Lagos, which presented the opportunity to extend her partnership with Gucci. The luxury fashion retailer launched in Nigeria in 2014 as a sister-company to Polo Luxury. In addition, Polo Avenue retails some of the world’s most prestigious fashion brands such as Bottega Veneta, Amina Muaddi, Berluti, Dolce & Gabbana, and Valentino, among others.

Platform Capital Group Donates for Adopt-a-School Programme As part of its commitment to education and to bring about capacity development in Nigeria, Platform Capital Group has donated items ranging from world-class swimming pool and a multipurpose sports hall, as well as offered N30 million scholarships under its Adopta-School Programme.

Platform Capital aims at improving education across primary and secondary schools in the country.

The recent gesture is a continuation of the work in the education vertical which began with the refurbishment and donation of three-modern lecture halls for the University of Lagos and Business School’s (ULBS) Executive MBA programme.

The entire building was renovated, and lecture halls were fully fitted with state-ofthe art technology including interactive white boards, sound systems and versatile furniture, to ensure a best-in-class digital learning environment for students. A similar development is currently underway at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun State.

The thrust of the programme involves identifying, adopting, renovating and rehabilitating schools across the country; and creating model institutions of learning for students that provides them with world class facilities and access to best-in-class learning.

For the latest phase of this initiative, City of Knowledge Academy (CKA) in Ijebu-Ode (CKA), Ogun State was selected as a beneficiary of the Adopta-School initiative.

Platform Capital will fund the sponsorship of 10 students of CKA at N30 million a year, the construction of a worldclass swimming pool and multi-purpose sports hall.

Platform Capital will also

ANWBN CountryNational DirectorCoordinator, PharmAccess Chief Nigeria, (Mrs) Anita Mrs Njide NanaNdili Okuribido presenting the award to Managing Director, Paelon Memorial Hospital, Dr Ngozi Onyia

Paelon Memorial Hospital Gets Safe Care Level Five CertiďŹ cate Leading health care facility, Paelon Memorial Hospital has been awarded a Safe Care level five certificates by PharmAccess for its quality improvement measures for the second time.

They are accredited by the international society for Quality in Health Care External Evaluation Association (IEEA).

Safe Care is an arm of Pharm Access group that focuses on health care quality improvement and accreditation/certification of healthcare. Safe Care standards are divided into 13 different service elements, covering a full range of medical to the non-medical aspect of care.

Safe Care enables healthcare providers to implement best practices using the different service elements, measure performance against the standard, and assign a quality consultant to the healthcare facility to ease the quality improvement process.

The implementation of the Safe Care standard at Paelon Memorial Hospital, was initiated in November 2014 with a baseline assessment score of Level two (we were the first hospital in Nigeria to score a two star in the baseline assessment) and maintained a continuous quality improvement process which was evident in the day to day processes and organisational culture.

Speaking at the Certificate Presentation Country Director PharmAccess Nigera, Mrs Ndili said “Paelon Memorial was one of the very first facilities to enrol on the SafeCare consultancy service; they were the first facility to achieve a level two certificate at baseline assessment, and also the first to achieve a SafeCare level five in Africa.

She added that “the facility has continued to maintain excellence by sustaining their level five quality status. Paelon Memorial Hospital is the only health care facility on a SafeCare level five in Nigeria till date. PharmAccess Foundation is proud to be supporting Paelon Memorial in maintaining high standards of health care delivery.�

On October 2016, the hospital re-assessed and stepped up to a Level Five which is the highest level in Safe Care, making Paelon the first hospital to attain a LEVEL 5 in Africa.

The Chief Executive Officer Onyia of Paelon Memorial Hospital, Dr Ngozi Onyia also mentioned that, “Safecare helps us to deliver on our promise of getting it right the first time, every time�.

Funmi Iyanda’s Show, Public Eye Debuts on TV Funmi Ogundare L-R: Head of School, City of Knowledge Academy, Ms. Abiola Lamikanra; Director, Research and Impact, Diatom Impact, Dr. Anna Bethune; PR & Communications Manager, Platform Capital; Mrs. Sharon-Ann Adaigbe and Founder, City of Knowledge Academy, Mrs. Mosun Belo-Olusoga at the formal presentation from Platform Capital to CKA

provide internship opportunities for students at Platform Capital and its portfolio companies.

Partner, Platform Capital, Dr. Ponmile Osibo said that beyond providing long-term capital to its investee companies at Platform Capital, it has also decided that it was critical to address deeply entrenched development challenges with innovative solutions to truly effect change.

Osibo explaned further that this was what led to the establishment of Diatom Impact, an impact focused, research and investment organisation committed to being a global change agent through collaborative partnerships with communities, corporations, and governments, adding, “education is one of Diatom Impact’s five key focus areas and our work there is pivotal to unlocking and transforming young minds on the continent�.

Director, Research and

Impact, Diatom Impact, Dr. Anna Bethune, said, “We’re very passionate about building up education infrastructure in Nigeria. This is just one of our many innovative solutions and a huge part of Dr. Akintoye Akindele’s vision as we continue to invest in the village and in being our brother’s keeper. “We believe that education is one of the most important ways to ensure we build our nation for a better future. It is important that the children we sponsor are not only academically sound but are also well rounded in character and learning. We’re proud of our partnership with CKA and we believe in their 3 ethical pillars – culture, character, and confidence.�

Founder, City of Knowledge Academy, Mrs Mosun BeloOlusoga, said, “When I was setting up CKA, I wanted to give children an opportunity, who under normal circumstances would not have the chance to

be educated in an institution of similar standards as CKA. “As such, we solicit sponsorships from individuals and corporate institutions and we are delighted that Dr. Akindele’s vision aligns with ours, as we strive to ensure that our students are good ambassadors of our culture, of sound character and confident enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their counterparts from any part of the globe.�

In attendance at the formal presentation of the cheque were Founder, City of Knowledge Academy, Mrs Mosun BeloOlusoga; Head of School, City of Knowledge Academy, Ms Abiola Lamikanra; Vice Principal (Academics); Mr Edwin Bankole, Vice Principal (Administration & Pastoral Care), Mr Emmanuel Kolapo; Director, Research and Impact, Diatom Impact, Dr. Anna Bethune, and PR & Communications Manager, Platform Capital, Mrs Sharon-Ann Adaigbe.

Nigerian media entrepreneur and talkshow host, Funmi Iyanda, is back with a new show titiled ‘Public Eye’.

The show which had its debut recently, on TVC, was aimed at providing answers to some of the problems bedeviling the country. With Public Eye, Funmi Iyanda brings together the different stakeholders affected by the many problems in Nigeria; police brutality, poor education, sexual abuse, and those in power to fix these problems.

The problems are not just discussed, but contextualised in a manner that highlights why these problems persist and the solutions.

According to her, “given our traumatic past and our present pain, how do we then override our trauma bonding to empower a collective will towards seizing responsibility for the future?

What is our vision for a changed future and how do we get there? How do we make it inclusive of all? “I don’t have answers, but that’s the point, isn’t it? We can either be engaged with finding the answers, lay down and die or even worse continue a cycle of distrust, guilt, blame, and anger which leaves us no option other than fall victim to opportunistic saviors asking us to anoint them leaders whilst they pray and prey on us to steal our national resources, soul and spirit. “They feed us fear and hate when our resources are limitless and as yet barely scratched.�

She recalled the ENDSARs protest and the efforts the youths made in canvassing for a better future. “Nigeria’s self-reckoning is coming, the shape of it depends on an articulation of our national future desire rather than navel-gazing with our beleaguered past. Soon the chance to choose may be out of our hands. “With Public Eye, we will do our best with starting the conversations that allow no one an emotional cop-out if we truly want to heal and fix our future.�

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E-TRENDS

MUSIC SHOWBIZ

‌Your weekly entertainment delight

NOLLYWOOD

GOtv Keeps Up the Momentum as Festive Season Draws Near Stories by Vanessa Obioha

In a challenging year riddled with uncertainties, MultiChoice digital terrestrial television, GOtv, has continued to provide entertainment to families through its myriad of programmes. In its nine years of existence, the Pay-TV platform has shown unwavering commitment to providing subscribers with the best of entertainment, news and sports at affordable prices that suit lifestyles.Take, for instance, the lockdown period of the pandemic when many depended onTV content to overcome the ennui, anxiety and uncertainty that surrounded the novel coronavirus.The platform rose to the occasion by ensuring subscribers were entertained through the ‘Friday Turn Up’ and ‘Owambe Saturday’.

Both shows were meticulously tailored to meet the entertainment demands of subscribers as they adjusted to the lockdown rules.

While ‘Turn Up Friday’ brought energetic and enthralling performances by various DJs, dancers and the host Dotun, redolent of a club setting, Owambe Saturday, hosted by radio host, Steve Onu featured three-hour live music performances from eclectic live bands and famous music stars like Flavour and Sir Shina Peters.

Now, both shows which aired for 10 weeks will be making a return this month. Multichoice Nigeria made the announcement recently as it unveiled plans for the festive period. “As we get closer to the festive season, we keep all customers at the heart of everything we do,â€? said the Chief Executive OfďŹ cer, MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe.“And that explains why we have an amazing lineup of content on DStv and GOtv to bring families

L-R: Chief Customer OďŹƒcer, MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho; Executive Head, Customer Value Management, Omoyeme EďŹƒong; GOtv new Brand Ambassador, Laycon; Executive Head of Content, Busola Tejumola, and Executive Head of Sales, Akinola Salu

together, to strengthen the bond between them and showcase some of the most exciting and entertaining programmes that reects who we are as Africans and indeed, as Nigerians. Our content is local and original, steep in our culture, values and traditions and there’s no better time to give these content to our subscribers than now.�

The company plans to reward 1.5 million subscribers with instant gifts and bouquet upgrades. It disclosed that from November 21, prospective subscribers of GOtv will enjoy an 11.6 per cent decrease in the price of decoders.

The GOtv decoder, antenna and a monthly subscription of GOtv Jolli are now at a reduced price of N8,400 while DStv HD decoder, dish and a month Compact subscription go for N18,600.

A peek into the programme schedule shows exciting programmes that will keep the family entertained during the festive period.

For instance, GOtv Jolli package offers over 60 channels that cut across entertainment,

lifestyle and sports.

Telenovela lovers will ďŹ nd passionate stories onTelemundo (channel 14), Zee World (channel 25) and Eva+ (channel 13). However, if they want an extra dose of these captivating stories, they will have to upgrade to GOtv Max which offers an additional channel: Star Life (channel 23).

On the sports lineup, GOtv Sports fans can look forward to an exciting festive season with live football action from La Liga; the 21st edition of GOtv Boxing Night on Friday, November 27; and WWE Survivor Series on Sunday, November 29. DStv subscribers are not left out in the entertainment spree, as they can likewise catch all the actions on European football league, La Liga, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the NBA. On the entertainment and lifestyle channels, subscribers can enjoy the ‘Kardashian Kristmas’special on E! Entertainment (channel 26); while BET (channel 21) offers a week of Christmas movies from December 21 to

27. Also on TNT Africa (channel 16) is the Christmas Day special with ‘The Best Man’ and ‘The Best Man Holiday’ movies.

Nollywood lovers can catch the latest local entertainment on Africa Magic channels, including the new cooking show ‘Jollof With Me’ a hybrid cooking show where media personality Nancy Isime hosts friends over a meal and some fun, light-hearted discussions. ‘Kidz Klub Festival’ on M-Net Movies 4 (GOtv Max channel 3) and holiday stunts on Cartoon Network, DaVinci and Nickelodeon bring all the fun for children.

Furthermore, MultiChoice announced that its popup holiday channel (DStv 198, GOtv plus 29) will begin airing on December 20, to showcase colourful festivals and events held towards the end of the year.

Apart from the exciting programme lineup, the GOtv platform app is also available for customers to make subscription payments, reconnect, upgrade their bouquets, and clear error codes.

As a proudly Nigerian brand, GOtv unveiled Big Brother Naija Lockdown season winner, Olamilekan Agbeleshe, aka Laycon, as the brand ambassador.

Chief Customer Care OfďŹ cer, MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho, revealed that Laycon’s claim to the title was due to his humility. “We could have picked anybody,â€?Mabutho said, hinting at the tight race between those considered for an ambassadorial role.“We are a brand that is at the centre of families, we cannot be associated with brand ambassadors that cannot live up to our core values.â€?

Laycon kicked off a GOtv city tour this month in Abeokuta, Enugu, Uyo, Abuja and Lagos.

With New Kay Health Plan, Dancers Get Access to Quality Healthcare Celebrity dancer Kafayat Shafau-Ameh’s campaign for a better health insurance plan for dancers ďŹ nally paid off as a leading health management organisation, Avon HMO partnered with her recently to launch the Kaffy Health Plan. Though initiated with dancers in mind, the health plan is accessible to creatives in the entertainment industry.

The ďŹ rst-of-its-kind partnership is a major boost to dancers who are somewhat neglected.

According to the dancer popularly known as Kaffy, it has become commonplace to come across news of incessant death and health challenges faced by dancers in Nigeria. “For instance, four dancers died in the space of two months this year,� she said at the product launch.“An estimated 98 per cent of Nigerian dancers lacked health insurance cover. Entertainers are like an engendered species as far as healthcare is concerned in Nigeria.�

She also identiďŹ ed a lack of awareness about wellbeing as a bane of the creative industry.

Currently, less than ďŹ ve per cent of Nigerians have health insurance and with the youth constituting a bulk of the population,

L-R: Kay Inc brand Strategist, Francis Adesina, Kay, Atinuke Akolade, and Head, Retail & SME, Avon HMO, Babajide Oyeduntan

AVON HMO’s new plans will further improve access to quality healthcare. “This is the ďŹ rst of its kind milestone for the performing arts industry particularly, dancers. The journey to a health insurance deal for my artistic community has been a long time coming. Unfortunately, we cannot

bring back to those whom we have lost, quite avoidably due to lack of access to basic health care. However, this is just the ďŹ rst part of the work,â€?she noted.

Speaking on behalf of CEO of Avon HMO, Adesimbo Bello-Ukiri,the company’s Head of Sales, Retention and Growth Atinuke Kolade,

reinforced the commitment of Avon HMO to improving access to healthcare among Nigerian creatives. “Over the years, we’ve been involved in a series of conversations about the plight of people in the entertainment industry. Hardly a year goes by without a prominent artist, young and old alike, making the rounds on social media for a medical condition they need funds to treat. “ It’s sad that this happens and while people are usually able to raise funds for these individuals, we as a health management organisation believe there’s a better way. Nobody deserves to be stranded for an inability to pay medical bills.This is why we exist and what we’ve done in partnership with Kaffy is an example of how we can protect people in the creative and entertainment ďŹ elds.â€?

Under Kaffy Health Plan, dancers and other creatives can enjoy access to quality healthcare. It offers an annual coverage that is exible with options for individuals and families.“This is inclusive and it ensures that no one else is left behind,â€?Kaffy concluded.

Zimbabwean Musician King98 Raises His Game Ferdinand Ekechukwu

Arguably, Nigeria is considered the home of Afrobeats. No one understands this better than the Zimbabwean artiste, King98. Blessed with soul touching vocals, King98 is a versatile artiste and is steadily marking his presence in the competitive music industry in Nigeria.

He thought it pertinent to expand his music frontiers by coming to Nigeria to

understand the music landscape and equally promote his music.

He has worked with popular Nigerian artistes like Davido on ‘No Bad Vibes’ and Zlatan in ‘Pull-Up’. In his 2019 famous album ‘Francesca’, the artiste paraded a list of African music stars, including South African musician, Nasty C. In preparation for his forthcoming album set for release in March 2021,

the music star is releasing a new single video ‘I Bet’ today, Friday, November 20.

His determination of success has seen him record 16 songs within three weeks, according to reports. “I have been working, recording songs and one of the singles is already done with a video on it,� he said.

The promising album is being recorded with several producers across the continent, including the award-winning Nigerian producer Speroach.

King 98

33

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Realness Institute Partners Netflix to Launch Content Development Lab for Nigerian Writers Realness Institute and global streaming service,Netix,have announced a partnership to create an Episodic Content Development Lab for writers in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria.

Through the partnership, Realness Institute emphasises its commitment to foster a new wave of storytelling, while Netix also brings its expertise in episodic content development, production and insight into global content trends. “At Netix, we believe that great stories come from anywhere and be loved everywhere,â€?says Dorothy Ghettuba, who leads African Original Series in Africa.“We strongly believe that Africa has a wealth of untold stories. As we grow our slate of Originals in Africa, partnerships with organisations

like Realness will help us achieve our goal of investing in writers who will bring diverse genres of authentic, local stories that cater for every mood and will ensure our members see their lives reected on screen.�

Submissions into The Writer’s Lab goes live at the end of November 2020 on realness. institute/episodic-lab, and is open to writers with Film and TV experience in any genre (ďŹ ctional or factual) or language.The Lab will select six writers to work on their projects to be developed and commissioned by Netix.

The selected writers will be paid a stipend of 2000 USD per month to participate and are expected to be available full time for a period of three months, from June to September 2021.

Since Realness Institute’s inception in 2015, the Institute has delivered 5 editions of its

Deji-Kurunmi, Others Set for Live Awake Conference Rebecca Ejifoma The EPIC Shift Edition, hosted by IMMERSE Coaching Company, is set to host its bi-annual Live Awake Conference virtually from Friday, November 20 to Saturday, 21 this year.

Some of the keynote Speakers are: Personal Transformation Coach and Founder, IMMERSE Coaching Company, Debola Deji-Kurunmi; former Senator of Bermuda, Dr. Cindy Trimm; and Life Coach, Marshawn Evans.

The host, Deji-Kurunmi, described the conference as energetic of the most inspirational leaders, voices, and speakers; sharing transformational insights that shape human potential; empower men and women to step into a life of meaning, contribution, and wealth. “At the EPIC Shift Edition, we look forward to inspiring our vibrant audience, mostly between 19 and 40 years old, to embrace new thinking, tools and technology that ride on the disruption, and take ownership of their place in this emerging decade,� says Deji-Kurunmi. Part of the aim of the conference, she emphasised, is to see EPIC Shifts in their minds so that they can elevate their current reality. Speakers billed for the conference include Bisola Longe, Founder, Worthy Woman Walk; Detoun Ogwo, Human Capital Development Expert; Jokotade Adeniyi, International Visual Artiste, Creative Entrepreneur, and Speaker.

Others are: John Obidi, Social Media Strategist, Online Business Consultant and founder, Headstart Africa; Femi Jacobs, Actor, Movie Producer and

Author; Karika Yonreme, Personal Branding and Networking Expert; and Omilola Oshikoya,Africa’s wealth connoisseur and Author.

MasterClass speakers are:Adedoyin Omotara; SolaAdesakin; Imisi Owolabi; FunmiAyowole; Christina Soname; Toju Oluwatoyinbo; FlexiMumCoach; Tolu Michaels; Elizabeth Ajetunmobi; Dr. Samuel Ekundayo and Abiola Champ Salami. Deji-Kurunmi listed some of the topics to be discussed are: Leveraging an Exponential Decade, PHOENIX: Triumph your Pain; GLOBAL MINDSET: Riding on the Waves of Disruption; ASTONISH YOURSELF: The Genius of Youth.

Also, topics like AMPLIFY - Find your Message, Build an Authentic Brand; RICHER LIFE: Embracing your Wealth DNAand CONNECT: Secrets to Networking Success will be handled.

There will be keynote interview sessions and panel sessions too as the focal point for the master class sessions will handle, NewRelationshipwithMoney;Healthy Living, WellnessandPersonalRenewal;LOVE: Making your LOVE Work; Embracing Innovation and the Future of Work; SHOW UP – A Young Person’s Guide to Finding Purpose.

Other topics are Personal Mastery: Principles of Intentional Living; Identity and True Beauty: Unmasking YOU; Nurturing an Anchored Faith in a Distracted World; Emotional Strength and Mental Resilience Toolkit and Raising the Family of your Dreams (Parenting). Participants are encouraged to register via its website to attend the virtual conference.

Screenwriters’ Residency. Recently, it held its ďŹ rst Development ExecutiveTraineeship and Creative Producer Indaba, in which the artistic director of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Chioma Onyenwe was a participant. The Institute will also expand its offering next year to the episodic content space, thereby promoting its mission to empower African storytellers and improve the ďŹ lm industry. “We had fun shaping the program with the Netix team.We all share a love for storytelling, and Netix’s writer-centric approach is very much in line with our ethos.â€? co-founder and creative director of Realness Institute, Elias Ribeiro. According to veteran Ethiopian broadcaster and Realness Institute’s director of Development and Partnerships, Mehret

Mandefro, “This program is a response to the dramatically-changing broadcasting ecosystem, which has a very important role to play in building a thriving media ecosystem in local markets and providing episodic creators with distribution opportunities�.

Over the past year, there has been a massively growing appetite for new and exciting African content to star on global streaming platforms. Netix has recently enjoyed much success with its ďŹ rst two African original series, Queen Sono and Blood &Water.

More information on the Episodic Lab, the eligibility criteria and submission process will be released with the call for submissions on realness.institute/episodic-lab on 30 November 2020. For further information on Realness Institute, visit realness institute.

Transcorp Hilton Abuja Bags Quartet of Awards at WTA 2020

L-R: Dupe Olusola, Managing Director, Transcorp Hotels Plc and Kevin Brett, General Manager, Transcorp Hilton Abuja showcasing the quartet of awards won at the 2020 World Travel Awards which held recently.

King Akan in Abuja Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s World Travel Awards (WTA) held recently, with its nomination programme recording a record high visitor traffic and engagement from public voters.

Transcorp Hilton Abuja was honoured with four awards at the 2020 World Travel Awards; Nigeria’s Leading Hotel, Nigeria’s Leading Business Hotel, Nigeria’s Leading

Hotel Suite (the Presidential Suite), as well as Africa’s Leading Business Hotel for the sixth consecutive year.

Commenting on the award, Kevin Brett, General Manager, Transcorp Hilton Abuja said, “We are delighted to once again receive the World Travel Awards in various categories. “To have won the award for Africa’s Leading Business Hotel for the sixth consecutive year is a testament to the fact that the hardwork and commitment our team put in daily is

recognized and appreciated.�

In her remarks, the Managing Director, Transcorp Hotels Plc, Dupe Olusola, highlighted the significance of receiving the awards. “It is such a pleasure to receive the ultimate seal of excellence in the global tourism and hospitality industry from the World Travel Awards. At a time where travellers are exploring only the best hospitality products, the significance of this recognition is truly important,� she said.

Schneider Electric Unveils New Distributor in South-south Energy management giant, Schneider Electric, has signed up a new distributor, Okelco Global Resources for its products in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The distributor is expected to cater for the distribution ofSchneider Electric’s products in the Southsouth and South-eastern parts of the country.

In a chat with pressmen, the Marketing Communications Manager of Schneider Electric, Viviane Mike-Eze said the inauguration of the distributor, which was witnessed by representatives of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB)

Mazi Chukwuemeka Okereke, CEO Okelco Global Resources Ltd and Mojola Ola, Head Partner Business Schneider Electric, Anglophone West Africa

among others, will ensure easy access to the company’s products in the zone, including for oil and gas

companies.

She added that Okelco’s activity goes beyond distributorship and

into panel building and assembly.

According to her, the increased availability of Schneider Electric products and solutions would positively impact the different segments of application, namely buildings/real estate, industry, infrastructure, data centreand oil and gas. “With a new distributor located in Nigeria’s oil and gas hub, residents in Port Harcourt and neighbouring citieswill have faster access to Schneider Electric products. Resellers in this region will enjoy proximity to a state-ofthe-art wholesale facility. “This is also a deliberate attempt

to combat fakes and imitations as our distributor shall ensure prompt supply for every demand of original product range from Schneider Electric and its partners�, she quipped.

Schneider Electric drives digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies to realise the full efďŹ ciency and sustainability opportunities for businesses. It provides end-point to cloud integration connecting products, controls, software and services.

It also enables lifecycle solutions from design and build to operate and maintain phases through digitalization.

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T H I S D AY ˞ Ͱ͎˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

ART WEEKEND

‌For pure art enthusiasts

OďŹ me Digs into Insurgency, Trauma in “Voicelessâ€? Movie With the theme of love, betrayal and terrorism, the memory of the stolen dreams of Chibok Girls is evoked in Rogers Ofime’s new movie, ‘Voiceless’ which hits the cinemas today. The indigenous thriller interrogates life after the rescue of the abducted school girls and boys, writesYinka Olatunbosun

P

anic may be written on the faces of the young characters in the new movie, “Voiceless� but deep down in their hearts is courage. A very promising girl, Salma is captured alongside 245 schoolmates by a dare-devil terror group.

The world wakes up to the chilling news of their disappearance long before a search party is launched to negotiate the return of the minors who are preparing for ďŹ nal exams.

Nothing had prepared these young ones for the theft of their dreams. Even with the dim hope of freedom, Selma is determined to return home. A whole new world awaits her and other returnees. With a new struggle against stigma, these abductees are traumatised once more by that sense of disconnection from the society.

That much is true of the plot in ‘Voiceless,’ a rivetting movie which is set for the cinemas today. Produced by Rogers Ofime, founder, Theatrone Media Incorporated in collaboration with Whitestone pictures and Native Media, this feature-length filmin Hausa language is a romantic thriller with English subtitle.

Directed by Robert Peters, the emotional story is told from all the sides. Young girls are brainwashed by religious extremists, forced into child marriage, defiled and impregnated against their will. Unfortunately, that’s the

Scene from the movie, “Voiceless�

side that had earned the most media attention.

The movie also gives a visual account of the young abducted boys who had been forced to carry arms and wear suicide jackets, leading to lasting mental dislocation.

With rich cinematography, bouyed by special effects crew from South Africa and United States of America, the movie-set in Jos- evoked the sense of fear of the actual events in the actors on set. For Asabe Madaki, who played

the role of Salma, the anguish of reenacting these scenes of terror hit hard. “The most challenging thing about my role is that it was an emotional role for me.

Even when I got home, I was still traumatized because it is a true event and knowing that that happened to people even was traumatizing for me,� she said.

The producer, Rogers Ofime famed for popular television series such as Tinsel, Hotel

Majestic, Hush, The Johnsons and full-length movies such as Secret Lives of Yahoo Boys, This House is Not for Sale, Oloibiri is a sociallyconscious artist whose movies are usually inspired by true events. Whilst the dust may have settled on the issue of the Chibok Girls in news media, many of the abductees are struggling to be reintergrated to the society. “Every film is not meant for everyone,�

Ofime remarked at the press preview. “People whom the film resonates with are the ones that I made it for and they should come and see it. But the success of the film is that everyone who sees it, the film should resonate. I don’t do premiere. Let’s get the word out there that there is a film, a good story that needs to be told.�

While fielding questions on the choice of language for the movie, Ofime stressed the need for cultural preservation to make a story retain its authenticity and echo with the right audience.The movie is a propaganda tool aimed at mobilising the viewer into action to help victims of insurgency. “The fact that I don’t live in the north does not mean I cannot help to rehabilitate these people and if one sees this movie, we would be able to play our part,� he said.

With six months of scripting, one year of pre-production, sixty days of filming and one year of post production, movie buffs would be thrilled to see the efforts at achieving verisimilitude with reality. “The most challenging part is that our investor pulled out a week to production so doing the movie was a miracle,� he added.

ArtHub Hosts Ten Artists in Diversiform 2020 Yinka Olatunbosun On November 28, art collectors and other creatives will converge on ArtHub, Ebute Metta for the third edition of Diversiform, a group exhibition that parades the finest of young creative minds. 10 exhibiting artists, from different backgrounds using various techniques made up this collective. Diversiform is curated by Moses Ohiomokhare with Nurudeen Popoola as project lead. In an atmosphere of conviviality at the gallery, the artists gave THISDAY an exclusive preview of some of the works for the third edition of the show.

It was also a journey through the lives of these artists as they recounted their individual stories. At the age of 10, OdunboriOlalekan starting drawing. Later, he graduated from YabaCollege of Technology (Yabatech) developing a semi-abstract art that draws on cubism movement as his unique style. He has participated in several exhibitions including SNA October Rain Exhibition, Thought Pyramid Gallery and Miniature Art Fair at Mega Plaza Car Park, Victoria Island, Lagos.

His works at this show include “The Sweet Life,� “The Introvert� and “You Only Live Once.’’ Winning is second nature to Popoola Nurudeen, an award-winning graduate of Fine Arts at Yabatech. He had won Best Painting at the 2018 Life in My City Arts Festival (LIMCAF) and was also declared as winner at the World Bipolar Day Art Competition in 2018. “My works are based on daily lives using techniques of impressionism and realism,’’ he revealed.

Using acrylic, oil and mixed media, he presents a body of works that spread optimism. These include “Arugbo S’ogeri,� “Ire N’beNile� and “We Shall Raise the Daffodils,� which amplifies the need to adhere to social distancing and wearing of masks to combat Covid-19.

Adewale Ojo, the winner of the BEST Art Campaign Prize, holds an OND in Fine Arts from Yabatech. With works strongly influenced

by Picasso, he expresses his creativity through

Painting by Nurudeen Popoola

abstract forms that reflect both his conscious and subconscious mind. His interest in bright rainbow colours makes his work visually appetizing as they are created to beautify the environment. One of his widely publicized paintings at the show is “Mr and Mrs Right.�

Whether he is crafting his work titles in Portuguese or visiting prisons or other unconventional spaces for arts, Paul Ogunlesiremains an expressive realist per excellence. The Yabatechgraduate creates pieces that reflect his views on environmental and socio-political issues.

Deviated from his attention to countenances, one of his paintings depict as the legs of a man. For this show, his Newsprint on canvas works like BrilloAinda and Em Direcao ao Objectivo (meaning Moving towards goals) are set to be a thrill.

Bayo Alabelewe cut his teeth with art masters to develop a rasp taste in existential themes about life struggles. With OND from Yabatech and Bachelor’s degree from OAU, Ile-Ife, his paintings have become unique for expressing

the intrinsic connection of man to nature and his environment. His palette knife delivered paintings like “Shakara.� Other paintings at the show are “The Challenge� and “Ojuri.�

On his part, Leye Moses is a ballpoint pen artist and graduate of Creative Arts, University of Lagos who aspires to create works of timeless relevance. Raised in a family of traditional folk singers, his paintings are influenced by his love for music and children. Known for realistic portraits, Leye is a two-time participant in “Life in My City Art Festival� in Enugu and was awarded the Viewers’ choice award in 2018. His child portraits in this show include Omolomo I and II meaning Anonymous children created to empathize with innocent bystanders who are victims of a system.

Adewale Awesu is the oldest of the artists with over four decades of art practice.

A Lagosian by ancestry, he is also a recent graduate of Yabatech. As a realism artist, he infers from his environment. He is a pastor and usually officiates at weddings. This background

seeped into the framework of his pieces for this exhibition such as “Blushing,� “Joy Unspeakable� and “Good to Go� which shows a bride in mask, ready to marry against the odds of Covid-19. He decided to experiment with charcoal in this show because the first time he ever produced a work in charcoal, he sold it the next day.

One of the two sculptors in this show, Segun Okewumi usually works with diverse materials like stone, metal, plastic and tyres to create his artistic statements. In addition to his OND from Yabatech, he is a final-year student of Fine and Applied Art at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Okewumi considers his mother as a pillar of support and is also concerned about the underprivileged in the society. Having recently participated in Sculpting in the city an exhibition held in May 2020 andArtSoiree at the The Palms Mall, Lekki alongside metal masters like Raqib Bashorun, Olu Amoda, he had this to say: “I don’t feel intimidated, I feel motivated.’’ He is naturally inquisitive and can attend a workshop outside of arts just to gain knowledge and incorporate it into his works. His works include “New Dawn� and “Total Rhythm� inspired by the northern cultural heritage.

Akinlade Afeez hails from Iseyin, Oyo state and is a graduate of Yabatech in 2012. He is a member of the Society of Nigerian Artists and Ajegunle Artist Association. His hyper-realistic paintings at this show are embodied in the Days of Innocence Series with interesting titles such as “Agbaya� and “Let’s Go Home.�

Mayowa Samuel is also a final year painting student of Obafemi Awolowo University. “I create themes that are uplifting to the underprivileged,’’ he said at the preview. His metal works series in motorbikes is titled, “Journey with Hope.� “Our mind has the capacity of a two-way vehicle. No matter the kind of challenge on the road, the bikes keep going,� he added.

Mayowa had always loved 3-dimensional art and was going to study architecture before deciding on Fine and Applied Arts.

Diversiform III runs till December 12.

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T H I S D AY ˞ Ͱ͎˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

ENTREPRENEUR

Nkosi: For Entrepreneurs, Passionate Team of Amazing Talents Critical to Success Lihle Nkosi, CEO of Social Hour Productions – a marketing and advertising company focused on the creation of exceptional contents, in this interview with Rebecca Ejifoma shares plans mapped out for her company and provides nuggets for aspiring entrepreneurs

H

ow would you describe yourself?

I am ambitious and driven.

I thrive on challenge and constantly set goals for myself, so I have something to strive towards. I’m not comfortable with settling. I’m always looking for an opportunity to do better and achieve greatness.

Tell us more about your academic background?

I am a 23-year-old final year Law student, who has a passion for Media Law and Entertainment. In 2017, I graduated from one of the leading TV and radio presenting schools in Africa.

Since then I have presented and guest presented on numerous platforms and channels such as Selimathunzi, YoTv, Soweto TV, Ritevac TV, SAMA Awards Red Carpet 2017 just to name a few.

I was also the host of Miss Lesotho 2017, ZRF Media Forbes 30 under 30 Networking Sessions 2019 and part of the Youth Parliament on Power FM. Tell us more about Social Hour Production?

It is a marketing and advertising company which is all about captivating audiences through the creation of exceptional content and ideas across the different areas of our business: influencer marketing, digital publishing, product launching, content marketing, events and experiences.

We bring your brand story to life and craft high-impact social and influencer marketing campaigns that drive real engagement. Tailor-made social videos, influencer, social and creative strategies translate into measurable results.

What was your biggest motivation to become an entrepreneur?

Independence, more than anything.

As much as possible, I prefer to set my own rules. I also very much enjoy creating, and entrepreneurship readily feeds that desire. Thirdly, I am hopelessly attracted to the idea of multiplying my time and effort through others (employees and partners) to potentially realise exponential growth. For this reason, I have a lot of respect for people who choose to be employees, whether or not they have entrepreneurial ambitions.

We are exible enough to adapt quickly to external market shifts yet steadfastly focus on our own aligned strategy.

We don’t waste time on activities that can’t be measured. We invest in the strongest areas of the business and improve or eliminate the weak areas.

We have established this by aligning with leaders who show courage in the face of unimaginable obstacles and gain participation and buy-in from all levels of the organisation

Lihle Nkosi

What kind of culture exists in your organisation, and how did you establish it?

We are flexible enough to adapt quickly to external market shifts yet steadfastly focus on our own aligned strategy. We don’t waste time on activities that can’t be measured. We invest in the strongest areas of the business and improve or eliminate the weak areas. We have established this by aligning with leaders who show courage in the face of unimaginable obstacles and gain participation and buy-in from all levels of the organisation. They thrive in adversity and are never out of the fight.

What has been your biggest success as an entrepreneur?

In 2019 we expanded our marketplace, built incredible features, and raised a new round of funding. But the thing that I feel is our greatest accomplishment is the fact that we doubled

our core team and so far have managed to hire and retain great talent, while keeping our core values consistent.

Hiring is a tremendous challenge. For SME’s, having a passionate team of really amazing talent is critical to success. While we still have a lot of work to do, I am extremely proud of the team we have managed to build over the past year, and feel confident that it sets us up for further success in 2021.

What piece of advice would you g ive t o o t h e r you n g pe opl e w ho want to become entrepreneurs?

Get educated in business, doesn’t have to be a degree in that field. Find an experienced business mentor and listen to their advice, keeping in mind that some things will apply and some will not.

Have a business plan and be sure to update it at least annually. Above all, be open-minded and get educated on the things you are great at, and keep in

mind that most of us can only be great at a few things.

Hire to your weakness. Whatever you are not great at, hire people who are great at those things. Do not hire only people who think like you do. Hire someone who disagrees with you, a lot.

Be open minded that they may have ideas that enhance, or are sometimes better than yours. Remove as much ego as you can from your decisions.

What keeps you going when things get tough in your business?

The dream. The passion. The feedback from our customers.

What should we expect from you in the next few years?

Taking ownership of spaces that I am currently in, I will definitely be focusing more on becoming a part of the media law world and taking my company Social Hour Productions and the Latizia Magazine to the next level.

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T H I S D AY ˞ Ͱ͎˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

Seraphs in Lagos Celebrate Seventh Annual Conference in Style Members of the Lagos State chapter of the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria recently marked their seventh Annual General Conference where matters of importance to their members in the state were brought to the fore, while some members deserving of recognition for their support to the chapter were duly honoured during the three-day event, writes Mary Ovie

F

or three days, last week, exactly between Thursday, November 12 to November 14, 2020, selected members of the Lagos State chapter of the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria, trooped out to celebrate the seventh Annual General Conference of the chapter in pomp.

The capacious venue, Divine Events Centre at Obanikoro area of the Lagos metropolis, witnessed a flurry of activities from organisers and participants of the conference, which was hosted by the Love of Christ Generation Church C&S, founded by renowned philanthropist and global evangelist, Rev. Motrher Esther Abimbola Ajayi.

The leadership of the Lagos State chapter of the church as well as the participants at the conference could not hide their joy and ecstasy for being able to stage the annual conference in spite of the threats of the ravaging COVID-19 which had led to ban on such gathering in the country while the pandemic still ravaged.

Of course, the recent threat posed by the #EndSARS protests especially had threatened the event, but the God of Cherubs stood solidly behind the chapter to help nip these crises in the bud. Eventually, when it came, the seventh Annual Conference of the chapter, was full of fun and praises to God for keeping their members across the state alive in the midst of the recent challenges that confronted the state.

As had been the case in the last six editions, the conference was usually to review activities of Cherubim & Seraphim churches under the chapter (via its individual member churches as well as local divisions) comprising of the chapter and also use it as a launch pad for its activities in the New Year.

While welcoming participants to the three-day event, Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Apostle Femi Caleb Akinpelu JP, was full of gratitude to God for not making all their efforts to come to naught on account of the challenges that had befallen the state in the recent past.

According to him, “when two years ago, we were saddled with the responsibility of organising a conference befitting the status, it was clear to us that posterity has bestowed on us the opportunity to contribute our quota towards the advancement of the noble ideals of the chapter. “The above conviction became more apt when that year, it was announced that the host for the 2020 edition of the conference would be the Love of Christ Generation Church C&S headed by renowned philanthropist and unmatched prophetess of God, Rev. Mother Dr. Esther Abimbola Ajayi. Here we are today.�

Apostle Akinpelu, on behalf of the committee assured participants and guests that the event would be a memorable one, which it truly was.

In his speech to participants during the opening ceremony, Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the C&S Unification Church of Nigeria, Snr. Supt. Apostle Dr. Joseph Olatunde Adagba JP took time off to re-echo the rationale behind the chapter’s annual conference, which his leadership brought to bear since assumption of office.

According to him, “the history and reason for this annual gathering, which started in 2014, came about when we put our heads together to create an avenue for all our churches in this state to come and deliberate and chart out a way of knitting us together more.�

Apostle Adagba also used the occasion to present the scorecard of the administration he superintend over saying, “I want all lovers of this state chapter to, once again, thank the Lord God of our father St. Moses Orimolade Tunolase and our mother, Capt. Christiana Abiodun Emmanuel, who used that woman of grace, I mean Iya Adura, Rev. Mother Dr. Esther Abimbola Ajayi, that great philanthropist to acquire for us that parcel of land at Akinhanmi Street� for the ultimate erection of our Secretariat there.�

On the COVID-19 pandemic and especially the #EndSARS protests that recently shook the state to its foundations, Apostle Adagba continued,

Evang. Dr. Rotimi Odugbesan JP, Snr. Apostle Seyi Odufuwa and Baba Aladura Henry Odunayo at the event

Chairman of Lagos State chapter, Snr. Supt. Apostle Joseph Adagba and his vice, Sp. Apostle Segun Adio in a tete-a-tete

“I want to commiserate with the families of those that lost their lives in the protests and also those who lost properties during the crisis.

Therefore let us continue to pray for our country and Lagos State even more than we did in the past. We must not allow the devil and his team to have their heinous ways . I pray to God to heal our land.�

At the opening ceremony, some key officials of the church nationally were present among who were Supt. Apostle Emmanuel Omoniyi Owomoyela, Chairman of the National Executive Council and Secretary General of the Church in Nigeria, Special Apostle Tunde Ogunkunle JP. Also, Special Apostle Akin Owolabi and Apostle Tayo Ajose, an Assistant Secretary of the Church in the country were also present among some heads of church that witnessed the opening ceremony.

While declaring the conference open on behalf of the Supreme Head of the Church, Apostle Owomoyela, commended the Joseph Adagbaled leadership of the chapter for partnering the church at large, to propagate the Good News as well as help in reaching the grassroots of the church where the majority of members are domiciled.

It was not only about festivities on the opening day as time was created for investment talk from a financial expert, Mr. Seyi Odufuwa, ECO of Skyview Capital, who was joined by some of his officials to take participants through the need to be business-conscious, especially at this time of financial lull and economic strain on the country.

Of course, the business talk was preceded by the Conference Theme lecture, delivered by Prophet Oyaniyi Olawale Timothy, leader in charge of the Love of Christ Generation Church, Igbaye, in Osun State, who did justice to the theme of the conference ‘Reward Assured for Diligence’ (2 Chronicles 15:7).

Also, time was made out for health talk for participants since they say, ‘health is wealth’.

The health talk was provided by renowned educationist, Dr. Chris Willaims, to the admiration of participants.

On day two of the event, which was a business session, the General Secretary of the Lagos State chapter, Evang. (Dr.) Rotimi Odugbesan JP, took participants through the activities of the chapter in the last one year which included those of the Wings under the chapter and the various local government sections of the church operating under the state chapter. Dr. Odugbesan who, after his series of reports to participants, received a standing ovation for his doggedness and accuracy in capturing activities of the chapter in the last one year.

Time was given to participants to ask questions on some of issues raised in the general secretary’s report to which explanations were given.

As had been the practice, day three of the event is usually for thanksgiving service and this year was no difference. So, the service started at exactly 10:00a.m with the Mass Choir of the chapter rendering hymn ‘Ewole F’Oba Ologo Julo’, which heralded in leaders of constituent churches in the chapter and officials of the Lagos State chapter.

The sermon at the Thanksgiving Service was delivered by Special Apostle Olowogorioye, who delved deep into the need for continuous unity in the Body of Christ.

Thereafter, the Lagos State chapter’s chairman, Special Apostle Segun Adio JP, took to the podium to avail participants with the Resolutions reached during the three-day summit and which are meant for implementation by all federating churches in the chapter.

The Lagos State chapter also deemed it fit to dole out awards to deserving groups and bodies who had been of immense support to the chapter and its Wings. The awardees were The Love of Christ Generation Church C&S, Supt. Gen. Apostle (Hon.) Dave Salako, Snr. Apostle Tunde Fadeyi, Snr. Apostle Seyi Odufuwa, CEO of Skyview Capital and Snr. Apostle Femi Awoyemi.

Others were Snr. Apostolic Mother Prophetess Margaret Abosede Adebayo JP, Sis. Tinuola Oshuntokun, while Agbado/Oke-Odo received award for the Best Performing Local Division, among the lot.

Of course, the last day event was interspersed with rib-cracking jokes from popular comedian, Kenny Black.

The event was witnessed by several heads of C&S Church in Lagos State and some eminent members of the church. Although some pressing matters of state would not make her physically participate in the event, however, Rev. Mother Esther Ajayi sent in her best wishes.

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T H I S D AY ˞ Ͱ͎˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

POLSCOPE

åÓÞÒ ĂŽĂŽĂŁ ĂŽĂ“Ă ĂĄĂœĂ“ Ă?ĂŽĂŽĂŁË›Ă™ĂŽĂ“Ă ĂĄĂœĂ“ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ă™Ă—Ëœ ͸΀͸ͽ ͝͸͞ Π͝ͽ͞

Poverty Index: How Sensitive is Our Government?

M

ost of the people angry with the President Muhamm a d u Buhari is because he is seen to be too disconnected with the people.

He does not seem to understand what’s going on in the society. They believe he is so ensconced in the comfort of the presidential Villa and completely oblivious of what the rest of Nigerians go through. He does not feel what we feel, nor see what we see. They believe that is why the timing of many of the Buhari administration’s actions and policies are markedly indifferent to the realities on the streets.

I start with the most recent.

At a time the Nigerian youths are being placated and enjoined to eschew violence and seek dialogue in resolving national issues, the federal government not only went after perceived leaders of the #EndSARS protest, it froze the bank accounts of nineteen youths believed to have been the prime supporters of the protest. It even went further to de-register the corporate organization of some of the said supporters, just as the Nigerian Immigration had seized the international passport of one of the prominent protesters. Some people even believe the federal government is behind the suit filed against prominent supporters of the protest including Femi Falana, Pastor Sam Adeyemi and 48 others.

How can a government seeking and pursuing peace be the same entity rolling out machinery of war against the same people it wants to make peace with?

As if that was not annoying enough, the government goes ahead, the following week, to increase the pump price of petrol from N159 per litre to N170. This is coming at a time Nigerians have not even regained their breath from the crushing effect from #EndSARS protests wherein many small and medium-scale businesses were destroyed. Raising the cost of petrol at such a time is likened to further choking somebody already gasping for breath, caused by the socioeconomic squeeze occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To drag in the argument of complete deregulation of the price of crude will make little sense at a time like this. Govern-

INEC Versus Edo APC

S

o, what is the update on the American election?

Has Donald Trump ďŹ nally conceded?

Concede? You don’t know that man. He never will. He attempted conceding last Sunday, but he soon reversed himself and insisted he is the winner.

He’s tidying up his papers and evidences for a prolonged litigation . He has vowed to prove that there was massive fraud in the polls.

He has breached all known ethos and culture of American politics and elections.

He is already causing street clashes between his supporters and that of Joe Biden, the presumed winner of the poll. By last Sunday, both sides were already scufing and throwing punches on the streets of Washington, so much that as many as 20 persons were arrested.These are strange political aftermaths in America. I think Mr Trump is an embarrassment to the American democratic history.

But he has not breached any American law. It is within his right to contest the outcome of the election. That nobody had done so in the past does not mean that it is an aberration if he chooses to do so.

Buhari

ment is not run by robots. There should be humanity to government policies. Government policies are made for men and not men for government policies.

Pray, does Mr President understand that there is huge poverty in the land? Does he know the degree of hunger (and thus anger) in the land? Was it for nothing Nigeria was declared as the poverty capital of the world? Isn’t that heart-wrenching enough?

Does he not know that the degree of destruction that followed the #EndSARS protests is a reflection of the angst in the land?

Be it herein said: Many Nigerians are hungry. Ekeing a living has become much tougher than ever. Many businesses are shut.

The borders are closed. Cost of transportation has increased significantly. Unemployment is swelling by the day. Young graduates can’t find a job, Their parents are losing their jobs. The value of the naira is on a steady fall. Purchasing power of the people is getting weaker and weaker everyday‌. And the

government increases cost of petrol, which is almost the live wire of the nation. Gosh‌.

Nothing else celebrates executive insensitivity more than this Nigerian mothers can neither buy tomatoes nor Onion. Minimum wage can’t buy just a bag of rice. If it is this bad with over a month to Christmas, one wonders what will happen around Yuletide season. The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says inflation has risen to over 16 percent.

This same government had in August, when the COVID-19 ill wave was flattening its curve, raised the cost of petrol and electricity tariff. It took the protest of Nigerians led by the compromised NLC for government to suspend the increase in electricity price tariff. The timing of these policies are completely insensitive of the realities on the streets.

Where are we going? Life is getting even more brutish and nasty. That explains the avalanche of crime and criminal tendencies in the country.

It is not enough discounting these facts by talking aboutgovernemnt’s efforts in re-building national infrastructures. Only the living use public infrastructure.

There must be a good balancing between infrastructural development and beneficial governance.

The latter is clearly lacking.

We are not unmindful of the fact that this same administration, at the beginning, had raised price of petrol from N97 to N145, and Nigerians took it, believing that the Buhari administration means well. That goodwill has since been lost.

The government must embark on deliberate policy gestures that can rebuild confidence in government and offer visible reliefs to the majority of Nigerians. Such references to N-Power, Tradermoni etc., as government’s efforts at boosting the economic power of the people is rather paltry as they are too little, too few to cause an economic rebound.

Nigerian leaders cannot continue to behave as if it is running e-powered governance.

Benin-Sapele Road: Where is Government?

I travelled last weekend to my Delta State, by road.

It was a pleasant surprise seeing that the entire stretch of the Lagos-Benin express way, had no police checkpoints.

When I travelled last August, I had counted 38 checkpoints between Ijebu-Ode and Benin-city.

It was a torture. But last weekend, there were no police checkpoints at all, only few Customs check point, all thanks to the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests.

But what we gained with the absence of the checkpoints, we doubly lost with the terrible failed spots on Benin-Sapele road. I had never seen that road in that state.

Right from the GRAround about on Sapele road; through Dumez road junction down to Santana market and upto the flyover that links the Benin-Lagos bye-pass, everywhere was choked and blocked. It rained that day. The

Canticles‌.

Godwin Obaseki

road was flooded. The drains have long been blocked. There were craters and deep gullies right on the road. Several trucks and tankers had fallen on many spots, further worsening road access, with resultant traffic

snarle. The lane from Sapele was completely unpassable. Vehicles heading into Benin were on the same side with those heading out of Benin. It was bedlam.

Shortly after the overhead bridge is another bad spot. Then

when you survive that, you have Ologbo axis to contend with. I lack words enough to describe the agony travellers go through getting out of and into Benin from this axis. This is the famous long-suffering East-West road, in a completely decrepit state.

Even roads in Somalia during their war could not have been as bad. Where is local, state and federal government?

Where is FERMA? Where is NDDC? Where are they?

How can a people be suffering this much when there is a subsisting and functional government? And they feel cool in their offices? Not even a temporary measure to ease the use of the road? How insensitive can government be? That day, I spent three full hours traversing Benin-city. Indeed, as late Chinua Achebe would put it, There was a Country!

If he is not a common and cheap spoiler, the results are so clear that he didn’t need to throw any spanner on the wheels of the process. With Biden’s 306 Electoral College vote points as against Trump’s 232, the afďŹ rmation of the choice of Biden by the American electorate is beyond question and debate.

But that is exactly what Trump is challenging. He believes there was massive fraud. That is why the state of Georgia is recounting its votes. Have you not noticed that notable republicans have backed Trump’s claim that the votes were rigged in Biden’s favour?.

Let me assure you that both the so-called notable Republicans and their Nigerian counterparts, who had canvassed votes and support for Trump will not only be disgraced, their public images will be tarred.

Even with the recount, Trump is yet losing! He shows he is such an awkward and gawky politician by saying there should be recount only in states where he lost and that there should be no recount in states where he won. Is that a respectable and noble sportsman?

Whether Nigerians or Americans, they have the right to support whoever they want, be it Trump or Biden.

Yes, but it must be reasonable. Is it that right that will make a former loquacious Nigerian minister to describe Biden as a satanic agent?

He claimed that Biden did not win and that Trump will eventually be declared as the winner. That he is against Biden because the latter is a satanic agent for supporting abortion, planning to ďŹ ght Israel and supporting LGBT‌ These are local Pharisees

Trump

who want to be more Catholic than the Pope! What is their business with LGBT and all such occidental warts? Hypocrites of the highest order!

I heard also of the church groups that were marching in support of Trump in Owerri and Onitsha before the election. They must be consumately ashamed by the outcome of the election.

I wonder why the church, if so properly called, will dabble into the mileu of international politics which they barely understand. Does the mere mention of the name of Jesus truly mean that Trump is more Christianly than Biden? What folly! Here was a man (Trump) who described your country as “shit holeâ€? , said many despicable things about your country and your people, developed several anti-African, anti-Nigerian policies, the only obstacle to the election of our sister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as the DG of the World Trade Organisation‌ and you turn around to be his chief supporter because you think he is a Christian? There is no greater example of being unpatriotic. In fact, such supporters are slaves to the banal factors of religion and mundane concerns.

God Himself disappointed their crafty enterprise by disgracing Trump at the polls.

Don’t be hasty in your judgement. It is not over until it is over. Trump is exploring legal means to reclaim his victory. He believes he will get his second term.

He is fooling himself with legal inanity. Haven’t you seen how his suits are being thrown out? By providing no valid proof of electoral fraud, Trump is engaging in complete futility. Whether he likes it or not, he would vacate the ofďŹ ce next January with ignominy. He can’t and won’t stay a day longer. If he likes, let him sack everybody sackable. He will ďŹ nally sack himself. Nonsense politician that he is!

I shall contact Trump’s trumpeters, the Nigerian fan base to see what they will do hereafter, especially that former minister who claimed that Trump will yet regain his seat at the White House. We shall find out who is sponsoring that false hope; and those religious fanatics who organized weeks of fasting and prayer plus street parade so Trump can win.

Never mind, they will combine to form a club of delusionists who will be rewarded by Mr Trump from his Trump Towers, not White House.

38

T H I S D AY ˞ Ͱ͎˜ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

DBN Disburses N150bn to MSMEs in Three Years The federal government has disclosed that the Development Bank of Nigeria has so far disbursed over N150 billion since it commenced operations in 2017.

The disbursement was done through 27 participating financial institutions, for onward lending to MSMEs across the various sectors of the Nigerian economy.

This was contained in a post on the official twitter page of the federal government.

According to the government, the DBN loans had impacted close to 100,000 MSMEs through the process, while 52 per cent of

loans by the bank in 2019 were at youth and women owned businesses. =“DYK52% of loans disbursed by @DevBankNG in 2019 were to youths and women-owned businesses. Since 2017, the Bank has disbursed more than N150 billion through 27 Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs), impacting close to 100,000 MSMEs,� the tweet read.

The DBN was established by the federal government in collaboration with global development partners to address the major financing challenges facing micro, small and medium

scale enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.

DBN carries out this function by providing financial institutions, predominantly DepositMoney and Microfinance Banks with funding facilities designed to meet the needs of MSMEs. The bank has also been leading initiative on capacity building for SMEs to equip them with required skills to improve their competence in developing and defending a viable business plan, improve their capacity to access funding, as well as efficient utilization of the funds.

LSETF Launches N5bn MSMEs’ Recovery Support Fund Oluchi Chibuzor The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) has launched a N5 billion economic acceleration programme.

The new scheme was introduced in a bid to help businesses in Lagos recover, save as well as create more jobs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interested applicants are expected to visit the LSETF’s website to apply. Speaking at the launch of the initiative in Lagos recently, the Executive Secretary/CEO, LSETF, Mrs. Teju Abisoye said, “Without any inkling of doubt, MSMEs are central to the economic growth of any country. Hence, they will be instrumental to the economic

recovery efforts following the COVID 19 epidemic, within the Lagos economy. “These data are not only alarming but stir an urgency for the implementation of sustainable solutions to help minimise the economic damage on small businesses. The unveiling of the LSETF-LEAP seeks to revise this paradigm by transforming Lagos entrepreneurs from pandemic to prosperity with an emphasis on employment protection and job creation. “With Lagos State currently contributing over 30 per cent of the national GDP, we must take the lead in reversing a national economic emergency. We are optimistic that these recovery programmes will not only

produce accelerated outcomes but also play significant roles in creating jobs, and thus, actualising our government’s quest towards ‘Rebuilding Lagos.�

Also, the LSETF-LEAP is a sector-specific intervention programme aimed at supporting businesses, driving growth, and enabling job creation opportunities across targeted sectors that have been severely affected by the pandemic.

The programme, as revealed by the Executive Secretary, would provide access to affordable finance at a single-digit interest rate, enhance capacity building, access to market linkages and leverage business expansion opportunities for its beneficiaries.

Sterling Bank Records N7.1bn Trading Income Goddy Egene Sterling Bank Plc has reported a trading income of N7.1 billion for the nine months quarter ended September 30, 2020, compared with N1.9 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2019.

This represented an increase of 264.7 per cent. The trading income was realised from the gross earnings of N106 billion posted in 2020 compared with N109 billion in 2019.

Profit before tax (PBT) grew from N7.65 billion in 2019 to N8.024 billion, while profit after tax (PAT) stood at N7.367 billion as against N7.579 billion in 2019.

Commenting on the performance, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer (MD/

CEO) of Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, said: “With economic activity picking up in the third quarter, following the gradual ease in the nationwide lockdown, we continued to leverage on our existing remote work policy to enhance workforce productivity while ensuring uninterrupted service delivery to both existing and new customers. “Our performance continues to reflect positive results of strategic decisions and investments in our focus areas as we continued to record significant improvement in both funding and operational costs. Overall, we delivered a 7.2 per cent increase in operating income and a profit after tax of N7.37 billion

despite prevailing uncertainties around the COVID-19 pandemic and recent fiscal reforms.�

He said growth in balance sheet was driven by a 26.5 per cent growth in low cost funds, which saw the bank’s CASA mix improve to 71 per cent from 60 per cent, delivering a 6.6 per cent growth in customer deposits. “Our cash and short-term balances increased in line with the higher regulatory reserves while interest income also declined by 6.7 percent, which was offset by a 17 per cent decline in interest expense.

This delivered a 120 bps drop in cost of funds and, consequently, a 100-bps increase in net interest margin,� he added.

FMDQ, NASD, NSE Lead Conference on SME Financing Dike Onwuamaeze Leading global and Nigerian firms will hold a webinar conference that would guide Nigerian SMEs on how to use the capital market to attract domestic capital for growth and sustainability.

The conference, sponsored by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); CardinalStone; Fidelity Bank; and United Capital Asset Management, would provide and share ideas on how various capital market regulators and stock exchanges in Nigeria could attract more SMEs listings on their platforms.

It would demonstrate how international exchanges have successfully attracted SMEs for capital raising on their platforms and facilitate interactive

discussions among participants in order to extract real needs and opportunities toward a new regime of non-bank and market-based financing for SMEs. According to a statement, the conference, the inaugural from the, “SME Finance Series�, was titled: “Private Equity: A Bridge or An Albatross? Role of the Capital Market.� It is scheduled to hold on November 26.

The SME Finance Series is promoted by a consortium led by the Hamilton and George Advisers Limited (H&G), a fullservice boutique investment bank led by Joseph Edgar, a 22-year investment banking veteran.

The consortium also includes Foothold Advisors Limited, an independent financial advisory and management consulting firm

that supports entrepreneurs seeking to grow sustainable businesses with strong corporate governance, and Africa Strategy Advisers, an SME Focused, Business advisory and venture incubation firm with hundreds of SMEs in its network.

The key speakers at the conference are the President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nick Okoye Organisation and Anabel Group, Dr. Nicky Okoye, who was also a former Executive Director at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Mr. Paul Calvey, Partner, Oliver Wyman South Africa ; the Chief Executive Officer of FMDQ Group, Mr. Bola Onadele Koko; the Managing Director/CEO of NASD, Mr. Bola Ajomale and the Divisional Head, NSE Trading Business, Mr. Jude Chiemeka.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JULY 2020 Money Supply (M3)

36,822,751.47

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

3,476,121.25

Money Supply (M2)

33,346,630.22

-- Quasi Money

120,764,479.02

-- Narrow Money (M1)

12,582,151.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,002,026.89

---- Demand Deposits

10,580,124.31

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,637,137.23

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

29,185,614.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

39,711,115.95

---- Credit to Government (Net)

19,521,851.08

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-130,189,264.87

--Other Assets Net

3,472,017.70

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,421,827.07

--Currency in Circulation

2,395,917.03

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,025,910.04 317,234.17

Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month Inter-Bank Call Rate

March 2018 15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ ÍŻÍś Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $43.05 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $42.76 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

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

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

39

T H I S D AY ˞ Ͱ͎˜ Ͱ͎Ͱ͎

GTBank Posts N142 Billion Nine Months Profit Before Tax Goddy Egene Guaranty Trust Bank Plc yesterday announced its nine months results for the period ended September 30, 2020, showing a net income of N188 billion, up from N173 billion in the corresponding period of 2019. Net fee income stood at N33 billion, compared with N47 billion in 2019. Loan impairment charges soared by 267 per cent from N2.762 billion to N10.145 billion in 2020.

GTBank ended the nine months with a profit before tax (PBT) of N167.352 billion as against N170.652 billion in 2019, and profit after tax of N142.283 billion compared with N146.989 billion in 2019. GTBank’s balance sheet remained well structured, diversified and resilient with total assets and shareholders’ funds closing at N4.574trillion and N755.5 billion respectively.

Full Impact Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) remained very strong,

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R

DEALS

closing at 23.9 per cent, while asset quality was sustained as non-performing loan (NPL) ratio and Cost of Risk (COR) closed at 6.5 per cent and 0.6 per cent in September 2020 from 6.5 per cent and 0.3 per cent in December 2019 respectively.

Speaking to the results, the Managing Director/CEO of GTBank Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje, said: “Our third quarter result is a reflection of how we have appropriately positioned our

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

balance sheet to cope with current economic realities and the challenging business environment.

It is also testament to the enduring loyalty of our customers, the hard work and dedication of our staff and the unwavering support we continue to enjoy from all our stakeholders in our drive to deliver best-in-class financial services and superior and sustainable returns.�

According to him, as an organisation, they will continue to build on their commitment

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

to enriching lives by leveraging our digital-first customer-centric strategy to improve customer experience and maintain a high standard in service delivery, and going beyond banking to create and drive innovative financial solutions that add value to our customers in all aspects of their lives.� Meanwhile, the stock market closed negative yesterday with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) depreciating by 0.5

O F

per cent to close at 34,643.65. The decline was due to sell pressures in GTBank, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc and Zenith Bank Plc. Activity level declined as volume and value traded fell by 44.8 per cent and 57.8 per cent to 364.9 million shares and N3.5 billion respectively. The most traded stocks by volume were Transcorp Plc (50.7 million shares), FBN Holdings Plc (38.6 million shares) and Access Bank (25.9 million shares).

1 9 / 1 1 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

40

MARKET NEWS

9M: ABC Transport Posts N531m Loss in Nine Months Goddy Egene

ABC Transport Plc has

recorded a loss of N531 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020

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

due to high financing and other operating costs.

The company recorded a

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 18Nov-2020, unless otherwise stated.

revenue of N4.893 billion in 2020, up from N4.634 billion in 2019. While gross

profit was N737 million, down from N1.08 billion, it ended with loss of N531

million, compared with a profit of N97 million in 2019.

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 161.33 162.93 30.53% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 79.00% Nigeria International Debt Fund 442.16 442.16 46.32% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 105.39 105.39 0.47% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 1.05 1.07 17.50% ACAP Income Funds 0.85 0.85 11.27% 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 3.38% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.74 3.86 52.76% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 1.03% Anchoria Equity Fund 129.32 129.78 21.18% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.46 1.46 21.92% 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 18.59 19.15 21.37% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 408.19 420.50 18.17% ARM Ethical Fund 33.84 34.86 16.36% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.18 1.19 18.60% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.13 1.13 13.11% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.00% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 127.55 128.45 32.76% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.06% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.31 2.31 22.69% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.31 2.35 57.92% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.25% Paramount Equity Fund 16.22 15.92 27.24% Women's Investment Fund 135.05 133.58 21.11% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.69% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 128.08 128.72 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 155.60 157.18 Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 107.20 107.20 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 1.65% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.12 1.13 20.89% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.75 1.75 31.68% 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 1.28% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1.45% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,190.72 1,207.60 7.49% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,483.52 1,485.08 24.89% FBN Balanced Fund 184.21 185.91 25.47% FBN Halal Fund 110.69 110.73 10.69% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.94% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 119.03 119.40 5.53% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 119.01 119.38 4.99% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 153.35 155.74 17.84% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.26% Legacy Debt Fund 3.85 3.85 5.43% Legacy Equity Fund 1.48 1.51 31.21% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.13 1.13 4.45% 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 Growth Fund 3,636.04 3,681.19 19.40% Coral Income Fund 3,224.89 3,224.89 5.07% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 3.34% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.09% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 127.68 128.21 18.23%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL 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 1.94% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.82 2.88 28.96% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 7.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 155.86 156.79 8.79% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.35 1.45 23.23% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,143.65 1,143.65 9.95% 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 N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 28.65% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.06 12.16 7.09% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 2.42% PACAM Equity Fund 1.51 1.53 PACAM EuroBond Fund 109.10 111.46 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 141.01 144.36 10.64% 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 1.01 1.01 8.40% 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 2,521.35 2,532.80 30.71% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 6.08% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 30.00% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 7.24% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 33.35% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.38% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 26.74% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.22 1.22 4.98% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 110.51 110.51 6.05% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.43 1.45 19.42% United Capital Bond Fund 1.87 1.87 8.39% United Capital Equity Fund 0.89 0.92 26.69% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.92% United Capital Eurobond Fund 116.02 116.02 6.15% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.08 1.09 2.61% 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 Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Zenith Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A Zenith Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Zenith Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A

REITS NAV Per Share

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

119.62

6.57%

53.51

2.80%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

11.64 121.48 89.90

11.74 121.48 91.59

38.07% 27.23% 19.68%

Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.42

4.46

28.25%

Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund

5.83

5.91

-1.40%

Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund

16.17 1.00 16.11

16.27 1.00 16.31

34.31% 2.17% 54.54%

230.82

232.82

22.62%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.71

13.11%

Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund

Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

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.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

41

NEWS

Gbajabiamila Mourns as Security Aide Kills Vendor Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, last night expressed his deepest sympathies to the family of a newspaper vendor, his family and the entire Abuja vendors for the killing of one of their members by his security aide.

A security aide attached to Gbajabiamila, yesterday shot dead the vendor, identified as Mr. Ifeanyi Okereke, in Abuja.

Force Public Relations Officer and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Frank Mba, confirmed the incident.

He said the FCT Police Command has launched an investigation into the shooting.

The security aide shot the vendor in the head causing his death.

The incident, which occurred at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, caused panic in the area.

The victim was subsequently rushed to the National Hospital by his brother and some police officers, where he was confirmed dead.

THISDAY gathered that the incident happened when Okereke and other street vendors selling on the Shehu Shagari Way, Three Arms Zone, flocked around the convoy of the speaker, who was said to be in the habit of giving them money any time he passed.

Speaking on the incident, the

Chairman of the Newspapers Vendors Association in FCT, Mr. Etim Eteng, said Okereke died at the National Hospital shortly after he was rushed there.

He stated that his wife gave birth to a baby on yesterday morning.

“What I learnt was that the speaker called to give the vendors money and the security aide just shot him in the head. He was rushed to the National Hospital where he died some hours later”.

A vendor, Mr. Abdullahi Seidu, said the unidentified trigger-happy security aide could not explain why he shot the deceased when confronted by Gbajabiamila.

“The vendors and other hawkers usually run after VIPs and lawmakers whenever they see them. In fact, they can identify the big men by their vehicles. So, the vendors flocked around the speaker’s convoy and he gave them some money but a gunshot just went off.

“The bullet hit Ifeanyi in the head and he fell down. The officer who fired the gun said he wanted to fire in the air.”

Spokesman of the National Hospital, Dr. Tayo Haastrup, confirmed that Okereke died of gunshot injuries.

“He died of gunshot injuries and would be moved from the Trauma Centre to the mortuary shortly,” he said.

Confirming the incident, Force

Nigeria, Niger Republic Sign MoU on Petrol Transportation, Storage Ejiofor Alike The federal government and the Republic of Niger yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for petroleum products transportation and storage.

Nigeria and Niger Republic had been holding talks for over four months through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Niger Republic’s Societe Nigerienne De Petrole on petroleum products transportation and storage.

Niger Republic’s Soraz Refinery in Zinder, some 260kilometres from the Nigerian border, has an installed refining capacity of 20,000 barrels per day.

Niger’s total domestic

requirement is about 5,000bpd, thus leaving a huge surplus of about 15,000bpd, mostly for export.

A statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the media aide to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Garba Deen Muhammad, stated that the MoU was signed by the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, and the Director-General, SONIDEP, Alio Toune.

The MoU signing was under the supervision of the two countries’ Ministers of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, and Foumakoye Gado, respectively, with the Secretary-General of the African Petroleum Producers Organisation, Mr. Omar Farouk, in attendance.

#EndSARS Protester, Eromosele Regains Freedom An #EndSARS protester, Mr. Peter Eromosele Adene, yesterday regained his freedom after spending 12 days in police custody.

One of the lawyers who provided legal aid to the protesters, Moe Odele, shared a video showing a once-again freed Eromosele via her Twitter handle yesterday.

Eromosele, who was arrested on November 7 by the police in Lagos, was released from police detention on the order of a Magistrate Court in Yaba.

Plot by the police to remand Eromosele for 30 days was Monday uncovered by his lawyer.

The policemen had last week arrested the #EndSARS protester

in Ikeja and taken to the police command headquarters from where he was transferred to the Area F Command before detaining him at the SCID, Panti.

He was then flown to Abuja and detained for seven days before being brought back to Lagos last Sunday.

However, rather than charge him, the policemen secretly approached an Yaba Magistrate Court presided over by Magistrate O.A Salau, for a remand order to detain him for an extra 30 days without the consent of his lawyer.

Eromosele’s lawyer, Mr. Tunde Jinadu, who was at the SCID, was told by policemen that his client was no longer in custody.

PRO, Mba, said details of the incident was sketchy but said:” it is true. There was an incident involving use of firearms around the speaker. The FCT Police Command is investigating the incident”.

In a statement he issued yesterday, Gbajabiamila described the incident as horrible.

“This evening as I left the National Assembly, I stopped as usual to exchange pleasantries with the newspaper vendors at the corner. Many of them have

known me since I first moved to Abuja and it was a friendly exchange.

“Unfortunately, after the convoy set out in continuation of movement, unidentified men obstructed the convoy which got the attention of security men in the convoy who shot into the air to disperse them.

“Some hours later, after getting to our destination, it was brought to my attention that someone was hit by a stray bullet, contrary to an earlier report by men in the

convoy that they applied their security discretion to shoot in the air.

“I have caused a report to be made to the local police station and an investigation has commenced.

“In the meantime; the officer who fired the fatal shot has been suspended from the convoy, pending the conclusion of the investigation.

“My value for human life and my respect for all people irrespective of social economic

status – is what endeared me to these vendors and these are the reasons why I stop my convoy quite often to connect with them.

For one of them to have been shot by my security detail is horrific and I cannot begin to imagine the grief and loss Ifeanyi’s family must feel on this sad day. No family should have to go through this.

“I am personally distraught about this incident and my deepest sympathies go to the victim, his family and Abuja vendors”.

DEDICATION OF GOD’S HOUSE…

L-R: Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi; Governor of Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Prof. Godfrey Igwebuike Onah; Papal Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi; Archbishop of Onitsha Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, during the dedication of St. Theresa’s Cathedral, Nsukka, Enugu State…yesterday.

Diri, Dickson Kick as Gunmen Kill Inspector in Ex-gov’s Home Onungwe Obe in Yenagoa The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, and former Governor Seriake Dickson have condemned the attack on Dickson’s country home, which resulted in the death of a police inspector.

The inspector was killed on Wednesday night by gunmen who attempted to raid the Toru-Orua , Sagbama Local Government Area home of Dickson. Dickson.

The Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Asinim Butswat, who confirmed the incident to THISDAY yesterday, said the Commissioner of Police,

Mr. Mike Okoli, visited the scene of the incident yesterday morning.

Butswat said the deceased had led the resistance to the gunmen, who came in through River Forcados to attack the home of the former governor.

He said the police commissioner has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident and to bring the attackers to book.

He said the body of the deceased inspector has been deposited in a mortuary. He however did not give the name of the deceased.

Meanwhile, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has strongly condemned the attack,

according to a statement by his Chief Press secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah.

Diri said it was unthinkable that an illustrious son of Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation as Chief Dickson could be the target of such a mindless attack and promised that his government would work with the police and other security agencies to bring the perpetrators to book.

The governor commiserated with the family of the police officer and extended his condolences to the Inspector General of Police and the police authorities over the loss.

A statement by Fidelis Soriwei,

the Chief Press Secretary to the former governor, said Dickson and his family were not at home when the incident occurred.

The former Governor condoled with the immediate family of the late police officer, the Inspector General of Police, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of police and the entire police team on the death of the gallant policeman.

He said Dickson, who is a candidate in the December 5th senatorial election for Bayelsa West, called on his supporters across the Ijaw nation to give relevant information to the police to aid their investigation into the crime.

Do Justice to All APC Members in Ebonyi, Buni Tells Umahi We are tired of PDP, empty promises, says gov Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki The National Caretaker Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Mai Mala Buni, has charged the Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, to do justice to all members of the APC across all levels in the state.

Buni described Umahi’s defection to APC as timely and appropriate, as they have started to rebuild the party with reconciliation and registration of new members.

Speaking in Abakaliki, the state capital, during the formal reception of Umahi to APC, the Yobe State governor noted

that they were not just happy receiving Umahi to APC, but they were happier with the great performance of the governor in the state.

He noted that the party believes in equity and fairness, and that that was why President Muhammadu Buhari does not consider party affiliations when making sure that the welfare of the country is being considered.

Buni further described the president as a man of justice and fairness, which he said was the reason that Umahi left his former party to the APC. Harping on the APC administration, the national

caretaker committee chairman of the party recalled that when the president took over the mantle of leadership, Buhari discovered that over 27 states and many local government areas were unable to pay salaries, and the president had to provide bailout funds to enable the states pay salaries.

He also added that some of the flagship programmes of the federal government, like the Anchor Borrowers, were executed by states without party considerations.

Buni said: “Yesterday night we received the Governor David Umahi and his supporters to

APC. Your Excellency, you are most welcomed. We are happy to receive you on behalf of the APC family. We are happy not because we are receiving you but because you have performed, you’re still performing, and you have delivered and still delivering.

“Your intention to join APC is timely; it’s appropriate because you are coming to our party at a time we have started rebuilding the party. And to rebuild this party, we have started with reconciliation, and now we have commenced the second phase which is membership across the country.”

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Buhari, Okowa, Ekweremadu, Omokri Hail Jonathan at 63 Former president seeks consolidation of democracy

Omololu Ogunmade, Deji Elumoye in Abuja and OmonJulius Onabu in Asaba President Muhammadu Buhari; Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa; Senator Ike Ekweremadu and a former aide to the expresident, Mr. Reno Omokri yesterday rejoiced with former President Goodluck Jonathan on the occasion of his 63rd birthday anniversary holding today (Friday).

Buhari, in his congratulatory message, said Jonathan’s life of service has brought honour and goodwill to the country.

This is coming as Jonathan has made a case for the consolidation of democracy in Africa, describing it as a leverage that could ensure that the continent’s future would be better than its past.

The president’s spokesman,

Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari expressed appreciation to the former president for his dedication to service following his astronomical rise to the highest level of service and eventual emergence as ECOWAS envoy in recent times.

The president prayed God to grant Jonathan long life, wsdom and good health so that he can continue to serve humanity.

The statement read: “On behalf of the federal government and Nigerians in general, President Muhammadu Buhari warmly felicitates with former President Goodluck Jonathan on his 63rd birthday, November 20, 2020, congratulating him for a life of service that has brought honour and goodwill to the country.

“The President notes with appreciation the peculiar and

remarkable climb of the former president on Nigeria’s political ladder, and dedication that has kept him working most recently as ECOWAS envoy to bring peace to the Republic of Mali.

“As the former Nigerian President turns 63, President Buhari prays that the Almighty God will grant Dr Jonathan longer life, good health and more wisdom to keep serving the nation and humanity.”

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has also congratulated Jonathan, as he clocks 63 years today, saying his efforts at promoting democracy particularly in Africa are impactful and commendable.

The former president’s “unique statesmanship and graceful disposition to issues” has also endeared him to democrats globally, Okowa said through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika.

He said that Jonathan’s

bourgeoning role in entrenching democracy across Africa through his observer-mission activities was impactful and laudable.

Okowa also noted that the former president’s role in the peace process in Mali, describing it as “truly statesmanlike”.

Ekweremadu has also hailed Jonathan, for his democratic temperament and selfless leadership.

Ekweremadu commended the former President for not only the electoral reforms recorded under his administration, but also for providing the right democratic atmosphere to ensure that the reforms were implemented by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant agencies and stakeholders.

On his part, Omokri noted that the best President in Nigeria’s history, in my opinion, is Goodluck

Jonathan. He identified the single biggest problem in Nigeria, illiteracy and addressed it by building 165 Almajiri schools, and 14 new universities (13 built from the scratch and one, the Police College, Wudil, Kano, upgraded to a full university).”

He described Jonathan as entirely detribalised.

“That is why he did not focus on development in his state or region. Some people mock him for this. But that is a father’s heart.

You spread your love equally. You have no favourite child,” he added.

Meanwhile, Jonathan has made a case for the consolidation of democracy in Africa, describing it as a leverage that could ensure that the continent’s future would be better than its past.

The former President noted that democracy might have its flaws but pointed out that various academic

studies had demonstrated that the system of government “yields better economies, better health for its citizens and better respect for human rights.”

He stated this yesterday in his keynote speech at a virtual conference organised by the Kofi Annan Foundation which focused on ‘Democracy in East Africa in the age of COVID- 19: challenges and opportunities’.

Jonathan further affirmed that it was no coincidence that the countries with the best human development index scores are all democracies, while the worst performers are not.

“We have made enormous strides in Africa in terms of democracy. According to Freedom House, there were only two democracies in Africa in 1980; now there are no fewer than forty.”

Bandits Kill Policeman, Kidnap 14 Others in Niger Laleye Dipo in Minna No fewer than 14 people were said to have been abducted by bandits, who also killed a mobile policeman and injured another in the Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.

The incidence occurred on Wednesday night.

The injured policeman was immediately rushed to the Minna General Hospital where he is recuperating.

The policemen were on routine patrol around Mariga town cattle market when the bandits ambushed them and a shootout ensued between the policemen and the attackers.

Four women, Maryam Usman, Safiya Bagobiri, Salamatu Hassan and Safiya

Bagobiri were among those kidnapped with three other men – Yunusa Malam, Kabiru Shamuyanbu and Abdulkarim Musa.

The bandits stormed the community on motorcycles and started shooting sporadically to create fears in the villages.

According to the source, those kidnapped were ferried out of the villages on motorcycles.

“The bandits drove into our villages and started shooting to scare our people. They kidnapped our people and fled with them to an unknown place on motorcycles. All efforts to get the reaction of the state Police Command through its Public Relations Officer, ASP Wasiu Abiodun, were abortive as he could not be reached on his phone.

FG to Decide on Registration of ASUU’s Splinter Group on December 15 Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has given the committee responsible for the consideration of request for registration by the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) four weeks to submit its report.

The move came just as federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have scheduled to resume their negotiations today.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, while receiving a delegation of the CONUA leadership in his office in Abuja yesterday, assured them that their application for registration as trade union would be treated with fairness and without fear or favour.

Ngige also said the vision of CONUA on what should be their major focus in the university aligned with his.

The minister accused ASUU of toying with the future of the students by subjecting the universities to long period of

closure on academic work.

Speaking on the request for registration by the splinter group, Ngige said what they did is permitted by law.

According to him, “Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution gives you the right to relate with persons of like minds, and to that extent, it says you can form trade unions, and to we the politicians, we can form political parties subject to registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a valid political party.

“So CONUA has done the right thing by applying for registration, and the ministry has also done the right thing by processing your application for registration.

“Your application to the Trade Union department of the ministry was earlier rejected, but you applied to the minister for review which is within your right and that review is ongoing now.”

Also, the minister said a committee has been set up to look into the appeal by CONUA for the review of its application.

CONGRATULATIONS…

L-R: New students of American University of Nigeria, Yola, Miss Christina Ejemhen, Miss Maryam Mustapha, and Miss Gladys Telli, taking their pledge in Yola, Adamawa State...yesterday

ASUU: Private Varsities Recruiting Our Members Eromosele Abiodun and Nume Ekeghe The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi yesterday disclosed that private universities were recruiting the members of the union due to the inability of the federal government to meet its demands.

The union has also warned that it would no longer accept promises from the

federal government because the government has not kept promises it made in the past.

Speaking yesterday on ARISE NEWS Channel, a sister broadcast arm of THISDAY, Ogunyemi also said the federal government cannot threaten the lecturers with court action.

“Talking about options, whether they want to go to court and intimidate the union to surrender. You don’t do that with scholars, no country has

ever survived it because we have options too.

“We talk about brain-drain now; I can tell you authoritatively that within the last two months, 25 scholars in the North-east have been harvested by this university in Yola. We know the owner. That is how it is happening; the private universities are poaching the public universities now because they can only thrive when the public universities crumble.

“We are also aware that some

few months back, Ethiopia came to Nigeria, and harvested as many as 200 professors and they are still looking for more.

“I don’t know if the government wants their appointees to start teaching the students. Of course, many of them don’t have their children in public universities; that is why they cannot feel it. Our scholars are our national assets and we should not allow them to be decimated.”

Man Shoots Wife, Kills Self in Kaduna John Shiklam in Kaduna A former lecturer at the Kaduna State Polytechnic, Mr. Austin Umera, yesterday shot himself to death.

The tragic incident happened at his Kigo Road residence in Kaduna.

Umera, was said to have shot his wife, Dr. Maurine,

before killing himself.

His wife, a part-time lecturer at the Department of Languages, Kaduna State University (KASU), was said to have been rushed to the 44, Nigerian Army Referral Hospital in Kaduna for treatment, while Umera’s corpse was deposited at the Barau Dikko Specialist

Hospital, Kaduna.

The spokesman of the state Police Command, Mohammed Jalige, confirmed the incident.

Jalige, however, said the command was yet to ascertain the justification behind the action of the former lecturer as investigation was still ongoing.

“Yes, the man shot his wife and killed himself too. We are

still investigating the issue.

The wife is at 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital where she is receiving treatment. The incident happened at Kigo Road in Kaduna, and the corpse of the man has been deposited at the Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital,” Jalige said in a telephone interview.

Third Mainland Bridge to Be Partially Closed on Sunday Bennett Oghifo There will be partial closure of the Lagos Island-bound lane of the Third Mainland Bridge between Adekunle to AdenijiAdele, for three months, from Sunday, November 22, 2020 to February 22, 2021.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, said yesterday that the partial closure would enable the government to complete repair work on the second and final section of the bridge that needed urgent rehabilitation.

He disclosed that Adekunle

to Adeniji-Adele part of the bridge on the Island bound lane measuring 3.5kilometres will be partially closed throughout the period of repair works and there will be diversion of traffic.

For Phase B, the morning traffic of 11:55pm - 11:55am from Oworonshoki to Lagos Island,

only on the Adeniji-Adele bound lane to divert at Adekunle to the Oworonshoki bound lane and divert back to the Island bound lane at Adeniji-Adele.

For the afternoon traffic, 11:55am - 11:55pm, Lagos Island to Oworonshoki bound lane, will have no diversion.

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Senate Accuses Revenue Agencies of Sharp Practices Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Senate yesterday accused revenue generating agencies of the federal government of sharp practices through which accruable revenues were denied public purse.

This is just as it also accused some banks of conniving with federal civil servants to operate accounts outside the official Treasury Single Account (TSA)

of government.

The upper chamber claimed that most if not all the revenue generating agencies of government collect revenues and fail to pay them into the federation account.

President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, said recent experience of the federal parliament had revealed that the revenue agencies are neck deep in corruption.

Speaking at his investiture as Patron of the Chartered Institute of Forensic and Investigative Professionals of Nigeria (CIFIPN), Lawan stated that “our experience in the National Assembly recently has shown that the revenue generating agencies of government, many of them,

will collect revenues but not all the revenues are remitted to the appropriate account of government.”

He, therefore, canvassed for the introduction of modern technology for the collection and transmission of all accruable revenues to government purse.

According to him, the legislative arm will always be ready to support the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in digitalising its operations with a view to blocking all available leakages.

He said: “We believe that we can do better if we deploy technology in the collection and

transmission of the revenues.

That is why the Federal Inland Revenue Service has received complete support from the National Assembly to become more digital in the area of collection of revenues so that we limit leakages and embezzlement that some officers would try to engage in”.

Military Intercepts Ransom Payment to Boko Haram Terrorists Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri The Nigerian military has intercepted a ransom payment to suspected members of the Boko Haram sect.

A statement issued yesterday by the acting Director of Defence Media Operations, Brig. Gen. Benard Onyeuko, said on November 17, 2020, troops of the 251 Task Force Battalion deployed in Strong Response Area (SRA) Molai, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted some Boko Haram criminals and relations of some kidnapped persons making efforts to pay a ransom of N2 million to the terrorists.

The statement stated: “In

a swift reaction, the gallant troops engaged the Boko Haram criminals forcing them to abort the collection of the payment as well as abandon their captives, in the aftermath of the decisive encounter.

“One Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist was neutralised while others escaped with gunshot wounds. An AK 47 rifle and a motorcycle were recovered.

The victims, including two women and three children, were all rescued unhurt.

“In another development, on November 17, 2020, troops of 151 Battalion conducted an aggressive fighting patrol to clear Boko Haram criminals’ hideout in the general area of Zaye Ngusa village.

Lagos Reads Riot Act to Motorcyclists, Tricycle Operators The Lagos State Government yesterday read the riot act to motorcyclists and tricycle operators in the state, insisting that restriction on Okada riders from plying bridges, major highways in the state was still in force.

The government also tasked all law enforcement agencies in the state “to immediately and continuously embark on enforcement on all restricted routes”.

Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Frederic Oladeinde, gave the order at a press conference held at Alausa in Ikeja.

According to a statement by Mr. Gboyega Akosile, Chief Press Secretary to Governor

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the transport commissioner said the game was over for traffic offenders, especially the menace and impunity of commercial motorcycles and tricycles’ operators in the state.

The statement titled, ‘LASG reads riot act to motorcyclists, tricycle operators’, partly read, “Following the flagrant violation of the traffic laws and other anomalies on the roads, Lagos State Government on Thursday read the riot act to motorcycle and tricycle operators, noting that the restriction on them from plying 10 major highways, 40 bridges and roads within six local governments and nine Local Council Development Areas in the state is still in force.

Popular Pastor Jailed Two Years for Unlawful Conversion, Stealing of N14m, £12,000 A popular televangelist and the head Genesis Parish of the Celestial Church of Christ, Alagbado, Lagos, Isreal Ogundipe, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment by an Ikeja High Court for unlawfully converting a woman’s property and stealing.

Ogundipe, who has been on trial since 2011, was charged with seven-counts of obtaining by stealing, inducing delivery of money by false pretenses, unlawful conversion of property and forgery.

Delivering the judgment in the matter yesterday, Justice Olabisi Akinlade

found Ogundipe guilty of two out of the seven-count charge brought against him by the state and sentenced him to one year imprisonment on each of the count.

He would however spend one year in prison as the sentence will run concurrently.

The court found the prophet not guilty of five-counts of stealing, inducing delivery of money by false pretences, giving false information to a public officer forgery.

Justice Akinlade ordered the convict to make restitution of N11million to the complainant, a London-based architect, Mrs. Oladele Williams-Oni on counts two and four.

SUCCOUR FOR SENIOR CITIZENS…

L-R: Wife of the author, Mrs. Monica Amadi; Author, Mr. Felix Amadi; Chairman, North East Development Commission(NEDC), Maj. Gen. Paul Tarfa (rtd); and Chairman of the occasion/former Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Bamanga Tukur, during the official presentation of a book titled ‘Retirement in Nigeria,’ in Abuja …yesterday ENOCK REUBEN

House Demands Details of $36.1m Multilateral Loan, $1.5m Grant to OAuGF Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts yesterday directed the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, to furnish it with details of releases of multilateral loan of $36.1 million and grant of $1.5 million claimed to have been given to the Office of Auditor General of the Federation (OAuGF) by development

partners.

This is as the lawmakers resolved to summon the Head of Service of the Federation (HoSF), Folashade YemiEsan; the Federal Character Commission and Federal Civil Service Commission to determine whether the employment waiver granted to the Auditor General elapsed in January.

The committee reached these resolutions when the Director-

General of Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, appeared before it to explain while the OAuGF has been grossly under-funded despite its critical role in ensuring accountability.

The committee also adopted a motion of privilege raised by the Deputy Chairman, Abdulkadir Abdullahi (PDP-Bauchi), to bring to the attention of the House Speaker, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, abusive words used by

Akabueze in a letter to the committee.

While responding, Akabueze faulted the notion that the OAuGF was grossly underfunded, insisting that there has been a steady increase in budgetary allocation to the OAuGF for the past three years.

He asserted that if the allocation to the OAuGF over the years has been inadequate, then the National Assembly is also culpable.

Defection: Umahi’s Aide, Chidiebere Resigns Egwu Chidiebere, Special Assistant on Internal Security and Public Utilities (Urban), to Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi, yesterday, resigned his appointment with the state government.

The resignation of Chidiebere happened as Umahi, who had left the PDP, formally joined

the APC yesterday.

Chidiebere’s resignation is coming barely five days after the Commissioner for Inter-Governmental Affairs, Mr. Lazarus Ogbee, resigned his appointment with the state government.

Chidiebere submitted his resignation letter to the office

of the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Kenneth Ugbala.

The letter read in part, “Consequently, I hereby respectfully resign my appointment as the SA on Internal Security and Public Utilities (Urban) with effect from today, 19th day of

November, 2020.

“My resignation should not be a misconstrued as an affront to your person, thus, but in tandem with my principle never to betray my master and anyone else.” would protect the interest of the people of the region in the 2023 presidential election.

N’Delta Leaders Give Condition for Termination of Amnesty Programme The Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Dixon Milland Dikio (rtd), yesterday held a crucial meeting with critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta on the future of the Programme in Yenagoa, where the stakeholders agreed that the PAP could have a terminal date after the full integration of the 30,000 beneficiaries of the Programme.

The stakeholders included

traditional rulers, political leaders, past and present leaders of the Ijaw National Congress and the Ijaw Youth Council.

After hours of deliberations, the meeting agreed that the PAP cannot run in perpetuity and should have a terminal date subject to the full integration of the beneficiaries.

The meeting also focused on the challenges identified to have bedeviled the programme over

the years.

Present at the meeting were Pioneer President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Chief Joshua Fumudoh; former Senator from Bayelsa East, Sen. Nimi Barigha-Amange; pioneer President of the Ijaw Youth Council, Dr. Felix Tuodolo; prominent activist and leader, Chief TK Ogoriba; the President of the Ijaw Youth Council, Mr. Peter Igbifa; former President

of the IYC, Mr. Udengs Eradiri; the traditional rulers of Gbarain Ikpetiama Kingdom, HRH King Bubaraye Dakolo, and others.

The stakeholders were unanimous in calling on the federal government to ensure that the programme is given the needed financial support to effectively implement the reintegration of the beneficiaries before it finally winds down.

Lagos Govt Hails Techno Oil for Building LPG Terminal in Apapa The Lagos State Government has lauded Techno Oil Limited for building a landmark 8,400-tonne capacity LPG Coastal Terminal at Kirikiri in Apapa, Lagos.

The Governor of the state, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave the commendation in Lagos in a message read on his behalf at the commissioning of the LPG terminal by the state’s

Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Olalere Odusote.

The governor said that Techno Oil had demonstrated an uncommon resolve to contribute to the emancipation of Lagos State.

He recalled the building of an LPG cylinder manufacturing plant in the state last year, describing the gas sector

as a key component of his administration’s quest to make Lagos a 21st Century economy.

The governor said that he strongly believed that pivoting Lagos State to a gas-powered economy would offer an array of economic and environmental benefits to its residents.

“Developments such as this will help to promote and deepen domestic LPG

utilisation across the state, thereby reducing the state’s carbon footprint and ultimately benefiting the people of Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole.

“As the major economic, commercial and financial nervecentre of the federation as well as the fifth largest economy in Africa, Lagos State is a major hub for the downstream sector of the oil & gas industry.”

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Buhari Asks Head of Service to Increase UMTH’s Allocation Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday asked the Head of Service of the Federation and the Budget Office to increase the personnel and overhead allocations to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital

(UMTH).

The president issued the directive at the virtual inauguration of capital projects at UMTH, in response to a specific request by the board and management of the hospital.

According to a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, Buhari said increase

Lawan Denies Collecting N2bn Bribe Deji ElumoyeinAbuja The President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, has washed his hands off an alleged collection of N2 billion bribe to hasten the re-appointment of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Lawan’s reaction was contained in a statement issued yesterday evening by his spokesman, Mr. Ola Awoniyi, to a report by an on-line medium alleging that a group led by the Senate President collected N2billion from Yakubu to facilitate the confirmation of his appointment

by President Muhammadu Buhari to a fresh five-year tenure.

Lawan noted that the publication failed to provide the names of members of the fictitious group

and where the group operated from.

He, therefore, enjoined Nigerians to ignore the report “as yet another incident of hallucination by the comical characters operating the fabricated news platform as the online medium has long earned its notoriety as a purveyor of fake news with high-profile public officials as its targets”.

The statement further said that: “It is well known that only the President can nominate a candidate for appointment or reappointment as Chairman of INEC. And only the Senate as a body can confirm or reject the appointment, after due screening of the candidate. The parliamentary process for the confirmation of nominations by the President is open and involves all distinguished senators.

in personnel and overhead allocations to UMTH would enhance services provided in the school.

Other landmark projects commissioned by the president at the event included the newly constructed and fully equipped 150-bed trauma centre, a new General Outpatient Department, a National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) complex and a

multi-purpose auditorium and conference centre constructed and furnished by Governor Babagana Zulum.

Buhari also commissioned a new hostel at the UMTH School of Nursing, constructed by the federal government.

He said the value of the projects executed at the UMTH, which he described as centre of excellence in infectious diseases

and immunology in Nigeria, to the nation’s health care system could not be underestimated, particularly in the era of global health system challenges caused

by COVID-19 pandemic.

He described the completion of the capital projects as a reflection of federal government’s commitment to sustain development in the North-east and other parts of the country

and simultaneously promoting economic growth, peace and progress. ‘’Emerging diseases have made it necessary for all nations to increase and improve resource application for coping with the challenges or adapting to the ‘new normal.‘’This goes on in Borno State side by side with efforts to tackle insurgency and criminal activities,’’ he said.

GIVING BACK TO SOCIETY…

L-R: Chairman, Onigbongbo Local Council Development Authority (LCDA), Mr. Oladotun Olakanle; Senior Brand Manager, Home and Hygiene, Reckitt Benckiser West Africa, Mrs. Chioma Sylva-Ifedigbo; Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Mrs. Belinda Aderonke Odeneye; Harpic Brand Ambassador, Dr. Helen Paul; and Director, Sanitation, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Dr. Hassan Sanuth, at the 2020 World Toilet Day celebration and inauguration ETOP UKUTT of public toilets donated by Harpic in Lagos… yesterday

Dangote Refinery Targets Research, Technology Erudite Scholar, Peter to Boost Job Creation Ekeh Dies

World acclaimed scholar and former Head, Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, Professor Peter P. Ekeh, has died at the age of 83.

CHANGE OF NAME I, Formally known and addressed as ADEBOLA FELICIA ADEGBOYE, now wish to be known as ADEBOLA FELICIA ADENIYI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formally known and addressed as MISS BLESSING LOVETH MUSA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS LOVETH BLESSING EDIFON-UMOREN. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria custom service, Nigeria immigration services and the general public should take note.

I, formally known and addressed as MISS OLAWUNI OLUWATOBI RUTH , now wish to be known and addressed as MRS FALADE OLUWATOBI RUTH. All old and present documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I, formally known and addressed as AKINDE SUCCESS IYANUOLUWA, now wish to be known and addressed as USIADE SUCCESS EBUBE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formally known and addressed as MUONEKE IFEYINWA EUCHARIA, now wish to be known and addressed as TAMUNOTONYE IBIPIRIBO IFEYINWA. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should take note.

I, formally known and addressed as OLAYIWOLA ODUNOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as OGUNKUNLE-WAHAB RUKAYAT ODUNOLA. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should take note.

He died at Buffalo, New York, United States on Tuesday, after a brief illness.

Ekeh’s ground-breaking seminal work, “Colonialism and the Two Publics in Africa: A Theoretical Statement,” published in 1975, is one of the most cited works in the field of African, political and sociological studies.

His other authoritative publications include Social Exchange Theory: The Two Traditions; Federal Character and Federalism in Nigeria; and Nigeria Since Independence: The First Twenty-Five Years.

He also edited many other publications, including Warri City and British Colonial Rule in Western Niger Delta; Studies in Urhobo Culture, and History of the Urhobo People of the Niger Delta.

A Fellow of Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars, Ekeh was Chair, Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, 1978-89.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formally known and addressed as AWENEBI ADEBANKE FAVOUR, now wish to be known and addressed as AWENEBI A SMILE VIVIAN. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should take note.

I, formally known and addressed as LARRY USMAN, now wish to be known and addressed as LANRE ISIAKA USMAN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formally known and addressed as MISS ONOMUODEKE, PAMELA AGHOGHO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS WOGU, PAMELA AGHOGHO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

Despite the harsh operating environment in the domestic economy occasioned by dearth of adequate infrastructure, the Dangote Refinery has restated its commitment to research and technology to boost job creation and poverty alleviation in the country.

The Dangote Group said it would continue to partner research institutions for advancement of indigenous technology and national

development.

Group Executive Director, Dangote Group, Mr. Mansur Ahmed,made the pledge yesterday during a study tour of the Research and Development Steering Committee of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) to the Dangote Refinery, Petrochemicals and Fertiliser projects in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos. The delegation of top academics and researchers was

led on tour by the Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Prof.

Suleiman Bogoro.

Ahmed said collaboration between the government, academia and industry was needed to set Nigeria on the path of industrial development and employment generation.

He said: “The Dangote Group believes that there need to be a synergy between the researchers in the universities and the industries like what is

found in advanced economies.

“The industry and the academia need to work together to identify issues and problems that are looking for solutions and the researchers will now come back with their findings and proposed solutions.

“If the solution meets the expectations of the industry you will get the two working together to find home grown solutions to our problems.

Niger Delta Group Suspends Dialogue with FG Sunday Okobi The United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Service (UNDEDSS) has announced that it has stopped further discussions with the federal government on issues and plights of the people of the Niger Delta.

Rising from an emergency virtual meeting yesterday, the group said all future cooperation

with the federal government has ceased.

In a statement issued after the meeting yesterday through its Secretary-General, Mr. Tony Uranta, which was made available to THISDAY, the group said the decision would remain until the 16-point demand laid directly before President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016 is urgently and comprehensively

met as promised by the president at a parley held in Aso Villa with representatives of the group and the Niger Delta leaders.

According to the statement, “Niger Delta will mark any putative regional leaders who will attempt to break the nomore-dialogue position of the group.

“Enough is enough. We shall no longer remain in a

union where we are third class citizens.”

UNDEDSS had in the past urged President Buhari to ensure that the forensic audit he ordered the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to execute is speedily carried out without tainting the process, or further shortchanging the region.

Umahi’s Flight to Oblivion Even though he knows clearly he is unelectable, not because of where he comes from but clearly because of who he is – a selfish man – his ambition blinds him to the reality that he cannot win the ticket to run for president anywhere even if it was zoned to the South-east.

There are far more qualified people with character than a man who betrays the interest of his people in one breath and then turns around to pretend he is their champion.

How foolhardy can a man not be when greed takes control of him?

How many people know Umahi’s name in Sokoto or Kano or Maiduguri or Lagos or Oyo? How many people remember him for any noble position he has taken on any contentious national issue? What are his antecedents to be found worthy of a presidential ticket?

This was a man who to appease the president, invited marauding Fulani herdsmen to Ebonyi State

and offered them grazing lands despite their history of wanton killings and destruction of properties in the state. Even as agitations reach a crescendo, Umahi has not taken a position on restructuring of the country to make it work better for all its component units ostensibly not to offend Buhari who is dead against restructuring.

The state of the country has progressively gone from bad to worse under his idol, Buhari, a president that has largely aggravated the fault-lines in the country.

How on earth does Umahi think Nigerians will be receptive to a man who calls himself a Buharist - which to many is akin to an attempt to create a myth out of the worst form of incompetence and failure of leadership ever seen in this country, but pathetically elevated by Umahi and fellow travellers as an article of faith.

History teaches us that men are more likely never going to learn lessons from past experiences and mistakes of others. Umahi’s love for APC will explode in his face very soon. He should ask former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan who left his father’s house to live with strangers even when the house was not leaking, what happened to him in the APC. Just two years in the APC, Uduaghan realised its dysfunctional nature. Consistently treated as an outsider, a leper, it dawned on him he was never really going to blend in with a tribe of strange bedfellows. Well, he soon came to his senses and ran back to the PDP a few weeks back.

Umahi should ask former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Bukola Saraki, Dino Melaye, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Aminu Tambuwal, and many others who had decimated their own party, the PDP to hand power to the APC, what

their experiences were in that party.

If still in doubt, he should consult his kinsman, Rochas Okorocha about the level of injustice in the APC. Okorocha declared recently there was ten times more injustice in the APC than any other party.

I am not going to waste my time believing that he is a reasonable person because the reasons he has given are not reasonable. Like a fly which follows a corpse into the grave, Umahi is irrevocably committed not to learn any lesson from the mistakes of others. He is set on a path to his own political destruction. I actually think Nigeria will be the better for it as we count them out, one by one.

But no one should be fooled about the dangers these unscrupulous elements pose to our democracy. But we should at least be grateful that they are consigning themselves to oblivion, thereby reducing their number.

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FRIDAYSPORTS Eight ‘Nigerians’ Make 2020 NBA Draft History

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Duro Ikhazuagb with agency report Nigeria’s good fortunes in basketball played out on Wednesday night as eight players with the country’s heritage were picked in America’s National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft for the shortened 2020/21 season due to tip off on December 22.

The Draft earlier scheduled to hold on June 25 was delayed till Wednesday November 18 due to the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak globally.

Out of the eight players, two of them were born in Nigeria with the rest having Nigerian heritage.

After Hakeem Olajuwon (1984) and Michael Olowokandi (1998) who were number one picks in first round drafts, Precious Achiuwa (Miami Heat) became the third Nigerian-born player

to be drafted in the first round since 2000. Udoka Azubuike (Utah Jazz) was the 4th in the prestigious list.

The feat on Wednesday night was also the first time that two players born in Nigeria have been picked in the first round of the same draft.

With Nigeria as the only country from the African continent with her male and female basketball teams qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games next year, the draft of eight players with Nigerian heritage appears a major boost to the emerging force that D’Tigers represents in the game.

The other players also picked in the first round draft include; Isaac Okoro (Cleveland Cavaliers), Onyeka Okongwu (Atlanta Hawks), Zeke Nnaji (Denver Nuggets), and Desmond Bane (Boston Celtics).

Super Eagles ‘Missing Link’ Ndidi Back from Injury Leicester Boss, Brendan Rodgers, has expressed his excitement following the return of Super Eagles’ holding midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, from Injury lay off. Ndidi is expected to feature in this weekend’s Leicester City game against defending champion, Liverpool at Anfield.

The news of the AFCON 2019 bronze winner’s return to full training after the healing of the abductor injury he copped in the Foxes’ 4-2 defeat to Burnley in a Premier League game in September, is a major boost for Leicester City and manager Brendan Rodgers.

Before his injury, the midfielder had been drafted into central defence so far in the 2020-21 campaign following the unavailability of Wes Morgan, Jonny Evans and Filip Benkovic.

However, he has resumed training and it means he could feature in Leicester’s Premier League match this weekend, away to Jurgen Klopp’s men on Sunday, although Rodgers may want to protect the 23-year-old to build his fitness.

In the absence of Ndidi, Nampalys Mendy has fitted in perfectly into the Foxes squad and that drew commendation from Rodgers. “He is performing to the level the club wanted when

Wilfred Ndidi...back from injury

they brought him in,� the Northern Irish tactician told the club website. “He’s a defensive midfield player, tactically very good, understands the role, and does a lot of dirty work for the team. “Of course, before he’s played with Wilf [Ndidi], who’s something similar beside him and it’s probably where both of those players need someone creative beside them. “I think because of Wilf’s form, certainly since I’ve been here, he’s been so consistent, Wilf, and it’s been difficult for Papy to play but it really shows you the mark of the guy – how well he has trained, how concentrated he has been.

He never lost his focus and was always there if an opportunity came to give his very best. “Now, what you’re seeing is a player that is getting a consistent run of games, and he’s really showing the quality player he is. I have been delighted with Papy.

He gives the team stability with his experience and understanding of football and how we work. He has been crucial to how we play.�

The Foxes, who have won their last six games across all competitions have a packed schedule of English top-flight games as well as the Europa League to deal with, and will need key first-team members such as Ndidi fit and available for big fixtures coming in quick succession.

After eight English top-flight games, the King Power Stadium giants lead the log having accrued 18 points, while Klopp’s men are ranked third with one point less.

Both Daniel Oturu (LA Clippers) and Jordan Nwora (Milwaukee Bucks) were selected in the second round.

Achiuwa and Azubuike qualify automatically to represent Nigeria as they were born in Port Harcourt and Lagos respectively. Nwora has already played for D’Tigers.

The other five players who are listed as Americans because it is the country of their birth, will have to indicate a willingness to switch to Nigeria’s green and white jerseys.

Okoro who was selected the highest of them all as he was drafted at Number 5, has already claimed to be “Nigerian� and declared that he is a full blooded African.

Wednesday’s draft was a departure from the past when it was usually dominated by Europeans and Canadians, with a sprinkling of Africans - usually two or three and mostly from Nigeria, Senegal and lately Cameroon The 2020 class however is unique in the fact that of the 30 players selected in the First Round, 23 were born in the United States, 2 were born in Nigeria and one each from France, Israel, Serbia, and Australia; of the 23 born in the United States, four have Nigerian origins, thus bringing the total number of ‘Nigerians’ in the first round to an unprecedented six.

There were no Canadians in the First Round, which was strange given the fact that the Canadians are neighbours to the United States and they have also developed a strong basketball culture. Toronto Raptors, one of

the two expansion franchises that opened in Canada in 1995, won the NBA Championship in 2019 – and became the first Franchise outside the United States to win the title.

It has a Nigerian, Masai Ujiri as its General Manager.

The Second Round also had 30 selected players, and again, 23 players were listed as Americans, while one each was listed from Nigeria, France, Czechoslovakia, Jamaica, Montenegro, Israel and Italy. Again, there were no Canadians in the Second Round which means that no Canadianborn players were selected.

Just last year, the Women’s Team D’Tigress became the first African Team - Male or Female, to win multiple games at a major tournament, when they played all the way to the Quarter Finals of the FIBA Women’s World Cup. Speaking on the 2020 NBA Draft yesterday, First Vice President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Babs Ogunade told THISDAY that it was a big boost for the country ahead of the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year. “ It is a major boost for us to have these players to pick from.

The Olympic camp is going to be very interesting for our technical crew,� stressed Ogunade who is a FIBA Hall of Fame inductee.

The NBBF chief said it was this hindsight of several players from the NBA to pick from that informed why the federation is in search of corporate sponsorship to the tune of $4million to bankroll Nigeria’s

Precious Achiuwa

preparation and participation at the Tokyo Games. “We need to harness all these goodness properly. We must prepare our homes to welcome our basketball into a new era.

We cannot afford to disappoint Nigeria with these array of stars,� concludes Ogunade.

American Anthony Edwards, who was the overall number one pick on Wednesday for Minnesota Timberwolves paid tribute to his late mother and grandmother.

Both family members died of cancer and the Georgia guard, 19, sat next to paintings of the pair as the announcement was made. “It’s an indescribable feeling - I can’t even describe it,� Edwards said. “My family is emotional. I’m sure when I get off of here I’m going to get emotional.�

Edwards stands to earn a fouryear contract worth $44.2m under terms of the existing collective bargaining agreement.

Memphis 7ft centre James Wiseman was the number two pick selected by six-time champions Golden State Warriors, who finished bottom of the Western Conference last season.

Point guard LaMelo Ball, the brother of New Orleans Pelicans point guard Lonzo, was the third pick selected by the Charlotte Hornets. LaMelo, 19, and 2017 second pick Lonzo, 23, are the first brothers selected in the top five of the NBA draft.

Chicago Bulls opted for Florida State small forward Patrick Williams

as the fourth pick.

Wednesday’s event was conducted at ESPN headquarters in Connecticut and held via video calls.

What The Nigerians Are Saying Isaac Okoro “It feels great to be the first Nigerian in this draft to be drafted. It’s also just a blessing.

My mom always tells me to keep that Nigerian pride. Even though I wasn’t born in Nigeria, I still got Nigerian blood. So it’s just having that on my shoulders.�

Precious Achiuwa “First I want to thank God. I want to thank God for putting me in this type of position where I’m playing for a great organization and able to represent not just myself but where I’m from, my whole country behind me, my whole city. And to play for an organization like the Heat is going to be amazing.

I can’t wait to be able to get out there and compete with the rest of my teammates.�

Udoka Azubuike “For me, I’ve just been working hard and keeping my head down.

Not listening to the people talking about projections. A lot of people had me in the second round, but I wasn’t concerned about that. I know what I bring to the table. I know what I can bring to a team. I know whatever team drafted me, I’m going to have to go there and have to prove myself and work hard.�

Udoka Azubuike

All Set for Lagos Women Run with N1m at Stake After weeks of planning, all is now set for the 2020 Lagos Women Run tomorrow with elite category winner set to take home N1 million which is the highest in the history of the annual one-day event.

The General Coordinator of the Lagos Women Run, Tayo Popoola, explained that the immense contributions of the Lagos State Government made it possible for the race to hold especially at a very difficult time of the country’s history. “We have made all

arrangements to ensure a safe race on November 21, for both the virtual and elite races. “It’s the first time in Nigeria and indeed in Africa, so we want to make positive history that is why we have trained our Local Organising Committee (LOC), members to ensure all due diligence. “All Covid-19 protocols will be strictly observed and implemented, as the entire world is watching our progress on the virtual race,� she pointed out.

Popoola stated that, organising committee has ensured that all virtual runners in the Open category understand the usage of the App which would monitor their races as they run anywhere in the country. “There will be a central leaders board to monitor the progress of the virtual runners and automatically pick the top winners. The virtual category has the open and the veteran categories as they run with different colours of numbers. The

winners will also go home with cash prizes after a thorough check of the App.�

The Technical Director of the Lagos Women Run, Yusuf Ali, said earlier during the week that the elite runners would be closely monitored to adhere with all the regulations especially as it was done at the London Marathon some months ago. “It’s the first time this will be happening in Africa and we are determined to make positive history,� Yusuf Ali said.

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FridaySports A F C O N Q U A L I F I E R S FA L LO U T

Arsenal Slam Door on Future Aubameyang Outing for Gabon Arsenal have been left furious by the way their top player, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was treated while away on international duty with Gabon, with the national team manager believing their star striker could be blocked from future call-ups.

The Gunners forward revealed through a series of pictures on social media how he and the rest of Gabon squad were forced to sleep on the floor after arriving at Banjul International Airport in Gambia on Monday morning.

After having their passports taken, Aubameyang revealed that he and his team-mates were made to feel like ‘hostages’ before being allowed into the country six hours later for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Gambia.

The incident sparked an investigation by African football’s governing body into the hold up, which left Arsenal furious with how their talismanic striker had been treated.

Gabon boss Patrice Neveu now believes that the incident will see Arsenal prevent Aubameyang from representing his country again – and he expects the same from other players’ clubs.

Neveu told reporters on

Wednesday: “Arsenal called Pierre-Emerick. After seeing him in those conditions, it’s over‌ They won’t let him come again, and it will be the same for players from other clubs. “It’s understandable. They are high level players and when they come on international duty, they need to have a minimum of comfort,â€? he observed.

He added: “All the players tried to sleep on the airport floor. Imagine if Aubameyang, a player who costs more than â‚Ź1million per month, gets injured. “(Arsenal) can be annoyed after what’s happened, to make a player sleep the floor.â€?

Aubameyang detailed the saga in social media posts and called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to act.

The delay had already begun before Aubameyang’s first post at 11.30pm. After further messages, including images of team-mates sleeping on the airport floor, Gabon were finally on the bus to their hotel at 5.56am, less than 12 hours before kick-off.

The incident led to accusations of dirty tricks by Gambia, who won the Group D clash 2-1.

Aubameyang said in a Twitter message to CAF: “Just want to

know why Gambia keep our passports for hours and they keep us at the airport. Are we hostage or what? Are you gonna close your eyes.�

The 31-year-old then replied to a fan who had suggested

that teams are using new Covid-19 restrictions to employ intimidation tactics so as to give their team an advantage, insisting that the Gabonese are now more motivated than before.

“It will not demotivate us but people need to know and especially that the @ CAF_Online (Confederation of African Football) take these responsibilities,� Aubameyang replied.

“2020 and we want Africa to grow, that’s not how we’re going to get there !!!�

CAF, who are investigating the incident, held an ‘emergency’ video conference call between the two countries on Monday.

SHAME ON AFRICAN FOOTBALL...

Gabon players sleeping on the bare oor of Banjul Airport, Gambia early hours of Monday

Guardiola Signs New Man Turmoil in CAF as Ahmad, Omari Come Under Fresh FIFA Probe City Deal Till 2023 There is strong indication that as February. involving complaints of sexual shed its responsibility to collect Pep Guardiola has signed a new two-year deal that will see him remain as Manchester City manager until the summer of 2023.

The 49-year-old has won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and three League Cups since joining in 2016.

Guardiola told City’s website: “We have achieved a great deal together, scored goals, won games and trophies, and we are all very proud of that success. “Having that kind of support is the best thing any manager can have.�

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager’s previous deal was due to expire at the end of this season.

Guardiola’s current five-year stay is already the longest commitment he has made to a team since becoming a manager in 2008.

If he sees out the contract, the Spaniard will overtake Joe Mercer and go second on the club’s list of longest-serving

Pep Guardiola at the signing of his new Manchester City deal... yesterday

post-war managers, behind Scot Les McDowall who took charge of 592 games between 1950 and 1963.

In total, City have won 181 of the 245 matches under Guardiola, a win rate of 73.87%.

Chairman Khaldoon Mubarak said: “Pep’s contract extension is the natural next step in a journey which has evolved over many years. “It is a product of the mutual trust and respect that exists between him and the entire club. It also goes to the stability and creativity at the heart of our football operations. “Importantly it is a validation of the football structure and philosophy that has been built over more than a decade and to which he has contributed so much.�

Guardiola has previously indicated he was open to remaining with the Blues, although he would only do so if it was what the club wanted.

The current upheaval at Barcelona led to suggestions Guardiola might return to the club he won the Champions League with as a player and a manager.

However, he has rejected that notion and it is thought he spoke to City officials during the international break and told them of his desire to stay.

City will be delighted at the news. Guardiola has won two Premier League titles - and in 2019 completed an unprecedented clean sweep of domestic trophies.

He remains determined to secure the club’s first Champions League title though - having not got further than the quarterfinals in his time at the club.

the CAF President, Ahmad Ahmad’s quest for second term in office may be up in the wind as New York Times reported yesterday that new investigations have began on the football governing body in Africa, CAF. According to the international publication, FIFA ethics investigators have asked the two top football officials in Africa, Ahmad, the stand-aside President, Constant Omari, the powerful senior vice president to explain why they agreed to revise a television contract in a way that appeared to benefit a commercial partner over CAF. This is the latest ethical concern for a governing body that was subject to direct FIFA oversight as recently

Both Ahmad and Omari have been asked by FIFA to provide details about amendments to a television contract with the marketing company, Lagardere Sports.

The changes to the deal, which covers all of the region’s top club and international competitions, have the potential to move millions of dollars in losses from Lagardere Sports onto the books of the African football body, according to documents reviewed by The New York Times.

The new investigation is just the latest problem for Ahmad, who was briefly detained last year by French authorities investigating allegations of embezzlement and who faces a separate FIFA ethics probe

harassment by several female employees and consultants.

It also comes at a pivotal time for African football, which has lurched from crisis to crisis under his leadership: Ahmad is seeking a new four-year term early next year, and sanctions related to any of the open cases could disqualify him from running.

At the heart of FIFA’s new investigation was the decision

by CAF, after discussions led

by Omari and approved by Ahmad, to change the terms of a long-term contract with Lagardere Sports in a way that allowed the Francebased company to reduce the minimum amount it guaranteed for CAF’s television rights and at the same time

almost US$26.9 million in unpaid fees from a sub-licenser.

In agreeing to take on the risk of those unpaid fees, CAF’s leadership also agreed to pay Lagardère a US$6.7 million fee.

In effect, CAF agreed to buy the unpaid debt at a discount, trusting that it could recover the full amount itself from a company that had already defaulted on the debt multiple times.

FIFA last month wrote to both Ahmad, who has taken a 20-day convalescence leave after contracting the coronavirus, and Omari, who on Monday (Nov 16) stepped in to temporarily fill in as CAF president, asking them to explain their decisions to alter the television deal.

Top European League Actions Return on GOtv, SuperSport After the conclusion of some of the fixtures in the 2022 AFCON qualifiers and the UEFA Nations Leagues, actions will return to European leagues this weekend as the 2020/21 Premier League, La Liga and Serie A seasons come on Live on SuperSport, the home of football.

Manchester United will return to Premier League action by welcoming West Brom to Old Trafford on Saturday at 9pm.

United defeated Everton 3-1 before the international break, but the 20-time champions are still sitting in a lowly 14th position.

Their opponents, meanwhile, are slightly worse off and find themselves in the bottom three and still without a victory this season. The Red Devils do have

some key concerns to deal with ahead of the match as Marcus Rashford is a doubt due to a shoulder problem.

The match will be live on SS Football (channel 31).

Also, on Saturday, Aston Villa will face Brighton at 4pm, also on SS Football.

Watch football in the language you understand on SuperSport, the only place to get English commentary from the legendary La Liga.

The top pick of fixtures for this round of La Liga action sees Atletico Madrid host Barcelona at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on the evening of Saturday 21 November at 9pmlive on SS La Liga (channel 32).

While the Rojiblancos have looked their usual gritty and

resilient selves, the Blaugrana have been inconsistent and unpredictable. This has put the pressure squarely on Barca coach, Ronald Koeman, who needs his top players – such as Lionel Messi – to step up their games and drag the Catalan giants towards the top of La Liga’s standings.

Atletico, meanwhile, can be excited about the form of rising star Joao Felix. The 20-year-old Portuguese star is starting to look like the real deal after a somewhat underwhelming 2019-20 in Madrid.

Other La Liga matches to look out for this weekend is the clash between Osasuna and Huesca on Friday 20 November at 9pm on SS La Liga and SS Football. More on Saturday is Villarreal vs Real

Madrid at 4:15pm and Sevilla vs Celta Vigo at 6:30pm, both on SS La Liga (channel 32).

On Sunday 22 November, La Liga continues on GOtv with Granada vs Valladolid at 6:30pm live on SS La Liga and SS Football (channel 32&31).

As far as Serie A is concerned, the top clash this weekend sees Napoli host Milan at Stadio San Paulo on the evening of Sunday 22 November, at 8:45pm on SS Select 1 (channel 33).

These two title hopefuls will feature some major African talent, including Kalidou Koulibaly, Ismael Bennacer, Franck Kessie and Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen if he has overcome the shoulder injury he copped playing against Sierra Leone in Benin City last Friday.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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Friday November 20, 2020

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Wike to Umahi “The party made him what he is and if he denies it, it only tells you the kind of person he is. What’s even his contribution at the national level of the party to support his claim” – Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, faulting one of the reasons given by Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, for leaving the PDP

SHAKAMOMODU Umahi’s Flight to Oblivion THIS REPUBLIC

shaka.momodu@thisdaylive.com

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wide range of emotions is provoked in a democracy. They range from fear, hatred, envy, contempt, absurdity, awe, anger, hope, promise, inclusiveness, tolerance, freedom and much more. Of these, we have witnessed more of the bad and the ugly under the current dispensation.

The sad truth, however, is that since our return to democracy, most of those who presented themselves for public offices are unfit for leadership positions. Some of the so-called democratically elected governors and other “selected” representatives have turned themselves into brutal dictators. Any way, they emerged as governors through a deeply flawed leadership selection process that primes negative attributes over good virtues and character. All sorts of ill-mannered, pompous, boastful, fraudulent individuals and certificate forgers are rigged into public offices to exhibit their malevolent character in the leadership space.

Enter the world of Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State. At first glance, he looks harmless, calm, amiable, unambitious, and maybe somewhat physically presentable. But that is where the good attributes end. Not long ago, the news from the state was not pleasant to the ears. The governor was hopping from one egregious behaviour to another, climaxing in him seizing the air space to ridicule the fourth estate of the realm.

Umahi has excitedly positioned himself for a spot in the hall of infamy in his antidemocratic behaviour that scorches the core of our democratic heritage and values. His follies stand him out as one that will not advance the values of democratic governance; rather they forewarn us of his treachery and the danger he poses to our values.

It appears Ebonyi people are in a terrible bind. Governor Umahi is a malignant narcissist who is not ashamed to exhibit his madness in public or use the power of his office wilfully, malevolently, or vindictively. In the process, he has forgotten that power comes with responsibility. He has forgotten how transient power is and that at the end of his tenure in office, he will revert to being an ordinary citizen of his state.

How else does one explain that a governor with a term limit, whose second term would end in less than three years, imposed a life ban on two journalists from covering the state’s activities or being seen in any government facility? By doing a statewide broadcast pronouncing the sentence, he exhibited drunkenness of power in a most indecorous manner. It was a grotesque spectacle painful to watch.

Umahi had ordered the arrest of Mr Chijioke Agwu over a report he did on the Lassa fever outbreak in the state, as well as one Peter Okutu. Here is a summary of his exact words as reported: “If you think you have the pen, we have the koboko. Let’s leave the court alone. Ebonyi people are very angry with the press and let me warn that I won’t be able to control them or know when they unleash mayhem on you, if you continue to write to create panic in the state.” That was an open incitement to violence against journalists for doing their work.

When Umahi is not threatening journalists with a ban or violence, he is praising President Muhammadu Buhari to the skies. At every turn,

Umahi he has tried to be more Buhari than Buhari himself and proudly calls himself a Buharist, whatever that means. Whatever tickles him about the president must be a strange enticing admiration for the absurd, rooted outside the scope of human understanding. It obscures the reality of Buhari’s deeply flawed persona, or even elevates mediocrity as an article of faith or creed. The reality of the situation of Nigeria today is that, the country is more divided than at any time in its chequered history under Buhari. Is this what tickles Umahi?

The country is more insecure under Buhari than at any time ever – banditry, kidnappings, death and destructions – are rife across the landscape with a complete breakdown of law and order all over the country while the president remains aloof and unbothered. Is that why Umahi admires him?

Nigeria under Buhari won the disgraceful label as the poverty capital of the world; is this its leader for?

Unfortunately, this is the man some heretics and nitwits claim to be his fans. I can bet my bottom kobo that Buhari himself must be aghast at Umahi’s outpouring of love towards him. He must be laughing almost to stupor this strange affection showered on him. I dare say he might even begin to see himself as extraordinary . Of course, he is not.

It was grotesquely tragic to watch Umahi romanticizing the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party he has now defected to, to conclude the horror show. His defection is a manifestation of a political death wish. Of course Umahi’s defection is the climax of a recurring horror show in which all the neuroses that haunt our politics continue to play out, consciously and subconsciously. Over-ambition has become the trajectory of the pestilence on the road to 2023.

When Gaius Cassius was trying to convince Marcus Brutus on why he should join the plot to assassinate Julius Caesar, he made the following argument: “Men at some time are masters of their fates. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.” Well, to be greedy is not in Umahi’s star. The fault is in him.

But I don’t know if there is a Cassius goading him on, or he is merely exhibiting the traits of

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the usual suspect, greed. But there is hardly any energetic difference. In his calculations, joining the APC would give him the leverage to get the ultimate prize – the presidential ticket for 2023. Forget about that talk of the PDP marginalising the South-east. No, far from it. It is all about Umahi and Umahi alone despite his best effort to package himself a new champion of the South-east.

In 2018 when the rumour started to make the rounds of him romanticizing the APC, the governor had this to say: “Mr. President or any APC person has never asked me to come to APC, and they will never ask me.

And there is no reason for me to leave my party, PDP, of which I was the party chairman, deputy governor and now governor.

“I have always insisted in (sic) character.

People that jump from one party to the other should examine their characters, except if there is any problem within your party. As of today, till tomorrow, until Christ comes, there is no crisis in the PDP. Even if there is a need for me to leave the PDP, I can never leave the PDP to the kind of APC in Ebonyi State because with the kind of leaders in Ebonyi APC, leaders that have failed Ebonyi State, I can never be on the same political platform with them.”

Well, two whole years is like an eternity in politics. Umahi has seen the light and has eaten his words and converted. After repeated denials, Umahi has finally made good what has long been suspected, that his heart was in the APC all along. But what took him so long, some may ask?

He has finally freed himself of the burden of hiding behind a finger and defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC on Tuesday, November 17. He said this in his declaration: “I don’t want the PDP to collapse in the South-east but it can collapse itself in the zone if it does not heed to the peoples’ advice to entrench justice, fairness and equity. The PDP should be bold to declare its stand on zoning of the presidency to the South-east and if it cannot, should tell us why we are not capable of holding such a position but will come for our votes during elections.”

Umahi said the decision to leave the PDP was not about leadership but about patriotism, justice, fairness and the overall interest of the people. “I am not vying for any position in the APC so anybody who does not like me over the defection will be fighting the air. Nobody has promised me anything. I will instead play the fatherly role of guiding anyone who wants to vie for any position because it is a waste of time for any governor to seek replacing himself. When you are looking for everybody to be loyal to you in politics, you might not get to your destination because destinations are not straight but full of obstacles,” he said.

Umahi said that he will not be disturbed if the APC fails to zone the presidency to the South-east but will depend on God to determine the matter. If one may ask Umahi, if the South-east doesn’t get the presidential ticket in PDP in 2023, why not stay in PDP and leave the matter to God? According to Umahi, “The APC, however, appears to be amenable towards working with the South-east even though the South-east never supported it the way it supported the PDP since 1999. We would be 24 years with the PDP by 2023 and Ebonyi, under my administration, will testify to the numerous feats we have

attained with the support of my friend and father, President Muhammadu Buhari. I will have no regrets if our agitations are not met in the APC as it will be on record that a governor was sacrificed for the betterment of his people on what is rightfully, their due.”

So he left PDP because the APC “appears to be amenable towards working” with the South-east? Take note of the phase , “appears amenable”. Only a clown would take this to the bank and especially in our brand of politics that is as fluid as we know it.

Does anyone really believe this colourless politician with a history of doublespeak?

Does anyone consider him serious at all?

Well, some may, and would even go to the extent of providing some banal justification for his move. But clearly, his attempt to use the marginalisation of the South-east as a rallying cry is not going to fly.

If as he claims the PDP marginalised the South-east as his reason for leaving the party, is it not strange that he defected to a party which made marginalisation of the South-east a state policy – with its well stated and implemented policy of 97 percent to 5 percent sharing formula?

His “father and friend” Buhari is the father of marginalisation, ethno/religious bigotry and nepotism. He has clearly mismanaged our diversity.

It bears recalling here that Umahi was one of those PDP governors who secretly worked for Buhari’s second term. It was not a mere coincidence that three of the South-east states, including Ebonyi, “gave” Buhari the constitutional 25 percent spread threshold to enable him win the 2019 presidential election.

His treacherous reaction to Atiku Abubakar’s choice of former Governor Peter Obi, a fellow South-easterner, as his running mate in the 2019 presidential election said it all.

He, alongside his fellow South-east governors worked against the PDP and Peter Obi, Atiku’s running mate, suppressing the votes of the party in cahoots with the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), to give Buhari the advantage. Was that in the interest of the South-east? What has the South-east gained under Buhari and his APC? When he helped Buhari to get 25 percent of votes against his fellow kinsman, what was he thinking – advancing the interests of the South-east or marginalising those interests in the most treacherous manner imaginable?

Having delivered, he went on to nominate a candidate for ministerial position but was rebuffed by Buhari’s cabal. That rejection has not taught him any lesson. So let no one be deceived, Umahi and co. are perpetual schemers and they always bring up group or ethnic interests to insult our intelligence. In any case, Nigeria does not need people of this brand of politics for its rebirth.

He is not an advocate of South-east interests, he is a schemer and a pretender and must be called what he is. These people change colour, shape and appearance, depending on where they think the bread is buttered better.

Buhari’s lopsided appointments since assuming office that have ensured near-total exclusion of South-east from federal appointments and even siting of projects, mean nothing to this new champion of South-east marginalisation movement.

Continued on page 44

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